The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

THE COURT. THE Queen has been living very quietly at Cliveden oaring1 the past week, and has now returned to Windsor. HER Majesty, Princess Helena, Princess Louisa, and Prince Leopold, attended Divine service on San- day morning, the Household being also present. The Rev. C. Kingsley, chaplain to her Majesty, officiated. THE Queen, it is expected, will leave Windsor for Balmoral oa the 13th. Her Majesty wiU only make a short sojourn in Scotland on this occasion. THE Prince and Princess of Wales are now at Marl- borough-house. Their Royal Highnesses drove to Ascot Heath on Tuesday and Thursday in last week, to see the races. Perhaps our lady friends would like to know how the latter was dressed. Her Royal Highness wore pink on Tuesday, and on Thursday was dressed all in blue. A blue dress with a tulle slip, a blue silk jacket with a tulle slip, trimmed with rich white lace, a tulle bonnet with blue ribbons and blue nemophilas, became her Royal 'Highness admirably, and it only needed, to render her costume perfect, the bouquet of tea-roses which she carried in her hand. The Princess Mary wore a dress of lavender and white stripes, a mantle of llama bordered with white silk, and trimmed with black lace and black velvet ribbon, and a bonnet of white delicately bordered with lavender. ON Sunday afternoon their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, accompanied by his Royal Highness the Prince of Denmark and the Dake of Sutherland, and attended by Lieutenant-General Knollys, Major Teesdale, and suite, drove from Titness- park, Sunningdale, in order to attend Divine service at the Chapel Royal of St. George. The Royal party occupied a couple of phaetons, each drawn by two greys, the Prince of Wa,les and Prince of Denmark driving. Their Royal Highnesses took their seats in the stalls of the Knights of the Garter, where they remained during the service, which was conducted by the Rev. E. Tapsfield, minor canon, and the Rev. G. Frewer, the former intoning, and the latter reading the lessons. The Very Rev. the Dean of Windsor was in residence. The servioe was suug to Elvey in D, the anthem being "I beheld, and lo, a great multi. tude," also to Elvey, the solos, which were executed by Master Hancock (treble), Mr. Dyson (tenor), and Sir. Brigg (bass). Dr. Elvey, the organist of the chapel, presided at the organ. At the close of the service their Royal Highnesses left the chapel, which Was orowded by visitors, re-entered their carriages, and returned to Titness-park, their departure being Witnessed by a large assemblage of ladies and gentle- men. EVERY one must be aware that Prince Alfred has taken the title of Duke of Edinburgh, but as the public seems to be in some little doubt as to the history of this title, bestowed OH the 24th ult., by her Majesty on her second son, Prince Alfred, it may not be out of place to mention the conne"tion of the Royal family with the peerage in question. His Royal Highness Prince William Henry, son of Frederick Prince of Wales, and brother of King George III., was aieat^d. on the 19th of November, 1764, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh. The latter title was not jised, though both were British peerages—the Crown having had no power to create a Scotch peerage since the passing of the Act of Union on the 1st of May, 1707. The elder Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh died in 1805, and was succeeded by his son, Prince William Frederick, at whose death, without issue, on the 30th November, 1834, the two peerages became The title of the Duke of Edinburgh is there- fore a new creation in favour of bis Royal Highness "rinoe Alfred, and will be borne as his first title.

PQINITICAII GOSSIF. THE Isle of Man is worthy the attention of the British politician at this moment, as it is going rapidly through the chrysalis state of reforming which the English House of Legislature is attempting to get through. The proposal for the Manx Reform Bill is 414 for county or country votes, .£8 for borough. The Manx reformers incorporate legal provisions against bribery in their bill, and have not found the same difficulty about doing so that their big brothers across the water did this week. LORD BROUGHAM is described as blooming and "Hgorous in the extreme. He appeared in Paris the other day, after travelling night and day-just washed and brushed his hair, put on the latest style of Parisian dress, and sallied forth on conquest bent, for the even- ing. His scientific friends, who were assembled con- sidering mediaeval antiquities, welcomed him heartily, and felt him a worthy contribution to their studies. A CONTINENTAL letter-writer relates a story of a Prussian gentleman and his horses. John, bring round the carriage! "It's very heavy, Herr; I Want help." 11 What do you mean, you blockhead ? What's to bring it round, Herr P Why, the horses, of course, Btupid! Ab, they've gone an hoc; since for the mobilisation," Donner Wetter ^c. '< ein mal! G° an^ borrow a pair of horses from cty tenant Peter." But, Herr, don't you know, Star's horses were taken yesterday p Then saddle Fanny." Miss Fanny •_ why Brigadier Franz 5?* taken off Miss Fanny for himself." The Briga,- diev Franz! Ay, Herr, and he s&yB you're very -ky if he don't come back next week and take your .offtoo." John, bring me my long pipe i Let us 8llH>ki= and be happy for the short time left ua. It's an a"frd world, and Bismarck's a terrible man. IA ia a melancholy sign of the times that the (orernment of Prussia pawnbroking offices have been orowded lately that the magazines are no longer tafneient to contain the articles pledged. The conse. qUI'nee is that only plate, jewellery, and unmade stuffs car* be received, whereas clothes of all descriptions refused. A PETITION is now in course of signature in different parts of the country, by women only, praying that the ffot,aa of Commons should provide for the repre- sentation of all householders, without distinction of Sex, who possess the necessary property or rental qualification. A franchise for the ladies—by all taeans, say we; let a Llause be inserted at once. THE number of bet, laid as to the result of the Abcrdeenshire election -may well be said to be unac- countable. Every other Person you met was in for a Hew hat one way or another, and so close was the struggle between the candikt,, supposed to be, that one quarter a wager was fomly made of a pint of Bass for every Yote ot. a.majority the Liberal should attain! The winner is m for ^is beer for the next welvemonth at least, une th<jusari(j an(j eighty. Seven pints Enough to set up a respectable roadside inn. THE Jockey Club gave admser of QQ c0V6rs FIQ Duke of Beaufort, after winning tne grand prize at he Paris races. The enthusiasm a la c\anvpagne for ihe eternal union of the two countries is said to have been very great. Count Daru proposed The Union of England to France," the Duke ot of France to England/' that they might both,jn fftC^ shortly go into the union, which road England seems, to Frenohmen, o be taking first, owing to her tary diffioulties. PRESIDENT JOHNSON has been called by a member of the House of Representatives a "rebel," a. ,?er- fidious traitor," worse than the rinderpest, trichina, aholera, or cattle disease! BISMARCK is said to be afraid to go to Paris to the conference for fear other counsellors should get beside ais Royal master, about which he is as jealous as a. paniel. IT seems really to be true that the Government has he intention of buying up the telegraphic lines, and naking them serve at cheap rates as an accessory to he penny post. Doubtless some fear of the eventual rivalry was at the bottom of this. SEVERAL rich Venetians nave subscribed a sum sufficient to buy an annuity of 365 francs to be given to the first Italian soldier wht sets foot in Venice. Should it not have been to his heirs and executors ? IT is stated that the King of Prussia recently refused to have an interview with Prince louis of Hesse, the husband of the Princess Alice, btcause the Hesse Darmstadt Court had assumed a hostile attitude towards him. The insult went farther than the Prince. THE Qaeen of Spain went on the 20th ult, to Aran- jutz, where she presided over the last oouncil of Ministers. The Court ia expected to return to Madrid in the course of the present month. THERE are two tureens and eight dozen of plates, all in solid silver, and a total weight of 2,000 ounces, ready to be presented from the electors of Halifax to Viscount Halif&x, in recognition of his high character and long services. We understand the presenilation will be made privately in London.

THE ARTS, LITERATURE, &c. WE understand that another large accession has just been made to Mr. Mudie's well-known library, in the shape of Booth's United Libraries, which Mr. Mudie has just purchased. THE first volume of the Memoirs of Maximilian I., Emperor of Mexico," has just appeared at Leipsic. It contains an account of a tour made through Italy in the year 1851. There is nothing said in it about returning to Europe. A LADY has taken the trouble to write some poetry, called the Olive Branch." It is full to overflowing of praise and admiration of the Emperor of the French. SJme of the remarks are true, but the most truthful line of all, perhaps, is that which the lady addresses to herself, Ah me! how far I am behind! THE works of the late Earl of Carlisle are to be brought out in a collected form, and published in a volume which will exhaust the resources of the printer's and the bookbinder's art, at least in Ireland. The late Lord-Lieutenant was a varied rather than a distinguished writer. He wrote a diary of a journey to Turkey and Greece, a book about his travels in America, a poem on Daniel, a work on prophecy, and a tragedy entitled, The Last of the Greeks. He also de. livered at the mechanics' institute addresses on Pope and Gray. These and his Oxford prize poem will oc- cupy 700 pages, and will be prefaced by a steel plate of Castle Howard, and will be splendidly bound. The work is to be a memorial of a very popular Viceroy, and as such pretty nearly half the Peerage have sub- scribed the guinea at which the volume is charged. WE understand that it is intended to put a stained glass window in Tollard Royal Church, to the memory of the late Lord and Lady Rivers. A SARCOPHAGUS from the tomb of the Kings of Israel, a monument of Hebraic art, which soma years since was found in the Holy Land, has lately been carried to Jaffa, and was embarked there on the 9th ult. for France, being intended for the Museum of the Louvre. THE Italian commissioners, in reporting on the remains of Dante (brought to light after being hid since 1321), say that, "according to the laws of phre- nology, Dante largely possessed the organs of bene- volence, religion, veneration, independence, self- esteem, pride, conscientiousness, mechanical design, scalpture, and architecture." THE famous cherry stone of the collection Lecar- pentier, which was so much admired at the Retro- spective Exhibition in the Champs Elysee, has just been sold at Paris. This microscopic marvel of art and patience, which has beautifully carved on it a representation of a charge of cavalry, fetched nearly X40. AN ingenious mechanician of Lyons has applied the principle of the Jacquard machine-that is, the changing of cards differently perforated to produce different patterns-to a musical instrument, the changing of cards producing different tunes. It is odd that the idea was never thought of before. His first essay has been with an harmonium. It will figure at the Great Exhibition. By the efforts of R. A. Kinglake, Esq., a beautiful memorial bust of Captain Spake has been placed in the Shire-hall, Taunton, and is now open for public in- spection. It is a work of rare art, and the likeness to the deceased is remarkable. The inscription on the pedestal is from the accomplished pen of Sir Henry Rawlinson, K.C.B., and M.P. for Frome:—" To John Hanning Speke, of the Indian Army, the discoverer of the sources of the Nile, who, by his intrepid and memorable journey through Equatorial Africa, from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean, solved a problem which had baffled geographers for 2,000 years, and thus added another to the long list of Eng- land's scientific triumphs, this memorial is dedicated by his admiring fellow-citizens, who desire to do him honour by placing his bust in the Shire-hall of his county town, amid a noble brotherhood of Somerset- shire worthies. Born 3rd May, 1827. Killed by the accidental discharge of his gun, September 15, 1864."

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. -+-- War or Peace on the Continent. No, we shall not have war, in spite of the provoca- tions of some, and the distrust of others. The Emperor, we are convinced, will preserve peace, while still maintaining our national dignity. Already France, England, and Russia, are agreed for the convocation of a Conference, and as to the ques- tions which are to be treated in it. Letters of invita- tion have already been sent to Prussia, Austria, Italy, and the German Confederation. In a few days the Ministers for Foreign Affeirij of the principal Euro, pean Powers will assemble in Paris. The Congress can only end in a result favourable to European interests. Two alternatives are before us. Either by the exchange of ideas, the dissensions will disappear in the Congress, and the diplomatists will find means to con- ciliate the opposed claims, and, hence, to settle the pending auestions; or the agreement will not be unanimous, and then it will be the duty of the French Government to take a decisive attitude, and to make known to the Corps Legislatif all the efforts it has made to preserve peace, and to ask its help. If, then, the necessity of a great demonstration in favour of the most just cause became clear, France might still prevent a European collision by her in- fluence. It is well known that, owing to the organisation of the reserve, in four days France could put on foot 600,000 men disciplined and equipped. This imposing force, armed not to undertake conquests, but to bring about a prompt and efficaoious settlement, might in- crease the glory of the Empire, without making the country run the risks of gigantic struggles.—Le Patrie, a Hemi-official French paper. What a great and noble institution is diplomacy! What would humanity be without it ? Hardly has a quarrel arisen before diplomacy, with singular self- abnegation, intervenes and endeavours by every means to prevent nations from shedding their blood and wasting their wealth. The gratitude of nations to diplomacy ought to be unbounded. However, strange as it may be, nations look upon diplomacy as their enemy, and are more frightened at its pacific intervention than at the immense disasters that war brings with it. Now, while diplomacy with the most laudable in- tentions is endeavouring to prevent war by means of a Congress, we read in a Vienna journal:—" Fortunately, all the fears of a Congress have vanished." We, for our part, repeat every day, certain of say- ing something most agreeable to the country, the hopes of war are not lost, war is hoped for. Simply collating these words would be sufficient to characterise the situation. Yes, it is the Congress which seeps us in terrible anxiety and the country with us. The mere proposal of a Congress is a grave injury and the Congress, if it succeeded, would be fatal. For diplomacy not only is in the habit of always intervening when any pacifio agreement is impossible, and its interference is of no use but to aggravate the danger and retard the settlement, but also the expe- dients it proposes to cure the evil, instead of curing increases it, and, instead of removing the causes of war, sow fresh seeds of it.—II Dirtlto: a Klorence paper. The Money Market. The state of the money market this week is very Hjuch. more satisfactory. Though the Bank returns of Wednesday are even less favourable as regards the note reserve than they were seven days ago, and the bullion is almost stationary, we may say with cer- tainty that Lombard-street is far quieter and more firm, and this in the face of one event which, a week or two earlier, would have produced the wildest excitement. We refer, of course, to the extraordinary failure of the Consolidated Bank, a failure of very great moment In itself, since the amount of its "current, deposit, and other accounts" was shown in the supple- ment we issued a fortnight ago to be Ro less than £ 3,037,435, and its acceptances then amounted to £ 780,563—1and a failure still more calculated to inspire distrust and alatm from the extraordinary and almost revolutionary way m which it was brought about. It has been said, almost without exaggeration, in the City, that a certain number of the directors of the Consolidated Bank, in a fit of temporary insanity, committed com- mercial suicide last Sunday. That oertainly seems to us not very far from a true description of the step which they took without consulting their colleagues. And that it did not produce more excitement in the City than it did is a very remarkable proof of the great improvement in public feeling that a fortnight, and indeed a week, has produced. That the note reserve at the Bank of England has again decreased need excite no alarm. The failure of the Consolidated Bank was a fresh reason for all country bankers to keep their positions as safe as possible, and while they retain the large reserve3 they do in their tills it is obvious enough that the notes cannot come back to the Bank of England. Whenever the country bankers are re-assured we shall see the note reserve in the Bank of England returning to its usual proportions.- The Economist. The Peruvians' Victory over the Spanish Fleet. It is not easy to say what effect this disaster will have upon the policy of the Madrid Cabinet. It will probably not improve their temper or their willingness to consider terms of peace. They will desire to obli- terate the stain by a signal act of vengeance; but there is a party in their country which has no sym- pathy with those wild dreams of conquest that have intoxicated the imaginations of the O'Donnell school of politicians, and a reverse of this kind un- less, which is unlikely, it should be swiftly I followed by victory in some other quarter- cannot fail to embarrass the action of men whose hold of power depends upon the early success of their unscrupulous projects. But Spain is more seriously menaced in another direction. Already a quadruple alliance of the South American Republics has been formed against her; and the four S Sates of Chili, Peru, Bolivia, and Eouador are now endeavour- ing to win over Venezuela, not that this would give them any considerable accession of material strength, but because Venezuela, from the circumstances of her geographical position, would form an admirable base of operations for the invasion of Caba. This magnifi- cent island is the chief pride, as it is also the chief weakness, of Spain. If the allies could carry the war there they would light a flame which it would take many admirals and fleets to quench. There is a disaffected party in Cuba as there is in Spain. There is an eman- cipation party; and there is a large slave population with terrible wrongs to avenge. There is also in the Gulf of Mexico a great overshadowing Power, which has long marked Cuba for its own, and which, now that emancipation dominates in its councils, may well lend countenanoe, if not support to the scheme of the South American patriots. If these latter can see their way to an attack OR Cuba, they will, at all events, engage in the work with clean hands. They took the lead among the nations of America in abolishing human slavery. They are unstained by the crime which Spain continues to perpetrate in defiance of morality, and with reckless indifference to the signifi- -cant march ef events. When slavery died its hard death in the United States, everyone foresaw that the existence of that institution was doomed in Cuba; bat it was impossible to tell from what quarter Nemesis would some. If the blow should be struck by a gallant race whioh, after having once achieved its own freedom against terrible odds, is now again threatened with subjugation by the old tyrant, the retribution would be as juat a one as Heaven ever inflicted upon a per. verse and unteachable nation.-Morning Star.

OUR MISCELLANY. --+-- A Lucky Sixpence.—Previous to Brummel's leaving Calais for Caen, to take possession of his consulship, his circumstances were by no means flourishing; he had long lost the annuity of two hundred pounds, in consequence of the death of the noble donor of it, and I believe he had brought very little with him on leaving England in 1816. He told me he once won in one year the large sum of forty thousand younds by play at Wattier's, and at New- market all of which disappeared as rapidly as it bad been acquired; in fact, at the stakes he was in the habit of playing, an income of forty thousand pounds was required rather than that simple sum. To a sixpence with a hole in it which he picked up one morning in 1813 in the streets on leaving Wattier's, he attributed the commencement and continuance of his good fortune; and to the subsequent loss of this little coin, all Ma subsequent misfortunes. This coin he kept in hia waistcoat pocket, and as long as he retained possession of it, fortune smiled but on the very day this precious talisman was found wanting, his bad-luck set in, and with such continuous and un- remitting vigour, that he soon found himself totally without funds. He told me he advertised in several papers with a view of recovering his talisman, and offered five pounds reward, but without success. Mr. Raikes, in his Diary, states that the Bean merely picked up a plain sixpence, and bored a hole in it him- self; but I always understood from the Beau that the coin he found had a hole in it already made; and in virtue of this circumstance, he considered it lucky. From this slight anecdote, it may be inferred that the Beau was superstitious, and from what I saw of him, I should say he was very much so. He mentioned to me that the play at Wattier's in those days was so high that he once witnessed the Honourable Mr. W-go double or quits for zC32,000, which he lost.— Personal Reminiscences of Beau Brummel. How a Bank may Break.—Alderman Loder's bank broke eventually, entirely owing to his careless- ness in aooounts, for there were good assets. A Mr. Crofton, a lawyer of those days, who had X30,000 in Loder's bank, at the time the London agents became involved was travelling on the continent. One day at a table d'hote in Germany, he chanced to sit next an Englishman. The conversation turned on home matters, and finally on Wiltshire. The lawyer, with the true subtlety of his profession, did not mention that he was a Salisbury man, but talked of the country as a casual visitor. The stranger grew friendly and communicative over his wine, and dis- closed the news just then most upon his mind: "There is going to be a grand burst up at Salisbury," he said — "a tremendous burst np. Loder's bank Is going. I hear to-day that the Lon- don agents will soon stop payment." The lawyer's heart came into his mouth, but he gulped down some wine, rose, thrust back his chair, and wished the stranger good night. An hour afterwards, he had started with four post-horses on the road to France; night and day he rode and drove, and then sped across the Channell. From Dover he rushed to London, and drew out his money. The camel wanted but that last straw. The sudden withdrawal of so large a sum broke the bank. On his return to Salis- bury, the lawyer instantly went to inform his friend, Dr. Peters, of the danger; but Dr. Peters a stolid, eccentric, stubborn man-would not believe it for a moment. Mere mare's nest, sir. Posh! Break the Bank of England next. What Loder's bank go P Posh!" So off went the unbe- liever to Mr. Loder's house in the Close a luxurious mansion, kept up in the best style. There, he found Mr. Loder, dinner over, with no wine before him, but J a huge brown jug of ale, the worthy banker's favourite beverage. Without sitting down or shaking hands, Dr. Peters blurted out his errand. "Why, Loder," he cried, do you bear the absurd report ? "They say your London agents have failed." To the doctor's surprise and horror, the banker looked up from his tumbler quite unmoved, and said Oh, it's come to that at last, has it F" The failure of the bank, how- ever, being chiefly the result of careless accounts, Mr. Loder retired to his property in Dorsetshire,- with character unstained, to end his days in a pleasant and refined retirement. -Dickens's All the Year Round." Playing for a Man's Head. Dluing the ".Terror," few came to play at the Cafe de laRegence. People had not the heart, and it was not pleasant to see through the panes the cars bearing the condemned through the Rue St. Honore to execution. Robespierre often took a seat, but few had any wish to play with him, such terror did the insignificant looking little man strike into every one's heart. One day a very handsome young man sat opposite him, and made a move as a signal for a game; Robespierre responded, and the stranger won. A second game was played and won, and then Robespierre asked what was the stake. "The head of a young man," was the answer, who would be executed to-morrow. Here is the order for his release, wanting only your signature; and be quick—the executioner will give no delay." It was the yoang Count B. that was thus saved. The paper was signed, and the great man asked, "But who are you, citizen? Say citizeness, monsieur, I am the count's betrothed. Thanks and adieu."— Dublin University Magwine. Purs and Elevated Glory.-If Ctoaar had ac- cepted the Goverrinert of Gaul with the sole aim of having an army d.^ otid to his designs, it must be admitted that po experienced a general would have taken, to comic yr 3 I), civil war, the simplest of the measures suggested by prudence; instead of separating himself from hia amy he would have kept it with him, or, at least, broa. it it near to Italy, and distri- I buted it in SU'-h. manner that he could reassemble it quickly; he would have preserved, from the immense booty taken in uacu, sums sufficient to supply the ex- penses of thawar. Caasar, on the contrary, as we shall I see in the sequel, sends first to Pompey, without hesi- tation, two legions, which are required from him under the pretextof the expedition against the Parthiarns. He undertakes to disband his troops if Pompey will do the r same, and he arrives at Ravenna, at the head of a single legion, leaving the others beyond the Alps, distributed from the Sambre as far as the Saoae. He keeps within the limits of his government without making any pre- parations which indicate hostile intentions, wishing, as Hirtius says, to settle the quarrel by justice rather than arms. In fact, he has collected so little money in the military chest that his soldiers club together to procure him the sums necessary for his enterprise, and hat all voluntarily renour ce their pay. Cmsar off-ers Pompey an unconditional reconciliation, and it is only when he sees his advances rejected, and his adversaries meditating his ruin, that he boldly faces the forces of the Senate, and passes the Rubicon. It was not, then, the supreme power which CEO jar went into Gaul to seek, but the pure and elevated glory which arises from a national war, made in the traditional interest I of the country.—History of Julius Ccesar. Vol.11. of the country.Tlistory of Julius Ccesar. Vol. II. Chiswick Registers.-The registers of Chiswick date only from 1680; the parish books go as far back as the year 1625. The latter contain, inter alia, an account of the great plague, and of the sanitary mea- sures adopted by the parish. Among' other curious precautions it should be mentioned that a resolution was passed by the parish that all loose and stray dogs and cats are to be killed for fear of conveying the in- fection, and that the poor bedesmen are to nurse the patients all with the plague. The books during the next half century contain several curious entries of rewards paid to the beadle for driving away out of the parish sundry poor women, who came into its aristo- cratic precincts in a condition which showed that they were likely to add to the population, and so entail a charge on the parishioners. To account for the disap- pearance of all earlier register, it is said, but upon what authority we know not, that the Protector quar- tered his troops in the church, and that on tha,t occa- sion he and his soldiers tore up those documents to lisht the fires, or for other and viler purposes.- Oiice a Week.

I THE LATE GROOM OF THE CHAMBERS TO THE EARL OF CARDIGAN. Robert Lily, formerly groom of the ohambers in the service of the Earl of Cardigan, was charged at the Middlesex Sessions with having stolen a cheque for X18 16s. and two letters; he was also charged with stealing another cheque for 30s. The facts of the case having been stated by Mr. Poland, the Countess of Cardigan was called as a witness, and she stated that the prisoner had been in Lord Cardigan's service for 11 years, and until the present time there had been no suspicion of his dishonesty. On the 13th of February she had occasion to send a remittance to Messrs. Harrington, linendrapers, at Brighton, and she drew a cheque for S18 16s. upon the London and Westminster Bank, where she had a separate account, and enclosed it in a letter to Messrs. Har. rington. The cheque was not crossed. She then wrste on the outside registered," and gave the letter to the prisoner, telling him it contained a check, and desiring him to get it registered and posted. Later in the day she wrote another check for 30s., and enclosed it in a letter addressed to Mr. Redfern, of Cowes, in payment of an account due to him. This letter, also, she gave to the prisoner to be regis. I terea and posted. As no answer was returned from either Messrs. Harrington or Mr. Redfern, she wrote to them asking for a receipt, and then received informa- tion that the two checks had never reached their destination. She immediately communicated with her bankers, and placed the matter in the hands of a detective officer. The evidence in support of the charge went to show that the hall porter had seen a letter in the prisoner's hand on the day in question which was direoted by Lady Cardigan, and it had the word registered upon it; that the check for .£18 16s. had been paid over the counter at the bank, but to whom it was paid the cashier could not recollect; that the money so paid comprised a £ 5 Bank of England note, which was subsequently paid by a person named Hayes, in purchase of a truss; and Hayes, who stated that he had received the note from the prisoner, and had, at his request, given him five t sovereigns in exchange. The prisoner said he had no recollection of the par- ticular letters given him to be registered, but that he had posted all letters handed to him for that purpose by Lady Cardigan. The small check for 30s. had never been received at the bank, and there was no evidence as to what had become of it. Mr. Huddleston addressed the jury on behalf of the prisoner, and the jury, after an hour's consultation, returned a verdict of Not Guilty.

— A GOOD-NATURED HUSBAND. The Belgian Vice-Consul made a very singular ap- plication to Mr. Paget, at the Thames Police-court, on behalf of a respectable man, a native of Belgium who accompanied him, and who wanted his wife. Mr. Paget: Where is she ? The Vice-Oonsul: In your district, sir. The man, who is a subject of my king, was married 19 years ago, and his wife eloped from him five years ago and has been living with another man ever since. The husband has made a long and diligent search for his guilty wife, and has just discovered her. He wants her to return with him to Belgium. He wishes your worship's interference. Mr. Paget said he had no power to interfere in the matter. He was not a little surprised to hear of a man disposed to receive his wife after she had been living in a state of adultery with another man five years. The Vice-Consul said the man loved not wisely, but too well, and was very fond of his wife. Mr. Paget: So it appears; but the affection is not mutual, for she is fond of another man. I think the husband had better try and forget her. She is not worth the trouble he is taking for her. The Vioe-Consul asked if the police could interfere, and take the woman away from the man she was living with. Mr. Paget: No: the police have no jurisdiction over frail wives. The only remedy is an aotion in the Court of Probate and divorce for a restitution of conjugal rights. It is a roundabout mode of proceed ing, but there is no other course open to the injared husband. The Vice-Consul thanked the magistrate, and retired with the good-natured Benedict. 4

r EXTRACTS FROM "PXMCH" & FUH, Is It Her Own ? Is it her own ? through e'wb. long When airy muslins sweep along the grass. Is it her own ? when couples sit and SPOOE, And fairy girls through tenta of blossoro pass*. When flower fefies horticultural delight H", Or promenades botanical invite TIS, Then if you list 'l'ou'Jl hear Sweet voices whispering near, lk§ it her own ? Is it her own ? when the gran el pow'.r of Tears us from dinner and Anina's eide, To hear La Murska cadences prolong And watch for tresses which the cartains hidiv Wben passionate appiausa at last is dying, And anxious friends acquaintances aro eyeing, Then watchful mothers say, Look, darling, o'er the way, "la it ber own Is it her own P question of shelved maidi Viewing with jealous eyes their sisters fair- Whisper of damsels whose concocted braids Pass for luxurious wealth of golden hair See in sly corners dowagers conspiring, Pleasantly smiling, audibly admiring. Hear how their voices siok, Qaite so; but do you thick It is her OWTJ ?J Is is her own ? smooth tufts and cnrls distrast. And chignons hidden by a silken net Beware of ornaments and golden dust, Mark well the juncture where the comb is set If neat disorder reigns beneath the bonnet, Friend of my youth! I'll stake my life upon 5ts, Then instantly you'll say, When wilful tresses stray, It is her om 0 RUS! By a Londoner out of Touni. Ah me, how swoet it is in spring to quit the psxticf: town- To breathe pure air on Kentish hill or bracing Suyypy down, To bask in lavish sunlight-floods the whole long lasy day, 'Mid meadows gold with buttercups, and hedges with May, To hear the lambkin in the field, the throstle in iis hedge, And—welcome to the townsman's e-tr-tbe frog acaoEg the sedge, To list the murmur of tha boughs, to breathe breath of flowers, To note the nestling's feeble chirp where thicier; shade embowers, To hear the distant brook flow on from silver fall 00 fall, To see the merry quire of larks bright-quivering ovsr all, To watch the bounding colt at play, to hear the low t kine, And e'en the meditative sigh of pome contented SWIEP To mark the merry children roam among the verdant fields, To store their hands, and aprons too, with buds thf springtime yields, In short, to live the happy life, which would too tsppy be Did rustics know how blest they are to live a life SÐ free! 'Tis sweet to view the sky, nnsmirched, to breathe unsmoked its airs, To seek the calm of rural scenes, and quit our Itc-cdoz. cares; Bat ah, 'mid all the rare delight one thought will haxsEt me still, The country whets your appetite-atti, ohIht butcher's bill! Sense and Sentiment. A Spring Serenade. Come forth in the garden, my darling, For night it has ceased, There's the thrush on the lawn and the sttrliog Is having a feast; For the dawn is far up in the sky—and the wind's ir. the east! Come forth in the garden, my dearest, For quenched is night's lamp, And the stars that at midnight we-ro cle-arest, Have broken up oamp, And the dew is be-gemming the earth—ami the is quite damp! Come forth in the garden, my sweetest, Come forth and behold The dawn, when its triumph ccmpletest Is blazoned in gold. Yet, no! YOlt had better stoij in, to-oc, for fear ]¡C catch coIer Punch's Essence of Parliament. Hark.! Thursday last the faithful Commem And sat debating till the clock struck ono. They talked of Gladstone's plan to pay the debt, Topic of many figures, but no fun. Asked touching Congress, he had nought to say, Save that he hoped the thing would come abor t* And when they met upon the following day, So few appeared that those were counted We raised no talk upon the great Reform, Bat waited till we should behold the bill, The single bill designed to meet the storm, Directed onward by Caucasian skill. No dastard hands, Hke those of Gm:8I and T*Jv..ce Met in mock prelude of avoided fray: On Dizzy's brow and on his rival's fw,o Were signs that both were swotrk to pound Rway The following Monday for the Sght wag DXE"), In other words then to oonae to pass Whetlior tle TLnct: Reform: by Gladstone rcrjxac. The Tories would drink down, or scriFA-b the glass- More Valuable Statistic?. (By Our Oim Old Fool) In the list of marriages in the Ti nes of one day last week, extraordinary not to pay remarkable to relaie, we find 12 brides whose united Christian P-mmoF c-or- tain the unprecedented number of 144 letters of the alphabet, giving an average of 12 letters each. This, we think is even more astounding then the revelation that if ten old parties have lived to various ages between 70 and 80, the iiggregata number 01 yeare is rather large. The social v Jul) and interest of both facts seem about equal. A DEVOUT WISH.—A Ljjrd of the Ada&iialty, wht is intellectually fitted for nid post, is reported to have-- said to a friend, "I hear there's a Mr. Mil) who s&ye England will shortly be without Co'osj. J wish it may prove true No doubb the old boy would be glad to get rid of the coals that caused such a stir about the great incompetence of the Admiralty. SHEEP V. DEER -It is reported that ? large sbeep= farm in Sutherland,_ recently rented at < £ 7,208 a year., will, on the expiration of the lease this year, be cor» verted into a deer forest. It; would be a cheap forest instead of a deer if we could get back, along with the herds, the hearty mountaineers who Gl)OO peopled the district and strengthened orir armies. HALF AND HALF.—It is an old saying that one half the world does not know how the other half lives. The Monde, however, by ita fashions and phraseology., appears to be quite sufficiently well informed about- the life of the demi monde.

A NEW VERSION OF THE OLD PROTBBB, 35.AKLT TO BED AND EARLY TO RISE," &C-. If late a man's in, and late out of bed; He'll get thin, short of tin, and thick ia the head. HARD LINES ON INDIVIDUALS—The _compulsory- purchase of land by a railway company is insult, added to injury. The buyers take a site in the seller's fJlOOO. AN UNACCOUNTABLE OMISSION. Amongst tb& exhibitors at the International Horticultural Stow we do not find a name that should have been prominent in the list-Connt Bismarck. Why did be not send the fruity of his industry in the shape of the apple ot dis- cord P .Y WISH, A PARLIAMENTARY WISH.—That BJPMAROK, baffiecL may be a count dut." t MOTTO FOR A SERVANTS HALL —" Thev also serve* who only stand and wait." -M-ilton. CURIOUS FEAT.—A scampish builder ran up one high perpendicular wall cf a suburban villa in two days. THE NEEDLEWOMAN S FXCLAMATIOTi.Abe-m

A thousand nightingales have been caoght In Austria, at the request of the Emperor Maxim OisB, and will be speedily shipped for Mexico.