The Illustrated Usk Observer and Raglan Herald

The Siege of Charleston. The. correspondent of the New York Herald, TTitingfrcm Morris Island on the 3rcl inst., thus describes the third bombardment of Fort Sumter, which took place on the 1st of this month:- On -Tuesday last, at the request of Admiral Daklgren, General Grilmore ordered our breaching batteries to open for the third time on Fort Sumter, to dismount five guns which were alleged to have been placed in position by the rebels after we had once effectually reduced the work. The fire was maintained from daylight to dark, with delibe- ration and great effect. On no previous occasion had our fire been so accurate, and on no one day's bombardment had the results been so apparent. The guns were directed against the parapet and the traverses of sandbags protecting the rebel guns OIl the north-east angle of the fort. The east face also came in for its share of the pounding. During the forenoon three guns were dismounted, one of which was toppled over into the sea by our heaviest projectiles, and another was placed hors de combat during the afternoon. The sandbag traverses were tumbled down, and the parapet of the east face levelled to the rampart. The rampart of the 21 ortk-east side of the work was repeatedly struck and torn to pieces, and when the fire ceased at night nearly all the arches 011 the east face were visible, and the south-east bastion was so completely in ruins that it was impossible to say where either of the faces joining them began. The fort is now in rums, and cannot cover a gun. Any further con- tinuance of our fire would be a waste of valuable supplies, which can be used to a better advantage hereafter. During the afternoon of Tuesday the commanders of the Monitors were assembled in Admiral Dahlgren's cabin, on the flagship Phila- delphia, and a night attack on Fort Sumter was determined on. The Monitors were prepared for action, and at about eleven o'clock at night they steamed up the harbour and began to fight. The night was quite favourable for the movement, the moon being partially obscured by light, fleecy clouds, and the sea smooth. The rebel works on Sullivan's Island and Fort Sumter were as plainly defined as could be desired, while at the same time the -Monitors were quite as easily made out by the rebel gunners. From half-past eleven until four o'clock in the morning the Monitors and Iron- sides, which did not go in the fight until after midnight, were firing upon the north end face of Sumter, sending their huge 15-inch shells and 200-pounder Parrott projectiles crashing through the wall of the fort with terrible effect, at a distance of about eight hundred yards. Meanwhile they endured an intense and heavy fire from Fort Moultrie, Battery Bee, the battery on Mount Pleasant, on Sullivan's Island, and Fort Wagner and Battery Gregg, on Morris Island. I watched the firing for several hours during the night, and must say that I have never seen the rebel guns worked with so much vigour and rapidity as they were on Sullivan's Island on that night. One continuous line of flashes from the Beach Inlet Battery to the work on the extreme left, and an uninterrupted roar of heavy guns and howl of rifle bolts, made the scene one not easily to be forgotten. The smoke from the rebel batteries and the Monitors hung heavily upon the water and obscured the largest objects from view, and only by the quick flashes that gleamed through the smoke of battle could we locate the exact position of the contending forces. The Monitors were repeatedly hit, but no one was hurt on any of them except aboard the MontauK. During the action the turret was struck by a rifle projectile, which started the plates, and drove out a bolt which unfortunately hit Lieutenant Commander Oscar C. Badger on his right ankle and broke the bone of his leg. The same bolt or a fragment of it struck one of the men on the thigh and inflicted a painful but not seriors wound. Lieut. Commander Badger was doing very well, and is still upon the Mon- ta,uk, from whence he will be removed to the Wabash as soon as it is safe to do so. No other casualties occurred."

The Situation in Tennessee. The New York Herald correspondent, writing from Stevenson, Alabama, says:- "Information has been received here which indi- cates that the rebels are moving north from Chattanooga, with some purpose as yet unex- plained. Indeed, the report has not yet been con- firmed; but it has received such serious con- sideration that this army has been halted in its operations until the truth or falsity of the report can be well established. The orders for the move- ment of Crittenden's corps, which was to have been made to-day, have been countermanded, and it yet remains in the Sequatchie valley, within supporting distance of Burnsine, whose left is in the vicinity of Kingston. Crittenden's left is at Pikeville. You will notice that there is a gap of forty-five or fifty miles between the two armies, filled up by roving bands of cavalry and a courier line. This gap is a mountain, which is called Walden's Ridge of the Cumberland.' Burnside's right is in front of Knoxville, on the Clinch river. His army is therefore about ninety miles, through a wide, rich valley, from Chattanooga. liosecrans' army is about thirty miles, through a very rough, mountainous region, from Chattanooga. He is fifty miles fjrom the railroad which represents on the map the rebel line of retreat southward. With the two armies thus situated there are reasons why this as yet undefined rumour is rather startling. In the first place, it is one, I am inclined to believe' totally unexpected. In the second place, it is startling, because it confounds and perplexes as to its design. In the third place, it startles one to be compelled to calculate whether or not Burnside can be overwhelmed by the rebels. This is the only purpose which it is generally conceived the rebels can have in moving northward to attack and overwhelm Burnside before he can form a junction with Rosecrans. The two armies have been moving for some time past on parallel lines upon Chattanooga and Knoxville, without at- tempting or proposing, to form a junction imme- diately, and in doing so they have got into the situation described. One thinks naturally of Blucher and Wellington, a,nd this startles. The broken front would certainly be tempting to a general with an army superior, or even equal, to either half of that of his enemy. It would be dangerous to us if we were in the face of an enemy equal to either Bosecrans or Burnside. But Johnston is inferior, to the former, and I believe not more than equal to the latter. If inferior to Burnside, Johnston's demonstration will result in nothing. If equal, he will prove a dangerous enemy to Burnside, and will at least halt him. If superior, he will force him to retreat. Burnside's retreat would halt Rosecrans. The rmaioured movement, therefore, promises some- thing."

The Mexican Question. The Washington correspondent of the New Yorlc Tribune, writing on the 5th inst., says :— "The rumour in., diplomatic circles in Wash- ington is that President Juarez is now in this city keeping the strictest incognito. He had several interviews with Mr. Seward, to-whom he is said to have unfolded a plan for the maintenance of the Republic of Mexico, and for driving the French Olltóflit. Juarez asserts that the vote of, the 226 notables represent merely the vote of a coterie, and that if, in conformity to Prince Maximilian's wishes, the nation is consulted, the verdict will be strongly republican. He represents the Mexicans as being ready, at any time to take up arms in z, I defence of their old "constitution and laws provided they are supplied with arms and money, and are sure of the support of theU nited States.. I am told that one of Juarez's projects is to open a sub- scription list in the principal cities of the Northern States, and to raise by this means an amount of money sufficient to resume hostilities against the French." The same correspondent also says that on the 5th of September another furious bombardment of Forts Wagner and Gregg by the enemy's fleet and land batteries took place. The firing was begun at daylight, and was maintained steadily until dark. That a Monitor was firing at Forb Moultrie, another assault on batts«jr Wagner expected at night, and that no further attack had been made, on brick-built Sumter, which had been held twenty days against all the efforts of the enemy's great guns by land and sea. Of 7,551 shots which have been fired at it, 3,459 have struck outside, and 2,130 inside, and the flag shot away fourteen times. He further says that on the 6th of September the bombardment of batteries Wagner and Gregg had been incessant for fifty-two hours. The noise of the cannonade was tremendous; that the enemy landed near Cumming's Point in barges, and assaulted battery Gregg, and that the assault was repulsed.

PREVENTION. OF INFANTICIDE. At a meetingjately held at 18, Craven-street,. Strand, in furtherance of the formation of the National So- ciety and Asylum for the Prevention of Infanticide, Dr. ISTiel occupied the chair. The chairman briefly opened the proceedings by observing that a few days ago a preliminary meeting of gentlemen had been held with a view of checking the growing evil of infanticide, and it was resolved that an association should be formed which would combine the benefits of an asylum and of a model reformatory for the mother and her offspring-, where she would have shelter until able to return to her occupation. Mr. Dawson (the honorary secretary) said he had received a number of letters approving- of the move- ment. Letters had also been received from Mrs. Baines and other ladies, and it was. proposed that a ladies' committee should be formed. At the meeting referred to it was proposed that the members should put their views upon the subject into a, paper for the purpose of creating a discussion. He had already received several papers on the subject. Mr. Edwards next read a paper advocating the ad- mittance of both mother and child into the Foundling Hospital, as it was notorious that in the hospitals of Paris and Vienna, 50 per cent. of the children died in consequence of separation from their mothers. He was of opinion that the miserable 2s. 6d. per week should be exchanged for substantial and continual support, and in case the money could not be obtained from the pockets of the seducers it should be taken out of their skins. Mr. Wall said he attended on behalf of the Society for the Preservation of Infant Life, which had been formed by the working classes some few months ago. The working classes were greatly interested in the question. Through the influence of the Society forty 1 petitions had been presented to Parliament, and more would be presented in the ensuing session, praying for an inquiry into the bastardy laws. The Society had been promised the support of several members of Parliament. Having the same object in view as the promoters of the present meeting, the Society would be most happy to co-operate with them.. Dr. Burke Eyan said it was a matter of congratu- lation that the working classes had taken this move- ment up. He believed that houses for females were indispensable, but it was a delicate subject and beset with difficulties. Mr. Dawson said their dbiecf was to prevent child- murder as much as p ssibl r and he proposed the appointment of an omcer-to assist the police- in bringing the guilty parties to justice. The motion having been seconded, a long discussion ensued, in which Dr. Worthington, Mr. Safford, Mr. j Charlesworth, and others took: part. Evexitixally there- solution was withdrawn, as it was considered premature until the details of the propcsed society had been settled. A committee of ladies was next appointed, and the meeting was adjourned until October, when the rules, list of presidents, and several papers will be submitted, and some definite plan of action decided upon.

EXTRACTING A-BATS TEETH. On Tuesday John Hicks, a cooper, appeared before Mr. Woolrych at the Thames- Police-court, on a summons, charged with threatening to take- the life of one Anthony PravisM. 11 The parties were employed at a steam cooperage in Hungerford-street, Commercial-road East, and from the statement of the complainant, delivered; in broken English, the defendant undertook to extract the teeth of a large rat with his own teeth, and succeeded in. doing so, but at the expense of his tongu2j which was- severely bitten by the rat. Mr. Woolrych The biter was bitten. The complainant said that was so; The defendant's. tongue was in a very bad state, and so frightfully swollen that his mouth could hardly contain it. Mr. Woolrych: His mouth could not hold his tongue, Did he extract the rat's teeth ? The complainant replied All of them, and that Mr. Woolrych: His mouth could not hold his tongue, Did he extract the rat's teeth ? The complainant replied All of them, and that the defendant, whose life was in jeopardy from the bite of the rat, was laid up for some time, and a 001- lection was made for him in the factory. Whencthe proprietor of the factory heard of the collection he stopped it at once, and said the act, of the defendant in extracting the rat's teeth wasa pisce of great cruelty. The defendant accused him of stopping the collection and abused him in a very gross saarmer. Hicks also said he would take his life away. Mr. Woolrych: How did he propose to do, it; by drawing your teeth; Are you afraid of him ? The complainant said he was not afraid of the defendant, but he might do Mm a secret fiajury by throwing butts, casks, and staves upon him.. The defendant, a man about thirty years cr age, said he did extract the rat's teeth with his own, and his tongue was bitten while doing so. He had paid X5 to Dr. Godfrey, a, physician in the Whitechapel-road, for putting his tongue to rights, and complainant taunted him with it. He told the complainant he had nothing to do with the matter, and that if he was an English- man he would fight him, but as he was. a poor Pole he would have nothing to do with him. Mr. Woolrych was afraid that the defendant was of the same disposition as his antagonist, the rat. He was not surprised that the complainant expected harm from a man who had encountered an animal with such an insatiable appetite as a rat, whose bite was keen and difficult to heal, which the defendant had found out to his cost. He ordered the defendant to enter into his own recognisance in the sum of .£20 to keep the peace, and be of good behaviour for the-next six months, and to pay the cost of the summons.

DEATH OF THE MARQUIS OF HUNT'LY. The Marquis of Huntly expired last week at his seat, Orton Longueville, near Peterborough, in the 72nd year of his age. Death had been slowly stealing upon the venerable peer for some weeks past, and he died without apparent pain from the decay of nature. When in London during the past season the marquis felt his health fail him, and on the occasion of his daughter's marriage with the Hon. Gilbert Heathcote he was not present. After a time, however, his lordship rallied, and a month ago he returned to Orton, where he remained, under- the care of his local medical attendant, Dr. Paley. On Sunday last the marquis, was at church, and partook of the Sacrament with his family, but on Tuesday and Wednesday it was apparent that a change was at hand. Lord Lewis Aboyne, the marquis's second C son, who was with the Channel fleet, was tele- graphed for, and arrived the same night. Lady Evelyn Heathcote 'and the Hon. Gilbert Heathcote were also at Orton: Charles Gordon, Marquis of Huntly, Earl of Huntly, Enzie, and Aboyne, Viscount of Melgun and Aboyne, Lord of Gordon and Badenoch, Baron Aboyne, and Baron Gordon of Strathayon, Gren- livet, and Inverness, in the peerage of Scotland.; I and Baron Meldruni of Morven, county Aberdeen, in that of the United Kingdom Premier Marquis of Scotland, and a Baronet' of Nova Scotia; was born 4th January, 1792, succeeded 17th June, 1#63, married first, 1st March, 1826, Lady Eliza- I beth Henrietta ^onyngliam,eldest daughter of Henry, first Marquis Convngham, born 20th February, 1799, died 24th August, 1839; and secondly, 9th April, 1844, Mary Antoinetta, only surviving daughter of the Rev. William Pegus, by Charlotte Susanna Elizabeth, Countess Dowager of Lindsey. The marquis leaves a family of eleven children. He is succeeded in his titles and estates by his son Charles, Earl of Aboyne, who is now in his l'7ch year.

THE RUSSIAN REPLY TO ENGLAND. The London Gazette has just published the fol- lowing dispatch as communicated to Earl Russell by the Russian Ambassador at this Court:— PRINCE GOBTSCHAKOFF TO EARON BSUXNOW. (Translation.) Tsarkoe-Selo, Aug. 26 (Sept. 7), 1863. Lord Napier has, by order of his Government, communicated to me a dispatch from Lord Russell, of which your Excellency will find a copy hereunto annexed. It is in answer to my dispatch of the 1st (13th) July last, which you were invited to communicate to the Principal Secretary of State of her Britannic Majesty. The overtures which we had set forth in that document were dictated to us by the desire to arrive at an understanding. In receiving the observations which they had suggested to Lord Russell with the attention which we always pay to the opinions of her Britannic Majesty's Government, we cannot but regret that we must come to the conclusion that we have not attained the end which we had proposed to ourselves. From the moment that this discussion could only end in establishing and in confirming the diverg- ence of our views it would be too contrary to our ,iii, conciliatory disposition for us to seek to prolong it; and we believe that in this we are not acting at variance with the sentiments of the Principal Secretary of State of her Britannic Majesty. We prefer to fix our attention only upon the essential points of his dispatches, upon which we' find ourselves agreed, at least in intention. Her Britannic Majesty's Government desire to* see promptly re-established in the kingdom of Poland a state of things which absll'restore tran- quillity to that country,, repose to. Europe, and security to the relations of the Cabinets. We entirely share- in this desire; and all that can depend upon us shall be done to-realise it. Our august master continues to be- animated by the most benevolent intentions towards Poland, and by the most conciliatory towards- all foreign Powers. To provide for the welfare of his subjects of all races asd of every religious conviction is an obligation wMebhis1 Imperial Majesty has accepted before God, his conscience, and his people. The Emperor devotes all his solicitude to ths fulfilment I of that obligation. As regards the responsibility which may be As regards the responsibility which may be assumed by his Majesty in his international re- lations, those relations are regulated by public right. The violation of these fundaments! princi- ples can alone involve responsibility. Our* august ples can alone involve responsibility. Our' august master has constantly re3pected and observed those principles with regard to other States. His Majesty has the right to expect and to claim the same respect on the part of the other Powers. You will be pleased to read'; and give a copy of this dispatch to the Principal Secretary of State of her Britannic Majesty.—Receive, &c.

JENNY BIND AT A HARVEST FESTIVAL. Jenny Lind (iuadame Geidschmidt) and her husband, M. Otto Goldschmiiit, have been taking a, prominent part in a harvest, festival held a few days ago at the village of Little Houghton, in Northamptonshire, the inhabitants of which place, t the poorer kind especially, were intensely gratified by hearing to perfection the sweet songstress. After the sermon; preached by the Rev. G. E Stop- ford, M. Goldschmidt took his; seat at the. organ, and Madame Goldschmidt, standing by him, .sang a I' harvest hymn (the first verse of which we append), iroin a book of' hymns and chorales arranged by [.M. Goldschmidt':— 1: Come, Christians, praise yowMaker's goodness-l Rejoice in Him and in His giftt To-day, before the Lord of Harvest, la happy; aongs your voices lift; For He who cared for us of yore Hath bless'd our fields and homes once more." The singing of the hymn completely took the con- gregation by surprise, as no one but the vicar was aware of Madame GoldschmSIt's intention; thus to honour the- festival. She had informecti him of her gracious, purpose just Before the ccmmence- ment of the. service, when she expressed a; wish to sing to the. poor people. When she began the congregation rose from their seats, and so re- mained till the close of the hymn, completely enraptured by the sweet melody which: filled the church.. At the after proceedings, which consisted of diraier, tea, and a dance, Madame Goldschmidt was present; and when the tents were lighted up, this lady, with several others, joinedl heartily in she dance, three hearty* sheers being given when the took her departure..

WHOLESALE SMUGGLING WROM HEM: MAJESTY'S YACHT.. On Saturday, at the Portsmouth Police-court, Mr. John Thomas A,.? Is, a person of independent means, was charged with smuggling 432 lb. of Cavendish tobacco, whereby he forfeited the sum of JI358 8s., being i!he treble value. The evidence disclosed a systematic system of smuggling, it is believed, from her Majesty's yacht. On the 10th September two heavy boxes arrived at the parcels office of the Portsmouth station, directed to the Rev. Mr. Baidey, Southsea, Portsmouth," having been conveyed from Waterloo Station. These boxes were placed in one of Messrs. Chaplin and Horne's delivery vans, and conveyed to the house of Mr. Baldey, who was greatly surprised at their contents. He sent for the coast-guard officer; and the tobacco was seized and stored at the Custom- house. After the boxes had been taken away, Mr. Mills went to the station and asked if any cases had arrived for Baidey," and on being told they had been sent to the address, appeared greatly confused, saying, "I did not expect them. by this train." It thus became evident that the direction on the boxes was a ruse, to get them clear from the station without suspicion. But their early arrival frustrated the smuggler's plan. Inquiries were made and prisoner was apprehended by Lieu- tenant Cataj or, commanding the coast-guard station at Southsea. Mr. Ford appeared for the defendant, and Mr. Graham (from the solicitor's office, Custom- house, London) appeared on behalf of the Crown. The evidence having been heard the magistrates t, z, said the prisoner was charged with unshipping, or otherwise being concerned in unshipping, or otherwise dealing in 432 lb. 01 tobacco. The evi- dence they had heard left no doubt upon their minds that prisoner had committed the offence with which he was charged, and they therefore ordered him to pay a fine, of £ 358 2s., or to be imprisoned until paid. Mr. Ford asked the magistrates to recommend the Commissioners of the Inland Eevenue to mitigate the penalty, and, as the solicitor for the prosecution did not object, the magistrates recommended that the fine be mitigated one half. It appears that two other boxes were, sent from the Eoyal yacht, when at Gravesend, to the Landport Station, and delivered at the house of a person who served on board the Royal yacht. There is, we are told," little doubt that the tobacco came from the Rpyal yacht, and it is said that an extensive system of snuio-o'linc is carried on'by persons on board. °

| GREEK FIRE. The term Greek nre," as applied to the substance which the Federals are pouring into Charleston, is strictly a misnomer. The, secret of the manufacture of the original Greek fire has been lost for nearly 950 years, and it is probable that it will not again be found, seeing that modern chemistry suggests agents quite as dangerous, and perhaps simpler, than the original. Its modern representative, although in- tended for the same purposes, is different in character, more portable, more certain, more terrible. It is a fluid substance, is cheaply made, keeps for years, and is produced so quickly that the ingredients of which it is composed may be put together at the moment when tne compound is required. In using the liquid it has to be inclosed in a shell which shall burst at a snven point of destination, and allow the fluid to be dis- tributed. The construction of modern liquid fire is based on simple scientific principles, and more methods than one may be discovered for producing it. I think and I know the inventor, to whom I shall refer in a moment, thinks so too—that it might be so formed that it would actually burn under water. But, how- ever much it might be modified in detail, the principle would be the same, and the principle is this: a rapidly oxydisable substance—which means a substance that in combining greedily with oxygen whenever it can get it, gives rise to the evolution of heat and flame- is suspended for a time through a liquid, in which it is held innocuous, so long as the two are confined toge- ther, but from which it is separated spontaneously wlien^ botn are in tlie air. The modern chemist who first brought liquid fire into notice was Mr. WentwoTth Scott. I have been told that the method suggested by the late Lord Dondonald was of the same nature; but, for special scientifio reasons, this view is not probable. Mr. Scott suggested the principle about eleven years ago, and during the Russian war he Was untiring in his efforts to get it practically into use in our army and navy. There is an official board which received Mr. Scott, heard his plans, promised him means for experiment, nibbled at his idea, and then repudiated it, and did many very foolish things which it is not worth while to rake up; suffice it, that after tantalising Mr. Scott for a long season, and aiter supplying him with lots of forms," 'our circumlocutionists became acquainted with another gentleman who proposed- a liquid fire, but vdio, I believe, in the end was gently dropped also-I mean Captain Disney. At last; that which the English nation, or rather Government, refused to study. as a means of warfare, has been turned to practical account in America. Liquid fire has-found. its way into Charles- ton, and the question to be, asked is, Will its appllea- tion stop there ? It is folly to! rest content with saying that the practice is barbarous- Barbarity pertains to the use of bayonets, and swords, and grenades, and all to, be recognised are the facts—thafi tils- Americans are using this* liquid fire; that they will soon find means of improving their first attempts;; tiaat the successful employment of one liquid will; suggest others, and that suddenly we may be aroused to the unpleasant consciousness' that all our great alm,ainents, all our forces, all our ships, all our men, are at the mercy of a foe who has- learned a new art in war, in which science has sapped courage, and in which brute fosree stands but second in the contest.- Dr. RîchardsOt; in the Social Science Review.

DEATH OF THE RIGHT HON. EDWARD ELLICE, M.P. We- regret have to announse-the death of the above-named well-known gentleman, who, though retireclProm thea:ciivedutles of gov.emment for many years, hascontmuedto sit for Coventry, which he has represented, with an interval of four years —from: 1826 to, 1830-ever since- 1818. He was found dead in his bed on Tlvur^sL&y morning, at Ardochy, on bin- estate of Glengarry and Glen- quoich. It appears that he had retired on Wed- nesday night in Ms ordinary health, but the sad event had' oeeurrc-d before morning. Mr. Ellice was oorn, in 178-7, the son of a wealthy London merchant; and was consequently in his seventy- seventh year. For some years hat-earned on the extensive- business of his father, and up to the time of; his- death he retained a sleeping con- nection with the great mercantile undertakings of the City. Entering the House- of Commons: forty-five years ago, he married the widow of Captain Betteswo-rth, R.N., and sister of the late Earl Grey, who appointed him. in 1830 to the Secretaryship cf the Treasury, and afterwards to the post of Secretary at War, in both of which offices* he acquitted himself with moderate credit and without iny-i-ked failure. He married secondly, in 1843; a daughter of the Earl of Albemarle and the widow of the Earl of Leicester, who survived their union but-a year. Mr. Ellice was known to have had some share in the preparation of the Reform Bill,. on behalf of which he spoke in Parliament. On the retirement, of the Grey ad- ministration Mr. Ellice, while retaining his seat, appeared to abjure active political life; for ever since, although he has not been without consider-. able quiet isfeence on the Liberal benches, he has- never aceeptad office. Personally;. Mr. Ellice was-, mueh liked by bis associates. His kindness many have felt, his ad- vice many listened have to with, profit, his amiability many have admired. In politics he was a Whig; but his infeence, whether in Parliament or in the secret meetings of his party, has rather been felt than seea since the carrying of the Reform BilJi

An Unfortunate Author.-A short time ago a poor half-starved mortal, who called himself "'Arthur Henry Trevvlian," was charged with vagrancy before the Wellington magistrates, and there was reason to suppose his mind was affected. It has since transpired that his real name is Heighway, and that he was once a popular author. The magistrates have sent the poor unforturato author to the Salop Lunatic Asylum, th?re being no hg is. at present deranged.

A DVEL BETWEEN TWO LADIES. The New York Tribune of Commerce gives the fol- lowing ludicrous account of two female duellists:- On Monday several ladies, while on a visit to a friend's house, a short distance from Gray's Ferry, were amusing themselves by singing and dancing, when one of them, a resident of Bal- timore, sang a verse of the "Bonny Blue Flag; one of the other ladies jestingly said, "You're a rebel," at which another commenced the Southern Marseillaise; when it was finished, the lady who had been called a rebel said, "I wish we bad. pistols, I'd fight a duel with you for calling me a rebel." At this a daughter of the gentleman, at whose house they were, said, We have pistols in the house, but they are not loaded." They were brought, and in order to give it the form of a duel, distances were measured in the room, the ladies took their places, word was given, ene, two, three, when the lady who had called the other "rebel," said, I will sit in this chair as I wish to die easy." Word was again given, and the Baltimore lady, who had a seltrcoeking pistol, pulled the trigger, and. bang-went the pistol, a piercing scream was heard, and in an instant the room was filled with the members of the family, when it was discovered that two of the ladies had swooned; the Baltimore lady was standing motionless, and the one who wished to die easy," sitting pale with terror in her chair; one ball had passed through her dress on the left side, grazing the skin, while in the leaf of a table on which she rested her arm were eight distinct shot holes, and one bullet embedded iii the wood. The pistol had been loaded by a boy on the 4ih of July, but the charge had not been fired. The ladies were soon restored to consciousness and soon realised the danger of meddling with firearms, a warning, it is needless to say, they will not disregard for the future.

THE SUICIDE OF A YOUNG MAN AT BRIGHTON. On Monday evening an inquest was held at Brighton on the body of the young man who had shot himself on Saturday, when on the Groyne, and thence fallen into the sea. He was not known at first, for he had used every means to conceal who he was, but his sister, who had been to London in search of him, called at the police-station, Brighton, on her return home to Portsmouth, to give information of his absence. As she had heard nothing of the suicide when she entered the office, she was shown the body of the young man, whom she identified as her brother. The scene was a. most affecting one. The shattered part of the head was kept from view, and the poor girl kissed him over and over again, for it seems that they were much attached to each other, and were orphans, with an only brother, who is in the navy in foreign service. Her name was Elizabeth Atkin, and at the inquest she said ?— I live at 55, Upper Arundel-street, Landport The deceased was nineteen years of age, and was a pawnbroker's assistant. I last saw him alive on Saturday afternoon. He had been very low-spirited and dull for a day or two. "When I asked him what was the matter, he said, "Nothing;" and, "I can't help it." When he left on Saturday he said nothing of where he was to go, but went out as if he was going to his business, and said, "Good God bless you." She had received the following letter from him:—"My dearest Sister,—By the time you receive this I shall be miles away, and it is very likely you will never see me again in this world. I have been driven to this by something over which I had no control. I was going ta tell you over and over again, but I could not, nor can I now. Give my kindest, best love to Gerald. God bless him. I am sorry, truly sorry, at being obliged to leave home in this manner, but I cannot hdp.it. Please give Mr. Jeiiery 5s. for the loss of my services to day. Tell him I am extremely sorry at causing him so much inconvenience: He has nothing, to do with my going away. I sligH not tell any one. Rest assured you never did anything to give me the slightest offence, and that's what makes me feel it all the more; you were alvra-ys so, kind, so loving, and so thoughtful for my comforL-From, your wretched but loving brother;. BeosLAs. Love to Bill, if you ever see him." The above letter,, which was posted in Brighton on Saturday evening,, inclosed a P.O. order for 12s. 6d. jin answer to the coroner, she could not give any explanation of the cause which led her brother to commit the act. The jury returned a verdict of- tem- porary insanity.

MR. DISRAELI ON HARVEST HOMES. One of those popular annual gatherings called "Harvest Homos," which are now so generally sssplacing the old harvest suppers, was recently celebrated in Buckinghamshire, on the grounds of Rayners, near Penr., the seat of Philip Rose, Esq., who had kindly given- them up for the occasion. The festival was confined to the surrounding districts, embracing;-portions of High Wycombe and Penn, and commenced with a thanksgiving service for the bountiful harvest at the district chsEtrch of St. Marg-aret," a.t eleven o'clock. The labourers on the different farms were met oil coming. out of chisroh hy the militia band, and marched in procession to a tent erected at Rayners, out* a beautiful spot commanding an almost bound- less; prospect, where- a substantial dinner had been provided for- them by their different em- ployers. The grorurIdswere afterwards thrown open toi.the public, and cricket, football, and Aunt Sally formed the staple amusements until four o'clock, when a tea-meeting, was heM in the tent foe: the wives and families of the labourers of the district, at; which between 500 and 600 were entertained, in,addition to a large assemblage of the gentry said clergy from the surrotisding neighbourhood, including Mr. and; Mrs. Disraeli, Lord and Lady Ourzon, Miss Cmon, Eev. T. Evetts, &c. The ■meeting was presided, over by Mr. Eose. After pro- posing the health of the Queen, the chairman ealled upon Mr. Disraeli to propose the next toast. Mr. Disraeli spoke as follews :—My good friends, • I have great pleasure in congratulating yon- on the termination, of your harvest. I beliew I may say that, on-the Chiltern Hills, a finer harvest jhas never been reaped. We have not only had splendid crops of wheat, golden barley, and exu- berant oats, b?ifc we have> accompanied with these advantages, the finest crop of turnips that I can ever recollect to have seen, and such a conjugation, I believe, is very rare. You have to-day wisely and properly expressed, to the Giver of all good things your sense of these blessings. You are now assembled finder this tent to express ibelingp of a different kind, but whieh in their order are equally becoming to you. These meetings, somewhat new m our manners in this country, as?e cal- culated, I think, to produce very great advan- tages; and one of the principal benefits which they do bring about is, that they cause all classes in the agricultural world to mix and meet together. Here the landlord, the farmer, and the etiltivator of the soil — the British labourer, meet, bound together by a sympathy of feeling, and all equally rejoicing in the honourable and honest fulfilment of their labours; for the year. I shall take this opportunity of proposing to you to drink the health of the £ b»st class of the agricultural hier- archy, the landlords; because I know that nothing could be more. agreeable to the landlords of this parish than to, feel that they possess and are entitled to the good feelings of those among whom they live. On the present occasion I shall couple with that toast the name of a landlord who unfortunately does not live among us, Lord Howe (cheers). Superior claims in other parts of the country prevent his being a resident in Penn; but although he is not a resident here is known to ■ all, and known to many by the signs of his bounty and public usefulness. Although not amongst us we have at least this consolation, you who reside in this parish, that he is represented by his son, Lord Curzon. You know that every duty of a land" lord is admirably filled by Lord Howe. This is proved by the church, the school, and the cottage; all of which may be remarked by every one who know the neighbourhood. I, therefore, take the opportunity which you give me of proposing that you should drink The Health of the Landlords of this Parish, coupling with that-toast the name of Lord Howe." Speeches were also delivered by Lord Cttrzon, the Eev. Mr. Power, and other gentlemen. The festivities were afterwards enlivened with country dances and Sir Roger de Coverley, in which all 'classes joined on the lawn in the front of the mansion. —

A Pilot Kidnapped.—Three weeks ago (says the John Q'Qroat Journal) a man belonging to Wick, nkmed Craig, who occasionally acted as a pilot to vessels passing through the Pesitland Firth, went on board a vessel bound, it isbelfeved, for Amesica, Tha vessel proceeded on her voyage, and there has. been, no word of the pilot since.. The adventia?e,has happened very inopportunely for- thz poor man, wjh,0 was at the time getting a teailt Wick,