The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

rr 0 W W TALK. BY OVB SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. -+-- Ofcr rsailers will understand that we do not hold-ourselves respot, *iWe for out able Correspondent's opinions. --+-- I SINCERELY hope that the dangerous fever of sen- sation is not gradually infecting journalism. Cheap literature is one of the greatest blessings we enjoy, but there are things to be carefully avoided, in spreading cheap literature which must be apparent to all. A healthy tone, and faithful and un- exaggerated reports ought of themselves to be recommendations for a newspaper sufficiently strong without foolish puffing and sensational paragraphs. These remarks are suggested by a dangerous trick which has come into vogue lately in London, for selling a quantity of evening newspapers. It seems requisite to have a thrilling placard. The public mind has lately been a good deal agitated, and justly alarmed, by the prevalence of railway catastrophes. This being the case, the announcement of a railway accident would naturally be greedily caught at, as proved to be the case the other evening. I saw a crowd of people around the usual evening placard of a widely circulated newspaper. After a little patience I edged my way in, and saw, in letters about three inches long, the words, Frightful Rail- 9 i!1 way Accident. That was all. No railway was mentioned, no locality was hinted at. How many in that crowd might have' had near and dear relatives or intimate friends travelling .by some line or other on that very day, how maty might I be almost trembling to read the report! The newspaper purchased, the report was almost as vague as the announcement. We were told the line of railway, but received no particulars further than that the carnage was awful." The next morning came, and with it the welcome news that a train of empty carriages had run off the line into the road, and that the officials in charge of it were slightly injured. It was cheering intelligence so far, but the omission of the sensation line at- tached to the evening newspapers might have spared many a sleepless night, and suspense, which spared many a sleepless night, and suspense, which is worse than pain and there would have been less danger of the public ever becoming apathetic through false alarms, in refeieace to a danger which appears to be daily increasing. That was a terrible fire at Messrs. Sotheby and Wilkinson's, the great book auctioneers, and I am afraid the loss incurred by the old established firm will be almost irreparable. Two extremely valu- able biblical libraries had been stored by their owners previous to the fire, co-ntaining books which'can r; ever be replaced, and the loss of which will greatly increase the value of the duplicate copies which also exist in some cases. The library of Gilbert a Beckett, the contributor to Punch, and to whom we are indebted for a great deal of highly amusing comic literature, was also stored, and was to have attracted a large crowd on the occasion of its sale a few days afterwards. And how did it all occur ? A workman in an ad- joining carpenter's shop had left off work for the night, thinking all was safe. But a treacherous glue-po-, lately taken off the fire, had carelessly been left among aheap of shavings, which ignited, and the fire raged so furiously that it could not be extinguished until fatal damage had been done. The cottagers' flower-shows, several of which have taken place lately in London,, deserve uni- versal support. How many poor people have we not amorg us who never see the green fields, or the blossoms on the hedges, or hay-fields, or the changing corn! Still they are contented, and boldly acknowledge that "The view they behold on a sunshiny day Is grand through the chimney-pots over the way." And in hot, confined courts they coax flowers to bloom, and train creepers up their window-sills, and revel in the sight of a bit of green." To such sensible people as these prizes are offered, and the results, as shown by the Bloomsbury Flower Show and Miss Burdett Coutts' Show at Hollv-lodge, are laudable m the extreme. Talking about flowers almost makes me forget that I am in London myself, and that I must remain a prisoner there although the summer sun is shining, and reminds me to tell you that I lately made a discovery. From a certain point in Piccadilly I distinctly saw, with the naked eye, the Crystal Palace at Sydenham, and the outline of the Surrey Hills; so our London atmosphere is sometimes clear enough. Let me further state that it was in the middle of the day. The young men of London, and more particu- larly those who have an interest in a very admir- able society called the Early Closing Association, have petitioned Parliament in favour of opening the National Gallery and British Museum, from seven to ten, during three evenings of the week, to 1 9 enable those employed in shops and warehouses to take advantage of the inestimable benefits offered by these institutions. This seems a very reason- able req.it(-t, but it takes a long time to get a nod of assent from the House of Commons. Those hard-worked civil servants who are invariably laughed at and told that, like the fountains in Trafalgar-square, they play from ten to four, have been trying all the summer to obtain leave to run away from their official desks about two o'clock on Saturdays. Two clear hours, now, on the river, or at cricket in Battersea-park, or, putting the matter in a different light still, the power of getting off by an earlier train to enjoy the much- loved Saturday to Monday, would of course be a priceless boon; and perhaps they will get it— when the leaves are falling, and cosy fires are enjoyed again. The time-honoured fashion of sitting under the trees in Hyde-park on Sunday and seeing the fine folks in their summer dresses and newest bonnets has suddenly been snubbed by the fashionable world. The best people now repair to the Zoolo- gical-gardens and watch the monkeys at play, and lounge about in greater privacy. It is only possible to get into the gardens by an order from one of the Fellows, and these are now eagerly sought for. I always have wondered who leads the fashion in these little matters. Some seasons it used to be the correct thing to walk on one path in the park, the next year, perhaps, it would be changed to another, and now the park is abandoned altogether. I can hardly wonder at this, for reasons of a delicate and social nature, which are, perhaps, best not expressed. We can all remember the lament of the Belgravian mother, which appeared in the Times not so very long ao-o. The Belgravian mother seems determined to do all in her power to put an end to a state of things which should never have been tolerated at any time. Perhaps it is not too late. Apropos of literature, let me state that the advertisement which simply announces "The Wandering Christians," is supposed to refer to Mr. Dickens' always welcome Christmas number and that a firm of well known publishers in Paternoster-row is said to have found matter for an action against the Athenmum, that journal having, it is said, unjustly criticised a book ema- nating from their establishment, and said that the author of the work ought to be flogged! But the Athenseum is always getting into hot water. I don't often make any allusion to matters musical or theatrical, but the name of Giuglini must be so well known all over England that I am tempted to say a few words about an un- fortunate artiste. The poor fellow is hopelessly insane, and I fear will never delight us again with his golden voice." An extraordinary cure was attempted with him lately. He was taken to the very house in which he has so often delighted us, to hear an opera in which he invariably won laurels. He was seen to smile once or twice, but further than that the spectacle did not appear to make the slightest impression on him. Z.

ùUHHnH iï ,.¡)H\lU 1U t.a\¡l !Ji. OF EVENTS. IN America we hear that the work of re-organising the Southern States is rapidly progressing. Pro- visional governors have been appointed by Presi- dent Johnson over the States of Texas, Alabama, and Georgia, and representatives will be again sent to Congress to assist in the government of the country. The black population are said to be suffering from the want of the necessaries of life, particularly those who are old and incapable of work. In some of the States the negroes have sent deputations to the President, asking him to inquire into their condition, and in effect he has sent them this reply :—" During your transition state many things will doubtless be uncomfort- able. You must be patient in bearing the evils from which there is no escape. Be thankful for your release from bondage, and assist me in rais- ing you in the scale of civilisation." It will doubtless be seme time before either blacks or whites can adapt themselves to the new order of things; let us rejoice, however, that millions of people are no longer slaves, but free; and let us hope that the rising negro generation will be so educated as to turn their minds to industrial habits, and thus become respected in the world. The State trials are still going on, and no decision has been arrived at whereby we may guess what the punishment awarded to the so-called traitors will be. A LITTLE sensation was created in England when it was known that Mr. Seward, as Chief Secretary for War, had recommended that the courtesy usually shown to ships of war bearing a national flag should not be extended to British vessels, that is to say, that the United States Go- vernment should claim the right of overhauling them. It will be remembered that on the ces- sation of hostilities, other nations, such as France, ordered all Confederate cruisers to leave their shores within twenty-four hours. England did the same with this proviso, that vessels taking to mercantile pursuits, and dispensing with the munitions of war, should be allowed ingress and egress to her ports. This is considered by the United States Minister as too favourable a proceeding, and he thus issues the recommenda- tion referred to, adding that the American Go- vernment will recognise no transfer of Confederate cruisers, but will capture them under whatever flag they may sail. We trust, however, that the two Governments will come to a peaceable under- standing on this question. THE Florence papers state that the Austrian Government are still working against Italian in- terests and influence. They repeat a rumour formerly circulated that the Vienna Cabinet ac- tively interfered to prevent the success of the negotiations between the Papal and Italian Go- vernments; and they moreover declare that Austria has protested to Prussia against the com- mercial treaty between Italy and the German States. The Italians are dissatisfied, and are bold enough to express their sentiments. In the mu- aicipality of Ostuni there was a grand opening of the Bari and Brindisi Railway, the King of Italy's son and heir, Prince Humbert, presided, and in the people's address to him they stated that the policy of the Government in regard to Rome was a flagrant violation of the national right;" that they had hoped, under the rule of Victor Emmanuel, a better state of things would have Z!1 existed. They expected that brigandage would have been put down by the occupation of Rome. They expressed sympathy with Garibaldi as the wounded martyr of Aspromonte," and their belief that he would be able to liberate both Rome and Venetia; but now," they said, when we see Eome protected by unknown hands, we protest against the policy pursued, and, firm in our prin- ciples, we are prepared-in association with twenty-two millions of Italians—to enforce our rights, and defend them against all external and internal enemies." This is bold language, cer- tainly, and such as would not be very acceptable to the King of Italy. THE great political contest is going on all over England, and it is generally believed that parties are about as equally divided as at the last election. A few days, however, will show the result, to which many are looking forward with anxiety. One thing we must rejoice in—namely, that I elections are now conducted with less party spleen, and under more orderly circumstance?. WE regret to iind that railway accidents are still occurring. We were near having a repetition of the Staple hurst tragedy. The clown express got off the line near to Norwich, just as it was approaching a bridge over a stream. The engine driver, with, presence of Hand, put On the breaks, and then jumped over the bridge into the liver, the engine dashed along the line and ran into some ballast, where it came to a stand-still, fortunately without any fatal result, although both the rails were torn up. The railway management, however, is equally to be blamed as if the accident had been of a more serious nature; and we trust that the new Parliament will devise some means whereby the pi,.sgeiigers' lives may be better protected than they are at present. THE Canterbury Savings-bank has stopped payment through the conduct of the actuary and secretary. The deposits are X150,000, and the defalcations only amount to £ 5,000. We are happy to learn that the trustees have determined that the depositors, who belong almost entirely to the working classes, shall be paid in full. This will make the calamity comparatively harmless; but it will not weaken the unfortunate impression such an event is likely to make upon the public mind. EVERYBODY remembers the Chetwynd divorce case, and how the lady, whose family occupy a very high position in society, obtained a separa- tion from her husband. Another phase in con- nection with this was brought on in the Court of Queen's Bench. It appears that before the divorce Mrs. Chetwynd had run up some large bills with tradesmen, and one person who had supplied her with goods sued the husband for the amount. The jury found for the plaintiff, giving a precedent for all other debts to be paid that the wife had in- curred. THE Handel Festival, which took place last week at the Crystal Palace, appears to have pleased I every one, and was, indeed, one of the wonders of the nineteenth century. The vast numbers of the audience, counted by thousands; the large propor- tions of the choir, gathered from all parts of the country, and exhibiting, by universal consent, a truly wonderful accuracy and precision in their performances; the efforts of the various artistes, consisting of the acknowledged leaders of musical tulent in England, who ail exerted themselves to the utmost; the great composer, to honour whose memory, and to increase an admiration of whose works the gigantic gathering was inaugurated, all united to render the festival one of the greatest events of the year 1865. 'She Messiah was chosen for Monday, miscellaneous selections for Wednes- day, and Israel in JEgypt for Friday. The rendering of these celebrated oratorios was wonderful-far beyond all praise. A SINGULAR case of a nobleman claiming ex- emption from the laws of the country, in conse- quence of his high posit-ion: occurred the other day. The Earl of Winchelsea and Nottingham was summoned by the station master of the Wandsworth railway station for unlawfully smoking a cigar on the company's premises. The noble lord paid no attention to the summons, but wrote to the directors demanding the dismissal of their official for, wha.t his lordship termed, the man's impudence and effrontery." He said the summons involved a breach of the privilege of the House of Lords, for which he held the chairman of the company responsible. The magistrate, how- ever, declared that he was as amenable to the laws as her Majesty's humblest subject. THE quarter's revenue returns are again de- monstrative of the prosperous condition of the country. The net decrease on the quarter is only £724,680, and on the year of < £ 404,203. Remem- bering the large remissions of taxation which have taken place, these figures are exceedingly encouraging, for, with a decrease in the national expenses, the revenue receipts, according to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's calculation, will still be much beyond the national expenditure.

THE BIRMINGHAM PBNNY BANK FAILURE'. A meeting of the depositors in the Birmingham Penny Bank was recently held in Ù3 Assembly-room of the Birmingham Exchange, to receive the report of the investigation committee. The chair was taken by Alderman Thomas Lloyd. The report (a very lengthy document, which was read by Mr. J. A. Dangford, honorary secretary) showed that the Penny Bank was originally started about fifteen years ago, to enable the poor to deposit their small savings. It was a philanthropic institution, and Mr. Scholefield, M.P., and several other influential gentlemen, were at the head of it. Mr. Scholefield, in order to satisfy him- self of the soundness of the institution, had an inves- tigati-sn made by an accountant. What the account- ant's report was had not transpired; but shortly afterwards Mr. Scholefield withdrew altogether from the board, and other gentlemen followed his example, till the bank was left in the hands of men of no position or means, who, left without a check upon their management, lent the money to each other and traded with it. All their speculations turned out bad'ly, and the result was the crash which followed closely on the failure of Attwoods, Spooner, and Marshall's Bank. The balance-she^t submitted to the depositers showed that the estimated amount due to depositors is £ 9,448 2s. lOd. The assets are stated to be"< £ 1,608 18s. 6d;. so that the deficiency is C7,839 4s. 4d. The deficiency is thus accounted for: excess of ex- penditure over income, = £ 3,482 lis. 4d.; bad debts, X-1,940 7s. lid. loss on properties, X681 18s. 9d; estimated defalcations, XI,734 6s. 4d. Of the £ 3.482 lis. 4d. set down as "excess of expenditure over income," the directors from time to time voted between J2600 and k.700 to themselves as their remu- neration for discharging their duties. The disclosures made in the report were received by the meeting with strong expressions ef indignation. Resolutions were passed giving the committee power to remove the estate out of the Bankruptcy Court, and also seeking the co-operation of the mayor and other gentlemen in raising a fand for the relief of the depositors. The meetinglasted itwo hours.

The Queen of the Netherlands.—Her Majesty arrived in London from the Hague, and proceeded to Claridge's Hotel. The Queen was attended by the Baroness van Pabst, the Baroness van Dedem, Count Randwiyck. and Baron IVeekh P.rlin. His Royal High- ness the Prince of Wales aud their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Brabant visited her Majesty at the hotel soon after her arrival Visit of Prince Napoleon to Dublin.-Ib is reported from Paris that an interview between the Emperor and Prince Napoleon has resulted in a recon- ciliation. It is further stated that the latter intends to pay a visit to the Dublin Exhibition, and to spend some days in surveying seme of the most attractive points of the scenery surrounding the Irish capital. Prince Napoleon visited Ireland some years ago, and there is a joke still in preservation there apropos of the visit. The story goes that the mayor of a certain Munster city, anxious to display his accomplishments before his fellow citizens, waited with a deputation on the Prince, and delivered an address of welcome in carefully-studied French. To his horror the Prince, replying in the most flueiit and idiomatic English, ex- pressed his great regret that ignorance ot tne Irish language prevented him from being able to appreciate the HO doubt flattering aud kindly sentiments which had just been expressed by the chief magistrate. For good health in the Family choose the purest and best Diet.—'The PEAKL CSEXOULE W very ntUnt to us, delicious, 'wholesome, arid economical; prized tor ttie Ihnnetr- table, Children, and Infants. Sold by Grocers, &c. J. FISON, IPSWICH, MARUFACTUEER. Agents, Hicks Brothers, E.C.

THE TRIAL OF DB. PRITCHARD. On Monday morning, at ten o'olock, the trial of Dr. Pritohard, on the charge of murdering his wife and mother-in-law in Glasgow, was commenced in the High Court of Justiciary before the Lord Justice Clerk, Lord Ardmillan, and Lord Jerviswoode. The court-room was crowded, and many were disappointed in obtaining admission. The indictment charged the prisoner with ad- ministering tartarised antimony, aconite, and opium, to his mother-in-law, Jane Cowper Taylor, in tapioca and in poiter. or beer, and in a medicine called Batley's sedative solution, between the 10th and 25th of Feb- ruary, 1865; and it also charged him with administer- ing, on repeated occasions in February and March, 1865, tartarised antimony and aconite to his wife, Mary Jane Taylor, in articles of food and of medicine. The prisoner entered the dock at ten o'clock, dressed in deep mourning. He was calm and self-possessed and looked coolly around the court when he had taken his seat. He is a stout, well-built man, prepossessing in appearance, and with sharply defined features; he wears his hair long, and has a large bushy beard, but no moustache. The prisoner's brother, Chas. Augustus Pritchard, secretary to the Naval Commander-in- Chief, Plymouth, by permission of the court took his seat beside him in the dock, and remained with him all I day. The prosecution was conducted (in the absence of the Lord Advocate in London) by the Solicitor- General, assisted by Mr. Gifford, and Mr. Crichton, Advocate's depute. The defence was conducted by Mr. A. R. Clark, Mr. William Watson, and Mr. David Brand, advocates. The prisoner's counsel moved the court to separate the two charges of murder on the ground that it embarrassed the defence to try the two cringes to- gether. The court unanimously refused to grant the re- quest. The prisoner was then called upon to plead to the indictment, and in a clear, distinct voice he pleaded Not guilty," and a jury having been empannelled, the evidence for the prosecution commenced about half- past eleven o'clock. The remainder of the day was occupied with the examination of five witnesses, three of whom were merely formal, and occupied only a few minutes. The two important witnesses were Cathe- rine Latimer, a cook, and Mary M'Leod, a housemaid and nurse in the service of Dr. Pritchard. Catherine Latimer spoke to Mrs. Pritchard having been frequently sick in the month of February and retching violently, and to being attacked with severe pains or cramps in the stomach on two occasions. Mrs. Pritchard was generally sick after taking tea. On one occasion Mrs. Pritchard, when ill, said to her husband, as he was standing at her bedside, Don't LL cry, for if you do so you are a hypocrite." She also said, referring to the doctors, You are all hypo- crites." Mary M'Leod, the housemaid and nurse, who was under examination above four hours, entered in great detail into the cireumstances attending the illness and death of the wife and mother-in-law of the prisoner. She said that during part of the illness of Mrs. Pritchard no doctor attended her but her husband. She was frequently sick after her meals, and retched and vomited. On the occasion when she got sick after taking egg-flip, one of the servants tasted of the egg-fiip, and said, "What a taste it has Witness admitted that in the course of last summer Mrs. Pritohard saw Dr. Pritchard kissing her in a bedroom. Witness said to Mrs. Pritchard she would go away, but Mrs. Pritchard said she would speak to the doctor, and that he was a nasty, dirty man." Witness admitted that she had been with child to the prisoner, and that she had had a miscar- riage. After great hesitation witness admitted that prisoner once said to her he would marry her if his wife died before him. Witness got a ring, and a brooch, and a photograph of himself from the prisoner. The case was resumed at ten o'clock on Tuesday. The first witness examined was Mary Paterson, who succeeded Latimer as cook in Dr. Pritchard's service. On the 16th of February Mrs. Pritchard was ill, and witness never was upstairs to see her till the night of Mrs. Taylor's illness. Heard Mrs. Pritchard ex- claiming, "Mother, won't you speak to me?" and went in and found Mrs. Taylor's body getting cold. She died the same night, and witness dressed the body, which had a pinkish streak on the left side. On the Tuesday before Mrs. Pritchard died witness found a bit of cheese in the pantry, and a little bit about the size of a pea. After eating it she felt a burning sensa- tion in the throat, and, got sick and vomited. Her sickness continued from morning till night. Next day the prisoner asked witness to make some eggflip for Mrs. Pritchard. The doctor gave her the egg, and while witness was beating it he came once or twice into the pantry, and dropped in what witness took to be pieces of lump sugar. He said he would add the whisky when it came upstairs. On pouring in the water to see if it was hot enough witness tasted it, and remarked to Mary M'Leod it had a horrible taste. She had the same sensations after it as from the cheese, and continued sick till four o'clock next morning. When Mary M'Leod came down to bed she told her the mistress was so ill that she would not allow the doctor to leave the room. Witness did not see Mrs. Pritchard till the Friday. She was well at noon, when she saw her drink something out of a glass, which the doctor took from her. She became very ill at five and excited. She was raving about her mother. She asked witness to rub her hands, and was much cramped. She spoke about her ohildren incoherently. About half-past one witness was called out of bed to make a mustard poultice, and about five minutes after was called upstairs. The doctor was in bed with his wife. She touched Mrs. Pritchard and found her cold. The doctor proposed to apply the poultice, and to get hot water, saying she was only fainting; but witness said nothing could be done for a dead body. He said, "Come back, come back, my darling Mary Jane; do not leave your dear Edward." And added, ^Vhat a brute! what a heathen So gentle, so mild." He asked witness to shoot him; and in answer to her rebuke how he should stand before a. righteous God, said, "True, Paterson; you're the wisest and kindest woman I ever saw." Thomas Alexander Connell, student, boarder in Dr. Prifcchard's house, stated, in cross-examination, that he had three times been seized with sickness while in the house, and Dr. Pritchard had been attacked in the same way. Dr. Gairdner and Dr. Paterson spoke to the visits they paid to the deceased ladies, and the prescriptions they gave. They minutely described the symptoms. The former thought Mrs. Pritchard was intoxicated, and forbade more stimulants. The latter said he could not banish from his mind that the symptoms betokened antimony, and refused to certify Mrs. Fnto ar s death, the case being so sudden and mysterious, re- ferring the Registrar to Dr. Pritohard. Evidence was called to prove the temperate habits of the two iacues, and the court adjourned.

Magistrates Trespassing- — The Court of Queen's Bench Was occupied some time lately in dis- cussing the case of Melville v. Bamsden and others, which was an action tor-trespass on the plaintiff's land.—The plaintiff was » Sen^e.faan r';flcling at Long- ton-bouse, near Tunbridge e The defendants, Mr. Bamsden, and Mr. I}eld,_ were magistrates resid- ing and acting in the district, and the seven other defendants were inhabitants and villagers residing in the immediate neighbourhood; the action was brought to vindicate the plaintiff s right to certain land which the defendants had infringed for the purposes of a, bonfire, burning tar barrels and fireworks on the 5th of Nove-ber. After some time had been taken up with the case it was amicably arranged, a verdict of x5 5S. beinq taken against all the defendants, except Mr. Bamsdeqpnd Mr. Field, in whose case an acquit- tal was taken. The New Law on Criminal Case-A pro- vision in the new Act to Amend the Law of Evidence and Practice on Criminal Trials takes effect from the 3rd of July, and will form an important feature in all criminal cases. In every trial for felony or misde- meanour commenced on or after the 1st July, 1865, the presiding judge, at the close of the case for the prosecution is to ask the counsel for each prisoner or defendant defended by counsel, but not otherwise, whether it is intended to give evidence; and if no evidence is to be given, then the counsel for the prose- cution ia to "sum up" the evidence adduced. In every trial for felony or misdemeanour, whether *he prisoners or defendants are defended by counsel or not, each one may open his case, and, after the evi- dence given, sum up" the evidence respectively, and the right of reply and practise and course oi pro- ceeding, save aa now altered, to be the same as at present! The object of the new Act is to make the law in criminal matters more nearly assimilate with r cases at common law. 1

SS$FF AMEBIC*. NEW YORK, JUNE 20. Mr. Seward has informed Mr. Welles that FRA^, and England had withdrawn their concession of BELU gerency from the rebels, and that this proceeding France is prompted by the express desire to revive OI HA< sympathies between the two nations, whose INTEREJ^ hil and traditions constantly invoke them to CULTI^A LIA? the most cordial relations. England not havingah3°* .>NES lutely withdrawn the twenty-four hours' rule, vessels will not pay the customary courtesy to vesse' of the British navy. LT. Mr. Seward has also written to Sir Frederick J expressing the gratification prevalent at the ACTION the British Government, but renewing his PROTE0^ against the joint action of France and England COFL* 51 ceding belligerent rights to the insurgents as t he friendly and contrary to international laws. po!' lill Seward also regrets Earl Eusseh's reservation favour of rebel cruisers, and demands that they sbe I be delivered up to the TJnited States, and declares right and intention of the Federal Government capture them under whatever flag they may be PLACE^ He refuses to recognise any transfer of such SHIP8 *c that may BE made.. P1 Orders have been issued to dismantle the LIE works around Washington, except twenty-two fo OT and three batteries, which will be strengthened an TY] permanently garrisoned. hE A dispatch from New York, dated June 24, statE that the transport Kentucky, with 1,200 paroled COO" federate prisoners on board, struck a snag V*. > Shreveport, on Red River, on the 9th, and sank 18 R* three minutes. Over 200 lives were lost. Galveston, Texas, the last seaport held by the Coil' federates, was surrendered to General E. J. Davis b1 he Kirby Smith on the 5th. In consequence the PRE#' ;}■ dent has issued a proclamation raising the blockad tf established by Mr. Lincoln in 1861, and iaotifyirigthat Ij all ports west of the Mississippi would be opened 011 U the 1st July to foreign and domestic commerce the terms of his proclamation of the 22nd of May LA0"' A train loaded with soldiers and a freight train 011 the Ohio and Mississippi Railway came into collision at Loogootee, Indiana, yesterday, by which the N and stokers of both were killed. While the conductor J were disputing as to whom the blame attached, JF third train came along and ran into the soldier trtio, t killing fifteen men and wounding 150 others. Q

FRANCE. A UPON THE BUDGET BEING BROUGHT FORWARD IN SENATE, ON TUESDAY, BARON DUPIN MAINTAINED TH0 '• right of the Senate to discuss it. The President r& « minded the Speaker that the Senate could only as' & amine its constitutionality. The proposal of Baroll. DUPIN WOULD, HE SAID, TEND TO TRANSFORM THE ?E INTO A CHAMBER OF PEERS. BARON DUPIN REPLIED (F, he considered that would be to perfect the Constl Ot TUTION. The President observed that a SENATUS cow sultum could alone perfect the Constitution. TH, Senate subsequently approved the promulgation O. the Budget. The Patrie of Tuesday evening says :-We ate enabled to state that France and England, acting Wlt ill a view to the preservation of peace and general CONO1' > liation, have come to an agreement upon the PRINCIPAJ ) questions which may result from the present state of J American affairs. i

ITALY AND THE PAPACY. J The Giornale di Roma confirms the news that the negotiations between the Italian and Papal Govern- ments were opened in consequence of a private LETTER i from the Pope to King Victor Emmanuel, wherein hiS t Holiness requested the King to send to Rome a person J enjoying his Majesty's confidence, with the object O reconciling the interests of the church and 6.ta,e. II "The King sent Signor Vegezzi, who had several iL" terviews with Cardinal Antonelli, and recognised the justice of the bases proposed by the holy see. TIIO Pope therefore anticipated a successful issue to th: negotiations. But Signor Vegezzi went to FlorellC to receive final instructions, and returned to JIle the bearer of proposals cancelling thoae previona11 entertained, [and rendering an agreement iimpOa sible." In conclusion, the Giornale di Roma deolarBS that the Pope believes he has done his duty in at- tempting all that was possible under the circum- stances.

.œ BRUTAL ASSAULT UPON AN OLD WOMAN. Great excitement has been created in the vicinity of West Auckland, near Newcastle, by the intelligence that an old woman named Elizabeth Hornet, keepet of a small toll-gate at Bildershaw, near that villaf?E> had been brutally murdered and robbed by a tramp calling himself James Strange. Happily, the part of the statement has as yet proved incorrect? but the latter was found to be too true. itappearS that early on the day in question Strange had BE^ going about begging in the district, and had the house of Mrs. Hornet. He was met coming by a man named Binks, who, suspecting the ap. pearance of the mendicant, went in and. to his horror found the poor old woman lyIng covered with blood, and on the floor, and to all AP" pearance murdered. He at once went in pursuit of TN0 ruffian, who had fled across the fields, but who WJ& ultimately overtaken and apprehended. Meanwhile, assistance came to the OBJECT of the dastardly ATTACK* who, it was discovered, had been most unmercifully beaten and stabbed in several places. On slightly re covering herself, she was able to state that the COWAR?Z after failing in attempting to commit a criminal ASSATN upon her, had beaten her in a most shameful MANNE^J and robbed her of what little valuables she had, &1. had got her clothes and other things into a bag, WHLC^ he carried off with him, but which he left in the BO^. on the appearance ot the young man Binks. It since been learned that Strange has been twice con victed of desertion from the army. On the latter occasion he was drummed out of his regiment, and be his described as a bad character. The poor old —who is eighty-four years of age—still remains I° A very weak and precarious state. »