The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

r- THE COURT. t THE business attendant upon the prorogation and dissolution of Parliament provided more than usual occupation for her Majesty the Queen during the past week. Councils were repeatedly held, consultations were frequent; and technical duties were multiplied. It is unnecessary to state that her Majesty was puncti- liously correct and formal in these matters. She is in good health. In addition to State engagements, she has been oalled upon to show her Royal courtesies to the Queen of the Netherlands, whom she has visited at Claridge's Hotel. The Prince of Wales has been very active. On Monday he went to the Wellington College, presided at the ceremonials of the speech day, and delivered an earnest address, which may be said to have created almost a sensation. In the evening he gave a grand dinner party to the Queen of the Nether- lands. On Tuesday, he worked hard in the afternoon in extinguishing1 a fire which broke out at Marlborough- house, which we are happy to say did but trifling mis. chief. In the evening he, accompanied by the Princess, went to Windsor Castle on a visit to her Majesty. On Thursday the Prince came to town to preside over a preliminary meeting of the promoters of the pro- posed Central Hall of Arts and Sciences, returning to Windsor in the evening. The infant Prince was christened on Friday. ON Sunday her Majesty the Queen, their Royal High- nesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, their Royal Highnesses Princess Helena, Princess Louise, Prince Leopold, and Princess Beatrice, and the Ladies and Gentlemen in Waiting, attended Divine service in the private chapel at Windsor. The Right Rev. the Bishop of Worcester, Clerk of the Closet, preached the sermon. HER MAJESTY, with the Princesses Helena and Louise and Prince Arthur, took their departure from Windsor for Osborne on Monday. Also, on the same day, their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Priiacess of Wales left Windsor for Marlborough-house. IT is said that the Emperor of the French will invite our Queen to visit France, seeing that it is her Majesty's intention to make so long a stay at -n,.naóA1a .A..JI"J.;Iv.a.hI.

THE ARTS, LITERATURE, &6. AN exhibition or French caricatures is shortly to take place in Paris. THE statue of the late Sir Charles Barry in the Inner-hall of the New Palace of Westminster was un- covered last week. The figure ilit in a sitting posture, and occupies a prominent place in the passage be- tween the central hall and the committee-rooms of the House of Commons. THE Lake of Constance has scarcely over been known as low as it is this summer, and the opportunity has therefore been seized to make researches in the lacustrine ruins beneath the waters, many most curious antiquities having been got up, among others some singular woven stuffs, which have all b3en placed in the museum of Wessemberg, Constance, and will be a great attraction to the industrious English summer tourist who does his Switzerland wisely. A MEDALLION portrait of Prince Albert, which is interesting as the first complete specimen of English earthen mosaics, has been placed over the entrance to the balcony, whence we look into the North Court of the South Kensington Museum. The background is produced in Powell's gold mosaics; the red neck-tie, an exceptional portion of the work, is made of glass mosaic, brought from St. Petersburg. The work is placed in rather a dark situation, forbidding us to speak decidedly of the character of ita execution, it looks very well indeed at the proper distance. The full-length figure of Nicola Pisano, designed by Mr. Leighton, and executed by Dr. Salviati's mosaic pro- oesEr, which has been placed in the wall-arcade of the Loan Court at South Kensington, is, on the whole, considering the moderate experience that has been yet obtained in works of that class, very satisfactory; it is a little black in parts of the colouring, but much less so and less opaque than the mosaic from Mr. Stevens's design which occupies one of the penden- tives of St. Paul's. THERE are at the present moment two engravings in juxtaposition in Messrs. Graves's window in Pall- mall. One represents a couple of female faces, a couple of naked bosoms, and an unnatural wealth of hair emerging from a tumbled ocean of crinoline, frothed and festooned with gauze and flowers. The print professes to represent two English ladies of the 19th centurrC Going to the Drawing-room;" but it does not represent female forma at all-it merely re- presents painted cheeks, powdered necks, false chignons curls and ringlets, and millinery gone mad. The other print is entitled The Maid and the Magpie." It re- presents a pretty Scotch lassie milking a comely Ayr- shire cow, while a magpie is inlpudently filching some food from a dish in the foreground. The girl, strong, lithe, and graceful, needs neither padding nor ma- chinery to eke out the natural symmetry of her form she is no more like the made-up beauties on their way to Court than she is like the cow she is milking; and she is far More lovely in her simplicity than they are in their high art. If those ladies were asked why they do not dress as frankly and sensibly as the pretty milkmaid, they would probably reply, Without crinoline, illusion, rouge, pearl-powder, and false hair, we should not be fit to be seen," and perhaps they would be right. Certain it is, however-and we call Landeeer's pretty milkmaid into court to prove it- that a healthy, well-made, handsome girl stands in no need of such false and extravagant accessories as are now ressrted to to enhance her charms: OF books which have recently been introduced to the public we might notice :—" Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series, of the Reign of Elizabeth, 1581—1590, preserved in her Majesty's Public Record Office," edited by Robert Lemon; "Petworth: a Sketch of its History and Antiquities, with Notices of Objects of Archaeological Interest in its Vicinity," by the Rev. F. H. Arnold; "The Law on its Trial; or, Personal Recollections of the Death Penalty and its Opponents," by Alfred H. Dymond; "Poems of Purpose and Sketches in Prose, &c. by Janet Hamilton. ONE of. the curiosities of Paris will so shortly a steam pianoforte, which has just arrived from America. OF new musio we should mention "Beautiful Clouds," the words of which are by the Rev. Chaucey Hare Townahend, and the music by Mr. Wm. Carter. The melody is particularly flowing and graceful, within the compass of a soprano, and the words apos- trophising the clouds are uncommon and all the more agreeable, because they avoid the hackneyed subject of love. "ternhght" is the title of a waltz composed by Mrs, oauaders, of Dublin. It is written quite in Verdi's style, ana hasi a flowing measure that tempts the most lazy individual; even at this hot eea&on of the year, to tnp it on the light fantastic toe." This waltz IS said to be a favourite one at Dublin Castle at the present moment, and is per- formed daily by several military bands in attendance at the Court. The song called Remember Me," a very sweet ballad, and one likely_to he°ome |*>pular, is aaid also to have been written by Mrs. Saunders. -s

SHORTS AND PASTIMES. THE authorities in the City of London have been making a raid on illegal betting houses, and In several instances fines to the amount of 220 and oosts were inflieted. THE Earl of Craven having granted permission, it is in contemplation to hold a race meeting on the Downs contiguous to Ashdown-park. An influential com- mittee of gentlemen has been formed. for the further- ance of the same. THE Duke of Richmond will entertain a large party during Goodwood races, and, from the applications for houses and lodgings in Chichester and the neighbour- hoed, a most splendid meeting is anticipated. ON Friflay the departure of boats on the Thames to Fairlop, Hainault Forest, took plaoe, in accordance with ancient custom. There were two gaily-dressed vessels, one belonging to the licensed victuallers at the east end of the metropolis, and the other to the watermen at Wapping and other parts near the river- side. Eaoh vessel was drawn by six horses, with out- riders; and they were followed bv carriages and all kinds of vehieles, accompanied by bands of music. ON Saturday a special sweepstakes, in. a pigeon shooting match, was shot for at Hornsey-wood, under these conditions: 15 birds each, both barrels, 30 yards use, 5 traps, and 10 sovs. entrance. The attendanoe Was not numerous, as several ot the sportsmen, who ar" regular habituSs of the Wood," were absent electioneering. Eight competitors only shot. The birdb,had a nice wind to assist them, and consequently the scares were'not so good as on last Monday. On the conclusion of the fifth round only Lord Storment, Colonel Duncan. Mr. Beecher. and Mr. Rudd had scored four out of five, and the two latter gentlemen falling off in the next five rounds, Lord Stormont and Colonel Duncan were left in a. majority of two over the next best. Those who surmised that the issue was now reduced to a match between the pair, did so correctly, as they tied, killing eleven out of fifteen. They commenced shooting off bird for bird, and Lord Stormont killing and Colonel Duncan missing, his lordship was proclaimed the winner. Lord Stormont, who has been singularly unfortunate of late, was warmly congratulated on his success. Colonel Duncan, who it will be remembered carried off the first prize on the previous Monday, was within an aoe of. repeat- ing hia victory, it being the luck of a fast bird that beat him. ON Saturday morning the camp on Wimbledon- common was opened for occupation, and volunteers from all parts of the kingdom were constantly arriving by road and rail to take up their quarters under can- vas for the ensuing fortnight. From an early hour in the morning the camp presented a very animated ap- pearance, and the riflemen, many of whom were recognised as shots who have at former meet- ings of the National Rifle Association gained fame, both for the excellence of their shooting and for the valuable prizes they have on various occa- sions carried away, all seemed to be entering with spirit into the details of the shooting, which com- menced on Monday morning. Among the members of the metropolitan corps (many of whom were located during the meeting in tents belonging to individual battalions or brigades, such, for instance, as the London Rifle Brigade, may be mentioned the folio wing: The Victoria (1st Middlesex Rifles); the South, or 2nd Middlesex; the 9th, or West Middlesex; thel5bh Middlesex (London Scottish); the 19th Middle- sex (Working Men's College); the Civil Service and the NorthWest Middlesex; the Queen's (Westminster); the InnsofCourt; herMajesty'sCuatomsRifles; the London Irish; the North Middlesex; the Paddington; the Finsbury, the Central London Rifle Rangers, and many other Middlesex, Surrey, Kentish, and other volunteers. On the arrival of the volun- teers on the ground, Captain Ruston, the camp adiutant. dirncfced them as to the quarters which had been assigned them, and it is gratifying to state that all the arrangements which had been made gave evident satisfaction. The distribution of those in camp was two officers to a tent, and four non-com- missioned officers or privates to a tent. The office of the National Rifle Association, which has baen re- moved from Pall-mall, wa,s on Saturday morning opened on the common, under Captain Mildmay, and all the arrangements for the beginning of the shoot- ing were completed. The first stage of her Majesty's prize of .£250 commenced on Wednesday moaning at the 200 yards, and was continued each day till all the volunteers have completed their shooting. A. number of markers of the army were engaged to signal the shots, and every precaution was taken to avoid the recurrence of the fatal accident which happened last year. OXFORD has had a run of luck this year. Dark blue was the victorious pennon at the boat race, and dark blue is again triumphant at the crioket match. Cam- bridge is very much depressed and discouraged by this double defeat. It shows there is something in the character and system of the two Universities which governs their relative superiority in physical prowess. We have heard, says a contemporary, it said that there is no reason why a man should not be a first-rate stroke or gymnast and a first-rate scholar at the same time. A student need not renounce out- door exercises as injurious to his mental training; on the contrary, they are very advantageous, and most of our men (f intellectual power, whether as scholars, statesmen, &c., do relish such exercises; but it is one thing to take delight in and moderately to use athletic sports, and another to make a passion of them. To excel with the oar or with the bat, a man must spend an amount of time out of doors in rude muscular play, which does interfere with his studies; and it is besause Cambridge, as a rule, does work harder at its books, because the men who go there know they must earn their own livelihood, and are sent there to prepare for the mission, while Oxford men are less bound down by these necessities, and do not feel impelled to labour by professional considerations—it is because of this general distinction that Cambridge is inferior to Oxford in the physical sports. The cricket match was admirably played, and if the youths from the Cam were beaten it was not without much credit to themselves.

HINTS UPON" GARDJBSTING. IT need scarcely be repeated that a garden can afford but little enjoyment unless good cultivation and cleanliness form its chief characteristics. Roses covered with aphides, cabbages spoiled by caterpillars, gooseberry bushes stripped of their foliage by similar means, are matters of but too common occurrence. What possible enjoyment, then, can be derived from such gardening ? To reap pleasure, and profit like- wise, such things must not be permitted to exist; ordinary attention, combined with a little persever- ence, will soon overcome the ravages of such pests. The first evidence of the presence of our foes ought to put us on the alert, and perhaps there is no more effectual or better remedy than hand-picking. In a few hours, in the early stage of the evil, by careful picking, one person will do as much as ten will when the mischief is permitted to exist for only a few days. Distributing freshly slacked lime over the soil will also, to some extent at least, check the migratory movements of caterpillars. Red spider is another of the enemies which deface the foliage of many plants, and particularly those against walls with projecting coping. Although this is not so easily discovered with the naked eye as a caterpillar, it is nevertheless a more destructive and more unconquerable opponent. Still, if it is taken in time, it can also be subdued, and even expelled. Water and sulphur are the only known practical subjugators. If these are applied early and sedulously, no red spider can exist under their influ- ence. Indeed, where it can be applied with impunity through a powerful syringe or garden engine, water alone will completely subdue this tiny pest. Flower Garden and Plant Houses. Mow, sweep, and roll lawns, and tie or peg down half-hardy plants aa they advance in growth. Do not allow any of these to extend themselves outwardly so far as to injure edgings, whether box or turf and in cleaning shrub masses, where herbaceous plants or annuals have been planted or sown in vacant places, take care that the latter are not injured by the en- croachments of quick-growing plants. Any annuals or other half-hardy plants, whose season of beauty is past, should be immediately removed, and their place supp'lied from the reserve garden, planting sufficiently close to produce at once a dazzling display. DAHLIAS.—Give these weak liquid manure, and with a small three-pronged fork occasionally stir the surface of the soil- If the plants are required to pro- duoe flowers for exhibition, it will be advisable to dis- bud early if the variety is at all under-sized, btit when the variety is large and coarse, fewer buda should be POLYANTHUSES.—Should the weather prove wet these plants may be parted. Do not use a knife in the operation, the ivory handle of a budding knife will be found a suitable instrument. When planted out, in a shady suitable situation, do not let them want for moisture, and a temporary screen will prove highly beneficial till the plants are established. RosEs.-These should be again gone over, removing all gross shoots that are not likely to flower this season, dead flowers, and those which have done flowering. Young strong growths of autumn-lfowering roses in masses should be pegged down; and those of the summer-flowering kinds, aa the moss, Provenoe, <jr GaUica varieties, should be layered; the whole surface of the bed should be forked over, and if & good soaking of liquid manure can be given, its effect will be very apparent in the greater permanency of the colours, and in the lengthened period of blooming. eo WHITE LILIES. These should be taken up and re- planted once in two years, an operation which should be done as soon as the old Stena are decayed. Beds for these plants should be made Qf rich loamy soil, containing a good portion of sand or burned clay, and charred refuse. In planting, a little sand should be laid above and below the bulbs. Hardy Fruit and Kitchen Garden. Remove superfluous wood from wall trees, and keep insecta in check. In the kitchen garden push forward all kinds of planting while the weather is showery and the soil in good condition for the operation. Liquid manure will be found very useful now; applications of this, together with deep stirring of the ground among growing crops with a fork, is a sure way of realising the best results.—Gardeners' Chronicle. #1

If you want to be a swell' of the first water," paid a poor relation to one who had obtained wealth, ,G$ and get the dropsy."

TOPICS OF THE WEEK. I OIM NATIONAL BALANCE SHEET.—A diminution of taxation to the extent of < £ 5,400,000, divided be- tween direct and indirect imposts, can scarcely fail to j add to our prosperity if a prosperous year awaits us, or to mitigate the pressure of any adverse circum- stances which may be ia store for the country. It is too early yet to form any decided opinion how far the hoped-for recovery is already manifesting itself, though the returns for the last quarter seem to show a smaller loss than might have been expected from the large amount of taxation which has been remitted. A decrease since the Budget of less than £ 300,000 upon the customs receipts is not a very great price to pay for the repeal of import duties of X2,600,000 a year. So far as can be discerned, wealth is advancing with population at a constantJyaecelerating rate; and we may, without presumption, hope that the same condi- tions will produce similar results to thoso which have marked the progress of the country during the exist- ence of the late Parliament. In the ordinary course, expenditure no less than revenue has its normal rate of growth; and it would be idle to expect in future years the same reduction of expenditure which circum- stances have rendered possible since the year 1860. The ominous predictions of Mr. Gladstone as to the formidable development of the Civil Estimates have happily not yet been realised; and it is only fair to give to the Chancellor of the Exchequer credit for some part of the economy which has been practised during his tenure of office. The Army Estimates, too, are considerably below the scale of 1860, and a sum of X3,000,000 has been saved in the Naval expenditure, though we fear not without some corresponding loss of efficiency. Altogether, the national outlay has been reduced in the last five years by more than < £ 6,000,000. Such a feat, however creditable in itself, is seldom possible except under specially favourable circumstances, and its repetition is almost beyond hope. Still, in spite of £ 800,000,000 of debt, and with & full appreciation of the possible increase of future expenditure, it ia no exaggeration to say that England, once the most heavily-taxed countryinthe world, ia now less burdened, in pro- portion to her means, than almost any other civilised community. While all the States of the Old and New World have been adding to their debts and increasing their taxes, our progress in the opposite direction has been more rapid than in any previous period of the national history. Already Mr. Bright's counsel to the operatives of Glasgow to flee from the English tax- gatherer has proved an obsolete blunder; and, as long as we may be blessed with peace, there is no apparent reason to dread a reaction from the almost unbroken prosperity which has followed the recognition of the doctrines of free trade.—Satwday Review. PROBABLE RESISTS OF THE GENERAL ELECTION. —For it is most probable that the general election will increase the narrow majority in the old into a strong majority in the new Parliament. Setting shades of colour aside, it is likely that the members who will sit on the right will exceed considerably those who sit on the left of the Speaker. Indifference, cor- ruption, local jealousies, and local quarrels, changes in the proportions of influence," not to speak of the glorioua uncertainty of the poll, render it impossible to say exactly how the losses and gains of parties will be distributed. The want of anything more definite as a test than that contained in the words Liberal" and Tory," increases the difficulty of estimating the result with any degree of exactitude. But super- added to the general considerations we have set forth, there are the opinions which a shrewd and tolerably well-informed observer may arrive at about particular issues. First of all, it is likely that Tories will fill some twenty or four-and-t wenty seats lately occupied by Liberals. They may of course win more, but to the best of our judgment they will not gain more, but less. Some of these gains, if they are secured, will be the fruit of local changes and local dissatisfactions. Woodstock, of course, will return the duke's nominee. The tale of Wight, it is supposed, is given up to obstetric pursuits. Coventry is bent on avenging the French treaty. Portsmouth has some grievance about barracks. Maidstone, it is reported, is angry about some recent military changes. Thetford falls to a local banker who happens to be a Tory, and so on. The largest estimate of benefits derived by the Tories from these and other causes is about four-and-twenty seats. On the other hand, partly from local causes, no doubt, but mainly from conversion to Liberal views and satisfaction at Liberal legislation viewed broadly, it ia anticipated with much reason that the Liberals p will carry off from their opponents a seat in nine or ten English fonnties-no insignificant gain, if it can be realised—a seat in six or seven Irish counties, and a large number of seats in English and Irish boroughs. In a matter so problematical and uncertain as a sreneral election it would be absurd to be precise, but the upshot of the most careful calculation is that the Liberals may win fifty-two seats and lose twenty-four, and that, allowing for contingencies unforeseen, the probable general gain to the Liberal party on the whole election, a gain of men who will vote v. ith their party in moments of crisis, will be about thirty-five, which number added to the Liberal majority in the late Parliament will give the handsome majority of about fifty votes. -Spectator. THE LATE P ARLIAMENT.-Sic transit gloria mundi. Another in the long line of the illustrious Parliaments of England with its debates and divisions, its faults and its excellencies, its intrigues and legislation, its losses and its gains, its sins of omission andcommiasiun, its eminent leaders and its leas conspicuous rank and file, is nowmumbered with the past, and stands forever stereotyped in the record of the history of the nation. And what will be tho verdict of posterity on the general character of the Parliament just defunct? For what precise feature or characteristic will it stand distinguished from its predecessors ? No one, on this occasion, has been found ready to take the place of the lamented Lord Lyndhurst, nor to sketch, after his example, with masterly hand and lightning glance the pre-eminent events in the duration of the Assembly now dissolved. It is not our intention to give an epitome of the proceedings connected with the great Council of the nation during the last six eveatful years, nor to recall the recollection of the chief debates and most remarkable incidents by which it has been celebrated. We would simply endeavour to arrive at an approximate estimate and the true position which will be ascribed to this Parliament in future times. Its moat distinctive character has been the equality in the numbers of the representatives -taking their places on different sides of the House. On the one aide has been seated a Coalition Ministry, composed of the leaders of many of various phases of political opinion. Individuals differing widely among themselves have hushed np, their special idiosyncracies, and restrained in a spirit of self-sacrifice the promulgation of their favourite theories, in order to support the Ministry of Lord Palmerston. On the other side has been located only one party, connected by oneness of political faith, bound together to effect one and the same object, and almost equal in itself, by numbers and votes, to the whole aggregate schools opposed to it. This remark- able equality of parties in the House of Commons has issued in this great result—that the last six years are conspicuous for the absence of any violent changes in legislation. If the impartial historian would seek some one single phrase or title by which to express the main feature of the just-conoluded Parliament he would rightly describe it as the Do-little Parlia- ment or, to borrow a sentence which has risen in the xjourso of. it to the dignity of a proverb, as the "rest and be thankful" Parliament.-The Press.

OUR MISCELLANY. -+-- Be content with what you have," as the rat said to the trap when he left his tail in it. A Witty Judge.—A barrister having wearied the court by a long and dull argument, the judge suggested the expediency of hia bringing it to a close. "I shall speak as long as I please," he replied, angrily. "You have spoken longer than you pleased already, answered the judge. An Order to be Bare-legged.—At one of the last sittings of the Court of Assizes, Paris, the pre- sident made the following observation: I see here several advocates with trousers of various colours. For to-day it ia well, but henceforth the practice must be discontinued." A Trump Card.—An American tourist was visit- ing Naples, and saw Vesuvius during an eruption.'— "Have you anything like that in the New World?" was the question of the Italian spectator. No," replied the other, but we have a Nigara that would put it out in five minutes." Change-alley during the South Sea Mania. —The broad alley, running with its freestone pave- ment from Cornhill to Lombard-street, and called shortly'Change-alley, from its neighbourhood to the Royal Exchange—which was not the building of ) Sir Thomas Gresham, but that erected a.fter the -r great fire of '66 — was at .the time of my atorv thronged, all day long, but especially during the four hours afternoon, with a motley crowd of stockbrokers and share-jobbers, and echoed with the quotations of prices and the shouted advertisements of the mush- room schemes which every day brought forth. There were in the alley three coffee-houses of note, in which ■business was transacted—Garraway's,. Robins', and Jonathan's. Persons of quality, rich citizens, aud fashionable physicians frequented the first; foreign bankers, to whom sometimes came ambassadors in Ime need of cash or financial counsel, thronged the second; the third was the grand resort of the merchants and dealers in stock. Turning into the alley, and leaving his servants to lean against the door-posts of Jona- than s, and gaze in rustic wonder at the busy scene, Squire Hazelrig shouldered his way up stairs into a, long room partitioned into rowa of boxes, separated by a central walk. Boxes, walk, bar, balcony were hiled with groups of busy men-all with papers in their hands; and it would seem, from the hubbub of talk, all speaking with never a pause. Active boys ran hither and thither with smoking cups, and cried, as they ran, "Fresh coffee, gentlemen—fresh coffee! Bobea tea, gentlemen! —From Pictures of the Periods," The Dragon on the Sovereign.— Now minute details are always bothering, And you've seen a dragon upon a sovereign, Whioh no doubt tho ma.stor of the Mint Devised from descriptions now out of print; There is also one in the National Gallery, Painted by Guido, if my memory serve me; And these will saffiQe for the likeness or type Ox the sort of creature this dragon was like." —Legends of Jersey. A Danish Comic Son, The barber of Bailen was four feet high, His wife measured five feet ten; She wasn't a Venus in figure or face, And he was the meekest of men. The fair lady's temper had evil repute, Her short husband was pitied by all; Her toneue, like a pendulum, constantly wagg'd, And her language was seasoned with gall. A young friar came oft the dame to confess, But whether she told him the truth, The author omits to relate in hia song; While the friar kept his counsel—wise youth. One morning at breakfast the chocolate was hot, And the fair lady's temper not cool; The barber complained of caloric, but she Tried her hand with a three-legg'd stool. Pray taste it, my lovo, and see what I say Is strict truth, on your Pepe's veraoity- ,3 I know 'tis as cool aa the air on the bridge; So she tasted to show her tenacity. Chocolate once heated remains very hot For a very long period of time— So the fair lady blistered her petulant tongue, While it served but her temper to prime. The lady her stalwart arm raises on high To hurl at her little lord's head The fluid that peppered her petulant tongue- When an accident happened instead. That instant the friar appears at the door, Intending their breakfast to share— When splash goes the chocolate all over his face, And spreads to the roots of his hair. Correspondent of the" Athenæum." Defeat of General Grant.-General Grant, the day before he left the Chicago Fair, waa obliged to capitulate to the ladies, who took him by storm. Mrs. Livermore said to him "These girls are dying to kiss you-but they don't dare to do it." Well," said the gallant general, "if they want to kiss me, why don't they ? No one has offered to since I have been here." Instantly about a hundred fairies pounced upon him. He attempted a retreat, but in vain; he essayed to break through the rosy ranks, without success. Then, for the first time, he confessed himself vanquished, and calmly awaited the event. Never was such a man subjected to such an ordeal. On came the maidens by squads, in file, or singly; they hit him on the forehead, pelted him on the nose, smacked him on the cheek, chin, and neck. There must be dozens of kisses lying around loose hidden in the general's whiskers. Daring this terrible ordeal tho hero of a hundred battle-fields blushed until his face became almost purple. At last the girls were partly appeased in their noble rage," and the general escaped. -Boston Post. Piety of the Negroes.-la the field where we buried him a number of coloured freedmen, working for Government on the railroad, had their camp, and every night they took their recreation, after the heavy work of the day was over, in prayer meetings. Such an inferior race," you know! They prayed with all their souls, as only black men and slaves can; for themselves, and for the dear, good white people who had come over to the meeting, and for "Massa Lincoln," for whom they seemed to have a reverential atfection-iome of them a sort of worship, which com- prised Father Abraham and Masea Abraham in one general cry for blessings. Whatever else they asked for, they must have strength, and comfort, and bless- ing for Massa Lincoln." Very little care was taken of these poor men. They were grateful for every little thing. Mrs. went into the town, and hunted out several dozen bright handkerchiefs, hemmed them, and sent them over to be distributed the next night after meetiagr. Purple and blue and yellow the handkerchiefs were, and the desire of every man's heart fastened itself on a yeHow one; they politely made way for each other, one man standing back to let another pass up first, although he ran the risk of seeing the particular pumpkin colour that riveted his eyes taken from before them. When the distribu- tion was over each man tied up hia head in his hand- kerchief, and they sang one more hymn, keeping time all round with blue and purple and yellow nods, and thanking and blessing the white people in "their basket and in their store" as much as if the cotton handkerchiefs had been all gold leaf.-Thi-ee Weeks at Gettysburg. Conspiracy and Law.- Who has ever been able to define, at lea,st in such a way aa may exclude cavil, the meaning of the word conspiracy ? Of course, I exclude from any implied censure my brilliant country- man, Mr. Barke Bethel, who said, This word con- spiracy, gentlemen of the jury, ia derived from two Latin words which signify, con, to breath, and spiro, together." But since this lucid explanation who I ask, has succeeded in showing us what is a con- spiracy? Let me mention an incident which will show the importance of the inquiry. About thirty years ago, when those atrocious crimes were committed which made the name of Burke a generic title for such murders, an old woman entered the shop of a surgeon apothecary in an Irish county town, and offered to sell him a "subject." He was quite ready to complete the contract, but he desired to learn some details for his guidance as to the value of the object in question, and put to her, for this purpose, certain queries. Imagine his horror to discover that the subject" waa at that very moment alive—being a boy of nine or ten years of age—but of whom, the bargain being made, the old woman was perfectly prepared to "djspose, she being so far provident as not to bring a perishable commodity to market till she had secured a purchaser. Determined that such atrocity should not go unpunished, he made an appointment with her for another day, on whion she should return, and more ex 3 i?1 aG<'ual' ^1.m_ with all sbe intended to do, i.i?e mea"? "y which aha meant to secure secrecy. At this meeting- that hia testimony should be cor- roborated—he managed that a policeman should be atld, concealed beneath the counter, listen to all that went forward. The interview, accordingly took place; the old woman was true to her appoint- men, and most circumstantially entered into the details of the intended assassination, which she described as the easiest thing in life-a pitch plaster over the mouth and a tub of water being the inexpen- sive requisites of the case. When her narrative, to which she imparted a terrible gusto, was finished, the policeman came forth from his lair and arrested her. She was thrown at otoe into prison, and sent for trial to the next assizes. Now, however, came the difficulty. For what should she be arraigned? It wa-i not a murder—it was still incomplete. It was, therefore, conspiracy to kill; but a single individual cannot conspire;" and so, to fix her with the crime, it would be necessary to include the surgeon in the indictment. If they wanted to try the old woman, the doctor must share "the dock. Now all the ardour for justice eould scarcely be supposed to carry a man so far; the doctor deinurred to the arrangement, and the old hag was set at liberty.—Blackwood

I A STRANGE AND ROMANTIC STORY IN PA illS. The special correspondent of the Cowri Journal gives the following romantic story which he says is now occupying the whispering coteries of the Faubourg St. Germain, and is at present but little spoken of elsewhere. On the Feast of the Visitation the ladies of the convent on the Barriere St. Jacques are in the habit of giving a oold collation to the ancient pupils of the establishment, and to such of the friends and relations of the nuns who may happen to be in Paris. The ladies of the Visitation are cloistered they are principally of noble birth, and the convent in Paris is composed almost wholly of ladies from Brittany. The Superior herself belongs to the most ancient raoe of that province. Some three or four months since the great heart of the old Faubourg waa made to beat with a strange emotipn. It was rumoured that the mo beaatifal of all ita wealthy heiresses-the most loved, the most courted, and the moat admired—had suddenly bken the determination of entering the Convent of the Visitation, after a severe illness brought on by same mysterious cause, which the whole of the Faubourg, although uniting together all their curiosity, in- quisitiveness, and^penetration, had never been able to discover. The young lady had veia upon the poinfc of marriage with a gentleman ontanding and station in society, of equal rank and. fortune with heraslf, and of great reputation in the scientific world. He had travelled much in the East. Hi. work on Palestine is the first of ita kind yet published, and, altogether, every excuse was made for the1 -ep affection he haa inspired. As we have said, the lover had travelled much in the East, and there-were the usual stories afloat concerning the inystiiy of the exquifiifcelv. furnished entresol he inhabited in the Rue da Varen- nes, into which not even his, most intimate friends had ever penetrated, and whence he sometimes stirred nc,)t for weeka together. Dark insinua.tions were sometimes ventured upon by the over-suspicious in these matters. The mansion wherein he had fitted up this retreat belongs to his "mother, who seldom visits Paris. The garden is large and retired, and the neighbours sometimes wondered at hearing, on moon- light nights, a sound like that of a guitar coming up from beneath the trees, accompanied by a weak, small voice, somewhat shrill and nasal, but' evidently ex- pressive of love, in the aongs whioh it attempted to render. Folks are generally very frank on the subject of other people's faults, and numberless were the kind friends who insisted on the mastery being penetrated; but the heiress, past the bloom of early youth, begged permission to judge for herself, She had been surrounded by suitors ever since she could rememoor, but had never been really in lov-e until this knight, artist, poet, and savant had appeared before her. The day of the wedding drew near and confidence grew greater. Many^ times was the young- lady on the point of inquiring into the secret which she fancied was the only one he had kept from her, when suddenly, and without preamble, the long-wished- for yet dreaded moment arrived, and the lover, with a noble candour which endeared him all fhe more to his fianée, confessed that a great trouble was on his mind. He had brought from Constantinople an Arabian girl, who had attached herself to him ao ferventlythat he had suffered her to accompany him home. "My heart was free when I consented to her request," said the lover: "I had not seen you then But now my views in life are altered, and I must be rid, with honour, of her presence." The young lady was of a high and noble mind understanding all things and therefore.1 Caoable of forgiveness, in all oases. She pitied the ghl, and pardoned the lover, and was the first to p-opose what he had intended to ask—permission to convey the poor stranger back again to her native land. The separation would be but short, the meeting doubly sweet, wheis the memory of such noble sentiment would for ever after be present to them both. The preparations for departure were made, the marriage was put off for six weeks longer, and the gaping world was wisely left t% make ita own oommeuta upon the U originality" dis- played by both parties. Meanwhile the lover had been compelled to break the matter gently to his Eastern bride, who bore it with the calm endurance taught with such success to the slave loves of the harem, who, ex- pecting nothing, exacting nothing, are supposed ti be capable of supporting all things. One request onl™ did she make. Like Rebeooa she claimed to look but once on Rowena's face. She asked to see the new lover whose destiny had oome across her own and unwit- tingly blighted her existence for ever. This one con- dition accepted she was ready to accompany her owner quietly away, and would swear never "to mole«t Mm more. The demand was received,with kind indult?PR«> on the part of the lady. The lookW-glSa had" told her she had nought to fe&T from conJparieon with azrr style of beauty belonging to any clime or country, and she looked upon the interview rather as an amuse- ment than otherwise. The very evening of the depar- ture it was therefore fixed to take pice. The Lr stopped beneath the gateway of the hotel where the young lady resided, A female figure, veiled from head to foot, alighted, ana leaning on the arm of the gentleman, whose mien was sad and eerious, mounted the stairs, at the head oi which, all smiles and beaming benevolence, stood the heroine. No welcome could have been more cordial, no greet- ing more warm. The Kttle slave was coaxed and pacified, and made to feel that no kind of jealousy lurked at the bottom of the Christian's soul. She gazed with dark and envious admiration at the fair, dazzling beauty of her rival, but she received her caresses with something like gratitude nevertheless. At the moment of parting, the heiress, superb and generous in all things, drew the poor forlorn stranger to her bosom, and placed round her neck a clutia of considerable value. At this the wretched girl seemed overcome, and she asked permission to em brace the lady for so much kindness. This was accorded right merrily. The heiress bestowed a hearty kiss upon the stranger, which the latter returned with sucfci usury that a slight scream escaped her lips, and presently she laughed at her own absurdity in having ex- pressed pain at the little scr&toh which had been made upon her cheek by one of the spiked gold ornaments of the Oriental head-dress worn by the stranger. The lover departed with his charge, but he always felt uneasy after having beheld the gloomy smile which had greeted t&e single drop of blood which had followed the wound! Soon after, afl we have al- ready said, the lady was pi-onolinced- to be suffering from a strange disease. No one was admitted near' her; the doctora re powerless, the malady grew worse, and finally it was deolared that the patient had retired to the Visitation, where the l-uiiw possess a certain remedy for caaoer. But from the convent she never meant to remove. Not long ago she became a member of the sisterhood, and lo at the b^ncjaet gives on Sunday last, she was the only one v hose veil was never lifted! they say that the daht i-; frightful to behold, and that no one could rooosfni-e in the hideous features which the lay sister dre-ses every morning withsach pitying care, the otcelovely counten- ance of the beautiful Ernestine de V The lover returned in all hrvste, but he knew before- hand of the dreaded result. The little slave must have been a prophetess, for she had told him what wenid happen.