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

I^BEBDAl^T^mLIGF^OE- COUNT r COURT. — His Honour Judge Falconer open-d the monthly tession of tb;«Couit on Tuesday, at the Temperance-hp'1. Thee. 3 disposed of doling the day were ur'mportunt. 1 he only c; e of public in- terest nrs been withd 'awn. It wr» that of a number of colliers v. the Aberdrre-Rhonddi Steam Coal Com- pany, in which the men su' 1 for damages for unlawful discharge. The manager pa'd the amount sued for into Court, and the matter waaat an end.

ABERDARE POLICE COURT. TUESDAT.—Before D. E. WiW tms, Esqr. ANOTHER JUSTICE WANTED.—Luckily the number of cases set down for hearing to-diy fell far below the usupt average, eige the inconvenience ? Isin'J from the want of a second magistral) would have been severely felt. It wri indeed by a mere r -ident th.t the atten- dance of the gentleman above named was secured-we being given to understand thtt he wpq debarred from attending the Brecon Qucv- r Sr s'ons as lie had in. tended, by some '"rejulaiity in the a1 i.va' of the first train at Merthyr. The majoiity of the c,ea which follow in the drunkards' 1st, br I one poraon of the charge el;minated, so that the matter might be taken cognisance of by one justices, the cbargr., as they were y worded, reqtl') ing two to adjudicate upon them. William Jenkins, stoker, found by P.C. Thorns i TraD-road. on the 7thinst.,(hjnk and fighting with another individual, who ran for it directly the con. stable hove in si-bt, Win f'1..d 31 and the costs.—Herry Edwards, sinker, found by P.C. Evans :'1 Wind-street the same night, denudrd of p'most evei/ra*j of cloth- ing, standing like a pc t amid pn incessant downpour of rain, was fincd a like sum.—Evan Edwp-ds, lampman, a notorious fellow, charged by P.C. Thomas with drunken and riotous conduct in High-str st, on the 13th inat., was ordered to PÀY a fine of 10 and the COgh. -Henry Walte.. labourer, picked up by P.C. James in Commereivl Phce, on the same night, in a helpless state, was fined Et and the costs.—Wm, Poole, collier, arrested by P.C. Emanuel in Nav ^al'on-ror I, Mountain Ash, under sim'V- c,-cumstp -,c i. was similarly dealt with, ai also were Jo'eph Matthe vs, col'!er, picked up by P.C. Ford, n Cardiff-road, Ilountain Ash, the same night, and Jam-9 Quick, labourer, lugged out of Sey- mour-street, th'" (Tu -day) mo^>:D": by P.O. Jamei. Walters and Quick were committed to gaol for seven days' each with hard labour in default of paying the amount of penalty respectively I-npo du) on them. A MISCHIEVOUS YOUNGSTER —Edwin Bowden, 14, a respectably-dre sed hd, wf summoned for doing damage to a ralway truck, the nrope^y of Messrs. Elliott and Company (Powel' Duh yn) to the amonnt of 21 6<L—A watchman, named EV?T?S, who ,4 employed by the Company, swore that on the 19th Hst. he saw the defendant (with whom were a lot of other lads) raise the break of a tuck which stood t., a siding at Cwmnrol Co"iery, and pHce a long wooden rafter in one of the wheel. by means of wirch he sent the truck down the line at a frnious rate. It collided with a loaded wagon, which it threw oft tbe I:'1e and damaged to the amount named in the summons. The mother, who accompanied the boy, could not see why her son had b an summoned more than the re,t of the clrldren who were assisting him.—H:s Worship imposed a fine of Is, in addition to the amount of dam? ^e and cos. Co>r, STE^LTNa.—Thomr i Colhrd, labourer, was charged with stealing 611bs. of corl, the nropertyof the Abernant Iron Company, on the 9th inst.—Jr\S. Pawy deposed to seeing the pi ioner go about s;x o'clock in the morning of the day :'1 question to a truck in the Cwmbach aid-vjy, jump on the buffers and take off a large lump of coav which he ultimately shouldered and walked away with. Witness went after him and asked him why he came there to look for coal. He re- plied that he thought it no harm he hr 1 not a bit in the house that morning. Wloans brought him to Aberdare, where the coal was duly weighed. The value of it was sixpence, and the owneu were Richard Fothergill, Esq., M.P., and others. The prisoner was not employed under the Messia. Fothergill and Com- pany. The young man now consented to be tried by an Aberdare Bench of Magistrates rather than at Quarter Sessions by a jury. He was, therefore, ordered to be remanded for a week. Bp'l was taken for his appear- ance, himself and one surety in JB10 each. oo-- GELLYGAER SCHOOL BOARD. The monthly meeting of this Board was held on the 9th inst. at the Library, Pontlottyn, under the presi- dency of Mr J. Rees, chairman. The Rev. A. Davies, pursuant to notice, moved-" That the spla\y of the master at Fochriw School be raised to £60, and the sewing mistress 110. 1 This was seconded by the Rev. J. P. Williams, The Rev. G. C. F. Harries complained that the school pence were not properly collected, and could not see why the ratepayers should be c; lied upon to raise the salaues of their teachers when tney neglected to look after the fees, and so depilve themselves of what would be a pait of their remuneration. He moved as an amendment that the salary be J655, half grant, and half school pence, and that of sewing mis. tress £10. This was seconded by Mr Laybourne. On being put to the vote the oi;ginal proposition was carried. Mr J. Lewis, pursuant to notice, moved- "That the motion passed at the lasi Board meeting with reference to lending the Board schools for other purposes should be rescinded in the case of Deri." The Rev. G. C. F. Harries moved a direct negative, and after a short discussion, Mr Lewis withdrew his oLlginal motion, an" it was agreed-" That the schoolroom be lent for this time only to the members of the Indepen. dent congregation for the purpose of holding a concert, and that a charge of 10s be i lade." The Rev. G. C. F. Harries moved—"That the managers of the several Board schools instruct the masters to see after the arrears of school pence, and to report to this Board of any cases that may require investigation." It was or- dered that a precept be given to the o /erseers for the sum of JE400. The inspector's report of the Treedy- rhiwfuwch School was read, and considered very un. satisfactory. Mr Lonie and Mr William Thomrs "Tere appointed managers of Trosdyrbiwfuwch School in the room of one deceased and another removed. There were six applications f< r the mastership of Troedyihiw- fuwch School, and after examhvng the testimonials, which were all of a veil hifjh character, the Board elected Mr David Thomas (Lland'irfel). There wee 18 applications for the post of master, tJ."ee for that of mistress, and five for that of infant mistress of the new Pontlottyn School, but as the sitting had bsen rather a protracted one it was agreed to adjou.A the considera- tion of this malter until Thursday next. RHONDDA VALLEY TNTELITG-ENCE- STRA NGE DiacovMT.—On Tuesday afternoon last, as some beys were at play close tv the Rhondda river, near Hafod, one of them noticed Bometh:ng glittering im- bedded in the gravel, and on pictrng it un discovered it to be a watch. The number of the watca is 50,383. PONTYPRIDD INTELLIGENCE. PUBLIC-HOUSE OFMNCt.—On Wednesday (before Mr Gwilym Wi'Hams), Griffith Griffiths, Ffrwd Amos. Rhondda Valley, was charged with bein^ riotous, and refusing to quit the Turberville Arms when requested to do so. Tue landladv was called by the police to give evidence against defenaant, but during her examination she appeared very reluctant to give evidence. Did the defendant break some plates at yoar house at the time in question?"—" Yes, he had broken some plates which were of but little value.The Superintendent: Please to ask her, sir, if he damped a chafr!- Witness (laughing) Well, YCl, sir, two chairs were damaged. -The Bench And you have forgiven all by to-day ?— Witness: Iss, sir.—He was fine i 58 and costs. E. Thomas was charged with refusing to quit the Cross Keys Inn, Tonypr ndy, when requested to do so.—The landlady admitted, in answer to the Bench, that the defendant WM drunk when he entered the house, and yet he was supprcd ",ith drink. Ihe compk;nant wa^ told that she was liable to be fined herself.—Defendant was fined 15s 2d, including cc to. —— Wm. John, Farmer's Arms, Drebanog, was chrrged with refusing to admit P.C. Jenkins. The constable said that on Sunday, the 5th instant, he knocked at defendant's door. He was in uniform at the time, but the door was not opened. Shortly afterwards he saw a number of men in a field at the rear of defendant's house, and two of them were drunk.—Defendant protested that the only rep-ion for not opening the door was that the Jo«k was u stiff," and that he iv 1 failed to o; ;n it.— The constable said he had not henrd anyone attempting to open the lock.-Defendant WPS fin-, 20s and costs. --W}D. Beecb-Am, Louisa Bcecham, David Griffith, and Eliza G-iffith, married couples, living at Ferndale, were charged with the above offence.-P.C. Coleman discovered the defendants and others, whose cases were disposed of last week, drinking at Brynffynon Inn, near iSglwyswonno Church, which is in a lonely part of the mountain, between Aberdare and the Rhondda Valley.-Defendanta were fined 10s and costs each. AN EARLY BIRD,—Mr. David Williams, the Mill, near the above town, shot a fine woodoogk on Wed. nesday last In Craigylan, within a short distance of the town. HUNT EXTRAORDINARY.—On Friday, while the rain poured, and the floating mist swept in gusts athwart the mountains of Rhondda and Eglwysilan, there sud- denly appeared on the Rhondda-bridge, in the contre of the town, a nimble-footed denizen of the fern?. Its started look betokened that it was not accustomed to the haunts of man. The visitor was no other than a fine hare. There were several persons in the neighbour- hood of the bridge, who made a rush at poor puss, who made many ineffectual rushes to escape from falling in- to their hands. But suddenly, PS if finding that es. cape was impossible, and as if crying, in a language of her own, Anywbere-anywhere out of the world," the poor creature vaulted over the parapet, and fell into the flooded river beneath. It floated bravely and struggled gallantly for dear We. At this moment an elderly citizen ran to the scene with a loaded gun at halfcook, intending to shoot, but the gun, as ;f appre- ciating the scene more humanely than its owner, refused to go off. The citizen did not fling the disobedient fire- lock in the flood after the hare, but ran to another posi- tion to receive the creature at the back of the Butchers' Arms, where many othars had congregated. At this moment an intelligent retriever dog, belonging to Mr Evans, jumped into the water, and then followed a most exciting race, which wp, continued for about 200 yards, when puss was caught and brought out alive by the noble animal. BOARD OF H"\LTH.—On Wednesday the first meet- ing of the newly established Board was held, and there was a full attendance of members. Upon the motion of Mr. Penn, which was seconded by Mr. Robert Thomas, and carried nem. con., the Rev D. W. Williams, Fairfield House, was elected chairman for the ensuing three years. The rev. gentleman took the chair amidst cheers. He delivered some remarks of a general character, remarking that the duties they would have to peiform were new to them, but he trusted his long experience at Boards somewhat of tha same nature would be of some service to them (hear, hear). He trusted the various appointments would be filled to the satisfaction of even their opponents (" hear, hear," and laughter). He complimented Mr. Jabez Evans upon the energy he had displayed during the contest, and concluded by thanking them for the honour done him in being elected thei chairman. Mr. Robert Thomas proposed Mr. Penn as their vice-chairman. This was seconded by Mr. William Davies, Pwllywaun, and carried. The chairman s Mid the next duty they had to perform was to elect a clerk. It was the general custom to appoint a prof lsional man to that office. He had been much pleased with the manner in which Mr. Harry L. Grover had managed matters in connection with the recent election (hear, hear)-and lie thought him well qualified to act p1 their clerk. He had pleasure in pro- posing him for that office. Th;s was seconded by Mr. Penn, and cai .ied unanimously. The chairman said it was necessary next to appoint a trpp surer, and he pro- posed Mr. W i'liams, manager of the West of England Bank, to fill the office. This was sc jonded by the vice- chairman and carried.-Mr. Robert Thomas proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Frank James, Merthyr, the returning-officer, for the excellent manner in which he had conducted the recent election of members to that Board. This was seconded by the vice-chairman and carried. Mr. James's representative retuued thanks on behalf of that gentleman.—The meeting was then adjourned to Monday evening next. +• TREDEGAR INTELLIGENCE. ANNIVERSARY.—The anniversary of Elvin Indepen- dent Chapel wps held on Sunday last, when sermons were preached at Saron Chapel at two and six o'clock, by the Rev. R. Williams (Hwfamon), of London, and on both occasions the chapel was crowded to overflow- ing. The emir ce of the preacher brought people to- gether from a'l <e surrounding district, he beinj also a bard of the hi<jhr -t class, having won the cha'r at the late Rhyl Eisteddfod, when Mr Gladstone del, -vered his admirable speech, and, we are collect, had gained the like honour severrl times before. A collection was made et the close of ef oh service, and the total amounted to £47. On Monday a lecture was also delivered by Mr W'ama, on The Young Men," on which occasion Saron Chapel was again quite crowded, and all were highly pleased with the very eloquent manner he handled the subject. PETTY SESSIONS.—At the Po'lce-court on Tuesday, before Dr Coates and the Rev. W. Hughes, Abraham Morgan was swora in ?s corstable to the parish of Aberystwith. OBTAUHG A WATCH UNDER FA^SE PRETENCES.— Henry Seth, of Gamfpch, Nantyglo, was charged by Tobias Field, of Newport, with inducing him to dispose of a silver watch by sale under fplse pretences. Prose. cutor stated that the watch was of the value of 1:2 5s, and that the prisoner, !n the month of September lpit, represented himself to be a tradesman living at Nanty- glo, and that he was now building some houses in that place. He had a watch himself, and wanted to pur- chase another for his w.fe. In proof of this statement he pointed to some houses which were then being bu"t as his own. Under th's representation prosecutcr sold him a watch and chain. Sub. equently he found out the statement of the prisoner wai false, wherefore the cause of the present proceedings, the watch having been eventually pawned at the shop of Coleman Foley, at Biynmawr. Evidence of the accuracy of the statement as regarded the houses was given by Mrs Mary Johnson the real owner, unto whom the prisoner had applied for rent of one of the housei to be used as a shoemaker's shop, to which the witness entirely objected. The pri- soner asserted in defence that prosecutor called at his house and wanted to sell the watch, asking 10s at that time and 51 per month until the whole amount was paid up. Having only 7s in the house at the time, he bor- rowed the sum of 33 to make up the 10s, which be paid to the prosecutor ps instalments, and the conditions of sale were written on the day-book of the prosecutor, if he had the wish to show it to the Bench. The Bench considered there was a prima facie case, and committed the prisoner to t'ke h's trial at the Usk Quarter Sessions. SERIOUS ASSAULT.-Thomas Jones, who appeared in Court with a bandaged head and marks of several cuts on his face, charged John Welsh with violently and un- provokingly assaulting him at the works, at Tredegar, on Friday morr:ng last. The parties were at work on Thursday night, the former part of the night being spent in a certa:n amount of practical joking, compris- ing some rough play. About four o'clock, however, a dispute arose ps to the cutting of some long aod shoiu rails, and prosecutor desired the prisoner to come on a little quicker, in consequence of which prisoner struck the prosecutor with a heavy tongs, which felled him to the ground, and afterwards recommenced the assault by striking him in the face with a stone-jar, a splinter of which hit Thomas Powell, who ran to the assistance of Jones, and the jar itself breaking with the force of the blow on Jones's face. Corroborative evidence was given. Dr Brown, the works' su-geon, gave evidence as to the nature of the injuil 7. Mr Dixon, who appeared for the defence, wished to show that provocation had been given by the prosecutor. Ultimately the prisoner was committed for ttl?\ ASSAULT ON RAILWAY OFFICIALS. — At a special Petty Sessions ou Monday, William Hawkins and George Plumber were charged with committing a vielent assault on David Jarman, station master, and Lloyd, a porter, at Nantybwch station, on the London and North. Western Railway, on the 4th inst. It appears that on the evering of that day the defendants came to the station and commenced wheeling a wheel-barrow, and annoying some girls, who had 2ome there to wait for some friends. When interrogated is to their mean- ing, Plumber struck Jarman, and the other had Lloyd on the ground, the station-master's lamp being taken away from him. Plumber also had a bottle in his hand with which he struck Jarman. Jarman informed the guard thatpiisoners were unfit to go by train, and a general scuffle then took place. For the defence it was stated that they were only larking with the girls, and that the officipls unwisely interfered, which resulted in a disturbance.—The Bench thought the case a very serious one, and, considering the persons upon whom the assault wps committed—railway officials-they committed the defeadants to prison for ]4 days.

WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE DEMONSTRA- TION AT MERTHYR. Mrs Crawshay, of Cyfarthfa Castle, who has always taken a great interest in the above question, presided on Tuesday ev^n'ng at a large and influential meeting held at Zoar Chapel, the use of which had been given for the occasion in consequence of the Temperance Hall, in which the meeting would have been held, being underrepair. The principal speakers were Mrs Crawshay, Mrs Fawcett, wife of Professor Fawcett, M.P., and Miss Lilias Ashworth, of Bath. Mrs Crawshay, who was received %:th immense cheering, said I share with all present their anxiety to hear the two gifted ladies who are my guests tO-D-ght but it has b en intimated to me that a few words on my own part would be acceptable to some among the audienee; and rs I have always found my Meiuhyr ft lends most kind and indulgent in listening to me- notwithstanding my wicked notions- J propose making a remark on the assertion that women don't want the suffrage." (chcers.) Mr Henry James s?id at Taunton, last week, that if he were sure even half the women of England desired the franch'se be would vote for it, and he seemed to fancy that he was acting ;n accordance with the wishes of the majority of women in England in declining to vote for it. This may to some extent be true—the black slaves d'd not care to be set fcee- there musk be some little experience of freedom before it is vp'ued. But why should the women of England who don't want to vote be so afraid of the suffrage being given to those women who do. They will no more be obliged to vote than men are. There are many women who do not use this privilege-do not fulfil their duty- but it would be a strong plea to bring forwprd, that we must not a"ow pny men duly qualified to vote, because some do not care to vo 3 (" hear, he-,r," and applause). Who is he who kiows what proportion of women are arxious to have a voice in making the laws by which they, no 1: -s than men, are bound ? No one -for the tyranny exercis d by some men is so great that they prevent their wives a id grown-up daughters bearing any discussion on the subject, when anxious to do so. (Hear, her-). To my knowledge there would have been some aere to-night who are kept at home as if they were either children or idiots. Is it l'ely this state of things w' I continue? No. Because at some of these meet- ings the absence of Mrs or Miss So-and-so will be de-, plored, and the aae renen for her absence given and those men who ret thus tyranic lly by their wives and daughters are the very ones who would most shrink from having such conduct traced home to them ( hear, hear," and cheers). It is only the most noble and the most generous of husbands and fathers who at the pre- sent time allow womankind the exercise of in- tellect but the others will have to do so, and then Mr Henry James will find himself obliged to vote for the enfranchifleiQeot of women, if he will either gain or re- tain a seat in the House (" hear, hear," and cheers). I feel sure that one reason why narrow-mindfl m^n are feel sure that one reason why narrow-mindfl In"n are so averse to greater indepence of thought on the plr" of women is that they fear it might raise the standard of intelligence throughout the country. This is a strange fear, while there are physiologists who assure us that the mini of woman is in itself an inferior article to man's mind. Perhaps they will have to modify this idea some day (" hear, bear," and cheers). In the year 1801 M. Sylvain Marechal wrote a book in which he discussed the question, "Ought women to learn the alphabet?" This is ironical, but really it is the point where the men went wrong ("bear, hear." and cheers). They should have resolutely answered "No." But only think, had they done so, what a far more backward posi- tion Europe would hold now, for it is clearly a decree of Providence that one class cannot rise without the rest, any more than one individual can do so. What is the meaning of all the martyrdoms of all ages ? Only that the martyr was in advance of his time and that is a crime resented now not less than in ages past, though it is no longer punished by physical tortures, but mental torture is still in vogue (applause). Mr Charles James moved the first resolution. He said he had no hesitation in moving the resolution which had been placed in his hands, because, as they all knew, he had for many years held the opinion that to debar women from the exercise of the suffrage when they were not exempt from taxation was sheer tyranny. He thought women had given abundant evidence of their intellectual power as well, and they might possibly see some testimony of their foresight in the circumstance of his being put forward to move the first resolution, in order that the audience might see for themselves the powerful contrast between the poor, stammering man and clever voluble woman. The resolution was That the exclusion of women, otherwise legally qualified, from voting in the election of members of Parliament, is injurious to those excluded, contrary to the principle of just representation, and to the laws in force regu- lating the principles of municipal, parochial, and all other representative governments." Mrs Fawcett, in supporting the resolution, said the advocates of woman suffrage had had an uphill task hitherto, and were not likely to have it less laborious for some time to come. Not only had they to con- vince the minds and conscience of the British public that the demand of women for representation was based upon justice and reason-that was the least diffi- cult part of their task-but they had also to convince that large mass of opinion which was not based upon reason and common sense, but which sprang from the rocks of prejudice and superstition that lay deep in the minds and natures of so many hundreds and thousands of them. They were reminded of that old couplet A man convinced aga'nst his will Is of the same opinion still. They might convince the minds of men over and over again of the justice of their demand to be placed in pos- session of the suffrage, and they might convince those men of the injustice of holding them in the same cate- gory, as to disqualification for voting, with paupers, criminals, and imbeciles, but still there would remain the same prejudice against the extension of the franchise to women as though none of those reasons existed. She would just tell them of a cir- cumstance which happened some seven or eight years before the Married Women's Property Bill became law. She was down in the countrv. at her father's house, on the eve of a general election, and her father had invited some of the leading Liberals to meet him there to concoct measures of action. After the general business was over, she thought it would be an admirable opportunity of bringing the Bill under their notice, and accordingly she did go, but she found that Liberalism was often like beauty-~oniy skin deep. She submitted the Bill to them, and took care to point out the clause which provided that a husband should not, under certain circumstances, be held responsible for his wife's debts, which met with unanimous ap- proval—(laughter),—but some one, with a keener per. ception than the rest, suddenly asked whether, if his wife had £2,000 left her, and he wanted to use it, he would, under this Bill, be obliged to ask her for it. She was under the necessity of saying that it was so, whereat the whole body of the leading Liberals for that part of the county said they did not agree with it, could not support such a measure, and refused to sign a petition in favour of it. That was the line of action ot the advanced Liberals of Suffolk 7 or 8 years ago. Since then the cause of women suffrage had made con- siderable progress. It was true that Parliament had not done much since, but the fact that members of Parliament had expressed their willingness to do some- thing for them showed the progress of public opinion in the direction in which they desired it to go. One of the most successful tactics which had been resorted to by its opponents was that of denouncing the movement as of a revolutionary character. When first the question was mooted in Parliament, it was thought that it would receive the support of the entire Liberal party. Then the tactics of their opponents changed, it was said that the women of the country were Tory at heart, and if the measure received the assent of Parliament it would damage the Liberal party. That stratagem had a good deal of success. But if it lost them a portion of their Liberal support, it won for them supporters in the ranks of the Conservatives. Amongst the 240 members of the House of Commons who supported the Bill for woman suffrage they counted Mr Gathome Hardy, Sir Stafford Northcote, and Mr Ward Hunt, and they found advocates in John Bull, the Standard, Globe, and other papers, which publishel leading articles in their favour, and stated that the principle which they had always advocated led them to support the extension of the suffrage to those women who are householders.. But there had since been another change of tactics, and in- stead of saying women were Tories it was now said it would be revolutionary to extend the suffrage to women, and entirely subversive of society. It was easy to call names, and there was a habit in all political circles of calling any change which you desired a reform, and any change which you did not desire a revolution, and so their opponents ex- pected to behold revolution in a measure which proposed simply to confer the suffrage upon female householders. Last year when Mr Trevelyan introduced his bill to ex- tend household suffrage to the counties, it was supported by speeches from Mr Forster and Mr Bruce, now Lord Aberdare. The former adduced as reasons for the measure that he had always been a household suffrage man, that the agricultural labourers had conducted their agitations quietly and orderly, that they had sent a petition with 82,000 signatures in favour of tbe Bill, that they were becoming more intelligent and en- lightened, and that questions were constantly arising in the House closely affecting the labourer, whose interests required representation in the House. She did not dis- pute the application of those reasons to a labourer's case, but she contended that they applied, every one of them, with tenfold force to the unrepresented female householders of the country. They had sent a petition signed not by 82,000, but by 300,000 persons in behalf of their measure and as te educational attainment, it was no disparagement to the labourer to ny that there would be several generations yet before the average agricultural labourer of England got to the level of the average women of that class who would be enfranchised by this BilL She did not wish to say anything unkindly of Lord Aberdare; but she could not refrain from noting the argu. ments upon which he based his support of Mr. Trevelyan's Bill, and his opposition to the Woman's Suffrage Bill. In the first place, he said he agreed in all that Mr. Forster had said, but with respect to female suffrage he was opposed to it from the facts that no women came over with the Duke of Normandy at the Conquest of 1066, nor did anytake part with the barons in wresting the Magna Charta from King John. Surely these were the drollest reasons ever heard for such a line 01 conduct but Lord Aberdare thought martial prowess was a proper qualification. Perhaps he might be reminded that there was once a Queen Phi'lipa, who, wh'le her husbond waged war against the enemies in the South, conducted an army to the North, and fought twelve pitched battles against the Scots. She contended that all the arguments of representation and taxation when applied to men were equally applicable on this question to women, who were conveniently enough included in the schedule of the tax collector, though excluded from a share in the national repre- sentative body which directed the public affairs of the state. At Bridgewater the Local Government Board directed the levy of of a rate to raise jE6,000 to defray the expense of that election commission which revealed the corrupt practices of the burgesses, and led to their dis- franchisement but though the women petitioned against tkeir conclusion in that assessment, having had no part in the malpractices which brought the burden upon them, they could not be excluded from the list of persons from whom the money had to be raised. In co; Jusion, she said if property was the right basis of representation, then it could not be right to exclude those women who hold property. It was a flagrant injustice to exclude such a woman as Lady Burdett Coutts, for instance, from the suffrage. They were determined to go on in their endeavours, and they would not be debarred from their purpose by any cry of unnatural alliance between themselves and the Tories. She hoped the time was not far distant when such meetings as the present would become no longer a necessity for the attainment of their object. Mr. W. JONES, of Cyfarthfa, moved the Wowing resolution, That a petition to the House of Commons be adopted and signed by the chairman on behalf of this meeting, and that a memorial be forwarded to Mr. Richard and Mr. Fothergill, members for the borough, requesting them to support Mr. Jacob Bright's BiP to remove the electoral disabilities of women." A draft of the memorial was then read after which Miss Lilias Ashworth addressed the assembly at consi- derable length, and the resolution was cr .led with acclamation. The Rector of Merthyr in supporting a vote of thanks to Mrs Crawshay, Mrs Fawcett, and Miss Ashwoi iih, concluded in the following words:—" I was at Bath the other day, and wal informed that there were thirty thousand women there, in the height of the season, ;n excess of men. Why was this ? Why simply for the reason that the young men of the present day don't do the'r duty in the way they ought. (Applause.) They ought to set about mai rying at once. With this view, then, I hope the measure under discussion will succeed, and I hope the women when they do bccome enfran- chised will get an Act of Parliament passed that a poll-tax be put on every man that is not married. (Immense laughter and cheering.) Mrs Crawshay, after acknowledging the conap^ment, expressed her personal gratitude to the Rev. D. Jones, B.A., and the deacons of Zoar Church, for their courtesy in granting the use of the chapel for the meeting, after which the assembly dispersed, GLAMORGANSHIRE MICHAELMAS SESSIONS. The Michaelmn Sessions for the county of Glamor- gan were commenced in the Guildhall, Swansea, on Tuesday, when the county business alone was taken. There were present—Messrs R. O. Jones (thalrman), J. C. Fowler (deputy-chairman), H. H. Vivian M.P., L..L. Dillwyn, M.f., aDd a number of nu<ri«tr*t«ii CHANGE OR DAY FOR COMMENCING THE SESSIONS. The Chairman observed that some three years ago they altered the course of proceedings in that Court, and fixed Tuesday as the day on which they should meet and transact the county business, and the subse- quent days for the judicial business. He did not then anticipate that the business wouJd become so very heavy. At the last Sessions the Court sat until the Tuesday after the opening, and he was told that at the present Sessions there were about 100 prisoners for trial. Under these circumstances it was very desirable, if the justices were willing, to meet on Monday, so that the judicial business might be taken on Tuesday, and by that means they would have the whole week for the disposal of the business. He made a proposition to that efFrcL The Deputy-Chairman (Mr Fowler), seconded the proposition, which, upon being put to the Court, was agreed to unanimously. PENSIONS TO POLICE OFFICERS. The Chairman, upon the recommendation of the Chief Constable, moved that a year's pay be given to the widow of the late P.C. Meek, of Merthyr. The Chief Constable stated that the Superannuation Fund now amounted to £1,278, and at the present time only JE45 per year was paid out, so they would see that the funds were ample. The Deputy Chairman (Mr Fowler) having spoken in approving terms of the late P.C. Meek, the grant was unanimously agreed to. The Chief Constable also recommended the granting of a pension of JB25 per annum to P.C. Wise, who was disabled from active duty after long service. RE.VALUATION OF THE COUNTY. The Rev C. R. Knight brought forward the motion adjourned from last session, relative to the re-valuation of the county for purposes of the county rate. The rev. gentleman said he had been saved the trouble of making anything like a speech on the occasion, even if the cir- cumstances required it, by a leading article which ap- peared that morning in the columns of a daily paper, and of which, he need scarcely tell them, he was perfectly innocent. With regard to the present valua- tion of the county, there could be no doubt it was far from equitable for rating purposes. He alluded more particularly to the change which had taken place in the colliery property. Coal was rated at 4d per ton when it was seeing at from 6s to 8s, and it would be quite absurd to continue the same assessment now that coal was worth from 27s to 30s per ton. He adduced other arguments to show that the present assessment was not on an equitable basis, and concluded by moving That the basis of the valuation of the county be re-considered by the Assessment Committee." Mr Penrice seconded the resolution. Mr Vivian, M.P., said that the mover of the resolu- tion seemed to justify his request for a re-valuation, on the amount of the profits made by the owners of certain property alluded to. As, however, it was an established principle that profits could not be rated, it seemed to him that the whole argument of the mover of the reso- lution must fall to the g.ound. The Chairman said they might perhaps differ as to what "pronts "really were (hear, hear).. They would have to deal with coal mines the same as they would deal with any other property, and base the assessment on what a mine would let to a tenant for from year to year. Mr Vh lan said that collieries in Glamorganshire were rated higher than in any part of England, and the principle upon which they were rated was different to that in any other place, being rated upon the dues paid by the lanc"ord. He contended that a re-valuation on the principle laid down would not be an equitable basis. Mr Fowler said the question would be—what was the value of a mine from year to year ? The Act of Parlia- ment laid down the bas;" of ratir^ value as being profitable occupation," and that wr" the principle upon which they could act. If they passed the resolu- tion they would have to embark upon a most onerous duty, and the question would bccome one of justice in passing the resolution. They were essentially a taxing body, empowered to tax for mm'fold purposes, and all their taxation ought to be based upon equality. If they had good reason to believe that any injury was sus- tained by inequality, it w: the duty of the court to as- certain and re-adjust, '.1 order to secure perfect equality in the incidence of the rate. Mr Rhys said he c»rd v.lly supported the motion that the basis of the county va'uation should be taken as a whole. He should not,! )wever, have been so ready to support it had it been con fin: 1 to collieries only. The Rev C. R. Knight, in renly to Mr Vivian's re- marks, said that the rateable bas's were not on profits, he did not k low what it ou?ht to be on. If he wanted to purchase a col'iery, he saould say Tell me what your profits are, and then I will te" you what I will give for it." The resolution was then put pnd carried, Mr Vivian vot:"lK agai lit it. ISCBEASK OF SALARY. On the motion of Mr Grenfell, the salary of Mrs Cox, matron of the Swansea House of Correction, was increased to JE80 per annum, with £20 a year for lodgings out of the prison until apartments were provided for her with'n. BOABB OF CONSERVATORS. Mr N. P. Cameron and Mr S. S. H. Hoi man-Fisher were re-appo nted Conservators of the Carmarthen Bay Fishery District, Mr Thos. Penrice, of Kilvrough, being appointed in conjunction with those gentlemen for the same district, in the room of Mr Howel Gwyn, resigned. Mr Frederick Morgan, Mr Tynte, and Mr George Thomas were appointed conservators also, of the Rumney River district. Major Turbervlll moved that the requisite notice be given to form a fishery district bordering on the Ogmore and Ewenny Rivers, and their tributaries witb;n the county, and the court directed the necessary notice to be given. INCREASE li* THE COUNTY ROLICE. On the motion of Mr Pritchard, seconded by Mr Griffith Llewellyn, four po'ice officers and one sergeant were ordered to be added to the Newbridge district of the county constabulary. A notice of motion, to consider as to proposed im. provement of the Glyn Neath and Bridgend police- stations, was ordered to stand over ti'l next sessions. SURGEONS OF THE COUNT r PRISONS. The Chairman moved that the salaiy of the surgeons of the two county prisons be increased from JS100 to JB150 a year. There were, he said, two of them, their attendance was constant, and the number of prisoners was increasing. Both of them were men of considerable experience, and amply deserved the increase proposed to be given to them. Mr Grenfell seconded the resolution, and observed that with regard to the house-surgeon at the Swaneea House of Collection, Mr James Hall, no man could be more attentive, and, as they had heard from the report, his duties had increased appreciably. The resolution passed, which concluded the business. TRIAL OF PRISONERS. The criminal business commenced on Wednesday. The Chairman (Mr R. O. Jones) proceeded to charge the grand jury: He said he was afraid the state of the calendar was such that their duties would be very onerous. He was told there were at present 100 pri- soners in the calendar, and probably before they were discharged some few more might come in, making it al- together one of the largest calendars they had to deal with. Considering the great increase of the population throught the county, and the number of persons, strangers, who came to reside in it. this was not to be wondered at. It was the anxious desire of those who administered justice, and who had the regulation of the county prisons, to do a'l in their power to deter those who had once been convicted of any offence against the law from returning to their vicious courses. He re- gretted to say they had not succeeded in doing what they desired and though poLslbly something might be found out which wps hitherto unknown that would oper- ate as a determent in this respect, they would still have the heavy calendars to which he was new adverting, until such time a9 this change came about. In the meantime, heavy punishments had been awarded by those having the administration of justice in their hands, and he did not think there would be any relaxa. tion in this respect, the desire being more to deter others from the commission of crime, than with any very san- guine hope of preventing those who had once embarked in it from returaing to tne'r evil courses. Some of the juiy might have seen that the magistrates, the day previously, had found It necessaiy to enlarge the county orisons, and he was afraid, judging from what they saw, that this enlargement would have to be still further ex- tended. It was to them aU a source of regret that this should be found requisite, but it had become a matter of absolute necessity, and there was no alternative. Having referred to the several cases in the calendar, the learned Chairman then dismissed the grand jury to their duties. The following p.:80ners from this district were tried on Wednesday James Grrze, miner, 47 years of age, was charged with stealing SOlbs. weight of iron, the propel ly of Mr R. T. Crawshay, at Merihyr Tydfil, om the 28th of August.—P.S. Be" Merthyr, proved searching the Eritoner's house, and finding the iron. His daughters ad been previously charged with stealing some of the had been previously charged with stealing some of the same kind offon, and were now in custody.—Evan Rees, contractor at the Cyfartbfa Works, deposed to losing the iron and William Bevan, master moulder, pro- duced a pattern with the view of identity.—The jury found the prisoner guilty, and he wrs sentenced to six month«' imprisonment with hard labour.—The Chair- man, in passing sentence, commented strongly on the heinousness of the offence of the prisoner in bringing up trs daughters as systematic thieves. Eliea K'ng, ag 1 28, was charged with stealing a si'ver watch, the property of David Jones, at Merthyr, on the 22nd of July. John Thomas was charged with receiving the same, knowing it to have been stolen. The woman was found guilty, and sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment, and the man Thomas to six months, bota with hard labour. Denis Lane, labourer, aged 40, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, with hard labour, for stealing an umbrella, the property of Charles Mullins, at Gellygaer, on the 4ta of August. Eleanor Jenkins, ased ^0, was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment, with hard labour, for stealing a s"ver watch, the property of Thomas Thomas, at Merthyr Tydfil, on the 17th of August; Mary M'Caiihy, surrendered to her bail, charged with maliciously wounding Thomas Rees, at Merthyr, on the 25th of August. Ihe jury found the prisoner guilty, and she wr s sentenced to three months' impri. sonment with hard labou". Elias Darics was charged with mr" clously wounding Lucy Davies with a knife, at Llanwonno. The jury found the prisoner guilty of a common assault, and he was bound over to keep the peace for six months. Edwin Brodest, collier, aged 30, was found guilty of maliciously wounding Sarah Smith, at Merthyr Tydfil, and shntenced to three months' imprisonment with hrrd labour. n_< Jonathan George, labourer, pleaded guilty to stealing a silver watch and guard, the property of Levi Richards, at Merthyr, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour. BILLS IGNORED. The grand jury threw out the bills against William Hall, John Bryant, John Owen. and Richard Jenkins, charged with stealing a quantity of spirits, wine, and ginger-beer, the property of William Conybear, at Cwmogwr, on the 9th of September.

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REPRESENTATION OF BIRMINGHAM. A meeting of the General Committee of the Birming- ham Liberal Association has been held to consider the vacancy in the representation of the borough. Mr. Wright, the Chairman, announced, amidst much cheer- ing, that Mr. Bright proposed to visit Birmingham and address the electors on Wednesday, October 22nd. The approaching visit of Mr. Bright is exciting much attention in all parts of the county, as letters received by the Birmingham committee testify. Applications for tickets of admission have been received from a number of leading Liberals in the large towns of the North and Midland districts, and everything points to a great Liberal demonstration next week. So great an audience is expected that it is proposed to engage Bmgley Hall for the occasion. Mr. Bright will pro- bably be the gnest of Mr. Charles Sturge during his stay in Birmingham.

SIR S. NORTHCOTE ON THE ASHANTEE WAR. Sir Stafford Northcote, presiding on Monday at an agricultural meeting near Torrington, speaking of the Ashantee expedition, said that, whatever ser- vice British troops were called upon to render in the pestilential West Coast of Africa, they would render it cheerfully, but he extremely regretted that it should have been found neoessary to expose their soldiers to such service as they were now engaged in. It might be that the expedition was entirely necessary, and could not have been avoided, but it would have been more in accordance with precedent if the Government, on finding themselves committed to an expedition of the magnitude which this promised to be, had called Parliament together and proposed a vote of credit fer the purpose of supplying the expedition. Of course a British Parliament would never refuse the funds for earrying on an expedition which'the Crown had thought It necessary to engage In but still it would havejieen only a reasonable proceeding on the part of the Go- vernment that they should have shewn confi- dence oa this occasion, and should have taken that House into their counsels from the very ear- liest period of such an undertaking.

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS. ThS Few* say" the preparations for the School Board Elections which have already begun in the constituencies, are raising into prominence the question of religious teaching. It is unfortunate that in so young an institution as that of tbe School Board, so sharp a quarrel should have arisen; but it is the great blunder of the Act of 1870 to have let it in, and the still greater mistake of the Act of this year not to have cast it out. The' School Boards have power under the present law to teach religion in their schools at certain hours. They may employ for this purpose their own master or mistress, or they may accept the aid of voluntary teachers. It is clear that the very permission to em- ploy the school teachers in giving thejreligious in- struction induce*]the clergy to leave it to them and they do it perfunctorily and inefficiently. Sir John Coleridge will probably say that this system is not only not the best, but that it is not good. The scheme of those who are spoken of as the secular party is to leave the religion of the schools to be taught by the voluntary action of religious bodies and per- sona. It does not proscribe religion but makes provision for its most effectual introduction. Let the teacher who is paid by the State attend to his own work and let all denominations be at liberty to send their special teachers to tki schools at certain hours to teach the scholars religion, the parents say- ing whether they should receive the instruction, and choosing WVV^JI _tes jhing they should have. By this system JMigiun would be efficiently taught. No limitat." need be put on such teachers. They would be absolutely free to impart all the doctrines they held, and to use the most effectual means of il- lustrating and enforcing their creed. Such teaching would be infinitely superior to that now given and in refusing to adopt it, and clinging to the power they now possess of shifting their own duty on to the shoul. ders of the public teacher, the clergy are flinging away the substance to grasp the shadow.

TAUNTON ELECTION. The election of a representative of Taunton, conse- quent upon the acceptance of the office of Solicitor- General by Mr. Henry James, Q.C., took place on Monday. Mr. James's re-election was opposed by Sir Alfred Slade, Bart. The process of the polling was absolutely without incident, Taunton taking as quietly and naturally to its first experience of the Ballot Act as if it had been familiar w ith it throughout its electoral life. Perhaps the rain, which fell heavily, had sometlnng to do with the prevailing dullness—certainly its depth was such that even the band on Monday, recruited by the acces- sions of several brass harfwiments, utterly failed in the endeavour to enlirrr nBathe rival candidates occa- sionally passed to aiiJ^ro, visiting the polling sta- tions, and were cheered when they encountered their adherents but there was no crowd and no excitement, every ope appearing to have arrived at the conclusion that it was impossible to influence the final issue by shouting or idling about, and no they were silent and went about their ordinary business, waiting with patience till the hour for the declaration of the poll should arrive. It was generally agreed that the counting might well be got through by six o'clock, and art that hour the open space in front of the Town Hall began to be crowded, The rain which had fallen with dismal persistency throughout the day had ceased, and it was accepted in certain quarters as an augury of hope that as soon as the poll was closed patches of blue began to be visible in the sky. The crowd thickened till every stone in the Market-place was co- vered, and as the light of day faded out, the lamps shone forth upon a sea of upturned faces, all gazing earnestly upon the doorway from which the momen- tarily expected declaration was to be made. At ten minutes past seven it began to rain again, and just as the spirits of the crowd were drooping* the Town Crier advanced to the top of the steps, and solemnly rang his bell. Then came the bailiffs' struggle to keep their position on the top etep, from which the crowd behind threatened to pitch them, and a dead silence succeeding that confused uproar the long-expected announcement was made:— Mr. James (L) 899 Sir Alfred Slade (C) 812 Majority. 87 ..a an instant the crowd broke up, and there ensued such a storm of cheering and such a scene of shaking hands all the Town Crier, still preserving a dignified position on the steps of the Hall, had never before looked down upon. A rush was made to the London Hotel, whither Mr. James had been Swiftly conveyed whilst the crowd was still intent upon tie announcement- of the issue of the election. The rain had once more cleared off, and the Solicitor-General, coming bareheaded on the balcony of the hotel, was greeted with loud cheers. Addressing an immense crowd, he ■wd* I stand here to-night, I believe, the proudest man in England. I shall not, how- aver, mingle arrogance with my pridé, for I come here, not to triumph over my opponents or uult in the manner in which we have won this contest. I have had to meet misrepresen- tation and abuse, and if I did not feel the responsi- bility at the position I occupy I could say much of the manner in which I have been treated in this bo- rough. I can only express my gratitude to you — for I am indeed deeply grateful to you—for having enabled me, with my poor efforts, to fight against a combination of prejudice and of political party sel- dom witnessed. I have met with kindness in this borough which shall never be forgotten. You have striven with me and worked night and day; and in return 1 can only say Gentlemen, God bless you, and may you be rewarded. Lower down the street, opposite the Castle Hotel, there was ga. 'thered another crowd far smaller in number and much less cheerful in spirits, but they managed to get up a good hearty cheer when Sir Alfred Slade ap- peared on the balcony, and acknowledged himself in the good old phrase, to be defeated" but not" dis- graced." The disgraoe, Sir Alfred Slade said, was for the hundred electors who had personally pledged their votes to him, and who had proved recreant before tht ballot box.

THE HEALTH OF MR. BRIGHT. A cCSswpondent of the Daily News, writing from Birmingham on Sunday night, says :—I am happy to be in a position to inform you that the rumour circulated about Mr. Bright's ill-health by one of your contemporaries is absolutely without founda- tion. I have just seen Mr. J. S: Wright, the chair- man of Mr. Bright's Election Committee, who went to Rochdale yesterday, and saw the senior member for Birmingham. Mr. Wright tells me that the state- ment about Mr. Bright's physicians having forbidden him to speak at a public meeting of his constituents is "utterly false." Mr. Bright continues to enjoy good health, and has no apprehension of bemg I unable to address the electors in a short time. The date is not yet fixed, but the writ for the new election is expected to-morrow, and the election will pro- bably take place before the end of the week. A meeting of the Birmingham Liberal Association Gene- ral Committee takes place to morrow (Monday) evening, the business being to consider the vacancy in the representation of the borough.

AN AGREEABLE PROSPECT. The position of the clergyman of the future will certainly not be a very enviable one if the views which are now prevalent in certain quarters have any chance of being realised. He is expected to be the leading demagogue and principal Trade Unionist agitator of his parish but, on the other hand, his clerical work will be chiefly done for him by other people. As his pulpit will be open to all and sundry, he will have little opportunity for preaching himself, even if he happens to have any leisure for the enunciation of the vague principles of, mere Christianity. While, however, all the other oc- cupants of his pulpit will be able to preach what they like, without restriction, his own sermons will be jealously scrutinized by the a,gents of rival Church Associations, and it will be difficult for him to escape being prosecuted on one side or the other. He will be entertained by the howling of Shakers and the gor- geous rites of the Roman Catholic Church in the churchyard and his spare moments will have to be devoted to marrying deceased wive's sisters to their lonely brothers-in-law, or amorous uncles to the tender nieces of their lamented wives. At har- vest-home a torch-light procession of discontented labourers, led by the parish clergyman waving a flaming brand, will be a curious but appropriate sym- bol of the times. All this might indeed be described as an astounding conception of the dutiee and ob- ligations of clergymen of the Church of England, and might well draw from that unhappy body of men "an exclamation oft absolute horror."—Satur- day Bevieic.

A BONAPARTIST MANIFESTO. The long expected manifesto of the Bonapartists has at length been put forward. It is by M. Rouher, the Imperialist ex-Minister and President of the Senate in the last days of the Empire. He writes from Cercey to Baron Eschasseriaux. President of the Society of the Appeal to tne People. M. Rouher says:—You ask me whether it would be useful to convoke a meeting of deputies, parti- sans of an appeal to the people. My opinion is that such a meeting is both opportune and urgent. I pro- pose to fix it for October 15. The order of the day is indicated by passing events. We shall deliberate upon the project of a Monarchical restoration ela- borated by our adversaries, and upon the line of con- duct and the means of action which we must adopt. The struggle will be severe. The Parliamentary group to which we belong is not numerous, but it expects now, as on May 24, to exercise a decisive influence. The question involved ia the very existence of the French nation. France, through revolutions ever painful, and often stained with crime, thas effected her trans- formation. By her manners and laws, and the distri- bution of her soil, she has become, and meaift to re- main, a democratic nation. To enlighten, direct, and restrain this democracy, to encourage its progress and check its errors, is the only mission of a Government. Now the Monarchy, the restoration of which is dreamt of, is the manifest negation of democracy, and attacks its most sacred dogma—the national sove- reignty. This Monarchy can only attempt to live'by laying hands upon universal suffrage, not to regulate, but to destroy it. It would make the piultitude political helots. Once the electoral privilege estab- lished, all other privileges would flow from it. The power created by the general suffrage would without hesitation meet with the deference of Europe. Its origin would impose obedience. Who then hesitates? Is it the Empire invoking its rights created by free and enlightened plebiscites, which no subsequent plebiscite has denied. Xo. The Empire, overturned by an emeute, vanquished, proscribed, caluminated, whose liens with the country have been broken by hatred and violence, the Empire which one might think should be appalled at its isolation and weak- ness, appeals to the direct will of the nation. It ia the strong, the powerful, whether Royalists or Re- publicans, who refuse to submit to the sovereign ar- bitration. They say they are loved Of the people, and yet they shrink from its verdict. Let us work to- gether to enlighten public opinion."

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AT EXETER. At a luncheon given by the members of the Exeter School Board, after the laying of the corner stonee of four new schools, Sir John Duke Coleridge, in reply to the toast of The House of Commons," spoke as follows Elsewhere I should say that I could wish the duty had been cast upon some worthier and more distinguished member of the great assembly to return thanks for its health. But, gentlemen, I will not make any such profession here ana to you, because Exeter sent me to Parliament. Three times the electors of this great city have sent me to the House of Commons to represent them; and it is for them, if at any time they should think fit—it certainly is not for me—to discredit their judgment and throw doubt on the wisdom of their choice. I am very far indeed from saying that the House of Commons never makes mistakes, but I do 8ay there is not another legislative assembly in the world with a histoiy of seven centuries which can more honestly appeal to the great and noble feelings of gratitude and respect on the part of a country than the English House of Commons. What particular claims this present House of Commons may have on the gratitude of the people it is hardly for me to say. I Buppose that is a question upon which opinions differ. But I observe that a great number of persons, includ- ing a good number even of its own members, seem to be uncommonly anxious that it should come to an end—misled, I suppose, by our having worked so hard and our having done so much; and it seems to be forgotten that unless it should please the Queen to cut it short, elected as we were so short a time ago aa November, 1868, we have two whole years of con- stitutional life left in us yet. I continually see such phrases as dyingj Parliament "-some public writers frefer to use a Latin word, and call it a "moribund 'arliament," an "expiring Parliament," a "worn- out Parliament," an "effete Parliament," and now and then an obvious and easy joke as to the resem- blance between a natural death and Parliamentary dissolution. Now an Attorney-General knowa no secrets; and if he did know them it would be hit eacred duty not to reveal them. But I will hazard a prophecy, which, if it should be fulfilled, will, I am sure, in the minds of most people aslUn: us. considerable span of protracted existence. I venture to assert that we shall survive the termination even of the Tichborne trial. Gentlemen, there is even In this mixed assemby one subject upon which I may claim the gratitude of the people of England for this present House of Commons; and that U. V n°^e friend has already said, for the passing of the Education Act which has brought us together here to-day. I am not going to say—no man in his senses would say—that tkis or any other Act of Par- liament is perfect and does not need amendment; but this I do say, that it has traced the outlines and laid the foundations of a great system of national educa- tion, that it has done something to allay the greatest danger and wipe away the greatest scandal of this age and of this country. But whatever there is of injustice in the Act, only let it be made out by fair argument, only let it be sustained with reason—I can answer for the House of Commons, and I believe my noble friend will answer for the House of Lords —neither House of Parliament will willingly let an in- justice remain. Before I sit down I wish to say that it would be impossible for anyJGovernment either to fut forward, or if it put forward, to carry an absolute 'arliamentary prohibition of the element of religion of some kind in the national schools of this country. I do not say that it is the best religion that is taught; I do not say that it is the best mode of teaching it —my own opinion on this subject is very well known to those who care to know it—but I do say that to at- tempt, by Act of Parliament, to prescribe religion in general ifpolitically impossible, as I believe it would be morally wrong. Next I wish to say this, that I conceive it to be out of the question, in any system of national education, to attempt to refuse to re- cognise those great efforts of voluntary education to which up to this point of time the whole coun- try has been so deeply indebted. Any system that attempted to cover the whole ground of national education, and disregarded and put aside all the efforts ef all the systems that are at* present made and administered by voluntary bodies, could not oven present the appearance of a really effective system; and if it did attempt to present the appearance of an effective system, it could do so only by such an enormoui burden being imposed on the rates as would make tho very name and cause of education distasteful and unpopular. Educational controversies and the great work of education itself can only be allayed and con- ducted by the exercise of sound common sense, a good deal of good temper, and a good deal of that mutual forbearance of which I hope it is not too much to say that in each case the most powerful, the most nume- rous, and most wealthy body ought to be the body that is to set the example. So only, I am convinced, can we make effective inroads upon that great and dark kingdom of vice and ignorance which, depend upon it, do what we may, will require all our efforts and all our untited efforts, too, thoroughly to en- lighten and completely to subdue.

It is stated that the will of the Duke of Brunswick tn favour of the City of Geneva is definitively opposed by the;reigning Duke, brother of the deceased, who de- mands the restitution of three million francs in Tirtu. of a treaty drawn up between the brothers in 1822. George Norman, an ex-town councillor of Birming- ham. pleaded guilty at the police court of that borongl to a charge of embezzlement, and was months' hard labour. It is stated that the pri#*0** defalcation* amount to about

J*te of the men to her, and told her she was doing rp »n supplying them with beer. She made no Py* Witness and Plumley again visited the house .? 'be course of about a quarter of an hour and found tw 8a#Qe atill there. Shortly afterwards he saw of the drunken men staggering out of the houje up oei street.—The witness was cross-examined closely and .*ength by the learned gentleman defending, but his I?1was in no way shaken.—P.C. Plumley was Tk v.1Q corroboration.—Mr Plews then addressed the ceneh at length on behalf of his client, remarking that e should be obliged to take direct issue with the police to the condition of his client's guests upon this occasion. He then called Margart Jones, a domestio ?erv^t of the defendant's David Powell, defendant's rother, and lastly defendant herself, who all positively swore that the men alleged by the police to be drunk were the very reverse.—Their evidence was, however, considerably shaken in many material points upon cross- Bench considered that the charge was proved. They took into consideration the fact as awclosed in the evidence that the defendant was ill »Pon the occasion of the officers' visit, and not there- J °re able to exercise the nec sa.y supervision over her tt?QSe* They w°uld, consequently, only fine her £ 1 and We costs, and the conviction, for the same reason, not be endorsed upon her license. WILFUL DAMAGE.—John Power, seizer, was sum- lOoned for having committed damage to the grass and TOperty of the Penydarran Iron Company.-P.C. -°»»oson proved seeing the defendant together with some leven or eight other youngsters of the same age as him. "elf running barefooted hither and thither over the in Penydarran Park. Upon sight of him (wit- 5e88) they scampered off as hard as they could.—Defen- j**nt, who had nothing to say for himself, was ordered Pay the amount of damage mentioned in the sum- mons, a tine of Is and the costs, or seven days' impri- sonment in the alternative. MONDAY.—{Before E. Davies and J. Probert, Esqrs.) DRUNKARDS.—Edward Morgan, labourer, a decrepit °W fellow, picked up by P.S. Jennings in New Ca-.ile- Thomas Town, on the 11th inst., in a helplessly drunken state, was allowed to go this time with a ^Qtion.—Mary Evans, ma.ried, her eighth appearance, charged by P.C. Gambling with drunken and riotous conduct in Cardiff-road, Aberaman, the same day, was fined 101 and the COB* and committed to gaol for four. ken days with hr d labour in default of payment.— William Scott, nav iy, drunk and riotous in High-street, Merthyr, the same night, was, upon the evidence of "S. Davies, fined 59 and the costs, with the alternative af seven days' hard labour.—Edward Dalton, labourer, jjd Noah Pugh, puddlers, caught by P.C. Cole in Picton-street, Caedraw, the same night, drunk and fighting each other, were fined 10s each and the costs, or fourteen days' imprisonment with bard labour in default of payment.—John Rees, mason, a respectable-looking young man, ekarged by P.C. Jenkins with drunken and disorderly conduct in Pontmorlais-street, the same night, was fined 10s and the costs.—Timothy Houlahan, labourer, picked up by the same officer, in the same •treet the same night in a very helpless state, was fined and the eos'—John Hayes, puddler, brought up Under warrant, have tg disobeyed the summons, which charged him with having been guilty, while drunk, of I-Otous behaviour in Penry-street, on the 4th inst. was, upon the evidence of P.C. Cole, fined Bl and the costs, in default of paying which he was committed to Cardiff 8»ol for 21 days with hard labour.—John Phi"ip Abel, Nndlord of the Moulder's Arms Inn, Nantygwenith- street, waa charged with drunken and disorderly con- duct m that street, on the 4th inst. Mr Simons de. fended. The evidence for the prosecution, when tested by a scrutinising cross-examination, appear* 1 to be somewhat contradictory. Mr Simons, after a most forcible appeal to the Bench, called three witnesses on behalf of his client, who gave evidence as to the latter's sobriety upon the occasion in question. The Bench thought that taking all the circumstances into con- sideration, they thought that the police might have been mistaken M to the man's real state. The charge would therefore be dismissed. DASTARDLY OUTRAGE AT RIVER SIDE. — Ebenezer I-"wis, |David Jones, and William Thomas, colliers, residing at Aberdare, were placed in the dock charged with having unlawfully wounded Frederick Williams, a navvy, residing in Bridge-street, Merthyr; also with having assaulted Rose Williams, singlewoman, an un. fortunate also with r vaulting Ellen Williams, single, another disreputable character. The evidence through. out displayed conduct of the moat brutal kind on the Pl--t of the prisoners-conduct which was rendered still worse by the entire absence of provocation of any kind whatever. It appeared that on the previous (Sunday) night about 10 o'clock the prisoners suddenly rushed hto the house, 9, River Side, and without exchanging a lingle word with any of those who were then therein, Jones with a blow from a huge stone which he held in his hand felled the girl Rose Williams, whom the whole of the others then kicked as she lay upon the pound in a most brutal manner. The man Frederick Williams, as was natural, cried shame upon them. He bad no sooner done so, however, than Lewis brought him down with a blow from a glass bottle which was doing service as a candlestick upon the table. The other woman then hurled a cup at the head of one of the ruffians, but she likewise was eot down and kicked unmercifully about the head. One of the other inmates then jumped through the window and ran for the police. Serjeant Davies, whom he met near Ynysgau, accom- panied him up to the house and arrested the three pri- soners. It wr s stated by some of the witnesses that the attacking party consisted of two or three other persons, who had made good their escape. The officer found Frederick Williams in a semi-unconscious state, bleeding profusely from the face. The cartilage of the ear was torn completely through. There were wounds Upon his cheek and ribs, and several severe contusions besides. He was taken immediately to Dr Ward's sur- gery, where his hurts were promptly attended to,-Pri. soners, who were told the charge at the police-station made no reply to it. Lewis, however, turned to one of his companions, and laughingly observed well, we'll get 12 months of it now I suppose." Neither of the witnesses had even seen, much less quarrelled, with either of the prisoners previously.—The fellows had no questions lo ask of any of the witnesses, nor anything to say in defence. The Bench, after strongly condemn- ing the brutality of their conduct, sentenced them to terms of imprisonment with hard labour, amounting to six calendar months in Cardiff house of correction. OTHER ASSAULTS.—Elizabeth Thomas was summoned by Mary Ann Marsden for having assaulted her on the 4th inst. Both parties are married and reside at Ynisgau. Complainant, who alleged that her adver- saij had struck her and pulled out a lot of her (own) hair by the roots had no witness to call in support of her testimony. Defendant, on the other hand called a Mrs Jones, who swore that the attack was made by both sides simultaneously, and that one was quite as bad as the other. Summons dismissed. Margaret Rees, married, v. Benjamin Williams, smith's striker, Abercanaid. Defendant was in this case alleged to have imprinted his nails in complaint's throat, and his knckles in her eye, producing beautiful red and black impressions in the respective parts of his adversary s anatomy.-The Bench But why, Mrs Rees, do you say that he did all this for ?—Mrs Rees Because I called his wife a ahem.—Dr Davies (in the vernacular): We1', and there isn't much wonder at his conduct.— Complainant: I'll call her the same thing again, too, if she takes my husband in to lodge with her. The Bench Oh, very good. If you do you must take the conse- quences, that's ar We won't help you. This sum- mons is dismissed. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 15th.-(Before E. Davies and J. Probert, Esqrs.) Ax OLD OFfmrBKR.—Jbhanna Sullivan,married, was placed in the dock charged with stealing 6 £ lbs weight of meat, the property of Mrs Elizabeth O'Brien, on the 13th inst.—Prosecutrix, who keps a butcher's shop near the Taff Vale Station in High-street, stated that about three o'clock in the afternoon of the day In question E'soner came to her shop. She (witness) was in the tchen at the time, and just as she entered the shop the prisoner left it. She called out to her twice, Mrs don't you see anything there that will suit you?" Prisoner walked away without making any reply, or even looking behind her. Shortly after she left witness tr'ssed the "bleeding" part of a "cheek" of beef. From something afterwards communicated to her, she went up High-street and found the prisoner in the Free Trade Tavern, near the Old Church. Covered up in her apron she found the piece of beef which she had lost. Prisoner told witness that she had paid her 2s for it. She (witness) was, however, positive that she had had no talk whatever with the prisoner about the pur- chase of the meat.-P,C. Allison deposed to going to the Free Trade Tavern in response to the summons of messenger sent by prosecutor. He found the latter and the prisoner there. Mrs O'Brien, who had the beef then in her hand, charged the prisoner with stealing it. The latter's reply was that she had not stolen it, but that she had bought it of her accuser for 2s. Witness then conveyed the woman to the police station.-It transpired that she had been previously convicted of theft, and the Bench had therefore no alternative but to commit her for trial at the next Epiphany Sessions. AxoTHER.—Ann Dunford, married, was brought up in custody charged with stealing a silver pencil case, the property of Thomas Bradley, bailer, 67, High. street, Dowlais.—Prosecutor's wife, Sarah, stated that she had the pencil-case in question safely stowed away with several other little nick nacks in a box, the key of which she kept in another box upon her kitchen table. She last saw it (the pencil-case) on the 6th inst. Pri. soner, her husband and family were then staying at her house. On the following Thursday witness was away from home for about six or seven hours. When she re- turned the prisoner had loft. From something which Was afterwards commumcateu ner sbe searched her box and found the pencil-case 8°ne. The other things, however, remained untouched. Prisoner did not after- wards return to her house, although her husband and children still remained there.- Mrs Margaret James, landlady of the Bear Inn, High-street, Dowlais, said that on the morning of the 10th inst. prisoner came to her house and asked for a pint of beer. While the ser- Vant was drawing it prisoner told witness that she had no money to pay fer it, and offered her a pencil-cate, which looked like silver, instead. She said to witness don't be afraid, it is honest enough." Witness at once ordered her out. She went, taking the pencil-case with her.—P.C. Clark, who arrested the prisoner in High- street, on the 14th inst., stated that when first told the cbarge-tbe latter drnied knowing anything about the matter. She however, admitted in the police station that she had taken the pc .cil-case, and had offered it for beer at the Bear inn, but that the people of the house wouldn't accept it; that she had then taken it to her lodgings, and what had since become of it fh ?(ouldn't tell.—Acting-Sergeant Cole now applied to the Bench for a remand in order that the police might «ave time to fish out the missing pronertv.—Prisoner A I2tm&nded to Cardiff gaol for a week, native1LODGER.-Isaac Roberts, labourer, a chareed Staffordshire, stood in the dock wdued jrt Jn st^?JinK » black cloth pair of trousers, wlued at £ 1, the property of Stephen Williams, a puddler, residing at Ivor-street, Do-viais. -Prosecutor stated that about 10 weeks ago piisoner worked for and lodged with him. At that time the pair of trousers in question were safe in a chest cf drawers down stairs. Prisoner left on a Monday without giving notice, and so did the pair of trousers which two days he found de. posited in the shop of Mr Sicdle, pawnbroker, £ ont- morlais. Witness never afterwards saw the pn until to-day in custody.—Frank Sied'e, son and mana- ger to Mr Sied'e, proved receiving the trousers in pledge from the prisoner, on the 4th of August last. He gave his name as Isaac Roberts, and said he resided at 10, Wind-street, Dowlais. Witnr-is advanced 7s od upon them, and had had them in bis possession ever stnee. Ptisoner now pleaded guilty to the charge.-The ac in passing sentence, hoped that the circumstances in which he was now placed would prove a warding to the prisoner for the rest of his I;fe. Sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour. WIFE VERSUS HUSBANJ.—Wi'liam Samuel, was summoned for having assau'ted Ann Samu wife. Defendant did not appc-r. Service of summons having been proyrd by P.C. I'denton, complainant was called and st..trd that she waq nowlivingapart from her husband. On the 4th ioit. the latter came to the house she was staying at and commenced a distur. bance, which she ran out to av°ic*'■ Before, ow » she could get clear of the place he threw a poker after her, which struck her m the side. She wanted nothing from him, neither had she any w,sh to punish him, pro- vided he appeared in court and promised to pay towards his children.-The Bench WeU, we 11 have him here. Let a warrant be issued for his apprehension.