The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

TICKING POCKETS AT it RAILWAY I TERMINUS.. f James Day, a, smart-looking young fellow, was brought before Mr. Buroham, at the Southwark Police-court, charged with attempting to pick the pocket of Mr. William Mills, at the London-bridge railway termini. The prosecutor deposed thai on the previous even- ing he came up by railway, and as he was leaving the terminus he felt a pull on his coati on the side where his pocket-book and other valuables were deposited. At the same time he heard some OD eery out," Mind your pockets." He turned round immediately, and the prisoner ran from him and got among the cabs. He found that someone's hand had been at his pocket, consequently he pursued the prisoner, and shortly afterwards he saw him in custody. A gentleman residing in the Borough said he. had followed the prisoner and another young fellow down High-street, and saw them feel several gentleman's pockets. They turned towards the railway. and went behind the prosecutor. The other fellow felt the back pockets, and the prisoner put his hand to the side pocket, when witness called out, Mind your pockets." The prisoner and his companion then ran of (but they were pursued, and he saw the prisoner eaught near the cab-rank. The prisoner bare declared that he was an honest lad, and gained his livelihood by singing in public- houses. He was a,bout to enter one in the Borough, when a man caught hold of him and called him a thief and a liar. Last witness informed his worship that there was no public-house near, and he was positive that the prisoner and his companion intended to rob the gentleman. He had followed them at least three hundred yards, and had seen them attempt other gentlemen's pockets. Mr. Burcham asked if the prisoner was known. The constable who apprehended him replied that he was a companion of suspicious characters. Mr. Burcham decided on remanding the prisoner to enable the police to make further inquiries about him.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. In the House of Lords, on Thursday, a division was taken on the third reading of the Metropolis Sewage and Lssex Reclamation Bill, when it was carried by 49to4 f The Marquis of Clanricarde moved the sec^d reaamg 01 the Public Houses Closing Act (1864) Amendm object of which is to relax the provisionsofthe Act lor .closing of the public-houses bet^een the hereof one and four a.m., so far as relates to public refreshment houses the vicinity of the metropolitan markets. to After a brief discussion the second leadmg was agMed to^ The Sewage Utilisation Bill, and several other bills were advanced a stage, and the House adjourned. In the House of Commons, the House went into commit- tee of supply on the Civil Service Estimates, Class 2, vote 1\?rUbH ifCBruc?moved the vote for education, viz., £ 693,078^'as compared with £ 705,404 last year, and stated the number of schools and teachers, and the number of children under instruction ™ the Present year, namely, 1,138,000, as eompared with 1,092,000, being an ir.crease ui round numbers of 40,000- Tiiers liad been a slig'tit iffi" provement in the result of the examinations, There had been an increase in the certificated teachers, amd a falling Off in the number of pupil teachers, while there had been an addition to the applications for grants to schools fulfil- ling the conditions required. The right hon. gentleman stated the object of a minute issued recently by the com- mittee of the Privy Council for Education, applicable to endowed schools, and which proposed to-extend to all schools of that kind the same privilege which had hitherto been granted only to rural schools. After some observations from Mr. Selwyn, the vote was ^The vote for the Science and Art Department was then A discussion of the usual character on "this vote ensued, *Mr, Potter having moved the reduction of the item of £ 36,500 in respect of the National Art Training School by 000 A division took place, in which the amendment was re- ^e°M^ IMllwyn moved the omission of the item of the purchase of specimens of art, ancient and modern, lor the South Kensington Museum. 01 9, On a division, the amendment was lest by 81 to The vote was agreed to, and the House "ffi^our_ The other business was gone through, and the adjourn ment took place. In the House of Lords, on Friday, on the metion of the Earl of Harrowby, a number of returns relative to the state ^Th^Ewl ooSntaSed why the sentence passed on a sub-inspector and some 0-f the Irish constabulary for being concerned in an outrage on Catherine Gaughan, at Ballisodare, county Sligo, had not been carried into *ffEarl Granville said that .the sub-inspector had not been suspended on account of illness; and the other constables Would be removed as opportunityoffered. On the motion of Earl Granville, the House adjourned to Monday, June 12. In the House of Commons, on the motion that the House ■at its rising do adjourn to Thursday next, Mr. G. Duff called attention to the claims of the Uni- versity of London to be provided at the national expense with a. building suitable for its purposes, and worthy of the iposition whieh it occupies amongst the educational institu- tions of the country. Mr. "W Cowper admitted that the accommodation at pre- set afforded to the London University in Buzlington-house had become inadequate, and the subject of adding to that accommodation had been under the consideration ot the Government. „ Mr. H. J. Baillie called attention to the proceedings of "the Ordnance Select Committee, pointing out that the con- stitution of that body was such as to prevent its adequately and satisfactorily performing its duty of selecting the best Run for the naval service, inasmuch as some of its members Were themselves inventors of cannon, and their own inven- tions were submitted to the committee ;■ besides which, the committee as a body had itself constructed more than one Sun which had been a. failure. Mr. H. Vivian inquired who was responsible lor the adoption of any small arm or gun for the army. ■ The Marquis of Hartington stated that the Secretary for "War was responsible for the adoption of any arms in the service He said that it was never denied that mvejtors wer^not members of the Ordnance Committee and WjWe had been laid down making this a disqualification, but the ii^cTs adduced of inventions of members of the committee having been adopted were confined to two, and did that prove that it was an inventing body ? The motion for adjournment was then agreed to. The consideration of the report of the committee on Signatures to Petitions in favour of Azeem Jah was then « « •Mr. C Forster stated that the committee, although being ^tiafied that sufficient evidence had been given of the com- plicity of the persons inv-olved in the offence of forging to the petitions in question, yet gave a further oppor- to George Mitchell to produce further evidence xn favour, and in the result the committee resolved that case had been proved against Mitchell. He moved that breach of privilege had been committed, and that a Arrant be issued for the committal of Mitchell into custody. After some discussion, in "which Mr. Hennessy, the Attorney-General, Mr. Cos, and Sir J. Fergusson took part, The. motion that Mitchell had committed a breach of the Privileges of the House was agreed to. L On the motion that he be committed to Newgate, A division was taken, and the motion was carried by 41 A* motion for taking Henry Whitehead and Powell, Mitchell's accessories in the matter, into custody by the Serjeant-at-Arms was then made, briefly discussed, and a division followed, in whieh the motion was carried by 39 ^The House then went into committee of supply on the civil service estimate, class 4, beginning with the vote for education in Ireland—namely, £ 325,683. Sir R, Peel made a statement with regard to the progress of national education in Ireland, showing a considerable erease in the number of schools and pupils, especially Soman Catholics, necessitating an addition of After discussion the vote was agreed to, as were several other votes before the House resumed. „ The other business was gone through, and the adjourn- ment took place.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHE- QUER AT CHESTER. A We number of the inhabitants of the good old city of Cheater having invited Mr. W. H. Gladstone to meet them and explain his political views, the -Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer spoke in Bapporfc of his eon's candidature. He was received With great enthusiasm. He said, although he had not the honour to be either a candidate or an elector for Chester, yet he hoped it would not appear strange or unnatural he should oome amongst; them on this occasion (hear, hear), when the immediate question concerned one to Whom he was so nearly and dearly related (applause), and of whom he never had had cause, and he believed never should have cause, to be ashamed (applause). There were three candidates in the field for a Liberal Beat. One of these, Mr. Ilaikea, had all the claim to represent the city which could be possessed by a man folding opinions held only by a, very small minority of the constituency (loud applause). Mr. Saikes had 00me there in consequence of divisions in the .body of the majority of the constituency, and those divisions °aly could give him the ghost of a chanee. It was a grave matter to consider who was,p?ES'^e for *^0S9 divisions • and he at least, had felt it deeply, and had, j* afraid, gSetoffen^e to bf hf t, tu sort had laid down the rule that they fj«ded by considerations of personal amnion. ci ^at the flattering- prospect of his gaming toe s » Jf the constituency should not bring him into tn J? the possible danger of the party, which compnsea 'hfee-fourths of the constituency, unless they wer by him alone could the representation or their opinions be secured (cheers). He went on to the steps to bring Mr. Fenton to a comparison .Pledges obtained from voters, showing that a requi- Bigned by BOO out of a constituency of 1,900, been presented to Mr. Gladstone before he had nsented to stand, and that Mr. Fenton had declined r° produce any proof of superior or equal manifest*. *iQa of strength (cheers); therefore, the responsibility dividing the party rested on Mr. Fenton. He (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) had been the subject of Portion of the political literature of the city during ?ae last few days. Ha regretted that the discussion oad not been confined to political matters at Mr. "ike'g meetings, but that matter affecting per- foaal character, and even matter which he might ^esignate as foul calumny (cheers, and No, no") been introduced. He should not allude to sub- of that class. He should deal with them not J«ere but elsewhere (cheers). To pass to questions of plitics. Mr. Raikes was reported to have said that, or the last six years, there had been no government 1? thia country. There bad been none of the kind Mr. ^aikeshad wished (laughter). But there had been a Government of some kind. Who were the men in the government? Lord Palmers ton had established a ^orld-wide reputation. If medals were given for Political services as for military deeds Lord Russell s reaat would be covered ■with distinctions. It was by Mr. Raises that a commercial treaty ith France had been passed in 1860, w^ieh, he said, f*ad very much disappointed the expectations both of ts friends and of its enemies. It was S good rule to believe half of what one heard, and he believed half of what Mr. Raikes said, that the treaty had disap- pointed its enemies. It had added to the value of the trade between England and France to the amount of twenty-three millions of money, and, as its legis- lation had not been confined to France, it had added at least fifty millions of money, of beneficial ex- change, to the transactions of this country. What did that mean? Millions upon millions added to the profits of capital- the reward of skill and the honest payment of labour (cheers). The French demand occasioned by that treaty had come, as by some providential design, to supply the place of our commerce with America at the moment when that commerce ceased, and had kept in action strong English arms, which but for that treaty would have been paralysed (cheers). A Government was in its best and happiest employment when it was enabled to devise means for raising the condition, and increasing the happiness of the great body of the country (ap- plause). He warned them against those who always bade them beware of the party who had carried the repeal of the corn laws, established the system of free trade, endeavoured to mitigate and remedy religious disabilities, and taught the doctrine of a liberal extension of the franchise. Mr. Raikes belonged to a party that had offered every obstacle to the question of the French treaty with all the ingenuity, skill, and vigour a Parliamentaay op- position could devise. The hon. gentleman proceeded to speak of the relative-qualifications of Mr. Fenton, who was a man of business and experience, and Mr. Gladstone, who necessarily could not have had such experience. 'He showed that it was necessary to have in the House -of Commons men of all classes of qualifications and experience; but if Government was to be carried on, it must be by persons who took to it as a profession in their early life. Young men must be returned as representatives with that view, and they must receive from their constituencies an amount of trust. Under the healthful influence of criticism, they developed the qualities of statesmanship. He had ad. vised his son to come forward as an adherent of Liberal principles, not measuring them too nicely or stingily as to their application; but taki-hg the prin- ciples themselves as representing in the main trust of the people, only qualified by prudence; while;the prin- ciples of their opponents represented mistrust of the people, only qualified by fear (cheers). He sketched the general character of legislation and its result dur- ing the last fifty years, contending that the examina- tion of the events of that period placed the credit of the improved position of the country to Liberal and not Conservative principles. In reference to the franr chise, the right hon. gentleman sMd; the working classes were a very small portion offthe t "onatituency of the country, and he regretted that the mind of the country was not more prepared for a sensible exten- sion of the franchise to working men. His experience of the constituency of Newark for thirteen years had led him to the conclusion that working men would not go as a class together, or set up a separate interest if they had the franchise. He lamented the abolition Of the scot and lot constituencies, and expressed himself, in conclusion, in favour of a liberal extension of the franchise.

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL GARDENS, A special show of pelargoniums took place at these gardens on Saturday. The earlier part of the day was not favourable to an exhibition of this kind, the showers being frequent and heavy, but at about four in the afternoon the weather cleared up, and a large and fashionable company soon appeared in the gardens. The band of the Royal Horse Guards per- formed a good selection of music. The show was a very good one; indeed, in pelargoniums at all the shows ithis year there has been a remarkable improve- ment both in the quantity, regularity, and form .and variety of coleur of the bloom. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals availed themselves of the use of the gardens and the occasion to exhibit a very considerable number of vermin'traps, their object (in which they have hitherto been to a large extent successful) being to promote the invention and use of traps which will, in destroying vermin, occasion them the least possible pain. Among the distinguished visitors who attended the gardens were the Dake of Rutland, Lord Henry G. Lennox, M.P., Sir George Chetwynd, Lady Jane Walsh, Lady Byles, Lord Southampton, Sir Wentworth Dilke, Sir Daniel Cooper, Colonel and Major Goodenough, Major Best, Mrs. General Perry, Colonel and Mrs. Sydney, Lady Fitzroy, Lady Gipps, Lady Smythe, Lord and Lady Egerton of Tatton, LadyMTRven, Admiral Burton, Lady Mathew, Lord and Lady Cawdor, Baron Brunnow, Marquis of Tweeddale, Hon. Mies Parker, Countess cf Harrington, Archbishop of Armagh, Lady Stuart de Rothsay, Marchioness of Waterford, Lady Lugard, Sir A. Belcher, &e. The Drizes awarded were as follows:— CLASS 1-12 distinct kinds (open).—First prize, Mr. J. Fraser, Lea Bridge-read Nurseries, Leyton, « £ 8; second, J. Ward, gardener to G. F. Wilkins, Esq., Leyton, «S6.. CLASS 2-6 distinct kinds (amateurs).—First prize, Mr. J. Ward, .£5; second, Mr. ;R. Cox, gardener to Captain Cahill, Park-house, Southall, X4; third, Mr. D. Donald, gardener to J. G. Barclay, Esq., Knoit's. green, Leyton, Q3. CLASS 6—6 distinct kinds, fancies (amateurs).- First prize, Mr. D. Donald, £ 5 second Mr. R. Cox, .£4; third, Mr. J. Weir, gardener to Mrs. Hodgson, The Elms, Hampstead, £ 3. In CLASS 3—6 distinct kinds (nurserymen); CLASS 4-6 distinct kinds of 1864 (open); CLASS 5—specimen plants (open); CLASS 7-.9 distinct kinds, fancies (nurserymen); CLASS 8—6 distinct kinds, fancies of 1864 (open); and CLASS 9—specimen plants (fancy). -Mr. J. Fraser carried off the first prizes, varying from .£1 to X5 each. MISCELLANEOUS.—Mr. W. Paul, Waltham-crosa, for a collection of cut roses, XI 10s. EXTRA.—M. W. Paul, for a collection of Beaton s pelargoniums, £ 1; Messrs. J., and C. Lee, Vineyard Nursery, Hammersmith, for a collection of cut roses, I |l0s.

THE SISTERHOOD AT BRIGHTON. Three women, named respectively Emma Jane; Broadbridge, Harriet Delves, and Mary Hersley, were brought before the Mayor at Brighton, the stipen- diary and several of the borough magistrates, sitting at the police-court, Brighton, and charged on a sum- mons with causing a disturbance and annoying the in- mates of St. Mary's Hospital, Brighton, on Sunday, Mav 28th. Katherine Aen Gream gave evidence that she had been connected with the establishment for eight years, but with none other before that time. Jane Broadbridge, now between sixteen and seventeen years of age, had about eighteen months ago begged a night's lodging at the Home. This was given to her, and next day, after she had been sent re- turned with her mother, who represented that she was a fit subject for a penitentiary, and that she had fallen. During the time she stayed in the Home she was often refractory, used mush bad language, and was in consequence locked up. There were no printed rules. Such as there were had been ai'awn up by iwr. Wagner. Girls were imprisoned by Miss Greaxn s orders. At one time Miss Gream sent for her mother to fetch her aAvay, but her mother begged that she might stay, and she did stay until three weeks ago, when, the evidence seemed to show, she was looked up for some misconduct and escaped from the Home. Since that time she had been congregating with theother girls named in the summons opposite the Home, and had made signs tothe inmates of the penitentiary, to whom also they had thrown oranges and apples, and had called out the names of Mr. Wagner with one of the sisters. Evidence was then given by two sisters and a visitor" as to other slight acts of annoyance in the streets and at the Home. One deposed to some one of the defendants styling them sisters of the devil" as they were coming from church. Delves and Broadbridge were called to exonerate each other. Delves deposed to haying been twice convicted of felony, and once of disorderly conduct at the work- house. Both said they had merely on this occasion spoken to the girl who had beckoned them. Broad- bridge said she only knew Selves from seeing her m the penitentiary, and said that if h refractory inmates did not walk into the confinement room, other girls carried them. They were bound over m their own recognisances for six months. I

THE FREEDMEN OF AMERICA. The great interest which has in former times been manifested is this country on behalf of the negro race in America, and which certainly should not be less now that occasion calls for the effective exercise of benevolence towards that lately oppressed and still suffering class, will justify our insertion, in extenso, of the following letter from Mr. J. Selfa. Martin on their behalf. The letter is addressed to the Daily News, long and favourably known for its able advocacy of their cause. It is pretty generally known that Mr. Martin is himself a man of colour, and was, until the last few years, a slave:— Sir,—The American Missionary Association, a bene- vulent society which, during the last fifteen years, has spent more than X20,000 in aid of the freedmen of Jamaica and other British possessions, and which, during the last three years, has, spent X40,000 in aid of the freedmen of America, appointed me a delegate to the London May meetings, that I might lay before the friends of the aegro here such facts as might beget sympathy and co-operation with the society's work. Partly from a mishap, and partly through miscalcula- tion, I did not arrive in England in time to attend those meetings.; and trusting to the interest which the I)wihj News has always displayed in the anti- slavery take the liberty of asking a place in your columns for a statement of the following facts: "WhHe the negro had the sense to bide his time he was called a fool; while he had the moral courage and self-control to wait for success he was called a coward; and while he was supporting- both himself and his master he was called lazy. But those are bygones. Now that- the master can no more stcal'tlie negro w' cunning* of the plantation that outwitted his owner, and transferred it to grander arena and christening it by the more high-sounding name of diplomacy rule the North with it for the continued oppression of his race; and now that the negro has found thellevel both of his own and his master's humanity over a levelled HMiSket; and last of all, that he has got over that stapleiWhichhe once cultivated to make a winding- sheet for his race, and is making from it garments that shall clothe him with self-reliance and self-repect --row that all this is done, the important question, and perhaps the last question which his friends will be called to settle, is—How shall the negro he settled in his new condition without insjary to himself, his friends, or even his enemies ? Of course, new difficulties will arise in his new situation-diffi.culties belonging, it is true, to his old condition, but none the lessreal and pressing on that account. He has incurred the hate of Ms former master by taking up arms against him, he will provoke the jealousy cf the poor whites by the eagerness with which he will learn and the success with which he will work, and both these classes will refuse, when they can do so, to. give him work as long as this hatred and jealousy lasts, which will be during the present gene- ration. These are which cannot be r-owhecl by national legislation, even though it were not alien to the American ferm of Government to attempt,it. The condition-of the negro must be left to the States, along with the condition of'every other class of their in- habitants. It seems, therefore, that the philanthropy, whose agitations have produced the disruption of an organised iniquity, must continue its work until a, proper and lasting re-construction is effected, and for this means will be needed from all possible sources. Emi- gration from the Morth will do much in overcoming old prejudices and softening asperities. But philanthropic agents, measures, and means, must do by far the greater part. Free schools, sympathetic teachers, prudent and efficient superintendents, and, perhaps more in- fluentlal than all, churches and preachers must do much among a people'Who have made their religious nature at once the garner of their hopes and the means of their present enjoyment. Driven from every protection by man they have naturally turned to God, and though they have done so in the blindness of superstition and the gropings of ignorance, yet they have done it in such reality that whatever else belong- ing to their old condition may be removed, their religious feelings, convictions, and enjoyments will not be amongst them. "But the first and most pressing work to be done is to provide a remedy for the wasting, the disorder, and the sufferings of war. The South has not only been exhausted by the ravages of the recent strife, it has also been paralysed by the fears which accom- pa,niec;1 and which are sure to follow it. Besides the evils of waste, obstructions t$> recuperation rest upon the whole land. "Peace" was not made sure of in time to attend to crops this year in the most favoured parts of the South; and this single difficulty, unless it is met, may exert an evil influence both upon the pacification of the whites and the proper employment of the blacks. Underthe pressure of want, and through confidence in the benevolence of the Northern people, the negroes, and perhaps a large number of the poor whites, will make the mistake of coming North, unless provision is made for them in the South. Should they do so it will not only create a burden which the North cannot bear, but their coming will perpetuate the very evils from which they flee. The fields will be left untilled, and the settled habits which are so necessary to be begun on the very thre^old of a change from the old restraints of bondage to. the full freedom of manhood will not be secured; liberty may soon come to mean idleness with a people whose only incentive to labour was the lash, and those who have tasted for the first time the sweets of bene- volence from others under the pressure of necessity may try and turn' the thing into a luxury. Nor will the evil be less to the whites who may be able to remain in the South. The rich man on his estate will be reminded of his prophecy that the negro would not work when freed, and the poor whites will be affected by an example that promises a. return to their old mode of life, of living without work. Now preparations are being made in America to prevent as far as possible, and to meet when they are inevitable, just these difficulties. But four years of war and four years of unparalleled benevo- lence have not passed without affecting the giving power of the people. Of course, large for- tunes have been made out of the war, and there is still a great deal of money given, but not by those who have made the fortunes. And yet I would not be understood as saying this difficulty will not be grappled with, as most of the difficulties growing out' of the war have been, by the American people. Bus it is very natural that the anti-slavery men of America,, who have gladly listened to and circulated the ad- dresses of Englishmen to the American people to get rid of slavery, and who have joined their prayers with English Christians to the Almighty to over-rule this i war i-\ the removal of the foulest blot on the charac- ter Anglo-Saxon race—it is but natural, I say, that the Americans should think that the English pe&ple will not turn away in indiSeres-ice from the good result- of their own efforts and the faithful answer to their o wu prayers. When the interests of a whole race and the success of a most important industry are at stake, there can be no degradation on the part of those who solicit help, not for themselves, but for those who aie now equally the protegSs of England and America, and who at some time during the history of slavery have been the victims of both. But I am ha,ppy to see that ap- peal is scarcely necessary here, judging from the willingness with which the Duke of Argyll and many others of the noMlity have thrown their great in- fluence in favour of this noble and necessary work. It would seem now that all the English people want is information, and that there are plenty of Americans new in England to give. Messrs. Haynee. Storrs, Kennedy, Coffin, and Leigh are here, und the American Missionary Association felt it to be no more than its duty to furnish informa- tion on this subject to such as were interested in its work. It has therefore sent me, and I shall take great pleasure in responding to invitations which have in view the furtherance of my mission. Meantime, any persons who desire to help in this work pecuniarily may send their donations to Messrs. Brown, Shippley, and Co., Founders-court, Lothbury, London, B.C., to the credit of the American Missionary Association.— I am, &c., J. SFLLA MARTIN. 14, Oxford-street, May 30.

NEW FEATURES IN INSURANCE. Amongst the middle and working classes of the community, no office stands higher than the Emperor Fire and Life Insurance Company. Beyond the abso- lute business transactions, a sociability exists between the directors, the shareholders, and the policy-holders that is rarely found in this matter-of-fact age. The conduct of the chairman, the secretary, and all the official" engaged in this office appears to be actuated by kind philanthropic feelings. "Insure youj life for the advantage of the widow or the orphans you may leave behind you. Insure lest even now, in pros- perity, adversity may come, and you leave those you care for most.,on earth totally unprovided for. Insure your houses, your furniture, your stock in trade and your clothing, lest an accidental conflagration might bring to nought that which you have worked hard to obtain," is the motto adopted by this company. The directors occasionally give a fionversazione, to which the shareholders and the policy-holders, with their wives arid families, are invited, and, after par- taking of the cup that cheers without inebriating, the chairman and directors, together with those holding official appointments, address the meeting, directing their attention to the danger of imprudence, and to the desirability of providing against the accidents to which life is subject. Wednesday was the annual meeting of the share- holders, which was presided over by the much re- spected chairman, Ebenezer Clarke, sen., Esq., who was warmly greeted. The secretary read the report, which stated that "during the year 736 proposals have been received for assurances, amounting to X79,139, and 622 policies have been completed, assuring X64,322 12s.; this has increased the total proposals received to 11,902, for £ 741,277 14s., and the policies issued to 10,095, for ■ £ 577,405 17s. 6d. The bonus declared in June last, and the method of appropriation, have given general satisfaction to the policy-holders. Several of the as- sured have had their policies, which were formerly payable only in the event of death, converted into endowment policies, payable at a given age or at death; some have had bonuses varying from X20 to £ 80 added to their policies; others have received the cash bonus in one sum; and the remainder have had their annual premiums considerably redueed. The claims, amounting to>63,558 18s. 5d., were all paid within fourteen days after reception of the necessary proofs of death, and have not been more for the year than the premiums of the last four months; this re- sult is very satisfactory, when the mortality through- out the country generally has been above the average. In consequence of so large an amount of property being purchased by means of building societies, new tables have been carefully compiled to enable a borrower at a small cost to secure the amount of his future repayments in the event of his death, and thus to leave his property to his widow or family entirely free from further liability, or to secure to others an annuity for the remainder of the period named, in the event of the death of the assured. Assurances to a large amount have already been effeoted in this depart- ment, and the directors invite those interested in building societies to give thisolass of assurance their special attention. The investment of the society's funds in freehold and leasehold securities has realised a considerable profit. The directors recommend a dividend of 5 per cent. on the paid-up capital, free of income-tar, and a bonus of 1 pet cent." The new features exhibited in this report perhaps need some explanation. First, then, the person having assured a sum at his death, and having paid the premium for a certain number of years, may convert that into an endowment payable through life on the individual arriving at a certain age, on a principle far more liberal than that proposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. This may not be con- sidered wholly a new idea, but that connected with building societies is entirely new, and has already met with the approval of the working commu- nity. The object is this:-Occasionally a man joins a building society, and borrows a sum, say of C200, to complete the erection of a .house, which he proposes to pay back to the society by ten annual instalments. Before the house is erected or the instalments paid, the grim hand of death seizes the man, and his widow and orphans being unable to keep up the payments, the house is taken from them, and they lose all interest in the house. To provide for this, the Emperor has issued tables by which it will be seen that a person paying the very small sum of.Cl per annum premium can secure the instalments being paid by the society in case of his death, and thus have the property pre- served. In the Fire department the following may be taken as a brief summary of the report:—"Your directors have the satisfaction to announce that the business has steadily progressed. 755 proposals have been re- ceived for X316,871, and 687 policies have been issued for e273,714, which has increased the total proposals received to 6,061 for £ 2,086,471, and policies issued to 5,869 for £ 1,754,807. The claims have amounted to £ 1,681 6s. 6d. The reduction of duty from 3s. to Is. 6d. per cent., and the further reduction of the stamp duty, it is expected, will give a considerable impetus to fire business. The agents, and all in. terested in the society, are Specially urged to embrace the present opportunity of obtaining' additional in- surances. Many will insure who have not previously done so on account of the 3s. duty. No exertion should be spared to increase the amount of insurance; by this means the Chancellor of the Exchequer may be enabled to make a further reduction in the duty, and thus, without decreasing the revenue, increase the practice of fire insurance. After the reports had been read, and the chairman, directors, secretary, auditors, &c., all complimented and re-elected, a. vote of thanks to the chairman ter- minated the proceedings. The new prospectus of this company co-n be obtained by applying at the Emperor office.

-¡ How Jefferson Davis was Dressed-A cor. respondent of the New York Tribune, in describing the capture of Jefferson Davis, says Captain Hudson had placed a strong guard around the tent where Davis was supposed to be, and when the firing commenced, thinking his duty called him to the fight, he left the tent in charge of a corporal with orders to let no one pass out. The corporal went to the door, where he was met by a lady, who proved to be Mrs. Davis, and who said that tent was occupied by ladies, and she hoped they would be permitted to dress before being, disturbed. Very soon she again and voluntarily appeared at the door, with another person in petticoats, morning dress, and a woollen cloak with a hood closely drawn over the head and a pail on her arm. Corporal ordered ç Halt!' which was of course obeyed, but Mrs. Davis feelingly appealed to the corporal to allow her mother to go to the spring for a pail of water— it was hard, even if they were prisoners, not to be allowed to get a little water for their moriling ablutions. Mr. Corporal just then observed that the morning dress was not quite long enough to conceal a pair of boots looking' rather too heavy for 'mother' to wear, and, with his Spencer carbine presented to the aged lady's head, ordered her to remove that cloak. The axgnment was persuasive, i even to the chivalry. THE disguise was removed, and Jefferson Davis appeared in full view."

.1 W9MAN KILLED BY LIGHTNING, n A fearful thunder-storm burst over the city ot Glasgow on Wednesday. It was short in duration,, but of mueh intensity while it lasted, and resulted in one person being instantaneously deprived of life., while others were seriously injured. In the forenoon the atmosphere was exceedingly close and sultry, and,' he day wore on, the sky became gradually overcast by denseclolids of suspicious outline. Soon after four o'clock the storm burst forth, at first in faint gleams of lightning and mutterings of distaiki thunder. The electric flashes, however, soon became intensely brilliant, and of frequent recurrence, and the thunder crept gradually nearer and more near, until at length it seemed to crash right over head. rain fell in torrents, so that in a short time the watei swept down the stroet-i in perfect streams. In little more than half an hour the storm passed away, the Πniosphere became much cooler, and the evening closed in calmly. Wliete the storm was at its height, a widow woman name* Mary Scanlan or BroacUie, residing at No. 22, Gallowgate, was killed on the spot, in the green, by the electric fluid. Mrs. Broadlie had been;taking tea with a Mrs. Craigie; the women left the house for the purpose- of searching for two children. While they were walking Mrs. Craigie was knocked to the ground from the effects of a stroke of lightning, but, excepting a momentary stun, she was little or nothing the worse. Her companion, Mrs. Breadlie, was aisc struck by the electric fluid, whereby she was instan- taneously deprived of life. Her clothes were literally torn into shreds, and singed in some places; but with the exception of a slight oozing of blood from her mouth and one of her ears, there were no injuries ap- parent. A serious accident also took place during the storm in the honae of John Tweedlie, situated at 66, High-street. It appears that while John Twedlie-1 three years of age, Elizabeth Tweedlie, between six and seven years old, and a woman named Sarah Shepherd or Hislop and her daughter, were standing in the kitchen, near the fire, the lightning struck the chimney can, darted down the vent, and the above-named persons were very severely scorched in various parts of their bodies. Shortly after four o'clock a chimney- stalk, situated at 80, King-street, City, was struck by lightning, and a portion of the mason-work fell to the ground with a fearful crash. Fortunately no person was injured. In the western district of the city several flagstaffa were struck by the lightning and destroyed, and we were informed that one of the workmen in the employment of Messrs. A. and J. Inglis, engineers, Warroch-atrcet, was struck by the lightning and knocked Co thei'groa.nd. Fortunately, however, the injuries he sustanied were trifling.

ICxraMn Ctftmfcrg Baduts -+-- Money Market CITY, JUNE 7,-There is rather more business in the stock markets to-day, and the tendency of prices is some- what more favourable. The discount market is inactive to-day, and transactions continue to be effected in the best paper at | per cent, below the Bank minimum. In the Stock Exchange, however, tliere is a rather strong demand for short loans on English Government securities, owing chiefly to the payment to-morrow of a large sum on the Å stock of the Metropolitan Extension Railways of the London, Chatham, and Dover Company, and the rate is firm, at 3 to 3, 1 per cent. Con-, sols are now quoted 90 to t. ex div., both for money and to-morrow's settlement, and 90î to',t ex div. for the July ac- count. The official business report is as follows1Three per Cent. Consols, for money, 90, 8&§, 90 j; ditto for account- 89f, 9Q|; Three per Cents. Bedueed, 89f, J, i; New Three per Cents., 89f, J, i; Bank Stock, Z42t j India Five per Cent. Srock, 104|, 103|, 104s; ditto Four per Cent., 99; and ExcnequerBills, 3s prem., par.—There is not much business in the railway market to-day, but the tone is rather firm, laondan and North Western stock is now quoted 123j to 124; Great Western, 73J to f; Midland, 136 to Lancashire and Yorkshire, 122f to 123; South Eastern, 86| to 87; Great Eastern, 47 to | Caledonian, 13S to 131; Iiondon and South-Western, 99 to 100; Great Northern, 132J to 133%; ditto A, 148 to i; and Metro- politan, 1421 to j, The Corn Trade MARK-LANE, WEDNESDAY, JLTN-,7 UCUKRENT PRICES ENGLISH. Per Qr. I WHEAT. S. B. Esx., Knt., rd., 1863 40 to 43 „ „ 1834 41 to 43 Esx., Knt., w., 1863 42 to 46 „ „ 1864, 43 to 48 Norfolk and Lin- coln, red, 1864 S8 to 41 BAKLEY; coln, red, 1864 S8 to 41 BARLEY., Malting to I Distilling 25 to 28 Grinding 23 to 24 MALT. Essex,Norfolk, and Suffolk 54 to 61 Kingston and Ware 54 to 61 Brown 47 to 51 RYE. New 26 to 28 OATS. English,feed 19 to 23 „ potato. 23 to 27 Per Qr, OATS. S. S. Scotch, feed 17 to 22 Scotch potato 23 to 26 Irish, white 19 to 24 „ black 18 to 2 2 BEANS. Mazagan 33 to 35 Tick 33 to 36 Harrow 35 to 36 Pigeon. 38 to 44 PEAS. Grey 34 to 36 Maple 36 to 39 White 35 to 38 FLOUB. Town made, per 2801hs ..h. 37 to 41 Household. 36 to 4C Country 29 to 35 Norfolk & Saffolk, ex ship 27 to 2S FOREIGN. Per Qr. WHEAT. S. S. Dantzic and Konigs- berg 41 to 52 Rostock & Mecklen- burg 42 to 48 Danish 39 to 43 Russian, hard 41 to 42 „ soft 40 to 42 American, red 39 to 42 „ white 42'to 46 BARLEY. Grinding 20 to 24 Distilling 24 to 25 Malting. 27 to 28 OATS. Dutch, brew • 18 to 23 I feed 16 to 19 Per Qr. OATS. S. s. Danish and Swedish 18 to 21 Russian 18 to 2C BEANS. Danish 33 to 3C Egyptian 34 to 36 PEAS. Maple 33 to 36 Boilers 36 to 38 I INDIAN CoRN. White 28 to 30 Yellow 27 to 23 FL/OTTB. French, per sack 30 to 32 Spanish, „ 31 to 32 American, per barrel 19 to 25 Canadian II 19 to 25 LIVERPOOL, JUNE 6.—The market is moderately at- tended. There is so little doing in Wheat that prices are quite nominal; Flour unchanged. Indian Corn 6d dearer. Beans steady. Oats and Oatmeal in moderate request at former prices.

COTTON, LIVERPOOL, JUNE 7.—'The market steadv KJOC- probably about 8,000. bales. TALLOW, JULY 7.-The market is firm at the following quotations: Town tallow, 39s, net cash; Peterqhni-D-v r° on the spot, 40a 9d to 41s; all the month, 40s 9d • O^tnbpr to December, 42s 3d; December, 42s 6d. Ootober HOPS, BOROUGH, JUNEJ.-Messrs. Pattenden and Smith neport continued unalteration m the hop market A steady demand for immediate consumption at firm rates, FRUIT AND VEGETABLES, COVENT GAnDjcx-Sup- plies both of home-grown and Continental produce have greatly increased in quantity since our last report. The importation of cherries has commenced, and prices for them vary from Is to 2s per lb. Forced strawberries and grapes are also good, and pineapples are more plentifu been lately. Cob nuts fetch from 50s to 60s • Oranges are all.but over. Lemons fetch from 5s to 8s per 100. Asparagus is now well supplied, as l also broccoli, of verv excellent quality. Goou new kidney potatoss fetch 128 to 15a per dozen lbs. Flowers chiefly consist of orchids, heaths, Chinese primulas, tulips, pelargoniums, ciaerarias, mignonette, ana roses, jrine apples, per lb., 8s to 12s; Grapes, per lb, 8s to 12a; Pears, per dozen, 2s Od to 8s; Oranges, per 100, 3s to 10s; Lemons, per 100,5s to 8s j Nuts, cob. 70s to 80s per 1001bs.; Brazil. 18s per bush.; Almonds, 18s to 20sper bush.; Apples per sieve, Is to 2s Asparagus, per 100 4s to 6s j ^Cabbages, per doz., IsCdto 2s6dj French Beans per 100, 2s; Potatoes York Regents, per ton, 100s to 114s; Rooks, do., 60s to 85s s Flukes, 1208 to 1408; Carrots, per bunch, 6d to 8d; TnrHivjg, per bunch, 4d to 6d; Cuownbera, eacb. Gd to 2s; Beet, doz., Is 6d to 2a; Shoots, per lb., 8d; Garlic, per lb., Lettuces, per doz. Is 3d to Is 6d; Endive, per score, la to 2s Seakale, per punnet, Is 9d to as; Artichokes, p doz. 4s to 5s • Horseradish, per bunch, Is to 4s; Mushrooms, per pct''„ is to Is 6d; <earsdey> per 12 bunches, 3s to 4m • bunch. 6(4, Cattle Market, METROPOLITAN, JUNE 6-We have a fair suppV of beasts, and the demand, is pretty good at fully late ra ls The number of sheep is smaller and choice qualities axe dearer; yet, on the average can scarcely quote WLer prices. Choicest calves and iambs are in demand at full prices but inferior lands are very difficult of sale. From Germany and Holland there are 1,540 beasts, 10,560 shee £ 272 calves, and 10 pigs. Spain, 30 beasts. Scotland, 840. Ireland, 50. Suffolk, 1,850; and 220 from the Northern and Mi.dl&nd Counties. Per stone ot albs. s. d. 3. d. Best Scots, Hfds. 4 10 5 0 Best Short-horns 4 6 4 10 2nd. qual. beasts 3 0 4 0 Calves ,3 8 5 2 Pigs .S 0 4 8 BestDns&i-b&ss. 0 0 0 0 Per stone of 81bs, s. d. E. d. Best Long-wools 0 0 0 0 Do. do. shorn 5 6 5 S Ewes & 2d. qual, 0 0 0 0 Do. do. shorn. 4 4 5 0 Lambs 6 0 7 8 .coasts at, market, 4,640: Sheep and Lambs, 25,730; Calves 350; Pigs, 310. The Produce Market.. MINCING-LANE, June 6.—Sugar: There is still a quiet market, bat business has been transacted in brown qualities at full prices. Refined dull of sale; prices unaltered. Coffee: The market is steady but not active. Tea: The trade are occupied with the samples of the parcels to be offered in public sale to-morrow, the demand privately ir consequence is inactive. offered in public sale j¡o-mc.n:0w, the demand privately ir consequence is inactive.