Monmouthshire Merlin

THE GREAT CHRISTMAS SHOW. Monday last was the day appointed for holding the great Christmas show of fat stock; and the advantages of the removal of the trade of Smithfield to Copenhagen- fields was never more apparent than on this occasion— the only one, in point of fact, since such removal, in which nearly the whole of the standings have been filled -arising from the large unoccupied space generally noticed over and above the actual requirements of sup- ply,. This, however, we look upon not as an evil, but a positive advantage, as was strikingly apparent this morn- ing. As regards excitement, compared with many cor- responding days in Smithfield, there was literally none an^ />the greatest 0I-der was observed both in the arrival .eparture of the stock; indeed, it would be impos- sible to over-esti.mate the value of the market for an exhibition of this kind. From the past having been an unfavourable season for the rearing of fat beasts—as the natural food has fallen considerably short of nllw Amand> as prices have, consequently, ruled unusu- OA11* as t^le value of cakes and linseed has vparc °m n° Per cent- above the ordinary runs of rpnllTT fT6 • i exPected to see a smaller number of forwnrda^Mmn». -S usua' J but, the supply brought Shorthorns, both^for?he>PI'15' gate, certainly ,tood S N„RF IT", TT *S?"" bweeStL"e,MS The.HereW, 11 plalSTtt Tan" possibly, if me compare the value of meat to the butcher, this stock might well claIm the first class beeause it has less superficial fat upon it; indeed, the exhibition of that breed was very good. As regards the Devons we have less scope for comment than usual. Though very good, they did not come up to previous years. It is, however very probable that the high value of live stock in the west of England has deterred many graziers from for- warding their usual supplies. There were some remark- ably fine Welsh Runts on sale; and the show of Scots both from Scotland and different parts of England, was seldom equalled. We have now sketched out the general excellencies of the pure breeds. We have done so from the conviction that they are deserving our first consi- derations, because upon them the stamina of fat stock must always depend. With a few exceptions the cross- ings were deficient in weight and quality, consequently dear both to the butcher and the consumer, and such has been the ease for a long series of years. Still, we find that a contemporary print has set forth the doctrine that the Smithfield Club ought to give large prizes to cross-breed stock, to the partial neglect of the pure breeds, simply because the latter are chiefly in the hands of a certain class of graziers. The amount of stock brought by the various railways was very large, yet it arrived in excellent condition, and it must be satisfactory to learn that scarcely any traces of disease were noticed amongst either the beasts or sheep.— l'imes.

EXTENSIVE FIRE IN BRISTOL. One of the most serious eonfl igrations that has occurred in Bristol for many years, took place on Tuesday morn- ing. Shortly before one o'clock, Mr. Warry, silversmith and jeweller, of St. Augustine's-parade, was awoke by a smell of bumid" in his house, and, on getting out of bed he found that a fire had broken out in the lower oart of the premises. The flames spread with such rapidity, that the escape of Mr. Warry and his housekeeper (the only inmates of the house.) was for some time doubtful. At last a dragpole, belonging to the Humane Society, was procured, and, being raised to the bedioom, Mr. Warry made his way in safety down it to the street. The house- keeper, Mary Brown, was not so fortunate, as, either from fright, or some other cause, she let go her grasp of the pole, and fell to the ground, fracturing both her legs. The unfortunate woman was taken to the Bristol Royal Infirmary, where she still lies in a very precarious state. Information of the fire having been conveyed to the Clifton and central police stations, a large body of men under Mr. Supeiinten !ent Fisher and Inspectors Attwood and Bell, was despatched, with the police engine fire- escape, and stand pipe, to the spot. They were quickly followed by the engines and brigade of the West of Eng- land, Imperial, Sun, and Norwich Union offices and a plentiful supply of water having been obtained from the plugs of the Waterworks Company, several copious streams were directc.l on the burning building. The flames, however, had obtained such a mastery over the premises, that these efforts were fut some time in vain, and the fire spread to the adjoining house of Mr. Jones, wholesale and retail confectioner, and at one time threat- ened the premises of Mr. Linter, draper, and Mr. Plum, cutler. By four o'clock the names were subdued, but not until the houses of Messrs. Warry and Jones had been burnt to the ground, and the valuable stocks which they each contained either totally destroyed, or considerably damaged. A quantity of gold guardchains, bracelets, lockets, brooches, &c., have been recovered by the police from the salvage, which is still under search. The stock of Mr. 'Linter has been much injured by the water which was poured upon it. The premises occupied by Mr. Warry were insured in the imperial, and the stock in Hie Norwich Union, for £ 800 which is stated to be about one-thud of its value. The house and stock of Mr ^pSnfeMC0VreC! l>y, an "SUrance in the Imperial, and those of Mr. Linter by a policy with the Protestant Dis- senters office. During the progress of the fire, Police- constable 70, and P.C. Cridland, foreman tff the fire- escape, sustained some severe injuries. They were con- veyed to the central station, and, under the care of Mr Bernard, surgeon to the force, are progressing favourably". Captain Fisher, the superintendent of the force bad a very narrow escape, and only saved himself from the fall of a quantity of burning floor, by springing backwards and avoiding the danger, with which he was threatened. It is somewhat remarkable that a fire broke out in the house adjoining Mr. Warry's, which is at present void, on Saturday last, about midday, and was extinguished by the police.

THE POISONER IN THE HOUSE. IF you feel a deadly sensation within, and grow gra. dually weaker, how do you know that you are not poisoned ? If yoar hands tingle, do yoa not fancy that it is arsenic? How can you be sure that it is not? Your household, perhaps, is a well-regulated family;" your friends and relations all smite kindly upon you the meal at each period of the day is punctual, and looks correct; but how can you possibly tell that there is not arsenic in the curry; something more delibera.-1 and malignant than the poison in the anchovies, or the %g( or the preserved fruits ? It literally, without exi „ a tion, is impossible to tell. It is quite evident tb u per- sons die of poison, the cause being unsuspected, it hae. been proved by the-records of our criminal court? within the last few-days, that poison may be detected and dial lenged, and yet that the pohoner shall escape detection May we not have reason to doubt whether sometMi.es in-' noceRt persons have not been saerificcd-the real being undetected. The Borgia has not, in our doy, courage to brave accusation, but he has a greater cunning for concealment. How can we possibly affirm at "the present -lay that Madame Liffarge was n ally guilty of her husfeantl's death ? Mr. Joseph Snaith Wooler is acquitted, and we think justly acquitted. When the evidence was im- perfectly stated, his guilt looked almost established but when the complement of the evidence is brought f"rwa~>i when it is shown how conspicuously affectwnfete fco was to his wife i-how he brought. her fr¡ffl¡ls to her i-how he pressed the wedieil men to state her symptoms, and strove to throw light ",on. her illness; how he made no conceataent of the pu;- in his possession, but exhibited them with other drugs; and how some of those expressions which appeared to indicate indifference, manifestly had relation to his sympathy for relatives—we have the strongest con- viction, in common with tbe jury, that the man isanno- cent, and has been unjustly accused. ^u'; ^»adame Laffarge was kind to her husband end some of the evi- dence in her case was far weaker than in the For example, the amount of poison detected wasiB-tLwitely less; there were only arsenical stains on the test, aetan actual ponderable amount of disengaged arsenic. Yet Madame Laffarje was condemned, perhapsi wrongfully, as Mr. Wooler might have been if: the evidence up against him had been successful. Wooler was not the murderer of his wife, hut the partner who-shared her calamity in a more painful manxiei than herself. Here then is a most afitauuding and alstrin- ing cage-the lady was poisoned, she died from the poiw.n, and ber condition was known to her Biedical attenda&ts twenty-five her death. She-died on the^2(Hh °u ^une' an^ Dr..#ackson suspected arsenic on the /th-et that month. The poison was regularly administered to her, and she sank under it. One medical man suspected it at the beginning of the month; another somewhat later; but there .she lay, poisoned more -and more dally. It was only wonderful that she could live so long. At last she died. If anybody should have been safe, it was lady—watched over by her husband, who kne«' something about drugs attended by a sister,and by mora than one medxeal man, some of them men of standing. Her case was actual y suspected weeks before the end; and yet she was sacrificed Turn to the -case of Tutton, at Bath. Here ia an auc- hThTSrmLfe^oT-Cillmii,:aECeS7Very 8°od ^rcumstances; he has made no will.; his son boasts that he shall shortly come into the property • that son thrusts aside the family cook fiora her vocation, to prepare supper for his father; the father is poisoned, and there was poison in that supper; the young man absconds, conceals himself, sur- renders himself, and is brought to trial; and a iary ac- quits him he is "innocent," .therefore, notwithstanding appearances. It was not he that administered the pcison —it was somebody else. His mode of life was irregular, his actions suspicious; but he must be cast out of the account; and if the father of the family wishes to Alld out who it is that has put arsenic in his supper, he must look around within his own home—to fail in detecting: his murderer. He has been poisoned—the poisoner can seek him in the very bosom of his family; and yet he cannot detect the murderer that would be! It is true that we are not subject to the direct and fla- grant crime of the Borgias. But present the case how you will, it does seem that we are doomed to assaults upon life not less fatal than those which staaap the middle ages with barbarism. Our streets are kept peaceably by help of the policeman; but the judges tell us and the statistics tell us, that we constantly breed a band of thieves and robbers whom we try to transport. Sturdy vagrants were a curse in the time of the Tudors; but they had not their thousands uptn thousands, and they did not then desire the expedient of some place to transport them to. On the contrary, the earliest poor laws enforced the remaining of the vagrant in his own district. Statesmen do not now poison but private persons appear to balro taken up the trade and, apart from the tradesman, who poisons us in our food and abates our life, a practice is increasing amongst us that indicates the germ of horrible domestic crimes. "Education" is the cry of the day; we enforce order in the streets, and in houses, by the strictest rules; perhaps we have in some degree placed restraints upon natural frankness, perhaps our severe re- gimen tends to constrain the affections, and the true guardian of home, the natural instinct which repels all hatred and envy, sickens and languishes. It is not so everywhere; but in some places, we believe, schoo); sect, and the pedantry of the day, have driven forth the garrison of the home.—Leader.

DECREASED CONSUMPTION OF BEER.—The large de- crease in the use of beer, shown within the last two years cannot be attributed to the increase in the quantity of any of the other articles, even taken together. Beer has fallen off about 74,664,094 gallons. Now, by a li- beral calculation, reducing coffee, tea, and cocoa into li- quid measure, reckoning lib. weight to make a gallon liquid, the increase, including the use of rum and Bri- tish spirit, does not exceed 17,430,414 gallons. It is rumoured that the Conservative party in Man- chester have been casting about for a candidate to contest the representation of the borough, in the event of a dis- solution of parliament. I

THE LATE Loss OF LIFE IN Of. JAMES'S-PARK.— 011 Sunday afternoon, Mr. Bedford held an inquest at the Prince Of Orange, Victoria-street, Pimlico, on the bodies of William Henry Hibburt, aged 13; Francis agftL i' T Wllliam Orms, aged 10 years, the three youths who lost their lives by the breaking of the on the ornamental water ia gt james.8.°3rk) 0Q Thursday. The evidence showed that the ice at the time waS a to bear, and every witness ex- pvessed an opmwn that the park gates should be kept closed for two or three days after the frost had set in, or until they were assured the ice was safe. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death in each case, requesting at the same time the Roval Humane Society to communicate with the Chief Commissioners of Public Works to take necessary steps for excluding persons from venturing upon the ice until a certificate was issued by the society, setting forth that the ice was safe. In the Court of Queen's Bench, a few days since, a case was heard of considerable importance to the wives and children of men serving in the militia, the question being whether they arc not entitled to the same privileges under the operation of the Poor Law, as the wives and children of soldiers in the line, sailors, and marines are entitled to under that law. The case came before the Court for the opinion of their Lordships, in the shape of an appeal against an order of two of the Justices of Leeds, for the removal of the wife and childien of a man serving in one ot the English regiments of militia, at present stationed in Dublin. It was contended that militia soldiers do not comd within the meaning of the Act 9th and 10th Victoria, chap. 60, in reference to the removal of their wives and children, in the same manner as soldiers of the line, sailors, and marines came within it. Lord Campbell said the Court was of opinion that there was no reason why the same protection of irremovability should not apply to the wives and families of militiamen serving ber Majesty, as to the soldiers of the line, sailors, and marines. The order for removal should therefore be quashed.

GENERAL NEWS. Thirteen English Newspapers are allowed to be sold in Russia, but they belong chiefly to the literary class. LAND TRANSPORT CORPS.- On Tuesday morning 600 men of this corps took their departure from Bristol, and on Wednesday 8 0 more left. Accounts from Cuba state that the slave trade has of late proatly increased between that island and the African coast, notwithstanding the efforts of the Governor- General to suppress it. ANOTHER RIGHT MAN IN THE RIGHT PL^CK.— We understand that the direction of the City Llectric Telegraph has been entrusted to Alderman Wire. The marriage of the wealthy Sir Henry Meux to the daughter of Lord and Lady E. Bruc, is announced as about to take place. Sir Richard Airey, late Qnarter-Maste-i-General of the Army in the Crimea, visited the Queeu, at Windsor Castle, on Saturday, and left on Sunday. A letter from Paris says the marriage of General Canrobert with the daughter of a wealthy physician, j attached to the Imperial Court, is spoken ot. The Emperor interests himself very much in this union. The standard for recruits of the Royal Marines Light Infantry has been raised to 5 feet 6 inches for growing lads from 18 to 20 years of age, and to 5 feet 6i inches for grown men. The Grand Duke Constantine has been definitely fixed on by his brother to assume the dignity of Viceroy of Poland, on the occasion of the now probable approaching death of Prince Paskiewitsch. The funds of the Central Association in Aid of Soldiers' W ives and Families have received during the past week, contributions to the extent of £249 l"2s, the total amount advertised being now about £ 1 G (>3 ». LOKD CANNING, THE NKW GOVEKNOR-GESERAL OF INDIA.—Lord Canning the new Governor-General of India, left Marseilles on Wednesday morning in the Cara oc for Alexandria. A steam frigate will be in attendance for his Lordship at £ uez. to convey him, his family, and suite to Bombay. Sir Edmund Lyons G.C.B.. Commander-in-Chief, is expected to leave the B'ack :-ea for Malta, in the first week in January, and will tie succeeded by Ri-ar- Admiral Sir Houston -tewart K.C.B., who will remain in command of the squadron until the re-opening of the campaign in the spring Mr. Henry Charles Talbot (from Hanwell College), nephew of the late Lord Raglan, was one of the succt'S- ful candidates at Sandhurst on Tuesday last.— United Service Gazette. In reference to the rumour that the Prince of Wales is to enter at Oxford University, the Oxford Chru,icle states that apartments are in course of preparation lor his royal highness at Christ Church. o BE OR NOT TO BE."—A meeting of the gentry of Bath is to be hetd next week, to decide the question whether that city is to be looked on in future a<a place of fashionable resort, holding out its ordinary attractions to those who may wish to indulge in the pleasures of society, or whether it shall be condemned to the duuiess of a large provincial town." MR. LOCKE, M P.—The numerous friends of Mr. Locke, M.P., will learn with satisfaction that the hon. gentleman's progress is very satisfactory. His medical ¡ attendants no longer apprehend any ill consequences from his serious accident, and they express their con- fidence that he will soon be convalescent.— Galigmnni. A new and very ingenious mode of sweating" sovereigns has come into vogue, instead of being clipped or filed, they are put under a stamping machine, which cuts off the edges and leaves a new milling quite perfect. About three shillings' worth of gold is thus taken fiom a sovereign at the first operation. The smallness of the size is the only mode of detecting the defaced coin. The late Sir Richard Sutton, has left £ 10,000 a year to his second sou, Mr. Richard Sutton, of" kemogton- hall; fiHijO 'O to each of his younger sons, and t30,U M) to each of his surviving daughters. All the rest of his immense property goes to his eldest-sou. It is said that 'he property in the parish of St. James's, Westminster, alone, amounted to £4) tKO a year. The late Alexander Morrison, of Frimley, in Surrey. an individual in no way connected with the Society of Friends, and who died in the early part of this year has we are informed, bequeathed £ 3J0 to the Peace Society, and Z loo to each of the Friends who composed the Depntation to the Emperor of Russia, in 185J. on the impending war, viz Joseph Sturge,Robert Charleton, and Hear}7 Pease and also an estate, valued at about £ 1.500 each, to John Bright and Richard Cobden. — The Friend. THE REPRESENTATION OF MANCHESTER. — The opponents of the present representatives of Manchester appear to be anxiously looking out for sui'ablecandidates, and the names of ir John Potter and Mr. Oliver Hey- wood {of the firm of Sir Benjamin Heywood and Co., bankers) are mentioned as those of gentlemen that are likely to ensure good support. An anecdote is current to the effect that the deputation who went 10 ask Lord Palmerston's a-s; stance infioding candidates, comme ced by asking the noble lord if he would allow his own name to be but forward in the ever.t of a dissolution of the present Parliament. Lord Palmerston is said to have good humouredly exclaimed-, Me go to Manchester to meet John Bright. I have quite enough of him in the House of Commons" Nevertheless there is said to be an intention of putting the noble lord forward, without calling upon him to appear personally upon the hustings. A RUFFIANLY Acr.—About half-past 6 o'cloot on Friday tveniug week, some miscreant on Sileby bridge threw a stone about the size of an egiT, at a coal-train passing from Leicester to StaveTy The stone hit the engine-driver on the head, and the poor fellow. whose I name is Coulson, having only a hay on. was seri- usly hurt, and immediately rendered insensible. The stoker ] took charge of the train, which he drove into a siding, and the driver was brought back to Leices er. At first it was thought his skull was fractured, but he is in a fair way of recovery. We very much regret that the offender has not been discovered' THE LATE MR. COWLING.-The Deputy High Stewardship of the University of Cambridge which has become vacant by tho death of Mr. John Cowling, j barrister-at-law, is, it is said, likely to be conferi ed i up >n Mr. John George Shaw Lefevre, M.A., of Trinity < College, assistant clerk of the Parliaments Mr. Lefevre was senior wrangler in 1818, and is a younger brother of the Speaker of the House of Commons The post of standing counsel to the University has also beco ne vacant by the death of Mr. Cowling. Globe. NOVEL SURPRISE.—Un Thursday night a young thief crept into a house in Blackpool, for the purpose of plunder. He made his entry through a bedroom window, and while groping about in the dark, he acci- ideiitally thrust his fingers iuto the mouth of the owner of the house "ho was in bed and asleep. He suddenly .awoke and snapped at the fingers, bit them so severely that the intruder uttering a loud cry, rushed back to the I wiu,iow, made his exit through it and escaped He has siuce been captured. Djrlington and Stocktim Tunes. On Saturday evening a jToung man went to the shop of linen draper, in College-street, Bristol, and gave him an order for three shirts in the name of a gentleman well known to the tradesman residing in College-greeu. A boy was immediately despatched with the articles, and on his arrival at his destination in College-green, he was met at the door of the house by the man who had given the order, who took from him the goods and sent him back to his master with a further order. Of course on the boy's return neither man or shirts were to be discovered. The impostor is described as being a man of about 24 years of aore and 5 feet 8 inches in height, and tradesmen will do well to keep a sharp look-out on the appearance of such a customer in their shops. LAONCH.—On Saturday last, a fine iron steamer, called the Taff, was launched from Messrs. Stothert and Fripp's shipbuilding yard, Hotwells, where she has been constructed from the drawings and under the direction of Mr. J. W. Miles, nautical engineer. Her dimensions areas follows: Length between perpendiculars, 140 feet; length all over, 154 feet; moulded breadth 18 feet; breadt-h outside pad die boxes, 33 feet 74 inches depth in hold, 9 feet; burthen in tons, fold measure,)' 222 tons 69-94ths power of engines, 90 horse power ■ with oscillating cylinders and feathering floats. The bottom and part of the topsides are coated with Mr. Browning's composition, and will doubtlessly afford another proof to the public of the inestimable value of of that material as a preservative tor the bottoms of vessels. She is the property of the Bristol General Steam Navigation Company, and is to be placed on the Oardni station. DEMAND FOR SHIPWRIGHTS.-The demand for ship- wrights at the present time in the West of England is very great. This is owing mainly to the great increase required by private establishments, in order to complete Government contracts in the form of mortar and gun boats, and the Government dockyards, which at the present time absorb all surplus labour. Six months' certain employment is guaranteed, and the rate of wages offered 13 generally 0s per day, with almost unlimited work as overtime. Several gun and mortar boats are to be built in Bristol, one of the leading firms having the contract, and they are to be finished early in the sprin At the Royal dockyard at Pembroke, there is stilfa demand for more ship-carpenters. BRISTOL SUGAR MARKET, Wednesday, Dec. 19.— The sugar trade is still at a dead lock, not a single trans- action having been effected since our last report. There is no enquiry on the part of buyers, and no disposition to press sales by the few holders of raw and refined goods. uirums there is nothing doing: A RICH VAGRANT.—At Oswestry, on Friday, a most miserable looking man, with a wife and six children, was seeking alms. He complained of dreadful poverty and of his inability to get anything to eat, and was kindly afforded shelter by the gaoler. While he was making himself and family all right fer his brief sojourn under his host's care something struck Williams that it might be worth while searching him. Upon looking closely a silver watch turned up. Emboldened by his success, the gaoler searched further, when a gold watch turned up, besides sundry sovereigns. The tale told by the vagrant was that he found the silver watch near Liver pool, and the gold one was picked up by the children near Llanidloes. The different police-stations were communicated with, when from Newtown an owner was found for thj»i«9fci ,watch, which bore the initials of M. B. P." The man and his family are now living on their own means until something more is known about them. His name is Patrick Middle.-Herefo-rd Journal J "THE BISHOPRIC OF DURHAM.—It is understood t.W the Bishop of Durham baa now actually made an assign- ment of the revenues of his see to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, |in consideration of an annual i £ 8,000. The Neucan le Journal, in makine ?h £ J?fP k4ku THE CASE OF THE DUM-ASTKH. PAWNBROKER.—In tbe MERLIN, of ihr lot • ii.~i m. a i-|>rt was given of the case of Mr. J(,Itl, j i p,i wnbroker, who was tried and vie ■ •! in n v iv su-i'inary manner, at the last Vfn,t Rifiip,r sr--i^M< K-M n Sheffield, and sentenced by ili« maini-M-i. Mr. Wils -n Overend, to twelve months' «tt". h n i labour, in the House of Corm-ti"n, \V:ik H id. u the charge of having feloniously r i -ivc l di >1.111 I ring, knowing the same to have been stolen. II ni:>v r remembered that Mr. Jackson voluntarily attended t.H' sessions, in com- pany with his wife, who was summoned as a witness; that while there, an indictment wns found against him and he was arrested, bail being refu-vd that be was put upon his trial next day, a convicted -if being the prin- cipal witness against him that tii decision of the jury was accelerated by an intimation from the chairman that they would be locked up all night if t ■ v did not agree to a verdict within a given time and that the sentence was passed by the chairman, without consulting his brother magistrates, and was received with unequivocal murmurs of disapprobation in a crowded court. This case has ex- cited intense interest among all classes of persons in Shef- field and Doncaster, and a feeling of complete consterna- tion among the members of the pawnbroking trade throughout the country. Letters of M >pathy and condo- lence have poured in from all quar:>to Mrs. Jackson, and on Friday afternoon a deputano-s of pawnbrokers from Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffie; and other places, waited upon her, previous to adoptn.g such measures as the case will allow, for obtaining a revocation of the sen- tence. At a meeting of the Sheffield town council, last week, M. H. Tickers, one of the most influential manu- facturers in the borongh, denounced the proceedings as a strong act of oppression on the part of the Court of Quarter Sessions." Mr. Harvey, another town coun- cillor, expressed himself of the same opinion, saying that to put a man who had come to give evidence in a felon's cell one day, and condemn him the next, was a thing almost unknown in any c uintrv in the world, even the most despotic." These observations were received with loud cries of Hear, hear." At a numerous and influen- tial meeting ot the pawnbrokers at Leeds, on Thursday, Mr. Sowry, in the chair, the following resolution was moved by Mr. Alderman Graham, seconded by Mr. Linslev, and carried unanimously "i hat this meeting, having had its attention directed to the recent prosecu- tion of Mr. Jackson, pawnbroker, Doncaster, and be- lieving it to be a case of gr. at hardship and cruelty, if not of injustice, pledges itself to use all lawful means for his liberation and further solicits the sympathy and co- operation of the trade throughout the kingdom, towards the same object. The local papers, including those of Leeds, Sheffield. and Doncaster, have strongly denounced the treatment Mr. Jackson has received; and probably no simibr case has excited such a strong and lasting feel- ing of indignation in the two Iat!e. towns. Eminent counsel have been consulted on the case, which is one of vital importance to pawnbrokers generally, inaseJuch as any one who may advance a small sum on a valuable article will be liable to the severe sentence just inflicted upon Mr. Jackson, although such is now the everyday practice of the trade. Memorials to the Home Secretary are being got up, and the aid of members of Parliament is sought, to ebtain the release of Mr. Jackson, whose advanced years (sixty-five,) and the shock given to his system by his ignominious treatment, have rendered it necessary to spare him the hard labour" of the House of Correction and thus part of the sentence has accord- ingly been remitted, under the direction of the visiting justices, who have a discretionary power in such cases. FORGERY BY A BIRMINGHAM TRADEiiMAN. -At the public office, Birmingham, on Saturday, Thomas Henry Taylor, who for some years past has carried on an exten- sive business as an upholstirer and cabinet-maker, in Broad-street, in that town, was charged before Mr. Hodgson, the mayor, and Mr. J. F. Webb, a magistrate, with uttering a forged bill, purporting to have been accepted by Mr. Simpson Haiibuiy, of the Iron and Copper Tube Company, Smethwick. The bill was drawn by the prisoner upon Mr. Hanbury, at five months, dated December 12, and made payable at Messrs. Hanbury and Co., bankers, of London. Mr. Richards (of the firm of Chaplin, Richards, and Stubbin, solicitors) said he deemed it Tiecessary, before calling the witnesses for the prose- cution, to state shortly the case which he should lay before the magistrates. The prisoner was, he believed, most respectably connected, and had hitherto, as a trades- man, borne an unexceptionable character. On Wednes- day last, the prisoner entered the bank, and presented the bill in question at the counter. It was received by Mr. Williams, the pay-clerk, and that gentleman, after examining the signature of the aeceptor, took the bill to Mr. J. Lloyd, one of the partners in the bank. Mr. Lloyd entertained, at first sight, some doubts as to the genuineness of the signature, observing that was scarcely like Mr. Ilanbury's usual handwriting but, after ex- amining other papers to which that gentleman's name was attached, and the prisoner informing him that he saw Mr. Hanbury accept the bill in his own (the prisoner's) office, he directed Mr. Williams to pay the money, less the discount charged. The money was accordingly banded to the prisoner. The next dav Mr. Hanbury was applied to, and ho denied a 11 knowledge of the bill, and declared the signature, purporting to be his, a forgery. Under these circumstances, the bankers placed the affair in the hands of the police, and the prisoner was appre- hended at his place of residence by Mr. Inspector Glossop. It was due to the prisoner to state that when taken into custody, he made no de. ial of his guilt, and, seeing that there would be no possibility of concealing the charge made against him, he at once, in the presence of Inspector Glossop and himself (Mr. Richards) offered to make any arrangements to secure an equal distribution of his pro- perty among his creditors. He gfrve up all his keys, cash, and other goods, and upon his own petition was immediately adjudicated a bankrupt. He did this volun- tarily, and without the slightest, reservation, his property being thus placed under the Court of Bankruptcy. Wit- nesses having been called to prove the above statement. Mr. H. Wright, solicitor, who watched the ease for the prisoner, told the magistrates that he had nothing to say in defence. The magistrates committed the prisoner for trial at the next Warwick assizes, refusing an application to admit him to bail. ST. JAME^'S-PARK.—The ice on the ornamental water of this park was exceeding y dangerous, in some places being only three-quarters of an inch in thickness, and scarcely in any part did it reach to an inch and a-half thick. At an early hour in the morning some hundred boys and girls got upon the ice, and in spite of the Park- keepers and Humane Society's men, the number conti- nued to increase, and by two o'clock there were from 2,000 to 3,000 persons on the ice. At the end of the river facing Buckingham Palace a body of the Scots Fusi- leer Guards commenced sliding, and attracted a great number of boys after them. Every one standing on the foot-paths, who noticed the ice bending and cracking, were greatly alarmed. All of a sudden one part of the ice gave way, and a man fell into seven feet of water. Fortunately, he was rescued by an iceman in an ex- hausted state. This had the effect of causing the mili- tary and others to leave the ice at that part of the park; but, just at the same time, a scene almost of an indes- cribable character took place on the same water nearly facing the Horse Guards. Several hundred persons, chiefly boys, were amusing themselves by sliding and skating, when a young gentleman attempted to cross the ice. He was at once made the signal of attack by some of the boys, who commenced pelting him with snow- balls. In order to avoid the rough treatment, he made an attempt to run away, hotly pursued by the others. Not having time to see the weak points of the ice, he fell through into deep water, and 11 or 12 others also became immersed. Several persons immediatelv disappeared under the ice, when a cry of Boat," ran along both sides of the river. The Royal Humane Society's men at once put of to the spot, with breaker ladders and hand lines, and were assisted by the Park-keepers Nos. 4 and 6. Iceman Knapp succeeded in getting five persons out of the river, and they were taken to the society's mar- quee in the park, placed in a hot bath, and put to bed. Another iceman in endeavouring to get some of the suf- ferers out, also fell through, when he was clasped by several boys, and was under water several minutes, and could not be got out until he was almost exhausted. He was also obliged to be placed in a hot bath, and after some time recovered. A man named Edward Smith, of 15, Stafford-place, took off his coat, and taking a child's comforter off its neck, tied it to the coat, which he threw over the ice, and dragged two men out just as they were sinking for the third time. Two other parties were next got out, in such an exhausted state that they were removed to the Westminster Hospital. Everything was done for them, but unfortunately, one of them was found to be past recovery—the other, happily, was res- tored: The following gentlemen connected with the Westminster Hospital, hastened to the park to render assistance, viz Messrs. Greenwood, Wyatt, BeadW Ashondon, Drake, Harris, and Perrean Mr Br-wn' assistant to Dr. M'Cann, was also quickly ^attendance', Vauihall; Edwarf Ovor 'of T of 105, of 6, Crown-street s"fields Alfred Baker, One of ".n> R'F, THE H01!SB (,p COMMONS.— assembling of tb 5 ° House of Commons, on the sSer in tb Se8SlcT> the election of a new Lefevrp Tm of the Right Hon. Charles Shaw T 18 to be raised to the peerage. Mr. iv re was chosen speaker on the retirement of Mr. Abercromby, in 1839, and few men have filled that ardu- ous, responsible, and delicate office, with greater dignity and satisfaction.. As his successor, the name of Sir Frederic Thesiger is mentioned as likely to command a majority of the suffrages of the Commons; but it is un- derstood that Mr. Fitzroy, the Chairman of Committees, will be put forward by the old Whig party. The sala y is JE6000 per annum, with a peerage on retirement, and £ 5000 for three liTes.

BB—PBaeBiLu l-uju mh!hi»)bjwuii MJM ill mini >ii ill I ii'inwMJ of each other's farms, and the common cause of agricul- ture was advanced, because each had an opportunity of ■eeing the improvements mad^ by his neighbours. (Hear, hear.) He was glad to see that such institutions were increasing in all parts of the country, for the object they < had in view was a very laudable one, that of improving i the quality of stock, increasing the quantity of produce, and producing it at as low a cost as possible, for the s benefit of the people. It was true that some times the ] seasons were against them, but if farmers continued to pay that attention to the improvement of the soil which the importance of the subject deserved, it would be i attended with increased profit to them. With regard to stock the quantity and quality was continually increasing, i and those who had observed the advancement made by the country in this respect, during the past few years, could not fail being struck with it. If they were to go on improving as they had done, the produce of the whole kingdom would be increased in quantity, and the popula- tion of the country would be fed with food of good qua- lity, and at a fair price. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) There were several circumstances which militated against the interest of the farmer, among which, was the war in which we are engaged. We were engaged in a war, with a brave and powerful ally, to whom we must be faithful and true, with a foe, against whom the war must be car- ried on with the greatest energy. (Hear, and cheers.) If it were not to be so carried on, they would be but trifling with an alliance which had been formed with a great nation but the conduct of the brave men of that nation was a proof that their lives were not to be trifled with. (Cheers.) It was now generally believed that Englishmen were anxious for the termination cfthe war, but he hoped before that took place, such conditions would be made, as would provide for the peace of Europe. If such conditions were made, he, for one, would joyfully hail the day when peace was made. (Loud cheers.) hail the day when peace was made. (Loud cheers.) The Chairman said the next toast he had to propose was The Army and Navy." He would not enlarge upon what they had done, but he thought every one pre- sent would agree with him, that they had done their duty, and that to them, Englishmen were indebted for being at the present time in the peaceful enjoyment of their homes. (Cheers.) There were three gentlemen present who had seen service in the Crimea, and he would, therefore, couple with the toast the names of Captain Lindsay, and Godfrey and Frederick Morgan, (Great and prolonged cheering") The toast was received with the greatest enthusiasm and was followed by musical honours. t Captain Lindsay returned thanks, and said he hoped the British army would alwaytft'do its duty, as it had' in this and all other wars in which it had been engaged. Mr. Godfrey Morgan, after a short pause, .rose, and was received with loud and prolonged cheering, and repeated bursts of animated ^plaudits. He hoped the company would excuse him for appearing to hesitate to return thanks for the army, as he now no longer belonged to it; but, as his name had been coupled with the toast, he begged to return his sincere thanks for the way in which it had been received. There were many persons more ambi- tious than himself who tried a long time to lay claim to the title of a hero. He was afraid himself that he could not lay claim to the honourable title; but he thought he was very fortunate in being one of the six hundred, about whom so much bad been said and sung, and he had reason to thank the Almighty that his life had been spared. (Hear, hear, and great cheering.) For the present, his military career was at an end, and, although it had been but a brief one, he he had seen a great deal—perhaps more than others who had been longer in the service. (Hear, hear.) He had seen war in all its horrors, and had learned to appreciate doubly the comforts of home. Although we were at war, people at home could form no idea of its horrors—for here, the country still flourished, and the fields were covered with verdure, as they were .beforethe war commenced; but he bad seen the other side of the picture. He had seen land, which was flow- ing, as it were, with milk and honey, suddenly overrun with an invading army, who, in a few hours, destroyed the golden grain, burnt the homesteads, and perhaps made the owner a pauper and a slave. (Hear, hear.) When be thought of these things he could not help con- sidering that the English farmer had great reason to be thankful that his country was ;not made the scene of a devastating war. (Hear, hear.) There were many in the room, he had no doubt, who sympathised with his father in the anxiety he felt during the absence of himself and brother, who bad been out the greater part of the time v4rhe war had been raging. (Hear, hear.) He had returned home at the earnest entreaties of his father, who con- sidered that one such trial as he had been through was sufncient to prove the manhood of his son. (Cheers.) He had therefore returned to comfort his father, lest by disobeying him he should "bring down his grey hairs with sorrow to the grave." (Hear, hear.) He would not enlarge upon the llOrrors-Gf war; but sincerely hoped -they would never witness its devastating effects in Eng- land. He trusted he should have the pleasure of meeting them all again next year, when he would perhaps have some stock of his own to ehew them. (Loud cheers and laughter.) lie was afraid they had misunderstood him. (Laughter.) He meant by taking a leaf out of Mr. Scene, of Pencreeg's book. (Laughter.) He begged again to return them his sincere thanks for the kind manner in which his name had been-received. (Cheers.) Captain Frederick Morgan thought it was unnecessary for him to say much, after what had been said by his brother, and by Captain Lindsay, of his regiment. The gallant Captain jocosely said, that during the whole of the time that he was away, his only thought was how he was to get back again. (Much laughter.) He did not regret the time he had spent out there but he must say -that he was far happier when in England than when there, and far hnpp;er in Monmouthshire than in anv ether part of England; however, he would say, that 6 ™ he h°Ped he had done his duty (Cheers.) If he went out again, he should go with the same heart that he did before. (Hear, hear) There "(Chet) wfirf >r>»Dle.s» «re for tb, better! he again, he should be stronger had no? tlfo l %Samt t+,me"' he need DOt tel1 tbem that All hiV i W1^ ?°out again- (Hear>and cheers.) All he hoped was, that he should have the pleasure of imeeting them all again for years to come. (Cheers.) Ihe Chairman begged to propose the .health of the ■»«nW for the Boroughs,: OrawsLy Bailey, Esq. °<Lud. Mr. Bailey said he was very happy to see so large and •respectable a company on the present occasion. He iaS .sure there was not a better show in England than that -which they had that day witnessed. (Hear, hear.) If a-sfranger had heard the list of prizes read, he must cer- tainly think there was not such another meeting in Eng- land. He had not attended many such meetings, but the ,few at which he had been present, were not to be com- pared with this; the stock, he understood, was in admir- able condition. He had seen, himself, at shows, animals of such almost incredible dimensions, that if any gen- tleman had told him there were such animals, he would scarcely have believed it; but when they saw pigs that could not stand on their legs—(laughter)—and animals so fat that they were obliged to be helped to their troughs, he thought it was carrying it, perhaps, too far. (Hear, hear.) He was not a practical agriculturist, but he farmed, perhaps, as much land as rmost persons there, he farmed about 2,000 acres. (Hear., hear.) But he went upon the pounds, shillings, and pence principle, and if the farm brought him in money he was satisfied. Farm- ing could not be carried on without expense, and he would ad-vise tenants and others to drain and improve their lands now, against times which would perhaps be worse, when they could not afford to do so. (Hear, hear.) When it pleased God to stop the war, they would see corn cheap again. About three years ago, they had bad harvests, andrcorn began to rise in price. Last year the crops were not so very plentiful; some descriptions of land had good crops, but not all; and this year the crops were not good everywhere, and grain had risen to 90s. a quarter. He had seen some sold in Mark Lane lately at 888.9 and perhaps -some of the gentlemen present had'sold at that price in Newport: (No, no ) He was a strenuous Supporter of the war, and so long as they had their honourable ally to assist them, he would not be content to make ptace until Ru«sia would consent to give up the Crimea and Bessarabia. (A Voice "And pay the ex- penses.") The war had been carried on at a great expense to the country. The expenses for the last year amounted to dMO.000,000, and the taxes had to be increased but he did not think the increased taxes was any loss—it was only taken from one pocket to another. In Newport for instance, he did not think the inhabitants lost money by increased taxation, for they had a regiment of soldiers here, who spent money among them. If they were de termined to carry on the war, they must support it" (Hear, hear.) Whoever was prime minister while he had a seat, he (Mr. Bailey) would support him if he ear- ned on the war with vigour. (Hear, hear.) He had al- ways been independent in the House, and bad occasionally supported Lord Derby, but he did not intend to support hun if he did not act in a straightforward manner. kHear, hear ) He would support Lord Palmerston, if he bvT ir arry °n the war- k011, SerUleman concluded pb«;fl!ing o" the comPany to drink the health of their man 1?^ Gharles Morgan, Bart., who was a gentle- them TTS amon8st them, and who spent his money with London A"0VLT wen': home except occasionally to year. on, where duty called him for a short time every and followeiTu ^ece^ved with the greatest enthusiasm, Sir Charles iLP'?"S?dous cheering. could scarcely find resPon<ling to the toast, said he kind manner in whirfe8^0 ezPress bis thanks for the came, or to thank them f comPany bad received his had had that day. He hnd K NULNEROU3 meeting they proudest day in the year was w his father saI» that the meeting was held, and it wa* a ♦ v." whlch 'he aunual oeived the 8re„t« He had re- and would do every thins in V Person that day, character of the Cattle Show W;fi?Wer to sustain the he was quite of the same opinion V°A?eot *°.the war' they should not make peace until th^ r-• Bailey, that abia had been wrested from Russia. (Cheep3 )r" Mr. Godfrey Morgan proposed Absent friends in the Crimea, coupled with the names of Mr. John Lawrence ind Mr. Freke Lewis. (Cheers.) The Chairman said he would give them another branch )f the service, "The Navy," who had not done as much is they could have done through the stupidity of the Admiralty. (Hear, hear.) He had lately spoken to several captains in the navy, and they all regretted to dim that they had not been allowed to do more than they aad done, but their hands were tied by the Admiralty. Mr. Stirling, in returning thanks, said the Navy had not had the good fortune of the Army, but whenever called upon they had always done their duty, and he had no doubt would continue to do so. (Cheers.) During I the short time he had been in the navy, they had suffered hunger, sickness, and severity; but had, nevertheless, aone their duty and returned home. For himself, he was 1UTt WAu"8 t0 g° 0ut again- (Cheers.) Ihe Chairman next gave "The visitors," coupled with the name of Mr. John E. W. Rolls. (Cheers.) Mr. Rolls returned thanks, and said he was highly graiiaed with the show and with the whole of the pro- ceedings that day, and no greater pleasure had he ever received, than in meeting so large a body of the inha- bitants of Monmouthshire. (Loud cheers.) He begged to propose a toast which he was sure would be well received by every one present, The health of Lady Morgan." Received with great cheering, and followed by the S°T^ "i Here's a health to all good lasses." The Chairman rose to return thanks to the inhabitants of the town of Newport, for the handsome manner in which they had contributed towards the support of the show, by giving various prizes. He begged to propose as the next toast. The health of the Mayor and the Members of the Town Council of Newport." He did not know if Mr, Knapp was present, but he (Sir Charles) understood he had commenced farming in his neighbour- hood, and he wished him every success. He found, on inquiry, that the present mayor was not present, but they could not have a better substitute than the ex-mayor, who was present. (Cheers.) Mr. S. Homfrny said he had no doubt, as the mayor had commenced farming, that he would send stock for exhibition. lie had himself formerly been a large farmer, and had sent stock to the show, pnd he was glad to find that his successor had sent down such a mare and colt, as had that day been successful in gaining a -prize. He begged to return thanks on behalf of the inhabitants of Newport, who, lie was sure, would always be found ready to encourage such an excellent institution. (Cheers.) The Chairman proposed "The health of the gentlemen in the neighbourhood who had given cups" coupled with the names of Messrs. Powell, Relph, and Cartwright, and he begged to thank them for the kind manner in which they had come forward to support the show. Mr. T. Powell said he had never seen a more respect- able company since the commencement of the show, and he had subscribed towards it for thirty years, and hoped to do so as long as he lived. (Cheers.) Farmers had suffered from several causes during past years. He had himself suffered, though but a small farmer, and for years past he had lost money. There were no men more deserving than farmers, and he did not know why they should not have good times as well as the manufacturers and the cotton spinners. (Cheers.) Mr. Relph said he bad felt the kindness of the meeting when they drank his health with other gentlemen who bad gained prizes, and be was surprrsea they should wish to hear his voice again; but as they had called upon him 11 second time he would say a word or two upon agric- cultural prospects. He knew Mr. Powell was a man df great perseverance and ingenuity, and when he spoke, he (Mr. Relph) thought he had some new scheme in his head-some kind of patent-by which he was to ensure success to the farmers. The greatest credit that could fall upon any county was, that such a show should exist in it; and great advantages must result from it, for it acted as a stimulant to greater production, all striving to show for the best. It was not so much for the profit that was to be made—it was a race of skill, wherein one man set his agricultural knowledge against that of another; and although not profitable, was of ultimate advantage. In looking over a list of the members of the Royal Agricultural Society some time since, he felt sorry o n knowing as he did that there were so many good farmers in Monmouthshire, that this county was not represented there as it deserved to be. The motto of 'that society was, Practice end science," and it was a motto which every farmer should make his <ywn. He would recommend farmers to become membere of that society, the subscription to which was not large. If they did so, they would receive two volumes—worth more ,han the subscription—which would give them an account of the various theories propounded by agriculturists. If they joined the society for the benefit which they would reccive from that book only, they would be gainers by it. It should become the text book of farmers, and be to them what the Bible was to the Christian. He begged to congratulate Sir Charles Morgan on the return of his two sons from the Crimea; they were men of note, of whom their father must be proud. (Great cheering.) The Chairman proposed as the next toast, The tenant farmers of Monmouthshire." Mr. Price, of Bishttm, briefly responded. Mr. Bailey had given them what he (Mr. Price) might call a knock- down blow," but he could not say he agreed with Mr. Bailey. He thought that, if the war was over, and corn became cheaper, it would-be of advantage to the farmer as he would not have so nmeh to pay in tlie shape of taxes. (Hear, bear.) r Mr. Keene considered that the drainage of his land ought to be the first consideration of the far and must say that he had himself reoeived a great deal of benefit iom it. He intended to-continue drainage, as he was satisfied with the advantages which would result from it. It any portion of his farm were not drained to his satis- If any portion of his farm were not drained to his satis- faction, he would double drain and cross-drain it. He 'I had still enough of room for improvement in the wet land he occupied, although he was now growing root crops where it was thought they could not be grown before. (Hear, hear.) Crawshay Bailey, Kaq., begged leave to propose The town and trade of Newport." The trade of the town of Newport had increased greatly and they were now ship- ping 200,000 tons of iron and half a million tons of coal annually. It was to the advantage of the farmer to promote the interest of the town, and of the town to pro- mote the interest of the fanr..er, for the town could not live without the country, nor the country without the town. (Hear, hear.) They were now going to get larg-er dock accommodation, and that would be the means of further increasing the trade of the port. (Cheers.) Mr. Cartwright, in returning thanka on behalf of the town of Newport, observed that he had a short-time since read an extract from a lecture delivered by a:Fienchman in Cornwall, in which was contrasted the difference between the agricultural state of France and that of England, showing how the latter country, by increased labour and better management, was capable of producing more than the firmer. In England, they grew four quarters of corn to the acre, while in France they could get but :fifteen bushels off the 6ame .<quantity of land. In this country, on an average, a eheep and a half could live upon an acre of land, while in France only-three- fourths of a sheep could exist on an acre. In .England, it was calculated there were 200)800 beasts, and in France, because the country was larger, there were 660,000 yet the beasts of the latter country only ave- raged 2 cwt., while those of England were 6 cwt. (Hear, hear.) He was glad to find that England had not been idle, and that with her bad climate site had been able to do go much. (Cheers.) He hoped that when farmers were in the enjoyment of prosperity they would consider their main instruments of production—the labourers. He did not think the labouring classes were receiving sufa- cient wages. (Hear, hear.) He was sur-e the farmers' own interests would be best served by giving their la- bourers aciple wages, and providing comfortablecottagea for them. {Cheers.) Sir Charles Morgan and a large party, after the last toast bad been responded to, left the room.