Monmouthshire Merlin

CARDIFF. (Continued trom the eighth page.) DEATH OF ALDERMAN Ctik4. V AClIELL.-Our obitu- ary this week contains a notice of the decease of Charle, amlnni' f H?"' °f the Allermeu of tl"' AVarde and one of the oldest inhabitants of Cardiff. His nam- has been associated with almost every public moves ment a,1 measure carried out in the town for some thirty years or mi re. Though occasionally maintaining peculiar views with indomitable perseverance, his voice was alwavs heard when the claims of suffering humanity required ad- vocacy and grateful recollections of numerous public services will long be attached to his name. POPULAR DELUSIONS-A very interesting lecture on tins subject was delivered on Thursday evening, at the Towu-hall, Cardiff, by Dr, Owgan, to the members of the unatian Young Men's institute, and a few visitors, whose number tie could have wished to see very greatly n creased. The poor servant girl who sustained severe injuries from burning, as mentioned last week, died at the Infirmary, on Tuesday.

FATAL ACCIDENT TO A LADY.-On Wednesday Mr. Wakley anda jury assembled at the Marlborough Tavern, St. John's-wood, to inquire respecting the death of Mrs. Mary Ann Fennis Herapath, wife of Mr. Edwin John Herapatb, barrister- at-I a,i,, which took place under the following circumstances :—It appeared from the evidence that on Saturday afternoon, as the unfortunate lady was riding her horse along Rotten-row, the animal started off at a fearful pace, dashed through the gate near the toll- bar, crossing the Kensington- road, and on coming in contact with the wall at the opposite side of the road the deceased was thrown violently to the ground, re- ceiving a desperate wound on the eide of her bead. Mr. Hutchinson, of Blackfriars, who happened to pass at the time, rendered all the assistance in his power, 'k he de- ceased never sl oke, and was oiveyed home to her ret-i- dence, 10, Bienl.eim-road, St. John's-wood, where every- thing was done that the medic.1 advisers thought proper, but she gradually sank and expired at a quarter to 10 the same evening. The jury found a Ttrdict of Accidental

elU. BURNING OF TELE PORTO XOVO.One of the most dis- astrous fires that have occurred in the port of Bristol for many years took place on Saturday last. The Porto Novo, Captain Townsend, a vessel belonging to the trustees of the estate of Messrs. Bruford, Dyer, and Co., had recently arrived from Gaboon, West Africa, and was moored off Penner-wharf, Redcliff-street, for the purpose of dis- chargingher cargo. This cargo, which was of considerable value, consisted of 230 tons of fine palm oil, 200 tons barwood, four tons ebony, 4,400 cocoa nuts, 8831b. gun- powder, besides a large quantity of elephants' teeth, gum copal, wine, &c. The vessel herself was built in Sweden, in 1848, and registered 3.57 61-100 tons. About 2 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, t,vo of the men employed in the hold in discharging the cargo let a lighted candle fall on some loose gunpowder. An explosion necessarily fol- lowed, and the cargo was immediately on fire. For about two hours the men engaged about the vessel vainly endeavoured to arrest the progress of the flames by throwing water from buckets on the burning mass. These, efforts, however, were wholly inadequate, and the aid of the various fire-engines of the city with their bri- gades, was called into requisition. By this time, however, owing to the combustible character of the cargo, the fire had gained complete mastery of the vessel and its con- tents, and though the efforts made to subjugate the des- troying element were strenuous and unremitting, it was not till early on Sunday morning that the fury of the fire was expended, and the destruction of the Porto Novo I and almost its entire cargo was complete. Fortunately for the creditors of the estate to the trustees of which the vessel and the valuable cargo belonged, both were in- sured in the General Fire-office, the ship for £ 1,000, and the cargo for £ 9,000. Two men, named James Quick and B,obert Mathing, who were assisting in the discharge of the cargo, were seriously burnt about the head and shoulders by the explosion in which the calamitous fire originated. They were conveyed to the Bristol General Hospital, where they are progressing favourably. Fortu- nately, a ship on fire is a rare occurrence in the harbour of Bristol, but this accident forcibly suggests the necessity for providing a floating fire-engine, a necessary pre- caution which has not yet been taken by the authorities of the port. ACCIDENT. — A rumour reached town this week that a serious accident bad occurred in the family of the Rev. William P. Lendon, at Pentwyn House. We have ascer- tained that the occurence was alarming enough, and threatened to be most appalling, but the injuries were confined to some seve:e burns on the bands of Mrs. Len- don. While she was trimming a lamp, that lady's gloves caught fire, and the removal of them was a difficult and painful process: happily it was effected, and the danger ended.-Be,icon. SAGE PROPOSAL.—The following letter appears in the Carnarvon Herald:—"SIR, — I have read from time to time in the I Hercld' and in Yr Herald Cymraeg' letters from various sources, on a Welsh colony-ymfyda Gymreig—but I have ever failed to perceive by what motives the writers were actuated, further than merely search of adventure," like the lean knight of La Mancha. Thay are certaily not moved by pressure from without the people of Wales have no sympathy with such a scheme. They are not driven to it by persecution nor famine-things temporal nor spiri ual-neither are they troubled by that mawkish sentimentality respecting the Welsh language—its perpetuation cr extinction. Do the projectors, then, consider themselves justiijed in their en- deavours to unsettle peaceful homes, where, to say the least, want is not known ? Have they fully calculated the cost, are they prepared to lead to the wilderness a thousand families-there to establish a colony, to provide for it a government, to wait with patience the cultivation of the soil, and the day of the first harvest ? If not, they practise upon their fellow-countrymen a cruel mockery. However, it is a fact that a large number of Welsh yearly cross the borders. Further, it is apparent that the tendency of young Wales is towards England. Why do our patriots not take advantage of this ? A far nobler scheme would it be to retake L mdon than to go and skulk in a desert. A word to the wise." Let our young fellows be educated. Then let them go, a hardy band, and take possession of the counting-houses of London, marry the merchants' daughters, and send the Sais on a long fishing excursion to Pont Aberglaslyn." WREXHAM.—On Friday last an inmate b longing to the Union Workhouse attempted suicide by running to meet an approaching train, but when he got close to the engine he fell down, with his right leg across the rails. The engine and twenty carriages passed over his leg just above the ankle, and completely smashed it to atoms. The poor fellow was soon conveyed to the Workhouse, where he is now lingering in great agor.y. A very beautiful East Window has just been placed in St. David's Church, Denbigh, in memory of the late Mrs. Henry Tatlock, who for many years resided in this neighbourhood, and whose numerous acts of Christian chanty to the poor around her will long be gratefully reanmbsred. Her subset iptions and donations to churcnes, schools, and other charitable purposes, far and near, were most liberal, and not ftiliy revealed until after her death :-proving that she acted upon the gospel precept, Jet not thy left baud know what thy right hand doeth." REFOKM AT HEREFORD.—On Friday last a public meet- ing was held at Hereford tocons:der the subject of Reform. Resolutions were passed in favour of the Ballot,an exten- sion of the suffrage in favour of the intelligent operative classes, and shortening the duration ofParliaments. The two city members, Mr. Geo. Clive at.d Col. Clifford, spoke, but did not support ultra-Radical views. They both objected to universal suffrage and equal electoral districts, but advocated the ballot. Mr. Clive, however, wag for making it permissive only, i.e., to be applied only when the electors desired it. INTOLERANCE AT BATH.—At a meeting of the General Committee of the Bath Commercial and Literary Institu- tion, last week, the recomendation of the Institution Committee that the 11 est/tiinster Review should be dis- continued, on account of the alleged anti-christian nature of some of the articles in recent numbers- especially one on the Religious Weakness of Pro- testantism"-was adopted nemine contradicente, and it was further resolved that the numbers of the review, from January, 18-58, should be withdrawn from the library of the institution. DISEASE IN W ALES,Tbat dreadful scourge t' 6 small pox has bee-i very rife in various parts of the prircipa:ity where in some loca'itics it has made dreadful ravagee. It has been preva'ent in Carmarthenshire and Pembroke- shire, where it has often assumed the confluent form. At Carmarthen it has attacked old and young, and has beeil felt in both divisions of the principality. Scarlet fever has also been very prevalent, especially among young children, many of whom have fallen victiais. With the small-pox it has been proved that many of those attacked were persons who had not availed themselves of vaccination. Diphtheria is likewise prevalent, and the late changes have largely developed bronchial affections. We (Brintil Gazette) understand that there is an effort being made to get up a grand Masonic ball, at the Victoria-rooms. A number of members of the craft I have promised their support, and we doubt not that, ere long, the event will be announced. A MISSING SLIPPElt.-An inhabitant of Olveston having invited some friends to spend a festive evening proceedings passed off famously until supper time, when the servants, going to the larder, discovered that some one had been there before them, and walked off with fowls, beef, puddings, &c. The neighbours, learning the mishap, kindly contributed from their abundance, and the guests had not to depart supperless. A WELCOME TO ENGLAND.—At the Worship-street police court on Saturday, Bridget Reid, and Mary Conner, two of the worst characters in the purlieus of Spiialfields, were charged with the following robbery. Jose Boer, a young German, who gazed about the court 'nen in a state of bewilderment and appeared alarmed, was examined through an interpreter, and his statement, even then gathered with difficulty, was this—1 cannot'speak one word of English. At one o'clock this morning very early I arrived in England for the first time in my life. I came steaming from Rotterdam. I have no friends here, and ran about the streets taking any turning in quest of a lodging. About an hour after I met these ladies, and made them understand I wanted to go to sleep. They pitied me and took me to a house very fondly, where I then went to bed with this iitile trunk containing all my clothes by my side. When I awoke, before it was light I found it had been opened, all my things gone, and rubbish substituted. In extreme con- sternation I rushed out of the place and was stopped by a man in a l irge coat, who carried a glare (a lantern). He seized me very roughly. I could not make him bear me, but by and by this gentleman (the interpreter) was in- troduced to me. Constable 109 H.—Isaw thisgentleman at five o'clock this morning running along the White- chapel-road like a madman. I stopped him, and found him very excited, though I could not understand what he said. I procured this interpreter, and having learnt that be bad been robbed, and received a description of the girls he was in company with at the time, I proceeded to a house in Flower- nd-Dean-street, Spitalfields, appre- hended the prisoners, whom he then identified, and found some cent pieces and a paper, which he asserted to have been in his trunk. The sitting magistrate put several questions to the prosecutor as to his apparently isolated position in this country, but all that could be elicited in reply were expressions of intense surprise at his reception in good England, and an opinion that he would have been safer in hH own country. The prisoners were committed for trial.

õ LATEST NEWS. "1. -L'.LJ >.J. -0 NEW TROUBLES IN THE EAST.—The following tele- gram was received at Mr. Heutet's office, on Thursday morning :The Ioiiriz.,l,le Constantinople of the 12th inst. publishes an article, stating that new conflicts have arisen between the Camaicans, assorting that the state of affairs is particularly grave in Moldavia and resrets deeply that the el ctions had not been adjourned. Private letters an- nounce th, t the disturbances in the provinces surrounding Bagdad become more serious. Mehemet Bey will not return to Paris as ambassador. Two Russian vessels ar- rived here from Xicolaieff, and proceeded on their route to Villafr nca. Prince Alfred is expected at Constantinople. THE IONIAN ISLANDS. — The Oasterreidiiiche correi- pondei, z states that Sir J. Young was t, have left C^rfu the 18th or 20th inst. Mr. Gladstone has summoned the Ionian Parliament for tha 25th inst. PRUSSIA —The Count de Hatzfeld, Prussian Aubassador at the Imperial Court of Paris, is dead. THE CONVICT BANKERS, MESSRS. STRAHAN AND PAIUL.ks much public commiseration has been so de- cidedly expressed for the continued confinement of Paul and Strahan, and as a petition numerously and respectably signed has been presented for a mitigation of their pau- ishment, it is hoped that the Government may be in- duced, in deference to so geneial a wish, to modify their decision on this subject by restoring those unhappy men to liberty.

THE BROKEN-DOWN LASCAR,—Afthe Mansion House John Sneet, a Lascar, was brought before Mr. Alderman Carter, charged with begging and as he stood at the bar, presented a somewhat remarkable appearance, mid- way between th.it of a dancing dervish" and a Choctaw Indian, in the last stage of consumption. He wore on his head a black skull cap H ith variegated border, gently relieved by the folds of an enormous white cotton hand- kerchief passing over his chin, covering half his face, and tied in a knot Lke a kink in a cable, above the crown of his head. Sickly faced, lantern-jawed, bent down as if with the weight of yeais, and quivering as if from palsy, while on the bar in front he leaned his feeble form for support, a stranger in eourt wo.ild have at once jumped to the conclusion that he behe'd before him a p'tiable object, with one foot all eady in the grave, and well worthy of that sympathy which best displays itself in pecuniary 4ssistance. The evidence adduced was brief, but to the point. An active officer beheld him begging, took him into custody, and on searching him discovered 2s. 2jd. hidden in secret places about his apparel. Alderman Carter thought the poor fellow seemed ill-very ill indeed—what was the matter with his head, and what made him shiver so dreadfully ? Mr. Goodman (chief clerk) and the active officer assured the worthy alderman that there was nothing the matter with him at all. He put on somewhat similar symptoms when there before but directly he was out of the dock he could run like a pickpocket. There could be no-doubt about it, J(,hn Sneet was a very decided impostor.-The Alderman, however, ( sympathising alderman !) still thought the prisoner looked i 1, and the weather was rather cold here for one born under an Indian sun; there really might be something the matter with his head, Not a bit said Mr. Goodman and not a bit of it," echoel the active officer, but the prisoner with a piteous whine, and in bro ken English assured his worship that he had had one very bad headache for one very long time, that no'hing wouldn't cure adding, 'hat he was not begging when taken into custody, but only going to Rosemary lane to buy a pair of bouts, because those he had on hurt his toes stf. But Mr. Goodman still insisted that he was an impostor, and to settle the question, told the active officer to just take off his hand- kerchief. The active officer did take off the prisoner's handkerchief and his skull-cap too, and Harlequin never wrought a more wondrous change in the fairy scenes of panioinime for the original decrepi I, palsied, aged John Sneet stood there no longer, but in his place as good-looking a young fellow as ever lifted two hundred weight, or made love to an Indian houri. For a mo- ment (as if voluntarily), he stood up erect as a Hercules, with flashing eyes, and countenance no longer sickly in its hne, while instead of the few stray locks of iron gray. or the complete baldness which his cap and hand- kerchief had been supposed to c ver, his hair, long, bushy, coal-black, and glossy, fell down upon his shoul- ders in rich profusion. The court fairly rang with laughter, and even the prison, r c uld not suppress a humorous twinkle of the eye, which told that he regarded himself as the autrior of a good joke, but that humorous twinkle vanished in a moment, when the worthy alder- man, convinced at length that he was an impostor, intimated his intention of giving him an opportunity o improving his English and Exercising his strength, by sending him for fourteen days to prison, with bard labour, and his money (this was the unkindest cut of all") to be applied for his ke, p. John Sneet couldn't stand that, and he muttered out a string of curses in Hindostanee as he went down stairs to the cells below. SUDDEN DEATH IN A RAILWAY CARKIAGB -On Tuesday afternoon Mr. Sergeant Payne held an inquest at the Vestry-hall, Hor-leydown, on Mr. William Kin- chin, manager of the Tunbridge Wells gasworks, who died whilst travelling in a railway caniage on the South- Eastern Railway. Mr. J. Bridge, of No. 59, Stanhope- stieet, Hampstead-road, said on Saturday night he was travelling in the same carriage with the deceased, who got in at Tunbridge Wells, at half-past six o'clock. The deceased sat on the opposite side of the carriage to him. In the interval while the tickets were being taken at Forest-hill witness looked out of the window on his side of the carriage for a moment, and on turning his head saw the deceased on the floor of the carriage struggling He tried to lift him up, but being unable to do so he called to the guard, and he was taken out of the carriage. He thought he tried to speak, with a sort of hard breath- ing. He was put into the Brighton train which came up, and removed to London. As he was dead when taken to Guy's Hospital, they would not receive him, and he was taken to St. Olave's workhouse inir. J. E. Mackintosh, surgeon to St. Olave's LTnion, said he had made a post mortem examination of the body. There were no marks of external violence. On opening the head he found a large clot of blood on the left ventricle of the brain, and it seemed to have been formed for about a year. That was sufficient to account for deatb. He also found a deposit on the mitral nerves, A rupture would be easy_ from any sudden excitement. Railway travelling was not good for persons predisposed to an affection of the head. The shaking of the carriage was < injurious. There was a degeneration of the vascular system, but apoplexy was the immediate, cause of death. He should record the death as arising from apoplexy, caused by extravasion of blood from the left ventricle of the brain. The jury returned a verdict in accordanee with the medical evidence. WHAT IS THE WOULD COMING TO?-A Lady of Fashion, upon being told that one of her six-footed Jen- kinses had been married the previous day to her lady's- maid at the aristocratic church in Hanover Square, was so scandalised, that, forgetting her position, her English, her placidity, and all the other proprieties of life, she exclaimed most bitterly It's too bad, I declare, to turn St. Georges' in this way into a low-menial altar Punch.

Merlin's fUtcs of tjje ItScrii. .J --+- NVHEN the great NAPOLEON told the over-decked, the over-laced, and the too be-braidei Ambassador of the Emperor of Austria, that, looking for the hand of the daughter of his Sovereign, he had so heraldic claims to oflfer, as his nobility only dated from the field of Monte- notti, the battle ground of his first and long cherished victory—the Emperor was right; his credentials were great no man or monarch dare gainsay them and the German plenipotentiary at once shrunk into the en- crusted s'hell of his own Teutonic nobility. BUONAPARTE was ilkrstrious by genius, and made the world stand in awe of his name. He gave not senates, but a whole continent, laws. What <r.-onder, then, that Czars and Kaisers offered their daughters for his alliance, although the holy tie of marriage had been ruptured, and the widower and the living husband stood confessed and banded in the same only person. Such was th e morality, such the deccncy, among the mighty of the earth, at a less distant period than fifty years from the time at which w3 write. Intense ambition the 3ust of power were the actuating motives, the direct- ing influences, which led to the marriage of MARIA LoursA. Siip, was considered but as the hostage of future peace between the two empires the offering, but not the sacrifice herpredecessor, the eestimable JOSEPHINE was the sacrifice, and after years fully and terribly re- venged her. NAPOLEON'S fall in 1814 was owing to his father-in-law's base treachery and powerful hostility and when the uncrowned banished lord and husband was perishing on his ocean rock, where was the former Em 1 press and Queen, for whom so much had been lost ? for which so much honour had been blasted ? for which so much holy faith had been sacrilegiously rent in twain ? Where was she, we again ask ? Before the shore of St. Helena, demanding admission to see, to console, to share the captivity of her sceptreless husband ? No, she was otherwise engaged. She was becoming the fruitful mo- ther of brothers and sisters of the young NAPOLEON J Such was the catastrophe of NAPOLEJN'S second mar riage,-a marriage which if he had never made, he would have lived-li-e would have reigned. Such marriages are made generally in contravention of .God's holy law, and cannot come to good. When Louis the Fourteenth achieved the elevation of his grandson of D' Anjou to the throne of Spain, he exultingly exclaimed 11 n' y' a plus des Pyrentices. Was it so ? No as the sequel of his reign and that of his immediate successor miserably and forcibly proved. Another victim awaits another sacrifice. A fair, amiable, shrinking, blue-eyed girl of sixteen is about to leave her father's home, her mother's resting- place, perhaps for the last time to gaze upon the grey hills, to tread the purple heather of her land of Mountain and of flood," to come, and Zwell, and to find such repose as a brilliant, gorgeous, voluptuous capital can give the wife of a man more than old enough to be her father, whose an- tecedents have not been those of a Joseph or a St- Francis de Sales. The Palais Royale had never a good name. Has it changed since Prince NAPOLEON became its master and the lord of its modern revelries ? But we raise not the curtain; it is well it-should be down the lights extinguished the halls imagined desolate Poor child high now in hope, buoyant in spirit, half dazzled with the coming splendour. Poor Clotilde Savoie the dice rattled, and you heard them not; but they were flung on the table, and you were won Ca- vour-thy father has given thee for a consideration and thou leavest thy own Turin perhaps for ever. Prince NAPOLEON, like the mighty founder of his House, won not his spurs upon the battle fields of Europe. He was nameless, he was penniless, until his more talented, his more energetic cOllisn clutched power, and became the foremost man of his age. He paled and faded in the Crimea, and the French said they would Jorgive his departure from the then still desperately foughteu field, but only on one condition—that he would DIE. Die," said he, with Pierre, in Venice Preserved, d- feat. What, be decently interred, and mingle my brave dust', —But why proceed with the quotation ? He lived to build, to eat, to drink, to carouse, and now to wed:! For the fair girl's sake may ke .change, may he reform., and may she, after entering France, never have reason to think and fear that she lives in the shade of a MAUIE ÅN- TOINETTE, a MAUI A LOUISA, or a HOIUENSE and a JOSEPHINE. EUROPE is still in a state of intense agitation. That war iarnGre than possible, is a fact indisputable; but that men's minds are now turning to the hopes of peace is also a fact which cannot be gainsayed, The Bourses of both London and Paris are becoming less panic-stricken and the pulse of France is beating less violently now that the height of the war fever has abated, though far from having passed away. It is quite true that the mind of the French Emperor cannot be read, nor his thoughts weighed in the political balance. He is a man of mystery-a man of weight, and he has only to speak, to say March" to his legions, to set Europe in a flame. Europe has the powder-he the torch Will he flourish it ? or will he extinguish it in French earth ? He can do either; but what he will do will not be done hastily, but after the fullest and most mature considera- tion. He has peace at home to consider-he has con- quests abroad to grasp at. He has to keep, to consoli- date his throne—perhaps to firmly base it on military glory-perhaps to gather halos round himself by going to head another army of the Alps, and to come down, like HANNIBAL and his uncle, with the might of Gaul, upon Italy. It might be even so. Senility, as well as youth, has had its beginnings, as well as its endings of glory. CATO was fifty-six when he began to learn Greek, and Lords HILL and LYNDOCH, of Peninsular renown, had seen more than fifty summers ere they entered the army and drew those swords which were afterwards to make them the chosen and able lieutenants of WELLINGTON. SIDNEY SMITH once said that Lord JOHN RUSSELL would, on the threat of an invasion head the channel fleet, and fight it too. Yet his Lord. ship never was a bold middy nor did he ever breast any storm except the severe gales gf Parliamentary life. NAPOLEON III. has been a soldier, we adiiiit-a citizen soldier in Switzerland-but then he received a first-rate military education under an old general of the Empire, and he has written fully and ably on the tactics of the field, and the administration of the camp. There is nothing, then, so absurd in the thought -the intention of commanding an army; and if that army were successful and able to draw the Austrians from the plains of Lombardy-in fact, free Italy from the German yoke-he would be, indeed, another NAPOLEON in the eyes of his delighted people. All this may be now weighing upon his mind, and he may be pausing, like CMAR, before h ;ittempts another ilubicon. But the attitude of Austria, too, cannot be Iverlooked. This power, which was thought to be reel- ng like the drunken man, from the orgies and blows If 1848, would appear to be again quite erect and dgorous, and prepared to hold its own, and to do battle vith an army far different from that which fled in 1796 >efore the Republican legions, and commanded by )ther generals than the BOILEAUS, the WUKMSERS, and ILVINZIS of other days. There is now no miserable ulic Council in Vienna, to draw up orders to fight tnd march-to be acted upon and executed hundreds of ruiles fr om the halls ofits deliberations, depriving generals :)f their free-will, and not permitting them to seize the favourable moment to strike-perhaps to conquer. Austria now possesses a magnificent army, led by able md young commanders, who can take the field on horseback, and not have to be cat ried round it in litters, as in former days. Her territories are immense. Austria proper is of course her stronghold, but her empire, we have been told, and we know, extends from Lago Maggiore to the Transylvanian frontier. From Croatia to the farthest nor'h of Bohemia, Styria and the Tyrol, Dalmatia and the Bucovina, are included within its grand circumstanccs. Its fortresses "guard the Alps and the Carpathians; its outposts watch the Ticino and the Danube;" and its popula- tion amounts to forty millions of souls. Were this empire homogeneous, cohesive, single, like France, it might defy all Europe in arms. But it is not. It is made up uf different races, and Russia flanks it on one side, and France on the other. Its position must be even like that of the armed and pacing sentinel, ready to fire at the first alarm, and arouse the camp-the State —to their danger. The promptitude, however, with which it has within the last few weeks poured its legions into Italy, shows its resolution and s'rength, and declares that it feels that if the struggle come, Austria ra-ust rely on herself alone. Russia hates her mortally, and would profit by her extinction as a nation. Prussia would wish her humiliated, and blotted out from the map of Europe. England can give no aid, for her people would not permit another Holy Alliance" for selfish and kingly purposes—but if Austria c&ald have no aid, neither could France count upon any, save that afforded her by VICTOR-EMMANUEL and his Sardinian legions. A Tory Ministry would not care a jot fenr the independence of Italy and in this, indeed, they would but follow the example set them by Lord PALMEIISTON, whose whole course of conduct showed it—who treated a-vakening freedom with a jest-the speeches of her champions with a sneer. My Lord," said his secretary, opening the curtains of his bed one night, a messenger has this moment come, stating that the Milanese have hoisted the flag of independence." "Then," said the scarcely-awakened statesman, turning on his pillow tell them to haul it down again This spoke enough, and showed the man. Such a feeling is now rife among politicians of every side. No war for or against Italy. If there be war, then Austria and France must fight it out ^between them. PBEISSIEK is a heavy man besides, he is but recently married, and cannot well leave his young and blooming wife. He likes also his home and ease—we will net say, although in England, Beef and a sea-coal fire but it is decided he stays at Albert Gate, Knightsbridge, and PATRICK MCMAHON is the man chosen to take the command in Italy should there be a war. MCMAHON is said, after LAMOKICILR, to be the best General in the French service. He is young, active-with military genius of the highest order. He is the grandson of an Irishman, who fought at Fontenoy—driven from his country by the atrocious penal laws which would not permit an Irish Catholic gentleman to hold the rank of ,officer in his Sovereign's service. General NIEL- j O NEIL (Frenchified)-the first engineer officer of his day, is alto a descendant of an Irishman, and, we under- stand, regularly corresponds with his relations in the Sister Isle. He accompanies Prince NAPGLEON to Turin to marry and to bring back his bride to Paris, We would rather see men with such names and taltnts serving in our own ttkan in a foreign Court. The penal laws have hundreds and hundreds-of timesTeeoiled upon England. AV ell were they deemed accursed" by IGEOKOE THE SEGOKS, when they deprived turn of tha subjects he found (not by their fault or trea-son) fighting, against him at Dettiiigen, Fontenoy, and Minden, and carrying victory on their bayonets and their lances. Thank GOD, the country has fallen upon better men and better days.

Iocal Intelligence. Lord and Lady Raglan are still staying a* Earl Beauchamp's seat, in Worcestershire. Lord Raglan has provided about 40 of his tenants at llandenuy, in this county, with suitable articles of clothing. THE DISPENSARY.—The report of the annual meeting of subscribers, printed elsewhere in our journal, will be read with interest. The institution is about, and that shortly, to be placed upon a different footing, and to be so extended as to bring within its beneficial operations many sufif rers who otherwise must remain destitute of that-con- stant care and watchful supervision which cannot be ob- tainCll at their ow n homes, but which will be devoted to them in the wards of the newly-erected builiing. That a town of the magnitude and population of Newport should hitherto have been without such an institution is matter of both surprise and regret To supply the requisite means to properly support one is certainly within the means of the inhabitants, who will, we trust, peruse attentively the appeal now made to them, and respond to it in a becoming manner. Let but the pioper spirit be evoked, and with the Mayor, the Vicar, and Mr. Cartwright, we believe the directors wi]! receive that assis ance and co- operation they desire for the purpose of providing for the district an infirmary and dispensary suited to its requ're- ments and of a capability to succour those who in the hour of suffering are necessitated to appeal to such institutions for aid. BRITISH SCHOOLS.—A public soiree in con- nection with the annual meeting of the supporters and f: iends of this institution is to take place at the school- rooms, on Friday next. Refreshments will be serve t, and a variety of vocal and instrumental music performed. Appropriate addresses are expected to be delivered by Mr. Baxter, British and Foreign School Society's Inspector, and gentlemen connected with the town, among them being the Hon. Member for the boroughs and the Mayor of Newport. Sir Charles and Lady Morgan and party will be present. The worthy Baronet is announced to take the chair. THE BURNS' CENTENARY.—We would remind our reaters that the dinner in commemoration of this interesting occasion will take place on Tuesday next, at the King's Head, D. R. Williamson, Esq. in the chair. Tickets may be had of Mr. S. Wilson, Mr. Paterson, or Mr. Lloyd. A large party of gentlemen is expected to meet, and the preparations are of the most judicious character. FIRE.-A fire was discovered in the house of Mr.Harrhy, draper Commercial-street,about half past nine o'clock, on the night of Thursday. Upon information being conveyed to the police station, the reel and hose, in charge of an efficient body of constables, under the direction of the Superintendent and Inspector Williams were despatched to the shop, and attached to an hydrant near. Mrs. Harrhy was absent to meet her husband on his return from Bristol, the servant being left in charge of the premises. The children, who were in bed, were taken out of.the house, and, some shutters having been removed, a copious supply of water was directed upon the burning goods. The fire was soon got under, but considerable damage was done to the premises and stock-in-trade both of which are insured. The origin of the fire is at present unaccounted for. POULTRY STEALING.—Last week, during the night, four geese and a gander, kept for breeding purposes, were stolen from N antcoch Farm, in the occupation of Mrs. Phillips. MR. AND MISS MONTAGUE have, during a portion of the past and present weeks, repeated their en- tertainments, experiments, and lectures upon mesmerism and electro-biology. The audiences so far from diminishing have increased in number, and their shouts of laughter have been as hearty as ever. Some new experiments have been introduced. On Friday night, Miss Montague was P aced under the mesmeric influence for nearly an hour. he command of the lecturer over her was perfect; and her movements and attitudes were greeted with continual n„ »• 8 approbation. With Miss Montague, three of ence were operated upon. They were put tbiough various representations iu a a reinakable manner. Some W!I!,0u u"lng \n the extreme, but the tableau of the T 'k ier,who had been placed in a comfortable pos- ture y is mourning companions, and whose injured limbs and head had been carefully bound up by the lady, was both affecting and effective, and struck the spec- tators with astonishment. Yesterday morning a large quantity of bread was given away at the Town Hall, by Mr. and Miss Montague to widowed applicants while we we understand that the dispensary will benefit to the amount of six guineas by the enteitaiomeot kindly given 1 on its behalf last week, HAM < LOCAL RAILWAY BILLS.-On Wednesday the examiners on standing orders declared the standing orders of the House of Lords and Commons to have been com- plied with in respect to the fallowing railway bills.- (Before Mr. Smith.)-Leominster an(] Kingston.—To make a deviation from the authorised line at Pembridge. (Before Mr. Frere.)—Merthyr, Tredeaar, and Abergavenny.—To make a railway to AberyBtwith and branch lines. Our police report contains an account of a most determined case of assault and robbery in Dock-street, at an early hour on Friday night. The circumstance is certainly 'one for surprise, considering the present excellent and judicious police arrangements in force. Some time recently, at a meeting of the Board of Health, Mr. Hyndman drew attention to the necessity for more lamps in Dock-street. Whether the absence of light there had anything to do with the commission of the crime, did not transpire but the fact is one to which the attention of the opponents of the gas on Maindee road may be drawn with some reason. If in a street in the town, with partial light, such gross attacks may be made, a fortiori they may be committed in a thoroughfare, between two populous localities, with no light whatever, REFORM — When are the inhabitants* of Newport to have a meeting on Reform ? One has taken place this week in Cardiff, and doubtless our excellent Mayor would call a meeting here at once if he were re- que-ted to do si. Why should we be behind the rest of the country in the Reform movement? An accident of rather common occurrence, took place on Thursday night. Two gentlemen were passing a chemist's shop in Commercial-road, while a boy wa-s placing up the shutte-s, Pnd the wind being rather strong, caused one of them to fall against the gentlemen, and slightly injured them. It would be weli if shop- keepers were to employ some stronger persons to put up their shutters at night, for these accidents are becoming numerous, and serious injuries may be the consequence. QUICK PASSAGE.—The French brigantine Murte, of Belle Isle, Captain Galine, arrived at Newport on Sunday last. from Pont L"bbe, France, in the very short space of fifty hours, from port to port, with a cargo of potatoes, for account of Mr. John LeCouteur of this town. PEDESTRIANISM.—On Thursday morning, a rnnniug match took place between The Devon Pet," and "The Newport Deer," on three-quarters of a mile of ground between the Caira gate and the Gaer gate, on the Bassalleg-road, for 1:5 a-side. Two sporting gentlemen of the town officiak-d as starter and judge. A number of spectators were on the ground. The Pet went off heavily. the Deer tantalising by taking his first steps backward. In a short time the opponents become excited, and went into their work in earnest the Deer running lightly, and going ahead in pretty style. The Pet went badly through- out, avid lost ground rapidly. The race was won by the Deer easily, with iSOjardsto spare. A "jolly spread" at the Westgateon the following evening, commemorated this sporting event. NEWPORT CHARITY. A meeting ot the trustees was held on Thursday. Present—The Mayor, in the choiÏr the Vicar of St. Woolos. Alderman Latch and Evans, and Messrs. Cartwright and John Clements. Nine candidates attended to apply for the vacancy in the alms- ouses caused by the death of Wm. Lewis. As usual, the trusters adjourned their decision for a week, in order to make the necessary inquiries. A Roval Proclamation has been issued this week, forbidding the performance of the three historical tervices now in itile Prayei-book. BANKhUPT-BKISTOL BANKRUPTCY COURT, TUESDA v.-Re William Taylor, Ken-port, coal merchant and bitip owner. This was a sitting for last examination. The accounts filed extend over a period of rather more than four years, commencing with a capital of X914 Is. The unsecured creditors' debts are £1.698 14s. 2d.; mort- ga" e creditors, L829 liabilities, 1,1-37 5s. 10s. profits, £ 1,74" 3s. lid. total, X5,719 4s. lid. On the other side are debtors—good, 10s. doubtful, JE145 17s. 9d., esti- mated to .produce, £36 9s 5d. amount realised oil sale of furniture under an assignment made in August last, tlo7 los.; debts collected, 236; mortgaged propertv, £ 800■; trade expenses, 4],355 6s. 2d. • private expenses, £ 53'1 losses, 4.- 307 10s. lid liabilities, per contra, £ 537 5s. 10d. difference, £ 8 12s. 7d.; total, £ 5,719 4s.lid. Mr. H. Brittan, for the aesigaees,-examined the bankrupt as to the mode in which his books had been kept, and the circumstances under which an assignment was made in August last, respecting which satisfactory explanations were given. It also appeared that in November, 1854. the bankrupt borrowed a sum of £ 3S0, moneys belonging to the estate of his sister, Mary Aun Kd wards, of which he was the trustee, for which he executed a mortgage of cer- tain shares in the ship Bellad nno, in July last. This mortgage the bankrupt retained till about the middle of August, when he handed it to Mrs. Edwards's brother-in- law. The bankrupt deuied that he was aware that he was insolvent when he executed the mortgage, and stated that he only gave it after repeated applications for security on the part of his sister, and also by Messrs. W. Bevan and Girling, on behalf of some relatives who were interested in •the money after the death of Mrs. Edwards. Mrs. Ed- wards was also exa.tuned, and she confirmed her brother's statement in reference to this mortgage, as did also Mr. W. Bevan, who supported the bankrupt. After making an amendment in the balance-sheet, the bankrupt passed. SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE SHREWSBURY AND HEREFOITD RAILWAY.—On Thursday week, an ac- cident of a serious nature, but happily uriatfended wi'h fatal consequences, occurred on the above line,at the Craven Arms Station. There is a siding at the station to allow the up and down trains to pass each o her, and it had been ar- ranged that the It) a.m. train from Hereford, should here pass a .mineral tr-tin from Shrewsbury on its way to Here- ford. The passenger train arrived as usual, and whilst it was slowly moving on ibe main line the mineral train ami in sighr. Apprehensions were entertained from the speed at which it was going that the driver would not be able to stop iu time; and these tears were unfortunately rea ized. It appears 'hat the driver had shut off the steam at what he considered a proper distance from the station but the enormous weight of the train, which consisted of 40 trucks laden with ore. aided by the slippery state of the rails, merpovrered the breaks, and the train ran through the siding and came into collision with the last carriages of the passenger train. The carriages were thrown off the rails and much damaged, and several of the occupants were seriously in-juied. Mrs. i lark, wife of the station master ot Leominster, was t^e principal suHerer; her right leg WHS oroken, and she received a severe contusion on the It ft. Miss Licma Jones, of Abergavenny, who was on her way to Livt-ipool, was severely shaken, and surfets f:o n concussion ot tue brain Mary Speake, servant at Ludlow, was simi- larly injuied; and Mr. Wilding of the Wood Farm, Middle- Ion, leeeued a contused wound over the right eye. Several other persons received trifling injuries. Fortunately, meuical assitance was speedily at hand Dr. iJavies, of jvuii<ston, was in one o.' the broken carriages, but escaped without injury, and in conjunction wi'h Mr. Jones, of staff, rd, he attended wi h the gredtest kindness to the sufferers, who were removed to the < r iveu Arms Inn. The line was cleared, and the passengers who were able to proceed we e conveyed to i heir respective des iratioris. The occurrence appears to have been purely an accident, involving no charge ot neg'ect against any o' the officials of the com- pany. A large amount of iiuffic passes each day over this Tine "nd the management is justly eiritled to (lub Ie con- sideration for the able macrn"r in which it has overcome the inconveniences necessatily a'tendant upon a single line.

HINT TO AN OLD PARTY. How should you know that you are fat How should you know that you are grev, How should you, too, be certain that You 're old, and age-ing every day ? Say, do young ladies glance askew, peak low and quick, or drop their eyes Or do they frankly look at you, Chat, smile, shake hands ? Old Goose, be wi. -Putlçh.

FRIDAY;s --Nl-,kIIKETS. n (Blutrit (Lflcgntpjj. ù LONDON CORN" MARKET—FRIDAY. Fair demand for English wheat, at Monday's rates. Foreign held firmly, but sales limited. Flour brings full prices. Value of malt unchanged. Currency for barley fully as high. Ready buyers of prime oats in good demand, Monday's rates fully supported. Beans and peas not easily obtained at previous prices. WAKEFIELD COUN MARKET-FRIDAY. Good supply of wheat. Trade dull, and prices one shilling per quarter cheaper. Fine barley in fair demand at bte prices. Beans fully as dear. In other articles no material change. > LIYERFOOL CORN MARKET—FRIDAY. Market opens quiet. Little business doing. Prices unaltered. [CLOSE.] Market very full owing to the very buyers present. Wheat and flour move slowly, at Tuesday's quotations. Beans and Indian corn offered at Tuesday's rates, but lower prices must be taken to effect sales. Oats and other articles without alteration. -i r ARRIVALS.—(Ireland and Coastwise.)—Wheat, 30 barley, 310; malt, 316; oats, 575; beans, 61; oatmeal, 5S9 flour, 88') sacks. Wheat (Foreign), 7,356 beans, 481; flour, 1,382 sacks.

BRISTOL MARKET ROOM. THURSDAY.—Although our market is only moderately supplied with English wheat, the trade has relapsed into its former dulness, and it is impossible to effect sales ex- cept at a decline of Is. per quarter on fine and 2s. on inferior kinds foreign entirely neglected. Malting barley is readily taken at fully former prices to, in some cases, Is. advance grinding and distilling kinds are held for an advance, which is not readily obtained. Beans sell slowly at Is. per qr. more money, whilst peas are a dull sale at former prices. Oats bring 6d. to Is. over the late low prices. Flour is very difficult tj quit, except at a decline iu price WHEAT—White 4s 9d to 5s 64 per buiih. Red 4s 61 to 5s Od White, new 4 I'd to 5s 3.1 Re,], new 4s 61 to 5s Od „ FOREIGN- White 5s Od to 0s Od „ BARLEY—Malting 36s 01 to 42a 01 per qr. Grinding 27s Od to 30e 01 „ Distilling 26s 0 1 to 29s 0d OATS—White Feed 22s Od to 23s Od „ Black „ 22s Od to 23s Od „ Irish White 23s 61 to 25s 6d Black" 20-4 6d to 21s 6d BEANS—English 5s 01 to 6s 0d per bush. New 5s 6d to 6s 0d PEAS-Boiling 55s Od to 608 OLI per qr. Pigs 45s I'd to 50s Oil „ FLOUR—English best seconds 27s to 31s Oaper sack

promises to expect a wide and comprehensive scheme will be totally disappointed at the morsel now proffered them. It must be concededtliat great ob- stacles and difficulties lie in the way of extending the franchise. An educational qualification we believe to be impracticable, and moreover it would have the fault of being a class-suffrage. The household quali fication does not work satisfactorily, and universal suffrage would simply be an absurd and mischievous chimera. Mr. BRIGHT has been doing his utmost to create dissatisfaction throughout the country the last few months, and he unquestionably ought to have released us from the dilemma in which he asserts we are placed, but instead of this he would augment it to au extent which would go far to justify his own diatribes against our legislators, and his denunciations of our laws. Like many other politicians, he has a faculty for discovering imperfec- tions, but not for suggesting an efficacious mode of removing them. We have little to urge against the disfranchisement of most of the boroughs on which Mr. BBIGRT has laid his finger. Some of them ought to have received their death-blow years ago, and there can be no question that any Reform Bill must equalise the re- presentation by taking members from very small boroughs and givhg the seats to larger constituencies. It is rather remarkable that Mr. BKIGHT did not propose an addition to the number of members in the House of Commons, on the ground that what was sufficient when the population of the country was -vastly less than now, must fall far short of our present requirements. This suggestion, however, would not have met with much favour, and he has, therefore, preferred to follow the steps of his predecessors in Reform. Unlike them, be has aimed at d-estroying instead of preserving the balance of interest and power. On no conceivable principle caa his Bill be considered a fair or a just one. It would be easy to 1Ihow that were population taken as tke basis of a franchise, many districts unmentioned by Mr. BRIGHT would be entitled to additional members. This part of the country alone furiiisliesus with several conspicuous examples. Boroughs whichcontain less than eight thousand inhabitants, by Mr. BRIGHT'S measure, are disfranchised;; where the population is eight and under sixteen thousand, one me-mber is allowed; boroughs exceeding sixteen thousand, and under twenty-five thousand inhabitants remain unchanged, and those with populations above twenty-five thousand and under fifty-four thousand may return two members. If this principle were carried out New- port would be entitled to two members to repre- sent it alone, but this number is all that would be allowed for the three boroughs of Newport, Monmouth, and Usk. Cardiff is still to have but one member, to Swansea will be given two, while Merthyr Tydvil will return three. Here, then, are irregularities enough, but we may acquit Mr. BKIGIIT of being guilty of intentional unfairness. He has founded his calculations on the census of 1853, and this leads him into the disparities we have pointed out. The instances cited are at any rate sufficient to show that Mr. BRIGHT'S plan would utterly fail in correcting the disproportions in our electorabsystem of which complaint is now made, and in other districts the inequalities would bestill greater than in our own. On the whole, Mr. BRIGHT'S Bill will not bear the test -of examin,,ition, and most certainly it would not survive the still harder test of practical experience. It is full of mistakes, misapprehension, and false con- clusions. The mind of the framer is deeply imbued with class prejudices, and from the influence of these it aeems impossible fodlim to escape. Stal,ting with erroneous ideas of government and almost revolution- ary-views of society—with an excessive antipathy to one, and an undue veneration for the other-section- he devises projects which would plunge the country into diecontent, and the government into confusion. The .representation would not be a system, but a vast and Judicrous anomaly. Such a measure as this is not likely to be accepted, and we may confidently fore- tell that Mr. BRIGHT'S will not be the Reform Bill ol 1853. 4p. AMONG our local intelligence this day will she found particulars of a case in which a poor woman oi unsound mind was treated very cruelly by a nurse to a Workhouse and a relieving officer. The facts disclosed prove that both these persons were guilty of unfeeling neglect and harshness, although the un- happy woman entrusted to their charge seems to have met her death at her own hands. That fat igue and exhaustion facilitated her end is probable, but without entering into this question there cannot be a doubt that no individual should be suffered to hold the office of nurse or relieving officer who could act so inconsiderately, to express it in the mildest form, as to drag a dying woman three-quarters of a mile along a road to a lunatic asylum. The evidence of the nurse herself is all that we have to guide ue in forming an opinion on the affair-perhaps had the deceased survived a still more deplorable story would be revealed, 'I lie report, however, furnishes us with quite sufficient to show th it a miserable, defenceless woman was subjected to shameful ill-treatment when in a state of almost utter prostration. The circumstances of the case are very sad through- out. The wife of a man residing in Hereford, named SAMUEL DA VIES, appears to have been for some time previous to this occurrence in a desponding state of mind. Her health had been "bad" for about two years, and for twelve months she had been entirely confined to her bed. The details of her life at home are not revealed, but there is nothing in the evidence to lead to the supposition that her husband had acted with unkindness towards her. Continued ill-health caused her to become dejected, and during the last month of her existence she manifested symptoms of a deranged mind. Several times she attempted to destroy herself-by hanging, by taking oxalic acid, and by swallowing copperas and a coin. Her husband considered that it would be best to send her to a Lunatic Asylum, but she promised not to make any further attempt on her life. She shortly afterwards again attempted to obtain some poison, and was then sent to the Asylum at Abergavenny, under the charge of Mr. LEWIS, relieving officer, and ELIZABETH WHITE, nurse at the Hereford Union. The remainder of the story is told by the person last mentioned, the coroner refusing to hear the evidence of Mr. LEWIS, believing him to have been guiity of culpa- "ble conduct." We quote the words of the report. WHITE seems to have given her testimony ia a discre] ditable manner,and the reporter informs us that she was severely censured" by the Coroner. Her statement was this: the deceased, immediately she was takeu from her bouse-having, it must be remembered, been bedridden for twelve months, and in addition to natural irness, sufre ring from the effects of copperas and other poison-began to vomit, and continued in that state the whole of the way. She was taken in an omni- bus to the Hereford station, but on arriving at Abergavenny no such accommodation was provided. In her exhausted condition she was compelled to walk to the Asylum, a distance of three quarters of a mile what the poor creature suffered may be imagined cooT ev^ence °f the witness WHITE. In this "WPW'6 describes the state of the deceased 8teftt difficulty in getting her along, My c< belief is she was not in a fit state to walk so far. 'She vomited all the way from the station to the "Asylum, but not so much as before." The two continued to drag her along, and shortly after she went into the Asylum death ensued, from the effects of the poison taken. The impression produced on the mind of the Coroner by this case may be gathered from the cen- sure passed on Mr. LEWIS His conduct in "allowing a poor creature who had been so afflicted, and was in such an exhausted state as, according to z, "his own showing, to need to be literally carried along by himself and the prisoner WHITE, was un- "feeling and excessively cruel." These expressions describe the offence which the officer in question com- mitted, and it is satisfactory to find that an enquiry is to be instituted into the whole matter by the Hereford Board of Guardians. What the motive could have been for compelling the deceased to walk so far is difficult to conceive, the excuse set up by the relieving officer being too absurd to deserve attention. The affair demands the fullest iavestigation, and we hope the Hereford Board will take care that justice is done,