The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

DECLINE IN THE PURCHASING POWER OF GOLD. The following is an extract from the Circular of Messrs. Seymour and 35] wyn, of 38, Throgmorton-street, London:- The present position of the money market brings forward again into prominent notice the important effect upon prices caused by the great gold discoveries fifteen to seventeen years ago. It has been computed by great financial authorities that the purchasing power of the precious metals has declined from 20 to 25 per cent. since that period. In many articles of ordinary expenditure, such as provisions, servants' Wages, &c., the increase in the cost, measured in specie, is 40 per cent., and, in some exceptional cases, even more. The question becomes one of serious con- sideration for the holders of fixed incomes, more especially now that we seem to have arrived at a point when the production of gold is far in excess of the demand. For some years past considerable amounts have been annually consumed (if we may use the term) for jewelry and other ornamental purposes. Still larger sums have been devoted to the purchase of silver for export to the JKast. These last transactions have for the moment almost ceased. Bullion appears to be both plentiful in India and China, as well as in France and England, at-least in proportion to the wants of the widely diversified populations of Europe and Asia. Meanwhile the accumulations of specie in Paris and London are steadily increasing, and show no present signs of diminution. Hardly a day passes without some fresh announcement of farther supplies, either actually arrived or on their way. The effect of this influx promises to transcend all former experience. One significant circumstance may be noted. An extraordinary rise has been taking place for years in the money-cost of precious stones. Diamonds, rubies, emeralds, &c., are at least twice as dear as they used to be. It seems likely enough that by this means we can ascertain more clearly than by any other the actual fall in the value of gold. Both gold and pre- cious stones command, as it were, a fancy price, and, if the one declines at the expense of the other, the inference is clear that one of the two is prejudiced by comparative over-production. An important point to be noticed is, the influence that may be produced on railway property by this unprecedented accumulation of bullion. When the first gold discoveries were made, individuals who lool< ed far into the future sold their government or other stocks, giving a fixed rate of interest, and, where possible, bought land instead. No doubt they were right originally, notwithstanding that it has taken some time to prove it. Perhaps the same process will take place with regard to railways. The commerce of the country is not likely to stand still, and, whatever may be eaid of the existing finan- cial arrangements of too many companies, it may, nevertheless, be taken for granted that the general traffic will steadily increase. The proprietors of the ordinary stock will, of course, reap all the benefit of this advance. The preference shareholders can but get their fixed dividend, and no more the debenture- olders will also be entitled to nothing beyond the repayment of their capital in the same form in which they advanced it, however much they may thereby be exposed to loss.

ANOTHER CHARGE OF FENIANISM General Fariola," arrested last week in London, was brought up on Monday before the magistrates at the Dublin police-office, and charged with complicity in the Fenian rising on the 5th of March last. He is arwell-looki-ng man, about thirty-eight or forty years; -f age, speaks the English language with remarkable ease, and leaves upon the beholder the impression that he is possessed of intelligence of a high order. No evidence was given to prove that he was General I Fariola," but the landlord of the Italian hotel in Cork deposed that he had stayed for some time at his hotel, from which he suddenly departed on the eve of the insurrection, and that he had received visits from Patrick Joseph Condon, who was tried at the last Special Commission at Cork, and that letters had reached the hotel addressed to him by the above title. It was also sworn that Godfrey Massey, the now informer, and who, it is reported, will identify him on his trial, should he be committed, had been at the hotel while Fariola was there, but the landlord had not seen them together. Fariola put I many very intelligent questions to the witness, and when it was made known to him that he would be re- manded for a week he asked for paper and writing materials to prepare his defence. A number of letters that were in the hotel awaiting him to claim them are in the hands of the police, but their contents are not known.

A NEGRO EXECUTION. A coloured man, named Williams, was recently executed at New Brunswick (N J) for shooting a man named Re(ldick. As the fatal hour drew near the prayers of the doomed man grew more fervent, and the six clergymen with him, one of whom was a coloured preacher, redoubled their exhortations. Hymns appropriate for the dread occasion were sung, during which Williams gave forth frequent ejaculations, such as— "I ."ee my Father; "Welcome King Jesus;" "The gates are open to receive me;" "I want to go rijiht away;" "this is really God s day ■" my .fesus will give nie to eat and to drink and to wear "Oh, Lord, come quickly; "brethren fear not death-It is good to die "meet me in heaven for I shall be there soon;" to-day I shall sing with the angels in heaven—glory be to God." While on his knees his body swayed to and fro after the manner of coloured persons during religious excitement every fibre and muscle in motion. After a time he was re- quested to get off his knees and sit down, as he might be tired. "No," said he, I'll sit. dow inglory soon." He was soon requested to stand up, and while in that position clap- ped his hands and danced for very joy, uttering expressions of hope and prayer for sinners, calling all present to meet him in glory when they left this earth. Not a shadow of fear of death or doubt appeared to cross his mind during the whole morning. On an expression being made that he might be sustained in his hopeful strain of mind to the last. and that his soul might he saved, he ?,id. Don't be uneasy, brethren you needn't think I am going the other way; I shall surely be in heaven before twelve o'clock; be sure you meet me there." He was consulted about the disposition of his body after death. He said, It matters not who's soing to bury my body. I have no friends. I am called an Ethiopian man, hut, glory to God, this day the poor Ethiopian is going to be in heaven. Friends will take care of my body but Jesus will take care of the soul." At length the hour of execution arrived. About ten, ex- Slieriff Cox came into the cell with a suit of clean clothes, and said, "Joseph, we are come to dress you." He responded, "All right; I am prepared to pro." On Mr. Cox saying that it was a nice suit they were going to put on him, he said, "I'll have a better one on soon in glory." He was then dressed in a pair of black pants, white vest, black merino sack coat, white shirt and collar, and while adjusting the collar, he said, 'I don't want any standing collar, for God don't want any; I II look well enough in his sight." After he was dressed and the noose placed round his neck, he was led to the door of the cell. and the death-warrant read to him by the clerk of the court. This long and wordy docu- ment, occupying some twenty minntes in readme, did not disturb his equanimity in the least, and at the close he said. All right—God be praised." He was then asked, "Brother do you feel that the Lord is with you?" "Oh, yes, I do." He was then advised to keep his mind constantly on heaven and not allow himself to he disturbed by the surroundings' when he said-" Never fear for me, the Lord is with me He then expressed a desire to see Bridget Dergan, the con- demned murderes, of Mrs. Coriell. As he stood at the door of her cell, she sat inside plunyed into a state of the deepest dejection. The woman 1'fted her eyes from tbe ground, and they fell upon the ominous form of her dark skinned prede- cessor, with his arms bound, and the deadly noose around his neck. She sank down a'.rail), cower in 2 and sobbing, while her face became of a ghostly colour. Williams said to her, "Bridget, I've come to bid you good-bye. May the Lord bless you. You can't be redeemed unless you repent and ask his forgiveness. He will hear your cry, and stand by you at the last. With me to-day has been one of God's days-the happiest of my life. If you wish to see me again you must come to Jesus, for I am going straight into his arms. Good- bye, Bridget, may the Lord save your soul" With a heart- rending shriek, which reached the ears of the assembled crowd outside the jail, the unhappy woman crouched down in a corner, buried her face in her hands, and shook in an an controllable fit of emotion, The negro proceeded to the place of execution attended by Sheriff Clerkson and the Rev. Mr. Page. He was placed under the scaffold, the noose fixed to the fatal rope above his head, when he said, in a clear voice, without the slightest apparent tremor or fear—"Friends, this is my last day. In a few minutes I shall be with Jesus. Meet me in heaven, where I am going soon. It is there you will find me on the day of judgment. Thank God for this day It is blessed to be here. 0 yes! now let me go. Amen." A part of the fifty-first Psalm was then read by the officiating clergyman, while Williams ejaculated, "Thank God, I'll be washed clean and white to-day. To-day is one of God's davs." On being counselled to stand firm, he said, "I don't mind this at aU in a little I shall be with Jesus." The black cap was then drawn down over his face, which was calm and peaceful, and covered with an air of perfect resignation; the Sheriff stepped into the little pen beside the scaffold the dull blow of the axe on the rope was heard, the heavy weight within descended, there was a convulsive jerk in the air, and the soul of the negro was launched into eternity.

ATALANTA IN CAMDEN TOWN. Ay 'twas here, on this spot, In that summer of yore, Atalanta did not Vote my presence a bore, Nor reply to my tenderest talk "She had heard all that nonsense before." She'd the brooch I had bought, And the necklace and sash on; A nd her heart, as I thought, Was alive to my passion And she'd done up her hair in the style that the Empress had brought into fashion. I had been to the play With my beautiful Peri, But for all I could say, She declared she was weary, That the place was so crowded and hot, and she j "couldn't abide that Dundreary." Then I thought, 'Tis for me That she whines and she whimpers;" And it thrilled me to see Those sensational simpers And I said, This is scrumptious!" a phrase I had learned from the Devonshire shrimpers. And I vowed, 'Twill be said I'm a fortunate fellow, When the breakfast is spread— When the topers are mellow— When the foam of the bride-cake is white, and the fierce orange-blossoms are mellow." Oh, that languishing yawn Those emotional eyes I was drunk with the dawn Of a splendid surmise- I was stung by a serpentine smile, and tossed on a tempest of sighs. And I murmured, I guess The sweet secret thou keepest, And the dainty distress That thou wistfully weepest; And the question is Licence or Banns;' though undoubtedly Banns are the cheapest." Then her white hand I clasped, And with kisses I crowned it; But she glared and she gasped. And she muttered Confound it!" Or at least is was something like that, but the noise of the omnibus drowned it.—Punch. :=,n-

THE HOUSE OF LORDS AND THE REFORM BILL. The, Times asks how it happened that Lord Derby, having been converted by the resolution of the House of Commons in 1859, did not at once act upon it, instead of going out, of office ? It may appear still more strange that the fact of his conversion was never revealed until npw in all the years that have since elapsed. The Daily Neivs notices the admission of the Con- servative peers that it is the Liberal party which has created the necessity which that party unwillingly obey for they would have preferred to adhere to the settlement of 1832. Now, indeed, they affect not to fear household suffrage. How can they account, then, for the terms of violent denunciation and affected panic in which, for many years, they have spoken of it, unless they plead guilty to the systematic and organized hypocrisy which Lord Carnarvon charges upon them? The speeches of Monday night add ad- ditional touches to th picture of poEtical demoralization andfactious self-seeking which the debates of the House of Commons have delineated. The Standard supports Lord Derby's appeal to the House of Lords not to stultify itself by first condemn- ing the bill as bad, and then reading it a second time. Lord Derby fully admits the right of the Upper House to alter the bill if it pleases, but he contests its right to give such a perfectly gratuitous and purposeless insult to the House of Commons. The work to be done is one which must be done by the concert of both Houses. The Morning Post admits that in consenting to pass any bill which a majority of the House of Commons approved, the patriotism of the Ministry was, doubt- less, admirable, but the sceptical may be tempted to inquire how it came to pass that Lord Derby and his colleagues only thought of manifesting it when they came into office. The Morning Star feels it is a calamity to compel a nation to receive political improvements as the pro- ceeds of nefarious intrigues But household suffrage is too good a thing to let slip and while sarcasm is well applied to its dishonest promoters, the bill itself, having been made honest in their despite, will receive in the Upper, as in the Lower House, the cordial sup- port.of every genuine Liberal. t-

A REMARKABLE WILL CASE. In the Court of Probate, in London, the cause of "Phillips and another v. Holmer and others, Spreckley and others intervening has been heard, and was a suit for revocation of probate, the plaintiffs being the cousins-german and next of kin of George Phillips, late of Streatham-park, and the defendants being.the executors of a will of the 15th of July, 1865, and a codicil of the 30th of August, 1865. The plain- tiffs pleaded in opposition to the codicil that it was not duly executed, incapacity, undue influence, and that the deceased did not know and approve its contents. The value of the testator's property was said to be about 200,000?, and by the will of July, 1865, the testator left it to his solicitors. Messrs. Holmer, Robinson, and Stoneham, as executors and trustees on trust, to pay annuities of 1201, to Bbzabeth Spreckley, one of his servants, 100Z. to Sarah Ann Ransom, another servant, legacies of 400Z. to John Shew, the carpenter in his service, and of lool. to James Darby, a cow- man in his service, and subject to these legacies on trust for hIS next of kin. By the codicil he save legacies of lool. each to Dr. Noel, his medical adviser, and to Mr. Greenly, his assistant, and 1,0OOl. to his old friend, Mr. Holmer, and he left the residue of the property "unto the several legatees named in my will and this my codicil to hold to them, their heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns absolutely as tenants in common, and not as joint tenants, and this I desire to be taken as part and parcel of my will." Several witnesses were called to prove the perfect capacity of the testator up to the date of the codicil. Some months previously he had injured his ankle and was unable to walk without assistance, and he became very infirm. The account given as to the execution of the codicil was in substance that he had no intention of leaving the bulk of his property or any part of it to his relations, with whom he never held anv communication, and of whose existence he seemed to be ignorant; but, not having made up his mind as to the dis- position of the residue, he inserted the trust for the benefit of his next of kin in his will by the advice of his solicitors, for the purpose of avoiding the difficulties that were likely to arise if no disposition was made of the residue. After the will was executed he had more than once referred to it as an incomplete document, and said that he had not made up his mind as to what he should do with the bulk of his property. He lived in a small gardener's lodge on his estate at Streatham, with his attendant, John Shew, and the two maid servants, Spreckley and Ransom. On the morning of the 30th of August, 1865, he was taken very ill, and expressed a wish to see Mr. Holmer about his will. After an early dinner, he fell asleep, and a few hours afterwards Mr. Greenly, his doctor's assistant, came to see him. Find- ing that lie was very ill, Mr. Greenly and Shew went to fetch Mr. Hohuer, and returned with him about seven o'clock in the evening. They found the testator sitting on a sofa in a very feeble state. He recognised Mr. Holmer, who asked him if he wished to complete his will. He nodded his head and said, "Yes," but his art! lation was very ill. distinct, and Mr. Holmer, who is of advanced a^e and deaf, could not hear distinctly what he said. Mr. Greenly, at Mr. Holmer's suggestion, asked what legades he wished to give, and he said, 11 1001. to Mr Greenly," who put his own name down for that amount. Mr. Greenly then reminded him that he meant to leave something to Dr. Noel, and he said, "Yes, IOOl." He then looked at Mr. Holmer and said, My old friend, 1,000 £ and in answer to a question by Mr. Greenly repeated the instruction. Mr. Greenly asked him what other legacies he wished to give. He did not answer at first, and shook his head. Mr. Greenly, at Mr. Holmer's suggestion, then asked him if he meant to leave a bequest to any charitable institution. He shook his head and said, "No, no, no," emphatically. Mr. Holmer then asked him what he had made up bis mind to do with regard to the residue, and said, "If you have no next of kin you are aware it is virtually undisposed of," He said, as far as Mr. Holmer could collect his answer, Divide it among you all, and those mentioned in my will." Mr. Greenly repeated those words, and he said, Yes." Mr. Holmer repeated, Then you uive the residue among those in whose favour you have made bequests in your will and codicil," and he assented. Mr Holmer and Mr. Greenly left the room and went downstairs, and the codicil was written out by Mr. Greenly from the dictation of Mr. Holmer. Mr. Greenly took it upstairs to the testator and read it to him, and asked him whether it was what he meant, and he nodded, and said, Yes." Two neighbours named Thom were fetched by Mr. Greenly to attest the execution. It was then about nine o'clock, and the testator was much worse. Shew guided his hand to make his signa- ture, and then the witnesses signed it. He sank rapidly, and died before twelve o'clock that night. Mr. Greenly in giving his evidence omitted at first to mention anything about the instructions for the disposition of the residue, and it was only recalled to his recollection after the learned Judge had read over his notes and severa! questions had been put to him. The memorandum which Mr. Greenly had made at the time contan ell nothing but the names of the specified legatees and the amounts of the legacies, and he said it did notoceiii- to him, and no one suggested, that he should make any memorandum as to the disposition of the residue. The attesting witness. Mr. Thom, who was a stranger to the testator and to all the parties, stated that at the time of the execution the testator appeared to be in a helpless and apathetic state, and his eyes were closed, but he signified his assent to the questions that were put to him, and exhibited a willingness to do what he was asked to do. Before signing the codicil Mr. Thom asked him in a sharp voice in order to rouse his attention, Do you wish me to sign this?" and he then opened his eyes, looked him full in the face, attempted to articulate, and made a gesture of assent. Mr. Thom felt so much doubt as to the testator's capacity that when he went home he wrote out a clear and exact account of all that had passed, and sealed it up. and that account was now produced and read. The Queen's Advocate summed up the evidence on behalf of the plaintiffs Dr. Deane addressed the jury for the next of kin. The Judge Ordinary said this was a case of strong suspicion, and the evidence was open to much observa- tion. The question was practically whether the testator was of sound and disposing mind at the time he executed the codicil. The general circumstances of the case were full of suspicion. The testator was evidently of a reserved disposition, and he was a small-hearted man who liked no one well enough to give him his large property. P>y his will he left small legacies to his servants and to those who were about him, but his solicitor on various occasions urged him to make a more complete will, and often told him that if he made no residuary bequest his property would go to the Crown, and it was not till the last few hours of his life that he was induced to assent to the alleged dis- position contained in the codicil. That codicil was pre- pared by the solicitor, and it was at all times a matter of extreme suspicion when a legacy was left in such a will to the solicitor himself. Then the will was made in favour of all the persons who were present at the time of its execution. That was another circum- stance of suspicion. They were all included in the bequests, but it was thought desirable to have some independent person as a witness, and at the last moment Mr. Thom was sent for. It was for- tunate for the ends of justice, and for the benefit of society, that such an intelligent and honourable man should have been present. When Mr. Thom arrived he saw the solicitor and the medical men present, and he could not but suppose that everything had been done in a proper manner but he seemed to entertain considerable doubt, and although he witnessed the codicil, he still felt that there was suspicion attached to the matter, and consequently wrote out the state- ment which had been read to the jury. It was clear that the testator was hardly able to articulate at the time he signed the codicil, and his alleged assent was merely agreeing to questions put to him. Now the law was that a testator must fully understand the na- ture of the disposition he was making, not only when he gave instructions for its being prepared, but at the time of the execution. It was for the jury to say whether he was of such sound mind, and whether he knew of and fully appreciated the contents of the paper he was signing. The jury returned a verdict That the testator was not of competent and disposing mind at the time he signed the codicil, and that he did not understand the contents of it." The Judge pronounced against the codicil, and al- lowed the will to be admitted to probate. He reserved the question of costs.

THE LOST SHEEP. An interesting custom which has prevailed for more than a hundred years in the extensive range of moors in Derbyshire, Cheshire, and Yorkshire is the annual summer meeting of the shepherds, bringing with them the sheep that have strayed into their flocks, and re- storing them to the rightful owners. Every 20th of July the meetings are held, and as they are entirely different from any other gatherings, and have not hitherto been described, a notice of the last may not be out of place. The appointed place for assembling on Saturday last was the Saltersbrook turnpike-road, distant rather more than two miles from the Dunford- bridge station on the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway, and at a point near where the three counties above-named meet. On walking from the station across the moor the turnpike-road was reached, and then, after a long march uphill, a sharp angle of the road brought the visitor into the midst of a colony of' dogs, numbering from 80 to 100, nearly all fine specimens of the sheep-dog breed. They were playing, quarrelling, and a few were having a quiet round" to themselves. Not far from them were their owners, each with a long stick, by which the shepherd indicates to his dog in many instances what he is required to do. After partaking of a good dinner, provided by Mr. Taylor, a large moorland proprietor and sheep breeder, the men, with their dogs, proceeded to a large yard, in which there were about 100 sheep which had strayed away. Each animal was examined and claimed by certain marks and indications, the dogs occasionally appearing to recognize some of the truants. In the course of half an hour, with the exception of two or three, all the animals had found their way back to their lawful owners, and shortly after the shepherds, with their dogs and found sheep, departed for their respective stations, miles distant and far apart, most of them not to meet again for months, or until they once more assembled, bringing with them the lost ones, and claiming their own truants.

The SALMON FISHERIES of ENGLAND. The sixth annual report of the inspectors of salmon fisheries has been issued. Owing to the death of Mr. Ffennell and the retirement of his colleague in consequence of broken health, the present publication presents new names, and comprises the first report of Mr. Frank Buckland and the first report of Mr. S. Walpole. Shortly before his death, Mr. Ffennoll issued a series of questions to the Boards of conser- vators of rivers, and Mr. Buckland states carefully the sub- stance of the information thus obtained. It shows that the salmon fisheries of England are improving, but that there is very much yet to be done if this valuable fish is to be allowed to become a com- mon article of food. The salmon must have clean and pure water in which to live and be reproduced, but we know how greatly the rivers of England are polluted by every abomination and all the refuse that can be got rid of by putting it into a river. Mr. Buckland is for the appointment of a Government engineer to advise upon questions as to the disposal of polluted water from mines and works, and its purification by the aid of chymistry, which he does not believe to be a very difficult task in the present state of science, if serious attention is once turned to it. Next comes the question of a free passage for the fish up and down the rivers in due season. Here again Mr. Buckland feels convinced that with a friendly co-operation between conservators and the owners of weirs and mills the two objectsof workingmillpowerandproducingfish will not be found incompatible. He discusses the construction of ladders, the models produced at the Salmon Fishery Congress, and the protection of the entrance of mill sluices by gratings when the fish are descending to the sea. A third important object is the protection of the parent salmon when engaged in spawning—a time when one fell blow by a poacher will annihilate thousands of fish in the form of eggs. These unseason- able fish, totally uufit for food, are generally caught by idle men of the poacher class, and Mr. Buckland fears that in some cases the magistrates have been rather too lenient with them. He is strongly in favour of water bailiffs being allowed to traverse the banks of rivers, in order to protect Ít-om poachers the salmon engaged in making their nests. Mr. Walpole exposes the notion entertained by some fishermen that the Salmon Acts have been passed for the benefit of sports- men. They were passed in the interest of the entire nation, and this by increasing the fisherman's take. He notices the great improvement already accom- plished. 4,000 salmon were caught last season in the Exe, against 400 in previous years, and the conser- vators of the Ribble and Hodder report that in one fishery, where only 90 salmon were taken in 1859. 9,000 w ere taken last summer. Mr. Walpole regards as very remarkable the extent to which fishery districts under Boards of conservators have been formed under the Act of 1865, and he expresses his hope that the whole seaboard of England will be placed under these jurisdictions. In the course of the present year one or both of the new commissioners will probably visit personally all the salmon rivers in England, and their next report will give the result of their observation and inquiries. :m;

THE OLD AND YOUNG STATESMAN. (Meminiscenses of an old Whip.) Well, you see, Sir, times is changed. Things is not as they used to was. Leaders is changed. Wheelers is changed. Springs too ain't to be depended on. At one time when a party had booked his place at the 'King's Head' he knew were he was going-, and at what rate he was to travel. The True Blue' had Church Road painted on her, and if you went that way in course you couldn't go wrong. Now you'll see the True Blue' with a board hung over its centre panel and on it written in letters a inch long, "rhis journey stop at Exeter Hall.' There's no regelarity— no system—the very horses scarcely know where their tails hang, and fancy they're getting on, when bothered if they ain't being backed down-hill. "Then as to pikes. The 'True Blue' would pull up when a gate was closed, but now it takes a flying leap and clears a bar as easy as a kitten would a kit- chen fender. "Then as to luggage. Look at the waybill this season, and count the warious items, including the nu- merous fancy articles, some of which they 're obliged to drop on the road. Why the dead weight they now carry would have broke the back of a ten-horse wag- gon when Georgy the Third was King. Then as to the pace, it's positively fearful. You see what they're afeard of is Opposition. At present there aint no Opposition. The last one drnv itself off the road into a ditch, where it's been sticking hard ever since the body of it's all right, only the splinter bar has been smashed through one of the leaders wot's got a ticklish mouth giving it a tremendous kick, and getting his off leg over the traces. There was a great outcry when the accident occurred, and the insides who were pitched out violently from their places, sus- tained a wery severe shock. As for the low characters who did all they could to frighten the hosses, they raised a reg'lar whoop when they see the wehicle up- set, and then as Jonathan says, they caved in —Punch.

THE WANT OF THE WISE. Would I could eat and drink at table As much as ever I was able Including the last bit and drop That would be good for me; then stop, Informed, by some immediate warning, That more would make me ill next morning. A twinge, for instance, in the wrist, Then I directly should desist, And never more wake late in bed Afflicted with an aching head Nausea, and loss of appetite, From overmuch, had overnight. Attacks of bile, too, I should 'scape, And all those ills, of every shape, Which do derive, beyond all question, Their origin from indigestion. --Ptin-cit.

THE COST OF RAILWAY ACCIDENTS. The Railway News publishes a summary of the actions arising out of collisions and other accidents brought against railway companies during the six months ending June 30, 1867. One case of loss of life appeared amongst them, and forty-four cases of minor injuries to passengers. Three actions were brought against the Metropolitan Company, two against the North London, two against the London and Brighton, one against the London, Chatham, and Dover, two against the Great Eastern, two against the South Eastern, one against the North Eastern, six against the Great Western, one against the South Western, nine against the North Western, three against the Midland, seven against the Lancashire and Yorkshire, two against the Furness, two against the Great Northern, and one against the Manchester, South Junction, and Altrincham. In twenty-nine of these cases the railway companies had to pay damages to the amount of 24,8251. The highest damages awarded in any one case were in that of the Great Eastern Company, in which a single plaintiff obtained 7,0001. on the assumption that he had been irrecoverably in- jured, a portion of that sum to be paid down, and a portion to be reserved until the sufferer's condition should be finally decided.

FRIENDLY AND CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES. The Parliamentary Report of the Registrar of Frigidly and Co-operative Societies in Scotland has been issued. The account given is of a very favourable character. Of the usefulness of co-operative societies the registrar has a very high opinion, and he has lately received various communications tending strongly to confirm his views on the subject. One instance, in particular, communicated by a gentleman connected with a co-operative society, is peculiarly gratifying; the writer mentions that since the formation of the society the aspect of the neighbourhood has been quite changed; that formerly the people were much given to drunkenness, but that now, there being no spirit allowed in the store, they, in place of spending their money on intoxicating liquors, are providing for their families respectably, and are able to help their sick. The registrar feels that it would be of vast importance that gentlemen of influence should take an interest in such societies. He has within the last few months re- ceived several letters from gentlemen of large landed property who are anxious to have such societies formed in their neighbourhood. In a former report, the registrar has noticed favour- ably the tone of morality and ivliuion displayed by many of the societies, which is illustrated by the members being subjected to a fine, if they are guilty of swearing at any of their meetings. He has also for- mally noticed the de-jorum and courtesy inculcated in the rules which must necessarily lead to the improve- ment of the conduct and manners of the members at all times, and, indeed, as members are expelled for bad conduct, they in such institutions must be well conducted. The registrar has also much pleasure in taking notice of the great courtesy with which, with very few exceptions, he is treated in the various com- munications that he has with the office-bearers of the different societies. He is also generally much struck with the great intelligence they display, and, fre- quently, the superior manner in which they express themselves in their letters.

A NEGLECTED INVENTION. They took Abdul Aziz to Woolwich, and showed him the Snider Rifle, the new cartridge, and its mode of manufacture, sundry stores of shot and shell, the manoeuvring of certain artillery, the process of con- structing the Woolwich, guns, and the casting of Major Palliser's chilled shot. They exhibited to him our im- plements of destruction, intended to kill our foreign foes. They did not take him to see the arrangement with which we put our native enemies to death. According to The Times the "Royal and distinguished visitors" to Woolwich Arsenal, including the Sultan, viewed with admiration the vast stores of shot and shell ready for use." Would not any sensible man view with equal admiration the apparatus for executing criminals reserved in readiness at Newgate? Would he consider a shell, with respect to its use, any more admirable than a halter? Now the Sultan, by all accounts, is a very sensible man. Yet there they go taking him to see rifles, and csrtr dges, and guns, and shot and shell, and all manner of pr. -jectiles, but no. body thinks of conducting him to have a look at the poor old gallows.—Punch. -OII

WOULD NOT OWN THEM !—The Salut Public of Lyons says :— The female Australian black swan in the Zoological Gardens of this city a short time since laid t.w<» effgs, and, as she did not seem anxious to sit upon them, they were placed among six others produced by a white swan. All eight birds were hatched, and all were of the s-aine uxevish hue. But the male and female old birds iu=t;n. tively discovered the intruders, and maltreated them so much tint one died, the other being rescued with SIH110 ridncn j, It is at pre- sent thriving, and the black plumes whidl distinguish its race are beginning to appear THREE OF THEM !—At Lyons a. few days back two young men tried to III-lire. a »T)<"er the church of Saint-Jean. One dragged him by the bridle while the other held the door open, ken the verger interfered and prevented their auemi t. Summoned before the Tribunal of Correctional Police, they were each sentenced to three months' imprisonment and 16f. fine. SUDDEN DRATH THROUGH RATKNOTTS EATING.— An inquest has been held in London on ti-e boc,-I- of Martha Hall, forty-five years of a re, who was found dead in a yard. On the Stomach of the deceased being examined it was found to contain a large quantity of unmasticated food—sausages and bre.i.d. The cause of death was fainting, through the cessation of the muscu- lar action of the heart, it being in a state of fatty degeneration. The ravenous eating had accelerated the death. The spleen was very small, showing that before taking the last meal she hud not had food for some considerable time. Verdict, Death from natural causes. WHAT NEXT?—The industry of the ladies in Paris surpasses belief. They dye—their hair they enamel—their faces; they gild -their lodes; they paint—their checks and now they bronze- their complexions !-Punch. A RITUALISTIC MISPUTNT.—A ■ contemporary observes that. in one of the journals for the past week, we are told of the undoubted success o' the Ritualists in gaining the masses." This is just the mendacious language of puffing advertisements. The success of the Ritualists in gaining" the masses is more than doubted it is denied. The statement that they succeed in gaining the masses can only be made true by taking the letter m away from the word masses. They ape the Mass, but do not gain the and those whom they do gain are stupid asses.—Punch. THE FOLLIES OF FASHION.—The last freak of fashion (says the Medical Press and Circular) is to give the coup de grace to the pearl-powder, white-lead, and rouge that have so long reigned. Even belladonna is to be discarded, and "golden hair will shortly be as rare as the real auburn tint of nature, if not still rarer. The decree has g..ne forth for black hair and bronze complexions, and these will, no doubt, shortly crowd the pari.s. How they are produced is the only question that need concern us. The destructivenature of the chymical agents usually employed lor dying the hair black is well known to our readers. To give a lady of fashion the complexion of a gipsy, nothing is needed but a little walnut juice, and we have reason to know that this has already found its way to the toilette-table. It has at least the negative merit of not being so dangerous as some of the poisonous cosmetics that have preceded it. Whether a dirty face will long be the rage it would be rash to predict. LEAVING HOME !-The immigration into Ame- rica from Ireland during 18C6 amounted to 101,251 persons, of whom 60,688 were males and 40,563 females. This is an increase of 4,482 males, and a decrease of 6,327 females as compared with XS(".»5, when the total immigration was 103,096. The total immigration of 1866 was 1,845 less than that of 1865. With regard to the age of these immigrants, nearly seventy-five per cent. during 1866, and sixty-five per cent, during 1865, were between fifteen and thirty-five years of age. THE USE OF THE KNIFE.—On Saturday, at the Northampton Assizes, Jabez D ckins, aged 16, was indicted for wounding Samuel Wdkins, at Over- stone, on the 14th of May, 1867, with intent to do him some grievous bodily harm. He was also charged on the coroner's inquisition with_ feloniously killing and slaying the said Samuel Wilkius. It appeared that during dinner hour on the day in question the prisoner and the deceased got throwing things at each other, and that the deceased lost his temper in consequence of being struck a smart blow on the mouth w ith a stick. He fell upon the prisoner and struck him re- peatedly, when the prisoner made a blow at him with the knife he was using at his dinner and inflicted a mortal wound in the abdomen of the deceased. The jury returned a verdict of guilty, with a strong re- commendation to mercy. The prisoner was sentenced to five years' penal servitude, his lordship observing that he had on a previous occasion threatened to use a dangerous weapon against another man. SCHOOL AGE.—In the schools in Great Britain inspected by her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools. 608 of every 10,000 of the scholars on the school registers in the year 1856 were urn ler four years of age and 653 in the year 1S66. In 1856, 1,648 of every 10,000 were between four and s x y. ars of age and 1,794 in 1866. The proportion of scholars not more than six years old increased, therefore, considerably, being 2,266 of every 10,000 in 1856, Lut 2.447 in 1866. Not so with the scholars between six and ten years of age there were 4,7b4 of these in every 10,000 scholars in 1856, but only 4,715 in 1866. The proportion of scholars above ten years of age decreased still more there were 2,960 of them in every 10,000 scholars in 1856, but only 2,838 in 1866.

Paris is just now flooded with a new description of VIsItors-naval cadets belonging to an American training ship in Cherbourg roads. These young fellows are a very favour- able specimen of our American cousins. They are stout, tall, well-built hids, and their quiet, gentlemanlike demea- nour has made a very favourable impression. The competition between various; oreign and French military bands took place in Paris 011 Monday at the Palais de l'lndustrie. The arrangements were very imperfect, and there was great crushing, confusion, and annoyance to the public, who, as Frenchmen will do under difficulties, turned restive, left their places, invaded the plaifurm, and laughed to scorn the efforts of the police to maintain order. "The three best bands were those of l rt'ssia (the Guards), France (the Garde de Pari.1-), and Austria (73rd Foot), A first prize was awardea to all three.

FOREIGN DECORATIONS. In the House of Commons, on Tuesday evening, Mr. Labouchere asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Lord Clarendon's regulations, issued by direction of her Majesty, which forbid British subjects to accept a foreign order "without previously having obtained her Majesty's permission to that effect, signified by a warrant under her royal sign manual," and which lay down as an absolute rule that such permission shall not be granted to any subject of her Majesty unless the foreign order shall have been conferred in consequence of active and dis- tinguished service before an enemy, either at sea or in the field, or unless he shall have been actively or entirely employed beyond her Majesty's dominions, in the service of the Sovereign by whom the order is con- ferred," had been revoked and, if they had not been revoked, why gentlemen whose services were limited to carrying, at the public cost, an English order to a Continental Sovereign, were allowed to accept and wear a foreign decoration. Lord Stanley said the regulations from which the hon. gentleman had quoted had not been revoked, but he found on record that during the administration of Lord Clarendon, and at the desire of her Majesty, those rules were generally and prospectively dispensed with in the case of that limited class of persons referred to in the question. Of course it was within the power of the Sovereign to dispense with the observance of rules of this kind.