The Illustrated Usk Observer and Raglan Herald

TELEGRAPETQ -HEWS.- -+- AMERICA Great Battle in Virginia. NEW YORK, 'OCT. 7. Mr. Stanton reports that the operations are pro- gressing satisfactorily before Richmond and Peters- burg. No engagement has taken place since Saturday. Both belligerents were fortifying. Is is reported that y j Lee is concentrating on Grant's left. The Federal loss north and south of the James River on Friday and Saturday is estimated at 4,000. The Northern papers contain a report that the larger portion of Grant's corps has recrossed from the north side of the James but state that he retains his position in the surrounding iorta. General Lee reports that in the engagement south oi Petersburg the Federals broke through a portion ot his'line on the Squirrel Level-road, but were driven back with a loss of 400 prisoners. General Hampton then drove the enemy, capturing 500 prisoners. Mr. Stanton reports that the Confederates mo Her- man's rear, after capturing Big Shanty, were pursued and driven from the field with heavy loss, leaving be- hind them their dead and wounded. Unofficial des- patches report that the Confederates left 1,000 dead and wounded. It is reported that Forrest's transportation has been captured. The gunboats would prevent his re- treat across the Tennessee River. Southern papers state that Hood had moved his army thirty-iive miles westward without molestation. Sheridan is at Harrisonburg. Guerillas occasionally intercept his supply trains. NEW YORK, OCT. 8. The Federals, under Burbridge, attacked Saltville, Western Virginia, and were badly repulsed, retreating in confusion, pursued by the Confederates. The Governor of Georgia has declined Sherman s Proposition for an informal peace conference. NEW YORK, OCT. 11. General Grant, after visiting Washingcon, has re- turned to Petersburg. General Lee's report of Friday's engagement on the north of the James River states that he attacked the Federals on the Charles City Road, and drove them from two entrenched lines, capturing ten guns. Find- ing the enemy further strongly entrenched he did not press them. General Gregg was killed. Southern journals claim that the engagement was a signal victory, the Federals being driven five miles from the city; „ General Grant reports that his loss on Inday amounted to 400 men, the Csnfederate loss being 1,100. General Sheridan reports that on the 9th he re- treated to Strasburg. During his retreat he desolated the whole country, making it untenable for the Con- federate army. In retaliation for the guerillas killing engineer Meige, he burned all the houses for a distance of five miles. He attacked Rosser's cavalry, who pur- sued him near Strasburg, routing them, and capturing eleven guns and 300 prisoners. General Longstreet has superseded General Early. General Sherman is at Kenesaw repairing the rail- road between Atlanta and Allatoona. His army is well supplied, and secure in Atlanta. The Confede- rate defeat at Allatoona is confirmed. Forest is escaping across the Tennessee river. Hood has re- treatecl to iiailas. Price made a demonstration before Jefierson city to cover the passage of his main army across the Osage river. During the night his army, 20,000 strong, with 20 cannen, past westward. Pleasanton, with 8,000 cavalry, pursued him and engaged his rear at Jefferson, while Curtis, coming from -mansas, engaged Price in front. The New York World publishes a statement showing that the public debt, including the appropriations to be made by the next Congress, amounts to 4,000,000,000 aols. J NEW YORK, OCT. 13. The fighting before Richmond has not been renewed. Price continues to operate in Missouri. The Democratic party have gained largely in Pennsylvania. The soldiers' vote is awaited to decide the result of the: election. The voting in Maryland shows the probable adoption of an anti-slavery oon- stitution.. Dispatches from Augustia, Georgia, of the 8th inst., to the Richmond Whig, report the capture of Eome by the Confederates, with over 3,000 prisoners. The British American Conference at Quebec have unanimously resolved upon the confederation of all the provinces.

The New Zealand War.—There is no truth in the statement (says the Army and Namy Gazette) that the War Office has ordered home any of the regiments in New Zealand. General Cameron's despatches, just published, show the truth of our assumption last week, that the war cannot yet he said to be over, although happily there is every probability that the submission of the Tauranga tribe will be followed by that of the others which have been in arms against us; and in that case no doubt the general would send home some of the regiments first standing for relief. But obviously this must be left to the discre- tion of the colonial authorities, and we can with certainty say that no instructions from home have been sent out. Experience of Mendicants.—Soon after taking up my residence in London I met with many appli- cations from street beggars, with various tales of distress. I could not imagine that all these were fictitious, and found great difficulty in selecting the few objects on whom I could bestow my very moderate- means of charity. One severe winter I resolved on making my own personal observations on the most promising cases which presented themselves. The first general principle at which I arrived was that, in whatever part of London I might be, if I asked for ^he- residence of a mendicant, it was pretty sure to he in a quarter very remote from the one in which he asked relief. The next was, that those mendicants who pro- fessed to want work and not charity always belonged to trades in which it was scarcely possible to give them employment without trusting them with valuable property -Babbage. In ordinary Tooth-iiclie Nervine gives Instantaneous relief; and. by leaving the plug ef Nervine in the cavitv, is forms a stopping. (II the cause «f pain is Neuralgia, a most certain remedy will be found to CLARK'S NBDB»LGI« TINCTURE.) BDMTEH'S NKRVINE may be had of wl Chemists »t is. ljr«t per packet, or j»osi freefor fifteen stamps from J. B. COOPER, Chemist, Maidstone.

T O 1ST TALK. BY OUR SPECIAL COItBESPONDENT. -+-- Our readers will v/n,&trstan& that ice do not hold ourselves repon • siblefor our able Correspond,ent's opinions. -+-- As the clouds become more sombre, and warn its of the approach of the winter months, the town is becoming more lively, and the political world is gradually emerging from the torpor in which it has been so long enshrouded by an unusually lengthy and brilliant summer. The growing topic -at least, at the clubs—is the changes that will take place at the ensuing general election. Many are the speculations and rumours rife respecting these same changes for instance, in addition to the vacancy that will be caused in the City by the retirement of Sir James Duke, I am credibly informed that continued ill-health has determined Baron Rothschild to resign that seat which he and his friends fought so long to gain. In such an eventuality, Mr. Mackay, the shipowner, is spoken of as a likely candidate for the vacancy. With equal confidence it is asserted that Sir S. Morton Peto will retire from Finsbury, and that three Liberals, Mr. W. Phillips (who, by the way, has already issued an address), Alderman Lusk, and Mr. W. M. Torrens will offer themselves to the electors. At the last election for Westmmster, Sir De Lacy Evans declared that it was not his intention to stand again. It is pretty well under- stood, however, that the gallant veteran has re- considered that determination, and that, for some time, at least, the general's matter-of-fact but most useful talents will be devoted to the service of the Westminsters. In Southwark, I am told, the ultra-Radical section, who entertain, if not a wise, certainly a marked distaste at being repre- sented in the Commons' House by a member of the Government, are prepared to bring forward a candidate in opposition to the clever but somewhat irascible "Nineveh" .Layard. Again, on dit Lord Bingham, the heir of Earl Lucan, of Crimean notoriety, is to contest Middlesex in the Tory interest. If this be so, Lcrd Bingham has a fair chance of success, for, among the freeholders of Middlesex county there is something more than a SDrinkling of Conservatives. It is also stated as probable that Mr. Williams will not again offer himself to the good people of Lambeth. At present, however, .r do not hear that his probable suc- cessor has been named, so, after all, the report of this gentleman's retirem3nt may be a mere canard. About men of ma I hear that the Chancellor of the Exchequer is determined to fight hard to maintain his Seat for the University of Oxford. Despite, however, the right hon. gentleman's popularity or, possibly, because of it I am afraid that his chances are very small. < My readers have probably heard a report that the eldest son of the Chancellor of the Exchequer intends to offer himself to the electors of Chester. The fact is, however, I believe, that Mr. Gladstone, lun., will stand for Blackburn and should he suc- ceed in obtaining a seat in the House as, of course, he must ultimately, for one place or another—I hear, from those who have an intimate acquaint- ance with the young gentleman, that he is not likely to discredit his father's great reputation. Apropos of the North American Provinces, that statement of the New York correspondent of the Times that the Southern leaders are about to pro- pose to the North an alliance for the purpose of conquering Mexico and Canada, is regarded at the clubs as a good joke on the part of the credulous correspondent; and, truly, it is impro- bable that, without bringing their quarrel to any definite conclusion, they would separate-one to invade the territory of a state under the protec- tion of Austria and France, and the other to attempt the annexation of the North American Colonies of Great Britain. In no such light, however, do the Canadians regard this rumour on the contrary, they are convinced that nothing will deter the North from an invasion but the evident determination and ability of the popula- tion to resist and drive back any such invasion. Hence the great desire for the proposed federation. My readers are of course aware that for some time past a Parliamentary committee has been sitting to examine into the present unsatisfactory state of the bankruptcy law. Well, the on dit is that their report, which is upon the eve of publi- cation, will disclose a nest of frightful abuses. It will show, in fact, that, in the district courts of some populous towns in the manufacturing districts, there have been gross irregularities, and that large sums of money have been improperly retained, which ought to have been paid over +W chief registrar's account—sums amount- ZX the aggregate to upwards of £ 14,000. This scandalous fraud upon creditors has been discovered by Lord Chancellor Westbury, who has now very wisely determined that inquiry shall be at once instituted into the accounts of the official assignees and messengers acting in London. Lord Westbury is said to have been too lenient with the misdoers. Surely, however, he is de- serving of some credit for the celerity with which he has set about c'.saring out these Augean stables. I am reminded, while speaking of this great lawyer and law reformer, that I hear the question frequently asked, "Why his lord- ship does not turn his attention to minor reforms?" For instance, scarcely a day passes in which needy but respectable people are not swindled by the keepers of employment offices, who advertise, for a certain consideration in money, to obtain their clients situations; the money, however, being paid, nothing more is heard of the situation, yet the swindled have no redress at law. Surely Lord Westbury's subtle brain could devise a remedy for this crying evil. Then, again, under certain circumstances, in the-present state of the law, a man may become a bigamist with impunity. For instance, in order to convict, thefirst marriage must be proved; and as in many, very many cases the first wife is the only person who can prove her own marriage, and is yet not permitted to give evidence against her husband, the case falls to the ground. There was one such case at the Thames Police-court during the past week; and many others I could name. That Working Men's Exhibition, suggested April last at the Ragged Schools on Clerkenwell- green, and inaugurated but the other day by the Earl Russell, has resulted in a splendid success. If you would have proof of this, listen to the fact, that on one day (Wednesday) no less than 18,000 persons passed the turnstile; but that number cloes not represent the whole, for at half-past eight in the evening the doors were obliged to be closed, leaving some hundreds outside. Truly the working men—of a mere district, be it remembered—have achieved a wonder, and that, too, without the aia 01 me fashionable world, and its country cousins and dependants, who did so much towards the succes of the Great Exhibition. Greater, by. far, I consider the success of this Working Men's Exhi- bition, if we consider the respective resources and difficulties of the two, than the one in South Kensington. Most satisfactory to thinkers, to the lovers of social and political science, is it, that the working men are making a healthy sensa- tion," sowing seeds, planting roots, that must ultimately spring up over the three Kingdoms. But by making use of a hackneyed platitude, I will echo the wish of the town—let them go on and prosper." Ecce signum- co-operation: under that banner will they gain their own proper position in the social scale. z.

OUTLINES OF THE WEEK. ♦ THE fighting in America still continues, and little hope is expressed that there will be any immediate settlement of the great dispute. The Federals hold their position before Petersburg, and have latterly had by far the best of the battles. In Missouri, however, the Confederates under General Price appear to do as they please, though it is asserted that this can have no effect upon the ultimate issue of the war, more especially upon the fate of Richmond, which is now so seriously menaced. On the other hand, the Confederates believe they have power to oust General Grant from his entrenchments, and make Richmond more secure than ever. Accounts are so conflict- ing that we forbear to comment upon probabili- ties. We have, however, a speech said to be delivered by President Davis to some congregated thousands at Macon, which appears like a con- fessicn of the exhausted state of the South. "If," he says, "Hood can only drive Sherman from Atlanta-if 'the absentees from the army' will only return to their posts and to the women who influence them, an immediate success would fol- low." Then taking a review of their strength, he makes this appalling statement: You have not many men between eighteen and forty-five left; the boys-God bless the boys!—are rapidly, as they become old enough, going into the field. We want our soldiers in the field, and we want our sick and wounded to return home. It is 'not 'proper," he said. "for me to speak of the number of men in the field; but this I will say, that two thirds of our inem are absent some sicTc, some wounded, Vmt most of them. absent without leave." Turning again to the North the results of the war have re- cently been set forth by the New York World in a plain, simple manner, which impresses the mind more firmly than the most eloquent harangue of the dreadful effects of this civil conflict. Of the incalculable amount of human suffering, of the hundreds of thousands who have been slain or crippled for life, of the devastation of large and fertile tracts of country, of the desolation and destruction of innumerable-homes, of the ruin of trade and commerce, not one word is said; this matter-of-fact journal simply shows how much, money has been spent to inflict all these evils on the country, and what gigantic debts have been contracted for that purpose. The first great fact calculated to arrest attention is "that the federal debt in June last amounted to 520 millions ster- ling." Never in the history of the world has such an enormous debt been contracted in so short a time. Every hour adds largely to it, for the war costs XSI)0,000 a day, or £5,600,000 per week, which is at the rate of more than 290 millions sterling per year. If peace should be concluded by next March—of which there seems to be but faint hope at present—it is estimated that the national debt will then stand, at 700 millions; the charge for in- terest upon which will be forty-two millions ster- ling per annum. How this can all be met will be the subject of discussion after peace has been restored. THE affair3 of Greece have occupied much at- tention during the week. It will be remembered that Earl Russell was accused of again meddling with foreign affairs without consulting his col- leagues. The fact of the case, however, is now ap- parent. The higher assembly of the legislature, similar to our House of Lords, has been altogether set aside, and the king and his deputes (or House of Commons) are now the only two estates of the realm, and these two do not appear to agree upon any one given point. The Commons cannot decide as to the exact character of the Con- stitution which would be most conducive to the country's welfare* and the populace think there is a want of energy in their representatives, in which the King appears to coincide, and has given his ministers notice that if they do not settle the matter within a month, he will take the affairs into his own hands. This is said to emanate from the King, but in reality it is from Count Sponneck, who. is the mentor of the young Sovereign, and not the minister of the people. This Count Sponneck, though he comes from Denmark, does not appear to have studied Danish affairs very closely of late. If he had, he must surely have seen that the English Government have determined never to mix themselves up in the affairs of another country. Count Sponneck it appears, very injudicioasly made to the British representative at Athens an application for the assistance of his Government in influencing the National Assembly, and espe- cially with the so-called English party," to induce them to proceed more vigorously and rapidly with the work of re-modelling the Constitution. It was to this request that Earl Russell replied, and the following sentence will give the whole pith of the despatch. He considered, that "the leas foreign powers interfere in the internal affairs of Greece the better will fee the prospects of internal tranquility and external peace for the kingdom." On reading this all parties have exclaimed that, at any rate upon this occasion, the noble Earl has fairly cleared himself from the charge of meddling. The money crisis, which has, happily, in a great measure, passed in London, is now being felt in Paris, and the financial state of France, as well as M. Fould's management of the finances, is said to be occupying considerable attention. It is asserted that the occupation of Mexico has not equalled the Emperor's expectations; that an exportation of specie from that country to France cannot be accomplished, although it was antici- pated, long ere this, that the French treasury would have been enriched from that source. France, however, is not like England; if there is anything to be concealed the Emperor is powerful enough to gag the press, and permit nothing to be circulated except that which be approves. A notable example of this occurred last week, when the Nain Jaune, a politico-satirical journal, ap- peared with the whole of the front and two-thirds of the second page blank, excepting a title, Recapitu- lation Politique-Où allons nous? and two'signatures, the ruthless censors having suppressed several articles. Oh, for the freedom of England and the liberty of the press! THERE has been a little sensation caused during the week in consequence of a supply of coals being refused the Federal war ship Sacramento at Dover. It appears that it is the rule of her Majesty's Government that a period of three months must elapse before a second supply of coal can be & permitted to a belligerent war ship at English ports. The Sacramento evaded this rule. She coaled at Cork on the 29th of July, again at Plymouth on the 17th of August, and more recently asked for coals at Dover, when Earl Russell thought it his duty to refuse. We hope the American minister will see the fairness of the order, and that this will not cause disagree- ment between our Government and the Federal epresentative. LOOKING at local matters, we observe with pain that Mr. Farnall's account of the distress in Lancashire increases weekly. We are glad to know that in Manchester a notice has been issued from the Public Works Office, calling upon the local authorities in the distressed districts to proceed with the public works in such a manner as to give employment to the largest number of indi- gent factory operatives, and to look out for that work which shall be most productive of wages. The prospect before us in the manufacturing dis- tricts is by no means an encouraging one; we trust, however, that by commencing in time a system of relief, the poor operatives will not suffer severely during the forthcoming winter. INCENDIARY fires have taken place very fre- quently of late in Yorkshire, and mostly in the stack yards of large farmers. Last .week two attempts of this kind were made; one was suc- cessful, but the other was fortunately extin- guished after one stack had been burnt. Whether the incendiaries commit these acts through some private spirit of revenge, or through inherent malice, is still shrouded in mystery; but it be- hoves the authorities and private individuals in those localities to do their utmost to find out the perpetrators of. su-cfo. wicked and cowardly acts. AGAIN we must warn our readers of the danger of answering advertisements in London and local papers, inserted by swindling wretches, who pre- tend to be enabled to obtain situations and employment for the needy. Almost every week some cases come before our notice of poor persons without employment giving almost their last shilling to dastardly scoundrels, who pretend they can place them in a good position. Sometimes it is a deposit needed to insure honesty-at another, a clerkship, a secretaryship, or a lucrative occupa- tion abroad, the appointment being placed in the advertiser's hands. We would say to every one, "Do not heed them; situations are not obtained by bribes—at least, not respectable ones. Depend upon yourselves, your character, and your exertions for an honest livelihood." A few days ago a person, who had seen better days, answered one of these advertisements, and was induced to deposit her last sovereign as security for work with which she would be entrusted, and for which she was to receive good payment. She soon fouhd, however, that she was doped; and this is only one of a hundred instances that we could introduce, to show the villanies of these advertisers. We trust that ere long some means of affording legal pro- tection to the poor dupes will be introduced, whereby their betrayers shall be liable to punish- ment. A SYSTEM of false characters to servants has also been discovered latterly, whereby one of a clique takes a house, and gives characters to the undeserving. It behoves everyone to be careful of the tricks of the day, and take some extra means of inquiry when they are doubtful, for this is a designing age. WHILST, however, we would guard persons from those of bad character, it is uncharitable not to suppose that one who has fallen might not reform; and we were pained to see an account last week of a man tried at the Warwickshire Sessions for stealing two pounds of beef. His uncontra- dicted statement was this: When he was thirteen years of age he was sentenced to penal servitude for housebreaking. After enduring his punish- ment for three years and a half, his conduct was found so good that he: received his ticket of leave. He returned to England, and tried to .earn an honest livelihood. He got work at Warwick, and became a member of the ehurch choir, the duties of which he discharged to the perfect satisfaction of the clergyman for four years. A policeman one day called upon him, and asked if he had not a ticket of leave. After a while he admitted the fact, and his prospects .were at once blighted. He was dis- missed from the choir; he lost his situation; he and his family fell into utter destitution, and were actually starving when he committed the offence with which he stood charged. The chair- man expressed great sympathy for the poor man, and only sentenced him. to fourteen days' hard labour. But let us reflect what will become of this poor creature when he is again released. This scarcely gives encouragement to the honest penitent; at the same time let it be a warning to others not to take the first step in crime. SPACE will not permit us to say much about politics. We would only observe that the Solicitor- General addressed his constituents at Plymouth | last week on public affairs. He declared himself in favour of the abolition of church rates, avowed his fidelity to the cause of the ballot, and declared himself in favour of a £ 6 franchise, but maintained that England was never more powerful or respected than at the present moment. Mr. Bernal Osborne, also, in one of his humorously characteristic speeches, addressed his constituents at Liskeard. It appears that Mr. Osborne did not vete at all on the Danish question, and this gave offence to some of his supporters. The hon. gentleman, however, defended himself with great energy, and adminis- tered sundry severe raps to the Prime Minister, and wanted to know why he should not vote with Lord Stanley when he agreed with him, simply because Lord Stanley sat on the Opposition benches. We have since heard that the hon. member for Liskeard has been suffering from illness, which has confined him to the house, and prevented his attending other meetings of his constituents. Lastly, we may mention that Earl de Grey and Ripon, the minister of war, has ad- dressed a large audience at Ripon on the cost and condition of the British army, advocating our extra expenditure in improved weapons of war, and asserting that the best preservative of peace is in constantly improving our means of defence.

BANKING FOR THE, MILLION: THE ESTATES BANK. The immobile sluggards of the Dame Partington school are perpetually seeking to sweep back the waves of progress by panic brooms. When gas was introduced the walls of the metropolis were placarded by the oil monopolists with accounts of the explosions and fires it had occasioned, and predictions were per- petually hazarded that London would one day be involved in a general conflagration, in comparison with which that of the seventeenth century would sink into insignificance. When steamers made their ap- pearance on the Thames the watermen were per- petually seeking to frighten passengers by accounts of boilers bursting, and by the number of his Majesty's subjects who were and would be thereby shot up into the air like rockets. But the march of improvement continued, nevertheless, and now, after the lapse of nearly half a century, the oil street and shop lamp is only thought of as a curious remnant of antiquity, and the wherry has ceased to exist as a means of conveyance on the great waterway of London. Similar attempts are now being made to stop the progress of joint-stock banks; but whatever alarm may be temporarily created by the revelations of the Unity and Leeds Banks, the panics thereby occasioned will speedily subside, and we shall see a realisation of the growth of the system to the extent indicated in the title of a little pamphlet issued by Mr. J. J. Andrew, of the Estates Bank; 156, Strand, London—" Banking for the Million." The failures alluded to are remark- able illustrations of the proverb, "He that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent." Who would have imagined the possibility of a bank allowing itself to be converted into a kind of Credit Mobitier, and investing its capital in such moonshine as a "Consols Insurance Company," a Catholic Bookselling Com- pany," a Seamless Leather Company," and a Patent Smokeless Chimney Company ? Who could have dreamed of directors holding respectable positions in the commercial world lending £2,OG4 on jewellery which only realised £ 80; on decan- ters X357 19s. 8d., which could only be sold for £5; advancing < £ 5,000 upon a freehold estate to which the borrower had no legal title; of having in their hands =890,000 of overdue and bad bills ? Are such commercial managers to be regarded as samples fairly taken from the bulk of bank directors ? If any man declared his belief that such was the case, he wouldhave furnished presumptive evidence of insanity. In juxta- position with such misdoings may be placed the plan of operations of the Estates Bank, Limited.: By the articles of association the directors are prohibited from engaging in' doubtful speculations. Their trading capital is raised from threa sources—viz., calls upon shares of £ 10 each, made at 10s. a time, or on debenture shares subscribed for at 2s. 6d. per month. It is never intended to call up more than X5 per share, leaving one-half of the capital as a reserve fund to meet possible losses; although it is difficult to see how they can occur in the hands of honest men of business, such as the gentlemen who have the direction of the Estates Bank. The second portion of the capital arises from the average balances of accounts of customers, which accounts are received at as low a. sum as < £ 10, and upon the minimum monthly balances of which an interest of 4 per cent. is allowed. The third capital department is made up of sums left on deposit, and upon which an interest of 5 per cent. is paid periodically, whenever required, for the purposes of trustees and private individuals; and to whom the further advantage is accorded of prompt repayments of principal, whenever opportunities sud- denly present themselves for their more eligible in- vestment elsewhere. It must be confessed that these are liberal terms, both for customers and depositors. Then comes the question, how is such a capital to be employee for the shareholders safely and profitably ? We wilt give an illustration, which, we believe, will be within the mark, rather than an exaggeration. We will suppose a trading capital of .£500,000, to be raised as follows: calls on shares, £ 250,000; average balances of customers, £ 125,000; ditto of -depositors, £ 125,000. The directors are in a position to lend this money upon freehold and leasehold estates, of sound legal title and ample realisable value in the market, at such A profit as, after paying interest to customers, £ 5,000, and to depositors, .£6,000, there would leave < £ 39,000 divisible amongst the shareholders, as a profit upon their capital of .£250,000, or nearly fifteen per cent., less preliminary and management expenses, which are kept at the lowest point consistent with due efficiency. Of course, a bank, like all other commercial establishments, can only be expected to reap in pro- portion as it sows; business parsimony is the very antithesis of commercial prudence. If the facts are as here stated, it is impossible that the bank can run any risk which may bring its shareholders to grief, or that it can be otherwise than a great commercial success. The shares of the bank are, it is said, being most rapidly subscribed for by all classes of society.

THE ROBBERY OF THE SWISS MAILS. Details have been received concerning the attack upon the Swiss mails on Monte Cenere. It took place on the night of the 12th to the 13th inst., between Cadenazzo and the post of gendarmes sitaated a little lower down. The brigands, as already telegraphed, were nine in number, and armed with muskets and pistols., Unfortunately the five passengers travelling by the diligence, with the conductor and postilion, were not only robbed of their money, watches, and other valuables, but also severely ill-treated, two of their number—a passenger from Milan, named Lat- tuada, and the postilion—lying now in Cadenazzo mortally wounded. The letter-bags and parcels, of which the post between Lucerne and Milan usually carries a large number, were, owing to an inexplicable oversight of the robbers, left untouched. The bandits are believed to have been Lombards from their accent, and it is thought probable they are the same individuals who stopped the Federal mails at Colico about the same time last year. It will be recol- lected that no traces have even yet been discovered of '{he perpetrators of the former outrage, and the de- fective organisation of the Ticino police, with the vicinity of the Italian frontier, give rise to the appre- hension that the same will again be the case. The Federal Council in its last sitting determined to issue a reward of a thousand francs for the discovery of the robbers.

A STORMY DEBATE IN GREEGE. A communication from Athens contains the sub- joined:— The latest sittings of the Constituent Assembly have been occupied with a stormy discussion on the subject of the assimilation of the Ionian Islands to Greece as far as taxation is concerned. One party, consisting of Bulgarists, ultra revolutionists, and a few deputies from Corfu and Cephalonia, demand the immediate assimilation; while the other, comprising the adhe- rents of the Ministry, with the greater part of the Ionian members, and which appears to be in the ma- jority, desires that it should take place within a cer- tain determined period. The Opposition appears to wish to make use of this question to prolong the exist- ence of the Assembly, as that party has proposed to adjourn all discussion on the Constitution until the subject was decided. In the first sitting no result was arrived at, and in the second the Opposition members, finding themselves in a minority, left their seats, and as the Chamber was then no longer in number, the sitting came to an end. In the third, high words arose, which led to blows; M. Sooramongas was struck in the face, and M. Pelmesis a member of the Bulgarist faction, drew a cane sword on M. Lom- bardos. The confusion was indescribable, and the grossest language was bandied from side to side. In the midst of the tumult, the deputy Maori rose and proposed that all taxes should be abolished and re- placed by an export duty, as in the Ionian Islands. M. Bulgaris and all the deputies of the Left supported the proposal, crying out, Since the islands will not accept our laws, let us adopt theirs! The agita- tion was extreme; and the President, not being able to suppress the disorder, closed the sitting. M. Bul- garis left the Chamber with his partisans, and crowds of persons outside accompanied him to his residence with cries of Down with the taxes! Bulgaris and assimilation for ever!" On the following day there was a sort of truce, and the Chamber continued the discussion on the Constitution. The day after was, however, again as disorderly as the previous ones. M. Calligas, while speaking in favour of the gradual as- similation, was hissej, and even menaced by several persons, who drew their knives and brandished them aver his head. The guard attempted to remove the public, but was repulsed; and the President, being unable to make himself heard, once moie put an end to the sitting. M. Bulgaris was again accompanied home in triumph.