The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

AUTISTIC BOBBERY OF SILVER PLATE. One of the most daring and cool hotel robberies was perpetrated at Folkestone on Monday. About four o'clock in the afternon of that day a fashionably- dressed man, carrying a large blaok-glazed leather bag, entered the Royal Railway Hotel, and ordered tea and a chop, with a bed for the night, and breakfast, next morning. He was ushered into the reception-room, and he presently requested to be shown to his bedroom, to refresh himself with a wash. His desire was com- plied with, and he was shown upstairs to a room on the first floor. This particular chamber, it seems, opened into a corridor, at the end of which as a room containing a large cabinet, in which the silver plate and other valuables of the establishment were kept. In about half an hour the gentleman came down refreshed, carrying the black leather bag with him which he had taken upstairs. As he passed the the bar he mentioned that he was going out on busi- ness for half an hour, but was very particular in re- questing that the "tea and chop" should be ready at the expiration of that time. So ha departed. Half an hour-an hour—two hours passed away without the return of the "traveller," when it just struck the landlady to go upstairs to see whether all was safe. On going into the room where the plate had been left, she found that the cabinet had been broken open, and. the whole of the plate, amounting in value to about 470 abstracted. In one drawer in the cabinet there were two gold watches, several diamond rings, and other articles of jewellery, altogether valued at about £ 400. This drawer, however, fortunately escaped the notice of the traveller," who, it need scarcely be remarked, did not come back for his tea and chop." As soon as the fact of the robbery was ascertained information was given to the police, bat up to the present time nothing has been aseeftamei a? to the perpetrator of the daring theft.

THE NURSE AND HER PATIENT. Curious Case of Libel. John Donaldson, of No. 54, Margaret-street, was charged on summons before Mr. Tyrwhitt, at Marl- borough-street Police-court, on Friday, with writing and publishing a libel upon Mary Ann Deans, one of the nurses employed at the Middlesex Hospital. Mr. Sleigh said This is a prosecution against the defendant at the bar for a libel on Mary Ann Deans, a prosecution ostensibly instituted by her, but in truth and in fact instituted by the solicitors to the Mid- dlesex Hospital, by direction of the committee of that body. # The circumstances under which this prosecu- tion arises are somewhat singular. The complainant is a married woman, and one of the nurses at the Middlesex Hospital. The defendant was a patient at the hospital, and entered on the 10th July, in 20 bed in Forbes ward, and remaining until July 30. The bed No. 18 was near to this. No. 19 bed was occupied by a person named Manning, who had been in the army, and who bad received an injury in the log. Another injury to the same limb having taken place, this person (Manning) was reoeivedin to tbehospitalas an in-patient. Now, on the 15th July Manning was confined to his bed inthe hospital, his leg being in a cradle in the course of medical treatment; it was not only bandaged but sup- plied with casings of plaster of Paris, so that in fact the man was physically unable to move. You will find, sir, the importance of the facts I am stating pre- sently. On the 1st August the defendant spoke to Mr. Shaw, one of the house surgeons. He said he wanted to make a complaint against, and to show acts of impropriety on the part of one of tha nnrses named Deans. Mr. Shaw, being occupied at the time, re- quested the defendant to speak to him when more at leisure, and on the 3rd of August the defendant, Donaldson, went into a room, and in the presence of Mr. Hulke and Mr. Shaw, surgeons, he made a statement, which at their request he reduced to writ- ing, and at his request communicated the contents of the paper to the committee. In a day or two after- wards, the hospital committee being assembled, Mr. Smith as chairman, the defendant was called in, and he wa1 then asked by Mr. Smith if the statements in the paper were made by him, and whether he was pre- pared on reflection to abide by them. The defendant said he was sure the contents of the paper were true, and he would adhere to what he had stated. I will now call attention to the contents of this paper, asking you to observe that the occurrence narrated in it was alleged to have taken place on the 15th July, and that the defendant never made any complaint or gave any intimation until the let August. This paper is signed J. Donaldson, and witnessed by Mr. Hulke. "Mem.—I was admitted into the Forbes ward as a patient. On the 10th or 11th July, about three in the afternoon, I saw oue of tha patients and one of the night nurses whispering together, the nurse sitting on the side of the bed. On Sunday morning I was awakened, and I saw the nurse (Deans) in bed with the patient. I got up for a natural purpose, and this dis- turbed them. The nurse rose and sat by the side of the bed. I got into bed again and pretended to sleep the nursa lay down with her arms round the patient. She got up, after having finished the intercourse, and left him about three o'clock in the morning. She went to another bad that was vacant, then into the scullery, to another bed that was vacant, then into the scullery, then to the empty bed, where she lay until about five o'clock, after which she went about her duties. Ok Sunday afternoon two young men came to the hospi- tal. I saw them standing with their back to me. I saw them pull out a bottle with brandy in it." Mr. Ribton objected to the reading of this portion of the paper. There was only one libel complained of. Mr. Sleigh I read the charge as forming part of the contents of the paper. Bat I can promise my friend that, as it does not form the gravamen of the com- plaint, I shall not dwell very strongly on it. The paper goes on to state this. One of the young men pulled out a brandy bottle—the patient, Manning, whipped the bottle to his mouth and then took it away. Some time afterwards Deana came to Manning's bed- side with something in her dress, which she took out, and it sounded like a bottle. This is the libel com- plained of. I need hardly say that no more serious imputation on a married woman, and especially on a hospital nurse, could be mada. The briEg- ing drink into tha hospital is only an offence against the regulations; the charge of immorality is far mere serious. The board of the hospital are naturally do- sirous to bava only nurses of good behaviour and moral conduct, and if anything is proved to the con- trary against any Dureo she would at once be dis- missed. Technically, it is only necessary to show the publication of the libel. TtLo defendant, if he be- lieves his statement to be true, is not to be tried here. I shall prove the publication, and go a step further, and put Deans, the nurse, into the witness-box, that she may be cross-examined, as her character is at stake, and the hospital authorities are anxious to know whether there is any truth in the matter alleged by the defendant, and for that purpose will afford every facility to the defendant in proving his case. Mrs. Denns and Manning were then examined, and they both denied that any impropriety had ever taken place between them, as stated by the defendant. L-Trii. Deans, upon beingrecalled, said that on one occasion the defendant bad interfered with her, and threatened to report her, upon which she told him he could do so as soon as he liked. For the defence, Mr. Ribbon contender] that there had been no publication, and that the defendant had been, so to speak, entrapped into making a statement, without being previously warned as to the conse- quences of his act. Mr. Tyrwhitt considered, however, that there had been 9, publication, and committed the prisoner for trial, fixing the bail at .£10.

EXECUTION AT MANCHESTER For the first time this century the inhabitants of Manchester have had the opportunity of witnessing an execution in their own town. Few things could better indicate the change which has come over the spirit of English law than a comparison of the two last execu- t-iolis "la,ve occurred in Manchester. One was in 1798, when a young man named George Russell was found guilty o j. robbing a bleachcroft, and, condemned to death. When the last morning of his life came he was led from the gaol, and dressed for the occa- sion in a clean white shirt, without vest or coat, was placed on an unsaddled horse, and conducted, with cruel slowness through the immense multitudes that gathered in street after street. Two miles off, on Newton Heath, the gallows was erected, and the cul- prit had to bs&r all tne suspense of that journey, and run the gauntlet oi a succession of crowds, before the hangman's banos let loose his imprisoned spirit. On Saturday last the culprit was again_ a youth, James Barro ws, only 19 years old. His crime was murder. Although so yoang, he had but a bad reputatioDt. and he is now suspected to have been concerned in the deaths of two men before he committed the crime for which his own life was forfeited. On the 21st of May last he beat to death a labourer employed by his father, because the man refused to lend him a, few shillings to spend in drink. Since his condemnation he has had the continuous attention of the prison chaplain, End of Mr. Thomas Wright, known throughout the north of England as the "prison Philanthropist." Kis behaviour in prison has been unlike what it was outside. He has been docile, constant in hia attendance upon religious offices, and professing great penitence. Ha committed to memory hymn after hymn, and was constantly quoting them. The excitement consequent upon so unprecedented a thing as a panging was such as to make thousands of people visit the neighbourhood of the gaol on Thursday and Friday for the purpose of having a passing glimpse of so strange a thing as a gallows, and having seen that were content to go home again. There were, howover others who were, even so early, looking out for places tor occupation on the following morning. As mornmg approached the crowd increased rapidly; the patter-patter ot ironed clogs was ceaseless on the pavement; ana the whistling and yelling, mingled with the singing of vulgar songs, was such as to suggest that the crowd might be going to Knot Mill fair instead of to see the strangling of a human being. By eix o'clock there must nave been from 20,000 to 30 000 people, and as eight o clock approached considerable additions had been made to that number. A large proportion of these assembled were of the lowest class. Some time before the execution actually took place, the noises which had been so continuous were stopped, and all eyes directed to the scaffold, where men had been sent to make the final preparations. The chief of these was to place a screen which should hide the full length of the body from the view of the multitude. The mob greeted these workmen with a hidt, ous yell. After spending a restless night the criminal awoke, and passed his remaining time with his religious at- tendants. Scarcely a tremor was noticed as Caloraft approached and pinioned him. The procession from the condemned cell to the scaffold was formed-Cal. craffc on the right, and the chaplain on the left of Burrows. As they reached the steps of the drop the chaplain's feelings overcame him, and he had to retire. As soon as his head was visible to the crowd outside shouts of "Hats off!" and "Shame!" were raised, and the most utter confusion prevailed. As Caloraft pulled down the white cap on the convict's face the crowd started a most hideous yelling, and continued it until the rope was adjusted. The drop fell, and all was over. Burrows died after a few slight convul- sions. About an hour after the body was cut down and buried in the precincts of the gaol.

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. The business of this year's gathering of the associa- tion was formally opened at Nottingham on the 22nd of August by a meeting of the general committee; Professor Phillips in the chair. The proceedings were of a routine character, and were not enlivened or in- terrupted by any discussion whatever. The usual re- ports were presented and adopted nem. cm. The report of the Kew committjee emoted the con- clusions arrived at in the report of the recent royal commission on the operations of what may be termed the Government Weather Office; and they expressed their general concurrence in the proposals cf the com- mission. While the collections of observations from I the captains of ships is a function regarded as within the competence of the meteorological department of the Board of Trade, it is suggested that the digesting and tabulating of the observations would be better performed by_a committee of the Royal Society or the British Association, and the Kew Observatory might be extended and made the raoteorolowical centre to wmun all observations of value, by British observers, would be sent for discussion and reduction. On the presentation of the report of the Parliamen- tary Committee, Mr. James Hey wood took the oppor- tunity of urging on its chairman (Lord Wrottesley) as a subject to which their attention might be directed, the recommendation made by a committee en scientific evidence in courts of law. It is proposed to give the judge power to appoint an expert, who may sit by his side and advise him during the examination of scientific witnesses. The association, of which the present is the 36th annual meeting, assembled at Nottingham for the first time this year. The real business of paper reading and dismissing new views and discoveries and old bones of contention was on the 23rd fairly on, but to do justice to the many scenes and incidents of the various sections would require an ubiquity which the most active reporter could never hope to attain. Appended, how- ever, are some of the more important proceedings Mapping cf the Moon. In Section A—" Mathematics and Physics"-flio report of the Lunar Committee on the Maoping of the Moon was read by Mr. Birt, who, after alluding to the former report at Birmingham, proceeded to notice the work which had been done in the interim. It was in the first instance proposed to construct an outline map of the moon's surface, 75 inches in diameter, every object entered on the register to be inserted in the map, and an outline map of that sizo was exhibited to the section at Birmingham; but in consequence of some remarks by the president on that occasion (Professor Phillips) it had been determined to construct an outline map of 100 inches in dia- meter, and Mr. Birt has now 30 superficial degrees of the moon's surface completed on that scale, and exhibited also an enlargement to the scale of 400 inches. In noticing the progress of this department the author laid stress upon the materials available, particularly well-determined positions of the first order and exist- ing photographs. Of the latter only otio-tbat by Mr. Warren Delarne, in October, 1865, enlarged to 10 inches diameter-was accurately available, the time of its taking being 50 near that of mean libration. In mapping on this saate Mr. Birt has conmwJJcod with the lower right quadrant of the visible moon but over this area there are only 23 points of the first order for triangulation, which have been inserted with the utmost care and accuracy, the greatest error being only 8- 10,000th of the moon's semi-diameter. Amongst the forms issued by the committee last year was one (No. 2) for aiding in the formation* of a catalogue of lunar objects by symbolising them so that by means of these siqns each of 5 degrees of lati- tude and five of longitude is by a special symbol. Every object discernible in the photograph of October 4 has been carefully measured and inserted in quadrant IV.; and still further, a drawing of the tints of the ground markings indicating the reflective power of the surface only was submitted to the meet- ing. This drawing permits of a useful comparison of the features of full moon with earlier or Ititer phases. Among the results thus obtained by Mr. Birt we may note that two prominent rays of the familiar crater, Tycho, which are best seen at full moon, aro found by their aspects under other phases to be ranges of high land, in some places much broken, aDd in other rising into rocky eminences. This illustrated another point of importance in the construction of these rrips- namely, that many important objects arc from the nature of the illumination, not distinguishable at full moon, and therefore can be only inserted in proper position on the maps by measuring on photographs taken at other phases or by persona), observation. Blue Mist" Supposed to Convey Cholera. Another paper. "On Electro. negative FOg;, and more particularly the Dry Mist; which occurred over London and its neighbourhood in Jane, 1SSI, and August:, 1866, gave rise to some remarks by Mr GS.aisher on the blue mist," to which he has recently drawn attention in connection with the late outbreak of cholera. He stated that when engaged in the investigation of the state of the atmosphere during the epidemic of 1854, when the blue mist was last recorded, he had found that where ozone existed freely in tha air, and the test. papers were changed brown there were healthy dis. tricts, and where the test papers were left unchanged in those districts the mortality was greatest. A) though during the past two years, in consequence of the anti- cipations of the arrival of the epidemic, lie had con- stantly watched for this peculiar mist, he had not seen it until very recently. He did not assign to it any connection with the actual development of cholera, indeed, where the blue mist" was moat intense ap- peared to be coincident with the most healthy, but there was a very remarkable coincidence in its appear- ance at the time of the late outbreak of disease, and certainly, as a mere physical phenomenon, it was well worthy of investigation. Ancient Britons. Mr. Jno. Crawford, F.E.S., contributed an interesting paper on Caesar's Account of Britain and its In- habitants in reference to Ethnology." Having mi. nutely described Csesai'a account, and commented on it, he summed up the whole in tho following words: "The conclusion to which we must, I think, co no, from the perusal of Caasar's account of such of the Britons as he saw, is that, although they were cer- tainly barbarians, they were very far from being savages. They were in possession of nearly all the domestic animals known to the Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians. They possessed the art of mak- ing malleable iron, and they mixed, smelted, and exported tin. They had a fixed money, although a rude one. In war they bad an infantry, a cavalry, and chariots. There can be no doubt but that, they possessed I the art cf manufacturing pottery, and I think it most I probable that they had the art of weaving their wool into a coarse fabric and perhaps of dyeing those fabrics with woad. We may then safely pronounce our forefathers to have been a more advanced people than were the Mexicans and Peruvians when first seen by Europeons 1,600 after the time of Cteaar. They encountered the first invaders of their country with far more courage and even military prowess than did thp Mexicans the Spaniards, or did even the Hindus the Greeks and Macedonians of Alexander; but these last results were more an affair of race than of civilisa- tion. Such were the Britons Caesar saw, and assuredlv he saw no savages." An Ancient Jaw-bone. Mr. C. Carter Blake read a paper "On the Supposed Human Jaw from the Belgian Bone Cave." Mr. Blake was sent by the Anthropological Society of London to make an examina'ion of this cave, which is in Namur, on the banks of the Lesse, in conjunction with M. Dnpont, who had been commissioned by the Belgian Government to conduct moreextenaiveinquiries on the same spot. This jaw, which is without ohin, and bears a remarkable resemblance to the ape species, was exhibited in the room, and excited a good deal of interest. It was found in undisturbed lehm, at 3l metres from the surface, along with a human ulna and a fragment of reindeer bone, which had apparently been bored by some sharp instrument. The paper led to some discussion, in the course of which the presi- dent expressed an opinion that the jaw was of great antiquity, and said it had many peculiarities which approximated to some of the ape species. The Study of Man. In Section D, department of Anthropology, Mr. Alfred R. Wallace, the president, delivered a brief ad- dress, congratulating the audience on being present at the inauguration of a department devoted to the science of man, remarking on the anomaly of this science not being separately represented at the British Association, although it occupied the attention of two Bocieties in the metropolis, and was of the highest general interest, had now happilv ceased. He I explained that anthropology was a science which contemplated man under all his varied aspects- 118 an animal, and as a moral and intellectual being —— in his relations to the lower organisms to his fellow-men, and to the universe. Anthro- pology sought to collect and systematise the facts and the laws which had been brought to light by all those branches of study which directly or indirectly had man for their object, but which had been pursued sepa- rately. They could, therefore, not afford to neglect any facts relating to man, however trivial, unmeaning, or distasteful some of them might appear. Custom, superstition, or belief of savage or civilised life might guide us towards an explanation of their origin in the common tendencies of the human mind. Each peculiarity of form, colour, or constitution might give us the clue to the affinities of all obscure race. The anthropologist must ever bear in. mind that the object of his study being man, nothing pertaining to the characteristics of man could be unworthy of his attention. Sources of the Nile. Sir Samuel W. Baker, who was loudly cheered on rising, delivered an address on the Abyssinian tribu- taries of the Nile. He commenced by stating that from the earliest days the sourca of the Nile had been a mystery. The Emperor Nero sent two centurions, who penetrated to the marshes; oh subsequent ex- ploration Cater got no further; and such was the state of information when he commenced his explora- tion. In the most ancient days a great desire was shown by the kings and priests of Egypt, and in later days by Julius Ctesar, to discover the sources of the Nixe-a river which flowed through many hundreds of miles of parching deserts, and which, though evaporated by the sun and gulped down by^ the sand, still nourished Egypt, and in- undated it. But explorers were invariably baffled; they could reach a certain point; but then they had to return, and there seemed to be some spell which guarded the sources of the river. The wonderful hi- undations were, however, now most satisfactorily ac- counted for by the boutcss of the White Nile being concentrated in the two large lakes which for many months in the year received the rainfall from lofty mountains. Having encamped one night in order to hoot hippopotami, he saw the phenomenon of the sudden rise of the river. He had retired to sleep, when ho heard a enftldan noise like distant thunder. The boO of the river was then merely glaring. At the sound of the noise the Arabs (by whom he was ac- companied) rushed down to the river bed to secure the heads of the hippopotami, but before they had time to secure them the men were nearly up to their waist in deep water. By the following morning the river was almost bank full, and was from 20 to 30 feet deep, and about 500 yards wide. That fact would exemplify better than any description which he could give. The extraordinary rainfall of Abyssinia poured down like a waterspout at the com- mencement of the rainy season. That rainfaH flooded all the rivers which were tributaries to the Nile, and that sudden flood, pouring down the Nile, caused the inundation of Egypt. Alluding to his meeting Grant and Speke at Gonorkoro, he said they were men of whom England might well be proud. They had earned a title, which he hoped would be undying, for they had done their best to keep up the reputation of Eng- land. Although unsupported by its Government, work- ing alone, and merely trusting to God, they had passed tbrongh that country, having left behind them a cha. racter which, opened the way for him. He wag sat-Efied with h aving done hie best, he was confident that he should not have succeeded so well a,s he had done if it had not been for the instruction of the map which was kindly given to him by Speke and Grant. He parted from them in the hope to meet again, and with a, promise that he would do his best, and in two years from that time be had succeeded, and had reached that great lake which some geographers would now hardly admit could ba called tha source of the Nile, because they considered a lake must be a reservoir for the affluents, which would naturally be considered as the legal sources of the river. But when they spoke of "sources" they must be comparative, because every- thing connected with the Nile was on such a gigantic scale that they must call the least point the last point from which the great river issued a source," as they must also call the River Victoria, from which one grand branch of the Nile issued. He had carefully gone over Speke's ground, in order to verify his assertions, as Speke thought and said there might be some people in Eng- land who did not know much about the Thames and only a little about the Trent who would, nevertheless, sit down and contradict him about the Nile. He was happy to say that the public of England and Prance had now accepted as a fact that the Nile issued as the entire Nile from the Albert Lake; that it originated in the Victoria Nyanza as one branch. He had been very much gratified since his return with receptions which ho had never looked for, and that all the trials he had gone through had been appreciated not only by the public but by the Qaeen (cheers). He, however, could not but entertain a feeling of regret when he remembered that Speke, who led the way through Africa, had died without receiving any testimonial; but he felt sure that upeke's name would be proudly remembered by Englishmen when every title was forgotten. Sir Samuel resumed his seat amidst loud cheers. Sir R. Murchison moved a voto of thanks to Sir oatauel Baker and Ltdy Baker, eulogising the devotion of that lady in accompanying him in his travels. Tne vote Was carried by acclamation. Dr. Beke read a paper on the possibility of diverting the waters of the Nile into the Red Sea. He qnotsd largely from the works of travellers to Abyssinia, and argued on the authority of their works that there were natural facilities for diverting the Nile into the Red Sea. Sir Samuel Baker said he did not know if Dr. Beke spoke from personal experience. He certainly did. He believed, in an engineering point of view, anything was possible, but he denied that there were any natural facilities, and to divert the channel would be a most gigantic undertaking. There were very clever persons in existence, no doubt; it had been said some of them could "set the Thames on fire," and he believed that would be done long before the Nile and the Red Sea were joined (laughter). Dr. Beke said he did not speak from personal obser- vation, but from the maps and writings of those who had travelled in the country, and who went round the mounfcam between the Gash, a tributary of the Nile, and the Red Sea., whereas Sir Samuel Baker travelled over the mountain. Sir Samuel Baker: I will only say I went to the top of the mountain, and therefore could see farthest. I leave you to say who was right, the man at the top or i the man at the bottom (laughter). Biology. On the sitting of the sections on Friday, the biologists at the People's College assembled attracted a larger meeting than could be contained within their room. The address of Professor Huxley, the pre- sident, was expested to be not only interesting in itself, but to give rise to some discussion on the ever- fresh Dar winiu-n theory. Mr. Huxley pointed out that through millions of ages there had been living things exhibiting the same properties as were exhibited now. It was true there had been in the long succession since then a vast difference of form, through which they could go back and back until they could reach eg farther, and the thread was lost. Still through all these differences of form, the kind of knowledge had remained the same. As biologists, they were COil. ceraed with nothing but the observation and classifica- tion of form; they were not concerned with causes; they were not concerned with forces. Still these things were at the bottom of the question, became on examining a group the thought must occur to them, What is the cause of all this ? How is it that living matter came into existence at all P Whatever opinion, therefore, men might ha,ve as to the Darwinian theory, no thinking man could doubt that the name øf D.rwin would go down as that of one who had endeavoured to elucidate this great question (applause). As a neces- sary preliminary to the studies of aaology and botany, which were now classified under the name of biology, an acquaintance with imliving thing.?, and with physios and chemistry, was essential; and if, instead of the students in our schools being taught to know with exactness what other people thought long ago, they were taught something about what they had to deal with at present, a few narrow-minded people, of whom ho confessed he was one, ventured to think the system of education would be more beneficial. In the -c discussion which ensued, Professors Humphry and Wallace, Dr. Bennett, and Sir John Lubbock took pars, but no controversy arose. Life in Arabia. In the Geographical section there were not fewer than a thousand members to hear Mr. Palgrave's paper on Arabia. He commenced by observing that, whatever might; be the ignorance of Earopeana with regard to Arabia, the Arabian's knowledge of Earope was still more limited, the general belief in Damascus being that Europe was governed by seven kings, who all lived in one city. Dividing the country into Northern, Central, and Southern Arabia, and sepa- rating the people into smokers and non-smokers, Mr. Palgrave proceeded to give numerous amusing and curious aneodotea and descriptive sketches of his travels and adventures. Being in one town seized and sentenced to death, he contrived to escape at the time when all the inhabitants, and the guaids as well, were at the mosques at prayers, which, fortunately for the distinguished prisoner, were rather lengthy. He ran out through the gates of the town, which were left open, and was able to conceal himself behind some sandbanks until he could get to a plaoe of greater safety. The penalty for non-attenoance at prayers by any inhabitant was a process called purifying hia hide," the meaning of which might be easily imagined where there wera palmstieks and skins ready to receive them (laughter). This was among the W&ha- bees, where Mr. Palgrave, though not a medical mac. found it convenient to practise as a doctor, and that with some success. Before leaving a town his patients always paid him, either all they owed or aa much as they had-a, kind of honesty, said the speaker, not always found in Europe. He ha.d houses, servants, and domestic felicity offered him by the king; but as by marriage he would have been bound to remain in the eonntry all his life, he was obliged to decline to accept two wives. In Central Arabiti he rode five or siX days, fifteen or sixteen hours a day, on swift camels, without finding a drop of water or a single bhde of grass—a country which showed utter hopelessness sf ever being reduced to the service of man for any purpose whatever.

INSURRECTION IN SIBERIA: CONDUCT OF THE POLES. About 1,000 Poles, condemned to penal servitude for political offences, and who were set to work on roads in Siberia, revolted during the night of the Glib, inst. They ill-treated their commander, Colonel Schwartz, beat the soldiers, bound them with ropes, &(, and took off their coats, which they put on them- selves. Then they attacked a military station, which they pillaged, and marched towards the mills of Petrowski and the auriferous sands belonging to the Crown, where a large number of Poles were working. On their road, they took away all the horses belonging to the post stages, pillaged and burned down the villages, tore down the telegraph wires, and destroyed the bridges and ferry boats. It is reported that a large number of Poles who had been authorised to settle in that province had joined the insurgents. However, they all soon contrived to arm themselves and to possess ammunition. Evidently, everything had been prepared long beforehand by the Polish colonists. The cc., mmeri der- in-chief of East Siberia, General Ivorsakow, had left some time ago for the Camoor (4,000 versts from Irkutsk) for a tour of inspection; the telegraph being cut off it has been impossible to inform him of the insurrection, but the Governor of Irkutsk lost no time in taking the neces- sary measures. Besides a strong detachment directly sent against the insurgents, other troops have been, despatched by Bteamera running on the Baikal, arid artillery detachments have been also sent to the pur- suit from Verkne-Oudinsk. The Imperial troops and the insurgents were already skirmishing. Colonel Teherniaiew, who was superintending the road works was found in a wood, tied to a tree, and badly wounded. The body of Mr. Porckhow, aide-de-camp to the chief of the staff, and who had been killed by the Poles, arrived at Irkutsk on the 11th of July, with some wounded soldiers. General Kubel, chief of the staff of the troops in Siberia, is gone to take the command against the insurgents. Poles, made prisoners, are beginning to arrive hora. It is stated that the insar- gents, surrounded on every side by the Imperial troops, have retreated in the woods but they are hemmed in by the troops and the volunteers—the letter belonging mostly to the Toungouees and Bouriates, who are excel. lent sharpshooters. The town is much agitated, because it contains many inhabitants and employes who are Poles. Foot and horse troops patrol the whole night; in every street are stationed 10 mounted Cossacks and 10 on foot. The heat is excessive; yet no one dares to go from town either to bathe or walk in the woods. Advices received to-day from Oassolie (Crown mills, 60 versts from Irkutsk) announce that the Poles working there have also r«voiced; likewise in the towns of Kansk and Balagansk. Yet, by a decree, dated 13ch of April last, the Emoeror had considerably mitigated the condition of the Pules deported to Siberia. Tnoso condemned to penal servi- tude for six years were made colonists; those who were colonists received tha permission to circulate freely through the whole of Siberia. It seems that they have availed themselves of this act of clemency only to mutiny, kill, and pillage, for escape was out of the question.

LANDLORDS, TENANTS, AND RATS. I A trial has just taken place before the Civil Tribasal of the Seine in which M. Thiery, a corndealer, who formerly occupied the house No. 70, Qaai de la Me'gis- serie, sought to recover the sum of 12,000f. from hia j landlady, Mdme. Trouyet, for damage which he had sustained through her not having kept the house in proper repair, which neglect permitted the invasion of a legion of rats. The house has beeu pulled down in consequence of the improvements in the neighbour- hood, and when that took place the remains of sacks and grain to a great extent were found, and an expert whom M. Thiery employed to estimate the damage reported it at from 10,000f. to 12,000f. The com- pllotinant pleaded that he had from the end of Sep- tember, 1864, constantly urged the landlady to have the proper repairs executed, but to no purpose. The defendant replied that she had caused them to be effected as soon as she had notice. The court gave judgment to the effect that seeing that Thiery had not been sufficiently carefal in giving notice in time of the necessity for repairs, and, on the other hand, that the expert had reported tho bad state of the walls which had enabled tha rats to penetrate the building, and that the proprietct was bound to provide for the suit- able occupation of the tenant, condemned Mdme. Trouyet to pay M. Thiery the sum of 1,200f., with I interest, and also the costs.

The number of wrecks reported during the pas week has been 40, making for the present year a tatal of 1,315. It was generally reported in Dublin on Satur- day, says the Liverpool Albion, that a Queen's counsel, who was in great practice, had absconded, and that a series of forgeriess amounting to £ 20,000, is attributed to him. The Dreadful Accident in Paris.—The Patrie gives the following additional details:—" The first cause of this great disaster was evidently the violation of the regulations by the crowd. All the measures for preserving order were upset by the violence with whiijh the mass going from the Place de la Concorde bore down on the bridge. The shock was such that the mounted guards were carried away, horses and all, and forced nearly to the railings of the Legislative Palace. At the moment of the rush, a woma.n unfor- tunately fell, and that circumstance led to the subse- quent calamities. By a chance of which no possible explanation can be given, this woman, who would naturally be expected to be the first victim, escaped death, by the others in their fall forming a sort of arch over her body, and themselves losing their lives. I t is impossible to describe all the heartbrp.aking incidents of this terrible event. One woman, climbing up on the parapet of the bridge, got out of the crowd, and ran fearlessly along without knowing what she was doineJ She was at last taken down uninjured. From 16 to 20 children are stated to have been received at the úiï- ferent police-stations without having been as yet claimed by their parents. Of the eight dead bodies exposed at the Morgue, seven have been identified."