Pontypool Free Press and Herald of the Hills

VOLUNTEER INSPECTION. The General Annual Inspection of the 2nd Mon. Rifle Volunteers took place at what is locally known as "The Island," at Usk, on Saturday last. The day Was delightfully fine, and a large number of people assembled to witness the inspection. It singu- larly happened that Colonel Cotton, the inspecting officer, took the wrong train at Pontypool Road Station, and in consequence did not arrive on the ground until a much later period of the day than that appointed; and two years ago the re- viewing officer missed his train, and the corps were then kept waiting for his delayed arrival. The officers present were Colonel Cotton, commanding the 25th Brigade Dep6t, Brecon, attended by Capt. Austin, of the 24th Regiment, as aide-de-camp; Colonel Roden, Major Mitchell, Captain and Adju- tant Carnegy, Quarter-master H. J. Parkhurst, and Surgeon-Major Mulligan (staff officers); Captains W. Powell, B. Mitchell, D. M. Llewellin, Jacob, A. R. Verity; Lieutenants D. Jones, J. W. Green, D. L. Evans, A. Farr, and J. T. Jen- kins; Sergt-Major Johnston & Drum-major Waite. The visitors from other corps were Major Hair; Captain Williams, 5th Mon. (Hanbury); Captain Lowell, 2nd Brecon Volunteers; and Lieutenant Thomas, Gloucester Volunteers. There wei*e also on parade 2 Sergt.-Instructors, 28 sergeants, 6 huglers, 33 band, 340 rank and file-total (includ- ing the officers), 433. There were absent with leave, 2 sub-lieutenants, 1 surgeon, 1 sergeant- instructor, 5 sergeants, 116 rank and file, making the total strength 558. No. 1 Company (Ponty- Pool), was commanded by Capt. Llewellin; No. 2 (Ebbw Vale), Capt. Powell; No. 3 (Abersychan), Capt. Verity; No. 4 (Ebbw Vale), Capt. Powell; No. 5 (Sirhowy),Capt. Mitchell; No. 6 (Cwmbran), Capt. Jacob. The battalion was put through a course of manual and platoon exercise, and displayed great excel- lence in the performance of their manoeuvres, the style of marching past, and the precision in firing, being remarkably good for companies which have such limited opportunities for drill. At the close, Col. Cotton made a few remarks complimenting the officers and volunteers upon the way in which they had acquitted themselves during the inspection. He especially instanced the marching past, and said it was highly creditable. Afterwards, Col. Roden addressed the battalion, and expressed his gratification at the favourable nature of the report it was certain the reviewing officer would make, judging from what he had said, to head quarters. The gallant Colonel then spoke to the men with regard to discharging blank cartridges after parade, as he was informed there were instances in which rifles had been discharged in public places after the inspection. He intended in every case that came to his knowledge to prosecute anyone so doing.—The battalion were then dismissed, and Were supplied, ad libitum, with a lunch on the ground. The officers also sat down in a marquee to a capital lunch, provided by Mr Morgan, of the Castle Hotel. Col. Roden occupied the chair, and -Major Mitchell the vice-chaii-, congratulatory speeches being made, and the healths of the In- specting Officer, Col. Roden, and the Vice-Chair- uian were heartily drunk.—Lieut. Jones and Lieut. Green passed their examinations; ou the ground.

AFGHAN OUTBREAK AT CABUL. MAJOR CAVAGNARI AND ESCORT KILLED. THE RESIDENCY ON FIRE. THE AMEER BESIEGED. RUMOURED DEATH OF THE AMEER. SIMLA, Saturday.—At a late hour on Thursday night a Gilzai messenger, travelling post haste,reach- ed Ali Kheyl from Cabul, and reported to Major Conolly, the political officer there, that the British Embassy at Cabul had been attacked by several Afghan Regiments, which had assembled in the city demanding their arrears of pay. The Embassy escort were defending themselves. Major Conolly telegraphed the substance of letters received from the Ameer himself, confirm- ing, in effect, the intelligence already received, but adding that the regiments who had mutinied were joined by the populace, and plundered and destroyed the Ameer's arsenal and stores. They afterwards attacked the Embassy in overwhelm- ing numbers. The Ameer states that he was com- pletely surprised by the outbreak, and endeavoured to quell it. He also sent General Doudshah to Major Cavagnari's assistance, but the General was unhorsed, and lay dying from the injuries he had received. The Ameer then dispatched his son, with the Governor of Cabul, and other influential personages, but the mob was wholly uncontrolla- ble, and the attack on the Embassey continued all through Wednesday (3rd inst.), when a fire broke out on the premises. The Ameer, writing on the 4th inst., says that he is in the greatest distress, and is himself besieged. The fate of Major Cavagnari and the members of the Embassy is at present unknown. ALLAHABAD (via Teheran), September 8th, 9 a. m.—Several messengers from Cabul have reached Ali Kheyl. Some of them have seen the bodies of the British envoy and suite. No doubt remains concerning their fate. Nine sowars belonging to the escort, who were out grass cutting, have escaped. A stubborn defence was made by the Envoy's party. The loss of the Cabulese was heavy. The mutineers at last burned down the doorway and swarmed in. The whole city seems in insurrection. From VICEROY, 9th September, 1879. An Afghan, who says he constantly visited the Envoy, confirms previous accounts, highly extols the stubbornness of defence and gallantry of the British officers,upbraids the cruelty and cowardice of the Cabulese in murdering guests and stran- gers says there were twelve regiments implica- ted that first a gateway leading into the Resi- dency court-yard was burst open, and there such a resolute stand made with rifle, sword, and bayonet that the assailants were checked, but they set fire to the house, and the defenders, charging out, sword in hand, were all slain, and the place com- pletely wrecked. Loss of Cabulese, including some city people, stated at 210. A guard of Guide Ca- valry, out with gra sscutters, escaped, not known where. SIMLA, Sept. 10.—The latest inteligence received here from Ali Kheyl of yesterday's date fully confirms the previous informatiou that Sir Louis Cavagnari and the personnel of the British Mission were killed while charging from the burning Residency in the Bala Hissar. Twelve Afghan regiments took part in the attack on the Residency, and sustained a loss of 210 men before the British Envoy and his staff were over- powered by numbers. For weeks before the 3rd September disturb- ances between Yakoob's troops and the Envoy's escort were of frequent occurrence, culminating in the mutiny of the Heratee Regiments. The Heratees promptly on their arrival on the 18th of August clamoured for their arrears of pay, J 1 -1-1 —4-^ TT« A O TT7I1M O'VL'TLOF British. The Heratee officers abused the Ameer as an in- fidel for his friendship with the British. They demanded expulsion of the latter, threatening as an alternative their extermination. The Ameer, terrified by their menaces, wept, and embraced the Heratee officers, and attempted to pacify them by asserting that the English al- liance was inevitable. The Ameer's position is believed to be perilous. A telegram received in London on Thursday from the Standard Bombay Correspondent, states that great excitement has been caused in the neighbour- hood where he now is by the report that the Ameer Yakoob Khan is dead. According to one account he was slain by his rebellious subjects, and another says he committed suicide. The Afghan Mission left Peshawur for Cabul on July 11th last, and arrived on the 24th of July. It was composed of Major Sir L. Cavagnari, as Envoy and Minister; Mr W. Jenkins, Bengal Civil Service, as Secretary and assistant; Lieut- enant W. R. P. Hamilton, as Commandant of the escort, and Dr A. H. Kilby, in medical charge. The escort consists of 26 cavalry and 50 infantry of the corps of guides, a force admittedly large enough to fulfil the duties of escort, but lament- ably small in view of the sustained attacks being made on the British Embassy at Cabul.

MARRIAGE OF MISS POTTER. On Thursday morning, much excitement prevailed in the town of Pontypool, and at Trevethin Church, among numbers of persons who were on the qui vive to witness the marriage of Miss Potter to Mr Charles Davis, which took place at Trevethin Church about eight o'clock in the morning. For the purpose of giving additional eclat to the interesting ceremony, and also as a mark of respect, the members of St. James's Church Choir attended and took part in the service, both bride and bridegroom being members of the choir. The Vicar, the Rev, J. C. Llewellin, performed the ceremony. Mr Fox gave away the charming bride, who wore a dress of fawn-coloured silk, trimmed with blue, and a hat to match. Miss Davis, sister of the bridegroom, was the bridesmaid, and Mr Tom Davis, brother of the bridegroom, was best man." There were also in the wedding party, Mrs Potter and her sister, Mrs Hatton, Mr and Mrs Fox. The first hymn sung by the choir, as the bride entered the church, was Church Hymns, No. 241, commencing The voice that breathed o'er Eden That earliest wedding morn, and the last was No. 240. The 128th Psalm was chanted, and the "Amens" were all responded chorally. Mendelssohn's wedding march was played, as the newly-wedded pair left the church, by Mr W. H. Haskins, organist of St. James's. Inside the church a large number of persons had assembled, among whom we may say young ladies predominated. As the bride and bridegroom were leaving, quantities of rice were thrown over them and into their carriage, amid much excitement among those present. Wreaths of evergreens, with flags, were stretched across the Albion Road near Glanant Cottage, Mrs Potter's residence, and salutes were fired by the men employed by Mr John Moseley, also a member of St. James's Choir. At the breakfast, which was most elegantly served up, there were present, in addition to those already named, the Rev. J. Jones and the Rev. J. Wilson, curates of the parish, Mrs John Watkin, of Pontymoile. Mr and Mrs W. H. Rosser, of Albion Road, Mr J. R. Williams, of Penygarn, and two young Misses and Master Potter.

FATHER of adored one Then it comes to this sir yon have no fortune, you have lost your Appointment you have no prospect of getting another, and otI. come to ask my daughters hand—and fortune No Suppose we put it in this way i I am unem barrassed by wealth, and free from the cares 6! busi- ness, and my future is irradiated by hope therefore this is the crisis when I can best devote myself to your daughter, and enjoy that affluence with which you can crown our love. THIS story is told of a young dramatic amateur in Cincinnati. Though still a young man, he was topla^ the father, and the daughter cnahceci to be a V^ry handsome woman. So when he fOrgOfc hig part, he could think of nothing better than, while holding hii child to Bay, Kisq your father. And eaoh time when he felt that hil memory was about 16 fail, h« would save himself by crying out. Come t6 fl&y arms, my child.' The husband oi the daughter heftrq to say that he thought <ihe Irowfw bfetiS|U very oftea*1 i:" 7™^

THE CHANCELLOR OF TIIE EXCIIEUUI.R ON THE CABUL MASSACRE. The Chancellor of the Exchequer in addre ssing a meeting at Topsham on Monday evening s;;i;i — He had hardly expected it would have been his lot so soon after the conclusion of the session to have to address a meeting of his countrymen upon the politi- cal question of the day. At the same time he was always pleased to meet the working men of Exet r. He remembered to have met them at the ebb tide of his political fortunes but he was glad to find that notwithstanding the sneers and taunts they had. been subjected to they had proudly established their colours. In point of fact that at the 1"V„ general election they grew in it to an important political body, and nobly came forward to snatch back one of the seats that had been stolen fiom them in lSGS. They would probably forgive him if he addressed them with brevity, but there was very little retros- pect of the last Parliamentary session which he could speak on without regret. At the same time he de- sired to enter a caution to some of the exaggerations and perhaps the delusions which appeared to prevail in certain quartrrs with regard to the work of the House of Commons. There was nothing he thought an Englishman liked so much as a good opportunity of grumbling. Personally he never grumbled. He thought they were a great deal too ready to find fault with themselves, and to decry themselves. The habit of decrying themselves and the institutions of the country had done a great deal of harm abroad as well as in this country. We were constantly told that the sun of our prosperity had set, that our commerce was ruined, and that the House of Commons had be- come effete and powerless. Many people when they heard these things thought that England was a Power which had begun to pass away, and he believed it was owing in no smail degree to language of that character that many of our misfortunes in the last few years were due. But when the country began to raise its voice its utterances were not disre- garded, they were looked upon as moon- shine, and the opinion that England was incapable of acting up to her professions and would cave in when the time for action arrived was soon dispelled. When the Turkish difficulty arose it was said that the only object of England was to bolster up Turkey, and that, however she might disregard the counsels of united Europe, it would be found that in the end England would take up arms for her. It was probably on that account that our counsels with Turkey failed when they ought to have been most successful. But since England had ven- tured to speak out, and had ventured to say what she really was and what she would really do, she had assumed a very different position in the councils of European nations—(cheers). It was said that the present Parliament had passed but few laws and had introduced but few reforms into the Constitution and system of the country but if they had done nothing more, and had passed not a single measure of serious account, they had done a great work in establishing England in the position she ought to hold and in maintaining her against all comers. He claimed for the Government that from the ueginning of their career they had no object beyond a desire to do their duty to their countryand to maintain its honour and material interest (cheers). He would say noth- ing as to the carping criticisms which had been directed at the policy of the Government. It had been a perpetual indictment. If they were to believe their political opponents they had never been en- gaged in anything but mischief, and there was no remedy except the bag and baggage policy of clearing them out of office altogether. At the same time, they received no hint as to the policy which was to be substituted for theirs, and they were only left to imply that they must revert to the old principle of standing aloof from the concerns of Europe. In reality they were greeted with denunciations, elo- quent and powerful, but of little effect, because they had become so exceedingly monstrous and so indis- criminate (laughter and cheers). He was happy know that the people of this country generally had not participated in these denunciations. He deeply regretted the news which the papers that morning conveyed, and was bound to express the sympathy which every Englishman must feel in the unfortu- nate fate which had befallen those for whefe services in Afghanistan we were so deeply indebted. It was impossible, unhappily, to ignore the fact tiiat they had been sacrificed in an outbreak of fanatical furf, in resisting which they had displayed the gallantry, courage, and determination of Englishmen. Unfor- tunately, they seemed to have been overpowered by numbers, and there was too much reason to believe that so valuable a life as that of Sir Louis Cavag- nari had been sacrificed. The whole country would feel the loss that had occurred. It was premature to comment upon the circumstances that lead to the disaster. So far as we are able to judge, it ap- peared to have been the result of an outbreak on the part of certain mutinous regiments, and it would cer- tainly seem that the Ameer was entirely free from blame (hear, hoar.) We might remain certain that Englishmen would be prompt to go to the succour of their unfortunate countrymen, and that by this mo- ment our troops were far on tho way to the city of Cabul (loud cneers). He would say no more, as he was satisfied they all felt with him that this was not a moment for indulging in any hasty conjectures the country, and tne cuwmerci*. «ieprfc8siou which has now existed for so long- a period, he said tho Government fully sympathised both with the farmers and traders, and they entertained strong hopes that the labours of the Commission just appointed would bring about the best results. In his opinion bad seasons were at the root of the depression, and it would be futile to resort to violent or reactionary measures for a change. All they must depend upon was hopeful confidence in the future. He denied that the legislation of the past session had been barren in results, and agreed with Sir William Harcourt that the Army Discipline Bill alone was equal to three ordinary measures. In addition, the Government had, he hoped, settled for some time to come the question of University education in Ireland, and had returned good for evil to a small knot of men who had done their best to hinder rather than promote sound legislative work for the future good of our sister country (cheers). But the Irish mem- bers were not the only Obstructives. Representatives of great English constituencies, supported and en- couraged by the leaders of the Opposition, were the latest Obstructives, and if Parliament waj to alter its rules for the sake of getting rid of a small tempo- rary evil, it would do what the Irish Home Rulers really desired, and lay the stepping stone for the ruin of Parliamentary government. He was not, how- ever, a pessimist. He believed the heart of England was sound, and that Parliament represented her in all respects (cheers). In conclusion, he thanked the meeting, on behalf of Lod Buaconsfiold, for the support which they had now given for the last six years to a Conservative Government (cheers). The Indian Government made a deplorable mis- take-a mistake the consequences of which no man can foresee—when they assumed that in treating with Yakoob Khan they were settling their affairs with the Afghan nation; but that was only onef phase of a radical error, greater in magnitude, o which the calamitous results now begin to become visible. Against the advice, and in the very teeth of the caution of the sagest of our tried Indian counsellors, they determine to compel Shere Ali to admit British Residents to certain of his cities. The rectification of the frontier was a secondary aim—at any rate it was not mentioned until long after Lord Salisbury's letter to Lord Northbrook urging him to station British officers in Afghanis- tan. The Governor-General and his Council al- most unanimously remonstrated with the Home Goverment on the impolicy and danger of the pro- posed step, and strengthened their protest by re- ferences to Shere Ali's representations that he could not guarantee the safety of a Resident in the midst of his excitable and unruly population. The Imperial policy of Lord Beaconsfield, however, re- quired for its perfection the presence of a British representative in Cabul, and the point was insisted upon. It was on that point chiefly that war arose, and although Mansion House speeches may convey a different impression, the Government regarded the acceptance of a British Resident as of greater importance than the scientific frontier. But they now find that what Dost Mahomed and Shere Ali had said, and what Lord Lawrence and Lord North- brook were able to confirm, is all too true. It has been proved that a ruler in Cabul cannot protect an English representative from the brutal ferocity of the people; and that is no sooner revealed than another and far more important discovery is made. To force Shere Ali to admit a British Resident to his capital we declared war, and explicitly stated that it was made against the ruler & not against the people. Everyone remembers the Viceroy's proclamation, which said that we were not the enemies of the Afghans, but was fighting only against their ob- stinate Prince. But this awful catastrophe at Cabul throws a lurid light upon the situation. We have not been warring with a chieftain, but with a fierce and bigoted people. We are involved in a new war; but it is not with Yakoob Khan; it is with his rebellious subjects. We were told that we had conquered our enemy, when a sudden tragedy, as though by a lightning flasb, shows us that so far from having concluded our labour, we are confronted by a hundred-headed monster. Of course, no time will be wasted by the troops who are urgently speeding towards Cabul. They are too late to save the noble lives which have been literally wasted; but they may.be able to lend succour to the Ameer, and to chastise the authors of the massacre. But what after? That is a question which, as the further-sighted saw, threatened the Indian Government at the outset of hostilities; but it now presents itself in an acute form. We have to fight for the Ameer, and against his subjects. Are we to hold Afghanistan until every spark of rebellion is crushed out of its warlike tribes; and is that the task with whic w the country is menaced, as the result of the disastrous policy Lord Beaconsfield and Lord Lytton have so rashly, so blindly pursued ?—Man- Chester Examiner.

A DYNAMITE "SCARE IN LONDON. Owing to alarminn the locality, atid also, it would seem, to direct complaints on the part of some of he neighbours, the premises occupied by the firm of H. K. and F. B. Thuvber and Co., 115 and 117, Cannon Street, City, have been visited officially by Superintendent Foster and Inspeciar Carter of the Metropolitan Force. It ap- pears, so far ItS particulars of the rumours and com- plaints are traceable to reliable sources, that many of the passers-by in this busy thoroughfare, on Friday afternoon last, were seized with something approach- ing panic by observing, in prominent letters, the word Dynamite on a large number of wooden cases then in course of unloading fiom a van. As may readily be supposed, from the well-known fearful destructive qualities of the article in question, the passers-by did not linger on the way, and the matter came to the ears of the police. Hence the official visit to the premises in the afternoon. It will be satisfactory to many who daily pass alon" this part of Cannon- street to know that theirfears are entirely groundless. The boxes in question, however, far from containing dynamite, really contain comb honey, the entire label running, Handle gently as dynamite, as a drop of one inch will cause certain destruction to the con- tents." Such was the method taken by the American firm to direct special attention to the necessity of care in handling the boxes.

==-- DESPERATE FIGHT BETWEEN A SEAL AND A CONGER EEL. A correspondent writes to the Globe from Penzance —"Walking from p, nzance along the road which skirts the side of Mount's Bay, between the fishing villages of Newlyn and Mousehol", and which com- mands a magnificent view of the bay and St. Michael's Mount towering out of the water on the opposite ride, my attention was drawn to a flock of se:1 gulls hovering and screaming over something among the rocks off the shore. I soon discovered the object of their cries. A seal had captured a large conger eel, and with head and neck above water was trying to bite the eel in two through the middle. He had evidently found a tough customer. The eel writhed and struggled violently to free itself, but in vain. The seal bit and worried it to pieces like a dog. Sometimes he lost it while snapping at it, but diving, he immediately reappeared with the eel in his mouth, and eventually devoured it, leaving the gulls to scream and fight over the fragments of the meal. I was about 50 yards from the rocks, and had a good view of the animal as it rolled over He was from four to five feet in length, rather thicker in the middle than a man's thigh, and spotted black and white. I watched his movements for some time, and as he dived several times and reappeared almost immediately some distance from the spot, I think there must have been two of them, though I did not see two above water at the fame time. Coming to the coastguard station at Mousehole, I made in- quiries, and was told that seals had been seen in the bay some years ago, but their appearance on our coast is, I think, rather unusual."

GALLANT RESCUE BY YOUNG LADIES. The other afternoon three young merchant seamen, named Gcrratty, Scammel, and Smith, having with them a little boy named Morrisey, left the pier at Padstow, Cornwall, in a sailing boat. The wind was blowing strongly at the time and there was a good deal of sea on, and the men had not been out long before the boat was struck by a squall and foundered. Fortunately the Misses Brune, daughters of Mr. C. G. Prideaux Brune, of Padstow, were out in their pleas- ure boat at the time and were rowing near the scene of the accident. They at once pulled to the spot and, at no little danger to themselves, succeeded in rescuing Smith and the boy Morrisey. The others were drowned. Smith and Scammel were two of the crew of the barque Salamander, which was run down a few days since off Hartland Point, and they then had a narrow escape from drowning

'WHAT TIIE WORLD SAYS. Sir Henry Layard will, after all, I believe, be left at Constantinople to complete the eighteen months' service he needs to entitle him to a pension. There has been much anxiety to shift him, and with good reason; but he has a voice in the matter. He would give up Constantinople only for Rome. Now, Sir Augustus Paget does not want to resign Rome, except for something considerably better, and Sir Augustus has Court influence so strong that it is regarded as unwise to put pressure on him. So there is a block, and the last that I have heard is that the round man will be left in the square hole until he attains his pension. I have very bad accounts of Dr. W. H. Russell, by the last mail from South Africa. He had been compelled to remain behind Sir Garnet Wolseley at Pietormaritzburgh, "with a leg as angry as a leg could bo." I imagine the trouble must be Natal sores rekindling the old Indian mischief caused by a kick, in the Mutiny time, from Sir Donald Ste- ward's charger. A young fellow, a mn of Baron Dowse, had a narrow escape at Pontresin* the other day. He wai jininting for a lost tennis-ball, ani in his eagerness J I Fen over tne eiiflf antli into Uie sfream wbioh Sows under the Punt Ota, the bridge ",r i* la th* scene of one of the most effective bits of 3tio Broughton's novel, "Good Bye, ^Sweetheart." He was hauled up by a rope, manfully handled by twenty or thirty peasants. The ravine i# 50ft. deep, and Mr. Dowse may congratulate himself on an escape which was almost miraculous. To the members of the present Cabinet the British Public has no existence, except as embodied in the House of Commons in session. The House being UP> the British public has ceased to exist altogether. That is at all events, the principal on which the Officials' Qf the" departmenis" act on great public smergencies. A case in point is supplied by the news of the outbreak at Cabul. When the message from the Viceroy was delivered at the India Omce on Saturday "both Lord Cranbrook and the Under- Secretary for India and his secretary were out of town. Xhe government of India remained for the time in the hands of Mr. Walpole, Lord Cranbrook's secretary and a few office messengers. Even the resident clerk of the Indian Office was absent by leave, and it was merely by a lucky iccident that Mr. Wadpole was in attendance for the day. This was hardly business-like for inconvenience was soon manifest. As soon as Reuter had sent the particulars of the outbreak the newspapers were on the qui vive for the official dispatches, which were in Mr. Walpole's possession. But Mr. Walpole would not even admit the existence of despatches at all to the members of the Press, and could not supply them without superior orders. All day Saturday passed, ndlthe newspapers were not supplied with the official information. Lord Cranbrook was telegraphed to and Lord Beaconsfield was asked over the wire if the Press might be informed on the subject. His lord- ship took some hours to decide, and the British public remained in utter darkness until Monday morning. The despatches were supplied to the papers on Sunday afternoon, and then they were in print. Two clerks could have supplied on bsituaday in an hour But, according to tho Beaconsiiexd sys- tem, the British public is not supposed to be inter- ested in the affairs of the British Empire. I understand that Sir Garnet Wolseley looks for- ward to being back in England by the end of tb- year. The old soldier with his breast covered with medals, who is now the lodge-keeper at Camden 1 lace, is Lomas, the Prince's servant in Zululand, who had been with his master in all his expeditions, with the exception of the one which proved fatal to him. I have to mention another addition to the already not insignificant list of Royal authors. The Empress Eugenic is finding distraction from her great sorrow ill the melancholy yet pleasant task of compiling a memoir of her son. Some original compositions of hi3 Highness, left behind him when he quitted Chisle- hurst, will be included in the work. A traveller arriving late at the Schlos Hotei, Heidelberg, and desiring to have the evil monotony of German cigars varied by a havanna, asked the waiter whether there were any "princesses" in the house. "No,sar," said the waiter whose imperfect knowledge of English never prevents him from improving the occasion by talking with an Englishman "we have- no princesses, but we have the Lady Dudley. Post-ca'ds have been introduced into India, but as yet with only partial success, since the natives will insist on regarding them as compulsory writing paper, on which they indite their correspondence, and then despatch them inside envelopes. A native official has sent in by post in a big cover his report, written on a series of post-cards. By the end of the month it is p ossible that tele- graphic communication with the Cape, via Aden, will be established; so that our morning papers may bring us tidings of what Sir Garnet said at the dinner the day before. This will be, perhaps, all great an event as the victory of Ulundi. World.

The Columbia, from London uebec, has been abandoned at sea. Crew saved. Owing to the prosecutions of the Government the number of students at tho Russian L diversities is rapidly decreasing.. Some patches of grain have been cut in Scotland, but generally the fields have the appearance of the third woJ ;J:hr Oats and barley are thin asn immature. ,,i DROWNED.—The body of Mr. W. Matthews, rate collector, of Hereford a man of independent means, was found on Tuesday morning in the river Wye, which has been very much flooded. Deceased got up in the morning to take a walk along the river bank in his slippers, but how he got into the water is a mystery. IT was thought that the poole Corporation would shortly acquire the local waterworks as town property, and an offer of X20,000 was made, but as the company want £ 30,000 the Corporation declined to entertain the matter further. A deaf mute, named Henry Allcock, 13 years old, was charged at Leek on Wednesday morning with burglary. He was caught at midnight on the roof of a house, gaining admittance through the skylight. He has been in custody over thirty times-five times for burglaries, and other times for housebreaking and felonies. No industrial school will receive him. He was remanded to be committed to the assizes.

LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS. PONTYMOILE NATIONAL SCHOOL.—This School earned a grant of X222 17s at the late examination by H. M. Inspector, Mr Waddington. NEW REVISING BARRISTER.—Mr R. H. Am- phlett, son of Baron Amphlett, has been appointed Revising Barrister in the place of the late Mr Pritchard. WE have been requested to state that the late Mr Thomas Jones, saddler, died of heart disease at 8.45 p.m., and not of apoplexy at 9,30, as wrongly mentioned last week. REPRESENTATION OF MONMOUTH BOROUGHS.— It is expected that Mr Cordes, the hon. member for the Monmouth Boroughs, will address his Newport constituency on the 25th inst., in the Victoria Hall.- Western Mail. FOOTBALL.-With the intention of forming a first-class football club in Pontypool, a meeting will be held on Monday evening next, at the Greyhound Inn. Mr J. W. Green, secretary, pro. tern., invites all playing members to attend. PONTYPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB.—By an advertise- ment in another column, it will be seen that the first meeting of this Club for the ensuing season will be held on Wednesday in the Town Hall. We hear that a concert is on the tapis. DRUNKENNESS.—Before the Rev J. C. Llewellin and C. J. Parkes, Esq., on Monday, John Collins and William Richards were each fined 10s. for being drunk on the highway on the previous Saturday evening. The Bench remarked that drunkenness did not seem greatly to decrease with the hard times. MUSICAL people will be glad to find from an ad- vertisement in this week's issue that their old favourite oratorio, The Messiah," is about to be put in rehearsal by the Panteg Choral Society, under Mr Charles Lawrence. There is no fee for membership, but a public performance is to be given towards Panteg Church Organ Fund. 11 FEMININE INEBRIATES.—On Wednesday, at the Magistrates' Office, before the Rev. J. C. Llewellin, Margaret White was charged with being drunk. P.C. Styran proving the case.—On promising to leave the town she was discharged.—Maria Collins, charged by P.C. Williams with being drunk on the New Road, was fined 5s., and allowed a week to pay it in. PONTYPOOL BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—The fort- nightly meeting of this Board was held at the Union Workhouse on Thursday last, the Rev. C. Cook presiding. There were also present-Col. Byrde and Col. Relph (ex-officio), and Messrs. J. Browne, W. Parker, and J. F. Powell. The num- ber of inmates was of an average character, and differed little from previous meetings. There was no business whatever of a public nature. CONCERT.—On Thursday week, a quartette party from the University College of Wales visited Llanwrtyd Wells, and gave a very successful con- cert there, but did not meet with the patronage they merited. Mr M. W. Griffiths, of Pontypool, (whose name is well known to our readers),accom- panied on the occasion in his usual efficient style. The soprano (Miss Jennie Price) and the tenor (Mr D. Davies) are both spoken of as being promising vocalists. IMPORTANT TO POSSIBLE JURORs.-During the month of September all persons liable to serve as jurors are returned by the overseers of the several parishes. All persons objecting to their names being on the jury list under the exemption of being over 60 years of age, or from other causes, must apply to the magistrates in petty sessions to have their names struck off the roll. The petty ses- sions for the Pontypool division will be held on the 27th instant. CRANE STREET BAPTIST CHAPEL.—The anni- versary services in connection with the above place of worship were held on Sunday last. In the morn- ing, the Rev Thomas Williams, of the Presbyterian Church Hio-h Street, officiated, and preached an exceediglyO able sermon; and in the afternoon and evening, eloquent and effective sermons were preached by the pastor, the Rev John Williams. Owing to a steady downpour of rain which pre- vailed the greater part of the day, the congrega- tions in the morning and afternoon were small, and in consequence the collections were not so good as in former years; but we are glad to say that, taking all things into consideration, the total realised was very satisfactory. PANTEG LOCAL BOARD.-Tha monthly meeting of this Board was held at the Pontymoile School- rooms on Tuesday evening, but the business was only of a general character. Mr A. A. Williams presided, and there were also present Messrs H. J. Parkhurst, J. Watkin, W. Parker, J. Rosser, G. J. Jacob, and J. Jenkins. A copy of a new Pub- lic Health Bill had been received from the Local GoTc.i»r.i.t tho Chairman said its T\A'U;J:;10!l8 di -L-, >L --fif. x t- ù:u: a. c». 'P0-Ø't 'Mr. committee appointed to enquire into the drainage of houses in course of erection at feebas- topol reported, that as the road especially referred to was private property, the responsibility rested with the builders, who were compelled to construct adequate accommodation for the removal of sewage. The balance in the hands of the bankers was announced to be .£67. MOUNT PLEASANT TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.—An entertainment, in connection with the above so- ciety, was held in Mount Pleasant Chapel on Wed- nesday evening. Mr John Bevan, Clarence Street, occupied the chair, and delivered an able Tempe- rance address. There was a good attendance on the occasion. The programme consisted of read- ings by Messrs Rosser and Roderick, and Master Purchase (a lad 7 years of age, who read in capital style); singing by Messrs Cook, Churchill, and Goodwin recitation by Mr A. Stock; and a dia- logue by Messrs Williams, Atkins, Jones, Hopkins, Lewis, Gwatkin, and Rogers. The meeting was a most enjoyable one, and° five pledges were taken at the close. We heartily wish the Society (which gives a free entertainment of this kind every three weeks), the success it deserves in its efforts to counteract the influence of the drinking customs of the age. UNITED METHODIST ANNIVERSARY.—The anni- versary services in connection with the United Methodist Free Church, Crumlin-street, were held on Sunday last, when three sermons were preached by the Rev W. Murray, formerly of Liverpool, the newly-appointed minister to this church. The preacher chose for his text in the morning Romans i, 16, in the afternoon Luke v, 20, and in the even- ing I. Corinthians ii, 9 dealing with his subjects in a very forcible and telling manner. Owing to the inclemency of the weather, the attendance in the morning and afternoon was very sparse, but the sermons were delivered in a style that should prove beneficial, and we believe the appointment augurs well for the future of the church in this district.—The annual tea meeting in connection with the same place of worship was held on Mon- day, and much praise is due to Mr G. Broomhead for the admirable manner in which he carried out the arrangements. This was followed by a public meeting. The chair was occupied by Mr T. B. Smith, who expressed the pleasure he felt in being present amongst so many old friends, to assist in giving a hearty welcome to their new pastor, the Rev Mr Murray, of Liverpool, who had recently come amongst them. Appropriate addresses were afterwards delivered by Mr Wm. Davies, Mr Tun- nadine, the Rev T. Ll. Jones, all of whom gave the new minister a hearty welcome. Mr Murray also addressed the meeting. The choir sang several appropriate pieces of music, under the leadership of Mr E. G. Morgan, who also presided at the har- monium. Votes of thanks to the Chairman, the speakers, the ladies who provided the tea, and the singers, brought the pleasant proceedings to a close.

BLAENAVON. ACCIDENT.-On Friday night last, as Mr Banks, grocer, was being driven down the road, near the London and North Western Railway Bridge, the horse stumbled and fell, breaking his knees. The shafts of the trap broke, and both occupants re ceived a severe shaking. BAPTISMAL SERVICE.—On Sunday evening, a baptismal service was held at New Horeb Baptist Chapel, when seventeen persons received the rite of baptism. Mr David Jones, of Pontypool Col- lege, officiated. A very large number of persons assembled to witness the ceremony. This is the largest number ever baptised at one time in this place. STORM.—A fearful storm raged here from Satur- day night to about 4 o'clock on Sunday afternoon. The rain descended in torrents, accompanied at in- tervals by thunder and lightning. In consequence of the violence of the storm, the places of worship were very thinly attended at the morning service on Sunday, but there were much larger congrega- tions in the evening, when the rain had oeased, although a heavy gale was still blowing. TEMPERANCE.—Addresses on the Temperance question were delivered on Saturday evening, in King Street Baptist Chapel (kindly lent for the occasion), by Messrs. Horrocks and Higginson. The speakers warmly denounced the drink system. Temperance songs were sung at intervals during the evening, and a lively interest was sustained for two hours among an audience of about 200 per- sons of various ages. The chair was taken by Rev Owen Tidman, pastor of the Church. A collection was made towards defraying expenses. The good advice given is not so much needed in Blaenavon as formerly, as a considerable change for the better has taken place with regard to drinking—a drunken man being now but seldom seen. WESLEYAN CHAPEL ANNIVERSARY.—The anni- versary services of the Upper Wesleyan Chapel were held on Sunday, but on account of the storm, very few persons were able to attend in the morn- ing and afternoon. In the evening, however, by which time the rain had ceased, a good congrega- tion assembled. Sermons were preached by the Rev Lionel Westlake and the Rev S. Coe, the new ministers just appointed to the circuit, to which they appear likely to prove a valuable acquisition. This chapel has now a large and efficient choir, conducted by Mr Isaac Davies, and their admirable singing of the anthems and hymns added much to the harmony of the services. The evening anthem was rr I will arise in C. Miss E. J. James pre- sided at the harmonium.

GARNDIF FAITH. WESLEYAN CHAPEL ANNIVERSARY.—The anni- versary of the Wesleyan Chapel was held on Sunday, when three excellent sermons were preached; those in the morning by the Rev S. Coe, and in the afternoon and evening by the Rev L. Westlake. In consequence of the weather be- ing so exceedingly wet, the attendance was not large, and the collections were less than usual. ON Friday in last week, a fireman named Edwd. Robinson (who had but recently resumed work after recovering from the effects of an accident) unfortunately met with another accident, at Var- teg Works. He was engaged in discharging some timber, and in doing so he incautiously stood on the contrary side to that on which he should have been for his own safety, and a large piece of coal fell upon him, injuring his back badly, and se- verely larcerating his left hand. He was carried home by his fellow workmen in an arm-chair, and Dr Verity promptly attended to his injuries. He is now progressing very favourably. ON Sunday evening last, at Sardis Independent Chapel, the Rev D. M. Davies preached a beau- tiful and impressive sermon in remembrance of the late Bro. Thomas Watkins, who had been for many years deacon of the chapel and superintendent of the Sunday School. The text was taken from Psalm cvii, verse 30 (latter part) So he bringeth them unto their desired haven." The discourse, which lasted 35 minutes, was listened to with great attention. The preacher occasionally re- verted in commendable terms to the life and career of the departed brother, whom he regarded as a true Christian; his demeanour had been kind and calm at all times; he had been a willing worker in the church, and always felt exceedingly thankful to his Maker for all mercies, great and small alike. Notwithstanding the unpropitious weather, the chapel was crowded.

ABERSYCHAN. WE are glad to say that another blast furnace is being prepared at Abersychan Works, and will probably be blown in next week; a portion of the coke ovens are also being got ready for a start. ABERSYCHAN CHURCH SUNDAY SCHOOL TEA- PARTY was held on Thursday week in a field be- longing to Mr Chas. Herbert, the vicar's warden, who kindly gave the treat. Tea being over, games were indulged in, to the delight of the company, which numbered about 400. A select party sat down to supper, which was prepared by Mrs White (Mr Herbert's niece), to whom great praise is due for the valuable services rondered by her through- out the day. Among those present were the Rev. W. R. Thomas, M.A., and Mrs Thomas, of the Vicarage Mrs Mitchell, of Snailbeach; Mr and Mrs White; Mr and Mrs Jones, Rock Villa Mrs and Master Williams, Brynderwen; Mr Williams, of Brecon; Mrs Winston Mr and Mrs Davies, Lion Hotel; and Dr. Andrew Davies, of Varteg.

GRIFFITHSTOWN. BAPTIST CHAPEL ANNIVERSARY.—The anniver- sary of this chapel was held on Sunday last, when three able and impressive sermons were preached by the Rev Thos. Nicholson, of the Forest of Dean. The congregations at the morning and afternoon were very good considering the very heavy and continuous rain, and in the evening the chapel was literally crowded.—On the following Monday there was a tea meeting, at which there was a good at- tendance, followed by a public meeting in the chapel. In the unavoidable absence of Mr E. H. Davies, the chair was occupied by the pastor, the Rev J. Tucker. After a hymn had been sung, and the Rev W. Thomas, of Glascoed, had prayed, the Chairman remarked that he had one pocket ful of regrets, another full of apologies, but a heart full of gratitude to God. Regrets that the trade was so depressed in the neighbourhood, and that the weather had been so very iinpropitioub; apolrgies from the different ministers who had been invited, but wfj unable to attend, and also from Mr j Davies, who had been announced to preside but hfl&been prevented from doing so. He was glad, i however, to find that he had upon the platform his sudpeisor at GIascoed, Mr W. Thomas; Mr J. j Williams, of Crane-street; and also Mr T. Nichol- j BØIJo of the Forest of Der-n.-The Rev W. Thomas, i I UUpiiU, £ 01- -.&4, .lrT\f. ,■>" r ""c upor inconsistent people," among whom he .enumerated the deaf people, who persist in sitting furthest from the pulpit, and blame the minister for not speaking loud enough—the sleepy people, who come professedly to worship God, but really to nod at the minister—the late COEI.TS, fault finders, grumblers, &c., were also severally dealt with in a very racy but suggestive Inanner After the anthem, When the Lord shall build up Zion," had been sung, the Rev J. Williams, of Pontypool, addressed the meeting in a very happy and instructive speech, in the delivering of which he was frequently applauded. He congratulated church and pastor upon the very neat and com- fortable chapel in which they worshipped, and also upon the very great success which had attended their labours. He used to prepare a speech for such occasions, but he had found that he was fre- quently like the man who went from Jerusalem to Jericho and "fell among thieves," inasmuch as he used generally to be robbed of his speech by other speakers. Now, however, he bad found a more excellent way." He (Mr Williams) was very pleased to see Mr Nicholson; he had heard and read much of him, and of his self-denying and truly noble efforts in relieving the poor and needy of the Forest of Dean. In concluding, he hoped that church and pastor at Griffithstown may still go on prosperously in the work of the Lord.- The Rev T. Nicholson, who, upon rising, was greeted with prolonged cheering, gave some humorous illustrations of the "art of putting things." He then made a feeling and touching allusion to the late Mr J. T. Edmonds, of Cwm- avon, who occupied the chair upon the occasion of his former visit to Griffithstown. People said he was dead, but he (the speaker) thought differ- ently God's people do not die, "they sleep in Jesus, and are blest; and in spirit Mr Edmonds was holding fellowship with them, for "ye are come. to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits 0/just men made perfect." He concluded a most masterly address by remarking that, upon his return to the Forest, it would afford him very great pleasure to be able to give, to the old friends of the chairman, such a pleasing report of the Church at Griffiths- town. The choir, under the leadership of Mr W. Conway, accompanied by Mr J. Evans, sang some very appropriate anthems, at the Sunday services and also at the Monday evening meetings, in a very creditable manner. Votes of thanks having been passed to the speakers and the chairman, the choir sang, Wake Isles of the South," and with the benediction, a most enjoyable and profitable meeting was brought to a close. All expressed a very hearty wish that Mr Nicholson, though 74 years of age, may be spared to come to Griffiths- town again.

PONTNEWYDD. LOCAL PRIZE-WINNER AT CARDIFF EISTEDDFOD, -We are pleased to find that the successful com- petitor for a prize offered for the best rendering of a pianoforte solo, at the above Eisteddfod, was Master R. Bumford, of this place.

CWMBRAN. THE LATE EISTEDFOD AT CARDIFF.—Among the competitors for a prize of X5 5s for the best ren- dering, by male voices, of Schafer's polka chorus, Come away, come away," were the Cwmbran Glee Party. Parties also competed from Swansea Valley, Taibach, Aberdare, Aberaman, Cardiff, and Neath. The prize was awarded to the Swansea Valley party.

CAERLEON. I LICENSING.—On Thursday, the 4th inst., at the Caerleon petty sessions, Ann Waters, Cwmbran, applied for a license for her house in Cwmbran, called the Great Western Hotel. The license was refused, she not being the present occupier of the house. POLICE CASES.—Charles Jones and David Lewis were charged with being in pursuit of game, at Llantarnam, on Sunday. W. Brown, gamekeeper, gave evidence. Defendants were discharged.— Morgan Glychen, charged with assaulting John Hill, at Cwmbran, was fined 15s including costs.— John Barnes, farmer, was summoned by Joseph Williams for.£4 16s 6d, wages due for hedging. Defendant denied that he owed more than 24s. The case was adjourned for a fortnight.—John Morgan, labourer, was charged with refusing to leave the Oakfield publichouse, Cwmbran, and with assaulting the landlady, Mrs Lewis. Fined 10s and costs.—John Waters, an old man, was charged with attempting to commit suicide by jumping into the river Usk, He admitted the charge, but stated that he was poor, and could get nothing to live on. He lived at Blaenavon, but his friends could not help him much. He promised that he_would make his way home. He was discharged, and the police were ordered to see that he went by train.—Thos. Jones, a boy, Cwmbran, was fined 5s for stealing apples at Llantarnam. William Bodingham and Charles Voyce, boys, charged with stealing some keys from an unoccupied house, at Llantarnam, were fined 10s each, or seven days' imprisonment.

ABERCARNE. ENQUIRY FROM AMERICA.—There lately appear- ed a paragraph in the New York Herald enquiring for one John Edwards, late of Abercarne, Mon- mouthshire. THE LATE EXPLOSION.-It was announced last Sunday in different chapels that special services will be held at the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Abercarne, to commemorate the first anniversary day of the great colliery explosion. A TEA PARTY was held at the Town Hall (hindly lent by Lady Llanover), on Monday, by the English Baptist Church. In the evening, a cantata, Queen Esther," was performed, under the leadership of Mr David Bowen, at the chapel. It is estimated that over 200 people could not be admitted for want of room.

CAERPHILLY. A BRASS BAND is being formed in Caerphilly. Lord Bute has liberally subscribed £5 towards the purchase of instruments. A SMALL EISTEDDFOD, recently held in the new Assembly Rooms behind the Boar's Head Inn, passed off satisfactorily. The proceeds were for the augmentation of the funds of the True Ivorites' Lodge." READING Poom.-A meeting of the committee was held on Tuesday evening, for the purpose of auditing the accounts, &c. A balance of .£1 9s re- mains in hand. The room has been badly at- tended since it was opened, but it is hoped that an improvement will take place during the ensuing winter. THE "big meetings" in connection with the Welsh Baptists were held at Tonyfelin Chapel on Tuesday evening, and continued throughout the whole of Wednesday. The congregations were very large. The following ministers preached :— The Revs. E. Thomas, Newport; W. Williams, Mountain Ash; 1. Thomas, Caersalem Newydd; and J. W. Maurice, Blaenycwm.

CARDIFF. FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE LATE EISTEDDFOD. On Thursday week, just before the close of the concert held in connection witb the above Eistedd- fod, a nephew of Mr Lewis, gingerbeer manufac- turer, Roath,lwas standing in a cart, belonging to Mr Lewis, which was near the tall flag-staff in the centre of the field, bearing the Eisteddfod flag The Dragon of Wales." From some cause not known the pole fell, and striking the boy on the head, knocked him down, crushing his head in a fearful manner. He was conveyed at once to the Infirmary, but has since succumbed to the injuries received.

LATEST MARKETS. [BY TELEGRAPH.] BRISTOL CATTLE MARKET.—THURSDAY. Beef in large supply, including a number of Canadian cattle; best, 66s to 68s middling, 60s. Enormous supply of mutton, and trade quiet; best wethers, 8td to 9d; lamb in good demand from 9d to 9d. 3300 store cattle; trade dull. 1000 pigs fetched 10s 3d; porkers, 10s 9d. BRISTOL CORN MARKET.-THURSDAY. The wheat harvest is in progress in the neigh- bourhood, but reports are most unsatisfactory in all respects scarcely a sample of new wheat on to-day's market. For foreig-n there was a steady consumptive trade, at an advance of from 6d to Is; maize 6d higher; barley firm; oats steadv. Some fine new Irish blacks at 23s 6d to 24s and tawnies at 23s 6d. LONDON CATTLE MARKET.-THU.sø»'f' There were 840 bea.sts, including stM foreign market quiet; 4-p to 5s 6d. 1520 sheep. 1120 foreign market dull; 5s to 6s lOd. 320 oa:ves, 5s to 6s per 8 Ibs. LONDON HAY MARKET.—THURSDAY. Good supply, and trade fair. Prices for best, qualities of prime clover from 100s to 135s; infe- rior, 85s to 95s. Prime meadow hay, 90s to 108s; inferior, 40s to 7OS. Stjaw- 30. to 42.8 mor 106A ÅIDSTOKE CORN MARKET.—THURSDAY. There are many samples of new wheat at mar- ket, but quality and condition are very inferior. There was a sample of barley which could not be called good. White wheat sells at from 4.2s to -ISs; red from 46s to 50s. All other articles about the same as last week.

COLLISION AT SEA. FOUR PERSONS DROWNED. A Central Aews telegram states that the barque Corunna, of Sunderland, was run down by the Belgian steamer "Zealand," off Dungenness, yes- terday (Thursday) morning. The master's wife and two children, with a seaman named Charles Thompson were drowned. The remainder of the crew were landed at Dover.

STEAMER AGROUND. The Allan steamer Corinthian, bound for Mon treal, ran aground at Greenock yesterday (Thurs day) morning, but was floated off at high water.

A PORTUGUESE HEROINE. A correspondent at Lisbon vouches for the trath of the following narrative, which he translates from the Diario de At the distance of one kilometre from the village of l' ratel, near Niza (i.e., on the frontier of Spain and Portugal, near the town of Portalegre), Therosa Maria, who was carrying her hushmd's dinner to him in the fields, was told by a little shepherd boy that a wolf was prowling about the place. Wishing to see one for the first time in her life, she put down her basket and climbed up to a high place, to which the boy directed her. There she saw the animal in the act of devouring a lamb. The shepherd boy began shouting and throwing stones, to see whether it would let go its prey, and the wolf in its fury attacked the poor little fellow, jumping up at his face, tearing the flesh from liis jaws, and throwing him upon the ground. The woman seeing the bry's imminent danger in an im- pulse of herioc self-devotion, ran on the wolf wholly unarmed, seized tight hold of him, and then, after a struggle, contrived to blind him with a stone, and eventually killed him. Meanwhile, the boy whom she had rescued ran, wounded as he was, to seek help in the village. While several villagers were coming up, armed with guns, stones, and sticks to kill the beast and save the woman frcm its fangs, she was re turning to the village covered with blood, and with her arms, hands, and face terribly wounded. She said that at times she was on the point of being over- come, but contrived to keep the animal's throat in the close hold of her left arm, while hitting him hard on the head with a stone she was able to pick up. She was taken to the Niza hospital. It is with re- gret that all will read what I have now unfortu- nately to add, that exactly a month afterwards the poor creature died there of her wounds. She has left eight children, six of whom are very young, and a distracted husband to mourn her loss; but she found comfort in her sufferings, and under the pain Of such a parting, from the recollection that she had given her life for another. The English and Portu- guese have sent some 122 as a small consolation to a poor and industrious family, who have to mourn a noble heart taken from them." In a postcript written latter, the correspondent says: I am sorry indeed to have to add to the narrative that the little shepherd boy, for whom the woman sacrificed her life, is dead also. She was allowed to console her dying hours with the belief that she had perished in saving a life. But it was not to be so. The poor child died in the terrible sufferings of hydrophobia. Besides the subscription raised on behalf of the be- reaved husband and orphans, another has very operly been started to erect a monument at Niza, that such a deed may not be forgotten.

EXPLOSION OF A GASOMETER. A terrific explosion has taken place at the Congle- ton Gas Works, Macclesfield. A small gasometer, holding nearly 30,000ft. of gas, and which was almost full, exploded with so severe a shock as to shatter the windows of most of the houses in the immediate neighbourhood of the works. The gasometer was totally wrecked, as was also the purifying house adjoining. At one time great fears were enter- tained that another explosion might take place, and many of the inhabitants rushed from their houses in their nightdresses, terror-stricken at the report. The cause of the explosion is as yet a mystery, the manager only leaving the works apparently safe a short time before the explosion. The extent of the damage is very considerable. No lives were lost.