The Aberystwith Observer

Uliscellmuous |utcllip«, HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL. A RAILWAY .PERFORMANCE.—The, French papers gravely tell us that we have had a theatrical represen- tation on a railway between Liverpool and Manches- ter, the train being fitted up expressly for the purpose, lius must be news to most, but the ingenuity of the idea is worth much. told "Grounded roof is furnished with chandeliers, throwing out a bright H^ht. The sides are formed of sounding-boards. By these mechanical arrangements all possibility of ex- ternal noise has been removed. Imagine also a recess lu wiusiciitns with their instruments can play a stage raised six feet above the floor er: +V>« carnage, and you have a tolerably correct idea of this extem- porised railway theatre. The pieces represented are *o arranged that a scene finishes at each station, and ^hotter commences on the way to the next, When there is a stoppage of a quarter or h;t'f an hour at any |'ace the drop act falls. On the 8th of December, -1863, M. Smarthe made the first trial at this theatre, With his company composed of twelve performers. A piece very popular in England was represented, and the programme had been handed to each spectator with his railway ticket at the station. The piece was very successful." EFFlCTS OF A DEFEAT !—IN the Visitors' Book at Amulree, where there is a good inn, the Hon. Fox Maule (afterwards I^ord Dalhousie) wrote the fol- lowing lineP. after his defeat by Lord Stormont: Rejected by the men of Perth, Cast on the world an ex-M P I sought and found a quiet retreat Among thy wilds, sweet Amulree. ANCIENT BRITISH PEARLS. — The pearls of Once ^SelSedl^eday80f °ld (saysa writerin it was thi^nrp» f01^ ulprve8ervedthatthe tradition too^0wl i°f Weal,th that tempted the Romans to thJ RWM♦ "J^re than one ancient writer refers O-pallf j studded with British pearls, which d J"s •an offering in the temple of j_? Rome. Tacitus mentions pearls among the products of our island, but adds that they were gene- ly of a dusky, livid hue. This, he suggests, was owing to the carelessness and inexperience of the collected them, who did not pluck the shellfish alive from the rocks, but were content to gather what the waves cast on the beach. Pliny and «tners also describe them as inferior on account of their fulness and cloudiness to the jewels of the East, Coming down to times less remote, we find Hector f°r?ei' 'J1 .e "^h century, expatiating upon the pearls ■°t Caledonia with much enthusiasm. They were, he 8a.ys, very valuable, bright, light, and round, and sometimes of the quantity of the nail of one's little oilger." BURNT TO DEATH.—All inquest was held in London on Saturday on the body of Miss Thorne, who had been burned to death. She had been Colum- bine" at the Pavilion Theatre, and on the 6th of January was dancing, when her dress swept over some ps lights, and in a moment she was wrapt in flames, rhese were soon extinguished, but she was so severely burnt that she died a few days ago. The evidence given at the inquest was to the effect that the lights Were not fully protected, and the inquiry was ad- journed in order that the Lord Chamberlain's regula- tion as to the protection of stage lights should be laid before the jury. To WEARERS OF CASHMERE SHAWLS.— The ^Maharajah of Cashmere is taking steps to check the further deterioration in the quality ofishawls manufac- tured in his dominions. With this view his highness has issued the following:— The previous circular addressed to the manufacturer of shawls was brief and not sufficiently comprehensive. Be it Known that in the city of Stree Nuggcr, alias Cashmere, a paradise on earth, the number of men and women employed j the occupation of shawl-weaving aggregates 70,000 and in net, nearly all the inhabitants of this far-famed city are connected with the hade. That owing to the dulness of to England and Trance, caused chiefly by the l °f shawls manufactured, many trades- to bATe beeu subjected to heavy loss and søme to 1».nkruPttcy, and a large proportion of weavers have been tlJrown on eIUploy. Onlate tour through Cashmere the circumstance OCCUpied his chief attention; and from in ofc^ he ordered a set of rules ^dtradeS lD order to. save both manufacturers a.n.d traders. THE POPULATION OF ROME.—The wmuktion OF Some is 201,161. Borne ^»s 36 Whops, 1,457 priests and clerks, 307 seminarists 2 569 ?nonks, 2,031 nuns, 660 male collegians, 1,G74 female inmates of schools, 947 male inmates of cbaritahlo institutions, 1,180 female ditto, 40,827 familie3 92 024 men, 87,819 women, 30;235 married men,' 28 201 parried women, 4,301 widowers, 9,447 widows, 59' 01 r» bachelors, 50,171 spinsters, 5,175 soldiers, 387 prisoners • heterodox population, 311, and 4,400 Jews. Accord- InK to thIS statement, the ecclesiastical population, so i-orj u?bt to be overwhelmingly numerous, would or 1)894 individuals of the secular clergy 0 031 nn8' °f the regular clergy or monks, and 6'seminSi~,?aki?e all 6,494. There are in Rome conservatories. ^ieRfs' charitable institutions, 15 relisrious ordeio ?» •6C'100^8 directed by nuns, 56 most members, nLmdCh^at °fi1 reckous nians the fewest, nam^lt n$at the Arme- many classifications, ^h v, i The nuns belong to increasing. have been of late raPldly AN OPPORTUNITY OF LKAT^TX^ I TI • I-N matter of the greatest surpr;se 1^t *s oiond correspondent of the Tim€8\ t^ Jif Jach" cognisant of the endless experiments in ™f i° are Jectiles which are every day made bv the pr°i Confederate States, that England has not ■^orth her while to attach to the armies of both if such a commission as M'Clellan had in the CrwT war, with a view to their gaining such scientific in. '1'r,I??ti°n with regard to ordnance and projectiles as nis moment can be gained nowhere else on earth. imnnr+8EASEt> CATTLE.—A conviction of some Worce^r6 P^ace before the magistrates at fomier~r.r>'„ • ?ve exPres'Qed a determination on a view of nrevpTii* putting the Jaw in force with the Kale in the lo^»i Ug e exI)0»nre of diseased cattle for held on Monday iAt,tlie last Yorcester Fair, » I'trd of 20 or cattW f Skde brouSht the prevalence in ? sa^e< consequence of ^led the foot aid mn,1! of a disease cattle appointed by &e town an officer baa been ° Dy tne t0Wn council whose special duty it is to watch the fairs and see that no diseased sheep or cattle are exposed for sale at them. On Monday the inspector (Berridge), while on duty in the cattle-market, examined Mr. Slade's stock, and found among them two cows which exhibited symptoms of disease. He accordingly seized them, and summoned the owner before the magistrates. Evidence was given by him, and by a veterinary surgeon, that the cows were so affected and the disease was contagious and infectious. The animals foamed at the mouth, and had sore mouths and tongues, and swollen fetlocks. The veterinary surgeon said that the owner could not plead ignorance of the fact, for no person at all acquainted with cattle could fail in detecting the disease. The magistrates accordingly convicted the defendant, fining hun 7f. and costs, and ordering the cattle to be detained until cured, and the extra costs of their cure and maintenance to be paid by the defendant before the cows were given up to him. AN INTERESTING RELIC.-Among certain articles dugup at Yorktown, Virginia, by IS orthernsoldiers, last winter, (savs an American paper), was a small red stone, which, upon cleaning, proved to be a garnet; and a further inspection revealed the interesting fact that it had once formed a part of the s'"gnet-ring of the Mar- quis de Bochambeau, the liberty-loving commander of the French army in this country, who acted in concert with Washington in plans which won for us the battle of Yorktown. It contains the noble count's motto in Latin, and his family crest. To THOSE DESIROUS OF ENTERING INTO MATRI- MONY.—A Manchester paper has the following A lady (30), of highly respectable family aud good educa- tion, desires a husband of middle age and moderate Income. Address K M. P., Post-office, Warrington. A gentleman in business, age 28, wishes to correspond with a respectable female with means, with a view to matri- mony.—Address, with carte de visite, &c., &c. A young lady, principal in a well-established light and lucrative business, in Manchester, is desirous of correspond- ing with a young gentleman with a view to matrimony. —Address, &c., etc. The great preponderance of gentlemen applicants has en- abled ladies to form splendid matches as fast its they ap- plied, and so many wealthy widowers and others are now on our boolcs, that 30 ladies may be suited at once. Cartes on hand. Ladies waited on, &c., &c. RECRUITING THE ENGLISH ARMY.—It is just ten years ago since the Russian war broke out; our army was then largely augmented, and thousands of recruits were raised during 1854, '55, and '56, to strengthen and replenish our small and decimated army. It was then for the first time that our "Limited Enlistment Act" came into full and serious operation. During the corresponding years of 1864, '65, and '66, thousands of our present effective soldiers will have completed the period^ of their engagement, and we have no power to retain them. On this the Army and Navy Gazette says:— Surely it is time that those in authority turned their at- tention to this matter. Why not hold some inducement to these men, by a grant of additional pay, or some other advantages, to renew their engagements? The value of thousands of thoroughly effective soldiers is too great to risk their loss. How can we replace these men, or do without them, if war breaks out MURDER IN IRELAND BY A TICKET-OF-LEAVE. —A most horrible murder has been perpetrated by a ticket-of-leave man named Cagley, at a place called Kilnasola, about seven miles from Cavan. Thirteen years ago, when a lad, he had lived with a farmer named Peter Reilly. He called at the man's house on Friday evening, and was hospitably received. In the night he called up the farmer, stating that he had seen a light outside and could not bleep. Reilly went to him to know what was the matter, when Cagley stabbed him, inflicting a mortal wound. Reilly's wife coming to the assistance of her dying husband, was stabbed also. She was not killed, but she is not likely to survive. He left the house without doing any more mischief. An alarm was immediately raised, the constabulary were quickly in pursuit of the murderer, who entered the Virginia station and sur- rendered himself to the police. He has been lodged in Cavan gaol, a verdict of "Wilful murder" having been found against him by the coroner's jury. While formerly in Reilly's employment, he had the misfor- tune to lose an arm. in consequence of being bitten by an ass, and it is supposed that he committed the murder through revenge for the injury. He was only a fortnight out of gaol. PRESIDENT LINCOLN. — A Washington corre- spondent says that Mr. Lincoln is a mere shadow of what he was a year ago. The cares of office are evi- dently wearing upon him with fearful effect. He is a man who devotes his whole attention, night and day, to his official duties, allowing himself no relaxation. His friends are alarmed for nis continued ill-health, and insist upon his allowing himself more leisure for diversion from the distracting thoughts that press upon his brain. WE HOPE so !—By the way, I suspect that the fire-insurance duty will be reduced (says a writer in a London contemporary). It has been three times condemned by the House, and I do not see how, Without disrespect to the Commons, the Chancellor can pass it by. This year, perhaps Is 6d. from this duty, and J,d._ from the income-tax (some say Id.), and some change in the regulation of the sugar duties in- volving no great loss, will be the extent of the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer's operations. WOMEN MAY VOTE !—The Court of Queen's Bench in Dublin have decided that women have a right to vote for town commissioners. The Chief Justice stated that the 22nd section of the Towns Im- provement Act clearly gave the right to vote to every person of full age," duly qualified by property, without adding anything to indicate that "persons" meant males only. Women, therefore,, had a right to vote under the. Act. Mr. Justice O'Brien, Mr. Justice Hayes, and Mr. Justice Fitzgerald concurred in this view of the law, and the last stated that he must not bo understood as denying that ladies were entitled to sit as town commissioners as well as to vote for them. The process of voting has nothing in it repugnant to their habits. They have only to state for whom they vote, and answer one or two questions. Women vote for poor-law guardians. THE EXAGGERATIONS OF AGE.-The papers are full of the deaths of very old people carried off by the rccont cold. Twelve nonagenarians died last week, and in this at least two persons said to be over a hundred. The oldest recorded is a lady of 107, who married for the first time at sixty. We entertain a Rood deal of suspicion about these very high figures. 1 hat people do reach a hundred is certain, but every year above that increases the necessity for strict evi- dence. The statements of centenarians about them- selves are not worth a straw, and as they must have outlived all contemporaries, documentary evidence, old Bibles, or baptismal certificates:are alone trustworthy. Age exaggerates itself to the imagination, nonagen- arians generally feeling like the villager who said she did not know her age accurate, but it warn't less than one thousand." A ZUMMERZET" STATEMENT.—At an inquest held on Monday, in Wells, a loquacious female, whilst giving her evidence, spoke of a youth slightly de- formed, whom she called Charley, and said se- riously that he went backwards and forwards for beer so often that his figuie had become bent in the shape of a jug. The old song tells us that "Fat Toby," a noted tippler, died the size of a Dorsetshire butt, but this is the first time we have heard of the human figure assuming the likeness of a jug. A DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE FRENCH COURT. —There is no need to describe the disappointment and dismay occasioned by the countermand which came from the Chamberlain on Monday, announcing that the ball which had been anticipated with so much eagerness at the Tuileries was put off in consequence of Imperial grippe (remarks the Court Journal, which further says):— The most curious scenes arose from the late hour at which the counter-order had gone forth. A great portion of the invites were unable to get the information, and at the usual hour a great number ef carriages, containing ladies splen- didly attired in full cvstume dc bal, were seen hurrying to the palace with all the haste and eagerness usual on such occasions. At the Imperial dinner-table the sub] set had, however, been discussed, and the most humorous con- sequences of the sudden decision suggested; and, as the deceptions and misfortunes of our fellow-creatures invari- ably create more mirth than compassion, great laughter and merriment were of course occasioned at the expense of the imaginary victims. His Majesty joined in the laughter, but, immediately on rising from table, gavo orders that two aides-de-camp should be stationed at the grand entrance, in order to receive with becoming gravity and politeness the guests who had been thus misled, if ttny should arrive. And well enough was it done, for dozens of carriages, as we have said, kept rolling in, and the thoughtful kindness of the Emperor was much appreciated when a brilliant aide-de-camp, aU covered with stars, and ribbons, and gold embroidery, advanced, and, placing his hand on the window, conveyed in polite and courteous language their Majesties' regret at the disappointment experienced, instead of the tired and irritable lackey who otherwise would have executed the unpleasant office with the rude and sulky curtness peculiar to the Jeameses" of every land. A PRUSSIAN ARMY HELD AT BAY !—When a Prussian battalion was on its march through a portion of Hessian territory, a local officer of Nenndorff, at- tended by a single policeman and by all the boys of Nenndorff, placed himself at the border ditch, and in- dignantly warned them off. It was in vain the com- mander of 1,500 men pleaded a French errand it was in vain he begged the minor Cerberus not to make a fuss about so insignificant an affair, when he knew he might save the troops a day's march in this excessive cold by giving the necessary permit. Hesse Electoral stood to her colours, and refused to come to terms. At length the opposing parties effected a compromise, and agreed that the soldiers should pass through, minus their arms, the latter being loaded on waggons and escorted by the identical policeman, followed by all the boys. And thus it was that the gallant Prussians continued their march towards Holstein and glory. DEATH OF A GREE^ SCHOLAR.—By the death of Mr. Burges, of Ramsgate, a literary pension of 100l. a year falls back to the nation. Mr. Burges was known to a past generation as a Greek scholar. He spoke Greek as readily as he could English, and he was one of the fiercest critics of the late Bishop Blomfield as a Greek editor. At one period of his life Mr. Burges was a man of considerable property, but he was also a speculator and an inventor, and in both characters bkb6 to very severe grief. But his old antagonist, the eame to his relief unsolicited, and procured for me impoverished scholar, critic, and translator, a in his d».aS literary man who had done good service j :r* Bulges was an excellent coacher to f Pi will i!eilts~7maIljr whom belonging to Cam- 1 ?tVrviitrinar ibis death witl11 egret. This some- what fel ine gentleman died at the age of 76, the age yhujhbM own father had very nearly°attained when Mr. Geoibfc urges was born, at a remote station in India. TALES OF THE RKCRUITING SERVICES AT NEW YORK.—The recruiting committee are allowed to re-enlist all ^Wiers whose term in the field expires at any time in i< .paymg them the bounty at once, and the term 01 s.Cl commencing from the new enlistment. Supervisor Islunt's dumb-waiter, or trap-door, works to a charm, As soon as a recruit is Passed, the chairman hands hisoUUdols., stands him on the trap and cries, Go and down he goes in .a twinkling, like a bag of sugar or a box of red !">rrings, into the regions or basement btlow, and nnd^ himself, before he knows it, among a score or more ul boon com- panions, beyond the possibility of being reached by sharpers, who are constantly on the look-out to wheedle the gallant fellows out of their money. Mr. Blunt has fitted up this room for their reception warm and com- fortably, and at 3 o'clock every afternoon they are all marched off; with drums beating and colours flying, to head quarters, and the following day clothed in blue toggery and transported to Riker's Island. The women have become extra patriotic, and are offering to enlist. One buxom lass writes to Mr. Blunt that she is a full and able-bodied woman, fit for the soldier's clothes and the field, and if she can only pass the sur- geon's examination, which she tells the chairman there should be no difficulty about, is sure she would make a better soldier than any man now in the field, and begs the supervisor to receive her. It is some- what doubtful if the supervisor will look upon her case in the same flattering light the would-be volunteer does. It is a case of superlative patriotism, and will probably be allowed to pass over.—New York, Times. PARISIAN GAIETIES.—The second grand ball of the season was given at the Tuileries on Wednes- day last, and was even more brilliant than the first. The presentations made by the diplomatic body and bv the Grand Chamberlain commenced at nine, and at about ten the Emperor and Empress, accompanied by the Imperial family, left the Salon Louis XIV., and proceeded through the Galerie de Diane to the Salle des Marechaux. Dancing commenced immediately after. The Empress wore a white gauze dress, trimmed with garlands of acacia, and round her neck and on her head diamonds on black velvet. The Princess Mathilde and the Princess Clotilda were also in white; the Princess Anna Murat in white and blue the Princess de Metternich in a white dress trimmed with flowers, and round her neck a superb necklace of diamonds and black pearls. Amongst the most striking of the other toilettes were those of the Mar- quise de Gallifet, Duchessede Morny, Baronne Hauss- mann, &c. Supper was served at twelve, and at-three the final galop was danced in the Salle des Marechwix. < NECESSARIES FOR A WIFE !—A con- siderable importance was decided bv ffle Lords Justices on Saturday. The wife of a^NR. Hooper became possessed of a violent fit of jealousy against her husband, and accused him of infidelity with every woman of their acquaintance. It was admitted that there was not the slightest ground for her accusation?, but the lady was not to be disabused, and she at last proceeded so far aa to raise an action against the husband in the Divorce Court. Before it could be heard Mr. Hooper died, which of course put an end to the suit but the solicitor to the lady claimed on the husband's estate for his costs, on the ground of neces- saries supplied to the wife. The Court now held that this claim was not justifiable, on the ground that he had not made due inquiries before commencing the suit, and they refused t!ie\so)icitor's claim with costs. GREENBACKS FOR EVER !—A most intelligent gentleman, who has spent several months in the United States, gives an account of the prosperity of the country which is something astounding. Those greenbacks, which it was predicted would be the ruin of America, have given a stimulus to her greatness which is really wonderful. Give me none of your gold," exclaimed a Western landowner to this gentle- man, I don't want it; keep it for the fools who have no faith in their country. Give me greenbacks—that's the money for me." And so he found it all through. These greenbacks are now being sought for so greedily through the country, that they are already scarce, and Mr. Chase will be obliged, by the requirements of commerce, to issue more. BUILDING SOCIETY LAW.—A case of some im. Eortance to building and land societies was argued efore the Court of Queen's Bench in London last week. A member of a benefit building society allowed him- self to fall into arrears, and afterwards intimated his resignation. The society, however, which had con- tracted debts on the faith of the members' subscrip- tions, refused to allow him to escape in this way, and sum- moned him before the police-magistrate for payment of arrears. The magistrate, after listening to various technical objections on the part of the defendant, decided that he had no jurisdiction. Against this deci- sion the society appealed to the Court of Queen's Bench, and the judgment of the Court was that the magistrate was wrong, and that he ought to have enforced payment of the arrears. A MARTIAL YOUNG LADY !—An American paper says:— A young lady of sixteen summers lately arrived at Louis- ville, who bad served eighteen months in the army, being connected with seven different regiments, participated in several engagements, been seriously wounded twice, and had been discovered and mustered out of service eight times. She is a Canadian by birth, and is bound to fight for the American Union. BrSHOP COLENSO FOUND GUILTY. — By the ar- rival of the Cape mail we learn that the trial of Bishop Colenso, by the metropolitan and suffragan bishops of South Africa, had been concluded. The bishop, it may be recollected, was accused by his clergy of nine counts of heresy. The suffragan bishops found him guilty of them all,.and. the metropolitan (Bishop Gray, of Capetown) concurring with them in their finding, sentenced Dr. Colenso to be deprived of his see and his rights therein. The bishop was not present. The metropolitan gave him to the 4th of March to sign a full retractation of his errors in the Cape, or till the 16th of April to do the same in London—in either ca»e this sentence would then be null. Dr. Bleek, for the bishop, protested, and gave notice of appeal. JESTING AT THE GALLOWS — A New York papersays:- Near the Provost Marshal's head-quarters Is erected a kind of long-backed gallows, the horizontal beam being about 15 feet from the ground. On this were perched, like crows, two black and one white culprit, Federal recruits. The white man sat doggedly astride, but the ncgroes wriggled about, and even in this position found some food for fun. Yah yah I" I heard one of them say. I'm glad the've put me into a cavalry regiment, any hoW," and he went throuf,h the motions of riding on his timber steed. CONFUSION OF NAMES.—The NEW York Tri- bune" represents that people are puzzled on hearing or reading that Mr. Brown or Mr. Harris has said or done something in Congress which they could not believe the said Brown or Harris would do-the truth being that they forget that there are three Browns and three Harrises in Congress. Congress has already three Clarks, three J la,vÎ8t:;j, and three Johnsons. As for duplicates, then' are a score of them. But the I'nvalid iotes that "iiio fsizil? were scan- dalously overlooked in the elections, and but one üi. them was chosen Mr. Smithers, of Delaware, just escaped being a Smith. In the more numerous English House of Commons the Smiths hold their own there are eight of them, without classing the member who uses trv last vowel in the alphabet as "just escaped." There are five Barings, four Bracrs, Egertons, Hamiltons, Peels, and Russells; three Berkeleys, Forsters, Johnstones, Lennoxes, Pagets, PoweLs, and Seymours and some seventy instances in which two members bear the same surname. So that nearly 200 members of the House of Commons have a name- sake in Parliament With them. In three or four cases a still closer similarity obtains; and when, for in- stance, anything is set down to Mr. F. Berkeley," the constituency of each member who might be so described must consider (as tho Tribune has it) "whether it is likely said Brown would say or do that." THE CIRCASSIAN REFUGEES.—The following is taken from a Trebiaond letter of the 2nd :— The state of the public health in this quarter has been seriously imperilled by the crowding together here of some 10,000 Circassian Immigrants, whom the rigdrolis proceedings of Russia have compelled to desert their homes andseekshelter wherever tlieymaydtid it. The inclemency of the present season, aggravating the destitute condition of these unfortunate people, has produced an alarming mor- tality amongst them, arising chiefly from smallpox, typhus fever, and scurvy. It is due to the local autho- rities to state that every possible assistance has been rendered to the sufferers in this emergency, and the Governor, Enim Pasha, has exerted himself in a most kind-hearted and actite manner to secure for them the necessaries of life. Subscriptions have also been raised by the different communities, aud the European colony have done their utmost in co-operatins with the local authorities. Mrs. Stevens, the Wife of the British Consul, organised a lottery last week on behalf of the Circassians, which produced a thousand francs for their benefit. The ladles of the governor's household contributed fourteen prizes, and the European ladies vied with one an- other in a spirit of generous emulation to augment the number of presents. A FEW WORDS ON FIRES.—As London grows and grows, the number of fires recorded every year in the vast agglomeration of brick and iliortar increases also. Thus in 1863 the total was 1.404, being 101 more than in 1862. Assuming the population of the metropo- litan district to be about 2,800,000, this wou'.d give about one fire annually to every 2,000 inhabitants. Liverpool, with a population of 450,000, had 297 fires in 1S63, or one to every 1,500 inhabitants i Manchester, with a population of about 360,000, 238 fires, or one to every 1,510 inhabitants; Glasgow, with a population of 410,000, 221 fires, or one to every 1,855 inhabitants; Dublin, with a population of 260,000, 174 fires, or one to every 1,490 inhabitants; Edinburgh, with a popu- lation of 170,000,127 fires, or one to about 1,330'inhabi- tants; Sheffield, with 190,000 inhabitants, 51 fires or one to every 3,670 inhabitants; and Leed. with 910,000 inhabitants, 47 fires, or one to every 4,4f0 inhabitants. Leeds thus appears to be the Centre of British popu- lation in which the devouring element" is most effi- ciently kept in subjection. It is worthy of note that, of the 1,404 fires which occurred in London last year, 227 were in some way or other connected with candles, 39 with children, 123 with flues, 100 with gas, 26 with lucifers,31 with tobacco smoking, 107 with sparks, and 26 with. stoves, while the cause of 487 remained aa unsolved mystery. SOMETHING LIKE A Row I—The Rev. Mr. Gil- fillan has been lecturing on politics, in 'the course of which he remarked t- It is generally Understood that the first shot, Jetdt be flred where it may, will awaken all the guns on the continent, and that then shall be seen the awful sight of a. biasing Europe responding to the fires of a blading Amentia, like Vesuvius replying to Cotopaxi across the deep. SENTENCED TO DEATH !—A fusilier of the 100th Regiment of the French Line, named Cuq, has just been tried before a military tribunal at Lyons, charged with having deserted to the Russians when encamped before Sebastopol, on the 16th of June, 18:Jf., with having betrayed to the enemy the secret of the intended attack on the 18th of the same month. Cuq has since resided in Russia, and now speaks the language with re- markable facility. He had recently come to the port of Nice while engaged on board a Russian vessel bound from Odessa, and was arrested by a police agent, who recognised him from the description sent round to all the stations. The accused declared in his defence thaf he was taken prisoner by some Cossacks while fishing in the Tchernaya. The charge of betraying of the allies to the enemy was not proved, but a'mini- ber of witnesses who were heard, being unanimous in declaring that he had swum across the river and^SWen- tionally given himself up to the Russians, the court con- victed him of desertion in time of war, and sentenced him to death. THE PROFESSOR AND THE EEL.—Professor Tyn- dall, in his last lecture on electricity, delivered to a juvenile audience, at the Royal Institution in London, being desirous to create an effect not likely to be for- gotten by his hearers, introduced a very largo eel in a tub of water. The professor passed an induced current of electricity through the creature. This, however, did not appear to be agreeable to his eelship, as he struggled violently but as this was not sufficiently striking, a still more powerful current was passed through him, when, to the astonishment of the juveniles and the dismay of the professor, the eel jumped clean out of the tub, and began wriggling about upon the floor. Three eager assistants immediately darted upon him to return him to his tub, but, like Laocoon and his sons fighting with the serpents, they only succeeded in getting well twined about by the eel, for he was far too strong and slippery for them to hold, and as fas as one end was put into the water the other escaped over the other side, causing roars of laughter amongst the boys, who fully appreciated the new actor's endeavours to amuse them. The professor in vain directed the efforts of his underlings the eel was not to be caught, until the Deus ex r.iachina, in the shape of Mr. Anderson, with a woollen cloth, appeared upon the scene, when, grasping him with the cloth, the eel was returned to his bath the boys, however, had so en- joyed the fun, that the professor had little chance to gain their attention again that day. A KNOWLEDGE OF ENGLISH WANTED!—The I Opinion Nationalc publishes the world's obituary for 1863 and informs its readers that England has lost, among other worthies :— "Maurice Lansclowne, ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer. president of the cabinet, and of the Privy Council."—"Sir Taton Syke."—Sir Georhe Cornwal Levis —and the poet and composer, Ch Glow,"—author of Jeannette and Jean- not." In addition to those losses we have to deplore the death (according to the Opinion) of "Agustus Leopold Ileg —a distinguished painter. The two last names are incomparably ingenious transformations of Charles Glover and Augustus Egg PLEASURES OF TRAVELLING TO WASHINGTON. —A baggage carfrom Philadelphia was precipitatfdinto the Susquehanna river, in 40ft. of water, on the 5th inst. Mrs. Bowers, the actress, lost 15,000 dols. worth of dresses and numbers of ladies found themselves at the Washington hotels with "nothing to wear." A debate arose in Congress on the need of better com- munications with the capitol. An Illinois member re- commended a removal to a more central and eligible place and a member from Pennsylvania suggested the valley of the Mississippi, where, he said, the water will take more good liquor than any other, and still be wholesome. JESTING OUT OF PLACE.—As the Earl of D-by was walking down St. James's-street with Mr. other evening, the noble lord re- marked to the right honourable gentleman that the days were getting out, when his companion promptly replied, "I wish the Whigs were."—Punch. HOPE FOR IRELAND.—Tho flax movement is making rapid progress in Munster. A numerous meet- ing was held at Limerick on Saturday, composed of the most influential gentry of the county, convened by the high sheriff, for the purpose 'of considering the best means of promoting the interests of the tarming classes in connection with the growth of nax- Colonel Dickson, M.P., described the misery of the poorer classes in the southern towns, and pointed out the causes of the decline of the farming interest. Produce had been so depreciated in value, that small farmers could not now live by the land. Four or five acres of wheat that formerly brought 90 £ or 100?. wm not now bring 501. He recommended the cultivation or flax, for which all classes should earnestly pull together, but the farmers should not indulge extravagant ex- pectations as to the profits it would produce. Major Gavin, M.P., earnestly pressed upon the meeting the urgency of the case. The country is "going to smash; we are losing 68,000 of our fellow-countrymen an- nually; the Americans are buying up our men at 250l. a head. This must be stopped. There never was such a chance for Ireland as at the present mo- ment. If all that had been said about flax was true, a vast field for improvement was being opened up and if all classes acted as they ought, the country would reap a fruitful result. A letter was read from Mr. Smith O'Brien, warmly approving the movement, and offering a challenge cup of tor. to any landlord or tenant who, within the year preceding, snail have "the greatest acreage of flax within the "yjtes of the countv." The Belfast Linen fra< e Circular shows that in the week ending the 9th inst., no less than 1,080 tons of flax were sold at 70l. Per ton, pro- ducing 75,000?. NOT FEELING COMPLIMENTED !—A writer in a New York Independent in giving some reminiscences of famous men" twenty years ago, tells the follow- ing anecdote of the late James Montgomery A few days passed at Sheffield gave me meet James Montgomery, whose hymns wi» n his elaborate longer poems will be forgotten. small, re- fined old man, with very silvery hair, he always looked oddly from being swathed Up in a huge cravat his chin quite down 011 liis breast. He was full»^enthusiasm for America, and full of indignation t0$m people should persist in confounding him th Robeit Montgomery, whose poem on "Satan" »™ .(like a beetle in a museum) by the keen pen 01 Alacaulay. Only think," said the dear old poet to me, that 1:should have just got a letter telling me that my P°EIA 011 Satan is the best I ever wrote THE NEW GUN—The Infant Prince," the six- pounder.-Punch. BEE SWARMING EXTRAORDINARY. It is not always either agreeable or safe to have a swarm of bees almost ins'de your house in such cases efforts to remove or even get rid of them mayhd deemed ex- cusable (says the Liverpool Albidn). On Friday last a swarm which for years past has taken possession of the space between the drawing-room floor and the dining-room ceiling of the residence of Mr. Buchanan, atPoulton cum-Seacombe, Wallasey, came out m vast numbers from their winter quarters, and disported themselves in front of his house as if it had been mid- summer. The annual movements of this swarm have long been a source of interest and curiosity in the neighbourhood. On one occasion the entrance to their cells was closed up during the winter; bUu in the following spring the bees made their way out into the light through the same aperture which had been barred against them and on another occasion, when it was thought they had been effectually destroyed by the action of burnt brimstone, great numbers of them were, nevertheless, Untouched, and forced their way iilto the air in the following spring, and the statin has never since been disturbed. A FRENCH MEMORIAL TO SHAKSPEARE — Victor Hugo has a new work in the press upon Shakspeare. It is to appear towards the end of February, just before the threc-hundredtli anniversary of the gre.-it poet's bil'thdfty, which it is intended to commemorate. The book is to be dedicated to Eng- land, as the country i" which the great Frencii exile has established his h" victor so many years. M. Louis TJlbach, in'speakmi,' this work, says:— It ia~ at ^yf £ >u"<l riexhaustive study, made with rr-iirr'i "ii jln rnVrrfii^ i'-1^ >v 'A l^ij^jwrwlence, of (Wj of thr. gteatSst 0* iheb. "—— Mom: SHAKsrEATtiAMrr.— (From the "Athe- naeum.") "weare. happy to state that the following gentlemen have given their consent to have their names added to the National Shakspeare Committee --Professor Holloway, Messrs Moses and Sonl Mr. Miles (sixtetm-shilling trcusefs), Mr. Close, the Peet, Captain Atcherley, Dr. Cutnming, Mr. Cox, M.P., the Viscount Williams, Mr. Jackv Sanders, and the Beadle of the liuvlington Arcade.—Punch. PICTURES BY YOUNG ARTISTS !—A trial of some general interest was brought before Mr. Justice Shee and a common jury, and concluded on Monday, in London. An attorney from Cnelthsfbrd went into a picture ailction-ropin, in St; Paul's Churchyard, Lon- don, and bought pictures to the value of 158l. It afterwards turned out that most of these pictures were painted by young artists, bearing the same names as great masters, and the plaintiff entered an action for the recovery- 0f his money, on the ground that there was co"Usion between the auctioneer and the brokers through whom the attorney made his purchases. The jury took that view of the question, and returned a verdict for the plaintiff for 58l. DEFRAUD^ INSURANCE COMPANIES.— At Bir- mingham, Mr..Thomas Lowdon, and Edward Beeton, formerly caring on business in High-street, Birming- ham, were a £ ain brought up on remand charged with having obtained certain sums of money .under false pretences fro^ the Liveirpodl and London and the Westminster i ire-offices. The prisoners commenced business as rapers in Birmingham in September, 1862, and insured their stock in the above offices. In January, 1863, a 6fe broke out on their premises, which com- pletely destroyed not only the stock, but also the building. J,a their claim upon the insurance-offices it was 8tated that they had received, more than the VftWe of the S^k, tVhith was accomplished by producing fictitious mvoices. In one case an invoice from Messrs. MorleT and Green, of London, for 1?. os. 6d. had been altered to 10]i. 5s. (jd., and in the case of Messrs. Davis1 an invoice was produced for 4Hl. 17s. 8d., though that firm had had no transactions with the prisoners. The case, whinh has been three times ad- journed-, e>:eited much interest, and at its close the Bench committed Lowdon to the session on the charge of fraudulently obtaining the money, but discharged Beeton, who, it appears, had very little concern in the management of the business, being at the time a minor. "BABY'S NAME."—The honourable Mr. Dutton, M.P., in a speech at Portsmouth, the other day, made a allusion to the new baby, but said that "he could not name him, because he had appeared so sud- that his name was not yet ready for him." Mr. fv F. Tupper, who has been loyally prompt with his tribute upon the occasion, has thoughtfully provided or this want. The Laureate of Albury, in his new Poem, calls the Princess of Wales— Thetis of our Northern Water. With poetic reticence* he does not precisely propose a name for the Hope of England, but if our—Lempriere —serves us rightly, the son of Thetis^ was called Achilles. There's a splendid name Prince Achilles of England. And it would be a delicate compliment to the Princess's brother, George of Greece. In favour of this name, Mr. Punch withdraws his own claim to name the infant, as ho did with even gteatef promptness thrtn Mr. Tupper.—Punch. JOURNALISM IN FRANCE.—The following appears in the Journal de Renncs .-—" We received this morn- ing the following lines from one of our correspon* dents:— The ccmmisaary of police is at this moment in the act of seizing all the papers in my writing desk. I cannot con- sequently address you any letter to-day :— Yesterday, probably at the time our correspondent was addressing us the lines given above, our editor W9!S summoned before the Juge d'lnstruclioil, who ex- amined him as to the date and the nature of our rela- tions with our correspondents. The central commissary of police came afterwards to our office and proceeded to search for and to seize the letters of one of our cor- respondents." I* ELOPEMENT AT WEST HARTLEPOOL.—A few days ago, an elopement of a rather romantic cha- racter took place at West Hartlepool. The fair one is just sweet sixteen, and is the eldest daughter of Mr. Dunning,I farmer, near West Hartlepool, and the enamoured Benedict was, until lately, employed as hind in her father's service. His name is Isaac James, and of late lie has been residing at Leeds, where he had made all the preliminary arrangements for the union. Miss Dunning had had some business to transact for her father in West Hartlepool; and at a certain hour ho had to meet her to accompany her home. He was there at the appointed but was surprised at not finding his daughter there to join him, and, more- over, that she had not transacted the business he had entrusted to her. Feeling uncomfortable in the matter, be made some inquiries, and while in the house medi- tating on his" lost child," who should make their ap- pearance but i is daughter, with her lawfully- wedded husband. She imploringly asked forgiveness, but in vain, her father being inexorable. Drtermined to punish the decoyer of his daughter, he proceeded to the police-station, and accused James of stealing his daughter's gold watch. A police-officer conducted both Mr. and Mrs. James to the lock-up, and in the pre- sence of the father it was shown that the watch had been handed over to the young lady's uncle, and, con- sequently, the superintendent refused to lock the happy bridegroom up. The trio left the station to- gether and, however imprudent the act may have been, it is hoped that Mr, Dunning will extend the hand of forgiveness to his daughter, and not impair the happiness consequent on the marriage state. AN AWFUL ACCIDENT BY MACHINERY.—At Birmingham a boy, about eleven years of age, in the absence of his master, crept beneath a workbench for the purpose of turning on the gas, when his clothing was caught by the bands of some machinery in motion by steam power. His apron was first caught, and he was in an instant dragged up to the pulley and wound round the shaft. He raised an alarm, but no person being near at the time, it was in vain. The shaft was only some fifteen or sixteen inches from the floor, and at each of its rapid revolutions the poor lad was dashed with great force, first against the bench above, next against the wall behind, and then was dragged through the narrow space between the shaft and the floor. The awful effect of this revolution may be imagined. The unfortunate lad was frightfully mangled—literally torn to pieces. His brains were dashed out, his limbs were torn from his body, and he ceased to live before he was extricated from his awful position. THE MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.—The following circular has been issued by the Premier to the sup- porters of the Government in the House of Com- mons ;— Downing-street, Jan. 22, 1SG4. Sir,—The meeting of Parliament having been fixed for Thursday, the 4th of February, I have the honour to inform you that public business of importance will be brought forward. I beg leave to express my hope that it may be consistent with your convenience to attend at the House of Commons at the opening of the session.-I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient and faithful servant, PALMERSTOK. VERY LiKELY !—A tale of a murder, perpe- trated in a mysterious manner, and of the discovery of the murderers by scientific means, is now the common talk of the inhabitants of the Russian capital In the so-called old city, on the right shore of the Neva, be- hind the fortress, is a small house which enjoys the reputation of having once been the residence of Peter the Great. One of the few rooms in the house is stated to have been used as a sleeping chamber by the celebrated monarch, and this apartment is now visited with feelings of veneration and awe by many thousands of Russians. Although the room is not in reality a chapel, a priest is attached to it, and it is richly adorned with gold and precious stones, on which account two soldiers are constantly on duty there. A few evenings since, after the priest had withdrawn to his dwelling, situate on the opposite side of the street, he was summoned to return to the chapel, as two men required his services. Thegoodmansoonrepairedtothe little chamber, and af terwards returned to hishouse. On the following morning the two soldiers on guard were found murdered at their posts, and the almsbox, which contained 400 roubles, had disappeared from its ac- customed place, while the costly articles with which the room was so plentifully adorned were found undis- turbed. It was suggested that the eyes of the mur- dered soldiers should be immediately photographed, in the hope of successfully testing the discovery recently made in England, when, to the surprise of all, the re- suit was the production of the portraits of two soldiers of the private guard at the palace, on whose breasts were the insignia of the Cross of St. George. The murderers were at once sought out, and apprehended. A WILFUL WOMAN.—A determined attempt to commit suicide by starvation has just been made at Gainsborough, by a young woman of 22, named Mary Beech, living as domestic servant with the toll-collec- tor at the bridge which crosses the Trent, and con- nects Lincolnshire with Nottinghamshire There is acoveredpassage on each side of the tollgate, with a door opening to the bridge and another to the street, through which foot-passengers have to pass. One of these passages is not Used for traffic, and in it the girl voluntarily shut herself up. She lay down upon the cold Hags, and for five days and four nights persisted in refusing food. At length the police and the relieving officer for the district were called in. They found her very weak, so that it was apparent she would die if prompt measures were not spredily adopted to make her take food. The relieving officer, however, could only offer the woman an order for the workhouse, which she refused to avail herself of, and the police avowed themselves unable to interfere unless she were turned into the street by her master—a proceed- ing the toll-collector did not feel justified in adopting. The medical officer of the district was next applied to with the view of ascertaining the state of mind of the girl. At length she was told that unless she consented to one of the two courses pointed out, she would be turned into the street and conveyed to the police-station. This threat seemed to have some weight with her, for she ultimately said, they might do as they liked with her." Without giving her time to change her mind, a fly was obtained, and she was con- veyed to the union. She was so much exhausted, although naturally strong, that she had to be lifted in and out of the vehicle. On getting her to the workhouse she was put into a warm bath, and was ordered by the medical officer to have nothing stronger than gruel given her. It is said that she has a most ungovernable temper and a remarkably obstinate disposition. On a previous occasion, in one of her fits of anger, she tried to strangle herself, and she has more than once been in is prison for wilful damage. THE END ACCOMPLISHED !—From the last papers published we may remark that the Townley case does certainly not improve upon acquaintance (says the Times). We may as well remark at the outset, that there has been no corrupt influence at work. It is not unreasonable to conclude that, except for money, Townley might have been hanged, but the money was not applied in any immoral, illegal, or even improper manner. The friends of a prisoner charged with murder, or of a convict under sentence of death, have a perfect right to employ in his behalf the best advocacy they can obtain, and Townley's friends did no more. The misfortune if, that they were enabled by these means, though-law- fully employed, to effect results by no means consistent with the public interests or conducive to publIc satis- faction. We may presume that the fresh correspond- ence now pubnah"d completes the story, and it certainly leaves little obscure. í — PARTY KOI: THE INSANE — The liicy-hatch Asylum for the Insane, 1 iveu their annual trent to the in- fn • lient institution. Of the 1,900 in- j;. alyuit 600,, male and female, were peril ~lto < ,kr part festivities, and to them were adrii '1 at 300 visitors, freely in the eivwc!, and helped to promote the solemnity of the occasion. The amusement* provitlea by the visiti:" committee were numerous, but though the liigger Minstrels were loudly applauded, the troupe of Chinese jugglers and Contortionist* were by far the greatest favourites. The groat dining hall of the. asylum was the chief scene of the sports. At one end was erected a temporary stage on which the various troupes engaged kept up a constant succession of amuse- ments. In the remainder there was ample space for dancinc, and, to tell the truth, if he committee had engaged two Or three t'Uadrille b>nds, one to succeed tile other, so as to keep up a contmu-u succession of dance music; perhaps they would best have consulted the general taste. With or without partners, the patieiits nevet Seemed tired of whirling round the room either to the polka or waltz measures. It was gratifying to remark how much alf present Beemed to enjoy themsslves, the patients quite as much as the visitors, and in the complete success of the party the officials who thus endeavour to enliven the dreary 1-fe of their unfortunate charges have their chief reward.