The Merthyr Telegraph and General Advertiser for the Iron Districts of South Wales

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. THE VOLUNTEER BAND at Merthyr were successful in winning a prize at Aberdare on Monday last. The competition was between several bands, but the victory was unmistakably won by our Merthyr musicians. Mr Chirm, the leader, was decorated with a silver medal, in addition to being graced with the purse of gold. THE REV. F. S. JOHNSTONE, (late of Merthyr) is announced to officiate at the Markei Square Congrega- tional Church on Sunday next, morning and evening. The sermon in the evening will have special reference to fhe late Mr Evan Williams, M.A. No doubt the popu- larity of the preacher, n well as the sad circumstance specially connected with ttrs visist, w' attract a large attendance. OPENING OF A NEW ORGL N AT DowLArs CHldCH.- Thanks to the zeal and interest of Dr Cress well in all matters affecting the promotion of Church interests,the attendants at the Dowlais English Church have had an organ erected at their plaee of worship, and which is announced to be open d on Sunday next. Tne instru- ment, although small, is quite large enough for the Dowlais Church, and being obtained from the well-known firm of M:;sia. Walker, of London, its quality and tone may be guaranteed as very good. Nearly the whole of the amount required hpa been given or collected by Dr Crcsswell, and it is to be hoped that the small balance left will be made up at the oper'ng services. DEATH OF MR JOHN TEAGDJB WiLTIAMa.—It is with deep regret that we announce the death of this much esteemed fellow-townsman, which took place on Satur- day evening last at his residence in Thomas Town, at the aje of 41. His gentlemanly bearing and kindnets of heart endeared him to all with whom he wr -» ac- quainted, and we are sure the announcement of his death will be received with sorrow,land will evoke much sympathy for his bereaved widow and children. He was buried at Cefn Cemetery on Thursday, snd the marks of mourring shown throughout High-str: jt and Thomas Town, indicated how much he had been es- teem :d in life. AEOLUS ASLEEP J ST. DAVID'S CHURCH.— A remark- able incident took place in St. David's Church last Sunday evening. The rrctor had just, )ncluded a ser- mon in which he hr 1, with his usual aptness, quoted examples of the truth of his remarks. Speaking of the uncertainty of everything here, he drew the attention of Irs hearers, for an example of uncertainty, to the wind. Blowing one day from this quai *er and another day from that, it wa; in t. jth a good illustration of fickleness, a quality strikingly exempted by an la- stance that occurred a short time afterwards, showing very decidedly that sometim e it does not blow at all The last hymn had been read out, the choir had clear 1 their vocal organ, and the congregation was writing for the organ to st._ke up," but not a sound came It was—to use nautical language—"a dr I crlm." Mum was the word In vain were keys pressed, stop-, pulled (there was, -n our opinion, one stop too mrny), and pechls kicked. Open diapason spem:d to have become stopped diapason," wh"le stopped diapason was doubly stopped-in fact, everything was stooped. In this emergency our sacre'igions and suggested the invocation used on board ship call: 1 whist,:n» for a wind," but we checked the thought n beJTj improper on such a seiious occr sion. But help wr i at hand, and the brilliant idea seized one of the choi'-ters that the seat of war, or rather the seat of peace, must be at the back of the machine. So prompted by a laudable wish to raise the wind," he straightway dived behind into -the sanctum of iEolus (who acts r", organ blower). We do not know what took plrce there—whether he found Æolus in the embraces of Moi pheus, and woke him from that blissful state by a coup de pied, or not. A q we did mot hear the doleful criei that m'ght be expected to have followed such a transr ition, we think not; and are charitably dispo ?d to Le'"eve that the O.B. must have forgotten t. s dutes wI- -1e meditating on the sermon just concluded. At any rate the result of the interview was favourable, for in a few seconds the anxious 1-sten- ers were rewarded for their patience by sewij the gen- tleman who had so courj^. ously netrated the un- known regions in the r ^T emerge with a smPing phiz, contemporaneous with a triumphant pe from the hitherto s''ent organ. 1" we sr 'd before, we have not yet been able to sift the matter ) the bottom, but if it turn out that the O.B. r ^customed to take rests not marked on the music sh Jt', we must certrinly look sharp after him by é,:v'')g him a sh ik: now and then. It is extremely desirable tJ put a stop to such practices. It is quite unnatural to sleep while the rector is beating the drum cccl: iastic," and if such a thing happen artf i we may reluctantly be compelled to reorganize 1D4 by discharging the O.B. We trust, however, thai the present instance was an accidental one, and that he won t do it no more."

TROEDYRHIW. ENGLISH CONGREGATIONAL CHAPEL.—The annual Tea Party in connection with the above place of worship was held on Thursday last, the 25th ult. The weather being fine large nnmbers attended, and from 500 to 600 took tea. The chapel was tastefully decorated. The tea and cake were provided by Mr Sharp, and gave general satisfaction. A somewhat novel entertainment was held inthe Vestry during the afternoon, and got up especially by Mr Houlson, consisting of a science and art exhibition. The room was well filled with various articles kindly lent by different parties. They consisted of model steam engines, working models, a printing press, sewing machine", 'paintings, oleographs, photo- graphs, musical boxes, galvanic batteries, a metronome, statues, vases, plated goods, and many other things One end of the Vestry was specially fitted up (for which an extra charge was made) shewing a view of Holland, with plains beyond China, and the interior of China; London Fire Links at rest; Still came, &c. In the evening a concert took place, when a good pro. gramme was t> gone through by the choir, assisted by Saron choir. Many of the pieces being much applauded. Votes of thanks were passed to the chairman, and to all who had assisted on the occasion. The chairman in. timated that everything had been done to make the meeting a successful one and it was specially gratifying that it had proved the most successful tea party they had ever bad. e:

B5IKNI(:IB DANDBHOJT COFFEE, refreshing, healthy, and »hlif0vel11 » most valuable beverage for preser vinjj to mn„{, condition of the liver and stomach, and as an aid ■each s?°teJlt medicines. In canisters at 6d., 10d., and Is. 6d 'oUoWine ^e,ePers m»y be supplied by the proprietor, or the ^utterbuck ° *KentB Leonard and Bobin»on, Bristol; grocer, BjidgJ"1 Griffin, Bristol; Hugh Bavan, wholesale 0017

MERTHYR BOARD OF HEALTH. The ordinary bi-monthly meeting of this Board took place on Wednesday, Mr Geo. Martin in the chair. There were also present, Messrs Thos. Williams, J. W. James, T. Jenkins, W. Gould, and John Gabe. The minutes of the last meeting were read and con. filmed. SURVEYOR'S REPORT. The Surveyor reported that the consumption of water by meter and for special purposes during the third quarter of the present year had been 5,552,000 gallons of the value of £ 145 10s. lOd. for machinery and motive power; 3,814,1100 gallons, at the value ofX123 18s. 6d. for other purposes of trade and manufacture that the special charges for water not measured had amounted to JE24 Os. 3d., and meter rents to jC9 5s. 4d., making a total revenue for the quarter of £302 14s lid against JE295 lis 2d in the corresponding quarter of last year, thus showing an increase of £7 3* 9d. Orders had been made by the justices requiring the owners of certain houses in Hill street, Caepantywyll, Swansea road, Victoria street, Vaughan street, Eliza- beth street, and Water street, Dowlais, to provide sufficient closets and means of drainage for their res- pective premises, and these orders not having been compli d with within the time specified it wr recom- mended that proceedings be taken for the recovery of the penalties to which the said parties had rendered themselves liable for not obeying the said orders. The owners of Nos. 11, 12, and 61, Pontmorlais were reported as having been required by notice to divert the drainage of their premises from the Morlais Broc.k into the sewer of the Board, and that hiving failed to comply with such notice it was recommended that thev be summoned in the usual manner. Three houses in Merthyr,and 97 in Dowlais and Peny- darran were reported as dificient in closet and dnvnage accommodation, and it was recommended that thecus- tomaiy proceedings be taken for the abatement of the nuisance caused thereby. Contracts for the following work were reported as ex- piring on the 20th ult., and it was recommended that advertisements be inserted iu the local papers for fresh tenders for the ensuing twelvemonths :-Team work for Merthyr, team work for Dowlais, smith's work for Mer- thyr and Dowlais, and the supply of printing and stationery; A bu lding plan from Joseph Radenage, Glebeland- streetj of alterations on the premiges at present occupied by him was considered unobjectionable. The monthly reports of the farm inspectors were subir'tted. THE PRICE OF WATER. Mr J. W. James drew attention to the fact that the Board still continued to make a great difference in price between the large and small consumers of water. This was a subject to which he had previously directed the attention of the Board, and he thought the time had arrived for some modification to be made with a view of equalizing the charges. In other places this great difference between the large and small consumers to the detriment of the latter, was not found, as in Coventry for instance the large consumers were charged 6d per 1000 gallons, and the small consumers 8d. The Surveyor remarked that this was almost the only place in England where such a companion existed. Mr J. W. James did not know about that, but there a difference was made of only 2d per 1000 between large and small consciences where, here there was a difference of 6d. In these days of general equality he called it positively dishonest and absurd to continue such a dis. tinction, and he thought that no 12 or 15 men sitting as a Board, who called themselves honest towards the rate- payers, would allow such a thing to continue. He mentioned this because when he first came to the Board they charged small consumers 300 per cent. more than the large ones. They had reduced this by 6d, and he thought in common justice they should charge all alike. The Chairman thought Mr James had taken an ex- ceptional case in mentioning the town of Coventry. Other towns made ?s much difference as Merthyr in their charges to large and small consumers. Mr J. W. James continued that no gas company would think of charging more to a small consumers than a large one, and he did not see why the Board should do so with water. Mr Thos. Jenkins contradicted this. Gas companies often charged five per cent, and more to small con. sumers than to large ones. Mr W. L. Daniel thought this was a very broad ques- tion indeed, and one that it was not right to deal with in such a flippant and wandering manner as Mr James had done. Some tim ] ago a committee had been appointed to go into this matter, and they had done so, and recommended that the Board should make a reduction in the then rate, which was done. He thought if Mr James wanted any further reduction he should give notice, so that the question might be de- bated in a fair and impartial manner. Mr James had alludea to small trades employing but few men, mriy of which repliz, d large profits. Mr James did not allude to any particular trades. Mr Daniel understood Mr James to allude to brewers. Mr James did not mean brewers particularly, any more than ginger-beer or soda water manufacturers. Mr W. L. Daniel thought Mr James's remarks were unfair and unjust to the committee, of which he (Mr James) had been one. The subject was then allowed to drop. REFRACTORY IISJLV JUALS. With seference to that portion of this repo., naming several persons who have failed to cany out the orders of the justices in providing drainage, &c., the Sur- veyor asked the Board to take some steps, as these people set every one at defiance. Mr Gould Imggest, d that the Board should do the work. The Surveyor said they might stand a chance of losing the money. It was ultimately agreed that the penalties incrrred should be enforced. JI.SCELT N'EOUS. It was ordered that tenders be invited for team work and smith work, both for Merthyr and Dowla's, also for printing and stationery. It was ordered that 20 more pigs be purchased to use the refuse from the Troedyrhiw farm. Mr Llewellyn, the outgoing tenant of the Ynscadudwg farm, in company with Mr Thomas, waited upon the Board with reference to the amount of compensation to be awarded to the former, and after some conversation, both parties agreed to abide by the arbitrament of either Mr Robert Oliver Jones, or Mr John Rees (Hengoed). The formal appointment of Dr Dyke and the In. spectors of Nuisances were made in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Board, that body having agreed to pay half that portion of the Surveyor's salary, which WPS paid him in respect of his sanitaiy duties (half the whole amount) and the same proportion of the salary of the inspector of lodging hauses while the full salatles of the medical officer ana inspectors of nr"Qances vtill be recouped CAB REVISION. Mr Thos. Jenkins moved for a revision of the cab regulations. At present a stranger coming to the town could not know that there was a cab in the place. They were not numbered, none of the diivers wore badges, and in fact they were quite private property. He would, therefore, move that a committee be ap- pointed to revise the rules and put the vehicles under such regulations as the public conveyances of other towns for the benefit of the public. Mr J. W. James seconded the motion, and thought that a tariff of fares should also be fixed. I NANCE. The report of the finance Committee wrs read and adopted. Bills to the amount of fl472 17s 5d were ordered for payment, of which £597 Is 3d belonged to the General District Rate, £840 9s 2d to water works account, and JE29 7a 2d sewage. WATER RAI-E. The Collector reported that the water rent for the quarter had amounted—with arrears,to J61386 4s 7d, of which amount JE1321 Is 2d had been collected, and 238 19s 10d allowed on vacancies, &c., leaving only JE26 3s arrears to be carried forward. The meeting then adjourned until Wednesday next, when Mr Sturge would attend with reference to a settle- ment of the Ynyscadudwg Arbitration.

NONCONFORMITY-ITS POSITION IND PRINCIPLES. lue follow-ng is a sermon preached last week at the Unitarian Chapel, Merthyr, by the Rev. A. N. Blatch- ford, B.A., of Bristol. It is somewhat long, but its careful perusal and study will well repay the reader, and, if a Nonconformist, w J1 not fail to make him feel a regard, bordering on veneration, for the zeal and courage which animated our Nonconformist ancestry in defending and promoting their principles, in the face of such unrelenting persecutors as they found among the supporters of the Church "as by law established." NONCONFORMITY-ITS POSITION AND PRINCIPLES. "After the way In which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers."—ACTS xxiv., 14 v. It would be scarcely possible, my friends, to find a fitter introduction to our considerations upon the subject to which I have presumed to ask your attention, than this chapter in the experiences of the Apostle PauL It is to me instinct with the very spiiit of Nonconformity and there is clearly shadowed forth in it, not only the difficulty which did beset a man's exercise of his con- science in the days of Paul; but, the whole narrative seems to read more like a prophecy of the trouble, and the heroism, the persecution and the passionate enthu- siam, which all go to make up the history of that which a dominant Church has dared to teach her children to pray for deliverance from—as false doctrine, heresy and schism." It is not our present intention merely to pick out from this account of Paul's accusation and defence the many and the almost perfect parallels which the circumstances furnish to facts which have come up again and again in the history of Christianity, even in this our land. But one cannot help being struck with the picture presented by Paul as he stood between his Jewish accusers and his Roman Judge. The apostle seems to me to reflect with a marvellous clearness, the position of an honest and a religious conscience, harrassed by the bigotry of theologians, and face to face with the power and pres- tige of the State, which such men, even at the present day, are ready enough to call to their aid,to make a eet °vi ^Pccrines (at which reason and common sense revolt) all the firmer from their being by law established. 1 desire you to see then.my friends, how all these appeals to the power of the State (against which, if they are true to their consciences, Nonconformists have no choice but to rebel) are fortihadowed, alike in their injustice, in their annoyance, and in their futility. This reference of their religious case to the decision of the CWÛ magistrate, did not satiafy the Jews, and it I did not crush, but rather gave notoriety to, Paul's career. So, as regards the religious history of our own country, the testimony of experience tells identically the same story. Notwithstanding all attempts to make Dissent criminal in the past, and unpopular and un- comfortable in the present in spite of the spirit of ex- clusive oppression beneath which an act of uniformity, weighed with pains and penalties, was framed to compel mu-u° same opinio ;i in older days—the spirit which provoked the untiring strife which resulted in the snapping of the last links of a chain of spiritual bond- age, when Dissent cast off from its limbs the repulsive yoke of Church rates (without the least intention of having the fetters riveted afresh, no matter under what form or plea) notwithstanding all this, I say, every attempt at repression has thoroughly recoiled on all who have dared to invade the sacred threshold of the in- dividual conscience. And facts which have come to hand must fully bear out what has just been said for, when (in the year 1851) the first attempt was made at taking a census of religious worship in this country, it is not too much to say that Churchmen and Dissenters were perfectly amazed at the truths revealed by facts and figures, which there was no disputing. Let me give you these results in the words of one well qualified to speak upon the subject-I mean Mr Herbert Skeats, the author of a "History of the Free Churches of England," whose fairness and impartiality commend his book to every Nonconformist who cares as he ought to do about his principles-and he makes this declara- tion-"Out of the actual worshipping population of the whole country, only 52 per cent. were estimated to be- long to the Established Church. It was found that while there were above 34,003 places of worship in England, more than hilf that number,labove 18,000, belonged to the Free Churches. In the manufacturing districts, the Establishment was everywhere in a minority, and In Wales nine-tenths of the people re- jected its ministrations." Such then, is a rough estimate of the present position of Nonconformity, looked at from a numerical point of view. It is given approximately, but arrived at fairly. Truly remembering the merciless laws cruelly enacted, and remorselessly executed, against Nonconformity in the past, recollecting that it stands with fashion for its foe in the present, is it not wonderful that it shows so brave a front in our land at this day ? Verily, my friends, this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes I dare not indulge at present in any- thing like a history, or even a detailed sketch, of Non- conformist struggles and successes-great a3 I admit the temptation of doing so to be—but at the same time a just estimate of our subject can hardly be arrived at, unless we call to (remembrance a few landmarks, as it were, which mark the rise and the advance of English Dissent. There can be no denying that the days of Elizabeth were the darkest for a Nonconformity, which then went by the name of Puritanism." It was then just feebly struggling into life, and as the Queen's Tudor blood meant Tudor tyranny as well,it is no wonder that we find her crushing, with all the weight of her power, anything that appeared to cross her imperious will. She consolidated a Church, of which she clearly gave the nation to understand she was the head-and as differences of opinion arose here and there among the people on the subjects of Church ceremonies and vest- ments-her final argument was the establishment of the merciless "High Commission Court," whereby, if a man were but suspected, he was hailed before this verit- able inquisition, and then censure, or deprivation, or fine, or imprisonment, became the means of persuasion employed by a Queen's Church. To her successor James, the Puritan demand was made anew for purity of doctrine, good pastors, a reform in Church Govern- ment, and in the book of Common Prayer;" but what consideration they won from him, may be estimated from the fact that it was James who lit the last flame at Smithfield, which reddens our national history with blood and shame. Here then is one turning point in our religious annals. Here was the first short step towards the attainment of the blessing of religious liberty. A man was never afterwards burnt for his opinions, it is true, but the gaols were glutted, the wealthy were stripped of their goods to the last penny, and hundreds of the best souls in England were driven into exile, swept from their homes in a land which was not worthy of them. Yet was the tide turning with a terrific power, for the very name of Charles the First stands as the monument of a life and death struggle both for civil and religious liberty nor was it wonderful that Royalism and Epis- copalianism went down in shame together to the dust, before the uprising of a great nation when one bright gleam of freedom lit up the land when the people breathed from their agonies upon the rack of spiritual slavery-when a strong hand was stretched out to de- fend man's rights of conscience, and give him peace at home; and when the mere name of Cromwell was a terror to the prince of persecutors, the very Pope of Rome himself. Think of the suffering through which England has passed in days when assembling for wor- ship as we do now was a mortal sin, when the only re- ward to a man's adherance to religious sincerity was poverty, or the dungeon, or the gallows; and then think had we lived in those dark days, how our hearts would have overflowed with devoutest, humblest, most perfect gratitude to that band of iron-souled Godfearing men, the army of one who was indeed well called the Pro- tector as,above the disputes of theologians, we should have heard the declaration of those stern but great- hearted warriors of the Commonwealth proclaiming with an authority they could enforce, We will have no restraint laid on the consciences of men for religious differences." But alas that the clouds should have gathered so soon again, and that the light which had faded should have been thrown into stronger relief by the darkness which followed. The baptism of suffering had not yet been fully given to Nonconformity. The reign of the Second Charles was one long time of trial. Never did law strive more awfully to shatter conscience, whilst no better pledge of the sincerity of Dissent was ever given than that resig- nation of home, of comfort, of position, by 2,000 minis- ters in a'single day For that was the simple result of one of the most abominable laws disgracing the legis- lature of a free people-I mean, the infamous Act of Uniformity. But, there were other results which flowed from it- results on which short-sighted persecutors had not counted. People had wondered, doubtless, whether these men, who had prayed against the passing of such a law, would, or would not, sign away their souls to keep their livings Men were in doubt about their de- votion to their principles before that sad 24th of August, 1862 but when those victims of a spiritual oppression paid down the price of their freedom so faithfully and so bravely as they did, their characters were made clearer, the sincerity of their conduct was made mani- fest by the deprivation which they bore, and the world honoured their truth. Worldly stand;ng had been taken from them. They won for themselves in place of that a moral weight, a spiritual power not only to their own happiness, but to the confusion, the added wrath, of those who thought they had broken their influence. And then, what a time awaited Nonconformity. Never did it suffer more. Never was it so rich before in energy, in fame, or in intrinsic worth. The furnace of tribulation wrought it to a matchless temper; and although five fearful penal statut ef were brought forth to crush it, although the fact of more than five strangers assembled for worship within any household was visited with fine, imprisonment, or transportaion, men too': their consciences through the long stern fight with the cry of no surrender upon their Mps, and in the hearts. No Nonconformist minister could come within five miles of any corporate borough, under penalty of six months' imprisonment—to Nonconformists was denied all employment under Government—weary imprison- ment, banishment and starvation, were the instruments employed for enforcing conviction by the Bench of Bishops, and yet the work and the doctrine were of a kind against which even the mitre and the sceptre were powerless, and in this night of spiritual darkness and terror came the birth-hour of hundreds of Dissenting Churches. And then, while fidelity was bearing its cross, the scant blessing of an act of indulgence came to it from a throne stained with a debauchery, from which good men gladly turn their eyes away. There was no doubt about the matter, Dissent was winniug its way and getting its rights inch by inch. Endurance had conquered in the struggle. The appetite for oppres- sion bad sated itself, the weapons of persecution were blunted from the terribly frequent employment of them; and so foiled had bigotry really becoine,that atthe end of James the Second's reign it was found impossible to fasten the yoke of any one doctrine, of any one set of opinions, upon the neck of the p' ople of England. Judge, my friends, how awful must have been the feel- ing against the Nonconformity we prize, when in face of all the suffering inflicted, we read in history that— During the whole of this period, not one bishop or clergyman had lifted up bis voice against such inhu- manity." What kind of men were they, we ask, who were subject to such treatment! What retaliation did they make for it all ? There came a time which we call the period of the revolution, and when the civil liberties of the land were perilled, Churchmen were glad of the support which Dissenters brought to aid the State that had smitten them hip and thigh before, and such was the self-forgetting patriotism revealed, that Bishop Burnet has confessed that the wise and generous be. behaviour of the main body of Dissenters had given them so just a title to our friendship that we must re- solve to set all the world against us if we can ever for- get it, and if we do not make them all the return of ease and favour, when it is in our power to do so." The truth is, that the Nonconformists were quitting them- selves like men, and like Englishmen, shewing every- where that it was possible to be a true patriot and do yeoman's service to the State, at the ve-y moment that they denied and resisted the supposed right of the State to lay down any law for their consciences. No wonder that William the Third readily gave his assent to the Toleration Act-gratitude as well as justice would have moved him to it. That monarch had little to thank the former oppressions of Dissent for, for it is a known fact that the clergy as a body were opposed to the change which made the Prince of Orange king of England. The Prebendary of Westminster (South) might rage with all his rhetoric against Dissenters, Rabble and Schismatics he might and did call them, but wiser heads and bigger hearts than his, like Burnett, and like Tillotson, like Hoadly, of Bangor, and Arch- deacon Blackburne, were found to prove that chivalry had not fled from the English Church, and kept the eyes of her worthiest sons open to the justice of grant. ing unlimited toleration to all men-" for" says Burnett, "I think it is a right due to all men." (Observe he doesn't say, a matter of courtesy, or a matter of permission," but "a right due to all men). "Their thoughts he adds, are not in their own power they must think of things as they appear to them their consciences are God's; He only knows them; and He only can change them." I am now considering this matter he concludes, I' only as it is righteous, just, and merciful in the principle." From the passing of this Act of Toleration therefore, Nonconformity occupied a legal and [a social standing in English history, and from this time forward its conflict with Episcopalianism changes its nature, It had previously struggled for existence aeriinst: e.r.tenaiuation. After tl, irrp^t, Revo lution in 1688, it may be said to have cntrtt; n'. )n the strife which is not ended even yct-I mean, ill" swilv wherein the equality of :dl sects is contended for, as against the sole supremacy of any one. The amplest proof of this change of front was given in the time of Anne, when welactually hear raised the cry of "The Church is in danger." The very cry itself is witness to the advancing steps of Nonconformity. 'Tis only at a time of dire extremity that an expression like that could have gone forth. It had never been heard before in England But it. availed with the mass of the people who hadn't learned to think, and the last law that oppressed a man's conscience and disgraced the statute book was passed when Queen Anne gave her prejudiced assent to the "Occasional Conformity Bill." There was a great deal of plain speaking in the land about that Act, and the cry from which it resulted, and in debate cn this subject, Lord Halifax made a declara- tion to the ettect that a. Church of England framed according to the ideal of the High Church party, could not co-exnt with a constitutional government, and that its old pretensions were opposed to those rights of the subject, which it was the design ef the Revolution to establish. At the same time the Bishop of Coventry spoke plainly out, and said If a source of danger existed anywhere it was to be found in the clergy, and in the clergy only and, said the then Duke of Argyle on a subsequent occasion, The clergy have in all ages delivered up the rights and liberties of the people," and so the last weight of civil disability was hung upon Dissent. More was intended, aud heavier times were in all probability in store but the death of the Queen gave place to a sovereign ovho gave his protection to those who had been so recently threatened. It is not enough to say here that the royal sympathy was freely given to those who, King jeorge did notscrupple to say openly, had been the victims of so much "unchristian and barbarous treatment." But now happily, the last fetters had been riveted, and from that time to this re- ligious liberty lias been striving to undo the work of so long a time of spiritual repression. Say not that the former days were better than these, for the efforts of legislators have been directed to the repeal of unequal laws. Persistently had the demand for religious liberty to be made. Men were too much in earnest to be denied, and though the cry was raised If you grant this they will soon come to you to grant something more,those men went fearlessly on with the work of enfranchisement, and their voice found utterance in Dr Priestley's words, declaring that they would ask for something more, they were enemies of all ecclesiastical establishments, and gloried in the position they took up. I have even no doubt," said Dr Priestley, that when Christianity shad have recovered its pristine purity, and Its pristine vigour, it will entirely disengage itself from the unnatural alliance which it is at present fettered with, and that our posterity will even look back with astonishment at the infatuation of their ancestors in imagining that things so whclly different from each other as Christanity and civil power had any material connection; and he added in words which seem to us who look back over recent religious history to be verily prophetic- Much, very much, is to be done in this country, and in due time there will not be wanting men who will have the head, the heart, and the firmness to do it." Fearless words were spoken truly in that old time of warfare, none more so than those which came from Mrs Barbald, who wrote-" What they call toleration we call the exercise of a natural and unalien- able right; we do not conceive it to be toleration first to strip a man of all his rights, and then to give him back a part, or even if it were the whole. Why tolerate us in worshipping God according to our conscience ? Why not tolerate a man in the use of his limbs ?" The spirit of spiritual exclusiveness was indeed on its trial when such cries as these were raised against it. One after another the barriers which it erected gave way, until we staud to-day, in a prouder and a more trium- phant position evon than our father*. We have taken the survey of the numerical position of Nonconformity as contrasted with the Established Church. And I have ventured, at some length, to remind you of the drawbacks and the penalties, and the heroic patience with which Nonconformity has won its way to that position in this land of ours. Let no man vainly think that in the added liberty of the present time the neces- sity for Dissent has passed av ay on the contrary, that necessity is greater in my mind at least than it has ever been, because when we take into account the fact that the world s progress in knowledge and in life makes sacerdotalism less excusable in the 19th, than in the 17th centurv, so our position as Protestant Dissenters should be the more clear anu the more uncompromising. The principles of the Reformation are called in question, challenged and denounced in a way which sounds strangely in our ears. Bear in mind that I am not speaking of the doctrines in which the age of the Re- formation expressed its faith but of the principles which moved those men, the method of their thoughts- the means by wirch the Protestant theolgy was arrived at-and the stand-point of Protestant Dissent from which it rebelled against a. Church of Englandism which it perceived to be simply a semi-Romanism. Look at the position of the fathers of Nonconformity in England It is impossible to mistake the principles nearest their heart, and upon which their whole action turned. These were, undeniably, the right of private judgment and perfect liberty of conscience. These are the moving first principles of Nonconformity. They had been the sole basis of the previous Anglican revolt from Rome. But if Anglicanism had separated from Romanism, it had no less surely learned a lesson from it. It pulled down the Romish standard of traditional faith, but it exalted another in its place it had its Church authority it supported that authority by the civil power and it never scrupled to invoke the civil power to compel consent to its formularies. The right of judgment it professed to give was more a thing of name than reality. It was a half-hearted spurious kind of Protestanism, for it allowed no liberty of conscience outside its own jurisdiction in very fear that that jurisdiction might be challenged and materially cur- tailed. England had indeed learned the art of persecu- tion from the older church from which she sprang, and PuritantsandProtestant Dissenters exneiienced her con- summate powers Ul nunanon. The formation of the English Church was but one simgle step towards the carrying out of true Protestant principles. Her clergy blindly said "so far and no further" to all who worshipped within her pale, and fettered their descen- dants to this day with the partial theology of a by-gone age, in spite of wiser and more generous souls in the midst of her, who would have brought her nearer to the real Protestant stand-point. And it was this de- parture from the position she had at first professed to take, that made Dissent a sheer necessity. The Church declared that she had grasped authoritative truth, stereotyped what she fancied was that truth in her articles and rubrics, put a period to free enquiry, and armed her veto by Acts of Parliament with their conse- quent pains and penalties. And then she considered that she was upon the the safe road to perfect uniformity of opinion Wnatever the thoughts of m-m in past days may havd been, facts in the present time are sadly against the realization of any such dream; for It is hard to fancy what the uniformity of opinion so aimed at can really be, when Colenso and McNeil, Stanley and Liddon, Matthew Arnold and Lord Shaftesbury, each do tare that they have the best right to be called mem- bers of the Church of England. A sad uniformity is that of a house divided against itself Had the Protestantism of the English Church been real and thorough, had the two great Protestant principles been honoured as the precious means to an end, these heartburnings had not been, and the hard lines of prejudice and of fashion which mark off Church from Dissent had been undrawn. Our forefathers were awake to this want of thorough- ness, and in the first economy of their churches—when those churches were first struggling anxiously into life— they at least kept clear of laying down articles of be- lief, and making the acceptance of these firm and sure at the hands of their successors. Is it said, as I know it may be said, that those men who were cast out of the Church of England waited only to come back to her again? It was quite true they were indeed involuntary secessionists they would have entered their old pulpits again the day after their ejectment with joy and thankfulness of heart if they could have carried in with them scatheless consciences. And even then they waited and hoped, oh how earnestly in the time of their spiritual exile-for the time when no Act of Parliament should bar their return -and all their arrangements were of a temporary na- ture, not being ?ntended to be lasting They called themselves simply "Protestant Dissenters," and their Meeting houses were built, secured by no narrow trusts; nay, the trust-deeds did not even specify the sect or the doctrine at all. But the very fact that they refused to commit themselves or their friends to the very tenets for the sake of which they quitted the Establishment-even when they had the opportunity of doing so—reveals them as Protestants who were in very deed worthy of the name And there I,, other testimony to the spirit which ruled in those Presbyterian fore- runners of ours. They would have flun'" the broad mantle of Christanity over all. To embrace, not to ex- clude, was their constant endeavour. Fur example, in the days of Cromwell, Richard Baxter wonld have taken the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Decalogue alone, as essentials which, as he says, at least contain all that is necessary to salvation, and hath been by all the ancient churches taken for the sum of tneipreligi011;" And then he goes on to say—" And whereas they still said, a Socinian or a Papist will subscribe all this, I answered them, so much th# better, and so much the fitter it is to be the matter of our concord." And then again, in words equally impossible to misunderstand, does Calamy declare that—"The making new terms of Christian Communion, or narrowing those unl 11' terms which our Lord himself has fixed, is what the Word of God very freely declares against; it is what the honour of Christ as king in his church is very nearly concerned in and it is the evident unjustiifableness of this that I take to be a main principle of conscientious Nonconformity." Enough to prove then, my friends, that the moving spirit, and the justification, and the final goal of Nonconformity is the widest, truest, most thorough spiritual freedom. It is into this inheritance that we are called, and in the nature of our acceptance of it are our professions true or false. Far be it from me to depreciate doctrines which I hold to be the truth, or to speak slightingly of doctrines which form the ground of your best hope and comfort; but what we have to see is, how Nonconfor- mity, in its truest sense, has to do with principles first, and doctrines afterwards. The principle is the way in which a Nonconformist reaches his position, it is the means by which he arrives at what to him is truth. Judge, therefore, how jealously one generation after another should hold such principles as its dearest treasures, and guard them from every possible chance of violation! And here is the glory of Nonconformity at its best and purest acceptation. It will not submit to any standard of human authority. It will accept as final the dictum of no prelate-the decisions of no synod. Its doctrines have changed,—for example, the doctrine of everlasting torments. Its principles remain a comfort to us in the present; a guarantee for the spiritual safety and freedom of those who shrll come after us for us, M for our fathers. Conscience ftlone must be our guide, and God alone must be our judge. With such principles for our birthright, here do we find ourselves Nonconformists, with work to do in presence of a sacerdotal church, and more particularly in view of an undeniably and largely increasing section of that Church. I venture to apply that epithet to the Church of England 'as the one most truly suitable to her character and to her pretensions, and no better justifi- cation can I find for thus doing than by a reference to her authorised order for the Baptismal service, for must there not be a supposed mystic and priestly efficacy, when it is declared of the child, immediately after the use of the water, Seeing now, dearly be- loved,that this child is regenerate?" And is it not to he inferred that the child was regarded in the eye of tiie Church as unregenerate before the ministration of the priest took place. And the evidences of supposed priestly efficacy and power are stronger still when we turn to the order for the Lord's Supper—where we are told that the priest "consecrates" the elements by laying his hands above them? And Ritualism is the expression of the sincere determination of no inconsiderable body of Church of England clergymen to carry s':ch theories out to the very uttermost. War has been declared be- tween priestly mediation on the one side, and individual faith upon the other, and upon this great question Ritualism and Nonconformity should stand in the mcst uncompromising hostility-I say del:herately should stand," for I am about to quote to you some searching words which come from no less a man th in Froude, fie historian. I give them to you with no comfortable excisions, as if they applied to somebody else, and not to us, for the more nearly they touch ourselves depend upon it the need for them is proportionate. In estimat- ing the relative positions of Churchmen and Noncon- formists in regard to Ritualism Mr Froude unflinchingly says-" The Dissenters themselves are not proof agaiast the baneful influence which is extending even into their own borders. To those who have eyes to see there is no more instructive symptom of the age than the ten- dencyof Presbyterian, Independent, and even Unitarian clergy, to assume a sacerdotal dress and appearance. Their fathers insisted that between laymen and minis- ters there was no difference but in name, and they carried their protest into the outward costume. The modern ministers form themselves into a ciste. They display their professions in the collars of their coats whether they are Roman or Genevan, can be learned only on particular enquiry. Their fathers ejected from their chapels the meretricious ornaments so dear to sentimental devotionalism. The bare walls seemed to say in their stern simplicity, that no lies should be spoken or acted within them. Now, each chapel must have its delicately moulded arches, its painted windows, Its elaborate music. The exterior of an Independent Church is no longer a symbol of the doctrine which is still preached from its pulpits. We enter, and we are still uncertain where we are till we study the construc- tion of the East end-and even the still blank East end suggests in its form the idea of the not far distant altar and sacrificing priest." Such are his words! And friends,what say we to them ? Are they true ? Wholely, or even partly true ? And if so, what character shall modern Nonconformity give of itself when it is con- victed of such practices ? Do we say, Dissent is un- fashionable, and would we seek to make it more attrac- tive ? Why, that was the very way in which our com- mon Christianity was first made a State religion. That was the cause of the defiling touch of State power on spiritual things. Are our principles so weak? Can we do so little by our passionate love for them, that we feel ourselves unable to do anything better than try and make them more alluring, by the adoption of what the w.iter I have quoted so justly calls those meretricious ornaments ?" Is this the way in which we would make clear our spiritual descent from those devoted men and women who stood un in the world's despite before a priest-led State, anu preached and went to dungeons and to death, if only they might bear their testimony to a personal religion, a pei -onal responsibility, and to treedom of soul to profess these glorious truths m the sight of God and man ? Away with all such unmeaning symbolism,and far better had we bowed down with those symbolism,and far better had we bowed down with those great hearted ones whom the Spirit of God had touched, to whom the grandest cathedral pile was but a steeple house," aud who gathered in heroic faith, new in the wildernejs, now in the hovel, to Jisten for what the Spirit of God might say. Fancy a Nonconformist in the midst of an a33thetic worship foreign to his whole genius,and vainly attempted to be grafted to his church, Well might the spirit of sincerity cry to him What" does thou here ?" For God is calling him most surely by the voices of the time to deeper thought and worthier work than aught like that. Protestantism is dear to us And yet let us not stand by and see its principles first assailed ani then trampled under foot of a priest. The Church of England used to rejoice in the belief that of that Protestantism she was the best bul- wark. But how stands it with her now ? Where is it that Rome's greatest triumphs in this land are being won to-day ? Where Is it that the authority of a priest- hood finds quickest and most thorough recognition ? Amongst the Independents? The Baptists? The Wesleyans? The Unitarians ? In a word, It is among the Nonconformist ranks that Rome's recruits are made ? We know it is not so We know how many deserters pass over to her standard from the Anglican camp, and that the sceptre of the reformed faith is falling from hands that refuse to hold it. Had Nonconformity its work in the p,t? Believe then, that it has not only toil before it, it has honour with it in the present, for it is being called, and will be called more strongly still, to be the defender and the champion of true Protestantism. Into its stronghold are passing for safe keeping the spirit of truth and the spirit of freedom, and they are greatly safe while the banner of a free conscience floats over its impregnable battlement. Never, nido be- lieve, was a better or a holier task delivered to any men that the trust which appears to be descend'ig upon the English Nonconformists. They band together in presence of a common foe, and God grant that the ti ae spirit of brotherhood unite them in the principles which are alike the justification of Congregationalist, and Baptist, Unitarian and Presbyterian. God give us each humble hearts to seek the truth, and brave ones to up- hold it, tor the world's blessing, and for His own glory.

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MERTHYR POLICE COURT. SATURDAY.—f Be/ore R. De Rutzen, E. Davies, an i J. Probert, Esqrs.) INDECENCY.—Rosser Probert, engineman, of Gilfach Goch, was placed in the dock charged with having inde- cently exposed himself, on the 24th inst., in Courtland Terrace, Merthyr, with intent to insult certain females. -Two young women named Mary Ann Morgan and Elizabeth Hughes, gave evidence which went to shew misconduct of a very atrocious nature on the part of the prisoner, who, it may be mentioned had insulted them and others in the same way upon more than one previ- ous occasion.—Mr Jones, from the office of Messrs. Simons and Plews, who defended, set up the plea that his client was non compos mentis, and handed in a certi- ficate to that effect.—The prisoner's father, who was in court, promised that if his son were released this time he would take him to his house at Pontypool and keep a strict eye upon him in future.-The Bench, who were confident that the man must be of unsound intellect, a1 lowed the father to take him away. DRUNKARDS.—Ellen Fergusson, widow, charged by P.S. Colo with drunken and riotous conduct in Bridge- street, on the 25th ?nst., was committed to gaol for 14 days with hard labour in default of paying a fine 10s and the costs.—Edward Morgan, labourer, found by P.S. Olding lying in a helpless state in Graham-street the previous night, was similarly dealt v.ith.—William Jones, navvy, found by P.C. Evans in a similar state the same afternoon in Swan-street, was committed to gaol for seven days with hard labour in default of pay- ing a fine of 5s and the costs.—Michael McCarthy, ali?<! Foxy Mike, labourer, a notorious character, found by P.C. Allison in Bethesda-street the same night, drunk and kicking up a tremendous shindy, was sent to gaol for a month with hard labour without the option of a nne.-Samucl Ashton navvy, picked up helplessly drunk in Swan-street the same night, by P.S. Olding, was committed for seven days with hard labour in de- fault of paying 12s fine and costs.—Hem y Merchant navvy, found by the same officer in a similar state in Bridge-street the same night, was fined 5s and the costs —Margaret Green, married, summoned at the instance of P.C. Hunt, for drunken and riotous conduct in Well-street, Dowlais, on Sunday, the 21st ult w- fined 10s and the costs. A PERSISTENT BEGGAR.-Patrick Regan, a ragged elderly man, was brought up charged with begging alms in Church-street, Thomas Town, the previous day. -P.S. Olding proved seeing the old fellow going from house to house asking charity. The inhabitants of that locality complained of the nuisance occasioned by the old fellow's proceedings. Witness had warned him several times previously to discontinue the practice, and Mr Supt. Thomas had done so as well. When searched at the station there was only a half-penny found upon him-—Prisoner, who had nothing to say, was sentenced to seven days imprisonment with hard labour. ROBBERY FROM THE PERSON.—Caroline Taylor, aU?s Brown, a returned convict, was placed in the dock charged with stealing £ 21 from the person of John Rees cattle dealer, 17, Newfoundland-tip.—Prosecutor stated that on the J4tn ult., he was returning from Waun Fair, about 7 p.m. When near the Lord Nelson Inn, at Pontmcrlais, prisoner and another woman came up and asked him how he felt. Prisoner, taking hold of his coat said I want to speak to you particular, come in under the arch here in the dark," and drew him in. side the arch. The other woman went away leaving them there. Prisoner, who handled witness rather roughly, at last pushed him against the wall and made off. He put his hand into his coat pocket just at that moment and missed the money. He was perfectly I sober. He followed for some distance in the same direction as the prisbner had gone,but failing to come up with her, Ue w«ab into the Penydarrao End Inu sad made known his loss. — Upon the application of Mr Stipt. Thomas, the prisoner (for reasons which will appear at the adjourned hearing) was remanded for a week. A SECULAR JAM.-Edwa.rd Lilly, labourer. was sum- moned for having assaulted Mary Moore, single. Mr Williams from the office of Mr Willi mi, deputy coroner, defended. It was sought to be in ule out by complainant and her witnesses that the defendant had pushed the former out of his mother's l;ou.*e. A scuffle ensued, and eventually Miss Moore found herself jammed in between the door and the post, where the defendant held her for some consider.tble time.— Mr iiliams, however, succeeded in proving that complain- ant, had entered the house of Lilly with a poker, with which she gave Mrs Lilly a reminder that the j latter owed her a considerable sum in rent. Having done all this defendant pushed her out, and that in her exit her dress only got entangled in the jamb of the door. Summons dismissed, with costs against com- plainant, A DIKTT FELLOW.—Evan Davics, collier, Cwmbacb, was summoned for committing a nuisance in a 3rd class carriage, on the Great Western Railway, to the annoy- ance of passengers then travelling in snch carriage. The offence was clearly proved by Ins ctor Mends, of the Great Western Police, who happened to be a pas- senger by the same train as defendant, on the 6th ult.. from Quaker's Yard to Llancaiac'i. On arriving at the latter station the Inspector found that in the same com- partment asthe prisoner were three ladies, to whom the fellow's conduct must have been in finitely disgusting. —A guard, named Hughes, was called in corroboration of Mr Mends's statement.—Prisoner, who admitted his guilt, was fined in the full pen-lty of 12 and the costs, in default of paying which he was committed to goal for one month with hard labour. VERY SCSPICIOCS.-Patrick Desmond, labourer,stood in the dock charged with stealing two bottles of wine, of the value of 12" the property of Mr Theodore Day, of the Dowlais Inn.—Jane Murray, a servant at the house, stated that on the 26th ult. she heard a noise in the bar, and upon going thither found the prisoner in a stooping posture. In reply to her question as to what was the matter, he told her that one of the benches near the counter had upset.—Mr Eel's Day, son of the landlord, proved going info the bar after last witness and finding the prisoner putting right a bench that hat1 fallen. In reply to him, prisoner said he was looking for matches when he overturned the bench. Witness and his father went round the counter and found two bottles of wine under the bench which the prisoner was adjusting. The man ran out of the house at once. Witnesses followed and overtook him, upon which lie (prisoner) seized him by the throat. Witness, how- ever, seized the prisoner in return and held him there until his father came up. They brought the prisoner back to the house and detained him until the arrival of a constable.—P. C. Clark proved that on the way to the station the prisoner made a bolt, and upon being over- taken told his captor that if he had done such a thing as he (the prisoner) was charged with, he (the officer) would have run away himself.—The Bench thought that under all the circumstances the case was too doubtful to be sent for trial, and prisoner w; s accordingly dis- charged. STEALING A WATCH NICELY CAUGHT. — Jonathan George, a labourer at Heudre Fawr Farm, was brought up in custody charged with stealing a siver watch and guard, valued at f3 10s. the property of Mr Lewis Richards, the landlord of the Three Mariners Inn, Cae- draw. The prosecutor's wife stated that on the 22nd ult., prisoner came to her house and remained there about 40 minutes—the greater portion of which time he spent in the bar by himself, she having left it to transact some business matter in another room. Hearing a rather suspicious sound she re-entered the bar and questioned the prisoner as to whether he had fallen asleep. Receiving no intelligible reply she went out again and re-entered in a short time to find the prisoner gone. She did not miss the watch, which hung near the corner of the bar, until about two hours afterwards, when she noticed that a chair placed near the counter had a footmark upon it, having manifestly been used in reaching over for the watch.-P.S. Rodman, of Moun- tain Ash, stated that on the 25th ult., he went to the rick yard of Gilfach Rhyd Farm, where he found the prisoner with the farmer. Told him he wanted him for stealing a watch, and was about putting his hand into the prisoner's pocket, when the latter drew the watch and guard produced out of his tobacco box, saying oh what's the number of the one you want." Witness told him not to mind, that that was the one, and took it from him. When charged with the theft, prisoner re- plied that the landlady of the Three Mariners had lent him the watch, and that he had bought a key for it at Merthyr.—Several previous convictions appearing against him, he was committed for trial at the ensuing Sessions. REMANDED CHARGE OF WOCKDIXG. —Da.vid Coch- rane, labourer, surrendered to his bail, charged with having maliciously wounded Jchn Murphy, a pitman, at Dowlais Steel Works, on the 17th ult. A summary of this case will be found in our la-t issue. Prisoner, it will be remembered, struck the prosecutor in the head with a piece of cinder, because the latter persisted in throwing water into the metal pit in a manner which didn't quite suit his (prosecutor's) taste. The rem nd wa3 ordered so that sufficient time might be allowed to elapse to enable the Bench to ascertain the ultimate result of the injury.—Prosecutor to day reported him- self as progressing favourably towardscomplete recovery. -Prisoner now expressed nimaelf very sorry for what had occurred. He had never meant to hurt Murphy at !\IL-Their Worships said that under a" the circum- stances they would deal with the case as one of com- non assault. Prisoner would be fined E4 including costs, or six weeks imprisonment wit,h hard labour in the alternative. His friends found the money. ADJOURNED LICENSING MEETING.—This the last ad- journment of the Annual Licensing Meeting for the Division of Caerphilly Higher, was made the occasion for the transaction of the following business. The licenses to those applicants who had neglected to renew them at the lp-t meeting, and to which no objection upon any score whatever were renewed as a matter of course. Of those on the 1; "st of objected applications the first that was W2" the Coroish Arms Beer- bouse, Penydarran-road, Levi Jenkins, applicant. This was one of those houses the license of which was granted last year only upon condition that by the pre. sent meeting the tenant should improve his premises so as to bring them up to the standard of annual value re- quired by the several Acts of Parliament recited by the Wine and Beerhouse Act, 1869. In this case nothing had whatever been done with the view of carry- ing out such condition, and the Bench informed the applicant that they were unanimously of opinion that his license should not be renewed.-In the same cate- gory stood the following :-The Drover's Arms, Peny- darran-road. John Shankland. applicant. In this case Mr D. Evans, valuer, &c., proved that a considerable addition had been made to the house, as it previously stood, thus placing it a good way beyond the minimum value required by the Act. Granted.The Plough, Plantation-street, Penydarran. Mr Lewis (Smith, Lewis and Jones) applied on behalf of Mr Win. Jones, the landlord, and called Mr Evans to prove that recent additions and alterations had very materially increased the value of the premises. Granted. Mason's Arms, Caepantywill. Applicant Noah Davies. Mr Evans gave sim:,ar evidence, and the license was at once re- newed.——Friendship, Short-row, Merthyr. Mary Rees, applicant. The alterations towards the improve- ment of these premises seemed to have been only re- cently commenced. The Bench therefore refused the renewal of the license. Rainbow, Castle-street. Glebeland. Jane Jones, applicant. Mr Evans proved that since last meeting an additional cottage had been taken on to this house, making its total annual value E-18. Granted. --Queen's Head, Plymouth-street. Mr J. White, who appeared on behalf of the applicant David Davies, stated that this house had not as yet been improved. Mr Montgomery, the owner, had how- ever purchased the two adjoining cottages, which he intended, were the license renewed, to add on to this house. The Bench said they could only deal with matters as they stood at pretent, refused the renewal, Rolling Mill, Plymouth-street. Applicant, John Davies. Considerable improvement was shown to have been carried out with respect to these premises, and the Bench, after heating the evidence of Mr David Evans, granted the license. Mountain Ash, Plymouth-street. Mr Lewis, on behalf of William James, the applicant, stated that thts house was in process of improvement which would place it considerably beyond the neces- sary value. An adjoining cottage had been take on, and a large room also added at a very considerable out- lay. Mr D. Evans and the applicant having been sworn as to these facts, the Bench granted the license. The Parrot, Ynysgau applicant, Elizabeth Bosley Moulder's Arms, Nantygwenith-street, John Phillip Abel; Stag and Pheasant, Georgetown, John Owen Collier s Arms, Aberdare-road, Jonah Davies Crown, Troedyrhiw, Thomas Evans, and Old Mill, Troedy- rhiw, John Evans. Renewals of the licenses in all these instances were granted after the Bench had received evidence that the houses had since last year's meeting been improved so as to be brought up to the required value. Top Hill., George-street, Georgetown. Mr D. Rt. Lewis, who applied onlbehalf of Jonah Dav:es, the tenant of this house, informed the Bench that nothing had been done since last year towards its im- provement. He was under the impression, however, that Mr Evans, who then valued the premises, had not come to a correct conolusion respecting their actual value. He (Mr Lewis) had an experienced valuer pre- sent whom he intended calling, and who would tell them the result of his survey of the premises and his estimation of their value. The gentleman referred to (Mr Lumley R. Lumley) was then called, and after ex- pianing the plan of the premises which was put into his hands stated that in his opinion the house which was made up of three cottages would, if aga;n rented as such, reavse at least £ 19 10s per annum, Mr Supt. Thomas and Mr D. Evans were then examined to the contrary. The latter adhered to his former valuation, contending that the house, if let as cottages, which was the proper criterion—would not fetch anything like the sum mentioned by Mr Lumley. Renewal refused. Gipsy Castle, Blaencarno applicant, Thomas Jenkins, and Miner's Arms, Pantywaun applicant, Robert Smith. Mr Lewis (Smith, Lewis and Jones) appeared in both these instances in support of the application, In the former case it was shewn that extensive repairs, additions and alterations were and are being car.Iedout to the great improvement of the value of the house, the license of which was accordingly renewed. In the latter case nothing had been done, and the renewal was consequently refused. Mr G. C. James applied on behalf of the following managers of branch shops be- longing to the Rhymney Iron Company, for sweets licenses Abraham Edwards, Tirphil; Robert Swiden- bank, Pontlottyn, and Henery Lloyd, Deri. After the usual formal proof of the service of the notices a license was granted in each case. Mr J. Jones, from the office of Messrs. Simons and Plews, applied on behalf of a person named Mr Harris for a publican's license upon a house occupied by him at Brithdir. Mr n» Beddoe appeared to oppose the application. After en- tteting minutely into the wants present and prospective, of the inhabitants of the locality,explaining elaborately the IJlan of the premises, &c., the applicant was told that no license of the kind was in the opinion of the Lench required for the place iu its present circum- s-ances.^——Mr D. R. Lewis's application for a similar license for the \hite Swan Beerhouse, Union-street, .Uowlais, kept by a person named Davies, although very amy and ingeniously put forward, was refused upon similar ground, W. E. Williams, wholesale iiocer, &c.. Market Square, applied for a license to sell F vrci.n "-ine in bottles, not to le consumed on the t.rftnM-s. at his shop jn Graham-s.reet, and also for a similar license to sell ot his sto. e in the Market House, ttUich applications were, after the usual preliminary proof, granted.

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GELLYGAER SCHOOL BOARD. A special meeting of this Board was held at the Board- room of the Merthyr Tydfil Union on Friday last, when the following menuers were present:—Mr G Martin (in the chair), Messrs J. Rees, J. Lewis Rev A Dav^s, Rev. J P. Williams, Mr F. James (clerk), and and Mr Davies (deputy-cleik). Mr Davies informed the Board that no applications came to hand for the mastership of Troedyrhiwfuwch Board School, though widely advertised in both lan. guages. Mr J. Rees said he was under the impression that they (the Board) in the list meeting had agreed to give the Troedyrhiwfuwch schoolmaster a fixed salary but, by the minutes read, it seemed that he was under a wrong impression. However, he (the speaker) now wished to propose that a fixed salary be Guaranteed to the master for the first twelve months, so as to give him a chance to work the school up to a proper efficiency, and therefore he prof o-ed that a fixed salary of £90 be given for the first \etr. The Rev. J. P. Williams, in seconding Mr Rees's motion, said that he was against the principle of giving out the schools to farm them, which was to say in effect to the master Here is the use of the schools for you free of any rent charge, only you must pay all expenses out of grants and school fees, and you shall have the surplus, whatever that amount may be, as your salary." He wished to know where the subscriptions were to go ? The arrangement of giving half-grants and half-fees was, in his opinion, nearly as bad. No respectable schoolmaster would like to run the risk of losing a great amount of school fees, and it would not suit him to send his fee-bills out, and as the grants depended altogethe r oil H.M. Inspectors, who could tell in what mood" they might be when visiting the schools ? These gentlemen are so fand of finding fault with everything and if part of the master's salary depended upon H.M. In. spectors' report, the master would have no idea what his salary might be. He liked to give a fixed salaiy to all masters, and if the Board found them neglecting their duties, let them be dismissed. The Rev. A Davies said he quite concurred in what had been said by the previous speakers. He wished to give every fair play to the master, whoever he may be to work the school up and to carry out a proper d'scipline. The motion was carried unanimously, and the Clerk was authorzed to advertise at once. PUPIL TEACHERS. cTiheV?ev"after calling the attention of the Board to H.M. Inspector's report, gave notice that he would move at the next meeting that the managers of Troedyrhiwfuwch School be authorized to engage the service of a boy pupil teacher for the sr:d school. BOARD SCHOOLS LENT. Mr J. Lew.s gave notice that the resolution passed in reference to lending the schools under the Board for no other than educational purposes be rescinded." He also gave notice, if the preceding resolution be carried, that he would apply for the loan of the Deri schools to hold a concert there. The speaker intimated that great dissatisfaction existed in the parish against the Board for the stringent resolution passed by them to close their schools against any good cause for the benefit of the different neighbourhoods and very likely the rate- payers would soon call the members of the Board to account for their conduct in doing so. Tlr's was all the business transacted. KHYMEUIF TN fELLIGENCE. GOSHEN CHAPEL.—A quarterly meeting was held at the above Congregational Chapel on Sunday 1ft when the Rev. E. J. Evans, Genennogle, Carmarthensh're, preached morning and evening, and the Rev. J. P. Williams, Baptist Minister, in the afternoon. The con- gregations were large, and the collections good. Tb;4 church has given an invitation to Mr Evans to become its pastor, and the invitation has been accepted. A TEA MHETING. The Pontlottyn English Baptist Sunday School teachers held a social tea meeting on Monday evening last. at the Pontlottyn Library, when Miss Tovey, Miss Phillips of the Board School, and others kindly waited at the tabl The Rev. J. P. Williams, miuister of the WeMi Baptist Chapel, and the Rev. A. Tovey, the English minister, delivered very encouraging and eloquent addresses to the teachers present. Mr iiliams took up the '-religious question in day and Sunday schools, and eloquently pointed out what the Sunday schools of the future ought to be. After these addresses and the usual votes of thanks the meeting separated. A suitable site has been taken by the English Baptist to erect a new Baptist Chapel, which is very much needed at Pontlottyn, and they will soon commence build;ng.

ADVICE TO MOTHERS -MRS. WINSLOW'S SOOTHING SYRUP FOR CHILDREN !-Should always be used when cbddren are cutting teeth it relieves the little sufferer at once, it produces natural quiet sleep by relieving the child from pain, and the little cherub awakes "as bright as a button." It is perfectly harmless, and very pleasant to taste. It soothes the child, it softens the gums, allays all pain, relieves wind, regulates the bowels, and is the best known remedy for dysentery and diarrhoea, whether arising from teething or other causes. Mrs Winslow's Soothing Syrup is sold by thou- sands of Medicine dealers in all parts of the world at Is lAd per bottle, and Millions of Mothers can testify to its virtue.—Manufactory, 493 Oxford-st..London. 6060

VALUABLE DISCOVERY FOR THE HAIR !!—A very nicely perfumed hair dressing called The Mexican Hair Renewer," now being sold by most Chemists and Perfumers at 3s 6d per bottle, is fast superseding all Hair Restorers "—for it will positively restore in every case Grey or If hite hair to its original colour, by a few applications, without dyeing it, or leaving the disagree- al)le smell of most "Restorers." It makes the hair charmingly beautiful, as well as promoting the growth of the hair on bald spots, where the glands are not de. cayed. Certificate from Dr Versmann on every bettle, with full particulars. Ask for THE MEXICAN HAIR RENEWER, preventedlby H. C GALLUP, 493, Oxford. street, London. 6060

THROAT AFFECTIONS AND HOARSENESS.—All SUtiering from irritation of the throat and hoarseness will be agreeably surprised at the almost immediate relief afforded by the use of Brown's Bronchial Troches." These famous "lozenges" are now sold by most rel spectable chemists in this country, at Is lid per box. People troubled with a hacking cough," a slight cold," or bronchial affections cannot try them too soon as similar troubles, if allowed to progress, result in serious Pulmonary and Asthmatic affections. See that the words" Brown's Bronchial Troches" are on the Government Stamp around each box.—London Depot, 493 Oxford-street. 6060

ABERDARE LOCAL BOARD OF HEALTH The ordinary fortnightly meeting of this Board was held yesterday, Mr R. H. Rhys (chairman), presiding. There were also present Messrs. Jas. Lewis, Ll Llewel- lyn, J. W. Jones, the Rev, Dr. Price, David Davies (Canton House), Leyshon Rhys. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The Clerk reported that the accounts for the year 1872 had been audited. Mr Howell Williams, who had been present, objected to several of the items, but nothing had been disallowed. The reports of the Collectors were read and con- sidered very satisfactory. The Chairman thought the Board should really take the matter of the Collector's salary into consideration. They were now paying him JE70 a-year for collecting £ 6,000, of which he had succeeded in getting every fraction with the exception £ 4 or £ 5 altogether lost. Several members concurred in the advisability of remunerating the Collector in amore satisfactory manner and ultimately the Chairman gave notice that he would bring forward the matter at the next meeting. A General District Rate of 6d in the £ was signed and sealed. THE FEVER HOSPITAL. Only one tender had been received for the work re- quired to complete this hospital ready for the reception of patients. It was frnm Samuel Jones, builder, and amounted to JE1374 5s 3d—considerably in excess of the estimate of the Surveyor. The items were considered to be nearly all too high, especially the mason work, which was excessive, and it was determined not to accept the tender in its present state. The Chairman requested the Clerk to hand him the estimate, and be would see whether Mr Jones could not be induced to come down a little in price. After some further consideration, however, the matter was referred to the hospital committee. The reports of the Surveyor and Inspector of Nuisances were read, and the meeting then separated.

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the right and places galling restrictions upon its exercise, must necessarily be viewed with suspicion and distrust. The fact is that the Tories have so habituated themselves of late, in their straggle for power, to the adop- tion of sharp practices, that the Liberals have been constrained to aflopt similar mea- sures in self-defence. The result is, that the Registration Courts are turned into political bear gardens, in which if a man cannot be deprived of his vote, he may at all events be subjected to every possible species of annoyance at the hands of personal as well. as partisan antagonists. It is quite time a Stand was made against a custom that most assuredly wovTd be far more honoured in the breach than in the observance. The animosity, rancor", 'I-will, and generr1 hostility rampant during the period over which our parMamentary contests extended under the old system of open voting, now seeks expression to an intensified degree im the Registration Cou". c, and it becomes the duty of officials, entiusted with the exercise of judicial functions, to allay excitement, restrain the passions of factious agents "itb;n due limits, and tb:ow the segis of the law over the victim to partisian designs. Mr. Sergeant Puling has set Ian excellent example in this and other respects. Be- lieving that it is the intention of the legis- lature that queued persons should have a vote he seeks to assist them to retain their right. The learned gentleman does not re- quire personal attendance as an essential step towards obtaining justice, although it is advisable, where questions of tenvre, g .'ound rent, mortgages, and so forth, arise, that the claimant should put in an appearance. But lie loans towards an extension ot the J.' 'an- chise, and feels more gratified when he is able to add to, than when competed to sub- tract from, the electoral Fsts. In this spirit the Barrister, when possible, will. take the statement of the overseer or the rate book as to the nature of property or the amount of rental; while, on the other hand, if objections are raised to their voting he will insist upon those objections being technically faultless." By the adoption of such mea- sures, and the infusion of such a spirit into the court, difficulties are minimised, a better feeling is evoked, party antagonisms are rounded off, and order is maintained. It is to be hoped, now that we have the Ballot, and elections are to be conducted in a more peaceable way than was once the case, changes of an equally desirable nature will be effected in the modes of procedure in our Registration Courts, and that a general op- position will be manifested by the Barristers to frivolous and vexatious attempts to limit the franchise, and alienate the rights of the people. v