The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

A PRESENTIMENT. At the Bow-street police-court, in London, John Parker, jeweller, appeared on his bail to answer the charge of having received a gold watch, knowing the same to have been stolen property. The prosecutor in this case is Alr. Garroway, commission agent, of 83, Gower-street, London, who states that he was locking at his watch by the gas-light of a tavern in Oxford- street, at about half-past ten o'clock on the evening of July 1st, when hia watch was snatched out of his hand by a young man of about twenty, who escaped with the watch and best part of his chain, which was snapped in two. During the night a "presentiment" came to him (Mr. Garroway) while he was in bed, in consequence of which he went straight to the shop of the defendant the next morning, and found his watch, as he expected, in defendant's possession. It was lying on his counter, and defendant said he had bought it about an hour ago as a worn-out watch, for 29s. 6d., of a young man who gave the name of "John Roberts." The de- fendant offered to give up possession of the watch, but wit- ness called in a constable and directed defendant to give it to him, while he applied to Bow-street for a summons on "public grounds." The Prosecutor was now cross-examined at great length. He said-I am a commission agent, but it is four months since I have been engaged upon any material com- mission. The last transaction was connected with the purchase of two boilers for an eminent firm at Liverpool [ also xlo business for the Royal Insurance Company. I have been kept in town aince February respecting a claim 1 have made upon the government for the use of one of my patents. I purchased my watch of Mr. Grant, of London- wall, about a year ago, and I value it at 51. I have the uumber of it in a book at home, but I identify it by the solder mark on the ring, which has been repaired, and by c rtam engravings upon the movement. I consider it worth &L because it keeps time by Westminster clock (laughter).. I am a spiritualist, I believe in spiritual agencies. A pre- sentiment came to me while I was in bed, at about three o'clock in the morning after the robbery, and it pointed out to me the shop of the defendant, in Long-acre, which I had often noticed, as the place where my watch would be sold. I did not see the form of any one particular spirit, but the presentiment was "spiritual." I accordingly went with my friend, the ReY. Mr, Bligh, to the defendant's shop, and had scarcely made my statement as to the robbery before I saw the case of my watch on the counter. I identified it imme- diately, and the defendant said he had bought it, only half an hour ago, from a man who gave the name of John Roberts." The magistrate: Did you not express some astonishment when this name was mentioned, and say, I know the thief and will have him in two hours ?" Prosecutor: I did not say that exactly. I said to my friend, Mr. Bligh, that the name of '• John Roberts" was mentioned to me by the spirits mentally (laughter). I was naturally startled, therefore, when I heard defendant utter, that name I had said in the night, as I lay restless and sleepless in bed "I wonder if the spirits can assist me in this matter." I called them up, so to speak, and I said mentally, Come, now, see what you can do for me" (roars of laughter). Solicitor for the Defendant: And what did the spirits say in reply? „ Witness 4Ley impressed me with the answer Yes," I said, "Will you do it?" Then it was that the name of John Roberts" was flashed across my brain. Did the spirits favour you with the address as well as the name of the thief?—No, not then but I am so strongly impressed with the belief that the information would come to me, that I might have said I felt certain I should find him. Now, returning for a moment to dull reality, was not the watch i ing on the defendant's counter open to the view of any person who might enter the shop ? It was open to the view of any one who might be looking for such a thing, as I was; but it was in fact placed on a part of the counter railed off by iron bars about an inch apart, and ready, as I thought, for the melting-pot. „ Witness, on leaviug the box, handed m a copy of the Spiritual Magazine, and begged his worship to read the report of a case, precisely similar to his own, where a watch had been recovered by spiritual agency. The Rev. W. Bligh, Minister of St. Paul's Special Services, Mortimer-street, confirmed the statement of the prosecutor aa to the interview with the defendant in the shop in Long- acre, and said his friend had not mentioned the "spiritual presentiment" to Uizn till then. Cross-examined: He was not a spiritualist, but there might be soma truth in spiritualism. Mark Bentisck, of Spital-square, a witness called for the defence, stated that he was in the shop selling defendant nome old watch casM. when the prosecutor and Mr, BUgh were present, and he distinctly heard the former say that a spirit had told him where to find the thief Roberts, and he would have the vagabond in two hours." By the Magistrate It was a regular trade to sell old watch and silver cases to be melted up. He valued the case pro duced at 25s. Old materials were not worth much. They were bought to make up cheap watches. The solicitor for the defence urged that a more extraordi- nary and improbable story had never been submitted to a court of justice, and it was really marvellous that in the year 1867 a sana person could be found capable of uttering such miserable twaddle and expecting to be believed in Turning from the spiritual evidence and coming to the evidence of fact, happily more effective with a jury, where was Mr. Grant who sold the watch to the prosecutor; and where was the book in which Mr. Garroway said he had got the number of his missing watch ? Granting that a robbery had been committed (and there was no evidence of this beyond the prosecutor's own statement), he denied that the evidence of identity was sufficient. Hundreds of old watches had the solder mark referred to, and also the engrav- ing, and seeing what reliance this gentleman placed upon his spiritual belief, it would have been far more satisfactory to have heard the opinion of the gentleman of whom he bought the watch only a year ago. No jury in England would convict a respectable tradesman upon such wretched pretences, and he felt ashamed that his client had been dragged to the court and exposed to the annoyance of answer- ing such a charge. No doubt his client had purchased this old watch at its fair value, and seeing that the dome was not gold, had wrenched it off. It was a common every-day tran- saction, and although he might be willing enough to deliver it up, on finding it claimed-for the purpose of avoiding the annoyance of a dispute about it-it was preposterous to say that.he had any guilty knowledge, seeing that the watch had been placed upon the counter open to public view, and there had been no attempt to conceal or deny the transaction from first to last. The magistrate said: My judgment in this case will not be influenced by any spiritual or moral impressions, but by the materia] circumstances which have been stated in evi- dence. The question is whether, having heard all I have heard, I am satisfied that there is a prima facie case to be submitted to a jury. I have arrived at the conclusion that there is such a case. The prosecutor speaks with certainty as to the identity of his watch which he has had twelve months. He goes to the shop where it was found, and the prisoner states that he had purchased it of a perfect stranger, whose address he did not take, but whose name only was ascertained. The dome of the watch had been wrenched off, and if this was done by the prisoner, as his counsel had suggested, it was open to him to have pro- duced it here to-day. Under these circumstances it must be left for a jury to say whether the prisoner purchased the watch with a guilty knowledge. The defendant was then committed for trial, but admitted to bail.

A MELANCHOLY SUICIDE. An act of suicide of a most determined and mysterious character was committed on Thursday in last week at York. In the afternoon of that day an exceedingly good-looking young woman, apparently between twenty and thirty years of age, and presenting a lady-like appearance, went into the White Swan Hotel, Pavement, in the above city, and asked' for a glass of sherry, which was supplied to her. In a few minutes it was perceived that something had evidently been put into the wine, when the lady said that she was delicate and in the habit of taking medicine, and that the sherry con- tained quinine. This observation lulled suspicion, and the female drank the contents of the glas3, it is asserted, in the presence of two or three other persons. After a while considerable alarm was created in the house by the young lady falling upon the floor of the room, it was believed, in a fit. Mr, Marshall, surgeon, was con- sequently sent for, and on smelling her breath he at once came to the conclusion that she was suffering from the effects of essential oil of almonds. A bottle was found in her pocket containing the same kind of poison. She was quite unconscious, and although every remedy was used to restore her, it was perfectly unavailing and she re- mained in a state of insensibility until her death, which took place about three hours after she had taken the deadly draught. From a letter which was found on her person, it was believed that her name was Emily Hawkes. It also trans- pired that at two o'clock that morning she had come from London, and in the first instance had gone to Scawin's Hotel adjoining the railway station. Beyond this nothing was known respecting her. The description of the girl is as follows:-Age 25 or 20. fair complexion, dark hair, of middle stature, slender in build, attired in a plaid silk dress, brown sealskin jacket, and a purple velvet hat with white feather. She wore gold ear-rings, a gold Geneva watch, and had upon one of her fingers a gold ring set with pearls and emeralds. In her dress she had also a gold brooch containing light hair. In her pocket, and in a small leather ba, which she had left at Scawin's Hotel, were also found a variety of articles, and some it is thought may lead to her identification. There is clear evidence that she has been residing at No. 3, Alma-terrace, Scarbro'. Amongst other things was a second-class railway ticket, dated the 3rd June, from the King's-cross Station to York, and a letter, bearing date the same day, making an assignation with Captain Carpenter, of 28, Ashbo-place, Victoria street, London. The latter is in a very well-educated handwriting, is dated Wednesday, informs him that she is longing to see him, and that she is to be found in the ladies' waiting-room of the King's-cross Station. The note is signed 11 Emily Hawkes," and to lead to her ready identification, she adds that she will be wearing a hat with a white feather in it (the same head dress as she wore when she committed her rash act). Besides this note, which at the first glance would appear not to have been delivered, was another note heading bearing Major Carpenter's printed address and monogram, but the writing which the sheet has evidently contained, is torn away, as also is deceased's name on the envelope in which the note in question is supposed to have been enclosed. From this fact it may be presumed that the note fixing the assignation may, as it is found upon her, have been returned. An en- velope bearing Major Carpenter's address is amongst the rest, and bears evidence of never having been fastened. An official order from the Horse Guards, dated.June 22, was also upon her, informing Ensign Bell, 3 W.I. Regiment, 3, Alma-terrace, Scarboro' that his passage from Southampton to Jamaica had been arranged, and instructing him that the steamer would leave on the 2nd of July. An envelope was also found directed to the same address, only bearing the name of Major Bell." A daguerreotype portrait of a military-looking gentleman was found, as well as a slip of paper bearing a memorandum as to Lloyd's Weekly News- paper and Fun, and the words "Vignettes—Up. Camp, Jamaica." All these facts point to the leaving Scarbro' for Southampton, and having there seen some person away, a return to London, an assignation at the wait- ing room of the Great Northern Hotel. There pos- sibly a disappointment, and her return to York on her way back to Scarbro', which her suicide prevented her reaching. An inquest was opened on Friday, and adjourned until Monday, when some letters were read showing that the deceased was the daughter of Mr. Hawkes, of Dorset-street, Southampton, and was named Emily Agnes Hawkes. A letter from her father, who is seventy-five years of age, showed that he and his wife were in great distress of mind about the fate of their daughter, and that he (Mr. Hawkes) could not under- take a journey to York under the circumstances, coupled with infirm health and advanced age. He therefore requested the Chief Constable of ork, to whom the letter was addressed, to supply him with the account of the expenses of the interment, and he would take the earliest opportunity of remitting the sum due. A letter from the Chief Constable of Scarborough showed that the young lady was in Scar- borough in the latter part of March last, when she stated her name was Julia Thompson, and that her mother and aister resided at Brighton. She also spoke of being badly treated by some person, but she did not mention the name. She never stayed at No. 3, Alma-terrace, Scarborough, nor was she known there, except by hearsay. The letter went on to state that Enaign Bell was at Manchester at the end of March, and imme- diately after his return to Scarborough the deceased was first seen in that town, and slept at the Bell Hotel tfctere with him., representing to be hia wife. She removed from Scarborough to Filey, and stayed there with a person named Richardson. Evidence was adduced to show that the deceased and Ensign Bell were at York for three weeks in April last, and lived together as man and wife. The deceased had been for some time in a very uneasy and restless state, and often hysterical. Occasionally she was very depressed in mind. It was clear that the deceased had committed suicide by taking a large quantity of the essential oil of almonds. Verdict-Temporary insanity.

DESTRUCTION OF A SHIP BY FIRE. The barque Meteor, of Sunderland, irom New York for London, with a cargo of, palm oil, waa burnt on her passage on the 14th ult. The first and second mates, the carpenter, and four of the crew,' were burnt in her. The captain and the remainder of the crew landed at Falmouth on Monday. Details of the calamity are given in the following report Report of Iatthew Mason, of the late barque Meteor, of Sunderland, 363 tons, thirteen hands all told, from New York for London, cargo petroleum. Weighed anchor at ten a.m. June 12, at 12.30 p.m. off Sandy Hook, ship steering E.8. E. All went on well until the morning of the 14th, when in lat. 39, 21 N., long. 69, 9 W., at nine a.m., the watch were thrown into confusion by the decks blowing up and flames running up the mast; boats all destroyed, and sails set oa fire, and in a few minutes all three masts went over the aide in flames. At this time five men were below, two of whom got on deck, the others perished in the flames. The re' mainder of the crew, ten in number, then took to pieces, of the decks and whatever could be got iiold of. I ordered the crew before the masts fell to wait for them, but two did not do so; the chief officer and one of the crew kept to pieces of the decks and drifted away. The masts fell three minutes after the explosion. The remainder of the crew and myself took to the masts,but found to our sorrow that we could not get a way from the burning ship owing to the bobstays holding us fast. The heat was intense, and we had to immerse our bodies in water, and often our heads. Our sufferings no one caa depict all being crippled with burns and bruises. One man with broken legs, who we had to lash to the spars; another one leg broken: one so much burnt that he had but little skin on his body, from his waist to the top of his head and blind another had the skin burnt off his leg, and back. Our position was dreadful The ship coming head to wind she was burning all aft. Taking the chance of the stay giving way forward, and the masts drifting alongside of the ship, we were expecting her to sink every minute, and taking the masts with her, which was the only thing we had to stand upon, rather sit on. No vessel coming in sight, we gaveup our. selves for lost. About eleven a.m., the man with two broken legs died. The spars drifted a little a-head at one p.m., which slightly protected us. The flames were then 100 feet high. A few minutes subsequently a vessel came in sight to leeward, but she beat up, the captain making the best of his way to our help. We were so distressed that it was some time before he could discover if any of us were alive, and owing to the glare of the fire and intensity of the smoke. At a distance of four miles he put off his boats. During the time of the boats' coming to us one of the burnt men died. The fire had now reached the copper. About six p.m. the boats reached us and we were got in truly exhausted We found the vessel to be the Prussian barque Lucy and Paul, Captain Schiel, from New York to Cork or Falmouth, for orders. We found that the captain had picked up one of the crew at three p.m., on a loose spar. We found that the chief officer had been drowned, who was with this man. We cannot speak too highly for the kindne -s and attention paid to us on board the Lucy and Paul; the captain attending li with medicine, bandages, and other necessaries. Arrived So Falmouth July 8. The following were saved:-Matthew Mason, master; J. G. Lambton, Charles Brien, leg broken: James Malcolm, John Boyd, Peter Johnson. Received at the Sailors' Home, Falmouth, on Monday evening. The following were lost :-H. F. Donalson, mate, drowned Adolphus Scher, died; John Cruze, died; Robert Baker, burnt; the second mate (name unknown), burnt; and an able seaman (name unknown) died.

DAILY LIFE OF THE QUEEN. We learn the following particulars from the London correspondent of the Boston (U,S.) Journal:- Her Majesty lives in great retirement. She is seldom seen about Windsor. She has a private station at which she arrives in the train. She has private grounds in which she drives. Servants complain bitterly of the quiet and inactivity of everything royaL The horses are unused, and the stablemen yawn in indolence. Little company is received. The state plate has never been used since the death of Prince Albert Her private apartments are inider the charge of Highlander, named Brown. He is the Queen's domestic prime minister, and has more influence over her than Derby. He attends her Majesty to and from London, and gives orders with imperial grace. He holds his position to the intense disgust of the English members of the royal house- hold. On State occasions he goes bare-legged, and the servants who do his will, coming from the Queen's private apartments, wear the same significant Highland costume. The Queen does not attend the royal chapels, either ia London or Windsor, as she dislikes to be gazed at. She has private chapels at Windsor and Buckingham, where øh. worships. When public duties call her to St. George's ChapeL she enters her closet, which is merely a bay window jutting into the chapel covered with curtains, and adorned simply with purple, from which she can see all and be seen by none. She has her own special servants, through whom all orders are issued. Even the crowd of men who wear the royal livery and sleep under the same roof, do not see the Queen from one year's end to another. Her drives are all private. The Home Park has a drive of six miles. The royal forest at Windsor extends over 100 miles in extent; so the Queea need not suffer for want of exercise. The elegant State horses champ and snort in the stables, while the Queen,. In a low-backed wagon, a low-wheel carriage, and her stubbf pony takes a drive.

SALE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT'S ORIGINAL MSS. I. On Saturday afternoon, by direction of the trustees of the late Mr. Robert Cadell, of Edinburgh, Messrs. Christie and Manson sold at their rooms, in King- street, London, the original manuscripts of Sir Walter Scott's celebrated poems, and several of his novels and prose works. Amongst them was a portion of Ivanhoe," which is believed to be the only remnant of that romance which Sir Walter Scott wrote with his own hand, as the late Mr. John Ballantyne acted as his amanuensis for a considerable part of it, owing to the author having recently recovered from a severe illness. The manuscript of the "Lay of the Last Minstrel" was not preserved. All these interest- ing literary relics are in a perfect state of preservation, and uniformly bound in russia with uncut edges. A vast number of literary men were present. The fol- lowing were the prices realised :— "Marmion," 191 guineas; "The Lady of the Lake," 264 guineas; The Vision of Don Roderick," 37 guineas; "Roke- by" (in detached pieces partly, bearing the postmark of various districts), 130 guineas; "Lord of the Isles," 101 guineas; "Introductory History of Ballad Poetry," 54 guineas; Auchindrane," 27 guineas; Anne of Geierstein," 121 guineas; "Waverley," Ivanhoe," The Bridal of Tre- maine," and other papers, with autograph, 130 guineas: "Tales of a Grandfather" (portion of the original manu- script, with autograph), 145 guineas; Castle Dangerous," 32 guineas; "Count Robert de Paris" (a portion only) 23 guineas. The sale thereof realised 1,255 guineas. Mr. Hope Scott, Q.C., was amongst the principal bidders.

GOSSIP ABOUT THE SULTAN: The Sultan is only in hus 37th year, but his long flowing beard, now quite grey, gives him rather a venerable appearance. He was brother to the late Sultan, who is said to have destroyed himself by excess, and though the latter left several children behind him, they were none of them qualified to fill his place, as, according to Royal law in Turkey, the eldest member of the family of Osman succeeds to the throne. Abdul- Aziz, however, has taken his nephews by the hand and treated them as his own sons. He has a horror ot wine and tobacco, and divides his time between study and bodily exercise. He is a first-rate sportsman; loves horses, and possesses the finest animals that can be seen in that country; he has elegant carriages, which he drives himself, and has set the example to all the rising generation of Turkey of setting aside the lazy habits of the East and enjoying themselves in healthful recreations. He contents himself with one wife, Falmu Sultana, whom he treats with the highest regard and respect, and has one son, born in 1857. He takes every opportunity of discountenancingpolygamy, and at his private parties he plays and sings as an amateur musician, exhibiting to all his guests the happi ness of a domestic hearth, where peace and unity reign around. The Sultan is connected with Napoleon by a slightly attenuated thread of relationship. His mother was a blood relation of Napoleon's first wife, Josephine. She was a beautiful Creole, got captured by the Turks, and was, on account of her striking beauty, reserved as a present for the Sultan. She became the Queen of the Seraglio, and mother of Abdul Aziz. The Parisians persist in saying that the Sultan, by way of returning this compliment, is bringing with him a host of virgin beauties fresh from Circassia—the last cargo --as presents to the French and English Ministers, Embarrassing that, We read in the Paris LtilJerte It has been stated that the Sultan speaks French this is a mistake. At Monday's ceremony Fuad Pacha stood behind his chair. Every time the Emperor of the French ad- dressed the Emperor of the Ottomans, Fuad Pacha acted as interpreter between the two speakers." The grand review which took place on Monday in Paris enabled the Sultan to judge of the appearance of the picked troops of France, drawn up jn a series of lines some miles in extent, but there were no manoeuvres to display their efficiency in drill. The review was held in the Champs Elysees, the troops extending all the way from the Tuileries to the Arc de l'Etoile in a direct line, and thence along the Avenue du Roi de Rome to the plateau of the Trocadero (facing the Pont d'lena and the palace of the Exhibition), the only open space where the troops could deploy, and on the other hand along the Quai de Billy, past the Ponts d'Alma, des Invalides. and d'lena. Altogether there were from 30,000 to 40,000 troops on the ground. The Emperor and the Sultan, both on horseback, surrounded by a gorgeous staff, left the Tuileries shortly before four o'clock, and the inspection of the troops occupied them several hours. The Sultan was mounted on a gorgeously caparisoned Arab horse, which he rode with ease and dignity. Either by accident or design, a considerable number of the regiments which appeared before the Sultan took part in the Crimean war, and were reviewed in 1854 at Constantinople by his late brother, Abdul Medjid.

ANNOTERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF KONIGGRATZ The anniversary of the battle of Koniggratz (July 3) was celebrated in Berlin and all over the country, in great and in small circles, by adorning the principal streets with Prussian banners and flags. The public were in a state of great enthusiasm. The King more particularly distinguished the day by ordering the consecration of the banners for the newly-erected regiments to take place. The solemn act was accord- ingly performed at ten o'clock in the morning in the broad avenue which leads from the Lustgarten to the newly-placed cannons. In that avenue an altar had been erected. The troops, appearing in their' gala uniforms, formed a square, in the midst of which the standards and banners were placed. His Majesty the King and his brilliant suite took their stand between the altar and the banners, and after a prayer the clergyman pronounced a blessing on the banners to be inaugurated, while they were taken hold of and lowered by the commanders. The troops having marched past the King, the banners and standards were, with military honours, carried to the castle. A very numerous public went from Potsdam and Berlin to be spectators of that significant festival, and gave frequent tokens of their enthusiasm for the army and its Royal leader, who, on this day twelvemonths, gained undying laurels both for himself and for Prussia.

A DISPUTE BETWIXT TWO LEGAL GENTLEMEN. In the Court of Common Pleas, in London, the cause of Williams v. Lee" has been tried, and was an action brought by Mr. Williams, formerly a barrister on the North Wales circuit, but now a County Court Judge on the same circuit, to recover rent in arrear and also damages for dilapidations and waste alleged to have been committed by the defendant, an attorney, who had taken Mr. Williams's house, at Pinner. With reference to the claim for rent, the amount was paid into court It seemed that Mr. Williams had, while prac- tising at the bar, bought some land and built a house at Pinner. When he* was appointed 0"' e County Court Judge in Wales, of course he had to leave his residence, and in 1863 he let it, with the grounds, to the defendant for three years. Mr. Williams now complained that the house had at the end of the term been left in a dilapidated state, the garden and orchard partly dug up, lected, and the fenoes broken, ana that the paddock had been badly cultivated, mown twice a year, and not sufficiently manured. For the dilapidations inside the house the plaintiff claimed ten guineas; he paid upwards of 51. for setting things to rights m the gar- den and orchard, and the paddock ought to have been manured at the rote offjt, an acre. there being three and a half acres. ii ihmm .ii winimiiJiimua ■win 1; The defence was that the house was built of old materials, picked up all over the country, was in fact known as "the House that Jack built," and having been badly constructed the weather had got in and ao caused the dilapidations complained of. As to the cultivation of the land, the defendant kept pigs and horses, whose manure and 60 loads of other manwe had been put on the land and improved it greatly. According to the defence there never was such a wretched hole as this house. It was damp, it was out of repair, the boiler leaked, the oven would not bake, the grates could not hold fuel, the doora were without locks, and when it was required that a bedroom door should be closed it was necessary to put a fender or some article of furniture against it. Mr. Lee had some three or four under tenants during his term, none bf whom would stay in the house, and as to the mew- ing the land twice a year it was said that Mr. Lee knew nothing about it, and that ll. for the repairs aivi 21. 10s. for the hay (which sums were paid into court) was sufficient to satisfy the plaintiff's demand. In summing up to the jury the learned •) udge re- marked that both Mr. Williams and Mr. Lee being members of the same profession, though of different branches of it, must be taken to be business men, and should be bound by their agreement. Mr. Lee was bound to keep the house in repair, such as was suited to the style of house, which Mr. Williams said was not a first class house, but simply a cottage built for his family, of no great size, added to at different times, and suiting him very well. Both Mr. Lee and his wife had seen it before they took it, and knew in what state it was. As to the land, common sense alone would tell anyone that if you take two crops of hay in a year out of land you must supply nutriment to it in the form of extra manure. His Lordship then com- mented on the evidence adduced by the plaintiff and the defendant, pointing out the discrepancies care. fully, and the jury found a verdict for the defendant,

THE WIMBLEDON MEETING. The shooting at Wimbledon began on Monday, Captain Roe, of Cambridge University, won the Oxford and Cambridge Bronze Medal, with a score of 42 marks. Last year Ensign Ko'le, of Oxford, was the winner with a score of 39. In 1865, Private Dyer, of Cambridge, won it with a similar score, and in 1864, Ensign Thompson, of Cambridge, with 44 marks, the best score yet made for the medal. The shooting for the N.R.A. bronze medal shows a similar improve- ment. Sergeant Knox, of the South Middlesex, on Monday scored 45. In 1864, the medal was taken with 42 marks, in 1865, with 45, and last year with 40 the conditions each year being alike. For the Enfield Association Cup Mr. Edward Ross made 20, thf highest possible score at 200 yards, and 17 at 500 yards. This may be beaten, but last year 36 marks took the prize; there were then three scores of 19 at 200 yards and one score of all bull's eyes at 500. For the St. George's Challenge Vase, which was shot for on Tuesday, the entries for the first stage were over 1,100. Sergeant Baillie, of the London Scottish, made the fine score of 27 marks. The highest possible score is 28 marks, and 25 was the highest last year. The International "Enfield" Trophy, which is an annual match be, tween England, Scotland, and Ireland, with twenty, representatives from each country, commenced on Tuesday at twelve o'clock, and resulted in favour of Scotland. The numbers were the Scotch, 1.086 the English, 1,048, and the Irish, 958. The ni-hest pos- sible aggregate score is 1,680 for either of the twen- ties. In 1865 Scotland won the match, scoring 1,047; England scored 1,029, and Ireland 909 marks. Last year England and Scotland alone competed, and England won with 1,070 marks Scotland 1,059. It is satisfactory to be able to state that the health of the occupiers of the camp is so good that the duties of Surgeon- Major Wyatt and hia staff are a sinecure.

WHITTLES w. WITTOLS. Chauoer records the fame of Sheffield WlHiUee And the town then was known for its sharp btadot Bat now its hands are the true Sheffield Wittefc.* Who trust to mwsioo aad murder's "-Fw"

HktapHiati (Scsstp, BY OUF. OWN CORRESPONDENT. [The remarks under this head are to be regarded as the suppression of independent opinion, from the pen of a gentle- man in whom we have the greatest confidence, but for which are nevertheless do not hold ourselves responsible,] The principal "Topic of the Day this week is the unhappy fate of the Emperor Maximilian, who at the early ag-s of thirty-five has fallen at Queretaro by the guns of a. firing party told off as his executioners. Royal executions are happily matters of rarity, and society does not easily recover from the shock occa- sioned by the intelligence of such a melancholy event. Twice before have the annals of this century been stained by the wilful spilling of royal blood, when the Duke d'Enghien and Joachim Murat were sacrificed, but neither of these monari-ha could boast blood so kingly as th&t of the Hapsburgs, nor was the mourning for them so deep or so wide spread. The papers of the day still continue therefore to refer to the subject and publish every scrap of intelligence which serves to throw any light upon the last moments of the ill-fated Maximilian. According to the political and social tendencies of the respective prints their opinions of his executioners vary. Some denounce the Juarists m angry terms as bloodthirsty regicides, while others look upon them merely as the instruments of causing those who use the sword to perish by the sword. Some declare that the Mexican chiefs are justifiable, and in support of their views quote the slaughter of every king since the 3ve whom Joshua hanged; while others, referring to the past lives and brutal conduct of the Juarists, brand them as savages whose delight is in blood; and who, not satisfied with death, would wreak their vengeance on the body of their late Em- peror, All, however, unite in regretting the death of Maximilian as a man, not merely because it has plunged the courts of Europe into mourning-, but be- cause the heroism which he has displayed and the sorrows against which he has had to contend, have won for him the admiration of the_ common people of every country but that of his adoption. Many eagerly ask can his death not be avenged and the wild chiefs who have slain him graced with hempen collars ? Un- fortunately such a conclusion to the matter is not likely, but ft revenge from the stern hand of the Great A vengeris ao less sure. It is certain that if they are let alone the members of the court-martial which condemned the Emperor will cut each other's throats. For the last fifty years throat-cutting has been a time-honoured custom of the country. The population is made up of a very few of the old Spanish dons, a considerable number of Indians and negroes, and an immense variety of half castes-the result of intermarriages among these people. Such a people are like mongrel curs, and while displaying a certain amount of courage, or rather of blood-thirstiness, lack the nobler qualities of their race. Years ago their Emperor, Iturbide, fell beneath their hands, and after his death faction after faction ruled in the land, those out of office indulging in shooting those in office whenever and wherever the opportunity presented itself. Assassination and pillage were every-day occurrences, and gashed corpses and smoking farmsteads told not unfrequently of the propensity of some so-called patriot. Out of this ohaos Maximilian, backed by the bayonets of the French, sought to bring order. The vain attempt has cost France more soldiers quietly shot from ambushes than Napoleon would care to tell, the Empress of Mexico her reason, and the Emperor his life. Mexico has returned to her normal condition, and the end is near. Juarez is no savage, as many suppose, but an Indian who has raised himself from the humblest station to the legal bench, and the presidency of the country. His judgment is good, but his passions are fierce. His chiefs will ill bear restraint, and each envies his supreme power. Certain disagreements will arise among them. The disaffected" will rob the mails and waylay travellers, and end by either having their own throats cut, or cutting the throats of their rivals. So the game will go on, until the Americans, spying their opportunity, pour in through Texas—and add Mexico as another state to their union. "A consumma- tion devoutly to be wished." Last week was intended to have been. a. gala. weelcx throughout Europe, but the official intimation of the Mexican catastrophe greatly dimmed the display. It Ht rarely that the happy people, who have money in their pockets and time at their disposal, have so many great events occurring in the space of eight days, among which they may pick and choose. At Home, the centenary of St. Peter and the canonization of a new batch of saints. At Paris, the great triumph of an unparalleled exhibition, a real live Sultan to gaze at, and fetes to enjoy, and at London, a royal review and an Egyptian Viceroy. The Roman festival took place with all pomp. Far above 100,000 visitors crowded the Eternal City, priests of every country and every grade crowded its street. St. Peter's was illumi- nated from cross to basement (doubtless at the cost of ieverallives aa usual), rich hangings fluttered within, censors swung, and loaded the air with heavy incense, one poor man, in a fit of religious enthusiasm, stabbed himself to death, and amid the acclamations of a multitude, a number of individuals were added to the already 1 en gthy roll of those whose names are greeted with Ora pro nobis The first part of the French f6t<es also took place, but the fdtes in honour of the Sultan and our own review were at once counter- manded when the Mexican news was officially con- firmed. The postponement of the Review at the eleventh hour was a Had blow to the Londoners who had made up their mintk to enjoy themselves. The great ma- jority of those who intended being present were warned in time, and did not venture towards the park, but numbers of the non-newspaper-reading classes started, armed. with bag and flask, only to be met by troops returning to their country quarters, or by posters intimating that the great event was postponed. It is understood that it will take place a fortnight from the original date, a.nd will be graced by the presence of the Sultan, It ie, therefore, to be hoped that it will be a greater display than was at first intended, and that many more regiments will take part in it. Meanwhile the balconies in the park remain covered with tar- pauling, and guarded by policemen, and form objects ¡w interested contemplation to innumerable gamins. It wac; iraderatood that the Princess of Wales would grace the review with her presence, and many had in- tended being present merely to see her once more. Of course iShey had to swallow their disappointment as be-C they .Gould, On Saturday, while I chanced to be between Hatton-row and the fashionable carriage dri ves by Knightsbridge Barracks, I observed a com- motion among the carriage folks, and stepping up to the rail was just in time to get a good look of the Prince and Princess of Wales as they drove along, Their ap- pearance was so unexpected that there was no time for any great display of loyalty, but on every face there wAs an evident satisfaction at seeing her Royal High- ness lool; 80 well, and, indeed, at seeing her again at ili. The. ridern in the Row having an inkling of what wa.s goim; wi, dashed to the lower end, and had a good vjewof the carriage as it passed by the northern bank of the Serpentine, and from the excited manner in which both they and the carriage folks waited, it was evident that they would be greeted by a.hearty cheer on their return. They did not come back, however, and our loyal intentions were frustrated. The Viceroy of Egypt, after disappointing as the beginning of lust week, arrived on Saturday. It seeiBsi now to be a matter of contention among us as to who shall show him the greater honour. Earl Th.l(leyag put his mansion at his disposal, the Duke of outnerland, the municipality, and the United ►Xfvice 01 ub a.re to ffite him, and he will share the general festivities of the season with his nominal master. Certainly the Viceroy seems bent on enjoying himtwu and making the most of his time, for although he<i»ly arrived at Charing Cross on Saturday evening, A few hours later he visited the Italian Opera House, tH1 no bgan hia experiences of English society. It that the Sultan will come about the 12th instant, ile wm find plenty to entertain him. The day after _;¡F arrival he will visit the Queen at Windsor, (lien lie will I have a municipal banquet, a. State banquet and ball, a naval review, a military review, the Wimbledon feathering, and the grand rifle ball in tho Agricultural HalL Surely that is enough to occupy any man's time for a fortnight! For tho lecept.on of the illustrious visitors who are to our capital during the next fortnight, we seem to-bf pu!j-ng rrir public buildings to pieces. Ten rooms of Buckingham Palace have been decorated in the manner which our upholst^T?rs deem Oriental, tbe Guildhall has apparently been turned inside out;, and the Agricultural Hall would not be recognised by its Christmas visitors. The last-menfcioned building is decorated with peculiar grace, and seems admirably suited for the grand ball in honour of the Belgians, which is to take place within its walls. The Belgians are expected in this city on the 12th instant. The Wimbledon shooting has, however, already begun, and is being carried on as enthusiastically as in former years. The camp has been considerably extended to meet the requirements of the volunteers, and looks extremely gay with its white tents and many coloured flags gleaming in the sunshine. The theatre and the club have again appeared, and excite as much interest as of yore-wb;' the post-office and the telegraph- office are in ful- Arork. It is intended that there shall be a grand demonstration in the camp on Saturday when the Belgians arrive. Every Belgian will receive a medal commemorative of his visit, and the Prince of Wales will address them from the grand stand. Alto- gether, the arrangements seem calculated to give the greatest satisfaction, and it seems certain that the Wimbledon gathering of '67 will be a great success. It is satisfactory to observe that a move in the right direction has at length been made with regard to our soldiers. An order has been issued from the War Office granting twopence a day of extra pay to our red coated defenders. Certainly this reform has not come before it was needed. The life of a soldier may, on the whole, be not a very hard-wrought one, but at the same time the men are apt to be called on to submit to great fatigue in time of peace and to be shot at in time of war. Surely fifteen pence halfpenny is not an extravagant remuneration for such hazards: and the guardsmen are quite worth the two shillings and a farthing which they receive, as a permanent London spectacle. But when we reflect that our army, besides being ornamental, has proved on many a hard- fought field all that is brave and useful, we more than ever rejoice that one of its standing abuses is removed. There are many more still to be swept away, but the times are moving onward and public feeling in the matter is daily growing stronger, so that ere long we may hope to see soldiering as honourable as any other trade, and the ranks of the British army recruited, not from the dregs of society, but from those who are untainted by debauchery or crime. News again reaches us concemingDr. Livingstone, and this time of a hopeful character. Dr. Seward, who long ago came to the reluctant conclusion that the illustrous traveller had perished by the hands of the treacherous Mazite, now writes to the Bombay Government, ex- pressing a hope that he is still alive. He bases his hope upon a communication which he has received from the Governor of Keelwa through the Sultan, in which it is stated that Livingstone had-passed on into the interior beyond the point at which he was said to have been slain. The evidence of the slave traders is thus confirmed. Of coure no certain information will be received until the return of the Livingstone Search Expedition, but meantime it is pleasant to cling to the belief that the report of Livingstone's death had its origin in the lying brain of Moosa, and that he is now pursuing the researches which have made his name so famous. For some time back there have been rumours that a great epidemic was ravaging the Mauritius, but no creditable information as to its nature or extent reached this country until a day or two ago. It proves to be more appalling than the most lachrymose could have conceived. The old enemy, fever, has ravaged the beautiful islands from beginning to end. Almost everybody was taken ill, and quinine, the great febrifuge, was selling at 281. per ounce. Those who could afford it willingly paid away their gold for the medicine, and those who had no money had to die. Scarcely one in a hundred of the population escaped seizure, and in some families nine or ten were ill at once, unable to aid each other. Carts moved through the streets, carrying off the dead, and hurrying them into pits, as in the time of the great Plague of London but many died unattended, and their putrid bodies poisoned the air. At length a ship having on board a thousand pounds weight of quinine arrived, and was hailed as the messenger of life. The drug was distri- buted and the plague was stayed. For many the relief came too late families had been swept away, and there was not a house in which there was not one dead. Indeed it was as a Mauritian says, as if the curse of God was on the place." A very interesting sale took place at Christie and Manson'a on Saturday. Many of the MSS of Sir Walter Scott's poems and works were exposed for sale and brought high prices. The Lady of the Lake brought the largest sum, being knocked down for 264 guineas. The sale realized 1,255 guineas. The MSS are in excellent preservation, being bound in Russian leather with the edges uncut. Almost all the literary notabilities of the city were present at the sale,