The Cardiff Times

-:c.=i (iRt Cardiff Cinies. SATURDAY, MAY 4, 1867. THE ARMY PURCHASE SYSTEM. THE purchase of commissions in the army, which has been so long a vexed question in Parliament, was once more brought to the notice of the House of Commons on Tuesday evening, by Mr. Trevelyan; and once more the House determined to shelve the question-by a majority of 110 to 75. Such we take to be the meaning of the division—that the time was inopportune for mooting the question, or tha the majority in the House did not see its wayakarly towards substituting some better system for that of purchase for surely 116 gentlemen, of average in- tellect, and more than average cultivation, did not mean, by negativing l\r:bTrevelyan's resolution, to say that they approved of the purchase system on principle. If we were now going to create a regular army for the first time, or if we possessed an army in which some other system of promotion was estab- lished, surely no one would think of now introducing the purchase system. A proposal to extend such a practice to the navy, to the militia, to the voluuteeis, or to our Indian army, would be scouted by the very men who have now recorded their votes in favour of what they doubtless consider letting well alone." But is it well ? Sir John Pakington would have us believe so; and, in proof of his position, he re- verts to the old official, but most illogical, argument, —which probably neither he, nor any gentleman occupying his position would fail to use on a similar occasion. There were great and serious anomalies, the Secretary for War admitted, in the purchase system but it was necessary to bear in mind, he added, that under that system the British army had achieved its greatest renown. Just the same kind of argument has always been used in support of the cat-o'-nine-tails; and years ago it was urged against the abolition of pigtails and cocked hats. But intel- ligent men have ever recognised in this post hoc ergo propter hoc style of argument the weakness of a cause. One might just as well have argued against purifying the Thames because London had grown and prospered on the banks of the dirtiest river in the world; or we might just as well say that no Reform of Parliament is now needed because under the present system the British people have enjoyed an amount of freedom and prosperity unsurpassed in any nation. Indeed, such an argument was long brought to bear against Reform, and is still employed by Mr Lowe, in his political isolation. The proper way to estimate the true character of the purchase system is not by Meeting that we bave got on very well with it (or in spite of it), but by considering whether we would extend the principle to other matters. Not to mention the branches of mili- tary service in which such a practice does not now prevail, are we ready to promote our civil servants ¡ by purchase? Shall we legalise douceurs aad pre- miums on retirement ? Or would any large private establishment—a banking firm or a railway company —think of promoting its servants, or rather allowing them to promote themselves, by purchase ? But enough it is useless to argue that the purchase of army rank is a good system simply because the British army has won victories in spite of it, when nobody would think of applying the principle in any other matter. What we really have to deal with are the ob- stacles to the abolition of promotion by purchase. And here, we confess, we meet with great, though' not with insuperable, difficulties. What is done in the armies of other countries may be done in ours; and the difficulties in ours may resolve themselves chiefly into a matter of money. If we aboLsh pur- chase, we shall have to compensate those who at present possess a saleable property in their com- missions and we shall also, it is said, have to raise the pay of our military officers, though why we should pay higher salaries to persons who acquire their positions without pecuniary cost to themselves than to those who purchase their rank, we cannot see. In private matters an employer would dread the purchase system as tending either to raise the wages or lower the character of his servants ano, as a fset, most people will acknowledge that only incapables buy their posts in the non-military world. As for the assertion that we cannot find. in seniority or selection a better system that of pur- chase, it is contrary to all reason and experience. We have done so in the Navy, in the Enginers, and 0 ia oar Iudiaa Army, other nations have done 89 to. their armies why, then, should we retain a system which can only be paralleled by practices of the most corrupt Eastern countries, such as Turkey was a century ago.

UNPROFITABLE TALK. IT is amusing to notice the difference between the way in which private and public business is done. In parliament, the majority not only of the present House of Commons, but of its predecessors, have declared in every possible way that the suffrage ought to be extended; yet how many years are suffered to pass before the promises and declarations of the legislators are practically embodied in an Act 13 p of legislation. Just so it is with our local authori- ties. They talk, talk, talk, so very long and y 11 unreasonably, before they embody the substance of their words in a practical, operative vote or order. Surely this is not the way in which they transact their individual business. None of them would go to a shop and talk eloquently and feelingly respect- ing their wish to buy articles offered for sale, and then depart without ordering the goods. They well know that all the generalities and profes- sions of opinion they can utter would be in- operative, and that if they mean business they must give an order. But in public business they seem to overlook this obvious consideration. Take, by way of illustration, the proceedings of the Watch Committee on Wednesday. One mem- ber after another complained of loose characters in- festing Crockherbtown at night. Very well, gentle- men, replied the Superintendent of Police—order me to keep that locality free from them, and I will undertake that not one of them shall parade the street. The Board, however, made no such order, though thus directly challenged to dc so. They had freed their minds by talking, and were satisfied. Each of them has now got his personal excuse ready. When accosted by a resident and asked—why don't you, in the Town Council, do something to free Crockherbtown from this nightly nuisance? each of these worthy but inconsequent legislators will be able to say-I have done my best, but our Board is so apathetic. Didn't you read my re- marks on the subject in the papers ? And such an answer will pass muster with the average citizen. It is only here and there that one will be found keen enough to see through the sham, and to reply-bother your speeches, what I want to know is why you did not make a motion or propose a distinct remedy for the evil you profess to agree with me in deprecat- ing. Then the same imbecility, or insincerity, was shown in the remarks made respecting the Theatre. Loud complaints were made that disorderly char- acters hang around the door, and that drink is sold inside, and that policemen, instead of repressing disorder, mingle in it, and do nothing to prevent it. There is no sense nor use in casting imputations on the Theatre and on the police. If the selling of drink in the Theatre is the cause of disorder, tl.tire is a plain course for the Watch Committee to take. The drink is sold by a license granted by the borough magistrates-some of whom are members of the Committee, and all of whom would listen seriously to any reasonable request made by the Committee. If the Committee wish to stop the sale of drink in the Theatre, they have only to pass a resolution re- questing the magistrates not to renew the license and there is no doubt in the world that such a peti- tion from such a source would be promptly complied with. As to the policemen said to have been seen loung- ing about the Theatre instead of doing their duty, what should a member of the Watch Committee do ? He should not come to the committee with a vague complaint which reflects indiscriminately on the best men of the force as well as on those who may be culpable; he should simply walk up to the delin- quent officer and take his number; and either refer the matter to the Superintendent for immediate in- quiry, or bring the inlividual case before the next meeting of the committee. That would be a straight- forward and practical course; but to come whining to the committee about a policeman, or several policemen, or any other impalpable nonentity of that kind, is of no effect to expose or punish a real offender, while it unnecessarily irritates and annoys the force at large, who are trying to perform their arduous duty satisfactorily, and who have a right to feel indignant at these vague anonymous slurs thrown indiscriminately on the whole force by the very body who are appointed to oversee and govern them. The conscientious hardworking constable may naturally feel-What is the use of my trying to do my duty when my own employers take the lead in the outcry against the force as consisting of a pack of lazy lounging fellows who dodge anywhere in preference 0 to faithfully patrolling their beat. In regard to the Board's alleged two shares in the Theatre, that is one of Mr. Winstone'e pleasant little illusions. He is of a sanguine temperament and appears to have imbibed beyond doubt the con- viction that the borough is destined to come into a fortune some day. Formerly he looked for the site of the town's property in the mud swamp between St. Mary street and Temperance town. There was a battle royal on the mud between the navvies of the Great Western Railway and the workmen em- ployed by the borough, and then a brief legal con- test and [the property of the borough in the site was found to consist merely of a lawyer's bill of costs. Since then our sanguine friend has looked elsewhere in the search for a fortune coming to the borough treasury; and now his 11 Great Expecta- tions" fasten themselves upon the enormous divi- dend which the town ought to receive out of the thirty per cent profits of the Theatre under Mr. Melville's management!

:=-===- kOKD-LlEUTE^-A^Y Qi> J,* OX KG CTHSHXTtE—TIl3 Owl states that this office, vacant bv the doath of Lord Llanover, is to be bestowed on the Duke- of Beaufort. This may very possibly prove correct, as, thoug-h Lord Tredegar's lce;il claims on his party are greater, vet his advanced age t enders it much wiser, III a party point" of viow, Cor the Conserva- tives to bestow an office, the tenure of which is for life, upon a younger man than his lordship, WESTOx- SU r io R-M A R E. A correspondent of the Bristol papers, writing from Weston, make? the following remarks, which way be of some local interest, as part of them relate to a gentleman who recently figured in Cardiff', aad the rest to the behaviour of Cardiff visitor in that town "A Mr. Hammond, who states in one of hi,, spiritual programmes that he has been eminently successful in the conversion of children,' commenced last week a series of muscular; Christian exploits, and explained to little children how sheep jump over a sunbeam. The pretly little darlings, God bless them! began to laugh, and surne to c-rv, but it was 110 laugh- ing matter with the lecturer, poor mail who became so ex- cited by his well-intentioned efforts that he was obliged to be conveyed by h:s admiring staff to an adjoining room, where he was rubbed ana fomented for a considerable time, in order to restore the body to its natural condition of cireula- tion. What will Dean Law gry when he hears] that his j beloved town, the Clt. of the faithful in his day, is given up to American rantinz ? I hen. again, a writer in one of the Weston papers would wish the people 0f England to forget Good Friday and its holiest associations and indeed, that i day was greatly forgotten by many, but, I trust, by few only ofWestonians. However, numbers of persons from Cardiff lingered all that sacred day m the close neighbourhood of the beer-houses, and performed acts of atrocious cruelty by unmercifully beating the poor donkeys as they vainly tried to carry on their backs worthless weights of humanity measuring six feet in

OUR LONDON COBRESrONDENT. The replies of the Premier and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the deputations of the Conservative As- sociation, which waited upon them at Downing-street, on Friday, are remarkable on more than one account. Mr. Disraeli, it would seem. claims as the distinguishing merit of the Government Bill, that finding it is neces- sary to adapt a measure to the altered circumstances of the country since 18J12, the measure before Parlia- ment aims at restoring the old borough, the scot and lot franchise, which had been enjoyed by geneiations, rather than at making any violent change in the con- stitution. Lord Derby, endorsing the sentiments of his college, goes further, and himself claiming to be a "working-man," indicates pretty clearly that, satisfied with the progress of the Bill, so far, he will not on the test of residence stand in the way of a settlement of the question. Indeed, it would seem from these two speeches, more than from any other sign yet made by the present Administration, that, being satisfied with the vindication of the chief principle of their Bill, ac- corded to them before Easter, a spirit of compromise has fairly set in; for, in the words of Mr. Disraeli, if by any chance difficulties are met which are not at pre- sent anticipated, yet we shall not give up the great uadertaking we have pledged ourselves to carry ou' I have given prominent place to the significant observa- tions of Lord Derby and Mr. Disraeli, as presenting a curious contrast to the bridge and boat burning" of .which we heard so much last ses,ion at a similar crisis. Next in interest to the peaceful demeanour of the de- putations of Conservative working men is the storm brewing in other quarters, which threatens the peace of London on Monday. Some short time ago there was a meeting of delegates, &c., of the Reform League, and it was decided to have a meeting of the Leagne-a great Reform demonstration, in fact-in Hyde Park on Mon. day next. Speeches were made to the effect that the time had gone by for trifling, and that it was time to speak out; that as the parks belonged to the people, it was time for the people to insist on their rights. I think I understand what was said as meaning this much. It has now been announo d by the Telegraph that Her Majesty's Government have determined to take active and strenuous measures for the suppression of this meeting, and the Owl states that a proclamation against it is to be issued immediately. Supposing that your contemporaries are justified in making these announce- ments, the question arises whether it is judicious to do so. The Telegraph is strongly in favour of these Reform demonstrations, and in making the statement that it has made, it may be regarded as stimulating and preparing Leaguers to use their utmost efforts to defeat the govern- ment, or it may be looked upon as warning them that it will be of no use to kick against the pricks. Be this as it may, whether the Telegraph is authorised to make the statement or not, I believe that Government will stop any demonstration that may be attempted on the scale and in the locality contemplated. In any case, Monday next is likely to be a Stirling day here, unless the League abandons its intention. At present, the adherents of this body are divided in opinion as to what is to be done; but I regret to find that, as far as I am able to judge, the preponderance of opinion is in favour of forcing the de- monstration. If the Fenian conspiracy can survive the damaging facts that are being brought out by the pending triali, it I has a great deal more vitality than I am inclined to at- tribute to it. A more wretched affair, a more miserable conspiracy, never existed in the history of the world. All that is mean and petty, all that is cowardly and treacherous, can be found in the dealings of the Fenians with one another. As a contemporary justly puts it- Stephens is not only a traitor, but a cheat and a thief, who, as it appears, makes a living out of embezzle- ment; Massey is a miserable coward, Corydon is a professional spy; and these, and such as these, are the leaders in a revolution-of the objects of which the rank and file are almost entirely ignorant." And the ignorance was just the same when O'Connell was agi- tating for a repeal of the Union. Give us back our Rspeal!" was then a common cry among the lowest classes; and the Sassenach Parliament was blamed for having taken away the Repeal from Ireland. The feeling here, so far as I have heard any expression of it, is one of unmitigated contempt for the Fenian spies and informers, and of the greatest commiseration for the unfortunate dupes of these designing scoundrels. The trials, however, do not excite any very great interest here. Lord and Lady Cowley, I see, threw their salons in Paris open to company last Saturday evening for the first time this year. Owing to the long stay of Lord and Lady Cowley in England, her ladyship's receptions, of which this was the first of a series, are given later than Ksual." There is more in this statement than meets the eye. The truth is, that the British residents in Paris have long complained of the absence of their ambassador, and of his not being at all an entertaining person when he is at the c mbaasy. Doubtless they expect too much from him—as Britons always do from ambassadors and consuls; but certainly British residents in foreign capitals consider it the first duty of an ambassador to give plenty of parties; and in this, they say, Lord Cowley has always failed. On the other hand, no British resident or visitor who ever has occasion to transact business at our embassy in Paris can accuse his lordship, or his subordinates, of a want of attention or courtesy. It is not expected, by the bye, that Lord Cowley will long occupy his post. He has for some time wished to retire, and several names-among them that of Lord Lyons prominently-have been mentioned as his probable successors. I read that the Ddke of Bedford has forwarded to Mrs. Gladstone a donation of X500 towards the fund for the Convalescent Homes. And a very pleasant thing it is to read in fact, it is quite refreshing to read the name of the Duke of Bedford at all anywhere out of a building lease. His grace is very seldom heard of, and still more seldom seen. I dare say the Duke has his own immediate circle in which he lives, and moves, and has his being; but out of it he seems almost as much a rarity as a dodo or a four-leaved shamrock. For in- stance, a committee of market. gardeners and fruit salasmen—many of them men of good position in so- ciety and of very good education-have long been try- ing to see him with reference to the erection of a covered market in Covent Garden (part of his grace's great town estate), instead of the present lamentable make- shift; but the committee never can see him, and they can make no impression on his steward. The streets of London, especially about the neigh- bourhood of the Strand and Fleet-street, present a rather remarkable feature just now. That feature is, not to put too fine a point upon it," white chokeis. In plain and unvarnished English, the number of clergy, men to be seen in London at the present time is something remarkable. We are invaded by a peaceable army of incumbents and curates, and Lissenting minis- ters of all denominations." Exeter Hall is en fete Hassell's Hotel, 1 suppose, has not a bed to let for love or money; and the "May meetings," which begin in April aod end in June, are in full swing. 1 hear, how- ever, that subscriptions are not coming in very fast this year, but it is much too early yet to judge of the pro. bable receipts of our religious societies. We are getting on with the conversion of Snider rifles much faster than we usually do with such Government undertakings for it is now stated that the whole of the infantry regiments in the United Kingdom are armed with these breech-loaders, that a sufficient stock of ammunition exists, and a store of Sniders for arming regiments as they return from foreign service. It will not be many months, 1 suppose, before the whole of the regular infantry, the militia, and the volunteers are armed with these terrible weapons, every difficulty in the construction of which, and of the ammunition for them, is now said to be overcome. Fenian risings in Ireland, raids upon Canada, negro revolts in Jamaica, or Indian mutinies, will not then have the ghost of a chance which they might be supposed to have now.

Dcal JitteUigence. GREAT "W ESTEKN RAILV, -AY*-There being no alteration in the trains on this railway for the month of May, the April time tables will rfiiirin in force. THE CANAL PARADE ROBISEKY.— In referring to this robbery in a previous issue, we were made by an error of the press to designate Mr. Rumbelow as a boarding-house keeper, instead of which he is a highly respectable ship-chandler, in a large way of business. In the House of Commons on Tuesday, the following bill was read a third time and passed :—Llynvi and Ogiiiore Railway Bill. THE MILITIA.- Tbe militia recruits assembled on Mon- day at the barracks, Maindy, for a fortnight's drill pre- liminary to the assembling of the old members of the regiment. The number of recruits this year is much larger than usual, and approaches 200. CARDIFF SELI-SLI>I>ORTIXG HEBREW SCHOOL.—The first half-yearly examination of,the pupils of this school took place at the Synagogue, East-terrace, on Sunday after- noon. The children passed a very creditable examination. A number of persons feeling an interest in educational matters were present during the examination. FATAL ACCIDKNT AT THE EAST DOCK.—On Thursday after- noon an Irish labourer, named Dennis Bone, employed at the East Dock, was killed by a bar of iron falling upon him. He was not quite dead when picked up, but died while being carried to the lnfli tnary. SAILOU DROWSED IN THE WEST DOCK -On Thursday even- ing an inquest was held in the Town Hall, before R L. Reece, Esq on the body of Richard lionvyer, aged 22, which had been found in the West Bute Dock about six o'clock that morning, No evidence was given farther than that the body was found floating in the water. S'>me papers in deceased's pocket showed that he had been discharged from the Des- mond, ol Sunderland, in 1868, and his name was written in a pocket-book and Patchway added. The jury returned a ver- dict of" found drowned." ACCIDENT AT POUTSKEWETT — A sad accident occurred on Wednesday evening at Portskewett. At about eight o'clock the engine of a luggage train was just moving from a part of the South Wales Union line, near the junction, as the last train was leaving for the Passage, when the stoker slipped and partially fell over the side, his leg dropping be tvveen the connecting-rod and the wheels of the engine. His foot was dragged off in a moment, and the poor fellow was then assisted on to the engine by the driver, and surgical assistance was procured for him. THE CARDIFF CRICKET CLUB.—This club commenced the season on Wednesday, by a home and home match in the Cardiff Arms Park, when the following members of the club were present Messrs. E. S. Barber, G. Robinson, W. Bennett, E. W. Jones, T. W. Jotham, F. H. Jotham, Muir, Pratt, Hopkins, and Hunter. But for the race,, there would doubtlesb have been a much larger muster. The club has had a large accession of new members, owing doubtless to their having 1 e n granted the use of the Cardiff Arms Park, by the liberality of the Trustees of the Marquis of Bute. We believe the first match will be played with the Newport club in the course of a few weeks. THr: REGISTRAR GENERAL'S RETURN for the quarter ending March, does not present any feature of local in- terest. Attention is called to tho number of deaths from bronchitis and phthisis in Aberdare and Merlhyr. At Aberdare 42 deaths arose from bronchitis during the quar- ter. The general average death rate in Wales for the quarter has been 24 per thousand, which is less than the average of the United Kingdom. The Registrar remarks -9 that the returns are on the whole satisfactory. The marriages and the births are above the average numbers. The death-rate is exactly the average of the season, but it is lower than it was in any of the three previous winters. Had it not been for the intense cold weather in January, which proved fatal to many old people, and for epidemics of f' whooping- cough, small-pox, and measles, the results would have been still more favourable." The Registrar say that we find no p-.r.Ilel for the inclemency of the weather of the pust winter, we should have to go back as far as te 1779. SHIPPING CASUALTIES.—Hamlin ship, from London for Cardiff, ran on a reef of rocks between the Brisons and the main (Penzance) 19th inst, and went to pieces crew saved. The wreck was driven into the North Channel.-Y niuiden, from Rotterdam for Cardiff, lost an anchor and chain at Ilelvoet, and was towed into the canal harbour, Amsterdam, 17th inst., to get the same replaced.—A loaded brig, aban- doned, apparently about 250 tons register, painted black out- side, with a larye house on deck, aft painted green, was passed 21 st inst., about nine miles to the eastward of Lundy Island, by the Nora, of Sunderland, at Cardiff, ;.¿3rd instant, from Dublin.—Accounts from Lagos, dated Oporto, April 24. state that a boat entered that port the previous day with twelve men, crew of the Solace, barque, Carthagena to Cardiff. THE MARQUIS OF BUTE.—The Weekly Register, a Roman Catholic paper, says :—The Marquis of Buto has written to the Scotsman denying that he either has, or in- tends to, become a Catholic. We last week, on the authority of a Protestant gentleman, who, for several reasons, ought to be an excellent authority on this subject, gave currency to the report that the noble lord was on the point of being received into the Church-a paragraph in the Scotsman con- firmed the intelligence which we received and published, and which it is now our duty to contradict as prominently as we last week inserted the same in our columns. All we can say of the matter is that, for the sake of the noble Mar- quis IrAself and the sake of the Catholic Church in Scotland and England, we most sincerely wish the news had proved to be true—which it may, and we earnestly trust will, at some future dav. For the present, however, there can be no doubt but that the Marquis is not a Catholic, nor is he likely to become one. CONCERT AT THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.—The concert given bv amateurs, for the benefit of the Catholic Schools in David- street, took place on Monday evening. We can speak very flatteringly of the performance generally. The principal performer and conductor, Mr. G F. Cooke. acquitted himself with much tact and ability, especially in his mani- pulation of the piano and his comic song, eliciting great ap- plause. Mr. T. Sexton sang The Men of Haerlech" un- commonly well. The Misses Maloney, Verity, O' Brian, Callaghan and Heath, also sang The Minstrel Boy" very- sweetly and harmoniously. We must also express our satis- faction at the admirable manner in which, under the able tuition at their master, Mr. Deasey, the beys performed various pieces on the fife and drum, also the Excellent per- formance of the brass band, under the leadership of Mr. Edwards. The" National Anthem" closed the proceedings, with three cheers for the drum and fife band. The audiene was large, not less than 400 persons being present, and all went away extremely delighted with the evening's enter- tainment. We understand that the managers feeling en- couraged by the success of this hastily got up concert, in- tend to produce another concert on a better and larger scale at an earlier date. ENTERTAINMENT AT THE STUART-HALL—Mr. Albert Jones, the celebrated mimic, gave his entertainment at the Stuart-hall, on Monday and Tuesday evenings, when he executed some amusing and life-like imitations of various leading actors. His imitations of Mr. Fec-hter as the Hunchback in the "Duke's Motto;" of Mr. Macreadv as King Lear;" and the late Mr. G. V. Brooke, were ad- mirably rendered and elicited considerable applause. His imitations of several of the leadingcomedians wore also good, and the way in which he rendered Mr. Toole as the police- man (with the song A Norrible Tale), in the Area Belle," called forth loud applause. He also pourtrayed Mr. Sothern as "Lord Dundreary" with the greatest ifdelity. Each entertainment concluded with a well written piece entitled The Humours of Bartlemy Fair," in which Mr. Jones pourtrayed the ever remembered characters of those as- semblies, such as Punch and Judy, the Peep Show Man, the Wild Beast Showman, &c., in a most life-like manner. Mr. Jones undoubtedly enjoys an amount of abil-'ty which is rarely to be met with, and when it is considered that he en- tirely dispenses with the great acquisitions of costume and scenic effects, the wonder is that he is able to keep up the interest of his audience throughout. His powers (if imita- tion have a wide range, his characters are rapidly changed, and his gesture, tone, and delivery are excellent. The en- tertainment is a novel one, and its prospects of success are highly favourable. THE REFORM LEAGUERS JAN-1) THE GOVERNMENT.— At a meeting of the London Reform League, on Wednesday evening, Mr. Beales in the chair, the following proclamation from the Government was brought in by the police and laid before the meeting:—" Whereas it has been publicly an- nounced that a meeting will be held in Hyde Park, on Alon- day. the 6th of May, for the purpose of political discussion And whereas the use of the Park for the purpose of holdiug such meeting is not permitted, and interferes with the object for which Her Majesty has been pleased to open the park for the general enjoyment of her people Now. all persons are warned and admonished to abstain from attending, aid- ing, or taking part in any such meeting, or from entering the park with a view- to" attend, aid, or take part in such meeting.—S. H. Walpole. Home-office, Whitehall, May 1, 11"67-" There was an attempt made to ridicule the several parts of the notice, but this was suppressed. After the paper had been read the police officers left the room. The Chairman called upon the people to hold the meeting, and he said if there should be any riot or disturbance the fault wonld rest with the Government. Mr. Bradlaugh moved That this meeting, denying the right of S. H. Walpole, or any other person in this realm, to issue such a proclama- tion, and regarding the parks as places open for the purpose of holding public meetings, which are at the right of all Englishmen, reply to the proclamation that they intend holding the meeting of Monday, and that the consequene.es of endeavouring to prevent it must rest with those who are wicked enough to take this course." (Loud cheers.) The resolution was amended so as to be more moderate in expres- sion, and was th n adopted. LLANDAFF HIGHWAY Bokiti)-A- meeting of this board was held en Saturday, when there were present the Rev. H. J. Thomas, and Messrs. J. Lewis, \Y. Ainsloy, C. trench, T Williams, E. Evans, J. Evans. J. Jenkins, R. Bassett, and II. Garsed.—Mr. E. W. David was elected chairman, and II. Garsed.—Mr. E. W. David was elected chairman, and the Rev H. J. Thomas vice-chairman. The Clerk was requested to write to the Rhymney Railway Company, ca'llin"- their aitention to tho condition of the approaches to the temporary bridge over their cutting in Lanishen and to the impassable state of the Glas-ro ui, in the same parish. Mr. Wride's, surveyor's, resignation was tendered and accepted. It was resolved that Mr Thomas Preston be en- gaged to fill the office pro tem., until a permanent appointment shall have been mnde by the County RO.HIS Board* Cheques for £ 120 and £ 102 were signed in favour of the surveyor, and were apportioned over several parishes. Tenders for stone were accepted as follows No 1 district, John Thomas; Lanishen. No. 2, Edward thcrias Van, Hemry Osmond Whitchurch, John Thomas St. Fagans, Edwerd Lewis Llandaff, Edward Matthews Lanvedw. No. I district, Thomas Bennett, Lanvedw, No. 2, John St. Brides, W. Evans Radvr, Thos. Rees L?an- illteme, W. Beard; and Roath, Henry Osmond. CARDIFF BATHS.—Number of bathers DURIN^ the V—K; ending 27th April, 18b?: iu the Turkish buth,^7 in ifc hot wafer baths, J 04. At a boardof examiners held at Red Lion-square London, on Tuesday, April 80th, Mr. R. Hopkins, of L;i1!:t;- trissant, Glamorganshire, was examined and adaiSr'.vi Ii. member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeon* 'Po- land. S THE INFIRMARY.—We are glad to learn thit, sui er of the Infirmary, W. D. Bushell, Esq., has the sum of £ 2 (is., collected in pennies weekly, tte workmen employed at Messrs. Spillcr and Browne's F! v Mills. Mills. PIANOFORTE RECITAL.—Mr. Ralph Homer v- nounced to give a pianoforte recitatat-he Stuart-haU. i the 22nd inst., when he will be assisted bv the rsuu.a- vocalist, Miss Edith Wynne. POCK ,ET-PICKING.-On Tuesday morning, a lady B Mrs. Llewellyn, had her p c ,d picked of a silk l'u;'g, taining £ ■> in gold and some silver. She was at the C<«rr £ station platform when the theft took place. PRIZE SHOOTING FOR RIFLEMEN.—An advertise^ :-or another column announces an all-comer's rifle eomprf.rtsau at Swansea, on Tuesday, the 21st inst. Upwards of £T» will be offered for competition, divided into 24 prizfts, 55a. principal prize being 420. 10TH GLAMORG AN SHIRE RIPLE "VOLUNTEERS OnstEr-'t- —Monday, (ith May, recruit's drill, 7.30. p.m.; Ta>w*w;- taiget practice, 4.30. p.m.; Wednesday, companv drill, 7.&L p.m Thursday, traget practice, 0. iU. p.m. j Frid, M- cruit drill, 7.30. p in. BETHANY CHAPEL.-The second anniversary of th building was held oi Sunday, when the Rev. D. M. Esfxtk,, of Llanelly, preached two able sermons, and colt,e,:ZIIZIL amounting to £ 2o were made: The monthly meeting of the Directors of the C«j-i;.f Chamber of Commerce was held last Wednesday. Nlr- K. Stamford was elected a director. It was resolved wta the necessary steps to obtain for Cardiff a Local Board. Resolutions were passed to bling- under the a>M'iae of the M.P.j for the borough a breach of InternationfJ J.MF on the part of Spain, the brig Mermaid having b^a fr-i into and sank off Ceuta. SPANISH QUARANTINE.—The Spanish Consul at informs the Chamber of Commerce that the nuiabw Spanish ports, appointed as ports of sanitary obsersittj«K, has been increased by a Royal order of 24th Anrii, h:T five to twelve, which are as follows Alicante." Barcelona, Bilboa, Cadiz, Carthagena, Corunna, Mi Santa Cruz de Terrifa, Santander, Terragona, andVik At either of the above ports, ships proceeding from ( t z £ to the Peninsula can ride out the regulation three d&vS: entr- ance. SOUTH WALES MINERAL RAILWAY.—A Whamclife SOUTH WALES MINERAL RAILWAY.—A Whamclife meeting of this company was held in London, on Tuesdwv Mr. J. P. Barlow in the chair. The solicitor read the beMgp of a Bill to enable the Llynvi Valley and Ogmore Railwsr Company to increase their capital. On the motion of iie Chairman, the Bill was unanimously approved The mi- ing was made special for the purpose of cancelling cerl forfeited shares. A resolutitm was passed empowering tho5 directors to issue in lieu thereof (i per cent. prefer")t shhres to the amount of £6ï30. A vote of thanks t,, chairmam concluded the proceedings, v TAFF VALE RAILWA I.-A "Wharnciifft:" meeting "Z the Taff Vale Railway Company was held at the' Otficac. Crockherbtown, on Thursday afternoon. Mr. Jame: the chairman, presided. Mr. Ken way, the secretary, ;ead t:4: draft of an Act now before Parliament, which provided f ir the constrlJction of a short junction line from the ure»er.a Taff Vale station at Merthyr to the Vale of Nearh sUtior, it the same town. The Taff Vale station is thenceforward t* be used as a goods and traffic depot only, and the Vale J' Neath station is to be used as the joint terminus of the (1101: railways. The Chairman moved a vote of approval ot n bill m quest,on, wh.ch was unanimously agreed to by t&r sharenoidres present. jo j DISCOVERY OF A SKELETON IN A CUPBOARD.—OL Wednesday afternoon a startling discovery was made ia the house 12b, Bute-road. Some workmen were enga** in making repairs in the upper rooms, when one of tLi,,E found, in a cupboard in the garret, the decomposed bodya" Y,- young child. It had evidently been several months in d:s place where it was found, and was so decayed as to be in- distinguishable as to sex. The police took charge of tL body, and submitted it to surgical examination the Coi- ner also was informed, but finding that no evidence catLi be elicited as to the sex of the infant, nor whether it vna born alive or not, the Coroner thought it usele,s to hold ai inquest. The house in which the remains were found wsif occupied in the lower part as a coal offiec the former occu- pant of the upper part of the building was a woman, wt<; i will be recollected was sentenced to severe punishment the last assizes as a receiver of gords stolen from a draper t shop by one of the female assistants. STRIKE OF THE TAILORS.—The strike of the operas tanors in this town was brought imicably to a close ea:-0 nlm-oto^86^' ,mu.ua' concession on the part of the e.c-- sinee A This result is ^re gratify^ Und the ^ra°n ;l1 \n ,man5' Places in the North of E^ tradp romain '5 "{ n 0. t:l^va place in this branch « tiade remain in full operation, and there seems no pra- pect of an agreement. The mode of remuneratior, -t- workmen in this department of trade is somewhat cornel- cated to the apprehension of those unconnected with it, Aid. the many letters which have appeared in the London pape-r pro and con, do but confuse the matter further, asserricnv being made on the one side that the maker of a first cW trowserings only receives Is. 6d. for his labour, while on to- other hand it is averred that the payment for the &azi- work amount:; to 5s, Cd. and upwards. WESLEYAN MISSIONs.-Tiie an iu,,ii services in connec- tion with the local branch of the Wesleyan Missionary So- ciety commenced in this town on Sunday, when sermon were preached by the Rev. J. S. Banks, a returned [m. sionary, in Wesley chapel. In the afternoon the same get- ileman addressed the comhined Sunday schools of the Wes- leyan chapels on the subject of missions. Ou Wednescv.^ afternoon the Rev. F. Greeves, of London, preached the :v- niversary sermon, and Mr. Henry Brogden, of Tondu. tout the chair at the subsequent public meeting, which was ad- dressed by the above-named and other rev. gentlemen ar-I friends. T lie financial, report showed, as we stated last week, a total of £ 'U00 raised during the year for the funds of the society at the various Wesleyan chapels of the town and im- mediate vicinity. The collections at the services of Wesley chapel on Sunday amounted to i33 2.. 4d., and on Wcchici- day to £ i% 2s. 4d.

BREACH OF PROMISE CASE. At Westminster, on Wednesday, before Mr. Justus Mellor, a case was tried of JohnsoD v. Pinch. Tfc* plaintiff was a dressmaker, residing at Newcastle, and Wesleyan, and the defendant was a minister of tho Methodist Free Church. They became acquainted it 1863, and from that time the defendant commenced, paying markei attention to her. On the 13th of Jutf the defendant, who had been removed to Oxford, wrott to her in these terrus:- My dearest Pollv,-I have only time for a few words, I hope you are better. I often think of you. Keep uf your spirits. Look abova to Cbri-t. Kind regards tc our friends, and best lave to yourself. [Several dashec followed, which the learned oounsel for the plaintiff HI- terpreted as meaut for kisses (laughter), and the lettec concluded] Excuse baste, as it is nearly dark. Yotui aiiieci-ely, j p'' The defendant was afterwards removed to Cbard, ar, £ whilst there he frequently corresponded with the plaintiff in which be referred to his duties—that of having U preach once every week-day and three times on Sunday and observed that absence made love grow warmer (laughter). In one of his letters he said that he was her property then and for ever "-(laughter). He al&i added, I hope some day to bring my dear Polly to r.e that beautiful country, where I shall be happy with her in the old arm chair"—(laughter). He spoke of hnr being in company with the dash being interpreted by the learned coucs.-l to mean angels. She had oa> to keep up her spirits, and God would open a way fjr them. In another letter he informed the plaintiff th4 he bad been introduced to a single lady about yoa own age, who keeps a shop and entertained the preacher She attended meeting three times a day and was « mother in Israel-(Iaughter)-and I believe the peop'! here will lay down their lives for me, especially the faat sex. God bless them (Laughter). In December hi wrote to her that it was better they should break off tkt engagement, that he should never be able to keep s wife, and that he thought he should die altogether. (Laughter.) In that letter he said tba Conference kU refused his marrying, and that he hoped everythicj- would be for the glory of God. It appeared that thedt fendant afterwards tendered his resignation to tbe Con- ference, and married tbe lady with The little shop « £ i entertained the preacher—(laughter)—and had his placed over the door. Plaintiff bad suffered ill-healvi ever since, and bad not been able to attend to busicets The defendant visited the plaintiff oa an average times a day, and he was fond of sitting in an armchair which he aked the sifter to give him when they wozi married. He gave her an engaged ring and his phot; graph. The plaintiff was over 3J, and the about that age. Mr. Bere having addressed the jury in mitigation ji: damages, J The learned Judge summed np, and said the defei: £ ants conduct had been very bad, for the reason wtil' he had given in his letters for breaking off'the marris^ shoulu have caused him to refrain from marrying acc- 'her. The learnad counsel had very properly abstain from reading seme part of the letters, the language fet- ing such as to some persons would appear almost shod:. ing, but which some persons of certain persuasion made use of as part of tht-ir vernacular. The jury returned a for the ptaiLtiBF—damae-- £125. b

The following translation ot the Chinese letter receivc-c with the first consignment, per ship Cherokee, of Homimav: Pure Tea, was rendered by J. Summers, Esq Professor ci Chinese. King s College, London. The original letter hasfc- many years been preserved as a literary curiosity "26-tt day of Third Moon, in the year of Kweihaow.—The lit shipped is truly best, prepared with additional care, withcu; powdered colour being put on leaf, which the experipne-vf. educated merchant will take notice. We. honoured by yo; lnstrucMoris, will continuously regard them. MINiin I. HONG. To London Foreign Merchants, HornimanV

J Salts blJ ^ration. ,0( LLANDAFF, GLAMORGANSHIRE. of VALUABLE LEASEHOLD PROPERTY. 'TUR. ALEXANDER, is instructed to SELL by AUC- Ti" TlOX, at the Angel Hotel, Cardiff, en SATURDAY, nth, ]S<>7, at Two for Three o'clock p.m. precisely, n "ject to such conditions of sale as shall then be produced. ^following; verv desirable LEASEHOLD PROPERTY: ^OT 1.—All that capital COTTAGE, with appurtcn- 1, 13 thereunto belonging, situate opposite the Old Castle, the city of Llandaff, now in the occupation of Mr. John owden. ijj,Lox ■).—All that capital DWELLING-HOUSE and OP, with SLAUGHTER-HOUSE and Appurtenances eleunto belonging adjoining the above, now m the occu- fa'l0n of Mr. Richard Seaborne. Vk r' whole of the above property is situated in the leading J/°ro,|ghf;iro in the city of Llandatl, and is held under a ,Psefrom Chas. H. Williams, Esq., of Roath Court, Cardiff, the term of 09 years, of which 9o are unexpired, subject £ ground rent of £ 7 5s. per annum. V'(:W the premises apply to the tenants, and for fuither Oculars to D. T. Alexander, Auctioneer, Pontypridd. 2141 f 3 GLAMORGANSHIRE. II! FERM GOCH, NEAR CO WBPJDGE. ■" Porlant Sile of Fat Sheep, Ewes and Lambs, Milch Caws, I Store Cattle, Horsts, and Pig". It JOHN THOMAS has been favoured with instrnc- 5 tions from Mr. John Williams to SELL by AUCTION, MONDAY, M\Y the 15th, 18! on the premises, at 1 .erzn Goch, near Penllvne, the following excellent STOCK, 0 Prime Fat Sheep, 1" ditto lambs, 20 supe- J01 ewes and Umbs, 8 capital cows and calves, four heifers calf, 2 oxen four years old, 8 steers three years old, 1 bar- Cow four years old, and 1 two-vears -old heiter, 2 very cart horse3 and 1 handsome pony, a sow aud 8 pigs, stan pigs. u-^e sheep are of the Cotswold and Leicester breed, and the the Hereford breed. months' credit will be given upon the fat stock, and J .^taonths' upon the store ditto, «pon approved security, to lasers to the amount of £ 10 and upwards, or discount ,tc»sh at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum. A week's e £ P given if required, free of charge, on tbe fat stock, Refreshments will be provided at 12 o'clock, and the sale at 1 o'clock precisely. oil lIrther particulars may be obtained on application to Mr. d n. Thimas, Auctioneer and Land Agent, Cowbridge Ilrilgeiad. 1390 4LE OF FREEHOLD AND LEASEHOLD PROPERTY. MR. ROCHE will SELL by AUCTION, at the Angel jj<- Hotel, Cardiff, on MONDAY, 6th day of MAY next, at w*f°r Seven o'clock p.m. precisely (subject to conditions of to be there produced), tbe following Lots of I1 REEHOLD 7 LEASEHOLD PROPERTY, VIZ. Loi 1.—All those Two Freehold DWELLING-HOUSES L°e used as a Shop), together with two Stables in the rear, lkte in Severn-road, Canton. These premises are admir- y Adapted for a Carpenter, Wheelwright, or Blacksmith. 2.—All those Three DWELLING-HOUSES, situate Ibh being Nos. 23, 24, 25. Pendovlan-stveet, Cardiff, held ujer Lease for the residue of a term of 9P years, subject to •jjound reiit of £ 2 each per annum. f.01" further particulars apply to the Auctioneer or to Mr. WALDRON, Solicitor, Cardiff. OF FREEHOLD AND LEASEHOLD I PROPERTY, AND TITHE RENT CHARGE. 11] & ROCHE will SELL by AUCTION, at the Angel 5I7* Hotel, Cardiff, on MONDAY, MAY the 6th, LEO/, at iN\j*c^°ck precisely (subject to conditions of sale to be there Jr^ced), the undermentioned lots of FREEHOLD and EHOLD PROPERTY, viz:— tt '•—All those two Messuages or Dwelling Houses, being ^7 and 08, Millicent-street, Cardiff, held under lease for ^0 years from 1835, subject to a reserved rent of L ^2 19s and yielding a rental of £2H per annum. -All that Messuage or Dwelling House, known as *be Rose and Crown, with two Cottages and ^uildings attached, being numbered 69, 7 >, and i i? Millicent- street, and adjoining lot 1, held under lease for 900 years from 1831 and 1835, subject to reserved rents L Counting to £4 8s., and yielding a rental ot £ 65 16s. T 3- All those three substantial and well-built Mes- suages or Dwelling Houses, situate and being Nos.21, J-2, and 23, Davis-street, Cardiff, held under lease from Lord Tredegar for 99 years from 18o(>, subject to a re- (Served rent of £ 6, and yielding a rental of i'H'.K 1 4.—All those eiaht substantial and well-built Freehold houses, with gardens, Wheelwright's Shop and premi- situate on the Ely Road at Llandaff. r 5—All the Rectorial Tithe Rent Charge of the parish °fLlangattock-juxta Caerleon, commuted at 4:1.51 7s. 9d, together with five pieces or parcels of Arable, Meadow, and Pasture Land, yielding a rental of 160 and held ^nder a lease fvom the Dean and Chapter of Llandatl for 21 years, from the 29th June, I860, subject to a re- } Served rent of £ 3 13s. 6.-A11 those seven Messuages or Dwelling Houses, gardens, and premises therewith held, situate at Tyn-y- Berllan, in the parish of Radyr, and heid wider leases for 9g V( ars, dated December 2nd. Ib37, and 1 tli. larch. 1849, ind regularly tenanted, yielding n nett rental ot subject to a reserved rent of £1 7s lcd. All that Messuage or Dwelling House and premises ^erewith held, called the Cottage Inn, at Iretorsst, Sether with three Cottages adjoining, held under a ^ase for 90 years, from the 1st May, 1840, subject to a found rent of £5 9s. 4d. tiCl)?e tenants will show the premises, and for further par- *Cars apply to the Auctioneer, at his Offices, Church- Cardin. 1436 OF R. T. CRAWSHAY, ESQ. JITESSRS. SCHENCK & SON have just issued a life- F'X like Portrait of ROBKKT T. CBAWSHAY, Esq., of Cy- ff^hfa Castle. Mertliyr, executed in the highest style of urography. Nearly ready, Dr. Guthrie and Dr. Norman °Leod. » PEICES (POST FREE):— ^roof 2ls 0d Plain Print 7s 6d ^aU Proof 12s 6d Piint for working men only 2s 6d To be obtained from the Cardiff Agent:— NJ^r- D- DUKCAN, Cardiff Times Office, 10, St. Mary-street.

0BP CARDIFF GOVERNMENT SAVING'S BANK, a every Saturday from 10 till 2; and on Saturday and Mon- f, day Evenings, from Seven till half-i)ast Eight. '1 lu 8entlemen to be in attendance are—on Saturday, Rev. :l.:tr. Jenkins and Mr. Griffith I hllhp; on Saturday Evening, ^jride; Monday Evening, Bev. Vincent Saulez.

R RAII V.-AY TRAFFIC RETURNS. 1867. 1866 week ending April 2S, *75,248 ,74 803 ^Canh6' w''ek A1' 7-7' 596 517 ^eei; ending April 27, -.■••• i <>q.» i 257 and Merthyr, week ending Apri- 21, ■ 3',)40 JCJ^thBhire, week ending April 27, week ending April 27, 'cu.s tx^vi and Ogmore, week ending April 27 week ending April 27 • tU<

I ENLARGEMENT OF THE CARDIFF TIMES. OF THE CARDIFF TIMES. —— XT ARLY in JUNE, the CARDIFFTIMS r will be ENLARGED to 56 Columns—on 1:1- crease equal to SIXTEEN COLUMNS of its present size. By this enlargement the dimensions of the CARDIFF TIMES will considerably exceed those of any paper vow Pllblished in South Wales, and will be equalled by but very few nf tin <.o.igt.st news sheets ill the kingdom. This important Enlargement has become necessary in coiucqucnec of the rapidly-increasing demands upon Ollr space by Advertisements from all parts (if th e country, which have cncroached so greatly upon that portion of our broadsheet available for District and General News, as frequently to came serious disappointment to our readers and correspondents, The enlargement will not only involve a great additional expense in the weekly production of the paper, but has necessitated a very considerable ovvloy in the construction of a NEW TWO-FEEDER MACHINE, capable of printing between 3,000 and 4,000 copics per hour. This Machine has been built Oil a new principle, by Mr. D. PAYNE, of Otlcy, expressly to print the enlarged size of the CARDIFJ- TIMES, and when fitted up will form one of the greatest modern achievements in steam-printing machinery. These arrangements will be accepted, we trust, by our readers as an earnest of Ollr desire to the position the CARDIFF TIMES has long occupied, as the LEADING NEWSPAPER IN SOUTH WALES. Started about ten years ago, as a thoroughly Liberal aud Independent Journal, it has enjoyed a steadily- increasing patronage and support both from, the reading and the advertising public. It Las been enlarged on three separate occasions, and toe final enlargement of next month will render it beyond comparison the largest and cheapest, as wctl as the best newspaper published in Wales. The Price of the CARDIFF TIMES will not be increased, but will remain at TWOPENCE, as we confidently believe, that by the generous support of the public, our circulation, already far in excess of that of any other paper in this part of the country, will be so augmented as to justify and repay the out lay wh ieh the enlargement will involve, by rcnaermg the CARDIFF TIMES more eligible than ever as an ot advertising medium throughout Glamorganshire j and South Valcs. j