Pontypool Free Press and Herald of the Hills

littrffr4 Jinfe. I THE WORKMAN'S BANE AND ANTIDOTE comprising the Essay on Strikes, read at the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1861 the History of a Mistake, being a Tale of the Colne Strike, 1860-1; and a Lecture on the Power and Influence of Co-operative Effort, delivered at the Mechanics' Institution, Manchester, November 6th, 1861. By JOHN WATTS, PH.D. Price Fourpence. Manchester: A. Ireland & Co., Pall Mall Court. No man is better entitled to speak, and to be heard with respect, on any question affecting the working classes, than our excellent friend Dr. Watts. His intellectual energies have been devoted to the further- ance of their welfare, and everything which he says in condemnation of their strikes is the result of clear logic based on facts and tested by honestly weighing against it all the arguments on the other side. The following paragraghs deserve to be printed in our largest instead of our smallest type :— "The strike of the London builders in 1859 was for 10 per cent of time, or its equivalent 10 per cent of wages and, as it lasted 26 weeks,would, if successful, have required 10 2-6 years of continuous work at the extra rate to make up the loss of wages sacrificed. The amount in dispute between the weavers of Colne and their employers did not average more than 3 per cent, and, had the strike been successful, would have required more than 28 years' continuous employment at the advance to make up the wages lost, by which time the lost wages would, at 5 per cent, have quadrupled." Many of the advocates of strikes admit all the evils which I hare potnted out, but assert that the wages saved by the fear of a strike is a great compensation. Let us revert again ta Colne for the benefit cf these men, and try if we can't find a more powerful corrective. Would not an accumulation of capital in the hands of the operatives answer that purpose ? If the Colne people could have kept at work instead of turning out, and have lived upon half-wages (as they did,) and if East Lancashire had contributed the 229,000 (which it did contri- bute,) the end of the fifty weeks would have found them in possession of 254,000; which, at 915 per loom, would have po" purchased and set to work 3,600 of the 4,000 looms employed in Colne; and would have given the hands not only wages, but the whole profits of their work also in perpetuity. So that the very same effort and the very same sacrifice of creature com- forts which threw these poor people into beggary, which ab- sorbed all the little savings bank nest-eggs, which stopped the progress of education and deranged the Sunday schools and religious congregations,—would, otherwise applied, have raised the workmen into independence, without injuring their em- ployers for it may be confidently relied upon, that so long as employers are left in quiet possession of their capital, no amount of wealth accumulated and applied by their workmen will produce injury." Of the most promising movement of our time, in rela- tion to the advancement of the masses—we mean the co-operative movement, some hopeful outgrowths of which may be seen in our own locality-Dr. Watts is a warm but not a visionary advocate:— I had before me, in March of the present year, returns from 65 co-operative stores, and I found their paid-up capital to amount to E156,596, and according to the business done (over a million and a quarter per annum) that capital would be turned over eight and a quarter times per annum, and the average dividends showed a profit of seven and a half per cent, which is one shilling and sixpence in the pound on purchases, or over 60 per eent upon the paid-up capital in the year. I hold in my hand my own pass-book, from which I find that I paid, on November 3rd of last year, El to become a member of a co-operative store. I have paid nothing since, and I am now credited with ze3. 16s. 3d., nearly 300 per cent on my capital in a single year Another thing I expect to see is co-operative manufactories set up, and succeed to such an extent as to make it possible in one or two, or it may be three sessions of parliament, to alter the law of partnership, so as to enable an individual employer, after he has paid average wages to his workpeople, to make them partners in profit, without giving them power to involve him in debt or difficulty. If that comes out as the practical result of co-operative effort, I think it will have placed the working man in a most enviable position, for not only will his hands then be engaged in the work he has to do, but he will feel that his heart and brain must be employed in it as well as his fingers, because he will have an interest'in the produce of that brain and heart work, as well as the labour of his hands." We regret that our limits forbid further extracts, but the book itself ought to engage the earnest attention of working men and of everyone interested in their en- lightenment and elevation.

POLICE COURT. SATURDAY.—Before C. H. WILLIAMS, Esq. OBTAINING MONEY BY FALSE PRETENCES.—Thomas Burchell was charged with obtaining XI 2s. 6d by false pretences from several persons at Abersychan. The first witness was J. Hodder, cashier at the shop, who said he received a note (produced in court) from prisoner and advanced him XI 2s. 6d. on it.Edward Thomas, agent at the Abersychan Works, said prisoner induced him to sign the document produced by telling him that one of his children, four days old, had died, and that the men in the Works were getting up a subscription for him.J. Richards, Esq., manager of the Aber- sychan Iron Works, said prisoner showed him the paper produced, and seeing attached to it the signature of the agent, he gave prisoner some money. John Quinn, a workman, said he gave his name for a raffle, which prisoner said he was getting up to assist him home. Prisoner said nothing to him about his child being dead. Magistrate Wbse handwriting is the petition ? W. Griffiths, forge-constable: I asked prisoner and he told me he wrote it.Jeremiah M'Carthay said his name was down on the petition for subscriptions to bury prisoner's child, but he did not authorise prisoner to put it there.Griffiths, forge, constable, apprehended prisoner on Wednesday evening on a charge of obtain- ing money by the false pretence of burying his child. Prisoner said it was for his sister's child. Witness said prisoner had no child, but his wife was enciente. Prisoner was then cautioned in the usual manner, after which he'said that the men in the Works were willing that he should have the raffle, but the women kicked up a row about it in the shop. Prisoner was then committed to take his trial at the ensuing Quarter Sessions at Usk.

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SALE OF THE LATE MR. HANBURY LEIGH's FARMING STOCK. The home farms of the late Lord Lieutenant of the county having been let, the stock and appliances were sold by auction on Wednesday and Thursday last. Mr. Strafford, of London, who stands at the top of his pro- fession in that particular branch, disposed of the cattle and sheep, on Wednesday, at Ty-poth farm. The ex- cellence of the stock attracted a large attendance, there being present many leading agriculturists, some of Z, whom came from distant parts of the kingdom. A catalogue had been prepared, describing in detail the pedigrees of the short-horns, by which it appeared that the entire herd was descended from Daffodil and Red Rose, two cows bred by Mr. Berry, a distinguished breeder, and purchased at his sale at Henwood, in 1835. There were subsequent Crosses with Liberty, from Apperley court; John, bred at Kirk Levington, a son of the famous Duke of Northumberland; and Fa- vourite, a winner at the Royal Agricultural Society's meeting at Shrewsbury. Hero of the West, bred by Earl Ducie, and Waterloo, hired of Mr. Stratton, were bulls lately used; and having regard to all this illustrious ancestry, we are quite prepared to learn that since 1837 the herd has won upwards of forty prizes at the shows of the Royal Agricultural Society, the Smith- field Club, and at Lord Tredegar's local exhibition; and that with respect to the two former shows, they are the only short-horns which have brought prizes into this county, Having said this much by way of preface, we now describe the operations of the sale. Mr. Strafford's scene of action was the meadow at the back of Ty-poth farm-buildings, where had been formed an enclosure of hurdles, with a communication to the beast-houses. A waggon at one side of the cJfecle served for the rostrum of the auctioneer, and the cattle being introduced into the arena, the buyers, stationed outside the hurdles, made their bids, and the purchase was decided with the aid of a sand-glass, used by the auctioneer in place of the usual hammer. The first lot was the roan cow Beauty, calved in 1850. She was put up at 15 guineas, and sold at 18 guineas. Miss Strickland, sold at 15tgs., and Miss Berry, at 15gs, were followed by Lady, at 38gs. White Beauty, Fanny, and Phoebe, at 16, 19f, and 18gs., led to Laura at 28gs., which, with Kate at 24gs., Eugenie at 23gs., Red Rose at 29gs., and Red Berry at 30gs.,was among the higher priced of the milch cows. Several others varied from 15 to 22gs. Some were stated to have yielded 24 quarts of milk per day. Next came several heifers, calved in 1860 and 186<1, which realised-two very handsome animals, 20gs. each, another 21gs. and others from 7 to 15fgs. Six heifer calves of the present year, each fetched from lOgs. to 16gs., and two, only a few days old, 3 and 9gs. The fine white bull, Young Favourite, calved in 1858, and the sire of the young stock that had preceded him in the ring, was led in, and after biddings ranging from 26 to26gs., was sold at the latter sum (considered a very low price), to Mr. Taylor, Stoke Edith, Here- fordshire. Two bull calves, which, to commemorate the district of their nativity, had been named respectively Pontypool and Pontymoile, sold for 15gs. and 6gs., but a still more juvenile calf than the latter, being only a few days old, fetched a guinea more, selling for 7. Five cows and heifers, described as extra stock, realised from 15gs. to 23gs., one of them, the heifer Lilac, being bought at 18|gs., by Mr. Prosser, butcher, Pontypool. A fat steer, 3 years old, an excellent animal, was also bought byMr.Prosser, for 34gs. A heifer, 2"yrs., barren, at 15gs., and a steer, 2 years, at 19gs., were followed by two pairs of two-years-old steers, at 35gs. and 38gs per pair, and two pairs of yearling steers at 15gs. and 20gs., which were the last of the herd. The sheep were next disposed of in 33 lots, of ten each, exclusive of rams forming 9 lots. All were pure- bred Southdowns, from ewes bought of Messrs. John and Thomas Ellman, and Mr. Stephen Grantham, crossed with rams from them and others from the flocks of Sir R. G. Throckmorton, bart., Messrs. Sainsbury, of Market Lavington, and Moore, of Littlecote. We believe that the proceeds of the first day's sale amount to between zCl,7,00 and £ 1,800. On Thursday the sale was continued, the auctioneer being Mr. H. M. Partridge, of Newport. The horses were sold as follows Grey horse, Sully, £ 12 grey marc, Darling, £ 18; grey horse, Duke, £21; straw- berry mare, Star, C21 brown mare, Lester, zCl 2 black mare, Bunting, £ 14; brown horse, Norman, £ 15 bay horse, Bob, £ 8 10s; brown horse, Captain, LS; brown mare, Darby, Y,6 10s.; Galloway mare and foal j618 10s; hackney pony, X6 10s., &c. A few pigs completed the list of live stock, and the implements and miscellaneous effects were next sold, the corn and hay being reserved for the final lots. A mow of hay at Ty-poth, stated to contain from 25 to 30 tons, sold for zC72 a second mow of hay and clover, stated to contain 40 tons, £ 85 part of a mow of hay and clover, stated at 20 tons, £ 44; mow of clover at Twyn-gwyn, £ 65 two mows of hay at Twyn-gwyn, zC49 and Y,51 parts of two mows, stated at 10 and 4 tons, Y,23 and L13; mow of hay at Penygarn, stated at 40 tons, Y,103 another mow of hay' at Penygarn, £ 55. Mr. John Williams, of Ponty- pool, and Mr. Scard, of Newport, were the principal purchasers of the hay and clover. Two mows of wheat at Ty-poth and Twyn-gwyn were offered for sale, but found no buyer. A mow of barley at Twyn-gwyn, stated to contain 300 bushels, was bought by Mr. Knipe, Kemys Vach, at 952, the straw to remain on the farm. By direction of Mr. A. A. Williams, agent to the estate, refreshments were provided, on both days, at Ty- pothfarm-house. The catering was efficiently performed by Mrs. Jacob, of the Hanbury Arms Inn, Pontymoil. Before concluding our notice of these sales, we cannot omit remarking upon the generally admirable arrangements which characterised them, for which a largo share of credit is due to the farm-agent, Mr. Antkony Ridley, who was indefatigable thfoughout in his exertions to facilitate the transaction of business, and to promote the convenience of all persons attending the sales. Mr. Ridley's connection with the farms now terminates. For the long term of twenty-four years has Mr. Ridley held his office, and during the whole period of his engagement, up to the unhappy occurrence whici deprived him of a much-honoured employer, he enjoyed the entire confidence of that employer. The respect won by an intelligent, energetic, and faithful discharge of onerous and responsible duties was mani- festel by the late Mr. Leigh's unvarying courtesy and kindaess, and since his deplored death the high estima- tion in which he held Mr. Ridley has still more clearly appeared. Necessarily brought into contact with a z, large circle of individuals, Mr. Ridley's urbanity and ability are widely known, and among the farmers of this locality he will be much missed. His assistance, when asked for, was willingly rendered. Long experience, combined with large practical knowled e, and sound judgment, gave to his opinions value and authority which were often of essential service. His removal will consequently be much regretted in this neighbourhood, and to his new sphere of usefulness, in Worcestershire, whither he goes to enter upon the manage- ment of a large estate, he will take with him the good wishes of his many friends in this county. MATTHEWS & HOLBROOK.-As advertised in our last impression, the excellent company of musical artistes, with "Joe Holbrook" at their head, gave another concert at the Town Hall on Friday night, to a small audience, who again evinced their entire satis- faction by reiterated applause. Mr. Holbrook was an- nounced and sang in six songs. The Temptation of Good St, Anthony" (by Colman the Younger) was given in his best style, and, with the exception of Robson at the Olympic, we have never seen a singer with such a command of countenance as Mr. Holbrook. He ilsc sang Beautiful Girls," a facetious description the foibles of the fair sex. In the rapid songs I- Figaro," and the Learned Man" his articulation was clear and the words distinctly audible. In character he sang The Perfect Cure" and 11 Jack Rag." On Saturday evening, with hopes of a better attendance, Mr. Holbrook re- peated the entertainment The programme contained some of the choicest musical selections. Mr. George (tenor) sang Thou art so far, and yet so near, "—fol- lowed by Mr. Egerton, who sang his favourite songs— Do you really think she did?" and (as an encore,) The Sly Glance," which met with well-merited ap- plause. Mr. Murray (baritone,) sang The last Man" in good style. Madame Marietta (soprano,) sang a little French song, Jenny L'Ouvrier," which was well re- ceived. The favourite-Joe Holbrook-then made his appearance, and sang The Fog-bound vessel," and (as an encore) a poetical description of the fight between Sayers and Heenan, both being received with hearty rounds of applause. Miss and Mr. Egerton sang a cha- racteristic duet, which set the audience in a roar, and were followed by Joe Holbrook," in his entirely origi- nal character, The perfect Cure," in which his make- up, alone, would have convulsed a stoic. Mde. Marietta and Mr. Murray sang a duet from the opera Barber of Seville." Mr. George gave the Welsh song, Molawd Cymru." A solo on the organophonicon by Mr. Murray, from "II Travatore," including the "Miserere Chorus," In yon gloomy Tower," and Out of the love I bore thee," was enthusiastically applauded, the piano-forte accompaniment by Madame Marietta adding much to the effect of this splendid composition, admirably ren- dered. Mr. Holbrook followed, with his Grecian Statues," in which he showed his talents as an actor, the impersonation of Napoleon the Great's despondency being a perfect picture, and true to the life. Miss and Mr. Egerton gave a laughable duet, "Mr. and Mrs. Clark," an amiable couple: the lady having a passion for bargains at auctions, turns her husband's house into a hospital for invalid furniture, and for fear he should break his legs over some of it, purchases him a pair of crutches, and he retorts by providing her with a second-hand coffin. This last allusion was received with screams of applause. At the conclusion, Mr. Holbrook intimated his intention of returning in a month or two, with an entire change of company. "THE INGOLDSBY LEGENDS."—A lecture was delivered at the Town Hall on Monday evening by Walter Rowton, Esq., on the above subject, for the Pontypool Literary Association. The hall was about three-parts filled with a highly respectable audience, who seemed thoroughly pleased with the manner in which the lecturer handled his subject. The usual for- mal custom of appointing a chairman was dispensed .with, and Mr. Rowton, briefly introduced by the secre- tary,' at once proceeded. For the information of those previously unacquainted with the fact, he stated that the name "Thomas Ingoldsby" was a cognomen assumed by the Rev. Thos. Barham, whose legends" had been unequalled since Butler's Hudibras." He was born at Canterbury in 1798. For a time he studied for the bar, but an accident which brought with it a severe ill- ness, and the suicide of an intimate friend, gave such a serious cast to his character that an actress advised him to take to the stage, because in her opinion he possessed every qualification for a first-class stage villain. He did not take the advice, but entered the church, and made rapid advancement, being successively Minor Canon of St. Paul's Cathedral, Elder Cardinal, Priest in Ordinaay at the Chapel of Honour, and President of Sion College, London. He died June 17th, 1845, aged 57. When it was discovered that the Legends —which appeared in Bentley's Miscellany, and were read with delight—had been written by a clergyman, a charge of inconsistency and irreverence was made against him, and his writings stigmatised as profane, coarse, and irreligious, and his having written under an assumed name was used as a weapon to his prejudice. The lecturer defended him from this charge, and said he accounted for the latter by the writer's unassuming and modest nature,which made him reluctant to publish, and but for the solicitations of his friend Mr. Bentley the Legends had never appeared. It was lamentable to think that captious critics should have been able to sully so great a name. To mark the respect in which he was held, all the shops and houses were closed as his funeral passed, many of the occupants attended the funeral, and numberless memorials were sent to his widow. Would this respect have been paid to a hypo- crite ? If the charges against him were true he must have been a notorious one, for he was a great preacher as well as writer. But he was not a hypocrite, but a consistent Christian, an amiable pastor, a good,man, possessing sterling qualities of head and heart which made him most successful in the discharge of his duties. He disliked oratorical display in the pulpit, but was good to the poor, relieved their necessities, and was appealed to in all cases of dispute. He would candidly admit that there were coarse and indiscreet passages in the Legends, which had resulted from too hasty publi- cation, or from thoughtless, impulsive, momentary folly. The lecturer related several laughable anecdotes of Mr. Barham's personal friends, some of whom were eminent men-among them, Theodore Hook, of whose propensity for hoaxing he narrated a very amusing instance. Among Mr. Barham's parishioners was a merchant who lived in Bush-lane, who had an only daughter, and she was engaged and attached to a young gentleman in her own station of life, and they were to have been married on Thursday, April 1st, 1800. But they had a jealous tiff in consequence of his attentions to a young lady with very very dark eyes and ringlets, while he retorted by alluding to a waistcoat which she had embroidered for a young gentleman, and said that she had assumed the unmentionables too soon. To make amends the young gentleman made a parcel of a handsome dress for his lady, and enclosed a note in the following usual breach of promise style My own darling dearest adorable Dora, pardon me, and deign to accept this present, and wear it for the sake of your affectionate, loving, Billy." He gave the parcel containing the satin dress and note to a shopman to take to the young lady, and likewise a parcel containing a pair of trousers which needed mending, which he was ordered to leave at the tailor's. By an unfortunate mistake the man left the satin dress at the tailor's, and the dilapidated habiliments with the voung lady, who was so highly incensed at the conduct of her lover that when he called she ordered the door to be slammed in his,face, illustrating the truth of the proverb "How great events from little causes spring." The foregoing anecdote is taken from Mr. Barham's diary. The first work written under the assumed name of Ingoldsby is supposed to be "Baldwin, or the Miser's Heir." It is but little known, and although faulty in style contains many passages of merit. He attained popularity by the publication of My Cousin Nicholas." The events related actually occurred at a College in Oxford, and the work was full of that tragic power which made Mr. Barham's poems so remarkable. The Ihgoldsby Legends" are noted for their sarcastic attacks upon the ')o Romish church, but he (the lecturer) did not wish to wound the feelings of any person, his intention was to illustrate, not to criticise. First among the Legends was that of the" Pilfering Jackdaw," and how he for- sook his evil ways and became a model of purity and rectitude, and hopped about, with a gait devout and was sainted Jim Crow" after his death. For the' story itself, we must refer our readers to the Legends, but it was recited by Mr. Rowton in a racy manner which would make the reading dry by comparison. The author had intended to engraft in it a tale of A magpie and the pickled cockles," in which the mysterious and rapid disappearance of pickled cockles-ascribed to the taste of cook for the bivalves-is found to be the result of the depredations of a favourite magpie, noted for his conversational powers and general intelligence. Caught by cook with his head in the jar of cockles, she surprises poor magpie with a ladle full of scalding grease which took all the feathers off his head and rendered him speechless for a whole year, and he moped about till one day his reminiscences were excited by seeing the bald head of a gentleman who called on his mistress, and he screamed out, in the too-well-remembered tone and words of the cook. Oh, drat it! you've been at the pickled cockles, have you r" The lecturer then stepped from the gay to the grave, ar-I in a solemn tone recited "The Confession/'in which a young lady surrounded by every comfort that luxury can" bestow is nevertheless borne down by some hidderf and the audience was electrified when the concluding distich showed that her loss of peace of mind and rest arose from live fact tL, she bad eaten too much cucumber! It was a remark- able fact that as matters of business occupied all Mr. Barham's care and forethought, the Legends were written as a relaxation from plethora, many while wait- ing for a cup of tea, a railway train, or an unpunctual friend. The lecturer gave The Knight and the Lady" as a specimen of the Legends unalloyed by satire. The story is full of serio-comic fun, and its recitation created hearty laughter. He regretted that he had no time to touch on the pathetic and tragic features in the Legends. He concluded with the laughable story of Winnifred and David Pryce, both victims to intemperance—one of passion, the other of wines, spirits, and cwrw. The latter at a jollification suggested that as they had drunk down the sun they should drink down the moon. He rolled home, and was welcomed by his wife with a storm of indignation, and the oft-repeated treble scream— Look at the clock (the long hand stood at XII. the short one at III.) Hardly knowing what he was about he threw his stick at her, she fell, and he became sober on finding her dead as Queen Anne. An inquest was held, and the coroner, Ap Thomas, made a powerful appeal to the jury to show that David Pryce had no malice prepense-that he meant to inflict some trifling correction—and all the rest was purely accidental. After sitting on the body all day in consultation, at half past eleven at night they returned a verdict of Sarved her right." Mr. Rowton concluded by saying that he had endeavoured to do justice to Thomas Ingoldsby— otherwise the Rev. Thomas Barham—as a great writer and a good man, who in his lifetime of 57 years never lost a friend. BLAEN AFON.-MusIcil ENTERTAIN- MENT.—A concert of vocal and instrumental music was given at the King's Arms Inn, on the evenings of Mon- day and Tuesday last, by the far-famed comic singer, Mr. Joe Holbrook, (from the Temperance Hall, Cardiff.) and his talented company. We regret to remark that the audience, each evening, was rather scanty, although tlte entertainment was of a character well qualified to warrant a crowded house. Mr. Holbrook was the "lion" of the company. He is a gentleman possessed of a considerable amount of suavitor in modo, and as he did not seem to be in the least discouraged by the scant attendance, he entered upon his task eon amorc, and from the peculiar drollery of his remarks, his gibes, and songs, and flashes of merriment," he set the audience in a roar," and kept them in a complete state of hilarity all the time be was upon the platform. He sang the following pieces :—"Alonzo the brave," Fi- garo," So early in the morning," (composed by him- self,) Temptation of good St. Anthonv," Beautiful Girls," "Jack Rag," « Oh My Love's dead," Lord Lovell," and his. original "Perfect Cure." The last four were given in character, and all of them were en- thusiastically applauded. Mr. Jarvis, (the chief tenor,) sang some very good songs in a creditable manner. The Death of Nelson," was rendered in a capital style, and encored. This gentleman has an indistinct- ness of articulation, which slightly mars the beauty of his singing, and a stiffness of gait, both of which defects may be conquered to advantage. The Welsh portion of the audience showed a marked appreciation of several Welsh songs sung by Mr. George. A leading feature of the entertainment was a performance on the Organophonicon, by Mr. Murray, who gave some ex- cellent selections from the opera of "II Travatore." He is a good baritone singer, and gave a first-rate selection of sohgs. He was accompanied on the piano by Madame Marietta, who also sang several sono-s amongst which was an Italian one, entitled "Una Voce." Altogether the divertisement proved highly satisfactory, and should we again have the pleasure of a visit from Mr. Holbrook, we hope the Blaenafonites will give him a far greater share of their patronage than they did on this occasion. LECTURE ON SACRED MusIC.-The Rev. E. Stephens gave his popular and interesting Welsh lecture on Sacred Music, at the Independent Chapel, on Sunday evening last. The audience was rather numerous. The Rev. J. Morgan occupied the chair. GARNI)IFFAITH.—SUSPENSION OF THE GOLYNOS WopK.-This work, which has never o-one on very regularly, is at length brought to a stand, by a seizure for rent and galeages, by the landlord, Mr. Morgan, of Abergavenny. The men came out last week, owing to a dispute about the weight of coal they were required to get, and they were then informed that there would be no work for a week, owing to the want of trucks. On Monday, however, the news of the stoppage came, when a rush was made by the men to the. Co.'s shop, in order to obtain provisions for the support of themselves and families. Some of them fared pretty well, whilst others met with but indifferent success. Several of them have succeeded in getting work at the Yarteg, but between three and four hundred are still out of employment, and none of them have been paid for the last seven weeks' work. NEWPORT-—UNITED METHODIST FREE CHURCH.—Sermons were preached in Portland street chapel on Sunday last, by the Rev. D. W. Pennell. of Frome, in the morning and evening, to large congre- gations. Collections were made at the close of each service. On Tuesday the annual missionary meeting was held at the same place, when addresses were de- livered on behalf of the society by the Revs. A. M-Aus- lane, Isaac White, D. W. Pennell, Reeves, &e. RIFLE CORPS INSPECTION.—On Tuesday, the 3rd Mon. (Knickerbockers) Rifles, to the number of 100 rank and file, were inspected by Major Roney, Govern- ment Inspector of riiie at the barracks, in the presence of Lord Llanover, Lord Lieutenant of the county, attended by Capt.-adjutant Phipps. After going through various evolutions for about an hour-and- a-half, the inspector briefly thanked them for their attention to drill, and said that there was room for improvement, but on the whole they had creditably acquitted themselves. They afterwards formed in line, gave three cheers for Her Majesty, and marched back to the armoury. A great many spectators were present. THEATRE.—During the past week Mrs. Thornton, a serio- dramatic artiste, has been playing Katharine Howard, and the leading parts in various plays, much to the admiration of the audience and her own credit. Mr. Lovegrove is not backward in bringing forward talent, nor the public in appreciating it, AND MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.—A lecture was de- livered at the Town Hall on Tuesday evening by G. Grossmi^ Esq.: subject, English Notions of American Character The lecturer treated the subject in his usual masterly, amusing and forcible manner, much to the delight of a pretty good audience, • fc

BIRTHS. Feb. 16, the wife of Mr. John Watkins, GarndifFaith of a daughter. 1 MARRIAGES. Feb. 15, at the register office, Mr. Benjamin Davies, to Miss Ruth Vale, both of Talywain. Feb. 17, at the register office, Mr. James Flower, to Miss Sarah Morgan, both of Garndiffaith. DEATHS. Fete. 16, aged 43, Jane, the beloved wife of W. Llewellin, I Esq., Glanwern House, Pontypool. Her loss is deeply felt, not only by her sorrowing relatives and friends, but also bv the poor of the neighbourhood, to whom she was a liberal benefactress. Feb. 17, aged 46, the wife of Mr. Edward Richards, grocer, Pontnewynydd.

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