The Illustrated Usk Observer and Raglan Herald

EI-ITGSEE OF NEWS. £ It appears, from an official return,_that last year 01 the duty on pawnbrokers amounted to £ 27,765. o_i A Salem machinist has invented an automaton J; that will smoke a cigar just as naturally as anybody. M. du Chaillu has been heard of. He is doing a a goo-i deal in the gorilla way, and has sent a live one tl '.England. The Bishop of London has intimated his inten- tion of holcling- a general ordination in her Majesty's Chapel p RJyal, Whitehall, on Sunday, the 18th of December. f Tia e Duke of Rutland, it is said, is about to seek j, a warmer climate for the winter, by the advice of his physicians, I False back hair of a golden hue has been selling i at 200f. a back knot in Paris, with small diamonds studded t at 2,000f. The rage for red hair is perfectly astonishing. 1 The Baptist Union for England and Wales held < its annual session at Birmingham last week. The number of ministers and representatives present was about 400. 1 By a recent Act of Parliament, brewers' licenses are to expire on the 30th September in each year. All licenses issued after the 30th ult. will expire on the day mentioned in the following year. Sir Watkin and Lady Williams Wynn are expected to arrive at their town house, in Berkeley-square, towards the end of the present month, the interesting event being' looked for about the middle of November. The -foundation stone of a new church for the village of Blackley, near Manchester, was laid on Saturday. Trhe site was given by the Earl of Wilton, who also con- tributed dESOO towards the cost of the building. The marriage of Viscount Amberley, son of the Earl Russell, with the Hon. Katharine Stanley, daughter of Lord and Lady Stanley of Alderley, will take place on the 8th of the ensuing month. A Bristol Churchman wants to entertain at his house all the Welsh curates who are coming to the Church Congress, but don't like dignitaries. The reply has been received from such a vast number that the question is if he is able if they are willing. The Marquis of Downshire last week per- formed the ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of a new Presbyterian church in Banbridge. The cost of the building is estimated at £1,400, and, when completed, it will be an ornament to that thriving town. Lord Russell has intimated his intention of visiting Aberdeen on Friday, the 11th of November, for the purpose of being installed as Lord Rector of the University, an office to which he was elected by the students in January .last. Agriculturists will be puzzled with the an- nouncement in an Edinburgh contemporary that last year the income from turnips in England and Wales amounted "to £ 1,154,945 6s. 8d. Some stupid compositor has sub- stituted the word turnips for turnpikes. Some wag has started the id<3a of a Banting Restaurant Company, with a proposed capital as big as 'that of a joint-stock bank. It seems a ludicrous thing to .establish eating-houses for the express purpose of making people thin. Among the odd things lest in Paris, for which it is announced that no owner can be found, are a splendid carriage and pair of very fine horses, which were discovered near the viaduct of the railway at AuteuiL All endeavours to find the owner have proved fruitless. There dined together the other day, at Upper- thorpe, a suburb of Sheffield, a family party, consisting of three brothers and two sisters, the united ages of the five amounting to thrqe hundred and sixty-nine years. Res- pectively their ages were 79, 77, 74, 72, and 67. Last week's statements from Blackburn and -Preston, says the Manchester Examiner, show a consider- able increase in the number of unemployed cotton opera- tives. In Preston great dissatisfaction exists amoRg the workmen. The hop and cheese fair at Weyhill came to a conclusion on Saturday. In the cheese market, dairymen cleared out, and very few cheeses were unsold. Business in the hop mart was throughout slowly transacted, but a large quantity of hops were sold. At a ploughing match in Gloucestershire last year the day was very wet, and two of the gentlemen present so admired the pluck of half-a-dozen young ladies present that they offered to give a sewing-machine to the first and second married, if within the twelvemonth. Only one was claimed, and at the meeting a few days ago it-was awarded. At the Cornish ticketing last week 2,403 tons of ore realised £13,2,58 ]2s. 6d. Averages:—Standard, £ 119 7s.; price per ton, 1-5 10s. Gd.; produce, 6f. Compared with the previous sale the standard has declined 16s., and with the corresponding monthly sale on September 8 it has declined C2 10s. At a recent meeting of the guardians of the .Ashton-under-Lyne. union, it was found that the increase of per,wns relieved during the week, as compared with the pro- vious week, was the large number of 1,370. The total number of persons receiving parochial relief in this union is 11,676, at a cost of f;720 12s. At the usual meeting of the Birmingham General Hospital Board, Colonel Mason, the chairman of the Bir- mingham Festival Committee, handed over a further cheque for £ 2,000, making £5,000 already paid over as the proceeds of the festival. Colonel Mason announced that the accounts will shortly be closed, and the balance paid over to the hospital. An interesting ceremony was performed at the London Blackfriars-bridge last week. The ksystone of the second arch on the western side of the structure was re- moved in the presence of a considerable assemblage of engineers and other persons interested in the works. It is expected tl. at the old bridge will be entirely removed in the course of the next six or eight months. The number of freshmen admitted during the present year at all the colleges of Cambridge is as follows, with the exception of Clare, Corpus Christi, and Sydney:- St. Peter's College, 12 Pembroke, 9; Christ's, 26 Queen's, 10- Caius, 33; St. Catherine's, 12; Jesus, 23; St. John's, 76; Magdalene, 14; Trinity Hall, 26; Trinity, 15S; Em- manuel, 22; Downing, 6. During the past week two parishes, Lelant and Altarnon, were polled on the question of church-rates. At Lela-nt fifty-six votes were recorded for and thirty-eight against a rate of Hd. in the pound. At Altarnon there were 130 votes for, and eighty-four against a rate of 6d. in the pound. The contest in each parish was carried on with much spirit. The visitors to the South Kensington Museum during the last week have been as follows:- On Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday, free days, open from ten a.m. to ten p.m., 11,880; on Wednesday, Tnursday, and Friday, Students' days (admission to the public 6el.), open from ten a.m. to live p.m., 1,632-toffil 13,512. From the opening of the museum, 4,899,878. As the Government train between Hartlepool and Ferryhill was passing down the Kelloe Bank incline the other day, the cngineman pereeived a floclr of sheep on the line. They appeared to take little notice of the train's ap- proach, and, as it was impossible to stop the train, it ran over them, and proceeded on its journey. Three of the sheep were killed. Tnere is said to be a difficulty in the winding- up of the Galway Packet Company, owing to the impro- bability that the official liquidator can secure a purchaser for the ships. The vessels are of an exceptional nature, and an open market would not be available. Unless a company start which will require such vessels they must be sold at a serious loss if they chance to secure a purchaser. After two ssrmons for church expenses on Sunday by a well-known incumbent at the East-end of London, the following items were found in the plates :—7 cheques, 6 sovereigns, 15 half-sovereigns, 1 crown-piece, 36 halt-crowns, 17 florins, 154 shillings, 302 sixpences, 63 four- pennies, 176 threepences, 171 pennies, and 151 halfpennies —making a total of 1,099 pieces, of the aggregate value of JE56 5s. 6 icL The London City Police Committee have resolved to adopt for the force the" Britannia hat," or helmet, rgcommended to them some two years ago by the surgeon to the force, Mr. G. Bbrlase Childs. Since this substitute -for the old, heavy, and clumsy hat (or stove- pipe, as it "is facetiously eailed) was first recommended, it has been' adopted by the Metropolitan and several provin- cial nOlic6..torces, and is likely to come into general use. A mAgnjficent bazaar has been opened in St. Hall, Liverpool, in aid of the Southern Prisoners' Relief Fund, Contributions have been received from all parts of the United Kingdom, from Paris, Rome, the Southern States, Canada, and even from New York. The -cecuniary success of the bazaar is already a matter of cer- tainty, as subscriptions to the amount of £ 7,500 have already fcaen"received, and they are still pouring in. The New Zealand Board have chartered two ships for the conveyance of emigrants, who will be provided with, free passages to Auckland; namely, the Ganges, 839 tons, Captain Funnel, which will embark about 300 emigrants at Cork, on the 2nd of November; and the Bombay, 937 tons, Captain Sellars, which is to sail from Londor, on the 15th day of November, with about 350 emigrants. On Saturday, a. lady, named Hazeldine, entered an omnibus at Beg'ent's-circus to proceed to St. John's- wood. On reaching Upper Baker-street, a man of gentle- manly appearance, who had been seated by her side, hastily alighted from the vehicle. The lady instantly felt her pocket, and discovered that her pocket-book, contain- ing two. 1:50, five £ 10, and five £ 5 Bank of England notes, had beau. abstracted. Th,q Earl and Countess of Lincoln have given a splendid entertainment, at their mansion in Picca- dilly, to their tradespeople and the members of their house- hold, in celebration of the birth of Lord Clinton. The library, and several of the principal rooms of the mansion, were thrown open for the' ball and supper. The arrange- ments were liberal, and the festivities prolonged to a late hour. Wo mbw ell's splendid collection of wild ani- mals, &c., whilst on its way to Oxford, received an extra- ordinary and interesting addition in the shape of six fine lion cubs, which, with the mother, are doing well. The accouchement took place at Newbury, Berks, and their a&reut is regarded with considerable intest, Tbe collection j ilso includes the newly imported lion-slayers (S^yads), it s».d the tiger which destroyed a lion a few j eai s bacls. a. my.p, "Edinburgh Journal" gives an-extra- e: orfflX of » oM Ml- « M.Z 3ff« ^Snlwte IMrstb,?-andalthough now in herl02ndyear,has t i clyack feast." The Derby Reporter says:— We are informed-on 1 m-ettv good authority that there is another movement on x fr>r>t for the reopening of the celebrated MaJock case. A firm n SSI is said, have taken the matter m hand, and are endeavouring to institute new proceedings on 1 the ground of the documents which were discovered so mvsteriously at the recent sale of Mr. Else s furniture. It S stated that notices have already been served upon the tenants to withhold the rents from the parties into^vkose hands they would fall by virtue of the decision in the House of Lords," Wine men, miners on strike, were taken before the stipendiary magistrates at Wolverhampton, and charged with intimidation. They had formed part of a band num- bering from 1,500 to 1,700 men who had ill-treated and threatened a collier who was quietly returning from lis work, had called him invidious names, abused and stiuck him. The case against the prisoners was proved, and they were all sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour. „ t The resolution proposed at the meeting of colliers at Bilston, on Saturday, was practically carried out on Monday morning, when large numbers returned to, their work No meetings of the men were held anywhere in the district. The collieries in the more immediate neighbour- hood of Wolverhampton are again getting into full business, a^d hundreds of poor fellows, after their long holiday, are glad to be busy even on Monday, a day on which colliers m general usually play. „ A melancholy accident occurred at Marke Val- ley Mine, Cornwall, last week, by which two brothers named Isaac and Edward Pollard were killed. They were engaged tamping a hole with powder preparatory to blasting; one was holding the iron tamping-bar, and the other was beating it with a hammer, when a spark of fire fell from the irra upon the powder, and there was an immediate explosion. Edward Pollard was killed instantly, and the other brother died after lingering two or three hours in great agony. A party of ladies and gentlemen, travelling from Aurora, Nevada Territory, United States, met with a tearful accident. They were about crossing a ravine, when a waterspout "burst on the mountains, and came down upon them before they could get out of the way, sweeping them before it. A Mrs. Medbury and Mrs. Glen, with three children, were drowned. The gentlemen, four in number, were saved, but badly injured. The four horses were drowned, and the wagon dashed into atoms. The Registrar-General's Weekly Return states that the deaths registered in London during the past week were 1,263. The average number in the corresponding week of the ten years 1854-63, excluding the deaths from cholera in 1854, and corrected for increase of population, was 1,193. The present return is therefore seventy above the average. During the week the births of 997 boys and 899 girls, in all 1,896 children, were registered in London. In the ten corresponding weeks of the year 1854-63 the ave- rage number was 1,798. j An elderly lady, who has already contributed the sum of £700, in nine donations, towards the funds of the Royal Free Hospital in Gray's-inn-road, London, called the other day at the hospital during the sitting of the weekly board, when, after making inquiries into the state of the funds, and inspecting a great portion of the building, with the general arrangements of which she was highly gratified, she handed a further donation of to00 to Dr. Marsden, the founder of the hospital, to meet the many demands on the institution.

AGRICULTURE. --+- Liebig on the Utilisation of Town Sewage. The following letter, dated from Munich, and ad- dressed to Lord Eobert Montagu/has been published by a contemporary, and will doubtless be read with much interest at the present moment, when town sewage is occupying so much attention:— My Lord,—The blue book which Dr. Brady was so kind as to send has reached me, and I have read it with great satisfaction. It contains an abundance of most valuable information. The perusal tof your report and the resolution of the committee lead me to think that this important question, which has occupied my thoughts since 1840, and to which 1 tried in- cessantly to direct the attention of the people in my work on Agricultural Chemistry and my letters on Chemistry, is "sow progressing towards a Solution. But whilst I rejoice at the prospect of seeing my views carried out, an anxiety, which is greater than I can describe, oppresses me. "The natural laws which govern the permanent fertility of soils and the increase of their produce are, from circumstances which I cannot detail here, very little understood by the British farmers; and hence arises a fear that the use of sewage, which ought to be a lasting benefit to agriculture, may be regarded, after a few years, as a veritable detriment by the same farmer who in the first years of its application would assuredly give it his full approbation. In what may be termed its natural state it is not a universal manure, like stable dung, which is efficacious' at all times and on all localities, but a special manure, the continual application of which exclusively tends to impoverish the land. "Stable dung contains all, a special manure only some, of the elements which ought to be restored to the soil in order to render it permanently fertile. Peruvian guano, for instance, belongs t(1) the class of special manures; and experience has shown that in certain parts of Germany and Scotland the appli- cation of guano on meadow land, which produced in the first years enormous crops of grass or hay, had later no effect at all, and that the same man who at first over-rated the value of guano, eventually cursed its application (see my Natural Laws of Husbandry, p. 261-263). Sewage contains ammonia, potash, and phosphoric acid, like guano; but phosphoric acid in a much smaller proportion. On a soil rich (in its natural state) in phosphoric acid sewage will have an excellent effect; it will produce, for instance, large crops of grass, turnips, and corn,.if the soil supply the quantity of phosphoric acid wanting in sewage; but as in each successive crop a certain quantity of phosphoric acid is abstracted, the total quantity in the soil is by continued application of sewage gradually diminishing every year, and a time must arrive when the phosphoric acid is insufficient for future crops, and when sewage ceases to produce its former effects. "By having the turnips eaten off the Field the soil (by the solid and liquid excrements) is exactly manured as if irrigated with a number of tons of sewage (con- taining the elements of voidings of the sheep), and the farmer knows that at the beginning of anew rota- tion ho must manure his fields with phosphates in order to get the former crop of turnips, corn, &c., in succession. The same fields could not be rendered equally fit to furnish the same quantity of produce in a new rotation if they were manured year after year by the Toidings of sheep only, or its equivalent of sewage, which would be the same thing. By the increase of his crops in the first year by sewage irri- gation only, the farmer, ignorant of the natural law, would be led to believe that the same effect would continue, and that he could dispense with other manures altogether, except, perhaps, with the stable dung which his farm produces; but he would be mistaken, and on discovering his error, as he would soon do, the revulsion of feeling caused by it would be most painful. The agriculturist must be made aware that by the introduction of sewage his whole sys- tem of farming undergoes a change, and that he has to make an apprenticeship to learn to apply it rightly and economically, and in order to benefit and not to injure his fields. If the agriculturist is left without proper instruction on this head, the labours of years of men like yourself, Dr. Bra<Jy, and others, would be lost. It would take a long time to recover, the lost ground. When I think of the possibility, indeed, I may say the" probability, of this occurring—that the millions necessary to realise the proposed scheme ground. When I think of the possibility, indeed, I may say the" probability, of this occurring—that the millions necessary to realise the proposed scheme should be expended in vain—that the great and im- portant example of England should thus be lost to Europe, I confess my anxiety on the matter is very great. It would be one of the greatest misfortunes that could happen should this contingency really occur. Every means, therefore, must be employed to prevent:any misunderstanding; to clear up any false views regarding the efficacy of sewage; and to guard against all error in the application of it. To you, therefore, my lord, I write on the subject, being sure you will give it your most serious consideration, and be willing to devise means for averting the threatened evil. "If clearly understood and properly managed the employment of sewage will prove a blessing to agri- culture; and those who by unwearied perseverance have at last seen the consummation of their labours may justly be looked upon as the benefactors of their fellow men. But loud would be the outcry should the agriculturist, either by his own ignorance or the want of forethought in others, find himself misled. Our name would then become a bye-word, and instead of gratitude be recollected with a carse. There are two things which must be done-firat, i *t must be made intelligible to all that sewage in its natural state does not replace stable dung in its entire jfficacy, and that, if used exclusively, it will produce abundant crops only for a time; secondly, that in each crop the composition of sewage ought to be cor- rected, according to the nature uf the soil, by adding those ingredients which are wanting in sewage, and which the plants to be grown require in the largest c proportion. "The composition of sewage being once perfectly known, a receipt for what is to be added could be made out and put in the hands of every farmer who uses it; and it remains a question whether it is not possible for the company itself to add those ingre- dients wanting in the sewage according to the demand of the crop to be grown. "The interest with which I follow this highly im- portant question is so great that were I a younger man, and not half lame, I, instead of my letter, should be now with your lordship, in order that, in a personal communication, the matter might be talked over in all its bearings; but as Parliament has not decided upon the question the matter is, perhaps, not yet ripe to bring my apprehensions and scruples before the public, and, therefore, it may be better to wait.—I have the honour to be, my lord, your obedient servant, "J/USTUS LIEBIG. "To the Lord Robert Montagu, M.P." Storing Boots. r Mr. George Jonas has written some valuable in- r structions upon the system of storing roots, for which I be has received a prize from the Royal Agricultural 1 Society. We extract the following J TURNIPS.—One plan of storing turnips is to lay them in a furrow and plough them in. This is done by i ploughing out two deep furrows up the centre of eight I rows, the two centre rows being first pulled and laid: ) aside; the turnips are then pulled up by two children A and handed to a man (who stands between them) to I be placed in the furrow tops upwards; another furrow is then turned on to them on each side of the row, 1 covering them up to the necks 2s. 6d. an acre will be 1 a fair price for pulling and placing in the furrows. I Turnips will stand almost any amount of frost when stored in this way, and are much better than those left in the ground, even if tkey have escaped the frost; besides,thcydoBotdrawtheland. Another plan is to pack the turnips in round patches, putting three or four loads in each patch. This is done by beginning in the centre to set them up with the tops uppermost, packing them close to each other till the patch is the required size, the leaves and all the soil hanging to the roots being left on; the outside row should be covered up to the neck with earth, and in very severe weather a little straw should be thrown over the top. This plan is best adapted for storing roots on the stubble-lands for spring consump- tion, so that the turnip-land can be got ready for the barley crop. MANGEL. —The general time for storing this crop is the latter part of October or the beginning of Novem- ber, according to the season. If left later they are liable to be injured by the frost. In taking up the crop the roots should be pulled up -care being taken not to bruise them by kicking them up—the leaves cut or twisted off, and the roots either thrown in heaps or loaded at once into carts. Twisting the leaves off is much better than cutting them off, as the mangel are liable to get injured by the careless use of the knife; if the crown is cut, they very often decay. Mangel left in the ground will stand a frost, if not very severe, as their leaves protect them; but when they are pulled a very little frost will injure them, therefore all the heaps left in the field at night should be covered up with the leaves. CARROTS.—Carrots are usually harvested in the beginning of November; dry weather being selected for the work. They are usually lifted by men or women with a fork or spoon-shaped spade light enough to be used with one hand, so that the other hand may be applied to the tops of the carrots. Great care should be taken to prevent the roots breaking off in ,the ground; when raised, they are laid in rows far enough apart to allow a cart to pass between them, and the tops are cut or twisted off by children. They should be left in the field a few hours to dry before being carted home, where they should be laid in long heaps about 3^ feet wide at the base, and 2 2 feet which, like "the mangel store should taper to the top, and receive a covering of straw and earth. In spring the heaps of unconsumed carrots should be looked over, the decayed roots picked out, and-the shoots rubbed from the sound ones; if they are re- quired for late use, the crown should be cut off com- pletely. After being looked over, the roots are heaped as before, but only covered with straw. Carrots are also stored in sheds, and covered over with straw. The cost of taking up carrots varies very much, according to the mode in which they are grown; the old plan was to sow them broadcast, but they are now commonly drilled, and the carrots are readily forked up when in rows. For a crop sown broadcast the cost of taking up, topping, and laying in rows, would be from 18s. to 20s., but when drilled, about 133. per acre the filling into carts is generally done by day work at a cost of 3s. per acre, the unloading and stacking in heaps at about Is. per acre. When stored in sheds the cost of stacking would not be so much; covering the heaps with straw and earth will cost about 5d. per rod, if the heaps be ploughed round the same as for mangel. How many thousands are there, says the Agri- cultural Gazette, who, admitting the benefits done by birds, yet, when fruit and peas are ripening, biess their former friends! Now, is it not possible by simple contrivances to protect ourselves when we wish it, whilst allowing them to protect us by destroying insects when we have nothing to lose ? I think it is. I beg, therefore, to suggest that some of the wholesale watch-makers should turn their attention to the manufacturing of a self-acting machine which should fire off. a very noisy cap (which could be easily made) as often as required. It would only be necessary to cast a narrow iron drum with any given number of nipples, then on another drum let an ordinary gun- spring hammer be placed, and with simple clock-work machinery they might be made to turn round, lifting up and dropping the hammer, as often as wished. A cast-iron circle of 2ft. diameter would hold 144 nipples, allowing half an inch to each. By using one or more of them you might be virtually firing off a gun as often as vou thought necessary, and in the very spot most beneficial—under your gooseberries, orin your pea- rows, and the trouble would be confined to putting on caps once or twice a day, according to the number of charges or discharges.

WILLS AND BEQUESTS. The will of Lieutenant-General Sir John Rowland Eustace, K.H., was proved in London on the 19th ult. The executors and trustees therein appointed are the Right HOIl. Robert Jocelyn, Earl of Roden, K.P., P.C.; Mr. Richard Seymour Guinness, of College- green, Dublin and Mr. Robert Brotherton Upton, of Austinfriars, London. The two last named are the acting executors. The will bears date July 29,1857, and Sir John died on the 17th August last, at Folke- stone, at the, age of sixty-nine. The gallant general was a brother of the late General Sir W. C. Eustace, and had served in North America, and obtained the distinguished honours of Knight Bachelor and Knight of Hanover.. Sir John possessed considerable estates in Ireland, and had the office of High Sheriff for the county of Kildare. Amongst the legatees in his will is the name of Lady Maria Forester (wife of the Hon. Charles Weld Forester), youngest daughter of the Earl of Roden, to whom the testator has left a life interest in the town and lands of Balhasy, consisting of about 420 acres, which, upon her decease, will revert to his nephew, the Rev. Robert Eustace, son of the late Lieutenant-General W. C. Eustace. An estate at Kilcock he has devised to his executor, Mr. R. S. Guinness. There are many legacies and annuities. The residue of his property, real and personal, he leaves to the Rev. William Arthurs, of Dysart Enos, Queen's County. The will of Vice-Admiral John Drake, R.N., of Castle Thorpe, near Stoney Stratford, Buckingham- shire, was proved in the London Court on the 22nd ult. The gallant admiral had retired from the service, and died on the 9th of August last, in the city of Bath, having executed his will August 10, 1861. The execu- tors and trustees therein appointed are his relict, Mrs. Eliza Adelaide Drake; Mr. Henry Style Norris, of the Colonial-onioe and Mr. John Denison Jee, of Liver- pool, architect. The testator has divided his funded 'property between his wife and son, John Horatio Drake, leaving his relict a life interest in the residue of his estate, which upon her decease, will devolve to the son. The will of Mr. Thomas Forsyth Forrest, formerly of Boldon House, near South Shields, Durham, but ate of Mareden Cottage, in the same locality, was iroved in London under £60,000 personalty. The xecutors and trustees are Mrs. Sarah Forrest, the elict; Mr. Andrew Stoddart, of Hunworth; Mr. Stephen Hawkes, Tynemouth and Mr. John 3roughton, South Shields. To each of the executors le leaves a legacy of £100. To his relict he bequeaths m annuity of £ 500, in addition to her income inder marriage settlement; also his residence, with nany other advantages arising from the estate. To ;aoh of his two daughters, legacies of £ 12,000. To lis son, Mr. Thomas Forsyth Forrest, he devises his real estate, and leaves to him the residue of the per- nnalty.—Illustrated London News.

DEATH OF CAPTAIN BECHER. We have to announce the death, on Tuesday last, of this well-known sportsman, the father of steeple- chase riders, and whose deeds in the pigskin some 30 years back have immortalised him in the annals of that sport. Captain Becher was born in Norfolk, and was the son of a Mr. Becher, a farmer in that county, who was very conspicuous as a horseman, and the last of the leather-breeches school. Captain Becher com- menced his career on a pony, and was remarkable as well for the boldness of his riding as for the judgment he displayed in the hunting-field. Being popular with the noblemen and gentlemen in his neighbourhood, he received the appointment of captain in a yeomanry regiment, which gave him a status among his contem- poraries of much benefit throughout his career. In 1830 he first eame out at St. Alban's, where, on Mr. ti Angerstein's Tattler, he rode second to Lord Ranelagh's Wonder. At the same place, in 1832, for the Grand Steeplechase, he was third on Corinthian Kate to Moonraker, ridden by Dan Seffert; and in 1834 he was in the same position on Zigzag to The Poet, who was steered by Jem Mason. At Northampton, two months afterwards, his luck Changed, and he began on Vivian a series of victories which raised his reputation to the highest pitch, for he won the Northamptonshire with him, beating Vanguard and Liverpool; and afterwards the Grand Aylesbury Chase, beating Lau- restina, and eighteen others, including Lord Water- ford's Lancet and Mr. Elmore's Grimaldi. So chagrined was the marquis at his defeat, that he immediately challenged Vivian with his second string, Cook Robin, to run over the Harborough country for £ 2,000. Captain Lamb, the owner of Vivian, iMVOTitpr! the offer, find, after A finp. vans, bv Captain Beecher's superior jockeyship, Vivian won cleverly. In 1835 he won the St. Alban's chase on Agnes, for Captain Fairlie; and was second on Caliph, at Cheltenham, to Patrick on Boabdil. In 1836 he won the Waltham Abbey on Grimaldi; and at Aylesbury he was second to Powell on Saladin, for the heavy-weights steeplechase, but won the light weight on him, beating Grimaldi, Yellow Dwarf, and the Pony. At Eghara he was second, with Vivian, to Powell on Red Deer; and he likewise won the Liver- pool on the Duke, beating Dick Christian, Polyanthus, and several others. At St. Albans fortune again smiled on him, but the battle was dearly paid for, as his horse the far-famed Grimaldi—died after passing the winning flag. Worcester saw him win with his favourite, Vivian, whose name had begun to be quite a household word among the followers of steeplechasing; but at Leamington he was very unexpectedly defeated OR him by Flacrow, ridden by that well-known Leicestershire yeoman, Mr. Haycock; Lord Waterford, on Yellow Dwarf, being third, and Lord Clanricarde, on Carlow, fourth. At Northampton he was again a thorn in the side of the Marquis of Waterford, as he beat him on The Crow with Mr. Fairlie's Wing, with whom also he won the East Grinstead chase. In 1837 he won at Bath with Fieschi; and at Dunchurch with 71b. extra, on Vivian, he defeated Jerry and a very large field. But in the following week Jem Mason on Jenny turned the tables both on him and Flacrow. Cheltenham saw him again a winner this year on Vivian, before a very large number of horses. In 1838 he was not so lucky, as he only won the Northampton on Vivian, and ran second with him at Daventry to Lottery. After this he retired on his laurels, his frame requiring rest from the many severe accidents he encountered during his career, and which caused him afterwards to walk lame. In appearance Captain Becher was strong as a Hercules, and he could endure -any amount of labour and fatigue. In knowledge of pace he was second to none, and in finding out the weak parts of a country he was very clever. Against his integrity nothing was ever alleged, but he failed to make hay while the sun shone, and retired into privacy upon a competency on his wife's side, which rendered the close of his checkered career calm and placid. He was buried at Willesden Cemetery on Saturday last in the presence of a few who had been his latter day asso- ciates, among whom we noticed his old friend, Mr. Pitt, accompanied by Messrs. C. and W. Moore, Hempson, Eden, and W. Smith, The mourners in- cluded his two sons, Mr. Dobree, his brother-in-law, and Dr. Price.

TERMINATION OF THE STRIKE AT BILSTON. Ther colliers' strike, which has been languishing all the week, received its death-blow at a meeting of the miners held on Saturday afternoon. at Bilston. The meeting was called by the following handbill The Bilston Colliers.—A meeting of the colliers and miners will be held at the old ground, at the back of the market-place, at two o'clock this day, Saturday, Oct. 15. All the men are requested to attend, as Mr. Samuel Griffiths will address the meeting on the pre- sent important juncture. The committee having resolved to ask this gentleman's advice, Mr. Griffiths has promised to be there. "EOBERT DAVIES, Sec." It is hardly necessary to add that the Mr. Samuel Griffiths in question is the well-known metal broker of that name, who is a native of Bilston, and highly popular with the working classes of the town and neigh- bourhood. He was closeted for about an hour with the leaders of the strike at the Shakespeare Inn, who ulti- mately resolved to propose a resolution to the colliers to go to work on Monday morning. Meantime, notwith- standing the shortness of the notice, between 2,000 and 3,000 persons had assembled in the open space at the back of Bilston Market, facing the Shakespeare, and it was resolved to address them from an upper window. Mr. Griffiths then addressed the meeting at some length; and Mr. Lloyd, miner, and member of the committee, moved, That, subject to the approval of the central committee, held at the Shakespeare Inn, Bilston, the colliers and miners now on strike in the Bilston district do resume work on Monday next; the arguments brought forward by Mr. Samuel Griffiths. that this is the best course to be adopted in the present condition of the strike at Bilston, having proved so convincing." This resolution was seconded by Mr. Benjamin Owen, another member of the committee. If it was unpalatable for the men to hear this, it, was still more creditable to those two leaders of the strike to commend the motion to their followers, and their evident trepidation was hailed with shouts of laughter several times renewed. Mr. Lloyd contented himself by simply moving the,motion. Mr. Owen argued that, as there were so many gone in and so many preparing to go in it was useless to remain out. Mr. Griffiths then put the motion to the meeting; but to thus sign the death warrant of the strike was more than they could do, and the proposition was received in dead silence, shortly followed by laughter at the puzzled look of Mr. Griffiths, and some cries, We will play on," from -the committee said-miners of the Dudley district. Mr. Griffiths briefly thanked them for their attention and good behaviour, and retired below with the com- mittee, who, after a brief consultation, resolved to follow in the humour of the meeting, to leave every man to do as he pleased, and, abrogating their func- tions, so end the strike as far as the Bilston district is concerned. This district comprises the principal col- lieries in the neighbourhood of Wolverhampton and Willenhall, at some of which the men have not struck, ,and at others many of -the men have already returned to work. Mr. Griffiths treated about fifty poor fellows to bread and cheese and ale, and drove off amid the good wishes of those who witnessed his departure. The committee expressed their conviction that the whole of the men in the district would in a few days be at work. There was a good number present who were not colliers, and many of the colliers present belonged to the Dudley district. >

Charles Bannister.-Once, in returning from rehearsal, this gentleman was caught in a severe shower of rain in Holborn, and he took shelter in a comb- maker's, where an old man was at^work. Good heavens! what pain you are in, sir!' said the son of Thespis. Pain! I have no pain-I have no pain," replied the man, pursuing his vocation. Yes, you must," rejoined Bannister, very gravely, "you are cutting your teeth." 7. v. r. us* v"-•

iXTRACTS PEOM PUJSTOH & FUN. -4- The Lay of the Lash. A RHYME FOR RECRUITS. Recruiting is said to be going on but slowly."—VMs Pape'i3 (The Recruiting Sergeant sings.) Come, fill up your cups, my gallant lads, That have taken the sergeant's shilling, I'll give you a toast, so call on the host For another pint, if you're willing. You've taken the cash, ■ r- So I'll give you-" Tho Laflh," That's the toast, for which you ve. been fihmg; Yes, here's to the lash, Your backs to slash, The glorious cat-o'-nine tails. (T/te Recruit sings.) Oh, had we but thought of the treat in store, Ere we took the fatal shilling, Or hearkened your story of plunder and glory, The beer that you ordered swilling; You ne'er had caught us, j-" For our country thus, ■"< 7; Our blood disgracefully spilling! Bad luck to the lash, Our backs to slash, The notorious cat-o'-nine tails. The Foight.. The Irish papers are indignant at the notion of the battle between the English and American prizefigntera taking place in the peaceable Emerald Isle. VÚle Papers. By the powers, thin, and faix it's too bad, Bedad! It's a thing to make Oirishmen sad And mad, To think of the soight Of an out and out foight In which there's no shares to be had By Pad- • Dy, who jist to join in would be glad! 'Tis the true Saxon selfishness shown t Ochone! All the foightin' for two chaps alone! A stone Would shid teStrs-and small bla.me- At the thought of that same. Such exclusivoness never was known, You'll own, In the land where shilalies is grown! Such behaviour is most inhumane, That's plain- To timpt Pat with a foight, yet restrain 7: His vein. < 'Twould be jist a rare trate The whole boilm' to bate, For thus breaking the peace of the*.Quane I' Their stritln They would alter, and choose a new seane r Prince Humbert and the Brewery. 'Mid the barrels and firkins Of Barclay and Perkins, Pray proceed, Prince, for no one will, say no. The draymen will do All that's civil by you. As they did what was proper by Haynau. Who would not be a Governess? After the warm weather we have had it is i quite refreshing to meet witli something cool, and really wo have seldom met with anything- so cool as this :— fi OVERiSTESS WANTED, in a Young Ladies' School near VT London. She will be required to teach English, French, music, and to have £ 50 at her cominr.nd, which will be returned by instalments.—Address, &c. Not a word is said about the salary this governess* will have, and we incline therefore to think that she will not be paid a shilling for her services. On the contrary, indeed, it seems that she will have to pay the sum of fifty pounds for the privilege of teaching English, French, and music for although the money, it is said, will be returned by instalments, no guarantee is given her that such will be the case. To THE UNPUNCTUAL.—The Royal Humane Society offer a reward to any gentleman belonging to the above-mentioned class, who shall succeed in saving a A. CAPITAL JOB FOR THE CONJURORS. "We are happy to announce ,that several of our best conjurors are engaged in the discovery of the means whereby the Spiritualists accomplish what they grandly term their "manifestations," but which sceptics have been heard to speak of by a shorter name. The Wizards of the North, South, East, and West will work together in this task, and the result of their labours will be published in a pamphlet, to be called, out of compli- ment to the Brothers Davenport (with, of course, the leave of Mr. Lever), Davenport Ðone. AT IT AGAIN !—Says the Roman correspondent of the Star, "The remains of the Baths of Diocletian, and the best rubis left in Rome, are to be cleared away." Now, really this is too bad. The Baths of Diocletian can not be in the way from London to Chatham or Dover, and the company must be exceed- ing its powers. We shall ask for an injunction. A FITTING DESCENDANT.—General Butler's father was a pfivateer in 1812, but afterwards" cruising promiscuously," was convicted of piracy at one of the Spanish West Indian islands and hanged. The brutal tyrant of New Orleans women could not come of a more fitting line than a halter, and we hope will grace his descent (with a four-foot drop), and come to an appropriate end—a rope's. WER'T HIS NECK-VERSE AT HAIRIBEE. —In the balance-sheet just extorted from the notorious Colonel Waugh, is theitem," By church account, £7,256 8s. 5d." What it means we know not, but sundry whom he has ruined would probably not be sorry to see him in the position in which culprits used to demand benefit of clergy. NOVEL EFFECTS.—In consequence of the popularity attained by the sensation stories, many romantic young ladies have gone off with their grooms. We are, however, happy to learn that, in every case, the happy objects of their choice have been highly re- spectable bride-grooms. SPRING AND AUTUMN.—As a proof of the severity of the season, it was remarked that, during the late cold winds, several crocuses peeped up in the flower- beds, mistaking October for March.

A somewhat furmy incident is said to have occurred at the Bath, meeting of the British Associa- tion. Dr. Colenso attended the banquet given by Jerom Murch. Esq., Mayor of Bath, and, in common with other visitors, left his hat m the cloak-room, receiving a numbered ticket ine-xchange; On return- ing, a wrong hat was presented to the bishop, who at once drew attention to the mistake, and presented his numbered ticket, whereupon a bystander wittily ob- served This is not the first mistake in numbers, my lord. The bishop took the joke smilingly. '1/ r :.4: 1