The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

POLITICAL GOSSIP. Two additional tables in connection with Govern- ment deferred life annuities and deferred monthly allowances, being those in which money is returnable, were issued on Saturday. THE Department of Public Works at Quebec has informed the contractors for the public buildings at Ottawa that the Civil Service Staff will remove thither in October, and that the offices must be fit for occu- pation by that time. Ottawa will, from thenceforward, become the capital of Canada. A CONTEMPORARY states that if Mr. Gladstone is not assured of his safe return for Oxford University he will not stand for it at the ensuing election, but will offer himself for South Lancashire. There are 1,700 votes required to insure being returned for the University, and it appears that Mr. Gladstone cannot at present succeed in getting more than 1,400. IT is remarked, as a curious fact, that of the many priests who stood round the:high altar of St. Mary's, Moorfields, on the occasion of the consecration of Dr. Manning as Roman Catholic Archbishop of West- minster last week, there were not less than 100 who had either been in orders of the Church of England, or had been fellows of English colleges in their day. IN oonsequence of the death of the Bishop of Chester, the Right Rev. Dr. Francis Jeune, recently consecrated to the bishopric of Peterborough, will be- come a spiritual peer and the junior bishop, on whom will devolve the duty of acting as ohaplain to the House of Lords. The new Bishop of Chester, whoever he may be, will remain without a seat in the House of Lords until a vacancy arises in a diocese other than Canterbury, York, London, Durham, or Winchester. THE following circular has been addressed to all the local agents of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners:— 14, Whitehall-place, S.W. Dear Sir,—You will be so good as to bear in mind that the tenants of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners are not to be in any way influenced with regard to the forthcoming elections. The Commissioners would be seriously displeased by any interference with their tenants in that respect.— We remain, dear sir, yours faithfully, (Signed) SMITH and WATKINS." THE Duke of Wellington has addressed the follow- ing letter to his tenantry at Strathfieldsaye Deax Sir,—I think it right to explain clearly to you my feeling regarding the exercise of your vote. It is a trust imposed upon you for the advantage of the country, and the responsibility for the proper exer- cise of it rests on yourself alone. It is placed by the country in your hands, not in mine, and I beg you distinctly to understand that no one has any authority for stating that I wish to bias you in favour of any candidate. I am yours, &c., WELLINGTON." MR. W. EWART, the sitting member for Dumfries, is to be opposed, at the coming election, by Colonel J. Clark Kennedy. Mr. Ewart, it seems, regards the colonel's appearance on the ground as a very offensive intrusion, and, amongst other reasons, he complains that he is to be opposed by a gentleman of whom I have the honour to be a relative." The relationship is thas described by Colonel Kennedy:—" Although I have not the honour of Mr. Ewart's personal ac- quaintance, I certainly have the honour to be re- lated to him, as my great great grandmother, born about tho year 1685, was half-sister to Mr. Ewart's ancestor." ^HE largest army in the World, in proportion to its population, ie that of a country which for more than fifty years has had nothing to do with war, except in a civil war of very short duration—Switzerland, to wit. This little republic has a population considerably less than that of London, 2,510,404, and has an army one-third larger than that of Great Britain, 198,291 men. This includes the militia, but not the Land- sturm, or army of defence, which comprises all men above forty-live capable of bearing arms. However, there is this great uitterence between the two coun- tries, that whereas m England every soldier is esti- mated to cost £100, the towiss soldier costs but .21 per annum. MR. RALPH OSBOHNBI IS very savage. The electors of Liskeard, who thm the LIberal MlDIstry pure gold, do not wapt to see it perpetually tested with acids, and are hunting about tor another member They have pitched on Sir Arthur Bullet, now M.P. for Devonport, and Mr. Osborne, aware of the faot sends them a letter, in which he informs them that he does .not mean to be either a Treasury dependent or a pro- vincial delegate, and has consequently accepted the Stewartry of Ifempholme Manor. Liskeard, therefore, has not only to go to the trouble and expense f an ,election without a meaning, but to find a candidate willing to act as a warming-pan for about ten a ys- The punishment is ingenious, says the Spectator, om Liskeard should meet it by quietly electvng Mr. Osborne again, and see which will tire first oi the game.

loXTERATURB AMD THE ARTS. -+- AMONG the natioiral m%,iaseripts illustrative of the domestic history of this country now being copied at the Ordnance Survey-office, Southampton, by the pro- cess of photo-zincography, is a return to a writ of in- quiry into the truth of an assertion made by a William de Stanley, that a marriage had been contracted be- tween him and Joan, eldest daughter of Philip de Baunville, chief forester of the Royal Forest of Wirrall, on the 27th of September, 1282.. Also an inquisition in 1254 as to who was heir to William de Cordunville, a tenant in chief of the king at; that period. A GOOD, kind-hearted man has passed away from us in the very prime of life, we mean Sir Lascelles Wraxall. He was well-known to all London lit- terateurs and to men in all phases of life. He was educated at Shrewsbury school, and went up with a scholarship to Oxford. He afterwards joined the Turkish Contingent during the Crimean War, and was very popular with every one. This turned his atten- tion to military matters, and he wrote several booka touohing on these subjects. He was, perhaps, best known for his translations of Victor Hugo's works into Inglish. He died, last Sunday, at Vienna, where he Was acting as correspondent for our contemporary the Banly Telegraph. IT having been decided to confer upon Rosa Bon- heur, the great female artist, the Cross of the Legion of Honour, the Empress of the French determined to present it herself. So travelling incognita, and hold- ing the little case of shagreen leather in her hand, she walked straight into the garden of the miniature cha- teau and knocked at the door of the studio, whence the sound of a lamb bleating piteously was heard to issue in answer to its dam, tied toa post outside. The summons to enter was immediately obeyed by the Empress, who advanced unobserved up to the spot where Rosa, 3eated on her easel, was busily studying the unquiet expression of the lamb, and endeavouring to reproduce it upon the canvas. The commotion amongst the other inhabitants of the studio, consist- ing of various specimens of the dog tribe, of a Shet- land pony in one corner, and a cow with her calf lit- tered in another-the barking, the rustling of straw, the leaping and kicking which took place at sight of the green fields and liberty seen through the open door, and above all, the tugging of the lamb to break from the cord and run towards its mother, caused the artist to turn at last, and then the commotion grew greater still. Blushing and bowing stood Rosa, keenly alive to the honour thus bestowed upon her, but prevented by the honest pride of art from exhibiting any exagge- ration of humility at its recognition. Her Majesty at once, and not without some little emotion on her own- part, took from the box the Cross of the Legion of Honour, and passing it over one of the buttons of the artist's dress, paid her at the same time a graceful and easy compliment upon the splendid talent which it was her own delightful privilege to honour; and almost before the painter, perplexed and bewildered, could find words to express her gratitude, disappeared without ceremony, noise, or fuss of any kind, as she had entered. A STATUE is to be erected to Melancthon in the market-place at Wittenberg, in juxtaposition to tha,t of Luther, and will be uncovered on the anniversary of the publication of the Confession of Augsburg." THE Swiss are sending a block of Alps granite to the United States to serve as a pedestal for a statue of the late President Lincoln, whom Garibaldi, who is a sub- scriber, somewhat irreverently calls "the new re- deemer of man! IT is understood that M. Gambart has delivered Mdlle. Rosa Bonheur's picture-of the Horse Fair," bequeathed by Mr. Jacob Bell to the nation, to the trustees of the National Gallery. Mr, Frith's Derby Day is on its way from Australia, and will arrive in August. THE savans and the clergy are haying a fight in Belgium. Some human bones are said to have been discovered in a grotto near Esneux, in a geological stratum, and are said to prove the great antiquity of man. Thereupon the old battle cry of Genesis against geology has been raised. It turns out, however, that the human bones were not human at all. FROM the 19th inst. the Royal Academy has been thrown open in the evening at the reduced chargeof 6d., and will remain BO for two months. The last year's experiment was a tolerable success. It is probable that if the council would advertise the evening open- ing a little more they would have many more visitors. The public generally are unaware of this circum- stance. THE King of Italy has decided upon sending to the Dublin Exhibition an emerald which he possesses, and which is the largest known to exist. It is six inches long, four broad, and three thick. It has en. graved upon it the Lord's Supper, after Dominichino. This emerald is incontestably the largest in the world, for the only one which might have rivalled or even surpassed it was the famous one used by Julius Csasar as an eye-protector, on accoun t of the ophthal- mic disorder under which he suffered, as often as he went to the Circus; but that emerald disappeared at the fall of the Empire, and has never been found since.

SPORTS AND PASTIMES. -—♦— AN athletio association has just been formed at Weymouth, in Dorset. THE match between the representatives of Lords and Commons will not take place at Wimbledon this, year. THE Eton Rifle Corps now exists in name only, the boys devoting themselves to other athletic pursuits in preference. A FINE peregrine falcon was captured alive, a faw days since, on Freshwater Cliff, in the Isle of Wight, near the residence of Mr. Alfred Tennyson. THE Cov/rt Journal says, we understand that the Prince of Wales backed Breadalbane at Ascot, and had reason to feel satisfied with his judgment. A SPORTING dinner was given on Sunday evening by the leaders of the French Turf to the Duke of Beaufort and several English gentlemen who'had come to see the great Paris prize run for. The Dake pro- posed as a toast Count Lagrange's Stable," which was drunk with uproarious applause. IMMEDIATELY after Mr. Chaplin's Broadalbane won the Prince of Wales' Stakes at Ascot on Tuesday, the Prince of Wales sent for Mr. Chaplin, and congratu- lated him on the result of the race, remarking that Breadalbane was a most magnificent-looking animal. Mr. Chaplin has now won in bets and the value of the stakes as much money as he gave for the colt. h THE fashionable world of Paris has been very much agitated for the last few days with a very scandalous affair, of which its hero was one of its most dis- tinguished members. The individual in question, who is the bearer of one of the noblest and most ancient names in France, and was a member of the Jockey Club and other fashionable clubs, was caught cheating at cards the other day at the American Club. His guilt was evident, for he was taken in the act, and he was immediately expelled from the clubs to which he belonged. The strangest part of the story is that many people are now bringing forward this miserable affair as an argument for the establishment of autho- rised gambling houses in France. THE splendid mansions and gardens of Eaton-hall, Cheshire, the seat of the Marquis of Westminster, are now open for the reception of visitors on Mondays, Tuesdays, 'and Wednesdays, for the ordinary public, and on Thursdays for foreigners, during the months of June, July, and August. The elections coming on will, we trust, not interfere with this arrangement, which is so likely to become popular. WITHIN the last fourteen days M'Call, one of the Dake of Atliole's gamekeepers stationed at Lochordy, has shot and captured no fewer than twenty-one foxes. One of them, after being trapped, actually gnawed and bit off its leg and escaped, leaving the entangled part behind. The animal, however, was shot next day at a considerable distance from where it had been trapped. The extensive, mountainous, and rocky grounds, over- hung with woods, about Lochordy, seem favourable for the propagation of these destructive animals, but the skill and exertions of M'Call bid fair, if not literally to exterminate them, at least to greatly re- press their depredations. THE lovers of angling will be pleased to learn that active steps are about to be taken to encourage the breeding and growth of salmon in the Derwent. At the present time the dams are about to be repaired, and the engineer, Mr. R. Hodgson, has reported that it is desirable, in connection with the repairs, to con- struct salmon ladders to aid in getting the fish up, as the work could be done at much less expense now tban subsequently. Lord Londesborough has already kindly promised 'to subscribe to the construction of the salmon ladders.

HINTS UPON GARDENING. BEDDING GERANIUMS should be propagated at once for next year, and the best way is to use cuttings only two or three joints in n length, and pot them singly in 60-sized pots. By being struck early, there is time for the plants to make ripe wood before winter, and instead of waiting till July for bloom, they will, if well managed, be xn taJ. bloom in May next, when first planted out. CELERY.—The early crops to be earthed up as soon as the plants have attained a good size. If the ground is dry, give a heavy soaking of water the day before intending to mould them, ana be carefal that the soil is nearly dry, or, at most, only moderately moist, when the moulding is to be done. CHRYSANTHEMUMS in the open ground to be topped again, and the soil between them lightly pricked-over with a small fork, and some quite rotten dung worked in. It will be found that they always root near the surface, and a dressing of dung will greatly help them through the present drought, and save the labour of watering. CINERARIAS coming up in seed-pans to be pricked out as soon as large enough to lift, and have separate thumb-pots, with light rich compost, and be put in a frame to grow on. By securing a vigorous growth from the first, they will be less troubled with fly, and make fine specimens. Those which have not sown seed yet must do so at once, or it will be too late. FUCHSIAS must be syringed twice a day, and have moderate shade. Fine plants in comparatively small pots will be greatly benefited with weak liquid manure every three or four days. They should be propagated now in quantity for next year's supply. The smallest cuttings make the best plants, and there is no need to cut to a joint. In preparing pots for the cuttings, use smallest sixties or thumbs put a mixture of turf and old dung over the crocks, and fill up with half san(I and half leaf, in which the cuttings will root as quickly j as in sand alone at this season, and have something to V n live upon while filling the pots with roots. This is the best method for amateurs who are much away from home, as the single cuttings require less care than when dibbled into sand only in shallow pans. j HARD-WOODED PLANTS requiring a shift this sea- J son must have it at once, or the time will go by for them to derive full benefit from the operation.^ The i most important matter of all is to secure good drainage, and to use the compost in as rough a state as possible consistent with the size and nature of the plant. | Whenever the cultivator is in doubt about the best soil for any hard-wooded plant, he will be pretty safe in using half peat and half loam, both in a turfy and isweet condition—the more elastic the better. in using half peat and half loam, both in a turfy and isweet condition-the more elastic the better. MELONS swelling fruit to have plenty of weak manure-water; those ripening their fruit to be kept i tolerably dry, but if kept too dry will get infested with red spider, so endeavour to keep them in good health on the smallest possible supplies, and give plenty of air.. Those that have borne good crops may be cut back, and aet to work again with the help of linings to the beds. Keep these rather close after pruning in, and frequently sprinkle the sides of the frames and the surface of the bed,, and give only moderate water- ings at the root. Never allow water to fall on the main stems. If the plants out in appear rather poor, let them break moderately, and then remove a portion; of the soil from one side of the roots, and replace with fresh turfy loam. When the roots have run into the new stuff, do the same on the other side, and they will swell a second crop admirably. ORCHIDS.—The general collection may be kept in perfect health now without fire-heat, by shutting up early, and sprinkling the floor of the house to cause a humid atmosphere. Do not shade overmuch- generally from ten till three will be quite sufficient from this time, till shading is dispensed with alto- gether.. PEACHES AND NECTARINES must be fully exposed to the atmosphere as soon as the fruit is gathered. Where the fruit is still hanging, give plenty of air, and every morning a light-gk,iff with the syringe ever the leaves. Stop the strongest shoots a few at a time, to swell the ripe buds. Wall trees are generally loaded with superfluous wood, through the prevalence of a delusion in favour of plenty to choose from at the winter pruning. Choose now, and remove all that will not be wanted, and what is left will ripen properly. PELARGONIUMS as they go out of bloom to be cut down, and placed in a warm, sheltered, and rather shady place for a week, then to be put in the fall sun, and kept rather dry at the root, with occasional sprinklings of the stems and leaves till they break, and then to be repotted back into small pots with sound lumpy turf to make their new roots in. PLUM TREES in orchard houses are in many cases covered with fly. If this is not checked, the trees will be barren next season. Make a strong infusion of tobacco, and at the same time dissolve a little glue; mix them together, and add water in a large tub, and into the mixture dip the trees. Any that are too large to be dipped must be laid on their sides and well syringed. Those dipped must also be syringed the next day. If the labour can be found, it will be more effectual to paint with a soft brush every leaf, under and upper side, with a mixture of one pound of dis- solved glue, one pound of tobacco, and four gallons of water. The leaves will appear, after the operation, as if varnished, but not a leaf will fall, and it will make an end to the vermin. After a few days, syringe them freely. Sow cabbage, green-curled endive, lettuce, round spinach. TALL-GROWING BEDDERs need a little care now to protect them from high winds. A very effectual and expeditious method is to insert strong stakes, and run a few lengths of stout tarred string amongst them so as to form a support to the front and back of, every row. Small forked branches will serve the same pur- pose where the plants are not sufficiently regular to be supported with string. WINTER GREENS to be got out in plenty now, as peas, potatoes, and other crops are taken off. Collards, Brussel sprouts, and other quick-growing subjects that will mostly be used before Christmas, to be planted in manured ground, but those to stand till next spring, to furnish sprouts, not to be manured, as it renders them less able to withstand severe frosts. Continue to plant broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Scotch kale, and everything else of the kind from the seed- beds. -.Gardeners' Magazine.

TOPICS OF THE WEEK. --+- BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY.—What has come over the leading journal of Europe P Can it no longer afford to pay some persoa competent to exercise ordi- nary supervision of its columns. Its self-contradictions of late have been of the most glaring character. In its yesterday's issue there was a leading article abusing the Austrian Government for "the indefinite adjournment of the Anglo-Austrian commercial in- quiry," while its Parliamentary report contains the official statement of Mr. Layard that there was no truth whatever in the rumour," and that, on the, con- trary, there was every probability of a successful ter- mination to the inquiry. This is pretty well; but there is more and better behind. Renter is res- ponsible for a marvellous story respecting a great de- feat of the Russians in Kliokan, which was copied into the Times, and seyeralother papers. So far it can only be said that the Times is just as liable to be gulled as its neighbours. But on the following day our con- temporary contained an article proving to demonstra- tion that the story was a hoax from beginning to end. The Times shewed its appreciation of this communica- tion by printing it in its largest type. What must have been the astonishment of its readers, then, to find on the following day a leading article quietly as- suming the truth of the whole story-sceptical only as to the extent of the defeat—and profoundly speculat- ing upon the consequences of the check which, at any rate, the Russians must have sustained. Is this the Times' plan of presenting its readers with both sides of a story, or is it a journalistic imitation of the con- juror's celebrated feat of swallowing himself, or is it simply a piece of reckless blundering and carelessness on the part of men who assume to be the leaders of public thought ?--Telegraph. RAILWAY illAN AGE MEINT.-A succession of railway accidents, as they are usually but inaccurately termed, has occurred, which are calculated to appal the heart of the most courageous railway traveller. Such is the excitement and alarm caused by the fatal collision near Keynsham, and the fearful loss of life at Rednal and Staplehurst, that already partial legislation is pro- posed. Under the inlfuence of the general feeling of panic that has not been unnaturally created, Lord St. Leonards has laid upon the table of the House of Lords a bill declaring it to be illegal for railway com- panies to put their passengers under look and key. The danger of the practice of making passengers prisoners for the journey has often been shown, and at Keynsham the fatality would probably have been greater but for the fortunate possession by a com- meroial traveller ofákey that enabled him to re- lease several of his fellow-pass e gers from a perilous position. The subject, however, ought to be dealt w' 0 with as a, whole, and by the Government of the day. It is difficult to rouse Mr. Milner Gibson from his apathy upon this or any other subject, but we do trust that, short though the time of the present session is, some earnest wilt ba given by the Government which wiU operate sufflciently upon railway companies to induce them to hasten the adoption of some general plan to enable passengers to communicate with the guard and with each other in the event of danger impending over them. It is also a question whether pail way companies should not £ ie pre ^pntedfromriinpirig excursion trains at reduced fares. It will no doubt be urged that such excursion trains are a .great boon to "the working man," for. it.'is'the fashion'now-a-day^whenever any subject is sonsidered, to connect it in some way with the irrepressible working man; he is always brought to the surface: to do duty in support of a state 0 of things that is not, perhaps, otherwise defensible. Bat we doubt very much whether the per-centage of the workiag classes who iravel by these trains is a very high one; and as excursion trains are among the most prolific causes of accident, it is for the general interest I that they should be, if not absolutely prohibited placed under some special restrictions. One observation specially arises out of the late fatal occurrences at Rednal and Staplehurst, and that is the contrast presented by the conduct of the officials of the two companies. The authorities of the Great Western Railway Company, whose magnificent line, by the way, is very badly managed, did hardly any- thing whatever to allay public anxiety as to the extent and causes of the calamity on their line; while Mr. Eborall, the manager of the South-Eastern Railway Company, with a promptitude that deserves acknow- ledgment, gave the fullest information in his power through the press to the public. Such frankness ought to be imitated by railway officials generally, in pre- ference to a reticence which is open to the observation that they are more intent upon screening delinquents and saving the shareholders' pockets than performing ohe sad duty they owe the public under such melan- choly circumstances.-The Press. TREATMENT OF SOUTHERN PBISONEBS. We can- not quote European precedents for political leniency, or pretend that some kind of political -ouiaishment- complete and searching in proportion to the political influence of the offenders-is not essential. But while admitting that European precedents are all against the policy of excessive leniency—and that the humani- ties of the case require at least the annihilation of the political influence of the chiefs of the secession party, we must express our earnest hope that the American Government may see fit in this matter to set an example to us, instead of following the bad example we have set them, and to limit the punishment of purely political crimes to purely political disqualifica- tions. If there be anything trustworthy in the alleged evidence implicating Mr. Davis and Mr. Benjamin in the assassination of Mr. Lincoln, or even in the firing of the principal Northern cities-let them be tried for these crimes and punished, if fairly found guilty, by the penalty prescribed in the criminal law. But let the American Government vindicate at once its power and its clemency, hitherto so signally shown throughout this war, by confining its punishments to such as may be clearly essential to prevent a repeti- tion of the offence, and displaying the full magnanimity of conscious strength. Mr. Davis is not in the position of an hereditary prince whose children may set up a claim to the sceptre he has lost. The seeming power bestowed upon him would have lapsed in two years from this date, and, so far as his political crimes are concerned, a close imprisonment for two years and perpetual exile afterwards would sufficiently guarantee the South against any exercise of his bane- ful influence. As for General Lee, we trust it is not true that he is likely to be tried. It may be a perfectly accurate interpretation of the law to say that the terms of his surrender secured him only against mili- tary tribunals. But it will be as fatal a mistake for the American Government to seem to break an honourable understanding, as to do so, and no doubt there are thousands who will have supposed that General Lee in accepting the terms proffered him by Gen Grant, secured his own and his officers' freedom ) on the faith of the Government at Washington. To in- terpret all such honourable understandings against themselves, will be the true policy for Mr. Johnson's Cabinet. It is because we feel a jealousy for the Ame- rican Government, because we hope to see a war be- gun on stainless principles, with fewer incidents of cruelty and rage on the part ef the victors than any war in history can show, ended by a policy as much more generous than victors' ordinary policy as their purpose has been purer than the purposes of ordi- nary victors it is because we hope to see a genuinely popular Government leading the way in magnanimity and lenity, as it has already led the way in fortitude and courage-that we entreat the American people to do all in their power to terminate this at once glorious and miserable conflict, with a policy so generous that it may be the admiration even of their foes. This has truly been called in one respect "a war to interpret the Constitution." Let them interpret it with no weak or hesitating voice— no shrinking from needful severity-but still interpret it as a Constitution which shall not only ensure for ever freedom to the negro, but give, in the immediate present, as much freedom as can be bestowed without tempting to fresh acts of oppression, to those who have been fighting for the cause of the oppressor, and fighting for it in vain.-Spectator.

RAVEN SUPERSTITIONS. All poetical writers have agreed in giving to the raven, which may be called the king-bird of the crow tribe, somewhat of a mysterious and unearthly character. To the superstitions of every land it is a bird of fear and evil omen; when divination formed a part of religion, its every tone of voice, and attitude, and motion, had some peculiar significance; its asso- ciations are of "battle, and murder, and sudden death," and all sights and sounds of arhastliness and horror. In Germany the gibbet, -b--p swing the bones of murderers, is the Sabenstein (Baven-stone.) The raven sits On the raven-stone, And his black wing flits O'er the milk-white bone. To and fro, as the night winds blow, The carcase of the assassin swings; I And there alone, on the raven-stone, The raven flaps his dusky wings." Disobedient children are told that Ravens shall peck out their eyes, And eagles eat the same." And thus, even in childhood, there is implanted a kind of loathing fear of the bird, which frequently re- mains through life. The feeding of Elijah by ravens at the brook Cherith, as recorded in Scripture, serves, in some measure, to retrieve the character of gloom which attaches to this bird-the oreb of the Hebrews a term implying blackness of colour, from oreb, evening. The raven has a character, too, of strength and dauntleasness. The object of fear in others, he seems to have no fear himself. He it was that first ventured forth out of the sheltering ark ere the waters of the flood had subsided; he la th e haunter of all places of Ion eli- 'ness, and desolation, and death; no scene of witchcraft and foul incantation is complete without him. Whet the steel, the raven croaks," said the Saxon warrior, as he prepared for slaughter and destruction. Odin, the chief of the Gothic deities, and the god of war, obtained his insight into futurity by means of a raven sent to him by Shalda, one of the Fates and,"according to Scandinavian mythology, Thea, wandering in the infernal region, is made to say- "Amid the tortured ghosts of murderers Forlorn I dwell; no silver-sounding voice Melodious warbles to my gloomy soul. The sooty raven sails around my head, And harshly chants her hoarsest desoant there." In short, this bird of harsh voice and uncleanly habits, and ebon plumage, does not certainly stand high iu public estimation, notwithstanding the halo thrown around it by the geimis of Dickens, and the many attempts, made by Watlrton and others to de- fend its character.—" Wild Flowers, Birds, andlmecU of the Month."

Murder in Canada.—On Sunday, the 28th of May, a respectable'farmer of the name of Moouin went to church with his family at the villa era nf r „ prairie, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence, in the district of Montreal, leaving his house and two young children in charge of two women servants. In his absence a man named Bcrraan, or Brist, who has been in the United States army, and was formerly known at the house went there, shot one of the servants and one of the children, robbed the house of 500 dollars, set fire to it, and fled to the woods. The affair has caused great excitement in and about Montreal, where there is some apprehension as to the results of the disbandment of the United States army, especially as it has been rumoured that the soldier is to be allowed to retain his arms as a tropbv of the war.. ±he Brigands and the French Troops.—A recent letter from Rome gives an account of a late skirmish between the French troopa and brigands near Ceprano. A small detachment perceived a wo- man drying linen in the sun near the river.Lizi. This woman, when questioned by the officer commanding the detachment, appeared embarrassed, and was im- mediately arrested. At the same time a brigand appeared and fired his musket in the air as a signal for his companions to come to his assistance. The French pursued and finally arrested him, although he had thrown away his musket, hat, and belt in his flight. The soldiers then returned for a reinforcement, A more numerous detachment was formed, and they marched to meet the brigands. Some shots were exchanged; and the brigands quickly fled. One of their party was wounded, and a French soldier was likewise wounded. The band then fled into the Neapolitan territory. J

OUR MISCELLANY. He who can find nobody that will credit a word he says may fairly boast that he has no creditors. The Japanese say, The tongue of woman is her sword, and she never lets it grow rusty for want of using." The husband who devoured his wife with^kiuses found afterwards that she disagreed with him. A Candid Lawyer.—"Do you think I'll get justice done me ?" said a culprit to his counsel. "I don't think you will," replied the other, "fori see two men on the jury who are opposed to hanging." An Inquiring Child. Father, did you e-vr-r have another wife besides mother?" "No, my boy; what possessed you to ask such a question 2" "Because I saw in the old Family Bible where yoa married Anno Domini 1835, and that isn't mother, for her name was Sally Smith." Chronology of England's Crown.— Two Williams, Henry, Stephen, Henry, Dick, John, Hal, three Edwards, Richard, three Hals qniolr. Two Edwards, Dick, two Harrys, and a Ned, Mary, Bess, James, and Charles, who lost his head, Charles, James, Will, Ann, four Georges, and a And Queen Victoria, who is reigning still. Queries.—What woman is that who knows net what she says ? She who swears that she will never love, or that she will love for ever.—What is the dif- ference between the bridegroom at a wedding and the potboy at a "public?" Why, one is the hy-meneal, and the other is in a low-menial position.-Why o-aght a pig to be the cleverest of all animals ? Because he has got a hog's head of brains.-Why does a brick- layer resemble a bird ? Because he has often raised a wing and flue. An Old Opinion of Love.It is a pretty soft thing, this same love; an excellent company keener, fall of gentleness and affabilities; makes men fine, and go cleanly teachrlth them good qualities, handsome protestations; and, if the ground be not too barren, :■ t. bringeth forth rimes and songs full of passion, enough, to procure crossed arms and the hat pulled down; yea, it is a very fine thing, the badge of eighteen and up- wards, not to be disallowed; better spend thy time Boe than at dice. I am content to caU this love, though I hold love too worthy a cement to joyne earth to earth; the one must be celestiall, or else it is not love.—Sir William Cormuallis, 1631. What is in the Bedroom ?-The importance of ventilating bedrooms is a fact which everybody is, vitally interested in, and which few properly appre- ciate. If two persons are to occupy a bedroom during a night, let them step upon weighing scales as they retire, and then again in the morning, and they will find that their actual weight is at least a, pound .ess in the morning. Frequently there will be a loss of two or moro pounds, and the average loss throughout. the year will be more than one pound. That is, during the night, there is a loss of a pound of matter, which hgone off from their bodies, partly from the lungs, and partly through the pores of the skin. The escaped material is carbonic acid, and decayed animal matter or poisonous exhalations. The Russians in Central Asia.—A few year a ago, newspaper readers were particularly pleased when they came upon a paragraph headed, Great Defeat of the Russians in Circassia." It appears that this source of sensation articles being dried up, certain romantic newspaper writers are minded to compose exciting narratives to be headed, Disastrous Defeat of the Russians in Central Asia." Within the last few days a story of this kind has appeared in a con- spicuous place in the Times, and in a leading article in it the news is oommented upon as though it were an established fact. We have neither time nor space at prevent to enter into the details of this story, or the arguments of our contemporary, and we only refer to the narrative for the purpose of recommending our readers not to give it too hasty oredence. Our own impression is that it is not true. We may add to this that we do not want it to be true. We do not believe that the advances of the Russians in Central Asia are intended to be, or will be, prejudicial to English interests; and we are very certain, on the other hard, that the great cause of humanity and civilisation will gain by the progress of a Christian State in a part cf the world where human life and human liberty are held to be matters of small concern. Mail. A Striking Toilette.—A contemporary informs the public that there is for the future to be a feminine club, which will rival the Parisian Jockey Club in all matters connected with art, whether musical, dramatic, or literary. The fair members made their first appear- ance at Chantilly-the French Derby-lmt week. But let our contemporary speak: Their appearance, one and all, was eccentric. Some jealous members of the opposite sex went so far as to declare it horsey,' brrt; it was not so. The Princess Metternieh, who is presi- dent, shone forth her own self on the occasion. Her toilet, upon which bore the criticism of the whole was pronounced to have accomplished the aim con- sidered impossible of attainment in these days, of be- ing more eccentric than any hitherto beheld. "Stt depend upon it this toilet will not be eccentric iong. The only danger to be apprehended is that it will be- oome too common. Her excellency wore a petticoat; of white and black striped silk ooming just to the calf of the leg, over which a skirt of sky-blue rets i-fas looped with bows of black velvet a lee vivandicre of the ancient Gardes Françaisas. Baiowthiahersmail foot, seen to the greatest advantage, was chaussee in Hungarian boots of soft kid, of a bright yellow mauve. The body of the dress was composed of a little jacket a V espagnole, blue, without sleeves, over a tight juste au corps of black and white stripe like the petticoat. Nothing could equal the ethusiasm inspired by this costume." In sporting matters we, as a nation, have hitherto taken the lead, bat now French ladies appear to have taken matters into their own hands !—Que^n. A Provincial Tradesman's Daughter in the Fifteenth Century.-iklice Dale, the onlY child of this worthy couple, and therefore the object of their fondest hopes and their most extravagant in- dulgence, was allowed by all tke elder folks to be the exact counterpart of what her mother had been, when in her slim 'teens she stole into young Stephen's heart —he was young Stephen then, the best wrestler and player at quarter-staff fair Cheshire could produce, and withal a handsome, manly, black-haired youth. Of the middle height dark-hairc-d slender-wais-ed-- with fairy hands and feat—a smile like a sunbeam, and quick grey eyes, bright as stars or diamonds, or what- ever simile for brilliance you prefer-Alice was the sweetest, sauciest, veriest little coquette that Chester's crumbling walls ever guarded. The habit of her daily life-for said I not she was an only chtld ?-had made her petulant and self-willed; but allowing for these faults, and in spite of occa- sional bursts of a quick temper, inherited from her father, there beat below her pretty laced bodice as true and loving a heart as man might care to WlrL Dressed in a wide-sleeved, low-necked gown of blue sendall, whoje folds were gathered at the wsast with a rubied brooch, shaped like the letter A, she sat on one of the benches by the wall, which served for both seats and lockers. The shape of her little foot was disguised in the hideous bags of yellow suk, with puffing across the toes, which fashion then called shoes ° but some amends for this were made by the pretty caul of golden net-work, in which =-e had gathered the braids ot' her radiant hair, wh'^e brown masses were here and there mingled" with"a tress or two of lighter tinge. The simplicitv of her head-dress contrasted strongly with the awkward scaffolding of wire-work hung with gauze, which one °r two of the gins present wore, and which was a relic of the fa-smens at Richard Crookback's Court. Old Mother Dale s head-gear went even farther back the. these, for she rejoiced in one of the horned or staC? coifs, embroidered with the fleur-de-lis, which tae wrath of the clergy under the last TI'I,. Lancaster Kings. To this picture of KhiJhio truth compels me to add a touch or C5V'S~t,,ait aP some minds will take the poetry of away. She never thought of cleaning^*nt fcefo-e or her nails—was, as I have ventarsC'iL^w^v^a' unacquainted with the use of was Ynor^' ETEM EFNGLISH WREN O £ ^$SidTsfi3^ nr™ v v ?f sugar-phimg s^teeth at the mc» crunching between her dweo' beriD tvaf iiie inent of my sketch. Rag Eal of beauties who fasran^d p^0 and nial renown, and K^asideher Plato to wear ttf girl of sixteen, 3 ERE NOF INDIFFERENT T-> Ti.s tne charms oeag0 to yonder that Alice Ds~i a tradesman's d^ghter, was not respect as refined as her R £ URY._2/Wm Picture* ->J z" J