The Illustrated Usk Observer and Raglan Herald

THE DISTRESS IN JAMAICA AMONGST THE COLOURED RACES. The following letter appeared in the Times of July4tn:— Sir.—The most reoent and reliable information from Jamaica leaves no doubt in the minds of the well- wishers to the colony that, as far as regards the negro and coloured population, a state of hoplessncsa and distress prevails. This is not to be wondered at when the sad and suffering condition of these poor people is borne in mind. From the report of her Majestjs Commissioners, it appears that at l0aBt MOO houses belonging to the negroes have been wantonly de- stroyed. According to the evidence of Mr. Parry, the Government surveyor, the property thus sacrificed is worth not less than £ 4,000. This estimate, however, does not include the mills and minor buildings. Nor does it include the furniture and clothing consumed or otherwise destroyed. The distress consequent upon this reckless destruction of property it is painful to contemplate. It is estimated that not less than 5,000 persons, principally women and children, are at the present time homeless. They are 1 • • lu nr in tomriorarv sheds, in vast numbers of instances deprived by the hand of violence and cruelty of their natural protectors. The Colonial Government is prostrate, and has probably not ability to aid these forlorn and suffering people. Our duty at the present time seems to be in the first is stance to provide shelter for these poor outcasts, and after- wards to take measures for their social, educational, and moral improvement. The British and Foreign Freedman's Aid Society is prepared to undertake this important work. Already it has opened up a corre- spondence with Jamaica, and a number of clergymen, ministers, and gentlemen of the first respectability are prepared to co-operate with the London society. &. J.1-- A gentleman writing to us from Jamaica on tne 23rd of May, say a,—"Since the receipt of your letter dated the 8th inst., I have written to Mr. intimating my willingness to co-operate in any measures for the carrying out, of the Britieh and Foreign Freedman s Aid Society. By idea of working the thing is. to form antral tee at Kingston, -with branch committees Bay, Blue Mountain Yalley, at Bath, and ^anc 10- neal. I have discovered many real cases of loss and unrighteous suffering." Speaking of the district whence the letter was written, the writer says: To give a general view of things here I may tell you that tlwa are some 200 houses in this district burnt. One hundred may be put down as destroyed oy lJlllj .J:\jUö,- lessness of soldiers and pseudo^volunteers under Mr. their brave lieutenant.' The writer then speaks of the hardships, loss, and impoverishment of the people, and sa.ys, "General and great is the distress brought on by our recent troubles. _He concludes £ — r-n^ncf Hnarsrestions :— lhat aid be given — 1. For tbe_ immediate relief of hunger, nakedness, and destitution. 2. Pecuniary or material help to those who are desirous of re- building their homes. 3. Aid in building or repairing mills, school-rooms, and places of worship, &o. 4. A fund for the formation of primary schools in villages remote from the central schools." The writer further sava: The' Frienda' gave me £ 50, and I got £ '20 from £ 70 I have been enabled to distribute already, but to feed, to clothe, to aid in pro- viding a temporary hut, what was that among so many ? My humble prayer is that, great as have been our troubles, greater may be the good stimulated by the Supreme wisdom and power." It would be easy to present touching cases of dis- tress, but this cannot be needed. The report of her Majesty's Commissioners-" That the punishments inflicted were excessive; 1. That the punishment of iI"t.1, wan linnfloessarilv frequent: 2. That the nog- sicga were reckless, and at Bath positively barbareus; 3. That the burning of 1,000 houses was wanton and cruel; "—together with the minutes of evidence, is sufficiently thrilling to afford a. sufficient justifica- tion for my appealing with confidence to the sym- pathy and support of the generous British public. I shall be glad to receive the donations of those who are willing to come to the aid of these suffering and perish- ing people, or donations may be paid in to Messrs. Barclay, Bevan, Tritton, and Co., bankers, 54, Lam- bard-street, to the account of the British and Foreign Freedmen's Aid Society, or sent to the Secretary, 102, Fleet-street, E.C. I am, yours faithfully, ALFRED S. CHURCHILL, President of the British and Foreign Freedmen's Aid Society. 16, Rutland-gate, S.W., July 3.

BRUTAL MURDER IN STAFFORDSHIRE. Early on the morning of Thursday, a. young man, named Thomas Smith, son of a. gentleman farmer, re- siding on his own estate, at Whiston Eaves, two miles from Oakmoor, and four miles from Cheadle, Stafford- shire, was brutally murdered within a few hundred yards of his father's house. The perpetrator of the crime was William Collier, the occupier of a small neighbouring ;farm. The deceased had for some time suspected Collier of poaching on his father's property, and between two and three o'clock on Thursday morning left home, unarmed, for the purpose of watching a rabbit warren in a small wood, a short distance from the farm. He seems to nave stood near a quarry, from which he could see the prisoner's house and the wood at the same time. On the same morning James Hamford, a labourer in the employ of Mr. Thomas Smith, the deceased's father, went to keep watch on another part of the farm, but does not seem to have communicated with his master's son before he set out. This man, on his return, passed by the spot where he knew the deceased would be watching, and not observ- ing him there as he expected thought he had returned and went to the farm for his breakfast. Between eight and nine o clock, the deceased's father having 1 r ? "^awast-table, became suspi- cious of foul play, and went in search of him, accom- panied by Bamford. They first proceeded to the quarry, where they found the deceased's leggings, mackintosh, a,nd a bag upon which it is supposed he had been lying while keeping watch. A further search was made, and in a hollow in the adjoining wood Bamford found the dead body of the young man, Ising with his face downwards, and with one if not two gunshot wounds in his head, which had also been frightfully beaten with some blunt instrument. The grass and ferns near the spot were covered* "with blood also, showing conclusive evidence of a fearful struggle. Police-Superintendent Woollaston, of Leek was promptly on the spot, making inquiries, iu conse- quence of which the man Collier was arrested at hia own house by Police-Sergeant jerkins, ab four o'clock on Friday morning. On Ihursday, a ramrod and lock of a gun, with several bits of wadding, were found Moss to where the body was discovered, while the deceased's hat was found about 130 yards further nn the wood. A search was made for the gun, and of ft bout half-past five on Friday morning, Thomas Moreoroft, a servant of Mr. Smith's, found the double v,avrels of a gun, marked with blood, pushed up a drain in a corn field, occupied by the prisoner, and near £ hia own bouse. Subsequently the other lock and se ve- A ral pieces of the stock of the guu were found near the scene of the murder. The barrels and the locks exactly corresponded with each other, and were iden- tified by a gunsmith of Hollington as being portions of a gun which he had sold to the prisoner about a month before Christmas. The clothes of the prisoner, including his coat, trousers, and shirt, had blood upon them in numerous places; that on the treusers being on the lining of the knees, the outside of which had been washed. The deceased was a fine young man, about 24 years of ago, and was very much respected in the neighbourhood. The prisoner is a married man, with a wife and seven young children, his age being about 35 years. He was a well-known poacher, though he had never been convicted of the offence. The inquest had been opened and adjourned, and the prisoner has been examined before the magistrates and remanded.

FALLING IN OF THE ROOF OF A WORK- SHOP. Five Men Buried and Injured. The inhabitants in the neighbourhood of Weaton- street, Bermondsey, were alarmed by a sudden report on Tuesday morning, representing an explosion, fol- lowed by a heavy fall and noisy clattering of material. The occurrence took place shortJyafter ten o'clock. It was speedily ascertained that the roof of a work- shop had fallen in on the promises of Mr. Carey, the wood pavior in Camperdown-place, where about a dozen men were at work in the interior of a shop which was about 20ft. long and 25ft. high. The walls were of brick and the roof was composed of wooden beams covered with tiles. Assistance wa3 promptly rendered, and five of the men who had been buried by the fallen material were helped and extricated, two of them being able to get upon their legs, only again to fall down. Three of the most seriously injured were placed in a cab, and immediately conveyed to Guy's Hospital, the remaining two men being led in. Mr. John Duke, the house surgeon, was in prompt attend- ance, and immediately examined the wounds of the injured men, selecting the worst saffererer, and on obtaining the assistance of other gentlemen ail the sufferers were attended to. The names of the injured men are William Pert, carpenter, who sustained severe wounds on the head and other in jaries; Thomas Aberill, smith, a severely broken collar bone, cuts on the head, and other injuries; Cornelius Murphy, labourer, injuries to the head, and bruises on the body; Thomas Swindel, yard fereman, cut head, and blows upon the body; and John Brown, labourer, internal injuries, particularly complaining of his tight eide. It appeared that the building was very old, and that in a compart- ment adjoining the workshop there was a steam- engine, the vibratioa during its working being sup- posed to have shaken the roof which so suddenly fell in upon the men. The bodily injuries sustained are not of so severe a character as to apprehend loss of life in either case.

TWO YOUNG BEGINNERS IN CRIME. I William Noakes, a respectable-looking youn^ man, aged 18, who was charged at the Maifylebone Police- cour, with his brother (not in custody), with stealing and receiving £ 278 in gold and notes, and cheques for .£20, was brought up at the Middlesex Sessions, on Tuesday. The facts are fresh in the recollection of the public. Information was given to Mr. Inspector Steer, of the X division, that a large amount of property ha.d been stolen by the prisoner's brother, who was in the employ of Mr. Whitely, of 31, Westbourne-grove, the prosecutor. The inspector went to Ports- mouth, and apprehended the prisoner, who, when he heard the charge against him, said, "Yes, it is all right, sir; I am as ba,d as my brother." I The prisoner then confessed that when his brother went into the prosecutor's service he learnt from a former servant that he had- been in the habit of taking large sums of money LO the bank for his master, and also laarnfe from him that upon one ocoasion the former servant had taken as large a sum as £ 7,000. His brother said if he had a chance he would get a large sum and would go away with him. They then made arrangements that after the money was obtained the brother should call at the shop where the prisoner was employed, and aek to see him, and he (prisoner) should then know by tha.t that hia brother had got the money and had gone The first he heard of his going away was from a police- mau calling and asking him if he had seen his brother. He was shutting, up the ahop, and he told the officer he had not. When he had closed the shop he went to Fetter-lane, where he met his brother, and they counted over all the money. They then went and slept at a coffee-shop in the Walworta-roao, and on the following day went to the Crystal Palace and sawall the sights there. From the Crystal Palace they went to Hastings, and then to Margate. They fell out with one another at Margate, and divided the money. His brother gave him £ 95 for his share. The brother offered him some bank-notes, but he wouldn't take them, and in consequence of that ha only received £ 95 in gold. When the inspector apprehended him he found 70 sovereigns in his possession, some silver, and a new watch and ehain, which he (the inspector) learnt he had purchased at Margate. In answer to Mr. Payne, Inspector Steer said he believed the brother had contrived to leave the country. If it had not been for the information the prisoner had given to the police in the country he could not have apprehended him. The prisoner was in the employ of a gentleman living at 94, Westbourne-grove. A verdict of guilty having baen'resorded against the prisoner, Mr. Hodgkinson (the clerk of the court) asked him what he had to say. The Prisoner: My father is to blama for all this. My step-mother behaved very bad to me. They treated me very badly at home. (He here burst into tears.) Mr. Payne respited judgment, to allow Inspector Steer to make farther inquiries. Inspector Steer applied that the property should be given up to the prosecutor, which the court allowed, remarking that the prosecutor would lose about £ 200 for his want of caution. The idea of entrusting about £ 300 to a porter when he might have taken it to the bank in two minutes himself!

HOOTINGS FROM THE" OWL." j Their Royal Highnesses the Princess Helena and ] Prince Christian will pass several days of their honey- moon at the Embassy at Paris. Lady Cowley will leave town shortly to maka the necessary arrange- ments for their reception. Earl Spencer has resigned his appointment as Groom of the Stole to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. We understand that Sir Sydney Colpoys Daores, K.C.B., Hear-Admiral George Seymour, C. B., Sir John D. Hay, and Sir Alexander Milne are likely to be Lorda of the Admiralty; Mr. Pakington, son of Sir John Pakington, Private Secretary to the First Lord. We hear with pleasure that the Hon. George Bar- rington has been appointed privata secretary to the Earl of Derby. Mr. Walpole, son of the Right Hon. Spencer Walpole, will probably be fcis father's private secre- tn.rv. Walpole, will probably be big father's private secre- f:¡.v. Mr. W. C. Scott will be principal secretary to^the Lord Chancellor, and the Hon Edward Thesiger gentleman of the chamber. „ The office of Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education will be held by Mr. Adderley, M.P. The statement that Lord Wbarncliffe is to be Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs is incorrect. Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton is to be rtiged to the peerage under the title of Lord Lytton of Knebworth. Sir William Jolliffe will probably be also raised to the Peerage. The Dake of Marlborough will probably jOln the Government. Sir James Ferguson may probably become the bcotcn Lord of the Treasury. The Hon. Auberon Herbert, brother of Lord Carnar- von, has been appointed private secretary to Sir Stafford Northcote, President of the Board of Trade. Chief Justice Lsfroy, as we are informed, has ten- dered his resignation, an$will be suceeedod by J>■ Whiteside. —

MR. GLADSTONE AND THE WORKING MEN OF LONDON. A general meeting of the London Working Men's Association was held on Tuesday evening in the hall of the Brougham Dining Company, Fleet-street, Mr. George Potter in the chair, for the purpose of re- ceiving the reply from Mr. Gladstone to the invitation from the association to attend a public meeting of the working men of London, and to decide as to the hold- ing of an open air meeting in the City. The Secretary read the following letter from Mr. Gladstone:— 11, Carlton-house-terrace, Jaly 2, 1866. Gentlemen,—I have the honour to acknowledge your letter of the 29th. In that latter, on behalf of the London Working Men's Association, you invite me to attend a publio meeting which they propose to hold for the purpose of thanking me for what I have done, or endeavoured to do, in their vindication against attacks which they term insults and calumnies, and of which I must own that it is difficult to visit them with any terms of censure more severe than they deserve. It is with reluctance that I decline any invitation proceeding from a portion of my fellow-subjects to whom our electoral laws, as they exist, accord less I liberally than to others the regular constitutional faci- lities for making known theis wishes and for the repre- sentation of their interests. The force of this con- sideration is, however, diminished, when I recollect how well and nobly, during the recent Parliamentary struggle, the cause which I believe to be that not less of loyalty and order than of freedom and of liberal policy, has been defended by the representatives of the metropolis. If there be a single exception, it only serves to exhibit more conspicuously the general truth of my assertion. I am obliged to excuse myseil from accepting your flattering in iiitation-first, because I feel that, after the labours of the last five months, prudence compels me to look for some comparative repose; and, secondly, because I am convinced that I shall best Eerve the cause which, in unison with my distinguished colleagues, and under our long-tried leader, I have had in hand, by confining my humble efforts in political debate as far as possible-first, to my place in the House of Commons and, secondly, to any occasion when I meet my nume- rous constituents in Lancashire. "In saying this, I shall not be supposed to indicate a disposition to recede from the ground on which we have stood daring the contest. I look upon the recent resignation by Lord Russell's Government of their offices as one more onward step towards the accom- plishment of their object; and in the hour of defeat I have the presentiment of victory. By a scrupulous moderation in fixing the limita of our original design, by a careful deference to every wish of the House of Commons in regard to methods of procedure, and by an unflinching firmness in resist- ing every effort, direct or covert, to impair the scheme or lessen the amount of enfranchisement we proposed, we sought to unite the conditions mpst likely to ensure success in an undertaking marked in former years by so many miscarriages and failures. Whether our plan so many miscarriages and failures. Whether our plan is finally to be added to the list of these miscarri- ages remains yet to be seen. To wait with patience the course of present events, to be especially on our guard against any illusory or reactionary measure simulating the mme and character of Reform, to encourage the oaim, serious, orderly, and temperate expression of opinion, seem to be the ohief duties of the hour; and in discharging these duties I am per- Buaded we shall show we are not less (we even think we are rather more) entitled than our opponents to the character of good citizens, of true-hearted Britons, and of affectionate and loyal subjects.—I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your very faithful servant, W. E. GLADSTONE.-To the Presidcst, (Mr. George Potter) and the Secretary (Mr. R. Hartwell) of the London Working Men's Association." The reading of the letter was received with louct 1 cheers. s I Mr. Northhouse then movetl the following resolu- 1 tion:—(iThat in order to give every facility to the working classes and the people of the metropolis^ to express their opinions in favour of the full enfranchise- ment of the people, and their determination to oppose the continuance of any Government in office that will not bring forward, with the intention of carrying, a full and complete Reform Bill, this association is of opinion that open air meetings should be held ii Lon. don at least ODC evening in each week, duringr the pre- seat season, saoh jandotiogr to be called alternately, by the execmsive committee of the association and the Central Council of the Reform Leaerue." Mr. Bligh seconded the resolution, which was sup- ported by Messrs. Troup and Lewis, and carried unani. mously Mr. Adams moved "That this association call a meeting of the working men of the City of London and adjacent districts for next Monday evening1, either in the Guildhall-yard, or in the open space in front of the Royal Exchange, as may be found most convenient by the committee, &nd that a deputation wait on the Lord Mayor on Wednesday morning in reference to such meeting." Mr. Glasier seconded the resolution, which was supported by Mr. Jenkins, and carried with 10u\\ cheers. The committee having been instructed to carry out the details, the meeting adjourned with a vote of I thanks to the chairman.

A YOUNG LADY'S LARKS. Under Perisian on clits in the Court Journal is the following:— A marriage of a young avocat and a young lady of considerable attractions, including that of fortune, has just taken place, and is said to .have originated in a singular fashion. The young lady, fresh from boarding- school, is said to have occupied herself by mystifying the persons who went along the somewhat secluded street of Paris by means of letters flung upon the pavement, and which were more or less insulting or mystifying. The young avocat picked up one of these letters, addressed to the finder, and which contained the following words:—'My dear sir,-You must be prodigiously unoccupied that you have the time to lose in amusing yourself by picking up papers that you find in the streets. Are you, then, quite incapable of mas- tering that unbecoming curiosity ? I am at this moment watching you from behind a blind of a window, and enjoy your stupidity and con- fusion. I am, sir, the young lady behind the blind.' The avocat felt dreadfully sold, and rushed on to get out of sight of the mocker. He could not, however, as he was about to turn the corner, resist looking behind, when, to his astonishment, he saw a piece of paper projected from the window of a distant house. Not doubting that he had dis- covered the author of the mystification, he hastened back and picked up, sure enough, another note, which ran as follows:—'My dear companion,—All will be discovered unless you hasten to take away the proof of the dark deed. Go to Grenelle; at a hundred metres from the old convent, beneath a pear-tree in a garden, if you dig deep enough, you will find the skeleton of the dear little victim. QIick-I wait for you.' The avocat in an hour returned to the house, and inquired the name of the persons who lived on the first floor, and of the young lady. And the next morning she found the fol- lowing letter: — 'Your letter was delivered to the proprietor of the garden at Grenelle which you indi- cated, and on digging beneath the pear-tree the skeleton was found. The matter has been placed in the hands of the authorities, and you will be interro- gated.' In the afternoon the young avocat waited on the young lady, and in the presence of her father, she had to submit to a little mystification herself, which, however, was soon cleared up. The father thought a good lesson had been given, and begged the avocat to make one at dinner. The girl was cured of one folly, I but took a serious fancy to the doctor who adminis- tered the rather unpleasant medicine."

Death by Lightning. An extraordinary in- stance of death by lightning occurred at Slinfold, in Sussex, on Friday evening. Mr. E. Holden, a farmer, residing in that neighbourhood, was walking in his fields when a violent thunderstorm, accompanied by heavy rain, commenced. He proceeded to a kind of shed, or outbuilding, doubtless thinking that it would affor'd him safe Bhelter, but it appears that he had not been there many minutes before the lightning struck his place of refuge, crushing in the roof and dislodg- ing the rafters. Mr. Holden was shortly afterwards missed at the homestead, and on a search being insti- tuted he was found dead in the outbuilding. The unfortunate man appeared to have been killed instan- taneously by the lightning, his clothing being burnt 1 and Ehattered to shreds in a most remarkable manner, and his shoes Etruckfrom his feet, the soles separated from the upper leather.

THE JAMAICA COMMITTEE. A special meeting of this committee was held on Monday evening at Ridley's Hotel; Mr. P. A. Taylor, M.P., in the chair. Amongst those present were Sir T. F Buxton, M P., Mr. Bright, M.P., Mr. John Stuart Mill, M.P., Mr. Charles Buxton, M.P., Mr. J. Burke, solicitor of Kingston, Jamaica, Mr. W. Shaen, Professor Goldwin Smith, Mr. Ludlow, Mr. Frederick Harrison, and Mr. M'Arthur. The Chairman exDlaineu that it had become neces- sary to call the meeting in consequence of the letter which Mr. Charles Buxton had published, resigning the chairmanship of the committee, on the ground that he dissented from the resolution to prosecute Mr. Eyre for the murder of Mr. Gordon. He (Mr. Tayior) thought that Mr. Buxton was in error m mating that the Jamaica Committee had decided by a msjo- rity that Mr. Ejyra Bhould be proeeeuted for tte murder of Mr. Gordon, either through the ment or by Mrs. Gordon." Nowthefact wag,,n0 resolution went no further than thia-that^the1 co mittee thought the Government ought to institu.e a prosecution, and that they wou;d .up ^r not do so, and that in the event of the Government not doing so, they would give Mrs. Gordon everv a^i ance if she prosecuted (hear). Having dwelt upon the extreme inconvenience of the coursa Mr. Bux.oa had thought fit to follow, and after/e}erPH|QtomK Gordon's unwillingness to prosecute, lest she mignu appear to be influenced by PWBona1 vengeance, a*. Taylor said the question to be decided W.is-on wha.t principle were they prepared, for the future, to act (hMr.' C?Buxton, M.P., said that what occurred was this:—There were two meetings he,ld question of prosecuting Mr. Eyre, and a., the last meet- ing it was decided to prosecute by^a division 0 111 to o. Next day he saw the resolution published in papers, not the slightest hint being given that there was any difference of opinion in the commit.ee. Iu W*s impossible that he could allow his P°^!0^fTw eo^ld ence to this matter to be misunderstood. If they could have prosecuted Mr. Eyre for misg°yernmg^th<3 colony he would have been ready to. taki a°tl°n^rf1^v oht but he oould not look upon biua as bemg guilty o^ne deliberate murder of Mr. Gordon. ith respect to Mrs. Gordon, he had not seen or communicated with her, and the act of which the chairman spoiie mnEu have been voluntary on her part, as far ar he knew. Mr. Bright, M.P., said that Mr. Buxton wa" quite at liberty to differ from the committee, and it the difference was on a matter of vital importance, withdraw from the committee bu.t he had not done that. The committee did not even divide; and he (Mr. Bright) went away from the meeting under uhe impression that Mr. Buxton, seeing the great majority of the committee on one side, might probably feel him- self able to go with them. Two days after they saw HllB very letter—this very speech made at the meeting-in the newspapers, although there were no means to report the observations of members on the otuer side of the question. When he (Mr. Bright,, moved uhe resolutions with regard to the prosecution of Mr. Evre he put them in words naving special reference to the pdnt whether Mrs. Gordon would uptake the prosecution or not, as he had not come to the co elusion that it was desirable for the committee to pro- secute if Mrs. Gordon womd nave notuin^, to Q0 ^t^ the prosecution. As to pwseoutiug Mr. t,re for a misdemeanour, Mr. Baxton spoke of the crime m; if ij was not murder. Ho (Mr, Bnsht) r^ meeting of Parliament he discussed this E one of the oldest and. most ^^Sfpreinfe alone, but before several persone-that in his whole life he had never seen or known a ca^e more distinctly of murder than the putting of Mr. Gordon to death. Hia opinion distinctly and cleany was vhat if Mrs. Gordon was willing in her own name to commence rvroeeedines with a prosecution of Mr. Eyre, the oom- mittee should undertake to collect func.s and give -er Euoh legal assistance as was in their power (hear, hear). But if Mrs. Gordon was prevented by anybody from prosecuting, and was altogether against snch a thing as a prosecution, it would make tne position Ot the committee more difficult, and the whole question would have to be re-considered. Mr. Ludlow moved" That this committee approves and confirms the resolutions passed by the execute committee on the 26th of June." L.. Professor Goldwin Smith seconded the rssolu.ion in an able speech. Sir T. F. Buxton defended the course pursueu by Mr. C. Buxton. Several members of the committee having spoken, The resolution was carried, there being but one diE- S6DOnett motion of Mr. Beales, Mr, John Staart MiU, M.P., was unanimously elected chairman of the 00m mMr.0 Mill, M.P., said Gentlemen, I thank you for this honour and mark of your confidence. I accept the post you have given me (cheers). I do so in the foil conviction that the objects of this committee are simply to ascertain whether there exists in this country any means for making a British functionary responsible for blood unlawfully shed-(applause)— and whether that be murder or not. I believe it to be murder (hear, hear). This committee ought not to Test until it obtains from the legislature the assurance that men like Mr. Eyre will be made responsible fcr their criminal actions (hear, hear). Votes of tha.nks were passed to Messrs. Gorne and. Payne for their services in Jamaica, and to the chair- man, after which the meeting separated. ————='

THE RAILWAY AND THE LONDON CHURCHYARDS. On Tuesday afternoon the Bishop of London conse- crated a piece of ground which adjoins the two burial ^rounds of St. Giles and St. Pancras. The ceremony had a peculiar interest not only for inhabitants of the district, but for the whole population of a country in which railways are extending so rapidly as to threaten a general displacement. For several weeks past the desecration of graves in the two abutting cemeteries above named has been a subject of considerable discus- sion. The Midland Railway Company hac.1 com- menced simultaneously a tunnel and a viaduct through and over the graveyards, and the consequent scenes had been of a very revolting character. The navvies had begun by throwing down the walls on either side, and had actually out through piles of cohms. The bones thus rudely disturbed were, it istrue, onlv those of paupers whom nobody owns, but it is creditable to the large parish of St. ?^crfa^g^n a 200,000 inhabitants, that at fc^eP fi^ ^ere np-fnhaarnms0ml de'putatio^, °ed by Mr. Harvey Lewis, MP, besieged the Home Secretary and gainedfrom him a satisfactory assurance that the rights andde- oencies of the neighbourhood should not be violated. It was subsequently arranged that a piece of ground, provided by the railway company, should be conse- crated, and that into this piece of ground should be transferred by competent gravediggers, and not by ordinary labourers, the remains of mortality lying in the path of living enterprise and improvement. In pursuance of this plan, the Bishop of London attended on Tuesday on the spot at the time above men- tioned The excite! feeling of the neighbouring m- v. Vvifar\tH had been in very great measure calmed and there wis not any manifestation of disapproval among there was n ho gathered round the churca- present Mr. Bede; Dr. Hillier.tho Watson, the chairman of the sanitary committee Mr. Gibb, their clerk; and a number of vestrymen. The clergy were represented by the Rev. Mr. Arrowsmitb, the incumbent, and by other ministers, whose opinion seemed generally to be that if the course now urged upon the Midland Railway Company had been adopted by them at first there would have been no shock to public feeling. The only point en which now exception can be taken is the manner in which the piece of ground has been nhtainnd. it is not a piece of loaste ground, as it has been called, or rather it was not waste ground until certain poor dwellings standing on it had been somewhat sud- siently swept away. This, after all, is but an instance in detail of the syetomof demolition now being carried on in Agar Town and the Old St. Pancras-road. Per- haps no neighbourhood of all London has undergone such rapid and extensive transformations. In the long run, no doubt, it will be found that tke vioinity has benefited every way; but in the process of im- provement the weakest will be thrust rather roughly to the wall, if any wall with which they are acquainted shall be left standing. As for the churchyard of Old St. Pancras, which the new line of railway has cut into, it possesses many historical associations, and was at one time the cemetery of Roman Catholics, some c. whose sainted names are celebrated in Rome to ti-:a day.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. In the House of Lords, on Thursday, RGsse!1 nntil that no public business be taken by theIr lordshIPs untll Monday next. motion, for the purpose of lord Brougham seconded the m ^esent condition of being enabled to state his horror at r EThe House then t o! tlie Alston elec- In the House °* 'up and stated that Mr. Camp- S^f?of 4 ™el.A »'■> »■ W' Bsi1"11 J""t that the> return ng appear before the committee, andahemSoyed that on that day fortnight the report of the committee should be taken into consideration, and that the returning officer do attend the House. lllS°nm,Z7^uUl°ci tiat on Tuesday, tie 17ft, should Snuire whether, looking to the success of the Prussian breech-loader rifle, any steps were being taken to furnish our army with such an arm. In answer to Mr. "Watkin, 1.4 Tmrl Mr. Gladstone said that no formal communication ha taken place between the Government and the BaBk H had'informed himself as to the reserve m the Bank, ana no couid state that the hypothetical circumstances lai in the letter of the Government had not arisen, andU| was not thought advisable to interfere ™business of the Bank. The Bank had acted on purely leter. rounds, and without reference to the Government le.i In answer to Mr. B. Cochrane, Wppived bv the Mr. Layard said telegrams bad been recewea oy Foreign-office confirming the statement of the defeat Austrians and the cession of Yenetia to France. Sin •tS.aSS thatthe Hag ittempted for tlio detentiorTof British subjects, prisoners .may which™ad been afforded to the late Government m the arduous struggle they had recently gone through, who had so zealously supported them. The orders of the day (sixty-five m number) g through for the purpose of postponing them, with o ^^The*House adjourned at ten minutes past five o clock to Friday. In the House of Lords, on Friday, a number of private bills were advanced a stage, and their lordships adjourned to Monday. The House of Commons, on Friday, was occupied for a short time with the reading of a number of railway and other private bills, and writs were issued for new emotions in the room of members who have accepted oilice under the nT\t(EcvLSinf Barristers' Qualification Bill was read a second time. Chiiders, leave was given to bring Am 5o"»«a tb. £ » to tb. Intod Eevenne. The House then adjourned. whxVn mie^°everyfpar°taof the Princess of Wales, tiie circUmstances The Earl of Derby proceeded, but w;th a sincere under which, witt\greatie < » complied with the desire for the public semca, he ^nistl.^tion. but, he request of the Queen to form a btainir,g the co-opera- added, in one of his ob'leots' ted wifch the late Govern- tion of some public men eonne ]ie had formed a ment. he had failed. In consequence ne 0I1 the ministry purely Conservauve, » Govern- cbjections which had been taken to BUO £ ment, he denied that it f t^,egte(i in the peace on the contrary, was most therefore less sSS of the of and a good understand- ing bet^eeft^ fXo £ Toyalty with which the Canadians hX^Tsted Fenfanism,^and especially dwelt on the part the TMtPd States Government had taken in suppressing that United btates broveruuie mietfion of Parliamentary conspiracy. In regai dtotheq entirely free Reform, he protessea ^llu°tJAL TT n0^ <jeily tbat and unpledged-upon that s^^tionai gysfcera, and that anomalies existed m o possessing the franchise who there were many peisons Va/afraid that those who pro- Sd^obemost ardent in thecauseofRefoina wonldno be content with any —0"^ « w^d only in Parliament, a*ia t^ati should be glad, however, it lead to further demand:occur of passing a safe and satis- the attention of the Gov T>r>nr TJRW. and particularly the condition of workhouses, and the state of Ireland Fa?l En °sell vindicated his foreign policy, urging that lie had never needlessly interfered in the affairs of other £ ft +f^nmitrv especially with regard to its financial position, which was"owing to the great ability and industry of Mr Gladstone. In regard to Keform, he contended that le fioT, ™ oppojt™ VTr&"ted%oeS5S for allngthof timethe question involved, and that it had f»LV ™iv from the obstructive course which had been adopted by those who were as much pledged to Reform as the late Government. The House adjourned at a quarter to seven o clock. In the House of Commons a discussion took place on the Finchley-road Estate (Private) Bill, the object of which is to enable Sir T. M. Wilson to grant leases of a portion of his estate in the vicinity of Hampstead-beatb. On a division, the second reading was rejected by 72 to 65. Mr AV. Hunt moved that the House at its rising do ad- inurn to that day week, when supply would be taken. J Mr D Griffith made some observations on the present ntate of foreign affairs, especially dwelling on the handing „ 0f Yenetia to France, and hoped that no decision on the 01T"Meet would be come to by the Foreign-office until the House had an opportunity of expressing an opinion on the into committee on the Thames Navigation Bill, Mr Ayrton moved the postponement of the bill till that da-MV 6M'' Gibson pointed out that the objects of the bill -i" pn pressed on the late Government, by whom the bad dbu 1 bcell introduced, and it had been carefully mea?^vpd bv a select committee, and he conceived it to be ?°nXi?v to endeavour to get it passed as soon as possible. I",9 ^Inqiire was important, inasmuch as, unless it The session, there was every probability that the passed Thames would cease m the ensuing winter. ?rft,1llnsed that the bill should go on m committee, and He P10P°!-h, clauses until some one was objected to. proceed1 with^ciaub spokcl]j m5r ™'Pndment was withdrawn, and the House went into The amendm x and 2 were agreed to. On clause 3, eommittee^i^the conservators of the Thames the govern- ing body, oved to report progress. Mr. Ayrton mov aud on a division the motion was re- A discussion ensue iected by 60 were agreed to, and the House re- Clauses to 5 mciubiv sumed.. T,„vv;c,fevs Bill passed through committee. The Be^ng^ wag disposed of, and the House ad- iourned. ——— onTuesday, on the second reading In the House of Loras, Londolli Chatham, and Dover of the South Eastein B i hton Company's) Bill, Companies (Lewes and^B J th0 further proceeding with Lord ground that the standing orders of the House nSiBS'ssion the opposition was withdrawn, and the second reading was passe reading 0f the Railway Lord Redes dale movedtn Qf w]aich is t0 prevent the T £ 5Cof anyJXS^A taken in execution in any suit at law. •• a the bill, were made by Lord Some observations, critic g th Earl Granville, and oi its ^The'bill was read "^nd;'Bill was read a second time, and'reSwed to a read a sec0nd time. S6e SKSSSSS tei minutes to six. # -M-avaace.—'The Baden Gazette

The Fortress of b lwarko £ Germany, says the fortress of Mayenco, mbera 0Bly 1,800 is in peril. Its actual Sa"lS £ JJ and 400 of Memin- BavarianB, l,200_troops of Weim for thQ defenc0 of sen, a perfeotly inadequate n monieiit a the exteneive works of the place. t a under his daring Prussian general, ^^SShim^elf of this orders, could, by a hardy bl?.w'1?°^1e1!)ro,ided) for, of tilaoe Nor is the fortress xtselt well provi its complement of 1,200 guns, it poasesseso^y Hart) Passing Fictitious ^beth Police-office alias Walsh, was charged at the a beer with passing fictitious checks. Ho_ v? nrODrio- house in Westmoreland-street and asked the p p tor Mr. Hill, to cash a check for £ 3 4s. for mm. said he lived opposite, and that the check given him by Mr. Morgan, a respectable manimng Hacknev. Mr. Hill, believing his statement, cashed the check, which was returned from Eobarts and Co., marked "no account." Upon being told that the check was not honoured, he a plausible state- ment, and said he would see Mr. Morgan and get it get right. After waiting a few days, and hearing no more from him, Mr. Hill gave him into custody. Several other false checks and fraudulent documents were found upon him.-Remanded.

POLICY OF FRANOE IN THE WAR. The Constitutionnel of the 3rd of July an article signed by M. Boniface. wilh the ob^eot as stated by the writer, of tranquillismg the pubhc1 mind and placing the policy of the Emperor in a better "France had no reason,he continues. herself with the passions that demanded war but she cannot on the other hand remain unconcerned if a crpat atrusele commences, and be lnainerent to L results. The French aovernment has well^m- formed all of its double resoiution. lb has not^ou0ht, and does not even seize, an opp 7 b neither does it admit that one of the, belligerent parties should, in consequence of tie obtain, seek to secure advantages 0fa nature.to modity thn state of Europe, thus creating fresh causes or aig Kbit. II the^Emperor desired w„ m order o ob- tain satisfaction or advantage, he would have inter vened at the commencement, an^ouid n allowed his allies to become wcakened m orde^ ot to hnvo tn rpfitore their cause. It would oe necessary thin for grave circumstances to arise, such as those nointed out by the Imperial letter, to determine the pomtea OUT; Dy war has now commenced re- Sng very great efforts and sacrifices on both sides. Whoever may be the victor will come out of the contest ra • j.i_r twfld fn fpar to himself to & frosli stSS and will not wish, in the conditions of peace ?o rfStabHshany of those grievances >which would excite the just susceptibilities of France.