The Illustrated Usk Observer and Raglan Herald

EPITOME OF NEWS. The deliveries of tea in London estimated for £ tte week were 1,181,3181b., ^hieh is a. decrease of 64,0501b. compared with the previous statement. The steamer Joseph Pierce exploded her boilers twenty miles below Victaburg, on the Missis- siwpijiOB. one of the last days of July. Six persons were killed .and t wenty-eight wounded. The directors of the South Eastern Railway Tesolved.to recommend the proprietors, at their half-yearly meetinsr on the 31st ult., to declare a dividend of 7s.6d. on each £ 30 stock, being at the rate of 92 10s. per cent. per aanrwpx. During the past week twenty-three wrecks have bean reported, making a total for the present year of 1,354. The report that the,body of Lord F. Douglas had been xecovored is mow positively denied. The denial comes from. th.e: English chaplain at Zermatt, and is dated the 21st iuStsnt. The "Times" of last Friday announced the mar. riage df. a Mr. Catt to a Miss Loverett. In one of the cases at the recent assizes ait Exeter, the names of the,plaintiffand defendant were Fudge and Dodge. A small freehold estate, of about 244 acres, in the jMU-ish of Merton, Surrey, and about ten miles from London, was lately sold for the extraordinary high price of LW,WO, at the rate- of nearly jB350 per acre. Dr. Colenso has left England in the Yerulam, Qapfcaw Creak, one of theline of ships owned by Bullard, JEp&lSRd Co., of London, which sailed from Gravesend last week, iMund to Eort Natal. Through the whole <of the United States the progMsa-of population has received such a check from the war<tha.t it is thought probable the.population.of the Union is 55000,000 less at this day than it would have been in peace. According to a recently issued official docu- ment. the- sum of .8105,055 2s. 4d. was paid as compensa- tion ".to offleers of the late Ecclesiastical, Royal Peculiar, and, other testamentary courts. It-seems there is a plan for getting up a kind of Foundling Hospital in London for the reception and care of infant»«n the Parisian principle. A number of benevolent gentlemen are interesting themselves in the movement. The Admiralty have just hired the ship Yimieira, belonging to Messrs. s&ellatly, Hankey, and Sewell, for the aonweyance of about 280 convicts, who will embark at Sheer- ness, Portsmouth, and Portland for Swan River, under the of Dr. Crawford, Surgeon,Superintendent. The Aberdeen clipper-ship Centurion, Cap- tain Jamas Largie, from Sydney, Mlay 4, has passed up Channel. off Plymouth. She brings 19 passengers, 687 bales wool 262 casks tallow, 60,114 hides, 10,130 horns. One of the Centurion's passengers, Dr. Scott, and her mails were landed at Plymouth by a tr&wlmg-aleop. Mr. A. S. Macrae writes to say that, according to tha American official account of the export of petroleum from all the ports to all the world up to the 31st of July of each year, the number of gallons for the last three years were:4«65, 7,010,650; 1384, 15,071,581; 1833, 15,105,844. On the arrival of an excursion train from Belle V-ue at Dakinfield the other night, Cornelius Schofleld, a aasaeiwer jumped out of one of the carriages just where a bridge crosses the Tame, and fell over the parapet of the bridge into the river beLow, a deptu of forty-two feet. An alarm was raised, and the man was taken out of the water, which was only a foot deep. His thigh was broken, and he had" received other injuries, but not of a serious character. The Bailey Light at Howth on the northern coast of Dublin, has been illuminated with oil-gas instead of oil; and the change is considered.a. vast improvement. li.e light.is much clearer, and can be seen at a greater dis- tance A. deputation from Trinity-house lately came to see the improved light with a view to its possible adoption in the English lighthouses. It is proposed to build a church in London for 13ie use of the deaf and dumb, of whom it is supposed there are no less than 1,800 in the metropolis alone without a- suitaWe place of worship. The Queen has given £ 50, and a jgetttleman offers k25 if forty others will give the same amount within three months. A cattle plasjue has appeared, it is said, in Ame- rica. We wonder if the Americans conceive it to have been imported from Russia, us we do. Why should it not be capable of originating m AmaMoa. as well as in Russia ?— anddf-ao. why should it not be capable of originating in Eng- landm well as in either America or Russia ? The Marquis of Waterford and the Earl of 1roji»e have left Curraghaiore for a fortnight's shooting over the WiOklow mountains. The rejoicings oa the family estates take place shortly to celebrate the earl's ccming of age. THie precise day is not fixed. James Richards, agent- to the Coloharton Mining Goam>aay was summoned before the magistrate at Tavis- t,o6k at'the instance theSouth Devon Railway Company, to^noontrary* to^the" byela ws of the company.* He was m the full penalty of £ 10 and costs. The railway cemgaqy gave up their expenses in the matter. The youth who is reported as having won the pmze in the seminary match at Hastings Regatta.is' RefloM* Blind, son of Earl Blind, the German popular leader, who is at present staying with his family at St. Leaaard's. T J.T_ At the Stalybridge petty sessions. Jonathan Bradbury, a self-acting minder, was charged by Mr. R. E. S. Oram, factory inspeotor, with having allowed a childI to work betwanethe fixed and traversing part of a self-actiag ma- chine called a mule whilst the latter was in motion by the action of the steam engine, where-by the child sustained boflilv injury. viz., the fracture of his eollarbone. -The de- fendant was fined 20s. and costs, or to be imprisoned for foui&eett flays. The annual visitor to Brighton, the autumn shaii which comes in search of health and wtth the idea of aiBKinsriup a beauty, like so n>any of the land sharks with twoleas has j ust been caught and exhibited to the admiring widen the beach. Hencoforth beauty may disport itself unhaj-med in flannel,withia a rope's length of beauty's bathing machine. A Fisench cabby was recognised as be was start- ing off with a. fare by-a fellow whom he had cheated, and Who laid on him with a. stick so long that the fare roared oat to Him to finish, and let the mango. "What! you takti'Ma wt, flo yewf" gaid the flagellator. "Certain^ not- s-bttt X took him by the "d each blow of your siicktcosts me five ceati-nea. Finish, and let me go on. Another barbarous murder of a British sea- man ds: reported from Odessa, the perpetrators of which had. not feeen discovered up to the close of the month of June much less taken and brought to justice, not withstand- ing'the energetic proceedings of the British Consul General, Mr. Murray. On. Sunday ntght considerable excitement was created in the neighbourhood of Kew in consequence of the suicide of a gentleman, Whose name is at present unknown. Deceased-was found hanging by ;& rope to a branch of a tree aaar Kew-gardens. The unfortunate man was cut Jown, and surgical assistance sent for, but lite l^oved to be extinct. The deceased is described as about fifty years of age, und, dressed in a. blaek sMit- The localitv of Brixton, which has hitherto escaped the pestilence prevailing among cattle, is now seriously threatened, and the epidemic has within the last S™ manifested itself in a,virulent form. One cow- SBOT who kept a shed of five cows, has lwst the whole of A dairyman in Acre Jane very recently .purchased a Sktnilch cow, and placed her with his stock, when she soon^fterwards died, but not before communicating the pesttfeneeto the other beasts. During the past week several persons have 'been summoned before the Bristol magistrates, at the in. stance of the loeal Board of Health, for having expoaed for s&le im fche market and liLt shops a, quantity of diseased meat unfit for human food. The meat seized was ordered to be destroyed, and penalties varJ ing from JB10 or one month's imprisonment to 40s. or ten days' imprisonment were in- flicted In the cases of the convicted defendants who held stalls in the market, they were informed that they would -be retmovod therefrom.. -tr- The number of persons who arrived in Via. toria foy sea during the month of May last was 2,829, of whom 1.351 were from the United Kingdom; and the number of those who departed was 1,519, of whom 310 were for the United Kingdom. "The current raises of wages were from cto L45 per aTmum, for married faim labourers with children • from JE50 to L60 for married labourers without families-' dE30 to R40 for single men jBSO to ;£35 for cooks; and jBIS to jB25 for female farm servants. Female domestic eervantsare still in great demand in the colony.

DEATH OF GEN, SIR G. BROWN, G.C.B. General Sir George Brown, GC.B., expired on Sun- day,morning at his residence, Link wood, near Elgin, the house in which he was born. He had attained his seventy-sixth year. During nearly the last sixty years, almost to the time of his death, the late General served in the carmy, sooingmllch glorious active service, and discharging many important commands, the last being that of tie forces in Ireland, to which he was ap- pointed fivs years ago. The present generation will beet TememSer Sir Geo. Brown as the Commander of the Light Division during the Crimean war; and for the brilliant perseverance with with which he swept over the obstacles prepared by the Russians on the slopes beyond the Alma, and fought his way to the Rights. In that action his horse fell .pierced with eleven bullets, but he himself was not wounded. At Inkermann he again rendered important service, and was-wounded. When he was able to return to duty ielad the troops at the unsuccessful storming of the Redan on June 18, 1855; and afterwards commanded the expeditionary forcein the sea of Azoff. He was at this time sixty-five jears old. This was the last active service in which he was engaged, but in earlier yoara he had been present at the attack on Copen. hagen, and fought through the whole of the great Peninswar War.

Three Children Murdered by their Mother in Southwark. About three o'clock on Wednesday morning great consternation was occasioned in the neighbourhood of Bankside, Southwark, by a rumour of a triple murder, the circumstances attending which, following so closely on the recent murders in "Holborn and Ramsgate, ex- cited a thrill of horror in the district. The scene of the crime is a narrow, densely populated thorough- fare, known as Skin market place, leading from Bankside to the Southwark-bridge-road. At the house No. 10, resided a family named Lack, who, though poor in ciroumstanoes, appear to have been much respected by the numerous inhabitants. The husband was employed as a kind of watchman, in "calling up" the neighbours, and while out perform- ing his customary round in the morning, the awful deed about to be narrated was committed. It seema that on his return at the time mentioned he was met on the ground floor by-his wife, who, raising both her arms, exclaimed, I have done it." "Bone whait? replied the terrified husband, and, on looking at her night dress he discovered several stains of blood. He immediately ran upstairs, when a ghastly sight presented itself. On a bed in the first floor were lying his two daughters, Eliza and Esther, aged respectively five years and two and a half years, apparently in a sound sleep, with their throats out from ear to ear; and on another bed he found his son Christopher, aged nine years, with his head nearly severed from his body. The distracted father at once gave an alarm, and Dr. Bainbnaga, of the Southwark-bridge-road, and other medical ^gentle- men were soon in attendance j but so effectually had. the murderess performed her hideous work that their services were unavailing. What could have led the wretched woman to perpetrate such a crimeisyet to be learnt; but it is said that for some time past she has been a great sufferer with her eyes, and getting nearly blind; and that she was going into the hospital to undergo an operation. It is; further asserted that she has brought up a large family, and that, coupled with her affliction, the burden of the younger ^children lias preyed upon her mind™ When she retired to bed there was nothing peculiar in her manner. At the time of the tragedy there was an elder son, John, sleeping in a chair on the ground floor; and he, it is asserted, dis- tinetly remembers hia mother ooming downstairs and going to a cupboard, whence she must have procared the razors with which she effected her murderous de- sign. In the second floor of the house lived a married daughter, who has only recently been confined; but she heard nonoise,praceeding from tke room where the younger children alopt. The murderess offered no resistance on being removed to thestation-at Stone's- end. Borough.. s The greatest excitement prevails in the locality, large numbers being attracted to look at the housa.

Examination of the Prisoner. The prisoner was brought into the Southwark Police- j oourt as soon as the night charges had been disposed of, and charged before Mr. Barcham with the murder of her three children already named. She was decently attired, but evidently in a weak state of health, and; wearing a green shade over her eyes. Her manner and demeanour was cool and collected. Superintendent j Branford and Inspector Manson were in attendance to watch the case. The first witness called was- George Laek, who deposedae follows I am a son of the prisoner, and am seventeen years of age. I had a brother named Christopher; aged nine; a sister named Eliza, aged five; and another sister named Esther, aged about two years. I lived with my parents at No. 10, Skin-market-place, Barikside, where we had three rooms, two on the ground floor and one room on the first floor. In the last-named room I saw my two little sisters alive, but asleep in the bed, about eight o'clock. I saw my little brother alive about twelve o'clock. He was then in the front room on the first floor, and about retiring to bed in the same room in which the little girls were asleep. I think my mother (the prisoneB) was then in bed in the same room. My father came in about twelve o'clock, and I went out for a walk for a few minutes, not feeling well. On my return I saw my father on the ground floor, but I myself fell asleep on a chair at the door.: My father-awoke me to go and call person in the neighbourhood at a quarter to t wo o'clock. Hy fe.ther then himself went-out again, but again returned about -hen r-, -olcho,. oalled out to Kim, and he went a few steps up the ataira. My mother said something to him, which l did not hear, aaa my caLUer came downstairs again wringing his hands. I asked what was the matter, but my father could not.apea.k, and I went upstairs and there saw the, three children lying with their throats cut. My mother was then standing close to the beduoom door, but did not say anything to me. I rushed downstairs and halloed out for help, and a young lad, a neighbour, came up, bat was.afraid to go upstairs. In a short time my father came back with a police-conatable, and my mother was taken into custody. In reply to Mr. Burcham, tine witness said prisoner had been ill seven years, and; was nearly three parts Mind, but could see things when brought close to her eyea. At times he had noticed that her mind was astray, and that she did not remember to have done things which she had done. This had been, the case during the last fortnight. His mother was to have gone into St. Thomas's Hospital on Monday under a letter of admission which she bad reoeived on the pre- ceding Saturday, but she said she did not like to go, leaving her children behind her. The prisoner, when asked if any questions to the witness, said, George, where are the children ?" „ The witness, who was deeply affeetedj burst into tears, but did not make any Te^ly. Mr. Edward Hibbard, surgeon, gave formal evidence as to the cause of death. Richard Gardner was the next witness called, but before he could be sworn be fell down in a fit, and was seized with fearful convulsions. He was removed from the court, and on his restoration he was brought in and seated at the solicitor's table. On being sworn he said. T am iu the employ of Mr. Matthews, a fruit salesman in the Borpugh- market. I married the prisoner's eldest daughter, and lived in the same house in Skin- market- place. This mornipg, about three o'clock, X was awoke 'by 'hearing my brother-in-law, George Lack, who has been examined As a witness, sobbing violently on the staircase. I came out of my room in my night shirt, and asked him what was the matter. George could not answer me, and I went into the first-floor front room, and again asked what was the matter. The prisoner at once said "That's the matter," at the same time point- ing to the bed on which lay the two little girls with their throats cut, the bad being covered with blood. Their,heads were nearly severed from their bodies. I then turned and saw the little, boy lying on his back on the mattresa on whioh he usually slept. His legs were distended, and his throat was cut in a similar manner to: the two other children. By Mr. Borcham married ten meatha and have known the prisoner during the whole time. I have often seen her very strange with the children, ] sometimes chiding tham witii se verity, and the next ] moment taking them up and kissing them. She is by j birth a native of Wales, and in general itreated her 3 children as an affectionate mother, and was very kind j to them. She had not oomflamed .of poverty, bnt on Saturday last she stated that she did not like to go into the hospital, as she did not wish to leave her children to the mercy of anybody. „ George Lack wa8 re-called, and, in reply to rMr. Bursham, said that his mother was always kind and affectionate to the childrep. -Before his,father went npstaira at three o'clock he. (witness) did not hear any cries or screams from the children. .,„ Polise- sergeant Pearce, 7 M, deposed as tollows: 1 went to the house of <No. 10, Skin-market-place, shortly before fonr o'clock this morning, and saw the prisoner in the upstairs room. I said, Who has done this ? and cautioned the prisoner in the usual way. The prisoner at once said, I' know perfectly well what I am about. I murdered the children. I awoke about three o'clock, and got up. I then went downstairs and got the razors. I came upstairs again, and first,cut the throat of Christopher, then I went to the bed and out the throat of Eliza, and then I cut the throat of the baby. After I had done it, I took up the body of the baby and kissed it." I then asked her what had caused her to -do-this, and the prisoner replied that she was about going to the hospital, and did not like to leave her children behind her. On this her son-in- law—the witness Gardner—said ts her, Mother, you oupht not to have done this, for you knew I would take care of the children." She replied, "Yes; but they are my own flesh and blood." The ptisoner was at this time; quite cool and collected a»d not,the least { ^Bidhard Gardner was reaallod, and added to his j former evi^saoe that the$risoii#r: Ijad paidjthat.she did not know what she had done until she had feissed the baby after cutting its throat. This morning he I (witness) brought some tea to his mother, and saw j her about eight o'clock in one of the cells of the ad- joining police-station, and then she said to him that the children were better in heaven than starving about the street. She did not say that some one had whispered to her to do it. The husband of the prisoner said his -wife had made the statement to him. The depositions having been completed, were read over, and the prisoner was told she could now put any question she might think fit to any of the witnesses. The prisoner, who had remained seated, with her head resting on her bands in front of the dock, here roused herself, and said she had no questions to ask. Mr. Burcham then cautioned her in the usual way, when The prisoner said: I have only this to say. I was quite destitute, and my little girl was quite blind. My husband had himself been taken ill, and I fretted my mind because I had to go to the hospital, and I thought it better to do what I did, because I thought my children would be safer to be in heaven. The witnesses were then bound over to prosecute, and the prisoner was fully committed for trial at the next sessions of the Central Criminal Court. The prisoner was at once removed from the dock, and conveyed by Downs, the gaoler of the oourt, to Horsemonger-laiie Gael.

The Inquest. On Friday, Mr. Carter lield an inquest on the three children named Lack, who were killed by their another on Wednesday morning, at Bankside. The witnesses examined were George Lack, brother of the deceased; Richard Henry Gardner, the husband of an elder sister; Police-constable Henry Pope, and Dr. Edward Hibberd. The evidence was a mere repetition of that given before the magistrate. The juicy returned a verdict of Wilful murder against Eilther Laak."

THE ROAD MORDEB. Constance Kent's Confession. Dr. John Charles Backnell, of Hillmorton-hall, near Rugby, who, with the permission of the Lord Chan- cellor, examined the accused for the purpose of ascer- taining whether there were any grounds for supposing, that she was labouring under mental disease, has at the request of the criminal herself communicated the fdllowing details of her crime, which she has confessed' to him and to Mr. Rod way, of Trowbridge, her so- licitor, and which she desires to be made public. She says that the manner in which she committed the crime was as follows:— A few days before the murder she obtained posses- sion of a razor from a green case in her father's ward- robe, and secreted it. This was the sole instrument whioh she used. She also secreted a oandle with matches by placing them in the corner of the closet in the garden, where the murder was committed. On. the night of the murder she undressed herself and went to bed, because she expected that her sisters would visit her room. She lay awake watching until she thought the household were all asleep, and soon after midnight she left her bedroom and went downstairs and opened the drawing-room door and window-shutters. She then went up into the nursery, withdrew the blanket: from beneath the sheet and the counterpane, and placed it on the side of the cot. She then took the child fro m his bed and carried him downstairs through; the drawing-room. She had on her nightdress, and, in the drawing-room she put on "her goloshes. Havj ing the child in one arm she raised the drawing-room window with the other hand, went round the house and into the closet, lighted the candle and placed it on the seat of the closet, the child being wrapped in the blanket, sndstillsleeping: and while the child was in ,this position she inflicted the wound in the throat. She says that she thought the blood would never come, and that the child was not killed, so she thrust the razor into its left side, and put the body with the blanket round it into the vault. The light burned out. The piece of flannel which she had with her was jorn from an old flannel garment placed in the waate- bag, and which she had taken some time before and -sewn it, to use in washing herself. She went back into her bedroom, examined her dreaa, and found only two spots of blood on it. These she washed out in the bason, and threw ttje water, which was but little dis- coloured, into the foot-pa" in which she had washed her feet. She took another of her nightdresses and got into bed. In the morning her nightdress had be. come dry where it had been washed. She folded it up and put it into the drawer. Her three night- dresses were examined by Mr. Foley, the police super- intendent, and she believes also by Mr. Parsons, the medical attendant of the family. She thought the blood stains had been effectually washed out, but on holding the dress up to the light a day or two after- wards she found the stains were still visible. She secreted the drewe, moving it from place to place, and she eventually hurned-it in her awn bedroom, and put the ashes or tinder into tha kitchen grate. It was about five or six days after the child's death that she burned the nightdress. On the Saturday morning, having cleaned the razor, she took an opportunity of replacing it unobserved in the case in the wardrobe. She abstracted her nightdress from the elothes' basket when the housemaid went to fetch a gl"s of water. (This, it may be remembered, exactly Gon,5..rmsthe evidence of the housemaid, Mrs. Rogers—formerly Cox—as given at the examination, at Trowbridge.) The stained garment found in the boiler-hole had no connection whatever with the deed. As to the prisoner's meatal condition, Dr. Backnell adds:— An opinion has baan expressed, that the peculiari- ties evinced by Constance Kent between the ages of twelve and seventeen may be attributed to the then transition period of her life. Moreover, the fact of her cutting off her hair, dressing herself in her brother's clothes, and leaving her home with the in- tention of going abroad, which occurred when she was onlythirteen years of age, indicating a ps juliarity of dis. position and great determination of character, which foreboded that for good or evil her future life would be remarkable. This peculiar disposition, which led her to such singular and violent resolves of action, seemed also to colour and intensify the thoughts and feelings, and magnify into wrongs that sjcejte to be revenged, any little family incidents or occurences which provoked her displeasure. Although it became my duty to advise her counsel that she evinced no symptons of insanity at the time of ,my examination, and that so far as it was possible to ascertain the state of her mind at so remote a period, there was no evidence of it at the time of the- murder, I am yet of opinion that owing to the peculi- arities of her constitution, it is probable that under prolonged solitary .confinein.e»t that s)ie would become ingane."

THE NEWS BUDGET. The Loves of the Chimpanzees.—The Zoo- logical Society has just received a male chimpanzee. The introduction of the stranger to the female in the garden was amusing. The two creatures rushed into each other's arms like stage lovers. They kissed each other; then the male chimpanzee patted the female's face, ,clanced round her, took her round the waist, as if he were going to waltz, when they expressed their joy by dancing and howling in ludicrous concert. The Isleworth Murder. — An inquest took plase at Isleworth on Wednesday on the body of Daniel Dossett, who, as there is every reason to be. lieve, first murdered his wife and then inflicted deadly injuries upon himself. During the ten weeks he lingered in the infirmary of the workhouse he made a quasi confession of his guilt. The jury returned a verdict that Dossett died by his own hand, but de- clined to express any opi donas to his state ef mind at the time he committed the deed. A Young Woman Shooting Herself.-On Saturday afternoon Mr. John Humphreys, Middlesex coroner, held an inquiry at the Caledonian Tavern, Stoke Newington-road, into the circumstances of the suicide of Miss Mary Ann Fryar, aged twenty years, who shot herself with a revolver. Mr. Frank Stannard, 7, Somerford-grove, Stoke Newington, was examined, and said he was a Ctistom-houae agent. The deceased, who had lived with him as housekeeper and as wife, ) was on a visit to him at the time of her death. They t had some words. She called him a liar, and he said, I The lie is on your side." B&marking thai he should never say that again, she-rushed out of the room, and snatching up a loaded revolver which was in another apartment, shot herself through the head. After some further evidence, the jury found that Deceased had destroyed herself while in an unsound state of mind." Crinoline Again.-On Saturday morning a fright- ful accident happened to Elizabeth Baker, aged twenty years, who resided in Lower George-street, Chelsea, which it is feared will terminate fatally. It appears that the unfortunate sufferer's dress, which was made of light materials, caught fire, and she was speedily feaveloped in flame. Hot screams brought assistance, when the flames were extinguished. She was conveyed to St. George's Hospital where Mr. Barker, house surgeon, rendered every assistance, but the unfortu. nate-woman remains in a dangerous condition from the serious burns. A Man Blinded by Sulphuric Acid.-A fiendish assault was perpetrated by a wife upon her husband at Hebburn, a few days ago. Margaret Surgen and her husband had been living unhappily together for some weeks. The latter had been un- manly enough to beat his spouse, but the latter reta- liated in a fearful manner by throwing sulphuric acid in his face, which completely burnt out one eye and so injured the other as to render it probable that he will be entirely blind. The case was before the South Shield's bench, and was remanded until the husband was able to attend. A case of stabbing, which is likely to end fatally, occurred at Stratford on Sunday evening. Some quarrel seems to have taken place between a German cabinetmaker named Joseph Kruchen, residing there, and two other Germans, named Brenner and Heins. Kruchen's son says he saw Brenner Btab his father setveral times. Kruchen himself was picked up wounded fearfully. He was carried to the London Hospital, and is not likely to recover. Brenner and Heins were apprehended and brought before the magistrates at Stratford on Monday. Some evidenee was given against them, and they were remanded. The Atlantic Cable.—The folio wing notide has been posted at Lloyd's, from the directors of the Atlantic T-elegraph Compaay, respecting the future operations in resist to the Atlantic cable :—"It is not intended to send out the Great Eastern to repair the cable during the present season; but she will immediately commanae her refitments to enableiher to take in a new cable, and will proceed to sea in May or June, next year, for the purpose of paying a new cable, and to resuscitate the present one in conne8fciofi with that in operation." Loss of Life on the Thamas.-On Saturday a man named Bryan Sullivan, while going down the river in a skiff towards St. Katberine's Docks, got athwart the hawse of. a ship in a tier off Iron gate- stairs, and while standing,up in the boat for the purpose of making a rope fast to a barge, another barge was carried by the tide against the boaft, and smashed it, at the same time precipitating Sullivan into the water. He was carried away by the tide, and his body has not been found.—Between eight and nine on Friday evening a boat returning with a pleasure party from Greenwich, in making for Rotherhitrhe- stairs to land, got athwart the causeway and capsized, immersing the entire party. One, a female, in her struggles, got out into deep water and was drowned. Sanitary Improvements at Woolwich.- Operations were commenced on Saturday in Beresfcard- square, Woolwich, for the purpose of diverting part Of the drainage of the town into the new southern outfall sewer. Woolwich is, therefore, the first parish that will be relieved of the sewage under the present improved system. The contract has been taken by Messrs. Hill and Keddall, the well-known contractors of London, at a cost of £10,000, and will be carried out under the experienced superintendence of Mr. J. Haughton and Mr. John Barnett, engineers to the Metropolitan Baard of Works. Death of Archdeacon Coxe.—We have to an- nounce the death of the Yen. Archdeacon Coxe, who,, after a lingering and severe affliction, expired on Fri- day morning. The deceased gentleman was bora about the year 1799, and was educated at Oxford. He suc- cessively became chaplain of Archbishop Tenison's Chapel, London, vicar of Newcastle, select preacher before the University of Oxford, archdeacon of Lindfe- farne, and canon residentiary of Durham; appoint- ments for which his great learning, matured judgment, and kindly disposition pre-eminently fitted him. In his death the diooeae of Durham has lost one of its most able and aotive ministers, and the ChuBoh a staunch and zealous supporter. A Questionable Betting Transaction.—At the Manchester County Court, before E. Ovens, Esq., judge, John Lee, of Staly bridge, contractor, sued George Dodson, beerseller, Henley-street, Hudders- field, to recover £15 upon two I O U's. It appears that a footrace was to have come off at the Copen- hagen Ground, Newton Heath, between two. men named Shaw and E irnshaw, and the money was said to have been advanced to make up the stakes; but defendant denied the receipt of the money. It seemed tboa-an arrangement was come to by which Shaw was to win, and the other was to be paid back his stakes. His Honourllonsuited the plaintiff; and said he had no doubtthat the parties ha.d put their heads together in order to cheat the public over the race. Importation of Silkworms' Eggs into Fra,nce.-The Ministers of Foreign Affairs and of Oommerce in Paris have issued a joint decree to pre- vent "frauds which might be committed by the sale of silkworms' eggs, not coming from Japan, but placed in boxes used to import supplies from that country. All French agents in Japan are to be required to affix a special stamp, varying every year, to the boxes destined to France. Instructions have also been ^ent to the Minister of France at Yeddo as to certain pre- cautions to be taken in the transmission of "livtng cocoons and eggs; the same to be communicated to all who may be desirous of such information. The Government, however, in adopting those measures does not intend to guarantee the quality of the eggs imported from Japan, but only their bona fide orierin. Atlantic and Great Western Railway.—At the public meeting held a short time since at the London Tavern, Sir Morton Peto, Bart, M.P., stated that instead of making his usual holiday trip to Scotland, he intended to visit America, and personally inspect the whole of the extensive system of the Atlantic and Great Western Railway. In fulfilment of the pledge thus made to the bondholders, Sir Morton Peto, accompanied by Mr. M'Henry, the contractor for the line, and a number of engineers, representatives of the leading railways of the "country, and commercial and banking establishments in London and Liverpool, has proceeded on his mission. The party start this (Saturday) morning, by the Scotia, Captain Jndkins, and will return to England about the beginning of November, when a very complete report will be furnished of the condition and prospects of the Atlantic and Great Western Railway, and the princi- pal American lines in connection with the system,— Railway News. The Case of Constance Kent.—Mr. Dowding, the governor of the Wilts County Gaol, has received an official communication from Mr. Chitty, Clerk of Assize for the Western Circuit, announcing that the sentence of death recently passed on Constance Emilie Kent, for the murder of her half-brother, Francis Seville Kent, at Road-hill-house, in June I860 had been commuted by her Majesty into one of penal servitude for life. When the result was made known to the prisoner she receiyed the announcement with the same calmness which has characterised -her throughout. The statement that she has written a history of her life while in prison is without the slightest foundation. The Siamese Twins Again.-The following letter appears in the New York Times .-—"To the Editor of the New Yorh Times.—Grateful for past favours at your hands, we beg again to trespass upon your kindness and liberality. Our names are not entirely unknown to the American public. In former years we were received everywhere with flattering and substantial compliments, and after several most suc- cessful tours through the cities of the United States we retired to the privacy of our country horns, where we had hoped to spend the remainder of our days in the quiet enjoyment of domestic felicity, blessed as we then were with ample fortunes for ourselves and our families. But time has wrought a sad change. The ravages of civil war have swept away our fortunes and we are again forced to appear ia public.Remem- bering! as we do, with the profoundest gratitude, the liberality of our adopted country, we have arranged to appear on public exhibition in the Northern cities commencing early ia August next, aecompanied by several of our children, and we shall hope to meet then thousands of our old friends of lang syne. With sin- cere regard, we subscribe ourselves your obedient servants, CHANG and ENG, Siamese Twins, Surrey County, N.C., July 25,1865."