Monmouthshire Merlin

.Lafaaaj^jgggg FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. o FRANCS. The hopes of the Fusionists have been annihilated, by a visit paid by his lioyal Highness Prince Napoleon Jerome Bonaparte, to the Royal Family at Brussels. The Duke and Duchess of Brabant will shortly pay a visit to {he Court at Paris. Sir Stephen Lakeman. who commanded the V> ateikloof Bangers at the Cape of Good Hope, where he obtained such a brilliant reputation, arrived in Paris some days ago, on his wav to Constantinople to take the command of a large body of troops in Asia. He ha: now left for the Turkish capital, but during his stay in Paris, he was for some time engaged in inspecting, with the permis- sion of the Minister of War, the improved drill and arms of that formidable corps, the Chasseurs de VincenFes. At Paris, and the various ports, the preparations for war, both of a naval and military character, are proceeding With great activity. At Brest, the greatest activity prevails. Four sailing vessels v. ill be ready sea in a short time, and two steamers only await their engines. Levies of seamen ar- rive from all parts. The Ocean Squadron will soon be ready to sail, and the Squadron of Preserve be in a condi- tion to reinforce it. if net essary. Orders have been sent to 'Toulon that the Labrador steam-frigate shall be immediately armed, and got ready for sea. She is to be victualled for seventy days, and with six months of spare stores. The Asmodee steam- frigate, the arming of which is completed, is nON ready for sea.. The French Government has determined to try tiic ex- perimcnt in Paris of night policemen, similar to our police force in England. The new police will be established in Paris in about two months. It will be simply a night police, and will, in the first instance, be on a very limited scale. If the experiment aucceed, the system will be gra- dually exten led. The Coun ter Champagne announces that secret clubs have been discovered at Rheinis, and that several of the members have been arrested. Rumours are again current, with respect to a change 'in the French Ca inet. It .appears that ill. Fould, notwith- standing all that has happened, continues to maintain his ideas that France should at all sacrifices, avoid wav. These arguments were repudiated by all the other Ministers, with the exception, it is said, of ')1. Magne. M. de Per- signy more especially opposed them, declaring that all these considerations were of secondary importance, and dwindled into nothing, when brought in comparison with the national honour, the equilibrium of Europe, and civi- lisation itself—all of which were threatened by the grasp- ing ambition of Russia. It is thought that M. Fould, dif- fering so essentially as he does from other members of the Cabinet, will retire. Indeed, the Ministers themselves feel the necessity, in the present crisis, of having a united Cabinet. The following important intelligence has been, received in a private letter, under date Sydney, Nov. 1 :—"The French have taken possession of New Caledonia. There is plenty of gold there, at least so it has already been be- lieved, from the large granite regions among the group. If such be the case, Great Britain ought to have been bc- forehand with them, as it lies so near New South Wales. The French Commander-in-Chief in the South Pacific has sent a vessel here, to take a cargo of supplies to the new colony immediately. How will they relish this in Eng- land ?" New Caledonia is an island, or rather a group of islands, lying to the eastward of New South Wales, being in lat. 20 S., lomr. 16-5 E. A Cabinet council was held on Saturday at theTuilevies, when the Emperor manifested his desire that, now that diplomatic relations were broken off between France and Russia, the most effectual measures should be taken forth- with to bring matters to a speedy and successful conclu- sion. The exact amount of the force to be sent on service to the East is not stated, but it is the opinion of persons competent to judge, not less than 70,000 or 80,000 Anglo- French troops would suffice, with the co-operation of the Turkish army, to do the work effectively. Candia has been already spoken of for a depot, but it is believed this island is considered as rather too distant from Turkey, and Mitylenc would perhaps be more suitable. The energy insisted upon by the Emperor, according to trustworthy aceojirds, and his determination, in conjunc- tion with England, to strike one of those stunning blows which bring a quarrel to a speedy issue, lead us to believe that the auxiliary force will be to a much greater amount than what has been so often slated, namely, 30,000 French and 10,000 English. The preparations in France are certainly on a larger scale than would be required for that number. It is sta: ed that the 10,000 men whom General Pelissier has gone to select in the province of Oran, arc to embark without delay for Constantinople. There was a report on Monday, that orders for the march of the first division of a French army to Turkey, have been sent to Africa. The Chasseurs d'Afrique a Cheval, the Zouaves, and the Chasseurs da Vinccnnes, now in Algeria, will be the first to leave. Generals Bos- quet. Pe'lisser, and C'anrobert will corlainly have com- mands, and in all probability the latter will bo appointed Commander-in-Chief of the army of the East. The march of an English army through Paris to embark at Toulon and Marseilles, is a part of the gossip of the cafes, and there is a talk at the Ministry of War of a grand fraternal banquet to be given to them in the Champ de Mars. The Minister of War continues with great activity to prepare the expedition which is to be sent to Constanti- nople. At the present moment, he is organising the cavalry with great care. It is understood that an order has been given to an ex- tensive ironmaster in the department of the Pas-de-Calais for 3,000,000 cannon balls, of various dimensions. Ic is also asserted that the decrees for the movement of the ex- peditionary force intended for the East are actually pre- pared, and only want the signature of the Emperor. The precise amount is not stated, or rather it is variously stated, but the general opinion is that it will, at least for the present, be composed of four divisions of 10,000 each. The officer again spoken of for the command in chief is Marshal St. Arnaud, whose health is much improved, and who, it is said, wishes for the command, retaining at the same time his functions as Minister at War, and the ex- ample of Marshal Bourmont at Algieis is instanced as a case in point. In some Bonapartist circles, it is confidently stated that Prince Napoleon is to be placed at the head of the auxiliary army but this is not probable, although it is nut impossible that he may accompany the expedition, without, or with only a secondary, command. Ordtrs are given to the Atlantic squadron to proceed to Toulon—it is supposed to take troops on board. The Patrie states that Omer Pacha having crossed the Danube with 50,000 men, had divided the Russian army, the right wing of which is at Krajowa, the left at Galatz, and the centre at Bucharest. He was only two days' march from the latter town, whers the Russian forces are weak. It is supposed that his health has improved. Letters received at the Turkish Embassy at Paris, it is said speak of preparations for an attack on Bucharest, RUSSIA AND T U P. K E Y. Since our last publication, very important despatches have been received, which give a different aspect to the war question. In the first place, his Excellency the Baron de Brunow, ambassador of the Czar at the Court of St. James's, has taken his departure—thus breaking off the diplomatic re- lations that heretofore existed between Great Britain and, Russia. The first intimation of the intention of his Ex- cellency, which was announced to the eager public in London, on Thursday evening, wo received by electric telegraph, and published in the MEKLIX of last week. M. de Kisseleff, who was the ambassador of the Czar to France, has also left Paris—thus terminating diplomatic relations there as. well. We may also announce that the English and French ambassadors at St.Totersburfrh have already received their passports, and it is added, that the tone of those instruc- tions; which ill be read to Count Nesselrode, eontdn some strong expressions which are not in the answer to the Russian Ambassadors. There can be little doubt that the acts of the allies will be run h stronger than their official language, and it is positively asserted that the Curadoc, which left Marseilles on Thursday, took despatches to the Ambassadors at Constantinople, which will put an end to all further uncertainty. Meanwhile, the ambassadors having thus with- drawn favm the several courts; Count Orloff bas been spe- cially instructed to visit the Courts of Vienna, Berlin, Paris, and London, with, it is supposed by some, powers to carry on a further negotiation, which, in truth, would have for its chief object the procuring of additional time for the Autocrat of the North to swell his forces on the bank of the Danube, and increase his naval forces in the Black Sea. But that any attempt to negotiate further is in vain, no one now doubts. The Turks are known to have already resumed a warlike attitude along the whole line of the Danube, from BraiIa to Kalafat. The Russians are known to be actively preparing for a renewal of hostilities in Asia, throughout the whole of the more agitated regions of the Caucasus. A collision, moreover, is spoken of, as having taken piace in the vicinity of Batoum, between the Rus- sian fleet in the Black Pea, and the combined squadrons of France and England—the last accounts from that quarter being that Admirals Dundas and Hamelin had proceeded onward from Sinope, and that scarcely half-a-dozen of the Russian vessels of war were then remaining in the port of Sevastopol. Precisely thus arc situatcrI those great powers which must now be regarded as belligerents. Precisely of this nature is the situation, when (using, with one al- tered word, the memorable phrase of Shakspeare), we have but now to let slip the dogs of war, crying, God for ius- ticovEn?;!and, and St. George e place no reliance on the rumour of a collision be- tween the allies and the Russian fleets in the Black Sea masmuen as the allied fleets have returned to Constanti- nople, on the 23rd—ufte convoving the Turkish ships with soldiers and ammm.itio i to the armv of the Danube— v, ic.1^ ac a& been telegraphed to us and no mention is made m that telegraphic despatch of any such collision. \Scieu lie, e saouid certainly have been apprised of it, immediately on the return of our fleet to the Golden Horn. By a despatch from TSebastopvl, dated the 11th Januarv, we find the entire Eiusian fleet was in the harbour on that day; but the two divisions of the fleet had received or- ders to put to sea on the 12th— whitkr, was only known to the commandant of the division. Yet it had tianspired QA" from a good source, that the Emperor Nicholas will not permit himself to be restrained by threats, and that he will send orders to his fleet to repel force by force. We may here mention that Admiral Dundas is said to have an ardent desire to come into collision with the Ilus. sian fleet, and destroy it; while a similar spiv t is said to animate the allied fleets. Thus, if any opportunity occur, while "protecting" the Turkish coast or shipping, it will assuredly be taken advantage of, with true English spirit. The three members of the English Peace Society were at lvonisbcrg on the 17th, oil their way to advise" the Czar to settle his "little differences" with Turkey m a peaccable manner! At St. Petersburgh, the miserable fanatics are giorying in their shame, being found actually to rejoice in the dis- graceful massacre of the Turks at Sinope! A play is re- peated nightly at the theatre, written with a view to cxcite public opinion against the Turks and the following pas- sages arc received with most applause The Russian naval officer, who is the principal part, exclaims, If they will not give me a vessel to command, I will sell all the men of my village to buy a frigate, and go and attack the Turks, One Russian is piore than a match for three Turks." Let us show our fidelity to our flag; let us not understand it like the people of the West, but like brave Russians that we arc." When he receives the news of the battle of Sinope, he exclaims, Behold how our Emperor chastises the impious for their perfidy Our young fleet is the finest in the world; thanks to La- zarefL" This play, which is a very mediocre affair, is inter- spersed with chc-ering, which is taken up by the pit. It terminates with a tableau of the roadstead of Sebastopol at the moment of the arrival of the Turkish prisoners, among whom Osman Pacha, carried on a litter, is a prominent figure. The Grand Duke (heir apparent) and the Grand Dukes Constantine, Nicholas, and Michel, were present at the first representation of the drama. The imperial box was filled with naval officers and the children of those on board the fleet in the Black Sea. At the third representa- tion, the Grand Duke Nicholas alone wa, preheat. The Emperor has issued an order that fifty soldiers are to be ad- mitted every night to The Battle of Sinope." A massacre, similar to that at Sinope, has been happily prevented by tempestuous weather. A Russian paper, of the 20th of January, publishes a naval bulletin from the Black Sea, in which a description of a two hours' bombard- ment of Fort. St. Nicholas (Chefketil). is given. What fol- lows will give a heartfelt satisfaction to every friend of humanity it dispels every doubt of the wisdom and policy even of the too-long-delayed entrance of the fleets, and shows that they narrowly prevented an awful repetition of the barbarian massacre of Sinope, in the flourishing port of Trebizond. The Vice-admiral then cruised along the coast of Ana- tolia, with the intention of making an attack on Trebizond but the wind changing, and tempestuous weather setting in, he was compelled to abandon his operations against that place." This was on December the 31st—just three days before the combined fleets entered the Black Sea The amiv of Russia is fast approaching Kalafat-inded, it is probable that ere this, a great battle has been fought by the Turks at that place, where the strongest fortifications and a vast army await the attack of the Prussians. San- guinary engagements wore said to have taken place on the 20th, near Kalaradsehe but the result is not known. The Russian bulletins have from the first teemed with lying statements of different battles, in which, it was said, the soldiers of the Czar were triumphant. The great Turkish victories have been termed "Russian victories j" and the heroism and bravery of the Autocrat's hordes are said to be extraordinary The St. Petersburgh paper contains expressions of the imperial gratitude for patriotic offerings made in support of the Turkish war. Thus tho uobles of the Government of Jamkow are thanked for a present of 500 artillery draught horses, and the nobility of that of Smikies for an offering of 43,000 silver roubles, to purchase 500 horses as remounts for the light cavalry. The ordinary professor of the univer- sity in that capital (the councillor of state, Mirza Kasen Be'k) has requested leave to give the officers of the general staff and of the imperial Russian military academy gratu- itous instruction in the Turkish language and for th the Czar has been pleased to give him a public expression of his august favour. A medical journal of Viennn states that the number ot sick amongst the Russians in Wallachia is 10 per cent., and in certain localities 36 per cent.; also, that the number of deaths in January was more considerable than in De- cem ber. The mission of Count Orloff—so far as Austria and Prus- sia are concerned—has shown Russia that she can neither bully nor coerce tl10se powers into, becoming her allies. From Vienna, it is stated that Count Orloff's mission has completely failed, and the overtures of which he was the bearer, have been decidedly rejected. Count Buol at once declared them to be of a nature which the Four Powers could not entertain. He convened a meeting of the Con- ference, at which he stated that the Russian propositions must be regarded as inadmissible; and a protocol to that effect was drawn up, and signed by the representatives of the Four Powers." It is rumoured that the Emperor of Austria has declared to Count Orloff that if the Russians cross the Danube, he will consider the same as a declaration of war. The Berlin despatches represent the feeling jf the Govern- inent to be strongly against the conduct of Russia. Count OrlofFs proposals have been totally rejected and it has been intimated that, if the Czar persists in refusing peace on the terms agreed to by the Vienna Conference, Prussia will be compelled to take an active part in conjunction with the Western Powers. The King has, it is said, despatched an autograph letter to the Emperor Nicholas, stating this determination. In regard to the neutrality of Denmark and bweden, the Emperor Nicholas has expressed himself in terms of great disapprobation. He would prefer their assistance to their neutrality but they are too prudent to involve themselves in his defeat. The Turkish arms have been victorious in two or three recent small engagements; and a communication from Bucharest, of January 19, says, the Turks, although ab- staining from great operations, give the Russians no rest. On the 15th and 16th, a heavy firing was kept up from Rustchuk against Giurgevo, and an attack was made on the island there. The result is not yet known. On the same day, the Turks made attacks near Oltenitza and Kalarascli. News of the same kind reaches us from Siiistria and Tur- tukai, and fighting is again going on near Matshin. The Russian Troops on their march are allowed no rest even yesterday, the 18th, although it is a great festival in the Greek Church, they were compelled to advance. A letter from Gibraltar, of the 22nd, states that the Ban- shoe steamer, which lately touched there on her way to Con- stantinople, had on board three English officers of engineers, who are to join the Turkish army. We understand that at Sophia, there is a reserve force of 30,000 footmen ffussvolh), 3,000 horsemen,'and artillery- men, or men with firearms in their hands, sharpshooters, &c., innumerable. As it was alleged that Servia was taking arms against the Sultan, a corps of 10,000 infantry, with 2,000 cavalry, and eighty field-pieces, was directed to move against the Servo-Bulgarian frontier town of Nissa but as it has now transpired that the Servians, and in particular the Servian Government, have an antipathy to the prospect of Ru.irian domination, this corps has been despatched to Widdin, whence it will be engaged in combating the Rus- sians in Lesser Wallachia. The largest contingents have as yet been supplied to the Turkish army from the districts of Macedonia and Albania—that is, of course, speaking pro- portionally. The population of Bulgaria may be estimated at 1 4-oths millions, and has, up to this time, furnished 40,000 men. Macedonia h:1.s 4,5th:, of a million only, and supplied 30,000. Roumelia had hut 2A millions of inhabi- tants, and has furnished 60,000 men up to the present date. Albania has but one million, and yet has given 50,000 troops. In the Sultan's army—that of Asia especially— there arc very many soldiers who profess the Greek Chris- tian faith, whilst in the army of the Danube they even ex- ceed the whole number of Moslems. A Rotterdam journal gives the following from Trieste, dated the 30th ult. :—"The commandants of the combined squa,lrc:1s have received orders to playa more active part in the Black Sea. The Anglo-French stop all the Russian vessels they meet, anel conduct them to the n3:1-rest Rusisan port, with orders not to quit it again. Nine or ten vessels of war hav e, within the last few days, been fallen in with en the coast of Asia, near Batoum, by a part of the combined fleets, and forced to make for their nearest port." Advices from the Black Sea intimate that the Russian A(1u,iral has been causing forts to be erected all alon-r the coast nf the Straits of Yenikale." The admiral n.ust have been in a terrible fright had his fears allowed him to re- flect, that seeing Yenikale is the place where the larger merchantmen unload In paH before entering the Sea of Azoff, its vicinity was little likely to be disturbed by men- of-war. OPPOSITION OF THE ENGLISH AND FRENCH AMBASSADORS TO THE RETURN OF THE FLEETS. The following telegraphic despatch, dated Constantinople, January 23, has been received via Vienna :— The combined fleets returned on the 22nd, without having seen a single Russian vessel during the three weeks cruise. "The Niger, sent with despatches countermanding the return of the fleets, only met them clone to the Bosphorus. The Vesuvius, Highflyer, and Sidon have just arrived." Constantinople letters, of the 22nd, state that the admirals decline tho responsibility of nnvigation with sailing vessels in the Black Sea, during the present most dangerous sea on. It appears that it was on Monday, 16th inst., that the Caton arrived at COll8tantinoplo from the Black Sea, wÜh despatches for Lord Redcliffe and M. Baruguay d'Hil1iers, annoullc1f,g the llltentlon of the admimls to return with their fleets to Beyeos. The cause of this resolution was generally supposed to be the want of good harbour and the risks of the Euxino at this season. The ambassadors met in conference on Tuesday, in consequence of this informa- tion, and the Samson started for the Black Sea with their reply to the admirals, which, it was said, was to the follow- ing effect:— Tho ambassadors express surprise at the sudden resolu- tion of the admirals, more particularly at the present mo- ment, when a Turkish steam flotilla is on the point of start- in<>' with ammunition and other stores for the army of Ana- lia! The orders of the French and British Governments which reached this by the Caton, about ten days ago, were formal and precise, respecting the protectio>to be afforded bv the combined fleets to the Ottoman flag and territory, and the attention of both admirals again called to the striu- gent nature of these instructions, which had been duly Duti- fiedtothern. The admirals, it would appear, consider that the measures entrusted to their execution may be equally well effected, whether the force under their command be stationed at Boycos or Sinope. This is a matter which must entirely depend on their own judgment, and on them the responsibility will rest. The ambassadors decline to inter- fere in all matbrs connected with nauticd experience, and conlbe themselves mcreiy to those within the sphere of thdr poEtic:J.1 department. Hence tho wishes and sntentioils of their Governm8nts having been dllly 1íOlifiell to loth admi- rals, it only remains to conform strictly to them, and devise thosÇ) weans best cÜculated for their execution," .='¿'L"=" r The rumour of a enmbat before Batoum was without foun- dation, and took its origin, it would seem, in a strange lU. cident. Two English war steamers having been sent from Trebizond to Batoum, were received with cannon shots from the foriress. The steamers, much surprised at this reception, sent a boat to the town with a flag of truce, to learn the cause of such treatment. The Turkish commandant of Ba- toum stated, in explanation, that for some time the Russian vessels had endeavoured on several occasions to surprise the vigilance of the garrison, by hoisting a French or English flag on approaching the town. A telegraphic despatch from Constantinople, on tho 23rd January, says :— A successor to Omer Pacha will be appointed in case he should be seriously indisposed. "Three fresh convoys of troops and ammunition for the army in Asia will sail in a few days, under escort of a divi- sion of the combined fleet. The presence of the fleet iu the Black Sea has restored the courage of the Turkish population, and struck terror into the partisans of Russia. i The weather was constantly favourable, and the ships have returned to Beycos, none the worse for their cruise." According to advices from Giurgevo of the 23rd ult., the waters of the Danube were rising considerably. The coun- try adjacent to the banks is mostly overflowed. Tho islands near Giurgevo, Oltenitza, and Sirtow, which hitherto formed a basis of operations for the Ottoman troops crossing the river are quite inundidated at present. Advices from lvrajowa of the 25th, state that General Dannenberg is dangerously ill. Letters from Bucharest oi the 25th relate that the billet- ing of more troops from Bessarabia has been announced. It thaws constantly, and the movements of troops proceed slowly; with pieces of artillery of heavy calibre, three times the usual number of horses is needed to drag them through the mire. The latest advices from the scene of action con- tradict the report of the Turks having occupied Oltenitza. Letters from Constantinople of tho 19th ult. state that the former Minister of Police, Haireddin Pasha, lately ap- pointed Inspector-General of the Armies in Asia, left Oil the 18th for that destination. The departure of the new con. voy of troops and munitions of war for Asia was to take place on the 21st. The military reinforcements on board consisted of between 7,000 and 8,000 men. The English steamer Sidon, detached from the squadron of Admiral Corry, arrived at Constantinople on the 17th. Two others were expected. It was also said that, independently of the Vauban and Cacique, then on their way to Constantinople, two other French steam-frigates would shortly join the the squadron, the Cabinets of London and Paris having de- cided that tho number of those frigates should be equal at least, in both squadrons, to that of our ships of the line in order to take the latter in tow when circumstances re- quired. A letter from Trebizond mentions that a few days before the entrance of the combined fleets into the Black Sea, some Russian ships cannonaded a small fort situate on the neighbouring coast; but that, on being apprised by a Greek merchantman of the presence of the squadron at Sinope, they had hastened to weigh anchor, and disappeared. The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Beurmann, all attache of the French Embassy, and several foreign officers lately admitted into the Ottoman service, embarked on the 17th fur Yarna, whonce they were to proceed to the head-quar- ters at Shumla. The Sultan having heard that Omer Pacha had been of late indisposed, had sent to him with the permission of General Baraguay d'llilliera, Dr. Fauvel, who was at the same time to inspect the hospitals and the medical department of the army on the Danube, which, it appears, is anything but satisfactory. The Sultan had not yet fixed the day for his departure for Adrianople. The English and French Ambassadors were to accompany his Highness. The relations between Turkey and Persia had been re-established on the most friendly footing. ALLEGED FAILURE OP COUNT MISSION. Further received in Kngland, in regard to the de- termin.ition ot Austria :tnd Prussia as to the attitude they will assume ín the yrespnt struggle between llussia and Turkey confirms the intelligence given before, to the effect that Count Orloff's mis,ion to Vienna has as yet been un- successful. Count. Orloff demanded," says a telegraphic despatch, dated Vienna, Sunday," tlicit Austria should pledge herself to remain neutral under circumstances that might arise. The Emperor met this demand by asking for a pledge on the part of Russia with respect to the evacuation of the rineipaiities, and also for a promise that the Czar would not eioss the Danube, not- seek any increase of ter- ritory at the expense of Turkey. Count Orloff was unable to give any sucli undertaking and the Emperor, therefore, resen td to himst-ll full liberty to act as circumstances might dictate, with due regard to the interest and the dignity or Austria. Count Orioff's mission is not, however, concluded anJ it is understood that he will remain here 80me days longer, lie has, probably, instructions to make some olher pn pos.tls to the Emper ir; ùtt no one anticipates that his efforts will be attended by any SUCC:S8" Both thiaCourt and that otVienna," says a telegraphic couimunicHUon from Berlin, on Saturday, "have refused Count Orloff's demand for an uncondi'ional pledge of neu- 'rality. Neither Prussia nor Austria will undertake to lvmain neutra', in the event of the Cz r persisting in his projects agrinst Turkey, or seeking to extend his dominions ..t her exppn f". Prussia has expressed her refusal in very decided terms, and it is not improbable that still stronger language will be employed by the Austrian Go- vernment." Another despatch from Vienna states, that Austria de- clares that she will act against llussia, if the Czar cross the the Danube. If he does not, the German powers will re- main neutral, and in case of future negotiation, will endea- vOl1r tei proi ute any settlement, un thè. ;asi" <»1 the prwto. eols of Vienna Arbitration, i1 is said, and the King; of the Belgians h's been mentioned as the probable umpire. The answer of the Emperor Ni.-h das to the Tiukhh pro- posals adopted by the Vienna Conference has reached hotli Vienna and Berlin. He declares them to be quite un- satisfactory, that he will allow of no mediation between himself and Turkey, and Turkey, if she wishes to trCtt, may send an ambassador to St. Petersburgh. It is quite clear Austria and Prussia wish to dis- couraga the Cz-tr, and to induce him to a andoti his war- like policy, though they do not. opeiuv declare them- selves agains*. him. they do ali that they think M'ecessary to show their disapprobation of his policy It is evident from this that the policy 01 Prussia and Austria is one of reserve and expectation, though it is equaily clear that they are only waiting for a favourable opportunity to take part, if necessary, against Russia. It has escited surprise that Count Orloff should go to Iloll.md, and some difference of opinion exists as to the object of Li visit, theie. According to some, its object is to induce the King of Holland (the principal of the secondary maritime powers of Europe) to remain neutral; according to others, its object is to meet M. de Brunow and 11. de Kisseleff ou their quitting London and Paris. it is belieied that the negotiations of Count Orloff will be prolonged for several days. At present, his has only had the effect of strengthening 'he p sitictn of Count Buol, and diminishing the influence of Count Fiquelmont.

IioRittD MUHDEH IN JNEW HAMI'SHIUE —■- horrible tragedy was enacted, on Jan. Iiith, in this vicinity. Miss Jones, a young lady in New lioston, wlule on h r way to school on Friday morning, was mat by isarga-nt a re- jected lover, who fired a pistol at her, whi n she fell dead on the spot. Mr. Sargent then cooily loaded another pistol, and out his own brains. About; year since, he paid his addresse* to i^s Jones, and she, at the urgent request of her father, recrivcd them for a time. Sh rtlv after her father died, and since that time, she has in. timated to h m the desire that they shoulu he discontinued. Last Monday, lie called her out of the school which she was a tending, and asked her if sue aid not intend keeping com- pany w-fth him any longer. She told him. "No." Since I that time it is thought he has been contemplating the dia bolictl deed. A younger b) other and two or three little girls were in company with her at the time. He fired three s ots. 1 he fir-t taking no effect, she cried out, Oh, don't shoot me He seized her by the arm, and fired two more shots, when she imnieiii.itely tell dead. lhe affair occurred about nine o'clock, r Kaigent lived till "hout thne o'clock in the afternoon, but ail the time wholly uncon-cious. Wiss Jones is iuv«ri ;biy spoken of as a worthv girl, and of r.-spectabie connections. The families are neighbours, the pwreii'S widows. Upon Sarg'-tu's person were found papers giving directions regarding the luneial, &c. He wished the funerals to take place at the same tiioe, and that they miht bp. buried in tite 8ame grave, or as nrar each ottler as po,.ciùIe, I 0 this, or curse, thefanvl/of Miss Jones would consent. The funerals lock place at dif- ferent bou-es. EXECUTION.—John Charles Tapner suffered the last penalty of the law at Guernsey, o.i Friday last, ?rd Feb. Considerable interest has been exited by the case of the culprit, who was convicted by 11:0 royal court of Guern = iy for the murder of an aged female, whose house and some of whose remains were burned in order to conc»al if pos- sible, her violent death. The evidence was of a nature necessarily circumstantial, although strong, and very rc'ive exertions have been made to procure a reirmsio,; of "the capital sentence. After a most careful consideration how- ever, of the entire circumstances, and the perusal of the most voluminous documents, submitted to the Home Se- cretary, by the authorities of the island, and the f ie-ds of the accused, Lord Pdnerstan has decided that there is no rea-ou to reverse the decision of the royal cuUrt. I BOUCTIOM IN THE i'RICE OF BRKAD.—On Saturday, the bakers of the metropolis and suburbs reduced the price of the 4 lb. loaf a penny bread of the second qunhty lt)'d and to 9d. ald tive'y Country or housenoid breai (uuweighed) from 9d to 8L per loaf. Toe League Bakery sell their bread (un- iidu teratcd_) at 9c]. per -1 lb. (JHI'AT REDUCTION IN TIII: fRICE OF COALS.—On r^atur. av the retail coal-dealers of toe metropolis made a c nsid -i ab e reduction in the pn: eat t1,118 article, so essen- tial to the comfort of the poor at this inclement season. Coals which had been selling ill the eariy part, of last week ■:t 2s, 4rf. and '2s. 6d. per cwt. were reduced to is. lOci. and 2s per cwt. respectively, and gas coke trorn 9d. to 8d. per bushel. The diminution iu piice^is to be attributed to the immense fleet of coal-laden visse.s that arrived in the river on Friday a id .>a'urday, which it is anticipated w ill m'nt the n iin er of ships !"r sale at tuis day's market to nearly 700, wiih aggregate tonnage ot 17> Gúv. RAILWAY CCIDHNTS —My a Parliamentary return jnst issued, it appears that the total numoii of persons of every o'escri- (ion killed and injure;! on all tue passenger railways onen for the public tratfic in Great iji-it^ni and Ireland, ending 30th June, 18.53. amounted to US killed ind 191 injured, and may :.eclassed as follows: — !0 p :s-iengtrs killed and 114 injured, tro.u causes beyond iheir own con'rol 14 passengers klLeo. and 7 injured, owing to their own misconduct or want of caution lif) servants of comoinies or of coniractois killed and 43 in- jured, from causes beyond their own control 41 s rvants of companies or of contractus killed and ,20 injured, owing to tier own misconduct > r art o. caution 40 tres na; sers and other persons, neither passengers nor servants "f the company, killed and ,7 injured, by dossing or waik- {n„ the railway; 1 suicide. Total—148 killed and 191 injured. The number of passengers conveyed during the half year amounted to 316. 1 he le ngth of railway 0pen' on the 31st December, 1052, was 7,330 miles. The length of railway open on the 30th June, 18ju, was 7,5U miles. Increase of mileage during the half year, liG.

I FAIRS IN FtBnuAiiv. MONMOUTHSHIRE. GLAMORGANSHIRE. Monmouth 15 Llantrissant 13 HEREFORDSHIRE. Newbridge 14 Leominster 13 Caerphilly 23 WORCESTERSHIRE. Lantwit 24 Shipton-on-Siour 14 Bridgend 25 Worcester •• •. 20 BRECONSHIRE. Bromsgrove. 28 Brtcon 20

HERFORD CATTLE. The Hereford breeds is dispersed over a great part of Monmou hshire. Mr Yanvotth was for many years cele- hr;¡"l"tl ;ûl an I"X el'en! stod.. and his hull TroJan, ou' of a d '.ugh'er of a co*v bought of Mr U fotnkios, was so re- markable an animal as to be taken when fat from town to town for exhibition I Ills breed of cattle has also in the "t fp- years been established more exten-ivdy in the adjoining counties, westward and northivard, namely, Sa'ep Radnor, and Brecon, and each of these counties can hoast of excellent stocks indeed, a person may travel very far into Carmarthenshire, before he sees the fields in possession of any other breed. As Salop is become very much a breeding county, and as the Herefords are estlb ished in many parts of it, a f:w particulars lelative to them in that coun'y may not be un, interesting. It does not appear that any great exertion has j been made to ( btain a breed of Here'oids combining more IlJiik wi h its other valuable qualities, when, as might have been expected its introduction has necessarily supplanted a breed excelling in that quality. On the Montgomery side thia was most decidedly manifest; the old breed of that coun'y (now nearly extinct) being excellent dairy cattle, and where milk was sought after, unfavourably ex. changed for lie Herefords. The rich vale of Corve, extend iilg upvva'ds in the direction of Much Wenlock, contains some o' the best slocks in the county. The Onny, too, a consideiable s'ream flowing from the neighborhood of Bishop's Castle, passes in its course a district thckly studded with Here ords; indeed, it may be said thac on the Shropshire boundaries of Kadno; sbireand Montgomeryshire this breed is in aimost exclusive possession. In the interior of the coun'y of Salop the Hereford breed forms ti e exception rather than the rule, but where it bas been introduced, i' has genera ly been done with judgm nt; and it probably will, in a few ears. divide the greater part of the county with the i-hor; horns, to the exclusion of a bieed that In-V we 1 be termed nondescript, and composed of various mixtures, of which a roarse breed of the old long lioi-ri was the btisis. Proceeding lip the dale in the direc- tion of Much Wenloch, we find an excellent breed in the hands of Sir Francis Lawley, at bis farm at Molikiloptoli —that and Mr. Juckes's oi Tearne being. I believe he only stocks in that part of Sluopshire breed almost exclusively from the Tomkitts And Price blood. In the round Brecon and Hay, many excellent stocks are found, the best of them derived chiefly from the fully b'octi. The latest branch of that family was Mr. Tully of Clirow, re si ent in that neighbourhood from which circumstance the prevalence of this blood in an ex- ensive lauge opcountry ,mayjbe accounted lor. In the vales of Radnorshire, t^articula<iy round Knigh'on, are some excellent stocks of Herelitrds—the -,I)i,e,ta,,ed predominating. In the more mountainous parts, the breeds have been mixed with the Welsh, and a Hereford bub hav- ing been generally used, his colour and marks have been imparted to the stock and where the situations are favour- able, the Here'ords are displacing the old mountaineers, compel ing them to reiire to the more elevated tracts-E. F. W. Cyclopedia of Agriculture. OUR CORN SUPPLIES A GLANCE AT SPAIN. We noticed a few weeks ago, the prospects that were being opened of an increased commerce with the Peninsula in the article of grain, and the posbibi i y of plentiful sup- plies being drawn 'rom that quarter at prices which would alleviate the dearness now Ilnirenaly complained of. and yield increased employment and profrable remuneration for the agricultural industry of Spain, To this important re- sult, as we then observed, there is only one impediment, viz,. difficulty of transit-an impediment, however, which public enterprise wil' not long permit to exist where a lucrative commerce is practicable. It is wet! known that for the abundance and excellence of her cei-eal produce, Spaio is almost unrivalled, and that with the lightest 01 labour she can produce an immense surplusage ot food for e ;;>ort. It is thNelole important, at a period of derrth and dearne-s and on the eve of a ctisis which must render our ordinary supplies very precarious, to take advantage of so rare a source of relief, and develop it to the utmost. Strongly confirmative of out recent observations on this subject, we liatle read with I-asure a series of articles in a -!lie Bulletin of Commerce of Santancler, vfliieh furnishes us with some definite statistics as to the present amount oftrade, but deplores that the iarge supplit s of Ca.,iiiiie are ;locked fill in tlje iti'etior of tije country, and rendered unavailable for European consump- tion by the threefold obstacles of tardiness of transport, severi y of weather, and badne-s of roads. These circum- stances, the writer remarks, will al ways prove detrimental harriers, until Spain has provided herself with a sys'em of railways which wi place her in tbis respect upon a par with the civilisation 01 Europe. Our cot) emporary follows up this id a by making some estimates of the large profi s which thef rail way novv^onstraetin^.lrom A!arto ;he not tiie: n port of Snntander, will derive from the carriage of grain; and stir up the Spanish turnpike authorities, somewhat in the style of a patriotic English rate; ayer. to improve the roads that are at present almost impassable from heavy tiaffic and bat weather. It appears that upwards of 300,000 cart and waggons passed over the turnpike read to and frOIll Sanfander (the great outlet in the Ray of Biscay 'or Spanish produce) during the last year, and that the carriage ot )tir a,on? from Alar to Santander, realise(i in the iiioii,li of November last, 6,400,000 reals, or S54 000. To show the rapid deve'opement of commerce in this district Ct( 11 under the disadvantages we have named, it may be stated that the exports from the ports of San anderand Uequejatla have increased from 3,099245 arrobas (25ibs, weight), in 1848. to 6 098,349 in 1853. If this could be effected wi b ,fic: ,,reseiit wi,elcll,d mt.,eiis of transport to lie sea-hoard, what may not be expected when a line of railway is carried into tbe interior from Santander, diron. h the rich provinces 01 Castille to Madrid? Shofl'd t:!is be ('/I.'l'ierl out. Ollr Spanish contempory may' then desist from his appeil, to the turnpike authorities to "mend tt)t,ir s," and he may cell.e 10 depJore ¡he fact of immense stores ot grain and other produce literally was t,d for want of cheap and easy access to 'he markets of Europe. Tli(, general ques. tion, however is one of considerable importance. The produce of wheat in (,,a!,till" (Ill,.i,g the harvest of 185:3, was 8 000 mOfanegus, cr 6 640,000 t.. equal to 1,600,0 0 fu.glbh quarters and it is no exaggeration to say that w re the gricultcra r sourc- s of Spain duly developed and th, proper means < f'trai si; afforded, we might draw from that, country annually sieverui million quaiteis of grain,to say nothing "f other produ. e and of the increased amount ot manufactures wbidl wr ho !d export 'o the Peninsula. Hut impor ant as the subje t is to this country, with food at irs presel,t price and a prospect of cuitahed sup- plies from abroad, it is s,ill more so to ::5¡n!fi hersell, III her ptcseii' prosUate and paralysed condition. That si e requires an improved government is evident that her poli- tical condi ion is critical, cannot be denied; but she re- quires sti 1 more that in usion of capdal and enterj.uiv, dldt de,elo¡Jf'tIlf:nt of natural wra'lh, tll'il q'ij('kcl!)g 01 social activity upon which, more than any mete form o> government, the prosperity of a country is ba-ed. he int'oduction of the railway system wiil do much to vaids eflei iog this bject; ntid if England ever again impress herself iti the aflatrs of 'he Peninsula, it must be in the direction we have indicated, rather than by armed sill tid e, H".d dip'omatic interference. To h ith countries wiHtiie rhangj be advantageous -Tile Empire.

GARDEN OPERATIONS, &c. (From the Gardener's Clti'Oilicle.) 711E FLOW Ell CAliDLN AND SH Hl'BBH l! t LS» All alterations lieie should now be pushed forward wi h the greatest po-si> le despatch, particularly the preparation j of ground tor p anting, and complete the removal of -argt* c,lit,t,t &L! a,, soon as possible, 'or he.-ides this kind of work being done with much greater safety now than in soru'.g it is very desirable to get it out o* hand before hat bust season arrives. In stiff soils the flower beds wiil he greatly improved by a libeiat dressing of charred vfg-tab e refuse, which should be app.ied when the surface ol the ground is sufficiently crusted so as to he able to turn it in without treading the soil The beds s'nou d be trenched every second o> third year to the depth o! at least 2 feet, keeping the under soil if clay or hungry gravel, in the botto") his will be of much more impor anceto tbebeait') of th.1 bints at al seasons, and more conducive to the production of blossoms, than heavy dressings of manure, which-induce an over-luxuirant yrowth, and t ender the p ants particularly liable to stiller from drought in summer, or from sudden changes in the weather. In situations where draining is required, it shou d he effected a' once, making the drains at least 4 feet deep wherever that can be effected. FLOlil-i-S' FLOW-'z.ttS- After the very severe weather we have had, most of the stock in will doubtless have suffered considerably from damp, owing to the sa-hes having been kept elotp Air should now be admiited /'re,y, re,11 I' ing tht' ¡igLrs entirely on tine days, and the entire stock gone over and (-;it e'if ly Should aphides m;-ke their appearance, a,)oly tobacco smoke withou1 delay, giving a moderate dose, repeating It if necessary. Pin'<s and carnations shou'd he t kept ra'herdiy—many va'uahle varieties »re 'ost by ove:- wate ing at this season, Auricu'as should be cnre'nliy e lamined. KITCHEN GARDEN AND HARDY FIlClT DDPARTMHNT. Sutler no delay in getting aii ground intended for aspara g:IS, s"akaie, and rhuharb in rea<lín ss for p alltin. Sow (,eas in heat to p anf out iti March if sown in .GO pots, th- roots are but Ikde disturbed in planting ou into the open quarters, aferbein.: snffie ently hardi-ned off. ID thee»<nt oi frost a ter planting, project by spruce branches. Make a S-k eessionul sowing a;so on a sunny bo d r likew ise d not omit to pet some ear y mazagat) Leans in. Look over a i strawberry beds weed them and remove aii dead leaves and runners hat are no:wanted; top dress with wer-dcnyed manure, which may be sligh ly forked in. Prepare ground for hoise-latlish, by trenching and putting manure sn the bot'om of each irench, and alfjo prepare ground on sum- warm b uder lor ea- ly potatoes. A tew eat-ly horn carrot and shor top radish may novv be sown in a waim border, covering, in case of frosty weather, with a little litter.

COTTAGERS' GARDEN. A few early potatoes may now be planted, Place them ,n drills about 4 inches deep, and liom 15 t0 18 inches apart; and if a little leaf-soil, or any other light compost, can be spared with which to cover the sets, it will greatly assist in protecting them from frost, as well as prove bene- ficial to the crop. Also, if not already done, plant a smalj breadth of early mazagan beans on a bit of strong soil, to furnish an early supply. Planfs in pots, in the window or frame, must be very sparingly supplied with water at present; and when an) is givrn let it he done on the morning of a mild day, so as to abow of getting the foiisge, &c., dry helore evening. Keep the frame we'i coveted up at night, and during frosty days, so as to guard its inmates horn injury. TREATMENT OF TRI E CARNATIONS. Few plants have more improved of late years, both in habit of gro /th, variety and richness uf colours than tree carna ions, and they amply repay the attention that has been bestowed on them, for they are not only beautiful, but very fragrant, and with liitle care they may be had in flower at almost any season in fact, if a sufficient quantity uf plants is prepared, a succession of b oom may be obtained fiont them rite whole year round; 1 tiust, therefore, that we shad shorly see them very extensively cultivated. They are easily propagated by cuttings, which should he made of half ripened wood, like the show varieties, cut'ing them close otr below a joint, and removing the lower leaves. March or April will be found the best months for pu'tina in a stock for winter blooming, as they will mate excellent plants during summer and autumn. Although they strike nathly nearly all the year round, if placed in a slight hot torn heat, the most healthy of the old plants should be selected and plac.d in a warm temperature lo excite growth prior to the cuttings being taken off.- By following this plan, 'hey will be found to s rike more freely. The pots should be thoroughly drained for their reception.and a portion of rough sif ings or moss placed over the crocks. The compost should consist of one ba flight sandy soi, and one-!laJt leaf H!uuld and a!ld run through a fine sieve, and well mixed together. With this, the po's should be filled to within about, half an inch of the top. the remainder being made up with sharp sand pressed firmly and sligh ly watered before the cuttuigs are inserted. Ifplaced in a sight bottom heat. they wif 1 not require any bell-glasses to cover them for if only slightJy shaded du ing sunny days they will very speedily take root. If any ot the grass iriould decay, it should be removed flip moment it is perceived, as it creates damp. As soon as they ha e become sufheien iy romed, pot them into 4-inch keeping them in a warm moist atmosphere, and stop the in, in order to form them into compact bushes. Assoon as they have again filled the pots with loots, give them another liberal shi i info 7.inch pots. still keeping them in a warm atmosphere, and using t' e syringe fietly unti they have "t quite established, when thev should be gradually hardened off, and finally placed in a cold frame, where they may remain during the summer months. Except potting, stopping the shoots which should oidy lie done wt in the wood is in a hat ripe state, marly tyin th shoo's as they progress, watering when requir-d, frequently overhead, and occasionally stir- ring the surface soil, no hing wiil he needed dating the summer and au umn. I have, Ijowever, found green-fly troublesome at times, but if the tvafer-poc is frequently used overhead but litde need be feared either from them or red spider; if they happen to be attacked by mildew, apply Bulphur as soon as it is perceived. When cold damp weather sets in, remove them to the greenhouse or con- servatory, where they will come into bloom in succession during the whole 01 the dull winter IJ.)Onth; after they have done tlowering, select the most heathy cuttings-the ofd^plan's should be cut down for another year, or thrown away. The s opping should always be regu'ated by the time when tiiey are wanted to be in blossom,—for ins ance, for early winter flowering, the plants sh uld not be stopped after July, and so on; if the p'an's are well ripened by autumn, they may, by a little additional heat, he had in flower whenever they are tequiied. The soil best suited for their cu'ture is maiden loam, I. af mould, ro ten cow- dung, and silver sand, to which may be added a portion of mortar rubbish, in order to keep the soi1 porous; manure- water wi h occa ional waterings of soot water, will be found beneficial during the growing and blooming season.—j?. B

BENEVOLENCE OF THE EMPRESS EUGENIE The correspondent of the Morning Advertiser says: — The Empress, who is always doing kind and charitable actions, in a sensible, unostentatious manner, has just given us another proof of her goodness. You remember that some days past you were informed that a woman named Hubschen, had been discovered "mong the work- men employed on the earthworks of the railway con- structing in the Drome, and that she had obtained employment there in male attire, for the purpose of supporting a sick husband and four children. The Em- press, on learning the circumstances, immediately had a letter sent to the prefect of the department, requesting the details of the affair, and, on the receipt of them, ordered the following letter to be addressed to the poor woman:- M.1.dame,-The Empress has read with peculiar interest the recital of the pious fraud whicn YOll made nse of in order to support your sick husband, and feed your poor children. Deeply affected at this recital, her Majesty ill,mediately conceived the idea of offering to take under her charge two of your children, and has ordered ma to come to an understanding to that effect with the Pre'ectof the The Empress is not ignorant that there arc virtues for which the exalted of the earth can firrd no reward, but she desires to give you a pi oof of the sentiments with which yi ur conduct has inspired her; she wishes, Y. adame, that you should know that her personal sympathy is acquired to the devoted wife and to the courageous mother of a family." Mine. Hubschen having selected her eldest girl, aged 15, and the eldest boy, apred 8, to be placed nndcr the patronage of the Empress, the^ Prefect made an arrange- ment with the Sceurs de St. Vincent de Paul to take the former, and with a schoolmaster named Martin for the | latter. Her Majesty, on being informed of these arrange- ments, directed that a letter should be sent to the Prefect, approving of what he had done, but signifying to him her wish that the children may not be brought up with ideas beyond their position in life that the boy may not be a monsieur, but a good workman, and the girl an indus trious and honest workwoman.

FIRE AND LOSS OF SEVEN LIVES On Tuesday morning, at half past five o'clock, the neighbourhood of Leicester square was thrown into a state of the utmost confusion in consequence of the sudden outbreak of a most disastrous fire, which was not subdued until a great sacrifice of life had taken place, and several persons been seriously injured. The house in question is that of a Mr. F Lind, picture dealer, No 19, Prince s- street, Leice-ter-square, and is in the joint occupation o. three families, the inmates of which were soundly sleep- ing when the police constable on duty perceived smoke issuing from the shop. The flames spread with such amazing rapidity, that they took possession 0: the staircase and cut off all means of escape. The inmates at once ran to the windows, threw up the sashes, and called out for help. A man in the second Hoor fiuding the lire rushing into his room jumped out of the window, leaving his wife and three children behind but was so seriously hurt that lie was taken to the hospital. The scene at this period wag distressing in the extreme. A man, woman 3| • t'le *°P H°or weie uttering the most piercing shrieks for help when the fla nes overpowered them, and they sum in the burning element. The London fire brigade engines from King's street, \V ell street, and Chandos street, having obtained a plentiful supply of water, went to work in most admirable s'vle, and by great exertions on the part of the firemen, the fire was subuiied. W hen (jerrard and Staples, the district fore- men of the in e brigade, so soon as the ruins were suffi ciently cooieu, dentin search of the persons who were known to have perished, (hey were horrified to find two more bodies. As soon as tho Royal Society fire escapes arri ed, the condnctors ascended their machines, in the expect ti li of saving the lives of the unfortuuate | or atures but they were met with such immense sheets of fire that they were compelled to make a hasty retreat. The cause uf this dreadful calamity is at present unknown, but a very searching investigation will be gone into at the coroner's inquest. The remainder of the inmates fortu nately made their escape. The inspector of the police from Vine-st., with a body of men, were most efficient in rendering every assistance to the firemen.

GENERAL NEWS. -=;- A Cabinet Council was held at the Foreign-office, Dow- ning-street, on Saturday. The Council sat four hours and three quarters. The Government balance-sheet for 1853 has just been issued. The income of the year amounted to £54,4:;6,344, and the expenditure to £51,174,839, showing a surplus of £ 3.33-5,502. The new Charitable Trusts Commissions have directed an inquiry, with a view to improvement, into the state of Sherburn Hospital, Durham, the Master of which the Rev G. S. Faker, died last week. A deputation of The Wesleyan body, consisting of the Rev. Dr. Bunting, the Rev. Dr. Beecham, the Rev. Charles Prest, Mr. James Heald, Mr J. P. Bunting, and the Rev. John Scott, had an interview with Viscount Palmerston at the Home-ofilce on Monday, Alleine Kimeyang, a Chinese, has been committed for trial at Leeds, charged with stealing £120, the property of his employer, Mr. Richardson, grocer and tea-dealer, Commercial street. The prisoner had been employed to serve in the shop, and was attired in his native dress as a trade attraction. Nearly all the stolen money was found in his possession. The requisition addressed to the Borough member. R. Clive Esq., inviting him to become a candidate for the representation of South Shropshire, in the place of his highly esteemed father, the late Hon. R. H. Clive, was accepted, and his election took place at Church Stretton on Wednesday. In consequence of Mr. Clive vacating his seat for the borough of Ludlow, a writ was issued for filling the vacancy, and the election being fixed for Tues- day. Colonel Percy Herbert, of Powis Castle, brother to Earl Powis, and cousin to the late member, was elected without opposition. In the Times" of Saturday sennight were some stric- tures on the Hereford Diocesan Education Meeting, and comments on the speech of the Lord Bishop. In reply, Dr. Hampden has addressed the following letter to the Editor Sir, -1 find that an impression has been given, by a representation of what I said at a recent meeting of the Diocesan Board of Education at Hereford, that lam adverse to the secular instruction of the people. What I am really adverse to is the separation of secular from religious instruction in any scheme for general education by the State." The judge of tbe Bath County Court last week ordered a female (the defendant in the case) into custody, on a charge of perjury; but afterwards withdrew the order on the urgent prayer and representations ot a learned counsel A gentlemanly young man has been convicted in the penalty of 2 s and costs, or a month's imprisonment, for attempting to defraud the Great Western Railway com- pany of his fare at Bath, for a short ride, which thus proved a very 'dear" one. Respectable litt'e "nuggets" of gold have recently been found in Cornwall, extracted from gossan." "One and all" will shortly be off to the Cornish diggins, instead of the Australian, if the "lode" turn out "kindly." In several towns in the provinces, the mayors having or- dered the sale of bread by weight only, good effects have resulted- A movement on behalf of labourers and workmen—to enable them to have a half-holiday on Saturdays-is going forward with success in various parishes in Worcester- shire- Russian merchantmen have been sold to English buyers, in many of our ports the captains and owners disliking the chance of meeting one of John Bull's men of-war on the way home. now that the war is commenced. A verdict of manslaughter" has been returned against a"dogwy," or manager of a coal pit at West Bromwich, for having permitted a man to work in a pit which was known to bo dangerous, and where the poor fellow was killed. Seventeen English officers have applied for service in Constantinople. Several who are recommended by the ministers at home, have been received, but the remainder run poor chances of entering the Sultan's army. General Lord Gough is to be the colonel-in-chief of the 60th Royal Rifles, vice Beresford, deceased- and not the Royal Duke who it was expected would have the appoint- ment. Mr. George Roe, the chairman of the executive com- mittee, stated, at the last general meeting of the Royal Dublin Society, that Mr. Dargan's losses by the Exhibition amount to little short of £20,000. A Frenchman has invented a kind of paper made from gutta percha, which is considered to be superior to all other kinds for lithographs and engravings. "HERE LIE."—A Connecticut minister having walked through a village churchyard, and observed the indis- criminate praise bestowed upon the dead, wrote upon the gate post the following words:—" Here lie the dead, and here the living lie." A terrible earthquake took place at Fianana, in Al- meria, in Spain, on the 12th of January. The Spanish paper says :—1 The town of Finana has just been visited by a frightful misfortune. On Friday last, between 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning, during complete darkness, and while every one was asleep, the soil was suddenly shaken and turned over by a scries of violent shocks fol- lowing each other in rapid succession, and accompanied by a prolonged noise resembling the noise of thunder and followed by numerous fissures. It crumbled down the greatest part of the Alcazaba (an ancient castle of the Moors), broke houses to pieces, and caused large chasms in nearly all the streets. Eight persons were afterwards dug out in a terrible state of mutilation." The markets for Russian produce on Saturday, were considerably affected by the prospects of the Emperor being compelled to succumb. Tallow experienced a de- cline of JUS, per ton, It is most generally known that the distinguished diptomatist-we are sorry to say now. the late ambas- sador from Hussia-is of direct Jewish extraction another instance of the Hebrew race occupying high stations in the great business of politics. The Marquis of Anglesey hws rallied. In answer to inquiries last Sunday evening, it was stated that his lord- ship was convalescent. On Saturday, a Parliamentary paper was printed, show- ing the appointment of the committee, for the present session, ou controverted election. The following mem- bers have been appointed:—Sir G. Grey, Mr. Spencer VValpole, Mr. J. W. Patten, Mr. Ie Palmer, Sir R. Fer- guson. and Mr. T Bramston. The gambling gentlemen of Jermyn street, are said to make away with their dice in the following manner:— A spont from the top of the honse communicates with the drain in the street; down this they go, and long before the active inspector has reached the room, the imple- ments of gaming are far on their journey to the Thames. The managers have announced that the Crystal Palace at Sydenham, is now in so forward a state, that they will be enabled to open it on May 24, her Majesty's birthday, and a hope is expressed that the Queen will take part in the opening ceremonial. The Americans are extending the principle of en- encouragment to na ive productions. At the Georgia State fair, a premium was offered for the beet-looking baby. A purse of .f5U is olfered for the best baby at the fair of next year. The Madras Athenaeum mentions the committal of a native suitor by the Lord Chief Justice for a curious contempt of Curt" He had brought an action against certain ).erson", which was unsuccessful, and when the verdict was pronounced, he took out a knife aud began to cut his throat before all the public. Delenuaut's costs in the recent notable case of Smyth v. Smyth, which ended in charging the plaintiff (Provis) with wholesale forgery, had been taxed at 1:2,112. The trial of Provis will come on at the Gloucestershire As- sizes, in April. At Middlesex Sessions, one George Shutt was charged wi h stealing 7 t) feet of gas. The jury found a verdict of guilty. witlioui felonious intention;" whereupon the Judge said, Gentlemen, that is nonsense. That is a ver- dict of lIot gniltv, though you say guilty. It is the felo- nious intent that makes the and that verdict is like a jury fiudi g_ a man guilty of murder without wilful de sign" The jury afterwards came to a more definite con" elusion, and the prisoner was sentenced to a month's im- prisonuient. At the last quarter sessions for the county of Somerset, the grand jury adopted a petition to Parliament pointing out the necessity tor penal reformatory schools for the treatment and education ot youthful criminals. Mr. Miles, M-P-, the chairman, alter reading the petition, said that he entirely concurred in the prayer of it, and undertook to present it to the House. The says, "Dust O-o-o-y e! Like most other things, the parish has at last risen in price. Last year, tiie Lighting Board, under the Lam- beth Improvement Act, received 325 for the dmt. The same contractor :\1r. rlearn, ottered £ la'J » for it this year, but was outbidden by Mr. Robert Drummond, the city contractor, who closed for £16!U, and paid the first imtal- ment, the same evening; indeed, one party offered the enormous sum of £ 23(;0. This looks very much like grid-dust." DESPERATE LOVE.—A young widow (says the Courier du Aor<l) has jnst married a man frihtfully disfigured. He lellll1 love with her four years back, and one evening, after some words between them, he went home and at tempted to blowout his brains. The ball ravaged his face in a dreadful manner, but did not kill him, and in the course of time he recovered from the wound. "rhe young woman afterwards became a widow, and wrote to the man that she wished to see him. He came, but she could not recognise him, so greatly was he changed. She passed some time in becoming familiarised with his dreadful ugliness and has now married hini IHE OLDEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD —The Charles- t'la",la'd thinks that Mrs. Singkton, now giving in the Vv ldiamsburg district in that Slate, is the oldest woman in tne world She is now in t':e one hundred and thirty- first year of her age. Her mental faculties are still un- impaired. and she retains ail her senses excep*. her sight, ° which she was deprived, at the advanced age of ninety- nineyeirs byauattick of mea" e. Her bodily energy has exhibited no diminution for many years, she being s'iil able to wall; briskly about the room She has out- d ail her children, her eldest descendant living being a grand daughter, over sixty years old. The first grand- daughter of this grand daughter, if now living, would be sixteen years of age. THE AUSTRALIAN GOLD Siiirs.—I fear that I aic. not the only one who imagiucs that the Czar has some idea of laying his bands on one or two Australian galieons- He has evidently been acting on a preconcerted plan throughout his late policy, and the news of the Russian ve3se. being in the Australian waters ought to point out the mcessity of immediately securing our merchant ves- sels against any surprise from Utcm: It i3. not ul1\¡kIY that we may soon hea- of his Imperial Majesty having laid his hands on a few treasure ships as material gnat. autees." and as a reply to our menace in entering tbe Black ■"■'en.—C'orresponuent of the" Globe." THE CHASE IN NAPLES.—The party go ont in grea- dignity, following a peasant and an owl. When the Vei sunt conies to a place where there are numbers of ii^' birds, he hoists up tiie pole and exposes the owl jj insane little f o!s immediately gather together from <L quarters, to deride the owl. The sportsmen then let v) with all possible barrels, right and left, anil blow i^ idiots to pieces, occasionally shattering the owl '■«' It' my piece of a bird large enough to cook is ieMd'ang'^ together—which is not otten, it is subsequently (;rcs^ and eaten. The owl catches cclu, I believe, and ÙIC, The Field,