Monmouthshire Merlin

WAR. DETESTED WAR thy desolating strife Sprinkles with blood the gloomy walks of life: 'Tis thy delight to hear the orphan cry, And to behold the widow's heaving sigh To see the father and the husband bleed, And look with pleasure on each mnrd'rous deed; Famine and Sickness are to thee allied, And Guilt and Outrage riot at thy aide Grim Devastation moves at thy command, And turns a paradise to heaps of sand Ye sons of Adam when shall Reason's ray Prompt you to drive the demon War away, And cultivate the sacred arts of Peace, That smile to see the human race increase ? 0 say, does mother earth, (too scant of room) Compel to chase our neighbours to the tomb ? Millions of acres yet untill'd remain, In forest-wilds, on common, heath, and plain Where undisturb'd the timid wild fowl flies, And the sweet flow'ret flourishes and dies. Or is it that the high-born sons of pride Hate to behold an equal by their side? Vicissitude can bring their greatness down, And mould to dust the sceptre and the crown, O'er humble life a royal robe can fling, And lead the shepherd to become a king.

CURRENT LITERATURE. Sours of Sun and Shade, &c.-By Percy Vernon Gordon de Montgomery Author of The Immortal, a Poem; The Old Hall, e. London: Groombridge and Sons, Paternoster-row. WE have been much pleased by the perusal of Mr. Gordon de Montgomery's Hours of Sun and Shade, and we cor- dially recommend the book to our readers. It is a grace- ful volume, full of poetical feeling, whose sentiment is genuine, and versification smooth and agreeable. The author is still but a young man; and experience and Study will perfect him in those few things wherein he is deficient. And, perhaps, Mr. Gordon de Montgomery errs in the use of too florid and redundant a style, espe- cially in bis prose compositions. On the whole, how- ever, his booklet is well worth reading, and will amply repay any one who is disposed to spare an hour or two in its perusal. The book opens with a poem on The Eternal, and of this the author thus speaks in the preface.- The Eternal was written six years ago, in my eighteenth year, and originally published under the title of The Immortal and we must confers that, as the production of so young a young-if man at all-it is really written marvellously well. We give the opening verse as an example :— Oh, Thon, the Eternal, the Omnipotent, The Omnipresent God, Jehovah, Lord, In whom all glorious attributes are blent, The King of Kings,' the Holy, the Adored { Oh, Thou. the Great I Am,' the Infinite Creator of air, ocean, sky, and earth, Of worlds invisible to mortal sight, But seen by Thee, who called them into birth To Thee I sing, to Thee I raise my song, Let my adoring strains flow rev'rently a.long." This will serve to give a pretty general idea of the whole poem, which is of considerable length. Then fol- lows an Essay, entitled Thoughts ou the Beautiful; the chief fault of which is a too diffuse and overcrowded Style. Yet, on the whole, it is a very creditable perform- ance. We think we are not far wrong in conjecturing this to be the original lecture of the author's on The Beautiful, nd which, by the way, he offers to deliver gratuitously at any time and place. The text i3 the memorable sen- ence of that sweet singer, Keats- A thing of beauty is a joy for ever." Mr. Montgomery, after enumerating the various phases of The Beautiful, thus concludes— Language fails to utter all I feel in praise of the beau- tiful for if I could dip my pen in the gorgeous hues of the resplendent rainbow, so that my words might sparkle with their loveliness; if I had drunk deep of the inex- haustible fount of knowledge; if I were endowed with illimitable treasures of deepest thought and richest fancy if I possessed the power of the mightiest mind that this world ever produced even if I possessed a mind capable of traversing the untrodden realms of infinity, I could not pourtray, in language adequate to the glorious theme, in how many hues and shapes the beantiful presents itself to view. But if I have succeeded in developing some of the scenes in which it may be behelti if I have unveiled any of its sweet features, then will these thoughts, imperfect though they be —then will this glimpse, tran- sient as it is, implant within yourself a deeper love for the beautiful." To this succeeds the Old Hall, which we will give in its entirety, as a specimen of the author's poetical powers, since he himself evidently thinks it one of his finest pieces:— THE OLD HA.LL. The eld hall lies in ruins, where a happy child I strayed, And desolation holds her reign, where merrily I played The gardens are o'ergrown with weeds, each sculptured fountain dry, And through the echoing corridors, the wind moana mournfully. 0 The owl hoots from the lofty tower, where the creeping ivy clings, And wakes a dirge like music as he waves his sombre wings; The court-yard 's carpeted with moss, and tear-like falls the dew O'er rank and tangled grass, between the flag stones strug- gling through. Thefrescoed ceiling's falling down; the behand raven roam Throughout the stately edifice, my old ancestral home Where noble forms have proudly stood, dark crumbling ruins lie, Where lovely faces beamed with smiles, black walls now greet the eye. The pictur'd glass lies scattered o'er the broken marble floor, And there the worm is gnawing to decay each quaint, carved oaken door The portraits gaze not from the walls, the moonlight streaneth there, And phaniom shadows come and go through the solemn midnight air. Dismantled is the ancient park; the deer roam far away The old majesty oaks are felled, and washed with ocean's spray The rooks have fo-uied another home, but no other home have I, And tear on tear is &>ming down, and sigh succeeding sigh. I gaze upon my childiood's home, and hear the moaning breeze Sighing low and fitful r, vuiems 'mid the trembling cypress trees,— And through the lonely -hambers, where I heard my mother's voice, Whose tender accents made m; loving heart rejoice. But she sleps the long deep Seep of death, 'neath the rained chapel stone, A— w.d; 1 —Id., u'l iVf-i-dlija Not oneto breathe a kindly word, or cheer my drooping heart, When will these dark and brooding clouds that shroud my life depart ? Weeds mar the broad lake's glassy face, its calm sweet- beauty's o'er, The stately snowy swain will glide on its smooth breast no more; Long grass waves o'er its broken barks, where the forget- me-not Robed with romance and loveliness thatoft remembered spot. My own dear garden's lying waste; uprooted iseachflower; Deserted is the summer-house, we named the Roses bower," For roses mantled every spot, and blushed in every nook, Breathing their fragrance as I pored o'er some old hand- book. And when the distant hills were streaked with sunset's gorgeous beams, Whose glorious lustre crimson flushed the silver lilied streams Oh then the roses brightly glowed with a cleeper, lovelier dye, While hues of purple andofgold, o'erspread the dappled sky, When solemn night in grandeur reigned, spangling the boundless blue, n. v With starry orbs of golden light, like angels gazing through The dew drops fringed each sleeping flower, and Philomel sang there, Filling with music sadly sweet, the listening balmy air. But the Roses' bower has fallen down-the flowers no longer bloom, My childhood'shonse is desolate-all, all have found a tomb; And though proud manhood's dawn has come, I long to be at rest, And meet the loved ones gone before, in mansions of the blest.

Following are many sweet shorter pieces, very creditably executed. The best of thnse are a Life Rhyme, suggested by Longfellow's noble Psalm of Life; Hope; The Beautiful Banks of the Winding Wye j-an imitation J of Tom Moore's Sweet Yale of Avoca, though the author says nothing of his debt to the Irish poet, and The Song of the Stream of Life. Then we have seven rather desultory chapters on The Sabbath in the Country; a few more "occasional pieces," some long "fragments" on Sunset, Twilight, Night, originally designed to form part of the introduction to a poem the author is now writing;" more short poems-the last of which, The Roses, is worth attention and then we come to Transla- tions from the Greek, Latin, Provencal, German, Swedish, Danish, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Welsh languages. We give the Welsh song at length :— THE CAPTIVE'S SONG. [Ap EWAN.] Though strong and thick the granite wall Of this round tower so high, Where in a dungeon dark and small, A prisoner I lie: Though fast retained year after year, By massive lock and key I am not wholly captive here,— My spirit still is free. It soars beyond these iron bars, Mounts to the azure dome, And wanders where the radiant stars, Have their pavilion home. When warblers sing their morning lay, It joins in their sweet song And when they widely wing their way, It flies with them along. When goats on yonder mountain steep, That lowers amid the blue, From crag to crag so fearless leap, My spirit leapeth too. Of human fellowship bereft Though I may ever be, Stars, mountains, goats, and birds are left, To bear me company." To this Welsh captive's song succeed extracts from a lecture On the Rise and Progress of Literature and Science in England: which lecture also Mr. Gordon de Mont- gomery will be happy to deliver, gratuitously, at any time and place; and from notices at the end of the book, it would appear that Mr. Gordon de Montgomery is a 0 very successful lecturer. The Reveries, in Prose and Verse, conclude with Thoughts and Fragments on various subjects. Here is a handful- Kind thoughts are flowers budding in the heart; Kind actions are those flowers in fullest bloom." The pale, silvery snowdrop droops its pearly head, clad in the robe of innocence, bearing to man its silent lesson of purity and humility." The soul is a ray of light streaming from Divinity." "Truth is the imperishable impress of Divinity." 10 Love is the fruit of Heaven, the food of angels, and GOD is the root from whence it springs." co Friendship is a nightbeam, gilding the clouds of adversity." And with these short extracts we must now bid adieu to Mr. Percy Vernon Gordon de Montgomery, heartily con- gratulating him on the production of Hours of Sun and Shade; and trusting, ere long, to meet him again in the literary field.

Pen and Pencil Sketches.-By Thomas Hood, the Younger. Hurst and Blackett. How proud would Thomas Hood, the elder, have been, could he have seen his son growing up so much in his own likeness. His career at Pembroke College, in Oxford-as old Evelyn would have said-has been, we believe, most prosperous and now, the first literary production that he has offered to the reading world, has fully proved his parentage. Pen and Pencil Sketches abound in true wit and pathos; just as did the writings of the elder Hood. And if any of our readers want a really first-rate book to amuse them by the fire-side, for an hour or so, let them take this book; and by the beard of the Prophet," we stake our literary reputation, that they shall not be disappointed. Oh that the father were alive to enjoy the fame that must and will, sooner or later, come to the son. Who has forgotten that verse in Tom Hood's poem, /o a child embracing its mother, in which he begins s > sentimentally, yet cannot restrain his punning humour at the end. Gladly turning from the world's annoy, I gaze upon a little radiant face, And bless internally the little merry boy, Who makes a son-shine in a shady place." After thinking on the life of Hood, and his genial humour, how we spurn the rude saying of that cold cynic, Johnson—" the man who would nuke a pun, will pick a pocket." Harry Lorroltier.-By Charles Lever. Chapman and Hall. THIS is a cheap reprint of the Life and Adventures of that famous rollicking biale-flarry Lorrequer. It is too well-known and too great a favorite, to need any praise from us. Voices from the Greenwood; adapted from the original. —By Lady Wallace. Bell and Daldy. THIS volume is beautifully 11 got up in blue and gold. It is fanciful and allegorical, since the fir tree, the rose, the brook, and stones have voices once again. Hear the voice of the fir tree- We fir trees are Christmas trees; and the Spirit ap- points us to appear invariably at the gay feast. We never fail, either in castle or cottage. If the parents are ever so poor, they also contrive to place a few lights in our green branches, to delight the merry children," Voices from the Greenwood sing, and right merrily, this jolly Christmas time; and the book will make a very elegant and amusing Christmas present.

Jessie Cameron.—By the Lady Raehel Butler. Black- wood and Son. THIS is a very sweet story of Invernesshire and humble life, beautifully told. There is none of that vulgar strain- ing after effect, so common now a-days. The Lady Rachel Butler gracefully relates herein the history of a widow, her daughter, and her two sons. The daughter gives her heart to a man who forsakes her for another, but afterwards, repenting his error, returns to her. She indignantly reject him; but, when he and his family fall into utter destitution, she most nobly comes to 'their rescue. One son Donald-falls into bad company, be comes a poacher, shoots a game-keeper, and is compelled to fly to Australia. He goes to the "diggings," becomes enriched by his gold discoveries, and finally leturnsto his country heavier in pock..t, but lighter in heart than when he left it. John, the poor, but virtuous brother, marries well, &a, of course, does his brother Donald. Jessie, like a true-hearted g'irl, refuses the many offers that are wade her. In ton elusion, Jessie Cameron, we hesitate no; to say, is well worth a place iu any library.

Blackwood commences its fifty-first volume how well ¡ old Maga has braved the battle and the breeze"-for many battles has it been engaged in, and many breezes has it weathered in that half century. Blackwood opens with four chapters of a series of sketches, entitled Scenes of Clerical Life, very pleasantly written. The second paper is a very discriminating review of Mrs. Barrett Browning's new work, Aurora Leigh, which is a metrical story in nine books. No admirer," says Maga, of Mrs. Browning's genius ought in prudence to defehd it. In our opinion it is fan- tastical, unnatural, exaggerated, and all the worse because it professes to be a tale of our own times." They thus conclude their criticism do Still, with all its faults, this is a remarkable poem; strong in energy, rich in thought, abundant in beauty Imd it more than sustains the high reputation which by her previous efforts Mrs. Browning has won." Next follows the eighth part of The Atheling, possess- ing the usual amount of merit Maga's tales usually do and this is followed by a very amusing and instructive paper on Sea Anemones. Then there is a capital Christ- mas Tale, and a sbarp-bitting paper on Routine an arti- cle on the History of John Decastvo, and a sweetly pretty poem, signed" fl, R. Macdonald," headed Maid Barbara. The number concludes with a smartly-written ou>- <• ••</{ -• t Tait is as deserving of support as ever, and its usua rambling papers Tangled Talk, with its quaint motto of Dr. Johnson, Sir we had talk," is very amusing."

Tif National Magazine now claims our notice and in speaking of this magazine, we cannot too highly praise the spirit and manner in which it is produced. The very names of its editors are a plerlge that its conduct is carried on in a purely literary and artistic manner and the list of its contributors is an assurance of the value of its con- tents. The last number commences with a well written paper on the new metal aliminium, or as it is more com- monly called aluminum which is followed by the latter part of The Brook, by the author cf Jfr. Arle. An ac- count of the two new Lyceum plays, and a good leader" on the amusements of the people, are well worth the atten- tion of the straight-laced. Next is Shirley Book's smart continuous tale A Painter's Revenge: a poem by G. W. Thornbury a contribution by that master of gossip and chit chat, Dr. Dolan, and other papers that may be c'assed as useful and domestic. The other literary notices stand over until next week, through press of matter.

VARIETIES. Why must a man without hands be very garrulous?— Because he cannot old his tongue. Our familiar name of luncheon is derived from the dai'y meal of the Spaniards at eleven o'clock, termed one or Vonce (pronounced Vonchey). The word scamp means literally a fugitive from the field, one qui ex campo exit. The man who thought he could learn to make boots by swallowing sherry cobblers, has just got out a work in which he attempts to prove that by eating hops you will acquire a knowledge of waltzing. An' will you be after telling what kind of a baste ye call this?" said a newly-imported Irishman, holding up a wasp between his thumb and finger. 11 Ocli, murder! spake quick, for he's biting me." A tailor in New York has just invented a new fashioned coat which has neither seams nor opening. To get into it you have to crawl out of your trousers. Did you ever know anybody to go to a knife-box for a knife that was not sure to get hold of H fork first ? A countryman being offered a glass of soda-water the other day, rejected it with indignation. "Do you think 1am a Salamander?" said he, "to drink water biling hot." A loin of mutton was on the table, and the gentleman opposite took the carver in hand. Shall I cut it saddle- wise," he asked. 44 You had better cut it bridlewise" was the answer, for then we shall all stand a chance of getting a bit in our mouths. Which causes the most bother—the males or the females ? The latter keep us writfng letters all the time, while the former never deliver them. You have only yourself to please," said a married friond to an old bachelor. "True," replied he, "but you cannot tell what a difficult task I find it." Among the prominent benevolent objects of the day, we perceive the call for the formation of a society for the amelioration of the condition of women with snoring husbands. A Yankee doctor has contrived to extract from sausages a powerful tonic, which he says contains the whole strength of the original bark. He calls it the "Sulphate of Canine." DOMESTIC TOAST.-M,ay your cofWand slanders against you be ever alike-withotit grounds. BROWN STUDY.—Surely a corruption of brow-study, brow being derived from the old German braun, in its compound from aug-braun, an eye-brow. HUMOUR IN RAGS.—In New York lately, a thin old man with a rag bag-in bis band, was seen picking up a large number of small pieces of whalebone which lay in the street. The deposit was of such a singular nature that a passer-by aÙed the quaint-lookino- gatherer whence he supposed they came. Dont know," be replied in a squeaking voice, but I 'spect some unfor- tunate female was wrecked hereabout somewhere." The editor of the Bunkum Flag Staff says that a fine woman is like a locomotive, because she draws a train after her. Ma," said a little girl, whereabout shall I find the state of Matlimony ?" "Oh," replied. the mother, "you will find it to be one of the United States." Cowles in his history of plants, notices the virtues of hemp thus laconically By this cordage ships are guided, bells are rung, and rogues are kept in awe." A USELESS POSSESSION.—" Pat buy you a trunk to put your clothes in," said his Yankee companion. What an' go naked this cowld weather ?" asked the honest spalpeen of Killarney. PRECARIOUS. How is your husband, this afternoon, Mrs. Souigg^s? AVhy, the doctor saya aa how as if he lives tiff the morning, he shall have some hopes of him, but if he don't he must give him tip. A letter with the folio ving address was received in Elgi!i the other day widdo ruichy, aulgen, by forris, loccy wine" -vhich being interpreted is, "Widow Ritchie, Rosse Wynd, Elgin, by Forres." A female in the Utica Lu-iatic Asylum is a lady of enlarged ideas she talks of becoming the empress of the world and using the next rainbow for a waist-ribbon. Only the bump of ambition extra-developed. Well, neighbour, what's the most Christian news this morning?" said a gentJeman to a friend. I have just bought a sack of flour for a poor woman." Just like you Who is it that you have made happy by your charity this time ?" My wife." "Eliza, my child," said a very prudish old maid to her pretty niece who could curl her hair in beautiful ringlets, "if the creator had intended your hair to be curled, he would have done it himself."—" So he did aunty, when I was a baby, but he thinks I am big enough now to curl it myself." COURTEOUS AND TO THE POI-IT.-Spanish robbers are very polite. An Englishman was once accosted on a lonely road by a ruffian, Sir," said he, "You have my coat on may I trouble you for it ?" The Englishman drew out a pistol and told the fellow he was mistaken. Sir," said the robber, I perceive that I am. Will you do me the honour to communicate your name, that I I may remember it in my prayers?" A ST.LL.—" A penny for your thoughts, madam," said a gentleman to a pert beauty, They are not worth a farthing sir," she replied I was thinking of you."

SCRAPS FROM "PUNCH." TICKETS-OF-LEAVE TO RIDE.-The New General Om- nibus Company are issuing notes of their own, which you are to buy at their office, and with which you may pay the conductor for your ride. The chief utility of this new currency will lii- in its baffling the wickedness of th" boy whom you send on a message, and, who, if you give him sixpence to expedite his journey by riding, of course spends the money in tarts, and tarries twice as long as if you had sent him away empty-handed. Several questions of law, however, will arise upon these notes. If the omnibus kreaksdown, is that to be equiva- lent to a bank breaking, and must you go to the courts of Bankruptcy and Chancery to recover your threepence, or may you instantly take the conductor into execution ? Are you entitled to discount if, irritated beyond bearing at the sluggish pace of some of the Company's omnibuses, you jump out and take a cab ? Is there any law to restrain the playfulness of the omnibus officials, and will the driver be forbidden to enquire of the conductor, What's inside, Bill, Rags or Brown ?" meaning to ascertain whether the travellers pay in note or coin. Can the conductor insist on your stopping in the mud, and writing your name and address on the back of your note ? How will you ever convince old women, inside, that a washing-bill, or a turnpike ticket, or any other bit of paper they may have in their pockets is not as good as the Note, drat the feller's imperence ? But finally, and this is important, if two passengers wish to get in when there is only room for one, will not the conductor favour the one who proffers coin, the Company having already got the other party's money ? Such are the complicated dangers of disturbing the currency and even in the case of an omnibus, there are wheels within wheels. TEWKESBURY AND GLASGOW.—Mr. Humphrey Brown is about to vacate Tewkesbury. When may Glasgow count upon the same favour at the hands of Mr. Mac- gregor ? Or is it that Scotland is so fond of the term British" in preference to English," that even a dirty tumble on a British Bank makes a Glasgow member all the sweeter for his seat ? JOHN CHINAMAN. THE stubborn mu e old Yeh was born, The Foreign Devils he held in scorn But he still was faithful to his plan Of China for John Chintinan- Sing Yeh, my deep John Chinaman Sing Yeo, my 'cute John Chinaman Let tho outer barbarians get as they can The silk and tea of John Chinaman. With his long tail twisted in many a plait, And his Mandarin's button upon his hat The heart of Bowring he did trepan- My solemn, smug John Chinainan Sing Yeh, my smooth John Chinaman, Sing Yeo, my sly John Chinaman, Where such honours are paid to the lit'rary man, That Sir John wished himself born a Chinaman He puffed their language, he puffed their schools, Their civil-service promotion rules He puffed their proverbs and their swampan ;— Who so witty or so wise as John Chinaman ? Sing Yeh, my proud John Chinaman, Sing Yeo, my prim John Chinaman, Little fancied Bowring he'd be the man To bombard his friend John Chinaman! Though the Government through each place be won. By competitive exam-in-a-ti-on, Yet in the right p:ace he don't get the right man, Judging by the results to John Chinaman. Sing Yeh, my bullied John Chinaman, Sing Yeo, my bombarded John Chinauian You'd better get rid as fast as you can, 0: r YuL. J.;hB Ohinarm • ¡

LIFE-BOAT SERVICES DURING THE RECENT t HEAVY GALE. Some of the life boats of the Royal National Life Boat Institution were, during the awful gale which visited the coast on Sunday last, instrumental in saving many lives from shipwreck. 0 On that day the Hauxley (Northumberland) life boat, managed by 12 men, put off and rescued 11 men from the brig Sodbie, of Oporto. The sea was at the time making a complete breach over the vessel, which soon afterwards went to pieces. Later in the day the same life-boat went off again, manned by the same intrepid crew, and saved the crew of the Georgina, of Inverness, which, in stress of weather, had run on shore near Hauxley. This vessel is also ex- pected to become a total wreck. On the saine day (Sunday) the Filey life boat put off and rescued the crew of nine hands of the brig Ratcliffe, of Whitby. She was unable to keep off the land, from the violence of the gale and the partial loss of her sails she afterwards sunk. On Saturday last, the Tenby life-boat went off with the view of rendering assistance to a schooner in distress, which was overtaken by the gale which sprung up on that day. After the life-boat had rowed about three miles, the schooner suddenly bore away right before the wind. This life-boat, about three weeks ago, rescued nine men from a foreign vessel. On Sunday, the Rhyl life-boat rescued four men from a vessel which was wrecked opposite that place. This lifr- boat had also, a few days previously, saved three of the crew of the Mary Ann, of Liverpool. On Monday, the Wahner life-boat, which the National Life-boat Institution has just placed on that important station, saved the crew, of eight men, of the Reliance, of London, which was driven ashore by the ga'e near Walmer Castle. The Marquess of Dalhousie, as Lord Warden of the Cinque Forts, has promised to subscribe B5 a year to- wards the support of this beautiful life-boat. This life-boat has since saved the crew of another wreck at Kingsgate. The crew were in the rigging all night, and suffered severely. At daybreak, they were taken off by the life-boat. The crews of the several life-boats spoke in the highest terms of their qualities It is a very gratifying fact, that during the 33 years this institution has been established, only one fatal accident— and that occurred more than 21 years ago-has happened to any of its life-boats. All honour to the brave men who always so promptly volunteer to go, in all weather, in these life-boats. It is impossible adequately !o reward such men for their gallant services, but they will receive a liberal reward from the National Life Boat Institution for their exertions, In the cases we have given above, 50 ship-wrecked men were res- cued, as it were, from the jaws of death. It is sincerely hoped tliac in the great and extraordinary exertions which this truly philanthropic society is now making to supply exposed points with efficient life boats, liberal pubiic sup- port will be extended to it. It should be remembered that a life-boat establishment, with its boat, carriage, house, and life-belts for the crew, costs about £350. So that without the cordial co-operation of the public, the National Life Boat Institution cannot keep up its numer- ous life boat establishments and progressively increase tbe same on the coast. Let the wealthy of the land and others help it in its mission of mercy

EXPLANATION OF THK SWISS QUESTION. The position of Switzerland has been rendered more clear by he message of the Federal Council. In one sense, that copious document may be said to be out of date, for it is retrospective but it serves to show the exertions made by the Federal Government to bring the difference with Prussia to a peaceful conclusion. It would appear from a review of the history since 184S, that Switzerland has always been open to a settlement by negociation while Prussia has gone about seeking the support of the other powers, in order to obtain, not a friendly settlement, but a confirmation of her antiquated feudal pretensions. The message also shows that while the French Government has been urging something very like submissson on the part of Switzerland, our Government has endeavoured to obtain from both sides such avowals as would lead to an accom- modation. These endeavour? bad no success. The latest offer made by Switzerland, if it is correctly described, is seusihle and salutary it is,, that in conformity with the desire of the King of Prussia, the prisoners should be re- leased without t ial, on the condition that the King shall be prepared to abandon his claims upon the titular princi- pality, and that he shall be prepared to make that conces- sion at the same time. This would be a waiver of rights" on both sides, anil it would place the two Governments upon an equality. It would be a perfectly equitable arrangement and would no doubt avoid any untoward disclosures of intercourse between the King and the Royalist insurgents which might come out of the trial. The Swiss people are hearty in support of their Govern- metit even leading Royalists declare that they will stand by the national flag to resist invaders. Accommodation, however, still seems the more proba- ble, since a committee of the Wurtemberg Deputies has published a distinct and judicious protest against the pas- sage of Prussian troops to make war upon Switzerland. The point upon which the King of Prussia is levying war, say the Deputies, has no interest for any of the German provinces it is not a German question. The passage of troops would be inconvenient; already the military pre- parations have injured the trade of the conterminous province, and actual war would lead to complications of which no one could foresee the end. These sentiments must be shared by the best part of the population of other German States which lie between Prussia and Switzerland. They cannot but be respected by the Western Powers, and even by Austria; and heuce there is a probability that the interests and judgment of the German provinces whose feelings are not involved in the quarrel, may assist the operations of common sense in preventing King Frederick William from opening a new war in Europe for the sake of an antiquated

At Constantinople, on the 29th, they were telegraphi cally informed that Russia had consented to the torms proposed by England, Austria, and Turkey for the ces- sion of Bolgrad. The Porte his convoked a Divan to consider the ques- tion of the reorganisation of the Principalities. Redschid Pacha has concluded a loan with Mr. Wil- kins, representing certain English Capitalists, for 300 millions of francs. It is to bear 6 per cent. interest. Subscriptions are at par. THE BUOADSTONE TRAGEDY.—Now that the chase after the assassin seems to have been wholly abandoned, notwithstanding the semi-authoris -d announcement that the police could at this moment lay hands upon the guilty person, she Evening Mail suggests that the time has come for an investigation into the- conduct of the authorities, and puts a few questions by way of setting it a-going What do the police mean by intimating, through the columns of Saunders's Newsletter, in no equivocal terms, that they would have acted upon strong suspicions which they entertain, wera it not that the person suspected was protected by influential friends ? That intimation plainly points to a small circle of respect- able men, as including within it the murderer and accessories after the fact. Is it possible that it can be suffered to remain unanswered ? We would further desire to know, in full, what have the police learnt as to the state of the accounts of the nilwav company in so far as the murdered man was concerned, either personally or by official connexion with other officers or servants ? Is it certainly known how much or whether any money was taken from Mr. Little's office on the night of the murder ? Were the notes which the murderer did not take marked in any manner that rendered him fearful lest they should be the means of suspicion being directed towards him ? Was that a true statement which was made in the Press nelspaper, to the effect that a design bad been formed to drain certain tanks, and that a bag of silver was found dripping wet very shortly afterwards, concealed upon the premises of the company in the imme- diate neighbourhood of those tanks ? If that statement were true, by whom was the design alluded to formed, and to whom was it known? Wo humbly submit that all these questions and some others ought to be solved for the public information, not by anonymous articles in the newspapers, nor even by formal police reports, but by such open investigation as they manifestly suggest to every candid mind to be necessary for the protection of innocent men, and the quieting of the public mind. The subject cannot b<* suffered to drop now." —It is announced that Catherine Campbell, who has been for the last six weeks in custody of tho police, has been released, and is going home to her friends in the county of Meath. This woman was regarded as a most important witness, and the fact of her being released from surveil- ance confirms tho report, now all but authoritatively stated that investigation at Broadstone is virtually at an end, and with no better result than that the officials, from the highest to the lowest, aro no wiser at the end of nearly two months' search for evidence than tnev were on the Monday after the perpetration of the murder. CONVICTION roit MUKDEK.—At the High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, on Monday; reter M Lean, Christina Peters, or M Lean, and Williarn Mansfield, were charged with murder, as also assault, committed by stabbing and cutting, in so far as, on the loth or 16th of November last, on or near the public road leading from Bathgate to East Whitburn, Linlithgowshire, at or near Boghead-bridge, they attacked and assaulted the now deceased, Thoma3 Maxwell, a miner, residing at Durhamtown, near Bathgate, and did knock or thro.v him down on the ground, kicked him, and struck him with a knife or other instrument, stabbed or cut him on tiie chest and neck and other parts of his person, by all of which he was mortally injured, and immediately, or soon thereafter, died and also, time and place above libelled, they did assault John Maxwell, miner, striking him with a stone on the head or face, and throwing him down and stabbing him with a knife on the leg, and otherwise maltreating and abusing him, by all of which he was cut and wounded, to the effusion of blood and the serious injury of his person." The prisoners pleaded "Not Guiltybut tho jury, after a lengthened absence, re- turned a verdict, by a majority, of guilty of murder and assault against Peter M'Lean, but recommended him to the merciful consideration of the Crown; not guilty against Christina M'Lean and guilty of assault against Mansfield. The Lord Justice Clerk then sentenced Peter M'Lean to be executed on Monday, the 2nd of February next, at Linlithgow, and adjured him to banish from his mind any hope that his life would be prolonged. The 1 prisoner M'Lean exhibited violent emotion on receiving sentence. Mansfield was sentenced by the Court to two years' imprisonment, and Christina M'Lean was dismissed I .i ju: 'i c fiy

GENERAL NEWS. A TALE OF MYSTERY.—The inhabitants of Croxton and the neighbourhood have this week been startled from their propriety by the promulgation of a story by a girl named Susan Fox, to the effect that on Tues.iay last an attempt, first to rob, and finally to murder her, was made on the Abbotsley high road by a man whom she affects to describe. As there are sundry opinions of the truth of the story, the plain facts are here narrated, and our readers are left to form their own conclusion on the matter. The girl, who is about 16 years of age, had been in service at Meadow Farm, but had been at home for some days on account of illness. On Tuesday she was on her way back to service, about 11 o'clock in the morning, and she states that on crossing the Abbotsley road a man suddenly appeared from a gate which she had to pass, and demanded her money. She replied that she had none. He affected to doubt her word, and proceeded to search her, at the same time threatening to cut her throat if she made a noise. He rummaged her pockets, turning every article out of them, and laying their contents upon the grass. While this was going on she caught s'ght of a person named Risely, one of Mr. Newton's gamekeepers, who had passed her on the road, and must also have passed her assailant a few minutes before. Hisely was in a plantation a sh irt distance off, and she attempted to call out to him, upon which the man drew a knife from his pocket, and, seizing her violently by the throat with one hand, drew the knife across it with the other, cutting the skin very slightly. While he was thus engaged and she was struggling with him the rattle of a cart was heard in Abbotsley (about a mile off), and the man who had her purse-a green one with sttel rings—in his hand, made off with it at full speed across the road, and was soon lo..t to view in a neighbouring plantation. The purse had no money in it. The girl exhibits a skin wound in the throat about half-an-inch in length and some other marks of violence in the same place. Her assailant, she says, was a man of between 50 and 60 years of age, with gray hair and a long face and she gives a most minute and circumstantial account of the whole of his dress, part of which consisted of a wide awake hat and a red handker- chief. She made her way back to Croxton, and the hue and cry being speedily raised numbers of persons started both on horseback and loot, under the direction of Mr. Superintendent Brown, of the county constabulary, and scoured the country in all directions, but no recognisable trace of the man appeared. A man was seen at Godman- chester about 5 o'clock the same night, who in some degree answered the girl's description but he differed from it so much in others that it was not thought justifia- ble to detain him, and he consequently was not confronted with Susan Fox. He had the appearance of a mil er or baker on tramp, and stated that he had been living in St. Ives. Now, there are several improbabilities in the above tale, and it is regarded as a fiction altogether, in spite of the girl's solemn asseverations to the contrary, by many, who say they have reason to believe that it has been hatched up by the girl, to evade a return to her service, to which it was alleged she was unwilling to go back. Two surgeons have examined her neck and one of those gentlemen is of opinion that it is not likely that the marks exhibited could have been caused by self-inflicted violence, while the other is of a directly contrary opinion, thinking the scratch or cut in the fleck has been caused by the girl's nail. Who shall decide when doctors dis- agree ? The matter has caused a great sensation, and a most vigilant inquiry is a-foot, in order, if possible, to establish the truth or falsehood of the girl's story. Since writing the above, we learn, that on Thursday last the girl was carefully examined by Mr. Brooks, surgeon, of Croxton, and that gentleman is of opinion th,:t there are no marks upon her throat to justify the belief that she had been seiscd there by the hand, and that the scratch is such as might have been done by herself with a small pair of scissors, which she admits was in her pocket at the time of the alleged assault. Mr. Brooks attended the girl during her stay at home, and is of opinion her illness was a sham, to avoid a return to her situation.- Cara bridge Gazette. CAUTION TO MANUFACTURERS.—We are requested to caution those of our readers engaged in manufactures against the operations of some London general mer- chants" who have recently attempted to negotiate large orders in this town. Three sets of persons are engaged in the scheme. The members of one firm introduce them. selves to a manufacturer as new customers, and when a guarantee of respectability is required, they refer the applicant to one of the other firms in London, and generally also to some other persons in distant parts of the kingdom. The mdliifeers of the other firms repeat the experiment with other manufacturers, and thus large quantities of goods are obtained on the faith of a reference which proves eventually to be no reference at all, the London referees being all closely connected with each other, and the independent referees having in some cases been ascertained to have very recently rassed through the Insolvent Court. We strongly advise manufacturers to receive no orders except from persons who refer to houses of known character. We should scarcely have thought it necessary to give this caution had we not kn >wn that some minuiacturers have actually been deceived by the business like man- ner in which the general merchants" in question conduct their operations -Birmingham Gazette. A FRENCH MARRIAGE OF PRUDENCE.—The Siecle contains the following On the 29th of December last a town in the north of France was quite en fete on account of the iiiirriage of Mademoiselle Eugeuie D the only daughter of a manufacturer of the neigh. hourhood, with M. Charles V the son of a wealthy merchant of Paris. The marriage was one of prudence and arrangement, rather than of love. All the questions of interest had been carefully attended to, but the point of mutual inclination was totally neglected. Every one seemed gay and happy, except the bride. However, the ceremony took pltce and a wed iing banquet followed, the whole being terminated by a splendid ball The festivities were drawing to a close, when a servant in- formed the bridegroom that a gentleman desired to speak with him on a very urgent affair. The bridegroom went out, but did not return for the rest of the evening. The guests, one by one, retired, but the husband still remained absent, and at last, long after midnight, the bride with- drew to the weddinu chamber. There she at once disco- vered the cause of her husband's absence, for on a table by the bedside she found a small parcel, and the following note Irom her husband :—' Madame,—If I had no right, in marrying you, to expect a sincere affection, since we were but little acquainted with each other, I, however, looked for a heart which had never throbbed for another, and which I might by assiduity and tenderness in the end make my own. But a long series of letters from you to another man has just been placed in my hand—letters whicti prove that if you give me your hand your affection has been given to another. I cannot, Madame, accept such an arrangement, a, d, as I am unable to rend a-under the bonds which joined us a few hours since, 1 am deter- mined to protest, at least by my absence, against the union which I have contracted an 1 the first day of your marriage shall be the first also of a widowhood which shall only terminate by the death of one of us. Adieu, Madame, for ever The next morning the house of the rich manufacturer was plunged into consternation, for the bride was found dead in her room from the fumes of lighted charcoal. On the table lay the parcel of letters transmitted by her husband, and near them the following note r—• Monsieur,— It is I who am in the wrong, and it is I, therefore, who ought to offer a reparation. I give you the only one that is in my power-I restore to you your liberty, and I expire, imploring your pardon.' THE INCOME TAX IN IRELVND —Are we the most enlightened community in the three kingdoms? It is an auspicious and touchingly flattering question and it is no doubt, a delicate difficulty that we have to answer our own interogatory. But there is nothing for it but bold egotistic bluntness;—we are the most en- lightened community in the three kingdoms. Our meet- ing on Wednesday last, on the income-tax. forces us to this irresistable conclusion. What have other commu- nities done about the income-tax? London has estab- l'shed a great city league, to net rid of the income-tax, thoroughly, unconditionally Dublin's dismal corpora- tion declared as unreservedly against all and every Income-tax. The provincial towns of the two coun- tries have nibbled with less emphasis at the favourite grievance; some were for reducing the tax; some for differentiating the tax some for making it less inqui- sitorial some for giving it some oher name. But Belfast, invited to call upon the Government to reduce the impost to peace rate of 7d. in the pound (generous inviters!—this being 2d. more than the law would require in 1857-8). pronounces, not only for the 7d. but for the 16d. and not only for the 16,].. but for the direct taxation generally, in preference to indirect taxa- tion. Our readers, aghast, will turn at once to the reso- lutions, and they may be momentarily comforted by per- ceiving that the resolutions do not bear out our astound- ing statement. Neither does the petition to Parliament. But what are the resolutions at a public meeting Wh:.l never attends to the verbiage? What are petition! to Parliament which anybody will agree to What matters the body without the soul? The spirit of a meeting cannot be spiritualized iuto formal documents, prepared in small committee-rooms by casual callers days before the meeting comes off. The morale of a meeting must be analyzed in the tone of the speeches as heard; must be caught irom the cheers, "hear, I hears," and interruptions listened to and witnessed. And our report, in this place, of that part of the pr- ceedings, may be thus pu". -.—Belfast, the only tow"1 the empire, which is philosophic, fair, and just, about taxation, is of opinion that tho Chanoeilor of tlie ^x* chequer, in re-arranging the Imperial finances on a new principle, ought to reduce indirect tasation on trade and indu,try in the measure of whatever surplus he may finrl himself in possession of. Technically, Lelfast is decided that the Government ought to keep faith with the public, and abandon the nominal war tax this year. But this only means, that Belfast desires Government to submit the whole question of taxation to the House of Commons next April. Well, this is a very remark- able fact, likely to produce a considerable impression,— Northern Whig, How SAWAUD CAME TO BE A BA.RRISTER.-The Law Times sa3-9,- 44 The question is properly asked How did I Jeiin Saward,' who figures in the I great city forgeries,' get to the bar ? In the Law List he is described as James Townshend Saward, Esq., of the Inner Temple and the Home Circuit.' The date ct his c«ll is the 28th of November, 1810. He has been for a long time the associate of thieves. Who is he ? By what two barristers was he proposed I By whom of the Benchers approved ? For without this preliminary certificate of character admission of a student is im- practicable. The Inner Temple boasts of a sort of pre- liminary classical examination. Was Jem Saward' subjected to this ? These are questions which the society has a right to ask, and the proposers might properly be called upon to state what was their know- ledge of him."

à STRANDING OF THE ROYAL MAIL STEAMSHIP TYXE. SOUTHAMPTON*, JAN. 13. Great interest has been excited here to-day by the re- port of the grounding, on one of the most dangerous parts of the Dorsetshire coast, of the Royal Mail Com- pany's steamship Tyne, Captain Valler, on her passage to this port from the Brazils. The first intimation ot the untoward event was conveyed in a telegraphic message forward, d from Wareham by Lieutenant Fuge, R.N., in charge of the mails on board the ill-fated ship, and which was received at the company's offices here about balf-past eleven o'clock in the morning, to the following effect The Royal mail-packet Tyne is on shore five miles to the westward of St. Alban's Head, off Chapman's Cove, 111 want of immediate assistance. Part of the mails on shore, en route to Southampton. At present all safe." Immediately on receipt of this intelligence, Captain inccnt (the company's superintendent at this port) got two steamtugs In readiness, with a large number of men, ropes, and everything necessary for such an emergency, and started for the place where the unfortunate ship Was grounded, which Was between 40 and 50 miles from Southampton. Nothing more was heard of the accident until Lieutenant Fuge arrived here, about a quarter-past three o clock, with part of the mails, per Dorchester Railway, from Wareham. It appears from the very meagre particulars we have yet been able to gather, that the vessel sighted Portland Lights at two o'clock in the morning, and about half-past three the vessel grounded,while at full speed. The wea- ther wis very thick at the time, and Lieutenant Fuge states that when he came on deck he could not see land for some time. The vessel is laying about half a mile from the shore, on a bed of chalk and gravel, between Chapman's Pool and Kitneridge Ledge. Tnis is the posi- tion of the ship, as far as can be ascertained here from the intelligence which has been received and an exami- nation of the chart. Lieutenant Fuge landed with a portion of the mails at 7 o clock, and w*s conveyed in Lord Eldon's car to- Wareham (the nearest railway point), and arrived here,, as stated above, about a quarter past 3 o'clock. Part of the mails only were landed, there being too much sea on for the passengers and the whole of the mails to land. As the boat was leaving the ship, a sea struck the vessel, which set her broadside on, and swamped the boat, and the mails were then landed in the coastguard boat, hich put off to their assistance. In lowering the ship's boat, Lieut. Fage's head was knocked against the side of the vessel his face was consideiably bruised, and his servant had his arm broken. In addition to the two steam-tags from tLis place. Her Majesty's steamer Retribution has been sent from Ports- mouth, and also a tug s earner from Poole, to render any possible aid to the unfortunate Tyne. She is lying in a very awkward place, and several nautical men have given their opinion that if she were a wooden ship she could not possibly hold together. The Tyne is one of the finest and strongest vessels in the Royal Mail Company's service. She was built at Newcastle, in 1854, of iron, and is of 2,181 tons burden, and 450 horse power. The portion of the mails which have been landed are in a very wet and damaged state, and we have heard that water has got into the bullion-room of the ship. The Tyne is a paddlewheel steamer. An official inves- tigation into the cause of the disaster will, no doubt, be immediately entered into, both on the part of the Com- pany and the Board of Trade. (LATER PARTICULARS.) Several of the passengers of the ill-fated steamer ar- rived here by the Dorchester train from Wareham about a quarter-past seven o'clock this evening, from whom we glean the following additional particulars: The concus- sion when the ship struck was very great, and some of the passengers were thrown out of their berths. They were, of course, in a great state of alarm and confusion, and rushed on to deck to see what had oconrred. At this time, our informant stated, it was so dark and thick that he could not see his own hand before him. The ship was then bumping violently. As the tide rose the ship eased and settled down, and every means were resorted to to get her off, but without avail. After daylight the mails were landed, as we have already stated. About noon the boats were lowered from the ship's side, nd the passengers were slung into them from the deck, the high tide and heavy sea preventing their getting down into the boats in the ordinary way. During this period one or two of the boats were swamped, and some of the passengers thrown into the water, but they were all saved, and we are happy to find that no lives were lost. The Loats reached the shore in snfety, and the passengers on landing were taken care of by Lord Eldon, and con- veyed to his estate, Corfe Castle, where his lordship treated them in the most hospitable manner, and subse- quently had the whole of them taken in his carriages and other vehicles provided by his lordship, to the Ware- ham Railway Station. A portion of the passengers came on to Southampton, and others remained iu Wareham. They were landed without a single article beyond the clothes they stood in, and those who came to South- ampton, looked very jaded 'and distressed. At the time they left the ship at noon, no assistance had arrivedj anr{ the ship was half full of water. The passengers speak in the highest terma of tho ge- nerous hospitality and kindness shown them at Corfe Castle, without which they must have suffered severely from hunger and cold. THE WEATHER ALMANAC.—Encouraged by good hits, and undaunted by occasional miscalculations, our friend Ilarley Bushel! produces his Weather Almapac for 1857. If his vaticinations be right, the farmers will have some- difficulty in making hay even when the sun saines, as the prevailing feature of the summer months, according to H. B will be heavy wet.

FROM FRIDAY'S LONDON GAZETTE. BANKRUPTS. J. Sworder Ware, malster. J. Ilaworth. Shaw Clough, Rossendale, cotton spinner. S (hre Aslitoa-under-Lyne, grocer. t H. Duckworth, near Newchurch, tiossen »ale, Lanca- shire, cotton spinner. J. Gi bert, Manchester, contractor. FROM TUESDAY'S LONDON GAZETTE. BANKRUPTS. J- Harbut, Southampton, licensed victualler. J. H. Smith, Oxford-street, and Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park, corset maker. J. W hiteside, Davies-street, Berkeley-square, watch manufacturer. R. H. Bolin, King's Lynn, carriage builder. E. Goddard. London-wall. Old Jewry, Fenchurch-st., and Aldgate provision dealer. R. Carpenter, Museum Tavern, Bloomsbury. G. Davey, Murray street, New North-road, plumber. G. Fearis, Lambeth-walk, draper. H. Osborn, Water-lane and Great NVindmill-street,. Haymarket, wine merchant. W, T. Gravenor, Birmingham, hatter. S. Pavley, ediiesbury, Staffordshire, grazier. R. D avies, sen West Bromwich, Staffordshire, coal A "h. Harrold, Frome Selwood, Somersetshire, chymist T. H. Tripney, I'eranporth, Cornwall, woollen draper R. Rawnslev, Halifax, builder. K. Wilson, Sheffield, surgeon. J. Uinvin, Seacombe, Cheshire, baker. J. Griffin, Liverpool poulterer.

CURE OF 14 YEARS' WINTER COUGH BY DR. Lo- COCK'S Put,MOKIO WAFERS—" Bampton Court, Tiverton, —Sir It is now ourteea years since I caught a violent cold, and a harassing couh, which returned every followingjear, an I remained during the winter. I tried various medicines without effect, until about two years since I commenced taking your wafers, when I found relief from the first box, and this valuab'e medicine entirely cured it in a very short time.—J- Davey."—" Witness, Mr. George Bossiter, Chemist, Tiverlon." To singers and public speakers they are invaluable for clearing and strengthening the vOIce; they have a pleasant ta5le. Price Is. lid 2s !)J., and i ls. per box. Sold by all druggists. Beware of counteiteits. Holloway's Pills for the effectual Cure of Sick Head- aches Bile, and Disordered Stomachs-- xhese wonder- ful Pills cured the Earl of Aldborough, and other noblemen, of similar COlupllunts after the most eminent surgeons in England, and on the Continent, had been consulted in vain. -Vhi,i renowned medicine will restore, any person to health. however bad his case may be, suffering from tf«neral debility, headac.te, indigestion,, or bilious complaints. They act on the very main spring of life, so tillt di-ease, notwithstanding its severity, call- not remi-t the influence of these Piils. rpbe salutary effect of Du Barry's delicious Keyalenta. ^rabica Food in removing indigestion, (dyspepsia), fla- tulency, constipation, nervous, bilious, a!?d jjver com- ploin's. cough, asthma, consumption, and deoiJity with- out medicine is admirably displayed by 'e following letters — Ri<llington Rectory, Norfolk? J ne 10th 185 ). No. 42 3,-Eight years dyspepsia, nervousness, debility, with cramps, spasms, and nausea, had consulted the advice of many have been en ctually removed by Du Barry's health restoring Food- I shall be happy to answer any inquiries. Rev. J. —Bury, Lancashire Aug- 7 h, 18OJ, Gent °r a considet able time I have suffered severely 1vio- lent Dain in my left side, extreme flatulency, accompa- nied by an intolerable sensation of heartburn, and other disagreeable symptoms of dyspepsia- alleged infallible, were tried in val°', an? [ was never twenty-four hoars without violent pain v indeed I was unfit for the performance of my daily duties. I was induced to try your food. In less tha an hour I found relief, and my recovery was very rapid. The duties which previously bad been an intolerable burden, became a delightful exercise, and I have since accomplished more labour with less fatigue than I. ever expected to be able to perform I had never had a return of my complaint. I remain, &c., D. Thomas Sunnnrted by testimonials from the celebrated Professors of Chemistry, Dr. Andrew Ure Dr. Shor- land; Dr. Harvey Dr. Campbell; Dr. Gattiker Dr. Wur'zer; Dr. Ingram; Lord Stuart de Decies; the Powager Countess of Castiestuart Major-Gen. I homas Xing, and many other respectable persons, wbos e health has been restored, by it after all other weans of cure has failed. For further particulars respecting this in- valuable Food, our readers are referred to Du Barry's dvertimnt another part of thia r