Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
6 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
-N,i T-I. BRIGHT-S PROPOSED…
-N,i T-I. BRIGHT-S PROPOSED REFORf BILL. i. On Mo,idav last Mr. Bright met an audience of about 5000 persons in the Town-hall, at Bradford, and laid before them and the country an outline of the llefonn Bill which he has promised to bring forw ard du. mg the ensuing session. The speech is one of great importance, and we therefore present the leading portions of it, niacin" them in divisions for the convenience of our readers Our remarks on Mr. Blight's propositions will be 'found in another part of our jour-,al — D e %ILt. BITIGTIT A, 'rile If then everybody is for reform, why, it may be asked, warn people against an imposture ? Have you observed the comments whii.n have been made by the press upon the question of let rin, and upon the course which we have taken during tile last three months ? I am quite willing to al.ow it to he assumed that my expressions have not always been judicious, that I may have com- mitted some mistakes but still ttie comments of a consi- deidOiC portion of the press have been dieted, not by an honest to point out with a friendly finger the errors into which I may have fallen, but by an intense feeling of hostility. (Hear, hear.) I know not whether the press which represents the present Government, or the press which represents the last Government, is more open to the charge of rancorous opposition. (Hear, hear.) THE FRANCHISE. My main objection to the franchise as it now exists i3, that whi'e it is distributed with considerable freedom j among all other classes of society, it is fixed at a point which necessarily excludes the most numerous class of all. (Cheers.) The occupiers of Xio houeiJ do not generally receive wages from week to week or from fort- night to fortnight. The object of the Il-form Bili of 1832 was to exclude the wages receiving class. I am not blaming that bill or its authors, nor have I ever denied that it was a great measure, considered as the first step taken in this country with a view to extend political rights among the btit it is a fact that it does so exclude the great wag s-receiving class of the kingdom, and that exclusion I maintain to be an injury to all other honest classes and an enormous grievance to the class which it more imrnuJiately affects. (Cheers.) It is not in the least necessary t:>at everybody should vote, but it is necessary, for the satisfaction of common sense and justice, that the franchises should fairly, and with such equality as we can ariive at, be distributed among all classes of the people who are called upon to obey the law. (Cheers.) llow shall we accomplish j this object ? It must, I think, be by something different from franchise founded upon deposits in savings-banks as well as from votes given especially to colleges and professional men we mint adopt some more broad and general, and indeed all-encompassing principle. I have recommended, as many of you know, that all persons whose industry is called upon to contribute some portion to the maintenance of the most indigent and lic!lp ess sick class of the people should be admitted to the Parlia- mentary franchise. I understand that in Bradford there are many gentlemen in favour of household suffrage. I confess I am not able to discover any real difference between the two propositions, and I would not ask any- body who was in favour of household suffrage to go with me for a rating suffrage but I will go with the greatest pleasure with him for the household suffrage which he prefers the only difference, if it can be called such, which I can discern, seems to be in favour of the proposal whfch I value. A household suffrage would exclude every person who did not himself occupy a dwelling-house, although he might have a warehouse, an office, or a manufactory, and, measured by wealth, bj a much more important member of society than many of those who are householders. I presume toat the advo- cates of household suffrage do not wish to exclude from the franchise the occupier of one of your warehouses, although he may happen to live with his friends and himself not be a householder. (Cheers.) I am willing, as I have said before, to take the iranchise which Mr! Fox and the late Earl Grey proposed in 1797, which L >rd Durham proposed at the time of the Reform Bill in 1832 and which almost every leading Reformer of the last 60 years has advocated. I belit.,ve that if suco a franchise were established there would be felt through- out the kingdom a consciousness which nothing could disturb, that so fir as that matter at Jeast went, Parlia- ment had done full justice to all classes of the people. (Cheers.) THE COUNTY FRANCHISE. The county franchise has hitherto always been of what is termed a more Conservative or select kind than that of the borotighs. It was before the Reform Bill a franchise based on the ownership of land; the Conservative and landlord party broke in upon that principle by establish- ing a franchise based on a X50 occupancy. It has now been proposed for many years to bring down the franchise in the counties to the same level ns it now stands upon iu the towns. That, I think, is the opinion of th ma- jority of the present House of Commons. I believe it meets with a large amount of acceptance throughout both the boroughs and counties of the kingdom and as I have no intention whatever of advocating or proposing a mea- sure which is far in advance of public opinion, but rather going along with and acting in harmony with that opi- nion, I shall be perfectly satisfied with regard to the county franchise now, to see the i:10 franchise estab- lished in all the counties of the country. THE BALLOT. eS(, Now when all these men get their votes by 1 iw it be. comes a question of interest to know whether they shall proceed to the exercise of their right as we have done in pas lnics, and up till now, or whether they shall have w is e\cr security, whatever shelter from influence and trom menace, can be afforded by the adoption of vote by ballot. (Hear, hear.) In almost every country in the work, where a representative system exists, tho ballot is tae mode ot voting that is practised. I remember read- tng in the work of some historian of, I believe, the United States, aud I hope nobody n i<l be'alarmed at this refer- ence (i laugh), that freedom depends upon repre- sentative institutions, and the freedom of representative institutions depends upon the ballot. (Cheeis.) The rich generally, though some of them certainly are not very courageous (a laugh), do not need, and do not ask for, the but almost all those who arc not rich re- gard it as absolutely essential to enuble them honestly to perform their public duty in giving their votes at the poll. (Cheers.) I would rather tatce the opinion of those who ftiel the necessity for the ballot than I would take that 01 those to whom it must ev.r be unessential. I am satisfied, from no little experience during the last twenty years in parliamentary electims, that I should be confer- ring no advantage whatever upon my fellow-countrymen who are now unen.ranchised, if I could give them the vote without giving them with it the protection of the ballot. (Hear, hear.) I have not the smallest doubt of the passing of the ballot within a short period, (Cheers.) There arc now in the House of Commons more than 230 I forget how many more, members who have voted for the ballot; and every election without a Reform Bill will add to that number—and an election with a Reform Bill even if it were possible for Parliament to grant a Reform Bill without the ballot, would add, I believe, very largely to the number of that vote and I am as satisfied as ono can be of anything that has yet to come, and I believe I express only the opinion of every intelligent man in the House of Commons when I say it, that the ballot is st this moment almost within the reach of the constituencies of the united kingdom. (Cheers.) DISTRIBUTION OF MEMBERS. I wish you and your countrymen everywhere to watch this point with the keenest eye possible—to repu- diate without mercy any bill of ar.y Government, what- ever its franchise, whatever its seeming concession, if it does not allot the seats obtained from the extinction of the small boroughs mainly among the great city and town population of the kingdom. (Cheers.) This question of distribution is the very soul of the question of reform. (Renewed cheering.) Unless you Watch that, you will be deceived, and when the Bill is passed you may turn back and lament that you are not in the position in which you now find yourselves. (Hear, i,a*r'i! T -nave undertakeii on this occasion to explain whit will do as briefly as I can, the mode in which I should propose to deal with the franchise, the extent to which it sbould be carried, and what I wold recommend should be done with the members and seats obtained from the extinguished boroughs. (Cheers.) The nil] of 1832 laid its hand upon 56 boroughs, and totally ex- tinguished them these boroughs returned 111 or 112 members. It laid its band on 30 other boroughs, some of which you would not have found bad you travelled through the country to look tor them. (A laugb.) It laid its hand on 30 other boroughs, and took one mem- ber from each of them, and it gamed two members from the union of three or four boroughs. Altogether it ob- tained 143 seats. Now, I propose to proceed on the same principle as the Bill of 1832, but to travel a lutle more yet I hope and believe not more than is required by the necessities and the wishes of the coun ry. By the Reform Bill of 1832 every borough with a population under 2,000 was utterly extinguished, while every borough with a population under 4,000 lost one i»em er where it had previously returned two. In the Bill w IC Dord J,Russell introducedin 1854,and which,asyou linow, f n°t pass, it was proposed to extinguish all boroug s whose population was under 5,000, and to take one mem- T>r f'lose whose population was under 10,000. n.e Ilf»es newspaper suggested that we might very V. g0„uP to the Hne of 10,000 inhabitants, and disfran- chise all the boroughs beloW that line, thus obtaining a consIerabl number of seats to divide among the larger constituencies. Well, I thought the measure of Lord J. Russell was not sufficient, I considered it was not ne- CnlS&TJ- .aWJ h,ne 88 hiSh 88 that recommended by Ihe lanes, and, on looking over the list of voters, and begiumng with tho smallest place, which is tho town of «airn«—M—1™ Arundel, having a population of 2,748, I found that if you come down to the limit of 8,000 inhabitants you in- clude the borough of Woodstock, and take in altog-'ther 56 boroughs, the precise number comprised in Schedule A of the original Reform Act. Of the boroughs 25 re- turn one member, and 31 return tivo members, and the whole schedu'e of these 56 boroughs includes 87 seats or more. Then there was another point to consider-if all boroughs are disfranchised whose population is under 8.000, where should be the limit below which you should allow no borough to return more than one member ? If I am not mistaken, the same article in The Times recom- mended that boroughs of less than 25,000 inhabitants should not send more than one member to Parlia- ment. I have not exactly taken that suggestion, and bear in mind that every proposition which I have now to explain has been decided, I believe, without reference to any of those other suggestions, for I did not happen to see them or to Imo, of them at the time when they were published. I propose to disfranchise -,Ali boroughs under 8,000 inhabitants. Then to step on to populations of 16,000, and to say that all boroughs having less than that number should henceforth have only one member. This will yield 34 seats to be added to the other 87, and if we add four more seats for the two corrupt boroughs of St. Albans and Sudbury, which were some years ago disfranchised, we shall have a grand result as far as England and Wales alone are concerned, of 125 seats to dispose of. I pro. posed to explain to you how these seats should be allotted, which, after all, is the pith of the whole question. (Hear, hear.) There are a number of boroughs whoso population is between 16,000 and 25,000, some of which have one member, and, I think, about a dozen or thirteen which have two members. Not wishing to make any more change than appears to be necessary, I propose to leave this class of boroughs precisely as they are. I begin, then, at the limit of 25,000 inhabitants, and I give to every borough having above that amount of and now sending only one member, an additional seat, until I come up to populations of 54,000. I will re;.d to you, for they are very few, the names of tho boroughs comprised in that list. There are 16 boroughs containing populations between 25,000 and 51,000, and returning one member each they are Gates- head, Walsali, Monmouth, Chatham, South Shields Rochdale, Tynemouth and North Shields, Ashion-under- Lvne, Huddersfield, Leitli, Bury, Cheltenham, Greer.ock Dudley, Swansea, and Paisley. Now, under my plan all these places wouid return two members. When I get to a population of 54,000 I take a step upwards, and proceed with the list of boroughs that should henceforth return three numbers, and they are these :—Bath, Nottingham, Leicesier, Liolton, Sunderland,Norwich,Preston, Brighton, Portsmouth, Oldham, S -'['rent, Hu! New- castle-upon Tyne, Bradford, Greenwich, and Wolver- hampton. There are 16 boroughs, ail of which would under this scheme return three members to Parliament. We come next to four boroughs which ought to be in- cluded in that list, but which at present return only one member,—viz., Aiertiiyr Tydvil, in Wales Salford in Lancashire; and the city of Aberdeen and the to vn of Dundee, in Scotland. You will observe,—and I ought to expLtin this first,-that in framing this scheme I have known nothing of the river Tweed and nothing of St. George's channel. (Hear, hear.) I wish to treat Scotland and Ireland precisely on the same principles, in every respect, as I would treat England and Wales. (Cheers.) Tnese boroughs which I have just namHl bring me up from 54,000 to 135,000, All these calculations are based on the census of 1851. Beginning at 135,000, and going up to double that number, which is 270,000, I propose that nine boroughs shall hereafter return four members They are Sheffield, Bristol, Leeds, S.uthwark, Birming- ham, Westminster, Lambeth, and the Tower Hamlets —which I propose to divide, its population being so enor- mous, into two complete boroughs—to each of which two members shall be given. Then I come to a very select but very large and important list-a list which comprises but five cities or boroughs, but of the very largest in the kingdom, aId entitled, as I am sure you will see, to exercise a very powerful influence upon the government of the country. They are the boroughs of Manchester Finsbury, Marylebone, Liverpool, and Glasgow, having a population at the last census of more than 316,000, and noiv, doubtless, of 400,000. I propose to give to each of these five boroughs six members of Parliament. (Cheers.) Well, then there comes the question of the rie.v boroughs. I ought to say here that I do not consi- der this list to be absolutely complete, because there are some places from which I have not information sufficient to enable me to judge. But if ever this Bill or any simi- lar Bill-and you have on!y to will it and it will be so (o.ieeis) —if ever this Bill should pass the second reading of tne House ot Commons, there will be no difficulty in ad ling to this list three, or four, or balf-a-dozen other. if a good case can be made out for them. Changes of that nature were made in the passing of the Ilefomi Bill of 1832. 0: these boroughs five are to have oue. member each—Gmvesend, L-auiington, Staleybridge, Burnley, and Birkenhead. Now, one of these bo- roughs puts in a claim for two members; that is a point to be considered. I have put it down for oue mem- ber because my information did not lead. me to think that I could, at this stage, take any other course. Tuen there are two boroughs which Lord John Russell in 1854 proposed to unite and make one—the parishes of Chelsea and Kensington, in West London. Their po- pu.ation is so large aud so rapidly increasing, that I think they ought to be two boroughs, and that they oa";lt to have te, o members each. These few borough?, therefore, will absorb nine members Now there comes one other point, and that is, what shall be done, if anything shall be done, with the distribution of members as regards the counties of England ? I pro- pose to take a course which was adopted, or nearly like that adopted, by Lord J. Russell in his last Bill, in which he would divide the West Riding of Yorkshire, and divide Lancashire into district divisions. I shall give to the West Riding of Yorkshire four additional mem- bers, to South Lancashire two members—1 am assuming South Lancashire divided—to the North Riding of Tturkshire one, to North Lancashire one, to South Devon one, and to the rest that I shall read over, one:—The West E>nt, South Stafford, Weit Cornwall, North Essex, South Essex, West Norfolk, East Somerset, West Somerset, and that portion of Lincolnshire which is known by the name of the Parts of Lindsay. Now, these have been selected on account of their great popu- lation, and because within them there h is grown up not only a large population, but very large "interests that arc not exclusively connected with the land', and there- fore I t'.ittk they have a right to some extension to the ntHbers of members in any re-arrangement of the representation that may take place. THE COUNTIES. Some persons will tell you—and you will see it before the week is over in many newspapers (laughter)— that I am treating the counties in a manner which is not fair, considering their population and the great property which is comprised, within their borders. Now I will give you in a few sentences my opinion upon that mat- ter. Count j- seats, as you know, at present are landlord seats, with the exception of some three or four counties where other interests have grown up so largely as to overshadow t,lte territorial power. Lord Derby says the same of them. He told you some years ago that it any- body would tell him what were the politics of three or four of the great landowners of any county, he would undertake to tell what weie the politics of the members for that county. (Laughter.) But ask any farmer in the united kingdom whether they return the members in their county. Nobody knows better than the farmers and there is one thing that I long for more than any other in connection with the qm-stion—that the time should come when the honest, the intelligent, and the constantly improving and advancing cultivators of the farms of England should be as independent in the ex,.r- cise of their political rights as is the corresponding class in the cities and boroughs of England. (Cheers.) MR. BRIGHT'S PERSONAL DEFENCE. It has been decided by several editors of newspapers that I am not a statesman. I never pretended to be one. I am a citizen, one of yourselves. (Cheers.) I am powerless in this matter, if alone. Lord Grev, with his high rank, his surpassing abilities, his grcatleputa- tion, and his influence in the country, would have been unable to pass the Bill of 1832 if the people had not with one voice demanded that it should become the law of the land. Do not suppose that I shall be alone. If the people will speak out, there are eminent men whose sympathies are with us, watching the signs of the times, looking for the reports of such meetings as the present, which will go far to decide their course. If there is a gteat aimy, there will be captains and leaders. Do not suppose that there are not among the aristocratic fami- lies more than one or two which will not betray nor belie the historic reputation which belongs to them. (Cheers.) Let the nation speak out, and its fiat will cer- tainly be obeyed. For myself, I have been for three months past the object of much misrepresentation and of much slander; but I have gone through all that before, and in another cause, (Cheers.) When I last addressed the people of Bradford I was co-opeiating with a man of deep sagacity, of clear judgment, of extensive knowledge, and persuasive speech. Were we not exposed to the same charges and the same slanders ? Yet, did we not succeed, and have we not now, as a compensation for all we endured, the priceless thought that there is no hand in this country that wipes the sweat from the brow of toil whose labours are not lightened, and whose rewards are not increased by the sacrifices we were content to make ? te!tSf u *n lllose sPe,'cl*es which I have lately de- livered I have abstained from assailing any single indi- vidual. I have been met by several members of the aristocracy in a manner I scarcely expected. Olle Scotch loid told a great audience that I was afflicted by a visitation of 1 rovidence, and that I was suffering from disease of the brain. (Shame.) His friends can tell whether that is a complaint with which he is ever likely to be afflicted. (Laughter.) Another nobleman says that I am a destroyer of property and a traitor to my class. I atop not to answer language like this. (Cheers.) Therp are some grut I men and there arc many good men in the ranks of the English aristocracy. There are among them some who would be nobles though coronets and privilege were things unknown, but even their virtues cannot long sus- tain their order against the perilous defence to which it is now exposed. (Cheers.) I therefore warn them to call back the champions who in every display of their powers exhibit hereditary nobility allied with intellectual poverty, and members of the Peerage wanting in the manners and likeness of gentlemen. (Cheers and laughter.) I cannot consent to. arrest the progress of this great debate to take part in personal conflicts. I brush aside the miserable detractors whose nature it is to bark and bray at the protectors of every great and good cause. (Cheers.) I address a great nation upon a great question. I am in earnest, and I speak because I believe I have no eloquence but that which consists in a hearty love of truth, and the facts and arguments I use enter the understanding and reach the hearts of my countiymen. (Cheers.) I am powerless as an individual my country- men are the nation, and omnipotent; and to them and to you I commit the issue and fate of this great question. (The hon. gentleman resumed his seat amid great and protracted cheering.) On Tuesday a meeting of Reform >rs" took place at Bradford, at which Mr. Bright was present to give such explanations as might be required. The following took place with regard to a FRANCHISE FOR LODGERS. Mr. Lord, of Bradford, believed the proposed franchise did not include what were called lodgers, and >visb.ed to hear whether Mr. Bright would have any objection to supplement his bill with a provision for the accomplish- ment of that object? (Hear, hear.) Mr. Bright: If I am not mistaken, I had the honour of receiving a letter from the hon. gentleman who has just spoken respecting the point which he ha3 row mooted. It is a noticeable thing that there does exist in Scotland at this very moment a lodger franchise. Tu; practice in Scotland has been that if a person occupies lodgings of the value of £10, he can be placed on the register for a Scotch 1>.■rough, and when I was in Edin- burgh I was informed that 28 persons in that city had availed themselves of that privilege. (Laughter.) I ('an only say that the subject has received the mr,st careful consideration of those whom I have consulted, and I hope to be able to prepare a clause which will en ible a great portion of those who are lodgers and have the am- bition to exercise the right of voting, to place themselves on the register. (Cheers.) But I cannot at present sta'e the precise Idode in which that object can be accom- plished. I am, however, perfectly convinced of its De- i cessity. When I was in Glasgow, tables were submitted to me showing the number of young married men living in lodgings, or with their parents but I have do doubt that three-fourths of them had somebody in their eye— (laughter)—and I hope that is the case also in Bradford. (Laughter and cheers.) Perhaps in the couise of six mouths or twelve months, or a couple of yeai-s, they may be in the happy bond of wedlock, and acquire the natural position of eiectors even under a household franchise. (Cheers.) Therefore I do not think that matter so im- portant as many persons suppose it to be. At the same time, I have not the smallest objection to such persons being placed on the register, and I hope, as I have already intimated, to be able to introduce a clause which will be satisfactory to those who consider the matter more important than I do. (Cheers.)
-----------MR. ROEBUCK ON…
MR. ROEBUCK ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS. The member for Sheffield in a speech to his constitu- ents last week, thus referred to our position with regard to Foreign affairs: England stands alone among the great Powers of Europe as the hope of our common humanity. Despot- ism reigns in Austria, France, Prussia, Russia, and in Italy. We are lying on the outside of Europe, and the jealous eye of every potentate of Europe is upon us. We have a difficulty in maintaining our position all the world of tyranny watches England, which is the great light of mankind. (Cheers.) Depend upon it we are on the eve of great changes in Europe. During the disastrous year of 1848 the population of Europe rose up against these despotisms, but were so totally incapable of governing themselves that it has ended, as you have seen in France, enlightened and great as she is, in a pitiful despotism. (Hear, hear.) With France we have been allied, and with her we aie now upon good terms. But every turn in the wheel is watched in order to do us harm. We are insulted wherever we can be. If there is a question upon which Englishmen have been alive for the last half century it has been upon the slave trade. At last our great and friendly ally has cast in our face an insult such as England never before bore. Well, trade. At last our great and friendly ally has cast in our face an insult such as England never before bore. Well, we did bear it and I suppose we shall bear a good deal more. But if you give a foot you will be asked to give a yard. Stop at once. Say,—No, we will not retreat. We have intended the good of mankind by our protection of the unfortunate slave, and we will, under Providence, continue that protection, and woe be to him who attacks us. ( Loud cheers.) As I came down from London to-day I watched with anxiety on my arrival here to know whether there had been an electric telegram. I was anxious because Europe is on the eve of war. Depend upon it, our foreign relations next year will interfere with our domestic concerns. I therefore entreat you not to mis- apprehend the doiugs of your representatives. I and my honourable colleague shall do all we can to forward your views; but they will be crossed-I do not believe he fancies so, but I am sure of it—by considerations of our foreign relations, and EIgland will find that she cannot touch pitch without being defiled. Our alliances ought to be I zn with freedom everywhere. (Cheers.) A despot, how- v ever he may have gained his power, ought to be to us a despot still. ( Hear, hear.) With France as a people let us be in alliance. She is a gallant and great nation, ai:!d has been a light to mankind, as we have been but she has not set an example of good government. We have seen constitutional government in France trodden out by the hard heel of an unblushing despot. Cun- stitutional government has been put down, England has been insulted, and every possible attempt has been made by that despot to ally himself with the Powers of Europe, tyrannical as they are. Depend upon it, the pretence now made of aiding and assisting Italy is a mere pretence to march down his praetorian hordes upon that great country. He will erect in the place of the eagle of Austria the eagle of France. I have no faith in a man who has perjury on his lips. (Cheers.) I recollect, when at Cherbourg, seeing the Emperor of the French visit the Queen of England. It was a great sight, Everything was there to excite and rouse the buoyant spirits of men. I saw that man mount the steps which !<?d to our noble Queeu's vessel, and when I save his perjured lips upon her hallowed cheek my blood rushed to my heart to think of that holy and good creature being defiled by the lips of a perjured despot. ( Loud cheers and huzzas.) The sight which I then beheld was a type of England. She was in alliance with this despot—she, the great light of mankind, whose writers, philosophers, wnose mechanics, every man of us, have been working in the great cause of humanity. England is upon a pinnacle at which the world wonders—man)' admire, and still more envy. She is great because she is good. ( Hear, hear.) But, depend upon it, no alliance with foulness can be made without foulness attaching to the ally. I say at once that rather than be the ally—the active ally of a despot like Louis Napoleon, I would at once break away from him. ( Hear.) England alone can withstand all his anger and all his power, but you must support your Government in that great move. If you do that, we need not fear, though the world stood in arms against us."
[No title]
Machinery multiplies production; Chemitry often purifies our food but appliancos-in-aid are not always improvmenls for instance, time was when good Tea was readily obtainable—pitfc wholesome tea—Dr. Samuel Johnson liked sue!: the frequenters of Garway's" in the days of Charles II. obtained such; and wise people seek such now. John n said "English mer- chant like good looks," and go he made all his tea go. d looking, for he was not slow ir. finding out that it would aid him to disguise his brown flivourlcss autumn leaves; for by colouring all qualities alike, he doubles his own and the merchant's profits. Hwniman & Co. London, prefer quality before appenranc-, and therefore import only the choice spring sorts, that have no need to be disguised with powdered colour:—this every English tea drinker admits is a real" improvement," as this Tea is always (lo,d (ililce." It is supplied only in PACKETS, through Hotniman's own AGENTS; for list of agents in TINS LOCALITY see advertisement in this day's paper. HEALTH IN COLD WEATHER.-It is well known that the inhabitants of cold latitudes live chiefly on an oily and fatty diet—some of them absolutely subsist on train oil—and are fat and fearless of the cold. This would not suit the taste of the t nglish, but there can be no doubt that our sufferings from cold are chic-fly due to errors in diet The lungs have been familiarly described as a sort of fire-place, from which heat is diffused throughout the whole kvstem but thin calorific principle cannot be kept up without a due supply of proper fuel, and that fuel should consist, in winter, of a much larger proportion of oily material (ban the English are accustomed to take. The best form of nourishment to keep out the cold is the delicate produce of the liver of the dorse, known as Dr. de Jongh's Light thrown Cod Liver Oil. This palatable pre- paration has been pronounced by the great gastronome, Alexis Soyer, to be equal, if not superior, in flavour to that luxurious delicacy, the sturgeon-caviare," nd it will be found an unfailing preventive of the colds, coughs, sore throats, consumption, and rheumatism, which so terribly afflict us during the winter months. [2722 At the declaration of t lie poll on Wednesday, there was reported to be a majority of 17:021 votes iu favour of keeping open the Crystal Palace and Grounds on Sundays. Captain Young gave notice that he should renew his motion for closing at the next half-yearly meeting. Two other shareholders intimated that they they should propose resolutions, one for postponing the question for five years, and the other, that Captain Young and bis friends should pay the expenses of the ballot
(Smcral itttr,.
(Smcral itttr,. Cardinal Wiseman, we regret to hear, is seriously i\ The copyright of My Pretty Jane" was lately sol^ for £ 500 — £ 40 a line. The Stateonnn understands that the Di,l newspaper is to rise into life" when Parliament meets. Mr. Morphv is about to play twenty games of chess blindfold it the same time. The Shah of Persia has sent orders to France for 20,000 rifles, intended for the infantry of his bodyguard. The Mufiissilite has it on the best authority that ar- rangements are being made by the Secretary of Sta'e for India to form the Punjaub into a Presidency. It is rumoured in naval circles that the Government mean to inere se the Channel squadron by twelve sail of the line. Mr. Rodwell nnd Mr. Hawkins (of the Common Liw Bar), and Mr. G. M. Giflfard (of the Ch.ncery Bar), have been raised to the degree of Queen's Counsel. linclieite, the publisher, has already paid L-im,.iriire 350,00d franco ( £ 4,000) for his last month's yearly7 course of literature. The Duchess Dowager of Beanfort has takeu the late Hon Nlisj Cust's mansion in Hill-street for the ensuing season. Sir Henry Keating. Solici'or-General under Lord Palmerston's Administration, is about to resume prac- tice, having completely recovered from a long and severe illness. The Tin¡es states that in answer to appeals in i's columns for the homeless poor j-7917 14s. 3d. has been received; the greater proportion, C5500, for the Field- lane Rpfuges. The Committee of the Havelock monument at Sunder- land have invited artists to send in designs, on or before the 7th of February next for a monument to be erected, at a cost not exceeding £ 1500, in the Mowbray Park. Out ot 73 00 men in the infantry of the line, including non-commissioned officers, 20.000 can neither read nor wr'te 13,■ 00 can read only 38.W0 c;,n rea 1 and write with more or less proficiency; and are of" superior education." M. Pollack, stockbroker, at Vieii-ia, won :2[}\ 08 fl. ( £ 25 0-0 ). 4'\C00fl. (i 4000.), and 40Ufl. ( £ 40.), at the drawing of the Cie lit Bank Lottery on the 3 1 ins'. M Pollack is a Jew. Sir James Clark, says the hledical Times, left London on Monday for Berlin, in order to be present at the ap- proaching accouche eiit of the Princess Frederick liani. The Prineess will be at ended by the Prussian physician who was present a*, the last aocouehemeut of our Queen. A large number of hpavy failures are expected in Paris during the half-monthly settlement about to take place. At Vienna, likewise, the losses must have been severe, and in the prevailing uncertainty kills upon that city are almost unsaleable. Some of the Russians are becoming teetotallers. The agitation against the use of spirits is gr-a- in the Go- vernment of Ko-.vno, and almas- all the inhabit-nts of the districts of Rossienen, Schawli, and Telsche have vowed to abstain from strong drinks for the rest of their lives. A communication has been received by the commi'tee of the Greenwich Literary Institution from Cardinal Wiseman, who has consented to deliver a lecture to the members on Wednesday, the 9th proximo, the subject being" The Difficulties of Literary Forgeries/' It seems that a great granddaughter of Racine is living She was in very humble circumstances, and at one time appeared likely to pass her days in a factory. The Society of Dramatic Authors has, however, come to her i,l, a-i,i -,in,, placei tier in a convent. AXGLO FRExCH IAURIAGES. The Civil Tribunal has just had to pronounce on the validity of a marriage contracted by a Frenchman in England. A retired hair- dressed, named Normandin, who is possessed of some property, sent his son in 1856 to London to be appren- ticed to a watchmaker. The young man of an evening used to frequent a dancing academy, and there he made the acquaintance of a young woman who called herself Madame Looper, but who afterwards turned out to be unmarried, Tind the daughter of a Belgian consul, deceased, named Van Nyvel. Normandin conceived a passion for her, and on the 22nd of June, 18-57, they were married in the church of St. Thomas, at Woolwich. He did not ask his parents' consent, and did not even announce the marriage to them until May, 1858. On inquiry the parents found that the young woman was not a desirable match for their son, inasmuch as, though daughter of a consul and well educated, she lived apart from her mother, and had led an irregular life. They in consequence brought the young man from London, and applied to the tribunal to declare the marriage null and void, because their son had not asked their consent, as he was bound to do by French law, because he had not published it in Franch as required, and because he had been married in the name of Normand, whereas his real name was Normandin. The tribunal decided that for want of the consent of the parents and of the publicity required by French law, the marriage was void, and it forbade Mademoiselle Nyvel henceforth to call herself | by the name of Normandin. KITCHEN PEIIQI'ISITES.—It may be remembered that a cook was charged at Gu.ildhall last week with ta-:ing away kitchen stuff, and selling it, and although the offence was proved, Alderman Garden discharged her because" he could not take away her character." A writer in the Times of Wednesday makes the following observations on the case The administration of jus- tice in this case appears to be of so singular a complexion as to lead to the inference that some error must have crept into the report; but, assuming it to be correct, could more fallacious reasoning have led to a more mis- chievous decision ? That the law is set at defiance by cooks who practise etty larceny with persevering effron- tery, to the great loss and serious inconvenience of num- berless families, is a cogent reason for a stringent appli- cation of the seve est penalties of the law, and not for securing impunity to its habitual violation. Is it a trifling offence that your property is to be disposed of week after week, and day after day, by y,ur domestics under your very eyes, despite your strenuous efforts to pre- vent it, and even when you can produce legal evidence of the fact ? Surely such constant deception engenders a deeper feeling of insecurity and annoyance than Is produced by the mere loss of the contents of your pocket. Few things can be more demoralizing to those subjected to its influence than the system of allowing perquisites." It creates an antagonism between the interests of masters and servants, which should be identical. It thrusts It creates an antagonism between the interests of masters and servants, which should be identical. It thrusts temptati-n in the way of the latter, which too many are unable to resist, and its tendency is to lower the moral tone and weaken the distinction bctween right an 1 wrong the broad line of demarcation between them is overstepped when once the principle is admitted, and it is likely to become obliterated if sanctioned by magis- tel ial decisions in direct opposition to the will of the ow..r of the property appropriated what is it, in short, but a legal confiscation ? The vice is already far too general, and is continually spreading; therefore, instead of its prevalence insuring it immunity, it is the very reason, to my appTehenion, why seyerity is in dispensable, if we wish to eradicate it." MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC Gossir.—The Aihc amn, speaking of a tenor singer, who has recently come into notoiicty, remarks:—Mr. Wiibye Cooper, who has been suddenly brought forward to replace Mi. Sims lleeves, is at this moment in a position well worth watching- most of all by himself. He may if he ir,ll"-biit such" willing" implies a steady amount of reconsider- ation and refinement added, which aie difficult to be gained by an artist in full occupation. On the gaining of them, and nothing short of it, he may rest assured that his chance of keeping a place before the public, as a first tenor, depends. It is needless to name comrades with better voices than his, who have made a momentary start—then stood still—then sunk not to rise again. The state of the market is abundant justification for our dwelling on the subject.—It is said that the oratorio on which Dr. Bennett is known to have been engaged for some years past, has been bespoken for the next Leeds Festival.—We (At1w/(um) know of three other orato- rios in English, all by musicians of eminence, now simultaneously in projection. When the rarity of aver- age p. lformance of such works, and the vastness of the machinery required for their production are r; collec'ed, an amount of activity and musical enterprise is revealed by a fact like the above, wo: thy of commemoration. But our country, with its mognificent choral means, is obviously becoming the oratorio-market. This week's Gazette Mmicah announces that M. Vogt, of St. Ptters- burgh, is on the way hither with a Resurrection of Lazarus" in hispri-tfolio, which it is his wish to bring out in London.— We have heard also of the score of a new oratorio, John the Baptist,"—produced originally at Vienna, as we announced some months ago, which is here in waiting."—A new actress, pretty and clever, has been brought out this week with success, at the Adelphi Theatre. Her name is Miss Simms. She played in .1r. Oxenford's version of Molieres Tartuffe. A TOUCHING INCIDENT. —On Tuesday last, the mother of Whitworth, who was executed on the previous Saturday, arrived at York, and asked at the castle-gate whether there was a man to be hanged the following Saturday. On being told that one named Whitworth was executed on the previous Saturday, she nearly fainted. On recovering she informed the turnkey that ,.he was Whitworth's mother, and had come from near Worksop, for the express purpose of seeing, for the last time, her nnfortunate son. The poor woman was at once taken to Mr. Noble, the governor, whom she in- formed that she had started from home totally ignorant of the day when the fate of her son would be decided her husband and son-in-law, it seems, having kept from her, as far as possible, any information on the distress- ing subject. She had spent nearly all she had on her journey, and Mr. Noble found her lodgings for the night and gave her something to assist her home he also in- formed htr of the happy change which had come over her son ere his execution, and of his prayers on his parents' and friends' behalf—a statement which she heard with great satisfaction and consolation. On Wednesday she called on the Wesleyan minister, Mr. Parkes, who paid so much attention to the condemned criminal, and expressed her deepest gratitude for his kindness. Mr. Parkes also rendered the poor woman some pecuniary assistance, and she left York, the same day A GHOST STORY.—A respectable tradesman and his wife, who reside at Reading, and carry on an extensive business, about three weeks or a month ago were awoke from their peaceful repose by a most singular noise, of which they took no particular notice at the time. How- ever, a few nights afterwards they were again disturbed in a similar way, and they were naturally seized with alarm, which was considerably increased by the noise returning twice ere the light of morning had entered their apartment. They were willing to attribute this disturbance to some natural cause, but after nn absence of ann night the same sound returned shortly after midnight, and it was heard distinctly three times in the course of an hour-oii each occasion appearing to arise from be- tween the parties as they lay in bed, and is comparable to nothing but a death gasp, which continues a few seconds, and n, -iir,,g is heard until the lapse of a quarter of an hour, "'hen a deep gooming sound runs through the room. Another silence follows, but after an interval of perhaps half an hour, it is broken by a loud, shrill shriek, which. startles those who hod by this time become frightened to a fearful ex'ent. A minister was sent for, and he slept in the house two nights; the second night the noise was heaid, but the cause wf-.s still a secret. In order that they might be perfectly satisfied that this Grange sound was not caused by rats, or any animal of thit kind, the floor of the room>vas taken up, and the chimneys were examined, with a view of ascertaining if any member of the feathered tribe had secreted itself in them Various measures were adopted to discover the means of this mystery, but all proved of no avail, and it was determined that on the night of Sunday week last Mrs. should sheep at the house of a friend nsitling at a village a short distance from Reading. She accordingly letired to rest in sn apartment occupied by two of her friends, but, most extraordinary to relate, she, and the fro persons who bore her company, were alarmed by the same strange noise in the dead of tho night. It is psinftil to be obliged to record the fact that Mr. —— was compelled to take to his bed, and is now constantly attended by Dr. C-, who has pronounced his condition to be such that it would be dangerous that he should be visited by any of ;li THE AYlES OF THE WOSLD.—Of steam line-of- battle ships, carrying from SO 'o 131 guns, and propelled by force varying from 200 to 700 horec-poiver, England h -s 52 France, 33 Holland, 1; Austin, 1. Of sail- ing line-of-battle ships, carrying from 60 to 110 guns, England has 44; Fi ance, 23; Holland, 9 Spain, 6 the United States, 6. In the above fcree we include, of course, only vessels actually launched and either actually in commission or capable of being fitted for sea within a reasonable delay. In the steam line-or-b.tle ships the French fleet may claim a just pre-eminènc'. The steam liners of France have be-n built on the 1 asis of the ex- perience acquired by England, and although numerically inferior to the British, are probably mre directly availa- ble for warlike purposes tha:i t e I ir-,er furce of their rivals. The armament of the first-class Franch liners consists now of six Si's, CO long 30-: ounders, and 54 SO-pounder Paixhans. Of steam-frigates carrying from 20 to 54 guns, and prop: lie j by a force of from 150 to 1,000 horse-power, England has 19 France, 28; Hol- land, 3 Spain, 2; United States, 6. Of sailing-frigites, carrying from 32 to 54 guns, Eoglanl as 91; France, oi Holland, 12; Spain, 10 United Srates, 12 Austria, 6. Steam corvettes, sloops of war, and avisos, mounting from 5 to 20 guns, and of from 50 to 350 horse-power:—Eng'and, 155; France, 129; Holland, 7; Spain, 15; United States, 12; Austria, 5. Salling corvettes, &c., carrying from 1J to 20 guns:— England, 105; Fran e, 135; Holland, 21; Spain, 23 Austria, 12; United States, 21. The steam gunboat is a wiry little monster, ranging from 200 t ) 800 tons burden, from 4 feet 3 inches to 12 feet of draught, carrying from 2 to 6 6S or 84-p,mnder guns, and making from 7 to 13 knots, with steim power varying from 20 to 3.50 horses. She depends for the force of her remonstrances more upon the range and calibre than the number of her cannon. The French type gunboat throw- ing a ball of 84 pounds a distance of 3,500 yards, and lying as a speck upon the v;aur, would thus prove her- self a very disagreeable antagonist with a vessel much her superiur in size and number of guns. Of these vessels we possess not one, against more than 200 in the service of England, and very nearly as large a number in tha navy of France. Holland herself counts 36, and Austria 20 of such vessels, and they are now buildine in tiie port of Fcrrol, in Spain. Summing up the results, in regard to the actual steora force oMhe world—and omitting all reference to tù" sailing ships, as not to be considered 1:1 dealing with the future of our navy— Line-of- Steam Battle. Frigates. Sloops, N.C Guuboats. Englmd 52 19 156 200 France. 33 28 129 200 Hollan 1 1 3 7 36 Austria 1 G 20 United States — 6 12 Spain 2 15 We leave these figures to carry- their own lesson. In any sudden naval encounter with the world, or with any strong naval power, we can now count immediately upon exactly IS vesse s, of a class available for the modern ivarfare of the seas. To this force, from the vessels now in course of construction, or capable of completion in an efficient sense, might in t ix Lonths be added one-half as many more. But of toe two extreme terms of naval efficiency, the steam-diner and the gunboat, we have not a single unquestionable specimen. And yet we talk of going to war vrtb a first-class naval po,.i- dr --Ve?,o York Times. UXDER THE MISTLETOE.—Hone relates a discussion which took place in a Christmas party, as to which might be the great point and crowning glorr of Ceristmas festivity. One said, Mmce-pie another said, heef and plum-pudding; seme said the wassiil-bowi but a f*ir ruaiaen btusningly suggested the ilistietoe. She. was right fAW according to tbe received rule or mediaeval times, except a maiden was kissed at C.-iristmas under the Mistletoe, she could not be married during the ensuing year. What is it which constitutes the connexion be- tween Cir.istmas Mistletoe and Christmas kissing ? Soma will reply that the mistletoe was sacred to the heathen goddess of beauty. Others will teli us to look for an answer to the Druids, and among certain oU world mys- teries, in which the mistletoe Lad a distinguished place and a high pre-eminence. But setting aside Druidical and Pagan practices, let us rather inquire what was the part performed by the mistletoe in mediasval times amongst ourselves. Now it is certein that the mistletoe, tiioug :i it formeily had a place amo:^ the evergreens, employed in the Christmas decoration of churches, was subsequently excluded. Why ? Mistletoe says Hone, w~$put into the church at Teddington but the clergy- man odcred it to be taken away. Why ? If is idso cer- tain that in the earlier ages of the Church, many festi- vities net at all tending to ediheatioo, toe nractice of mutual hissing among the rest, had gradually crept in ,-n] so that at a certain part of the sei vice, "statim Clerus, ipseque per basia blaude scse inricem oscularctur." This, of course, could nut go on long without indecorum the smacks were too loud and so the kissing and the nii,tictoe were both very properly banished out of the church (Hone, Hook, Moroni, Bescherelle, Du Cange, & &e.) Yet the plaguy mistletoe,though thus ecclesiastically excommuni- cated,still retains its primaeval character, as the recognised emblem cf labial salutation. Good wine needs no bush but Christmas kissing demands the mistletoe. Nay, to such an extent is the mistletoe desiderated at Christmas, that, when no is to be had, an equivalent must be substituted. Kissing-bunch. A garland of ever- greens ornamented with ribands and oranges, substituted for mistletoe at Christmas when the latter is not to be obtained" (Halliwell). The mistletoe, thus, having been originally employed at Christmas with other evergreens for church embellishment, but having been subsequently prohibited in churches and relegated to private dwelling houses, kiss in the ring." together will: every other Christmas "kissing game," is now restricted to the social circle, upon the sound and s)ber principle that there is a place fjr everything.—Xotes and Queries. THE MXRDER AT QVEENB^KOUGH. The murderer Prentis has not yet completed the 20th year of his age, and his victim was under 16. He has been resid nt at Quetnbor ugh ab ut three years, is of short stature,sallow complexion, and stimy built. lie La a very fair character at Queenborough for steadiness and general conduct, "with the exception of being somewhat morose in disposition and reserved 'n character' lyi),n taken befoiethe magistrates at Queenborough on Wednesday last it was with some difficulty that be wss able to walk up the stairs of the court, and not without being sup* ported. He was then placed on a chair in front of the bench. He hung his head down during the « hole of the proceedings, without ever raising his eyes or uttering a word. He shook violently, sobbed audibly,and appeared to feel his position most acutely. The father of Emma Coppings, the murdered girl, is an agricultural labourer, residing in Queenborough. lie bears an irreproachable character, and has a large family. The unfortunate de- feased was buried at Queenborough on Sunday afternoon last, the Rev. Mr. Bingham, 11.A., incumbent,officiating. The affecting service was attendee byti crowd of not les. than 2,000 persons, who thronged to the burial-ground from Sheerness and other parts of tbe neigbbourhood. The Sheerness Guardian says:—We have received the particulars of the interview between thellev. li. BinghaDit and the prisoner they are, however, of such a private nature as to preclude publication. The prisoner was deeply affected, and there is but little doubt that he will make a full confession of the crime and plead 'guilty' to the charge. EAGLE-MURDER l EAST LOTHIAN.— A magnificent specimen of the nquiia ulbieilla was shot, a few days ago, by the gamekeeper of the Karl of Haddington, upon the grounds of lynningham. It measured 74 feet be'.ween the extreme points of the v.ings, and weighed upwards of 121bs l-rom the bird haunting the coast it is often called the sea eagle, and, from the peculiar colour of the bird when young, is sometimes known by the namid of the cinereous eagle. Its favourite haunts in Britain are the northern coast of Scotland.
PONTYJflOILE.
PONTYJflOILE. PONTTMOILE WORKING-MEN'S I-NSTITUTE.-EVil habits and customs long formed, although detrimental to those who cherish them, are extremely difficult to uproot, and exercise an influence over the miml which its 'mora courage seem ina(l, q:tte to subvert. From these and other considerations that could he adduced it is feared that there is some ground for seriously entertain- ing the charge that persons have advanced, that Mechanics and other kindred institutions fail to meet with the de- sired patronage and slpport of that class of individuals for whose oencfit, originally, they were more particularly formed. TV hi st admitting the failure of certain institu- tions of the nature refene 1 to, and regretting the partial and lukewarm support afforded to others, it must be con- ceded that the generality of them have been well pa- tromsed by the people, and that they have been produc- tive of much benefit. It may soon come to piss that, many of the labouring community will be intrusted with powers in the exercise of which they have hitherto been complete strangers. How necessarv, then, for their own individual benefit, as well as for the stability of the great interests and noble institutions of their country, that they may be found worthy of the trust committed to their guardianship. As one means to tl-.e end ,lesi<1eratecl, it is to be hoped that more general support will e tended by the people to Mechanics' Institutions. Apart, even, from the possession of any political power, wiiic.i after all, canuot be said to create the u"5 r.o >,e and humanising influences in the world, individual improve- ment becomes the more needful in our day, in order pio- perly to appreciate and enjoy tbe^ numerous intellectual blessings that distinguish it, ami wuicli are scattered with that piofuseness as to be within uie grasp o! the poorest xaember of the communit in this immediate district there are to be found several of these institutions refer- red to. which claim it greater sheere of the sympathy and support of the people, and none more so than the politylljoile Working Men's Institute," the committee of which continue to exercise a laudable industry in making it worthy of the patronage of those classes for whose benefit and improvement it was originally designed. A lecture was given on its behalf on the evening of Wed- nesday last, by Or. James, of Fanteg, the subject being "John AYickliff, the morning sfar of the Reformation. Every available sput in the roem was occupied by a nume- rous and respectable audience, amongst whom wera Mr. W. W. Phillips, Mr. C. H. Williams, Mr. A. Williams, Miss Bird, Miss George, &c. Mr. Phillips, sou., was Called to the chair, when, aft r adverting to tbo happiness he felt at meeting It numerous audience,, tho good ;.resuiting from such institutions as the Pontymoile ork- ing Men's, and the benefit and convenience that would arise to its members from having their new rooms, which are in a forward state of construction, he paid a well-merited compliment to the lecturer, whom he introduced to the audience. Dr. James was received with applause, and after a few preliminary rematks, in which he adverted to the somewhat delicate nature of the subject in a. meet- ing like that, observed that whilst the audience claimed the right of conscience for themselves, he hoped they would exten(I to him the same privilege. The subject of the lecture flouiished at a time when the whole world was overwhelmed with darkness, but he accepted the Bible as his rule of faith and as the guide of his life, and the firm resistance he manifested against the conupt doctrine" air practices of the times, and the light lie disseminated by his .I labours and writings will justly entitle him to be consi- dered as The Morning Star of the Reformation." John Wickliff was born about 51)0 years ago, or in the year 1324, in the reign of Edward the Second. The place of his birth was a small village, called Wickliff, situate about six miles from Richmond, near the river Lee, in the nor- thern part of Yorkshire. His parents were of some import in the district, but remained through life attached to the Roman Catholic faith He became the first student in a college founded by Edward the Third, whence he soon afterwards removed to Merton College, which even at that time contained many thousands of students. At this col- lege were four Doctors, consisting of Thomas Bradbury, who, on account of his learning, was called ilia Profound Doctor Walter Burnley, the felicitous doctor William Hicken, the singular doctor and John Wickliff, who had earned the title of the evangelical doctor, because he searched the Scriptures more, understood them better, and was more conversant wish their truths and doctrines than any of the other doctors. In the fourteenth century there appeai e I a few learned men who endeavoured to set aside the Scriptures, and suhsitute in their stead a sort of metaphysical reaponing, and would not tolerate any other system but the one they sought to establish. Wickliff commenced to learn the intricacies of this new system, in order that he might be enabled to compare it with tha teachings of the Bible. It appeared to have been founded on a work called the BOOK of Sentences, which had been composed by a very clever man, named Richard Lombard, aud had rafrt nee to the twelve preceding centuries. On comparing this book with ihe bible, Wickliff soon discovered its fallacies, and it was universally acknowledged by tin most learned men of the time that it lacked the witness—Jesus Christ. It was therefore made apparent how necessary it had been for Widdiff to learn its mystic na'ure ere he attempted to annihilat its dogmas by the luminous power of the Scriptures. A great pestilence broke out in Asia in the year 1345, and coming into Europe visited Britain So extraordinary and devas- tating were its ravages, that it was computed that in Lon- don alone not fewc. than 50,000 people fell victims to the BCOUrge, and at least one-third of the entire population of the country perished from this dire visitation. The times •were so p olific o. sin, wickedness, and corruption, th «t Wickliff looked upon th» p as a judgment of God. The subject of the lectine in 1361, when-lie was 37 years of age, was made Warden of Balliol College, an appoint- ment which further extended his sphere of operations. For thirty-three years this country had yearly paid to the Popes the sum of _t 66li 13s. id., which would amount in the currency of our day to as a tax, called King John's tribute money. Britain was not then what she is now, but must be considered to have been a poor country. This impost the'eforo, proved a burthen to the nation, so much so indeed that in the year 13 6 the Ki;,g, Edward the brought the subject before parliament, and Wickliff also resisted the claim. He published his reasons for doing so and forwarded them to the Lords and Com- mons The opinions of Wickliff were endorsed by the legislature, and ho had the satisfaction of hearing his own arguments enfol ced in the of Lords, ,) i-oth houses ultimately decreed against the claim, by wlmh means it becamo dormant ever afterwards. Wickliff in the year 1372 was created a Doctor and Professor of Divinity, which appointments afforded stiil greater scope for the'exercise of his Yeforniiug influence Two years later we find him deputed with others, by the King, in an embassy to .Burgess to meet the Pope's legate to settle some important differences of their respective superiors, which proves the good opinion that the Kinj;, by no means wanting in sagacity, entert iued of his servant's abilities and integrity. Wickliff was rewarded for his services by the rectory of Sntterwortu, in Leicester- shire, but those days of appareut calm and secmity were soon to be succeeded by others of a more trying and troublesome nature He was charged with liuiesy, by Courteaay, son Of the Earl of Devonshire, who cited him to appear at bt. Paul ii, on the 19-h of February. One of his heretical doctrines that all human traditions must be referred to the simple and plain truth of the scriptures and another that the Pops ha..1 no more power than others to excommunicate any man. The bearing, or trial, come off in the Ladies' Chapel, where Wickliff was attended by two of the most powerful noblemen in the country John of Gaunt, Earl of Lancaster, and Lord Henry Percy, brshal of England. The Bishop of Lon- don questioning the noblemen's interiorcuce, was told by John of Gaunt that he would bring down his pride. A mob assembled, and while it was venting its rage, mpnt:acc°,rnp;'uie(1 to Richmond by the two noblemen mentioned, where they began to converse with the you c y^ar'} tlle Second, when the storm at present subsided In the year 1373, however, he was again sumnio: and or-.ercdto appear at Lambeth. again sumnio: d or-.ercdto appear at Lambeth. On the occasion o. the tm the Queen's motber sei)fc a messenger of the ^i' t tUl the b,shops that they were Dot to pass any sentt.ico uj on Wickliff, alu| tliey accorj. ingly dismissed him al* "junction not to preach his doctrines. After tnis evendue begun to change his tactics, and if he was heretical beiore he now became doubly so for he directed his followers to preach in the streets' in public places, and wherever they could be heard. They tberef)i-c preached as directed, and some of them with considerable success. His incess mt labours at length brought on illness, and lie had been. oice or twice pre- viously slightly afflicted with paralysis- lp addition to his labours as rector of Suttle-'ortb, a'.ut divinity lecturer at Oxford, be also was, and long had been, engaged in com- posing and unremittingly publishing small pain pin0'9 ex- pressing his religions views as obtained from the scriptures. In the year 1379, Wickliff began to devote his time to the completion 0; his great work -the translation of the Scriptures in his own vernacular language, which, under the circums ances was an operation of no ordinary mag- nml"uUagie at Court at the time was nv nn ocL-is''H s** ?° firevf"'e(' Hie law courts, and f Hoi 1 m e in InPO,Uut nature. Yet the trans- f # f the tieonle 'fi ^>e8'' ^ang«agei and being • firm different tlle ^iprovements had received from d purees, was the best and most populai in the umveise. Wickliff employed bun- drad. of «r,ta «a 1 »bicl, » £ in the year 1380, ami extensively circulated. Whilst engaging in the ordinance of the Lord's Supper C11 the 29th December, 1384, he. was seized with a fit,, au'i 0n the last day of the year expired. By an order of the Council of Constance, about forty one years after his death, his bones were exhumed and burnt to ashes. The ashes having been cast into a neighbouring briok, called the Swift, were borne by it into the river Avon, from the Avon to the Severn, from the Severn into the smaller seas, and thence into the main ocean, ftQu thus, as some one bad stated, ii ashes of Wickliff proved the emblem of his doctrine, which now is dis- persed all the world over," and would be restored when the King of the Earth gathered the waters in his hand. The lecturer, in a graphic and forcible manner, next dwelt at some lengfh upon the obligations that posterity were under to Wickliff, for the patient and untiring zeal he displayed in sowing the seed of the Reformation. He gave a rapid sketch of the history of the country since Wickliff's day, especially adverting to, and pointing out the slow yet sure progress of his principles. The wctnrer resumed his seat amid much applause.—Mr. hillip8) in proposing a vote of thanks to Dr. James, that he would be long spared to lecture and preach aimi?88t '^enl > an'^ ^r- Williams, in proJ>osing a + *■ yote to the Chairman, spoke in complimentary perms of the lecture, tho value o{ Mechanics' Institutions, and of the pleasure he experienced in meeting such a numerous and respectable body of working men, who, he had no doubt, would prove worthy of any contemplated political trust with which they might be favoured. Mr. Phillips and Dr. James having returned thanks, the meeting separated. It is scarcely necessary to a"d this report of the lecture appears in an abbreviated form.
PONTYPOOL.
KMCAAVJABEWVASSQEEIDBIK John Watkins, tailor, deposed to having heard complain- ant say that 14s. 61. was due to him from defendant, and the latter said that be had paid him half-a-sovereign, half-a-crown, and a two shilling piece. The case was dismissed, complainant having to pay 13s. 6J. expenses.