The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

THE COURT. THE Coart is still at Oaborne. The Prince and Princess of Wales arid the Duke of Edinburgh have paid a visit to teti Quees. The Prince and Princess Christian have left Paris. Prince Teek and Princess Mary of Cambridge have arrived at Vienna. The Prince, as an officer in the Austrian army, offered to go into active service, but the Emperor, under the circumstances, gave unlimited leave of absence. THE Princess of "Wales and Princess of Leiningen dined with her Majesty on Sunday. "0 DIVINE Service was performed on Sunday morning at Oaborne, before the Queen and their Royal Highnesses the Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Louise, Prince Leo- pold, and Princess Beatrice. The Dean of West- minster officiated. PREPARATIONS are ordered to be made at Windsor Castle for her Majesty and the Royal Family's recep- 'tion by Monday, the 20th of August, it being the Queen's intention to sleep there one night previous to leaving for Scotland, where the Court will reside for two months. THE Prince and Princess of Wales will go to Scot- land a week earlier than her Majesty. ORDERS have been received at Frogmore to pre- pare the Lodge for the reception of Prince Chris- tian and Princess Helena, who may be expected there in the course of a fortnight. The alterations include the converting of a smoking-room looking on to the lawn into a dressing-room for the Prince and the embellishment of the dining-room, drawing-room, and other apartments. ON Monday afternoon their Royal Highnesses the In Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke of Edin- burgh, accompanied by their suite, left Osborne-house ,for Portsmouth, en route to Goodwood, on a visit to his Grace the Duke of Richmond. A state earriago, elegantly fitted and surmounted by the Prince of Wales's feathers, was in readiness for the Royal party, and the approach to the platform was carpeted. It having become known that their Royal Highnesses ■were expected, a number of persons assembled at the station to witness the arrival and departure of their Royal Highnesses. Shortly after five e'clock the Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at the 'station in an open carriage, followed by their attendants and servants in another carriage. J The Prince of Wales conducted the Princess to a seat, and the train started, about ten minutes after 4hd arrival of the Royal party, amidst loud cheers. The company assembled to greet the Princes and Princess was at first very respectable, comprising the mayor and soma of the leading inhabitants, but, Unfortunately, a somewhat disorderly addition to the original party made themselves more free than wel- come. Monday was one of Cosham fair days, and trains ran to the station of the last-named village from a contiguous platform. No sooner did it become known that the Prince and Princess of Wales were expected than there was a great rush, and just after their Royal Highnesses had seated themselves mere than one blow was exchanged. A female attacked a gentleman,andaman desirousof coming forward, being Prevented, assaulted a medical gentleman on the plat- form, while a female accompsning the man slapped the dootor's face. A rush ensued, and the screams of a child brought the Princess of Walea to the carriage Window. Order beingipartially restored, the carriage moved on a dozen yards, affording to another party an opportunity of staring into the Royal carriage in a manner by no means decorous. The arrangements made, under the direction of Mr. White, the superin- tendent of Portsmouth station, who received their Royal Highnesses, were efficiently carried out; and there wap a party of police on duty, under the direc- tion of Mr. Superintendent Barber. Their Royal Bighnesses arrived in safety at the Chichester-station, drove from thence to Goodwood.

POLITICAL GOSSIP. THE whitebait have received information that they are required to attend at Greenwich on Saturday, ta meet har Majesty's Ministers at a iete-d-tete, or many *@te$"to •fa is reported in well-informed circles that the Garter offered to and gratefully declined by the Earl of Lons- offered to and gratefully declined by the Earl of Lons- dale will be given to the Dufee of Richmond. Every Dake of Richmond from the first made by Charles II. hag enjoyed this distinction. IT is said that the Hon. Franoia Lawley, who was the Times correspondent in the Southern States dur- ing the war, and was Previonsly private secretary to r. Gladstone, has joined the staff of an influential Journal of advanced Liberal opinions, to which he contributes a leading article daily. MR. BEALES, prior to starting on his grand demo- cratic promenade, was advised to take care of his Watch and leave it behind him. His reply was noble nd worthy of a patriot. He trusted in the integrity of his political supporters who surrounded him. He had not proceeded 200 yards before he was minus his Watch. THE King of Hanover has sent his coat and trousers ° the Museum of Hanover which he wore at the battle of Langeagalza. The only remark the suit can evoke 181 There's nothing in it." Babies in Hanover born that day are requested to permit themselves to be Christened Langenealza. THE Queen of Spain has put a little gilt on the bitter Pill which the new Ministry has prepared for the people by ordering the taxes to be paid six months in antici- pation. Her Majesty wishes to share the sacrifices 13aade by her faithful subjects," and has therefore greeted that the taxes on the private property of the Crown shall be paid in advance. THE cheeseparing economy at the Post-offioe has been singularly exhibited. By the universally-ex- pressed wish of the inhabitants of Eridge-green, near Tunbridge, the postman, who has a daily walk of some 20 miles, has been relieved from the Sunday delivery j Jut with the announcement of this favour is a declara- tion to the effect that his pay (if pay it can be called) is to be diminished by one shilling per week, although lie has, of course, still to deliver the same number of letters. A LITTLE bill at the last election for Warwick was the subject of an action at law last week. The pub- lican who sued the candidate, Mr. Greaves, claimed ■ £ 52, he having been paid £ 45, and he alleged that at meeting 300 people attended, and That 79 bottles of port, 48 bottles of snerry, 30 brandies, 23 gins, 16 rams, 14 whiskies, 56 cigars, 47 screws of tobacco, and 11 quarts of ale were consumed, the whole amounting value to £ 49 17s- 5d. -he damages to the room fought the bill up to about a5J.- There was a good defence, but plaintiff got a verdict for £ 23. IT will be learned with very sincere regret that the light Hon. Mr. Brand i3 suffering under severe in- disposition. Some few weeks ago he was compelled by attack of erysipelas to absent himself for some days pom his Parliamentary duties. On nia resumption of those dutieli before complete recovery he was again attacked by indisposition, and we learn that yielding to the counsel of his medical adviser, be is about to Proceed at once to Aix-la-Chapelle, to take the benefit 'Of its waters and the change of air. Mr. Brand was evidently labouring under serious indisposition wnnst attending the Liberal fite at Lawes; on Thursday—in *aot, he was totally unfit to undergo the fatigue, but Rowing the disappointment his absence would cause, ne determined to make the effort. The speedy return f the right hon. gentleman, in restored health and strength, will be hailed by all his neighbours—of what- eVor shade of politics-with sincere pleasure. THE members for the borough of Marylebone, Mr. Harvey Lewis and Mr. Thos. Chambers, Q.C., attended the Marylebone Representative Council last week for the purpose of paying their respects, and to explain heposition of various matters which had been before Parliament during the session. Both hon. members Referred to the successful defeat of Sir Thos. Maryon Wilson'B Settled Estates Bill, which would encroach Pon Hampstead-heath. With regard to the Public stealth and Artisans' Dwellings Bills, many important pauses had been objected to by Marylebone and other local boards, and they net only entirely concurred in the objections to making the police sanitary inspectors, but to other clauses which were of such an unconsti- tutional character that they were happy to say that raeralbers of the late as well as the present Government had admitted it, and they believed that the amend- ments of which they had given notice would be carried. The compulsory clauses of the New Vaccination Bill also required very great attention, and would have it at their hands. After referring to the vast assistance they had received from the local boards and from their officers, the members sat down amid loud aD- plause. The Rev. E. J. P; Eyre moved, and Professor Marks seconded, a cordial vote of thanks to the borough members, who briefly acknowledged the com- I plimeat, and the proceedings closed.

THE ARTS, LITERATURE, &E. ORDERS for 210,000 copies of the Prison Life of Jefferson Davia" have been received by the publisher, Carleton. THE Archbishop of York this week opened a fine arts and industrial exhibition at York, and delivered an address upon the occasion. About X6,000 has been subscribed as a guarantee fund, and a building has been erected for the purpose of the exhibition at a coat of £ 4,000. MR. HOTTEN will shortly publish a little volume of humorous "Advice to Parties About to Marry," written and most appropriately illustrated by the Hon. Hugh Rowley, one of whose minute illuminations, in the south room Royal Academy, has this year been so Rreatly admired. THE "Memoirs of Prince Talleyrand"—the mate- rials for whioh, by an extraordinary will of the late owner, were not to be touched for 30 years-will be published during the coming autumn. The Duchess de Dino, Talleyrand's niece, however, was enabled to veto this strange clause in the document, and the work is to appear simultaneously in Londos, Paris, and, it was originally intended, Vienna. IT was stated lately that her Majesty had kindly announced her intention of presenting the Working Men's Club, Inverness, with a selection of books- works of fiction and light literature. As the books were expressly selected by her Majesty, it may be interesting to give a list of them, as sent by Dr. Robertson to Mr. Macdougall, Hawthorn Walk. They are the Waveriey Novels, Scott's Poetry, Smiles' Lives of the Engineers," Cooper's Novels (26 volumes), "My Schools and Schoolmasters," Hodson's Twelve Years in India," Grant's Novels (19 volumes), Piokwick" and Nicholas Nickleby," Lights and Shadows of Scottish Life," Aytoun's Lays of the Cavaliers," Gleig's Life of Wellington," Scott's Tales of a Grandfather," Marryai's Novels (13 volumes), and Bulwer's 11 Last Days of Pompeii." The books have arrived, and are aU strongly bound. IN the month of March last Messrs. Casaell, Patter, and Galpin offered twenty prizes-ten of X5 each and tea of R3 eaoh-for the best and second best- assay on the following subjeots :-1. The Franchise. 2. Trades, Unions. 3. Tha best means of securing a perfect or- ganisation and unity of action of all the Working Classes as a body. 4. The advantages to the Working Man of Sunday as a day of rest. 5. Strikes. 6. Edu- cation. 7. Co-operation. 8. Exhibitions. 9. Working Class Dwellings. 10. Domestic Economy. One of the conditions was, that each Essay must be the original production of a bontt fide working man, or the wife or daughter of a working man. The publication of the Essays to which the Prizes have been awarded is now commenced in the Working Man, and we select an ex- tract from the first prize essay on "The Franchise:" —" The mere responsibility of a discretionary vote will have a dignity which will, to a great extent, be a guarantee of its being faithfully discharged. Patriot- ism will grow stronger, and a higher sense of duty will succeed, from men knowing that they belong to that great delegation which is really the governing power of the natioli; and they will feel a sympathy with it, which in turn will inspire a confidence that will tend very much to its stability. Another advantage will be in the improved relations which will spring up between those whose interests are identical, but who, from chasms created by the possession of privileges on one side, and the absence of them on the other, have regarded each other sometimes with suspicion, and at others with defiance. If these are reasonable probabilities, and we believe they are, the legislature, on opening access whereby the working classes may become in- vested with electoral privileges, will be amply repaid, in the first place, in having its fears disarmed in the second, by the ability and self-maintained social order the step will permanently secure. THE National Portrait Exhibition at South Ken- sington will be closed on Saturday, the 18th instant. EARL RUSSELL has consented to preside at the annual meeting of the Devonshire Association for the Advancement of Science and Art, which meets at Tavistock on the 8th instant._ AT a meeting lately held in Sydney, the Mayor m the chair, it was resolved to make arrangements for the completion by April, 1870, of a memorial to com- memorate the discovery of New South Wales in April, 1770, by the great English navigator, Captain Cook. A BUST of H.R.H. tha Prince of Wales has just been placed in the library of the Society of the Middle Temple. It is the work of Mr. Morton Edwards. It is also intended to have in the same a full-length portrait of his Royal Highness, who is one of the Benchers. The portrait will be subscribed for exclu- sively by members of the Middle Temple. UPWARDS of 20,000 persons were present on St. George's-day at the unveiling in Sidney of the bronze oast, obtained from New South Wales, of Mr. Theed's statue of the late Prince Consort. It is placed on a handsome pedestal in one of the finest sites in the city, at the entrance to Hyde-park. The figure is ten feet high, and the likeness is striking. A PORTRAIT cf the late Duke of Richmond, by that popular artist Signor Baccani, has been placed in the Senior United Service Club, where the veterans of the Peninsular war will see a striking likeness of the noble- man through whose exertions medals for that glorious campaign under Wellington were eventually issued. IN this season of home travel we may remind our readers that the Southampton Exhibition, which was opened last week, will well repay those who may have a few hours to spare at Southampton. The Queen has sent many Art-treasures from Ooborne. There are upwards of 500 oil and water-colour pictures from various houses of note in Hampshire, and a great variety of other contributions, some unique, and several of a highly-interesting nature. The price of admission to the Exhibition is one shilling on each day but Saturday, when it is two shillings and sixpence. THE Prussian official Staatsanzeiger recounts, in high-flown historical style, how at one o'clock on the memorable day of the battle of Sadowa his Majesty ate a sausage I The Court painter is to paint his Majesty in the very act, and the picture is to be sent to the Paris Exhibition.

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. How the Money Goes. Bismarck may be admirable, but he is expensive. He has cost us half a million already. On Monday the Chancellor of the Exchequer moved that the bill for creating terminable annuities should be relinquished, and X495,000 of the half-million or so set aside for that purpose should be applied to the conversion of Enfields into breech-loaders. There is a further sum, we believe, asked for the construction of four immense turreted ships, but Mr. Disraeli was careful to show that he was all for retrenchment. Mr. Gladstone assented to the measure, thought General Peel a little precipitate,, and threatened next year to revive the question of liquidating the National Debt. We trust, if he does, it will be out of some fund not included in the estimates, for the House of Commons cannot be brought permanently to see the propriety of fritter- ing away its means in paying its debts." Englishmen seem as if they could not help being extravagant. On Thursday night it came out that some of the dockyards have for years been paved with iron, so thick that a member then and there offered to repave with anything Sir John Pakingtoa liked, and save the State ^100,000 besides if he mighfc have the existing pavement, and the First Lord acknowledged that the cost of boat- building was inexcusable. It looks like it if a 22 feet gig really costs to build and £ 58 to repair, while, aooordmg to Mr. Seely, zE170,000 has been paid to the single firm of Brown, Lennox, and Co., for anchors, over and above the ordinary market price.- Spectatoi-. Reform Demonstration in Hyde-park. There can be no question that the law is not clear and decided as to the right of large masses of people meeting in Hyue-park for such a purpose as that which was contemplated on Monday night. It is therefore a matter of the utmost importance, both with regard to the parties meeting or intending to meet, and to the law of the land lfcselt, that the point at issue should be submitted to the Court of Queen's Bench. We cannot doubt that this will be done next term, and after the decision so given there will no longer remain any doubt as to what the law really is in connection with the important point in dispute. Morning Advertiser. Unfortunately, a demonstration demonstrates nothing beyosid the fact th&t, for reasons as various as irrelevant to the subject, a more or less *arge number of people have collected at a certain spot; beyond this nothing, except, perhaps, as was the case on Monday, that demonstrations do not include a demonstration of much clean linen, or other forma of respectabilitv. Furthermore, it is too late to disprove—howsvar com- Pietely it could be doyao-the oharge of indifference so late in the day as this. It would have been of some avail had it been done-constitntionally and legally done-when the Reform Bill was introduced; but now it is useless, and worse than useless. But in presence of facts such as we have to reaord to day, it seems almost absurd to consider the uses to which monster meetings can be put. That a mob of ruffians should tear down the railings of the Queen's park, wage organised combat against the officers of the peace, smash the windows of clubs and private individuals, and be only restrained from further enormities by oalling out a military force, is a reproach and lasting disgrace to our boasted civilisation. We trust that means may be found of visiting with condign punish- ment not only the immediate ringleaders, but also those more dangerous and infinitely more culpable agitators to whose conduct the riot is as clearly trace- able as if, with more courage than they showed, they had themselves remained to head the mob they had ao recklessly brought together.-Morning Post. I The time has gone by for the people to be charged by mounted police and Life Guards when they attempt the assertion of their rights. Those who resort to such weapons will find the people too strong for them. The people had no desire to do anything but hold a peaceful meeting, such as has been recognised as the right of Englishmen from time immemorial. But a Tory Government, acting upon Austrian maxims, resolved to put down the demonstration by force. They called out their myrmidons, they had the park gates shut, and kept their troops encamped inside ready to charge the people if they should venture to attempt an entry. The soldiers were ready, but the people cheered the soldiers, and fortunately for Mr. Walpole and Lord Derby they did not use their rifles and bayonets. But no thanks to the Tory Govern- ment, who called out the military, who ordered the horse-police to charge, who did their best to crush the people down by the shedding of blood. It is evident that men who can so act are no longer fit to be the Ministers of her Majesty Qaeen Victoria. Away with the Tories! Blood and steel may be good maxims for Bismarck. We cannot brook these tactics in England. ¡ Away with them, and let us have as Ministers men who understand the people-who are prepared to do them justice—and who do not think it necessary to repress political meetings by the truncheon and the bayonet. —Ths Star. The Spread of Cholera. Preparations cannot be too prompt nor complete; and these having been made, no undue apprehensions should be entertained. It is probable enough that we may have no visitation at all; or, if we have, that the disease may not become epidemio. Giving our best attention to the conditions most conducive to health, we may hope to avoid an outbreak, or, at least, to mitigate its violence; and when the present danger has passed away, let us continue to improve the sanitary arrangements of our town, in the assured confidence that fever and cholera, when they threaten to be epidemic, have no preventatives more powerful than the virtue which stands proverbially next to godliness—cleanliness. If this be neglected-if our streets and our river be foul-if our courts and dwell- ings be unclean-we must pay the penalty of our negligence in disease and death. Sickness must pre- vail where health might otherwise be enjoyed, and mortality must be excessive. If preventible oauses of disease are suffered to remain in our midst, we shall inevitably reap their effecta in a harvest of death. Epidemics will scourge us, and the warnings will be repeated till we lay them to heart and are wise. The poor and the weak will be wasted moat widely by the consequences of our contumacy, but all ranks must be visited in part, and none can be secure.-Newcastle Daily Chronicle. In the document which has just been issued by the authority of the Privy Council certain recommenda- tions are made with a clearness which makes them intelligible to all, and there can be no doubt that their observance on the part of the oommunity will have most important effect. Personal cleanliness, and care and moderation in food are easily to be ob- served. But perhaps, more than all, ia the strength of mind which does not permit us to be influenced by fear. The story of the plague at Damascus is, wo fear, true as regards the cholera. Fear kills far more than the disease. It is not, to be sure, possible to make people courageous; but the reflecting portion of the community, even those who are perhaps naturally timid, must be aware that facing the foe resolutely goes a great way to defeat him. It would be foolish and useless not to recognise the fact that the cholera is among us, but if we recognise it only to take pru- dent precautions against its attacks, to use a little more than ordinary care in our manner of living, to attend promptly to any symptoms that may manifest themselves, and where illness occurs to observe the directions given to prevent the spread of infection, we shall have done much to make our knowledge useful, and we are sure that the attack of 1836 and its results will have shown that in courage and prudence, as well as experience, we have made crreat advance since the last time that panic-stricken London succumbed to this destructive and mysterious but still far from unconquerable disease.-Tlw Globe. The Acceptance of the Preliminaries ox Feace. The Minister of the Interior has transmitted to the Prefect of Police the following note, which has been posted up at the Exchange:— Austria accepts the preliminaries of peace admitted by Prussia. The plenipotentiaries of these two Powers are assembled at the Prussian head-quarters to nego- ) tiate an armistice. The definite reply of Italy is expected, who declared she accepted in principle." The mediation ef the Emperor has therefore attained the great object it had in view-hostilities are definitely suspended. The preliminaries of peace are accepted, and everything gives us reason to anticipate that an agreement will be come to between the belligerent Powers. It is with profound satisfaction that we announce this result. Never did we understand better the evils of war as on seeing them so near us, with all the ex- cesses it provokes and all the sorrows it leaves be. hind. This speedy close of such a bloody war is equally honourable to the conquerors, who have not wished to exaggerate their successes, and to the conquered, who still being able to resist, have sacrificed the bitter re- sentment of defeat; it is especially honourable to the mediator who, to use the just words of M. Rouher, has shown himself as great in his disinterestedness as dis- interested in his greatness. It will be asked, perhaps, what France gains by this 1 peace, which will have the double consequence of satis-; lying the aspirations of Italy and realising the ambi- tion of Prussia. We reply thrit she gains, first of all, peace; that is to say, what best suits her part in the world, and what may be most profitable to civilisation and progress, which she represents in the world. Then she gains the realiaation of her programme of 1859—Italy free from the Alps to the Adriatic. The Quadrilateral in the hands of Austria was a permanent menace for the work aooomplished by the arms of France, and consequently a cause of perturba- tion in Europe. Italy is free; she is not, however, made; and, as the late M. Billaut said, she needs more than ever to con- solidate herself after having completed herself. Struggles are henceforth at an end for her, and it will be her wisdom which will insure her reorganisation, by preserving to her in the friendship of France one j of the guarantees of the situation in Europe henceforth acquired for her. As for Prussia., it will be the moderation of her pre- tensions which will give peace its true character,La France, a Frenoh Imperialist paper.

OUR MISCELLANY. --+- Little Worlds. Ours is the most gossiping, slander-loving village in the world," said a young lady to me once. I ventured to doubt it; I dared to deny it. All, however, I presumed to suggest was—Ask the next parish. Chalveyoum-Hookey was certainly on a par with Hookey-cum-Suivey. i When you are out for a summer holiday, and look from some lofty elevation on vale and village-counting here and there the spires and steeples which peep through the pic. I turesque surroundings of the woodland—you are looking down upon so many "little worlds" with their large planets and their little stars, their popular I preachers and their plodding parsons* their districts of St. James and St. Giles. To a very great many that "little world" ia their all and in all. Its emilo ] sends them to bed in eostacy; its scorn makes them i wake with tears. Those quiet-looking, demure sort of I houses which dot the road near the village-green, looking ao unobservant of you and your belongings, remind us of the words of the poet, Things are not what they seem." Doubtless, at Ramsgatecor Brighton you have paid your sixpence and visited the little round-house, where, looking on the table in the centre, you have aeea the ships on the ocean, the sailors on the shore: quite a stirring interesting scene is all at once spread before you in that quiet, little circular heuse. Do not for a moment suppose that the demure little abode you pass is quite a different place from that.—The Quiver. Hostilities under Difficulties.-Ranjeet asked if there was anybody present who could drink wine as well as Sir W. C., and I said, for fun, "Mr. A. coald;" upon which there was a general cry for Mr. A., and poor Mr. A. was accommodated with a chair in front of the circle, and Runjeet began, plying him with glasses of that fiery spirit which he drinks himself. Mr. A. is at present living strictly on toast and water. However, he contrived to empty the glass on the carpet occasionally. That carpet must have presented a horrible scene when he went. I know that under my own chair I deposited two broiled quails, an apple, a pear, a great lump of sweetmeat, and some pome. granate seeds, which Rutjeet gave me with his dirty fingers into my hand, which, of course beoame equally dirty at last.-Up the Country. By the Hon. Emily Eden. Liz and Joe.— So I wag glad when I began to see That Joe the costermonger fancied me; And when, one night, he took me to the play, Over on Surrey side, and offer'd fair That we should take a little room and share Our earnings, why, I could not answer "Nay!" And that's a year ago; and though I'm bad, I've been as true to Joe as girl could be. I don't complain a bit of Joe, dear lad, Joe never, never meant but well to me; And we have had as fair a time, I think, As one could hope, since we are both so low. Joe likes me—never gave me push or blow, When sober: only, he was wild in drink. Bat then we don't mind beating when a man Is angry, if he likes us and keeps straight, Works for his bread, and does the best he can 'Tis being left and slighted that we hate. -Mr. Buchanan's Poems. Wisdom Learnt from Failure.—We learn wisdom from failure much more than from success. We often discover what will do, by finding out what will not do; and probably he who never made a mis- take, never made a discovery. It was the failure in the attempt to make a sucking-pump act;, when the working bucket was more than 33 feet above the sur- face of the water to be raised, that led observant men to study the law of atmospheric pressure, and opened a new field of research to the genius of Galileo, Torre- celli, and Boyle. John Hunter used to remark that the art of surgery would not advance until professional men had the courage to publish their failures as well as their successes. Watt, the engineer, said, of all things most wanted in mechanical engineering was a history of failures "We want," he said, "a book of blots." When Sir Humphrey Davy was shown a dexterously manipulated experiment, he said, "I thank God I was not made a dexterous manipulator, for the most important of my discoveries have been suggested to me by failures." Another distinguished investigator in physical science has left it on record that, whenever in the course of his researches he en- countered an apparently insuperable obstacle, he gene- rally found himself on the brink of some discovery.— Se If Help. The Spider's Web.—How wonderful is the tenuity of these fairy-like lines, yet strong enough to enable the aerial voyager to run through the air, and catch his prey which ventures within his domain. It is so fine that, in the web of the gossamer spider, the smallest of the tribe, there are 20 tubes, through which is drawn the viscid globules, the gummy matter it employs in spinning, each of the thioknesa of about one-tenth of a.n inch. It takes 140 of these globules to form a single spiral line; it has 24 circumvolutions to go through, which gives the number of 3,360. We have thus got the average total number of lines be- tween two radii of the circle; multiplying that number by 26, the number of radii which the untiring insect springs, gives the total amount of 87,360 viscid glo- bules before the net is complete. The dimensions of the net, of course, varies with the species. Some will be composed of as many as 120,000 lines; yet even to form this net the spider will only take 40 minutes. Wonderful indeed is the process by which the spider draws the thread from its body-more wonderful than any rope or silk spinning. Eaoh of these spin- nerets is covered with rows of bristle-like points, so very fins that a space about the size of a pin's head will cover a thousand of them. From each of these points or tubes issues a email but slender thread, which unites with the other threads, so that from each spinneret proceeds a series of threads, forming one compound whole. These are situated about one- tenth of an inch from the apex of the spinnerets; they also unite and form one thread, 624 of which are used by the spider in forming hia net. With the instru- ment which N atnre has given him, the claws of his feet, the spider guides and arranges the glutinous thread as this seemingly inexhaustible fibre is drawn from his body, and interweaves them within each other until the net is complete. In this way spiders are the weavers of a supple line, whose touch, for quickness and fineness, surpasses that of any spinning jenny,—Cassell's Family Paper. Fishes and How they Multiply.-Fish are the most prolific of all creatures. This is, of course, more noticeable in some species than in others, and is more obvious to our notice in the immense shoals of herrings, pilchards, and mackerel upon our own shores. Many cgther species are probably equally prolific; but, nob being of gregarious habits, are not seen together in such vast numbers, and are in consequence less easily taken. Bat any one who attempts to estimate the number of eggs in the roes of various kinds of fish may form some faint conception of the degree in which the sea. generates reptiles with spawn abun- dant." The old microsoopist, Leuwenhoek, gave esti- mates which the mind could scarcely grasp. The greater accuracy of modern research has somewhat moderated his statements; but enough remains to fill the mind with astonishment. Thus the roe of a codfish has been found to contain nine millions of eggs; of a flounder, nearly a million and a half of a mackerel, half a million; of tenches, three hun- dred and fifty thousand; of the carp, from one to six hundred thousand; of the roach and sole, a hundred I thousand; of herrings, perches, and smelts, twenty and thirty thousand; lobsters, from seven to twenty thousand; shrimps and prawns, above three thousand. In fact, scarcely a month passes in which we may not gather, from the commonest sources, some fact show- ing the enormous productiveness of fish. At one time we are told that a hundred thousand mackerel are in the season brought weekly to the London fish-market (Billingsgate). At another, that herrings andpilohards have been caught so abundantly as to have no market value encept as manure—for which purpose they are carted away in tens and hundreds of thousands by the farmers near the coast. Look, then, at the sprats, the whitebait, the shrimps, and consider what hecatombs of these minute existences are sacrificed to help the dinner of a Dives, or to form the support of a Lazarus. -Dr. Kitto. Betting Knaves and Fools.-Starting from a police-station in a long flagged court in St. Giles's—a on so modestly retiring that it seems to be playing at hyde-and-seek with its customers, and to 'W L l- nave won ipue game-the first evidence we nave of the contiguity of the noble sportsman is furnished by a gentleman who comes to prefer a oharge. A tall, fresh-looking man of fifty, a prosperous farmer, or country attorney with a good seat across country; this gentleman nervously twiddles two small bits of pink pasteboard—not unlike the checks given for readmis- sion to the theatres—and with a troubled expression, half indignation, half shame, on his good-tempered, florid face, explains that one piece of pasteboard represents three pounds, and the other two pounds ten. He staked these sums upon a horse which came in first yesterday, and on applying this morning for the money he had consequently won, the list. keeper, although then prosecuting his calling, had first laughed in his face, and subsequently threatened to punch his head if he didn't hook it, and that (ad- verb) quick too." Staggered and discomfited, the luckless winner now came to the police-office, with a vague hope,which his own common sense obviously told him to be baseless, that some steps might be taken to punish tha swindler, and indemnify him for his loss. Clearly sot a ease for the police. Perhaps a summons in the county court for the money borrowed mighs answer the gentleman's purpose; perhaps some means of escosisg the tiWJ!1;tlf.r,t list-keeper, wight cooar to him; but his money was gone for ever, and the best advice that could be given was, "Don't bet with strangers in the street again." We saw the Welsher"-for with dubious compliment to the Principality, such is the slang narae for turf defaulters, who are at once petty and fraudulent—a few minutes afterwards, calmly pursuing his vocation amid a crowd 'of his follows. The victim was detailing his wrongs, and showing his tickets as corroborative evidence, within earshot of the swindler, who smoked a cigar in the intervals of shouting, I'll lay four to one, bar one!" with imperturbable calm. No one seemed sur- prised, or shocked, or indignant. The farmer was stared at while he told his little story, with a sheep- ish, woebegone look on his jolly visage, which made it wonderfully ludicrous; and then the starers elbowed through tho crowd to gaze on the Welsher, who was decidedly the more popular of the two. The mourn- ful, He won't even answer me, and says he'll punch my head," was heard concurrently with the jubilant "I'll lay four to one; and three half-crowns went into the pocket of the list-keeper for a fresh ticket, while within a few paces the worthlessness of his promises was being half-timorously, half-indignantly, proclaimed.-All the Year Round.

EXTRACTS FROM "PUNCH" & "FUN." 3 Heat! The summer hag come with its July heat, And people are puffing in square and street, Your friends look hot, whomever you meet, With fiery faces and dusty feet. i And the p'lioeman is melting upon his beat, And longeth for winter's rain and sleet, With gratuitous mutton and pie replete, That his hat being gone, he couldn't seorete. And it's pleasant to drink and not to eat, í So in some cool arbour we'll find retreat, And sharpen the waiter with cries of fUe For Badminton iced to the soul is sweet, And never to stir is most discreet; Then legends of tropic climes repeat, That somebody's hotter's a nice conceit To think of, and then as the moments fleet As swift as the shadows across the wheat (That's half a crib, but I won't delete), And warmly each thirsty friend we'll greet. And, oh! for penanoe in cool white sheet, As in olden times they would serve a cheat, To punish me well for my verses neat, For twenty and one are my rhymes to Heat. Love Song. 1 By a Financier. Sweet maid, my hopes I would invest s In love-and not despair, Oh, grant me in thy trusting breast To hold a handsome share. To your fair face this trusting heart, Dear girl, was drawn at sight- Secure although the money mart I Be easy, or be tight. Now, do you love-or do you hate My prayers at premium aro, But, so that you don't fluctuate, Accept my vows at par. Then be not your consent delayed, Give of your heart a share, For such time-bargains, fairest maid, I would not, could not bear." ERRATUM:.—It seems that we were too hopeful last week, when, in speaking of the Derby Workshops," we said, The jobbing business, formerly carried on by this party, will be discontinued." A Bench has been upset, and some discreditable work the conse- quence. Justice is blind, as all know, but it appears that Justice for Ireland is also deaf. A bad beginning my lords and gentlemen. A storm may be brewing, at all events the Brewster is ready to do his work. Sheer Nonsense. We have often heard that swans are reported to sing, but we never met with any connection between geese and melody until we dropped on the following in a Leeds paper:— WANTED, a maa to conduct the singing in a village T f church. Salary, 28 per annum. A good opening for a tailor. Address, &c. &c. We are as much surprised to hear that the leading of a village choir is a good opening for a tailor, as we should be to learn that repairs neatly executed was the proper calling of a Mend-elssohn. Humiliating: Meditation. By a Dyspeptic Poet. On any morning, if, when up and dressed We're biliou3, then our souls are sore depressed: But if no dizziness, or ache, annoy us, Nor indigestion, then our souls are joyous: This thought the proudest is enough to flummox, The puzzling sympathy 'twixt souls and stomaoha. ANGLICAN APE SHOW. It would be worth the while of any enterprising showman to procure a num- ber of monkeys, and, having dressed them out in the copes, stoles, ohasubles, and other ecclesiastical old clothes affected by the ritualists, take, them about as an exhibition in the various districts infested by parsons who ape Roman Catholic priests. HORSE ON THE TABLE.—The hippophagists carry their fondness for horseflesh to an extreme. Accord- ingly, perhaps, they will soon have their horse served up with horse-beans, not to mention horse-radish, which, of course, it must require even more than beef. The dessert which follows the favourite repast of the horse-eaters will certainly not be complete without horse-chestnuts. Rose in the House of Lords- Sure, if by any other name a Rose as sweet would smell, A Rose by any other name should also fight as well. And if he do, still may we sing Old Rose for many a year, Wondering how he comes "Lord," for whom 'tis hard to find a peer. No rose without a thorn," 'tis said, but in the Lords may you Still find a seat without a thorn, my trusty, tough Sir Hugh. THE BANK-SATE. BY A CHORUS O-- e CO.'S. We may break. We may chatter like daws if we will:- Ten per cent. (which it rose) tis, be hanged to it, still! As IT SHOULD BE.—What a satisfaction it must be to the Empress of the French that the Emperor haa given up the idea of paying a visit to Nancy! THE SOLWAY SALMON.—Mr. Frank Buckland has thrown the right light on the subject of the Solway salmon, mentioned in our last as suffering from sun- stroke, by declaring it was only moonshine. Songf. BY AN APPLICANT TO THE ADMIRALTY. I've seen Romaine-I've seen Romaine At the Admiralty's seat; And find No main-and find No maia- Ly the answer that I meet. A RIDDLE FOR THE RISIBLE.-Why is a smile in- variably behind the time F-Becaute it's a little laugh- ter. SHAKESPEARE UPON RIFLE,SHOOTING.-What'a in an aim ? The power of winning the Queen's Cup. "ONCE more unto the breach, dear friends!" And be sure you bring your breech-loaders. THE ONLY DEFENOE FOR THE CAT.—The British soldier does iaot know when he is beaten. INTERESTING INTELLIGENCE.-It is stated that an exhibition of Converted Rifles wiil shortly take place in Exeter Hall. ANSWER TO MARY ANNE.—The needle-gun is not threaded with gun-cotton. POLLO(C)K'S "COURSE OF TimE.The late Chief Baron's Life, and long may it last!