Monmouthshire Merlin

f|0rd Chancellor's bill to amend the law rt>- M the Table of Lessons proposes to enact ^Uary table shall have effect after the 1st ■y Qx denies the statement that the Go- fc^ tin- °.ea n°t intend to proceed with the Ballot <>berVeraity Tests Bills this session, and advises e8 who wish the measures success to dis- s of ,?nnece8sary discussion concerning the de- bl ^OFi^tducation Bill. iK^cia L ^EVOTION.—A much-respected y '11 residing at Bercy, near Paris, has recent- plaj. 11 a victim to his professional zeal under sin- ^th>n Painful circumstances. A young woman 4 e °^n herself into the Seine from the Quai some young men plunged in after her t^^esa°eedei^ in bringing her body to the shore. H y0uaU Was seQt f°r» Rnd on his arrival found teco w°nian apparently dead. He, however, W^^tiJ3186 aH the known methods of restoring V^ 'o^ among others to that of reviving the th^h. lungs by the inspiration of his own 3 s&t'iaf .er two hours' assiduous efforts, he had action of observing signs of recovery. The exhausted, and as his patient gradually di strength, so he became enfeebled, and 'at !\11q ed from exhaustion produced by his inces- e ""b.o 8Uccessfnl efforts to preserve the life of Wa8 a complete stranger to him.

THE GlIEAT FIRE IN PELTA. The Constantinople correspondent of the Post supplies us with some particulars of the terrible fire which devastated Pera on the night of the 4th inst. lie says:— I can hardly pretend to give you at the present moment the faintest idea of the scene of confusion and distress that presents itself in Pera, which yes- terday at five o'clock was a scene of gaiety and fete day brilliancy-the anniversary of the Arme- nian Constitution, a yearly fete of that community, which throws crowds into the streets and country to celebrate the day. At about five o'clock in the evening a fire broke out in the wooden Greek and Armenian quarter immediately behind the upper part of the Grande Rue de Pera. At this time I was going on board a friend's ship, the Antelope, to dine, when I observed from the sea, whence I got a better view of the fire, that the smoke in dense clouds had accumulated to an alarming extent, and a sharp breeze was blow- ing it in a south-westerly direction. We remarked on board that the British Embassy must have been much smothered at this moment with the driving smoke, and I was told that 30 marines and men had been sent already from the Antelope up to the Em- bassy to render assistance in case of need. We had hardly made these remarks on board when boats were required to bring off Lady Elliott and the household, who had been driven out by the fire, which had indeed taken a thorough hold of the building. I hurried up to the scene, and found the palace thoroughly gutted, or where on the lower storeys valuables and furniture still remained the fire raging, and masses of embers falling from above, so that all further assistance at recovery was out of the question. The blue jackets and marines had worked man- fully, as did several of the ship's officers who had been on shore, and the large garden was strewn in every direction with furniture, and, indeed, such a miscellaneous mass of things as you can imagine saved from a rapidly burning conflagration under the greatest disadvantages. I could discover but one engine or pump on the grounds at all, though this seemed to be of a better construction than the usual Turkish squirts," for one can give them no other name it looked like one of our old-fashioned hand-worked engines it could do little good, how- ever, while I was there, except in saving the lodge and outhouses in the gardens. The fine walls of the palace itself stood out white in the glare, and contained within their precincts but a raging fur- nace. I then proceeded with an English friend whom I bad met in the crowd to work my way over the whole extent of the conflagration, at any rate where the intensity of heat and smoke would allow of it and so we spent the night investigating the matter. The extent of our wanderings, however, under such difficulties rather tended to excite and confuse me for giving you anything like a graphic description at so early a moment as this of what the catastrophe really represents. I could see no heads in command or organisation of any kind, whence one might gather information or details. Here and there we observed a solitary engine or small pump, throwing their miserable little jets over red-hot embers and ruins. Where the fire was leaping in flames such work was useless, and at the time I speak of in several directions we could see it doing its fatal work. The fire would seem to have started from the locality I mentioned, quickly working its way to the English Embassy, which immense stone building, together with others of the same material, and a large space here saved the lower part of the Grand Rue. The flames that formed this belt of fire, however, when stayed in one direction, were only turned off at an angle in another, and ran down the hill-side into the lower Greek quarter with a rapidity only too appalling. As far as I could judge from the extent of the fire in an opposite direc- tion, the whole of the conflagration takes somewhat the form of a St. Andrew's cross. With regard to the absolute damage done-for indeed I am not aware whether it has not spread down on the south side cf the hill to the Golden Horn itself-I can tell al- most nothing at present. As I say, this is but a hur- ried scrawl to catch the post, if I might hazard a guess from what my experience teaches me as to fires in this place, I shall not be surprised to find 15,000 or 20,000 houses burnt, which includes two of the finest Armenian churches, one of them cele- brated for the visit of the Empress within its walls, and her costly gift of tapestry; all the upper part of the Grand Rue, where the best stone houses, cafes, and Italian Theatre, but yesterday stood; and the British Embassy, whose towering walls alone mark the site of the palace now. I have seen so much fire here, and so little loss of life hitherto,that I was shocked last night when wandering among the ruins and embers, to come across four human bodies in the road lying ghastly and sorely scorched in front of the ruins of the houses in which they were but that evening holding their festivities.

The Board of Trade have awarded a telescope to Captain H. A. Thomas Lewland, of the barque W. H. Jenkins of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, in acknow- ledgment of his humanity and kindness to the sur- vivors of the crew of the barque China, of Cardiff, whom he rescued from their waterlogged vessel, on the 27th of December. 1868. 1 MOVING A WINDMILL «TXTEEX MILES.—A novel experiment, not quite so sensational as the moving of an hotel at Chicago, but yet something quite out of the ordinary way, has been the removal of a wind flourniill, with all its fittings, from Westacre to Clenchwarton, Forfolk, a distance of about 16 miles. The mill was a wooden structure, and with its machinery, of enormous weight, stood upon wheels. Having been purchased by a man living at Clenchwarton, he determined to endeavour to draw it along the road by a traction engine, but all efforts to find one strong enough proved ineffectual; the application, however, of a powerful steam culti- vation engine proved more successful. In passing along the route various expedients had to be tried, such as in ascending a hill the engine proceeded to the summit, and then pulled the mill up with a chain and so carefully had the task to be performed that it occupied three days to make the journey. In crossing the Great Eastern Railway at Walton the telegraph wires were broken. In attempting to cross the Ouze it was feared the celebrated long bridge would not be strong enough to bear the enormous weight, but the engine having first passed over, the mill itself was drawn over, the timbers of the bridge in the meantime creaking, and show- ing that a very severe test was being put upon its powers. At first it was feared that the bridge had been broken, but this was. found not to Le so. THE DEATH OF THE SPANISH BRIGANDS.—In a letter received from Seville, a satisfactory light is thrown on the recent affair with the brigands who carried off the two Englishmen named Bonnell from t ie neighbourhood of Gibraltar. The public will no doubt have fresh in mind the sharp and sudden retribution that overtook at least a portion of the gang—the four men who went down to Puerto Sant a Maria to receive the £ 5,000 of ransum money. On their return into the hills-so we were told by the telegrams-they were encountered by a picket of the Civil Guard, and three were killed; the fourth escaped, though it was certainly expected that he would be taken; and the ransom had been recovered. It was natural that in English minds there should spring up a haunting doubt whether this swift ven- gence was perfectly consistent with good faith on the part of the authorities; and information had been received which seems to put that doubt com- pletely at rest. The brigands who received from the friends of Messrs. Bonnell the stipulated 20,000 duroR, or £5,000, would appear 00 have divided the money with their lawless companions; retaining for themselves one fourth of the amount, and then endeavouring to reach, by way of Seville, the fron- tiers of Portugal. By some means, however, the authorities of Seville got scent of the wild game that was flying so near their jurisdiction; and in the early morning of Wednesday a party of the Civil Guard, appointed to look out, descried a group of four well-armed horsemen passing near the city. At once the strangers were challenged; they showed fight, and a sharp tussle took place, in which three of the Guard were wounded and three of the robbers fell. The fourth escaped for the time, but a day or two afterwards he was found skulking in the Sierra, half dead with hunger, fatigue, and fright. On the persons of the brigands were found the 5,000 duros which held, fallen "to thoir sh&rc; and. it would ap- pear that the Spanish authorities in the low country had made no compact whatever with them-so that not the slightest ground exists for regretting the prompt punishment which has fallen on their heads. I Admiral Bennett died on Saturday morning, in his Hfith year. Mr. Sholto Vere Hare will be the Conservative candidate for Bristol. John Bull hears that there is every probability of the Marquis of Bute returning to the Anglican Church. By a codicil in his will, dated seven days before his death. Mr. Dickens bequeaths the whole of his interest in All the Year Round" to his acting edi- tor and eldest son, coupling the bequest with such private instructions as would, he believed, ensure the character and merit of the periodical remaining unchanged after he was gone.. Her Majesty has ordered that Cecil Ralph Howard, Esq., Caroline Louisa Mary Howard, Louisa Frances Howard, and Alice Mary Howard, spinsters, brother and sisters of Charles Francis Arnold, now Earl of Wicklow, shall enjoy the same title and precedence as if their late father, the Hon. Francis Howard. vicar of Swords, had survived his brother William, fourth Earl of Wicklow, and had thereby succeeded to the title and dignity of Earl of Wicklow. THE EDUCATION BILL.—Mr. Richard, M.P. for Merthyr, has given notice of the following impor- tant amendment on the Education Bill:—" That without desiring to interfere with the continued receipt of grants by existing schools, subject to an efficient conscience clause, this House is of opinion that in any national system of elementary educa- tion, the religious teaching should be supplied by voluntary effort and not out of public funds. EUROPEAN ASSURANCE SOCIETY.—We understand a summons has been taken out at Vice-Chancellor James's Chambers for the appointment of a special examiner in the European Assurance Society. A petition for winding up has been presented in the same court. The following counsel are retained: Mr. Amphlett, Q.C., Mr. Kay, Q.C., M. Eddis, Q.C., Mr. Napier Higgins, and Mr. Lindley, for the petitioner. the application will be opposed by Sir Roundell, Palmer, Mr. Glasse, Q.C., Mr. Jessel, Q.C., Mr. Fry, Q.C., and Mr. Millar on behalf of the directors. THE SEYMOUR CHARITIES.—The case ,f Wallace v. The Attorney General was in the Rolls Chambers on Saturday. The matter was before the Chief Clerk, on the distribution to various London chari- ties under the will of Lord Henry Seymour, who died at Paris, where he kept a stud of racehorses. The Chief Clerk signed the order to pay each of the London charities, 85 in number, under the denom- ination of Hospices de Londres," Y,82 in addition to £ 400 already paid to them, and upwards of £10,000 will be further distributed, making, it is expected, nearly X700 to each. A similar amount will be paid to the charities of Paris. THE TELEGRAPHIC CONSTRUCTION, &C. COM- PANY.—In Vice-Chancellor James's Court, on Sat- urday, Mr. Wickens appeared in support of a peti- tion of this company, praying for liberty to reduce its capital from £ 750,000 to £ 450,000. He said the company was a thriving one, and did not require so large a capital as £ 750,000. The creditors of this company had assented to the proposed reduction of capital. The Court would probably think that the company should be allowed, at the expiration of a very short period, to remove the words and re- duced" from its title. The Vice Chancellor granted an order permitting the proposed reduction of capi- tal, and allowing the proposed alterations in the title at the end of a fortnight. ACTION FOR LIBEL.-Dr. Edmunds, a member of the late Board of Guardians for St. Pancras, on Friday, sued a licensed victualler in the Court of Common Pleas for libel. The cause of action lay in the alleged exhibition of a placard headed "Chronicle of the City which is called St. Pancras," and in which some of the deeds of the late board were dealt with in a strain of mock solemnity. It wound up with the declaration that all the people of the city were stirred to indignation against Harley, and spoke scornfully of Collins, which is called Job, and of Watkins, surnamed the carpet beater, and of Edmunds, the apothecary." The defendant denied that he had either posted the placard, or caused it to be posted, and the jury found in his favour. CLOSE OF A PROTRACTED LITIGATION. — Lord Justice Giffard gave judgment on Saturday on a petition presented on behalf of a lady named Char- I )tte Grylls, a lunatic, and one of the co-heiresses of Mr. Humphrey Millet Grylls, who died in 1834. He left an annuity to his widow, and shortly after she died a series of litigations commenced between per- sons who had been in the banking firm of the de- ceased, and claimed to be creditors to a consider- able amount. They wished his estate applied to the liquidation of their claims. The two sisters of the lunatic also instituted legal proceedings, and suits in connection with the case had been pending for several years. They had now come to an ar- rangement to stay all further proceedings, and to that course the sanction of the Court was given. COMMUNICATION BETWEENP ASSENGER AND GUARD. —A clever invention to supply an easy communica- tion between passenger and guard has been intro- duced by Mr. John Bowrah, a guard on the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway, and certainly deserves the attention of the various companies. The apparatus consists of a zinc box, of an oblong form, designed to fit the top of a railway carriage like the ordinary lamp. A wire passes through the box, along the tops of the carriages, one endTbeino- in communication with the guard's van, and the other with the engine. At the bottom of the box is a wooden knob, resembling the handle of a door, and this is attached to a wire communicating with a crank in the box. The crank works easily and surely on a small round disk, painted red. When the knob is pulled a spring is released, and the disc turns and thus indicates the compartment from which the signal is made the wire, when pulled, loudly rings the bell in the guard's van. The sig- nal can be so arranged as to insure immediate com- munication with the engine driver. After an alarm has been given, the apparatus is again ready for use. The guard can throw the signal out of gear at pleasure, to prevent unnecessary use by foolish or vicious persons. The invention is simple, cheap, and effective. SHOCKING ATTEMPT TO MURDER A HUSBAND AND SON.-Sarah Clark was, at the Thames Police court on Friday, charged with stabbing her husband and son, with intent to murder. The wounded men are in the London Hospital, both of them—especially the husband-in a very precarious state. Catherine Harvey stated that the prisoner, her husband, and son lived in the same house as the witness, 3, Morris street, St. George's-in-the-East. On Thursday night witness heard the prisoner swearing loudly in the house, as if scolding some one and this was followed by the breaking of crockeryware. Soon after she heard some one say, My father is stabbed—he is murdered; and then the same voice cried out, "Oh, mother, you have stabbed me. Show me a light." Witness left her room, and saw Mr. Clark stagger- ing down stairs with a frightful wound in his breast, She laid him down bleeding and moanino- and ran back. She met the prisoner's son coming down bleeding from a wound in the thigh. He said, My mother has stabbed my father. I went to save him and she stabbed me." The prisoner said she did, and she would stab any one else who came near to her. She was drunk and in a furious temper. The witness found the knife produced concealed in "a chimney the next morning.—Inspector Rouse said that when the wounded men were brought to the station they made statements which he took down in writing. Henry Clark's statement was to the effect that his wife came home at twelve o'clock at night; she was very drunk, and was blackguarding every one in the house. He was trying to escape when his wife drove the knife into his breast up to the handle. He had no words with her. She had frequently threatened to stab him. Her son, who was lying on a stretcher, made the following state- ment :—" About half an hour ago I was at home and got out of bed when I saw my mother stab my father, I called out murder, and my mother stabbed me with a penknife after she stabbed my father. She knocked the table over, and broke the things, and was very desperate. It was dark. My mother was three parts drunk." Mr. Rouse then stated that after the wounded persons were attended by a medical man he sent them to the London Hospital in a cab. When he read the statements the pri- soner said, "He has been with his women there were plenty in the house.Dr. John Kiernan stated that the wound in the breast of the wounded man penetrated two inches of the lung tissues. He was afraid it would prove fatal. The wound in the young man's thigh was an inch deep.—The prisoner was remanded for a week At the Sal ford Police Court, on Saturday, a cartel1, named John Henry Turner, was committed for trial at the assizes for beating George Bullock, dyer, so severelv that it is feared he will lose his eyesight. The Timet, referring to a well-known custom on tho Stock Exchange, says,—Whilst complaints are made of the license allowed to roughs in the streets of London, it is necessary to point out that they can plead respectable authority. On Saturday an eminent foreign banker, having been taken to see the Stock Exchange by one of its oldest and most respectable members, was immediately, without a word of warning, mobbed and hustled and violently ejected. The Committee, it is understood, can be furnished with all the particulars of the affair, and it will be interesting to the public to ascertain if that body are prepared by their approval to confirm this specimen of our national manners. BURGLARY BY A STEPSON.-At the Brentford Petty Sessions, on Saturday, Henry Webster, 26, a labourer, was charged on remand with breaking into the house of George Hubbard, also a labourer, livino- at Hanwell, and stealing a silver watch, chain, and other articles. The prisoner was arrested at a pawnbroker's shop in Old Brentford, with the watch and chain and a silk handkerchief in his possession, on the evening of the 3rd June. They were identi- fied by the prosecutor, who said that on that day his house had been broken into and the articles taken away. The prosecutor's wife was called, and, in answer to the chairman, said, crying, that the prisoner was her son, and the stepson of her husband. The latter said that he did not wish to press the charge; but, a former conviction having been proved ao-ainst the prisoner, who pleaded guilty, he was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, with hard labour. THE SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A SURGEON.-At the Thames Police Court, on Saturday, William Hardily, 59, a retired surgeon, was charged on re- mand for the third time, with causing the death of a, married woman, named Elizabeth Tuson.—Mr. Wontner, jun., conducted the prosecution on behalf of the Treasury; Mr. Metcalfe defended the priso- ner -The deceased woman was an actress at the Alhambra Theatre, Shoreditch, passing under the name of St. George. She was enceinte and consulted the prisoner for an unlawful purpose; and the theory of the prosecution was that he had feloni- ously adopted means which brought about a pre- mature delivery on the 30th ult., from the .effects of which the unfortunate woman died the same day. The deceased recognized the prisoner when she was dying, took his hand in her own, and placed it on her bosom. The prisoner then said to the persons attending on the dying woman that they bad sent for him too late, and that he ought to have been summoned earlier.-—Mr. Metcalfe submitted that there was no evidence against the prisoner, except that he bad been sent for when it was too late to do the woman any good.—The prisoner was again remanded. THE DERBY MEMORIAL FUND. — The Grocers' Company has signified its intention to subscribe the sum of £100 to the fund now being raised for erect- ino- a statue to the memory of the late Lord Derby. A general meeting of the subscribers to the Derby Memorial in the former Parliamentary division of North Lancashire was held on Saturday at the Bull Hotel, Preston, Mr. R. T. Parker in the chair. From the statement made it appeared that, up to the present time, there were 395 subscribers to the fund. The amount promised was £1,560 3s, the amount actually received £1,183 14s Id. The chair- man said he had received a communication from the Duke of Devonshire, consenting to act on the committee. He also stated that he had seen Mr. Foley, the sculptor, who informed him that the cost of a statue would be about £ 1,200. It was resolved unanimously, on the motion of Colonel Greens, seconded by Mr. Hornby, That this meeting adopts the recommendation of the general committee that the testimonial take the form of a statue." It was also resolved, "That this meeting approved of the statue being placed either in Lancaster or Preston, as may be determined by the general committee, who, after receiving the report of a statue committee, are em- powered to consult with the authorities and the sculptor. CHARGE AGAINST A SOLICITOR.—At the Maryle- bone Police Court on Saturday, Robert Willis, so- licitor, was charged with stealing £ 11, the property of a client, Mr. Thomas George Wilbean. The pro- secutor was defendant in a county court suit in which a person named Seth was plaintiff for X- 20. He gave the prisoner JB11 in gold, for which he ob- tained a receipt, instructing him to induce Mr. Seth to accept this sum as a settlement of his claim. Three days afterwards prosecutor received a letter from the prisoner stating that he had called upon Mr. Seth, who had refused to accept the money. On the 5th June the prisoner wrote to express his regret with which he heard of an execution having been put in Mr. Welbean's house, and remarking that it would have been better for the prosecutor to have carried out an arrangement previously suggested by prisoner, who had offered to obtain a loan of £150, in order to enable prosecutor to pay all parties hav- having claims against him. The prisoner, referring-to some remark made by Mrs. Wilbean, wrote, She states she is astounded to find I have not paid Mr. Seth. I should like to know how I could have done this unless he accepted the offer. Such a supposi- tion is simply ridiculous, as is also the idea that lGs 6d was to be my charge for all that I have done. You must know better. The best plan will be to send you my account, so that you may see what I have done for you. Please write to me in the mean- time to 36, Leicester-square, if you wish to raise the £ 150; this is, in my opinion, the only way to get out of your difficulties." Mr. Seth said the prisoner called upon him and asked him to accept part pay- ment. Witness said, "No, I will have all or none." The defendant did not show witness the £11, nor did he say he was prepared to offer this sum. If he had done so, the witness added he would have ac- cepted the money.—The defendant now asserted that he did specifically offer the witness the eleven sovereigns, and declared that he could bring wit- nesses to prove the truth of this assertion. Upon his request, the Magistrate adjourned the case for a week, consenting to accept the defendant's own recognisances for his reappearance in the sum of £ 20. THE CHILD MURDER AT CROYDON.—On Saturday Mary Ann Knight, a young woman about 18 years of age, was brought before the Croydon magistrates charged with having concealed the birth and wil- fully murdered her child. The prisoner, who is a good-looking, respectably-dressed girl, appeared in a weakly condition, and during the examination she fainted several times. In consequence of her dan- gerous condition the case was abruptly stopped on the examination of one or two witnesses. The pri- soner was defended by Mr. Parry, solicitor. In- spector Conway explained that on the 30th ult. an inquest was held touching the death of a newly- born female child, whose body had been found on the previous day near Crohamhurst, Croydon. There were several cords tied tightly round its neck, and in consequence of the evidence of Dr. Horsley, the jury returned an open verdict of wilful murder against some person unknown. Detective Quigley deposed that he and another detective named Pan- ther, apprehended the prisoner at her mother's re- sidence, at Green's-cottages, Lower Norwood, on Friday, the 3rd inst. He charged the prisoner (who was ill at the time) with the concealment of the birth at Mr. Horniman's lodge, kept by her grand- father, in Coombe lane, Croydon, and also with the wilful murder of her child. In reply, the prisoner said that she had never had a child, and had been suffering from dropsy and an abscess in her side. Witness then took her to the police station, and subsequently to the Croydon Infirmary. Whilst he was bringing her from the infirmary that (Saturday) morning, she further voluntarily said, I'll tell you all about it, I was confined on Friday night between eleven and twelve o'clock, and I wrapped it up in a newspaper and put it in the cellar. I took it out on the Saturday night, when my grandfather was out, and threw it over the fence into Mr. Hoffman's plantation, and no person knew anything about it but myself." Dr. L. Peacan was giving evidence in respect to an examination he had made of the pri- soner, at the request of her mother, prior to the day on which the accused was alleged to have been con- fined; but he was interrupted by the shrieks of the prisoner, who swooned and remained unconscious for some time. The bench expressed their unwil- lingness to go any further in the case then, and ] consequently ordered the prisoner to be removed to Horsemonger-lane House of Detention, to be re- called, if her health would permit, on Saturday. Another statue has been added to the collection in Westminster Abbey, being that by Mr. Jackson. which represents Lord Palmerston in his robes of the Garter; this has been placed on the grave of the minister. s THE MARQUIS OF BUTE.—The John Bull hears that there is every probability of the Marquis of Bute returning to the Anglican Church. Doubtless this statement will be received, as was his secession to Rome, with indignant denials, but information in both oases is- from the same Quarter. In the Divorce petition case, Plowden versus PV-wden," recently dismissed, Captain Plowden ap- plied to the Divorce Court on Saturday to restrain hL-; wife and child from leaving the country. Lord Penzance granted an order to show why the father should not have access to the child. THE COUNTESS OF DERWENTWATER.—A sale of stock seized by the Lords of the Admiralty at New- lands West Farm took place on Saturday. The tenant, Mr. Brewis, had offered the rent to Mr. Gray, the receiver, but only on condition that he would protect him from any aggression by the Countess of Derwentwater. Mr. Gray refused to give such guarantee, and Mr. Brewis deposited the money in the bank. During the sale the Countess drove up, and infoi'med the auctioneer that she ex- pected the proceeds of the sale. The seizure was for :!40L, one year's rent, due in May last. AVRECK OF THE CARACTACUS.—'The barque Carac- taeus has been reported lost in the China sea while on a passage from Japan to Saigon, where she had been chartered to load rice for England. She went thence to Japan, and after discharging her oargo took bal- last on board for the run to Saigon, and it was while on this voyage that she was wrecked on the 9th May on Drummond Island. She was lost in a heavy gale, the same in which her Majesty's gunboat Slaney was lost. Drummond Island is one of the Parades. The Caractacus was 679 tons, built by Evans, of Liver- pool, in 1863, and owned by E. C. Friend and Co., Liverpool. INTERESTING TO FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.-In the Court of Exchequer, on Saturday, the case of Cannon and others v. Randa was heard. It was an action brought to recover the sum of .£700 upon a bond. It appeared that the plaintiffs are the trustees of the London United District Ancient Order of Foresters Friendly Society, and that the defendant is a publican carrying on business in the neigh- bourhood of Camberwell. According to the plain- tiffs' case, certain defalcations having occurred in the accounts of the secretary of the association, they bad accepted the sum of XI,000 in cash, and the bond in question in satisfaction of the deficiency which they bad treated as a debt. The defence was that the bond had been given on the under- standing that no criminal proceedings were to be instituted against the secretary, whereas he had been indicted at the Old Bailey. It was therefore contended that the terms of the bond having been violated, the document could not be enforced. It was explained, on behalf of the plaintiffs, that they were no parties to the prosecution, which had been undertaken by independent members of the society. —The Jury returned a verdict for the defendant. FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE CITY GAS WORKS.—On Saturday afternoon Mr. Payne held an inquest at the Barley Mow Tavern, Salisbury-court, Fleet- street, on the body of John Clifford, aged 12, who lost his life at the City Gas Works. It appeared from' the evidence that the deceased, with several other workmen, was engaged on Friday morning last at the Gas Works in clearing out the cupping or bottom portion of one of the large gasholders, and that deceased was standing on a plank leaning over 1he side of the cupping. To enable the men to get at the cupping, the gasholders and casing had to e lifted up, which was accomplished by fastening the casing to the gasholders, and raising the latter by blowing air into it. The gasholder and casing had been raised three feet above the cupping-, when from some cause the witnesses seemed unable or unwilling to explain, the casing lurched on one side, and falling down, jammed the deceased be- tween the cupping and the casing. It was two hours before the deceased could be extricated, when be was found to be quite dead. The coroner having vainly endeavoured to extract from the witnesses the cause which led to the lurching of the casing, said there was an evident disposition on the part of the witnesses to keep back facts, and he should ad- journ the court for further inquiry. The inquest was therefore adjourned. SINGULAR ABANDONMENT OF A SHTP.—A very singular case of the abandonment of a vessel has just been reported. The Allan Company's steamer Moravian, which left the Mersey for Quebec and Montreal on the 19th ult., when about 200 miles west of Tong Island, observed a vessel in distress, with her three top masts and the head of the fore mast gone. The Moravian at once bore down to her, and a boat was lowered with the chief officer in charge, who boarded the disabled vessel, which proved to be the bark Jessie Coffin, 23 days out from Liverpool, in a sinking condition, and that the crew were anxious to leave the vessel. The crew were then conveyed to the Moravian, and the second offi- cer of the steamer and eleven men were placed on board the barque. On sounding the well, three feet of water were found, and on making an inspection of the hold, the "ater was found rushing in through two auger holes in the bow port, and a third hole was also found through which the water came freely. An auger was found lying on the salt, which corresponded with the size of the holes. The holes were at once plugged and the leaks stopped. The pump gear was also disconnected and a portion of it wanting. All the couplings were gone. The pump, however, was got to suck, jurymasts were rigged, and on the 25th the barque was taken into Lough Foyle without assistance. The crew of the barque took all their effects with them, including the cronometer. The log book for the present is missing. ACCIDENT INSURANCE POLICIES.—CURIOS QUES- TION.—In the Court of Exchequer, on Saturday, the Judges decided a special case, Smith v. The Acci- dent Insurance Company, which raised an impor- tant question upon a policy of insurance against accidents. The insured was washing his feet in an earthenware pan, when the pan broke and inflicted a severe cut on one of his feet. He was taken to an hospital, and after two or three days erysipelas supervened, and ultimately caused his death. Pre- viously he had effected a policy against accidents with the defendants for a sum of XI,000, and it contained a clause stating that it did not insure against death or disability arising from rheuma- tism, gout, hernia, erysipelas, or any other disease or secondary cause or causes arising within the sys- tem of the insured before, or at the time, or follow- ing such accidental injury, whether causing such death or disability directly or jointly with such accidental injury. The question now was whe- ther the death of the insured came within this exception.—Mr. Joseph Brown contended, on the pait of the plaintiff, that as the erysipelas was the natural result of the cut, the defendants were li- able.—Mr. Mellish submitted, on the other hand, that death from erysipelas was expressly and di- rectly excluded by the terms of the policy.—There being a difference of opinion among their Lordships Mr. Baron Cleasby, as junior judge, delivered his judgment first. He said that although there could be no doubt the erysipelas was due to the wound, yet they would be departing from the clear and ex- press language of the contract between the parties if they held that the defendants were liable.—Ba- rons Channell and Martin were also of opinion ior.t the defendants were entitled to judgment.—The Lord Chief Baron said the case was full of doubt and difficulty, and, after the opinion delivered by his learned brethren, he could not but mistrust his own, but he thought that judgment should be for the plaintiff. He agreed with what had been said by the Court of Common Pleas, that in cases of in- s 11 ranees the tendency should be to hold rather with the insured than with the company where any am- i iguity arose on the face of the policy; and he would add that it was equally important, wh^re an insurance company thought fit to introduce an ex- ception to the liability for which they contracted, that they should express that exception in clear and unambiguous language. In this case he thought the language used was ambiguous, because all doubt could have been removed by the defendants if they had said the policy was not to include erysipelas, whether caused or brought on or not brought on by the accident." He arrived at the conclusion that the cause of death came within the terms of the policy, and that the plaintiff was entitled to judg- i ment.-The majority being in favour of defendants, ] judgment was entered for them. ( 1 he macl.eret fisnery has been prosecuted off the eastern coast this year with variable results On one day, however, last week as many as 25,400 fish were landed at Lowestoft. THE PERTH ESTATES.—The Times states on good authority that the report which has been circulated that the Earl of Perth had abandoned all claim to these oldJanùlv estates is without foundation. On Saturday morning what was thought to Dethe body of one of the three young men drowned off Rvde on Friday night by the capsizing of a boat was "aised nearly to the surface of the water, but lost again through the breaking of the drag. THE STEAMSHIP GREAT BRITAIN.-This well- known Australian steam clipper has made another of her extraordinary passages from the Mersey to Australia. The Great Britain under the command of Captain Gray, left Liverpool for Melbourne on the:19thJof March last,and on Monday Messrs. Gibbs, Bright, and Co., of Liverpool, received intelligence u If6 had arrived at her destination on the 14th May, after a rapid passage of fifty-six days— one ot the fastest runs on record. EXCLUSNENESS AT CHURCH.-A New York paper announces that a new church at Newark, New Jer- sey, is to be built "upon the latest improved plans." Ihe main floor will have four aisles and 172 pews. There will be a gallery 12ft. wide around the whole church, with 29 square compartments or stage boxes for families, each capable of holding 12 chairs, with tables in the centre for hats and books. The aristocratic worshippers can thus perform their de- votions apart from the common throng. THE ATHENIAN BRIGANDS.-The Journal Ofid el, of Paris, in its bulletin of foreign news, which is compiled in the office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, says" It is supposed that the chief and remnants of the Arvaniti band have made their way to Asia Minor. Accounts from Smyrna state that several brigands who recently disembarked upon the coast are being actively pursued by the Turkish troops, and it is thought that these brigands may be those of whom all traces have been lost in Europe, despite the strictest search. The Greek Government has caused the arrest of a number of persons sus- pected of complicity with the brigands, and there is reason to believe that now it has once embarked upon a course of watchfulness and just severity, it will proceed to the utmost ertent necessary. The Government has authorised the formation of a body af volunteers for the protection of Attica." A NEW TRICK. — A gentleman stepped into a jeweller's shop in Berlin the other day, and, point- ing to his ring, said he wished to choose a stone for it. He was fashionably dressed, had an air of distinction, and, while speaking German fluently, yet gave the impression that he was a foreigner. The Berlin Mr. Ruby, therefore, feeling sure that be had found a customer who was worth attending to, at once freely displayed his treasures. After long consideration the gentleman at last selected a stone, and leaving his name—a very high sounding one—and address, he went away. He had scarcely left when the most valuable stone in the jeweller's collection was missed. Filled with alarm, that worthy at once sent the distinguished-looking fo- reigner's purchase to his hotel. Alas! no such per- son was there known. Too late the jeweller remem- bered that his customer, pretending to be very- short sighted, had kept his face in very close prox- imity to the goods displayed to him, and had at one moment been seized with a fit of coughing, when his handkerchief had been brought into great re- quisition. It was evident, therefore, that the point of his nose must have been previously rubbed with some sticky substance, and that the missing jewel had been thus abstracted! Had the jeweller been a student of the annals of Berlin police-courts, be would have become suspicious in proportion as his visitor became short-sighted. As it is, he must be content with so much of consolation as he can find in the knowledge that his misfortune was a common incurrence to his fellow townsmen some years a°-o, md that their tormentors went by the name of Stippers." -Globe. THE MASSACRE IN GREECE. — The fourteenth batch of correspondence respecting the massacre in Greece has been issued from the Foreign Office. It contains two letters from Lord Clarendon to Mr. Erskine. In one the noble earl remarks that the course which Colonel Theagenis took has not escaped much criticism in this country, and he suggests points on which Mr. Erskine should make a tborougb investigation. In the other his Lordship remarks :— The first point naturally is, whether the Greek government bad reason to suppose that so formida- ble a band of brigands was roaming about in Attica or Boeotia, or both, awaiting any prey that might fall into their hands. The Greek government is bound to clear up this point for its own honour. ThE next point to ascertain is, from whence the brigands derived the information which induced them to make a night march, said to be of forty miles, so as to reach their ambush in time even to witness the outward passage of their victims, and having done so why they delayed to seize them till their return. Her Majesty's Government, moreover, deem it most im- portant to ascertain the circumstances that im- mediately led to the fatal catastrophe of the after- noon of the 21st of April, which are now ri, v involved in some obscurity. The point which it is most essential to clear up is whether the Greek Government in detaching troops, so as to prevent the withdrawal of the brigands with their prisoners even without any more active operation against them, did not break faith with the brigands, and thereby justify their apprehension that they were about to be immediately attacked. The Earl of Clarendon adds that the Greek Government must be careful not to slur over" the point that the ob. stiuaey or treachery of a local authority deprived Mr. Noel of the means of further communication with the brigands until it was too late. The corres- pondence also includes many letters (with enclo- sures) from Mr. Erskine, who states that the Pre- fect of Police denies having had any knowledo-e of the presence of the brigands in the neighbour- hood of Athens until the news of the capture reached him. THE SHRIEKING SISTERHOOD.—Under the head- ing of "The Shrieking Sisterhood," and a good many others besides, the New York Tribune lately described a rather peculiar meeting held in New York. It was intended for ladies alone," and the placards further announced "men not admitted." Several gentlemen tried to gain admittance, but were refused; the reporter for the Tribune got in, however, and took full notes of all that passed. The meeting was virtually one to condole with Mrs. M'Farland, the adulteress, on the wrongs she had sustained by the death of her paramour Richardson at the hands of her husband. The Ward-Beecher of this occasion was Mrs. Stanton, who was intro- duced to the meeting by a Miss Anthony, who said she was very much embarrassed in doing so." Mrs. Stanton then came forward to say that, though she had been accused of entertaining the "Free Love Doctrine," she had only H lived with one man for many years, and expected to do so to the end of her life." This satisfactory announcement was received with great applause and knocking of parasols and stamping of little hoots;" and then. Mrs. Stanton had it all her own way, and a very illogical way it was. She had read the touching story of Mrs. M'Farland, and believed it to be true; she sat alone one night and read it." When Mrs. M'Farland left Mr. M'Farland (to live with Mr. Richardson) she took the first step towards virtue and self-re- spect," though Mrs. Stanton adds, she should have been more patient, and first asked for a divorce in New York." At least we can agree with her in this, though we cannot admire the declamatory language in which she insisted on the inalienable right of a wife to divorce when and how she pleased, or that "every woman should utter her protest against the laws, as at present conducted, of matri- mony." Mrs. Stanton at this point lost the thread of her argument, and proceeded to point out how easily divorce could be obtained for she stated, on the authority of ex-Governor Jewell, of Connecti- cut, that there was one divorce for every four mar- riages, and last year, in the model State of Massa- chusetts alone, 16,000 divorces had been granted. Passing by another unhappy transition of feeling, Mrs. Stanton turned in a fierce digression on the women, who, she said, "married only for money and position," and, then relapsing, pointed out the sole remedy Muscle should be cultivated among women and morals among men." "The power of the purse, however, yas the great thing, and when women were pecuniarily equal to their hus- bands there would be better wives and nobler hus- bands, and physical unions would cease.Pall Mall Gazette.