Pontypool Free Press and Herald of the Hills

HUNGARIAN HERO. -years ago, the late Count Szechenyi was tost brilliant cavaliers of Hungary, and <ren in rank at the time, devoted himself \of aristocratic enjoyment rather than lion of his country's welfare. It so this early period of his eventful life he present at a Court ball in the Tuileries, rheard a conversation to the following In two of the most renowned men in iw- —"Who is that short man?" inquired a celebrated poet of a minister with curly black hair and lustrous eyes. "With his sturdy frame and careless features he looks like an embryo genius in the person of a savage." "You may be nearer the mark in this than you are aware," replied the statesman. The gentleman who excites your curiosity is Count Szechenyi, a young Hungarian noble, who might make a repu- tation amongst men did he not prefer achieving a fame amongst women and horse-dealers." From that moment dates the conversion of Count Szechenyi, and a lasting one it proved during the remainder of his long and useful existence. The huntsman, for the mere excite- ineiit of pleasure became a student of every science and art that might be turned to the benefit of his nation. I am speaking within limits when I say that of no man in the annals of Hungary are recorded a greater number of services or more valuable boons conferred upon his countrymen. Is it not sad to think that so high-souled and spirited a patriot could not live under Austrian dominion without ending his days in madness and suicide ? Of the variety of other stories*-told of his previous life one may be selected as showing the Count in a far different field from that of his. later, days. At the great battle of Leipsic, in 1815, where he was 'one of the adjutants of the Austrian Commander-in-Chief, he succeeded in carrying a most important communication to Field-Marshal Blucher, and, to crown this equestrian feat by another still more daring act of gallantry, rode through the thick of the French outposts to convey the same piece of intelligence to the Crown Prince of Sweden. Great was the ad- miration bestowed upon him on this occasion, but he always insisted upon ascribing the honour -of the achievement to his horse. His sovereign, however, was of a different opinion, and, as the service proved a very important one, promotion and a shower of knightly orders were the reward of the fearless rider. .J;.

MR. CHARLES DICKENS AT LIVERPOOL. In the last number of All the Year Round, "The Uncom- mercial Traveller publishes an interesting account of the visit which he paill to the sick wards of the hospital at Liver- pool, in which lay the unfortunate soldiers who were the victims of bad food and insufficient clothing on board of the Great Tasmania. Mr. Dickens says :— We went into a arge ward containing some twenty or five-and-twenty beds. We went into several such wards, one after another. I find it very difficult to indi- cate what a shocking sight I saw in them, without frightening the reader from the perusal of these lines, and defeating my object of making it known. 0 the sunken eyes that turned to me as I walked between the rows of beds, or—worse still—that glazedly looked at the white ceiling, and saw nothing and cared for nothing! Here lay the skeleton of a man, so lightly covered with a thin unwholesome skin, that not a bone in the anatomy was clothed", and I could clasp the arm below the elbow, in my finger and thumb. Here, lay a man with a black scurvy eating his legs away, his gums gone, and his teeth all gaunt and bare. This bed was empty, because gangrene had set in, and the patient had died but yesterday. That bed was a hopeless one, because its occupant was sinking fast, and could only be roused to turn the poor pinched mask of face upon the pillow, with a feeble moan. The awful thinness of the fallen cheeks, the awful brightness of the deep-set eyes, the lips of lead, the hands of ivory, the recumbent human images lying in the shadow of death, with a kind of solemn twilight on them, like the sixty who had died aboard the ship and were lying at the bottom of the sea, 0 Pangloss, God forgive you In one bed, lay a man whose life had been saved (as it was hoped) by deep incisions in the feet and legs. While I was speaking to him, a nurse came up to change the poultices which this operation rendered ne- cessary, and I had an instinctive feeling that it was not well to turn away, merely to spare myself. He was sorely wasted and keenly susceptible, but the efforts he made to subdue any expression of impatience or suffering were quite heroic. It was easy to see, in the shrinking of the figure, and the drawing of the bed-clothes over the head, how acute the endurance was, and it made me shrink too, as if I were in pain; but, when the new bandages .were on, and the poor feet were composed again, he made an apology for himself (though he had not uttered a word), and said plaintively, I am so tender and weak, you see, sir Neither from him nor from any one sufferer of the whole ghastly number did I hear a complaint. Of thankfulness for present solicitude and care, I heard much; of complaint, not a word. I think I could have recognised in the dismallest skeleton there the ghost of a soldier. Something of the old air was still latent in the palest shadow of life that I talked to. One emaciated creature, in the strictest literality worn to the bone, lay stretched on his back, looking so like death that I asked one of the doctors if he were not dying, 6t dead ? A few kind words, from the doctor, in his ear, and he opened his eyes, and smiled -looked, in a moment, as if he would have made a salute, if he could, We shall pull him through, please God," said the doctor. Plase God, surr, and thanke," said the patient. "You are much better to-day, are you not?" said the doctor. Plase God, surr; 'tis the sleep I want, surr 'tis my breathin' makes the nights so long." He is a careful fellow this, you must know," said the doctor, cheerfully; it was raining hard when they put him in the open cart to bring him here, and he had the presence of mind to ask to have a sovereign taken out of his pocket that he had there, and a cab engaged. Probably it saved his life." The patient rattled out the skeleton of a laugh, and said, proud of the story, Deed, surr, an open cart was a comical means o' bringin' a dyin' man here, and a clever way to kill him." You might have sworn to him for a soldier when he said it. One thing had perplexed me very much in going from bed to bed. A very significant and cruel thing. I could find no young man, but one. He had attracted my notice, by having got up and dressed himself in his soldier's jacket and trousers, with the intention of sitting by the fire but he found himself too weak, and had crept back to his bed and laid himself down on the outside of it. I could have pronoürioèu him, alone, to be a young man aged by famine and sickness. As we were standing by the Irish soldier's bed, I mentioned my perplexity to the doctor. He took a board with an inscription on it from the head of the Irishman's bed, ahd asked me what age I supposed that man to be ? I had observed him with attention while talking to him, and answered confidently, "Fifty." The doctor, with a pitying glance at the patient, who had dropped into a stupor again, put the board back, and said, "Twenty- four." four." All the arrangements of the Wards were excellent. They could not have been more humane, sympathising, gentle, attentive, Or wholesome. The owners of the I ship, teo, had done all they could, liberally. There were bright fires in every room, and the convalescent men were sitting round them, reading various papers and periodicals. I took the liberty of inviting my official friend Pangloss to look at those convalescent men, and to tell me whether their faces and bearing were or were not, generally, the faces and bearing of steady, respectable soldiers ? The master of the work- house, overhearing me, said that he had had a pretty large experience of troops, and that better conducted men than these he had never had to do with. They were always (he added) as we saw them. And of us visitors (I add) they knew nothing whatever, except that We were there.

PAST VERSUS PRESENT. I am tired of hearing about the good old times," which some foll- who ought to know better, are so fond of casting in our teeth (says the author of an in- teresting paper in the Leisure Hour). When were they ? Where are we to look for them ? I fear, only in the imagination of these well-meaning but silly and mis- guided people. The old times were comparatively bad times; this much-abused nineteenth century is a great and increasing improvement on them; and "there's a good time coming better still. Can any one in his senses, after reading Lord Macaulay's History, or any. other (if such there be) which condescends to forget the -1 dignity of history," and introduce us to the every-day life of our forefathers, honestly wish that the state of things, at any given period of the past, could be reproduced at the present day ? Would he wish to return to the ignorance and lawlessness of the middle ages ? Would the poor be better off, or the rich more comfortable ? Such a case can only be the offspring of ignorance and the most inveterate laudator temporis acti, if he he a candid man, would be cured by a judicious course of historical read- ing. If not, argument would be wasted on him; nor need any worse punishment be wished for him, than that he could be transported for a year into the niidst of his own ancestors, of whatever date he liked. When the first feelings of natural surprise and curiosity had passed off, and when he had indulged in a little an- tiquarian research, he would speedily arrive at a per- ception that he was deprived of most of the conveniences, refinements, and comforts of civilised life, and would be shocked and disgusted at every turn. Long before the expiration of the year, he would eagerly desire to be restored to his despised 1860, no matter what century he might have selected ,for his experiment. So true is it that men too often do not value advantages till they are deprived of them, and are ungratefully disposed to think the condition of other men better than their own, instead of making the best of matters, and living content with such things as they have. The good of other times let others state I think it happy I was born so late." I utterly scout the idea of the progressive and con- tinual degeneracy of mankind, physical, intellectual, or moral. Don't believe in it. There have not been wanting sciolists and pessimists in every age. to up- hold this, theory,, i^yjiipl;, is>; entirely confuted- by ;th$ deductions of more accurate thinkers. And though our great-grandchildren, we hope, will excel us as much as we have surpassed our great-grandmothers, we may take it for granted that some of them will be found foolish enough to extol us as paragons of everything good and wise. On the same principle, people when they grow old are apt to imagine that nothing now is worthy to be compared with what they remember in their youth. Summers were summers then, and the world was altogether more beautiful. People were handsome, orators more eloquent, and fashions more becoming in those days, they think. This is simply, because, at that time, their perceptions and feelings were keener and more lively, and they were more able to admire and enjoy. They attribute the alteration to outward things, when in reality it has taken place among themselves. The change, in fact, is not ob- jective, but subjective. Depend, upon it, the law of progress arid improvement is>visible all around us—in England, at all evehtfj; and it is a_ mistake to go about in a discontented spirit, looking Wistfully on tne past, and saying, There were giants on the earth in those days." The matter has been settled long ago by the wisest of men, or rather by divine inspiration (Eccles. vii. 10): Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these ? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this."

AUSTRIA COMING TO HER SENSES! The stern goddess Necessity has made men bend beneath er yoke for many thousand years, but never has she achieved a greater triiiinphthan in conquering the obstinacy of the Austrian Government. Our readers will be glad to Jen,1'1i tlrnt there is a prospect of itlwrüvement in the affairs of Hungary, as -will be seen from the following remarks of tJse Times -— in c It is announced that measures are to be immediately fsaken to conciliate the Hungarian people, and to restore .as much as possible the state of things which (existed before 1848. The Archduke Albert retires provision- ally from his functions, and is replaced by General JSenedek, who is commissioned to regulate the munici- pal laws, to reorganise the Comitats on the basis of the old institutions, to submit propositions for a central Diet, and to unite the five administrative sections which, have existed since the defeat of the insurrection in 1849 into one single Administration at Buda. Thus ends the policy of "Thorough." Thus crumbles into rain the fabric of Government which is identified with ifrhe name of Francis Joseph. After ten years of injustice auid oppression, of cruelty inspired by terror, of mistrust, .espionnage, and denunciation, the Austrian Court is .forced to confess its crimes have been blunders also, An immense army has been unable to give contidence ■to_ the riders of a disaffected people, the closest alliance with neighbouring despotisms has resulted in quarrels ;and bitterness, excessive taxation does not avert the bankruptcy of the Imperial Exchequer, religious in- tolerance only increases the hatred borne to the Church, ;and an elaborate machinery of administration does not ,enable the Government to carry out a single design which it proposes. The state of Hungary has been for many months becoming more and more desperate. Previous to the late Italian war every foreign well-wisher of the Austrian empire, and even the wisest of Francis hseph's native counsellors, urged the necessity of ae change of system. A period had elapsed suffi- ntly long to show that the discontents which led to ,e outbreak of 1848 were by no means transitory in eir nature. Year after year had passed away, and 1O stgn ot reconciliation between the Hungarians and the Court had been given. Imperial personages visited the country or bore rule in it, but only to sssrround themselves with a military and official circle, and to jvent their irritability at what they called the insolence and ingratitude of the natives. The latter showed their dissatisfaction with the Government openly, and with a persevering sullenness which the Emperor has learned, since the late events in Italy, to interpret. Not that there is that antipathy of race which exists in Italy; the Hungarians, though not fond of the Germans, are content to remain under the same Government with them, and desire only the old institutions which made them independent. The discontent in Hungary is purely political, directed against a faithless and tyrannical Government; in Italy it was social and national, and directed against the dismemberment of the Peninsula and the presence of a foreign and dominating race. But still Hungary has been rapidly becoming as bad as Italy, and even more dangerous to the safety of the empire, inasmuch ;-ts its geographical position, and the neighbourhood of the unscrupulous and aggressive Russians, would make another rebellion a death-blow to the monarchy. The national wishes of the Hungarians will, of course, be differently represented by various parties; but we think that it will not far from the truth to say that the people are not at bottom anxious either for a severance from Austria or for a democratic form of Government. As far as we are able to learn the state of opinion, there is but one desire—that they should be ruled constitutionally, and in accordance with the ancient rights of their country. It is only in despair of btailling this that they would depose the Austrian :;„»isar from his rank and titles as King of Hungary. More than ten years have passed away, and Hun- gary, conquered, with her franchises abolished, her people subjected to military rule, or to civil officials as insolent and even more meddlesome than soldiers, with ,the Romish priesthood in possession of privileges un- 'exampled in history, and using them unscrupulously in favour of Imperial tyranny and their own, is once more on the point of insurrection. The events which have taken place in Italy carry hope to the oppressed im every part of the empire. Within the last few months it has been shown what may be accomplished by a resolute people in spite of both spiritual and worldly potentates. The war entered into by France was, we can now plainly see, by no means intended for the freedom of Italy. The people of the four pro- vinces lately annexed to Sardinia were disposed of at Villafranca as coolly as forty-five years before at Vienna; and no one can doubt that if Napoleon IIL had foreseen what has really taken place he would have thought twice before rousing Central Italy to aid him against the Austrians. The lesson learnt by the Hungarians from these events is that freedom may be aided by the feuds of despotism. The Hungarians may think themselves unable to cope, alone and unaided, with the whole force of the Austrian empire, but they look forward to and prepare "or the time when Austria shall be plunged into a war A-ith her two gigantic enemies. It is said that arms nave been brought into the country from the side of Turkey, and so wide-spread is the determination to throw off the yoke of the Austrian Government that the Imperial officials have at last become convinced that concessions were absolutely necessary. Austria may well think the time come for a change of policy. The state of Hungary makes her powerless in the presence of France and Russia, divests her of all influ- ence in Germany, which must now perforce look to Prussia as a leader encourages the other provinces to disaffection, and necessitates military expenses which have already almost exhausted the State. Austria has now not a friend in Europe, and can hardly borrow a florin in any European market. What the preachings .justice and morality, what even the dictates of policy, have failed to accomplish has been effected by financial embarrasment and the dread of foreign foes. The only question is whether it be not too late. Aus- tria now grants nearly all that the Hungarians asked for ten years ago, and enough to have made them then the most loyal of subjects. Whether content will follow concessions so obviously dictated by necessity remains to be seen. We can only hope that this tardy ac^11? e Austrian Government will restore tran- quillity to Hungary, and enhance the security of Cen- tral Europe.

MISS CARSTANG'S LOVE AFFAIR. A lrooch of promise case, which has excited no little remark, has been tried for the second time at Saint Louis, America. A single woman of the name of Carstang, kept, in 1856-7, a lodging-house at St. Louis, and there made the acquaintance of an elderly nouvedii riche, named Shaw. He proposed and was, accepted, but before the happy day arrived, broke off the match. Miss Carstang hereupon brought her action, and re- coverod 20,0002. damages. On appeal (writ of error), a new trial was ordered, and the case came on at St. Louis, and occupied a fortnight. The jury listened to the closing speech of the plaintiff's counsel during eight hours, and then, after an absence of twenty minutes, returned a verdict for the defendant.

The New Yotfk Herald thus alludes to this case :— The intelligent jury, sworn for the first trial, awarded 'to Miss Carstang one hundred thousand dollars-the heaviest sum, we believe, ever given by law as a salve for-injured affections and blasted hopes. The defend- ant succeeded in getting a new trial, and a commission was appointed to take testimony as to Miss Carstang's real reputation, and to investigate more particularly into the facts connected with her adolescent capers. This inquisition was composed of delegates from the counsel on either side, and its members travelled from place to place, examining a very great number of witnesses. If all the evidence is true, Miss Car- stang's love affairs have been very numerous. She has had, according to the witnesses, flirtations with- out number; of serious intrigues not a few have fallen to her lot; she has been several times affianced, but never wedded; and more than once detected in peculiarly perplexing predicaments with persons of the opposite sex. The array of evidence on the de- fendant's side must have been very strong to have overthrown Miss Carstang's case. Put twelve in- telligent American citizens in a jury box. Place before them a pretty woman in distress, and a rich man who has, as alleged, promised marriage and then basely deserted her when her things were all ready, and the intelligent jurymen, unless the facts are. each as solid as a sixty-four pound shot, give the pretty woman swinge- ing damages, and go home to their dinners With the proud consciousness of having done their duty to a lovely woman in difficulty. That was the sentiment of the jury in the first trial of the Cafstang suit; but the panel for the second examination of the affair has been obdurate.

INSURANCE OFFICE LITIGATION. Whenever an insurance office resists a claim, and the case comes before a jury, there is usually observed in the latter body a tendency to sympathise with the claimant. So much is this the case, that respectable insurance offices scarcely ever resist payment except in cases where they think the claim particularly fraudulent or fallacious, knowing well that if the matter can be in terpreted otherwise, it is sure to be so. The ordinary sort of men who constitute the bulk of juries here follow an instinct on the whole amiable—a solicitude about the interests of the one against the many, of the powerless against the powerful. But the only legiti- mate scope of this feeling is a watchfulness to see that the individual is not wronged. If we allow the in. dividual to commit a wrong, or back him or help him out in it, however multiform, rich, or powerful be the opposite party, we are obviously acting much aside from our duty. Juries ought, therefore, in all such cases, to be very careful co weigh simply the truth and the justice of the matter, and to be scrupulous lest feeling should have undue sway with them. They would probably be less liable to error in this last respect, if they had a more correct conception of what the office" really is. Commonly, it is viewed as an impersonal thing, which can no more be hurt than a stock or a stone, and which, especially, never can suffer by having a little gold excavated out of it. In truth, the office is a congeries of human beings, with interests exactly like those of the claimant. Whe- ther proprietary or mutual in the principle of insurance, its policies are simply engagements between man and man, with human interests to be damaged or protected, on both sides equally. In the case of a proprietary establishment, the wrong inflicted by a policy-holder infers a slice cut away from profits in that of a mutual office, it is an injury done by one towards a number of people associated with him in one common venture. You may be sympathising with a widow claimant; but there are widows on the other side too, whose ultimate benefits will be the less if you favour one unduly just now. Or you may be wishing to give to some adroit male adventurer what ought ultimately to belong to the widows and fatherless. Pause, then, jurymen: there is, you may depend upon it, no true rule to be followed, but that of a strict justice between the parties.- Chambers's Journal.

BARON VON BRUCK RECEIVES A MESSAGE! A telegram was received in London on Monday noon, announcing the sudden illness of Baron von Bruck, the Austrian Minister of Finance, and that the Councillor of State, Von Plener, had been provisionally intrusted with the charge of the financial adminis- tration. It was added that the Baron's malady was congestion of the brain, and that after bleeding had been performed, an improvement took place. On Monday afternoon a telegram arrived stating that Baran von Bruck was no more, having expired at 10 minutes past 5 p.m. Baron von Bruck rose to the eminent and responsible position he filled for so long a time from a comparatively humble station of life. Born in Prussia, he transferred his allegiance at an early period of his life to the Emperor of Austria, get- ting into the employ of the Austrian Lloyd at Trieste. He won his spurs in politics as a journalist, contri- buting to the German commercial journal, then pub- lished at Trieste, the Austrian Lloyd, whose domicile was at a later period transferred to Vienna. His great knowledge of the symptoms indicative of the state of the money market in Austria and Germany subse- quently procured for him his entry into the career of a financier. In questions of tariff reform Baron Bruck was, during all his life, a staunch Free-trader, without ever being able to screw up his courage sufficiently high to make a Free-trade reform of the tariff a sine qua non of his continuance in office. Much ability and knowledge, with but little energy, particularly in facing the opposition of vested interests, were his character- istics, for which his isolated position amongst states- men of aristocratic origin, mostly foreign to him in nationality, is perhaps the best explanation. nationality, is perhaps the best explanation.

PISALKIWMS cmntelliqtntt THE SOCIAL CHRONICLE.—In consequence of the great and increasing amount of cases, the decision of which daily devolves on the Court whose president is Sir Cresswell Cresswell, we understand that some of our contemporaries intend regularly to publish, in addition to Births, Deaths, and Marriages," a fourth column, under the head of Divorces." -Punch. CRINOLINE OF SERVICE.—Great excitement was produced at Vervier (Belgium) a few days since, by the appearance of a young lady, handsomely dressed, walking on the roof of a house. She Was soon recog- nised as an inmate of the building, ill with fever, and who in a fit of delirium had dressed herself, and at- tained that dangerous position. All endeavours to persuade, her to come down by the way she had ascended proving fruitless, two slaters were sent to bring her down; but, before they reached her, she leaped off. Strange to say, she was but little injured by the fall, as her crinoline had swelled out, and diminished the velocity of her descent. ABSENT IN MIND AND BODY !—I must tell you that story; for it is a fact, I assure you. Sam had per- mission to spouse Milkin Sally, a slave on another plantation. A night was fixed for the ceremony, the company assembled, and the coloured preacher was there to tie the nuptial knot. Well, they waited and waited for ever so long, but the bride didn t make her appearance. At last Sam grew impatient; so says he to the preacher, Look here, Broder Cullifer; it's no use waiting for that darkey; I knoWs her like a book she's dropped asleep setting fore de fire; I'se authorised to speak for her, so jest go ahead the same as if she was here." Old Cullifer thought it a wise suggestion, and proceeded with the service that united them in the holy bands of matrimony. When the ceremony was over, off started the bridegroom in search of the absent bride; and sure enough, when he reached her cabin there he found her fast asleep by the fire, with some of her finery in her hand and she was terribly riled when she heard the wedding had come off and she was not there.—The Season Ticket. A LIAGEND OF MACGILLICUDDY. Macgilli- cuddy of the Reeks was a boy gilly to the MacCarthy Mor, and he went into Connaught to seek his fortune, and he fell in love with a lady, and she with him; and he boasted to her father he had more ricks than the father's land could grow enough to cover with hay- bands, so the father sent a messenger into Kerry to know the truth of his riches, and whether the young stra-ageihad the great fortune he spoke about. And to be sure the daughter gave the messenger the hint; so he thravelled to Kerry, and saw young Macgilli- cuddy's father ating his dinner on his knees, with heaps of rats all about the cabin he lived in; so he goes back and tells the fair maid's father that the Macgillicuddy had more live cattle about him than he could count, and was ating off a table he wouldn't part with for half Connaught. So, in course, the boy got the girl." DR. FRANKLIN AND THE I 0 U.-Benjamin Franklin had a nephew who was a sad spendthrift, for whom, however, in spite of his faults, he enter- tained a warm regard. Being in Philadelphia, John Williams was on one occasion reduced to great straits, and found himself compelled to have recourse to his friends. His first application was to his uncle, of whom he asked the loan of sixty dollars. Franklin told him to call next morning, when, if possible, he would accommodate him. Of course John was there, and had the gratification to see his uncle -counting out the cash. While this operation was going on he took a sheet of paper from the desk, with the intention, no doubt, of giving his I O U. If such was his design he was disappointed, for Franklin gently drew away the paper, and, with a benevolent smile, said, "You need not waste my paper, too, John." .EARLY INFLUENCES.—There can be no greater blessing than to be born in the light and air of a cheer- ful, loving home. It not only ensures a happy child- hood—if there be health and a good constitution-but it almost makes sure a virtuous and happy manhood, and a fresh young heart in old age. I think it every parent's duty to try to make their children's childhood full of love and of childhood's proper joyousness and I never see children destitute of them through the poverty, faulty tempers, or wrong notions of their parents, with- out a heartache. Not that all the appliances which wealth can buy are necessary to the free and happy un- folding of childhood in body, mind, or heart—quite otherwise, God be thanked but children must at least have love inside the house, and fresh air and good play with some companionship outside—otherwise young life runs the greatest danger in the world of withering or growing stunted, or sour and wrong, or at best pre- maturely old and turned inward on itself. CONTENTMENT.—Some people have a happy knack for putting in a pleasant way everything that concerns themselves. Mr. A.'s son gets a poor place as a bank clerk; his father goes about saying that the lad has found a fine opening in business. The young man is ordained, and gets a curacy on Salisbury Plain; his father rejoices that there, never seeing a human face, he has abundant leisure for study, and for im- proving his mind. Or, the curacy is in the most crowded part of Manchester or Bethnal Green the father now rejoices that his son has opportunities of acquiring clerical experience, and of visiting the homes of the poor. Such a man's house is in a well wooded country; the situation is delightfully sheltered. He removes to a bare district without a tree ;-ah there he has beautiful pure air and extensive views. It is well for human beings when they have the pleasant art of putting things in just the opposite way. WALK YOUR CHALKS."—A very simple expla- nation of this expression may be given. I believe that certain ale-house frequenters, when they have been drinking long enough to make a boast of being sober, and to dispute a point with each other, will chalk a long straight line on the ground, and then endeavour one after the other to walk upon it without swerving to right or left. Those who succeed are adjudged to be sobèr-i.e., to have" walked their chalks." A wit- ness on a trial in Buckinghamshire, about the year 1841, made use of this expression, and a barrister im- mediately explained it in the above manner to the puz- zled Court. This "walking the chalks" is, however, not peculiar to Bucks, and may be witnessed in Lon- don. Addressed to a person whose company is no longer desired, as cited by your correspondent C.' J., the expression" walk your chalks" would thus mean, walk straight olf.Notes and Queries. THE LIELFGJON OF GEOLOGY.—Such,then, in con- clusion of the subject, is the religion of geology. It has been described as a region divided between the barren mountains of scepticism and the putrid fens and quagmires of infidelity and atheism; producing only a gloomy and poisonous vegetation; covered with fogs, and swept over by pestilential blasts. But this report was made by those who saw it at a distance. We have found it to be a land abounding in rich landscapes, warmed by a bright sun, blest with a balmy atmo- sphere, covered by noble forests and sweet flowers, with fruits, savoury and healthful. We have ascended its lofty mountains, and there have we been greeted with prospects of surpassing loveliness and overwhelm- ing sublimity. In short, newhere in the world of science do we find regions where more of the Deity is seen in his works. To him whose heart is warmed by true piety, and whose mind has broken the narrow shell of prejudice, and can grasp noble thoughts, these are delightful fields through which to wander. More and more they become the favourite haunts of such hearts and minds. For there do views open upon the soul, respecting the character and plans of the Deity, as large and refreshing as those which astronomy pre- sents. Nay, in their practical bearing, these viep are, far more important. Mechanical philosophy in- troduces ah unbending and unvarying law between the Creator and his works; but geology unveils his provi- dential hand, cutting asunder that law at intervals, and planting the seeds of a new economy upon a renovated world.-The Religion of Geology. THE LAST DOLLAR !-The following pathetic endorsement was found on a one-dollar bank note re- ceived at the Commercial Bank, Burlington, America:— 'Tis my last lonely dollar, Left drooping alone- All its brilliant companions Are squandered and gone No b-illwof its issue Reflect back its Iiiie" They went for mint-juleps^ And this must go too i So soon may I follow, Where friendships decay- From the beggar's last dollar The dimes drop away. When the Maine Law is passed, And the groceries sink, Of what use will be dollars With nothing to drink ? How WASHINGTON IRVING STOLE HIS OWN APPLES.—A story told by. Irving to a visitor, as they stood munching apples iinder ohe of apple ireeS at Sunnyside, is a happy illustration of the amiability, as well as umour )f the man:—I was watching the workman, directing this one and that one, when, in turning my eye caught this apple-tree, loaded with its fruit (just UH your eye did). It was a day like this, one of our October days—our Highland October days- such as one lights upon nowhere else in the world. Ig s And this apple-tree bore that year as it does not bear every year, yet just like this. Well, I left my work- men and my talk (just a3 you did), and ate of these windfalls (just as you did), and liked it (just as you did), and then I tried to knock some down (just as you did). Now, while I was enjoying these finp apples (it was for the first time), a little urchiii-stioh as infest houses in building-a ragged little urchin, out at the knees and out at the elbows-caine up to Ille and said, sotto voce, Mister, do you love apples?" "Aye, that I do," said 1. Well, come with me, and I'll show you where are some better than them are." "Ah!" said I, "where are they?" "Just over the hill there," said he. Well, show me," said 1. Come along," said the little thief, "but don't let the old man see us." So I went with him—and "stole my own apples. Memoir of Washington Irving. IMPERIAL CATS AND ARCHIVARY'S DUCKS.—In the budget of the Imperial printing-office, which is now before the Legislative body (says the Pdys) is an item which has excited considerable curiosity—it is for cats. It appears that in order to preserve the stores of paper, printed and unprinted, from the ravages of mice and rats, a considerable number of cats have to be kept in the establishment, and the expense of giving food twice a day, and of paying a man to watch over them, is sufficiently great to form an especial item. These cats were once very nearly the cause of war between the director of the Imperial printing-office and the director of the Archives, whose gardens are adjacent. The latter has in his garden a small artificial river, and he kept in it a number of rare aquatic birds. He per- ceived that the number of his birds decreased almost daily, but he could not tell how; at last he discovered that they were killed by cats, and he set snares by which a number of these animals were caught. The keeper of the cats in the printing-office perceived his feline stock diminishing, and he suspected the Wark. men of the establishment of killing them. Brit one day a cat arrived with the fragment of a snare round its neck, and this led to the discovery of the whole truth. The director of the printing-office thereupon complained that his cats were killed, while the director of the Archives said he would not allow his birds to be devoured but at last an arrangement was made to the effect, on the one hand, that every issue of. the print- ing-office should be closed to prevent the invasion of cats into the gardens of the Archives, and, on the other, that in the event of one by chance escaping, it should not be put to death. WILL THE PRESENT CIVILISATION ENDURE ?— In any answer to such a question it would perhaps be easier to say what would not than what would be in- volved. But some things we may observe, which may be among the materials of a reply. The arts of war are now so allied with those of peace that barbarism, once sri terrible, is reduced to physical impotence; and what civilised man has had the wit to create he has also the strength to defend. Thus one grand de- structive agency is paralysed. Time, indeed, is the great destroyer, but his power, too, is greatly neu- tralised by printing, by commerce, which lays the foundations of friendship among nations, by the ease of communication, which binds men together, by that diffusion of intelligence which multiplies the natural guardians of civilisation. These are perhaps not merely isolated phenomena. Perhaps they are but witnesses, and but a few among many witnesses, to the vast change which has been wrought since the advent of our Lord in the state of man.-Mr. Gladston at Edinburgh. INVOLUNTARY INFANTICIDE.—Bottle and spoon are the first plagues that the child suffers, from adult stupidity or selfishness. Nursing mothers commonly yield their places once a day to spoon an. l bottle, because society says to them every evening, Won't you come out to-night ?" and because they have not courage to answer always "No." Society can do without them very well, but they are not aware of that. Society, in as far as it means friends, can find them out in their own homes. Why should they become plagues to their children for society, in as far as it means fashion ? And then bottle and spoon are made into double plagues by the ignorance of nurses, who, looking upon milk as a thin fluid, although even cow's milk is really so heavy as to need dilution, do terrific things with gruel. The plague of an adult nurse will even pour into the mouth of a week-old infant, grueli which is to the child's stomach what gravel might be to her own. Then rhubarb foilows to correct the gruel, as one might correct a meal of gravel with a dose, of pepper; and the dill-water stands upon the shelf, and the gray powder-always in half-mourning for the little ones it has killed.-All the Year Round. I TOLD You So !"—An old lady who was in the habit of declaring after the occurrence of any usual event that she had predicted it, was one day very cleverly "sold" by her Worthy apouse, who, like many others we wot of, had got tired of her eter- nal "I told you so." Rushing into the house, breath- less with excitement, he dropped into his chair, elevated his hands, and exclaimed-" Oh! wife! wife! what- what—do you think? The old cow has gone and eat up our grindstone!" The old lady was ready, and hardly waiting to hear the last word, she screamed out at the top of her lungs-" I told you so! I told you so You always would let it stand out a-doors

II SNUFF-DIPPING" IN NEW YORK. A graphic description published by an American con- temporary of the disgusting practice of snuff-dipping, so extensively, in vogue among women of all classes in the southern siatesj from whictt We extract the following particulars i-— People from the North, travelling through Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Alabama, have been astonished at beholding the open and matter-of-iact method of indulging in it-at seeing young girls, lovely ladies, married women and single, sitting in circles, formed expressly for that purpose. Each snuff-dipper has her bottle and swab-stick, or box and mop, from and by which she conveys the filthy dust to her hps, and theii, withdrawing the mop, perhaps passes it along to het iieigh,bottr as an act of delicate attention. Without doubt, this habit Of snttff-dippiifg would be far more Unseemly than that of tobacco-chewing, if practised by men, and when it is considered that women only have adopted it one can hardly repress a shudder of disgust. Many of our readers will be surprised to learn that a great mistake 13 made in supposing that this foul and pernicious habit is confined to the women of the South. A New York paper records the fact, based upon careful investigation, that it is mere or less secretly in practice among the women of New j-ork, and to quite a considerable extent. The article used for this purpose is the old-fashioned yellow Scotch snuff, of which four times as much is consumed in this way by the women of New Bork as for the titillation of the olfactory organ fey all the snuff-takers of both sexes. Certain tobacconists ori Broadway and the Bowery have established a reputation fcf the parti- cular quality of snuff which they manufacture. Hundreds of women buy their snuff under the pretence of cleaning their teeth, and it is claimed by the dealers that all their "digging" customers old or young, have their teeth in a remarkably sound and lustrous condition. How the practice became so extensively spread in New York is not known, though it is probably a Southern importation, and has not obtained much of a foothold until within the past fifteen years. When this hal it has once fastened upon a woman, she rar.ely, v if ever, is able to snake it off. Neither riiined health,, Self-respect^, nor love for her htisbatid, children, and friends caij give.her sufficient resolution to abstain from snuff-chewing. On otoe occamon, having taken the steamer for Charleston, or some other Southern port, and having forgotten, in her hurry, the precious box of snuff, she gave a black stewardess a dols. for a few spoonfuls of a like quality which the latter had in her possession. The amount used by each digger varies from one quarter of a pound to a pound per week.

A JUDGE GIVING A LEFT-HANDER! The London correspondent of the Manchester -gx- aminer gives publiciity to an anecdote now in current circulatitm, with. respect to an incident which occurred at Her Majesty's Theatre on the evening of last Saturday week. On the evening in question, the learned Baoli Bramwell occupied, with his daughter, seats in the pit stalls. Behind him were two gentlemen-one of whom we will for our present purpose call Mr. Blank. In the course of the performance Mr. Blank had occasion to make some remarks to his friend. Perhaps he spoke rather loudly. I can't say how this was, but at any rate it did not justify the learned Baron in turning round and rudely exclaiming, ".Be quiet, sir," nor in repeating after a short interval, Hold yotir fofigtie, vou ruffian!" At a future period of the evening Mr; Blank followed the learned judge into one of the lobbies, and deirianded an immediate apology. I don't know the meaning of the word," says Judex. "Then take that," says Blank, "flipping" the other on the face with his glove. You will hardly, I fear, in these days of pugilism, be sur- prised to hear that the learned person, upon this, hit out straight with his left, and that Mr. Bank caught it heavily on the shoulder. Fully sensible of the incon- venience and disgrace of a fracas in such a place—(of which, by the way, he rilight have bethought himself be- fore he used his glove)—Mr. Blank left the opera, with the intention, as he said, of writing to the pugilistic magis- trate for an apolegy. I do not hear that he has? got one, and, indeed, he is hardly likely to do so. It is, as matters stand, perhaps six of one and half a dozen of the other. But, then, in matters of courtesy, of peace- fulness of demeanour, and of actual respect for the Queen's peace, it is not enough for a judge to be as good as any one else.

JEWEL ROBBERS IN LONDON. At the Marlborough-street Policeccoûtt; London, James Pearce, a lapidary, and Emily Lawrence, both of 5, Albion-grove, Stoke Newington, London, have been charged with stealing at 5, Hanover-square, a diamond locket of the value of 11200i., the property of Mr. Emmanuel, jeweller and diamond merchant; and on suspicion of stealing four diamond bracelets of the value of 6001. from the show-rooms of Messrs. Hunt and Roskell, the celebrated jewellers, New Bond- street. The prisoners have been living together as man and wife at the above place eight or nine months, keeping their servants and their gig, and leading the neigh- bourhood to suppose they must be persons of con- siderable means. The house Was most elegantly fur- nished, and in the wardrobes and drawers about 40 silk dresses were found, among a great profusion of other articles of female wearing apparel; besides which a quantity of jewellery, with two gold watches, was found. It consisted of gold chains, lockets, bracelets, diamond earrings, and other articles. There is strong reason to believe the prisoners to have been concerned in a recent large jewel robbery in Paris to the extent of 10,0001., similar in its nature to those here alleged against them. Mr. Lewis, having opened the case for the prose- cution, called an assistant to Mr. Emmanuel, Court jeweller, Hanover-square, who deposed as follows On the 3rd of January last, at 4 o'clock, a great deal of jewellery having been shown to customers, the male prisoner certainly, and to the best of my belief the woman, entered the Show-Toom and walked to one of the tables. The man asked to see some lockets, and the woman placed her muff on the table. I showed some and they asked for something better, ^nd I showed s,nme accordingly; he approved one, and two pairs or earrings to match. He wanted some alterations by Wednesday, as he was then, he said, going to America and mentioned several American customers, from one Ion of whom he said he should next day bring a watch for repair. I gave him a book, the one produced, and he wrote the name "W. Bains, 7, Portland- place;" his hand trembled as he did so, and he said he had been robbed of a diamond from his pin the night before at the Opera, which was much crowded. I had seen the woman move from where the muff had been left,, and look at the cases; she then returned, taking her muff to another part of the room; she moved it to seveJal parts of the counter, and as she did so she was opening and shutting the cases, in which were articles of valuable jewellery finally she moved away from the counter with the muff. The dress produced by Sergeant Wilkinson I believe to have been worn by her on that occasion; it was in all respects exactly similar. They were in the room from 20 minutes to half an hour, and no customer was afterwards there. About 9 the next morning the locket in question was missed from where it had been seen safe shortly before the prisoners came in. It was of the value of 2,000?., and I sent a young man to inquire at Portland-place, where the address bad been given, and found it false. They did not call next day, and I never saw them till they were apprehended. i Cross-examined by Mr. Beard I noticed at the time how much the male prisoner looked like an American. I cannot say myself that the locket was seen just before the prisoners came in. By Mr. Lewis I gave a description to the police of the prisoners, particularly the male, but do not re- collect now the particulars. He might have been described as having whiskers. He was fair in complex- ion, at all events, and I know the prisoner is man. I have kept him in my memory ever since that evening. r] Prisoner: You look a devilish deal more like an American than I do. Witness: Now I hear him speak I also swear to him by his voice. I identified him directly I saw him. Mr. Whicher, inspector of the detective department, said Accompanied by Sergeants Tanner, Williarnson; and others, I went to 5, Albion-grove, and knocked. The male prisoner opened the door, and I told him I wished to speak to him, and we took him down stairs, where we found the female prisoner, and told them who we were. I asked his name, and he said "pearce," I asked if either of, them had been to Brighton, and both said no, they had been to the Crystal Palace that day. I told them they must go with us to be seen; the woman tried to leave to get a pair of boots in an upstairs room, but I would not let her. I, however, accompanied her, and no boots were there. On our return I noticed something suspicious in her movements, and asked her what she had in her hands, I She said "Nothing," but struggled as I laid hold of them. The mate prisoner got a poker and swore he would smash in my skull. The female prisoner threw up her hands, and said, "There, you see I have nothing," and at her feet I found the three diamond rings produced. I asked her where she got them, and she said she declined to say. We had a severe struggle with the prisoners, but got them at last, after telling them the charge, to the station in the Kingsland- road. (The three rings—hoop-diamonds—were of the value of 100 guineas.) „ Sergeant Tanner confirmed the evidence of the in- spector, and said the male prisoner, levelling a blow with the poker, said if he (the last witness) touched his wife held smash his -brains out. Near where the mal, prisoner stood he found the two diamond rings pre duced. On the person of the male prisoner he fount 34 sovereigns and 10 half-sovereigns, Mr. Joseph Fontana, of the Palais Royal, said tl male prisoner and two women, on the 30th of # Marcy last, came to his house. A robbery was committed o that evening of diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and opa. to the amount of 10,0001. Sergeant Williamson, also of the detective depai ment, proved finding a large quantity of silk dress and other property at the prisoners' residence. Mr. Humfreys addressed the Court on the subject ct the robbery at Messrs. Hunt and Hoskell's, and satdit should be fully prepared to go into the evidence ou future QccAsion. Mr. Inspector Whicher said evidence wouia then t givefl, that both prisoners had been previously conyicte and were treU known as most expert shoplifters^ The prisoners were remanded.

THE "SYSTEM" ON WHICH JOHNf BULL'S MONEY IS WASTED Five years ago (remarks the Times) we' werécom. pelled to denounce the management of ouf mil-itary* and naval establishments. The public and the" Gow vernment have long since done us justice in this nMg ter, the former by demanding that "the system fl which paralysed the efforts of Englishmen should be at once reformed, the latter by setting about those reforms with more or less activity. We have now, most unwillingly, to return to the charge, and to lay before our readers a sad history of mismanagement and waste. Glad shall we be to find that worse epi- thets do not apply to the transactions to which we now call attention. It is plain, however, that, if our information be correct, a heavy responsibility weighs not only on public departments, but on private firmSi, and the persons involved should be anxious for such an examination as shall place them, if possible, right with the world. Those who are accustomed to interest themselves in naval matters will anticipate that we, are about to speak of the revelations just made on the state of our gun-boats. England seems certainly the most, unfor- tunate of countries in her warlike preparations. The most liberal paymisiresg in the would seems to be the worst served, the most energetic people has the laxtsfc servants, and a moral community is at the mercy of contractors. Poor amid the greatest wealth, vulner- able in spite of incessant arming, exposed to insult and danger while the materials of war are accusal iated on every side, this country has good reason to' be periodically suspicious and angry. We are now at y peace, no immediate danger threatens, our only war' is with a remote aud feeble empire although heavily- taxed, the country is prosperous, and can afford both money and time to replace what has been destroyed by the negligence or fraud of those who serve it. All that we desire is that a full examination should be made into the reports now current respecting the state of the navy, and that calmly, but, without fear or favour, the matter should be sifted and a remedy applied. At this time, we are told, there are 47 gUnboats, besides mortar vessels, hauled Up' iri the Haslar yard. All, the world remembers the pseMU which was sung over this miniature fleet. Christened With cOquèttish little names, the gunboats, built according to the neW-' est model and commanded by gallant young officénr. were the pets and the pride of the country, liseir. qualities Were individiously contrasted with_ those of the heavy line-of-battle ships and frigates, which crept cautiously about the shallows of the Baltic, or watched sluggishly opposite the entrance to Sebastopol. It was told how after the war they were all drawn up ready for use on the shortest notice, how they could b6 brought down to the water in less than an hour, and the enemy confronted in less than a week with an e xtempore fleet as formidable as any that could issue from Cherbourg. The Government appears to hate been, as much impressed as the public with the useful-' ness of these craft. They had done good service' at Sweaborg, they had ascended the rivers of China, and were again to be dispatched to that distant region tci bting the Umperor to now"vu. j-VvwrUillgly the shipwrights have been' at work on them with no little activity. Very quietly do these repairs seem to have been carried on, and no complaints of the con- tractors have been allowed to become public, ^bome gunboats which had been kept afloat have been haiile., up, and have been found to be "far more defective' than those stored beneath the sheds, and the; only con- clusion which can be arrived at is that the whole of our' gunboats afloat are unfit for service." They hav6' beeri constructed with the most reckless disregard to tM quality of the material. If those which have been ex- amined are a sample of the whole, we are at this moment without an efficient gunboat. Scarcely a sound piece of wood can be seen about them, every part bearing marks tit "sap," and some of the ribs arc completely enveloped with it; ,the pressure of the hand, on their frame crumbles it to dust. Much more to this effect is given in the naval intelligence. Of course, this abominable history must be fully inquired into. Here we have the country, when hard pressed by war, and unable to furnish the necessary number of vessels from the public yards, applying to' the first private builders in England, and conclttding contracts with them for the construction of vessels, The contracts are taken, the vessels are built, the country imagines that its naval force is considerably increased, and now, at the end of five years, we find that neither the watchfulness of the Admiralty cor the honesty and patriotic feeling of the builders have prevented us from being cheated as grossly and im- pudently as the poor woman who ges 200 yards of thread on a reel purporting to hold 300. We might have much to say on the carelessness of the author- ities which accepted such fraudulent handiwork. The public will demand a searching and unsparing inquiry into these delinquencies, and if it should appear that men holding a foremost position in the community have been guilty of such malpractices, they should be duly exposed and punished. Such doings are a dis- couragement to every one who wishes to see the natural sluggishness of the official world compensated by the enterprise of private houses. It has been the argu- ment of the Admiralty, the Horse Guards, and other departments and their worst faults were as nothing to those of the men whom public opinion held up as their models. The Circumlocution Office, at any rate, did not job, and swindle, and make money out of the public ruin. This plea will now have double force, and though we feel sure that the commercial business of this country is mainly conducted in a high and honourable spirit, the administrative reformers will be taunted with the rotten timber of the gunboats built in private yards, unless their builde)." can clear them- selves from this charge.

WILL THE CHINESE FIGHT? This is the question (remarks the Ttmes) which all who take an interest in this expedition are now asking. It is by no means impossible that Lord Elgin may be relieved from the responsibility of testing this proba- bility, and may find hostilities going on upon his arrival. The French are not likely to send 80 pennants round the Cape to execute a public Imperial menace, and to welcome them back again with their mission un- accomplished. It is scarcely to be conceived that the English and French can be so thoroughly restrained, and that the Chinese can be so successfully taught to. dissemble their triumph, as that nothing shall he done, to wipe out the effect of the disaster at Taku. But, so far as the Chinese Government is concerned, there will certainly be no fighting if words can be made to do the work of blows. That the Chinese will send down Com- missioners from Pekin who wIll entirely disavow all that. has been done since Lord Elgin was last in the China, waters that the Tartar victory at Taku will be de- plored'as an untoward event, and that offers will be made to renew the treaty, we do not for a moment. doubt. Every promise and every procrastination that can be used to stave off coercion until the force is at last of necessity withdrawn will be used. If Lord Elgin is only instructed to demand an apology for the ambuscade at the Peiho, there will be no diffi culty about the matter. For this purpose no high officer and no very expensive expedition was required. The Emperor of China would give a hundred apologies, and at such a cost would order a dozen more ambuscades. But, if Lord Elgin should be prepared to insist that all the stipulations of his treaty should be carried out under his own eyes, it is by no means certain that this expedition may not be able to report to us practically as to the effect of the Armstrong gun. There has always been a strong old Tory party in Pekin, which have always been determined that they never. would yield; and since the Taku victory they have- advanced to the belief that they never can be made to yield. It is highly probable that, rather than yield anything but words, this party will block up the river and defend Tien-tsin. In that case there will be a sharp short fight at Tien-tsin, and the old Chinese Tory will again disappear for a little interval, while the old Chinese Whig, not a very progressive creatnre, takes up the difficulty. These are the probabilities of the case and, although it is commonly said that in China everything happens in direct contradiction to all ante- cedent probabilities, yet we feel very much inchned to predict that if Lord Elgin shall insist uoon anything more than words he will hsve to fight at Tien-tsin.

No communications can be inserted unless authenticated [ by the name and address of the writer.