The Illustrated Usk Observer and Raglan Herald

TO CORRESPONDENTS AND READERS. Blaenavon Intelligence appears in a First Edition of to-day's issue. which may be obtained at the usual places of sale in that locality.

Sift Pettier. DISTRICT INTELLIGENCE. Abergavenny Races. Stetrards—J. Hamilton, Esq. and Crawshay Bailev, jun., Esq. Judge—Major Stretton Clerk of the Course—ii r. J. Howard; Handicapper-Mr. Price. These races were commenced on Thursday under such favorable auspices as would seem to indicate a revival of their former importance the weather was most propitious -the attendance more numerous than it has been for years past—and the entries on it more extended scale than on former occasions; whilst the character of the horses entered shewed considerable advancement in that direc- tion as compared with meetings of late years. The ar- rangements connected with the event were all complete, a fact which reflects some degree of credit upon the stewards and the active lion, see., M-. Howard. The sport will be continued this day (Friday). We append the results of yesterday's running:— THE MONMOUTHSHIRE HANDICAP, 10 SOVS. each, 3 forfeit (to go to the fund) if declared, with 40 SOTS, added. Any winner a'ter the publication of the weights to carry 71bs. extra. About one mile and a quarter. M. Yaillant's b. h. Heurlys, 6 yrs., 8,t. 5lbs (F. Cox) 1 Mr. Stevens's b. m. Fisherman's Daughter, 4 yrs., 8st. lOlbs., (E. Pavne) 2 Mr. Barnett's b. c. Guildhall. 3 yrs., 7st. 21bs (G. Sopp) 3 Mr. J. Turner's Knave of Trumps, 5 yrs., 8st. 71bs (Rudd) 0 Mr. Stirk's Vanquisher, 4 yrs., tsst (J. Coslett) 0 Betting 3 to 2 against Vanquisher, 2 to 1 against Guildh,tll, 3 to 1 against Knave of Trumps. This was pronounced to be a very excellent race. The favorite made the running past the grand stand, with the Knave of Trumps second. Changes in position ensued, and upon coming to the distance the Knave of Trumps pushed to the front, but was sl eedily overtaken by Heurlys, who won by half a length, with Fisherman's daughter well up. THE HUNT Cpp, value E25, added to a Sweepstakes of 3 sovs. each. 3 yrs., 10sr. 4' yrs., list. 2lb. j 5 yrs., list 101b. 6 and aged, 12st. A winner once, to carry 5!bs. extra: twice, lOibs. ex'ra. Horses to be bonajide the property of Members of the Monmouthshire Hunt Club. Gentlemen riders. Two miles. Mr. F. Rowland's b. f. Motley. 3 yrs., lflst (Hon. G. Morgan) li Hon. F. Morgan's g. fl. Adam, 6 yrs., 12st (Owner) 2 Mr. Reginald Herbert's Bravura, aged, 12st (Owner) 3; Mr. R. Wales's b. m. Taltycorane, 5 vrs., list. lOIbs..(Owner) 0 Mr. J. GwvnrieHoltoi (i's (,h. f. The Fawn, a yrs.. 12st. (Owner) 0 Mr. Adams's br. g. The Kilt, aped, 12st (Mr. A. Williams) 0 Betting 6 to 4 against Motley, 5 to 2 against The Kilt, and 6 to 2 against any other. The Race Taltycorane passed the grand stand first, fol- lowed by The Kilt, the others being well up. Adam subse- quently went to the front, a position which he retailed for some time, until overtaken by Taltvcorane, followed closely bv Motley. Upon again passing the stand Adam led, with The Kilt second, and Motley third. On reaching the opposite side, however, Motley rushed to the front, and retained the first position past the post, winning by about two lengths, but she was hotly pressed in the run home by the grey, who was very skilfully handled. THE USK STAKES. 5 sovs. each. 2 forfeit to the fund, with £ 25 added. For Hunters bona fide the property of resi- dents in South Wales, or in the counties of Monmouth and Hereford, that have not been in a training" staulp for three months previous to the race. 128t. each. Three miles across country. Mr. J. B. Jones'g. g. Cabin Boy, 12st (Owner) 1 Mr. W. II. Bull's b. in. Lady Lift, aged, 12st (G.Taylor) 2 Mr. J. Gwynne Holford's b. g. Dick, aged, 12st (Owtierj 3 Mr. Goodwin nms. The Miller. 5 yrs., 12st.(Walker) 0 Mr. Ford's blk. g. Telegram, 5 yrs., 12st (Owner) 0 Mr. Powell's h. m. Betsy, aged", 12st (J. Ii! Riddell) 0 BHtting 6 to 4 against Cabin Boy, and 2 to 1 against Betsy. Betsy led to the brook, where she fell, and was thrown out of the race. The rnnning was then taken up bv Cabin Bov, -who held it throughout, and won by about three lengths, Lady Lift being the only horse that stuck to him. Dick came in a bad third, all the others htvirig-reftised their fences or fallen at them. A cry was raised in respect to the way in which the horses had gone, some averring that they had not taken the proper course, in consequence of which the" placed" horses ran an extra mile quite unnecessarily. A wrangle subse- quently ensued, and, upon hearing evidence, the Stewards declared Cabin Boy to be the winner. OPEN STEEPLE CHASE HANDICAP, 10 sovs. each, 5 forfeit and 3 only if declared, with £ 100 added. The winner of any itandieap Steeple Chase value £100, after pub- lication of the weights, to carry 101 bs. extra, any other winner. 5Jhs. extra. The owner of the second horse to save his stake. About four miles. Mr. E. Rowland's Medora, aged, list. 71bs (W. Reeves) 1 Mr. Merton's The Pony, 10s. 41bs (J. Lovesey) 2 Mr. G. C. Morgan's b. g. Bonnivard, aged, llst.(\S'. Jarvis) 3 M. Yaillant's b. h. Adriers, .5 yrs., list (Mr. Riddell) 0 Betting ,Even on Medora., 3 to 2 against The Pony, and 2 to 1 against the others. The Race: Bonnivard took the lead upon starting, The Pony being second, Medora third, and Adriers fourth. The two first horses changed places at the water j limp, which Adriers refused. Upon coming in sight, after crossing the hill. The Pony was seen to have a long lead, which he held undisputed until noariug the distance post, when Medora challenged him, and, after a hard struggle, beat him by two lengths. A MATCH of dEoO. Two miles across country. Mr. C. H. Williams' b. h. Rarey, 12st (J. Lovesey) 1 Mr. J. Maund's ch. g. Master Jem Walker, aged, 12st., (Mr. Goodwin, Jun.) 2 Rarey made all the running and won easily. L The Brynderwen Steeple Chase did not fill.] 2ND BATTALION MONMOUTHSHIRE RIFLE VOLUN- TEERs.-On Tuesday last, the 2nd Battalion of our County Volunteers met at Pontypool to undergo battalion drill in the presence of the Lord Lieutenant. The command was taken by Major the Hon. J. F. Clifford-Butler, in the ab- sence of Lieutenant-Colonel Byrde, and the other field officers present were Major King and Captain Phipps (adjutant). At the conclusion of the movements, which were very creditably performed, Lord Llanover addressed the battalion in very encouraging terms, observing that the returns for the present year for this battalion shewed a greater number of effectives than had been shewn in any former return, this, he thought, spoke well for the stability of the force, and he only hoped the other battalions would shew similar results. Three cheers for the Queen, the Lord Lieutenant, and the commanding officer were given before the corps broke off. The 2nd Battalion is composed of the following corps:—5th Mon. (Hanbury); 6th (Mon- mouth); 7th (Newport borough); 8th (Usk), and 9th (Abergavenny). The number of volunteers of all ranks on the ground was about 350. The spectators were un- usually numerous.

MONMOUTHSHIRE ANTI-CHURCH-RATE LEAGUE. A meeting of this league took place on the erening of the 13th inst., at the Independent Chapel, Raglan, as previously announced by placard, and was attended by the Rev. J. Rees, of Swansea, a deputation from the Libera- tion Society. The attendance was good and respectable. Mr. Thos. Williams of Wernymellfn, upon being unani- mously voted to the chair, made a few pertinent remarks explanatory of the object of the meeting, and having ex. pressed a hope that the proceedings throughout would be conducted in a christian spirit, and in character with the great principles they professed to advocate, he called upon Mr. (forward to move the first resolution. Mr. Forward then rose and. after some brief observations upon the principles of religious freedom, submitted the following resolution That all legislation by secular governments in affairs of religion is oppressive to man and dishonourable to God; and that the application of the resources of the state for the maintenance of religion is opposed to the Bible." The Rev. David Lewis, in seconding the resolution, after some preliminary observations, said: Men are fre- quently opposed to things which are right, just, and good, because they do not understand them. Ignorance creates prejudice in the mind against them, and leads to the con- demriation and rejection of them. That the principles of religious liberty are right, just, and good, no one here wou attempt to deny, yet its principles have been s longly opposed and denounced, because they were not understood; for ages they were unknown/and that is the reason why they have been of slow growth in the «M>vld. They were unknown in Greece, in Rome, in -Babylon. In Europe, in the middle ages, all the horrors ot toe inquisition grew out of the fact that they were not understood. They are unknown in Turkey, and China, and Persia, for in those countries the state regards religion as being under its control. It is, however. very pleasing- to think that.; they are considerably better known and understood than they were; they are growing steadily and gaining ground continually, in spite of the attempts to impede their progress. Superstition and tyranny are in antagonism to them, despots would crush them because they know that their triumph would be their overthrow. Combined efforts have been made to destroy them. This was the object of the Act of Uniformity, passed in the reign of Charles II, when 2000 ministers of the Established Church were ejected, deprived of their livino-s, their homes, and of their temporal comforts, and were turned adrift on the mercy of the world for claiming the right of conscience and of private judgment in matters of religion. But their principles cannot be destroyed, on- ward they go, and onward they will go until their domain be universal. The results of their final triumph will indeed be glorious -persecution will cease-the chains of religious oppression will be broken—tyranny will be annihilated the rights of man will be recognised—and the jubilee of the world will be celebrated with rapture and delight. The Liberation Society is by some very much condemned and denounced, and why? Because its principles and ob- jects are not understood. Some people regard it as some- thing that is terribly bad—something that is awfully dan- gerous to the interest of the Establishment-something that is indescribably impious. They think that it aims at the destruction of the Church of their forefathers—the Church in which they were christened, and confirmed, and at whose altar they were united in holy wedlock- hence they pronounce their anathemas upon i.t. I beg to tell you that it is not the object of this Society to pull down the Church but to build it up, not to destroy it but to save it from ruin-to deliver it from State control We wish to give freedom to the Church, to break its fetters, to snap asunder the shackles which hide its beautv and obstruct its energies. Is nut the Church in bondage'? Is it not governed and controlled entirely by the State ? Poor creature, she can utter no voice, she can have no authority in matters of controversies of faith; the judg- ment delivered in the Privy Council Chamber on the 20th of March last, in the case of Dr. Colenso, is a proof of this; the decision of the Bishop of Oapfl Town is rendered null and void; neither he nor his synods hi™ any authority to depose the Bishop of Natal. Well, nothing can be more evident than that the Church is in captivity a creature of the State, ruled and governed by the State! Now, it is the avowed object of this society to'liberate her from state interference and control, surely then we ouo-ht to be considered the friends of the Church, and not her enemies. A State Church is unscriptural; this assertion may appear bold and startling, but it is not an assertion without proof. In vain you go to the Old Testament to look for a State Church, it cannot be found there. The Jewish Church was not a State Church, the State had nothing to do with its formation, it had no legislative power in the working of it, no control over its creed, worship, or discipline. Judaism was a theocracy, God' was its King, by Him its polity was moulded, and from Him its laws proceeded. If you go to the New Testament the prospect ot finding a State Church is still more dark and gloomy. Read it deliberately and carefully, and I am certain you will be compelled to say taat you cannot find a word about ii, not a shadow of proof of such a thing. Was the Church which Christ founded a State Churchy Was it connected with secular governments, and depen- dent upon them for its support and extension ? Surely not. One has justly said That you may as well look in the New Testament for the colour of the hair or the length of the nose of the man in the moon, as for a State Church." Does not history shew that the amalgamation of religion with worldly governments has been a most prolific source of evil? In proof of this I may refer you to the persecutions, imprisonments, and deaths that have resulted as a consequence of this unhallowed connection. What we want, and what we claim, is religious equality, a thing which we do not enjoy; struggles have been made for the last two hundred years for its attainment, but there is much yet to be done before we shall realize this desideratum, or before we shall be even on an equal foot- ing with our brethren of the United States of America- many statutes must be repealed, and many customs unsanctified by age, abolished, the rubbish and corruptions which have come down to us from the dark and middle ages must be swept away. There can be no religious equality as long as Dissenters are compelled to pay towards an institution from which they derive no spiritual benefit. Perhaps I would not err were I to say that the Millenium will not dawn until religion will be entirely separated from the control of secular governments. I believe whenever the Millenium will be ushered in that it will be a Millenium of liberty, of peace and love, and religious equality. In that jubilant and glorious period men will not be sent to limbo for the non-payment of Church-rates; their goods will not be seized and sold in order to obtain money to support an ecclesiastical hier- archy; no levy will be imposed by civil authority for religious purposes, for love divine spread abroad in the hearts of men will induce them to contribute willingly and cheer- fully towards the maintenance of religion. Success to the Liberation Society! I approve of its principles, and shall endeavour to further its objects. Success to every move- ment that tends to ameliorate and improve the moral con- dition of the world. Success to every thing that is good and great, useful and beneficial. I hope the day is not far distant when "all legislation by secular governments, in the affairs of religion, which is oppressive to man and dishonorable to God" will come to an end; when the banner of truth shall wave gaily and triumphantly in the breeze, and when liberty, sweet liberty, shall chant forth its anthems over the tomb of tyranny. The speaker con- cluded his very able address by expressing his hearty con- currence with terms of the resolution, and the great pleasure he felt in seconding the same. Mr. Rees, in supporting the resolution, said that the evils arising from the connection between Church and State were too numerous to be named in a single address, he, however, would point out a few of them. One evil, inseparably connected with the system, was that the State assumed authority in matters of religion over the con- science of the subject. The State was vested with an authority over the subject in temporal matters, but no power on earth could vest it with an authority over men's consciences. Man was responsible to God alone for his religion, and had an inalienable right to choose his own religious faith, and practice it in the way he may think proper; deny that, and responsibility ceased. But a State religion did this: Man was not allowed to choose his re- ligion for himself, nor the mode, time, and place to worship his Maker. The State interfered and prepared everything; the creed was selected by the State, and stamped with its official seal as the only authorised way of salvation the places of public worship were built, the ministers appoin- ted, the rites and ceremonies prescribed, the official salaries fixed, and the spiritual guardianship of the whole popula- tion handed over to the State clergy, without consulting the parties interested in the matter, only they were told that they were to support this mammoth machinery by taxes and tithes, and unless they would do so that the strong arm of the law would compel them to obedience. Was there liberty of conscience in all that? No, to be sure there could be none. It was true they, as Dissenters, were allowed to take their religion from the bible, and worship God in the manner they thought proper; but this liberty was conceded by the Toleration Act," passed in the reign of William and Mary, and it was looked upon by Dis- senters of that time as a great boon, and so it was in some respects. But he (the speaker) could not look with much reverence upon it. It was pervaded by the same unjust principle as the" Acts of Uniformity," passed in the reigns of Elizabeth and Charles II., because the power which conceded toleration assumed to itself the prerogative of withdrawing it should expediency prompt the step. The Toleration Act, be it remembered, was not passed because the State felt it had no right to interfere with the religion of the people; no such thing. It was simply a piece of State policy to conciliate the interest and favor of Dissenters. The preamble states, "forasmuch as some ease to scrupulous consciences in the exercise of religion may be an effectual means to unite their Majesties pro- testant subjpcts in interest and affection "—but that ease of conscience was far, very far, from being full liberty of conscience. What kind of liberty, he would ask, was that which, while it tolerated him to proclaim his own views of religion, at the same time compelled him to support that which he thought was erroneous. Fine liberty that which allowed the farmer to drain the unhealthy bog on his land, while the law Compelled him to turn all the avail" able drainage and water-courses into the same spot. They were allowed, as Mr. Mial pertinently remarked, to preach a pennyworth of Dissent, but at the same time the law took from them, in the shape of practical support, a pound's worth of Church. They were obliged to keep in repair the very target at which they let loose their shafts. Ecclesiastics were wise in their generation they allowed us the talk, bat wrested from us the wealth and the power which enabled them to set it at defiance. They, as Dissenters, adopted the maxim of Chillingworth-" the Bible, the Bible alone is the religion of Protestants"—they owned no other standard, and would resist all attempts to impose any other upon them. No plea of antiquity, nor other plea of authority, had the smallest weight with them no single article of taith, nor decree, nor religious ceremony based upon other authority than the Bible could be bind- ing upon the conscience of any man under heaven. They maintained also that it was every man's indefeasible right and incumbent duty to form his own opinion of the meaning of the word of God. They were commanded by an authority superior to any other in existence to search the scriptures;" they ought not, and could not, believe by proxy, unless it could be proved that they could be saved by proxy. But it would be said that the national religion, as embodied in the national Church, was nothing more than a truthful interpretation of the word of God, there- fore it was their. duty to embrace it, and give implicit, obedience to christian rulers, admitting that the national creed was in accordance with the revealed will of God, which, however, they did not; nevertheless, it did not follow that they were bound to take it as their creed, be- cause no man, nor body of men, had the right to set up any other standard of religious opinion than the Bible, therefore they had no right to impose their interpretation of the Bible upon any man. The Dissenter would not, and could not be compelled to have his conscience bound to State creeds; he maintained that he had a right to read the word of God with his own eyes, find out its doctrines himself, take his duties direct from the clear fountain of truih, to choose his own form of worship, his own church government, his own minister and religious teacher, and he was honorable enough to pay for this privilege. Another evil of the system was that it usurped Divine authority in the Church. God was the supreme ruler in His Church under the old dispensation, and Jesus Christ under the new. But this authority was usurped in State Churches and invested in the sovereign for the time being. It would answer no purpose to say that the Establishment of our country was framed on the model of the Church of the Old Testament, that was so irrelevant and inapplicable. The very attempt to bring it forward to bolster up the Estab. lishment betrayed at once the weakness of the cause— building on a foundation of sand. and not upon the eternal word of truth. Also the connection under notice reversed the financial law. of the kingdom of Christ. The law of Christ for the maintenance of His cause was willingness. The law or the State Churches was compulsion. All the abettors of establishments overlooked the law of the New Testament on this important subject. The reasons ot Archdeacon Paley in his "Moral and Political Philosophy" for a legal provision for the ministration of Christianity are diametrically opposed to the word of Gud, and bet rayed a want of faith in God and man. "To the scheme of voluntary contributions," observed the archdeacon, "there exists that insurmountable objection that few would ulti- mately commute at all." Does the history of voluntaryism warrant this assertIOn P I^t the 3,000 chapels in Wales built at an outlay of at least 91,500,000, and the yearly contributions of the congregations wu,shipping in these chapels, amounting to something like £ 120,OO0, besides about £ 180.000 which was annuully colleoted in Walco for other religious objects, answer the question-was that a proof that the archdeacon was correct. And he was bold to say that the Ditsenting Ministers of England and Wales, as a class, were as well paid by means of the v duntary offerings of their people, as the clergymen of England and Wales, as a class, by means of the legal provision of the State. How was that consisted with the fact that the Anglican Church was the richest of all the churches of Europe ? Simply because the few, thi; privileged few, got the great livings and places of emolument. But the practice of the voluntary prinoiple had not been con- fined to Dissenters; thousands belonging to the Establish- ment had adopted it and proved its value and efficacy, in providing the means for religious support. In proof of this the speaker adduced a number of facts, one in par- ticular, which had come under his immediate observation: In Swansea a church had been built at a cost of dE700 raised by the voluntary principle, and the clergyman was also supported by the same means, and he could be dis- missed by his people when considered unfit for his duties; what was the result: two clergymen not approved of and felt to be fit for the ministerial duties of that church had been dismissed; they had now one beloved by all; his church was full morning and evening. But there was a neighbouring church, the clergyman of which received £ 300 a year, and gave a curate 900 a year to do duty for him, and he was always at loggerheads with his parish- ioners; he had to preach to all but empty seats, but his pay was the same the parishioners had t9 put up with him, they could not dismiss him and have one of their choice. Now, another important phase of the question was, did the EstablishJient provide the necessary accom- modation for the wants of the people? In Wales there was only Church of England accommodation for 26 per cent. of the population, and according to the best statistics accommodation was required for 58 per cent., therefore the Church fell short 32 per cent, of necessary accommoda- tion. In populous places there was not one-fourth the accommodation required; in some places it was not pro- vided for more than 13 per cent. of the population; in Merthvr it was found not to be above 6 per cent.-whilst the Dissenters in Wales had provided chapels for 60 per cent. of the population of a great many districts. The speaker, after enumerating a great number of other evils arising from the union of Church and State, referred again to the law of Christ for maintaining His Church, proceed- ing afterwards to treat of the duty of Nonconformists, and then went on to say that State Churches violated the prin- ciples of moral justice in many ways. The rule of the New Testament was" do unto others as you would they should do unto you." He supposed that there were very few who would have others compel them to support what they conscientiously disbelieved, but State Churches made an exception in the application of the principle. J ustiee required that the State should treat all the members of the community alike, but State Churches made this impossible; all opinions could never be endowed-they were unjust, also, as they made persons pay for that from which they derived no benefit; the Dissenters gave wages without receiving work. Besides, persecution in its worst form was inherent in State Churches; all thti persecutions that had ever taken place through the employment of the civil power had arisen from the union of Church and State. Mr. Rees concluded a very able and highly logical discourse by telling his audi- ence that voluntaryism was becoming a great fact, and its speedy triumph was certain. He was greatly applauded throughout the discourse. The Chairman warmly complimented the preceding speakers upon their able advocacy of the rights of con- science and religious freedom, and proceeded, in the course of a few observations, to endorse the sentiments expressed by them, arguing that the Bible was the basis of the prin- ciples they sought to carry out. Mr. Rees again rose to propose the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. W. Charles, and unanimously carried^viz.:—"That Mr. Thomas Williams, Mr. C. For- ward, The Rev. D, Lewis, the Rer. J. George, and the Rev. G. Phillips, be appointed to represent the Mon- mouthshire Anti-Church-rate League, at the next triennial conference of the Liberation Society." The meeting was brought to a close by a vote of thanks being accorded to the chairman with acclamation.

ROGER EDWARDS' CHARITY. —The quarterly meeting of the Trustees of this Charity was held on the 29th ult., there being present: Judge Falconer (in the chair), Mr. Bromfield, Mr. Lister, Mr. Partridge, the Rev. Mr. Walkey and Mr. Gething. The minutes of the former meeting having been read, it was resolved :-1. That the privy in the school garden be removed to another place, the expense not to exceed £ 6; and that a substantial cess pool be made, accessible from the outside of the building.- 2. Mr. Bromfield reported on the mooting of Pantly Wood, and suggested its postponement for the present.—3. Re- solved that in future sales of woods, agreements in writing be entered into, specifying the manner in which the wood shall be drawn from the ground, and providing for neces- sary fencing.-4. Proposed by Mr. Bromfield and seconded by Mr. Falconer—That an examiner, with the assent of the Rev. Mr. Wrenford, be appointed under rule 31st of the scheme to inspect and examine the scholars at the Grammar School next Midsummer, and report thereon to the Trustees, and that Mr. Bromfield be authorised to communicate with Mr, Sealy, the present examiner of Monmouth Grammar School, and arrange the matter with him accordingly.—5. Mr. Partridge having reported that a brake might be mooted with advantage at Altabilla, and certain trees be felled there, and the amount laid out in erecting a shed on the upper part of the farm, and in providing gates—it was resolved that this be done, and that he be requested to take the necessary steps for car- rying out the same. THOKTON'S ODD FOLKS. —An advertisement in another column announces that this entertainment, which has gained for itself such well-earned popularity throughout the kingdom, will be given in our Town Hall on the evening of Monday next. We speak from experience when we say Mr. Thurton is the most complete master of ventriloquism we have ever heard, whilst his impersona- tions and makr-ups" are so true to the life, and his changes so rapid and perfect, that his audience are carried a way by astonishment and doubt that the different charac- ters they witness can really be assumed by one person, until brought to themselves by the convulsive laughter the drolleries introduced never fail to evoke. We strongly recommend all who can enjoy an evening's genuine and harmless fun not to lose the opportunity of spending one in the company of the Odd FoYks." PETTY SESSIONS, APRIL 13, before S. CHURCHILL and W. R. STUETTON, Esqrs. CRUELTY TO ANIMALs Church, farmer's son, Llangeview, was charged, on the information of Superintendent Llewellin, with cruelly ill-using certain sheep, at Llangeview, on the 19th of March. The Super- intendent stated that from information he received he proceeded to Coedcwnnwr, and there saw several sheep which were very lame, on land in the occupation of defen- dant's father; he caught one of them, and upon examin- ing its feet he found that the hoofs had been cut nearly off, and that the quick was protruding. Witness added that the animals appeared to be suffering much pain. The defendant admitted the charge, stating that he had pared the hoofs of the sheep, which were on tuck with his father, to prevent their breaking out. The bench com- mented strongly on the brutality of the act, and convicted defendant in the penalty of 10s. 6d., with Qu 6 I. costs. [MONDAY, APRIL 17. before Major M'DONNBLL.] DRUNKENNESS. —John Tltonias, laborer, Llano-ibby was charged, on the information of Silpt. Llewellin, with being drunk and incapable in the streets of Usk on the previous day He pleaded guilty and was mulcted in the drunkard's fine [TUESDAY, before G. R. GREENHOW-RELPIT, Esq., and Major M'DONNELL.] DRUNK AND RIOTOUS. — Thomas Lane and Charles Lane, of iviglan, (lather and son,) were charged, on the information of Supt. Llowellin, with beina- drunk and creating a disturbance in the streets of Usk on the pre- vious avening. P C. Boxall found the defendants fighting with a man named Price in Middle Street, between six and seven o'clock, and upon his taking them into custody they became very violeut. but were, after considerable trouble, lodged in the lock-up for the night. The younger defendant, who appeared to have commenced the quarrel, was convicted in the penalty of 10s. and costs, and the elder one in that of 5s. and costs, or in default ten and seven days' hard labor, respectively.

A COTTAGE BURNT DOWN. —On Saturday, the 15th inst., a cottage, situate about a mile from Trelleck, on the Cleddon road, in the occupation of the owner, Samuel Rowlands, was observed to be on fire. Several neighbours were quickly on the spot, but the house having a thatched roof was soon enveloped in flames, and their efforts were of little or no avail, as scarcely any of the furniture, wearing apparel, or other contents, could be saved, and the buildinir was completely gutted. Upon enquiries being made as to the origin of the disaster, it was ascertained "that a little boy, about seve" ,«« old, „ oon of R .wlands, was left in charge of the house during the absence of his mother at M m mouth, and, to amuse himself, lit a fire in a shed attached, when by some means the flames communicated with the thatch, and from thence spread to the house. A subscription list, on behalf of the occupier, who is a poor man, has been starled, with the name of the vicar of Trelleck at its head. It is to be hooed a p-ond sum will be raised. A WOOD ON FIRE, Sunday, a fire was observed in a wood the property of His Grace the Duke of Beau- fort, situate at Maryland, Trelleck, but was soon ex- tinguished through the promptitude of Mr. Godwin woodward, and several inhabitants of the neighblJurhood. Information having been given to the police, P.C. Birden commenced inquiries into the circumstances, and ascer- tained that un old man named William Williams was seen in the wood a short time before the occurrence; he was therefore taken into custody on the charge of setting the wood on fire, and on Monday was taken before Captain Tyler, at Monmouth, when, in answer to the magistrate he admitted that in returning from chapel alone the foot- path through the wood, he lit his pipe with a lucifer match which he afterwards threw down, and he supposed it set fire to some dry grass which communicated the fiimes to the brush, wood, he, however, strongly denied any malicious intention, and having been spoken of by the woodward Gro< Iwin, as an inoffensive man, tile magistrate said lie did not appear to have been actuated by a malicious motive, and he would therefore bodiseliarged, bu tit shuuld be a warning him for the future.

FIRE AT THE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL HOUSE. the evening of Sunday last, about half-past seven o'clock, a stable a littl- detached from this edifice, was discovered to be on fire. There was a quantity of hay and straw in the building which speedily ignited, and the flames spreading rapidly the roof was soon one mass of fire. Upon an alarm being given, numbers of the towns'olk ran to render as- sistance, and so effectual were their efforts, that in about half an hour the fire was completely extinguished. A horse that was in the stable was safely rescued as soon as the fire was discovered. The loss, we are happy to add, is small, not exceeding probably £10, as the hay and straw in the building and part of the roof was the only property destroyed. We understand that the whole of the build- ings are fully insured. Up to the present time no cause whatever can be assigned for the fire, a porter and a lad having been in the stable feeding the horse about an hour previously, when everything appeared quite safe. PETrY SESSIONS. this meeting on Wednesday last, a charge against Eliza Stephens for assaulting Rosa Stephens, her stepmother, at Cwmbran, was allowed to be settled out of court; as also was a charge against William Howells for a trespass by damaging a wall, the property of Samuel Jones. In consequence of oply one magistrate (J. James, Esq.) being present, an affiliation case was ad. journed to the next meeting, and' no other business was brought forward.

DEATH BY DROWNING. little girl, aged five years, daughter of a forgeman named Robert Sandy, was OIl Thursday sennight roaming with other children on the bank of the river Monnow, near the town, when she accidentally slipped into the water. The other children ran and gave an alarm, and obtained the assis- tance of a Illan named Thomas Pearce, who succeeded iu rescuing the body from the water, but life was quite extinct. An inquest was held at the Beaufort Arm!. Hotel on Saturday, before E. D. Batt, Esq., when a verdict of Accidentally Drowned was returned. POORS' RATE. rate at Is. in the £ for the relief of the poor of the parish of Monmouth, was signed by the magistrates in Petty Sessions, on Saturday last. The call for the Union for the half-year is £942, to be paid at four instalments, viz. 20th April, 11th May, 13th July, and 10th August, in equal propor- tions of £235 10s. CORN EXCHANGE BALL. event came off on Tuesday night, and proved, as we anticipated, a most brilliant affair, being attended by about 180 members of the leading families of the neighbourhood, as well as a good muster of the principal tradesfolk of the town, and had it not have been for the very unfavorable state of the weather, the number would, doubtless, have been much larger. The room was handsomely decorated with a number of elegant oil paintings, as well as a profusion of floral devices, the whole being shewn to great advantage by a brilliant illumination of gas and a variety of Chinese lanterns. The arrangements and catering of Mr. John Thomas, of the White Swan Hotel, gave universal satisfaction, and the musical performances of Messrs. Mc.Carthy and -Pittway.s quadrille band were faultless.

PONTYPOOL. TOWN HALL, SATURDAY, before H. M. EENNARD and JOHN THOMPSON, Esquires. PAT IN TROUBLE. —Patrick TROUBLE. Mullings appeared to a summons charging him with having committed a trespass by knocking off the lock of the gates of the church. It appeared that defendant was about to bury a child, and as he was delayed in gaining admittance to the burial ground be adopted the means alluded to for obtaining it. He was ordered to pay 7s., including costs. BROTHERLY LOVE. — George LOVE. Evans appeared at the instance of Ann Davies, Abersyehan, for having assmlted her. It would seem that on Thursday we, k defendant went to the house of complainant, who is hia siste; and having quarrelled with her ul'iinately ass suite 1 her. Complainant did not wish to press for punishment, all she wanted was peace and to keep defendant away frwn her house. As the parties were so closely related the bene.i did not wish to bear more of the case, and ordered defen- dant to enter into his own recognizances to keen tin- peace and pay 133. costs, the Chairman remarking that it was the duty of a man to protect and not to assault a woman, particularly his sister. THE MONTH'S NOTICE. —John NOTICE. Skinner appeared at the instance of Robert Mountford, Blaenavon, for having left his employment without notice. Last week defendant summoned complainant for non-payment of wages, when an order for payment was made. The present charge having been proved, defendant was ordered to return and work out his month, and pay 9s. costs. A DANGEROUS PRACTICE. —Elizabeth PRACTICE. Ball and Sarah Ball were charged by Jane Painter with having assaulted her at Penyrheol. Evidence having been given in sup- port of the information, the bench said it was not a very serious charge, yet they could not pass it over for the particular renson that defendants had been guilty of the dangerous practice of throwing stones. They were fined 7s. each, costs included. AGGRAVATED ASSAULT ON THE RAILWAY. —James Morgan was charged with having assaulted a lad named Evan Evans. Mr. Greenway appeared for complainant, and Mr. Alexander Edwards for defendant. Complainant; said: I am a porter at Nantyderry Railway Station; defendant also works on the line; on Monday week he seized me by the head and shook me-, he afterwards followed me into the booking office, struck me with ajar, and said if it cost him £10 he would kill me: in conse- quence of what he said I am afraid of my life of him. By Mr. A. Edwards: He did not, accuse me of throwing tea. over his victuals; the station master had not spoken to to me about that; I did not call him Jim Charlotte. Mr. Greenway: That's the name he is known by in Goy trey better than any other. Cross-examination continued When he threatened me I did not turn round and sav Who cares for old Jim Charlotte?" Stephen Gregory and William Jenkins having given corroborative testi- mony, Mr. A. Edwards, on behalf of defendant, said that in consequence of some unpleasant feeling on the part of the parents of complainant against defendant, be (com- plainant) had thrown some tea over defendant's victuals, and was continually annoying him. As if wishing to complete the case against himself, defendant had sub. poenaed the station master, Thomas Pape, to prove that he had complained to him of complainant annoying him, but the witness said he didn't remember any such com- plaint, and added that complainant was a good boy, and defendant was always teasing him. The bench said they could not see anything to mitigate defendant's offence and convicted him in the penalty of £5, including costs. The money was paid. A FAMILY DISPUTE. —Eliza DISPUTE. Elton, Cwmynyscoy, wag charged by Jane Lewis witti having pledged a shawl and two dresses belonging to her. Defendant alleged that complainant had told her to take the articles in payment of a debt. After tha statements of either side bad been heard, the case was adjourned for a week, the bench recommending the parties to settle it in the meantime, as it seemed to be a sort of ramilv matter. COWARDLY ASSAULT. —Julius ASSAULT. Fitzgerald and Elizabeth Crawley were charged by Thomas Neville with having assaulted him at Abersychan. A female appeared with complainant, as he seemed to be not exactly compos mentis, and she said that he was teetotally" de^if. After hearing the statements of the parties and their witnesses, which were very conflicting, the Chairman stated the inability of the bench to fathom the case, and it was con- sequently dismissed, with an intimation that defendants had better take care and not molest complainant again. DISORDERLY CONDUCT. — George CONDUCT. Taijlor was charged with having been drunk and riotous at* Blaenavon. Mr. W. H. Lloyd appeared for defendant. P.C. James said, between the hours of eight and nine o'clock on Sunday night, as he was on duty, he met defendant, who was very drunk and disorderly, and behaved insultingly towards him (the officer). It was stated that defendant had been beiore the court on three different charges previously. Mr. Lloyd, in reply to the charge, said it appeared defen- dant was drunk, which was the extent of his offence. He had lost a dog, and went to ask the policeman respecting it. It was not a policeman's duty to give legal advice, and a man was very foolish for going to one for it; but ,A lr, "ht account for his doiner so. The bench said that defendant appeared to have been visited by his old enemy, drink, which had brought him there previously. He was convicted in the penalty of 10s., including costs. ASSAULTING THE POLICE. —Alfred POLICE. Warren was charged with being drunk, and with assaulting P.O. Lewis and committing a nuisance in his house at Blaenavon. Mr. W. H, Lloyd appeared for defendant. P.C. Lewis' said: at 6.30 p.m. on the 27th of March, I was in mv quar- ters, when the prisoner came in drunk, with his trowsers down, and committed a nuisance; I requested him to go out, when he struck me, and he repeated the blolV before I could recover myself. By Mr. Llovd: My house is situate in a public there is a back-yard; I swear all this was done in the house; I was not outside; I struck defendant once with the handcuffs after he had kicked me indecently; I got him water to wash the blood off his face; it was a small cut on the head. Ann Lewis, wife of defendant, having given corroborative evidence, P.C. Coombs deposed to having prevented defendant from striking Lewis as they were going to the police station. In addressing the bench for defendant, Mr. Lloyd re- marked that he was aware it was necessary for their worships to protect policemen in the discharge of their duty, and he for one approved of that course; but it was also equally necessary to protect the public against policeman acting with undue severity. In this case it seemed that defendant was doing what had been imputed to him in the yard, when Lewis came out and told him to go into the house, and as he refused to do so, a scuffle ensued between them, when Lewis struck defendant with the handcuffs, and he (Mr. L.) thought that if he or their worships had been struck with handcuffs they would have acted as defendant had done. He called Joseph Harris, who said: I was leaning over a wall and saw Lewis pull defendant into his house; I then ran down, and on took- ing through the window I saw Lewis beating him with his "gutter persher," then defendant struck him. The bench commented in strong terms on defendant's conduct, and convicted him in the penalty of B5, including costs. A MATRIMONIAL DISPUTE. was charged with having assaulted his wife Harriet Jones, on the Och inst. A settlement between the parties had been come to in this case, but, on the bench making some inquiries respecting it, an order was made on defendant to enter into recognizances to keep the peace, and pay 11s. expenses. HIGHWAY RATES —An order was made on Thomas Roberts, Goytrey, to pay a highway rate on or before this day week. Defendant, who was represented by his wife, said they did not occupy the land upon which the rate was charged, now, but as it appeared they occupied it on the 22nd of June, when the rate was made, defendant was ordered to pay. AFFILIATION ARREARS. —James ARREARS. Davies, Crumlin, ap- peared at the instance of Elizabeth Walden for the non- payment of fl 5s., being arrears of the above-named description. Defendant, a widower with two children, said he couldn't pay, but was willing to take to com- plainant and the child. In answer to the bench he said he didn't mean that he would marry complainant. He was ordered to pay 10s. arrears and 7s. 6d. expenses. A SLEEPY HAULIER. —Edward Edwards HAULIER. was charged, on the information of P.C. James, with having left his horse and cart, the latter of which was laden with hay. without anyone in charge of the same. The officer said he found defendant asleep in a public house in Blacnavon, and the team unprotected in the public streets. Defen- dant pleaded that being weary and having taken a little drink, ho bad fallen asleep. He was ordered to pay 20s., including costs. W J..GES, Bevan was ordered to pay David Higgins the sum of 91 3s. 6d. due to him as a balance for wages, with 7s. 6d. posts.-—- John Price, boatman was ordered to pay John Euig'ht, Sebastopol, 18s. 3d. for wages, together with 5s. costs. MORE DISORDERLIES. Keyes, Blaenavon, was fined 5s., including costs, for having been drunk on the night of Saturday last. Timothy Hayes, charged on the information of P.C. Mitchell, Abersychan, and John Thomas, John Stott, and Henry Williams, all of Blaen- avon, charged on the information of P.C's, Lewis and James, with similar offences, were each convicted in the penalty of 10s. including costs. Printed, and Published by the Proprietor, WILLIAM HBNRY CLARK, at his Offices, Bridge Street, Usk, in the County of Monmouth, April 22, 1865.—SKCOND EDITION.