The Aberystwith Observer

I GLANCE AT F0RELGN~AFFAIR8. (The Proprietor of tftis paper does not necessarily identify Umself with the opinions here expressed.] The aspect of affairs, so far as the great continental question of the day is concerned, is not encouraging. It is said that France and Piedmont have agreed to the annexation of Savoy to the former Power. The annex- tion of Nice is a matter, it is stated, for after considera- tion. If this be true—and there is little doubt that such a consummation is devoutly wished by France—the peace of Europe will possibly be endangered by the necessarily antagonistic view which Great Britain must take of the secret arrangement. We trust, how- ever, that France may be induced to abandon her aggressive tendencies. The Emperor has once more spoken out on the subject of his relations with the Pope. The Minister of Public Instruction, through the Moniteur, lectures the arch- bishops and bishops of France 011 the civil and eccle- siastical law. The Minister says that the Church has authority over religious society in religious matters. As to temporal matters, however, the Emperor will not allow any ecclesiastical domination. The disagree- ment with the Pope is a temporal question, and, says the Moniteur, the clergy have nothing to do with it. -»his clearly shows that the Emperor is determined to have his ownjway. The condition of the Jews on the Continent is grad- ually improving. In Austria, according to an im- 1 Perial decree, the Jews are allowed to acquire and Possess landed property, while the same right is gua- ranteed under certain restrictions to the J ews of ^Hicia, &c. It is pleasing to see that civil and re- S Jfi"Joua liberty is thus progressing, although it is by such painful steps. ,r The news from India is now no longer of exciting interest, for the dying embers of the recent rebellion are nearly extinct. In place of those items of intelligence, however, which used to be of so much interest, we have yaatters of a more pleasing character. Among these is the submergence of the telegraphic cable between Rurrachee and Aden. From India we learn that the force for China is being organised, and about 15,000 of our own country- men and of the natives are to go out to the Celestial Empire. The Suez canal appears to be an object that is still dear to the heart of the Emperor of the French. M Ferdinand de Lesseps has had another audience with him, and the Emperor has stated that he will seize the first opportunity of negotiating with the English Cabinet for the promotion of the scheme. Our readers are aware that the Emperor is said to have similar de- signs with regard to the canal. It would probably go far to give him a. firm hold upon Egypt. This would be following out his policy of his uncle. At last we have news of peace between Spain and Morocco, or rather conditions of peace are talked of. Some variation in the terms appears in the several accounts, but the following are probably the con- ditions :-That Spain shall have conceded to her a permanent port on the Atlantic; that she shall also have 40 square leagues of territory for forts; an indemnity of 5, 000, OOOl. (where is Morocco to get it ?); and Spain to occupy Tetuan till this indemnity be paid. The Queen of Spain maintains the justice of the war, and, it is said, insists on some such terms as these, or the war, she says, shall be carried on.

FOREIGN ITEMS, The Delhi Gazettei has been informed that intelligence has been communicated to Government to the effect that Nana Was seen some little time ago on his road to Badrinath, dis- guised as a jogi, or religious meadicant. He is being looked after. The existing warfare which has begun between the French Government and part of the French clergy continues, and assumes from day to day a more serious look. Monday's Moniteur published a circular, addressed by M. Rouiand, the Minister of Public Instruction, to the archbishops and bishops of France, exhorting the clergy not to indulge in such outbursts of passion as have taken place among them, and expressing a hope that the bishops will bring back to their duty the men who have departed from it. He reminds them that the disagreement between the Emperor and the Pope does not refer to religious, but only to temporal questions, and finally warns them that disorders compro- mising religion, and prejudicial to public peace, must be prevented. The Emperor, who, as the Minister tells the bishops, has never made use of the prohibitions with which the special laws of France arm him, now energetically wills that the laws be energetically maintained and executed. The Paris correspondent of theTtMMssays:—"Rumours are afloat of an address attributed to King Victor Emmanuel ••imself, calling Naples and Sicily to insurrection. I have not seen this manifesto, nor do I know any one who has seen it, therefore I cannot say whether it is genuine, or as apo- cryphal as the letter of Victor Emmanuel to the Emperor of the French, for publishing which the A rni de la Religion was prosecuted. I only know that a message has been sent round to the Paris papers to the effect that if such a docu- ment came in their way they were not to publish it. The same rumour adds that the manifesto is dated from Milan." A circular by M. Billault, dated Paris, Tuesday, says, "The time has arrived to put an end to the attempts at agi- tation on the Roman question." M. Billault instructs the Prefects to prohibit, according to Jaw, the distribution of writings and pamphlets, unless duly authorized, and to report to the Council of State whenever the liberty of the pulpit is abused. He recommends them to combine moderation with firmness, as the Emperor desires peace and liberty for religion. The news by the Bombay and Calcutta mails gives some further details respecting the forces, European and Native, to be sent to China. The successful submergence of the electric telegraph cable from Aden to Kurrachee is a s nounced, and thus another most imporUnt commun a 1 between this country and India.——f „hi turn home, having completely accomplished the task of subju- gating the rebels.-—A successful attack has been made upon the Wuzeeres.-——From Japan, the same mails bring sad ac- counts of the behaviour of Europeans-a behaviour so bad that trade with that country has actually been suspended even with the concurrence of the British Consul, who has many accusations to bring against his fellow-countrymen. This produces a. state of things with which our Government must instantly deal. We learn from Paris that M. de Lesseps and the Duke of Albufera, as representatives of the Suez Canal Company, have now received, in a private audience granted to them, the distinct assurance on the part of the Emperor Napoleon, that his Foreign Minister has got instructions to enter into negotiations with our Government for removing the ob- stacles which oppose the realisation of their project.

A BURNING SHAME! All the arguments, all the sneers, against the Rifle Volunteer movement, proceed upon the assumption that this movement will die out almost as speedily as it has risen into significance, and that in another twelvemonth it will be spoken of among Englishmen as a bad joke (says the Times). If this be so, of course the case is disposed of at once, but we are much mistaken as to the spirit of our countrymen, and the true meaning of this movement, if the rifle organisa- tion of 1869 turns out a mere Will-o'-the-Wisp. What are, the facts ? When military men and House of Commons orators had it all their own way, was the country in a state of security ? The late Duke of Wellington in his day had some little reputation as a soldier, and he has left upon record that we were at the mercy of any foreign invader who might choose to venture a coup de main upon our shores. Aye," but said Mills, that's not the fault of the Horse Guards only consent to pay for the articles as per margin, and England shall have the most splendid army in the world, and be in a position to snap her fingers at combined Europe." That is a famous suggestion but, just as we are about to hand ourselves over to the guardianship of the Major- Generals, a peace orator starts up in the House of Com- mons with the Army Estimates of 1834-35 in his hand, and tells us that we are about to throw away our money in the most, foolish manner. A long wrangle follows, but nothing is done. Whether it be the fault of Miles or Brutus it boots not to inquire but practically nothing is dene. Meanwhile some martial demonstration takes place in France, the French colonels want to pillage the Bank of England because a Roman refugee attempts the life of the French Emperor in Paris, or a great military port is inaugurated, or a heavy fire against England and things English is kept up in the French papers for three weeks, and straightway there comes a panic. Help us, Miles, help us, Brutus! Not a bit of it these illustrious people are ready to mourn over us, and deride us, but there is no help in them. Perhaps a French regiment may be paraded next week in the open space between the Athenseum and the Senior United Service Clubs perhaps, on the other hand, the charwomen and boarding-school girls of England would be strong enough to drive the perfidious Gaul into the sea with their mops and knitting needles all we know is that there is a panic. These panics may be wise or silly, they may be the expressions of prudence justly alarmed, or of idiocy aroused to gibbering; but they have been of periodical occurrence. The measures taken by military men and politicians have not been sufficient to allay them. At the same time, it has been felt throughout as a burning shame, that such a nation as England should, even for one moment, stand in fear of the animosity or treachery of any foreign Power, and at length the country resolved to do what it could for itself.

DREADFUL COLLISION IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. On Sunday morning, as the steamer Ondine, from Dublin to London, was abreast of Beachy Head, she came in collision with the schooner Heroine, of Bide- ford. She was struck just abaft the beam, and im- mediately began to sink. So great was the injury that in less than 20 minutes no traces of her were visible. A portion of the passengers and crew, 21 in number, were saved in the jolly-boat, and landed at Dover, where the Sailors' Home was at once opened for their reception, and every possible comfort afforded that their distressed circumstances required. They were landed perfectly destitute. About 50 of the pas- sengers and crew are missing. Some of them, in- cluding the captain, took to the starboard lifeboat, but it almost amounts to a certainty that they were swamped, as they could not reach the Heroine. In the darkness of the night one fearful shriek was heard, and no more was seen or heard of them. At least 30 must have gone down in the steamer. The Ondine was a very unfortunate vessel. She is the same steamer that a few months ago, when off the South Foreland, ran down the Robert Garden, a Dover collier, whereby the pilot and several of the crew were drowned. INCIDENTS OF THE WRECK. Richard Burke, the second mate, who has since been picked up with two other men by the steamer Thetis, says immediately after the collision took place, it was evident to all the Ondine was fast sinking, and the boats were got over the side. The port lifeboat had been smashed by the collision, and the other lifeboat was stove in getting her over the side, as he found her up to her thwarts in water. He then went on board to procure two buckets to bale her out, and on his return found in the boat 12 men, three women, and two children, all passengers. There was a lady passenger, the chief stewardess, ma 111 and the remaining woman and two children wera Marsh's wife and children. Captain Hunt looked over the quarter and said to Burke Whatever you do, take in the lady passenger," to which Burke replied "I have her in, but the boat is full of water." The boat was then pushed off from the steamer's side, to keep her clear of the vortex, when she went down, and all three of the men agree in stating that there were a good many people on board, the majority women and children, with some soldiers returning from furlough; for they say, As we were leaving the ship, and Captain Hunt was speaking to Burke in the boat about the lady pas- senger, a good many faces were looking down at us." The cutter and jollyboat were still available at this time for the people on board the sinking vessel with the crew in one of them alongside. LINK BY LINK THE CHAIN OF LIFE WAS BROKEN. Of the management of the boats alongside the ship or in getting them over the other side, but little that wras positive could be learnt from the second mate or either of the other men. When the lifeboat shoved off from the steamer she was so deeply submerged that the water reached up to the people's waists as they sat on the thwarts, she being kept from entirely sinking by the cork in her compartment. Burke stood in the bows on the fore-thawt, and steered with an oar to keep her before the sea, of which, there was a good deal on at the time, with a fresh breeze from the north west, and at times the sea would make a clear breach over them. In less than half an hour from leaving the steamer he saw her rear her bows up in the air and go down stern nrst. boon afterwards the people in the boat beg-an to be exhausted from the sea breaking over them and dropped one by one. Mrs Marsh and one of her children were first overcome and swept away, one dying from exhaustion consequent on the wash of the sea and the bitter north-west wind, in its father's arms. The lady passenger and stewardess next followed, and so on, one after the other, until only the three rescued were left. The numbers who had perished and been washed out of the boat had considerably lightened her, and also enabled the people to be the more readily distinguished by any passing vessel. Burke says there were four oars in the boat, but they were useless from her immersion under the water, and that he stood on the fore-thwart to endeavour to steer her with one of the oars, and keep her before the sea; he found he could not get aft owing to the passengers having crowded there as much as they could, especially the woman and children.

ENGLISHMEN, TREMBLE IN YOUR SHOES! We have still the misfortune, as you are aware (says the Times correspondent), to stand very low in the estimation or affections of the Spanish people-at least, if their press speak true. Success ought to put people into good humour, and awaken the kindlier feelings of our nature. It is not so just now, it seems, with the Spanish people. The more their arms are covered with victory, the more glorious and rapid the march from Ceuta to Tetuan, the more determined are they to regard all Englishmen with angry eyes. Say what you will, and do all you can, you will not convince them that you are not eaten up by envy at the contemplation of deeds which throw India into the shade, if not fear- ful of a visit to your own dependencies from the conquerors. A letter, dated the 15th, from a very interesting young Guipuzcoan, thus speaks of the effect produced in that corner of Spain by the capture of Tetuan Here we have had four days of rejoicing for the taking of Tetuan. Great exultation and great enthusiasm throughout all Spain; in fact, the country is in a delirium of joy. From the Havannah we hear that the subscription for the war will exceed 3,000,000 of dollars. A friend of ours advances to the Government 15,000 dollars, and five to the soldier who plants the Spanish flag on the walls of Tetuan; and 3,000,000 of reals are laid out on cigars, spirits, and other necessaries for the army. When they shall hare learned that Tetuan is ours the people of the Havannah will actually go mad We have a telegram to-day stating that the little towns close to Tetuan have surrendered, and receive the Spaniards with acclamations-not, of course, as mere conquerors, but as their protectors. I am sorry I cannot send you the Madrid papers giving details of the capture, and of the frenzy ot joy with which the news has been received. Public opinion calls out Forward," and I cannot say where all this will stop. It is said that England is sending a squadron before Tangier, because she sees that that city will also fall into our hands, as Tetuan has fallen. Her selfishness cannot support this. She goes on favouring the "poor Moors," while she forgets the poor Chinese but (and here comes the rather alarming hint), with the ardour of our victories, and with the pride which the Spanish soldier now feels, the slightest incident might provoke a conflict. Even among the most insignificant members of society you constantly hear such words as These scoundrel English—the wretches ought not to be borne with." The press is beginning to take serious notice of the-littleness of the English Embassy, which was the only foreign Legation which refused all demonstration of congratulation for our victories, and already you hear people mutter, "Either Tangier or Gibraltar May Heaven grant that the matter be not aggravated, and that the intolerance of the English may not meet its due

A WAG ON THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT. In the debate on the Army Estimates on Friday evening Sir Robert Peel made a most amusing speech on the Rifle Corps Movement. It will be seen that the right hon. baronet is thoroughly opposed to the volunteers, but advocates an increase in the regular army and navy in case of danger. He deprecated what he termed the extravagant talk uttered throughout the country, as follows :— An hon. friend of his towards the close of the year made a most amusing speech at a place called Eye. The poet had well said,— Where ignorance is bliss 'tis olly to be wise;" for the enthusiastic rifleman, addressing the Suffolk bumpkins (a laugh), made their hair stand on end by stating that there were hundreds of thousands of troops on the other side of the Channel waiting to come across. (Laughter.) Really, when such extravagant language was used to excite a national zeal for volun- teer corps, the sooner a stop was put to it the better. Schools were turned to strange purposes now-a-days, and he was not surprised that a rifle meeting had been held in St. Peter's School, Pimlico. One of the speakers, waxing very eloquent indeed, declared that he hoped to see the day when every man in England, like the Swiss, would have a rifle hung behind his door. (Cheers.) No doubt, there were a great many riflemen in Switzerland, but those who cheered should recollect that we paid upwards of 30,000,000?. for our army and navy. For his own part, he should like to see the stalwart youth of England turning their atten- tion to some legitimate and useful pursuit, instead of hankering after fire-arms and knickerbockers. (Laugh- ter.) STOKERS AND POKERS-THE SIX-FOOT GUARDS. But the climax was still to come. At the same meeting in Pimlico a Mr. Denman informed his auditors that in 1790 a body of 1,400 French troops landed in Pembroke- shire, but were immediately dispersed by the red petti- coats of the Welsh women seen on a distant hill. He must say that Mr. Denman did not offer a very flatter- ing suggestion to the gallant Pimlico Fencibles. "But," continued the orator, "Mr. Fox declared that England did not recover from the effects of that descent for twenty years." It was certainly high time to show up" meetings at which such speeches were made. Perhaps the Committee would derive a little amusement from the names of some of the rifle corps. The leaders of the movement, judging from their absurd nomenclature, seemed to have gone mad. It was a fact. Certain gentlemen, who had evidently been reading Carlyle's Life of Frederick the Great," were advertising daily in the Times on behalf of a corps, to be called the Six Foot Guards. There were corps composed of the stokers and pokers of the r?rH ■. -ays. He had already mentioned the Pimlico Tcucibles, but what did the Committee think of the Westminster Volunteers of St. John the Evangelist? What St. John the Evange- list had to do with rifle corps he could not for the life of him understand. It v. as really too bad that so venerable a name should be associated with a band of idle striplings playing at soldiers. (A laugh.) BELLIGERENT LAWYERS. There was the Volunteer Corps of the Aldermen and Corporation of London, and last, but not least, there was the Rifle Corps of the Inns of Court. He admired the patriotism of lawyers, but nothing could well be more absurd than the idea of a lot of barristers from the Inns of Court meeting the cuirassiers of the Im- perial Guard in deadly conflict. Serjeant Parry seemed to be an active member of the corps. No doubt that distinguished legal luminary would earn a grade, and become Sergeant-Major Parry. The Serjeant was kept in countenance by Dr. Balls-a capital name for a sol- dier (a laugh),—Counsellor Butt, and his old friend of the time of the French Conspiracy Bill, Lawyer Bodkin. (Laughter.) These gentlemen, and many more of the same kidney, leaving the study of Coke and Blackstone, were devoting their days and nights to "Plutarch's Lives," "Caesar's Commentaries," and "The Rifle: How to Use It." (Continued laughter.) How heavy lawyers expected to be able to crawl along hedges upon their bellies and climb up trees he could not compre- hend (a laugh), and he hoped they would not be very much offended if he applied to them the somewhat apt quotation, "In Medio tutissimus ibis," which, being literally translated, meant, You are a good deal safer in the Middle Temple." (Great laughter.) THE LONDON CATS IN DANGER! It appeared that some of the riflemen had attained great proficiency in shooting. At Hythe the first prize was carried off by a genuine Cockney. Upon being asked how he had acquired his extraordinary skill and pre- cision, "Oh! said he, "I live in London, and have had considerable practice in shooting at the cats of my Brompton neighbours." It was not, perhaps, of much consequence in the depth of winter, but no man could tell what a scene London would present at the height of the season. Everybody would be shooting at his neigh- bour's cat, and there would be no end to the inhuman massacre of the feline tribe. (Prolonged laughter.) He trusted, however, that before that time a stop would be put to the volunteer movement. If the country was really in danger, let the Government, in- stead of subscribing 101. to a rifle corps-as the Minister of War had done-give up their official salaries in aid of the necessary measures of defence. Were there real danger—all classes of men would com- bine to defend the institutions of the country. As it was, two dukes of great territorial influence had had the courage to decline to contribute to this movement because they conceived it to be absolutely unnecessary. and it had received no encouragement from the Royal family-who in case of danger would be the first to put themselves forward-beyond the patronage of a volunteer ball. He was as ready as any man to main- tain the necessary strength and efficiency of the legiti- mate defences of the country, but he entered his protest against what he believed to be a most extravagant ex- penditure of the national resources.

We see that Lord Elcho, who may be regarded as the pat- tern of the volunteer movement, from the interest which he takes in its progress, has taken up the cudgels warmly against Sir Robert Peel's expressed opinions, At a meeting held in London on the following evening, to initiate military drill as a part of education in military schools, his lordship said:— When he read the newspapers that morning, he (Lord Elcho) was not a little astonished to read the account of the performance at St. Stephen's after he had left the House. He was in the House till after eleven o'clock, and left for his home, thinking that the heavy performance taking place then was nearly over, but, to his astonishment, he found that there was sub- sequently a "screaming" farce, in which the eccentric baronet, or parliamentary Robson, performed the principal character. (Laughter.) He (Lord Elcho) thought that the hon. baronet would better have shown his patriotism and loyalty by abstaining from making a speech altogether^ than by attempting to cast ridicule on a movement which had arisen from and was sup- ported by the public opinion of the people, and which had received a gracious and grateful acknowledgment from the lips of the Sovereign.

EPITOME OF NEWS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN. In a scientific point of view the late cruise of the Russian ships of war in the Japan seas has been attended with some successful lesults, for in the beautiful Bay of Corea they discovered three islands not to be found on any existing chart, and named them America, Nachodka, and Voyvoda respectively. Lord Brougham has introduced a bill in the House of Lords to exempt prisoners from the necessity of pleading guilty or not guilty to indictments. Sir Robert Peel has given notice of motion that in Com- mittee of Supply on the Army Estimates, for the Volunteer Corps, he will move an amendment with the view of re- ducing the estimate of the charge for Volunteer Corps during the ensuing financial year. A pound of crude iron costs but a few pence, yet by labour, turned into watch springs, it is worth hundreds o pounds. General Garibaldi has received a present from the Americans of New York, consisting of a handsome revolving rifle, which will fire thirty shots without being re-loaded. There are now living at Tremar a man, named Stanton, and his wife, whose united ages amount to 180 years. They were married at their parish church sixty-eight years ago last May, and they were both born in, and have never lived out of the parish. They have forty-one grand- children, and thirty-nine great grandchildren. We have to record the death of the Bishop of Ro- chester, which took place in London on the 16th instant. The protracted illness of the bishop had prepared the family for the sad event. The deceased prelate was the oldest member of the episcopal bench. Several companies of marines are being trained at Toulon for landing on an enemy's coast. Each man is pro- vided with a six-barrelled revolver, a bag of grenades, and a hatchet. He carries as a cross-belt a rope ladder six feet long, and round his waist a cord, having at its extremity a grappling-iron with four prongs, which will enable a trained man to scale the highest wall without difficulty. A Cromarty man has died at sea, between the Sutors, frozen to death in an open boat. He was steering, too, and died with the helm in his hand. Last week a man committed suicide in a carriage on the Banff, Portsoy, and Strathisla Railway. He was seen loading a gun by a passenger in a neighbouring compart- ment but beyond that nothing was known of what happened until after the unfortunate man's death. It is intended to present Mr. Cobden with the freedom of the City of London in a gold box, valued at 50 guineas, in recognition of his services in connexion with Free Trade. The Paris correspondents of some of the German journals state that Mr. Cobden declined the Cross of the Legion of Honour when offered to him by the Emperor as an acknowledgment of his co-operation in negotiating the treaty of commerce. There is no truth 'in the rumour that the Austrian Government intends to throw a large loan into the European markets. A letter from Florence states that some of the lead- ing Tuscan patriots have opened a subscription for present- ing Captain Peard, Garibaldi's Englishman," with his bust in marble, to be accompanied by an address, in which the devotion of the Devonshire militiaman to the Italian cause is adroitly put in juxtaposition with Lord Byron's generous endeavours on behalf of the Greeks. It is said that the French Government has entered into relations with Prussia, as a member of the Zollverein, with a view to negotiating a commercial treaty on bases similar to those of the Franco-English one. Prussia, it is said, made the first advances. At Shapwick, last week, afgentleman, in hurrying to the railway station, took a wrong turning, and got into a canal, when Isaac Jones, a labouring man, with great pre- sence of mind, and a coolness of courage rarely surpassecs, dashed into the water, and succeeded in bringing him out safely. The Court Journal says that there is not the slightest foundation for the announcement, copied from the Dutch papers, of the approaching marriage of the Prince of Orange with an illustrious Princess. The name of the Emperor of China appears for the first time in the Almanack de Gotha for 1860. Sian Fien is the seventh Emperor of the Tisins, which succeeded the dynasty of the Mins in 1644. The University, or Oxford and Cambridge, boat race, invariably the leading and most attractive feature of the aquatic season, is expected to take place on the 31st of March, over the usual course from Putney to Mortlake. A very extensive fire has occurred at Bristol, in which the extensive library and book-stock of the well- known collector, Mr. Kerslake, which comprised many volumes and MSS. of the rarest description, has been injured to the extent, it is believed, of from 15,000J. to 20,0001. The London Gazette announces the Victoria Cross being conferred upon Mr. IV. F. Donell, magistrate, Captain w. M. Cafe, Lieutenant F. D. Brown, and Private Dennis Dempsy, of the 10th Regiment, for distinguished service at Lucknow, and elsewhere in India. A Dublin contemporary asks, if there is to be anew lid. newspaper postage stamp for, say 5i ounces, why should not there be a new id. stamp for, say 1J ounces? This would be a great booh for every one, especially the working man. Miss Angela Burdett Coutts has presented 5,0001. and a valuable collection of fossils to the University o Oxford, for the foundation of two "Burdett Coutts Geo- logical Scholarships." The London Globe's Paris correspondent states that the French Government has bought the Debate for 100,000i. It is to become the great organ of Free Trade, with Michel Chevalier as editor. Vine-growing is becoming an important branch of industry in Bendigo the proprietor of one valuable vine- yard at Epsom contemplating, it is said, offering a chal- lenge to the whole colony, in 100L, for any one competing with him in the production of fine grapes. Carriages should not be kept in a stable where horses stand, for the reason that the ammonia will destroy the varnish. Marshal Neil and the Duke de Magenta are about to receive, for their share in the battle of Solferino, the Piedmontese Order of the Annunziata, the oldest in Europe, having been established in 1362. [Will they be any happier when they have got this ?] Among the novel applications of photography may be mentioned the production by its aid of cheap impressions of music. Perhaps one of the largest holders of railway and mining shares amongst the fairer portion of the upper ten thousand" is Maria, Marchioness of Ailesbury. Her ladyship is quite au courant with the prices and prospects of the market, and is a good judge of what are likely to turn out successful ventures, and has lately made some successful speculations. A young man in King's county, Ireland, was latelv lynched by a party of his neighbours for having jilted a young woman.-Serve him right! we fancy we hear our lady readers say. One very singular fact came out in Lord Clarence Paget's speech on the Navy Estimates-the indisposition of our merchant seamen to join the Naval Reserve, not because they think the terms not sufficiently tempting, (tor they regard them as even handsome,) but because they are afraid of being kidnapped and sent off to China, or on some other expedition, without any previous warning. A strong detachment of the Honourable Artillery Company of London, in light marching order, with the full band of the regiment, marched past Buckingham Palace on Saturday afternoon. Her Majesty and suite came out on the balcony to see this ancient volunteer corps march past. An English missionary now in Sumatra lately wrote home that he had had the" satisfaction" of seeing the oven in which his predecessor was baked Dr. Cumming, at Leeds, said the year 1867 seemed to end 6,000 years of the world's history, and hence the millennial rest of 1,000 years was close at hand. An European war was looming more dreadful than that which had recently happened. He believed that England would emerge from the midst of these vials of wrath, and his study of prophecy, so far from making him feel gloomy, filled him with hope. What with deputations from the Irish and Scotch distillers, the licensed victuallers, the wholesale tea and sugar merchants, the shipowners, the merchants and traders of Bristol, Hull, Newcastle, Cork, Greenock, and other towns, and to say nothing of the stationers, Mr. Gladstone must have had a pretty time of it during the past few days. An American paper says of the inhabitants of Cin- cinnati, (which, by the bye, from the great quantity of pigs killed there for salting, is called the "metropolis of pigs,") that when their water is too thick with mud, they are in the habit of filtering it through a cane-bottomed chair. The following is the bill brought into the House of Commons by Mr. Locke King and Mr. Horsfall for further securing the liberty of religious worship :—" Be it enacted, &c., That it shall be lawful for any minister of the United Church of England and Ireland to celebrate divine service according to the rites and ceremonies of the said united church in any private house or on the premises belonging thereto, any law, canon, or usage to the contrary not- withstanding." The Court of Exchequer has given judgment in the case of the Earl of Shrewsbury v. Scott and another, which had come before it on a writ of error. The Court has fully affirmed the Earl of Shrewsbury's right to the property. The great conclusion, however, is that England is growing very rich, that we rise up with irresistible elasticity against every burden, and that the species of corn seems yet undiscovered which shall give the last straw which shall break this strong camel's back.—Times. We regret to learn that Miss Nightingale's health, which has for some time caused much uneasiness, continues to decline. M. Babinet, the successor of Arago, says, in the JOtlrnal des Debats, that there will be the highest tide on the 8th of March next that there has been in Europe for a century. It is demonstrated that good printing paper can be made from straw under Mr. Houghton's patent, and that the farmers will benefit by the value that can be conferred upon many sorts of vegetable material, particularly on flax straw.—London Paper. On Monday evening, in the House of Commons, the petitions presented in reference to the Budget were so nu- merous that they occupied attention for not less than an hour-and-a-half.

THE MARKETS. MARK LANE, MONDAT. The morning's supply from Kent and Essex was very small and the attendance was fair. More money was asked, but only a slow trade was found for good samples at last Monday's advance. The foreign trade was very limited, but holders were asking full rates. There was a fair supply of Scotch malting barley this morning, which only sold slowly at pre- vious quotations. The secondary sorts were dull but there was a more ready sale for low grinding foreign. The malt trade was quiet, but full rates were paid for select qualities. In oats there was only a limited trade, but needy buyers of fine qualities occasionally paid rather more. In home- grown beans there was generally very little change of value, but the tone of trade was against buyers for fine old English Peas and beans in limited request. Prices:- BRITISH. a. s. WHEAT ..Essex, Kent, and Suffolk, white, per qr. 88 to 49 BARLEY.. Malting. 30 to 36 OATS Essex and Suffolk 20 to 25 BEANS Mazagan 32 to 38 Tick and Harrow. 34 to 4A SEED .Canary.per qr. 52 to 00 Carraway perewt 36 to — Rape per qr 60 to 54 Hempseed ..per qr 33 to MARK LANE, WEDNESDAY. The supplies of English grain this week are small; of foreign wheat and oats there have been no arrivals, and of barley moderate To-day's market was badly attended. The bulk of the English wheat left over from Monday being held for the full prices obtained on that day, remains unsold. Foreign is in very limited request, and its value is the same as last day. Spring corn of all description is steady, at last rates. LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY. At our Corn Exchange this morning we have had a fair at- tendance of both local and country millers and dealers, and wheat has commanded a better sale at an advance of fully Id. per cental over the rates of Friday. Flour is held firmly at extreme prices. Indian corn attracted a fair consumptive inquiry at the quotations of last market day higher prices were asked at the commencement, but were not obtainable. Oats and oatmeal are both held for a slight advance, Beans, peas, and barley all maintain former rates. Linseed cakes are 2s. 6d. per ton dearer, and offered sparingly. LONDON SEED. Linseed is in short supply and firm. Bombay spot, 62s Calcutta, 49s to 61s Cargoes of Azoff on passage sell at 60s 3d to 50s 6d delivered. Rape advanced to 66s and 568 for fine Bombay, and 47s 6d to 48s for Calcutta. Of the latter, large parcels were sold for arrival, at 49s, delivered. MARK LANE, MONDAY.—Crushing seed was no dearer, but firm, and cakes continued a very ready sale at full prices. In seeds there was little passing in consequence of the un- favourable and backward weather, but prices of red and white clover seed were unaltered, as well as trefoil. Canary very dull. Mustard, rape seed, and other seeds remained much as last quoted. POTATOES. Supplies have been short to the metropolitan markets, and only a moderate business has been transacted, at the follow- ing quotationsYork Regents, 130s to 150s; Scotch, 90s to 130s; Scotch cups, 80s to 90s Dunbar, 90s to 100s. METKOPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET, MONDAY. The arrivals of cattle and sheep into the port of London from the Continent during the past week have been mode- rate. The beef trade to-day was very slow, and 4s 10d per stone, the top price for the best bullocks on offer, was only made in a few cases. The supply of sheep was again short and unequal to thedemacd, and in consequence the trade was quite as brisk as last week, at prices varying from 4s 4d to 5s 8d per SIbs.; but business was done in some very fine sheep at 5s 10d and nearly 6s. Both veal and pork were scarce. Calves below the ordinary supply, and the conse- quence was that the sale was active, and prices 2d higher per stone. Prices :—Beef, 3s 6d to 4s lOd; mutton, 4s 4d to 5s 8d; veal 4s 4d to 5s 8d; pork, 3s 8d to 4s lOd. HAY ANDJjTSTRAW. The supplies to the London markets are moderate, and prices steady at to-day s market:—Mardow hay, 65s. to 85s.; clover, 85s. to 105s.; straw, 25s. to 30s. per load.

LONDON PRODUCE MARKETS. MINCING LANE, WEDNESDAY. The produce markets exhibit every indication of a healthy and strong position, the protracted delay in entering into operations having little or no effect on current rates. SUGAR.—The market is quiet at the moment, but quota- tions are firm. COFFEE.—Native Ceylon at 60s to 60s 6d is in request. TEA.—Public sales are declared for, and but little s expected to be done in the interim. RICE.-Some small parcels of soft grain changed hands at 9s to 9s 3d per cwt., and 200 or 300 bags Dacca, at 9s 101d per cwt. SALTPETRE is held for late rates, at which there are few buyers. JUTE is again rather dearer. SHELLAC has sold at 9115s pertewt. for ruby sort, to arrive. GAMBIER.—A good business has been done at 17s per cwt. OILS.—Linseed remains quoted 27s 6d. Owing to heavy export duties about to be imposed by the King of Naples, olive oils are held for higher prices. Those now asked are 53l for Mogadore, and 611 for Gallipoli. Rape is still quoted 40s for foreign pale, and 38s for brown. METALS.—The market for all descriptions is quiet; 25 tons spelter have sold at 21l per ton on the spot. TALLOW.—Russian continues nearly at a stand still, and prices are next to nominal.