The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

EPITOME OF NEWS. It is stated on authority that it is not intended to fill up the vacancy in the Leeds District Court of Bankruptcy caused by the retirement of Mr. Com- missioner West. About one o'clock OK Saturday afternoon a bailer exploded at the wireworks of Messrs. Maybury, Matthews, and Co., Pendleton, injuring fifteen persons —seven, it is feared, seriously. Respite.-Henry Brownless, the pitman, who was sentenced at the Durham Assies, for the murder of Ann Reid, at Houghton-le-Spung, has been respited d*rine her Majesty's pleasure. t n After a protracted trial m the Court of Common Pleas, Dublin, the jury on Friday gave zC200 damages ana costs against Dr. Lindwort, a schoolmaster, for excessive punishment of a boy named Payne. The proportion, between the several religious sects in Prussia is now the followingProtestants, 65 per cent.; Catholics, 33 per cent.; and other sects, 2 per cent. Furnished houses and apartments in Paris are now only let to occupiers for a short period, and in many cases no engagement is made to extend beyond the month of January. M. "VictorHugo is said to be building a theatre near his residence in Guernsey, where two unperformed plays by him, Torquemada and La tfrcmd mere, are to see the footlights. Brigham Young, having just buried his 24th wife, has married his 45th. They say he "continually oscillates between a crape hat-band and white gloves." Mrs. Henderson, of Roke-manor, has recently purchased the old town-hall at Romsey, and in a spirit of highly commendable benevolence is about erecting there a hospital for the poor of the district, by whom she is deservedly beloved. Adulteration of Flour. At the Southwell Petty Sessions in Nottinghamshire, on Friday, Mr. Joseph Marriott, a miller in a respectable position at Fiskerton, was convicted of selling flour adulterated with alum, and was fined XI.5 for the offence. In the South of France at the present moment the table of the English is supplied with green peas, asparagus, new potatoes, and strawberries, at a very low price. Could not the enterprising British green- grocer manage to get a supply and charge four times as much as he gave ? He has doubtless heard of the South of France. Death from the Kick of a JIorse.On Thurs- day an inquest was held at Cobham, on the body of Francis Higgins, a corndealer> aged. 35. The deceased was looking at a horse when the animal suodenly feioked him in the chest, causing a fracture of the breast-bone and internal injuries which resulted in death. Verdict, Accidental death. Sir James Anderson.—Sir James Andereort, captain of the Great Eastern, was on Friday presented with the freedom of the burgh of Dumfries (his native town), and entertained in the evening to a public dinner, in recognition of his services in connection with, the laying of the Atlantic cable. The Rev. Dr. Moberly, late head master of Winchester College, has been presented with the rectory of Brightstone, in th§ Isle of Wight, by the Bishop of Winchester. A former rector of Bright- stone was the present Bishop of Oxford, to whom the living was given by Lord Brougham when Lord Chancellor. The following regiments are expected at Aldershot Camp early in the year 1867: The 70fch and the 44th, from Dover; the 43rd, the 40fch, and the 68th, from Portsmouth; and the 80th from Devon. port. Five regiments now on passage from India and New' Zealand will be stationed at the above garrisons on their arrival home. A testimonial, consisting of a silver salver, silver mug, and purse, containing 100 sovereigns, was pre- sented on Thursday to Dr. Aldis, by Dr. F. J. Farre and others, in recognition of the public sanitary services rendered by that gentleman during many years, and his connection as physician with several London charities. American Negro Soldiers. The American New York Times eays the War Department; have ascertained that there have been 169,624 coloured men enlisted in the United States' service. Of these 20,236 have been discharged, principally on account of physical disability 31,866 died while in service 14,837 deserted; 1,514 have been killed in action, and 1,344 were reported after engagements as missing. The Great Flood in the Fei)s.-Th(i arbitra- tors appointed to fix the amouBt of compensation to be paid to the sufferers by the great flood in the Fens, in June, 1862, will commence their sittings in the first week of January. The litigation on the subject has lasted, it will be seen, nearly five years. The Danish Parliament (Rigsdag) is continu- [ ing its labours. The bill granting a dowry of 60,000 rix dollars (2a. 2d. each) to the Princess Dagmar was adopted unanimously and without dissuasion. The Folkething, or Lower Chamber, has just voted in its integrity the proposition of the Government to open a oredit of 1,347,930 rix dollars for the new armament of the Danish army. Of the soldiers who fought in the American revolutionary war of 1775-83, but one is now living. Samuel Downing, of New York. He receives a pension, and pensions are also paid to 931 widows, of revolu- tionary soldiers. There were, on the 30th June, 1866, 126,722 military and naval pensioners on the rolls, and to pay this pension list daring the current year the secretary aea an appropriation of over 33,000,000 dols. With the exception of about 3,000, these are all pensioners of the late civil war. The Loss of the Child wick bury.- An inquiry into the ciroumstances attending the loss of the ship Childwickbury %t the entrance to Kinsale Harbour, at midnight oa tho 15th of November last, was con- cluded at the Greenwich Police-eourt on Monday evening. The opinion of the Court, after hearing a great amount of evidence, was that whilst some blame attached to the persons in charga of the ship, it was not of so grave a character as to warrant the retention of the master's certificate. Victoria S-tation.-On Saturday Major Rich, Government inspector of railways, made an examina- tion in detail of the now works oooneoted with the Victoria-bridge and approaches, as well as the station enlargements, which the London-, ChatX&m, and Dover Railway Company have had in progreBS for gome time. It is said that the inspection restilted favour- ably, and that the trains will commence dunning on the new high level line on the first day ot the new year. False Charge of Indecency by a Woman.— A woman named Davis was indicted at the recent Taunton Assizes for perjury. In August last the Pri- soner deposed on oath at Chard that a man namlld Porter had acted indecently towards her. Witnesses were called who proved that Porter had not done so, and Porter himself stated positively that nothing of the kind charged against him had taken place. The prisoner was found guilty, and sentenced to 12 months' hard labour. A Youthful "Poisoner.0° Friday Matilda Somers, a domestic servant, 12 years of age, was charged at the Taunton Assizes with attempting to poison her mistress, Mrs. Towils, at Oarrmgton, on the 2nd instant. Mrs. Towils noticed that soma beer had a peculiar taste, and charged the prisoner with having put something into it. She admitted that she had put some muriatic aOld, which was on the premises, into the beer. She was sentenced to 12 months hard labour. Colon or Aspinwall.-The city of Colon has now two names. The one official, which I have just named, the other popular, Aspinwall. In the United States the Government and private individuals always designate this city by the latter name, and nobody would ever think of giving it any other. In England both names are used indiscriminately, though gene. rally Colon is more used. In France the two names are used at the same time, and it is considered that definitely the name of Aspinwall will prevail, for it has constantly been gaining popularity, and it is likely to continue doing so in future.- Paa Star. Sudden Death of a Constable whilst on Duty.—As Police-eonstable Henry Buin, 119 G, who was on duty in Portpool-lane, Leather-lane, was, walk- ing along his beat on Friday morning, he was suddenly seized with a fit of violent coughing, which caused him to rupture a blood-vessel, and he lost so much blood that he fell to the ground. Assistance was at once at hand, and Mr. Benjamin T. Lowne, surgeon, of Hatton-house, Hatton-garden, was fetched, but when he arrived life was extinct. The deceased had been in the -force about seven years, and was known j,5 a very steady, respectable man. He leaves a wife pad, one ohiM to, deploifl tboirsudden loss. Government Emigrtion. The Government emigrant ship Prince of Wales, 1,254 tons, Mr. James Peat, master, belonging to Messrs. Houlder Brothers and Co., London, which sailed from Plymouth on the 21st of July, arrived at Port Adelaide, South Aus- tralia, on the 17th of October last, with 383 Govern. ment emigrants on beard, consisting of 106 married people, 143 single men, 72 single women, 28 beys and 21 girls between the ages of 1 and 14, and 13 infants, under the care of Mr. J. T. S. Jolley, surgeon-superin- tendent, assisted by Miss M. A. Glanville, matron, and Mr. Fred. Caterer, schoolmaster. Annoying a Clergyman.—On Saturday Mr. R. J. Hopkins, a Berkshire magistrate, was fined £ 1 and costs at the petty sessions at Forbury, for annoy- ing the Rev. Robert Finch, rector of Pangbourne, whilst that gentleman was engaged in Divine service in his church on the previous Sunday. The evidence given showed that defendant sat in a pew near the lecturn, and that whilst complainant read the prayers and preached the sermon he swayed backwards and forwards, and afterwards buried his face in his hands as if unable to control his laughter. It appeared that Mr. Finch had previously complained to the Bishop of Oxford of similar conduct on the part of the defendant Destruction of Another Mill. On Friday morning Providence Mill, Stanningley, belonging to the Providence Mill Company, was destroyed by fire. It is reported that on the hands starting work at six o'clock a girl dropped a light among some wool which had been saturated with oil. It ignited immediately, and in a short time the fire had extended to the entire mill. Within an hour the roof fell in, and by eight o'clock the mill was a complete ruin. The building was five storeys high, part of which was new, and waa filled with valuable machinery and stock. One of the company, Mr. Roberta, alone lost X2,000 worth of wool. The damage done is estimated at £ 20,000. Fresh Seizures of Railway Property.—The example set by the creditors of the Potteries, Shrews- bury, and North Wales Railway has been followed in the case of two other Welsh railway companies, the sheriff having taken possession of property belonging- to the Wrexham, Mold, and Connah's Quay Company and the Cambrian Company. A reassuring statement has been put forth on behalf of the Cambrian Com- pany, to the eff,' Ot that their present position differs from that of other companies whose plant has been sequestrated, inasmuch as the writ has been issued on a mere question of law, which will be satisfactorily arranged in the course of a day or two. A Prisoner of a Poetic Mind.—At Leeds, on Saturday, a poetic offender excited the sympathy of an appreciative judge. While in the look-up he wrote a number of verses, in which he set forth how the Devil tempted him to commit the robbery, how chance gave him the opportunity, and how conscience at last prevented the csmpletion of his guilty design. After his conviction, he handed a poetic appeal to Mr. Justice Lush, who read a portion of it to the jury. The prisoner, after making various piteous appeals for mercy, promised that if they were responded to he would embalm both judge and jury in im- mortal verse. The judge complimented him on his talents, and sentenced him to twelve months' hard labour. Richard Joshua Davies, who waa convicted with another prisoner named Mahow of conspiracy and making false affidavits for the purpose of endeavouring to obtain the release of persons who had been sum- moned to serve on juries at the Old Bailey sessions, was brought up for judgment. The second prisoner, Mahew, has died in Newgate since the last sessions. Mr. Straight drew attention to the fact that the jury had expressed their belief that the prisoner was the tool of Mahew, that they reopmmended the prisoner to mercy, and that they also thought the parties who supported such an association as that to which the prisoner belonged deserved to stand beside him in the dock. The Common Serjeant said he agreed in the verdict of the jury, and sentenced the prisoner to one month's imprisonment. Mr. Poland appeared for the prosecution. How Poor Londoners Live.An inquiry, pre- sided over by Dr. Linkester, on Tuesday, brought to light some startling facts connected with the means by which a large class of London workpeople strive to get a living. A man named Honey, and his four children, following the occupation of artificial flower makers, have had an extensive order for wreaths of artificial flowers for one of the forthcoming panto- mines. Night and day for 96 hours had these poor peopla stuck to their work, so as to have it ready in fime; and this, the father states, he nas been fre- quently compelled to do, in order to earn bread for hia family. At the close of the fourth day their labours were suddenly put a stop to by the upsetting of a candle, which simple accident resulted in the burning to death of one of the unfortunate man's children, and the destruction of the whole fruits of the 96 hours' constant work. Suicide of a London Printer.—An inquest was held on Monday, at the Coach and Horses, Whitefriars-street, Temple, on the body of Joseph Banks, 59, who had been employed on the Daily News and Express newspapers. It appeared that some time ago deceased lost his son, since which time he had been in very low spirits. Three months ago he tried to commit suicide by jumping off a steamer near Greenwich, and was sent to Maidstone Gael for a week, n order that the surgeon and chaplain might pay attention to him. Oa Satusday morning he came home from his work, took his breakfast, and went to bed. time after his wife, who had been out shopping, went to his bedroom, but being unable to get in, the door was broken open, and deceased was found hanging by a piece of thin rope from a nail at the side of the bed. Ha was quite dead. Several witnesses proved that deceased did not appear to be quite sane, and a verdict of Temporary Insanity was returned. A Batch of Brutes.—Among the cases disposed of by Mr. Justice Smith on Friday, at the Liverpool Assizes, were two atrocious outrages on women, and we are sorry to notice that, in dealing with the worst of them, the judge accepted drunkenness as an extenu- ating circumstance. In this case a young boatman, named Wilkinson, was convicted of applying a red-hot poker to an abandoned woman, on board a barge during a drunken revel, and was sentenced to five years' penal servitude, the judge remarking that the penal servitude would have been for a period little less than life if he had thought the prisoner knew what he was doing. In the other case an elderly man, who had held an old woman's faoe over the fire until it was severely burnt, was sent to gaol for 12 months. There were also two cases of outrage on children, in each of which the prisoners were sentenced to seven years' penal servitude. Singular Action against Millowners.- Messrs. E. Butterworth and Co. were sued in the Manchester County-court, on Wednesday, for .£42 damages, on account of damages done to the Rochdale Canal, on the 3Qbh July last. The mill of the defen- dant, situated on the bank of the canal at Anooats, was on fire in the day in question, and a portion of it fell into the oanal, completely stopping the naviga- tion for sometime. For this the compensation was demanded, it being alleged against the defendants that they had not taken proper precautions to pre- vent the outbreak of fire at their mill. On the sug. gestion 0f his Honour the 8th ef January as fixed upon fot the full hearing of the case. Mysterious Disappearance of the Countess of SchoIb,burg.-Italiau tourists communicate the most melancholy conjectures respeoting the, as yet, inexplicable disappearance of the Countess of Schom- burg. Two months back she left Enghien, where she had passed the summer, and went to make various excursions in Upper Italy before reaching Naples. She set out one morning with some friends for a walk in the mountains, and when about half-way she was beset by such sorrowful preentiments that she took out her diamond earrIngs, which she always wore, and gave them to one of her companions to take care of, saying she was afraid of encountering robbers. A few steps further on, she separated a little from the party, and from that moment it was found impossible to discover the smallest trace of what had become of her. The belief is that she must have fallen over a precipice; but hitherto the most minute search has been made without result. On Monday evening the prizes competed for by the members of the North Middlesex Rifles were distributed at the St, Panoras Vestry.hall by Mr, Thomas Chambers, Q.C., M.P., Mr. Harvey Lewis, M.P., and Lord Ranelagh were among those present, and the latter, in the course of a speeoh upon the volunteer movement, said that it was a curious fact (and still more curious for him, a Tory, to say it) that the members of the Reform League were in a better state of organisa- l tion, under Mr. Potter, on the occasion of their great demonstration, than were the volunteers j of England. His lordship said thevoluntees force waa not in that state of organisation which it should be, and it was" a farce" for the Government to ignore the fact any longer. Let them boldly face the diffi- culty, and come forward with some scheme to place the great volunteer regiments of the country in a proper state of organisation The Foleshill Murder.—The convict Sarah Campion, who was sentenced to death by Mr. Justica Byles, at the Warwick Assizes, for the wilful murder of her illegitimate male child, at Foleshill, on the 28th August last, has been reprieved during her Majesty's pleasure. A meeting of the house committee of the London Hospital was held on Wednesday, for the purpose of presenting testimonials and gratuities—amounting to about £ 1,000—to nurses and servants, and to those medical and civil officers who more particularly distin- guished themselves by their self-denying labours during the recent epidemic of cholera. The death has been announced of the Rev. John Hind, M.A., a distinguished mathematician, whose works on astronomy, algebra, &c., were for many years text-books at Cambridge, and are acknowledged, amidst even more recent productions, to have great merit. deceased was second wrangler and second Smith's prizeman in 1818, and was for some years fel- low and tutor of Sidney Sussex College. Paris Exhibition of 1867.-Tha London news. papers have beea requested to state that the Com- missary General of the Imperial Commission for the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1867, by letter of the 17th instant, has informed the British executive, that no concession has been granted by the Imperial Com- mission for the insertion of advertising placards in the Exhibition building. Exhibitors and others are in- formed that any announcements to the contrary are, the refore, unauthorised. The Colliery Explosion Relief Funds.— During Saturday Rl,148 odd was received by the Lord Mayor of London at the Mansion-house, and at the close of the day the fund now being raised there amounted to nearly £ 8,950. The subscription has only been OK. foot a week, or little more, and the money has come in on an average of over JGI.OOO a day. One day the sum received amounted to £ 2,000. The subscription will continue from day to day until farther notice. Dense Dry Fog in London.-Oa Thursday morning, though the earlier part of the day was clear and bracing, about half-past eight o'clook a thick fog fell over the entire metropolis. Its intensity gradually increased, until it became a work of ne- cessity to light rap the offices and shops. There was no humidity in the atmosphere, the roads and foot- ways being very dry and comfortable for walking, whish has not been the case for several days. The passen- ger river traffic was entirely suspended, and railway travelling impeded by the necessity of extraordinary precautions. In Holborn, near the bottom of Southampton-row, two cabs came against each other, and by the shook both drivers were thrown off their seats, and one of them had his collar-bone dislocated, A little lower down, a woman, in endeavouring to cross the road, was knocked down by a butcher's cart and much hurt. About ten o'clock a valuable horse, belonging to a gentleman residing at Turnham-green, was killed by coming into collision with one of the shafts of a cart, which entered its chest. Trial for Wife Murder.—On Friday, at the Warwick Assizes, William Smith waa charged with the wilful murder of his wife Elizabeth. The wife had been carrying on a criminal intercourse with a man named Langley, and in August last she went away to join him in Liverpool, taking with her the week's wages of her husband and the proceeds of property belonging to him which she had pledged. Langley died, and she returned one night to her husband. For the sake of their children he agreed to take her back, but on the following night- while drunk she commenced abusing her husband and- taunting him with her preference for Langley, and she also spat in his face. At length he rushed at her and struck her with a knife in the neck, the blow dividing the jugular vein and causing almost instant death. The jury found the prisoner guilty of manslaughter, and he was sentenced to 10 years' penal servitude. In passing sentence his lordship (Mr. Justiae Byles) intimated that an applica- tion for a remission of a portion of the sentence might not be altogether useless. The Bishopric of Calcutta.—The Bishopric of CalOCltta. haa been refused by the Rev. J. E. Kempe, M.A., rector of St. James's, Piccadilly. Prior to this it had been declined by the Rev. Dr. Atlay, vicar of Leeds, and the Rev. Dr. Kay, of Lincoln College, Oxford, who was for some time principal of Bishop's College, Calcutta. With regard to the appointment of the Bishop of Madras or the Bishop of Bombay to the metropolitan see of Calcutta, it may be mentioned that Indian papers lately received state that Dr. that Indian papers lately received state that Dr. Harding is about to resign the Bishopric of Bombay and return to England, in whieh case Dr. Gell, Bishop of Madras, will in all probability be Bishop of Calcutta. Dr. Gell was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he took his B.A. degree in 1843, and was afterwards Fellow of Christ's College. He was for some time chaplain to the Bishop of London, and was consecrated Bishop of Madras in 1861. The Bishopric of Calcutta is worth X4,600 a-year, and the episcopal jurisdiction consists of the Presidency of Bengal, including the North-West Provinces, Oude, the Punjab, Assam, Arraoan, Tenesserim, Pegu, and the Straits Settlements. Dr. Livingstone.-The following intelligence of the movements of this distinguished traveller in Africa has been received:—"After fifteen days at the con- fluence of the Rovuma and Niende with the chief N'doude, the party marched westwards, through the country between the two streams, keeping out of sight of both, and passing for three days a desolate forest cleared of people through slave hunting. The first villages reached ware those of the Walolo, a sub-tribe of the Makoa. Several days were spent in passing from village to village of these people; the country became more elevated as they advanced, and the morn- ings proved quite chilly to the natives of the expedi- tion. Another band of desert land was passed, and they then came to the Rovuma, which they followed on its south bank for some distance. To the north the Mazite had carried war and desolation. Leaving the Rovuma, Dr. Livingstone passed among large villages of the Waiao tribe, by whom he was well received. When last seen he had set out from the village of Mataka (where he had abundance of food, including rice and beef, for the people have large herds), en route for Litke Nyassa, distant four days' journey. Living- stone was well, and making onward progress when last heard of." The Alabama Claims.—Mr. Cowen, M.P., in the course of his address to the electors and non. electors ot Newcastle, on Tuesday, made the following observations on the question of the Alabama claims I had a petition forwarded to me from a public meet- ing in this room, in the early part of this year, praying the House of Commons to allow the question between this country and America, arising out of the Alabama depredations, to be referred to arbitration. I agreed with the prayer of that petition; and I am now glad to learn that there is some prospect of the question being reconsidered; and if Lord Stanley reopens this discussion with the United States Government, I think he will in that particular be deserving of sup- port. I cannot conceive anything being more serious to this country than a misunderstanding with America calculated to lead to a war. I would never have Eng- land submit to dishonour or imposition, but if we have been in error respecting the Alabama, I cannot see what dishonour there can be in rectify ing the mistake. Private individuals never hesitate to rectify mistakes, and there is no reason why nations should not do so also." Boiler Explosion at Pendleton.—On Saturday afternoon a steam boiler explosion took place at the bar iran works of Messrs. Maybury, Matthews, and Co., Brindle-heath, Pendleton. The exploded boiler ia one of four ia connection with the engine for driving the rolls, and has only been in use for about six months. The brickwork on each side of the boiler was thrown down, and the boiler itself was oarried about a foot forward in its bed, thus breaking the connection of the steam pipes, so that the steam was blown off from the other boilers, and the works at once stopped. The bricks were thrown in a shower about the plaoe. The roof over the puddling furnaces, immediately be- hind the boilers was carried away by the force of the explosion. A lad named John M'Waters had his log broken by a briok; his escape from death was a very narrow one, as he was within a yard or two of the part of the boiler that was blowa out. A man named William Matthews was struck on the head by a briok by which he was severely injured, as well as scalded by the hot water. The injuries sustained by others t were less severe, and when it is considered that a hun- t dred men were at work at the time it is astonishing that the casualties were not more numerous. The lltd M'Waters was conveyed to the Salford Hospital, and the others were taken home. The total damage to the works will not exceed CIOO, and the stoppage will only be for a day or two. Railway Accident.—The traffio oa a portion of the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway was stopped on Saturday for a time by an accident which occurred between Mossdale and Greyrigg. A goods train from Preston was ascending an incline when an unburdened engine ran into it. The van and a cattle truck were smashed, and eight or nine of the animals killed. The drivers and the guard escaped with very little hurt. An Adventure with Convicts.—A boat, with ten conviofce, was sent from Tonlon to Saint Maadi-ier a few days ago. Taking advantga of a favourable wind, they turned the craft from its course, and ran right before the breeze in the direction of the Hybres. The alarm was at once given, and detachments ot gen- darmes were sent both by land and water to intercept them. The boat was driven aground at Gien, and eight of the convicts were secured; the other two, more desperate and determined than the others, escaped into the woods. They had seized the arms of the boat's captain, and taken the clothes from the helmsman. By midnight they were tracked and surrounded; one, after wounding a gendarme, was killed by a pistol shot, and the other snrresdered.