The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

THE COCTET. I THE Court is now held at Osborne. The Queen is in perfect health and takes her accustomed walks and drives in the vicinity. THE Lord Chancellor and Lady Cranworth have arrived at Osborne-house on a visit to her Majesty. ON Sunday the Rev. J. Prothero performed service at Osborne before her Majesty, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Helena, and Princess Louise. PRINCE Leopold and Princess Beatrice attended the service at Whippingham. HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN and the Royal family will, says the Court Journal, leasee Osborne on the 9th of August, and proceed direct to Germany, with- out returning to Windsor. On the 10th of September the Queen will return to Windsor from the Continent. Her Majesty will stay at the Castle for four days, and then leave for Scotland for the autumn season. A NEW Highland lodge is in course of erection for the convenience of her Majesty and attendants, in Glengelder. It is to be on a pretty extensive scale, and is to be built of granite. THE Prince and Princess of Wales paid a visit to her Majesty last week, and from thence proceeded to Scotland, where they honoured some of the Scotch nobility with a visit. HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES will, it is said, be present on the principal day at Goodwood Races. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge and his Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar will also be present on the Cup Day. THE heir-apparent to the Danish Throne, Prince Frederick, is expected to visit England this autumn.

OUR MISCELLANY. I A Strong woma of the marvels of May, Fair, in its latest revival, was the performance of a strong woman, the wife of a frenchman, exhibiting in a house in Sun-court, Shepherd s- market. The follow- inc account is given by John Carter, and may be relied on, as Carter was born andpasseahis youthful days in Piccadilly (Carter's Statuary). He tells us that a blacksmith's anvil being procured from White Horse- street, with three of the men, they brought it up, and placed it on the floor of the exhibition-room. The woman was short, bat most beautifully and delicately formed, and of a most lovely countenance. >~he hrst let down her hair (a light auburn), of a length de- scending to her knees, which she twisted round the projecting part of the anvil, and then, with seeming ease, lifted the ponderous mass soma inches from the floor. After this a bed was placed in the middle of the room; when, reclining on her back, and uncover- ing her bosom, the husband ordered the smiths to place thereon the anvil, and forge upon it II a horseshoe! This they obeyed, by taking from the fire a red-hot piece of iron, and, with their forg- ing hammers, completing the shoe with the same might and indifference as when in the shop at their I constant labour. The prostrate fair one seemed to endure this with the greatest composure, talking and singing during the whole process; then, with an effort which, to the bystanders, appeared supernatural, she cast the anvil from off her body, jumping up at the same moment with extreme gaiety, a.nd without the least discomposure of her dress or person. That there was no trick or collusion was obvious from the evi- dence; the spectators stood about the room with Carter's family and friends; the smiths were strangers to the Frenchman, but known to Carter, the narrator. She next placed her naked feet on a rod-hot sala- mander, without injury, the wonder of which was, however, understood even at that time.— Romance of London. Gentlemen and Players.—The player held for a. long time a very questionable position in society. Sufferance was the badge of his tribe. He was counted among the "vagrom men," whom "Dog- berry" especially charged" his watch to compre- hend." He was one of the vagabonds whom an ancient statute describes to be such as wake on the night and sleep on the day, and haunt customable taverns and alehouses and routs about; and no man wot from whence they come or whither they go.' In public estimation he was little above the outlandish persons calling themselves Egyptians or gypsies,' for whom the law provided vigorous treatment enough: holding their abiding in the kingdom for a period longer than a month to be a felony. The Legislature has always dearly loved to keep suspicious charac- ters moving. The actor, however amusing, was a ro"ue all the same, and therefore fit food for Bride- well, the stocks, and the whipping-post. He occupied in regard to the general public the position of the jester in the private family. He was allowed con- siderable licence, but was scourged upon occasions. He oftentimes received halfpence; but he was not permitted to consider it a grievance if kicks were dealt to him instead. He was as much the serf of society as Wamba, the son of Witless, was the thrall of Cedric the Saxon though he wore no soldered collar round. his Deck announcing the fact. King Edward III. is said to have ordained by Act of Parliament, "that a company of men called vagrants, who had made masquerades throughout the city, should be whipped out of London, because they represented scandalous things in the alehouses and other places where the populaoo assembled. Once a Week. A German Love Episode.—He parted the boughs a little and leaned forward. Mabel blushed, feeling sure that some sort of confession impended. They both sighed. At last Carle said—(it was as if a boy of fourteen courted a girl of twelve)—" Are you sorry because I must go away, Mabel, dear P" A smile came then, as young children's smiles come, whilst yet the tears are plain, and she bent her head lower for joy and sweet shame. Yes," she whispered. What would you give if I stayed and spent all my time in playing and talking with you ?" "I have nothing worth giving, and then-" "And then-I must go. But listen." He broke off a hazel branch, a small branch heart-shaped, and went on-" As many nuts as are here, so many weeks and no more shall pass before I come back to you. Hold out your apron and count them after me." The two clear young voices echoed each other eagerly. One—two — three—four—five—six—Seven!" Was not theirs a childish auspicium ? Yet, without priest, and waving wand and consecrated tent, they contrived to gain the happiest of happy auguries. Carle swung himself lightly to the ground, and, making a cup of his palms, held Mabel's face close to his own. As if telling her some wonderful secret, not even guessed at before, to be wondered at ever afterwards, he whispered—' We will be married by and by, won't we ?' Then the boy and girl kissed each other shyly and silently, but the very woods had ears, and needing to take no more auspices, contented themselves with talk of the blessed number Seven.-Lisabee's Love Story. Ludgate-hill in the Last Century.—Since it was necessary for fashionable folk to be provided with all the artillery then in mode, Mistress Hazelrig gave her good squire no peace until he took himself and Dolly to a well-known toy-shop on Ludgate-hill. Such places were the grand resort of the Georgian belles during the interval between a late breakfast and a modish dinner at three or four. There were gathered on shelf and counter vases of china; dragons in porcelain, blue, gold, speckled, and green; tiny tea-sets like delicately tinted egg-shells; fans of many forms, glittering with all that colour and artistic skill could do to suit them to the fickle tastes of fashion; snuff-boxes with jewelled and painted lids; clouded canes adorned with dainty silken tassels; jars of snuff and pulvillio; bottles of essence; gilded flasks of cut and coloured glass for holding ratafia and spirit of clary; pocket glasses; ivory combs; boxes of patches cut in fanciful shapes; gloves and lace; trinkets and shawls; vizards for the Mall; Dacca muslins sprigged with gold and silver; and a thousand other things to charm from their netted seclusion guineas won at bassett or spadille. Once fairly within this seductive scene, where the tattle of tongues and the variety of beau- tiful knick-knacks delighted the country ladies be- yond measure, the squire found himself helpless in the hands of two or three ministering fairies in hoops and powder, who combined with his, wife and daughter in making him the unwilling purchaser of almost every kind of ware they showed. Rainbow fans unfurled ooquettishly before his eyes, silken scarfs flung with careless ease round gracetul shoulders, bewildered the fat farmer into buying almost ere he knew; and, when he seemed wearied at last of this drain upon his guineas, Mistress Betty, who had a little private hoard of her own to expend, derived principally from the profits of her hen-coops, released him from the duty of attendance, and sent him o £ to pick up the Tory gossip at the Cocoa Tree —a famous chocolate house in St. James's.-From Pictures of the Periods." Ants and their Wars. The accounts of the wars and expeditions of ants read like pages of man's history. Ants of different species assail one another in their foraging excursions; and pitched battles are fought between the coloni t ants. Miiber describes thousands of combatants thus engaged, with great carnage; and a naturalist has seen fifty wood ants fighting within a few inches' area of what were supposed to be the boundaries of their several territories. Their bite is so sharp, and the aerid juice which they infuse is so deleterious, that many are thus disabled or killed outright. Hiiber a'so describes the exploits of the warrior ants, which almost exceed belief; but in 1832 such accounts were verified in the Black Forest and in Switzerland, with respect to the amazon ant," and on the Rhine as to the sanguinary ant." Both these species make war on the ants of other species, particularly the dusky ant," not for mere fighting, but to make slaves of the vanquished, to do the drudgery of the conquerors ant- home. They are as cunning as diplomatists: they do not capture the adult ants, and carry them into slavery, but make booty of their eggs and cocoons, which, after the contest is decided—and the warriors are always conquerors-are carried off to the Amazonian citadel, and being hatched there, the poor slaves are probably not aware that it is not their native-colony. Hiiber testifies to such expeditions for capturing slaves; and a living naturalist witnessed, in a great number of instances, the slaves at work for the victo- rious captors. But the chief destroyer of ants is the great ant-bear, or ant-eater, which, in its native forests of the Amazon, feeds almost entirely on white ants, tearing open their nests with its powerful claws, and thrusts in its long and slender tongue, which being probably mistaken for a worm is seized by myriads of ants, who thus become an easy prey. The Indians, who eat white ants, catch them by pushing into the nests what the insects seize on. and hold most tena ciously. "No one," says Azara, "need wonder that such a large beast as the ant-bear should be able to derive its sustenance from such minute prey, who is made aware of the myriads of insects each ant-nest contains; and that in some districts these nests are crowded so as almost to touch each other." A fine ant-bear, the first brought alive to England, was ex- hibited at the Zoological Society's Garden's, in the Regent's-park, in 1853.—Cassell's Illustrated Family Paper.

CHARACTER AND LIFE OF DR. PRITCHARD. The convict Edward William Pritchard is the son of Mr. John White Pritchard, a captain in the Royal Navy, and was born in 1825 at Southsea, Hants. After going through the usual preliminary education he was apprenticed in September, 1840, to Messrs. Edward John and Charles Henry Scott, surgeons, of consider- able practice in Portsmouth. During his apprentice- ship he is stated to have assiduously studied the elementary branches of his profession, and conducted himself with great propriety. Oa the completion of his apprenticeship he came to London, and entered on his hospital studies at King's College in October, 1843; these also he prosecuted with great zeal, and his friends being desirous that he should enter the naval service of his country he me- morialised the authorities at the College of Surgeons to be allowed to offer himself for examination at an earlier period than was at that time allowed; his application having been granted, he appeared before the Court of Examiners on the 29th of May, 1846, and, after the usual examination, was admitted a member of the College. He then underwent an examination before the Navy Board, and was duly gazetted an assistant surgeon in Her Majesty's Navy, and has several relatives in the combatant branch of that service. Those who know what the position of the medical offieer in the Royal Navy was at that time, and which is not much improved at the present time, will not be surprised that a highly-educated and accomplished surgeon should endeavour to emancipate himself from such a state ofi thraldom. He therefore embraced the first oppor. tunity, and resigned all connection with the Royal Navy, and determined on seeking private practice. Finding it was necessary to possess a double qualifica- tion, he presented himself before the Society of Apothe- caries, and having passed the examination, was ad- mitted a licentiate of the hall. He had previously obtained (it is believed by purchase) the "M.D." of Erlangen. He then proceeded to Glasgow, where he practised with great success, until his apprehension for a crime second only in atrocity to that of the notorious William Palmer. While waiting for practice he sought amusement and profit in the use of his pen, and became a laborious contributor to the advancement of general and medical science: many of his papers are distributed through the pages of the Medical Times and Gazette, and the Lancet, the Transactions of the Pharmaceutical, Obstetrical, and King's College Medical Societies. He was the author of a "Visit to Pitcairn Island," "Observations on Filey as a Water- ing Place." "The Guide to Filey and its Antiquities," "Coast Lodgings for the Poor of Cities," &c. Dr. Pritchard was a fellow and member of nearly twenty learned societies and institutions in the United King- dom, and medical officer to several life assurance offices. In personal appearance the convict is a tall slightly-built man. about 5ft. lOin. or llin. in height, with sharp pointed features, aquiline nose, and does not appear older than the age stated, viz., forty-one years.

LORD PAL MERSTONS SPEECH ON THE HUSTINGS. The news of the day is vested entirely upon elections, and as we find it impossible to record the sentiments of the many, we can only give the speech of Lord Palmer- ston at Tiverton as an exemplification of the Govern- ment tone. The noble lord was received with enthusiastic ap- aplause, and said: Ladies and gentlemen, gentlemen electors of Tiverton, I cannot omit the ladies, be- cause even as things are, we know the influence which they exert over the electors—(cheers and langhter)- not an unconstitutional influence—(renewed laughter) —not by intimidation—(hear)—but by winning ways- (cheers)—and, moreover, I am much disposed to agree with the American lady, who a few days ago addressed, I think, the electors of Westminster, and who con- tended for what she called the woman's question, that is to say, that whenever universal suffrage is established, the ladies would have as good a right to vote as the men (cheers and laughter). Well, ladies and gentlemen, I appear before you now not for the first time. I am not, therefore, about to give myself a character, because I know that you, who watch with attention and anxiety the conduct of public men, are just as able to make my character as I should be myself; and no doubt you would make it with more impartiality than the man whom it concerns. I have so long had the honour of being one of the representatives of Tiverton, that I confess I feel no anxiety as to the result of the poll to- morrow (cheers). You men of Devonshire are not re- proached with the character of fickleness; you are steady friends, and warm friends. When once you have sup- ported a man, and taken up a man, as you have done me the honour of supporting, and taking up, it is not your habit of character to turn your back on him capri- ciously and without reason. For the last six years I have had the honour of being a principal member of her Majesty's Government (cheers). When first the charge of the affairs of the country devolved upon us, we were told by many men whose opinions are entitled to respect—men of political experience and sound judg- men—" Get rid of that Parliament as soon as you can— ("Oh," and cheers)—it was called under the auspices of your opponents; do not trust it it will serve you some scurvy trick have a Parliament of your own, and then you will be able to carry on the business of the country." Well, we said, "No, we will take things as they are; we will trust men of honour until we find we are deceived; we will not get rid of this Parliament until it has shown by some adverse vote that we have no chance of obtaining its vote (cheers). Well, I must say that the Parliament, to its honour, treated our Government in the fairest and most handsome manner. I do not mean to say that we have not had some party struggles that forms part of the working of the British constitution. There must always, or ought to be, an Opposition as well as a Government; and it is the busi- ness and duty of the Opposition from time to time to try and get rid of the Government and they are only performing a public duty, and should not be reproached for taking advantage of what they think a fair oppor- tunity. Those opportunities were taken advantage of, but the attempt failed. We continue to hold the ma- jority in the House of Commons, and that majority, so far from diminishing, as years rolled on, was greater upon the last great battle than we obtained when we were seated in the possession of office (cheers). Well, gentlemen, then I say you are that part of the British nation represented fairly in the House of Commons, and can I persuade myself that you will feel less con- fidence than the House of Commons did-(" No," and cheers)—a House of Commons elected under adverse influences? You, gentlemen, acting as consistent Libe- rals, and having invariably for so many years honoured me with your confidence and support—(cheers)—I say, therefore, I am convinced I shall leave this town again as one of the representatives of Tiverton (" Yes," and cheers). And I can assure you that I desire no more honourable position as a member of the House of Com- mons than that of representing this Liberal borough (applause). I will not deny or conceal from you that I have had overtures made to me to stand for other places —(hear, hear)—places to which men in general attach great value, and for which they feel great respect; but I said, No, I have, as I believe, succeeded in securing for myself the friendship of the electors of Tiverton. I am proud of the friendship, and I will not be the man to leave friends who are not disposed to leave me (loud applause). Gentlemen, the course pursued by the Government of which I have the honour of being a member during the last six years is written in the sta- tute-books of the land-is written in the history of Europe —is written in the transactions of the world (cheers). We have, I flatter myself without the fear of contradic- tion, honourably and faithfully performed the duties which our Sovereign and the Parliament confided to our hands (hear, hear). There cannot be found, I am sure, in the history of a period of six years, during which the nation enjoyed more advantages at home and more re- spect and honour abroad than during the existence of the late Parliament (cheers). Industry has been re- lieved from many of those shackles which previously cramped its exertions. Wealth has been accumulated, and-with regard to some individuals who have been more successful than others in the pursuits of commerce and manufactures-to a degree which is almost fabulous. To one who did not know it to be true it might appear, indeed, to be an exaggeration of the fact. We are told of men who have amassed millions-a million and a half. More than that: men hardly known to the bulk of their countrymen, except as honest, industrious painstaking men, who have acquired an amount of wealth which in former times would not have been deemed possible (hear, hear). The public wealth has increased by the aggregation of individual riches; and every man who has made this large accumulation of wealth has been a benefactor to his ceuntry, not only by the employment which he has given to thousands under his care, but by the contributions which he makes to the revenue and the prosperity of the nation (cheers). The wealth of the country has increased so rapidly that my right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has been enabled to stop that increase by a great remis- sion of taxation (laughter, and cheers). He has done his best (laughter) He has taken off tax after tax- income tax, sugar duties, tea duties, fire insurance; he has gone through all the catalogue of taxation, nibbling here, cutting down there—(laughter)—but, in spite of all his exertions, the country has been determined to produce a large revenue, and by tnat large revenue^ accompanied by great alleviations of burdens to eaclr individual, we have succeeded for the first time in making some Roteworthy impression upon the public debt, and in maintaining our necessary establishments —the army, navy, militia, and volunteers—in a state of perfect efficiency (loud cheers). And, gentlemen, that is no small matter—(hear, hear, and cheers)—because, depend upon it, that the money which is spent upon national defences in time of peace, provided always it is not carried to excess, is the best security against the occurrence of war (applause). A country that accumu- lates wealth, and does not maintain an efficient means of defence, is like a banker who would fill his chests with gold, and leave his doors unbolted and his windows un. barred (hear, hear). The noble lord having noticed the termination of the American war, said: The cotton famine was a great calamity to the country. It lasted several years, and its pressure was extreme.; but. on the other hand, noble was the conduct of that part of our manufacturing popu- lation which was thrown out cf employment by the ces- sation of the cotton supply (hear). It showed that they had rightly understood the 7position of things. They knew full well-they could set be ignorant of it—that. the pressure and diminution of supply were not owing to any act whatever of their rulers. They saw that it was the result of events over which the Government of their country could have no possible control (bear, hoar). Again, we have had in the sister island three successive bad years, land those who know Ireland, and who are aware how much the great bulk of the agricultural population depend upon the produce of their small bits of land must be well aware how great was the calamity of those three successive failures of the harvest. But, in spite of those local calamities, in spite of those partial draw- backs from the advancing prosperity of the country, I maintain that the wealth and welfare of the United Kingdom has progressed in a greater degree, and in a more rapid manner, during the past six years than in any like period of the history of the country. It has been thought by some that the Government of this country has been too much occupied with political matters, and has not sufficiently attended to and ex- tended the commercial intercourse of the country. Far is the truth from such an assertion. We have been assiduously engaged in Europe in extending, not only by our example and by cur precepts, but also by our treaties, those principles of free commercial inter- course which have so well succeeded in this country, and which we tell Continental nations would equally succeed with them. We have greatly enlarged the advantages of commercial intercourse between England and France and depend upon it, gentlemen, that one of the securities for friendly understanding between two great nations is the fact that each nation has a commercial interest in maintaining peace and friend- ship with the other (cheers) We were assisted in that by the late Mr. Cobden—(cheers)—and most honour- able and successful were his exertions in carrying locally into effect the instructions which he received from the Government. His conduct, indeed, was in all respects noble, for he declined those offers which it was my duty to make to him of rewards from the Crown- preferring that reward which a good conscience affords to a man who has well and faithfully served his country (loud applause). There was one remote part of the world, which men, in their ignorance, I should rather say their unacquaintance, have magnified into an un- approachable region with which it was vain to have any friendly or commercial intercourse-I mean China and Japan. With both China and Japan we are now upon friendly terms, and our commerce with both is rapidly and most prosperously increasing. I have here behind me an hon. friend of mine, Sir John Bowring, who had much to do in carrying out those great and advantageous ransactions, and to whom great merit must be attri- buted for having been the first almost to deal with the Japanese question. Well, then, I say the prosperous and successful exertions of industry, wealth, and agricul- ture, manufacturing or commercial, are the foundations of national wealth, of national welfare and happiness; and I say that a Government like ours, which has laboured incessantly and successfully in extending the commercial intercourse with foreign nations, deserves, as I think, the confidence and the support of its fellow- countrymen (applause). I trust, then, gentlemen, I shall find the electors of Tiverton in the same mood as the House of Commons was, lately dissolved, and that they will give a fair and honest support to me as repre- senting here the successful Government, and that I shall not be deceived in the expectations which are formed that I shall again carry from this town the honour which I have for so many years and so many Parliaments enjoyed of being one of the representatives of this town of Tiverton (cheers). I wish you, gentle- men, a good day and as it is said in the play, "We will meet again at Philippi "-Philippi being the hust- ings and the polling booth (loud and continued cheering).

RESUME OF THE LATE PARLIAMENT De mortals nil nisi bonum" is an oft-quoted sentiment, and one which most Englishmen carry out, for when they pay the last respect to a relative or friend they remember only his good actions, and forget his many shortcomings. We remember only one instance of the reverse, and that occurred when the great Lord Brougham was believed to have breathed his last on the con- tinent. He was great then only as Henry Brougham, and as the electric telegraph was not at that time in use, a rumour soon grew into a fact, and every one in the House of Commons had something good to say of the great man whom they believed had gone to his long home; those who had opposed him formerly were now the first to expresst heir regret for his loss, until Daniel O'Connell rose in one of his facetious moods, and determined to laugh down those enemies who had so suddenly changed their views, and said, in a speech that was much reprobated, that from his knowledge of the English character, he believed they interpreted the old Latin phrase of De mortuis nil nisi bonum into English thus: When bad men die let us bemoan 'em." This was considered very bad taste by the House of Commons at that period, Henry Broughamhowever returned to England hale and hearty, afterwards became Lord Chancellor of England, and his whole life has proved that the eulogies passed upon his character were justly his due. Now the sixth Parliament of Queen Victoria has just died a natural death. It is very rarely that such an occurrence happens, as, owing to the many exciting subjects that for the last thirty years, at least, have been before the public, and the existence of two such powerful parties in the State, Parliaments have generally been brought to an untimely end. The late administration were blamed by many during their career for shortcomings—for not carrying out, in a more determined manner, the reforms they professed to advocate. Whether they have acted wisely in not extending the franchise, or whether it would have been more desirable to lower the conditions of it, we are not going to discuss; but, perhaps, setting aside all party feeling, and doing justice only to that administration which has succesfully battled with opponents on all sides, we may take a resume of the difficulties overcome, and of the business transacted. One of the great features of the late Parliament, then, was the intense interest which had to be directed to foreign affairs. During the last six years three great wars have taken place. First, we saw Italy formed into a kingdom-not, how- ever, without mu4h fighting. Then there was the Danish and Austro-Prussian war, through which Denmark lost a slice of her most valuable territory; and for four years the most sanguinary war has raged in America. Besides these, there has been a fruitless insurrection on the part of the Poles for freedom; and again, the kingdom of Greece, by a bloodless revolution, sent one king adrift, and after offering the throne to our young Royal sailor, Prince Alfred, elected a youthful prince in his stead, simply because he be- came intimately associated with England by marriage. Each of these momentous questions affected this country greatly, and there were not a few who believed it would be impossible for England to keep out of the different frays. France at one time caused considerable anxiety, as it was attempted to be shown that her army and navy was so superior to our own that we were not secure against invasion. Parliament, upon this occasion, represented public opinion, and vote-I many millions for the purposes of defence. An elaborate scheme of fortification was' determined on, and our navy had to be re-modelled. An entire new scheme was entered into, and the large sums which had been voted for the con- struction of new ships were, without much hesitation, sacrificed to make way for ships of entirely different material and form. The volunteer movement, which had hitherto been treated with indifference, now met with the, most flattering support from the Government; and the loyalty of the nation, when there was a belief that danger threatened our shores, was never more nobly displayed. In a very limited time an army of 100,000 men sprung, as from the soil, into existence. During the Danish, Italian, and American wars the Parliament had to use con- summate judgment and coolness on the one hand, not to allow themselves by taunts from both at home and abroad to draw the sword from its sheath and on the other, to uphold the dignity of the country, so as to show the world that whilst Eng- land could be forbearing she would not allow insults to be offered without seeking immediate redress. This was remarkably shown by. Government in the course they took in respect to the Trent- affair. In olden times it would have been almost impos- sible for England to have steered through so many difficulties without taking an active part in the several conflicts. Strict neutrality was, however, in every case exercised. We steered through the difficulties without involving ourselves in the strife, and the English people have now the in- tense satisfaction of expressing the welcome fact, that whilst other countries have become burdened with debt, we have lessened our responsibilities, and whilst our imports have been diminished our revenue has increased. This fact will of itself make the late Parliament ever memorable in history. Of Mr. Gladstone's numerous budgets we have not space to speak, suffice it to say, that the financial position of England was never in a more prosperous condition. We are not arguing whether more might not have been done to reduce the expenditure and to lessen the taxation; but for small services we are thankful, and when we find that, since 1859, 419 different kinds of commodities which were formerly subject to customs dues, are now reduced to 14; that indirect taxes have been remitted during the last six years to the large amount of zCll,000,000, and the income-tax reduced by 17,500,000, we have cause to rejoice. In 1859 the income-tax was 9d. in the pound, it is now 4d. The paper duties have been entirely taken off, and cheap literature of a high order has been afforded to the masses of the community; tea, coffee, and sugar duties have been considerably lessened, thereby affording to the people those necessaries of life at a cheaper rate. The National Debt, funded and refunded, has been diminished some X18,000,000 or 119,000,000 and the ordinary national expenditure has de- creased £ 7,000,000 in four years; and let us not forget the commercial treaty between France and England, which was carried out mainly through the influence of Mr. Cobden; this has added to the prosperity of England perhaps more than any other measure introduced into the last Parlia- ment. The originator of this international treaty is now no more, but his name coupled with the sixth Parliament of Queen Victoria will be em- blazoned on the pages of history; and though many additional measures for the good govern- ment of the country might have been introduced that have been omitted, and many acts of the past Parliament may be regretted, we must adhere to our motto, "De mortuis nil nisi bonum." Let us remember the good that has been done and forget the evil; and let us hope that the new Par- ment will increase its powers of usefulness, and improve upon the example of the past.

THE METROPOLITAN HORSE SHOW FOR 1865. The horse show of the present year has, as was anti- cipated, proved a decided success. The circumstance of the show being fixed at the exaet period of the general election without doubt operated largely in pre. venting a very great number of persons from taking an interest in it to the extent which would otherwise have been the case. The visit of the Prince and Prin- cess of Wales and the other royal and distinguished personages, however, was not only an evidence of the high appreciation of its objects, but had the effect of still further increasing the popularity in which it is held by all classes. Each day, more espe- cially towards the afternoon, when the jumping of the hunters took place, the hall might number its visitors by thousands, and the nobility and gentry by hundreds, as indicated by the continuous lines of carriages, reaching from one end to the other of the Liverpool-road. Unlike the cattle show, one visit was by no means considered sufficient to enable those who are admirers of the species to form a judgment of its merits, and hence it is that the boxes and re- served seats, as well as the avenues, might be seen each day filled with the same faces. The Prince and Princess of Saxe Weimar paid two visits, and it is rnmoured that the Prince of Wales was also in the show incog, more than once. Amongst other members of the aristocracy were the Duke and Duchess of Man- chester, the Duke of Newcastle, the Duke and Duchess of St. Albans, the Earl and Countess of Westmoreland,, the Earl and Countess of Yarborough, the Earl of Uxbridge, &c. &c. The success which has attended the horse show is to be found in the confidence which the owners and breeders repose in the directors of the Agricultural- hall, and in the great care and attention, as well as excellent arrangements, for the comfort and proper keeping of the animals. Hence it is that this is pro- nounced, without hesitation, to have been the finest show of horses of all classes, but more especially in hunters, light as well as heavy weights, ever seen. Whilst however, the animals were so thoroughly carad for, the directors had not lost sight of the comfort and convenience of the public; and whatever was pro- pounded, after mature consideration by the board, was at once most cheerfully and energetically carried out by their attentive, courteeus, and talented secretary and general manager, Mr. Sidney; whilst the arrange- ments for jumping, &c., within the ring, superin- tended daily by a director, and managed by Mr. John Douglas, left nothing in that department to be desired. The prohibitary fee of half a guinea this year for a place in the centre of the arena did not deter many members of the aristocracy and fast young men from making themselves conspicuous as half gaineapigs," as they were facetiously termed, more especially whlist tne Prince and Princess of Wales were in the Boyal box; and, therefore, it is the intention to raise the price still higher another year. Amongst other altera- tions and improvements suggested for next year it s been proposed that, instead of sales going on during the show, there shall be at its conclusion a sale by auotion of such animals as their owners are desirous of disposing of-a circumstance which in itself will be a curious and interesting feature of the exhibition. Although so many persons did not visit the show as on the first occasion last year, in consequence of the general election, still the many thousands that did attend, and the superior character of the company throughout, must be a source of high gratification and pleasure to the promoters. In every department the proceedings of the show were carried out most satis- factorily, and especially m the important one of cater- ing for the tastes of the British public on such occa- sions, again entrusted to Mr. Thomas Studkin, of the Salutation, Newgate-street. The police arrangements, under Mr. Superintendent Mott, of the N division) were excellent, and we did not hear of a single accident or robbery of any kind. The next feature at the Agricultural-hall which, although under most distinguished patronage, is not under the control of the directors, is the Mule and Donkey Show, which opened on Tuesday, the amusing character of which drew large crowds to witness it- The object of the Mule and Donkey Show is not only to improve the breeds but to induce a feeling of humanity towards that patient portion of the cre>ation> and, therefore, not only has Miss Burdett Coutts and a large number of ladies subscribed largely for prizes, but .£10 has also been given by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. « —

Mortality amongst the Peers. The total number of peers who have died during the late Par ha* ment amount to 112, and their united ages reaon 7,583 years, giving an average of 67 years to each. Afl highest average was—with the archbishops, 80; ne* come the viscounts, 74; the bishops show the t the highest average, 73 the earls come next with 68, tn marquises average 66; and the dukes and barons ar the lowest, each with 64. The deceased Scotch Peer averaged 85 j the Irish, 63. -I11III