The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

AGRICULTURE. MANAGEMENT OF EWES AND LAMBS, Touching this subject (says the Field), we have re- ceived from a correspondent some details of farm manage- ment, which are to a certain extent novel, and deserve attention, as they elucidate the point for which we con- tend— namely, that a considerable increase is both desirable and possible, and also point out the methods by which this is to be carried out. We cannot do better than introduce our correspondent by giving the opening paragraph of his letter :— I am the veriest tyro among agriculturists, but will give you, as far as I can, my father's experience and practice for the past twenty years. I would observe that as it has paid hitherto I fear to alter it, yet would I gladly have the question fully ventilated, in order to ascertain whethr a more excellent way may not be pur- sued. I was commercially engaged until three years since, when the decease of my father rendered it de- sirable that I should assume his position. This intro- duction is necessary, as my ignorance may lead to error or vague descriptions, which would be at once detected by the practical farmer. My father, a clever practical farmer, when asked his advice always inquired in the first place as to the number of sheep kept, and invariably recommended heavier stocking, but few followed his advice, on account of trouble and expense." That he did not only preach but also practised may be gathered from the following facts The farm consists of 260 acres of good mixed soils, of which 25 acres are in grass. The flock ewes, as far as we can make out, is never less than 450 strong, and it is our present business to show how these are provided for and managed. The cropping for 1866 was as follows Wheat, 67 acres barley, 69; oats, 4 beans, 11 Italian rye grass and clovers, 19 mangold, 23 turnips, 16. The flock consists of the largest and best half-bred Leicester ewes that can be bought, and we presume the cross has been with the Down. These are crossed with tups procured in Cam- bridgeshire, which are much in request. They^ are a queer compound of Leicester. Cotswold, and Hampshire Down. It is questionable 'whether occasional recur- rence to a purer breed might not prove advantageous. We conclude that growthy, dark-featured lambs are desired, and the improved Hampshire, as bred in the neighbourhood of Salisbury, might produce what is wanted. Tup hmbs were used for the season of '65-66. The fall was abundant, but not so fine as by the same sheep as shearlings this year. Lambing commences about the first week in March, careful arrangements being made as to shelter and attention. The doubles are kept separate from the singles, and when sufficiently advanced are allowed first chance at everything; thus they have the first run over the Italian and clover. We cannot agree in the wisdom of this. Food will go further, the animals will be more evenly fed, manure better distributed, and all have a fairer chance if the crops are consumed by folding in regular sections over the surface. Supposing the lambs old enough to eat, which they will do when turned one mouth, two folds of equal size should be set, lamb hurdles being introduced in the partition fence. The lambs run forward, have the first bite, and can be taught to eat artificial food—a point of vast importance when quick returns are desired. Expe- rience will soon dictate the area required for each fold. We have our flock much better under hand, and can more readily attend to any ailments. Above all, the crop soon recovers and produces a fresh bite. We should not allow the ewes much back room. The great point is to make zhem pass rapidly over the surface. In forward districts the seeds may be ready for the first folding by the middle of April, especially if a top dress- ing of guano and superphosphate of lime be applied in February. We particularly recommend this to the notice of our correspondent, being satisfied from our own experience that it is money well laid out. In favourable seasons fi. e., when we have warm growing showers) a. good crop of hay may be cut after this folding over, or we shall secure a second feed It cwt. of guano, and a similar quantity of bone phosphate per acre, will be a sufficiently stimulating application. To return from this digression to the treatment of the tlock in question. The ewes (150) receive daily about vfOO bushels of barley straw chaff, mixed with a cartload ,f pulped roots, 2001b. of finely-crushed oilcake, a bushel of malt coombs, and in particular instances (weakly ewes with double Iambs, for example) a small quantity of bruised oats. This is generous treatment, and we heartily approve of it. The plan of pulping the roots is decidedly economical, as inducing a larger con- iumption of chaff. We have advocated the practice for years, although hitherto it has been but seldom followed. As the lambs become stronger and the weather warmer they are moved permanently to the .layers, shelter hurdles being placed in the fields, and if the weather be extremely rough they are brought into the yards at night. The object is to keep the maximum number on the smallest possible area. The lambs are early intro- duced to the cake troughs, so as to be ready for sale as soon as the green food is consumed. Last year every lamb was sold by June 1. The gross receipts, amount- ing to £1,078 16s., were thus made up £ s. d. 400 lambs at 28s. 560 0 0 100 Iambs at 23s. 115 0 0 100 lambs at 21s. 105 0 0 14 lambs at 14s. 5:1. 8 0 0 17 ewes at 48,9. 40 16 0 43 ewes at 36s. 86 8 0 9 ewes at 34s. 8c! 15 9 6 .68 tod 161b. wool at 42? 144 0 0 Skins 426 £ 1,078 16 0 t'liis sum represents nearly ;Z-± I 3s. per acre as the gross return from the flock—a remarkably high average, which contrasts favourably with ordinary practice. Within a fortnight of the sale of the lambs, as soon an the ewes are fit to travel, those that are to be kept for the flock are summered out, being brought Back as sooa after harvest as is practicable. It appears to us that if the folding system to which we have alluded were adopted, and the seeds not required for hay, the ewes might be summered at home, expense saved, and the farm enriched. This, however, will depend upon the area required for rape, which is sown after Italian rye grass, and forms the food of the ewes whilst the ram is with them. The rape carries the ewes a longer or shorter period, accordii g to seasons. When the whiter sets in, or the weather becomes cold and wet, the ewes are yarded, and receive chaff and pulped roots with, at first, thiee-qu^rters of a cwt. of corn or cake daily, increasing the quantity gradually to the maxi- mum, 2001b. They are turned out daily into the pastures for exercise, ?.nd get one or two cartloads of •-oofs thrown about.

A DOG KILLED BY BATS. Near one of the grain warehouses, situated on the river bank at Milwaukee,Wis., large swarms of rats have been in the habit of feasting on the wheat which has been scattered around. A few days ago a black nd tan terrier, getting wind of the rendezvous, made an attack upon a couple of rats that had ventured too far into the open air. Seizing one in its teeth, it shook it vigorously. The rat squealed piteously, attracting to the spot a dozen or more companions. These, on seeing the situa- tion of affairs, joined in raising the alarm. In less time than it takes to. tell the incident, the ice around was black with swarms of rats, numbering several hundreds. The terrier, after despatching the first victim, charged into the swarm with the evident determination of serv- ing the remainder in like manner. But for once a tsr- rier was doomed to meet with fight from the poor animals he had so long devoured at pleasure, and in a trice he was surrounded on all sides by a swarm of fero- cious brutes anxious to be avenged for the death of their companion. Then ensued the most frightful scene imaginable. The rats swarmed around their adversary, and fastened their claws and teeth in his flesh. The dog, enraged by the pain, fought bravely, killing scores of his enemies in the contest for life. But the odds against him were too great, and, after a sharp conflict, which lasted for about five minutes, he was forced to succumb. His body was literally devoured by the rats, they seeming to take a savage pleasure in tearing their vanquished enemy piecemeal. Scarcely a vestige of the animal remained behind. The terrier died game, how- ever there were about half a hundred rats left upon the •field, bleeding and mangled, and many more more, or less injured.— Ym- Torlc WorM. j

PASSENGERS' BAGGAGEMAND THE FRENCH EXHIBITION. A Parliamentary paper, comprising the correspondence between the Treasury and the Customs on the subject of the search of passengers' baggage during the period of the French Exhibition, has been issued. Mr. G. W. Hunt, the Secretary to the Treasury, addressed a letter to the Commissioners of Customs, informing them that it appeared the suggestion made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to a deputation which waited on him in January last, that the search might be made in transitu, was deemed by the railway companies to be imprac- ticable. Mr. Hunt then mentioned two other proposi- tions that had been made :—1. That Customs' officers should be stationed at the Paris termini of the Northern and the Rouen Railways, there to inspect any luggage which the owners might desire to be then so dealt with. 2. That Customs' officers at the Paris termini should be present at the weighing and labelling of passengers' luggage for England, and should mark any particular articles in their discretion for examination on arrival in this country, leaving baggage not so marked to be de- livered at once to the owners. In reply to this communi- cation, the Commissioners of Customs, acting upon the opinions of their most experienced and practical officers, demur to both proposals-to the first, as tending rather to increased inconvenience on the part of the passengers, and as absolutely impracticable without great changes in the conduct of business by the railway companies, and important alterations in the railway premises in Paris. The second proposition they regard as less objection- able, but doubt its efficacy to meet the public con- venience, and point to the annoyance that would be ex- perienced by the owners of baggage specially marked for examination, while that of other passengers would be allowed to pass unchallenged. The Commissioners of Customs then propose to meet the wishes of the public at the present time by the adoption of the following plan :-That baggage shall not be registered through from Paris to London, except in presence of the officers of the .English Customs. That such officers shall be allowed to inspect all such baggage while it is being registered and weighed, and to affix a label to any packages they may select. That all such packages so labelled shall be kept separate and distinct from other baggage, and be pro- .9 duced to the Customs' officers in London for examination. That all such' selected pack- ages shall not be delivered to the owners in London without the signature of a Customs' officer. That the railway company shall telegraph to London, either to the Customs or the railway company, the total number o["packages selected in Paris for examination in London, by each train, and the particular numbers of the respective parcels of baggage from which such packages have been selected. The Commissioners undertake that a suffi- cient staff of officers shall be provided, both at Paris and in London to insure dispatch, and prevent delay. All packages selected in Paris to be opened and ex- amined by the Customs' officers in London in the usual way, for which purpose they must be taken to the baggage warehouse. The officers in London may per- mit the delivery of the other packages at once, without interference on their part, under such arrangements as the railway company may make for the proper identifi- cation of the baggage. The correspondence concludes with an official letter from the Treasury, sanctioning the proposed arrangement for speedy adoption, and to remain in force during the continuance of the Paris Ex- hibition.

THE POLIOE PERJURY CASE. Mr. John Ivory, of 53, College-place, Camden-town, pianoforte manufacturer, by whose instrumentality two boys, named severally Pierce and Dye, accused by the police of attempting a burglary, were proved innocent and were acquitted, and the two constables who charged them prosecuted for perjury, one of them to conviction, r' is about to present a memorial to the House of Commons and to the Court of Common Council on the subject. Mr. Ivory, it seems, is a man of very limited means, and his efforts to elicit the truth and bring the true offenders to justice have made him liable for costs to the amount of zEI39 3s. lOd. He states that, in discharging the public duty he was called upon to undertake, he had to fight against the public purse in obtaining a conviction, for the constables were defended by the Commissioners of Police. He now makes an ap- peal to the public to assist him in discharging the liability. He has already received a few subscriptions to this end. In his memorial he recites all the facts of the case, and submits that he has a claim by reason of the service he has been the means of rendering to the public by protecting the interests of two innocent per- sons, and by exposing and securing the punishment ot practices by which the liberties of the people are likely to be most seriously endangered, and by which the police force itself is likely to be brought into suspicion and odium. He moreover states To prevent a failure of justice, a count for conspiracy was added to the charge for perjury against the policemen Hayes and Barry. Upon the conviction of Hayes your memorialist was willing to abandon this indictment; but the counsel for the defence elected to have the charge for conspiracy tried, and the Recorder attached so much importance to it that he suggested its removal to the Court of Queen's Bench. Your memorialist does not feel himself justified in undertaking the responsibility of this further trial, unless he shall receive sufficient pecuniary aid to enable him to do so without personal risk." <8>i f

MIt. LILLEY, a barrister on the Surrey Circuit, was summoned a few days, ago to recover the fee of five guineas paid him on abriet to defend a prisoner at Maidstone, but which he had to hand to a. brother barrister. The judge ruled that, the fee being an honorarium, plaintiff could not sue, and nonsuited her, with £ 2 costs.

FACTS AND F ACETIÆ. I'M a 'tickler friend to you," as the iii-Liff said to the nose. No two words more distinctly express cause and consequences than—gin and bitters. THE Nonconformist says Mr. Disraeli's speech on Reform is like Robert Hall's description of a swinging door—" plenty of motion, but no progress." WANTED.—The receipt which is given when a gentleman pays his respects." Have you ever broken a horse ? inquired a horse-jockey of a reckless-looking young man. "N 0, not exactly," replied the young man but I have zl. broken three or four dog-carts." THERE are two directly opposite reasons why a man sometimes cannot get credit: one is, because he is not known and the other, because he is. A TRAVELLER coming up to an inn-door said, "Pray, friend, are you the master of the house?" Yes, sir," answered Boniface, "my wife has been deacl these three weeks." THE tax on hair powder, it is suggested, may be supplemented by a tax on the powder used by ladies for their faces. Of course, they would make the return honestly, and it would not be often necessary to fine them. AN innkeeper observed a postilion with only one spur, and inquired the reason. Why, what would be the use of another ?" said the postilion if one side of the horse goes, the other can't stand still." A SHOEMAKER with one eye complained that one of his lamrJs did not burn. One of his shopmates, who is a genuine son of the Emerald Isle, with astonish- ment exclaimed, Faith, and what do you want of two lamps ? Ye haven't but one eye." A DEPUTATION of Pundits is to visit England from India. They will not lose caste if they come in a body on business, so after discussion it has been finally agreed. Of course, the Pundits will pay their first visits to Punch and Fun. INSINCERITY.—There is but one thing without honour; smitten with eternal barrenness, inability to do or be; insincerity, unbelief. He who believes one thing believes only the shows of things, and is not in re- lation with nature and fact at all. CONUNDRUMS.— Of what trade is a cler-,yman?'at'. a wedding ?—A join* her. Why are your eyes like stage horses ?—They are always under the lashes. Why d6 the recriminations of married couples re- semble the sound of waves on the shore ?-Because they are murmurs of the tied. Why is a selfish friend like the letter P ?—Because, though the first in pity, he is the last in help. What elegant accomplishment will make you sick if you leave one of the letters out ?—'Music. Why is wit like a Chinese lady's foot. ?—Because brevity is the sole of it. Why did' the accession of Queen Victoria throw a greater damp over England than the death of King William ?—Because the king was missed (mist), and the queen was reigning (raining). What is the difference between celery and salary ? The one you must bank before you can get it; the other you must get before you bank it. What is the difference 'twixt a watch and a fedder bed, Sam ? Dunno, gin it up. Because de ticken ob de watch is on de inside, and de ticken ob de bed is on de outside.'j A BROOKLYN paper closes a notice of the criticism which Miss Kellog received at her last appear- ance in Boston, as follows When she comes to her own loyal Brooklyn, bless her little heart, she shall do just as she pleases. She shall throw cakes all over the orchestra; and laugh in all the serious tableaux if she wants to, and siiig I Beware in The Barber,, and Wearing of the Green,' in Faust, if so inclined." "Now, gents," said a Yankee at dinner, guess I'll show somethin' that not a critter in this room ever seed afore, and not a critter livin' ever will see 'gain. D'ye bet?" The bet was made, and the Yankee took a nut off the dessert plate, and cracking it, held up the kernel between his finger and thumb. Now, gents, I calculate none of yer ever seed that kernel afore, and (swallowing it) I guess you'll never see it again. Please fork out." ° I WHEN Moore was getting his portrait painted by Newton, Sydney Smith, who accompanied the poet, said to the artist, Couldn't you contrive to throw into his face somewhat of a stronger expression of hostility to the Church Establishment • A FARCE was produced in Bannister's time, under the title of Fire and Water." I predict its fate," said he. "What fate" whispered the anxious author at his side. c £ What late said Bannister; "why, what can fire and water produce but a 'hiss?' HAIr,-BIRAINED.-P.ipa, one of my schoolmates says his brother wears moustaches what are they?" Moustaches, my son, are bunches of hair worn on the lip by certain dandies as a substitute for brains." Well, papa, are those who wear moustaches what are called hair-brained people ? "OH, neighbour!" exclaimed a woman in a sorrowful tone, "do you know that your Tom has fallen down, and broken his neck Poor lad was the reply, "what a mercy he has not broken his bones J RACING.—Fine.c]ay for the race," said a wag to a sporting friend one bright morning lately.—"What c; In race?" anxiously inquired the friend. "Why, the human race, to be sure/' was the reply. AN old Scotch lady had an evening party, where a young man was present who was about to leave for an appointment in China. As he was exceedingly extrava- gant'in his conversation about himself, the old lady said, Take care o'yoursel' when ye are awa' for mind ye, they eat puppies in Cheiia." ON the banks of a rivulet near Strabane is a stone with this singular inscription, which was no doubt intended for the information of strangers travelling by that road Take notice, that when this stone is out of sight it is not safe to ford the river." This is some- thing similar to the famous finger post which was erected by order of the surveyor of the roads some years ago in Kent:—" This is a bridle path to Faversliam. If jcu cant read this, vou had better, keep the main road." I ON MARRIAGE. Don't marry too young don t many unless you have a little money beforehand in the savings' bank, and have the prospect of earning more by stead}- work. Don't marry, if you mean to spend half your husband's earnings in ribbons, shawls, and finery. Don't marry till you know something of household economy, and can be contented with little. He and finery. Don't marry till you know something of household economy, and can be contented with little. He I' who spends all will soon be in the workhouse. Don't marry till you have leanied to give and take, to bear and forbear, to put up with one another's infirmities, remembering that thers are faults on both sides. CURIOUS LADIES.—Yv hat lady is good to eat? —Sal Ladd. What lady is good to eat with her ?— Olive Oil. What lady is made to carry burdens '-Ella Fant. What lady preaches in the piilpi-L ?-Minnie Stir. What lady does everybody require ?—Ann U. Ity. What lady is acquainted with surgery?—Ann Atomy. What lady liveel in Noah's time '? Ann T. Diluvian. What lady is fond of debate ?—Polly Tishun. W hat lady paints portraits ?—Minnie Ture. What lady paints comic ones ?-Carrie K. Ture. What lady is fond of giving ?—Jennie Rosity. GIRLS, BEWARE !—Girls, beware of transient young men. Never suffer the addresses of a stranger. Recollect that one good farmer's boy, or industrious mechanic, is worth all the floating fops in the world. The allurements of a dandy Jack, with a gold chain round his neck, a walking-stick in his paw, a threepenny cigar in his mouth, or some honest tailor's coat on his back, and a brainless, though fancy skull, can never make up the loss of a good father's home, and a good mother's counsel, and the society of brothers and sisters their affections last, while that of such a young man. is lost in the wane 0" the honeymoon..

HUlTS UPON GAR.DENI13"G. I'LOWJE.S GARDEN.—Annuals will require thinning out, ).nd the straggling kinds will be the better for topping. There are very few who know all that may be done with annuals by giving them a rich soil, plenty of room, and oocasionallly pinching out the points of the leading shoots. Spergula planted this season will need constant weeding and rolling. Until the turfs join together, weeds of ail kinds have their own way, unless kept in check hat after it has closed and begun to form a turf, grass s the only weed that troubles it. Established lawns of -ipergula need frequent rolling, and that is about all the trouble necessary to keep them in perfect order. If there- are- many worms in the ground, water with lime-water in damp weather, when the worms are near the surface, to get rid of them, as they not only injure but absolutely destroy this plant, by throw- ing their casts up in the centres of the turfs. Flower t eels are supposed to be turned once or twice dur- ing winter, and to be manured if necessary in spring. Supposing them to have had such proper attention, now ts the time to turn the soil once more, and break the clods, and make all tidy. But hewara of making the ground over fine. When muddled into fine powder with rake and hoe, it will either exclude air and rain from the roots of the. plants, or if the rain forces admission the soil will become a sort of paste. We are m advocates for raking beds to the fineness of peat-dust, and would stwwr w the surface rough with clods broken to the size of one's fist than looking as if had been run through a sieve. Plant out lobelias, pentstemons, calceolarias, verbenas, and all the hardier kinds of variegated edging plants. If very hot sun, or very cold nights, shelter with inverted pots or branches, or if trouble and ex- pense are not thought much of for the sake of an early bloom, hoop them over with tiffany as tulip-beds are treated. FRUIT GARDEN.—The east winds that have blown so keenly all the past week have done good for old-estab- lished trees, for there is nothing like a dry east wind to set the bloom but recently planted trees are all the worse for them what these most want is a leaden sky and occasional light rains. Where the garden is exposed to the east, newly planted trees should be safely staked, and the ground be liberally mulched about their roots. Protection is still needful on fruit walls, but at the first change to westerly winds it may be removed. Mean- time let the trees have air as much as possible. Dry borders in gardens where the soil is rather thin and hot require now a good soaking with water. Small quan- tities will do more harm than good, but a heavy dose will do immense good. On deep and fat loams the trees will do very well till rain comes again. ORCHARD HOUSE.-Treec; in pots must have plenty of water and plenty of air. A good breeze through the house will do them good, and it will be a help to shut up with a little sun-heat. If this house is now over- crowded with all sorts of odds and ends that have been brought in through the overcrowded state of other houses, say at once farewell to the fruit crop. The crowding of fruit houses with things that. have no right to a place in them is a common cause of failure. Renew the top-dressing now, and let it be good. Trees in borders must have plenty of water. Look out diligently for the little fat grubs that cause the leaves to curl. They must be caught in detail; there is no certain manner of dealing with them wholesale. Strawberries that have been forced require to be carefully hardened off before removing them from the protection of the glass. Place them in a cold pit for a fortnight, and then plant them out, and they will do well. Those now fruiting to have plenty of air, or the fruit will lack flavour. Discontinue the use of liquid manure as the fruit advances to ripeness. KITCHEN* GARDEN AND FRAME GROUND.—Cabbage, Cauliflower, &c. Hoe between to loosen the surface and destroy weeds. The frequent use of the hoe will obviate the need of watering in dry weather. It is only where the ground is allowed to bake into an impervious crust that kitchen crops suffer by drought. Parsley Sow on a rich border, very thin, and cover the drills with tiles or stones for about ten days then remove the covering, and the parsley will be found peeping through. This plan hastens the germination of the seed, which is gene- rally very slow. Kidney beans may be sown in the open ground now sow also a few in pots, to make good any that miss in the rows. Sow also in pots or pans sufficient seeds of scarlet-runners for a first planting, to give an early supply. They will be a fortnight earlier in fruit than those sown in the open ground next week. The old scarlet-runner is the best for general purposes the best white is the Case Knife. WORK OF THE SEASON.—In cutting asparagus, take only the strongest shoots. Give plenty of water and weak liquid manure. Transplant from seed-beds as fast as the young plants get at all thick, and use the hoe wherever weeds appear, so as to keep them down, before they have time to flower. Plant out capsicums and tomatoes under a hot wall, and cover with bell-glasses till rooted. Sprinkle soot over the ground, and hoe it in a few days afterwards. Sow broad beans, peas, radish, celery, onions, cabbages, cauliflowers, borecole, beet, kidney beans (main crop), lettuce, small salads, spinach, turnips, carrots, endive, and cucumbers for planting out on ridges early in June. Gardener's Mar/mi, ir.

SPORTS AND PASTIMES. Tiiz fight between Wormald and O'Baldwin, for £400 and the belt, was to have come off on Saturday morning, but did not. A special train was prepared to start from the South-Eastern Railway Station at London- bridge, and did start. Wormald went down by it, after a very narrow escape from the police. His antagonist, however, after driving up to the station, had his horse tinned in another direction, and it was understood that he was to join the special somewhere down the line. This, however—either from accident or intentionally— he did not do, and the fight did not take place. The stakes were therefore awarded to Wormald. THE new season of the Crystal Palace programme, just issued, presents, as usual, a great variety of attractions. Foremost among these are nine grand opera concerts on Saturdays in May, June, and July. That these will be of a varied and interesting character may be gathered from the announcement that, by arrangements with Mr. Gye, of the Royal Italian Opera, Covent-garden, and Mr. Mapleson, of Her Majesty s Theatre, the artistes of both opera houses will appear this year at the Crystal Palace. This liberal arrange- ment will, no doubt, be appreciated by the holders of season tickets. Besides the opera concerts, it is also stated to be the intention of the directors to undertake a great benefit concert, on a grand scale, in June, for which very numerous offers of assistance have been already received. The great flower show of the season will be held on Saturday, May 2.5, and the rose show on Satur- day, June 29. Amongst the novel features of last year's programme, none were more successful than the pyro- technic displays and illuminations of the fountains, and the ballad concerts. They will be resumed this year. Two ballad concerts will be given on the 8th and 20th of May, for both of which Mr. Sims Reeves is engaged and the first great display of fireworks will take place on Thursday, May 23rd, the day after the Derby Day. The Dramatic College Fetes will be held as usual about the middle of July, and some archery meetings on enlarged and improved arrangements a little later in the season. As the guinea season ticket admits to all these attractions, it will, no doubt, be much sought after. Last year's issue of season tickets was much larger than any former year, and, with such an attractive programme, it is confidently anticipated that the forthcoming season will even show better results. It is gratifying to be able to state that the great holiday fetes of the year, viz., Good Friday and Easter Monday, have maintained their position with regard to the number of visitors. On Good Friday and Easter Monday alone upwards of 70,000 persons were present and as more appointments than usual have already been made for the great excursions—viz., the Odd Fellows, Foresters, Temperance Societies, and other benefit institutions, the attendance of large num- bers during the coming season may be fairly antici- pated. The season opened on May-day with a great choral performance by the Metropolitan Choral Schools, conducted by Mr. G. W. Martin. On this occasion the great Handel Orchestra was filled by 5,000 singers in connection with the schools, who sang a variety of national part songs, each part being sustained by up- ,s wards of 1,000 voices. Notwithstanding the severe winter, the gardens, although a little backward, are in excellent condition. The 0 first display of the terrace fountains commenced on May-day. THE ISLINGTON YOUTHS' INSTITUTE.—The members of the above institute, assisted by a few friends, gave an entertainment at Barnsbury-hall, on Thursday evening. Judging by the crowded state of the room, a good even- ing's amusement was expected, and the visitors were not disappointed. Numerous songs and recitations were di,-α- 11 given, mingled with solos and duets on the pianoforte and violin. Miss Mabel Brent gave, in her own beautiful style, the" Jewel Song," from Faust, and several other pieces. Amongst the popular recitations of the evening were The^Natural Bridge (Mr. Ingledew), The Storm" and The Country Fair" (Mr. T. Bohn), The Execu- tion of Montrose" (Mr. J. C. West), and a -selection from Dickens's "Chimes" (Mr. G. Young). Some of Mr. j Alfred Smith's songs were loudly encored by the audience. The Misses Grosvenor, Miss Fuller, Miss Saunders, and Miss Faithfull, in turns, presided at the piano, the latter playing very effectively the accompaniments. Mr. George Grosvener played on the violin with great taste, and received a large share of approbation. A vote of thanks to the hon. secretary of the institute (E. J. Tabrum, Esq.) was passed amid loud applause, and the visitors left fully satisfied with their evening's enter- tainmmt. I

A VISIT TO WHITEC!R OSS-S TREE T PRISON. On reaching the penal part of the prison, which I re- solved to visit first, I found an omnibus conductor haranguing an admiring audience, and disclosing the secret of how some disreputable members of their calling contrive to evade the vigilance of the skipper," as he is called, or the man deputed by the company to watch their proceedings. Some of the particulars are certainly curious, and I give them, as far as I am able, in his own words :—"Yer see," said the orator, "when they opens their mouths so, and points down their throats, they mean that the skipper is about, so they are to be werry cautious what they say to one another. When they wind about their hand in a circular way, it means that the skipper is either, as it may be, down at the Oxford or at the Piccadilly Circus. When they swing the arm round, it means that the skipper's a-taking stock o' the ins and outs what the old carawan's a-carrying of; and when they holds up the fingers it tells how much they've made." In another part a man was inveighing against the injustice of the laws, which, he kept repeating, were made to press hardly on the poor and not on the rich. He told a very sorrowful story of his life, and yet it seemed in no way to rouse his hearers from their ordinary state of listless apathy. They all looked as if they had almost become reconciled to the prison as a dwelling- place, and would have hardly cared to leave it. On going into the Middlesex side of the prison, I saw a little old man, of eccentric appearance, hurrying through a group of idlers engaged at a game of ball. That old gentleman," said the obliging turnkey who conducted me, was a clerk for forty years to a great bill-discounter and money-lender in the City. The people here joke him wonderfully, and ask him to discount pieces of dirty paper picked up from the ground. They often pumped over him in the Queen's Bench, when, years ago, he used to visit that prison for his master, who is said to have almost filled it with his own debtors. They never lay rude hands upon him in Whitecross- street, but draw him out wonderfully at night, over the fire, about his late master's doings, and the rate of dis count in the City. He started upon his own account in the discounting line, but he broke down in a few weeks, though he is still with some little means left." I followed the little old gentleman with some curiosity into his own ward and, as most of the prisoners were relieving the monotony of their existence by the scanty recreation allowed them, the old clerk and I stood alone in the gloomy corridor. After exchanging courtesies, I offered him a newspaper, but he politely declined it, and then asked me eagerly what the funds were quoted at. I soon found him more communicative. His late employer's wealth, he told me, amounted to nearly three millions of money. "But," he continued, "he works it in many ways and under many names a good deal underground, as it were, which keeps his name, notwithstanding his multifarious monetary transactions, so little known in the world. Many great names in the City," said the old man, my master laughed at, for he knew to a shilling what they were worth, and often he has said to me in an under-tone, when the wealth of some man was spoken of, Gingerbread! ginger- bread We shall see we shall see And sure enough, sooner or later, the name was to be seen in the Gazette. Notwithstanding his colossal fortune, this great bill- discounter, I heard, appeared to enjoy but little happi- ness or ease. But possibly the old clerk's views of his master's business had undergone a change since he tried to start in the same line himself. I saw and conversed with many other strange people in the place, but the old clerk was the most communica- tive, and with one of his stories of his master I must conclude. I had been asking him whether the money-lender had ever shown any compunction in pressing a creditor, and whether he had ever let natural feelings overcome his love of money and anxiety for a very high rate of interest. Yes, sir," said the old man. "Since I came to this miserable place he has supplied me with a little money to relieve my necessities. I remember, too, 25 years ago, when his favourite daughter was thrown from her horse at Putney some baronet or other was staying there at the time, and both he and his sister showed Miss Jessie the greatest attention. She returned home that evening comparatively unhurt, and the old gentle- man very properly wished to write a tender letter of thanks to the baronet upon the following morning, but, bless you, being so long out of the tender line, none of us could manage it. Poor old Thompson, who is since dead, was asked to write it, because, in his earlier days, he was at Harrow School; but, from form of habit, he began it thus Sir,-I am directed by Mr. to call your attention to the fact of your bill At this we all laughed, and no one more heartily than the old governor himself. "However, the baronet did not stand much upon ceremony, but on the very day that we were trying to put together the letter—which the governor said would destroy our business style of writing for ever- the baronet himself arrived. He was a fine-look- ing man, and dressed splendidly. He shook the Z, governor by the hand as if he had known him for years. No thanks, my dear sir only too happy, only too proud. A lovely girl! Your eyes exactly, only just softened into tender womanhood.' And didn't the governor stare at all this till his visitor suddenly added, I By-tlie-b),e,, I'm in a terrible fix just now. What a life of trouble this is You can do me a service—exchange cheques for a thousand for 48 hours.' From any other man in the world this would have been to the governor fair testimony as to the fitness of that man for a prolonged residence at Hanwell; but here was a man of distinguished rank who had watched over his child, his love for whom formed the only green spot in his heart, and for whose sake he would for once be generous." The baronet's coup-cl'etat prevailed. And at the re- collection the old clerk chuckled heartily. Was the money paid I asked, wishing to hear the end of the story ? Oh, no, bless you. The baronet had no bank un- less 'where the wild thyme grows.' But he had rendered a service to the old man's darling, and that atoned for all." The iron tongue of the bell now tolled the. hour of departure for visitors, and I abruptly took my leave of the old man and left the place.—Cassell's Magazine.