Flintshire Observer Mining Journal and General Advertiser for the Counties of Flint Denbigh

DEATH OF LORD RAGLAN. The death of Lord Raglan occurred suddenly on Saturday morning at the residence of his sisters, the Hon. Charlotte and Hon. Katharine Somerset, 8, Chesterfield-street, London. The late peer was the only surviving son of the late Field-Marshal Lord Raglan (his eldest brother Major Hon. Arthur Wil- liam FitzRoy Somerset, having died in December, 1845, from wounds received at Ferozeshah four days previously), and was born 24th May, 1817. His dis- tinguished father, better known as Lord FitzRoy Somerset, eighth and youngest son of Henry, fifth Duke of Beaufort, was for forty-four years the con- stant companion of the Duke of Wellington, and was by the side of that great chief in every action in Portugal, Spain, and Bel- gium, and after the duke's death was on Oct. the 20, 1852, created a peer of the United Kingdom under the style and title of Baron Raglan of Raglan, county Monmouth. The late Lord Raglan was in the Ceylon Civil Service from 1841 to 1849, when he accepted the post of private secretary to the King of Hanover, which position he filled till he succeeded in the peerage. His father, who was then Com- mander-in-Chief in the Crimea, died at his head- quarters before Sebastopol June 28, 1855. Lord Raglan was for some years an officer in the Glouces- tershire Yeomanry Cavalry. He was a Lord in Waiting to the Queen from February, 1858, to June, 1859, and again from July, 1866, to December, 1868. He is succeeded by his eldest son, the Hon. George FitzRoy Henry Somerset, who was born on the 18th of September, 1857. He was a Page of Honour to the Queen from 1868 to 1875, when lie became a sub-lieutenant, unattached, in the army, and was appointed soon afterwards to the Grenadier Guards.

AN INVITATION FROM MR. DENIS KEARNEY. The Times of Monday published the following letter: Sir,—Will you be kind enough to announce to the working women of England—those of them who are willing and not afraid of work—that there is a splendid opening for them in this State (California). Here they can obtain situations as house servants at wages ranging from X2 10s. to £7 per month, accord- ing to competency. There are some 8000 male Chinese slaves reluctantly employed by families here, as cooks, waiters, laundresses, chamber-maids, and nurses. These families would be only too glad to hire girls in their stead if there were any to be had. The Chinese chamber-maids" will have to be sup- planted, now that their coming to this country has been prohibited. We want girls to take their places. English, Irish, Welsh, and Scotch girls can get splendid situations here at good wages. Of course, we want girls that are not afraid of work. Gold is not to be picked up in the streets here. People are expected to and must work if they want any of it. Our State. which is an empire in itself, is entering upon a degree of prosperity never before known in its history. There are prospects for an immense crop of cereals this year, and the demand for labour to harvest it will be so great, together with the captivating inducements offered, that the Chinese, instead of making beds, cooking, and waiting at table, will take to the fields to pick strawberries, grapes, peaches, and do all other kinds of farm work. This will leave the families now employing them to struggle as best they can. Mr. Editor, you will remember the undersigned as the leader of the agitation that brought about the enactment prohibiting any more Chinese from coming to this country. I have now opened and am conduct- ing an intelligence office to get girls that will take the place of the Chinese. Trusting you will type this brief communication so as to enlighten and may be gladden the hearts of a large number of your female readers who aspire to benefit their condtitioti. -Saltitation.-DENI. KEARNEY. San Francisco, April 7.

PEPYS ON THE NAVY OF HIS DAY During the exrly years of Charles II.'s reign, we find the chief difficulty of the navy officers to be the want of money. The cry for supplies and aids of money, that are the sinews of war and the bond of peace," is echoed and re-echoed in the pages of the diary. For lack of money all things go to rack," the navy bills are offered on the Exchange at ten and even twenty per cent. loss, corruption is rife among the subordinate officials, and the Treasurer of the Navy's oft-repeated call and complaint causes Pepys much grave anxiety, so that he tells us on one occasion his heart is very sad under the apprehension of the fall of the oflice." The dockyards and victualling depots were all but empty of naval stores and pro- visions, while the workmen employed in the former and the agents who managed the depots were creditors of the Crown to a not inconsiderable amount, those for wages and these for salines and victuals supplied by them. Lord Clarendon in 1605, at the opening of the Parliament at Oxford, alludes to the surprising state of affairs at the Restoration, astonished that a trium- phant nation, that had made itself terrible to Christendom, by having fought more battles than all the neighbour kingdoms and states together had ever done in so few years, and seemed to be in a posture ready to fight them over again, that had so long reigned over the ocean in formidable fleets, should, at the time of his Majesty's happy return, as if on the sudden all their arms had been turned into plough- shares, and their swords into pruning-hooks, not have in all the magazines, in all the stores, arms enough to be put into the hands of 5,000 men, nor provision enough to set out ten new ships to sea.— Army and Majazine.

THE MANUFACTURE OF LEAD PENCILS. With the improved machinery now used ten hands will make about four thousand lead pencils of the cheaper grade a day. The cedar comes chiefly from Florida, and it is received in slabs of pencil length, one for the lead to go in and the other to cover it, as may be seen by examining the end oX any lead pencil. Four little grooves are sawed in the thicker slabs, for the leads, which are kept in hot glue and taken one by one and inserted in the grooves. Then the thin slab is glued to the leaded slab, and, thus united, they are run through a moulding machine, four pencils coming from each slab. After the ends are rasped they are run between grooved wheels at considerable pressure for the only fiuUh they get. This burnishes them, and they are tied in dozens and boxed for sale, mostly in plain wood, and of three degrees of hardness. The graphite used comes in a fine black powder, and is mixed with Gernion white clay, about half and half, and then ground with moisture, forming a paste. This is pressed in dies into lengths of four leads, which are cut and then baked at a very high temperature. These sell at 85 cents, 1 dol. 50 cents, and 2 dols. a gross, and are very good articles, writing smoothly and evenly. The manufacturer makes about 100 per cent., selling the pencils at 85 cents a gross, and the retailer makes a good thing selling them at a cent a piece. The graphite costs about 25 cents a pound, and the clay little more than the freight. The more clay is used in the leads the harder they will be. The cedar is cut mostly from fallen trees in Florida swamps.—Geyer's (.V.Y.) Stationer.

An American phrenologist says the principal bump on George Washington's head is that of adhesiveness. He alludes to Washington's head on a postage- stamp.

THE DYNAMITE PLOTS. At the Birmingham Police-court on Saturday, John Daley, alias Denman, James Francis Egan, and William M'Donnell were brought up charged with treason-felony. The stipendiary does not as a rule sit on Saturdays, but owing to the gravity of the charge it was considered expedient that he should preside. There was a large attendence of magistrates on the bench, while the space appropriated to the public was crowded to excess. Mrs. Egan sat at the end of the bench immediately above the attorney's seat, and seemed much distressed. Egan was the first to appear, and he seemed to have taken special pains with his toilet, looking very fresh and tidy, though manifestly anxious to a degree. He took off a high hat as lie entered the dock, and walked close up to the warder. M'Donnell, looking very sullen, followed him, and next came Daley. He was, of course, scanned with a keen eye by all, but though he was aware of this close scrutiny he appeared not the least disturbed. He is a tall, sharp-looking fellow, quite 5ft. lOin. high, dressed in a light dust coat, black short jacket and trousers, deep upright collar, and silk scarf. Mr. Poland, who was accompanied by Mr. Pollard, appeared again to prosecute for the Treasury Mr. O'Connor represented Egan Mr. Corbett, M'Donnell; while Daley was not represented. Mr. Poland said that there being now two other prisoners, John Daley and William M'Donnell, before the court it was necessary to say a few words before calling evidence. With regard to John Daley, he was arrested at Birkenhead, having in his posses- sion bombs obviously intended for the destruction of human life, and being on his way back from Birken- head by way of Wolverhampton to Egan's house at Birmingham. Having regard also to the fact that lie was living on intimate terms with Egan, and that the documents that were found at the house showed that he was taking an active part in the treasonable organi- sation known as the Irish Republican Brotherhood, he did not think it was necessary to say any more with regard to Daley. With regard to M'Donnell, on the last occasion he read a letter in court which was found at Egan's house. It was dated June, 1874, referring to a meeting of the officers of the brotherhood in the district at Mr. Patrick Flynn's and signed, yours truly, William M'Donnell, D.C." That letter showed in the most conclusive manner that it was written by one of the officers of the organisation to another officer, and that M'Donnell was an intimate friend and companion of Egan in this treasonable conspi- racy. M'Donnell lived at Wednesbury and kept a public-house, working by day as a clerk. He was, therefore, in a position to meet persons in his house for the purpose of carrying on this conspiracy. Mr. Poland then gave particulars of other correspondence between M'Donnell and Egan, in which references were made to the organisation, and in which M'Donnell expressed a desire to see more done for the cause in Wolverhampton. The letter of June, 1874, was the only that had got into the papers, and when questioned about that M'Donnell said that he wrote it, but left the organisation a fortnight afterwards. There were other letters which undoubtedly brought his connection with the conspiracy down to 1875. The magistrates' clerk asked Daley if any one de- fended him. Daley (who spoke with a strong Irish accent): I have a solicitor, but he had no notice that I was going to be brought here. I think I ought to have some explanation of the reasons why I was brought here. I was finally committed to take my trial at the Chester Assizes on last Thursday, at Birkenhead. I should like to ask you how was it that I was brought here also on another charge. Mr. Poland explained that Daley was charged at Birkenhead under the Explosives Act and because of the later disclosures he was now charged with treason- felony. Inspector Stroud, of the Birmingham Borough Police, deposed to watching Egan and Daley con- stantly for the last six months. Daley appeared to be lodging with Egan. The witness then described various journeys taken by Daley, and his visits to various places with Egan. On Good Friday the wit- ness took Egan into custody after receiving informa- tion of Daley's arrest at Birkenhead. The house was searched, and a large number of letters were found in Egan's apartments. Mr. Poland then put in several letters produced by tho witness, and remarked that he thought he should be able to prove the handwriting beyond all question. Daley addressed Egan in several letters as Dear Jim," and used other expressions which proved bevond doubt their close intimacy. One of these letters was dated 7th July, 1882, from Lake House, Grafton-road, from James T. Egan to J. R. Gasquelt, Burgess-hill, Sussex," and four letters read together showed this—tha1, Daley was writing to Egan as Dear Jim and signing Jack," and asking Egan to give his brother Edmond a character in the name of Haves, because he, John Daley, was about to leave the retreat in Burgess-hill, Sussex, and Edmund, in the name of Hayes, was to take this situation. Mr. Gasquelt wrote to Egan for a character, and here is Egan's answer July 7th, 1882. Sir,—In reply to your favour to hand, I beg to say that for the few 11 years Mr. Hayes was in my employ I always found him sober, trustworthy, and attentive to business. I have every confidence in recommending Mr. Hayes. I believe he will give you every satisfaction.—Yours respectfully, JAMES F. EGAN." The stipendiary: Who is Mr. Gasquelt ? Mr. Poland He is the manager of the retreat in Sussex. So that we get from May, 1881, to June and July, 1882. The learned counsel next produced a number of letters written by the prisoner M'Donnell. In these M'Donnell referred to certain "conferences," and in one document remarked," We have now twenty- four members on the books and a sum of JE1 5s. in the hands of the treasurer." In another M'Donnell said, I hope that all the district will work well and in another, "Will you send me your returns for March, as I have to send them at once to London." Mr. Poland said these returns were the re- ports referred to in the rules of the I.R.B., and it seemed that the prisoner wanted to send them to London. Other letters were signed by J. Desmond," and in one of these appeared the following receipt Received from Mr. J. F. Egan the sum of X6." In another I am instructed to inform you that Mr. W. H. is attached to those who voted with the minority last December against the C. 0. therefore not under the control of those we recognise at the present time. At the present time they are outside the pale of the Hoping your visit to Birming- ham will prove successful, I beg to remain, yours, J. DESMOND. I enclose a note from Kidder." Egan was connected with Desmond by a letter addressed from Kidderminster on the 11th of September, 1877, and signed "John Morgan." This letter stated: "We have got much stronger this last few weeks with men from different parts—some from Ireland, some from Lancashire, and they have all been surprised at my sending the money, or any more than Id. a week, and there were some of them that subscribed on condition that we keep in with the town, for they said that where some of them came from there were only six of them in a village, and they held their own coin. I should not have taken any notice of them, but thee was a centre here from Bury, a very energetic fellow, who has commanded me not to send any more than the penny levy, and he would take the conse- quences for it. I enclose Is. 6d. in stamps, that will represent eighteen boys. I could get them together in time. Suppose you let me have six or eight days' notice.—I am, yours respectfully, J. MonAs." This letter, Mr. Poland proceeded, referred to a visit from a centre with regard to the returns of money. That letter was forwarded by Moran to Egan, and Egan himself forwarded it to London with a com- plaint against the centre for his interference. One of the rules of the I.R.B. was to the effect that no person must be in communication with any other person unless he is by the rules duly accredited. Several letters were now produced and read, forwarded to Egan by James Barrett, London, and found with the others in his house. In these the writer expressed an earnest desire to be supplied with "a balance-sheet and full explanation," and adding "with God's blessing and our own exertions we will be able to see some tan- gible proof of the work for the good cause we have at heart." A second letter from Barrett to Egan was dated January 20, 1874, and said: You are requested to have the men of your division in readiness on next Sunday, as there will be a friend to come to you there. He will leave here on Saturday evening, and will have to go through all of your districts; and if possible on Sunday, if you cannot get all the men, have a committee of at least each district. He will start at Birmingham first, and I hope that nothing will retard the good work, and that the new year, well commenced, will terminate with the most happy results." There was a P.S. to this letter, also asking Egan if he had written to Barrett since Christmas, as none had been received. This letter was addressed from "12, Little Windmill-street, New-cut, Lambeth." Another letter from Barrett to Egan, ■ -r. < dated the 5th of January, 1875, mentioned M'Don- nell. It first informed Egan that "the L.D. (Lambeth district) are not in a position to pay the expenses of a delegate to your (Egan's) district at the present time on account of the heavy loss sustained by the firm this last six months, which, on the whole, amounted to 170, including M. T. expenses, to which you contributed t5. By the by, you never made any allusion in your last communication about Mr. M'Don- nell's intentions as regards that J61 toward the M. T. expenses, and as this firm had to make good all the loss without any assistance from your district, it cannot therefore incur any more expense until the funds of the firm are recruited." Barrett then goes on to ask for a balance-sheet, and enjoins Egan to animate the friends, signing himself Yours respect- fully, J. Barrett." Witness continuing, said he found at Egan's house a number of circulars from the various gumrakers in Birmingham, and also an illustrated trade book with prices relating to firearms and ammunition. There were pencil marks upon it against various drawings of different arms and some manuscript writing relating to arms and ammunition, including the Wjrds Eley Bros., cartridges." He also found in the house a card with specimen fuses attached to it, and the words Bickford, Smith, and Co." printed on it, and prices attached. Superintendent Black, who assisted in the search of Egan's house on the occasion of his arrest, deposed that in a bed-room which he had reason to believe was occupied by Daley he found a pair of trousers belonging to Daley, in one of the pockets of which there was the following: Record of arms in the hands of members in good standing. Got from 1879 to 1881 Rifles, 2844; revolvers, 702; guns, 1656; revolvers, 1898; total, old, 4748 new, 3546; making a total of 8294." Witness also found in the same pocket pieces of paper on which were the names and addresses of four persons in America. When Egan was arrested, witness said, Mr. Egan, do you know your lodger whom you call Denman by any other name ? He said, I do not." Witness then asked him if he knew him by the name of Dalev, to which he replied he did not. Witness then inquired whether he knew any of Daley's friends or rela- tions, to which he also gave a negative reply. On April 15 a tin canister was discovered in the garden adjoining Egan's house, and which on being opened was found to contain a printed paper headed, Con- stitution of the Irish Republic another paper con- taining the address of the S.C. (Supreme Council) to the Brothers; three copies of the laws, rules and regulations of the government of the Irish Republican Brotherhood in the South of England division, printed at the Dublin R.I.B. office; nine sample cartridges (produced) seven being for rifles and two for revolvers. On one of them "Snider Algeria was in pencil in parentheses on another British Martini-Henry;" and third Peabody, three miles," on another "Egyptian Remington." The others were not marked. There were also found in the canister letters addressed by various persons to Egan referring to small goods (revolvers) and long clothes (rifles). Police-constable Thornton, on being called, des- cribed the finding of the canister, which, he said, was buried some eighteen or twenty inches deep, and was tightly fastened up. Police-constable Stevenson, of Birmingham, said lie had watched Daley at Liverpool and Birkenhead, and assisted at hi s arrest. Both bombs and infernal machines were found upon him, together with a ticket from Birkenhead to Wolverhampton. Denis William Donovan said I am a surgeon in the Royal Navy, and was formerly resident surgeon at St. George's Retreat, Burgess-hill, Sussex. It was a private lunatic asylum. Prisoner Daley was head attendant when I went there, and remained till June, 1882. To the best of my belief the letters pioduced, together with the list of arms, arc in Daley's hand- writing. The prisoners were then remanded for a week, when evidence of the Irish police will be taken, and important disclosures are anticipated. Prisoners were removed to the borough gaol under an escort of police armed with loaded revolvers.

CORPS OF VOLUNTEER TELEGRAPH CLERKS FOR ARMY SERVICE. Colonel du Plat Taylor having now obtained the sanction of the Secretary of State for War and Post- master-General for the formation from the members of the Post Office Volunteers of a corps of fifty tele- graph clerks for service with the army, has received applications from more than double that number of volunteers, and steps will at once be taken for organis- ing this corps. These men will enlist for six years and be placed in the first-class Army Reserve, available for service in the field with the army when required. This organisation cannot fail to be of advantage, as the efficiency of the men in their special work will be maintained by their daily employment in the Post Office, where they will have opportunities of becoming acquainted with the latest developments of the tele- graph system. As members of the Post Office Volunteers, the men will obtain sufficient military training and knowledge of duties in camp to make them ready at once to fall into their position in the army. The Post Office Volunteers have now 100 men of the Army Post Office and 50 of the Army Tele- graph Office attached, and we hope this is the first step in utilising volunteers for any special duties of this nature.

MURDER BY A MOTHER. At the Manchester Assizes on Saturday, before Mr. Justice Cave, a married woman named Emily Clegg, 32 years of age, and living with her husband at Har- purhey, was indicted for the wilful murder of her infant child by throwing it on the fire. About three on the afternoon of the 21st April, prisoner was seen by Mrs. Hall, a neighbour, lying drunk in a field close by her house, with a crowd of people around. Mrs. Hall went up to her, and found that she had a little child in her arms, which appeared to be in a very starved condition. She took the child from her, and brought it to her own house, where she gave it some food and wrapped it up in a shawl. In the meantime some other neighbours had assisted the child's mother home. 11 Subse- quently Mrs. Hall took the child, which was only four months old, to its mother's house. Later the pri- soner's eldest daughter ran to Mrs. Hall and said, Oh, Mrs. Hall, come in to my mother, she has thrown the baby on the fire." The woman lost no time in making her way back to the prisoner's house, and there she found the prisoner with the baby, which was still burning, on her knee. Mrs. Hall at once procured a shawl and wrapped it around the poor child, which was terribly burnt about the face and body. Information was given to the police, and the child was taken to the Manchester Royal Infirmary, where it succumbed to the injuries it had sustained. The Jury found the prisoner guilty of wilful murder during a fit of insanty, and she was ordered to be detained during her Majesty's pleasure.

CUTTINGS FROM AMERICAN PAPERS. It is said there are people in the mountain district of Kentucky so green, that they followed a waggon, which happened to pass that way, twenty miles, "just to see whether the hind wheels would overtake the fore ones." One of a party of Eastern men offered a half-dollar to a Navada miner for showing them through the Nevada silver mines. He looked at the money a moment, and then turning to the Easterner said: May I ask how much you are estimated at home to be worth?" About twenty-five thousand dollars," was the reply. Well," said the miner, I guess I won't take your half-dollar. I made a quarter of a million here last year." A pretty girl "out West told her beau that she was a mind-reader. "You don't say so;" he ex- claimed. Can you read what's in my mind?" Yes," said- she you have it in your mind to ask me to be your wife, but you're just a little scared at the idea." Their wedding cards are out. "My son," said good old Deacon Revels, be- nignantly, to his youthful heir, accustom yourself to be polite to the porter, the servant girl, the coach- man, to all the servants; thus you will come to be courteous to all people, even to your parents." Every once in a while we hear of a Californian woman killing a bear. This is all right. But we challenge the world to ransack the pages of history and show us where a woman has ever got away with a mouse. Young America has been always noted for its in- quiring mind. One of the many budding Presidents now resident in Chicago was told the other day by his school marm" the story of William Tell s famous shooting feat. The only comment the boy made upon the story of the patriotic parent was, "Who eat the apple afterwards?'

FATAL RESULT OF PRACTICAL JOKING. In London, at the Marylebone Police court, Samuel Coleman, 17, an engine cleaner, was charged with causing the death of George Greenwood by striking him on the head with an iron rake. Detec- tive-Inspector Morgan said that on the night of the 24th ult. he was called to St. Mary's Hospital to see the deceased, who, he was told, was then dying from the effects of a blow on the head. The witness after- wards went to the engine shed of the Great Western Railway at Westbourne park, and saw the prisoner, and brought him to the hospital, when the deceased recognised him as the man who had caused the injury. As there was not time to procure the at- tendance of a magistrate, the witness took down the statement of the injured man. It was to the effect that early in the morning of the 11th ult. he was drinking some tea, and squirted some of it over the prisoner in play. The prisoner seized an iron rake, and struck him on the head with it. He imme- diately became insensible, and did not re- member anything more until he found himself in the hospital. He believed that he received only one blow, and that it was not given by accident. They had had no quarrel, and he believed that the blow was given in a momentary impulse. The prisoner also made a statement, saying that he had often warned the deceased not to throw water or chewed food over him, and mess him about." John Wilkes, who was present when the injuries were inflicted, stated that the prisoner was sleeping near the furnace when the deceased squirted tea from his mouth into the prisoner's face. The latter got up, looked at the men present, and without saying a word, walked to the pit, picked up his iron rake (3ft. Sin. in length), and slung it at the men. It struck the deceased and a man named Gill, who was standing close by, knocking them both insensible. Gill quickly re- covered, but the deceased remained unconscious, and was removed to St. Mary's Hospital. Mr. J. R. Cates, house surgeon at the hospital, said that a post- imrtem examination showed that the deceased's skull was fractured and the brain lacerated, thus causing meningitis, from which he died. Inspector Morgan informed the magistrate that the prisoner bore an excellent character. The prisoner had nothing to say in his defence. Mr. Cooke committed him for trial at the next Sessions of the Central Criminal Court.

THE HAMILTON PALACE LIBRARIES. The sale of the superb collection of books known as the Hamilton Library to distinguish it from the one inherited from the author of Vatliek," and termed the Beckford Library, was commenced in London last week by Messrs. Sotheby, Wilkinson, and Hodge, at their rooms in Wellington-street. The second day's sale was made specially interesting by the exceedingly rare copy of the work of the old Chronicler Boece, which was unique from having belonged to King James V., and the curious prayer-book of King Charles I. The details of the3e two interesting books are as follows: Boece (Hector) History and Croniklis of Scotland, translatit by Johne Bellenden, printed on vellum in black letter, woodcuts, small folio (12in. by 8in.), Edinburgh, T. Davidson, 1536. Only two other copies known on vellum, that in Edinburgh Univer- sity Library and at Ham-house. This was the dedi- cation copy, presented to James V. of Scotland, and bore his autograph, "J.R. across the top of the title- page, still plainly legible although the ink is faded. It is well bound in oak boards, covered with leather, richly stamped with gold tooling, and having corner brass plates and clasps, rudely stamped with ornament, the binding surprisingly sound on the sides, though the book has been rebacked. Upon the obverse of cover in gold letters Iacobvs Quintvs," and on reverse Rex Scotorvm," with a head of Dido. Copies of this very rare first edition of Boece's Chronicle have been thought to sell high at from E60 to S100 at auction, but this being one of such specially inte- resting associations was expected to bring a much larger sum, but few persons were prepared to see it sell for the enormous price of £ 800, at which Mr. Quaritch obtained it, after a spirited contest with Mr. Bain. Booke of Common Prayer, R. Barker, 1037, Psalmes in meeter, with music, 1635, black letter small 4to., covered with dark red velvet. This was the interesting prayer book of Charles I., upon the margin of which all through there were written certain alterations of the text, most of them in a handwriting resembling closely that of Charles I., but some were obviously in a different hand and were written with a blacker ink. The most important evidence as to authenticity was the note in very small cramped hand, prefixed to the order for morning prayer, which begins with the signature Charles R. and goes on to say that he ordered the Archbishop (Laud) to make these alterations and fit a liturgy. The prayer book has been known to exist for many years, but has not been seen since it passed, with the Hamilton collection (1856), through the late Mr. Pettigrew, who picked it up at an auction in the City 30 years before. Notwithstanding that some doubt had been expressed as to the authenticity of the writing, the book sold for the considerable price of £ 137 (Bain).

IflbtcHancous fnltlKijwrt. HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL. A FATAL FrcnT. On Monday a verdict of Man- slaughter was returned by a coroner's jury at Bir- mingham against William Finchett, a potato salesman, who is charged with causing the death of a man named George Norris, by knocking him down and fracturing his skull. The two men had been drinking together, when a quarrel which arose between them led to a fight, in the course of which the fatal blow was struck. Finchett was committed to the assizes, but admitted to bail. THE CANAL AT CoitiN-i,ir.-The Isthmus of Corinth has been disturbed from its sleep of centuries, and is now the scene of very active engineering operations, a new town, called Isthmia, of at least 200 houses and stores, having risen on the shores of the Gulf of yEgina. The dredging of the approaches of the canal has been commenced on each side at the rate of some 5000 cubic metres of sand and soil every 24 hours, while great numbers of workmen are employed on the central portion, the conveyance of the material being provided for by a railway'of 15 kilometres in length, four loco- motives, and 180 tip-waggons. Two large dredging machines have also just arrived from Lyons, which will work to the amount of 13,000 cubic metres per day. STREET ROBBEIIY IN LONDON.—At an early hour on Sunday morning, as Dr. Thomas Loane, of Beaumont- square, was passing along the Mile-end-road, on his way home from a professional visit, he was set upon by a gang of roughs, who knocked him down and other- wise ill-used him. Some of the fellows then held him whilst the others rifled his pockets, taking X25 in notes, gold, and silver, but by some chance missing his watch. The thieves then all made off as fast as they could. Dr. Loane, upon recovering himself, at once went to the nearest police-station and gave information of the robbery. DISASTERS AT SEA.—The Bureau Veritas has just published the following statistics of maritime disasters, reported during the month of March, 1884, concerning all flagsSailing vessels reported lost: 4 American, 2 Austrian, 35 British, 2 Danish, 8 French, 5 German 1 Greek, 4 Italian, 7 Norwegian, 1 Portuguese, 2 Swedish total 71. In this number are included 10 vessels, reported missing. Steamers reported lost: 11 British, 2 French, 1 Spanish total 14. In this number is included one steamer reported missing. MORTALITY IN RUSSIA.-The paucity of meaical men in Russia, writes a correspondent, and the habits of the rural population combine to make the Russian death- rate the highest in Europe. Excepting the two capitals, where there are many German physicians, there is no district in the empire sufficiently supplied with doctors. According to the latest returns the average duration of life in Russia is only 26 years. Tho mortality among infants is frightful. More than 60 per cent. die before they reach their fifth year. Nearly 2,000,000 children perish every year. Of 8,000,000 boys, only 3,770,000 attain the age of military service-that is to say, their twenty-fifth year; and of these at least 1,000,000 are found, by reason of shortness of stature and weakness of body, unfit for military duties. A JAPANESE LAWYER IN COURT.-An American paper says that Judges Allison and Biddle, of Phil- adelphia, had the pleasure the other day of having introduced to them Barrister R. Massugema, a Japanese of high rank, who had been sent to Europe by his government to study and was admitted to the bar in England. He waf, about five feet two inches in height, but had an uncommon large head and a high, broad forehead. He wore gold eye-glasses and had his thick, straight hair cut in a style approaching the bang. He was ceremonious in all his actions. He spoke English almost without accent. He said he had gone to Europe by way of the Suez Canal, and is now on his way home by way of the United States and the Pacific. He said that he intends to practice law at home, and added that he had certain improvements in legal forms to suggest to his government. COMMUTATION OF SENTENCES.—A communication has been received at Manchester from the Home Secretary, referring to William Smart, who was condemned to death at the last assizes, along with a woman named Mallinson, for causing the death of a girl named Brierley by improper treatment. Both convicts were respited, and the Home Secretary stated that the sentence on Smart was commuted to penal servi- tude for life, but it would be reconsidered at the end of five years. Mallinson's life sentence would not be altered. THE LIGHTNING ROD.-Attention has recently been called to the use of iron as a metal for lightning rods (remarks a contemporary). In this country, where the subject has been left in the hands of the manufacturers, lightning rods are made of pure copper,and consequently are far too expensive for general use. In France, America, and other countries iron rods are in vogue, and found to answer the purpose very well, besides being inexpensive. In Canada a church was recently protected by a round iron rod t-inch in diameter, and welded at each joint. The upper end of the rod was drawn to & point, and a damp ground connection provided for the lower end. The rod was secured to the church by gal- vanised iron staples; the total cost was under 13. While upon this subject we may mention that Franklin was probably anticipated in his discovery of lightning conduction. According to M. do Rochas, the ancient Etruscans understood the art of guiding the lightning. Servius relates that in ancient times the priests ignited their sacrifices by lightning, and on one occasionTullras Hostilius was struck dead because he neglected the pre- cautions laid down by Numa. A LITERARY PORTRAIT GALLERY.—The librarian of the Bodleian Library, Oxford, has issued a notice in- viting authors to present the library with their photo- graphs and engraved portraits, and to add on the back their full names and any other particulars; by authors" are meant compost rs of printed books, pamphlets, magazine articles, maps, a id music. His design is to form and perpetuate a portrait-gallery of literature, for which the oldest public library in the world and the second largest in the British Empire would be a fitting home. It already affords room to the Hope collection of engraved portraits, the number of which is estimated at 210,000. SCENE AT A FIRE.-In London, on Saturday morning a fire broke out in a narrow turning (without a thoroughfare) in Manor-street, Wal worth-road. The premises consisted of a stable and outbuildings, in the occupation of Mr. Young, furrier. The smoke pene- trated an adjoining dwelling-house, seriously alarming three women and two men who resided there. The men escaped by the door, but the females clambered on to the roof of their dwelling in their nightdresses and thence, although directed to remain quiet, dropped on to the roof of the stable, and threw themselves off into the street below. One woman was removed in an injured state to the house of a neighbour, but the other two were removed to the hospital. In the course of the fire a pony was burned to death. THE NATIONAL GALLERY.—The National Gallery was visited last year by 850,000 persons on the public days. the daily average being 4104, while 21,192 people were admitted on students' days (Thursday and Friday). Exclusive ot water-colour drawings, the gallery now contains about 940 pictures; and it is curious to note that only fifty of these paintings were copied, although students made 800 oil copies, besides partial studies. Loans of pictures were made to the National Portrait Gallery, the Irish National Gallery, to the Glasgow and Dundee Corporations, and to nine provincial ex- hibitions. CURIOUS EXPLOSION.—In London, the other evening, some excitement was caused by a report that an explo- sion of dynamite had taken place at the City News Rooms, Ludgate-circus. On inquiry it was found that the report was caused by the fact that a man lit a cigar in the rooms, which almost immediately went off with a loud report. The police were sent for, and Chief Superintendent Forster and a detective-sergeant having arrived, the man was taken to Bridewell-place Police- station, when another cigar was found on him, which on being opened was found to contain an explosive. The man, who gave an address at Ponsonby-place, Pimlico, explained that the cigars were given him by his brother, who was a sailor. The police accompanied the man to his lodgings, where he gave up two other cigars, which were found to be loaded with cartridges over 2in. in length. It is believed they are of foreign manufacture. TIRED SUFEP.-The Lancet says It is a pitiful sight in London to see sheep being driven from the market, giid one or more of the flock lagging behind for the chance of a drop of water in some stagnant gutter, and, lacking this, to see the poor animal fail alto- gether, and lie down, or rather fall down, for very weariness. This is especially so with sheep in the wool, and when a warmer wind blows. It is apt to be for- gotten that these animals between leaving their native fields and arriving at their fatal destination have great hardships to undergo, apart from any intentional cruelty on the part of the drovers—which, we are willing to admit, is now very rare. The mere wool they carry is considerable. Thus Lincolnshire sheep may carry from twelve to sixteen pounds, Leicestershire sheep ten to twelve pounds, half-breds six to nine pounds. It is an idea of some people that the sheep are purposely starved during their stay in the cattle- market to be the better for killing. This is a mistake; but it is undeniable that on their journey there, and even during their stay, they are liable to great vicissi- tudes, with long intervals of fasting, and, more intoler- able still, of thirst. We appeal to all who are responsible for attending to these animals in the final days of their innocent but doomed lives to abate these miseries, and to the police, and even the public, to intervene on behalf of tired cattle, and see that they are both rested and refreshed. SUMMER-BEDDING PLANTS.—Now that the weather has become mild (says the Gardeners' Chronicle "), advantage should be taken of it to remove from the vineries or other heated structures all such plants as will bear removal to the open air with safety, but where cold frames or pits are plentiful it will be safer to make use of them for this purpose for a short time, but as many have not sufficient of these convenient structures all the hardier kinds of plants may be trans- ferred to the open air, provided they are hooped over and carefully protected from frost by mats, frigi-domo, or other similar material. The nearer they can be arranged to the flower garden the greater will be the saving in time and labour when the operation of plant- ing commences. They should be placed on a bed of ashes in a partially sheltered position where they will not be fully exposed to cold winds, and where water is conveniently close at hand. The sowing, picking-out, and transplanting of annuals, biennials, and perennials, should now be proceeded with. The more tender kinds should be sown either in pans or boxes, and placed in a gentle heat till they germinate. The less tender should, after sowing, be placed in a cold frame, and the hardier kinds may be sown in an outdoor border, either in seed-beds, to be afterwards transplanted, or they may be sown at once in the positions which they are intended permanently to occupy. As the spring plants and bulbs cease blooming they should be immediately removed to the reserve garden; the beds should then be dressed, dug, and planted with the summer plants, taking care to put out the hardier kinds first, such as calceolarias, verbenas, and lobelias; by so doing the garden will present a neat appearance, and the summer plants will have the advantage of becoming established early in the season. SAD ACCIDEXT,-In London, on Saturday, Mr. S. F. Langham held an inquest at Mount-street, Grosvenor- square, on the body of Edward Coulston Kerr Colville, aged six years, the eon of Captain Colville, of 4, Chesterfield-street. From the evidence of Madame Consendoz (who had acted as French governess to the child), Henry Marlow, the valet, and others, it appeared that about half-past one o'clock on Monday in last week the child was found to have fallen over the stair- case of the dining-room floor on to the basement. A doctor was immediately sent for, and life was pro- nounced to be extinct, death having been caused by fracture of the skull. It was surmised that the child had climbed on the bannisters, and missing his hold fell over. A verdict of accidental death was returned. SUICIDE IN PRISON.—An inquest was held on Satur- day in Durham Gaol on Henry Whittle, a prisoner undergoing penal servitude for life. He hanged him- self on the previous Thursday, effecting his purpose by means of a contrivance consisting of two bed boards, a hand brush,a loop of untwisted oakum, and a neckerchief. To deaden the sound of the struggle he placed the bed- clothes below him and plugged oakum into the keyhole of the door, and to prevent the door being opened he wedged scouring stones, used in the cells, beneath it. A warder at a desk seven feet from the cell heard no sound, and two men were required to force the door open. The jury returned a verdict of Suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity." A MAN-EATINU CROCODILE KILLED.—A correspon- dent, writing from Rohri. in Scinde, gives an account of the death of a man-eating muggur, which had for a long time established itself near a village on the Rohri river, to the great sorrow of the villagers. Thirteen people—men, women, and children—had from time to time been carried off and eaten, till, at length, all approaches to the river were practically blockaded by the huge saurian. No one seems to have thought of killing him, and, in all probability, he would have appro- priated venturous bathers and wandering cattle-tenders till the end of the chapter, had not a roving English- man suggested that it might be as well to shoot him. Accordingly a buffalo was tied out for bait near the river bank; while the sportsman hid himself in a machan hard by. In a little time the buffalo and mug- gur met; the latter seizing the buffalo's hind leg, and attempting to carry him off- Two shots through the head put a stop to an interesting and exciting struggle, and, when measured, the muggur was found to be two inches over twenty-three feet in length. On disem- bowelling the creature gold nose-rings, silver bangles, and arm ornaments, to the value of 97-12 rupees, were found in his stomach, proving conclusively the nature of his meals." Go f" 0"