The Principality

AUSTRIA AND HUNGARY. Accounts have been received from Vienna to the 5th inst. Several soldiers were shot in the streets on the nig-ht of the 4th. The Ministry, it is said, have determined to prosecute several of the Members of the Diet. The Breslau Gazette of the 6th says that the affair of Szolnok, on the 23rd, resulted in a brilliant victory of the Hungarians over the Imperialists. The Austrians lost three batteries and all their baggage, their dragoons were cut to pieces by the Hungarian hussars, and 1,800 of their men were made prisoners. General Bern had entered Herman- stadt, and taken the fortress of Karlsburg. The Oesterreichische Zeitung reports a fight between two Austrian and Sardinian war-steamers. They had some firing with heavy guns, and considerable damage was done on either side, although the combat did not lead to any decisive result. An Austrian fleet is now collecting at Pola.

PRUSSIA. The recent returns of the elections from the provinces are more in favour of the Ministerialists than have been those heretofore received. Up to the 8th the Ministerialists claimed 143 as the number of the return in favour. The Second Chamber will meet in the Hardeuberg Palace. e I It was rumoured on the 8th that Kossuth was; in Berlin. No credit can be attached to this report.

HILL Ait 17. DUFFY'S CASE.—The Attorney-General keeps the fourth indictment on the file, without entering a nolle prosequi until he knows whether his fifth will escape Sir Colman G'Loghlen's illgerlioustalent for objection. This course is opposed by the prisoner's counsel, and Mr. Butt, Q.C., on Wednesday, was exceedingly vehement in denouncing the conduct of the Attorney-General. Mr. Duffy's counsel on Thursday entered a plea of abatement to the last indictment preferred against him, on the ground that a grand juryman was disqualified. The Attorney-General asked and ob- tained time to join issue—the Court exclaiming, "What! s t, are you not yet ready ?" The arguments on the last crotchet did not conclude until after post hour on Saturday. After a tedious discussion, the Court decided that the prisoner should elect either to plead or demur to the whole indictment. Sir Colman O'Loghlen adopted the latter alternative, and having handed in a demurer, proceeded to address the Court, which adjourned before the learned baronet concluded his argu- ments. DESERTION OF ROMAN CATHOLIC CHAPELS.—Two Ro- man Catholic chapels in the county of Clare had been closed for the last two months, the number of parishioners being so reduced as to be unable to support the clergyman. THE CHOLERA IN BELFAST.—This dreadful malady is on the increase. The following is the official return for the three days ending yesterday :-New cases on the 7th, 8th, and 9th, 50; deaths, 18; recoveries, 10; under treatment, 88. Cases since commencement, 356; deaths, 122; reco- veries, 146; remaining, 88. NATIONAL EDUCATION.—The clergy of the united dioceses of Down and Connor and Dromore are to meet on an early day to take counsel concerning the present position of the Church of Ireland, as regards the important question of na- tional education, and to adopt a diocesan petition to the two Houses of Parliament on the subject. WHISKEY AND CALIFORNIA.—The Tipperary Free Press says that ten puncheons of whiskey [were last week shipped from a celebrated distillery in its neighbourhood" for Cali- fornia Doubtless in order to supply exciting stimulus to the gold-finders. t, BRUTAL MURDER.—The Newry Telegraph, says:—" A barbarous murder was committed in the parish of Bally- willwill, in the vicinity of Castlewellan, on Tuesday night. A party, armed with bludgeons, visited the dwelling of a young man, named Loughnan, and put him to death in the most brutal manner."

THE BARXSLEY COLLIERY EXPLOSION. ADJOURNED INQUEST. The inquest was resumed on Thursday week, when the first witness examined was J. Thompson, the underground ste>vard of the Darley Main Colliery. He stated, that he had exa- mined every part of the pit where the men had to work before they went down in the morning. All was quite right; he came up about eight o'clock, and descended again about ten, and visited all the workings with a naked candle. He was walking along the first dip-board when the explo- sion took place, and had not observed any change in the state of the air. He could not positively say where the ex- plosion took place. The men were working with naked candles, as was usual. The owners found safety-lamps if they were needed, but the men did not like them, and everything appeared perfectly safe. There was no complaint of foul air before the explosion. After some general and unimportant evidence, Mr. Nicholas Wood* was examined. He said he had inspected the Darley Main Colliery with reference to the recent lamentable accident, in company with Mr. Biram, Mr. Goodison, and Messrs. Tremenheere and Smyth, from London. He first pointed out, on a map prepared for the occasion, where he thought the explosion took place, and said that the pit was 130 yards deep. After mature investi- gation with the gentlemen named, he was of opinion that the inflammable air exploded in two places almost simul- taneously. There appeared to him to be two or three reasons for the explosion; there was a strong wind, indicating a fall in the barometer, which induces an escape of gas, if there is any in the seam. This would accumulate in those parts where there was no current to carry it off; and the high wind would tend to diminish the current from its action on the upcast shaft—thus there would be an increased production of gas, with a diminished current of air to carry it off; the practice of drawing water by tubs up this shaft also very much lessened its efficiency. In answer to various ques- tions by the jury, Mr. AYood stated that he thought in that colliery there were means of producing more air; in New-: castle they had the same system, but it was more active,' and they should consider a pit dangerous with less than from 30,000 to 40,000 feet of air per minute; yesterday there might be from 10 000 to 12,000 feet per minute; he thought, by improved methods of ventilation, the pit might be made safe for working by naked candles. He had paid consider- able attention to the propriety of a system of Government inspection, and though at first there was great difficulty, he thought the time had come when the difficulty might be ob- viated he would rather depend npon the rarifying power of furnaces than steam. Mr. B. Biram coincided entirely in all the views of Mr. Wood. Mr. W. W. Smyth was next examined, and perfectly concurred with the opinions of Mr. Wood and Mr. Biram it struck him forcibly that, for a col- liery of such magnitude, the quantity of air was insufficient, and the mode of applying even that quantity was not well adapted to clear the workings. He strongly deprecated the practice of drawing water up the upcast shaft. He had ob- served the effects of Government inspection on the continent, and was persuaded that it hot only tended to the safety of the workmen, but made more comfortable the relations be- tween the owners, agents, and workmen, and the system was, therefore, highly prized by all. Mr. Seymour Tremen- heere, the commissioner under Lord Ashley's Act, was next examined. His duties related to the mining population he had taken every opportunity of ascertaining a point of such vital importance as the practicability of a system of Govern- ment inspection. He had collected the opinions of a great number of scientific men, and had inquired into the systems of inspection in France, Belgium, and Germany, and he had no doubt that a moderate measure of mining inspection might be very easily devised, and would be attended with a great saving of life and property in all the colliery districts. It should be a system to work more by persuasion than force, and in the same spirit as the inspectors on the continent are directed to conduct their inspection, naniely, yviitlf tiie ut- most forbearance, and as friendly advisers. BARNSLEY, FRIDAY.—At the conclusion of the evidence, the jury, after a consultation of one hour and a half, returned the following verdict:— We find a verdict of accidental death on 75 bodies we have viewed, caused by one or more explosions of carburetted hydrogen gas, or inflammable air, which took place on the 24th of January last, in the Darley Main Colliery, and we strongly recommend to the proprietors that a better mode of ventilation be adopted before they recommence working the mine, as a preventative against any future recurrence of a similar kind, and we think, from the evidence given before us, that the removing of the machinery used for drawing water out of the upcast shaft is essentially necessary, so as to allow the air passing out of the mine to have a better and freer outlet. And we also express our desire that Mr. Badger, the coroner, be requested to report to Sir George Grey, and that he make such report known to her Majesty's Government, that we think it advisable that they should appoint a scientific and prac- tical person to occasionally inspect the collieries in this district, and-see that there is proper ventilation, and hear any complaint by the workpeople employed therein. "JOSEPH POTTER, Foreman."

REDUCTIONS IN THE AitiiY,—The Adjutant-General has, under command, issued an order making reductions in that portion of the Infantry which is empl ¡yed in the home service, and fixing the establishment of regiments, at home and abroad, at a reduced strength. Commanding officers are instructed to make returns of men whom it is proposed to discharge, includ- ing men weekly, below the standard height, or confirmed drunkards. Tlevruiting to lis discontinued until the establish- ments shall have fallen below the strength no* prescribed. TiiE rapid and progressive increase of poor-J » hi Scotland is causing alarm. Tire expenditure for the > <- u H-o was £ 251,814 the ye:-r 1845-6, £ 306,044;. and the year 1846-7, £ 435,367. The report for 1847-8, will be laid belore Parlia- ment next month, n.l it is calculated that the expenditure will be £ 550,000.

FRANKFORT. The reply of the Austrian Ministry to the resolutions of the German Parliament as to the Caief of the Empire was brought from Ollmutz on the 8th, by M. de Writh. Its contents have not transpired.

ROME. An edict had come out at Rome, signed by the whole cabinet, declaring General Zuechi a traitor, and ordering him to be arrested if he make his appearance on any point of the Roman territory. The report in Rome was that the Pope positively fled from Gaeta on the 28th, on board a French war vessel. Tne Government had sent a new capitulation to the Swiss for acceptance, in virtue of which they will be in the service of the Roman States, and not of that of the absent sovereign. The two Spanish vessels that had arrived at Gaeta had no troops on board, as had been stated. The other five vessels still keep the open sea.

THE Californian Herald, printed on yellow paper, typical of the golden treasure in that peninsula, is announced for imme- diate publication. THE GOVEltXoR OF THE IoXIAX ISLEs.-The Government of these dependencies, to which is attached a salftry of a year, was offered to Mr. Charles Villiers, M.P., and respect- fully declined by him. This refusal was given about the time Mr. "Villiers had publicly stated his determination not to join in the agitation for financial reform. THE MAYOR OF M-BII.E.—Air. J. W. Childers, the mayor of Mobile, has resigned his office. In his letter to the council he says The melancholy fact; that I am the victim of a disease utterly incurable is impressed upon my mind each succeeding hour of my life. No pen can describe my physical sufferings, nor any generous friend estimate my meiltal anguish. Feeling myself incapacitated to discharge the onerous! duties of the office of mayor, by ieasdn of my affliction, I respectfully tender you my resignation." His incurable disease was drunkenness, —F. Douglass' North Star. DIRECTIONS FOR THE DIGGINS.— WJwt class ought to start for the Dlffffim.—Persons who have nothing to lose, except their lives and it would be as: well they should start without these, if it were possible, as they are not unlikely to lose them in California. Things you should not tahe with you to the Diggms,—A love of comforts, a taste for civilisation, an appetite, a conscience, a respect for other people's throats, and a value for your own. Things you IcillfinC61tSe.fnl at the H iff gins.—A revolving pis- tol, some knowledge of treating gun-shot wounds, a toleration of strange bed-fellows, a determination to hold your own, and grab at everybody else's, and the proper of eating, drinking, and wearing gold-dust. The sort of Society you will meet with at the Diggim.—Those for whom the United States are not big enough; those for whom England is too hot ;• those who come out to clean out the gold, and those who come to clean out the -gold-finders. What is the best thillg to dj when you get tJ tAeDigginJ .-Go back again. How Gold may be bestextmcted-By snpplymg, at exorbitant prices, the wants of those who gather it. What will be the ultimate effect of the discovery of the Biggins. —To raise the prices, to ruin fools, to demoiahss a new coun- try first; and settle it afterwards.—-Punch,

;ILUUgilUU3 ;ju!yugmu. LLANIDLOES.—TESTIMONIAL or RESPECT TO THE REV. EDWARD JONES, WESLEYAN MINISTER.—The members and friends of the Wesleyan Methodists have presented the above venerable minister -with a handsome full-length portrait of him- self, painted by Mr. G. W. Griffin, artist, as a testimonial of their esteem, and attachment to him as a faithful and indefatigable Christian minister, who commenced his ministerial career in this circuit forty-three years ago, and subsequently laboui-ed in. the same place in the double capacity of Christian minister and editor of the Enrgraicn, a monthly periodical, published by the Connexion. During the entire period of his public ministrations amongst them, hit undeviatingly maintained that upright, straightforward, and exemplary character which should always distinguish the Christian minister, and after an active and laborious life, wholly devoted to the duties of his profession, he retired from the ministry and selected the scene of his early labours as the only place which should witness the close of his mortal career. A public meeting WM convened on Thursday evening, the 1st inst., for the purpose of presentation, when a large number of the friends and admirers of the rev. gentleman assembled to celebrate the occasion. The por- trait was presented, on behalf of his friends and supporters, by Mr. J. H. Holmes,who, in a short and appropriate speech, eulogised the conduct of Mr. Jones, both as a public and private character; after which he rose and replied in an affectionate and impressive manner. Underneath the portrait were inscribed tho following words :—" Presented by the members and friends of the Wesleyan Methodists of Llanidloes to the Rev. Edward Jones, Wesleyan minister, as a testimonial of their esteem and respect to him per- sonally, and of their appreciation of his conduct as a Christian minister, who commenced his labours as an itinerant preacher at Llanidloes in the year 1805, and after unrtruittmg labour in the cause of the gospel for forty-three years, retired as a supernu- merary and settled amongst them in the year 1848, in the sixty eighth year of his age. Frqm a Correspondent. GLYNARTHEN, CARDIGANSHIRE.—BIBLE MEETING.—The an- niversary of the Vale of Troed-yr-aur Auxiliary Bible Society was held at this place, on the 6th instant, T. D. Lloyd, Esq., Bron- wydd, in the chair, supported by James Bowen, Esq., Troed-yr- aur. Eloquent addresses were delivered to a numerous audience by the Revs. J. Jones and 1. P. Jones, Newcastle Emlyn; T. Rees, Maenygroes; S. Griffiths, Horeb; II. L. Davies, Troed-yr- aur; and Mr. S. Morris, Caregwen. CARMARTHEN. — LAMMAS-STREET CHAPEL CIRCULATING LL BRAKY.—Two years a half ago many friends connected with this numerous and respeotable congregation thought it would be very desirable to have a circulating library in the College rooms attached to the chapel. Having established this, and succeeding satisfactorily, the thought suggested itself that jointly with this it would be an acquisition to have lectures delivered in those rooms every fort- night in the winter months. The lectures have been invariably good, and the attendance generally very numerous; and on Feb. 6 the room was overcrowded to hear a lecture by the Rev. D. Lloyd, M.A., the respected tutor of the Presbyterian College in this town, to prove that the diversity, of the human race was not incom- patible with the Mosaic account of their being of one and the same origin." Never did Mr. Lloyd give greater satisfaction to his 10 audience than on this occasion. The lecture was attended to with undivided attention, and the company parted highly gratified, anxious soon to have another opportunity of hearing the able and learned lecturer. The Rev. D. Davies, Pantteg, Dr. Davison, &c., &c., are engaged to deliver lectures here this term.-(Co)-i,espoti- dent. ) SAUDIS CIIAPEL, PO-NTYPOOL.-A. class of juvenile singers has been recently established in the abo^e chapel for the purpose of learning music and harmony according to Wilhem's system, by John Hullah, patronised by the Board of Council on Education. They have received the large sheets aud the books. There are thirty young persons already admitted, but we believe the system is ablet to teach two hundred as well as thirty. Their teacher, Mr. Joseph Jones, jun., and his assistants, will, we heard, devote their time and instructions gratis. Their qualification and aptitude to teach music is such that may be, through divine blessing, the means of effecting great good. We hope to hear a melodious praise ascend- ing from this juvenile class. Success attend it. It meets every Wednesday evening. Great credit is due to the teachers for their sacrifice, and perseverance .for the elevation of the rising generation, in this important science, in itg theory and practice. — Correspo-n- dent. SWANSEA EBENEZER SUNDAY-SCHOOL LIBRARY.—The anni- versary of the above institution was held at Ebenezer Chapel, Swansea, on Monday evening, the 5th instant, when the members of the library, desirous of acknowledging the services of their re- spected pastor, the Rev. Elias Jacob, presented him with a copy of the Rev. aptist-W, Noel's "Essay on the Union of Church and State," accompanied with a receipt for a copy of the Nonconformist newspaper for the present year. Mr. John Francis (one of the deacons of the Church), after a very appropriate address on the occasion, read the following inscription, and presented Mr. Jacob, in the name of the young 11 men, with the volume, &c.:—"This volume, accompanied with a receipt for a copy of the Nonconformist newspaper for the present year, was presented by the members of th. I Ebenezer Library' to their beloved pastor, th. U- BKm Jacob, as an acknowledgment for his untired exertions in promot- ing their moral tzid religious welfare." Mr. Jacob returned thanks in a very affecting address, and assured the young men that he was always ready to do all in his power to advance their secular and religioul knowledge. The report of the proceedings of the library during the past year was afterwards read,' when it was shown that the librarian had lent out during the year 850 volumes, and that the increase of books was 68 volumes. The report having been approved of, and the present officers re-elected, the meeting separated. CARNARVON BAPTIST MISSIONS.—-The annual meetings in aid of the Baptist Missionary Society were held at the Baptist Chapel in this towm on Monday and Tuesday evenings, the 29thancl 30th ult.; when the Rev. W."Morgan, Ilolyhead/and the Rev! IJ. Wil- liams, Liverpool, preached on both occasions very appropriate and impressive sermons to numerous and attentive congregations. On the following Friday evening the Rev. W. Morgan delivered an excellent lecture on the excellency of the Christian knowledge. It is cheering to be able to state that the amount of the colloctioll3 and contributions this year towards this worthy cause exceeds those of preceding years, SWANSEA SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION.—ENGLISH CONFERENCES. -On Friday last, W. H. Michael, Esq., reácl a paper at this monthly Coufeienee on ,the proposed alterations in the met] :od,means, and direction of Sunday-school teaching." The reading of the paper was followed by a discussion. The service thjs evening was held at Bethany Chapel.

THREATEEED IMPRISONMENT OF THE REV. J. SHORE.— We are not sorry to find that the Bishop of Exeter has taken out the necessary authority for the imprisonment of the Rev. J. Shore, of Totnes. Had he refrained from doing so, there might have been some doubt, after the'equivocal answer giyen by Lord John Russell to Mr. Grainger in the, House of Commons, whether the intended motion of Mr. Bouverip for the protection of seceding clergymen would lead to any favourable result. The friends of religious liberty in and out of the Established Church have to thank the Bishop of Exeter for taking the present step, which will leave the Government without excuse unless they lend their sanction and assistance to effect a change in the monstrous state of the law. With Mr. Shore in Newgate, Lord John Russell will have no alternative but to take the matter up and settle it at once. We understand that the facts of this remarkable case will be brought before the metropolitan public in two meetings, to be held, the one at Spa Fields Chapel, and the other at the Rev. George Clayton's Chapel, Walworth. This is all very well but now is the time when the clergy themselves should speak out, or for ever hold their peace. -Pa trio t.

EDUCATION IN AMERICA. (TO THE EDITOR OF THE NONCONFORMIST.) Manchester, Jan. 23, 1849. SIR,—A great deal has been said by the advocates of State education about the condition of education in Ame- rica. They have often adduced that country as furnishing a favourable proof of the expediency of entrusting educa- tion to the care of the Si ati). So confident are some of our zealous educationists in Lancashire about the excellency of the American plan, that they have formed a plan upon the model of that adopted in Massachusetts, and have already prepared the draft of a Bill to lay before Parliament, to enable them to carry out their scheme. I have, Sir, re- cently returned from an educational tour in the United States of America. 11 During my visit, I visited some scores of its comnlOn 0 schools, and several of its collegiate and other educational establishmonts; and from all I saw and heard, I am fully convinced that, both in an intellectual and a moral point of view^ the state of educatiun in the United States of America is far, very far, behind what it is in this country. The inefficiency of these schools is becoming apparent to the Americans themselves, as the following extracts from recently published educational documents in that country will show. The city of Boston, with a population of about 100,000 persons, spends near £ 40,000 per annum in sup- port of her public schools. In 1845 a very careful inquiry was made by the city authorities into their condition. In their Report the Committee say:—"The whole number of pupils present on the days when we examined was 7,455 the whole number offered for examination, comprising the flower of the Boston public schools, was 530 the average of their ages was thirteen years and six months. The whole