The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

taitC OiTBSB. I -+- I 0 17 1 Hares and Rabbits: the Injury they inflict upon 1. the Land. We extract the following from The Farmer: — "The bill to acseiid the laws as to the killing of hares and rabbits, which has been introduced by Sir William Stirling-Maxwel], M.P., a,ppears on the whole well adapted to remove a great and justifiable source of complaiat on the past cf tenant farmers. Battue-shooting, a French-field mode of slaughter- ing game, without an atom of sportsman-like spirit to recommend it, has been the source of much of that over- preservation that has been so bitterly complained of by farmers. There can be no fun, no sport whatever, in battue shooting; it is simply a lazy system of wholesale slaughter; and, to supply material for carrying it on, it is necessary that game and varmin shall be multiplied to the utmost extant, wishout reference to the manner in which the aaiinala are fed. If it be considered essential that a supply of game—at least four-footed game-for battue-shooting be maintained, let this be done in soma well-ezi closed place; let the hares and rabbits be fed just as sheep are fed, and then, if gentlemen choose to act the noble part of amateur poulterers, let them do so by ell means; but let them not dignify such pro- ceedings with the name of sport. Boar-hunting is sport of the most exciting kind, but sticking pigs in a farm-yard is slow work, and, at the beat, merely slaughter; and there is just as much difference between real epori. aa found in trudging after game on the moors or over the stubbles, and spore, as repre- sented by batras-shooting, as there is between tiger hunting in India and slaughtering pigs in Yorkshire. At the meeting of the Chamber of Agriculture on the 17th May, 1365, to which we have alluded, Mr. Shepherd, who opposed the discussion, stated that I partridges, and even pheasants, though by far the worst of the two, do not work a tithe of the mischief which harea and rabbits occasion. Indeed,' said he, there is no doubt that crows and wood pigeons give more trouble, and cause more loss, than pheasants and partridges.' Mr. M'Combie was willing to assist his landlords in preserving on their estates a moderate number o! hares, grouse, and partridges.' Mr. Bethune, of Blebo, considered 'that- the preservation of hares and rabbits was the great source of the evii;' while the ahairman, Mr. Hope Fentonbains, wound up the dis- oussipn by stating his belief that if the hares and rabbits were dropped ont of the game list, it would Send very much to diminish the sufferings of farmers. He considered partridges harmless birds, and as to pheasants,' he said, 'they rarely stray from the vicinity of the preserves in which they are reared like poultry, end farmers know what they may expect when they take farms in such situations.' It is different, however, with hares. They increase with- out trouble and expense, if simply left alone., They; travel miles for their food, and no man is safe from thair depredations, where verhia farm may be situated.' As for rabbits, Mr. Hope set them down at once as unmitigated vermin;' and he added that it might be quite satisfactory to them, as farmers, to have only haros end rabbits removed from the game list.' While such are the views held by the representa- tive body of tha tenant-farmers of Scotland, we find numerous instances in which proprietors have freely accorded permission to their tenants to kill hares and rabbits on their farms, the result being that more hares are to be found on such farms, whenever the landlord wishes a day's sport for himself or his friencs, than could be obtained even under the strictest system of prc-sarvation by keepers. There can be little doubt, therefore, that Sir William Stirling-Mas well's bill mast be well received, unless by those holdieg extreme views on both sides of the question. Over-preservers cf game, who preserve not for 'the purpose of sport, bus as a source of double profit, will doubtless look upon the bill as an infringe- ment on their privileges, while there may be some who "will not consider it sufficient to meet their views. Extremes, it is said, do sometimes meet, but it would be hopelsss to expect that such would happen in this case; and if men or moderate views, whether proprie- tora or tenants, are satisfied with it, there is every season to expect that the passing of this bill will eradiaate the bitterness which has existed in connec- tion with the preservation of game, and which has -done much to foster antagonistio feelings between the parties concerned in it. There is, however one point which ought not to be overlooked in considering the game question, with re- latisn to its operation in the case of farmers, and any Btepa that may be taken to relieve them from griev- ances arising out of it. This ia the agreement which is frequently voluntarily entered into by tenants, not only to protect game, including rabbits, but also renouncing all olaims on the proprietor for damage to crops from that carsss, 'notwithstanding any law being passed to the contrary.' Now, any agreement of this kind is a special contract, which a man enters into with his eyes open. It may be a hard bargain, but that is his concern, just as in any other matter of business. Like buying an unsound horse with all his faults, and without a power to return, he takes the farm with all its burdens, and must stick to his bargain. But having voluntarily put himself beyond the protection of the law, he has no right to come forward and complain of his posi- tion, or ask for a manifestation of public sympathy on his behalf. No? have trading agitators any right to make capital out of such a man's case. He has, perhaps, mads a foolish agreement, but if so, he ciasfe bear the consequences. Foolish agree- j scents are made evary day in other trades and pro- fessions, but we do not find those transactions brought to Hght und, aired' for the purpose of exciting sym- pathy for tho33 who have suffered in consequence of their own indiscretion. People gtmerally wish to keep each things as quiet as possible, whereas the man who voluntarily contracts '—aa Mr. Curror defined the matter at the meeting of the Chamber of Agriculture —-5 to feed and preserve hia neighbour's poultry or wild fowl,' wild beasts or vermin, without any com- pensation for the same, seems to take pleasure in taliiv,g t.ho world what a fool he has baen." a-

HINTS UPON O-ABDEJSTIi'G. During dry wsatnar clear off exhausted ozops of peas and beans, fend dig the ground deep, and manure liberally. During showery weather plant out winter greens of all kinds. Be careful in transplanting not to bruise the leave3 ef ^the plants. Celery has been terribly tormented with fly, out is now recovering. If it be possible to give water do so liberally, and you will be well repaid for your trouble. Early planted- out crops may now be earthed up, out do this when the plants are quite dry. Endive to be sown again, and strong plants in early seed beds to be planted out. Shallots should be taken up as soon as the bulbs are ripe; if left in the ground, they will bo injured by the autumnal rains. This remark applies especially to damp and low-lying soils. Make ready a sufficient number of beds for the winter crop of spinach as soon as possible, in order to be ready to sow early in August. The soil should be rich, and the position chosen, if possible, should lie high and dry. Cauli- flowers tod brocolis can be got out now on ground cleared of peas and beaaa. Trench deep, and mix the manure with the soil, so that it is evenly distri- buted. throughout the maa3. Onions lifted as we ad- vised last week, may in a few days be taken up and laid in the sun to dry. If the weather is wet, spread them in a shed, or on some dry mats in spare frames. In some country places they finish off the onions for storing by placing them in a baker's oven after the bread is drawn. This is a very good plan, and a pretty certain remedy for bull-necks in a green, soft, condi- tion, bnt it is not likely any crops will require to be artificially ripened this season. Rosea may now be struck in any quantity to secure fine plants on their own roots. Make up a few frames-if with gentle bottom-heat, all the better, but that is not indispen- sable. There must be six inehes of light rich soil in which to dibble the cuttings; choose short half-ripe shoots for the purpose, and keep them shaded and frequently sprinkled. Strawberries to be potted as soon aa rooted, aa they make roots faster in pots than ia the open ground; and should we have a obilly autumn a few of the best of the plants can be kept under glass, to ripen their crowns. Lay a few snore of the best runners in pots, cut away all weak tnnnera, and supply water liberally to runners and old stools. The conservatory will now need a revision, and a general change of occupants. Liliuma and giadioii will now code in, and make a fine show with first-class annuals and fuchsias. Specimen trees and cHssbers to ba stopped and trained in, to assist ripening of the wood. Msoiy choice border plants are now ripening their seeds, aDd whatever ia required Kiusfe be eecured in time. Generally it is safest to gather the seed before it ia dead ripe, as in many cases ¡' the pods opt-D and the seed ia scattered and lost. Cut -cif btsncb/js with a portion of stem attached, and ¡ spread them on cloths, sader cG to dry for a day or two and then put ih&m in the full sun to harden. A shelf in a greenhouse is tha best is less fear of them being scattered by^d. Label aa seeds when gathered, to prevent mistakes, and ot aA hardy subjects sow a portion at once, and keep the rest till spring.—Gardener s Magwme.

SPORTS AID PASTIMES. THE I Zinp-ara amateurs, who yearly combine cricket with theatricals at Canterbury, have this year selected Miss Milly Palmer to be their leading lady. THE reoorta from the moora of Swaledale ana Wensleyda'e augur ill for the coming grouse season. The brooding hens, the watchers report, have been dying for some time back in scores, and the mortality is still continuing at a frightful rate. The accounts from the Westmoreland and Durnam moors, we regret to say, are nearly as unfavourable. The disease which is so fatal in its results is locally termed a dis- temper but the cause is supposed, and it is believed accurately, to be due to the severe weather in May last, which checked the tender shoots of the heather, upon which the birds so much depend for subsistence at that period of the year, and also for some time subsequently. In the. higher .lying grounds on Don side, such as Strathdon, Corg&rff, Candacraig, &c., accounts of dis- ease are somewhat discouraging. At the other side of the hills, in the Braemar and Deeaide districts, there is no appearance of disease, and report speaks very favourably of the fine beslthy appearance of the birds. Ptarmigan and blackcock are very plentiful and healthy! On the lower lying moors of Aberdeenshire, game promises to be more than usually abundant. This, we believe, is in some measure due to the fact that last year the birds were sparingly shot, and a good breeding stock left. On the Clashandarroch mOON, it is stated that disease has been slightly ob- Rorvable • but C0Y6YS arc to be seen strong, and appa- rentfv in'fair condition. On the Glenfiddoch and other moors in the upper districts of the county, the pros- pects are equally favourable, and, everything con- eider ed, there is little doubt that sportsmen may look forward to the 13 th of August with hopes of fair PMucH satisfaction is felt in the cricketing world at the fact of Mr. Lubbock, the Captain of the Eton Eleven, having expressed his regret to the Marylebone Club, and to his Harrow opponents, at having objected to the decision of the umpire at the latter end of the first day's play. These matches having become quite an event of the year, it is to be regretted the Eton boys do not take more pains to study cricket in aU its branches, more particularly "bowling, which, after all, is the most interesting part of a game at cricket. It is to be hoped that next year will prove that the Eton boys are not deaf to public opinion, which demands of them to uphold so national a game by producing 11 de- cent cricketers out of 850 boys. They cannot do better than follow the excellent example set them by Harrow, who have only half that number to pick from. The success of the ballad concerts at the Crystal Palace has been indubitable, nor is it to be wondered at that the general public, no less than the regular frequenters of the Palace, have availed themselves of each successive opportunity of listening to so good a musical and vocal entertainment as is now provided for them at the Wednesday concerts. Another selec- tion of ballad music was executed last Wednesday by such distinguished vocalists as Madame Grisi, Madame Parepa, Miss Edmonds, Mr. Weiss, and Mr. Sims Beeves, with Mr. Levy and the admirable orchestra, under the direction of Mr. Manna, for the msi.ru- mental department# The selection on this occasion included" Home. sweet home," "The last rose of summer," and "The Minstrel Boy," by Madame Grisi. The well-known canonet My mother bids me bind myha-ir" by Haydn. and Bishop's "Should he up braid," by Madame Parepa; the once favourite I ve been roaming," by Miss Edmonds; Farewell to the mountain," by Mr. Weiss; and "The Pilgrim of Love," by Mr. Sims Reeves. In short, to particularise the popular inorceaux that were given would be to reprint the programme, which may be said to bristle with popularities, "Whether with opera concerts for the select and fastidious, enjoyable popular selections for the many, and fireworks for all, the directors of the Crystal Palace seem to have hit upon the riglu means of gratifying* the public taste with as much certainty as variety.

INAUGURATION OF THE COBDEN CLUB. A number of the political friends and admirers of the late Bichard Cobden, desirous of perpetuating his memory and doing honour to the great political prin. ciples of which he was the advocate, considered that the best form of carrying out their intentions would be by the formation of a club, which, as in the case of the great Charles James Fox, should bear the name of the earnest advocate of peace and free trade. In the month of March last the idea was broached to some of the members of Parliament who were the supporters of the great Liberal party, and a response was made to the appeal which fully justified Mr. Potter, M.P., the successor of Mr. Cobden in the representation of Bochdale, in persevering with < the idea of the establishment of the club. Within a few weeks of the time when the question was first mooted a prelimi- nary meeting was held at the Reform Club, when the amount of annual subscriptions and other matters of detail connected with the management of the club were agreed upon, and it was also resolved that a dinner of the club should take place, at which the future arrangements of the club should be considered. This, the first dinner of the club, took place on Satur- day night at the Star and Garter Hotel, Richmond. About 150 gentlemen, the majority of whom were members of Parliament, were present, and the chair was taken by the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, who was supported by Earl Bussell, Lord Houghton, Mr. Gosehen, Mr. Chichester Fortescue, Mr. Bruce, Mr. Childers, Mr. Stansfeld, Mr. E. Forater, Mr. Collier, and Sir R. Palmer, the latter gentleman the guest of Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Locke King. When the company had assembled in the drawing- room previous to the dinner Mr. Gladstone said that, aa a matter of business, it was necessary that the mem- bers of the club should agree to adopt the report which had been drawn up, and he therefore proposed the adoption of the report, which was as follows :— REPORT, 19TH JULY, 1836. The idea of forming a club, to be called the Cobden Club," on a plan somewhat similar to that of the Fox Club, occurrerl to one or two gentlemen in the month of March last, and in the course of a few weeks nearly 100 gentlemen, most of them members of the House of Commons, had inti- mated their wish to join it. On the 15th of May the first meeting was held at the Re- form Club, at which it was resolved that the annual sub- scription should be £ 3 3s., and that a dinner should take place in June or July, at which the future arrangements of the club should be considered, and that Mr. Gladstone should be invited to preside. The club now consists of 143 ordinary members, of whom 83 are members of the Legislature. A considerable number of the subscriptions for the current year (which will in fufrare be payable at the London and W estminster Bank, St. James's-squ&re, on the 1st of January in each year) have been paid, and there is now a balance of about zC300 in hand. In accordance with the resolution passed at the meeting on the 15th of May it now remains to determine the future arrangements of the club, and it w proposed that its man- agement, together with the election of members, shall be entrusted to a committee consisting of the following gentle- men, three of whom shall form a quorum:—Lord Hough- ton, Viscount Amberley, M.P.; Mr. Arthur Otway, M.P.; Mr. T. Ba,yley Potter, M. E.; Mr. James Caird, Mr. John Bright, M.P.; Mr. J. Stuart Mill, M.P.; Mr. J. Stansfeld, M P ■ Mr. Thomas Bazley, M.P.; Professor Fawcett, M.P. Mr. Richard Baxter, Mr. W. E- Baxter, M.P.; Mr. Yv*. E. Forster, M.P.; Mr. G. O. Trevelyan, M.P.; Mr. G. Shaw Lefevre, M.P. The report was unanimously adopted, and the com- pany immediately afterwards proceeded to the dining, room. The dinner was served in a manner highly creditable to Mr. Lawrence, the manager of the com- pany, which has recently obtained PO"I!uklslon or the premises and business of the Star and Garter Hotel. In regard to the dinner, we may only observe that it was of the most recherche character. # The usual loyal and patriotic toasts having been given, the chairman (Mr. Gladstone) proposed one to the memory of the late Mr. Cobden, and in the course of a long address he said: "I think, my lords and gentlemen, it will be the general sentiment ot your countrymen that you have done well to found an sal- tation in connection with hia name (hear, hear). JNot, indeed, that that name stands in need of any measures such as even a company like thia can take in order to seoure its immortality- ((,heez-e) -but that it is good and it is desirable that even shortly after the grave has closed upon the remains of a man so distinguished, visible and undeniabla signs should be given that his countrymen are sensible to the merits of him whose services they have enjoyed, and of the loss they have sustained by his death (hear, hear). It is impossible uos to dwell for a tnoaeat oa a personal character so J remarkable. I have rarely known, in any state or con- dition, one better qualified by the whole character of his mind than Mr. Cobden to attract to him tha love and the affection of all with whom be came in contact (cheers). In truth, my lords and gentlemen, he was one of those with respect to whom I think wa may justly say that even the splendour of their talents was less remarkable than the solid distinction derived from their virtues, and with regard to whom, if'admi- ration is strong, yet esteem, veneration, and affection in the retrospect, most be stronger still (cheers). Is was a character, eo far as I had ever the opportunity of judging it, eminently free, simple, noble in the highest sense; for Mr. Cobden was one of those who had been well called, and in no invidious or dis- paraging sense, "SSatura's nobles" (cheers). My lords and gentlemen, Mr. Cobden was indeed one of those who realised in the highest sense the true nature of party connections. He did not embrace opinions for the sake of party—(hear, hear)-lint he adhered to party for the sake of the objects that he had in view (cheers). He was one of those who, if his political career had then commenced, would most cordially have joined in the proclamation of which my noble friend on my right (Earl Russell) was one of the original utterers —(loud cheers)—in those days when many a battle now won had yet to be fought; in those days when the steep ascent that has now in great part been climbed, had yet to be attempted-I mean the proclamation of those three great principles of Peace, Retrenchment, and Reform (loud cheers). With respect to the sub- ject of Reform, not the least of those three prin- ciples-(hear, hear)—I at least may possibly be allowed to excuse myself from entering further on the matter upon this particular ocoasion-(Iauphte.- and cheers)—for whatever my sins or offences may have been, and doubtless they have been snany, both in omission and commission, no man has said that any undue reserve or restraint in she quantity or the quality of my utterances of my opinion on the ques- tion of Reform has been among those errors (hear, hear). That question possibly may sleep for a while, bat it will have a certain and an early resurrection (loud and repeated cheering). I will Eay of it, my lords and gentlemen, no more than this, in connection with the object of the present celebration, that I think there never was a time during the whole period of our j recollection at which we could have had greater reason to deplore the loss of Mr. Cobden than during the lengthened and acute controversies which haveattanded the discussion of the Reform question (cheers).' Aa respects the subject of peace, ic is one to which I think we may refer with eminent satisfaction, because it is one of those which illustrate the character of Mr. Cobden'a mind as a mind. qualified and destined to exercise an influence far beyond tha limits of the circle of his professed adherents and admirers. The ideas I which it was his happy fortune to propagate were, for the most part, ideas bearing upon them tha broad and simple stamp of truth in such a, form that they were certain to obtain possession of the mind of the country at large, and to reappear in the opinions and even in the political conduct of those who might little know to what source they were indebted for their origi. nality, I would venture to say that in the present tonoof English policy, in the tone of words which many of us may have heard last night, and which those who did not bear may have read this morning, in tho speech delivered by the noble lord who now holds the office of Secretary of State for Foreign A. if airs, it ia not difficult to traca the beneficial though gentle and possibly nnperceived influence of the views and ideas of Sir. Cobden (cheers). With respect, gentlemen, to the third of these topics that I have named, the topic of retrench- ment, Mr. Cobden was one of those who, so far as I eva-e was able to understand his views or proceedings, invariably contemplated the subject of retrenchment with a far higher than any mere pecuniary object. It was not the mere saving of money, it I have rightly understood the nature of Mr. Cobden's pro- ceedinga-ít was not the more saving of money which he sought in recommencing the application of the principles of public thrift. Public economy was with him nothing Jess than a moral principle (hear, bear). Public expenditure not needed for the public wants ho believed to ba a political injustice. After grophically depicting Mr. Cobden'a character c and labours as developed in the great Corn-law struggle, he continued: —lb was also, my lords and gentlemen, moat remarkable that in its progress so much should have been confided to the same hands. Had Mr. Cobden died after the repeal of the Corn Laws his name must have been recollected among the names of the illustrious men of our country (hear, hear). But having taught us the full significance of freedom of intercourse as among ourselves, ha had yet another work to do-another work in some respects less arduous, because the opposition to be encoun- tered, though not insignificant, was less formidable; but in other respects, perhaps, yet more re- markable, for I believe that the views which he was the main instrument of setting before his fellow. countrymen and the world were, perhaps, yet more modern. I mean by that second portion of his work the instructing us, instructing his country, and in. structing mankind in the full meaning of freedom ef intercourse as between nation and nation (hear, hear). When he taught the repeal of the Corn Laws he cast aside all those comparatively narrow and vulgar idaaa which seemed to represent that great measure as beneficial, indeed, to the mass of the community, but yet possibly injurious to somo portion of it; and he held firmly, on the contrary, that ia the prosecu- tion of intercourse with perfect freedom would be found the true benefit of all alike. But when he came to the subject of intercourse between coun- tries, there, I must say, it appears to me that in a still more special sense Mr. Cobden may be called the Apostle of .Free Trade and of the ideas which belong to it (hear, hear). Well, my lords and gentlemen, for ordinary men, for ordinary statesmen, it might be enough to say on their behalf in assemblies of their fellow-countrymen—it might be enough to cheer them in the retrospect of their lives if they could point simply to tha fact that by the remaval of needless and unwise restrictions they had vastly widened the field of honourable industry both in their own country and in other lands. But that was not all. I would even say it was not the greatest, oerfcainly it was not the most peculiar part of the work and mission of Mr. Cobden. Mr. Cobden perceived, and not only perceived himself, but taught us to perceive, the true moral meaning of trade between nation and nation (hear, hear). He showed that trade was not only a law of wealth and prosperity, but a law of friendship, a law of kindness amongst all nations (cheers). My lords and gentlemen, you formed the Cobden Club, and among your countrymen you will maintain tha knowledge—you will cause, as it were, the echo of the sound of that distinguished name. And you are right, I think, in such an undertaking, for it is just towards bim and honourable towards you that you will have fellow-labourers by thousands and by mil- lions. It is not upon bronze and marble that the re- nown of such a man as this depends. You need not by visible signs recall him to the eyes of men. His name is written in their hearts (cheers). The progressive movement of mankind is towards a state of things in which the fruits of his labours, so far from being cancelled and effaced by the lapse of time, will be felt more and more, will be appreciated with more and mere lively gratitude from year to year; and those who a generation henae may meet in this room or elsewhere, those probably who after centuries have passed may look back upon the history of the critical time in which we live will, depend upon it, be not less alive, but even more so than we are, to the genius and acts of Mi. Cobden (cheers). My lords and gentlemen, in that confident anticipation—an anticipation which I may possibly have expressed in sanguine language, but which resta upon thought and deep conviction—I close the remarks I have ventured to make by requesting you to drink in silence To the revered memory of Richard Cobden." The toast was accordingly drunk in solemn silence. The health of the right hon. Earl Bussell being proposed, his lordship adverted to the present war on the Continent, and pointing to the policy of the late Government, showed that their efforts were to pre- serve peace, and not to entangle England with the discords abroad. Having at some length dwelt upon this subject, his lordship concluded by apologising for saying so much upon foreign afftdra, but said he had done so because, in his own language; I been considerably attacked for doing what I thought would conduce to peaoe. I may say a few words, and they shall be but upon one other topic, which, though it may not directly touch upon the question of which my right hon. friend said there would be a resurrection (a laugh), we in regard to this question hwo no DOIid, LO desIre-and the people of this country have no wish tø change their ancient institutions tor any diminu- tion of the power of an ancient, monarchy, or any diminution of the respect due to the institutions time- honoured, and which are not only time-honenred, bat. which ooadaca ta tha happiness and to fehoso Beforma | which the times have required. But this must be said, that we ought to adopt all the time-honoured inatitu- tions to the new spirits, new wants, and new capaci- ties which may be existing in this country. It would be the worst policy in the world to endeavour to out a ditch between the classes which are in possession of power, title, and authority, and those classes which have not at present any share in the reoresenta- tion of the country (cheers). I feel confident, how. aver, that by fair and free discussion, and by the wisdom of the people joining in those discussions, this question will be settled without that dangerous agitation 'which has prevailed and must prevail in tha countries where partial despotism has reigned. The health of Mrs. Cobde7i being drunk, ° Mr. J. S. Mill, M.P., in proposing the health of Mr. Gladstone, said There is one part of the business of the evening which still remains to be performed; and though I am sensible of nay incompetency to do it justice, I cannot but feel some pride in its having been entrusted to me. It is that of tendering our grateful acknowledgments to the distinguished statesman who has done this club the honour of nresiding at its inauguratory meeting. The nature of this com- memoration, which is not of a party nor even, in the narrower sense of the term, of a political character. J closes to us on this occasion many of the most im- portant topics which are connected in all our minds with Mr. Gladstone's name. One thing, however, not oaly may but ought to be said on such an occasion aa the present; that to him of all men belonged the post of honour, in a celebration of the great apostle of commercial freedom, being, as ha is, the one re- viver of the three eminent men by whom, as Ministers, that cause has been the most effec- tually served (cheers). If Mr. Huskisson opened the long and arduous campaign; if Sir Bobert Peal achieved its most signal and most decisive vic- tory, Mr. Gladstone will be for ever remembered as he who completed the conquest; and who not only made freedom of trade and industry the universal rule of the institutions or aur own country, but by the brilliant success of his application of it is fast converting the whole of Europe to its principles (cheers). There is another thing which this is, perhaps, a suitable oppor- tunity for saying. Veneration for the memory of Mr. Cobden is not confined to any section of the Liberal party, nor even to the Liberal party itself. But it has o happened, owing principally to the oast of Mr. Cob- den's own political opinions, that an unusual propor- tion of the original members of this club is composed of gentlemen who would be classed, and would class themselves, as what are called advanced Liberals. As being one of these, I may say for myself, and I believe they would all join with me in saying that we claim our fair share, and no more than our fair share, in the great leader of the Liberal party. It is one of the differences between a party of progress and any Conservative party, that its political sympathies are not restricted to those who conform, or who pretend to conform to the whole of a distinctive creed. We have not bound ourselves by any narrow articles of orthodoxy, oura is a broad church. The bond which hold us togethar is not a political confession of faith, but a common allegiaiace to the spirit of improvement, which is a greater thing than the particular opinions of any politician or set of politicians. And if there ever was a statesman in whom the spirit of improvement was incarnate-of whose career as a minister the character- istic feature has been to seek out things which required or admitted of improvement, instead of waiting to be compelled or even to be solicited to it-that honour belongs to the late Chancellor of the Ex- chequer and leader of the House of Commons (cheers). I might atop here; but, fresh as most of us are from listening to that magnificent speech which went forth last night to the furthest extremity of Earope as the utterance, in the noblest language, of what is felt and thought by all the best part of the British nation—for sympathy with freedom and national independence is not exclusively con- fined to any nation or even any party among us. I should not do justice to the feelings of those present, were I to sit down without giving expression to the pride, and more than pride, to the hopefulness with which we are filled, when we see the author of that speech standing at the head of the Liberal party to lead it to victory. That speech was not only a splendid specimen of oratory, it was also a good action; for it will cheer those who are straggling and suffering in the cause of freedom and progress, while its value ia inestimable in raising —when I remember certain speeches, I might almost say in redeeming— tha character of England. I propose Tha health of the Bight Hon. William Gladstone" (cheers). Mr. Gladstone briefly returned thanks, and proposed The Health of Mr. Villiers, the late President of the Poor-law Board," who had baen intimately associated with Mr. Cobden in his early struggles for the repeal of the corn lawa. Poor-law Board," who had been intimately associated with Mr. Cobden in his early struggles for the repeal of the corn lawa. The company then returned to the dining-room, where coffee was served.

CALAMITOUS FIRE AND LOSS OF LIFE. On Sunday morning, at an early hour, the inhabit- ants of Pitfield-street, Hoxton, were aroused^ from their slumbers by piercing cries of "Fire!" and Oh, save us The neighbours, upon throwing up their windows, beheld a pitiable scene, for on the top of one of the houses were four persons, with the names rushing out of the second and third floor windows, and also through a trap-door on the roof, completely en. circling the whole group of unfortunate persona. Those on the roof were trying to pull a young woman through the trap, but all of a sudden a second huge sheet of flame shot up, seized upon one of the per- sons (the shopman), set fire to his night dress, and so completely overcame him that he was obliged to relinquish his hold of the poor creature, and she was almost instantaneously burned to death, The other persons managed to get over the roof into the adjoining promises of Mr. Blackwall, surgeon and aocoucheur. The premises in which the calamity occurred belonged to Messrs. James Fuggle and Co., general drapers, and were well known in the neighbourhood as Bradford-house, and were numbered 28 in the before-named street. The show rooms and warehouses, were about 100 feet Ion, and the premises were considered tha largest in that part of the metro- polis. The fire, there is no doubt, began in the basement, and the instant it reached the ground-floor it fired a number of light drapery goods, and there being a well- staircase to the floor, allowed the flames to extend with terrific violence to the different floors above, igniting each in rapid succession. The Royal Society's escapes were on the spot as soon as possible after the alarm was given but then the whole of the building, with the exception of certain portions of the show rooms, were belching forth un. mense sheets of flame, so that the conductors were unable to enter the rooms to render the unfor™1^, young woman any assistance, and there is no aou she perished whilst the fire-escapes were on tn to the scene of the conflagration. Four steamers, as well as numerous manual-pow l the Metropolitan Brigade, and a strong m 0 London Salvage Corps, attended, After groat perse- veranoe the firemen succeeded in nrJL • fire, but the whole of the uppe:r part +. ^p, s?3 are destroyed. The loss will fall upon the Ph^ As soon aa the ruins were Sefrc^ was made for the poor creature v>l aokon&H Mohave perished, and she was fo^f^ T.l3 lylDF across the rafters just under p door of the roof. The unfortunate shopman, who was also so terribly burned, remains in S nvo_w w 3 Hospital, without the least Mr. Blaokwall did everything to alleviate the sufferings of the survivors, and provided house room for them for the night. «

J"' FACTS AND 3TAOETI2E. -j!> Charge of the Oil Brigade.—By Tom Talks of Talkertown. O'er the bars, in the cars, O'er the bara thundered— Thundered with anxious haste, Stockholders One Hundred. There rode those anxious men, Greedy One Hundred, Eager for oil in vein; The oil it still slumbered. Hark! there is a sound froU1one List! to that greasy hum From each and every one Of the unotious One Hundred. Into Oil Creek they pitch; Grasping old brokers; For up comes a rumour which Pleased these new croakers, Forward the Oil Brigade! „ Take the wells," Barnum said: Into "ile," undismayed, Pitched now the lie Brigade," Pitched the Stock Hundred. Forward the Oil Brigade!" Gods what a charge they made! Eaoh handled pick and spade. None of them slumbered. Their's but to get their "ile," Their's not to let it spile. Aye, yes, they must make their pile. Speculative One Hundred. Derricks to the right of them, Derricks to the lofb of them, Derricks in front of them, All named and numbered. Nobly they sought a well, There many met a sell," Covered with" He" and air, Dirt that of "ile" did smell. Scented One Hundred. Raised now each shaft in air, See! what is under there ? A drill, which sinks, God knows where, To strike ile for tha Hundred. More eager the Brigade grows, Bluer each seeker's nose, For nary ile there shows, The pump only water flows, Disappointed One Hundred! Derricks to the right of them, Derricks to the left of them, Derricks all around them, Deserted and sundered. An order now oame so quick To countermarch up the creek, That in each hat a brick Could ba found in that Hundred. When they got home again, Both pocket and limb did pain, No sane person wondered. Pity the Oil Brigade." Bankrupt One Hundred! Why is England the richest country in the world ? —Because it has a Deal more on its coast than any other country. A contemporary, alluding to the Oceanic Tele- graph, wonders whether the ne ws transmitted through salt water will be fresh. Why is the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland beneficial to the Feniains ?—Beoausa ic quickens their apprehension. We hava heard many women complain of their husbands' neglect of home. A spoonful of noue)' will keep more bees in the hive thaca will ten of vinegar. "Wise man make their enemies their instructors: fools become enemies to their teachers. Nothing is more easy than to do mischief; nothing is more difficult than to suffer without complaining. However little we may have to do, let us do that little well. An ingenious housekeeper that we have heard of. used to sweep her chimney by letting a rope down, which was fastened round the legs of a goose, and then pulling the goose after it. Hiist tells us that the sermon of Taylor excited the wonder of Laud. It was beyond exception and beyond imitation." Yet the wise prelate thought him too young. But the great youth humbly beggea his grace to pardon that fault, and promised, if he lived, he would mend it. Mosquitoes are tolerably large and somewhat ferocious in the Mississippi country. A man who went out one day to look for his cow, found her skele- ton on the ground, and a large mosquito on an adjacent tree picking his teeth with one of her horns. what is the difference between a volunteer who shoots wide of the target, and a husband who blackens his wife's eyea.P-T-he one misses his mark, and the other marks his missia.-Ilfelbotrne Punch. A French writer, in describing the trading powe19 of the go-ahead Yankee, said:—" If he was cast away on a desolate island, he'd get up the next morninS and go around selling maps to the inhabitants." We have a book before us called "A Bundle of Epigrams," consisting of some seventy epigrams 01 four lines each. There are somq of them which puaale our brains to make out, and we submit a couple for our readers to form their own judgment upon them:- TELKGKAZVI FB031 THE TuiLERIES. No, really, my lord, we couldn't agree, With Mazzini's bag at the Admiralty: A post for Stansfeld Certainlynot- Poste-rssiante fits him, the sans-culotte "SOLED AGAIN. (A Winter Recipe.) A lass, with holes in tender heels, Should into lamba-wool pop^ em; And Dufferiah sanguine teela, Calk eolea would neatly stop 'em! Emperors and editors of newspapers are alike in one respect—they get no holiday. Ordinary people may go away for a month abroad, or by the side ot the sea; but Emperors and editors must stop at homo to attend to the business of this big and bothering world. Napoleon III. was to have been at Nancy, but finds it necessary to forego that pleasure; and the matters that keep him at home are not exactly of an agreeable character, so that but for the fact that he is a very great man, he would grow weary of hlf:) work, and oiiag- I wish I was at Nancy, I do, I do 1" ,le Question, of negro suffrage was submitted to tne voters of the state of Wisconsin at the annuai- election. The law required the ballots to be writen 03 printed, "for negro suffrage." Those who opposed tile Measure were required to have written or printed on their tickets after" suffrage" the word No." An Irishman who, it was supposed, wanted to oppose negro voting, was seen to vote in favour of it, and also to be busily engaged electioneering in that direction. Finally, he was accosted by a person of like sentiment, to know his reasons for so doing. By Saint Pat- rick rejoined Pat, and ain't they uiggers-then let them suffer! When the late Wiseman was plain Dr. Wiseman, of the Sardinian chapel in Lincoln's-inn-fi.elds, a pious friend knelt to him in confession. After the process he retired to a quiet corner, and lost himself in an ecstasy of contrite fervour. When he rose from his knees at length, his hat was gone. He searched far and near, but nowhere could he find it. Finally he be- took him to Dr. Wiseman, Father, I have lost my hat, I fear somebody has taken it." And what were you doing when it was taken P cl Praying." All 1 my child," said the doctor, with a quiet smile, "yU know what the Scriptures tells us, we must watch as well as pray." An Old Story Re-enacted.—As the story goes, when a stump orator was haranguing a meeting of his Confreres, an ass began to bray, when the chairman interfered, and, addressing himself to the speaker, silid; very complimentary of course, One at a time gentlemen, one at a time! The other day when the learned Lord Neaves was about to divide the athletic prizes to the competitors, he had only uttered his first rounded period when he was greeted with the loud "hurrah 1" prompted by the instinct of an excited ear. Gooey gander" nibbling on the other side of a high adjoining wall, joined a hoarse continued croak, which torned the hurrah into a loud unmitigated laugh, in which the staid judge heartily concurred. He ventured no further, humorously observiag, IS seems 1: too, have got a competitor" (renewed laugh- ter and more croaking), r (Isou&c&aaro),