Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
10 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
TO "WIST TALK.
TO "WIST TALK. BY Oyn. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. Ow readers will understand that; tM do not hold owrse¡ves h$por. siblefor onvr able Correspondent's opiwicms. A FEW days ago I bent my steps towards the City-clown Fleet-street, across, at the risk of my life, Farringdon-street; up Ludgate-hill, where every second person was inclined to knock against me; through St. PauFs-ehurchyard, where the objects that meet the eye are by no means of a gloomy or sepulchral character; down Cheapside, passing the now notorious clock, whose bells have created so much discord, and before which there is a staring crowd, who evidently think the simple mechanical contrivance cc as good as a play; by the Royal Exchange, the inscription on whose front suggests the Spanish Armada, which, in its rIg turn, suggests the Fenian navy, that has terrified us all so much; and so turning into Bishopsgate- street I held on my way until, after in- quiring of several people, who, of course, gave me the most bewildering and contradictory directions, I, at last, turned into a narrow street which bears the name of Half Moon, because, perhaps, those who built it despaired of ever seeing anything like daylight thcvre; and having walked some little distance I saw, in white paint, on the walls, Lot 1, Lot 2, and so on. The whole quarter was evidently doomed. I went up Thomas's-court and Thomas's-rent, and saw places of whose filth I became aware by more senses than one. Talk of Irish cabins with the dung pit outside the door; I do not think there ean be in the world any places more filthy or un- wholesome than these. I can imagine the prover- bial sow going into one of these courts and, be- coming disgusted with dirty habits, resolving forthwith to live like a cleanly pig, and give up her perverse trick of wallowing in the mire. The win- dows and the houses in general were so battered you would have thought that the inhabitants must have been at one time in a state of siege. And, oh! my friend, the faces of the women-or of the hags, I should rather say! There was on the ground, near one of the doors, a bundle of clothes, in the middle of which was a very wrinkled specimen of the human face divine, ornamented with a care- less elegance-the carelessness being decidedly predominant-by a dilapidated cap. I ventured to tell the bundle of clothes that it had been turned' out. Yes, an' a dirty turn out, too," was the reply. "A purty thing arter my fifteen year." The heart that was somewhere hidden away in the bundle of clothes seemed to be very disconsolate. The sad thing I thought was not so much the turn out itself, as that there should be any persons in this great prosperous country to whom leaving such a wretched and filthy region should appear in the light of a calamity. The motive that impelled me, in disregard of all sanitary considerations, to visit Half Moon-street, was to see for myself the exact state of the people in that quarter of our happy and well-regulated country. Towards the end of last week a deputa- tion of working men from thence entered the Mansion-house, with a petition to the Lord Mayor, entreating him to use his influence to get them some compensation from the Great Eastern and North London Railway Companies, from which they had received a week's notice to quit. Of course, the presiding alderman and Mr. Oke told them that nothing could be done for them. Their position, as I learned from themselves, is this: they have saved no money, they can't get lodg- ings near, nor in any place, as cheap as those from which they are about to be ejected, and the expense of removing to any distance is absolutely ruinous. On the other hand, it must be said, as they are principally tailors, shoemakers, plasterers, costermongers, and men of that class-and some of a far worse class, if I may credit a communica- tive policeman-their removal cannot materially interfere with their means of livelihood. It may, however, involve, in the case of many, a week with- out work; and a week without work means some days of hunger, which means more or less sickness, or the poorhouse, or crime. But, apart from the wholesale demolition of property by rail- way despotism, in this particular case almost the whole of the houses had been condemned by Dr. Letheby, and must have been taken down in con- sequence @f their dilapidated condition. It seems to me fruitless to ask why was not this state of things anticipated, and houses prepared for these people to inhabit when turned out by the railway ? The general question is the one with which we ought to busy ourselves-namely, Why should not the Government take care that the poor, honest, working man should have a proper dwel- ling place ? Not one in a hundred of the houses in any part of London where the poor live is fur- nished with those conveniences without which cleanliness is impossible. Ought landlords to be allowed to let such houses ? We have laws relat- ing to the adulteration of tea and coffee; what about the adulteration of air ? It may be said the less Government interference we have the better. As a general rule, that is quite true. Bat all political economists—even the most advanced- admit that the laissez-faire principle is liable to large exceptions. It would be much better to spend money on suitable and cheap dwellings for the poor than in building those huge palaces where pauperism sits and scratches itself in state. If any one will take the trouble to compute what the prison and the poorhouse cost us, he will at once see that it is the truest economy to keep both as scantily filled as possible. SOMETHING has been done in the right direction by private speculation, by private philanthropy, and by the Corporation of the City. I allude to the model lodging-houses which have sprung up here and there. They may be described as houses with lobbies open to the street, protected by an iron railing about three feet high. Each floor or flat contains three rooms, and every convenience- such as ash-pit, water, &c.—that a family can require. The houses, which are high and strongly built, present a very respectable appearance. Their advantages are manifold. Good ventilation, a place for the children to play and have the fresh air without going into the street, dispatch in house- hold business, salvation from those little feminine squabbles which never fail to arise where families use in common any one single thing, cheapness, and finally, cleanliness—as one of the women I said to me, pointing to the ash-hole, "We have only to throw our ashes down there, and we never l sees, it^no more." She gave me this piece of in- formation evidently supposing that I laboured under the 'delusion that the ashes returned, in some mysterious manner, just to bid her good-bye before its final departure. Most of these houses consist of five flats, exclusive of the ground-floor, in which, in most cases, there is a shop. Each flat fetches from 7s. 6d. to 4s. 6d. a week. Those who have built these houses as a matter of speculation are well satisfied with the way they pay. There is in no case a single flat to let, and the moment one becomes vacant the number of appli- cants attest how highly they are prized. Why should we not have whole streets of such houses ? BUT yesterday and Fenianism might have stood against the world-as a subject of conversation; now it excites but a languid interest, though the sums of money with which the Fenians were to purchase arms for the overthrow of everything, as brought out at their recent examination, have slightly tickled our risible faculties. Just think of it, they had £ 3,500 With this they intended to purchase arms and ammunition to blow Eng- land and order into the German Ocean! It re- minds me of a story, which I can vouch for as a fact. An Irishman from Galway got into the metropolitan police, and was not many days in London before he asked a brother of the cloth to show him the City, suggesting that he should like, first of all, to see Raygent's-shtreet." A gold- smith's shop was the first thing that attracted his attention; looking into which, and pointing to a gold locket and glittering chain, he said to his 'amazed companion, When I git mei pay I'll buy thaat." The next place they stopped at was a book-shop, concerning several of the volumes of which he, of course, predicated that when he got his pay he'd buy thaat." At last they came to a clothier's shop, in which the figure of a boy was dressed so as to show off the clothes to the very best ad- vantage. Here he became, to the astonishment of the passers-by, extravagantly jubilant. "Oh, be the powers he cried, "when I get mei pay I'll buy that; it would be sich a nate prisent intirely to send home to the ould people." Is not this Fenian- ism financially speaking? It saw a splendid republic across the Atlantic, high offices at home it would; dearly like to fill, broad lands it would not have the smallest objection to possess, and it said, pointing to each, With my Y,3,500 I'll buy that." THE letter of Mr. Seward on the decision of the Vice-Chancellor in the case of the United States against:i Prioleau and others for the recovery of 1,356 bales of cotton, has excited disapprobation more or less marked, from men of every party And it is really rather a curious letter. He says the United States have only to do with the judg- ment of the Vice-Chancellor, and not with his reasons for that judgment. But in this case his reasons are part of the judgment. Nothing could be more opposite than the respective views of the Vice-Chancellor and Mr. Seward on this subject, though both agree that the cotton belongs to the United States. In:fact, the letter, though sharp enough in some parts, is only an indirect way of saying that the United States, albeit having pleaded before him, will yet not submit to the decision of the Vice-Chancellor. MR. JOHNSON'S constructive policy, the clemency which he has lately shown so conspicuously, and his generally statesmanlike character, have thoroughly effaced those prejudices with which he was at first regarded. Men, who, ignorant of his career while governor of Tennessee, spoke of him as a "drunken tailor,&c., now link his name with that of Washington, Cromwell, and those other names which are ever ready colours on the palette of the eulogist. The opinions of Mr. Sumner and the extreme radical party in regard to the South are strongly condemned. The policy Mr. Sumner would have the Government pursue in regard to the Southern people is the one of severity and distrust which we so long adopted in regard to Ireland, and which has never been pursued with success by any nation. The course President Johnson has adopted shows his wisdom as well as patriotism. Then, in regard to the negroes, their greatest friends, if wise, would not give them the suffrage all at once. Mr. Johnson may bear very calmly the epithets hurled at him by rash and disappointed politicians when he re- members that the world looks on him approvingly, and that history will forget the tailor and the slaveholder in the great statesman, who, in the hour of triumph, knew how to temper a vigorous policy with the quality of mercy." Z.
SUMMARY OF PASSING EVENTS.…
SUMMARY OF PASSING EVENTS. tt THE American news by the Scotia is just what was anticipated, viz., the total repudiation of the Confederate debt. It was never supposed for an instant that the United States would acknowledge it; but two letters from Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams -in which the Secretary instructs the American ambassador in England" to unmistakably inform the British Government and people, should it become necessary, that the Federal Government had never admitted the responsibility of the so- called Confederate Government, and that the United States would in no wise assume any obliga- tions of that combination of disloyal subjects "— are important. This emphatic language is un- mistakable, and refers to the capture of Northern cruisers in British waters, for which they hold us responsible. We trust, however, that these matters which occurred during the heat of war will not be raked up so as to cause enmity between the two nations but that such friendly relations will again be established between Great Britain and America as will lead to the commercial pros- perity of both countries. SIR MORTON PETO, the great contractor, who is now over in America, and seeing the value of her internal resources, puts down the national debt as a. flea-bite. In referring to this in a speech he made at New York, he says:— Well, the figures do look large; but it may be some consolation to know that your debt is not so large as ours, the figures being as eight hundred millions -to six hundred million pounds sterling. The interest at present will be at a greater rate of charge in your country than our own but such is the enormous ex- tent of your territory, and such its rapid development and such, I believe, the self-reliant attitude of your people, that no difficulty will arise in your meeting the annual charge. Oar own progress as a nation was shown to be so great in a recent speeoh by Mr. Glad- stone since the adoption of a free-trade policy that, by the showing of the people themselves in their Income- tax and Property returns, the increase in ten years has exceeded the total value of our entire national debt. Let me add a familiar explanation: — Suppose each American spent on dinner one shilling a day for a year your people would consume as much as the entire national debt you have incurred. Look at the rail. way whose completion we are here celebrating (the Great Western). Why, it has cost one-sixteenth of your entire national debt, and yet it has been sub- scribed mainly by foreign capitalists during the period of your struggle, and the receipts show it to be a highly remunerative investment." CONSIDERABLE anxiety exists as to the deter- mination of France to evamate Rome within the period assigned. It will be remembered that Louis Napoleon ordered one-half of the French troops, who had long supported the Pope on his throne, to retire in 1864, and this having been done, he gave formal notice that at the end of two years the remainder would follow. The time is now approaching, and the French official journal, in commenting upon this last week, said:— "No doubt exists relative to the intentions of the French Government. So soon as France shall con- sider the moment to have arrived she will, in concert with the Pontifical Government, adopt the necessary measures for the commencement of the evacuation of Rome, in order that the withdrawal of the French troops may be completed within the appointed period." The Pope does not appear to be making prepara- tions for his own defence, but, in the language of his Court, says he looks to Providence for pro- tection. IN political circles there is little to record. Lord Palmerston is said to have had a second attack of gout, but it is hoped that, from no bul- letin being issued, it was of a milder nature than the last attack. It has been urged in political circles that there is a probability of an autumnal Session, for these reasons: Firstly, the agricul- tural portion of the community say that the Privy Council are unable to deal with the great question of the cattle disease. That a special Act should be passed to meet the peculiar characteristics of this plague, Dr. Letheby says, in his report, that many cattle die in the streets, and there is a dif- culty in getting persons willing to bury them, according to Act of Parliament, in the nearest available spot of ground. The Commissioners of Sewers think that the Government ought to appoint certain places in the metropolis 'Where cattle attacked by the disease should be taken to, and where those who die should be buried; that they should offer a premium to any one who could discover the actual cause of the disease and find an antidote; that the indiscriminate slaughter of animals who are pronounced by veterinary surgeons to be suffering from the plague will so diminish our flocks and herds that animal food will rise to an unprecedented price; and that the right way to deal with the matter would be to endeavour to provide remedial measures. AGAIN it is asserted that the Fenianism which exists in Ireland, the encouragement that has been given to its movement in England, and the aid the conspirators have received from America, are motives sufficient to call a Parliament, and allow the Irish members an opportunity of expressing their disgust of the movement. Mr. Digby Seymour, the other day, probed Irish loyalty in a manner peculiar to him- self. At a place called Ballina, he was called upon at a public meeting for a speech, and during a very sensible one on many topics, said, Come, then, and join with me in a cheer-a cheer the sound of which will float along the Bunree river, and re-echo from the slopes of old Nephin! I give you-The Queen. May her virtues as a woman and her wisdom as a Sovereign consecrate her person and her throne in the loyal affections of her Irish people! The whole assemblage joined in a loud and hearty cheer, which was repeated with great enthusiasm. THE movement of the greater German States is also set forward as a reason for the early as- sembling of Parliament; for it cannot be disguised that the assumption of Prussia in taking posses- sion of Lauenberg with the connivance of Austria, and the probability of her also annexing the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein to her despotic sway are contrary to the wishes of the majority of European nations. But Lord Palmerston is such a stickler for "long vacations" that we doubt whether he will think all these important enough to put the Cabinet Ministers in harness. THE Times has been making a great fuss about two cases of cholera which have occurred at South- ampton. Now, it is seldom that a summer passes in which two or three cases of Asiatic Cholera are not recorded. The stone fruit season is sure to bring on what may be termed aggravated attacks of diarrhoea, and alarmists are apt to picture this as cholera. Perhaps during this summer and autumn these attacks have been less frequent than ordinary; yet the few that have occurred are magnified into the appearance of a dreadful epidemic. We are no friends to the con- cealment of facts, but cholera, with the sudden- ness with which it produces death, and the wide belief in its contagious character, has an excep- tional effect upon the imagination. At the same time, terror, like fatigue, is a predisposing cause, and the first object of every journalist should be to avoid creating a panic. The present instance has had on&good effect-Southampton has resolved to look to the sanitary condition of the town. THE changes that are taking place in Greenwich Hospital have given room for comment. The option has been given to the pensioners to take a stipend averaging 14s. 6d. per week, and be allowed their freedom and spend their time in the society of their friends. The vast majority have accepted this offer, and the hospital is now devoted only to those who are sick and infirm, and the charity of this establishment will now be extended to sick seamen from the merchant service. THE carpenters and builders in London have again struck for wages. It will be remembered that in the summer they demanded three-farthings per hour more wages than they then obtained; the masters gave the halfpenny and the men appeared contented. Now they propose to strike, not for the other farthing, but to make figures round, another halfpenny. However much we may sympathise with workmen, this grasping puts us out of patience. The demand for labour at the moment is great, but long ere the winter is over those men who now make an undue demand upon their masters may probably be in a more humble position. It is unjust to masters, who are desirous of helping those in their employment, to be constantly disturbed by assumed grievances where not existing.
The Emperor of Austria's Manifesto.
The Emperor of Austria's Manifesto. The task which now falls to our lot of speaking thoroughly and conscientiously on the Imperial mani- festo, and the Imperial patent appended, is one of the most difficult which a publicist of integrity can have to perform. The matter is all the more difficult, as the limits of free speech are naturally more confined in this case, in which the act is immediately connected with the sovereign, than at other times, when we have only to criticise the policy of the Ministry. What has occurred comes before us in the most solemn form, in that of a manifesto of the Emperor to the peoples of the empire, and thereby, in a monarchical State, the greatest reserve is imposed on everbody. On the other hand, it is not easy to measure the con sequences which the September Patent may have; for in it theie is only expressed a general decision, and the divining power of a reader not specially initiated in the inten- tions of the Government might be quite insufficient to see the change which has been effected in our public law on the night of the 20bh of September, in all its ramlncations. Under such circumstances, our task can only be to regard the accomplished fact as such. Whether the step which has now been taken be the best which could have been taken, or whether a less dangerous one would have attained the same object—whether it really were necessary to cause an interruption in the development of our public law, or whether, without such, that would have been possible which is now aimed at-that we shall not go into. A judgment on this point would either come too late or too early: too late, because the suspension of the February Con- stitution is already an accomplished fact, which does not 'admit of an alteration till after the decisions of the Hungarian Diet; too soon, because the verdict of history is not given a few hours after events happen. We only wiati to make what has happened clear, and we will try to realise the new state of things.-Neue Freie Presse (an Austrian paper). Austria, indeed, is a text from which might be preached any number of sermons as to the follies which it is in the power of a Government to commit. We are no believers, as a general rule, in the power of Governments to create the prosperity of nations. Our creed is rather that in these cases the nation must minister to itself. How great, then, must have been the mis-government of Austria when it is agreed on all hands that so mueh may be done for her by a change of policy! in other words, that the mischiefs under which she is suffering are entirely the work of her own Government. She needs internal tranquillity. So do we in the case of Ireland. But, while nobody is able to point out what legislative measures would give tranquillity to Ireland, everybody knows what conces- sions would banish discontent from Hungary. Give her back her ancient constitution, leave her her old institutions, and she is satisfied. So in finance. Every- body knows the weak point of Austria in finance; it consists in an overgrown army, and that army has been kopt on ita present footing partly for the sake of claims wiucn iia,vD and partly for a province which is not worth fighting for. If the expenditure is large the revenue is defective, and everybody knows that:this arises from adherence to the obsolete policy of protection. A nation is, indeed, unhappy which has been so mismanaged and misgoverned; but, on the other hand, as these evils are created by misgovernment, good government can remove them. Low as Austria has sunk, we believe that it is quite in her power, by coming to a sincere recon- ciliation with Hungary, by disposing ef Venetia, by reducing her army, and by liberalising her tariff, to save herself from all present danger and resume her former place in Europe. There never was such an opportunity, and we shall be unfeignedly rejoiced if the Emperor has at length called statesmen to his councils who are willing to take advantage of it to the utmost.-Times.
Rumoured Job at the Horse…
Rumoured Job at the Horse Guards. The step which the Army and Navy Gazette an. nounces as now about to taken by the Duke of Cam- bridge, affords a convincing proof that his Royal Highness, in shrinking from the task of selection which the Royal Commissioners sought to impose upon him, knew himself much better than they knew him. The post of Inspecting Field Officer in Dublin— one of the most valuable and desirable staff appoint- ments a colonel can hold-is about to fall vacant, and his Royal Highness is stated to have selected for that post Colonel Arthur Cavendish Bentinck, the hero of the notorious Robertson court-martial. It will be re- membered that Colonel Bentinck was displaced from the lieutenant-colonelcy of the 4th Dragoon Guards in consequence of certain discreditable disclosures which were made, on the occasion of the trial of Captain Robertson, as to his conduct of the regiment under his command. He has since remained on half-pay, and is now selected, out of all the colonels of the British army, to inspect and report upon-we hope and believe-better men than himseif. We can scarcely give credit to this astonishing report, re- spectable as is the source from which it emanates; but, if true, it will conclusively prove that, whatever may be the deficiencies ef our present Commander-in- Chief, his Royal Highness is not deficient in self- knowledge.-Pall Mall Gazette.
The Cattle Disease.
The Cattle Disease. There is, probably, no reason to guard against a wholesale extermination of our flocks of sheep or droves of pigs, although precautions must be adopted to prevent the conveyance of the infection by them. The conclusion to which the discovery of all these new sources of danger would lead USi seems to be in the direction of forbidding or discountenancing the gather- ing together of live stock at general fairs or local markets for any other purpose except for immediate consumption as beef or mutton. A prudent owner of live stock ought to regard all purchases at such assem- blies as suspicious; because, even if there was nothing wrong with the animals before they were brought to market, they may have contracted the seeds of disease by contact with infected stock. Until the plague has been subdued, it is one of the rashest actions which an owner of cattle can perform to allow his stock to come in contact needlessly with other animals, however apparently free from disease. To slaughter all suspected cattle is, of course, impos- sible, but to treat animals which have been exposed to infection as if they were free from taint, and introduce them among other stock of any kind, is a very reckless course of proceeding. If the Government do 'not at present possess the powers necessary to prevent the spread of the disease from these sources, they ought to ask them from Par- liament as quickly as possible. They ought to possess the power of preventing at such a time as the present the infection of a whole neighbourhood by some wrong-headed purchaser of stock who will resort to fair or market for the purpose of stocking his grazing fields or his dairy farms. Reckless people are always found who, either from ignorance or cupidity, will risk everything to gain a small advantage. The Government have hitherto directed nearly their whole attention to the case of the diseased cattle, but a slight consideration of the best means of keeping the healthy cattle away from infection would probably be very useful, and in beth directions the ourative pro- cess would proceed at once. To deal with the diseased animals, although a very difficult subject, is not more important than the question of treating the healthy flocks and herds. The common sense ef the nation and the general appreciation by dealers of their own in- terests, have led greatly to the adoption privately of wise measures of precaution; but these efforts ought to be seconded by the enforcement upon those who are not so prudent, of the necessary restrictions.— Mornmg Advertiser.
The Maori Protection Society.'
The Maori Protection Society. The officials of the Aborigines Protection Society nave never shown much temper or sense, but the address which they circulated in New Zealand, in the Maori language,.and which their secretary communi- cated to the Times last Saturday, is a much more imbecile and mischievous document-the two qualities jjrs often combined—than they have yet produced. JLhe goodiness for the Maories, the malice for the English settlers, all expressed in figurative language, with a sort of moral lisp to make it sound childlike and innocent, give it the effect of gruel and vinegar served up in quaint Dresden china. This is the style: Be as peaceable and as much of one mind among your- selves as you can be. Unless you do so, you will break to pieces like a glasd bottle dashed on the stones, which cannot be mended." Why a glass bottle ? We suppose bringing up. children by bottle must have been in the mind of this nurse of Aborigines. As to the substance of the address, its chief object seems to be to encourage the Maories in their hatred to the Eng- lish settlers, and persuade them neither to sell nor let any more land to the Englishmen. To prevent his being robbed by selfish and dishonest persons, he (the Maori) should be unable to dispose of it (the land), and this rule should be made quite strong and safe. Even the letting or leasing of land should be discouraged, and never sanctioned without caution and registration. Colonists out of New Zealand have hail lands let to them by natives, and then the colonists have kept possession and driven the natives away." The Maories are a noble and manly race. We trust they will de- spise the food of these political dry nurses. The Eng- lish press has already had a good many shots at the society s bottles, and if these should really be broken so as not to be mended," we think no one would miss the milk.-Spectator.
Madame Valentin.
Madame Valentin. We shall be curious to see what will be done in this case. Obviously, if Madame Valentin be guilty, Jean Lafourcade is innocent. What will be done to elicit the truth ? Our rather bungling system of criminal procedure has allowed us to stumble into this diffi- culty. How will it, or authority in any shape, get us out. of it P There is in this matter no such excuse as B-ere was in that of Pelizzioni and Gregorio Mogni. In that case additional evidence was forthcoming to upset the first decision. But upon the trial of Madame Valentin not a single fact was adduced which had not been brought before the jury who had convicted Lafourcade. If then either of these convicts is to be pardoned-and one ought to be-which will the Home Secretary choose ? It will not do to allow the matter to rest as it is. An official, puzzled by the contradictory statements of the two parties, may think that no great harm would be done were all who have been connected with the business to have twelve months at hard labour in one of our gaols. But apart from the chance of doing a great injustice to persons who, though appearances are somewhat against them, may;be very estimable and honest, rough-handed measures of that kind are not in accordance with the principles of right, nor suited to the opinions of the times. Sir George Grey, then, must interfere and liberate one or other of the convicted persons. Let us hope that the trouble to which he will be put in making his selection may induce him to promote some measure for the improvement of our judicial procedure in criminal cases. If in the next session of Parliament he should introduce a bill for the appointment of public prosecutors, the Valentin case will not have been without its good effect.-Merning Star. From the beginning of December, 1864; until the month of May in this year, Madame Valentin lay in Whitecross- street Prison, and all for saying, or being supposed to have said, that she thought of leaving England. The first action in the Exchequer was tried during that incarceration, was undefended, and, of course, resulted in a verdict against her. Then she obtained a new trial at Westminster, closing with a verdict in her favour, and a declaration' on the part of the jury that the railway shares had actually and truly been given to her. This was conclusive? Not at all. A third trial was demanded by the plaintiffs, and, as that application is not yet officially answered, the contested right to the shares is still undetermined. .M.° P'r^i'nes arfl complicated bv two criminal prosecutions at the Old Bailey, in tie first of these Madame Valentin charged Lafouroado with perjury, m swearing that she had threatened to leave Lngland. In the second she herself was indicted for perjury, for denying that she had threatened to leave England. One_ of the most puzzling parts of this puzzling story is that in both oases the defendants were found guilty of perjury. Was there ever such a concatena- tion of anomalies ? We have here four contradictory judgments: firstly, a French court declares that Madarae Valentin stole the shares secondly, an Eng- lif* asser^s that she acquired them lawfully thirdly, at the August prosecution at the Old Bailey a jury finds that the story of her threat to abscond is false; fourthly, another jury in September decides that the same story is true. These complications and con- tradictions certainly give a most discouraging and dia- quieting view as to the infallibity of justice. Li oppo- sition to the latest verdict, it would be at least pre- mature to pronounce Madame Valentin exempt from blame; but one thing is at least clear-the existing relic of the iniquitous law of "arrest on mesne process has been used against her as an instrument of cruel oppression.-Daily Telegraph.
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. ♦
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. ♦ AMERICA I NEW YORK, SEPT. 20. The official correspondence between Messrs. Seward and Adams in March and August of the present year in reference to the Confederate Loan, and Vice- Chancellor Stuart's decision in the Priolean case has- been published. Mr. Seward instructs Mr. Adams that he may, if necessary, inform the British Govern- ment in a friendly and courteous manner that the United States never admitted the combination of rebels for rllt A government, and will not be responsible for the rebel debt, and will insist on their claim for the restoration of cotton in the present case. While they are oontent to receive it through a decree of the British tribunals, they insist on their absolute right to it through the action of the British Government. The United States will hold themselves under no obligation whatever te accept or so conform their proceedings to conditions which the Court of Chancery or other Utigation °0Urt prescribe the Prese»t or other The Governor of Vermont has informed Mr. Seward that the St. Alban's banks have received from the Canadian authorities the money stolen by thd St Alban's raiders.
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Inebriated Rats.-A few evenings ago, says a local contemporary, a spirit dealer in Greenock, upon opening his shop in the morning, was considerably astonished to find a couple of very large rats lying behind the counter, on their backs, and kicking away m a very ludicrous manner. Seizing a bung-starter, he slew them on the spot, and shortly afterwards dis- covered the cause of their eccentric conduct by ascer- taining that a tin basin which he had placed beneath the leaky crane of a cask of strong Scotch ale had been nearly emptied. The rattons had no doubt been in- dulging freely, and, becoming top-heavy from the effects, met an untimely fate before they could stagger into their holes. pamphlet on the management of life assuranoe finance, which has just been published by Truscott and Co., of Suffolk-lane. Mr. Dove, the author has for twenty years managed one of our principal :nsuranoe com- panies (the Royal), and the present work has been suggested by his investigation of the affairs of that institution. It deals with such matters as the essen- tial preoautions to be held in view in providing for the liabilities of a company, tke rate of interest which it is prudent to assume; the difference between the mor- tality expected by the office and that which prevails in practice, resulting in the accumulation of profits ■ and treats of many other kindred topics. The work i& singularly exempt from unnecessary abstruseness and indeed it is as intelligible and simple as the subject will admit of. We presume it is such management as that here advocated which has plaoed Mr. Dove's own office in its present eminent position. Mr Dove is well fitted with a company which grants new aesur- anoes of over a million a year, and has hitherto de- clared the largest bonus ever continuously divided by any assurance institution. J
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