The Glamorgan Monmouth and Brecon Gazette and Merthyr Guardian

An Account of COAL and IRON brought down the Mon I mouthshire Canal Company's Tram-lloads and Canal, for the Week ending December 23, 1843. Tram Road Canal. COAL. j- Tons. Cwt. Tons. Cwt. Thomas Powell 1940 7 250 Thomas Prothero. 1530 5 50 Rosser Thomas and Co. 672 12 Thomas Phillips and Son 400 3 Martin Morrison 823 9 22,5 Joseph Beaumont 770 10 W. S. Cartwright 795 1 25 Joseph Latch and Co. 673 4 Latch and Cope 569 11 I John Russell and Co 1513 14 Tredegar Iron and Coal Co.. 523 12 Roger Lewis 344 18 John Jones 205 18 James Poole, Jun Joseph Jones 353 Rock Coal Co. 1010 IS R. J. Blewitt i25 Mon. Iron and Coal Co John Yipond 350 Riehatd Morrison Rosser Williams J. F. Hanson 75 John Davies Mrs. Treasure Pentwyn & Golynos Co. e. IRON. i Tredegar Iron Company 270 7 Rh.ymney Iron Co G51 7 Ebbw Vale Iron Co 442 3 } Cwni Celyn & Blaina Iron Co. 395 19 Coalhrook Yalc Iron Co 148 From Sundry Works 1043 8

THE "TIMES" REPORTER AND H[S DOUBLE. Something like an amabren contention, but one that shakes the entire literary world, and makes Gods and little fishes quake in their boots, has been for some weeks carried on between the veritable "Times" reporter, Mr. J. G. Powell, and a Mr. Foster, who also belongs to the Establish- ment. Some of the gentry of the recently disturbed districts have, it appears, proposed to reward the ubiquity and industry of the "Times" reporter, by a present of a piece of plate. Forthwith Mr. Foster, on the credit of a few weeks exertions as the active assistant of Air. Powell, sets up his claim to the reward, as the sole agent of the Thunderer in South Wales, and whose imitative pother he burlesques by some coarse and flippant generalities of the omnibus rebus kind. Mr. Powell, whom all the world knows and believes to be the able and vigilant caterer for The State of South Wales" in the columns of the "Times," very properly denies his claim to the reward, drives him into a corner, puts him to a riNCH before he gets the silver box, thinks that the contributors will stultify themselves if they give it to Mr. Foster, and place themselves in the wrong box. Mr. Powell exclaims, like Denius, in the play, s'death you have stolen my thunder." Mr. Foster denies the soft impeachment, and in a long and elaborate letter to the 11 Bristol Mercury," insists that he is the real Simon Pure, that Mr. Powell was a gentleman acting under his directions, and only the occasional Correspondent of the" Times." Mr. Powell replies in the same Journal, and demolishes most effectually the rather insidious assumptions of Mr. Foster. Mr. Foster says, Having, during a stay of four months at Carmarthen, with Mr. Powell under my direction at Swansea, been the author of EVKflY ARTICLE in the "Times" on the toll system, the church, dissent, rents, letting of land by tender, credit sales of slock, education, magisterial deport- ment, and many other subjects, and also the reporter of two- thirds of all the mere reports that have gone ul) imagine my indignation, if I deserve any credit for what I have done, at Powell, of Bristol, impudently and indelicately step- ping in to take it all to himself." Mr. Powell denies that he was a pupil of Mr. Foster, or that he ever looked through his spectacles, and quotes the Spectator's approval of his zeal and capability Each of the chief papers has our own correspondent at every commanding point in the world. As soon as any remarkable series of events sets in in any quarter of the globe, our own correspondent," or our own reporter," travels thither. A troublous enigma arises in our own country, in South Wales, our own reporter is sent to solve it—and he does so. The able and intelligent reporter of the "Times" is a good type of his class. He is ubiquitous in his activity—his courage-and the office of a reporter sometimes needs no small share of cool courage-is unhesirating; to poke un- armed and unprotected into the most suspicious nooks; and, with the practise of his crnft strong upon him, he seizes at once upon the essential points. Some W elsh papers, before the invasion of any accredited reporter, accused their London contemporaries of defective local information. There is nothing more delusive than mere local information. Persons on the spot are not only warped by close interests in disputed matters, but, from that circumstance, they attach undue im- portance to trivial things, and overlook things which are really of moment, but BO familiar to tlit-tn AS matter of In the accounts from which we make extracts this week, the passing sketch of a remote dingle, the quotation of a transla- tion into English by a Welshman—showing, in its phrases at once, that the translator is "no ignorant" man, and yet, that he is remarkably ignorant of the language of our rulers and our laws—these are traits which would have escaped the man of "local information," but which forcibly illustrate material circumstances of the disturbance. Moreover, none but a practised hand, confident in the name and resources of a great London journal, would have had so much tact and boldness in pushing himself into the very heart of the riot- beyond all troops and police, and other regular function- ai-ie-SI)ectator, July Dth, 1843. Mr. Powell then very briefly adds—I see no impropriety of my now stating that I was the author of the account of the celebrated Rebeccaite meeting of farmers at Cwm Ivor, in Carmarthenshire, which created such a sensation throughout the entire country. We may as well add, that the gentleman who, during the late special commission in this town, favoured the world with what he felicitously designated his "nurscry rhymes,"— Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief," was NOT Mr. Powell. Though a vigorous and unflinching writer, he is not the man to blackguard the entire Princi- pality, because he could not. get cheap lodgings. We cannot help saying that the public of England and Wales have looked on Mr. Powell as nir. "Times" i-eportei-anci Mr. Foster would do well gracefully to concede to Mr. Powell, what a discriminating community think, justly awarded him. With the facts and inferences of the "Times" reporter we have been occasionally at issue -we have as frequently availed ourselves of his unexampled industry, by transferring his lucubrations to our columns, and we shall learn with regret that any unworthy rivalry, or less creditable feeling, deprives him of his reward.

COLLIERY ENGINEERING—ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. BY MATTHIAS DUNN, ESQ., C.E. [Read at the Newcastle Mechanics' Institute.] Having had the honour of being elected one of your vice- presidents, and having observed the great loss which the society sustains because of the want of scientific papers or lectures, whereby an impetus may be given, and the latent talent which exists among your body drawn out, I am in- duced to volunteer some observations upon the subject of colliery engineering, founded chiefly upon my own profes- sional experience, both in this and other districts of the country, during the last forty years, coupled with traditionary and parole information as to the more early periods. FIRST ERA. STATE OF THE COAL-TRADE AT TIJE CLOSE OF THE SEVEN- TEENTH CENTURY AND THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY, The only district in the north of England from whence coal was shipped at this period, were the rivers Tyne, Wear, nncl In tho yuar lCi99, the Tyno had two-thirds of the whole trade, about "1.00 keels, and vending 300,000 chaldrons per apnuir). The over-sea trade, it is said, employed 000,000 tons of shipping, Sunderland, dur- ing the fifty years preceditig-viz.9 from about 1G54, had risen into considerable importance The districts then yielding the principal supply of Tyne coal were Ravens- worth, and the numerous collieries delivering into keels at Derwenthauh-viz" l'ontop l'ike, Marley Hill, Tanfield Moor, Garestield, Gibside, Axwell, Blaydon Main, and the neighbourhood of Winlaton, Further west again were Grand Lease (Stella), Chopwell, Hedley, Wylatrj, Throek- ley, Walbottle, Denton, Benwell, Fenham, &c, above bridge and below bridge were Felling, Gateshead, He- worth, Byker, Jesmond, lleaton, St. Lawrence, Benton, &e, Hedley Fell was working in 1727, the coal being led down to Stella; in 1745, Jesmond colliery was laid in—it was at that time drained by two pumping engines. The river Wear was supplied from the collieries of the Lambton and Tempest eqtatefd the districts up Chester Burn, Cha- tershaugh, Fatfield, Birtley, &c., Il delivered into keels in the neighbourhood—the staiths extending from Cox-green to Chatershaugh. From the then state of the trade, it was necessary to hold, from time to time, large stocks of coals, and to be ready to give quick despatch, to suit tides and other emergencies hence those extensive erections called staiths, njaiiy of which remain to the present day. The scale of keel dues on the Tyne was fixed in 1710 as follows :-A vessel above Ouseburn, per tide, Gs. 4d. below Ouseburn, Gs. Hd. Shawdon's Hole, 7s. 6d.; Saint Anthony's 7s. 8d; Wincolmlee, 9s. J arrow and Ilowdon, I Is. 8d. Shields, 13s. 4d. The coals were all brought from above bridge, or from the shore near Newcastle. Notwithstanding the great distances from which the coals in those days were brought, the waggon-ways were all of wood, and even the wheels of the waggons were of the same material. The waggon-ways were constructed of a double tier of rails (the top one always of oak or beach, as best constituted to stand the alternations of wet and dry), and laid upon .wooden sleepers, to which they were pinned with wood. These waggon-ways were most rudely constructed, being laid nearly according to the undulations of the surface "for the idea of inclined planes had not at this period entered into the head of man. In 1745 the cost of a yard of wooden-way was 4s. 2d.—viz., two yards of oak rails, Is. 2d. thr.ee sleepers, 2s. Gd.; pins, Id. laying, 3d, j tilling and ballasting, d" The cost of a 20-boll waggon in 1723 (then a good deal used) was L:7 I s. 2d. The waggons were goyerned by convoys, bearing upon a single wheel; and, in order to prevent the wear of the wheels, which were extremely expensive to maintain, they were studded thick with nails, driven up to the heads but the wear was proportionably great upon the breasts of the convoys, which was a source of great labour and ex- pense the breaking of the waggons down the many rude steeps was attended with continual loss of life, both to man and horse. Cast iron rails for waggon-ways were introduced in 17G7, at Colebrook Dale. Tn 1776, Mr. Curr invented his underground tramways. The coals were drawn from the mines by horse-machines, called gins—the earliest construc- tion (though, perhaps, it was all improvement oil one still earlier) being called a cog and rang gin, the horse wheel being vertical and toothed it turned a horizonal shaft, lying over the pit, to which the ropes were attached. This machine was then but of recent introduction, the more ebb pits being wrought by hand-windlasses or jack-rolls. In 1746, the price of drawing by gins, with a lG-peck corf, for thirty fathoms, was lOd. per 4| tons, and Id. for every five fathoms of additional depth. The whim-gin was aa improve- ment upon the complex combination of the cog and rung, and has universally superseded it. The drainage of the mines at the time we are speaking of mainly depended upon day-levels or adits; sometimes it was effected by means of horses and chain-pumps, and, in certain situations, where advantage could be taken of a running stream, or of water from a higher altitude, a water- wheel was employed—parts of Heaton and Jesmond, for instance, were won by means of a water-wheel, wrought by the stream of the adjoining burn. In 1690, Mr. Bald writes, that water-wheels and chains of buckets were com- monly employed to drain collieries im Scotland. The axle of the wheel (he says) extended across the pit-mouth, and small wheels were fixed upon the axle, to receive endless chains of two or three tiers, which reached down to the coal to these chains were attached a number of oblong wooden buckets or troughs, in a horizontal position, which circulated continualiy with the chains, ascending on one side and descending on the other, alternately full and empty, discharging as they turned over the wheels on the great axletree. A smaller machine of the soit was occasionally worked by horses, as well as by windmills. The steam- engine for draining mines was introduced early in the last century; the first was erected at Oxclose, the second at Norwood, near Ravensworth, and the third at Byker, in 1714 in 1720 it had come into general use. It was invented or introduced by the son of a Swedish nobleman, who taught mathematics in Newcastle. The art of self government was not then discovered; the engine was wrought by the alternate opening and shutting of cocks by an attendant; but about four years afterwards (in 1718) a person of the name of Beighten invented the means of pro- ducing the desired effect from the machine itself. These engines were on N ewcomen' principle—an open-topped cylinder, the vacuum being created underneath the piston by injecting cold water into the cylinder, and I'P11ising an effective pressure of from 4tb to 51lJ per inch on the safety- valve. Mr. W. Brown, of Throckley, a celebrated viewer of that day (according to a manuscript in my possession), was remakably conspicuous in the introduction of the steam engine to this colliery district 17;)6, upon getting the management of Throckley colliery, he built one there-then a great rarity; in 1757, one at Birtley North Side, one at Lambton, and one at Byker; in 1758, two at Walker, and one at Bell's Close in 1759, one at He worth in 1760, two at Shire Moor, and one at Hartley in 1762, one at Oxclose, one at Beamish, and one at Benwell (which had not only 3 boilers, but 24-inch wooden pumps formed of staves 18-inch diameter; in linI, one at North Biddick, one at Low Fell and three in Scotland-viz., one at Borrowstowness, one at Pittenween in Fifeshire, and one near Muselburgh inl7G6, one at Lam btun; in 1772, one at Fattield; in 1775, two at Willington, and one at Washington, with its house con- trived to take in a second in 1776, one at Felling. The present Allerdeen engine, at Ravensworth, was built about 1750, up to which period scarcely any pumps exceeded 8-inch or 9-inch diameter, and scarcely any engine had more than a single haystack boiler. The coals in the early period of mining were invariably drawn in corves or baskets; the trams had broad wooden Aviiecls the tramways were constructed of tlnee planks, the upper one forming an elevated ledge, for the guidance of the tram. Horses were as yet scarcely introduced under- ground but when they were, the roanH were constructed in the same manner as those above-ground, the rollies carrying two or three corves each. Screens were not at this time invented. All the produce of the mines were sold, save what was consumed by the engines and workmen. The first screen is said to have been introduced by Mr. W. Brown, at Willington Colliery, about the year 1740. The coal prices did not exceed 10s. per Newcastle chaldron yet from the lowness of wages, and the cheapness of materials, collieries were productive of profit, and after the introduction of steam-engines, became objects of general attention. lfei%,ers' ivages from Is. (;(I. to Is. lOd. per (]aN., Iii(I those of other workmen in proportion. In 1744, Friar's Goose coals sold for lis. per chaldron, and the cost of a chaldron wag-gon was £!I. In 1745, the hewing price of Lumley Main coal was I tl. per peck, or Is. 9d. per 1'^ tolls the 12-peck corf was uspd, for the convenience of drawing with gins; the Byker Main coal (20-peck corf), Is. Gd. 4^ tons—putting lOd, 1 lie art of ventlliiUou was little known, especially the underground furnace; but the working of the coal was con- fined to seams at shallow depths, and in which inflammable air existed in any small degrees still, because of the igno- rance of ventilation, explosions were frequently happening, even in those days, and gradually called into existence air- tubes, ventilating furnaces, &e. In 1732, fire-lamps or furnaces were first known at Fatfield Colliery, where many and serious explosions took place—as will hereafter be enumerated. In 175G, the first air-tube was built at North Biddick Colliery, Mr. Wm. Allison, being then the viewer. The cost of boring in 174G was 5s. per fathom for the first five fathoms, and 5s.-per fathom extra every successive five fathoms a 3-inch hole cost E20 for thirty-one fathoms. Blasting by gunpowder was then in its infancy—many pits and drifts having been executed simply bv the hack and the wedge. Whilst the steam-engine was imperfectly under- stood, the collieries in operation were necessarily those whose seams were lying a short way from the surface, and not buithened with any considerable quantities of water—for the only pumps in use were bored from solid wood, and the diameter was consequently confined to eight or ten inches the joints were spigot and faucet, and there was a difficulty in keeping them tight when the pressure exceeded twenty- five fathoms. As no means were devised of stopping back shaft water, the only relief that could be made available was by means of off-take drifts—the engine-pits being, where practicable, sunk convenient for such purposes. The coal keels or barges on the Tyne and Wear were nearly of the lame construction as at present; but their rig, not only at time first-mentioned, but for many years afterwards, con- sisted of a lug-sail, and the coals were carried in bulk in the hold—not piled up as at present, by means of timberings —the collier vessels being of much smaller burthen than at present, and their port-holes proportionably low. Round ropes were universal in the north of Eng-land-chains never having found the favour which they have enjoyed throughout Scotland, Whales, and other coal districts.—Wromen were employed under ground, but not generally, nor in great num- bers but about the pit-heaps and staiths much of the labour was performed by them, both in cleaning the coals, and harrowing them from the depots or staiths into the keels their standard price for such work was Id. to ljd. per ton. During this epoch-it being considered that where the coal lay beyond the depth of sixty fathoms it was next to inaccessible—there was great eagerness to monopolise those districts lying within the known powers of winning. The "Grand Allies," consisting of the Ravensworth, Strathmore, and Wortley families, under tha advice of their far-seeing agents, leased many of the available tracts of coal but im- provements of the steam-engine, and application of cast-iron to the various purposes of mining, produced a new era, paving the way to the opening of those extensive and valuable collieries below Newcastle-bridge, in the Wallsend seam, and the deeper collieries upon the River Wear—whilst the monopolists were saddled with long and costly leases, of which they were not able to rid themselves for many years afterwards. — Notwithstanding the limited powers of pro- duction then known, so confined was the application of coal to the purposes of life, that the trade eould always be overdone, and the sale constantly demanded a similar artifi- cial restricton to that which now prevails—for, even early in the seventeenth century, when not more than a dozen col- lieries supplied the Newcastle trade, the owners were obliged to buy each other out of the market, or use other expedients for curtailing the over supply. The winters were then much longer and more severe than now-a-days—so that, for the period of six or eight weeks, about Christmas, every branch of the trade, pits, keels, and ships, all settled to rest —the people at the respective markets being obliged to lay in beforehand suitable stocks of coals, whereupon to work during the winter months. Previous to the year 17G5, the art of ventilation had not progressed further than to produce a good current along the flank of the working places, leaving the internal parts of the waste in a state of stagnation, which often produced explo- sions. This mode of airing continued to be practised in the collieries of the River Wear long after the coursing system was adopted upon Tyne, being maintained at a much less expense—the additional charge being thought unnecessary. Mr. Spedding has been said to be the inventor of the cours- ing system but according to a record in my possession, it was first put in practice at Walker Colliery, by N-aleniiiie Carter and W. Morris, who had been sent for from the River Wear alter an explosion, They ventilated allthewastesby coursing the air alternately up and down a pair of boards; and the system was constantly pursued afterwards in the Tyne Collieries.

CHRISTMAS ACCOUNTS. -At this season of the year we read of numerous largesses, or acts of kindness to the poor, and deeds of this nature are, indeed, commendable and excellent. There is something pleasing in the idea that the dwellings of the humbler ranks, those whose life is one of penury and toil, are made the abodes of plenty, and cheered with the voice of joy and gladness at a season so peculiarly calculated to awaken the liveliest gratitude of man but is there no other class deserving of consideration—not, indeed, in the way of eleemosynary contributions, but by the per- formance of an act of simple justice 1 Are there not those who, relieved from the pressure of immediate wants, have yet cares and anxieties too little regarded, and which the more general prevalence of honesty would ren-iovel We allude to the professional men and tradesmen, who are jstk4. titled to the settlement of all accounts at this period of Christmas. It must, indeed, be a disheartening, task in looking over the ledgers for successive years, to reckon up the labour unrequited, the hopes of honourable advancement extinguished, and the amount of actual pecuniary loss ex- perienced nor is the feeling more agreeable from the consideration that all this has been owing to the neglect of an ordinary duty, viz., the prompt fulfilment of obligations on the part of others. The tradesman has a perfect right. morally and legally, to the payment of his bills once a-year at the very least and it is impossible to over estimate the advantages, not only to himself, but to other classes, which the universal adoption of the practice would occasion. SUICIDES AT BRISTOL.—Last week the city of Bristol was thrown into painful excitement by a rumour that rr. Wm. Prichard, a gentleman extensively known there as the se- cretary to the Bristol Union Fire-office, had destroyed him- self by poison. The deceased expired in the shop of Mr. Taplin, chemist, Corn-street. From the evidence taken on the inquest it appeared that the deceased had been in very depressed spirits for the past week. The jury returned a verdict, That the deceased committed the act whilst la- bouring under temporary insanity." Mr. Prichard was in his 44th year, and has left a widow and six children.—At the very hour when the coroner's jury was inquiring into the circumstances of the above (deplorable event, another unhappy being hurried himself into eternity. The individual in this instance was Mr. William Fisher, a single gentleman of the age of 41, lately, and for some time past, residing at the house of Mr. Lambert, at Wick farm, on the road to the Passage, and a little more than four miles from Bristol. The deceased was respectably connected, being the son of the late Mr. George Fisher, of Hillside, and nephew of the late Mr. Francis Fisher, of Redland. For some time past his mind had been in a very unsettled state, and more lately acted upon by the receipt of disastrous news respecting a TesAel which he had sent to China. Intelligence of the melancholy event was immediately sent to the friends of the deceased, and notice given to the coroner for the conuty.

NEWPORT. LIVE AND LET Livr,At his last tithe-collection, on the 21st instant, the Rev. A. Morgan caused to be returned by his agent, Mr. Young, full 10 per cent. The recipients of this, were, on the occasion, regaled with abundance of beef and plum-pudding. The health of Sir C. Morgan, Bart., was drunk with the most enthusiastic acclamation, and with honours," only accorded to the Prince of Wales. As the prince of good landlords, he is eminently entitled to that mark of a grateful and contented tenantry. Too much," says a correspondent, "cannot he said in praise of Mrs. Morgan, whose active benevolence has repeatedly brought her to visit the sick of the neighbourhood. Whilst she administers to their corporeal wants, she, at the same time, interests herself in their spiritual necessities. Had the country a few of such excellent, ladies, the cry of the Church is in Danger,' would be rarely heard." NEWPORT UNION WORKHOUSE.—On Christmas day, the inmates of this house were regaled with an excellent dinner of roast beef and plum-pudding, without stint. It is grati- fying to observe, that the general comfort afforded the pau- pers in this establishment, and the dietary are such as to leave no room for complaint; and the occasional feasts afforded them in this way, show that the board of guardians are desirous, that, like others, more fortunate amongst us, the paupers should participate also in the luxuries of life. On Saturday, the 23rd inst., a fine schooner was launched from the building yard lately in the possession of Mr. John Young. NAMTYGLO IRON WORKS.—MT. Clay's patent process of obtaining malleable iron llirectly from the ore in the pun- dling furnace has just been adopted here with success. The iron-stone operated upon is the blackband, lately discovered in such vast quantities in the neighbournood of Beaufort. This iron-stone is of the carboniferous class, very rich in carbon, and, consequently, very peculiarly adapted for the above purpose.

BtCCOltfiUftC. BRECON MARKET, Dec. 23.—(Average per Imperial.)- W heat, Gs. Barley, 4s. Oats, 2s. 4d. Grey Peas, 4s. Cd. Malt, 7s. 4d. — (Average per lb.)-Beef, Gd. Mutton, 5id. Yeal, 51,(1. Pork, 5d. Butter, 91. Salt ditto per tub, 8d. The Christmas show of meat this year reflects the greatest credit on the respective butchers of this town, as every shop had something splendid, and the tasteful manner they were decorated with evergreens and large candles, attracted many hundreds of people till a very late hour last night. We can venture to assert, that for quality and appearances, no town in the kingdom surpassed it. At the shop of Mr. Thomas Trew, was a very fine ox. fed by L. Y. Watkins, Esq., weighed near 14 score per quarter and a very splendid steer 14 months' old, bred and fed by Sir Charles Morgan, weighing 10 score per quarter; it claimed the admiration of every beholder; it very recently gained the first prize at Tredegar cattle show, for the best yearling steer; —likewise, two 2 year old sheep, bred and fed by Mr. Bridgewater, of Boatside, one of which weighed (though a very short animal) 7 score and 12 pounds; the fat on the haunch measured four inches and th in thickness. The shop of Mrs. Bright lost none of its former character, for more splendid beef, mutton, and veal is very rare to be met with. There were several fine bacon hogs for sale in the market, which averaged about Gs. per score. BRECON SAVINGS' BANK.—During the past year, from the 20th of November, 1812, to the 20th of November, 184:1, this savings' bank seems to have been affected by the general pressure of the times, as the sums paid in amount to but £ 4,477 Gs. 7d., while there was drawn out by depositors during the same period the sum of E4,75 t 13s. I I d.-tlie payments exceeding the receipts by JE274 7s. 4d. The amount invested in this savings' bank by depositors is £ 27,337 Is. 4d. Geese and sheep stealing are carried on to an enormous extent, at Cwm Crawnen, and other parts in this county. One farmer has lost twenty sheep and not less than thirty- five geese were stolen the same night, from different persons. The rascals took the gander and goose of a poor old man from under the window of his house. MORE OF REBECCA'S FREAKS. On Monday se'nnight, the gate situate in the Tillage of Glasbury, on the Radnorshire side of the river Wye, was removed from its posi'ion, the posts sawn off about eighteen inches above ground, and the gate thrown into the river, after having been sawn in two, and so far mntilated that it will be of no further use. It appears that only three indi- viduals were employed at the work, who were seen by the aged female who collects the toll, and advised her to keep quiet, as they would not injure her hut it is said that up- wards of fifty persons were close at hand. Having completed their job, and given three cheers, they marched off through the village in the direction of the Woodlands, towards the hills lying above that place, shouting Becca for ever," and discharging fire-arms. Some of the inhabitants hearing the noise, arose to see what occasioned it, but could not recognise any of the party. It appears the road on which the gate was placed was repaired by the parish of Glasbury, and a petition, very numerously signed by the inhabitants, and those of the ad- joining parishes, was some time past presented to the Radnorshire turnpike trust, to remove the said gate, but it was never done, The toll-board has also been taken down. There were two gates adjoining the toll-house, the one in the road leading into the village, which is destroyed, and the other in the road leading to Clirow and Rhydspence, which was not molested, as they considered it a turnpike-road. No clue has beeen obtained as to who were the perpetrators of this lawless act, although a reward of E50 has been offered by the magistrates acting in the hundred of Painscastle, on con- viction of the party or parties by whom it was committed. A. ellain is erected on the spot, and the regular tolls taken, uothiuS had occurred. 7, uo DEATH, BY DROWNING, OF AN INFORMER AGAINST REDEccAITEs.-Considerable excitement has been caused in this county by the circumstance of the finding of the body of Mr. Thomas Thomas, of Pantycerrig, in the river Brech- faedd, near Lrechfa. It will be remembeied that some time since Mr. Thomas gaTe information against some neigh- bouring farmer's sons for a riot and assault upon him, while under the guise of Rebeccaites. On that occasion Mr. Thomas attended Carmarthen, in order to s;ive his evidence, and on his return to his home he found it in a blaze. On Tuesday morning Mr. Thomas's corpse was found in the river Breehfuedd, which is a very small stream, having a rocky bed. From the previous occurrences that had taken place, suspicion was excited that foul play had been used, and that he came to his death by unfair means. His body was lying in the water, which at no part was more tha;1 fourteen inches deep, while his head and one of his arms did not appear to have been in the water at all. There was a severe contusion on the left side of the forehead, but this was the only mark of violence. e are unable to lay before our readers the evidence taken at the coroner's inquest, which was held on Wednesday and Thursday; but we may state that we have heard that a blacksmith living at Brechfa has two sons, against both of whom warrants are out for stealing some sheep of Mr. Thomas's. The young men have absconded. On Monday, their father, who was ex- tremely ill, and unable to move from his own home, sent fur Mr. Thomas, in order to come to some arrangemnnt respect- ing his sons' affairs. Mr. Thomas called on him in the course of the day, and left his house about two o'clock in the afternoon. He was never seen alive afterwards. Near the spot where he was found is the trunk of an ash tree, thrown across the stream, at a height of about seven feet from its bed. Across this Mr. Thomas must have passed, and he might have fallen from it, as he had been walking over a muddy soil, and the tree was a round one, and ex- tremely difficult to walk upon. The bruise OIl his forehead might have been caused by the fall from the temporary bridge. A post mortem examination of the body took place yesterday, and after the jury had carefully examined the spot where the body was found, and taken a eonsilerable volume of evidence, they returned a verdict of Found dead. All the jury concurred in recommending a proper bridge to be erected in lieu of the old tree.— Welshman. LLANDILO SAVINOS' BANK.—The managers of this bank, during the past year, received from depositors the sum of £ 2,196 15s., and paid £ 1,194 Is. 8d. so that the leceipts exceeded the repayments by £ 202 13s. 4d. The balance on the -1 general account" invest-d with the commissioners for the reduction of the national debt (including interest) amounts to £ 15,2X3 i2s. lad. LLANELLY. — OPENING OF AN ORGAN.—The opening of the new organ in the Wesleyau chapel, in thi, town, took place on Tuesday evening, Dec. 13th, when a tea and concert was given. Tea was voluntarily provided in the infant school .room by twelve Izidies fie number that sat down to tea was about 150 persons, who were regaled with plenty of excellent tea and eake after tea the company adjourned io the chapel. Mr. WTilliam B. Brown, of Lond-u), presided at the organ. The chapel was crowded to excess, and the com- pany dispersed highly delighted, and agreeably surprised that Llanelly and its neighbourhood could produce such vocal music. The tone of the organ was much admired, and gave general satisfaction. We understand from the very best aut.li >r:! y that Count Nesselrode, whose arrival and visit to Windsor we men- tioned in our paper of Friday, is the bearer <.r the ratifica- tion by the Emperor Nicholas of all the proposals which were suggested by Prince Octtingen YVallerslt-in during his mission here. respecting the final settlement of the affairs of Greece. The Emperor not only consents, hut is anxious that a constitution upon the most liberal principles should be secured to the Greeks. — Morning Herald.

irtfJ, iHavriagns, anfc Dratoo. BIRTHS. On the 20th December, the lady of the Rev. Richard Morgan, Brecon, of a daughter. On the 10th December, at Eltham, Kent, the lady of the Rev. Paul Ashmore, Rectory of Porthkerry Cum Barry, in this county, of a son. On the 19th December, at Sedgleyr Sarah Dolman, wife of Frederick Dolman, a boatman, gave birth to three sons, who, together with the mother, are at present doing well. On the 17th December, the wife of the Rev. J. T. Jones, of Carmarthen, of a daughter. On the 24th December, the lady of Montague Grover, Esq., of this town, of a daughter. MARRIAGES. On the 25th December, at Cadoxton juxta Barry by the Rev, Jenkin Davies, curate, Mr. Edward Greatro.x to Miss M aria Davies, both of the above place. On the 17th December, by the Rev. John Bevnon, Mr. Philip Lewis, of Goldcliff, Monmouthshire,* to Miss Catherine Jones, only daughter of Mr, W. Jones, of Witson. On the 14th December, at Trowbridge, Wilts, by the Rev. J. D. Hastings, rector, Thomas, Evans, Esq., solicitor, Chepstow, to Fanny Maria, only daughter of G. Sylvester, Esq., of the former place. On the 19th December, at St. Mary's Church, Tenby, by the Rev. Dr. Humphreys, Robert Waters, Esq., of Sai't Clears, Carmarthenshire, to Louisa Mary Lyster, tidest daughter of the late George Thompson, Esq. DEATHS,. On the 22nd December, at Plaanewydd, nenr Cardiff, Jolu. Mathews Richards, Esq., aged 40 years. On the 2:-ith December, suddenly, Mr. John Prosser, of the Merthyr and Dowlais Inn, in ibis town. On the 2Gth December, in this town, Llewellyn, son of Mr. Philip David, of the Bunch of Grapes Inn, a^ed 4 years. 0 On the 25 December, at Cardiff, Ann Richards, aged Cgk jears. She had lived with Lady Stapylton for upwards of •'0 years as an honest and faithful servant. On the 25th instant, at Cowbridge, Mr. Joseph Jhonson, surgeon, aged 3G years. On the IHth December, at St. Hilary, near Cowhridge, aged 22 years, Edmund, youngest son of Mr. Samuel Davies, farmer, of St. Hilary Cross. On the 18th December, at Alne Hall, Yorkshire, in her <th year, Frances Matilda, only child ofN. Y. E. Yaughan, of Rheola, in this county. On the IGth December, at Aberthaw, in this county, aged 20 years, William, only son of Mr. David Thomas. On the 16th December, at Puckington, near Taunton, after a protracted illness, aged 70 years, the Rev. George Pyke Dowling, son of the late John Dowling, Esq., of Chew Magna, Somerset. On the 18th December, at St. Asaph, Flintshire, aged 63 years, Richard Robert Jones, better known in the Princi- pality as Dick of Aberayron, the celebrated Welsh linguist. On the 22nd December, at Southwick-street, Oxford- square, London, aged~22 ¿l'rs, William Lewis, the only non. of William Nicholl, E.-q., M.D., of Ryde, Is e of Wight, and of Pell fmft county. On the 25th I>eceml»civ>*t Neath, Sarah, the beloved af Mr. Wiiliaui Hopkins, agíN. 38 years.

Christopher Gregory, of the same place, with removing his goods to prevent the said Christopher Gregory.distraining for rent due; the parties were allowed to settle the affair out of court.—Morgan Morgan, was required to kecp the peace towards Rachel, his wife, for six months the bails required not being forth-coming, he was sent to the Swansea House of Correction until such arrangements are completed. A few other cases of poor's rates were then disposed of. BRIDGEND. BRIDGEND MARKET.—On Saturday last, the beef and muttoll ws excellent, and selected froin the bet that could be obtained in the county. There were six well fattened oxen slaughtered, among which were the two renowned oxen of Eglwysmvnydd and Wallas, the former weighing, in round quarters, 1 b score, II)s. and the latter, L3 score, 41 lbs. To do justice to both of them, it could not be said which was the best. The Wallas beef had a lighter shade, but by no means surpassed the other in richness. A good stock of poultry, pork pigs, and vegetables, adapted for the season. The poor in the Workhouse of Bridgend had, on Christ- mas-day a dinner of i-oait beef and plum-pudding, got up by subscription among the gentlemen composing the guardians of the Union. BRIDGEND POL ICE. -SATUHDA Y 23. [Before M. P. Traherne, R. Franklen, Esqrs., and the Rev. IT. L. Blosse.] John Cole and William Brown, two poor, half naked lads, the former a native of Crick, Northampton; the other born in Swansea, in this county, but brought up in Bilston, Staf- fordshire were charged with stealing a flannel shirt, the property of E. Willian, a labourer's wife, of Laleston. The shirt was found on the back of William Brown. They were both committed to take their trial at the next quarter sessions. Thomas Butler, farmer, from Coity Higher, convicted for being drunk and disorderly on Saturday, the IGth instant.— Fined 5s., with 5s. 8d. costs. Thomas Parry, shoemaker, of Lantrissent, who has been working for some time at Saint Mary Hill village, was charged with having unlawfully fired with a gun at a hare, and with having with him two dogs in quest of game, on the property of Sir Digby Aubrey, St. Mary Hill, was fined the sum of £ 2 10s., it being his first offence. The defendant being unable to produce the money, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment. J. Harding, labourer, of Ogmore, was charged with cutting and carrying away a quantity of hazel, ash, and other underwood, for making spars, the property of the Right Hon. John Nicholl, of Merthyrmawr. The case not being proved, the prisoner was ordered to be liberated. MERTHYR. The weather continues very mild, but unseasonable for the present time of the year. Our hills are green, and, it is said, that many vegetables are growing. The rate of mortality seems to be on the increase in and about the town; and the fatal accidents which have occurred during the last week, are, we regret to say, unusually nu- merous. On Tuesday, the 19th, Enoch Lewis, aged 19, a native of Cardiff, a boatman, went into one of Mr. Powell's pits at Aberdare, for the purpose of seeing the work, and in coming up he stepped from the bucket to the wrong side, fell back to the pit, and was broken in two parts. The verdict of the jury was "Accidental death." MORE SUDDEN DEATHS.—Mrs. Williams, of Rhyd-y-Car, aged 58, who was at her place of worship, on Sunday, the 17th, apparently, in good health; and on the following Tuesday, was a corpse, from the effects of paralytic stroke. Rees Giles, aged 74, of Cwmdare, Aberdare, having taken his breakfast, to all appearance, in good health, on Wednes- day, the 20th, suddenly dropped down, and was taken up dead. The verdicts of the juries, in both cases, were Died by the visitation of God." David Richards, collier, aged 25, expired on the 20th, from the effects of injuries he sustained a week previous, by a fall of coal. The jury empannelled to inquire into the particulars attendant on his death, at the Ivy Bush, returned a verdict of Accidental death." ANOTHER FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Friday morning, the 22nd, a miner, named Thomas Richards, from the side of Aberdare hill, having gone to his work earlier than usual, for the purpose of coming out to go to a funeral, was crushed to death, by a large stone falling upon him. He has left a wife and seven young children to lament his premature death; his widow is about being confined with the eighth. He bore a most excellent character for industry and honesty, and was highly esteemed by all his fellow-workmen. An inquest was held on his body on Saturday, at the Six Bells, before W. Davies, Esq., coroner, when a verdict of" Accidental death" was returned. The Baptist Sunday Schools assembled at Dowlais last Christmas day, and the Independent Sunday Schools at Zoar Clial)el, in this town, to repeat their catechisms. There were •vast crowds present in both places. The public-houses in the town too, were rather full, and fiddling, harping, and dancing were the orders of the evening. We have no lavour- hi.. ifnnrt to make of the iron trade. "r- MERTIIYR TEETOTALLERS.—According to annual custom, about 1,000 of the Teetotallers of this town met on Monday, at one o'clock, in Iligh-street; and having formed them- selves into procession, proceeded through that street, up Bridge-street, over the iron bridge, to Dynevor-street, over .Jackson's Bridge, through Tydfil-street, to Caepant-tywyll (chapel, where the public meeting was held at half-past two. IFather Watkins was unanimously voted to the chair, and in Una usual style, fired at once against the element intem- perance." lie was followed by two or three reformed •drunkards, Mr. Maddy, and Mr. Jonah Phillips, of Llan- -ilovel-Y, who showed much tact and no small talent, in Klemei'i'bing the blessedness of a sober life, urging all anti- Weetot-iliers present to join their ranks for the sake of others, Bf they were moderate drinkers themselves. They repeated j»s.vie.ral authentic facts, which told well on the audience. At t'Jur the¡y .departed in the same order to their respective iloirresw hold meetings of the same kind in the evening. DOWLAIS. MANSLAUGHTER.—On Wednesday, the 20th instant, in- formation was received at the Dowlais police-station, that a child, named Daniel Evans, aged four years, had died from the 'effects of a blow given with a birch broom, by a man .named Daniel Philips, a labourer, who ws immediately A,iken into custody by l'. C/Ii Jarrett and Parker. On Thursday, William Davies, Esq., coroner, and a respectable jjmry, assembled at the Owain Glyndwr Tavern, to hold an jnqwst on the body, but they adjourned to give the medical unen .time to make a post mortem examination. On Satur- .d,\y thev again assembled, when the following evidence was .a,iduced Ann Enlll ;ii(I-I live next door to the prisoner. On Stmday last I law deceased with other children playing in the gardens in front of our houses. Prisoner was standing at his own door. I heard him tell the children to go out of the garden. They did not go at his request, and he then took a besom which he threw at them. Cannot say whether lit struck deceased or not. J have never told any person that I saw it strike him. I went into my house diiectl). (This ••witness had evidently been tampered with, as she gave her (evidence in the most reluctant manner. AnnlEvans, mother of the deceased, said, Hearing my (I'bild cry I went out, and was told by the last witness that the prisoner and children had been quarrelling, and that prisoner had struck my child with s broom. While 1 was talking to the last witness prisoner carrje out with a poker in his hand. and said if I did not be off he would serve me the same. I thell went into the house where my child had been carried, he was crying Oh my belly," and said David Phillips had struck him with a besom he then began vomiting. I put him to bed, and found a round bruise on 'his belly. I sent for Mr. White, surgeon, who gave him some medicine he got gradually worse until Wednesday .evening, when he died. Mr. White, surgeon, stated I was called to see deceased ran Sunday. I found a circular bruise on the abdomen. I icousidered him suffering from inflammation of the bowels, •causeJ by a blow. I prescribed the usual runjedfes, but the iuillam-Esation went on increasing, attended with obst}i?at £ COT^etipation, until Wednesday, when he died. I hjLve sin £ G made :a fost mortem examination. I found IL hole in the small iacteetiues, large enough to admit my hnger, this, •causing their'Contents to escape, produced the inflammation which destroyed Jife. It was evidently the effects of a blow which might have been given with such an instrument as the Vbrooin handle produced. AFFRAY AT DOWLAIS.—On last, the 24th instant, :an affray took place at Dowlais between the soldiers, civili- ans, and police, which threatened to terminate in rather a serious manner. It appears that a ljlrt3, of privates of the .}:3nl regiment were coming drunk through the town in (company with a civilian, named Uurke. A quaitfll ensued Yhefween them and a working man, wliell Shannon, one of tlrt -soldiers, drew a bayonet and ran ifWr him, jut, luckily, he fell down, and the man escaped. Police Serjeant W renn coming up at the time, was requested by th.7 soldiers to take some of the civilians l whom they accused of throwing stones at them) into custody. This he declined, not having wit- nessed the affray but said if they would go to their barracks he would endeavour to protect them from further molesta- tion. Upon this the soldiers became very violent, and Burke, the civilian, struck Serjeant Wrenn upon the head, who thereupon took him into custody. The soldiers then attempted a rescue, and one of them diew his bajonet, and swore with horrid imprecations that lie would rip the b- guts of Serjeant Wrenn out, who, nevertheless, kept his hold of Burke. By this time P.C. Parker fortunately came to his assistance, and, by their fjiiit^d exertions, succeeded in taking Burke and two of the wjMiexs into custody, who was badly wounded on the head by a blow from one of the policemen's truncheons. The foiteiying evening a party of the same regiment, infuriated by liqUOl'j assembled in front of the police-station, swearing they would have revenge, and commenced an attack upon the door, sylijch, foitunately, ,-v,as too strong for them, or the consequences might have l't -)1 serious, there being only one officer and his wife in at 'ltlJe/ime. Police-sergeant Wrenn shortly afterwards ai rived, getjjtp. at the back, and having, with P.C. Jarrett, armed .9 thilves with pistols and cutlasses, proceeded to the street.^calling upon the inhabitants to assist them, who realilY consented. The soldiers then dispersed, and a !.trEg ipi(luet having been promptly sent out by Major Smith, ,pearly the whole of them were speedily conveyed to barracks,,and placed under arrest. On Friday an investi- gation t,o,o.k place before the Merthyr magistrates, but we Jiave not hceii informed of the result. The coroner having summed tip, the jury immediately returned a verdict of manslaughter against David Phillips, who was then committed, on the coroner's warrant, to take his trial at the next Glamorganshire Assizes. INQUEST.—An inquest was also held at the same time and place, on the body of Richard Griffiths, collier, who was killed by a stone falling on him, two tons, while in the act of loading a tram in one of the Dowlais coal levels. Verdict—"Accidental Death." MERTHYR POLICE.—THURSDAY 21. (Iiefoie T. W. Hill, Esq.) Cash nees, was charged by Margaret, Jones, married-wo- man, huth of Merthyr, with an assault, on the 16th.— Fined Is. and half the costs, the other half to be paid by complainant. Thomas Miles, miner, was charged by P-C. 14, W. Thomas, with an assault on his person on the Hltb instant. —Fined Is. and costs. Miles expressed himself very sorry for his conduct. FRIDAY, 22. (Before T. W. Hill, and G. R. Morgan, Esqrs.) Thomas Mori/an, miner, of Dowlais, was summoned by Evan Davies, for refusing to pay 8s. 3d., wages due to him and also 19s. 1£1. due to Anthony Jones.—Ordered in both cases to pav the sum demanded, and costs. William Harrison was charged by P.C. Forey, with being drunk and disorderly on the night of the 21st instant, in ,S%vaii-street, -Nlei-tltir.-Fine(i Is. aiitt costs. TUESDAY, 26. (Before T. W. Hill, Esq.) John Hutching*, Dowlais, was charged by P.S., 11, H. Wrenn, with being diutik, and incapable of taking care of himself, on the night of the 23rd instant.—Fined Is. and expenses. No other cases were gone into to-day. William Burk was remanded to Cardiff gaol until Wed- nesday, the 27th instant, for assaulting Serjeant Wrenn, of Dowlais.