The Aberystwith Observer

THE ROYAL CROWN OF ENGLAND. The crown worn by the Queen at the opening of Par- liament was made for her Majesty by Messrs. Rundell and Bridge, the celebrated goldsmiths, of London. It is composed of hoops of silver, which are completely covered and concealed by precious stones, having a Maltese cross of diamonds on the top of it. In the centre of this cross is a magnificent sapphire. In front of the crown, above the rim, is another Maltese cross, in the middle of which is the large unpolished ruby which once graced the coronet of the chivalrous Black Prince; and underneath this, in the circular rim, is another immense sapphire. There are many other precious gems-emeralds and rubies, sapphires, and small clusters of drop pearls of great price. The following is an estimate of the value of the different jewels contained in this magnificent diadem :— Twenty diamonds round the circle, (valued at 1,500Z. each,) 30,0002. Two large centre diamonds, (2,000?. each,) 4,000?. Fifty-four smaller diamonds placed at the angle of the for- mer, 1,0001. Four crosses, each composed of twenty-five diamonds, 12,0002. Four large diamonds on the tops of the crosses, (10,0002. each,) 40,0002. Twelve diamonds contained in Jleurs-de-lis, 10,0002. Eighteen smaller diamonds contained in the ridges of the same, 2,0002. Pearls, diamonds, and other gems on the arches and crosses, 10,0002. One hundred and forty-one small diamond points, 5002. Twenty-sfx larger points for the upper cross, 3,0002. and two circles of pearls, about the rim, 3002.making, in the whole, 112,8002., which falls far short of the actual value, as the sapphires and rubies are not included. Were it possible to re-collect and again bring to- gether such precious stones, this estimate would fall much below their intrinsic value. The old crown of England, made for George III., weighed upwards of seven pounds; but, notwithstanding this gorgeous dis- play of jewellery, independent of the gold cap, the present crown only weighs nineteen ounces and ten pennyweights. It measures seven inches in height from the gold circle to the upper cross; and its dia- meter at the rim is five inches.

EPITOME OF NEWS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN. A dividend has jus.t been announced on the estate of Motley, Heard, & Co., ironmongers of Bristol, whose bank- ruptcy took place nearly half a century ago Another of the sufferers in the lamentable catastrophe on the Eastern Counties Railway at Tottenham, has died from the injuries he had received. Fortunately he had in- sured his life for 1,0001, in an accidental death insurance office. There is a rumour that Madlle. Piccolomini is married. The happy possessor of the fascinating singing bird is said to be an Italian -Prince, and is a man of some fortune- for Italy. One of the largest collections of old ballads is at Magdalen College, Cambridge. Stringent rules have pre- vented any publication of them hitherto but, by extra- ordinary privilege, Mr. Fairholt has been permitted to transcribe most of them, and is about to publish some of them. A young man has been sent by the Manchester justices to prison for three months, with hard labour, for cutting upwards of twenty leaves out of a volume of Black- cutting upwards of twenty leaves out of a volume of Black- wood's Magazine, at the Ctimpfield Free Library. The freedom of the city of Glasgow is about to be conferred on Sir John Lawrence. At the Leeds Archery Ground a singular feat has been achieved. During the practice at 100 yards a sparrow was observed upon the target. Two gentlemen took aim at the intruder, and the arrow of one of them passed throup;h the bird's body. The feat is, we believe, one of the most remarkable on record in connexion with archery. A Congress of Naval Architects has been sitting at the Society of Arts, London, at which the question of the construction of iron ships has formed a very important topic of discussion. It is stated by the Paris journals that a series of experiments on the art of directing balloons are to be made in the Champ-de-Mars during the ensuing spring. It deserves to be remarked, too (says Adam Smith in his "Wealth of Nations"), that if we consult experience, the cheapness of wine seems to be a cause, not of drunkenness, but of sobriety. The inhabitants of the wine countries are in general the soberest people in Europe. A lawyer asked a Dutchman in court what ear-marks a pig had that was in dispute. Veil, he has no ear-marks, except a very short tail," was the reply. It is reported that the present infantry shako is to be exchanged for a light cloth cap. If a rich old gentleman has a thought of marrying, let him consider well beforehand what it is that he stands in need of—a wife, an heiress, or a nurse. Eighteen citizens have been expelled from the State of Kentucky, on account of their opinions on slavery. An Indian in Oswego county was induced, whilst under the influence of drink, to enter an oven, in which he was unintentionally kept for an hour and a-half, when he was found to be literally baked to death, the body being blistered and swollen all over. In a recent case of breach of promise," where heavy damages were expected, the only proof of particular atten- tions was the dividing an orange and giving the lady half Two young gentlemen at boarding-school, not yet in their teens, wrote home the other day, wishing to know if they might enter the Rifle Corps of the locality The Court Journal says that the marriage of Miss Hogg, daughter of Sir James Weir Hogg, with Dmeep Singh, is spoken of as about to take place. A contemporary says:—" With regret we announce the attempt at suicide, in Paris, last week, of M. Jullien, the celebrated chef d'orchestra, by stabbing himself. He has been placed under restraint." Mr. Collard, the celebrated pianoforte manufacturer, who died the other day, aged eighty-eight, arrived in London at the age of seventeen, with a few shillings in his pocket, to the house of Clementi. After a time he was taken into partnership, and eventually became the sole proprietor of the business, and died worth nearly 250,0001. An agricultural labourer, named Lill, about thirty- eight years of age, recently died of starvation in Sussex. On inquiry, it was found that he had saved 2001., although he was only in receipt of 8s. per week. The freedom of the City of London was presented, on Friday last, to Lord Elgin, in a handsome gold box, value lOOl., on account of the important commercial services which his lordship has rendered this country. A canard has got into the French papers that the Emperor of the French gave Mr. Cobden 25,0001. for his services, and also requested our Government to give him a peerage. It needs no contradiction, but shows how estranged we are, and how little Frenchmen know of Englishmen. A contemporary says In accordance with the array estimates an increase in the number of hands employed at the several departments of the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, is to take place at the end of the present financial year, on a scale unprecedented since the period of the Russian war." The Dean of Chichester (the Very Rev. Dr. Hook), it is said, has refused to sign a petition which has been got up in that city, in favour of the maintenance of Church- rates. Some Roman and other coins have just been dug up near Corfe Castle. Among them is one representing Romulus and Remus with the wolf. The Queen has been pleased to extend the title of Lord Brougham and Vaux, hitherto limited to the present peer, to his surviving brother, Mr. William Brougham, and to his male heirs. This is a most gracious act of the Sovereign, and will be appreciated by the public as a just tribute to the genius and public services of the veteran Harry Brougham. A noble earl, a lord-lieutenant of one of the eastern counties, addressed a letter to the War Office a few days before Christmas, with reference to one of the volunteer rifle com- panies in course of formation in his district. His lordship received a reply last week, about 60 days after the dispatch of his missive 1 According to the Inverness Courier, a manuscript History of the Gospels in the Celtic language, written as early as the tenth century, has been discovered at Cam- bridge, together with other papers in the ancient Scoto- Celtic dialect. They are to be edited and published by Mr. Bradshaw. Last week the body of a female, in an advanced stage of decomposition, was discovered in a cellar in the neighbourhood of St. Giles, London. The flesh had been in a great measure eaten away by rats. The stonemasons and labourers of Huddersfield have turned out, in consequence of the refusal of the masters to give ten hours' pay for nine hours' work. A circular has been issued from the War Office, or- dering that no officers of volunteer corps shall wear a eash over their uniform, as it forms no part of the dress of either artillery or rifie corps in the regular army. A ballet dancer at the opera of Berlin has lost her life, owing to her clothes catching fire at the foot-light. Though there was plenty of assistance at hand, she was so dreadfully burnt that she died the next day. A clergyman in Wales, having written to the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer requesting that the clergy paying poor rates may be exempted from the income-tax, Mr. Glad- stone has replied that the income-tax has not originated with the Ministry, but in the will of the nation, which now thinks fit to spend thirty-six millions on the same services which a few years ago only cost twenty-one millions. He admits ¡ that the tax presses heavily upon the clergy, but says he has not observed on their part a general desire to check expenditure. Rebecca, youngest daughter of the late Mr., Law, builder, Lutterworth, was married in London on Monday, Feb. 27, and on Tuesday she expired. She was only twenty- three years of age. The convict Edwin Thomas Salt, who was to have been executed on Tuesday at Edinburgh, for the murder of his wife, has been respited until further signification of her Majesty's pleasure. It is expected that the sentence will be commuted to penal servitude for life.

A GLANCE, AT FOREIGN AFFAIRS 1. [The Proprietor of tills paper does not necessarily identify himself with the opinions here expressed.] Still the complicated questions of Italy divi.le the public mind. The latest phase of the Italian <juo.«fcioii has now been definitely stated by M. Thouvenel. The French Minister writes to the French ambassador at Turin, and elaborately states what we very reasonably suppose are the views of his imperial master. By this document we learn that the Emperor proposes that Parma and Modena shall be annexed to Tuscany, which is to become a separate and independent state; the Romagna to be governed by a Sardinian vicar, answerable to the Holy See. France, says M. Thou- venel, would give her sanction and protection to such a re-distribution of territory, but she would not take the responsibility of any other arrrangement On the question of the annexation of Savoy, M. Thouvenel, for the Emperor, is still maintaining the policy which France has already advocated. The annexation of Savoy and Nice to France is indeed resolved on, though it is said that the Emperor has resolved on shelving the question for a time. He has, it is well known, stated that he will not venture on this annexation with- out the authority of the Powers of Europe; but there are not wanting those who maintain that the annexa- tion will suddenly be determined on by a coup d'etat. This is all supposition and speculation; and we cannot see any sufficient reason for doubting the Emperor's plain and oft-repeated promises on the matter. With regard to the annexation of Tuscany, or its establishment as a separate country, the Tuscans them- -I.veq are graciously allowed to have a voice in the matter. The Tuscans have been convoked for the Uth and 12th inst., in order to vote by universal suffrage and ballot, on the two following questions Annexation to Sardinia or a separate kingdom. The issue of this vote is regarded with much interest. There appears to be inaugurated an important era of reform in Austria. A new council is to be established, to which several important matters are to be referred. Among these subjects are the following:-The delibera. tion and definitive settlement of the budget, control of the accounts concerning public income and expense, and deliberation of all financial operations. All laws relating to the whole empire. To examine the projects of laws and proposals presented by the representative assemblies of the provinces. The constitution of this council is opposed to the prin- ciple of centralisation, which has done so much to injure Austrian national interests. The new coun- cil is to be reorganised on a popular basis. The Emperor will nominate a certain number of extra- ordinary councillors, but 37 ordinary councillors are to be selected by the Emperor from a list of represen- tatives elected by provincial diets, each diet sending up three candidates for the imperial nomination. The Emperor, it will thus be seen, still will have very con- siderable power in the council; but the popular element will nevertheless be largely represented. It is ear- nestly to be hoped that a plan so judiciously begun will be allowed to work freely for the benefit of the country at large.

FOREIGN ITEMS. That part of the Emperor's speech concerning the an- nexation of Savoy and Nice was received in Nice with enthu- siasm. A decree has been issued by the Austrian authorities at Venice, ordering all functionaries of the State to shave off their beards, and especially to discontinue the wearing of hats & la Cavour, which are considered as the emblem of the party opposed to the Imperial Government Whilst the whole population of Vienna took an active part in the Schiller festival, the medical profession alone kept aloof. Considerable surprise being expressed at this exclu- siveness, a wit remarked, I think it quite natural that medical men won't have anything to do with immortal people." A journal at Barcelona, calling itself La Corona d'Arragona, (but which might term itself the cap of arrant impudence,) proposes that the new" conquest" of Spain (namely, Tetuan) may be offered to England in simple exchange for Gibraltar. The pilot of the Havre packet reports that the life-boat of the ill-fated Ondine has been picked up at sea and towed into Havre by a pilot boat. It contained two dead bodies, male and female, the former apparently a sailor, and the latter a soldier's wife. At the funeral of Mr. Fonblanque, late B ritish Consul at Belgrade, Vicomte de Vallat, the French Consul- General, declared that the Pasha of Belgrade ought to precede Prince Michael in the procession, which decision gave such offence to the heir-presumptive to the throne, that he desired M. de Vallat never to cross his threshold again. A, Turin letter states that Baron Poerio (who was so long imprisoned by the King of Naples) has lately been very ill, but is now quite recovered, and will probably be a candidate for the representation of Milan in the National Parliament. Larache and Arcilla, lately bombarded by the Spanish fleet, are two small ports on the Atlantic coast. The latter is a town of about a thousand inhabitants, eleven leagues south-west of Tangier, and is defended by only one fort. Laroche has from time immemorial been the ordinary station of the Emperor of Morocco's fleet. The Chamber of the Representatives of Belgium have adopted unanimously a bill which strikes out of the oath to be taken by provincial councillors and municipal authorities, the declaration that the House of Nassau (Orange) has no right to the throne of Belgium.

Ipsallattews general ftttos, A MOMENTOUS QUESTION SETTlED. The great rag question may be considered at an end. Lord John Russell, on Monday, replying to a question about the effect of the French Treaty on our colonial shipping, intimated the intention of the Government to use their influence with France to get the colonies of both countries placed on the same footing as them- selves. He added that the Council of Ministers had resolved on recommending the withdrawal of the pro- hibition on the export of rags. The announcement was received with loud cheers; and soon became known to knots of alarmed paper-makers in the lobby. ANOTHER SHIPWRECK.—Another dreadful ship- wreck has just been added to the long list of catas- trophes of a similar kind with which the English public have been appalled during the last few months. The Hungarian, one of the great Canadian steam ships, is this time the ill-fated vessel. She sailed from Liver- pool to Canada on the 8th,of February, and struck on the coast of Nova Scotia on the morning of the 20th ult., and it would appear that all on board have perished. A list, copied from the books of the Admiralty emigra- tion agent, shows that there were forty-five cabin and eighty steerage passengers on board the Hungarian, and that the crew consisted of eighty persons. MORE UNDIGNIFIED SQUABBLING!—Another crisis has taken place in the affairs of St. George's- in-the-East, London, for on Monday, .at the Thames Police-court, a number of persons applied for sum- monses against the Rev. Bryan King, the Rev. T. Dove, and others, for assaulting them in the church on the previous afternoon. The applicants had seated themselves in a pew, waiting for the evening service, when the Rector required them to leave, and they re- fusing to do so, force was employed. The magistrate expressed some doubt as to whether he had the power to adjudicate in these cases, as a question of right on the part of the Rector to exercise authority in the church was involved. He, however, granted sum- monses. The greatest excitement prevails in the parish, and the unhappy disputes which have given so painful a notoriety to the district appear to be no nearer their termination than ever. NEW MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.—The "Athenaeum" says :— We have not yet spoken of the new French instrument, bearing the French name of Pedalier, or, to be more correct, an addition of a keyboard for the feet, commanding deeply toned and tuned bass strings, to the piano-forte. This addition, in appearance, amounts to a screen behind the player, who sits, as in some organs, betwixt the halves of his instrument. The invention, provided the double instrument can be well kept in tune, will be of great use to organ students under caution, that a peculiar touch is required for feet as well as hands, which have to make the notes speak where sustaining power is limited. EXTRAORDINARY TltIAL.-At the Durham assizes an extraordinary cause has been-tried, being an action brought by a Mrs. Suddes, the plaintiff, as an executrix of her husband, who was killed by a gun being ac- cidentally fired off by the defendant. On the night in question the defendant, accompanied by the deceased, who was his tenant, and four other persons, went out in pursuit of some poachers. Two poachers, who were accompanied by a large dog, were taken about midnight. When they were taken a scuffle ensued, and one of the poachers set his dog at one of the party, who there- upon shot the dog. After this the defendant begged of two of the party who had guns to deliver them up to him. They gave up both their guns to the deceased, who handed them to the defendant, and he put them, together with his own, under his arm. While walking along the defendant felt the guns slip, and in endea- vouring to prevent them falling he accidentally caused one of them to go off., and the contents of the gun were lodged in the calf of the leg of the deceased. The deceased lingered a few days, and then died of locked jaw. The learned judge, in summing up, told the jury they must be satisfied that the defendant had been guilty of negligence. As to damages, they must not give out of compassion or charity, or compensation for wounded feelings, but only for the pecuniary injury. Verdict for the plaintiff—Damages, 100J. to the widow, 501, to each of the four children. THE Bu.ti.,DE it's" FmE. A correspondent writes Some time ago, the Builder drew attention to a method of laying and lighting house fires, known as "the Builder's fire." One part of the plan consists in closing the bottom of the grate with a plate of sheet-iron, and this alone will effect a considerable saving in coals. Have a piece of thin sheet-iron cut to the form of the bottom of the grate, and make a fire above it; the sheet-iron prevents the ashes falling through, and produces an equable combustion it does not deaden" the fire, which will burn as brightly and as warmly, indeed warmer, than with open bottom bars. I have continued the plan at office and house for some three years, and, therefore, have had this length of experience. Dr. Farr, of the Re- gistrar-General's Office, Dr. Southwood Smith, Mr. Graham, of East Lodge, Enfield, and many others, have also adopted the plan, and are satisfied as to the benefit and saving. I only give these names, and my own, as guarantees of the facts stated. THE IMPORTANCE OF DRILL IN SCHOOLS.— Sir Francis Head, writing to Mr. Edwin Chadwick on this subject, says :— No animal, whether on four legs or on two, can be of any use in the workshop of man until he has been sufficiently divested of that part of his natural inheritance commonly called "a will of his own." What's the use of a cow if she won't allow either man or maid to milk her ? What's the use of a horse if he won't put his head into a collar, or suffer a saddle to be placed on his back ? In like manner, of what use to the community is a man, in any rank of life, if he re- fuses to practise the heraldic motto of the Prince of Wales, "Ich Dien,l serve"—in short, if the fellow won't obey?" Illustrating his. argument by a reference to Mr. Rare j's system of horse taming, Sir Francis says :— The dull-sounding but magic little words of command, "Eyes right. "Eyesleftl" "Eyes front!" Right turn "Left turn!" "Right about turn!" "Left about turn!" "Quickmarchl" "Halt I" "Stand at ease!" Attention &e., instil into the minds of a lot of little boys the elements, not of war, but of peace. Instead of making them ferocious, to use Mr. Rarey's expression, these words gentle them, until, by learning to be subservient, not to their own, but to the wills of others, they become fit in every possible de- partnlent to serve their country. On entering the Foreign Office, Home Office, the Church, the counting-house, the manufactory, or the farm, in which they. desire to labour, their habits of obedience would prove so beneficial to their employers, as well as to themselves, that I feel confident if a system of drill be once adopted in our public and private schools, a tall, undrilled young man, like a .raw, unbroken horse, would by the generality of dealers be considered "unserviceable." THE RESULT OF A TRADE OUTRAGE.—It will perhaps be recollected that in August last a non- unionist saw-grinder at Sheffield, named Linley, who bad been the subject of several previous trade outrages, was shot in the left temple while drinking at a public- house. The bullet, a very small one, lodged in the fatty substance behind the eye, and could not be ex- tracted, and the police failed in making out a case against a man named Brown, who was apprehended on suspicion of committing the offence. Linley recovered sufficiently to be able to resume work after several months; but he was never well. For some weeks he has been suffering from fits, and he died last week, death having, it is believed by his medical attendants, resulted from the bullet having lodged in his head. MACAULAY AND MRS. BEECHER STOWE.-Not- withstanding Macaulay's reputation for conversational power, he appears to have uttered few bon mots, to have made few conversational points which are re- peated and remembered. One of the very few good stories current of him is the following:—It is said he met Mrs. Beecher Stowe at Sir Charles Trevelyan's, and rallied her on her admiration of Shakspeare. "Which of his characters do you like best?" said he. Desde- mona," said the lady. Ah, of course;" was the reply, for she was the only one who ran after a black man." BREACH OF PROMISE.—At the Midland Circuit assizes the case, Norcote v. Eyre, has been tried, being an action to recover damages for breach of promise of marriage made by the defendant, a hatter and draper living at Peterborough, to the plaintiff, who kept a millinery, Berlin wool, and fancy toyshop in the same town. The defendant pleaded the general issue. The defendant, who had long been acquainted with the plaintiff, began in 1858, with the consent of her mother, to pay her marked attentions, and subse- quently in the same year made her an offer of marriage, which was accepted. This engagement led to the plaintiff's disposing of her business and stock, which was done by the defendant's advice, and with some sacrifice. A wedding-dress was bought, and wedding- cake made. Ten week* after the offer of marriage the engagement, for what cause did not appear, was rudely broken off by tho defendant. The plaintiff did not, however, press for vindictive damages. The jury made the faithless swain pay 501, for his fickleness. THE ENGLISH COAL F.iELDS.—Mr. T. D, Ansted writes to the Times to point out that our coal must last 350 years at least at the present rate of consumption. We have, he says, 6,000 square miles of coal fields. Now, as an acre contains 4,400 square yards, and a cubic yard of solid coal weighs nearly one ton, there thus appears to be 24,200 tons of coal per acre of coal lands on a general average, but as a large quantity of coal in every coal-field is, from various causes, not obtainable, and another large part is lost by the ordinary mode of extraction, we cannot calculate on more than one-third of this, say 8,000 tons per acre, as the quantity that can be removed and sold. This would give about 5,000,000 tons of coal for every square mile of coal lands. The annual consumption of coal at present in England cannot be less than 80,000,000 tons, and thus we are now exhausting about sixteen miles of coal lands each year. Estimating the area of coal lands at 6,000 square miles this would give a duration of rather more than 350 years." THE VALENTINE TRADE.—A London house has given some curious statistics respecting valentines. Some of their productions are real works of art, and are as high as 31. 3s. To protect them in going through the post they are enclosed in a light box. Some con- tain miniature wax babies, others little wicker baskets of flowers. Some very pretty ones, embossed and perforated, are supplied to the trade at about a half- penny. Some are moveable. One young gentleman, for instance, is tugging away with a comb at a great mop on his head, and others, by moving a strip of paper, show the real disposition of the character pre- sented. Some idea may be formed of the extent of this branch of trade, when this house alone have several hundred varieties, and each season, altogether, send out nearly a hundred thousand. The total value of valentines produced is said to be 10,000l. per annum. THE BEGINNING OF FRIENDSHIP.—Once in America a clever and candid woman said to me, at the close of a dinner, during which I had been sitting beside her, "Mr. Roundabout, I was told I should not like you; and I don't." Well, ma'am," says .r, in a tone of the most unfeigned simplicity, I don't care." And we became good friends immediately, and esteemed each other ever after. -Co)-akill Maga- zine. THE MARRYING SEASON!—The "Irish marry- ing season," (says the Nenagh Guardian) which closed on Tuesday last, has been, this year, more than usually successful, much to the advantage of the Roman Catholic clergy, the benefit of grocers, butchers, bakers, &c., and the delectation of wedding-goers. The middle classes, particularly, made a first-rate turn-out of it, and seldom within the same space of time have so many of their numbers fallen willing victims to the artful wiles of Cupid as during the last month. The Lotha- rios, too, have been most liberal in the payment of the marriage fees, and many a "good Father" buttoned his pocket upon a 201, or 301. note, after performing the ceremony, as a reward of his kind services.

HONOUR TO TRUE BRAVERY! A late episode in the House of Commons will give much satisfaction to the country. In answer to a question put by Sir F. Baring, Lord Palmerston has promised to take into consideration the bestowal of a suitable reward on Sir L. M'Clintock, who discovered the relics of Sir John Franklin's expedition. The subject of a monument to the unfortunate commander himself was also broached, and the result will be that the self-sacrifice of Franklin and his gallant com- panions will be duly commemorated in some public place or some sacred edifice. Remarking on the subject, the Timet says The justice of thu. honouring these brave dead is, of course, beyond dispute and we think that the propo- sition respecting a reward to Captain M'Clintock will receive as ready an assent. It is the peculiar great- ness of this country that its high achievements are not exclusively due to the impulse of the State. # If a Livingstone explores unknown regions, and raises by his discoveries the character of a continent, he does it without Government aid, as the emissary of a private society, volunteering in the cause of science and re- ligion. So with Captain M'Clintock. The Govern- ment had refused, and < £ htly refused, to send out another expedition to the North Pole. The certainty of Franklin's death had been established, both by the length of time that had elapsed and by the narratives of the aborigines, and the Admiralty could not in justice demand of officers and seamen that they should risk their lives merely to satisfy the curiosity of the public, though such curiosity was certainly legitimate, and we all of us feel gratified at learning at last how the brave explorer died, and what was the end of his still more unhappy survivors. So it was a case for private effort, for the liberality of domestic affection, for the boldness of individual enterprise. That Lady Franklin and her friends should send out the yacht Fox, and that Captain M'Clintock should take command of the little vessel, and with a handful of men penetrate into the most desolate regions on the track of the lost navigators, that he should do all that he aimed at, and lift the veil which covered their fate,—that this, one of the most daring and ro- mantic achievements of our time, should be per- formed without the aid of public money or Ministerial support, are events characteristic of this country. It is the English way of doing things, and as long as it is so the energy and public spirit of the race will survive. But when the thing is done then comes the graceful function of the Crown. To recognise by public ho- nours what has been accomplished by private zeal and enterprise is a principle sanctioned among us, and in accordance with which Sir L. M'Clintock will receive his well-deserved reward.

DEATH OF A FRENCH CELEBRITY. The Athenceum, in its Paris correspondence, calls attention to the death of Coulon, a surgeon who was well known in Paris in the time of Louis the Eighteenth. He possessed extraordinary powers of imitation. Coulon gave imitations of the princes and princesses of the Royal family; but he was a good courtier. He mimicked the elder branch with re- servations but on meeting a prince or princess of the younger he kept back nothing, but gave his talent full play. He was particularly successful with the Duke of Orleans, Louis Philippe, who, on meeting him one day in the Tuileries, said-" Monsieur Coulon, you imi- tate me wonderfully. I was enabled to judge for myself yesterday. One small detail is only wanting for the completion of the portrait; but that, to an artist like yourself, is an important one." What is it, Monseig- neur ?" asked Coulon, rather embarrassed. I always wear this diamond in my cravat," said the Duke;. "permit me to offer it to you, that you may render the imitation perfect." And, unfastening the pin, he pre- sented it to Coulon, who bowed, and said—" Ah, Mon- seigneur, your Royal Highness is too generous. As an imitator, I had only a right to paste." Coulon made his fortune,—thanks to his patronage. He married the daughter of a Marseillais, named Bernard, who was a wholesale maker of shoes for the colonies, of guns at St. Etienne, of flowers at Paris, who dressed leathers at St. Germain, made china at Villedieu, sugar at Sucy, and Kirsch in the Black Forest. He formed the gaming-houses of Baden, Vienna, and Paris. He pos- sessed hotels, chateaux, millions; he escorted his wife to Longchamps in a gilded carriage drawii by snow white horses; dined thirty parasites at his table daily, gave a million to his daughter as her marriage portion; ran through all his fortune, and invested the few crowns that remained to prevent him from dying in a hospital.

FORTUNE-HUNTING IN PARIS. The advice so humorously given by Punch "to per- sons about to marry-don't," should, it appears, be in- variably followed in Paris, for whether the fashion be followed by old men and children, or young men and maidens, it seems to bring with it a punishment too great to bear (writes the Paris correspondent of a contemporary). A curiousgcase, in proof of this asser- tion, is now on trial. A certain old gentleman having run through his fortune like a young one, resolved to follow up his youthful bent by seeking for a wife with money to repair his fortunes, as the very young men do in the like emergency. Like these same young men also, he resolved to look for a wife that'would not last over long, and so sought amongst the most aged of his fair acquaintances for a spouse that wouldlwear not too well. The gay deceiver was asthmatical, querulous, bald, and gouty, therefore boldly set forth on his search, supported by a splendid pair of patent crutches, and adorned by a flaxen wig from the first maker. The aged lady was soon found, the deeds immediately drawn up, the consent of the nearest relation (perhaps a grandchild) speedily obtained, and the knot instantly tied. Both parties believed themselves immensely enriched by the ceremony, but after a while each one found that infirmities alone had been added to the common stock, and life became intolerable. The asthma was the worst of all to bear; and this being the property of the husband alone, means were resorted to by the wife to settle it entirely on himself; but, finding that he still insisted on sharing the inconveni- ence of the hollow cough and watchfulness of the com- plaint, she resolved to get rid of her troublesome com- panion. This she accomplished in the most artistically treacherous way ever dreamt of. As cure of the terrible asthma to which he was subject, the husband was in us the habit of taking various poisonous drugs in the medicines administered to him by the doctors. The wife managed to find a portion of these in the various articles of food prepared for herself, and lodged a com- plaint with the commissary of police against her hus- band for an attempt to poison her. The husband was carried off, after due examination of the case, to prison, and in consequence of the shock he fell seriously ill. The Procureur Imperial, however, judging differently of the case, ordered his immediate release, and com- manded the arrest of the wife, who, beholding her scheme unveiled and her treachery discovered, has just died, after a full avowal of her guilt. Perhaps the disconsolate widower may set forth on another matri- monial chase. This time he will, no doubt, be prudent enough to add deafness and blindness to the other in- firmities he evidently considers indispensable to the short and sweet conditions of conjugal happiness in modern French life.

RAGS AND THE PAPER DUTY. Many of the wholesale stationers and large paper makers are raising a great outcry about the scarcity of rags but, on the other side of the question, a "Rag Merchant" writes to a contemporary, stating a few facts in connection with the subject:— Improvements in machinery have been the chief cause of the downfall of the little paper-maker; hence the large capitalists have absorbed all the trade. The paper duties have helped in the matter to a very great extent, for the little maker, with the uncertainty of water as a motive power, and his imperfect machinery, cannot make head against his more fortunate rival. As this is the case, it is no wonder that the large makers do not desire a repeal of the duty. They fear that the little man will in some measure recover his position, which will certainly be the case wherever water-power can be obtained; my opinion is that in many of the small mills, now quite shut up, a profitable trade^ may be carried on in preparing half-stuff; so that, for instance, three or four very small mills moved by water might prepare stuff for one machine-mill. This would answer one good purpose-that of employing the poor in the rural districts, for with all the improvements in machinery they cannot make paper without water to prepare half-stuff. This will, no doubt, be one result of the repeal of the duty. Another will be that many mills of a better kind, now closed, having tolerably good machines in them, moved partially by water, might be profitably employed in making low papers, such as would be below the notice of the large manufacturers. The lowest kinds of paper now pay cent. per cent. of the value, the duty being nearly four times the value of the raw material. There will be no lack of material for this purpose, as many rag merchants have large accu- mulations of such stuff, now hardly worth the carriage to the mill. Now a word or two in respect to a supply of rags. My opinion is that rags will not be so scarce as the Times seems to insinuate. Excepting France and one or two other places, we have all the world as a market, so that I think it all bosh to suppose there will be no rags to make paper with. Rags may go up a little, but not to the extent of the duty. I consider that, as the duty is 15s. 9d. per cwt., when repealed it will be as good as 2d. per lb. off the paper. Rags may go up in price so as to ma.ke one halfpenny per lb. difference in the price of paper; but this is, I have no doubt, the most it will be. Respecting the fear of our paper-makers lest the French makers should ruin them, I believe that to be all bosh likewise. Our makers are getting their best rags at about 301. per ton. The same class of rags in France are about 20Z: per ton; but if the French makers are expected to make paper for this market, will not the price of rags soon go up there ? And if the French makers nre"able to compete in any respect with the English, why rags here must come down to the same level. Or do our makers fear the French on the same terms ? To say that because the French will not sell us rags we need not buy their paper, is a very selfish argument. Upon this principle I suppose that the whole community should go without paper rather than a few makers should run the risk of competition. Surely if our makers do not fear competi- tion with the French, if allowed to go there and buy rags, with the disadvantage of carriage, they will have no reason to fear, if, without France, theyjiave got all the world to get rags from. I have been above twenty-five years in the rag trade, and never could see the danger the Times fears about a supply. Keep our poor well employed, so that they may be able to get clothes, and we shall not want for rags. If the writer in the Times had been with me often within the last seven years in travelling from mill to mill for orders, without selling a ton, he would tell another tale; yet sometimes I am told by wholesale stationers that rags are scarce. I ask them who told them so. They answer the paper makers. The paper makers now, with the immediate repeal of the duty before their eyes, will not give an advance on rags. I cannot get as much as 10s. per ton more now than nine months since for rags.

MR. ROEBUCK AGAIN ABUSES THE EMPEROR! Mr. Roebuck seems quite unable to shake off the opinion which he formed after his visit to Cherbourg, and which he so boldly enunciated in his renowned "Tear'em" speech at Sheffield just afterwards, for in the debate on Monday evening on the Commercial Treaty, he indulged in the following tirade against the Emperor and his policy :— Not being of any party whatever (laughter) I think I may reply to the question, why we mix up the two subjects of the commercial treaty and Savoy. For the treaty of commerce no man is more anxious than I am; but at the same time I have my own opinion about the annexation of Savoy. I will tell the hon. gentleman, then, why we connect the two. With the internal affairs of France we have nothing to do. The French place whom they please at the head of their Govern- ment. They present him to the world, and with him we negotiate. It is, therefore, the duty of England to negotiate with the present Emperor of the French. We do not ask how he came to the throne. We do not ask what is his character. We do not, while nego- tiating with him, express what we think of the man. All these questions must enter into our minds but we negotiate with him candidly, freely, honestly, though we have our own opinion as to the result of that nego- tiation. NAPOLEON'S REFERENCES TO CHARACTER." Now being, as I said, of no party, and not being a Government official, I think it my duty on the present occasion, simply as a representative of the people of England, to state what I accept as the result of the commercial treaty, supposing it had passed. With the people of France, I have the most earnest desire to maintain the most friendly relations. I believe it is for the happiness of mankind that these two great nations should be upon relations of amity. As the French nation has chosen its governor, with him I am quite prepared to deal; but 1 cannot help forming my own conclusions as to the result of this negotiation. The result of this negotiation will, I believe, very much depend upon the character of the man with whom we have deal. Now, what does that man do ? Upon this occasion I am not simply to consider what the hon. member for Birmingham calls the danger of the question. I have to consider the honour of England. 1 say that if at this time we did not speak our minds we should be truckling to the Emperor of the French. We should not be the England which I believe we are. I say that this man who is now entering into friendly relations with us is breaking all the treaties we have made, and is casting dishonour upon England by making it appear that we are his friends, while he is doing a disgraceful and dishonourable act. I do not mince my language. I don't fear that man, but I have a fear lest England be thought to truckle to_ him. What is he doing ? He invites us to enter into friendly intercourse. To that invitation I willingly accede. I think he has done boldly by so doing. I think he has acted doubly boldly, when, having quarrelled with his priests, he ventures to quarrel with his Prohibitionists at the same time. THE EMPEROR BREAKING ALLIANCES AND TREATIES. But he has done a bolder act. At the same time that he invites England to be his friend, he seeks to break the treaties which England has made. He talks of acquiring the versantes des Alpes. If I understand what that means, he will go still further. The man who talks of geographical reasons for wishing to approach the Alps, may for the same reasons desire to approach the Rhine. And so, if we now stand by with bated breath," while he approaches the Alps, we shall by-and- by see him acquire the Rhenish provinces of Prussia, and crush Belgium in his grasp. What shall we do then ? We shall be driven to do that which we ought to do now, and proclaim boldly that we think it would be dishonourable to do that which he is about to do. I do not ask for a war ("hear, hear," and a laugh); I know there is pugnacity at the bottom of all the hon. member for Birmingham does. (Laughter.) When I say I do not wish to fight, he laughs at me. (Renewed laughter.) But, Sir, there is something in the grave and solemn declaration of a people like England (hear, hear), even with the Emperor of the French. I have known the time when a declaration of this House stopped him short in his career. I recollect the time when this House was solicited to alter the legislation of England to please him. This House refused to consent to that. We stopped him short in his career then, and what has been his course since then? During the Italian war, and after it, the Emperor of the French did all he could to throw off the English alliance. HE TURNS LIKE A WEATHERCOCK. Why do I say that ? I take the expression of opinion in the press of France to be the expression of the Emperor's opinions. Having failed to win the friendship of the despots of Europe, he fell back upon his old ally, and then he silenced by one blow the press of France. Is that not true ? Did he not issue his fiat, and did not all the insolence and all the imperti- nence against England at once cease ? I have faith in the English House of Commons, although some may be base enough to truckle to an Emperor, and I am sure this House of Commons will maintain the character, the dignity, and the honour of England. To go back to what I was saying :—The Emperor of the French turned round, and again cultivated the friendship of his old ally. We were sworn friends again, but I can't forget what that phase of that man's life disclosed. HOW WE SHOULD ACT IN THE MATTER. You may not like what I say, but I am sure it is the question for us to consider. I say, what are we to do ? Are we at once, and without consideration, to accede to this treaty ? I am most anxious at once to close with this treaty of commerce if we can. But I would not close with it in such a way as to appear to sanction the proceedings of the Emperor of the French in the annexation of Savoy. Therefore, I say the con- sideration of this question ought to be deferred until the House has had an opportunity of declaring its opinion as to the annexation of Savoy. I am quite sure a large majority of the House would at once adopt the language of the noble lord the member for London and declare itself hostile to that annexation. And here I must say, if the noble lord will permit me, that I think the language has been in accordance with the views of the people, and that nothing could be better than the manner in which he has nleclared his honest feelings upon this matter. I call upon the House of Commons to say what the noble lord has said, and to declare its opinion upon this matter before we say that we are willing to enter into a treaty of commerce between the two nations. I only ask the House to do that, and that when it has declared the annexation of Savoy to be against the honour and dignity of England to say to France, If you will enter into negotiations, we wish to have peace and content between the two countries, and we will even sacrifice our feelings to gain that end."

THE MARKETS. | MARK LANE, MONDAY. i The fresh arrivals from the near counties to this morning's market were again limited, and the foreign imports very short of all articles, and of wheat more especially. After some rain yesterday the weather is again fine, with the wind from north-west. English wheat met a steady demand for all good qualities at fully the price of last Monday. Foreign was taken in retail quantities, at firm rates. Flour was held firmly with a steady inquiry. Malt was in moderate request, without change in the value. Fine malting barley realised last Monday's rates, but intermediate qualities were a slow sale. Beans and peas were in moderate demand at former currencies. The oat trade was firm, and all good corn brqught late rates. Prices;- BRITISH. A. s. WHEAT ..Essex, Kent, and Suffolk, white, per qr. 80 to 60 BAKLEX ..Malting SO to 3G OATS Essex and Suffolk 20 to 86 BEANS.Mazagan 32 te 8T Tick and Harrow 34 to 44 SEED Canary. per qr. 62 ».O 60 Carraway per cwt 12 to — Rape per qr. 60 to 64 Hempseed ..per qr SSto- LONDON SEED. The arrivals of Linseed continue light, and prices Irm at 52s to 52s 6d for Bombay on the spot, and 40s to ill for Calcutta. A very considerable business has been dene for arrivals, Calcutta and Black Sea seed at 48& per qr. the former cost, freight, and insurance, including bags, and the latter delivered U.K. Rapeseed has advanced, and sound Calcutta cannot be bought under 50s on the spot, and there were ready buyers of floating parcels at this price, free delivered. Linseed cakes were again dearer. Fine oblong, New York, in barrels, 10l 10s to 10212s 6d; best oblong New York and Boston in bags, 10Z 5s to 10l 7s 6d per ton. MARK LANB, MONDAY.—The character of the market was firm, though sales of linseed were not free, but cakes were still readily placed. In seeds the business passing was but small owing to the heavy rains. Fine red clover seed was held at previous rates, as well as white. Trefoil and canary were a slow sale. Tares were heavy and cheaper. Other seeds only found a retail inquiry. METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET, MONDAY. The supplies of fat stock were again moderate, and gene- rally in fair condition; but, owing partly to the supplies of dead meat at Newgate andLeadenhall, the trade was slow. Salesmen were however, firm in their demands and prices ranged fully up to those of Monday last. Sheep were also a slow sale, but quite as dear. The few calves on offer sold without change in value. Pigs were in steady request at IcLte f3>t6S PricesBeef, Ss lOd to 5s mutton, 4s Cd to 5s lOd veal, 5s 2d to 6s pork, 4s to 5s at per stone of SIbs., sinking the offal. PROVISIONS. Business in foreign butters is still kept in abeyance by the pending abolition of the duties; meanwhile stocks are he- cumulatmg, and will contribute to give the consumer the full advantage of the impost remitted. Bacon is the turn firmer in price. Butter meets but a limited demand, attention being more immediately directed to the market for foreign. CORK, BUTTER, MARCH S.-lst8, 130s; 2nds, ISOs; 8rds, 112s; 4ths, 97s; õths, g2s; 6ths, 75s. Inspected and weighed, 1Q4 sold, 110. In good demand. POTATOES. Supplies to the London markets continue moderate, and trade steady at the following quotations :-York Regents, 140s to 155s; Flukes, 130s to 145s Scotch rRegents, 100s to 130s Scotch Cups, 85s to 90s Dimbar, 96s to 105s Kent and Essex, 80s to 120s per ton. LONDON PRODUCE MARKETS. MINCING LANE, TCHSDAY. In the colonial produce markets rice and tea have been the fvw^!f wnni?Clp y ensnging attention. Business to some mitht wJ i°ne the former at very full prices, and more rm^ht have been done but for the firm demand of Lolders. In sugar and coffee nothing imDortant took ninn* SUGAR.—Jaggery Mjtdras has sold at 29s Sd per cwt.; but otherwise there has been very little doing. COCOA is firm in value, with a good inquiry. TEA.—The public sales have concluded at fully last Friday's prices; some common congou, without reserve, selling at Is 5d and Is 5id per lb. COFFEE.—Business is still restricted by the want of supplies on offer. RICE.—Old Rangoon has sold at 8s; Necranzie at 9s and 9s 4td per cwt. SALTPETRE.—The Sardinian Government have advertised a contract for 180 tons. Some business was done by private treaty, but the particulars were not allowed to transpire. JUTE is still inquired for, and contracts are said to have been made to-day which fully maintain the recent advance. METALS.—Scotch pig iron, 59s 3d to 59s 6d per ton 25 tons spelter sold on the spot at 202 15s per ton. OIL.—Linseed is quoted at 27s 3d. It is reported that English refined rape has sold at 42s, and brown at 40s per cwt., which is a further advance. TALLOW.—The market continues quiet without change in prices 60s spot, 56s to 56s 3d April to June. 54s last three months,,