Pontypool Free Press and Herald of the Hills

IMPERIAL p ARLIAMENT In the TTr u^e of Lords, August 9. their Iornphips assembled at 4 o'cloek "hell the K, I aJ assent was given by commis- sion to the Fortiflcatl ns (Provision for Expends) Hill. the Savings' J>MT:K^ and Post office Savings' Banks Hill, the Public School Act jlf-CS; Amendment Bill. the Civil Oiffces Pensions Bill, the Trades' Uuio> Bill, the Metropolitan Poor Act (1867) Amendment, Bill, the Valuation of Property M-troinjlis} Bill, the Evidence Amendment Bill, the Contagious Diseases (Alli- mals) Bill, the Bankruptcy Bill, the Telegraphs Bill, the Im- prisonment fr>r Debt Bill, Bi I, the Militia Bill, the Vnlmneer Act (1863 Amendment B 11, the Metropo- litan Bulging Act ,1S63) Bill, the Courts of J n«t;cc fSalaries Bill, Expi. inn Laws Continuance Bill, Accounts Presentation Bid, Pievention of Gammg in Scotl and Bill, the Clerks of Assize Bill, the Turn) ike Acts Continuance t ill. <tc. • Their lordships eaasemole at five o'clock, when the Me tropoli'.aii Boaid of Works (Loans) Bill was passed through committee. The Appropriation Bill also passed through committee. The Commons' amendments were agreed to in the case of committee. The Appropriation Bill also passed through committee. The Commons' amendments were agreed to in the case of the New Parishes and Church Building Acts Amendment Bill, the Pharmacy Act (1868) Amendment Bill, the Millbank Prison Bill, the Presentation of Benefices belonging to Roman Catholics, &c Bill, the Bishops' Resignation Bill, the Contagious Diseases Bill, the Government of India Act Amendment Bill, the Governor-General of India Act Amend- ment Bill, and the Habitual Ciiminals Bill. J he Sanitary Act (1866) Amendment (Ireland) Bill was read a seeond time. The Canada (Rupert's Land) Loan Bill was read a second time, after some remaiks from Earl Granville as to the con- ciliatory spirit evinced by all parties in the negociations on this subjsct. The following bills were read a third time, and passed:- Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Bill, Warehousing of Wines and Spirit, etc., Bill, Dividends on Public Stocks Bill, Harbour of Galle Loan Bill, Hackney and Stage Car- riage Law Amendment Bill. East India Loan Bill, In- cisure of Lands Bill, Sanitary Act (1866) Amendment Bill, Metropolitan Commons Act (18M) Amendment Bill, and Titles to Land Consolidation (Scotland) Act (1808) Amend- ment Bill. The Duke of Argyll proposed that the amendments to the Parochial Schools (Scotland) Bill be considered on Tuesday. Lord Redesdale moved an amendment deferring the con- sideration of them for three months. He described the re- peated postponements which attended the bill in the House of Commons, strongly condemned the pro formd committal whereby the measure sent down by their lordships had never been really submitted to the Lower House, and urged that the authority and independence of their lordships would be at an end if important bills were forced upon their acceptance at the fag end of the Session. The Duke of Argyll, in reply, contended that in considera- tion of the bill having been first submitted to the Lords, of the urgent business which had retarded its progress in the Commons, and of the willingness of the Lower House to enter upon its consideration at so late a period of the Session, their lordships were bound to proceed with the bill. Lords Melville, Selkirk, and Colonsay urged the unreason ableness of persevering with the bill, Lord Colonsay in- sisting that such hurried legislation could not prove satis- factory. Lord Granville reminded the House that earlier in the Session the bill went through Committee in a single night, and maintained that the Commons' Amendment could be considered in a single sitting. On a division, Lord Bedesdnle's amendment was carried by i5 to 49. The bill is therefore at an end for this Session. Lord Granville, in reply to Lord Stratheden, expressed an opinion favourable to the present site of the Canning statue, and their lordships afterwards adjourned. In the House of Commons, Lord Elcho presented a peti- tion signed by 120 delegates, representing 30,000 colliers in Lancashire, setting forth that they consider the present system of inquiry into colliery explosions does not furnish adequate results, and praying that a Royal Commission be appointed for enquiry. Mr. T. Chambers gave notice that early next session he shall call attention to the present unsa isfaciory state of the Established Church as reg rds the body of the people, and to invite the House to a consideration of such changes thoroughly consistent with his doctrines and opinions as will bring it into harmony with the feelings of the laity, and make it a more effective instrument for the evangelisa- tion of the people, The Charity Commissioners Bill was further considered, and a clause relating to tables of fees having been inserted on the motion of Mr. AyrtOD, it was agreed to. On the motion for the third reading of the Parochial Schools (Scotland) Bill, L ud ilebo moved that it be recommitted. The bill having been recommitted and eertaln verbal amendments introduced, On the motion that the bill be read a third time and passed, Tile Lord Advocate said he was sorry ho could not keep faith with the House by announcing the names of the person* who were to be commishioners under the Act, but as the approval of her Majesty must have been first obtained no time had been left to submit the names to her. He was, however, able to announce that the secretary would be a layman. The bill was then read a third time and passed. The Steam Boilers Inspection Bill was withdrawn, and in Committee of the whole House, Mr. Shaw Lefevre laid on the table a bill of 800 clauses to Amend and Consolidate the Mercantile Marine Law, and Mr. M'Lsren introduced a bill for the Abolition of Compulsory Church Rites in Scotland. Lord Elcho called attention to a memorial recently pre- sented to the Government, signed on behalf of 30,000 miners, praying for a special inquiry into the causes of recent acci- dents in coal mines, and in reply, Mr. Bruce <1id not agree in the necessity of a special in- quiry, as the causes of all these accidents in a general way were perfectly well known. He regretted that, owing to the pressure of business, it had been found impossible to letrls late this year, but he hoped to take the subject up next Session. After some other business had been disposed of, the House adjourned. In the House of Lords, August 10, the Commons' amend- ments to the Premutation of Benefices belonging to Roman Cat It, i jes, &c., Bill were agreed to. The following bills were read a third time and passed Sanitary Act (1866) Amendment (Ireland) Bill, Bioughty Ferry Provisional Order Confirmation Bill, Canada (Rupert's Land) Loan Bill, and the Metropolitan Board of Works (Loans) Bill. The Commons' amendments to the Charity Commissioners B)U were agreed to. Lord Denmun called attention to the reprrt of the Select Coiiimittee of the House of Commons on the New Law Courts. Be considered that if Parliament abandoned the old ite at Westminster they would assuredly regret it. He thought it wwuld not he fair to concentrate the Law Courts, inasmuch as they would give a monopoly of the legal busi- ness to the senior and leading barristers. In the House of Common, Mr. Taylor asked the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether his attention had been called to the arrest of lr. Nathan, a British subject, at Milan in April la,t, and to his continued incarceration to this time without trial, bail being refused, and whethei he would state what steps her Majesty's Government had taken in the matter ? Mr otway said that a letter had been sent to her Majesty's representative at Milan, instructing him to for- ward further information on this matter, and to request that the) oung man might be admitted to bail and not be sent to Naples. Mr. Bruce wished to make some further remarks with regard to a matter upon which he had spoken on Friday last. A question was put with regard to the disproportion of cer- tain sentences which had been inflicted on prisoners tried at the various assizes. Since answering it he had had an oppor- tunity of consulting with the judges, and hud obtained from them the following particulars, In the case of a man sen- tenced by Mr. Justice Keating to five years' ptnal servitude for obtaining £ i 5s by false pretences, it had been proved that he had previously been convicted, twice for stealing, and had also been in gaol for an assault. The learned judge thought it his duty te protect the public against one whom he believed to be a clever swindler, and therefore sen- tenced him for a long term. In the case tried before Mr. Justice Mellor, in which a man was sentenced to five years' penal servitude for the manslaughter of his wife, there was no evidence to show that any injury had been intended by the prisoner towards his wife. The medical evidence was to the effect that the wounds inflicted might have been caused by a fall, such as was said to have taken place. In the case of a man sentenced by the same judge to eighteen month's imprisonment for feloniously cutting and wounding his wife, the prisoner was acquitted of the graver charges and convicted of misdemeanour and unlawfully wounding only. The third case tried before the same jmige, in which the prisoner was sentenced to fifteen years' penal servitude for beating a man with his fists, had been proved to be one of a very serious nature, the wounds inflicted being dangerous. It had also been proved that the motive for the outrage was a feeling of revenge on the part of the prisoner against the prosecutor, who had appeared as a witness against him in a previous case, The learned judge therefore thought it his duty to protect witnesses from violence, and inflicted a teveie sentence. Mr Alderman Lawrence wished to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer a question relating to his statement the other evening with respect to the gold coinage. In the event of a person taking a bar of gold to the Bank for coijing,. would he, under the system suggested by the right In n. gentleman, receive only 99 sovereigns in place ot 100, as heretofore, one being charged for the expense of coinage or would such bar of gold be coined into 101 sovereigus of less weight and value than the present issue, 100 being received by the owner of the gold and 1 being charged for coining and whether this latter would necessarily involve a reduction in the intriLsic value of the £1 sterling to be paid in exist- ing engagements, mortgages, &c. Mr. Lowe said that his suggestion was that sovereigns should be lighter by one grain than heretofore, so that for every 100 sovereigns coined 100 grains of gold would remain to be paid into the Exchequer. As regarded intrinsic value he did not know what that meant. So far as he knew there was no such thing; but he supposed that-the meaning of the term must be defined as the cost of producing a thing like the thin* in question. The Lords' amendments to the Bishops' Resignation Bill, and also the Lor(iii' amendments to the Titles to Land Con- solidation (Scotland) Act Amendment Bill were considered and agreed to.

AN OPIUM EATER IN THE WITNESS-BOX, An opium eater was recently being examined in the Bombay High Court (says the Bombay Gazette). At about four o'clock his powers of endurance seemed to fail him, and he told the chief justice, who was on the 1 lench, that he was an opium eater, and wished to get away to eat his daily id7 "a The Chief Justice Unless I am satisfied that it is dangerous to his health not to eat it at this time, I will not allow him to do so. If a medical man comes and tells me it is dangerous to his health that he remains here he may go, but not otherwise. Mr. Marriott (who was examining the witness): I believe the want of it produces very great prostra- tion. The Advocate General (who was to cross-examine): It may affect his evidence. (A laugh). The Chief Justice Tell him that other witnesses may suffer here i ri-.m the want of something they wish to take at certain hours. If he gets any medical evi- dence that it is dangerous to his health I will allow him Mr. Pigot (with Mr. Marriott) He can do without it for an hour, surely. The Chief Justice Yes, I think so; go on. The witness was here supplied with a chair, and went on with his evidence for a time, but afterwards, in reply to a question, witness said: I don't know. Its my time of eating opium, and I am not in my senses now- I feel giddy. I don't know what I am about now. I kD< m that opium-eaters eat at regular times, and they never fail to take it. The Chief Justice: Well, but other people never fail to take other things at regular times, and still we don't allow them. In reply to the Court, the interpreter stated that the witness had hitherto been answering very well, end so the examination proceeded. Then at the commence- ment of the cross-examination, the Advocate-General piled up the agony on the luckless witness by asking him if all the evidence he had given was part of the result of his dreams after eating opium-to which wit- ness replied that the cause of his present physical diffi- culty was, not opium, but the want of it.

The TYLDESLEY FORGERY-SENTENCE of the PRISONER. At Salford Assizes, on Monday, Henry Jackson, the late secretary and manager of the Tyldesley Coal Company, who had pleaded guilty to forgery, was called up to receive sen- tence. The prisoner had embezzled various sums, the pro- pi rty of his employers, amounting in the aggregate to about £ fi,000, and to conceal the offence he had made a number of falõe entries in the bank pass-book. The Judge said he very much regretted to see a person of the prisoner's situation and previous good character in the position in which he wae then placed. He was the secretary and manager of a highly-respectable company, and had the entire control of its funds, a large amount of which he embezzled in the first instance, and finally at- tempted to conceal the offence by committing forgery, which was an offence of a grievous nature. His counsel had adopted the proper course in advising him to plead guilty, because there were no circumstances in the case hy which be could possibly escape a It had been said on behalf of the prisoner that this was not a common case of forgery, the obj-ct not being to obtain money by means of the ins^ium«-nt that was for/ed. He (the Jmlg.) admitted that that, w;is so, but he could not overlook the fact that another offence had been previously committed. The prisoner had embezzled the money which had been entrusted to his chHrg-e, and to conceal that offence he had committed forgery. So far from the embezzlement being a cir- cumstance of mitigation, he looked upon it as an aggravation, because it showed that the pri- soner had been guilty of two crimes instead of one. Witnesses had been called to speak to the prisoner's previous good ch iracter, but he could nut look upon that evidence in the way of mitigation, because it was quite plain that that character had obtained for the prisoner the confidence of the share- holders and others connected with the company, and enabled him to abuse that confidence for so long a time. It was quite plain that that character was quite undeserved it only enabled the prisoner to abuse the confidence o 'his employers and escape de- tection for a certain time. He was not like an ordinary criminal whose bad associations, want ot education, and other causes, created compassion. In the present ca-e there was an absence of all those temptations, the prisoner being in a good situation, well provided for, and well educated. There was nothing in the case to induce him to look upon the offence as a small one, and, as a warning to others who held responsible situ- ations, the smallest sentence that he could pass was one of penal servitude for five year,s.

THE "RIBBON OATH." A correspondent of the Dublin Express gives the following as a correct copy of a form of Ribbon oath recently found by the police in making a sudden irruption into a publichouse in a county notorious for agrarian outrages "I (A B) hereby agree to become a true and loyal mem- ber of this society, and I solemnly swear before Almighty God to be true and loyal to tne brotherhood, and to each member of the same and I will be obedient to my commit- tee and superior officers, and agree to all their articles, laws, rules, and regulations that have been since the commence- ment, and all amendments added thereto, and to perform all duties imposed on me with loyalty, faith, and fidelity; and I swear tnat neither hopes or fears, rewards or puuish- ments, shall induce me to give evidence against any brother oribrothers for any act or expression of theirs done or made collectively or individually. And in pursuance of this obligation I swear to aid, as best I can, with purse and per- son, any brother or brothers who may be in distress and I further swear to owe no allegiance to any Protestant or heretic Sovereign, ruler, prince, or potentate, and that I will not regard any oath delivered to me by them or their subjects, be they judge, magistrate, or else, as binding And I swear to aid, as best I can, any brother or brothers who may be on trial for any act or expression of theirs, before magistrate, judge, jury, or else, and to be ready at all times to aid by every means in my power to assist in procuring his or their liberation, and, if myself a witness, to disregard any oath delivered to me on such oc- casions by judge, jury, magistrate, counsel, clerk, lawyer, offi- cial or else and tha^ I will not regard such oath as bind- ing And in revenge for the sufferings of our forefathers, and protection of our rights, I further solemnly swear to aid, as best I can, in exterminating and extirpating all Protestants and heretics out of Ireland or elsewhere to hunt, pursue, shoot, and destroy aH Prote>tant or heretic landlords, pro- prietors, or employers, and Also to hunt. shoot, pur.-ue, and destroy all landlords or proprietors belonging to the Cnurch of Rome, should he or they evict his or their tenants from any house, land, home, or holding of theirs. And I further solemnly swear to aid, as best I can, in burning down, sacking, and destroying allMTotestant or heretic churches or places of worship, and all houses used as such by members of different heretical denomination* in this country, and to level the same to the ground. I also solemnly sweartohave no intercourse, communion, or trade, neither to buy or sell, barter or exchange, give or take, or have any dealings whatever with said Protestants or heretics, unless on such occasions as cannot be avoided. "I also swear to defend the farmer, the poor man, the widow, and the orphans of any brother or former brother against the oppression of the landlards and the tyranny of Saxon laws; and I further solemnly swear to do all in my power to procure the independence of Ireland, and aid as best r can in allowing none but Irishmen to possess Irish land, and Ireland for the Irish. "I also solemnly swear to shoot, destroy, hunt, and pursue to death any former brother who may turn informer 0 t ait or, or who may refuse to perform any duty ordered by his committees or superior officers, or any duty which may fall by lot or otherwise to execute. And I agree that my person shall be at all times at their service, to go wherever required or do whatever sent, and also to aid by every means in my power any brother or brothers of this society executing the orders of other committees or omcers belonging thereto, though not in my district, and to aid as best I can he or them in the performance of their duty, And I most solemnly swear to keep all secrets, pass- words, figns, orders, or otherwise belonging to this society, and that I shall never divulge the same by word of mouth or otherwise and I swear neither to mark, write, or i, dite with pen, pencil, stone, chain, or any other mineral or substance above or under wood, above or under water, above or under land, above or under air, on the sea or else- where. or to use therewith any substance whatever above or under, < £ c be it herb, shrub, tree, wood, liquid, mineral, or else, above or below this earih. above or under, fee., or to use therewith any liquid, maiking fluid, ink, or ""y mark- ing substance whatever, above or under, &c., in the sea or elsewhere, to betray or inform of any suns secrets, pass- words, orders, doings, actions, or expressions that have been, that are being, or that will be belonging to this brotherhood." A form of oath so prolix must be a heavy tax upon the memory of the conscientious Ribbonman who wishes to discharge his duty fully.

AN IMPUDENT SWINDLER. The Schumacker family in Paris will, no doubt, be remembered, with its law suits and criminal trials. The father, a cabman, suing the daughter, a woman of the delJJl monde who had become the Marquise d'Orvault, for alimony, and the son condemned to the Bagne, from which he subseouently escaped, for shooting at his sister to extort money from her. The parents have now just appeared again in public to prosecute a female swindler, calling herself the Counts Jordan Poninska, nit Countess d Osten-Sacken. This woman, shortly after the tl ial of the son, called on the Schumackers, and pretending to have great influence with the Empress and personages of rank, offered to solicit a pardon for the young man. The cabman and his wife readily became the dupes of this great lady, who, although, according to her representation*, pos- Refsed entire villages in Poland, condescended to borrow sums of money varying from JE4 to meet the costs on a draft for 93,200, which she was expecting, down to a shilling to pay for mending a pair of shoes. The loi- disant countess, of course, could not call on great people to intercede for the son without wearing jewellery, and as she had none herself she borrowed from the Scbumackers a gold chain with a diamond worth £16, a pearl ring, and a coral bracelet, but which, as might be expected, she never returned. She likewise took Madame Sebumacker into her service aa cook, and allowed the latter to advance money for marketing. But the famous draft for £ 3.2 '0 not arriving, the cabman and his wife lost patience and denounced their protectress to the police, who dis- covered that she had been already condemned for swindling in Baden, Saxony, and England. The spurious countets was sentenced to three years' im- prisonment.

EXTRAORDINARY ACCIDENT AT MALTA. An accident of the most extraordinary description is reported from Malta. On the evening of the 24th July, on the occasion of the celebration of the Roman Catholic festival of the Madonna di Monte Carinelo, in the marine village of St. Julian, some officers of the garrison, said to belong to the Royal Artillery branch of the service, thinking to amuae the assembled crowds who were collected to witness the illuminations, pro- cured a number of what they believed to be light balls, with parachute and rocket bouquets. After arranging the same along the semi-circular mole at the head of the bay and close under the grounds of the Protestant College, one or more were set alight by a match train, when to the astonishment of the officers and the non- commissioned officers and gunners directing the display, and to the alarm and imminent peril of the assembled spectators a loud explosion took place, and showers of grape shot, were cast around. The artillerymen and many others threw themselves on their faces along the mole and road, and the mass of the spectators took to their heels, when the officers, seeing the mistake they had made, did their best, at the risk of their own lives, to prevent further mischief by taking up the loaded shells and throwing them into the sea, some of which exploded under water with tremendous noise, and the concussion shook the ground like an earthquake. The missiles were pear shaped, about two feet in height, with a loop at the smaller end, and appear to have been intended for suspension over a bastion, to throw light on the enemy's movements, and it is said that they have been so long in store that there was no record of their introduction, and they were considered worthless. Fortunately no other harm resulted than a trifling injury to a lady and a boy.

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION OF HAYSTACKS. Mr. Mechi, of Tiptree-hall, has sent the following useful hint to The Times, tor publication:— A lamentable, but easily preventible, destruction of food and valuable property is occurring in this and, I fear, many other counties by the partial, or total, spon- taneous combustion of haystacks. The crop this year is unusually heavy, and for want of sufficient manipu- lation, or hay shaking, the grass has failed to lose 60 out of the 75 per cent. of water that it contained. The consequence is a generation of confined steam and a partial carbonisation or total combustion of the stack and, in some cases, of the adjoining buildings. About three years ago a farmer contrived a simple mode of prevention, which was manufactured by a large Suffolk firm. and which I at once put chasecl at a cost, I think, of 38s. It is simply an iron pipe of 2 inches in diameter, riddled with holes, and having a pointed wooden nozzle. This is driven horizontally into the stack where an undue heat is suspected, the pent up heated steam finds its way into the pipe, and passes at once along it to the outside, where an elbow pipe is attached to give it an upward and better draught. When the weather is cool the elbow is occasionally re- moved to get rid of the water resulting from condensed vapour. No one need have an injured stack, or deteriorated hay, if this simple instrument be used. The pipe may be withdrawn by a horse when no longer required in the stack. By watching the stack at dawn of day, or by the suspicious aroma, one may always have due warning of danger. As corn-harvesting progresses I see painful evidence that the wheat grain will not harmonise with the straw, owing to the extensive root falling or stem rotting, which has impeded or arrested circulation and caused frothy beads and shrivelled kernels. There is great bulk of straw.

NO MORE DISPUTES WITH CABBY! A useful invention has been produced in Paris for settling disputes between cab-hirers and cab-drivers, which deserve attention. According to the account of it which a Paris correspondent has forwarded, the compteur m&janique," or calculating machine, not only reckons the distance traversed, but indicates as well the exact sum of money due to the driver. Two dials are fiiled on the back of the driving-seat; one contains a clock, while on the other the dis- tance travelled is indicated by a hand acted on by the wheels it is entirely beyond the control either of cabby or his fare.' The apparatus is put in and out of gear by the lowering and raising of a lever bearing the word libre," which is only visible when the cab is empty and the compteur" consequently unemployed. There is no danger of the driver omit- ting to lower this lever as soon as he is hired, it being evidently his interest to have the greatest possible dis- tance paid for while, on the other hand, it would be useles for him to try to make a fictitious fare by driv- ing about with the compteur" in motion, for a card in the interior of the machine registers the distance traversed during the day. and the money to be ac- counted for to the cab owner. The great difficulty has hitherto been to find a means of marking the time spent in visits, shopping, blocks in the streets, &c., when the wheels and the telltale are necessarily at a standstill. M. Bruet, the inventor of the new register, has now overcome this difficulty by an ingenious contrivance, by means of which, as soon as the wheels ceaseil to act on the indicator, the clock which forms part of the machine keeps the tell- tale hand moving at a rate which credits the driver with eight kilometres (about five miles) an hour, or 2 francs, according to the Paris tariff. The fares in Paris are low compared with those of London—viz 75 centimes (-Jd.) for the firbt kilometre (about two-thirds of a mile), and 25 centimes (2d.) for each succeeding kilometre. Taking a kilometre as two- thirds of a mile, it follows that, while the charge for the first mile is nearly the same as in London—1 franc 12 centimes, or lltd., against a shilling-the succeeding ones are very little more than half—viz. 17 centimes (3d.) against sixpence in London.

DISTRESSING AFFAIR NEAR ABERFELDY. Early on Saturday morning last, the village of Aber- feldy was thrown into a state of intense excitement by the report that a house at Crofur, about two miles west of Aberfeldy, had been burned down during the night, and two persons, a man and a boy, burned to death, while a woman was so severely injured as not to be expected to live. The circumstances of the case, so far as known, are as follows :—The family consisted of Mr. Donald M'Gregor, crofter; his sister, who kept bouse for him and a boy about sixteen, named Menzies, a nephew of the woman M'Gregor. They had all retired to rest in the evening, and when the fire commenced or how it originated is not known, but about eleven o'clock people on the Appin and Weem side of the river saw the house (which is not visible from Aberfeldy) in flames. The neighbours also noticed it about the same time, and hastening to the scene were able to rescue the woman alive, though dreadfully burned, but the man and boy were quite dead, and the' bodies badly burned, having no doubt been suffocated by the smoke ere the fire reached them. The body of Mr. M'Gregor was found as if he had been tryinsr to reach the door when overpowered. The boy had never got out of bed. Dr. Menzies was speedily in attend- ance, and attended Miss M'Gregor, but little or no hope is entertained of her recovery. The deceased Mr. M'Gregor was a most respectable, quiet man, and the boy was a promising lad. The sad event—the like of which has not occurred for many a day—has cast a deep gloom over the neighbourhood. A later account states that the woman, Margaret M'Gregor, was also reported to be dead. The bodies of the man and boy had the clothes on, but it is supposed that they had intended going dtI early in the morning for loads of peats, and so had not un- dressed.

A COSTLY LIQUIDATION. Mr. McCreight, the liquidator engaged with Mr. Laundy in winding up the affairs of the old Birming- ham Bank, has just presented his bill, which amounts to more than 227,000, or rather more than 21 per share. The period of the liquidation extends over about two and a half years, so that the expenses have been at the rate of 211,000 per annum. The items embraced in this account include, we are told (says the Birmingham Pont), only the costs of the liquidators—that is, Mr. McCreight for the whole time, and Mr. Laundy for part of it—their clerks, office rent, and travelling expenses. The solicitors' bills nd and other legal charges are not included. At present all we can say is that, excluding the lawyers, the liquidators' costs and charges amount to between 227,000 and 228,000; or something more than a pound per share. Some time ago a payment of £10,000 was made on account, thus leaving the balance ot more than E17,000 still claimed. As a matter of course, the committee will not dream of pay- ing such an enormous claim or we presume, any further part of it, until some process of inquiry and taxation has been gone through. The staggering claim above mentioned is not the whole of the case. The only creditors of the bank now remaining to be paid are the contributories-that is share- holders who at the time the bank failed had'balances lying to their credit, and who while liable to calls as shareholders have also claims upon the estate as creditors. Contributories of this class are entitled not only to repayment of their principal, but to interest as creditors. The committee, having money in hand, desired to pay off the principal—amounting to about £ 42,000—in order to save any further charge for in- terest upon it. They accordingly applied to the court for authority to pay the principal; but Mr. McCreight, we (Birptingham Post) understand, has given formal notice not to pay this amount, until his claim is dis- charged, alleging as the reason that there may not, otherwise be money enough in hand to satisfy him. The effect of this notice, of course, is to increase the amount of the interest due, as well as to keep the shareholder creditors out of their money for an inde- finite period.

The Christchurch plains and Lyttelton, in the Can- terbury province, New Zealand, experienced a smart shock of earthquake on the Lh of June. Chimneys feU in all di- rections, a great many stone and brick buildings were more or less slightly injured, and considerable damage was done to crockery &c., in stores and dwelling houses. A few shocks have been felt there subsequontly, but with no further damage. Christchurch, on loose gravelly soil, felt them much more than Lyttelton, which is volcanic rock. The railway tunnel experienced no damage whatever.

THE CRACOW CONVENT CASE. The Austrian Minister of Public Worship, ad in- terim, has sent the following despatch to the Governor of Lemberg in reference to the convent scandal at Cracow Tienna, July 29. The revolting facts which have oceurred, and the legiti- mate indignation aroused against the nuns by the discovery. impo*e on the Imperial Government the duty of most seriously considering what measures ought to be taken. First seriously considering what measures ought to be taken. First of all arises the question whether that community can con- tinue to receive the annual sub^ntion of 1 800 florins which has hitherto been paid to it in virtue of an Imperial decision of the 5th June. 1867, and which is principally taken fiom the iesources of the State. But the Government can- not confine itself to that point. lu consequence of the natural excitement everywhere produced by this affair of the Carmelites, the Cahinet is compelled to,consi,ter whether the continuation of the existence of this convent—from w icli under the most favoii' ab e hypothesis, no good work cctn be expected for miny ear s-is reconcilable with the public interest. On th-s subject I le- quest you to place your. elf in imrmrtiate communication with the diocesan, Bishop Galecki, in order th-it he may give Irs opinion as to whether the maintenance of the Carmelite nunnery is desirable, even on behalf of the Church itself. Yon will be pleased to inform me as sonn as possible of the prelate's reply, as well as your own viêws. But first of all I desire to Know at once if, in your judgment, any reasons can be urged agai"St the immediate withdrawal of the allowance. In case none such exist the Imperial Government beUeves it- self bound to stop the payment forthwith. GlSKRA. The Krai, of Cracow, states that the judicial com- mission appointed to investigate the case commenced their researches on the 28th ult. by going over the convent in company with an escort of police. In pass- ing through the refectory they discovered a secret chamber containing a whole collection of mediaeval instruments of torture. Auionyst these axe two huge crosses weighing 801b. each, which guilty nuns had to wear on their backs as a punishment, two heavy stones of marble to be placed on the chest, and a number of crowns of thorns with long and sharp iron nails. There were also several girdles, also fitted with nails pointing inwards, which it is said were worn next the skin by penitents, and a sort of knout for flogging the refractory. The commifsioiiers next proceeded to the chapel, and found in the choir tour coffins containing the bodies of former abbesses. The corpses are well preserved, and can be seen through the upper surfaces of the coffins, which are of glass. The inquiry lasted all day, but nothing else worth qoticing was discovered. A letter from Cracow, in the New Free Press of Vienna, says In consequence of a calumnious denunciation, the autho- rities have made a minute perquisition in the convent of Franciscan nuns, but everything was found in the most per- fect order, and no dungeons or places of concealment were discovered. The President of the Committee of Enquiry apologised, on leaving, to the Superior, for the trouble he had caused; but the other replied, You have only done your duty, and we prefer to be disturbed for a moment 10 having the slightest suspicion hang over us." Barbara Ubryck, the victim of the Carmelites, is recovering her health and lucidity of mind, and can now converse in an in- telligent manner. Her greatest joy is to put on cleain linen. She aliio eats with more moderation, and no longer displays that fearful gluttony which she manifested on entering the hospital.

In connection with the above case, the following cor- respondence has been sent to the Editor of The Times for publtcation "In the report which appeared in Th* Times ot to-day [Monda\] of this case, tried at Croydon on Saturday, there is one omission, to me very important, which possibly may be the result of condensing a somewhat lengthened case. I rrfer to the concluding words of L-rl Chief Baron Kelly in his address to the jury. His Lordship said 'Every species of imputation is withdrawn, and in that withdrawal r, Grant has acted like a gentleman and the man of high honour which we all know him to be.' [ am pure v u will readily allow me the small amount of space which will he required for this brief addition to your renort of the ahove case in The Times o- ye terday-I am, ';ir. your obedient servant..TAMES GRANT, Author of ihe Religious Tendencies of the Tim..

IMPORTANT TO JOURNALISTS! At the Croydon Assizes, last Saturday, the cause of "Faithful v. Grant" was heard. This was an action by Miss Emily Faithfull against Mr. James Grant for an alleged libel upon her published in the preface to a recent work of his entitled the Rebgioux Tendencies of the Times. The plaintiff, Miss Faithfull, conducts and prints the Victoria Magazine. The defendant is a gentleman connected with journalism. The plaintiff complained that the defendant falsely and maliciously printed and published of the plaintiff in the preface of a aertain book called Rlllqiolls Ten- dencies of the Times the words following, that is to say:- But probably of all the melancholy and astounding things which we see and hear, in relation to the progress of infidelity and atheism among us, th..re is none which can equal the fact that within the last few months an organisa- tion has been formed for the svstematic teaching of atheism in its most revolting forms. One of the instrumentalities to be employed for this purpose is that of Sunday schools, for instructing children in ath-istical principles. 'The atheists of London,' says a paper in Pimlico, 'are now engaged in attempts to imitate or parody the forms of Cnristianily It is not very long ago that, with feelings of revulsion, we witnessed at Clovelan(I-hall the reception (,f an infant into the atheistic body. >Its mistaken mother pub- licly placed the child in the arms of the notorious lecturer, Mr. Bradlaugh, who bestowed upon it his atheistic bflssing, in some sort oi way imitating the forms of Cli, isiaii hap- tism. The journal conducted by the same individual has also recently contained forms for ceremonies at burials and marriages. The latest movement is an attempt to establish a Sunday school, of which we believe that Ur, Charles Watts, Mr. Bradlaugh's alter ego. is the secretary, and which is to be opened next Sunday.' Nor is this all, frightful though it be. Ladies, it appears, are as busy in their endeavour to propanate atheism by organised instrumentalities as the atheisis of our own sex. It is proposed, it seems, to estab- lish a Ladies' Secular Club.the word secular meaning 'atheistical,'—and the two" ladies most active in the busi ness are, according to the London Review, Mrs. Bradlaugh and Miss Euuly Faithfull," meaning the plaintiff. In the second count the plaintiff repeated all the allegations in the first count, but substituting the word wrote N xor ine wora printed. The defendant pleaded—first, "Not Guilty;" second, that before the alleged grievances the plaintiff and certain other persons had caused to be printed and published in a certain newspaper or periodical a letter j or advertisement in the words and figures following, that is to say The Ladies' Secular Clnb.-To the Ladles of Freethought ] Principles —The undersigned beg to state it is their intention to hold a meeting of ladies. at the institute of the National I Sunday League, 256, High Holborn, on Monday, November 2, at three o'clock p,m, for the purpose ot taking into con- ] sideration the desirableness of forming a Ladies' Secular Club.' It has been suggested that if a number of females were to form a Freethought Council, representing every shade of opinion among those who object to the teachb gs of ortho- doxy, it might be the means of formiin; a va!uable organisa- tion, by which Parliamentary, educational, and socid ac ion affect ng the female sex or society in general could be watched and controlled. A focie'y of this kind would enable females to discuss any questions hearing upou social and political subjects, or religious freethought, and might promote educational and social action among tnemselves. All ladies who feel interested in a movement of this kind are earnestly invited to attend this meeting Ladies who are unable to attend the meeting will greatly oblige by forwarding their views, in writing, to Mrs. Eleanor Boon (Secretary pro. teln.), 82, Great Percy-sti-eet, Pentoti ville, We are yours most respectfully, Mrs Ninon Kingsfotd (Lichfield), Miss Emily Faithfull, Mrs. Bradlaugh, Mrs. Barralet, Mrs. ifileanor Boon, Mrs. Farrah, Mrs Austin Holyoake, Mrl. Mensbier, Mrs. II. Law, and Miss Wade." The plaintiff took issue on the defendant's pleas. Mr. Serjeant Parry and Mr. Lumley Smith were for the plaintiff; Mr. Serjeant Sleigh and Mr. Joyce were for the defendant. Mr. Sergeant Parry, in opening the case for the plaintiff, said Miss Faithfull had been distinguished for her exertions on behalf of her sex, and enjoyed the patronage of the Queen, and, therefore, to her cha- racter was of peculiar importance, and she had no alternative but to bring this action for its vindication. He believed Mr. Grant himself would, when he heard the truth upon the subject, regret the imputations he had cast upon her. He was a gentleman of strong religious opinions, those which were termed evan- gelical," while, on the other hand, Miss Faithfull was a lady of what were called advanced opinions." She had been in October, 1868 invited to join a society of persons of such opinions. Now, the libel in substance ca.me to this, that she had adopted atheistical opinions, and had associated herself with persons of such opinions, for the purpose of the propagation of such opinions. This imputation, it would appear, was without founda- tion. No one could question that it was libellous and h, should be surprised if it were denie i that it was so. Yet Mr. Grant justified the imputation. He professed to have taken it from the London JtevUw; but if he ha.d read that paper carefully, he would have seen that it was contradicted in that very paper. If he had seen t he could hardly have published such an imputation upon Miss Faithfull. The London Review had retracted the imputation. In the London Review of the 5th of December, 1868, this paragraph was inserted :— "We have received the following letter from Miss Faith f, :To theElitor. Sir,-By some strange oversight I never saw a paragraph in jour issue of the 3rd of uctoher until it wa« quoted elsewhere, connecting my name with the Ladies' Secular Club Permit me to ask you to do me the justice of contradictinz the same, as I have no connexion whatever with the club in question, and such a statement in a paper of the weight and character of the London Review is likely to do me great harm. Yours very truly, EMILY FAITHFULL.' The paragraph in question was compiled from some announcements which appeared in the Sational Rs- former. Of course Miss Faithfull's contradiction of the report settles the matter." The defendant represented the word "secular" as synonymous with "atheistical;" but that was utterly untenable, and he himself in the very same publication used the word in other senses. The defendant had set up a sort of justification, but it was founded on a com- plete misrepresentation of the word. In the advertise- ment no doubt the name of Miss Faithfull was associated with those of Mrs. Bradlaugh, Mrs. Holy- oake, and others, but she had never given her leave to attach her name to such an announcement, and she had at once written to disclaim it. She was the daughter of a clergyman of the Church of England, and she was herself a member of that Church and she had a horror of blasphemy in religion or atheism. She disclaimed all associations or sympathy with principles or persons of such a class, or opinions of such a character. She knew nothing of Mrs. Bradlaugh or Mrs. Holyoake or any persons of such opinions. She applied to Mr. Grant for reparation, and he proposed to insert a letter from her in all future copies of his work, but the offer was absurd, for it left unaffected all the rmblications of the libel which had appeared. Yet this was all the repara- tion offered by Mr. Grant. He appeared to be under the impression that he was not answerable because he had copied the paragraph from the London Review; but this notion was a delusion, for a person who pub- lished a libel was liable for it whether he had invented it or only copied it. Denied all reparation, Miss Faithfull was driven to this action for the vindication of h-r character. The Lord Chief Baron, at the close of the opening of the learned serjeant, said. addressing the learned counsel for the defendant,-Itg it too late for Mr. Grant to take such a course as might do justice to this lady? Mr. Serjeant Sleigh said Mr. Grant had written a letter to the effect that he had quoted the paragraph from the London Review, and very much regretted it. and would insert in every copv of the book on hand a contradiction. That offer, however, had been refused, on the ground that it was not at all calculated to meet the case, and that there ought to be a retractation by the libeller, published as widely as the libel itself. The Lord Chief Baron But, without entering into letters between the attorneys, cannot you arrange to make some satisfaction to the feelings of Miss Faithfull consistent with the truth and justice of the case ? For this is not only a very serious but a very terrible imputa- tion it has been made publicly, and it ought to be as publicly withdrawn, with an expression of regret that it should have been published. Mr. Serjeant Sleigh Mr. Grant has always felt that and offered such a contradiction. Mr. Serjeant Parry And he afterwards pleaded a justification. Mr. Serjeant Sleigh read a letter of Miss Faithfull's attorney, suggesting that Mr. Grant could easily ob- tain the insertion of a contradiction and retractation in the journals. The learned counsel consulted together, and then Mr. Serjeant Sleigh said it was settled that the case should go no further. and he declared on the part of Mr. Grant that he deeply regretted that he had been led into making this erroneous statement on the authority of statements he had seen published and had not seen contradicted. Mr. Serjeant Parry, on the part of Miss Faithfull, accepted the offer, and, accordingly, a verdict for 40s. was entered.

Permit me to say, in reference to your able report of this case, that when Úr. Sergeant Parry credited me with advanced opini-tins.' he refe red solely to my political and social views As a mere individual my opinions would b.. of little consequence to anyone but myself and my immediate friends, but. after rec nt misapprehensions, the public posi- tion I occupy (with regard to all movements affecting the in- terests of women 1 necessitates the open avowal of my adhesion to the doctrines of the Church of England. I am, Sir, yours truly, EMILY FAITHFUL

"Ai I consider the manner in which my name Is used in your report of the case, Faithfull v Grant.' is calculated to do me an injury, I trust in fairness you will insert this brief note.. "Since the circular of the Ladies' Club was issued, with the drawing up of which I had nothing to do, I have never at- tended a single meeting of the Club, and I was therefore not aware that Miss Faithfull's name had been used without her consent till f read it in your report in this day's [Monday's] When I first saw her name on the circular, I ob- jecte,i to its being there, ni I considered it would be detri- mental than otherwise to the welfare of the Club. fr. Serjeant Parry was quite right wheu he said that 'secular does not mean athei tlcal,' and I believe there is not an atheist in the Ladies' Club, but he was not so accurate when, speaking from his instructions, he said that 'Miss Faithfull altogether repudiated having any knowledge of Mrs. Ilolyoaks,' as she has hall a slight personal acquaint- anc,- with me, though I never spoke with her upon religious matters, AS a proof that I am not an entire stranger to her I may sav that it was my husband who, at great personal inconvenience to himself, and at the cost of many weeks of anxious thoimht and labour, established for Miss Faithfull the Victoria Press, the institution with which her name is publicly associated but this was done in promotion of the m vement for extending the sphere of woman's work, in which we both take a deep interest, and in no way connected with controverted questions in religion.—I am, Sir, yours respectfully, JANE HOLYOAKE

AN INCIDENT OF RAILWAY TRAVELLING. The following letter from E. T. D. writing under date of the 7th instant, was published in The Times of Tuesday, and which we reprint in the interests of ladies who are frequently obliged to travel alone, and also in the interests of all who wish to travel without being annoyed or insulted Yesterday my mother and I had occasion to go down to Brighton for the day, meaning to return by the 6 o'clock train, but we missed it, and had to wait till 8.15, which was, perhaps, later than it was prudent for ladies to travel alone, but in our case, as doubtless iu many others, it was unavoid able. We felt nervous, and asked the guard to be kind enough to let us have ladies in the carriage with us this, to do him justice, he did, and we had with us three ladies, all strangers to each other and a little girl. We were very comfortable till we arrived at Three Bridges, where a gen- tleman got in, for whose presence we had afterwards good cause to be thankful, for as the bell rang for us to proceed the station-master opened our door and presented two individuals who our gentleman companion and I in- stantly saw were not fit to be with ns. as they were quite in- toxicated so we both exclaimed "This carriage is full," as in truth, it was literally, though not as the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway Company would consider. So the station-master, knowing and seeing the state of the two travellers, yet insisted oil thrusting them in, and they stum- bled over our feet and dresses and sat down next the gentle- man and instantly began to quarrel with each other, struck one another, and used the most horrid language. Seeing our nervousness, the gentleman turned to them and said" Re- member, there are ladies present." Then then both struck at him, asking him how he dared to say the carriage was full. One of the ladies, with great presence of mind, held out her hands before the most ferocious, declaring "it was a lady had said the carriage was flill, and surely he would not quarrel with a lady This quiesed him for a moment or two, when suddenly, and with no provocation, he started up and knocked the gentleman's hat off, which he quietly replaced without deigning to notice the man. I must say I never saw any one control his temper so admirably as did our gentleman companion last evening; had he thoughtless of us, and given way to his anger, we should have had a dreadful scene. If this meets his eye I trust he will accept our united thanks for his forbearance and presence, for I feel sure that had we been alone we should have been insulted. Now, I want to ask two questiODS-first, was not that station-master's conduct highly reprehensible for putting two men in such a state into a carriage with ladies? And, secondly, can nothing be done to prevent ladies being liable to such disagreeable scenes? I have travelled in Canada and the United States, and I must say matters are far better ar- ratigedthere. I remember a somewhat similar circumstance occurring. We merely communicated with the guard by means of the strap which passes through every carriage: the train was stopped and the obnoxious individual left on the roadside alone.

SOCIAL EQUALITY IN WASHINGTOlq. --A despatch from Washington to the New York papers says The mixed jury, six negroes and six white?, which is sitting at the Criminal Court here trying a no.src.er case, seems to get along very well in the matter of 6 cial equality. They are quartered at one of the third-class hotels, where they occupy a suite of rooms and eat at the same table wi'hout any exhibitions such as disturbed the peace of Mayor Bowen and the committee of Radical councilmen at Gettysburg on account of the presence of the irrepressible African, Hatton. The black and white jurors pass their evenings together playing euchre, and, it is aid, they take a cocktail together without wincing. The Washingtonians, who have had more of the nigger than any other portion of the American people, are. evidently, becoming accustomed to him socially as well as politically.

THE" GAISOPHANER." The Pioneer states that a discovery has been made by an officer which, if the results on a large scale are at all com- n,ensurate with the experiments made on a small one, may prove of great value in giving a timely indication of the ap- proach or presence of that poisonous state of the atmosphere which is generally believed to precede cholera and other epidemic diseases. The Iga-sopbaners,' or poisonous gas indicators, as the discoverer calls them, are easily and cheaply made. A piece of fused boracic acid, the size of a walnut, from which the water of crystallisation has been ex- pelled, is heated to redness in chlorine, or has dissolved in it while hot a small quantity of common salt, care being taken that there is not sufficient soda-16 per cent.—to convert the boracic acid into borax, which would spoil the effect. The red-hot lump of boracic acid thus charged is blown with a common glass- blower's tube into a thin glass ball or bulb about the size of a small hand-lamp shade, and the gasophaner is ready for use. When first made, the glass is clear, with beautiful iridescent colours, due partly to the thinness of its tides but left for a time, shorter or longer, according to the amount of moisture in the atmosphere, in normal breathing air, it becomes covered or clouded with a light blue film (due chiefly to the carbonic acid gas of the atmosphere), which, combined with the iridescent colours beneath, has an opaline or pearly lustre. On bringing the clouded gasophaner care- fully to the flame of a spirit lamp, this film instantan- eously vanishes, leaving the glass of that part again clear and shining. The delicacy of this test is so great that, although by breathing on the newly made glass, the film may be much more rapidly formed than by mere exposure to the atmo- sphere, an approach to the spirit lamp flame will no longer drive off the carbonated compound formed, on account of the impure gasses contained in the breath. At the same time, carbonates thus formed from the breath of a child, or of an extremely healthy person, vanish precisely as the aerial ones do on appli- cation of gentle heat. Held over a solution of am- monia, the air carbonate will not form except on the upper part, where the ammoniacal gas has less action but if held so that the breath may mix with the ammoniacal gas, a thick white cloud of carbonate of ammonia without opaline lustre covers the go'g. ophaner.' This cannot be driven off by heat, but froths up on an approach being made to the lamp flame. But the most remarkable indication given by the gasophaner' is when it is held over a solution of sulphuretted hydrogen. The 'gasophaner' imme- diately becomes pitted, as it were, with small pox, on the surface next the gas and these spots, on being examined with a microscope, are found to be round radiated crystals, the centre or nucleus of which soon bursts into a hole. They are white by trans- mitted and dark brown by reflected light. Nitride of boron gave exactly similar crystals as the chloride, and so did pure boracic acid. These crystals therefore are presumed to indicate a combination of boron with hydrogen—a fact hitherto unknown to chemists. The 'gasopbaner'can be reheated and reblown as often as required."

THE ANOMALIES OF OUR MARRIAGE LAWS. Referring to the antiquated system of publishing the banns," which is scarcely in keeping with the present time, the Daily News enquires:- Is there any reason why in these days we should keep up the old and inconvenient practice of marrying by banns ? We put the question because of the preposter- ous demands which in many cases are being made on the patience of congregations. No doubt there are district churches where a few more of such interruptions to the service would be easily borne by incumbents not overburdened with surplice fees but in many parish churches the reading of a list of names which seems as if it would never end is an intolerable nuisance. At Lambeth Parish Church, in London, on Sunday morn- ing week, the publication of the banns of marriage oc- cupied a longer time than the delivery of the sermon. If society were really served by this mode of publica- tion, no doubt congregations would be content to sit and hear with patience of the reciprocal domestic intentions of James Joiner and Mary Muffin. But it is not served thus, and the clergy are the first to admit that the system of banns, as generally practised, guarantees nothing whatever, not even the prevention of illegal marriages; besides which, being merely an alternative system, if it did operate to secure a useful publicity it would be avoided whenever secresy was desired. When Anna Matilda Rosebud, for whose name lads and lasses have been vainly listening after the second lesson for thesé, three months, really proceeds to matrimony, she shuns her own accustomed church, and it is some congregation e miles away that hears her name proclaimed as "of this pari-h," where she has perhaps hired an apart- ment, or whither she has gone to visit a friend. At present churchgoers endure the reading of a long string of words which convey no notion whatever to their minds, without the consolation that they are rendering any .service to anybody. It is an inconvenience which might be easily abated.

Commenting on the anomalies existing in our marriage laws, the Daily Telegraph remarks As Sir Roundell Palmer showed on Friday night, the marriage laws of this country are in a state of scandalous confusion. They represent, not a system, but a chaos. Even England, although less open to re- proach in this respect than either Scotland or Ireland, has a confused tangle of laws relating to the entrance into the most important relation of life. Members of the Established Church are unde one Act and Dis,enters under another. A Churchman may be married by process of banns or by special licence that is, he may either have his intention shouted in the public ear, or, for the payment of a fee, may obtain such secrecy and despatch as were once the chief charms of Gretna Green. A Nonconformist, on the other band, may be married by a civil registrar; he signs his name, pays his money, and takes his choice. From the other Dissenters the Quakers are cut off, and have a law of their own. And, as Sir Roundell pointed out, marriages between members of the Established Church, although in themselves open to no objection whatever, are null and void if cele- brated in a church which has not been properly conse- crated, or in a different parish from that in which the banns have been called. Ireland is in a still worse plight, having no fewer than five cr six different methods of marriage. The members of the Episcopal Church are under the same system as those of England. Roman Catholics may be joined together in holy matrimony without going through the preliminary process of banns, and merely • ° .1 t !• _i. 1 1 Mtrn bv tne aia or a pnesu ll"lVU/SU1/S wnu vvmmu- nion. In the presence of a hedge priest, Pat and Biddy may join hands, and then be legally united for life. But no priest is permitted to unite a Roman Catholic and a Protestant; and, if he attempt to do so, the union is void, and he himself is guilty of a statutable offence. Moreover, in Ireland every religious sect has a law of its own. As for Scotland, who shall sing the praises of the chaotic confusion which characterises its marriage laws ? The Gretna Green weddings have disappeared and, indeed, it was runaway couples from England, and not from Scotland, who availed themselves of that historic sanctuary. Now, as before, the great majority of the Scotch unions are solemnised by the minister," after the session clerk has read the banns on three suceassive Sundays, or, for a small bribe, has read them over three times on a single Sunday. But the licence for irregular marriages is still so great that a man and woman may be joined in wedlock if they mutually promise in writing to marry, and if they afterwards live together. Or two people may be legally united merely by certifying, in the presence of witnesses, that they take each other for man and wife. Such a state of things, we repeat, is a reproach to the public intelligence; and. now that Parliament possesses the report of the Royal Commission which was appointed to investigate the subject, the perpetua- tion of the scandal will admit of no excuse. Mr. Bruce declines to give a distinct pledge that the Government will introduce a bill on the subject next year; and, with the amount of unavoidable work which lies before the Ministry, such reticence may be prudent but a reform of the marriage laws will speedily be deemed imperative.

A VALUABLE RACE-HORSE! Rumour has it (says the Pall Mall Gazette,) that Blue Gown, winner of the Derby in 1868, is to be sold for 26,000 according to some accounts and;05,000 ac- cording to others. Say P,5,000, and calculate what he will have been worth, exclusive of bets, keep, and travelling expenses, to his owner. At two years of age he won (having been disqualified for the Champagne Stakes, for which he came in first at Doncaster) the Sunning Hill Stakes of S315 at Ascot Spring Meeting, the Fern Hill Stakes of 2240 at Ascot Summer Meet- ing, and the Clearwell Stakes of £ 910 at Newmarket Second October Meeting. At three years of age he won the Spring Stakes of £ 155 at Newmarket Spring Meeting, a sweepstakes of 150 at the same meet- ing, the Derby Stakes at Epsom of 26,850, the Gold Cup at Ascot of 2840, the Fitzwiiliam Stakes I at Doncaster of 4125, walked over for the Royal Stakes of JE650 at Newmarket Second October Meeting, won I (carrying 9 st.) the second place for the Cambridge- shire, walked over for the All-aged Stakes of £200 at Newmarket Houghton Meeting, and won the lrree Handicap of £1,100 at the same meeting. At four years of age he has hitherto won the Trial Stakes of £1:15 at Epsom Spring Meeting, walked over for the Craven Stakes of JE115 at Newmarket Graven Meeting, won the Tenth Newmarket Biennial Stakes of £602 at the same meeting, won the Queen's Plate of £105 at Winchester, and won the Craven Stakes of £70 at Goodwood. He does not, perhaps, come up to the greatest winners of the Derby, but he has won by his own legs £1,562, and the second place (carrying 9 st.) for the Cambridgeshire. Add to his pecuniary win- nings .5,000, and the result is £ 17,562—a decent sum at only 3 per cent.

EPITOME OF NEWS, BRITISH AND FOREIGN. A terrible hurricane has swept over the eastern part of the arondissement of Pau, rooting up trees, levelling the maize crops and vines, tearing off roofs, and spreading general consternation. The storm took the direction of the Hautes-Pyrcnees, rather increasing in violence as it went along. In the commune of Larreule the devastation is said to be extraordinary. An Act of Parliament has just been issued to amend the law relating to the protection of seamen's clothes and property, in the same manner as soldiers' clothing is pro- tected. In dockyard towns a penalty is to be llifiicted on the purchasers of seamen's clothing. A slave schooner, with 100 slaves on board for Queensland, has been seised by her Majesty's ship Rosario near the Fijis, and the master has been committed for trial at Sydney on a charge of piracy. The wife of Rev. Mr. Cheshborough, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in U ewburg village, was terribly and perhaps fatally burned a few days since, by the explosion of a can of kerosene oil. She was engaged in canning fruit, and in order to increase the fire, which did not burn well, she resorted to the exceedingly dangerous expedient of pour- ing on kerosene oil from a gallon can. The result was the same as in hundreds of similar instances. By an Act of Parliament just printed, local au- thorities are enabled to collect fines and fees by means of stamps. Clerks of Ipecial and petty sessions, if they think tit, may collect fees and penalties by stamps. The old historical Temple Farm," near Yorktown, Virginia, upon which Lord Cornwallis surrendered his forces and signed the articles of capitulation, has just been sold by public auction. It contains fiom 400 to 500 acres, and is said to he one of the best cultivated farms in that portion of the state. It brought 8,005 dols. A band of brigands has appeared on the Pontifical territory, and had made incursions at Vallecorso and San Lorenzo. The bandit chief, De Martino. being attacked on the territory of Paghela, was burnt alive, with his mistress, in a hut in which they had taken refuge. A carbineernamed Caruso was seriously wounded in the left leg. A fresh band of five brigands is signalised in the district of Palma. The total eclipse of the sun, which was visible in some parts of the American continent on Saturday, was observed under very favourable circumstances by represen- tativea of various scientific bodies in different places. It was hoped that some of the more interesting questions which were raised, but not settled, by the observations made in India on the last occasion, would be elucidated by the energy of the American astronomers. A woman in New Orleans was recently arrested for throwing a pail of boiling water over a man. Her defence was that she mistook him for her husband The Leeds Mercury learns from a trustworthy source that there is every prospect of a serious deficiency in the wheat crop over the North and East Ridings. In many dis- tricts the ears of wheat are imperfectly filled, the central husks being barren and this is attributed to injury received whilst flowering, and consequent non-fertilisation. The Viceroy of Egypt reached Alexandria on the 2th ult., and on the following day he was waited upon by the Consular Body, who congratulated him upon the recep- tion he had met with from the sovereigns anti people of Europe. His Highness, in reply, said he felt much gratified V y the kindness and sympathy everywhere exhibited towards him. Fifteen hundred tailors struck work in New York on the 28th ult., in consequence of the masters refusing higher wages. The passengers on the East India Railway are said to have been lately much surprised at the anxiety displayed by the guards as to their health. Any passenger at aU in- clined to be stout is visited at every station by the guard, who inquires affectionately after his health, and cautions him in emphatic laNguage not to go to sleep. To a nervous passenger this would almost be worse than the constant fear of sunstroke. Mr. Stone, of Dulwich, M.P. for Portsmouth, has been allowed provisional protection for the invention of improvements in arrangements and apparatus for taking, counting, and recording votes by ballot." The diligence from Clermont-Ferrand to Bort, a few days ago, ascending a steep hill-side beyond Tanves, when it wa suùdenly enveloped in two clouds heavily charged with electricity, coming in opposite directions, and which met at that point. Suddenly a flash was seen, accompanied by a loud detonation, and the postilion with the five horses by which the vehicle was being drawn were all struck dead. None of the passengers were hurt. A curious recovery of a ring is narrated by a New- foundland paper, which was shown by a gentleman from Trinity B&y, a lady's gold wedding ring, taken from the entrails of a codfish caught off Hants Harbour about the 15th ult. The ring was a very solid and substantial one, per- fectly plain, and bearing the inscription upon the inner circle, cut in Old English or "black letter" style—May God above continew («c) our love. A wealthy gentleman who owns a country seat nearly lost his wife, who fell into a river which flows through his estate. He announced the narrow escape to his friends, expecting their congratulations. One of them-an old bachelor—wrote as follows :—"I always told you that river was too shallow." At Ryde, early on Tuesday morning, Mr. Grinnell, of the New York steam yacht Hawk, fell from the window of the house where he was lodging, and was killed. A farmer's wife in Scotland (Strathspey) was last week watching her beehive. One of the insects stung her nose, and she died within a few minutes. The See of Salisbury, rendered vacant by the death of Dr. Hamilton, has been conferred on the'Rev. George Moberly, D C. L., rector of Brixton, Isle of Wight. The new Bishop has had a distinguished academical career. At one time a 1 ellow and Tutor of Balliol College, Oxford, he has, on several occasions, been Select Preacher; he has also been Bampton Lecturer; and for a long time he held the Head Mastership of Winchester School. Of that College he is still a Fellow, and he is also a Canon of Chester. The refusal of the English Government to recognise the Fenian Haggerty as American consul at Glasgow is, we are told in a cable telegram, favourably regarded by numerous journals. The New York Herald is among the number. That paper, it is said, denounces the appointnient as a mark of ignorance, and a wanton insult to Great Britain. Mr. Titus Salt has followed the example of the late Dean of Durham by presenting to the Royal Albert Asylum for Idiots and Imbeciles, for the northern Counties, nojw being erected at Lancashire, the munificent sum of £5,000. On Saturday, whilst an iron steamer was being launched from the building yard of Mr. Eltringham, South Shields, one of the workmen, named James Dale, got en- tangled in a rope attached to the steamer and was drowned. A young man named William Young, a carpenter, seeing two men fighting near Wallingford on Sunday morn- ing, remonstrated with them, when one of them rushed at him and stabbed him in the stomach with a large knife. He is not expected to recover. The two men who were fighting, and another man who was with them, are in custody. The Committee of the United Kingdom Band of Rope Union recently offered prizes of £100 and j650 for the first and second best stories illustrating the advantages of temperance to the young. Eighty-four tales were sent in, and the adjudicators have awarded the first prize to the story entitled Frank Oldfield," written by the Rev. T. P. Wilson, of Shrewsbury, and the second prize to Miss M. A. Paull, of Plymouth, for the tale entitled Tim Maloney." At Bideford, on Monday, a brandy bottle, with French words on a gilt label, was picked up, which contained a piece of paper, on which was written in pencil: The Sea Gull went down with all hands but two, lat. 25 11, long. 16 W., July 29, 1869.—John Thompson, skipper." Prince Pierre Bonaparte (a son of Prince Lucien, and a nephew of the first Napoleon) was married two years ago in Belgium to the daughter of a workman in the Fau- bourg St, Antoine. The marriage has just been publicly acknowledged, thus rendering justice to the two children who are the issue of the marriage. From January 1 to July 21, 1869, 159,019 immi- grants have arrived at New York, as compared with 125,549 during the corresponding period of last year. It is estimated that half as many more have arrived at the other American ports, making the total immigration thus far during 1869 nearly 240,000. The Toronto Globe states that notwithstanding the large augmentation the working population of Canada has received during the last few months, its effect so far as sup- plying anything like the demand that exists in the labour market has been very slight indeed. "At any hour of the day when one happens to drop into the Emigration Otlic, it adds, he is pretty certain to find one or more disappointed farmers anxiously asking when any more will arrive and letters are continually being received eagerly asking for hands." The demand for farm labour is in fact so great, that the emigration agent at Toronto says there are fifty applications made to him for every man who arrives. The arithmeticians of the Underground Railway in London,—which Cockneys vulgarly call "The Sewer but which in the eyes of strangers is as great a wonder as the Thames Tunnel was to the last generation— have been reckon- ing up the amount of service which the Company perform fer the public. They find that in the half-year ending on the 30th of last June, they carried more than Twenty Mil- lions—or, to be precise, 20,087,S02—passengers—a number exceeding the whole population ot England and Wales as it was in 1860. What, perhaps, is yet more remarkable, is that the diversion of so enormous a traffic has made no sensible difference in the appearance of the streets, which seem to be as crowded as ever during the busy hours of the day. The New York tramways, according to Dr. Mackay'a statistics, carried about forty million passengers in the half year. The Liverpool Mcrcury states that on Saturday the "Conservative woiking men" of Liverpool and the neigh- bourhood had arranged to hold a picnic in Knowsley Park, and present an address to the Earl of Derby. Several thousands of persons arrived at Knowsley, but it rained heavily, the excursionists were wet through, and when they w ent to the refreshment tents found that a number of j er- s'ns who are described as "riotous youths" had alreaiy n ade a raid on the tents, seIzed a large portion of the re- freshments which had been provided for the Conservative working men and their friends, and h, tai-en "y: • tity of the crockery ware. WP- » consequently to return to t address, it is stated, w* Two children, boy and girl, aged eight and ten years, are giving performances on the velocipede and bicycle at ono of the music-halls in London. Dr. Gedge, of Caius College, Cambridge, will ac- company Bir Samuel Baker into Afnca, as superintendent of the medical staff, and coilector of natural history specimens for the Viceroy. An Act of Parliament has just been printed, making an important alteration as to debts of deceased persons. On and after the 1st January, all special and simple contract debts are to stand in the same degree, and to be paid in the same manner—no priority of payment. The potato crop in Cornwall is turning out much better than was anticipated. The disease has done but little damage in many localities, while only in a few has it caused considerable destruction. The extensive bonded warehouses in Philadelphia were burnt on Wednesday night in le.st weEk. 50,000 barrel of whisky were destroyed. The total loss is estimated at over 6,000,000 dollars. A terrible tornado is also reported as hav- ing taken place in the southern part of Minnesota, by which several persons were killed. The Freeman's Journal says it is currently reported that Mr. Gladstone intends to visit Ireland during the autumn. The Dublin paper promises him a hearty welcome By the Cape mail, which arrived at Plymouth a few days since, we have intelligence that diamonds still continue to be found in South Africa, and that one is reported to be worth £80,000. A decree has been issued in Austria, under the signatures of the Minister of Public Worship and the Minis- ter of Justice which in view of the recent cem/bct between the civil and the ecclesiastical authorities, and the still more recent nunnery scandals has special significance. This decree limits the power of bishops to imprison priests and members of religious orders of either sex to cases where the person 80 condemned voluntarily submits to the jl:1ri6dic- tion. There are 5,429 Smiths who received dividends on various sums in the public stocks. Two thousand four hun- dred and seveety-eight Browns are also among the distin- guished quarter of a million, and 2,190 bear the name of Jones. Don Eduardo San Just, late Spanish Consul for Sydney, threw himself from the third storey window of his house on the 28th June, and was killed on the spot. He had been in a very nervous state for some time and was being watched.—Sydney Herald. Another duel between newspaper editors has taken place in Paris, the combatants being M. de la Pouterie, ot the Paris, and M. Naquet, of the Peuple. Happily neither of them was injured. Mr. Thornton, the British Minister, has announced to the American Government that an International Exhibi- tion of the produce of workmen's labour is to be held in London in 1870, and that he has been instructed to make it known to the people of the United States. It is probable that the American contributions to the exhibition will be ex- tensive. The New Zealand mail brings intelligence that Prince Alfred eailed from Auckland on the 1st June, without having had an interview with the Maori King, who thereupon refused to see the Governor. It is stated that a fierce war has broken out in the Samoa islands, in which seventy men were killed and the British consul's fiag was torn down, but no European was molested. At the late ordination in Illinois of a son of the Rev. Edward Beecher, D D., the candidate was solemnly charged as follows I charge you never to forget that you are the son of your father, the grandson of your grand- father, and the nephew of your uncle." Finsbury Park, London, which to the present time has cost about £95,000, was opened on Saturday. A bar of iron one inch in diameter will sustain & weight of twenty-eight tons; a blU" of steel fifty tons, and, according to a computation based upon the fact that a fibre only one four-thousandth of an inch in diameter will sustain fifty-four grains, a bar of spider's silk an inch in diameter would support a weight of seventy-four tons.-Engtneer, One day last week fresh mackerel were sold in Douglas market. Isle of Man. at Is. per 100, and in the even- ing were retailed as low as eight and ten for a penny. The bay has, for some time past, from the abundance of this kind of fish, afforded some rare amusement to the visiters, many of whom are daily engaged in fishing. A few days ago a band of brigands surrounded the diligence from Viterbo to Orte, but the coachman put the horses to a gallop and drove through them, carrying off his passengers without injury, though the brigands fired several shots The number of dangerous lunatics confined in dis- trict asylums in Ireland on the 30th June, 1869, was 2,380: and in private asylums 65. The numbers of idiots and epi- leptic patients respectively in district asylums were 146 and 446; and in private asylums 35 and 32. We have tÀUS & total of 3,104 lunatic persons who are under restraiHt in Ireland. The particulars of another railroad accident in America have been published. Early on the morning of the 28th ult., a passenger train, containing a well-filled sleeping car, from New Orleans, on the Memphis and Louisville Rail- r0arl., fell through a trestle bridge near Clarksville, and the entire train, excepting the sleeping car, wà8 destroyed by fire. The engineer, fireman, and a paasenger were killed, and a large number were badly wounded. On the 3rd inst. the first stone of a monument to the celebrated German geographer Mercator was laid with great solemnity at Duisburg. A butcher named Barden, at Douglas, in the Isle of Man, was cutting up some lamb in his shop for two ladies a day or two since, when, without any apparent cause, he suddenly plu ged the knife into his own throat and killed himself. This was at a quarter to one o'clock, and at half-past two (so promptly, according to the Isle of Man Times, are such affairs disposed of in that island), his worship the high bailiff held an inquest, and the jury returned a verdict that the de- ceased committed suicide while labouring under temporary insanity. The Indian papers state that during the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh to Agra in January next there is to be a Soldiers' Exhibition, open to the whole army of India. This proposal originated with the Government of India, in oonse- quence of the success of similar exhibitions at Lucknow, Lahore, and other places. Articles of any nature whatever will be received provided only that they are the botuxfide work of the officers or soldiers and their families. An International Congress, with the following pro- gramme is to open at Brest on the 20th September:—" To maintain and encourage the study of the language, literature, customs, and history of the Celtic races, and create a bond of union between the men who take an iuterest in those ques- tions in France, Great Britain, and elsewhere." The President and Council of the Royal College o Surgeons in Ireland, at their meeting held last-week, unani- mously conferred the high and unusual distinction of an honorary fellowship of their ccllege on Dr Brady, M.P., in recognition of his professional attainments, and untiring and successful exertions in the House of Commons and elsewhere on behalf of the medical profession.—Irish Times. The captain and one of the crew of the vessel on board which three Polynesians were murdered in the South Seas have been sentenced to death in Sydney, but certain points have been reserved for the consideration of the judges. An appalling catastrophe (says the New York Times of the 2Qth) occurred last evening at about a quarter-past eight o'clock in Printing-house-square in this city Some fireworks in a waggon, the six occupants of which were re- turning from a chowder party, were suddenly ignited, one of the party having carelessly dropped a box of burning matches in their midst. An explosion followed by which seven per- sons were injured, three of them fatally. The revenue authorities have unmasked a singular piece of trickery. In some parts of the country where tigers abound the peasantry have hit upon a manufacture of spurious tigers' heads in order to obtain the reward for kill- ing one of those animals."—Calcutta Englishman. The New York Herald has made arrangements to have an account of the International boat race, to the extent of a column, sent over the same day, by the Atlantic cable. A butcher named Thomas Newbury living At Chalvery, near Windsor, about three weeks ago was bitten in the hand by a pig. It was thought the wound had healed, but last week symptoms of lock-jaw appeared, and he was removed to the Windsor Infirmary, where he died within twenty-four hours after his admission. The Pacific Railroad is now bringing us fresh fruits from California and the despatch of a fruit-car laden with plums, pears, and grapes for Chicago and New York, opens up the prospect of a large fruit trade between our Atlantic and Pacific States. The California fruits are surpassingly ex- cellent in quality, and we shall welcome their constant arrival in our markets.—New York Times. A sprightly Frenchman, writing aout London says—"Gold circulates everywhere by liandfuls, and is more common than copper coin in France. If you buy two penny- worth of snuff, or an crange at the street corner, the dealer will produce a handful of gold to give you change." But he does not admire English food. It is, he says, thick stupe- fying beer, meat almost raw and horribly spiced strong li- bations of port wine, followed by plum pudding—such is the meat of these islanders." However, he admits the English are very distingui'" The English have an air of nobility rarely found amongst the French, and this type, so far re- moved from vulgarity, is to be met with in nil cJasees- amongst cab-drivers as well as amongst baronets and lorde. Tbe Minister of Justice in France has addressed a circular to the French prelates, in which he informs them that on the 15th inst. a century will have elapsed since the birth of the founder of the Napoleonic dynasty. This cir- cumstance, he says, will add to the patriotic character of the Fdte annually celebrated on that day, and the glorious re- collections of the First Emperor will blend with the senti- ments of profound gratitude towards the heir of his name his traditions, and his devotion to the interests of the country. The prelates are therefore requested to call upon the faith- ful to unite in offering up prayers for the Emperor, the Empress, and the Imperial Prince. Similar circulars have been sent to the heads of the other Churcaes.

THE MARKETS. MARK-LANE.—MONDAY. Very few samples of English wheat on sale at Mark-lane this morning. Firmness was imparted to the trade by the un- settled weather, and all samples were held for an advance of from Is. to 2s. per qr. nevertheless, owing to the limited attendance, the business concluded was very moderate. There was a fair 3how of foreign wheat. The trade was quiet, but firm, and factors held for an improvement of l, to 2s. per qr. English barley continued scarce, and the supply of foreign was not extensive. For both grinding and distilling sorts* there was a firm inquiry, at full prices. Malt was steady, at about late rates. The market was fairly supplied with foreign oats, but scantily with English produce. Transactiops to a fair extent were effected, at 6d. to Is. per quarter more money than on Monday last. The show of beans was moderate. Full prices were realised for most descriptions, with a healthy demand. As regards peas, we have no change of importance to notice. The trade was steady, on former terms. Considerable firm- ness was apparent in the flour market, and there was a ten- dency to higher rates. Maize was purchased to a moderate extent, at full prices. Linseed was quiet, hut rapeseed was firm. Most agricultural seeds realised extreme quotations. Oilcakes were rather dearer. METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET.—MONDAY. The market was well supplied with prime beasts and sheep. The trade was dull, and lower rates were accepted. From our own grazing districts the receipts of beasts were on a moderate scale. The attendance of butchers was limited, and sales progressed slowly in all breeds, at a reduction of 2d. per 81b. The best Scots and crosses sold at 5s. to 5s. 2d. per 81b. Fair average supplies of sheep were brought forward, and the number offered being in excess of requirements, the market presented a heavy appearance, and business was only con- cluded on easier terms. The best Downs and half-breds sold at 5s. 2d. to 5s. 4d. per 81b. For lambs the demand was heavy at frem 5s. 4d. to 5s. lOd. per 81b. Calves sold quietly, at about previous quotations. Pigs were in limited request, at late currencies. HOPS. Accounts from the plantations speak of a decrease of vermin, and of an improvement in prospects generally. The business doing is very moderate, but prices are without change. Quotations Mid and East Kents, jM 10s. to £61011. Weald 01 Kents, £2 5s. to £4; Sussex, £2 to £3 16g. Fanihams. £3 10s. te £6: Country, £3 10s. to £4 10s. Ba- varians, £2 to £3 10s.; Belgians, £2 to £3; Yearlings, £2 to £3 10s.; American, £2 6s. to £3 10s. per cwt. WOOL. The next series of public sales of colonial wool will be com- menced on the 12th instant, and 147,618 bales have arrived meanwhile the business doing is very moderate, but prices rule firm. English wool is steady in value, with a slow in- quiry. Current prices of English wool:—Fleeces: Southdown hoggets, Is. lid. to la. 2td.; half-bred ditto, 1&. 4Jd. to Is. &d.; Kent fleeces, Is. 3d. to Is. 3,d.; Southdown ewes and wethers, Is. lid. tc Is. 2d.: Leicester ditto, Is. 2,d. to h, 31< Sorts: Clothing Is. to la.5td.; combing, lid. to Is. 5d. per lb. POTATOES. The supply of potatoes is good. The demand has been ol1ly to a moderate extent, at our quotations. English shaws, 95s. te 105s. regents, 105s. to 120s. Frew* T>f>r