The Illustrated Usk Observer and Raglan Herald

OUR MISCEJ^ij.AWY. .-+-- After-Dinner Speeches.-I hope a day will soon arrive when we shall have the speeches done by a skilled waiter at the side table, as we now have the carving. Don't you find that you splash the gravy, that you mangle the meat, that you can't nick the joint in helping the company to a dinner speech? 1, for my own part, own that I am in a Mate of tremor and absence of mind before the operator;: j., a condition of imbecility during the business; and t!mt I am sure of ahead-ache andindi- gestion the next morning. What then ? Have I not seen one of the br-vest rnR" in the world at a city dinner last year in a state of equal panic ?—Thackeray. An Outspoken Epitaph.—A remarkably out- spoken one from <i monument in Horsleydown Church, in Cumberland, runs as follows:—" Here lies the bodies of Thomas Bond and Maiy, his wife. She was temperate, chaste, charitable but she was proud, peevish, and pas- sionate. She was an affectionate wife and tender mother; but her husband and child, whom she loved, scarcely saw her face without a disgus'ing frown, while she received visitors, whom she despised, with an endear- ing smile. Her behaviour was discreet towards strangers, but imprudent in her family. Abroad, her conduct was influenced by good breeding, but at home by ill-temper." And so the epitaph runs on at consider- able length, acknowledging the good qualities of the poor woman, but killing each by setting against each some peculiarly unamiable trait. I confess that my feelings are quite turned in her favour by the unmanly assault which her brother (the author of the inscription) has thus made upon the poor woman. If you cannot honestly say good of a human being on his gravestone, then say nothing at all.-Frasei-'o Magazine. A PJea for Calcraft.-Some little time since a son of Calcraft was maltreated, because, in the course of fate, an executioner was his fa'her; and nobody, not tbe staunchest advocate of capital punishment, pitied the lad, but thought rather it was an event natural to his position. Why so? If capital punishment be necessary, what has Calcraft done?' Heroic Calcraft! Why there is no man "inall England has done for England wbat Calcraft has; if the principle be right. A surgeon who severs a mere limb from its existence, what is he to a Catcraft, who hesitates not, at the call of duty, to sever the whole body from its life? Dispise Calcraft Why, if the principle were right, a dukedom and a second Blenheim .were a poor national reward to such an immortal benefactor. English reader, you who boast of your civilisation, yet urge, in opposition, to all evidence, that life must be takw that your revenge may be slaked, to you we address this plea, for the executioner. If you feel that you 'cannot be so consistent, so honest, so generous as to do honour befitting in kind to your best friend and most courageous of protectors—if you feel that, in spite of reason, in spite of justice, you cannot warm towards this noble, this seif-rsacrificing, this cairn, this duty-serving brother of yours, who not only accepts your theory but gives it practice, then ask yourselves— why not? And, if we mistake not, you will come with us to this conclusion-that the man is an outcast because he is the executioner of that gross and animal will of yours which your own better self bids you to abhor; that he is in fact the reflection, through his office, of the baser half of your own nature; that he does but perform that which your better hearts would instinctively shrink from and that the dread officer is falselv appreciated for the simple and single reason that his office is a lie.- Social Science Review. A Serf's Viewoi Emancipation.—One day I had the following conversation with a serf, who brought me a message: Your name is Evan Vasilivovitch; to whom do you belong? "rám the serf of Karmoritch." "How many are you?" "Two thousand souls lire: we." You will all soon be free." He looked at me from the corners of his eyes, and drawled out, "Yes. If God and our Father will." "It will be better for you, Evan; will it not ?" God knows, baron; how should I know?" "How much obrok do you.pay? "Thirty roubles a-year." "Do you pay it in work, or in money?" "I work four days a-week in the sugar fabric, to pay the obrok, passport, and taxes." "How much are the passport and taxes?," "About three roubles and a-half, beside other things." "That is thirty-three roubles and a-half you have to pay, and for this you work four days every week in the sugar- mill? "It is so, baron, and hard work it is." When you get your freedom you will not require to Day obrok, or to work for it. Your time will be your own to cultivate your ground. Will not that be better for you? "God give it. I don't know. But I am tired of working." "How much land have you?" Three and a half deciatines (ten acres)." Well, that is plenty to keep your family on. If you spend all your time on it, and pay, no obrok, is it not plenty ? "I don't know, baron, but I am tired of working in the fabric." "Now, tell me, Evan, what do you intend to do when you get your freedom? Will you remain here and work your ground, or will you seek bread somewhere else?" He turned his eyes first up, then down, then on both sides, as if seeking to evade an answer, gave the peculiar peasant's shrug, and slowly muttered, "I shall sleep, baron." "And after you have slept, Evan?" "I shall eat, baron." "And after you have eaten, Evan ? "I shall sleep again, baron." And when the black bread is all gone, and when the pig and poultry are all eaten, and when the potatoes, carrots, and cabbages are all eaten, and when there is no firewood nor pasture, what will you do then, Evan ?" "Then I will tell you, baron. Now, may God give you health, and thank you for the tea-money you are going to give me Give you good day I believe this is the case of nearly all the serfs.—AU the Year Bound. 11 "Hypnotism."—Perhaps some of my readers may have witnessed, and many more will have read the account of, the curious effects which Mr. Braid, of Manchester, produced by what is called hypnotism. Mr. Braid rejected the theories of the mestneriser and phrenologist, and maintained that he could produce, bv action of the muscles, phenomena analogous to those with which the phrenological mesmerist startles the spectators. I saw him thus fascinate to sleep a circle of miscellaneous patients by making each patient fix successively his (or her) eyes upon a lancet-case that the operator held between finger and thumb. And when slumber had been thus induced, without aid of magnetic passes, and merely by the concentration of sight and mind on a single object, Mr. Braid said to me, Now, observe, I will draw into play the facial muscles which are set in movement by laughter, and ludicrous images will immediately present themselves to the sleeper." He did so gently to one of the sleepers, an old woman; pushing up the corners of her mouth. Presently the patient burst into laughter so hearty, as to be contagious amongst the audience present; and when asked the cause, told (always in slumber) a droll story of something which had happenedto her a few days before, and which the muscular action excited had at once brought back to the memory. Next, Mr. Braid drew down the muscles on the wrinkled face of another old lady-bent her bead towards the floor, and joined her hands as if in supplication-immediately the poor old creature doled forth, Lord have mercy upon us, miserable sinners," and if left long enough to herself, would have gone through all the responses in the Litany. Another touch or two of the enchanter's wand—the head thrown upward, the forehead gently smoothed, the eye- brows lifted-and the same old woman thought she was in heaven, and began to describe the beauties of the angels. I believe that Mr. Braid has, in one respect, been more fortunate than his fellow-thaumaturgists, the mesmerisers. He has not been derided as a dupe, nor denounced as an impostor, by sceptical physiologists.- Blackwood. Something for Male Friends. "I've done smoking." Our friend delivered himself thus, honestly and in earnest. As he emptied his. mouth of the last cigar, our mouth became fuil-full of blessings. Blessed is the man himself. He is more wise, more cleanly, more avoury, and more reasonable than when he went smoking and puffing about like a locomotive. Blessed is the man's wife. She is the happiest woman for the four reasons mentioned in tha last sentence, and for many more. She had hoped against hope for the last puff, but it has been made at last. We seem to see her face brighten, her step is more elastic, her voice is sweeter, her welcome to her husband as he reaches home is more cordial. She has our hearty congratulations. Blessed is the man's house. An unsavoury spirit has gone out of it. More easily Can it be kept neat and tidy. Old repellances will repulse no more. Blessed is the man's apparel. A certain fragrance has left it; but noi to the sorrow of those oft in proximity with him. His ward- robe is minus a real annoyance, and plus the benediction of many a friend. And blessed is the man's health. In the smoke and fire he so long kept up beneath his nos- trils he fed an insidious enemy. And his whole nervous and digestive system unites in the benediction we now indite. And blessed is the man's pocket. A leak is stopped. As much as before will flow in, and less flow out. We seem to hear a voice from that quarter, "There will be better days in the department of our master's dominions." All blessed be the man's resolution. May it tower aloft, like a granite pillar, above all the smoke ana nre tnat may assail it! That last, putt! Be it the 1 last? And, though the smokers will not join, yet there will be enough to unite in a hearty Amen.-Boston Paper. Whittington's Munificence.-Whittington,. in fact, was a people's champion, as well as a Royal banker; and he lent his purse, as well as his influence, to raise the people in the. social scaler- During his lifetime he erected conduits for the people at Cripplegate and near Billingsgate; he founded a library for the Grey Friars' monastery in Newgate-street, and furnished it with books, which, at that time, before the introauctiorj of the art of printing, were extremely costly; he caused the compilation of the "Liber Albus," a book of great importance, in which were entered the laudable customs not written, but wont to be observed in the city of London;" and he contributed largely towards the erection of the library at Guildhall. He restored the hospital of St. Bartholomew, Smithfield, which had fallen into decay, and, by his instructions on his death- bed, he provided for the rebuilding of the prison of Newgate, which was so pestiferous as to cause many deaths; and for the erection of a noble set of almshouses at Highgate, which bear his name. It is stated of him that, in his last mayorality, King Henry V. and Queen Catherine dined with him in the city, when Whittington caused a fire to be lighted of precious woods, mixed with cinnamon and other spices, and that, taking all the bonds given him by the King for money lent, amounting to no less than £60,000, ne threw them into the fire and burnt them; thereby releasing his Sovereign from his debts. The King, astonished at such a proceeding, exclaimed, "Surely never had King such a subject;" to which Whittington, with courtly gallantry, replied, "Surely, sire, never had subject such a King. Capper's Port and Trade of London.

Indian Bulletins. Mr. Laing has delivered a long and able speech upon the blunders of the Home Government of India. Upon inquiring, the following pnorning, at the residence of Sir Charles Wood, Punch i»uiid that tha right honourable gentleman was quite as well as could be expected, inas- much as he had been reading the speech for seven hours only, and therefore of course had not as yet been able to understand it. (A Laier Account") Sir Charles Wood has arrived at a knowledge of the fatal truth that he is demolished. With characteristic pluck, he has sent out for the volume of the English Cyclopcedia containing the. article "India," and for Pinnock's Catechism of Arithmetic, with a view to ulterior proceedings. (Later Still.) Sir Charles Wood has discovered that an Anna does not mean a young lady, that Pice is not, as had sup- posed, the Indian plural of Pie, and that Bangles are not things to eat. He meditates a triumphant answer to Mr. Laing. More particulars in our next issue.

An Exhibition Rhyme. {Slightly improved from the original.) What is the truth about Francis Cadogan, What was the service he did Monsieur V. ? Is the bankrupt Restaurateur only humbugging, Or did he retain Master Frank with a fee ? On his scutcheon there's just A smear of rust, Which he'll promptly scrub from its face-we trust. POLITICAL PRECAUTION.—Lord Derby has just become a Colonel of Volunteers. Lord Palmerston sent his respectful compliments to the Leader of Opposition, and hoped that he intended to stick to the motto, "Defence, not Defiance." BKAMWELL'S HIMSELF AGAIN.—The witty Baron of the Exchequer writes to say that, in his opinion, every lawyer ought to spend the vacation at Cowes.N. R. Fur the benefit of our fair readers, we beg to observe that vacca, in the Latin lanuage, means a cow. A NATURAL. SEQUITUR. — As poor Garibaldi is wounded in his right leg, Italy is also necessarily wounded in her right arm. WHY is Arabia like Hampstead Heath?—Because there is a. Much a in one, and a moke or two in the other. THE CIS-PONTINE BOROUGH.—The Underground Rail- way, which is unquestionably a burrow. THE DEAD HEART.—The Emperor Napoleon's,

The Last New Knight. .,So, learned Bob Philliinore's knighted. All right! But knights should possess designations: And Sir Bob shall be known in the tourney, or fight, As the Knight of the Latin quotations. ■ —

EPITOME OF MEWS. A party of fifteen New Zealanders, described as "Maori warriors," arrived in Sydney.by the Gazelle on the 27th ultimo. They are brought up from Auckland in the interest of a gentleman who purposes introducing them to the Australian public in a series of dramatic entertainments, illustrative of the Anglo-Maori war.— Australian paper. Andrew Gray, a reporter for a weekly London paper, was on Tuesday found guilty at the Central Criminal Court of having published a libel on Mr. Phil- lips, of Knightsbridge, horsedealer, and was fir:ed £ 50, and ordered to be imprisoned until tbe fine shall be paid' The Rev. W. W. Gibbon, M.A., has been insti- tuted by the Lord Bishop of Gloucester and Brist d to the vicarage of Wapley with Codrington, in the county of Gloucester, vacant by the cession of the Rev. Canon Girdlestone. Patrons, the Dean and Chapter of Bristol. The herring fishery on the Eastern coast is now in active prosecution, and fair deliveries have been made at Great Yarmouth. Prices have fluctuated from £ 8 to £ 14 per last, although some few samples have realised higher rates. At Lowestoft also a considerable quantity ofherringa have been landed from the North Sea, but some complaints have been made with respect to their quality. A shoeblack boy, at the corner of the Regent's- quadrant, picked up a bag containing X159 in gold While making preparations to communicate with the police, the lady who had dropped the treasure made in- quiries of the boy, and the bag and its contents, which she had just received from a bank, was restored to her quite safe. The lady generously gave the shoeblack boy the liberal amount of 28.1 The city of Chester has been of late so infested with burglars, that many of the citizens have organised a. night watcb, either to supersede or to assist the police. One of the gang of thieves was captured on Thursday morning after a protracted struggle, in which he twice succeeded in escaping out of custody. A post-morteiii examination of the body of Mary Howarth, the unemployed Todmorden factory operative, reported to have died from starvation, shows that death arose from congestion of the lungs. The coroner's jury in their verdict adopted this conclusion, but a majority of them also recorded their opinion that the relieving officer had not done his duty to the deceased. The theatre of Namur was, a few nights ago, destroyed by fire, caused by lightning falling on it. The building, which was burnt down three years ago, had just been reconstructed, and was to have been inaugu- rated on the 1st of November next. Doctor Partridge's estimate of the Italian doctors is not quite so low as the public seem inclined to take. He approves entirely of everything that has been done by the Italians, and it is well for the General that the doctors do not differ, but fraternise cordially. The petroleum "controversy in Liverpool has been diversified by an invention which, it is stated, will both prevent the oil from exploding and from giving out a nauseous odour. The invention is simply a metal cask, perfectly air-tight, and therefore likely to answer the double purpose above stated. It has obtained the approval of those interested in the matter. A new company has been formed for the cultiva- tion of cotton in Algeria. The funds have been sub- scribed by wealthy merchants in Paris and Havre, with whom some of the most eminent manufacturers in Alsace and in Lorraine have associated themselves. This is the fourth company of the kind which has been established within a few months. A very large number of white mulberry trees have come to perfection in Tasmania, and the silk pro- duced there has been pronounced equal to the finest grown in Italy. Silk is likely to be a valuable staple produc- tion of Tasmania. The forty-second session of the Exeter Literary Society commenced last week, Sir Stafford Nortbcote, Bart, C.B., M.P., gave the opening address. He con- fined himself principally to the general progress of Eng- land, particularly wittt regard to the cause of education, since the society was first called into existence twenty- one years ago. A serious accident occurred a i.- 'a- «.-><» the tunnel now being cut througa Mount Cenis. A number of masons at work on a scaffold, making an arch to support the roof of the tunnel, were precipitated to the ground by the fall of about 60 cubic metres of earth and stone. One of them was seriously hurt, and three others were buried under the rubbish, and little hope remains of extricating them alive. The 28th of September falling tins year upon Sunday, tbe sheriffs-elect of London and Middlesex were on the Saturday previous duly sworn in and installed into office with all the time-honoured ceremonies of civic state and hospitality. The largest artificial reservoir of water in the world was completed last month to supply the city of New York with water. It is situated in the central park in that city. The purchase of the land cost £ 100 000, 'and the formation of the reservoir cost £300,000; 96 acres are covered with water. The depth of the reser- voir is 30 feet, and it will hold 1,100,000,000 gallons of water. The police have received information of a robbery at the Roman Catholic Chapel, Duke street, Lincoln's- in n- fields. It. appears that some person-or persons effected an entrance into the cMpel by means, it is supposed, of the roof, and carried off the silver chalices and other articles, said to be of the value of £ 50. A movement has been set on foot to introduce the growth bf flax into Suffolk as one of the ordinary crops of the agricultural world. The number of emigrants who left Ireland from the 1st of May, 1851, to the 1st of August, 1862, includ- ing males and females, was 1,273,609. This is a large number. But many of them went only to Great Britain, and would return again. The number of persons who stated it to be their intention to leave the country p r- nianently during the first seven months of this year was 45,899. being an increase of 391 over the number who emigrated within the same period in 1861. It is believed that the City Solicitorship, rendered vacant by the deith of Mr. Charles Pearson, will be con- ferred on Mr. Vallance, other candidates, whose names have b-en announced, having retired in his favour. About midnight on Saturday the attention of Police-sergeant Wines was attracted by cries proceeding from one of the Taff Vale goods vans at the docks. He went to it and found a man locked up in it. The ser- geant inimeitiately handed the man over to the railway police. He stated that he got into the van at Dinas, and went to sleep. When he awoke he discovered that he was locked up in the van at Cardiff. The Madrid journals mention the construction of a Spanish iron-clad, which they style a marvel. Accord- ing to them, thi3 monster of the deep surpasses anything as yet possessed of this kind by England or France; and they boast that early next year the Spanish tag will float over the best iron-plated ship yet launched. The proposed new substitute for cotton, the Zostera Marina, was exhibited in Mincing-lane on Mon- day, and favourably reported on by those who examined it. The doubt which arises in every quarter, a3 to the quantity of the substitute readily attainable, was also expressed in Mincing-lane, but this difficulty can easily be tested, if all other requirements are provided. The Japanese Ambassadors arrived in Berlin on Thursday, from St Pe erahurg, and next day paid a visit to the Dutch Ambassador and the French Chargé d'Affaires, and soon afterwards received return visits at their hotel. In the evening their excellencies visited Count Bernstorfls-at the Foreign-office, and spent an hour in conference with him. The Prussian exhibitors at the International Exhibition announce that they are sold out, and so well pleased are they with the results that they propose coming over here next year. The Austrians have dis- posed of their cheap clocks and chairs, even those of the latter which are in the refreshment department having been secured by a city firm. The Americans have been exceedingly successful. Mr. Steinway, of New York, has sold his magnificently-toned pianos to a West-end house, and the latter has re-sold them already at a great advance. An inquest was held on Tuesday evening on the body of a JOoy who it was alleged had died from improper medical treatment. He was suffering from a cold, and his father apolied to a herbalist of the name of Johns, who gave him some pills, which caused severe vomiting. He died soon afterwards; and the jury returned a verdict to the effect that the death was accelerated by the want of proper medical attendance; and they strongly con- demned the practice of persons consulting herbalists and unqualified medical men.

THE COURT. A CORRESPONDENT from Gotha says that this exercise the Queen frequently takes in the healthy districts of the Thnringen Forest; has made already a marked improve- ment in the health of her Majesty.' The Queen drives or walks out several times during the day, and always for a long time after breakfast and lunch. The few showery days that have occurred during the time the Queen has oeen at Rheinhardtsbrunn have not interfered with the Queen's custom in this respect. The Priuces have made very long excursions with their attendants. They went up the Inselberg the other day, but on the return of the Royal party Prince Arthur sprained his foot so badly that he was obliged to be carried down the mountain. Earl Russell does not attend daily on her Majesty, but only every two or three days when there is occasion to make business communications to the Queen, and ,it is necessary to receive the Queen's signature to documents, or private instructions. THE Queen will remain at Coburg till the 10th of October THE committee for the erection of a memorial to the late Prince Consort at Coburg have sent an address to the Queen, thanking her Majesty for the gift of the statue. PRINCE CHRISTIAN of Denmark and his family reside at present at the Hessian Pleasure Palace of Paucker, in East Holstein. The Princess Alexandrina has there re- ceived the congratulations of her grandfather and grand- mother (the Landgrave and Landgravine Wiliiam of Hesse) on her approaching marriage with the Prince of Wales. A LETTER from Rheinhardtsbrunn Says:—"Many strangers arrive hero from the neighbouring towns of Gotha, Erfurt, Weimar, &c., with the hopa of seeing the ruler of the mighty insular kingdom; but few achieve the object of their desires, in consequence of the strict retirement in which her Majesty lives. The entrances to the castle and to its vicinity are closed by iron gates. THE Prince and Princess Louis left Darmstadt early on the morning of the 20th inst. by the Maine-Neckar railway for Rheinhardtsbrunn, on a visit to her Majesty Queen Victoria and the Royal Family. T

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF FORGERY. Luther Yeates, a middle-aged man, residing at No. 1, Langport-place, Camberwell, and lately carrying on the business of an accountant, at No. 14,. Tokenhouse-yard, Lothbury, on Friday was placed at the bar of the Mansion House, before the Lord Mayor, to undergo a further ex- amination upon a charge of forging and uttering certain deeds, purporting to have been signed by Admiral Sir John West, G.C.B., with intent to defraud Lieut. Colonel John Temple West,, of Ryde, Isle of Wight. Mr. Lewis attended fur the prosecution, and Mr. F. H. LongJey appeared for the prisoner. From Mr. Lewis's opening statement it appeared that the prisoner hud at some time or other been in a soli- citor's office, and in addition to his having gained a knowledge of the mode of making out deeds of convey- ance, &c., he: appears by some means or other to have obtained a knowledge of the existence of some property known as the St. George's Estate, and that it belonged to Admiral Sir John West, and that he availed himself of that knowledge, and forged at dif- ferent times within the last few years a number of deeds of conveyance, purporting to be signed by Admiral Sir John West, conveying to him certain houses in West-square, Lambeth, which comprised the St. George's Estate, upon consideration of certain sums of money and that having forged the deeds, he mortgaged them, and obtained advances upon them from different solicitors. By this mesons he appears to have obtained advances to a very large amount, and was negotiating with a solicitor for an ad- vance upon another deed, but that gentleman happened to bear of the death of Admiral Sir John West, and upon examining the deed he noticed that it was dated subse- quent to the death of the admiral, and he accordingly instituted an inquiry, and the deea was discovered to be a forgery. At the last examination a deed upon which the prisoner had obtained a sum of money from a gentleman named Parker, a solicitor, carrying on business at Bedford-row, was proved to be a forgery. On that occasion Mr. Lewis stated that the amount whiqh bad then been ascertained to have been obtained by the prisoner was upwards of £6,000; it has been subsequently ascertained that the amount is much larger. John Morgan Deere, solicitor, Lincoln's-inn-fields, said he acted as solicitor for the prisoner in the year 1860. On the 7th August in that year he saw the prisoner execute the mortgage deed then producer! hy.Mr. ParKer, ana'Attested his signature. The deed purporting to be signed by Admiral West purported to be attested by James Bennet, land agent, Portvale, Hertford. He handed the mortgage to Mr Parker. He did not remember having seen the original lease. He received a copy of the lease from Mr. Yeates to furaish to Mr. I Parker in Bedford-row. The Lord Mayor asked Mr. Lewis how many of the cases he intended to go into. Mr. Lewis said he proposed to prove eight out of about eighteen. His lordship said he should have thought two or three separate cases clearly proved would further the ends of justice, and be as well as going into so many. Mr. Lewis said, as far as the prosecution went, two or three cases would be sufficient, but the friends and family of the late Admiral Sir John West were anxious that it should be understood that all the deeds of conveyance executed by the prisoner were forgeries, and it was neces- sary to prove as many cases as possible to prevent litiga- tion, otherwise in the course of twenty years or so the holder., of the mortgages might possibly come upon the family for payment. His lordship baid under those circumstances he had nothing more to say. 'Mr. Ebenezer Morley, a solicitor, at King's Bench-walk, Temple, was then sworn and said: In the year 1859 he was acting as solicitor for a Mr. Hopley, and Messrs. Brandon, of Essex street, Strand, applied to him on behalf of the prisoner respecting a mortgage; and on the 14th of Oct., 1859, a deed (If mortgage was executed in his presence. The mortgage was for four houses, Nos 45 to 48, West-square, Lambeth, inclusive. He produced the deed of mortgage and the lease, which he received from Messrs. Brandon, in the presence of the prisoner. There was at that time annexed to the lease the receipt produced, purporting to be a receipt from James Bennet for the last two quarters' ground rent. The signatures of the prisoner and Sir John West were attested by James Bennet, Hertford. Upon the mortgage of that lease he advanced to tb» prisoner the sum of V,700 on behalf of Mr. Hooley, and the prisoner had since been punctual in paying the interest due upon that mortgage. In January, 1861, he was acting as solicitor to Miss M'Bride, and the prisoner applied to him to advance a sum of £ 1,000 upon a mortgage of a lease, purporting to have been executed by Sir John West, of four houses, 25 to 28, West-sqnare, inclusive. The lease was dated December 12, 1860. He consented to advance him the sum of X800 on behalf of Miss M'Bride, and on the 17th January, 1861, the prisoner executed a mortgage, which he pro- duced, and handed over to the firm the deed of mortgage and the lease, which he also produced, The prisoner had paid the interest on the mortgage from time to time since that period. Corroborative evidence was then taken from Mr. G. M. Arnold, solicitor, of Gravesend; from Mr. James Tay, solicitor, of No. 44, Poultry, London; from Mr. Francis Hilbury, of Bexley, Kent; and from Mr. A. B. Bushnell, cashier to Messrs. Gosling and Co., Fleet- street, bankers to Sir John West. The last witness said he had the management of Sir John West's account, amongst others. He had looked at the deeds produced, and was quite sure the signatures were not in the hand- writing of Sir John West, nor did they bear any resem- blance. A gentleman, whose name did not transpire, said he wished to say a few words to his lordship, if he could be allowed. The Lord Mayor asked the gentleman if he would be kind enough to say who La was. He replied that he was another victim of the prisoner and he did not know whether Mr. Lewis would like to go into his case. Mr. Lewis, addressing the speaker, said he was sorry to have to state that his was one of a great many cases against the prisoner, into the circumstances of which he had forborne to enter. The Lord Mayor said that if Mr. Lewis was anxious to prevent litigation hereafter, and to restore the purity of > the title as far as he was concerned, he should have no objection to have all the cases against the prisoner in- 't10Qt; (J'gtøn- Mr. Lewis thanked his lordship, and said he should ask him to commit the prisoner for trial, upon the cases which he had already proved. The prisoner was committed for trial accordingly. — —»

The inundation of the Kile," says a letter from Alexandria, is following its regular course, and an abundant harvest may now be calculated on." -==

MR. WINDHAM AND HIS WIFE. 1 ?Ir- F- Windham, aged 22, was placed in the dock before Mr. Dayman, at the Hammersmith Police-court, on Thursday charged on a warrant granted by Mr. Ing- ham, on Wednesday, with threatening to cut his wife's throat, whereby she went in bodily fear. Mr Lewis, of Great Marlborough-atreet, appeared on behalf of the complainant. Mr. Windham, who had been brought fron: Windsor by Acres, one of the warrant officers of the court, was undefended. Mrs. Ann Agnes Windham was sworn, and she stated that she was resident at No. 3A, Westbourne-terrace, Paddmgton, with her husband. Two gentlemen, whom her husband had invited at Boulogne had been staying with them. She never had the pleasure of seeing the gentlemen before. On Tuesday night she went out with the two gentlemen with the consent of h!r husband, who was aware of her going out with them. They returned home at a quarter-past twelve o clock. Shortlv afterwards she retired to her room, her husband having previously wished her good v! u ,A ,ut a quarter of an-hour afterwards she heard her husband outside her room door. The two gentlemen were in their bed-rooms. She heard her husband using violent threats. He said that he was determined to shed the bIood of all three, and that he would take one of their (the gentlemen's) lives. She called out to the gentlemen. She had no friend, and it was a dreadful position for her to ba placed in. She considered both genttefcen were in danger of their lives. He said he would put a knife over Mr. St. Alban's throat. He had a large sailor's clasp knife, and he swore that he would cut her throat. She went in fear of him. It was not the first occasion he had sworn to take her life. On two occasions he threw knives over the table at her. Mr. Dayman Have you any questions to put to your wife? The Defendant: No; She aggravated me. I am cer- tainly very sorry for what has occurred. Water was poured down my ears while I was asleep on the sofa, either by you (the complainant) or some one else. You knew I was drunk. Mr. Dayman: Was he under the influence of drink ? Complainant: Not at all. He has used the threats when sober. He had said that it was his intention that no person should marrv her after his death. She did s not wish to hurt her husband. She simply wanted pro- tection from his threats. Mr. William St. Alban. said be resided at Kennington, and was studying for the bar. He was on a visit to Mr. W ind Sam's house. He had been there a fortnight by invitation of Mr. Windham while at Boulogne. He remembered returning home on Tuesday night. Mr. Windham was asleep on the sofa, and they had some difficulty in waking him up. They all parted gocd friends before going to their rooms. His atten- tion was afterwards drawn to Mrs. Windham, who opened her door and called out "Gentlemen." He came out and saw the defendant half way down the stairs. Mrs. Windham said she had heard the defendant muttering outside his (witness's) bedroom that he Mouid cut their throats or have their blood. Upon that some angry words ensued. He thought the de- fendant was excited, but he was not drunk. Two or three drops of water were thrown on his head to wake him. It did not appear to annoy him, for he afterwards parted with Mrs. Windham in the most affectionate manner. He did not complain of the water being thrown over him. They were all in conversation for some time afterwards. He heard the defendant use a most violent threat to Mrs. Windham. He said he would out hEr throat from ear to ear that night, and he made a movement towards Mrs. Windham. After that they thought it was their duty to stay with Mrs. Windham. They went down to the dining-room, and the same coarse language went on. Witness did not see any weapon, but the defendant had his hands behind him. He did not know how the quarrel began. He thought Mr. Windham had been drinking. The next morning Mr. Windham made him an humble- apology. He had certainly seen Mr. Windham throw a knife at Mrs. Windham on two occasions. The witness added that he thought Mr. Windham did not like anything to be said to him, for he soon lost his temper. Mr. Robert Burdett, of Boulogne, said he was on a visit to Mr. Windham. He then corroborated the state- ment of Mr. St. Alban. The witness also said that Mr. Windham had apologised to-him. The defendant, on-being called upon for his answer to the charge, said he had nothing to say. He went out with two or three persons, and went to a music-hall and other places.. In the afternoon his wife accused him of taking money from her purse, and it annoyed him. He drank more wine than usuaLat hi^ went out ne aranit more. lie was vexed with what he had done, and was ashamed of himself. He went away on Wednesday with the intention of going away alto- gether. He had written apologies to the gentlemen. Mr. Dayman told him that if ho had carried out his threats it would have been too late to apologise. The defendant said he walked up-staira grumbling, but he did not know what he did say. Mr. Dayman said he thought Mrs. Windham's fear was very reasonable after what had occurred, and she was entitled to every protection. He ordered him to enter into his own recognisances in the sum of £500, and to find two sureties in the sum of JE250 each, to keep the peace for six months. The defendant was not provided with bail, and he was removed by the gaoler. M-

THE ROUPELL FORGERIES. Although the charge of forgery against the prisoner, William Roupell, has been thus far disposed of by his pleading guilty and being sentenced to penal servitude, ,there appears to be very little doubt that there will still be a large amount of litigation before the matter is finaUr disposed of, and as, in all probability Mr. Roupell will have to appear on many future occasions as a witness, it is expected that he will remain in Newgate for a very considerable time, in order that he may be produced by habeas upon any occasion when his evidence may be required. It appears that since his conviction he has been treated in just the same manner as ordinary persons would be under similar circumstances, and the late M.P. for Lambeth has each day his usual task of oakum-picking assigned to him, and he will continue to be so employed all the time he continues in the gaol of Newgate. Now that the prisoner stands formally convicted, and under sentence for the forgery of the will by means of which he was enabled to make away with the great bulk of his father's property, there is no doubt, that the pro- ceedings that were instituted by the heir-at-law in the trial at Guildford to recover possession of the Kingston estate, which was the subject of the deed of gift, will be continued, and that an endeavour will be made to regain possession of the whole of the property, -or, at all events, to induce some of the present holders to consent to a com- promise. It appears, however, that this is not likely to be effected so easily as was at first imagined. It would seem that some portions of the property were sold by Mr. Roupell in comparatively small amounts, under £5,000, and the holders of these portions may pos- sibly be ready to agree to some farms of compro- mise rather than incur the expense of defending an action of ejectment, and possibly losing the whole of the property they had purchased. In a good many instances, however, it appears that very large sums of money have been advanced by insurance com- panies and other large corporations of the like kind upon portions of the property, and it is said that they are de- termined not to lose their money without a struggle, and that they intend to take the opinion of a jury upon the question whether Mr. Roupell has spoken the truth in changing himself with forgery, or whether, after having squandered his inheritance, he has not resorted to this extraordinary scheme with a view to procure a restitution of the property to his family. The will and the deed of gift that were the subjects of the indictments against the prisoner at the Central Criminal Court, have been ordered by Mr. Justice Byles to be retained in the custody of Mr. Avery, the principal officer of that court, in order that they may be forth- coming on any future occasion when they may be required. — —

A letter from Coburg states that ice was found on the surface of the water two mornings back, and that a thick white frost covered the gardens. The Distress in Lancashire. The London Committee of the Lancashire Operatives Relief Fund held their weekly meeting on Friday at the Mansion- house. The Lord Mayor presided. Several applications for relief were read and considered, and the committee made the following grants: Hashngden and Musbury? £ 100: the Andenshaw sewing class, £ 25; Norden, near Rochdale, £ 50 5 Fails worth, £ 100; Belmont, £ 75; Bol- lington, £ 150; Chorley, £ 200; Blackburn, £ 1,000; Ashton-under-Lyne, £ 100: Barondswick, £ 75; Tint- wistle, £ 200; St. Catherine's and St. Oswald's, £ 250; Wigan, £ 750; and St. James's sewing class, £ 25; making a total of £ 3,100. The financial sheet showed a total sum received of £59,728 7s. lid., of which £ 30,199 3s.» exclusive of yesterday's grants, had been already dis- tributed amongst the distressed districts. The weeks* receipts amounted to £4,420.