The Aberystwith Observer

"GAYlE TO THE LAST !—The Farmer's Jour- nal" relates the following. A poacher belonging to Lossiemouth, who had just served his time—60 days in Elgin Gaol, for going in pursuit of game-saw a hare on Friday last on the road, at the quay. He gave chase, and puss being hard pressed, sprung on the deck of a vessel loading in the harbour. Nimrod was not to be done, so he jumped on board, and captured the hare below a coil in the corner. He held up his prey exult- ingly, and defied the whole bench of Elgin justices to touch him there. touch him there.

IMPERIAL ^PARLIAMENT, In the House of Lords on Thursday, Feb. 2, several petitions were presented against church rates. Lord Brougham moved that the bill on the subject of real propertv, which lie introduced a few evenings since, be printed." He took the opportunity of explaining that his bill was not identical with that of Sir Hugh Cairns. On the motion for going into committee on the Law of Property Bill, Lord St. Leonards entered into an explanation of the prin- ciples involved in the bill, and pointed out the difference between the piesent measure and that which occupied their lordships' attention last session. Their lordships then went into committee on the bill. After a brief discussion, in which Lord St. Leonards, Lord Brougham, the Lord Chancellor, and Lord Crauworth took part, the bill passed through committee, and the House adjourned. In the House of Commons, Mr. Digby Seymour gave notice of a motion affirming the propriety of extending the jurisdic- tion of the High Court of Admiralty. B Cochrane gave notice of a motion on the subject of flogging in the army. Mr. E. James asked the Under Secretary for the Colonies whether he was prepared to lay on the table some papers moved for last session relative to the charges made by Mr. Chisholm Anstey, Attorney-General of Hong Kong, against certain officials there, and also with reference to the suspen- sion of Mr. Chisholm Anstey. Mr. C. For^escue said that the papers alluded to were prepared, and would shortly be pro- duced. Mr. Disraeli asked whether Lord John Russell intended to lay before the House the communications which had taken place with reference to the alleged proposal on the part of France to annex Savoy to France ? Lord J. Russell said that he had communicated with our Ambassador in France, and had given the subject of the production of these papers his gravest consideration. The result of that deliberation was that it would not be advisable to produce the documents referred to by the right lion, gentleman. He would, however, state to the House what was the substance of those papers. In July last Mr. Harris communicated with Count Walewski respecting the supposed intention of France to carry out the annexation, and had received a reply of a most satisfactory character, to the effect that no such intention existed on the part of the Emperor of the French. The result was that on the receipt of this important announcement, the Government directed a dispatch to be forwarded to the French Government ex- pressing the gratification that was felt by the Executive of this country at the intelligence received. Mr. Wise moved for a committee to inquire into the public expenditure, which was, on a division, carried by a majority. Mr. Wise enforced his motion in an able speech. Mr. Laing opposed the motion in a short speech. The Chancellor of the Enchequer said he hoped, when the Estimates were upon the table, it would be seen that the Government had given their best attention to this subject. With regard to the motion, he was of opinion that it was not one that could be adopted by the House. Mr. Bright said he believed that by a Committee, fairly appointed, an effectual check might be given to many items of expenditure but, unless the Government, contrary to past examples, backed the Committee, and acted upon their report, there would be no change in its extravagant and growing amount. If there was any man in that House of a truly Conservative spirit, he could not show it more or better than by helping any Chancellor of the Exchequer to lessen the vast expenditure and the vast taxation of the country. Upon a division, the motion was carried by 121 to 93. Mr. Pollard-Urquhart moved for a Select Committee to inquire whether it be not possible to adopt some mode 01 assessing the Income-tax, whereby the injustice and vexations now generally complained of may be wholly or partially obviated, but after some remarks from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the motion was withdrawn. Mr. Cobbett moved a resolution that the Attorney-General be ordered to prosecute Daniel Boyes and Robert Taylor for bribery at the last election for Beverley. An amendment proposed by Mr, Digby Seymour caused some discussion, but was ultimately withdrawn and the original motion agreed to. Mr. Huhbard obtained leave to bring in a Bill to amend the law of church-rates. He stated the objects contem- plated by the Bill, its main feature being the relief of Dis- senters from the obligation of contributing to the rate. Sir J. Elphinstone moved for a Select Committee to inquire into the manufacture of anchors and chain cables for the merchant service. The motion was agreed to. Mr. Scully obtained leave to bring in a bill to further amend the Spirits fireland) Act. The Newspapers, &c., Bill was read a second time. The report of the Committee of Supply was brought up and agreed to, and the House adjourned. On Friday, February 3rd, the House of Lords sat only for a short time, and transacted but very little business, the main feature being the great number of petitions presented against church rates. Lord Brougham presented petitions from various towns against the exclusion of Dissenters from the trusteeship of endowed schools, which gave rise to some slight discussion, after which their lordships adjourned. In the House of Commons, on the motion for adjournment until Monday, Mr. Pollard-Urquhart called, the attention of tt-e Secretary of State for War to the case of certain officers who, eter having volunteered into the Land Transport Corps, did .not receive the promotion granted to others similarly engaged in the same service. MI'. S. Herbert explained, in reply to Mr. P. Urquhart, the circumstances which distin- guished the case of the officers alluded to by him from others engaged in the same service. iij i. isiaguift-j '.Lug 16 uoiixjb, c&Xcu aicci.JP1}, to alleged misconduct 011 the part of Mr.. Drummond Hay, our consul at Tangier, who is accused of taking the part of the Moorish Government against Spain. Mr. Liddell stated certain facts in vindication of the character and conduct of Mr. Hay. Lord John Russell also defended Mr. Ilay, who, he said, was a gentleman of the highest honour and character, and knew too well his duty to the Crown to take any course inconsistent with the general policy of the Government he served. He had exerted to the utmost his influence to pre- vent the breaking out of the war, and since the war had taken place his conduct had been strictly conformable to his duty, and entirely free from blame. Mr. Kinglake asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it would be consistent with the interests of the public service to communicate any information which has reached the Foreign Office in respect to the military and naval preparations of the Emperor of the French. The infor- mation which bad reached him, he said, was not of such an assuring kind as he hoped to receive from Lord J. Russell, and he stated the nature of the information with which he had been furnished, which was, that a body of 600,000 men were being prepared in France, probably for the invasion of England. In answer to Mr. Kinglake's inquiry, Lord J. Russell said the Government had not received any account of extraordinary military pieparat-io-is in France. As the Congress had not met, and matters had not settled down in Italy, it was ne- cessary to take precautions to prevent the breaking out of war in Europe. Hcj Majesty's Government had earnestly employed their e Torts to secure the permanence of peace, and he had received assurances from the Sardinian Govern- ment that they would do nothing to provoke a renewal of the war. Austria was by no means disposed to renew hos- tilities, and he had no reason to suppose that the Emperor of the French was making the military preparations to which Mr. Kinglake had referred. As to the French naval prepa- rations, he could not say that they ought to be matter of jealousy to us., After some remarks by Mr. W. Williams, the motion for adjournment was agreed te. The Probate and Administration (India) Bill was read a second time, after a short conversation between Mr. Crawford and Sir. C. Wood oil the subject of Indian loans. On the order for the second reading of the Petitions of Right Bill, Sir C. Lewis suggested an alteration in the de- tails when the Bill was in committee. The Solicitor-General approved the Bill in the main, but there were parts of it, he said, which would require very careful consideration in the committee. Mr. M. Smith supported the Bill, which, after a short exposition of its principle and objects by Mr. Bovill, was read a second time. On the order for going into committee upon the News- papers, &c., Bill, Mr. Ayrton stated its object—that of re- pealing certain statutory provisions respecting newspapers which w" ~.e obsolete or offensive. The bill passed through committee. The Solicitor-General moved for leave to bring in a bilf for the limitation of actions and suits by the Duke of Corn- wall in relation to real property, and for authorising certain leases of possessions of the Duchy. The House then adjourned till Monday. In the House of Lords on Monday, Feb. 6, the Lord Chan cellor introduced a Bill for the regulati on and winding-up of joint-stock companies, the object of which was to con- solidate the laws at present in force upon that subject. The Bill was read a first time. In reply to a question from Lord Vivian, Lord Ripon said that the volunteer corps had been con- stituted in such a manner as to give the Government the strongest hopes that they would be a valuable addition to the defensive forces of the country. He explained the steps which had been taken to render these corps efficient, and stated it was the intention of the Government to supply all effective members of the corps with rifles, but not with clothing. Efficient adjutants would also be appointed. The force already enrolled amounted to between 60,000 and 70,000 fenen, and was daily increasing. There was no intention on the part of the Government. to violate the principle of volunteering by paying the artillery volunteer corps during the period they were on drill. The Government, however, intended to encou- rage the movement by establishing a system of inspection throughout the country, which would, he considered, render the volunteer corps, if ever their services should be required, most formidable opponents. The Court of Chancery Bill was read a second time Lord Donoughmore asked whether the accounts of the commercial treaty with France which had appeared in the newspapers were authentic, and also when that treaty would be laid on the table of the House. Lord Granville :id that the treaty would be made public when the Chancellor of the Exchequer made his financial statement, in order that the Budget and the treaty might be discussed together. Lord Derby hoped that it would not be necessary to post- pone the production of the treaty until Mr. Gladstone's re(overy. After a few words from Lords Granville and Monteagle the subject dropped. Lord Derby gave notice that he should ask on Tuesday whether the Government have taken any steps, and, if so, what steps, to check the disturbances in St. George's-in-the- East, (London,) characterised as a public disgrace. Lord Brougham concurred with Lord Derby in his denun- ciation of those disturbances, and hoped that the acts of the rector and his associates would not be mixed up with these disturbances, as they were an entirely distinct question. Their Lordships then adjourned. In the House of Commons, Lord Palmerston postponed, owing to the indisposition of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Committee on the Customs Acts, and Mr. Gladstone's financial statement, until Friday, on which day, he added the commercial treaty with France would be laid upon the table. The House went into Committee upon the Probate and Administration (India) Bill, the clauses of which were agreed to, with amendments. The Prisons (Scotland) Acts' Continuance Bill, was read a second time. The Newspapers, &c., Bill, was read a third time and passed. Sir W. Dunbar moved for and obtained leave to bring in a Bill to alter and amend the existing statutes relating to the registration of births, deaths, and marriages in Scotland. The House then adjourned. In the House of Lords on Tuesday, Feb. 7, Lord Lyndhurst called the attention of the noble and learned lord on the woolsack to-the bills relating to the criminal law which he had recently introduced. Those bills had been spoken of as being intended to consolidate the criminal law, but he found on examination that they contained amendments. He pointed out a clause which contained a provision at variance with law. The Lord Chancellor said the noble and learned lord had been misinformed when told that the bills were merely in- tended to consolidate the law. He had expressly said that their object was to assimilate the law of England and Ire- land. The Earl of Derby, in calling attention to the disgraceful Sunday disturbances at St. George's-in-the-East, asked whe- ther the Government had taken any steps to suppress the rioting, and whether they had examined the law on the question with the view of ascertaining how they were able to check it. He could not understand himself how it was that the police were powerless to put a stop to the scandalous proceedings which had become so notorious, and he hoped to hear that the Government had already taken steps to pre- vent their recurrence.' After some remarks in the same strain by Earl Granville and Lord Brougham, the Bishop of London said that there were laws in existence which were distinctly offended against by the disturbances in question. He expressed his wish to use every exertion to put down the disturbances. The subject then dropped. The Marquis of Normanby put his motion in the shape of an address to the Queen, calling upon her to use her best endeavours to avert the transfer of Savoy and Nice to the territories of the French empire. Lord Granville reproduced the statement of Lord John Russell, made last week, that France had raised no annexation question of this kind, though France reserved to herself the right of reviewing recent arrangements if Sardinian territory greatly increased. There was, his lordship repeated, no engagement whatever between France and Sardinia for the cession of Savoy. After observations from Lord Shaftesbury, Earl Grey, the Duke of Newcastle, Lord Derby, and Lord Stratford de Red- cliffe, the motion of Lord Normanby was withdrawn, and the House adjourned. In the House of Commons, after several private bills had been read a second time, Mr. S. Fitzgerald called attention to a version of the new treaty of commerce which had been published in the papers, and asked whether it was correct or not. Lord John Russell said the details published in the journals were substantially correct, but he did not think the treaty could be understood unless it was submitted as a whole to the House. He would lay the treaty upon the table on Friday. In answer to Mr. Black, the Home Secretary said that the Queen's printers' patent, for printing bibles and acts of par- liament, had been renewed during her Majesty's pleasure. ( Lord Claude Hamilton asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs if it was true that Lord Cowley had been instructed to communicate to the French Government a project for the definitive settlement of the Italian question, and if so, whether he had any objection to communicate the details of that project to the House. Lard J. Russell said that he could not now introduce the papers, because they were in an imperfect state, and negotia- tions were now going on. He had great hopes that they might arrive at some plan which might be satisfactory to Central Italy, and lead to a pacific settlement. He did not feel authorised at present to place the papers on the table. Lord J. Manners moved for leave to bring in a bill to en- able the Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes to hold its sittings with closed doors. He grounded his argument mainly upon the indecent cases which were heard there.- Mr. Roebuck considered that the nicest people had the nastiest ideas," and that the middle classes were as immoral as the upper and lower classes of society. In fact, he looked upon the morality of "he upper classes as a sham. Sir G. Lewis supported the amendment, and pointed out many ob- jections to the bill. Lord R. Cecil, the Home Secretary, Mr. Malins, and Mr. Macaulay having made a few remarks, Lord J. Manners re plied, and the House divided, when the previous question- that the question be now put, was carried in the negative by 268 to 83. Mr. Mackinnon obtained leave to bring in a Bill to estab- lish Equitable Councils of Conciliation to adjust differences between masters and workmen; and Mr. Cave, in the absence of Sir C. Burrell, introduced a bill to diminish the danger incurred by servants and other employed in cleaning and repairing windows. Mr. Crook obtained leave to bring in a bill to place the employment of women, young persons, and children itf bleaching and dyeing works under the regulations of the Factories Acts. Mr. Hadfield obtained leave to bring in a Bill to amend, the law relating to the conveyance of land for charitable uses. Mr. Mellor obtained leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Acts relating to marriages in England and Ireland, and extending certain provisions thereof to persons professing with the Society of Friends, called Quakers. The House then adjourned. atHEBagMiajB.jio.Hwtw'piwMBiHiaa'aaa

MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER. In London a most important meeting has been held by the Marriage Law Defence Association, to protest in the strongest manner against any alteration of the marriage law which should permit marriage with a wife's sister, or any other person within the degrees now prohibited, as they con- sidered it fraught with grave danger and injury to religion, morality, and family life. The Duke of Marlborough, who occupied the chair, said the meeting was called in consequence of the agi- tation promoted by a small lot of persons, but which, if it extended, would result in most disastrous conse- quences to the whole of the British nation. It was called, in fact, to show that the people of England were determined to maintain the law with were £ lTeady favoured, and,.th^ t]iey W0UM not suffer any change to be made so prejudicial to the interests of social and family life. It would ill become him, in the presence of so many gentlemen of knowledge and ability, to detain them with any lengthened remarks; but he would just touch one or two of the salient points which were involved in this question. Ie must be viewed in two aspects. There was, first, the religious one; and the other was the social or economical one. It seemed strange that the advocates of the change should take the Scripture as their warrant, because the most impartial glimpse must show that if the marriages which the association felt to be repugnant to society were not forbidden, in express terms, there was sufficient evidence to show that it was not only marriages of consanguinity which were forbidden, but marriages of affinity. Even if an express provision was given to the ancient people of God, it would not be binding on them of the present day, who lived under a dispensation far superior to the Jewish. It was easy to see that a great many things were per- mitted to the Jewish Church which, under no circum- stances, could be permitted to Christians. For instance, polygamy. There was no express injunction in its favour, but there were passages which might savour of a warrant for it. There were many things in the Old Testament which they felt repugnant to their sense of right, but yet for which there was no express prohibi- tion. Take suicide; there was no prohibition. against it, yet it was generally recognised as a horrid crime. Presuming that they did not find express prohibi- tions or sanctions, it did not follow that any such course would be allowable to Christians. He did not believe, that, after a careful and patient perusal of God's Word, any other conclusion could be arrived at than that such marriages with a deceased wife's sister were displeasing to God. Then there was the social aspect of the question. He entertained no doubt that the vast majority of his fellow-countrymen viewed with great regret these efforts to procure an al- teration in the law, which would imperil every domestic tie, and raise suspicion where there ought to be no such feeling. The fact was, that the clamour was that of a small party, among whom some either have con- summated or desired so to do these marriages, and therefore they wished the law of England and the law of the primitive Church altered. He considered that too much importance could not be attached to this subject. It ought not to be left to a mere contest be- tween Lords and Commons. The Lords had done their duty faithfully and honestly, and he called on the people themselves to back them in their future efforts. A SOCIAL REVOLUTION. Vice-Chancellor Wood thought they would all assent to the propositions thus laid down. What was it that was proposed ? It was to overturn the deep-rooted religious convictions held by a large majority of the people of England, to overturn the moral instincts of many who would not admit the religious view, and revolutionise every family, by destroying a social rela- tion which had existed since the commencement of English society. He was prepared, on every principle of the Word of God, and which every one who ad- mitted the authority of Christ's interpretation, with him who denied both-on social laws and grounds of domestic policy—he was prepared to argue the whole question on first principles. Entering at considerable length into the scriptorial grounds of the case, he maintained that it was clear to any patient student, adding, that the prohibition not to take a wife's sister to wife, "during her lifetime to vex her," admitted of the explanation that it was a case of very doubtful interpretation, to be received with great caution. It had in various ages re- ceived all sorts of interpretations; and, on the whole, he could not receive it as anything of the slightest im- portance to the argument. The assembly of divines at Westminster adopted the same view of the case as that of the Church of England. He asked the meeting to rouse themselves to unanimous action, and the bill was gone. Adverting to the moral aspect of the question, the learned judge argued it apart altogether from Scrip- ture. There was, he said, a moral instinct by which to work; and which must show, as in other civilised nations, that it raised prohibitions which never could be got over. He asserted most positively that all such marriages were void, by the law of England, unless both the parents were dead, when it was held not to be legal, but rendered incapable of being set aside. He asked them where they were to stop in^.degrees of affinity. Jt was immoral from beginning to end, and lie en-treated them to use every means in their power to secure the rejection of the measure. In the decline of Rome a similar thing occurred. He would much rather hear of 300,000 French troops landed on the English coast at Dover or Torquay than of the passing of this measure. They should easily get rid of the latter, but not of the former. THE BISHOP OF OXFORD'S OPINION. The Bishop of Oxford regarded the question settled by the Church of which he was a sworn member, and if he disagreed with that then his business would be to leave her communion. He impressed upon them the necessity of having the argument always ready on Scriptural grounds, into which the right rev. prelate went at a considerable length. There was no doubt whatever as to the authority of Scriptures against those marriages, for no law, human or divine, could bind any one, if the plan were interpreted by the obscure, instead of- the obscure by the plain, If the versa alluded to in Leviticus be obscure, why should a wretched subterfuge be resorted to for the purpose of changing the ancient law of the land ? Those marriages were forbidden to the Jews, but the com- mand was written for all-for the Canaanite and Egyptian, as well as those who obeyed the law of Moses. He also contended that the argument that man should be dealt with in one way, and one woman in another, and as an inferior party, was a monstrous proposition, and only fit for past Pagan times, and not for Christian society. Suppose the question were con- ceded, did they think it would stop there ? Not at all; for it was stated that it was only a first step, and, as had been said in the last debate by a great British statesman (Lord John Russell), if the bill were passed, it would be impossible to stop even there. He believed that in this highly favoured land there were many advocates for a marriage between relations of even a nearer description than a deceased wife's sister. They had been told that the poor desired the change, but, like Vice-Chancellor Wood, he too had made inquiries, and found that it was not so, and that it was only required by a few worthless persons. He believed the change would sap the foundation of morality, and, as the reso- lution said, be pregnant with great danger to their family relations. ,e»to*«iiBSM!Dac5acsEma6i«'iBi.tofc

CAPTURE OF TWO CONVICTS. A most daring escape of two convicts from a railway train while in motion occurred on Saturday morning last, on the Great Western line between Reading and Twyford. It appears that 13 convicts were under orders of removal from Dartinoor prison to Chatham,' and were fastened to each other by the hands^ with the usual irons and chains, and they were all orderly and quiet, nothing occurring to excite suspicion that any contem- plated effecting an escape, until, when about three miles distant from Reading^ two of the convicts, named J. Brown and Bevill, who were in the compartment where there were nine, suddenly jumped from their seats, and leaped: through the window of tne door, the train at the moment running at the rate, of 30 miles an hour. The two officers in charge were naturally amazed at their intrepidity,' but on looking near the doorway, it was discovered that both of them had managed to slip the irons from off their wrists, and that therefore they were not shackled in any way in their movements. The other convicts did not exhibit any desire to be refractory or violent, the experiment of escaping not being one which they were disposed to adopt. cn On the arrival of the train at the Slough station the railway authorities were made acquainted with the escape that had been effected, and as it was supposed that the convicts must either have been killed or injured the wheels of the carriages were examined to see if blood was discernible. None, however, could be traced, and therefore it was imagined that they were not killed, but that they might have sustained such injuries as to disable them from getting far away. Telegraphic messages were forwarded to the Reading police, who were consequently very active in their inquiries, and had arranged for information to be given to them in the event of any strange or suspicious men being seen in the town. Soon after the time for the commencement of services at all the places of worship in the town on Sunday evening, two men of remarkably strange appearance and dress excited the suspicions of a man in the Market-place, who immediately informed the police, when two of them arrested the parties, and charged them with being escaped convicts. Brown made a most desperate resistance and used fearful epithets, saying he would not be taken by one man. He swung his arms about violently, and struck the officer a fearful blow on the left eye, who retained- his hold -of the fellow, and both of them were '.ultimately, taken to the station. The policemen-here examined the convicts, and Brown was found to wear a brown slop frock; under- neath this was a woman's old cloak and a shirt, and when the latter was pulled off the Dartmoor prison suit was visible. Bevill had only a smockfrock over his prison dress. This conclusively proved that they were the men who had escaped, and they were then removed to the county gaol for safe custody. When a remark was made that it was wonderful they escaped without a broken limb, Brown replied, "Ah, but it shook every bone in my body." Bevill was not in the least degree hurt by the leap. They admitted that after getting away from the train they walked to a wood in the country, tore down some branches from trees, and covered themselves over for the day. At night they strolled about, and when they got to a cot- tage they entered and-took the old hats and other arti- ticles of dress in order to disguise themselves. It was their intention to get to London, but they were afraid of going along the turnpike road. They walked about until, by roads they knew nothing of, they got into Reading on Sunday evening. On Sunday the Berks police received information of a cottage having been broken open at Woodley on the previous night, and the articles found in the possession of the two convicts answered the description of what was reported to have been stolen. On Monday morning the convicts were brought up before two magistrates for the borough, charged with having unlawfully made their escape from custody. They wore the Dartmoor prison dress, and when the evidence of Inspector Townsend had been taken as to their capture the magistrates remanded the prisoners into safe custody at the county gaol, for communication to be made with the authorities. Both were thoroughly unconcerned as to what was going on; and Brown laughed heartily when the policeman described the dresses he wore over his prison suit.

GARIBALDI'S MARRIAGE-FINE WAIT- ING THEREON! After many rumours lately to the effect, it appears that General Garibaldi was actually married on the 31st ult. at Fino, on Lake Como. The Oourt Journal, ever on the look- out for any such event, gives positive and private particu- lars" from an eye-witness. We extract the description 01 the ceremony, which may perhaps amuse our readers :— It was at the chateau of the Marquis Raimondi, the father of the bride, that the wedding took place. It was a civil ceremony only, Lorenzo Valerio, Garibaldi's tried and honoured friend, now Governor of the pro- vince of Como, officiating as mayor upon the occasion. Although all pomp and ceremony had been eschewed, at the earnest request of Garibaldi himself, yet it had become impossible to keep the occurrence secret, and at an early hour of the morning the palace was sur- rounded by the holiday folks, eager to catch a glimpse of the liberator of Italy, and of the fair girl who had chosen him in preference to the crowd of aristocratic admirers who had long sought her hand. It was known that the ceremony would take place in the gallery on the ground floor of the chateau, which looks out upon the terraced walk looking to the west. Here the coun- try people assembled in vast crowds, and the moment Valerio appeared coming up the step's of the terrace an immense shout arose from the people, and" Viva l'ltalia! Viva Garibaldi! Viva Valerio burst from their lios in one spontaneous hurrah. Soon after this, the open windows of the gallery revealed the passage of the wedding procession, and again did the joyous shouts of the peasants rend the air. Garibaldi wore his costume of officer of Bersaglieri, and looked well and happy. The sun, which shone very strong at that moment, betrayed the invasion of time and anxiety in the shape of a few indiscreet grey hairs upon his tem- ples and at the side of his bushy beard a slight ten- dency to the crow's-foot was visible, likewise, at the corners of his eyes; but, saving this, no man of his age could look younger—few, even, could look so young. Soon after his passage up the gallery, fol- lowed by his friends and witnesses, another door opened, through which the bride, attended by her father and female relatives, approached the table where Valerio was seated, with the great civil register of Fino before him. Some description of the bride will, of course, be expected. She seemed to our correspondent to be the most perfect representative of the peculiar style of beauty of the north of Italy. A profusion of rich dark hair, gathered in plaits at the back of the head, and falling in thick curls down the side of the face and neck, gave her an appearance of extreme youth, even greater than that to which her nineteen summers would already entitle her to assume. She is slim in figure, rather below than above the middle height, and her whole person indicative of extreme delicacy and fragility. In her eyes and compressed lips alone can be traced that determination of character which has made her cling to Garibaldi through good and evil report, and resolve to become his wife in spite of the advice of aristocratic friends, and the absolute lack of fortune which characterises the rough soldier she has chosen. She was attired with the utmost simplicity- not a single jewel, or ornament of any description, adorned her person. A dress made high to the throat, and perfectly plain, with a bouquet of natural flowers at her bosom, co-p^d her costumgand, save that the ce{nture^ when raised by the current of £ ^r'. TV-as- "E^ade to float for an instant, and displayed that the material of which it was composed was the old Venetian point, and worth, perhaps, the whole trousseau of an ordinary bride of the middle classes, there was nothing to distinguish her toilet from that of the humblest little maiden of Fino. The Marquis Raimondi seemed, much affected as he pronounced his consent to bestow his daughter on Gari- baldi and, at the moment when both parties having signed their names, joined their hands, and walked together down the gallery, and passed through the door by which the bride had entered, the frenzied demon- strations of delight upon the terrace knew no bounds. They said that the religious ceremony was to take 'v place immediately afterwards, in the strictest privacy, in the little chapel which lies at the back of the chateau. Garibaldi's friends deny that any such ceremony was ever in contemplation, and declare that neither the Marchesa nor himself regard the observance as neces- sary at present. The bridal pair will remain for some time at Fino, and will then repair to Milan, whose hew governor, Massimo d' AzegJio, will receive them with all the honours to which they can lay claim.

CLEVER CAPTURE BY THE OVERLAND ROUTE. Colonel Hogg, the Chief Constable of Staffordshire, has received information of the clever capture in Melbourne, by one of his force, of a man who ran away from that county, a short time ago, with nearly lool. The facts are as follows :— On the 27th of last August, one of the Messrs. Benjamin Gibbons, Ironmasters of Bilston, after taking from the Dudley Bank wages necessary to pay the workpeople of the .anc at Highfields and Millfields respectively, instructed one of his men to meet him on the road and take to the last- aauied works the proportion of cash which was required there. The fact was known to a clerk at the Millfields ftorks, named Swatman, who intercepted the messenger, obtained the money from him, and sent him on an errand in another direction. This money amounted to 350Z. With it and other moneys belonging to his employers he decamped, and by his adroitness in employing the messenger after get- ting the money from him, succeeded in obtaining so good a start of the police that he got clear away, and all their efforts, to find him were fruitless until, about the 22nd of September, the authorities learnt that he had sailed on the 8th of that month to Melbourne, in the steamer Monarch, from Ply- mouth. The lateness at which the information was obtained left only one means open whereby there was a chance of arresting him even at the Antipodes. The Messrs. Gibbons, deter- mining to avail themselves of this means, applied to Colonel Hogg to find an efficient and trustworthy officer to go over- hand to Melbourne. The Chief Constable of Staffordshire at once dispatched a member of the corps, who, although he Igft England a fortnight later than the Monarch, yet he reached Melbourne a few days before the Vessel arrived in that port, and although he did not know the fugitive yet he arrested the right man, obtained possession of the greater portion of the money that had been stolen, and is now on • lus way home with the thief in his custody. The expenses of the overland route and the return passage will be more than 150L, a sum with which the detective was intrusted. Messrs. Gibbons will have this covered in the sum found on Swatman, and will have done good service to the public in showing dishonest persons who may feel in- clined to follow Swatman's example that they may be equally 'unsuccessful-

A DISPUTED WILL CASE. > In the Court of Probate and Divorce a suit has been instituted to test the validity of a will, executed by Mr. William Phillip Honywood, a gentleman of for- tune, who resided at St. Mark's Hall, in Essex, and died'in February last. This will was propounded by his executors, and a caveat had been entered by the defendants, Mr. Robert Honywood and Mr. Walter Honywood, two brothers of the deceased, who pleaded in opposition to the will that it was not duly executed; that the decease was not of testamentary capacity at the time of the execution; and that it was procured by the undue influence of Mrs. Honywood and of William Hobbes. These were the issues left to be decided, and the case occupied two days. From the evidence for the petitioners it appeared that testator was 36 years of age at his death, and that he had led the life of a country gentlemen, de- voting himself to hunting, taking a part in agricul- tural an(l displaying ordinary intelligence in the management of his affairs. He was married, but had no'offspring, and his next of kin were two brothers Robert and Walter, who had become em- barrassed by betting transactions on the turf and on pugilists, and the testator had mortgaged his estate, which was 9,000l. a year, to relieve them from their diffi- culties. He proposed to have made the elder brother his heir, but being- apprehensive that he would allow the family estate to pass into the hands of Jews, he made a will bequeathing him only 5001. a-year; his other brother 2001. a-year his uncle, the Rev. Philip Honywood, 300l. a-year his (wife the remainder of the estate during her life, or while she remained single, and constituting one of the younger sons of his cousin, Sir Courtenay Honywood, the heir to the estate in reversion, on the death or marriage of his wife. In February, 1859, he caught a severe cold, and being desirous of carrying out his testamentary intentions he sent for his solicitor, who drew up the will according to his instructions. Several persons having deposed to the testators habits, and his competence to make a will, and also to his threats not to leave his property to his brother, who would only, in his opinion, squander it away, Mr. William Hobbes (whose undue influence had been alleged) was called. He stated that he was a farmer, '¡' a" and lane-steward for several years of the testator. He remembered. his advancing Mr. Robert Honywood 12,0001., which was raised partly by increasing some of his tenant's rents and partly by mortgage. Mrs. Hony- wood was present when the matter was discussed, and strongly objected to money being raised to pay gambling debts. He spoke to him. afterwards respecting his will, and expressed a wish to be one of the trustees. Witness objected, saying he ought to select some in a superior station; but at his solicitation he consented to accept the office. He said he should not leave his brother Robert his estate, and that he thought of making Sir Courtenay Honywood or some member of his family his heir. He remonstrated with him, saying that Mr. Robert was his own brother, and that he ought not to act without great deliberation. He said that if he left him the estate, in a week there would not be a stick or stone of it in the possession of the family, but that it would pass into-the hands of Jews. The testator was not a man of business habits, but he took an interest in the management of his estate. This witness gave satisfactory testimony as to the circumstances under which the will was executed. At this stage of the proceedings it was intimated that a compromise might be effected, and the counsel re- tired for that purpose. Mr. Edwin James, Q.C., on the part of the defen- dants, said he was happy to announce that an arrange- ment has been made quite satisfactory to all parties. His clients were not aware of facts that had come to their knowledge during the trial, and withdrew the pleas which they had put forward under an erroneous impression. Mrs. Honywood had consented to most kind and honourable terms, and it was his sincere wish that the result of this unfortunate contest would be the restoration of harmony and goodwill in the family. Mr. Robert Honywood was a young man of nÇlble and generous disposition, beloved by all who knew him; but he had unfortunately become involved to a considerable amount for other persons. The testator, who was fondly attached to him, advanced 12,0001, for his relief, but he had no reason to believe that that circumstance had made any alteration in the testator's affection. In fact, a will devising lis property- to-Ms' brother was made subsequent to that date. ,Qf course, all imputation upon Mr. Hobbes was likewise withdrawn. Mr. Bovill said the opposition to the will had pro- bably arisen from idle statements made at first without foundation, and exaggerated with repetition, the real facts being unknown to the defendants. The family arrangement to which Mrs. Honywood, who was to retain possession of the property, had consented, was deemed satisfactory by his learned friend acting for the defendants, and Mrs. Honywood sincerely wished that good feeling might now be restored to the family. The jury, under the direction of the Court, found a verdict for the plaintiff's issue, and the will was de- clared to have been proved.

THE COMMERCIAL TREATY. The Independance Beige says that the proposals to be submitted by Mr. Gladstone to the House of Com- mons as a consequence of the commercial treaty, which was ratified on Saturday at Paris, are as follows:— Abolition of duties on all the productions of French manu- facture. Assimilation of the duties on French spirits with those on English colonial spirits. The duty on those first-named is at present 15s. a-gallon, on the others only 7s. the duty on French brandy would thus be lowers d by 8s. a-gallon. Immediate reduction of the duty on French wine to the extent of 2s. 9d. a-gallon. The duty at present being 5s. 9d, the new duty will only be 3s. a-gallon. A second reduction of this duty from the 1st of April, 1861. The duty will be a minimum of Is. and a maximum of 2s. according to the quantity of alcohol which the wines may contain. A merely nominal duty on corn, flour, and all articles made of flour. Reduction more or less important of the duties on all other articles imported from France. England reserves the right of allowing other nations to participate in these reductions, as well as of modifying here- after the duties on wines and spirits if the changes in our Excise shall render such modifications desirable. France on her part undertakes to make the following concessions, but none of them will take immediate effect Reduction of the duties on English coal and coke to a level with those imposed on the same commodities of Belgian produce. Abolition of the duties on wool and cotton. Reduction of the duty on iron ar{^machinery Abolition of prohibitions, for >hich ad valm •em duties not exceeding 30 per cent. sliall be substituted,

A SAD CASE. There is now no necessity (says the London Times) to withhold the name of the clerical delinquent who has caused such an excitement in religious circles in the north, by absconding with a loose woman from the city of Durham. The circumstances of the affair have become notorious. A local paper gives the following particulars concerning it :-— An extraordinary sensation has been produced in Durham in consequence of cert ain disclosures respecting- the conduct and character of the Rev. William Prosser, late curate of St. Nicholas' Church, who had achieved considerable popularity as a preacher, and had hitherto been regarded as a pattern Nicholas' Church, who had achieved considerable popularity as a preacher, and had hitherto been regarded as a pattern of piety and a model of purity. The rev. gentleman, who is quite young, was married little more than a year ago to an accomplished and amiable young lady, and for some time they lived very happily together. The respected incumbent of the parish occupies the post of chaplain to the Durham Penitentiary, an institution established by the benevolence of the public for the reformation of women who have departed from the paths of virtue. In the course of his ministrations the young divine, as as- sistant to the incumbent, made frequent visits to this refuge of female frailty, and the inmates were understood to derive much spiritual benefit from his pious exhortations. So far from any levity or impropriety being perceptible in his con- duct, his demeanour was that of a sincere and pious en- thusiast, anxious to reclaim the lost sisterhood from the depths of degradation and vice into which they had fallen. Whether his zeal was simulated or sincere, of course no man can determine but, as is proved by subsequent events, one of these woman succeeded in establishing an influence over him which has led him to abandon his wife and home, and will undoubtedly ruin his prospects of life. After the girl left the Penitentiary she was for a short period in the service of Mr. Prosser where it would appear, from certain cor- respondence which has since been discovered, an improper intercourse first took place between them. Upon the rev. gentleman's recommendation she was afterwards taken into service at Croxdale Parsonage. Latterly Mr. Prosser has been in a highly nervous and excitable state of mind, and beiii"' on terms of intimacy and friendship with the Rev. H, Chaytor, of Croxdale, he went over from Durham on a visit, ostensibly for change of air and rest., It was while residing there that his improper intimacy with the servant was found out, and the discovery of the liaison was, as a matter of course, speedily followed by hIs prompt and ignominious dismissal from his curacy. On Thursday the degraded curate and his paramour went off together in a fly to Ferryhill Station, and proceeded southward on the North-Eastern Railway. As may be supposed, Jus disgraceful affair has excited the most intense astonishment, and it is not easy to picture the indignation which-the discovery of such libertinism has called forth. Mr. Prosser's supposed piety and zeal had rendered him an especial favourite, and it was only on the Saturday before Christmas-day that the young ladies con- nected with the Bible class presented him with a writing- desk and inkstand as a mark of their respect and esteem. His ardent admirers are filled more with sorrow than with anger at the shattering of their idol, and all right- minded persons will be shocked to find how the Church has been scandalised, and sincerely lament the extent which the cause of religion and morality must suiter by this sad reve- lation of clerical profligacy.

A SENTIMENTAL PAINTER. A painter, named Whittam, employed on the estate of the Duke of Bedford, became enamoured, in lasS, of the daughter of a rent collector, visited frequently at her father's house as her accepted suitor, and wrote a number of amatory epistles to his "Dear Emma," in one of which he says How long, my dear, must I be unhappy ? Will not your sympathising nature pity my distracted mind? Oh, and then, how lamentable the thought, that while I am writing this some more fortunate lover may be making his addresses to my charmer, and even obtain a place in her heart." But he assures her he does not suspect her sincerity, and writes again in a few days, assuring her it shall ever be his "dili- gent study"' to watch over her happiness. In a postscript, the" affectionate lover, William," wishes the young lady "pleasant dreams and sweet repose." On another occasion he tells her that he prizes her "love by letter and words as gold, which, my dear Emily, affords me that unspeakable pleasure which is past expression." The sincere lover," it appears, then had a dream, which he narrated thus, on the 23rd of November:—" I soon found rest and repose in sleep. Then what do you think passed in my sleep ? Ah what. Then I will tell you. I had a dream. About who? Why yourself. I dreamt that we was married, getting a first-rate living, and as happy together as any in the world. Oh what pleasure it was to me to see you so happy with me, as you was in my dream. There was a great deal passed which I cannot think of just now, but I know, accidentally, I was awoke by the barking of the dog, and, to my great dis- appointment and sorrow, found it was but a dream." On the 22nd of December he wrote again, breaking off the match, upon which the young lady, Miss Emily Harker, sued him for damages, and the case was heard in the Court of Exchequer, when a verdict was given for the plaintiff, damages 201.

NARROW ESCAPE OF A DETECTIVE OFFICER. Sergeant Jarvis, of the London detective force had a narrow escape the other day from a fate similar to that which befel Thain some time since. A few days ago, Inspector Hamilton received information that a man named Walter had absconded from his employer, Mr. Bassett, a confectioner of Sheffield, taking with him 100?., the property of his employer. Mr. Bassett, accompanied by a Sheffield constable, arrived in Lon- don, and, a clue having been obtained, secured the assistance of Sergeant Jarvis, who succeeded in arrest- ing Walter, who was ph<è0d m the cab with the officers and Mr. Bassett, who informed Jarvis 'that he had re- ceived a threatening letter from the prisoner, inti- mating that he would blow out the brains of any person who arrested him. Jarvis suddenly seized his arms, and discovered that he held a loaded pistol, ready cocked, in each hand, concealed beneath the loose sleeves of one of the fashionable Inverness capes which he wore. He was immediately disarmed, though not without some difficulty, as he is a muscular and deter- mined young man. On arriving at Bow-lane station- house he was searched and the pistols examined. One contained two bullets, and there can be no doubt that, if Sergeant Jarvis had not displayed great courage and readiness, the prisoner would have attempted his life. His apartments were subsequently searched, and 501. in bank-notes, a gold watch, and other articles were discovered. In the evening he was conveyed to Shef- field, it being thought necessary to handcuff him, as there was reason to suppose that he would attempt suicide.

MURDER AND SUICIDE AT COVENTRY. Another crime has been committed within the pre- cincts of the city of Coventry, of a nature, if possible even more revolting than that for which Kington re: cently suffered the extreme penalty of the law. The' crime is that of wife murder. The murderer, who also put an end to his own existence in a most determined and fearful manner, was a butcher named Henry Fawson. Some 14 or 15 years ago lie married the woman whom he has now in so horrible a way deprived of life. Shortly after their marriage, it appears, they separated, and the husband went to America; the wife remained at home. Thirteen years elapsed, and the husband returned to his native country, and set up a small butcher's shop near the scene of the recent murder by Kington. About five months ago his wife came to live with him again, and since then and up to the time of her death she had been sheltered under his roof, though they have not lived on the best terms. The unfortunate couple retired to bed about their usual hour on Monday night, but early next morning a next-door neighbour heard groans and cries of "Murder" proceed from the house. lie informed a shop-keeper opposite, who knew the violent character of Fawson, of the circumstance, but he advised him to take no steps in the matter. Ultimately an entrance was effected by means of a window, when the bedroom presented a terrible spectacle. The bedstead and bedding, the ceiling and the floor, were all besmeared and bespattered with blood. Fawson lay doubled up" at the foot of the bed, his throat cut, stabbed in his breast, and his brains scattered about him. It is evident that in the heat of his passion he cut and stabbed himself in ineffectual efforts to destroy life, and then, being unable to dispatch himself so quickly as he wished with a knife, he went down stairs and procured a gun, with which he returned and shot himself through the head. Both weapons lay near at hand. On the bed lay the unfortunate woman, his wife, weltering in her blood. Her throat had been cut in a most determined and effectual manner. Both were quite dead and cold.

MYSTERIOUS OCCURRENCE AT CARLISLE. In the course of last week a very mysterious case of concealment of death, if not something worse, was brought to light. The history of the case is as follows On the 21st of March, 1859, a large box was brought to the Bush Hotel, Carlisle, by a porter of the Caledonian Railway Company. From the Porter's book it appeared that the box had been sent from Paisley on the 18th of the same month. On the lid was nailed a piece of paper, on which.was wrjtten, in a very indifferent and clumsy manner, the following ad, dress:— This side up.—Mrs. Loudon, Bush hottdl, Carlisle » The box remained in the house for some time, but, as no one came to claim it, it was removed to the in the yard, where it has since remained unop iea and un- claimed till the present time. A short Jtiinl fe10 it was dis- covered that there was a lady named Mrs.-k uaon living in tbe neighbourhood, and she was info),a box, ad- dressed"in her name, was lying at tne note], and re- quested- to call and see if it was lntenaea lor her. Mrs. Loudon's niece, Miss M. Dixon, accoiiyy called at the Bush, f id having seen it she said that sin-: did not think the box could be for her aunt, but uhey would open it and see. The box was then opened, and the sui prise of those present may be better imagined than expressed when they found tbat it contained a offin, and tnai me coffin contained the body of what appealed to have been a very fine child, with a cap on its head. Information was at once given to the coroner, and the box was carefully removed to the police- station. This is all that is at present known of this mys- terious discovery.. The body was naturally in a very advanced state of ae- composition, although not so much as might have been ex- pected, considering the time tliat has elapsed since it; nrst reached Carlisle, nearly twelve months ago. ,.A }e medical men could not state positively 'whether the body was that of a male or a female, yet when the cap was i emoved fmm the head the hair seemed to be more like a boy s than a girl's The age of the child was supPosed,to have ,be.e"- about three years. Active inquiries are of course, being made, which it is hoped will lead t^ie elucidation of this mystery. _—«——

A NOVEl. STRIKE The" Times" correspond- ent, writing from Ireland, says As Government has declined to yield to the demands of the Roman Catholic Bishops in the matter of nnxea educa- tion, the Ration offers a suggestion ior what it calls the "obvious remedies which are open to Catholics so as to bring the question to a dead lock." It is proposed by this orcan to withdraw all Catholic teachers and pupil teachers from the cSS, model, and other schools under the ex- clusive control of the National Board, and to withdraw all the nunils from these schools, as well as from those under Protestant patrons. By all means let the experiment get a trial.