The Illustrated Usk Observer and Raglan Herald

ACCIDENT ON THE BLACKWALL Pi, AIL IVA Y. On Saturday morning, about eleven, an alarming accident happened to a North London train on the Blackwall Railway, close to the Fenchurch-street station, which nearly resulted in the engine, if not some of the carriages, being precipitated over the viaduct into the street below. The train was the ordinary one from Camden-town, and was due in Fenchurch-street at eleven o'clock. Fortunately there were not many passengers in it, and, more providentially still, there were only three or four, it is stated, in the carriage next to the tender. The train was coming at its usual reduced speed into the station on the south side of the line, and on .approaching within a few yards of the extreme end of the platform the engine, from some cause not satisfactorily ascer- tained, suddenly left the metals and slewed round right across the line, the buffers and front part of the engine forcing down the parapet, and a large portion of the wall of the viaduct overlooking Cooper's-row, Tower-hill. Two or three feet more, and the engine must have been precipitated over into the street below. Happily the brickwork seemed to have checked its progress, and so have averted some sad catastrophe. As may be imagined, the shock was t severe. The hrst carriage rose upon the buffers of the engine, and was thrown on one side, and the next carriage was off the rails. The passengers were necessarily much alarmed, but not one was hurt, at least there have been no complaints. As soon as possible the passengers wereliberated from the train and walked up the line to the station. On the driver finding the engine leavingthemetals he shut off the steam, and so lessened the shock. Mr. Wightman, the company's superintendent, and other officials, were soon in attendance, and vigorous efforts were at once made to remove the engine, which entirely blocked up the North London and Blackwall traffic side of the station. The trains, however, were dispatched from the other side of the railway station; -ind vast crowds were assembled in Cooper's-row, to view the engine, which nearly overhung the parapet, and the destruction sustained. It is stated that the part of the line where the engine went off has recently been under repair, and it is just possible that the rails might in some way have been out of gauge. The occurrence created considerable commotion amongst the many travel- lers who daily throng the Fenchurch-street station.

MURDER OF A BANK OLERK. On Thursday morning considerable excitement was -Created in the district of Aldgate by a rumour that a young gentleman, a clerk in the City Bank, had been found murdered in the river. It appears that since the night of the 3rd September the young gentleman in question, Mr. Hugh Dolby Morris, aged about twenty- two years, was missing; and though the walls of the metropolis were placarded with descriptions of him,, and the police had made inquiries after him in every direction, he could nowhere be found. On Tuesday, however, his body was discovered floating in the Thames, off the St. Katharine's Docks. It was removed to the Aldgate dead-house, and upon exami- nation marks of ill-usage were found upon the face and body, which have led to the apprehension that he had come to his death through foul means. The counte- nance was disfigured by two dreadful black eyes, and there seemed to be contusions on the head and body. There was no money or other property found in the pockets. The deceased was stated to have been in comparatively good circumstances, and not to have be^n in the least likely to have committed self- destruct'on. The police are at present engaged in in- vestigating the particulars of the affair, but hitherto without much success. What they have ascertained up to the present moment is as follows :-At midnight on last Thursday week Mr. Morris was in Arthur-street East, London-bridge, talking to a female, and he was never seen alive after. There appears to be no doubt that the deceased was robbed, and that he was robbed with violence. Such an outrage could hardly have taken place, even at midnight, in so open a spot, and -therefore the inference is that the female must have enticed him down the steps to the river side, where the crime might have been accomplished without obser- vation. An inquest was held on the body on Friday, when some evidence was taken as to the antecedents of deceased, but very little light thrown on the circum- stances of his death. It was deposed that he had been drinking rather freely, but was not intoxicated. The inquest was adjourned for a week, to give time for further inquiries by the police.

,T_ ^V AUSTRALIA. The colony of Victoria is reported to be going on prosperously. We extract the following po- litical news from the Melbourne Argus, dated July 25th— "Wilen the June mail for England was dispatched a Ministerial crisis existed. Mr. O'Shanassy's Cabinet had resigned, and Mr. M'Culloch had been sent for. He found the task of forming a Ministry less difficult than it proved on some former occasions, and when Parliament reassembled on the 28th ult. Mr. Cohen, on the part of the chief secretary, was able to announce the names of eight of the new Ministers. Since then the list has been completed by the accession of Mr. Fellows and Mr. Michie, and stands as follows :— Mr. BI'Culloch Chief Secretary. Mr. Michie Minister of Justice. Mr. Higinbotham. Attorney-General. Mr. Verdon Treasurer. Mr. Heales President of Board of Lands and Survey. Mr. Hervey Commissioner of Public Works. Mr. Grant Commissioner of Railways. Mr. Francis Commissioner of Customs. Mr. Sullivan. Minister of Mines. Mr. Fallows. Without Office. "The office of Postmaster-General has not been filled up, and the Chief Secretary discharges the duties of that department, Of the ten members of the Cabinet eight sit in the Lower House, and two-Mr. Hervey and Mr. Fellows—in the Council. All of them who were members prior to their acceptance of office have been re-elected, opposition having been offered in one instance only—the election of Mr. Grant for the Avoca district." The Gold Fields. A correspondent of our antipodean contemporary gives the following information concerning various gold regions After a few weeks marked in a more than ordinary degree by actual and rumoured discoveries of greater or less importance, the miners are now more settled again, and even though all the rushes have not been successful, yet on the whole there have been no incon- siderable additions made to the area available for operations throughout the remainder of the winter. The new field in the Bendigo district turns out, so far as has yet been provedl to be of less extent than was hoped at first, but several reefs have been opened in hoped at first, but several reefs have been opened in the neighbourhood, and the lead or run of gold though short in its- course is tolerably rich. It was un- fortunate that this was found on private property, for the interference of the owner and the demand of a high rate of payment for permission to work on it drove many miners away and prevented others from joining in the rush who might have helped much, under different circumstances, to prospect a little explored and apparently rich part of the district. However, the place got a bad name, and as there were other attractions at the time, it was soon left to the few who had profitable work in hand, and a thorough exploration of the Whipstick tract of country has been again deferred. By far the best of the fields lately opened is that at Majorca, where a large number of people are now employed, and many of those in good claims are making from £10 to X20 a week per man— no bad remuneration, as times go, even for the some- what hard work and life of a digger at a new rush. •SoEie few are doubtless^ getting more, but the deposits at this place are very irregular, so the returns vary widely. 4

Sir James Wilde was sworn in on Thursday as the new Judge in the Court of Probate and Divorce. presume, therefore, that the suspended ani- mation of this Court, which has so long been com- plained of, will be brought to an end.

EXTRACTS FROM MANHATTAN. This extraordinary writer becomes daily more difficulttobeunderstood; he rails against every one and gives no one a good name. Instance the following extracts:— Despisalof the London "Times." There used to be a time when the London Times was quoted in almost every American paper. It has ceased to be noticed at all for many months. Quotations of news and of. public opinion abroad are now taken from the other English papers. President Lincoln's New Story. The President has got another new story. It seems that a crony of his was a man named Payne. As soon as the war broke out he appointed Payne a general from Illinois. The following is the President's foul story:- "One day a weaJthy old lady, whose plantation was in the vicinity of camp, came in and inquired for General Payne. When the commander made his appearance the old lady, in warm lan- gunge, at once acquainted him with the fact that his men had stolen her last coop full of chickens, and demanded their restitu- tion or their value in currency.. I am sorry for you, madam,' replied the General, 'but I can't help it. The fact is, madam, we are determined to squelch out the rebellion, if it takes every d- chicken in Tennessee!' Federal Financial Difficulties. There is trouble in the finances. The brokers and speculators of Wall-street tremble. An inir mense amount of paper notes is to be issued this week, some say 500 millions, in 5s., 10s., 20s., 50s., and 100s. bills. Many prophesy that before this issue is fairly passed into the currency the green- backs will be at a discount of 100 per cent. There is no telling what will occur. It appears to me that we are on the eve of troubles such as we have not yet known, or even imagined it possible to come upon us. Anarchy is certainly hovering over this city and State. Lack of Loyalty in New York. Meade is like the Scotch Glendower, who said, I can call spirits from the vasty deep," and we can reply, as Percy did, 11 Why, so can I, or so can any man; but will they come when you do call for them?" No, sir. There is the trouble. Lincoln is calling in New York, but few answer. Out of 19,000 drafted, 17,320 have proved themselves cripples, exempt, aliens, over age, or something else. They are cleared by hundreds. So it is all over this State. So it is everywhere. In Ohio there will be no draft. Reason is, that the State may be disgusted, and vote for Vallandigham. I have my doubts whether out of 300,000 Mr. Lincoln will have over 17,000. Of course, he can draw again. Still, this is a very dark cloud-very black, and very lowering. It may burst and deluge us. Suppose Lee should pitch in while Meade is in the situation of a soft crab ? The result would be that we should lose Washington. I have con- versed with some of the most prominent Re- publicans, and they say that it is the policy of Mr. Lincoln not to fight just now—to lie low, and wait his opportunity. The Vast Changes that Occur. The worst cloud of all is the lack of men. If we cannot get men the war must languish, and we must float along until war is delared with France. Every preparation is being made. Thou- sands of men are working at the coast fortifica- tions. Those at New London are nearly finished, so that it will be difficult to reach New York from that direction. Our position with the rebellion is somewhat like the hunter who chased a panther into a high tree, and then found that his gun or rifle was not loaded. He did not know what to do next. He saw no chance to clutch the panther. He knew that if he ran the panther would give chase, so he lay down, determined to govern his actions by those of the panther. We cer- tainly have tried the rebellion. We have no men to fetch it down, and we must wait and. see what the rebels will do. If they have not been injured, our case will be a hard one. I do not suppose there was ever a war where there were so many changes in its aspect. One day we are all elated; stocks go up; gold comes down; the backbone of the rebellion is broken: it is all over, and we discuss the terms of the rebel submission. Presto-change-all that aspect is gone; Lee is likely to win, and to destroy our armies. Presto!—change again. We are all up in the highest heaven Lee is defeated; thousands of rebels are dead at Gettysburg; Vicksburg falls; so does Port Hudson, and we are all flourishing once more. Charleston will not surrender; another grand calling is to happen; we cannot get men North; the time of hundreds of thousands is ex- piring, and we are up to the eyes in the mud. We can't see anything ahead but disaster. Such is the position of the thermometer to-day. Whether it will change before this letter leaves is the ques- tion. Doubts whether Charleston will be taken. How strange that the first day of the autumn should bring with it a change in the affairs of the country. Yesterday was rather a gloomy day. Gold went up 4 per cent., and English exchange 5 per cent. I shall not be surprised to see gold go up to 200, and English exchange to 230—it was at 143 yesterday. This was not solely owing to the bad news that reached us yesterday, so much as to thickening clouds over Federal affairs that we have noticed for several days. There are clouds gather- ing all around us. There are clouds in South Carolina—clouds rising in Virginia—clouds in this city: whether the rain will burst upon us I know not. It is now doubted whether General Gilmore can do anything more at Charleston. The gun that pitched Greek fire into Meeting-street has burst. The other forts that surround Sumter have not yet been harmed, and our flag does not float upon Wagner or Sumter, and General Gilmore has sent on word to Washington:—" Send me 30,000 more men, or I shall have to raise the attack, and go back to Port Royal with the remnant of my small force." I suppose Mr. Lincoln would be very much obliged to the scientific Gilmore if he would raise men as scientifically as he does breastworks, paral- lels, and other engineering things. It will be really mortifying if Gilmore makes a fiasco, and should give the electoral vote of South Carolina for Lincoln in 1864 at Port Royal instead of Charleston; and then to have Southern fellows in this city crowing over you, and saying, "How about Charleston ?" as was the case yesterday. That is what's the matter. For my part, I will not believe a word of anything that comes to us from our own side. The lies are fearful. That is a dark cloud. My private opinion is, that Charles- ton will not be taken. However, Vicksburg was taken, and so was Port Hudson.

THE WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. The Melbourne papers report that the news received from the northern district of New Zealand, during the month, has been of a very grave character, and has led to the belief that graver consequences may be expected to follow. The Argus says:— The war—for less it can scarcely be called when comparing' the attitude taken by the natives and their known numbers and resources—has assumed an aspect which threatens incalculable evils to the cause of 'o colonisation in the entire island, and the powers of the Queen's troops stationed in the colony will be tasked to their utmost. News up to the 14th inst., tells that the tactics of General Cameron, by which all the troops, except a garrison, were withdraws, from Taranaki, have immensely encouraged the natives; that 5,000 of the warlike Waikatos have taken the field that even Auckland was threatened and that the rebel Maories had captured an English schooner, hoisted Wiremu Kingi's colours, and, in bravado, sailed up and down before Government-house. A few days' later intelli- gence corroborates all this, and informs us that pre- parations are being made on all sides for a most earnest campaign. From this it is evident that our New Zealand difficulties have done little more than begin. The colonists, however, appear to have con- fidence in General Cameron, and his well-known spirit and ability certainly justify their hope that in his hands the re-establishment of British supremacy is scarcely a matter of doubt. English Military Settlement. The New Zealand, Gazette, of the 6th of July, contains the plan for a military settlement on very liberal terms to all eligible men under forty- five. Each militiaman to have a town lot and farm of fifty acres, with full pay in service, Govern- ment paying passage. The following are the conditions referred to, upon which land situated in the war district will be granted to settlers :— 1. Settlements will be surveyed and marked out at the expense of the Government. 2. Each settlement will comprise not less than 100 town allotments and 100 farm sections. "3. A stockade on the most eligible site in each settlement will be erected at the expense of the Government. "4. A town will be laid out around, or as near as conveniently may be to the stockade, in one acre allotments. "5. Farms will be laid out around, or as near as conveniently may be to the town, in sections of 50 acres each. "6. Every settler under these conditions will be entitled to one town allotment and one farm section. 7. Priority of choice will be determined by lot. 8. No man above the age of forty-five years will be accepted, and every applicant will be subject to an examination by an officer appointed by the Governor, and must produce such certificates of good health, character, and general fitness for the service as such officer shall require. 9. Each accepted applicant will be provided, at the expense of the Government, with a steerage passage to New Plymouth. Before embarkation he will be required to sign a declaration to the effect that he understands, and will be bound by and fulfil, these conditions. 10. On arrival at New Plymouth he will be enrolled and required to serve in the Taranaki Militia. He will be entitled to pay and rations accordingly until he is authorised by the Government to take possession of his land, when he will be relieved of actual service.' "11. After taking possession, he will be entitled to receive rations, free of cost, for twelve months, upon the same scale as supplied to her Majesty's troops; he will be allowed to retain possession, as a militiaman, of his arms and his accoutrements, and he will be supplied with ammunition for use, according to Militia regulations. "12. No settler, after taking possession, will be per- mitted, during the next three years after his arrival at New Plymouth, to absent himself from his settlement for more than one calendar month in any one year without the leave of the Governor first obtained. 'r 13. During such three years lie will be liable to be trained and exercised as other militiamen; and when- ever a portion only of the Taranaki Militia shall be called out for actual service, each settler will be deemed a volunteer militiamen, and will be required to serve as such. Doing such service he will be entitled to the same pay, rations, and allowances as other militiamen. in ,I n. '1 14. On the expiration of three years from the day of his arrival at New Plymouth each settler, having fulfilled the conditions, but not otherwise, will be entitled to a Crown grant of the town allotment and farm section allotted to him, and will thenceforth be subject only to the same militia services as other colonists. 15. Any settler desiring to leave his settlement will be permitted to do so on providing a substitute approved of by the Government. Such substitute will be subject to the same liabilities and entitled to the same privileges as the settler whose place he takes. £ 16. In the case of the death of any settler before he shall become entitled to his Crown grant the land allotted to him will be at the disposal of the Govern- ment for the location of another settler under these conditions, or for any other purpose; but the value of any improvements made thereon by the deceased set- tler will be determined by valuation, and the amount paid by the Government to such person (if any) as the deceased settler shall have appointed by writing to receive the same. "FORM OF DECLARATION AND AGREEMENT. I do hereby declare that I fully understand the 'conditions' hereunto annexed, and I do engage and agree to be bound thereby, and punctually on my part to fulfil all the terms thereof." Latest Intelligence. The following intelligence had just been received from Sydney when the last mail started from Mel- bourne :— The Novelty, from Auckland, brings eight days' later Auckland news (at least two days' later than that from Nelson). No fighting had yet occurred. Waikatos fortifying their positions. General Cameron had ordered all the available troops to the front. The volunteers were on duty in Auckland. Advices from Taranaki say that the natives are in force, and threaten Tatariamaka redoubts; but little fears are entertained of the ability of the garrison to repel them. Governor Grey has issued a proclamation, commanding the Maories to lay down their arms and take the oath of allegiance. He has directed that all natives found out of doors after dark are to be arrested. Everything proves a determination to conduct the war with energy and precautions are being taken to pre- vent surprise and to make the campaign short and decisive."

THE CHARGES AGAINST A LANCASHIRE MAGISTRATE. At two o'clock on Friday Mr. W. S. C. Standish, a magistrate of the county of Lancaster, sur- rendered to his recognisances to answer to the charges of unlawfully shooting Michael Burke, and wounding Thomas Hesketh. It was admitted that Mr. Standish was drunk when the offences with which he was charged were committed. It transpired that on Tuesday last, about noon, he visited a shoemaker in Tarleton, near Ormskirk, named Taylor, from whom he requested some shot. Taylor gave him an ounce and a half of No. 3 shot, and he charged a pistol with it. He then seems to have ridden up and down the country till, between five and six in the evening, he came up to four harvest men, who were going to Ormskirk, and at whom, in succession, he presented a pistol, discharging it at last at Michael Burke, who, un- fortunately, received the shot in his shoulder. Mr. Standish then galloped off to Lathom-house, where he was met by Sergeant-Major Nunnerley, of Lord Skelmersdale's troop of Hussars, to whom he delivered two horse pistols, and began to talk very rapidly and incoherently about there being a riot somewhere, and the troop of Hussars was to be called out. After a short stay he and Mr. Nun- nerley took the road, on horseback, to Ormskirk, where they were met by Inspector JerviS, of the; Ormskirk police, and another officer, who had "been informed of the shooting of Burke, and had; set out in quest of Mr. Standish. Inspector Jervis called upon Mr. Standish to surrender; but, instead of doing so, he turned his horse and galloped off at a furious pace, drawing his sword and z, brandishing it about. He afterwards came up to the man Hesketh, and a man named Mordaunt, and these persons became much alarmed at his attitude. Mordaunt threw himself upon the ground, and he escaped injury, the sword passing over him. Hesketh, however, received a sword cut in the chin, and fell bleeding, Inspector Jervis, after Mr. Standish had galloped off, got a horse, and went in pursuit of the fugitive, accompanied by Mr. Nun- neiiey, and after keeping up the chase for about two miles, lost all trace of Mr. Standish. He was, however, apprehended the day following by Jervis, at Newburgh," and conveyed to the Ormskirk police-station, where he was formally charged. In answer to the charge of having shot Burke, he said he was very sorry for what had happened; he did not intend to hurt the man. There were only eighteen shots in the pistol. On being charged with cutting Hesketh, he said he was very sorry; it was a mad freak. The injuries the two men had sustained were described as not serious, and it was clear that the pistol was not loaded with ball. For the defence, Mr. Crook contended that in the case of shooting the wound which had been inflicted did not come within the meaning of the statute, and the injury by the sword was the result of accident. The magistrate, however, committed Mr. Standish to the assizes on both charges, but accepted bail.

UPS AND DOWNS OF AN ACTOR'S LIFE. A case most painfully illustrative of the vicissitudes of an actor's life came before the bench at Hull last week. A middle-aged man, named James Clifford, of wretched and half-starved appearance, and whose only covering consisted of shirt, trousers, and boots, was placed at the bar charged with having attempted to commit suicide by jumping into the Humber-dock on Saturday evening. A young man, named Thomas Beautyman, a licensed porter, stated that on that evening he was going along the Humber Dock side, when he observed the prisoner jump from the quay into the water. The witness at once raised an alarm, and also got into a boat with the view of saving the life of the unfortunate man. After censiderable diffi- culty and the lapse of about five minutes he was successful in his endeavours. The would-be suicide was hauled on to the quay and handed over to the custody of the police. The prisoner, on being asked by the magistrate what he had to say for himself, made the following statement: He said that for about forty years he had been a travelling performer with portabletheatres, andhadperformedat Winn's Theatry, at DrypoolFeast He had once been in very comfortable circumstances, and had plenty of friends, but latterly he had become very much reduced. He had been com- pelled to part with all his clothes except those few rags which now covered his body. He soon found that when his clothes were gone his friends had also flown, and those who had once appeared to be the firmest of friends had now become almost his greatest enemies. When he was left in an almost naked state, he found it absolutely impossible to obtain an engage- ment, and having nothing wherewith to procure food his existence became miserable in the extreme. During the latter part of last week he had wandered about houseless, homeless, and friendless, and on Friday and Saturday had nothing to eat. On the evening of the last-named day the rain was falling very fast, and on meeting a policeman he asked him if he would be allowed to go into the lock-up for the night. He was informed by the officer that unless he had committed some crime he would not be locked up. Being very wet, cold, and hungry—in fact, just on the verge of starva- tion—he sought refuge under the dock sheds, and whilst he was so sheltering he began to consider which would be the best way to pursue in his then lone and desolate circumstances. He considered that he had neither clothes, food, shelter, or friends, and was at a loss how to proceed. If he had had his clothes he would have known how to pro- ceed, but in his then state before any respectable manager he would have been naturally told that he was "worse than a shoeblack." Therefore at the time he thought there was only one way for him, and he de- termined to take it. He therefore got up from the place where he was sheltering, walked to the edge of the quay, and jumped into the water. This was all that he (prisoner) had to say. Such a thing had never before passed in the drama of his life, and he hoped that it would be a caution for the future, for if he lived he would long remember it. During the time the prisoner was making the above statement the most breathless silence prevailed in the court. Mr. Winn, the proprietor of the portable theatre which has been exhibiting near the Drypool Church since the Drypool Feast, was in the court. He came forward and said that he had known the prisoner for upwards of twenty years, during which period the prisoner had been under his management in several portable theatres. In the whole of this time he had never known him commit an offence similar to the one with which he was now charged. He had al- ways been a steady and inoffensive man. The witness also further stated that about a fortnight ago the prisoner and his wife quarreled. In consequence of this he took to drinking. His wife left him and took away with her his wardrobe, thus depriving him of the means of going on the stage. The wit- ness had several times sent for the prisoner to return to his theatre, directing the messengers to tell him that he was quite agreeable to take him on. The witness supposed that through shame the prisoner de- clined his offer. Whatever might be the cause, how- ever, he did not accept Mr. Winn's offer, and he (witness) was very much astonished when on the previous night he heard that the prisoner had at- tempted to commit suicide. He could come to no other conclusion than that he had been induced to commit the rash act through want of food and through intoxicating drink. Even at that moment he (witness) was quite willing to take the prisoner back into his employment. His worship pointed out to the prisoner the folly of the course of conduct which he had pursued. As the witness, however, had so kindly come forward to speak for him, and had even promised to take him into his service, he should discharge him. A subscrip- tion was got up amongst the attorneys and several gentlemen in the court, his worship also contributing, and upwards of 15s. were placed in the hands of the prisoner, and he left the court a happier, and no doubt a wiser man. His worship also presented 5s. to Beauty- man, for the promptitude and presence of mind which he had shown in rescuing the prisoner from a shocking and untimely end.

AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS' COTTAGES. That philanthropic writer who signs himself S. G. O. has, in a letter to the Times, exposed the state of the agricultaral labourers' homes, of which the following is an extract:— I am quite sure in several villages known to myself, within an easy ride of my own residence, were I to obtain and publish the state of the dwellings, and what can be proved as the result of that state, it would horrify every thinking man and woman possessed of the commonest humanity, the least respect for common decency. If I saw the possessors of the properties on which things are thus poor men, or even embarrassed men, whose way of living indicated their poverty and helplessness in the matter, I should grieve over the fact and be silent; but it is no such thing. These things often are most evident on properties where the savage heathenish domestic features of the labourers' dwellings are in awful contrast with the glaring evi- dence that the owner of the soil can and does live in the most extravagant enjoyment of all that wealth can command. I am tired of that cuckoo cry, My dear fellow, cottages never pay; do you expect us to throw our money away P' Does the attic of the housemaid pay, the bedroom of the butler or the footman pay ? Does the lodge of the keeper pay ? The conservatory, the peach-houses, the stables, &c.,—do these brick and mortar creations pay rent, return cash, in return for cash expended in their erection ? My dear lord or squire, you can't have your Mary Duster,' Mr. Cool- wine,' James,' or that six-foot-two civil' Dick Part- ridge,' unless you house them, brick and glaze and eMmney-pot them. Your dogs must have kennels, your horses stables, your pigs styes. Your boy buys a tame squirrel for Is.: you will find 3s. 6d. charged in Furnace's bill for a cage. When you gave Ned permission to buy the beast, did you expect it would aoatemplate quarter-day as it cracked its nuts ?"

OUTRAGE UPON. A BRITISH SUBJECT. Mr. R. R. Belshaw, who has just returned to this country from the Southern States, has written a letter to Earl Russell, claiming damages for outrages in- flicted upon him while there. In this letter he states that he went to New York in 1852, and in 1859 re- moved to Montgomery, Alabama, to settle the estate of a deceased brother. Pending the settlement, which was tedious, he went into business on his own account. At New York and in Montgomery he had always re- mained faithful to his allegiance, and in Montgomery the fact of his being a British subject was generally known. In February last, however, he was arrested as a eonscript in his own house by the de facto Go- vernment, removed to the guard-house, and after a detention of three days released. He was, however, again arrested, notwithstanding the production of his consular certificate of nationality and compliance with the requirements of the Secretary of State, taken from his residence, hurried off to Camp Watts, in Alabama, and from thence to Bragg's army, in Tulla- homa, where several other British subjects were sent at the same time, "under guard in chains, with heavy iron collars riveted on their necks." Mr. Belshaw's story after this we give in his own words :— On our arrival in Tullahoma we were all put into the guard-house, an abominably filthy den. After being there nearly a week a Confederate officer came in one day to know if we would volunteer. Under the cir- cumstances we declined to embrace the opportunity of fighting for his country. In this way he called several times to know if we thought any better of it, until at last, finding the inducements were not sufficiently strong, he came one day and took us out to the provost marshal's office. While there he tried to coerce us into taking the oath of allegiance to his Government, amid the jeers and taunts of a crowd of commissioned officers, whose hatred of England was only equalled by their affected ignorance of her power. Our party, consisting of Danish, German, and British subjects, all refused to renounce our allegiance. Wre were then put into the camp of the 1st Louisiana. On refusing to do duty the next day (in obedience to the Queen's proclamation), I underwent the punishment known as "bucking" in front of General Bragg's head- quarters, and also the others, after which we were turned into the guard-house. On our refusal again, some days afterwards, the "bucking" was repeated, with the addition of water being thrown over some of us. Still continuing to refuse, I was subsequently tied up by the thumbs half an hour to the rafters of the guard-house, along with another British subject named Kelly, a graduate of the Queen's College, Galway. I saw "him afterwards undergo the punishment, called by those who practice it, the spread eagle," a kind of crucifixion. On another occasion I saw him held head downwards in a tank of water three times until almost drowned. The punishment of slaves has been inflicted upon us with a full knowledge of our nation- ality, in broad daylight, and within a few yards of General Bragg's head-quarters, in the presence of at least fifty or a hundred spectators. For refinement of cruelty and democratic insolence generally, Colonel Strawbridge and his Creole commissioned officers of the 1st Louisiana stand unrivalled. The de .facto Government have now assumed the responsi- bility by a decision of their highest court at Mobile, declaring me liable to military service. This trial cost me 4,000 dollars, to which must be added 3,000 dollars for a substitute, which was only good for a short time as I was afterwards notified by the authorities for six months' service in North Alabama. Seeing there was no end to the imposition and outrage, I left, and at the expense of £3,000 dols. more I am so far home out of the Southern Confede- racy. Having been unable to close my estate I have left my sister in charge of it, and to her exertions on my behalf more than to the money actually expended I am indebted for my deliverance from captivity. Some de foxto compensation can surely be had for a series of very gross outrages committed by the de facto Government. With this brief statement of facts, as a British subject I now respectfully call upon your lordship for such indemnification as the Government may think proper to demand for three months' con- tinuous outrage and imminent risk of life, together with the loss of 10,0CH) dols., besides the damage done to my business by an enforced absence from it.- I have the honour to remain, my lord, your lordship's most obedient servant, R. R. BELSHAW. P. S. My Lord,—I inclose the official report of the trial (taken from the record by the clerk), with the seal of the Court attached, to which my case was re- ferred by the de facto Government. It being their highest court there was no appeal. The question, as your lordship will perceive, was not one in reference to the series of gross outrages which had just been committed, but only in regard to my liability to con- scription.

A Hint to Pantomime Writers.-A few days since a clockmaker of Brussels, having but little room in-doors, packed away a lot of clocks in a basket, on the pavement in front of his house. The basket was carefully filled, and straw was pressed down on the top of all. Nothing was then needed but a lid, to pro- cure which the busy tradesman entered his premises. During his absence a tumbril, used for the collection of the sewage and refuse of that part of the city, came along, and the driver, seeing the basket, immediately emptied the contents into his receptacle. The clock- maker's astonishment at finding his empty basket on his return may be imagined. His loud cries attracted the neighbours, who, seeing the scavenger in the distance, guessed what had become of the clocks, and they were soon recovered, but decidedly the worse for the immersion they had undergone. Throwing the Hatchet by the Mayor of Cork.-The triennial ceremony of "throwing the hatchet in Cork harbour has iately been performed by the Mayor of that city with all due ceremony. The members of the Cork Town Council embarked on board a steam vessel, attended by all the civic officers and the band of the Cork City Artillery. The steamer proceeded out to sea until she reached an imaginary line between Poor Head and Cork Head, which is sup- posed to be the maritime boundary of the borough. Here the Mayor donned his official robes, and pro- ceeded, attended by the mace and sword bearer, the city treasurer, and the town clerk, all wearing their official costumes, to the prow of the vessel, whence he launched the hatchet into the water, thereby asserting his authority as Lord High Admiral of the port. Eating Poisonous Mussels.—A correspondent of a contemporary writes :—" In one of the weekly papers I have seen a report of an inquest on Mr. Wilson, who was poisoned by eating the mytilis edulis, or common mussel. I have been poisoned, and the remedy in all cases I should suggest would be a pint of milk. Had even the London milk been procured, in all probability his life would have been saved. I have never known a single failure, even after several hours have elapsed. Stimulants, brandy-and-water, wine, &c., are generally taken an hour after the milk. The symptoms by poisoning I can compare to nothing but Celsus's description of inflammation, with the addition of nausea." A Yankee Patriot.—" No, William Baker, you cannot have my daughter's hand in marriage until you are equal in wealth and social position." The speaker was a haughty old man of some sixty years, and the person whom he addressed was a fine-looking young man of twenty-five. With a sad aspect the young man withdrew from the stately mansion. Six months later the young man stood in the presence of the haughty old man. What! you here again ? angrily cried the old man. An, old man," proudly exclaimed William Baker, I am here your daughter's equal and yours!" The old man's lip curled with scorn. A derisive smile lit up his cold features when, casting violently upon the marble centre table an enormous roll of greenbacks, William Baker cried, See I Look on this wealth; and I've tenfold more Listen, old man! You spurned me from your door, but I did not despair. I secured a contract for furnishing the army of the with beef" "Yes, yes," eagerly ex- claimed the old man, and I bought up all the disabled cavalry horses I could find" "I see, I see!" cried the old man, "and good beef they make, too." They do, they do! and the profits are immense." "I should say so." "And now, sir, I claim your daughter's fair hand." "Boy, she is yours. But hold! Look me in the eye. Throughout all this have you been loyalP" "To the core!" cried William Baker. "And," continued the old man, in a voice husky with emotion, '• are you in favour of a vigorous prosecution of the war?"" "I am, Iam!" "Then, boy, take her! Maria, child, come hither. Your William claims thee. Be happy, my children. And whatever our lot in life may be let us all support the Gcvsrnmsut."