The Brecon County Times Neath Gazette and General Advertiser for the Counties of Brecon Carmarthen Radnor Monmouth Glamorgan Cardigan Montgomery Hereford

POLITICAL GOSSIP. --+- LORD REDESDALE, as Chairman of the Committees of the House of Lords, signalised the approaching close of the present Session of Parliament on Saturday, the 10th of August, by the usual fish dinner at the Trafalgar. ,Covers were laid for 50 guests. A CONTEMPORARY says Juarez is turning quite moral: lie has forbidden lotteries and raffles. He will next ob. ject to murder if he goes on improving at this rate. "JOHN BULL" regrets to state that owing to con- tinued ill-health the Right Hon. Horatio Waddington has tendered his resignation as permanent Under Secre- tary for the Home Department, an office which he has for years filled with so much credit to himself and use- fulness to the country. ACCORDING to the Saturday Review, the organ of THE French Government enjoys an unenviable notoriety. In an article on Saturday last we read The Moniteur has managed, by half a century of lying under the orders of every possible kind of Government, to establish such a reputation that it is only believed when the news it gives is bad news." A CARICATURE has been published at Matamoras, which represents Uncle Sam lying flat on his back with Canada underneath him, and his head in his Russian purchase, taking an iced drink, his legs cramped up by a rickety fence named Mexico. Uncle Sam meditatingly says he will have to stretch out his legs directly. The picture tickles the Texans amazingly. AMusa the prizes delivered at the meeting of the Ormskirk and Sowthport Agricultural Society just held, was one of 21 10s. to James Thomas, who described himself as a down reet ow'd Toury, th' backbone," and who had been in the service of the Earl of Derby for 58 years. The master would be hardly able to repeat the words after the man. THE Lord Mayor had sitting close to him at the recent banquet the much-honoured representative of Russia in this country; forgetting the fact, his lord- ship alluded in his speech to the glorious thrashing our men gave the Russians at Balaklava. People in the vicinity of his Excellency got red and very fidgety but his Excellency took the matter with his wonted good- nature and tact, and smiled, doubtless putting it down, as it was, as a slip of the tongue, and quite unintentional. THE following circular to district attorneys and marshals of the United States has been issued Attor- ney-General's office, Washington, July 30. By direction Of the President of the United States, you are hereby iaaUucted to observe with vigilance all persons whom you may have reasonable cause to suspect of combining unlawfully for expeditions into the territory of any foreign nations, and to promptly interpose the authority of the United States whenever you have probable cause for believing that any person has violated the neu- trality laws of the United States.—John M.BINCKLEY, Acting Attorney-General." A RECENT circular of the Cardinal Archbishop of iksangon to his clc-rgy, exhorting them to make efforts to obtain donations from their flocks for charitable pur- poses, contains this curious passage for a clergyman "I have compromised my present and my future. I give to the poor and to churches, and secretly or openly to a host of people in distress as much as I can, even more than I can. I do not keep a carriage I wear shoes with holes in them, and my cassock is patched. You have seen more than once my patched sleeves. I laugh at all that. God knows why I do it. I am anxious to save in my pecuniary expenditure for the service of my Master, and am content to wear His livery." THE MAN TO VOTE FOR.-We extract the following from the Pall-mall Gazette :-A member of Parliament, representing a large and important English borough, was lately waited upon by a well-dressed man, who repre- sented himself as a near relative of one of the most influ- ential supporters of the hon. member. He had been detained in town longer than he anticipated, and had got into a little pecuniary difficulty, when he was called upon suddenly, by a most urgent matter, to leave town that very day it was of most vital importance that he should reach home that evening, and if the hon. gentle- man would kindly advance him a few pounds he would return it with his most grateful thanks as soon as he reached home. He was asked some questions, and answered them most accurately, and displayed an inti- mate acquaintance with many of the inhabitants of the borough. The member, taking out his chequebook, asked if d65 would be sufficient for his purpose. The reply was that if he made it £10 it would be ample, and it would be re- turned in a day or two by a bank bill. The hon. mem- ber replied that it would give him great pleasure to make it that amount, for, said he, we are all liable at times to run short of money, which is very inconvenient when from home. It happened to himself not very long since that, on arriving at the end of a journey, his luggage, which contained his money, except a very trifling amount in his purse, was not to be found. He went to his hotel and told his landlord how he was cir- cumstanced, and the landlord very kindly said, If S20 is of any service to you, here it is you need only show that your name is as you state by showing me it marked on the linen you are wearing." On showing him the name at once he handed over the money, and it was returned the same day on the arrival of the luggage. So show me your name marked on your linen in the same way, and I'll hand you the cheque for XIO," said the member. The gentleman looked confused, and stammered that he did not carry his name about on the linen he wore." Oh, never mind that then," re- plied the M.P., "we will take a cab and drive to your lodgings show me your name on linen or papers, either will do." The gentleman, however, did not accept this proposition with any alacrity, but appeared very indig- nant, and having said something about his honour being doubted, made his retreat, and the M.P. saved his cheque. On communicating with his constituents the member found that nothing was known of his visitor.

THE LAW OF HUSBAND AND WIFE. Alfred lng, a respectably-dressed young man, answered to a summons at the Wands worth Police-office on Satur- day, at the instance of Charles Randall, the relieving officer of Clapham, for neglecting to maintain his wife and two children. The defendant said he had been living at the house of his wife's parents. He was locked up one night, when he said he would leave, and he afterwards took his goods away. His wife would remain with her parents, and she had refased to come to his home. The relieving officer informed the magistrate that before he took proceedings he went to the defendant, who said if his wife came to whire he was living he would sell the furniture and leave her in the empty room. The witness also said that the only fault the wife found with her husband was his stopping out until three and four o'clock in the morning with other women. Mr. Dayman pointed out to the defendant that his statement was not agreeable to the evidence of the officer. The defendant said he told the witness that he would stop with her in the empty room. He believed that he had a right to sell his own goods. Mr. Dayman said the defendant must provide a proper home for his wife. The Defendant: Only a bed is required, I think. Mr. Dayman If you have a proper home for her, she is bound to accept it. The Defendant: I have offered her a proper home. Mr. Dayman You have not. If you till the officer you will sell the things, that is not providing a proper home. The Defendant: She has no reason to go to the parish, for she can afford to pay a person to teach her to play the piano. The wife here asked to be examined, but the magis- trate told her that the law did not allow him to have her sworn. She said, however, that the statements of her husband were not true. Mr. Dayman asked them whether they were married in church, and, on receiving a reply in the affirmative, he told them that when they were married they entered into a solemn obligation to love and honour each other, and they ought to remember that in their quarrels, and not separate because they (lid not agree on all points. It seemed to him that obligation was very little con- sidered. However, he had no power to compel the de- fendant to support his wife, only if he did not he must send him to prison for three months. The law would not relieve the defendant of his liability because of his disagreements with his wife. If she refused to live with him he was not compelled to provide a home. The summons was adjourned to allow of an arrange- ment being made between the parties.

THE COURT THE Queen remains at Osborne until the 20th of August, after which preparations will be made for her Majesty's departure for Scotland. The Queen, accom- panied by Princess Louise and Prince Arthur, visited the Royal Victoria Hospital, at Netley, on Saturday afternoon. Her Majesty crossed over from Osborne Pier in the Royal yacht Alberta, Captain his Serene Highness the Prince of Leiningen, and was received on landing by Major-General Wilbraham, C.B., and the officers of the establishment, by whom her Majesty was conducted through the hospital. In passing through many of the wards her Majesty addressed a few words to the sick, and inquired into their cases. Before leav- ing the establishment the Queen visited the quarters of the married men. Her Majesty returned to Osborne at eight o'clock. THE Dean of Westminster and Mr. Odo Russell ar- rived at Osborne on Saturday, and had the honour of dining with the Queen and the Royal family. HER MAJESTY, and their Royal Highnesses Princess Louise and Princess Beatrice, and the Ladies and Gentlemen in Waiting, attended Divine service at Whippingham Church on Sunday morning. The Rev. George Prothero officiated. His ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE ARTHUR, attended by Major Elphinstone, left Osborne for Greenwich-park on the 10th inst. THE Right Hon. John Wilson Patten, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, arrived at Osborne on Saturday, and had the honour of dining with the Queen and the Royal family. Lieutenant-General the Hon. Charles and Mrs. Grey had also the honour of being invited. THE Prince and Princess of Wales are on their way to the hot wells of Germany, which it is hoped will quite restore the health of her Royal Highness. Their Royal Highnesses remained at Marlborough-house until they took their departure for the Continent, and the Prince of Wales, with Captain Ellis in waiting, attended Divine service at the Chapel Royal, St. James's, on Sunday morning. The sermon was preached by the Hon. and Rev. Francis E. C. Byng, from St. Matthew, chap. xxi., v. 30.

THE following is a scene that lately took place in one of the kirks at the Lewis, one of the Hebrides, on a Saturday evening :—Minister (loquitor, from the pulpit) Callum Mhor, why were you not in church last Sabbath ? Callum: I was in church last Sabbath. Minister: Youwerenot. Callum: Iwas. Minister: Are you ready to swear you were Callum: To be sure. Minister. Shut up. Friend, sotto voce to Callum, on the way out (for Callum had not been in church the Sabbath before): Well, well, Callum, it was awful of you to offer your oath to a lie. Ah, but," says Callum, confidentially, "isn't there a great difference between offering a thing And giving it II TIE following exquisite morceaux appeared in the Pall-mall Gazette :-One Michel Monceau, who dates from Munich, has for some times past been insert- ing daily in the Anglo-French Messenger the following advertisement:—" To the wealthy of this world -It is youth, education, and sentiment which, united with tiches, constitute the charm of human life. I am young, well educated, and possessed of feeling but, alas I am not wealthy. Now, which of you who have a surplus of riches is willing to bestow on me a share ? But do not offer a smaller sum than £ 10,000, for to accept less than that would be to beg."

SPORTS AND PASTIMES. ) GAME IN INDIA.—The Bombay Gazette says in the i, Central Provinces alone during the past year and a half 194 tigers and cubs have been killed, beside a large number of other high game." DURING the first fortnight of August, says the Scots. man, the salmon fishing on the Tay and lower reaches of the Earn has fallen off considerably. On Monday, however, there were good takes upon several stations from the mouth of the Earn to Cargill. A salmon of 501b. weight was landed at the North Inch Station, a short distance above Perth-bridge. Grilse are now much more numerous than salmon. DURING the past week the Spey has yielded very fairly to the anglers' rod, and good baskets have been made. On the Rothes part of the water, the Hon. H. Coventry, on Saturday, landed three fine grilse. The same day, Captain Coventry landed three grilse and a good salmon of 161b. On the Tulchan, Mr. T. Bass, M.P., and Colonel Stuart, M.P., have had excellent sport, killing four and five salmon daily, weighing from 31b. to 161b. A great many sea trout have also been taken during the week. The river continues in fine order with abundance of fish. THE GUN CLUB.—The pigeon shooting at the Gun Club Grounds, Shepherd's-bush, was brought to a close on Saturday. A X5 handicap sweep was announced as the final event, but the attendance of members being small, and the majority of those present objecting to so large a stake, it was abandoned, and nothing beyond sovereign sweeps were arrived at. The first, for which there were only eleven entries, was well contested, five gentlemen—Mr. Gregory, Captain Talbot, Mr. Neville, Mr. Rudd, and Mr. Monk, M.P.—killing all their birds. On shooting off the ties, Captain Talbot and Mr. Rudd fell off at the second round, leaving the contest between Messrs. Gregory, Neville, and Monk, the first of whom missed at the fifth round. The remaining two killed their five birds each, and consented to divide rather than prolong the contest. A large number of similar events were shot off, in the whole of which the shooting was very fair, being quite up to the average. The ground will be closed, except for practice, until the 1st of April next, by which time it is expected there will be a very large accession of members.

THE ARTS, LITERATURE, &c. MIL J. W. HALES, late Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge, one of the editors of Bishop Percy's Folio Manuscript, has been appointed Professor of English Language and Literature at the Ladies' College, Bedford- square. IT may interest some readers to know that the first Sunday-school in England was established in the city of Gloucester in 1781, by Mr. Robert Raikes, printer and editor of the Gloucester Journal, in conjunction with the Rev. Thomas Stock. A biography of Mr. Raikes will be found in the 101st volume of the Gentleman's Magazine. LONGTELLOW always sends to the printer very clear copy. His manuscripts, says the New York Home Journal, are all written in lead pencil upon large sheets of a good quality of book paper; each sheet contains never more than two four-line verses. The manuscript of his translation of Dante, if bound, will make several immense volumes. AT the meeting I!!f the Pl>ik>biblon, last Saturday, at the house of R. S. Turner, Esq., Regent's-park, Mr. Huth's present of the reprint of Mr. Daniel's famous volume of ballads was presented to the members. Mr. Halliwell has edited the book. Lord Houghton, as chairman, ac- knowledged the gift, and introduced an incident which amused his audience. A THIRD edition of the Catalogue of the current Exhi- bition of National Portraits at South Kensington is to appear immediately, and will contain many improve- ments among these is the introduction of a consider- able number of names of artists, hitherto omitted in de- fecf of information from the owners of the works, who were either ignorant about the authors of their posses- sions, or tardy in imparting their names. We believe many corrections which have been due to ciritical or unusually careful examination of the paintings will, in all cases with the owner's consent, be made in this respect, so that not unfrequent changes will appear. We presume it is hardly needful to state that the errors of description, and false ascriptions of pictures to painters and sitters, such as we have noticed in examining the carrent and former displays, are due to the owners of the portraits, not to the compilers of the catalogues, who wisely persisted in declining the critical office, and merely recorded the information they received from those who are most interested. The public is indebted to Mr. R. H. Soden Smith and Mr. R. F. Sketchley for the compi- lation of the catalogue of this year's gathering, a work I which has been well performed. A STATUS of Napoleon I. is to be inaugurated on the 18th inst., at Montereau. It will stand on the very spot where the Emperor uttered the words, The bullet which is to kill me is not yet cast." THE excavation for the base of a statue of the late Prince Consort, to be erected by the Queen on an eminence to the east of Balmoral Castle-in juxtaposi- tion with the one erected by the tenantry-has been completed. THE following inscription was recently put on the monument to the late Duke of Sutherland, erected while the Prince and Princess of Wales were at Dunrobin Castle last year :—" George Granville, second Duke of and 20th Earl of Sutherland born 1786 died 1861. Of loved, revered, and cherished memory. Erected by his tenantry and friends, 1866." A FINE cast from one of the most interesting examples of metal-work has recently been placed in the South Kensington Museum. This cast has been taken from the gigantic seven-branched candlestick in the cathedral at Milan, which was presented by the Arch-Priest Tri- vulzio in 1562, and, so says the official inscription of the cast, was probably made for an older church. UPON lifting one of the flooring deals in an old house about to be pulled down and rebuilt at Linlithgow, paintings of a remarkable and interesting kind were dis- covered on the under side of the floor and across the oaken joists. The names of Lord Fleming," Erie a "I Demaz," "Lord Letoun," "ErIe De Argyle," &c., have been found apparently in connection with their coats-of- arms. The house, whose walls are above four feet in thickness, is said to have been a great resort of the nobility in the time of Queen Mary and tradition has it that each nobleman sat under his coat-of-arms before proceeding in a body to the palace. WE, Northern Ensign, understand that a compass on a new and important principle has been made and is being patented by the Earl of Caithness. The details of the invention are distinguished by great simwicity, and are such as will be of the utmost importance to sea- faring men. The compass was tested on board the new steamer Russia, on the Clyde, the other day, and the result was in the highest degree to show its great superiority to that now in use. One of its chief recom- mendations is, of course, its simplicity, but there are other features, such as its not being affected by those influences which produce motion on other compasses, the absence of the pendulum, &c. PERSONS interested, whether on scientific or economic grounds, in the geology of the eastern provinces of the new dominion of Canada-namely, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island-will be glad to learn that Principal Dawson, of M'Gill College, Mon- treal, has in the press a new edition of his Acadian Geology," in which the information on the geology of the provinces above named, contained in the previous edition, will be brought up to the present date. There will also be additional chapters on pre-historic times in Acadia, on the flora and land fauna of the carboniferous and Devonian periods, on the recent discovery of highly fossiliferous primordial beds, and on the important deposits of coal, iron, and gold, and the condition of mining industry in relation to them. 0

UNIVERSAL TOURIST COMPANY.—Col. Mater and Captain Barrett Leonard were summoned before the magistrate at Bow-street, on Saturday, at the instance of Edwarch Roach, late a clerk in the employ of the Uni- versal Tourist Company (Limited), charging them, that they, being directors of the company did, on the 15th of April last, and subsequent days, unlawfully carry on the business of the company without having any book kept for the registry of shareholders. Mr. Ribton appeared to prosecute Mr. Bridgman for Captain Leonard, and Mr. Parker, solicitor to the company, defended Colonel Mater. The summons was taken out on behalf of several persons who alleged that they had been in the service of the company, and had each of them claims for their salaries. It was proved that the defendants had been seen at the office, and were acting as if they were direc- tors of the company. Application had several times been made for inspection of the registry of shareholders, but it had never been produced. It was now stated to be in the possession of Mr. Styles, the secretary, who had gone over to Paris, and in his absence the book could not be produced. The solicitors for the defendants said they should be able to prove that neither of the defendants were directors, nor even shareholders in the company, and an adjournment was asked for, as sufficient notice had not been given. The case was adjourned for a week.

) HINTS UPON GARDENING. PLANT HOUSES.—As the season advances attention must again be directed to all plants required for winter flowering. It is only by duly forwarding them at this season that we can expect to have a good display of flowers in October and November, and indeed through the whole of the winter months. Look well, therefore, after such plants as genistas, coronillas, croweas, correas, &c. Encourage the most forward and most compact plants by every possible means to grow freely, and pinch back others so as to secure a proper succession of blooms. Give final shifts to those already in pots, and pot up others of the following sorts from the borders, namely, aloysias, heliotrope, mignonette, ageiatums, fragrant-leaved pelargoniums, sweet-briars, &c. Select likewise the most forward plants from amongst winter-flowering gesneras, justicias, eranthe- mums, tydeas, &c., for similar earlier flowering, giving secondary plants another shift, and if compatible with the form of the plant, &c., another pinching back also. Shift finally scarlet and other pelargoniums for winter flowering, and induce them to well fill the pots with roots before the season in which they are required to flower has arrived. Eucharis amazonica will now be benefited by another shift into a larger pot. Do not divide the bulbs or in any way loosen one from the other, but simply pot the ball on into a larger sized pot. Should a wet period set in, remove any tender greenhouse plants that may be out under shelter, before it is possible for them to suffer from too great an amount of moisture. If necessary, procure a few Dutch bulbs at the earliest opportunity for very early forcing. The little Roman hyacinth is well adapted for this purpose, especially when grown in bunches in pots. Attend to the potting out of primulas, calceolarias, and cinerarias as they be- come sufficiently large for that purpose. he primulas should not 1 c potted too firmly put them in an open compost, fJrmed of leaf-mould, peat, and silver sand, and set them in a warm, light situation. The others prefer a more general admixture pot them more firmly, and place them in a cool, shady place, giving them abundance of moisture when once fairly started into growth, after each successive potting. Set the pots upon slates, coal ashes, or some other efficiently drained bottom, which will also keep worms from entering the pots. HARDY FLOWER GARDEN AND SHRUBBERIES.—Do not fail, where possible, to run the hoe between all plants in beds. Thus stirring the soil assists in retaining moisture, and helps to destroy very young weeds. Continue to support the fast-extending side shoots of all dahlias. These are readily wrenched off by wind and rains, rendering negative, and that quickly, the labour of months. Finish putting in pipings of pinks, carna- tions, and picotees, whilst the weather proves more or less showery. It will be well also to proceed with layering them as expeditiously as possible. Sow seeds of the showy schizanthus for flowering next spring. Sow in an admixture of peat, leaf-mould, and sand, and do not bury the seeds too deeply. Sow also ten- week stocks for flowering early next spring. Prick out into their permanent winter quarters all seedling or other pansies, polyanthuses, &c., in order that they may become duly established before winter. Attend to all choice shrubs grown in mixed plantations or otherwise. See that no common shrubs or evergreens encroach upon the space allotted to them. KITCHEN GARDEN.—Do not fail to sow the necessary breadth of prickly spinach, both upon late heavy lands, and upon light forward soils in properly prepared positions. A few French beans, sown now upon a south border, and in a position where it is possible to protect them slightly by mats from early autumn frosts, will be found very useful late in the season. The necessary space should be cleared and dug over for the purpose of sowing early next week autumn onions, to stand the winter for early spring use. Choose a good rich quarter for the p-irpose, and well dung it. Procure Tripoli or white Spanish for this purpose. Take up pickling onions and lay them in an open situation to ripen off their tops. The main bed of onions will be benefited by having the tops gently laid with a stick or other handy appliance, especially any coarse bottle- necked ones which do not bulb freely. Remove all side shoots, decaying and minor superfluous leaves from the earlier rows of celery, and tread the soil contained in the trenches firmly down, which will be of much benefit after the late rains. Where sticks of celery are in re- quest at the earliest possible date, a few inches of soil should be placed at once around their base, giving them every encouragement possible as regards freedom of growth by means of liquid manure frequently applied and other waterings.-Gardeners' Chronicle.

FACTS AND FACETI-ZE. I THE remoteness of Russian'America makes it a fur country," says the Boston Post. Its northern lati- tude makes it also an ice-olated country. IF you and your sweetheart vote upon the marriage question, you for it and she against it, don't flatter yourself as to its being a tie. WE see," said Swift, in one of his most sar- castic moods, what God thinks of riches by the people he gives them to." AN insurance agent, urging a citizen to get his life insured, said Get your life insured for ten thou- sand dollars, and then if you die next week the widder's heart will sing for joy." A PORTSMOUTH musicseller was lately over- powered by a fastidious young lady, who wanted to purchase "Mr. Hood's—a—song of the—gentleman's under garment!" AT an Irish party the butler said to the lady of the house, "Please, ma'am, will I strip 1" Yes," was the reply, "all the company have arrived." And the butler then took or stripped off the covers from the dishes. ONE of the beauties of the court of Frederick the Great said to the king, Sire, how is it that you, who are so glorious already, still seek for new fame ?" Madame," he replied, for the same reason that you, although so beautiful, still wear rouge." A LONG PURSUIT.—An Irishman, the other day, coming to Washington with a load of wood, saw a military officer, followed at a respectful distance by two orderlies, in'full gallop. "By the powers," said he, haven't they caught him yet ? I was here about three weeks ago, and they was a-runnin' after him then." I (PRONOUN).—The ringleader of i-mpudence, the heart of pr-i-de, doubly conspicuous in m-i-sck-i-ef, shunned by the good and noble, and left to an end in ennu-i. A PHYSICIAN stopped at the shop of a country apothecary, and inquired for a pharmacopoeia. "Sir," said the apothecary, "I know of no such farmer living about these parts." ONE man wagered another that he had seen a horse galloping at a great speed, and a dog sitting on his tail. It seems an improbable feat for a dog to accom- plish, but the man was right and won the money. The dog was sitting on his own tail. "I WILL make an attack on England," said Bonaparte, in a huff, when First Consul, to Lord Whit- worth, British ambassador. That is your affair, sir," was the reply. "I will annihilate you," roared the consul. "Ah, sir, that is our affair," was the calm and noble reply of the representative of a great people. WE do not believe in spiritualism or magic (except sleight-of-hand, and so forth), but what are we to say to such a fact as this ? The other day a veracious witness actually saw a young man turn into a public- house. Transformation extraordinary Further evi- dence will shortly be forthcoming. THE following epitaph is taken from the church- yard of the village of Burbage, in Leicestershire:— "Two pretty Babs, which we did love, Is parted from us like a dove. These Babs, which we did so adore, Is gone, and will not come no more." THE following delightful announcement ap- peared in the Barnsley Chronicle of Saturday:— Swinton.—A New Sensation.—A 'poster' announcing a gala at Swinton, in the early part of this week, inti- mates in prominent capitals that Mr. William Broad- head,' of Sheffield, is ex ected on the cricket-ground each day." THE following letter of a working man who has given upwards of .£150 to the Bible Society, is printed in the Wilts Comity Mirror;—"Sir I am glad you indeverd in your report to move the Pobelleck to so glores work and as you referd to me I wish to inform the pobelleik in your next report that the mony was goat by hard work at the avrig of 12s. per week how did I get the mony I am at work wen my. nebor are a sleep also I have thrawn all my idels a side no soking no drinking no poblleck amusements however inosent knowing that Christ came not to pies him self in his steps an Comanded to tred aiss time is adey to work for the night Cometh wen no man can work for thare is no work in the grave nor wisdem nor divice men and ¡ brethrun work will it is Dey.—ser I remen yours trully ( A MUD WALL CUTEGER." [ MR. BASS has succeeded, according to the Army and Navy Gazette, in inducing the Admiralty to abolish "birching" on board the Britannia,. We hope their lordships will not have to retrace their steps, and that the boys will be kept in order without the fear of being flagellated. We will give an an'ecdote from which Mr. Bass and his friends may draw what deductions they please. A youngster who lately passed out of the Britannia was asked by a friend whether he thought good or evil would arise from the disappearance of the birch. "Well," was the reply, if I had to remain in the ship, I should be glad that flogging was done away with; but, as I have left her, I may say that a very un- wise proceeding has been adopted, for there are fellows on board who can only be kept in order either by the birch itself or the dread of it." We are persuaded that there is a good deal of truth in the youngster's remark. AT the recent ordination of one of the bishops, one of the candidates for deacons' orders was so low in his theological attainments that he was very near being "plucked." As, however, he had been strongly recom- mended to the Bishop for his piety and zeal, his lord- ship consented to ordain him, but warned him that he must study very diligently before he came up to the next examination, urging him especially to familiarise himself with that well-known theological work, Butler's Analogy." When the young man departed his lord- ship accompanied him to the door. He seated himself in the omnibus to proceed to the railway station. The bishop went up to him kindly, shook hands with him, and, as a parting reminder about the Analogy," ex- exclaimed, Good-bye, Mr. Don't forget the Butler Oh, yes, my lord," replied Mr. I've just given him five shillings and before the astonished prelate could offer any explanation the omnibus had driven off.

AGRICULTURE. -+- M'COMBIE ON CATTLE BREEDING. In noticing the work of Mr. W. M'Combie on Cattle and Cattle-breeders," the Field has the following :— In a series of articles, some of which are not published for the first time, our author conveys in a readable form much sound advice as to the management of cattle, and gives us the fruits of a long and extensive experience, both as a breeder and dealer, more particularly of the Aberdeen and Angus polled breeds. Under the head Reminiscences," we have an insight into the life of a Scotch cattle dealer 50 years ago. Railways and im- proved methods of feeding have completely altered the trade in lean cattle, which is not now worth looking after, as it was in the days of the Williamsons, Messrs. Anderson, and others, about whom many amusing anec- dotes are related. Thus, of Mr. James Milner, of Tilly- riach, the farm adjoining, now a part of Tillyfour, we are told The crop was all cut by the sickle, and wonderful were the prodigies performed by some of the shearers. When the harvest came near a conclusion there was generally a severe kemp' between neighbours who would have cliach' first. One season Milner had fallen much behind his Tillyfour neighbours, and it became clear that Tillyfour was to gain the victory. Milner ordered Rattler to be saddled, and he was not long in galloping, with such a horse and on such an emergency, over the length and breadth of the vale of Alford. He collected the whole country, and cut the last standing sheaf on Tillyriach in one night. The first thing heard at Tillyfour next morning was one volley of firearms after another, which was continued throughout the day, with a relay of shooters, and in the very teeth of my father's people. It cost Milner a great deal of Athole brose and powder, but he did not mind trifles to gain his point." From the above specimen the reader may conceive how Mr. M'Combie fills up some fourth of his book with lively chit-chat, related in a free, unassuming, and natural manner, making us very familiar with the habits of a class of highly valuable men who have to a great extent passed away. Much of the work, however, is devoted to more serious matter; and, coming from such an authority, the advice on many points connected with cattle management must command our respect, if we do not always entirely agree with his conclusions. Mr. M'Combie is a great advocate for wintering store stock in the open yard, well spouted, and provided with sufficient shed-room. Like all experienced graziers, he finds that animals wintered under cover are delicate, and take a long time to make a start, frequently being actually poorer after the summer run than before, whereas rough hardy animals go on at once. De- scribing his own practice with the Aberdeen and Angus cattle, he deprecates the use of cake or corn, save and except as a finishing process, and so arranges as to have one-fourth of his feeding animals on cake at one time, that time being only six weeks, after I which they go to market. This is, doubtless, sound practice where the pasturage and root crops are nutri- tious, as is the case on good land in the north but in less favoured districts we require to supplement the natural food with a moderate allowance of artificial, and thus keep the animal always moving, feeding, and grow- ing at the same time. We quite agree that if an animal has not been accustomed to cake, the progress at first will be rapid but after a time the effect appears to cease, and it does not pay to go on too long. Mr. M'Combie's practice is to buy the best lots he can find during the summer suitable for wintering and keeping on to the following Christmas. He culls the worst, feeds them at once, and winters the tops, which come out the following Christmas splendid animals, making an average of zC35 a head. He calculates that large bullocks should pay 25s. to 30s. a moath for keep. This is, we should imagine, above the usual return. The last and most valuable portion of the book consists of hints on the breeding and care of cattle. First, we have advice as to how a good herd can be formed with due regard to a profitable investment. A bull well descended and shapely must be secured, and good, though not extravagantly high-priced females purchased, mostly heifers. Careful breeding for a few years, and the rejection of those animals that throw in- different stock, with the occasional purchase of fresh blood, must eventually result in the establishment of a very useful herd-not probably show animals, but, what is far more important, of such as must yield profit. Our author is not in favour of breeding in and in. Quality may be maintained, and even in- creased, but size is reduced, and delicacy of constitution engendered. As a precaution against milk fever, Mr. M'Combie bleeds and physics every cow two or three days before calving, and stints them in food for two or three weeks. Different causes for this fatal disease are described, but a change from poor to rich pasture, or II from straw to a full allowance of turnips, is considered the most common. As an example we quote the follow- ing:— I bought a cow in July off a poor pasture, -and put her on a rich one. As she was low-priced, I did not use the necessary precautions; she went down in milk fever. A respected old servant bought a fine polled cow. I was walking across the field with him, and we came upon his cow. It was in July, and the grass was very luxuriant. I asked if he had bled the cow, as she would calve immediately. He said, 'No, I have not; and I never saw them bled except at Tillyfour.' To my sorrow, and to the man's heavy loss, the cow died of milk fever." Excellent advice is given as to red water, garget, black leg, and many other diseases indeed, the book is so practical, and the information so sound and trust- worthy, that we heartily commend it to our readers. THE BARLEY CROP. The Licensed Victualler's JournaZ says Barley we consider to be the most promising of all the cereals. For several years this crop has been the most remunerative to the farmer, and the breadth devoted to its cultivation has gradually ex- tended. This year in particular, owing to the wet. autumn and early spring, many farmers were unable to •' get their land into proper condition for wheat sowing, and it was in consequence put under barley, a crop which will yield abundantly even if sown as late as the beginning of May, whilst wheat requires to be sown at least two months earlier. The season is a very late one, and reaping will be quite three weeks behind an average, but we have generally found a late harvest an abundant one, and we hope this year will be no exception to the rule. All now depends upon the weather and should that be favourable for the next few weeks, we may ex- pect to have a full average crop of all kinds of grain se- cured in good condition. Some parties are too ready to raise an outcry of ruined crops should a few showers fall during harvest time, but we are not of this opinion. No doubt wheat thrives best with dry hot weather, but both oats and barley are greatly benefited by occasional rains. We have known a few days of wet weather, when oats were in ear, change a short to an abundant crop; and to barley the advantage is very decided. Maltsters know well the advantage of a mellow free pickle; and this can never be attained if the ripening goes under an un- checked course of dry, sunshiny weather. The grain then becomes hard and steely, and no treatment in the malt-house will succeed in extracting from it the same amount of saccharine as can be obtained from barley which has been more gradually ripened.

THE SHEFFIELD OUTRAGES. Mr. Overend and his co-examiners, Mr. Barstow and Mr. Chance, have just made their report to the Trades' Union Commission respecting the Sheffield outrages. After a few introductory paragraphs they speak of rat- tening as follows "Rattening is always done in the interests of the union, and very commonly by the direction of the secre- tary, who negotiates with the party rattened for the resti- tution of his property. In some cases a member of the union, without express authority, rattens another mem- ber who is known to have incurred the displeasure of the society, and takes his chance of having his act adopted by the union. Recourse is seldom had to the police to re- cover property so taken away, but application is almost always made to the secretary of the union immediately the loss of tools, &c., is ascertained. The practice of rattening is well known to be illegal, and persons detected in ille- gally taking away property have frequently been con- victed and punished. The excuse offered by the unions for this system is, that in the absence of legal powers rattening affords the most ready means of enforcing pay- ment of contributions and obedience to the rules of the union. Many articles of Sheffield manufacture require for their completion the labour of various classes of work- men. For example, the manufacture of a saw requires the work of the saw-grinders, the saw-makers, and the saw-handle makers. All these workmen form separate branches of the saw trade, and are in separate unions. They are, however, all amalgamated together for mutual support. In case of default by any member of any of the branches, or in case of a dispute with the masters, as the grinders' tools are most easily abstracted, and as stopping the grinding stops the whole saw trade, the course commonly adopted is to ratten the grinders, although the dispute may be with the saw-makers or saw-handle makers, and on the matter being arranged the other branches indemnify the grinders for their loss of time and for expenses incurred. An attempt is often successfully made to saddle the whole cost of the ratten- ing, as well as the cost of supporting the men while out of employment, upon the master, even where he is no party to the dispute, on the ground that he ought to have compelled his workmen to comply with the rules of the union. The system of rattening generally proved successful in effecting its object. If, however, the person rattened continues refractory, he commonly re- ceives an anonymous letter warning him of the conse- quences of his obstinacy." If the warning is disregarded then recourse has been had to outrages such as were confessed to by Broadhead, Crookes, and Hallam. The Examiners then proceed to summarise the evi- dence taken, and show how each union was affected. Having done that they conclude as follows:— "We have now given an outline of all the cases of importance which were submitted to us for investigation. Mr. Thomas Thorpe, managing clerk to Mr. Albert Smith, clerk to the magistrates for the West Riding of Yorkshire and borough of Sheffield, prepared for us a list of cases supposed to be connected with trades' unions, and which had been brought before the justices within the last 10 years. It comprised, in addition to the outrages mentioned in this report, 166 cases of rattening, and 21 cases of sending threatening letters. A very small proportion, however, of the persons rattened gave information either to the police or the justices. Most of the outrages we have investigated were brought before the justices, and although in several cases large rewards have been offered for the detection of the perpetrators the offenders have, with two or three exceptions, remained unknown up to the period of the inquiry. We believe that there are about 50 trades' unions in Sheffield, of which 13 have pro- moted or encouraged outrages within the meaning of the Trades' Union Commission Act, 1867. We have to report that there has not occurred within the last ten years any act of intimidation, outrage, or wrong, pro- moted, encouraged, or connived at by any association of employers. We point to the year 1859 as the one in which outrages were most rife, and we notice with pleasure that it has diminished since that time. During the course of our investigation, matters connected with trades' unions (such as the number of apprentices allowed to each workmen, and the class from which they may be taken, the remuneration of labour, the restraints exercised upon voluntary action, and the rules and general policy of trades' unions) have frequently been brought before our notice. These, however, are questions for the consideration of the Royal Com- mission sitting in London, and we purposely avoid making any observations upon them. At the com- mencement of our inquiry, and frequently during the course of it, we explained the provisions of the Trades' Union Commission Act, 1867, with regard to the powers conferred on us of granting certificates of indemnity to witnesses who should by their evidence inculpate themselves. We are convinced that the most material disclosures made to us were so made in reliance on our promise of indemnity made in conformity with the Act of Parliament. Had no such indemnity been offered, we are satisfied that we should never have obtained any clear and conclusive evidence touching the most important subjects of our inquiry, and that the system of crime which has now been disclosed, as well as the perpetrators, would have remained undiscovered we have, therefore, granted certificates to all witnesses whom we believe to have made a full and true disclosure of all offences in which they have been implicated. »

THE TAILORS OF SCOTLAND.—The tailors' strike in England and the demands of the operative tailors in Scotland have brought about a conference of master tailors, which was held in Edinburgh on Thursday last. It resulted in the formation of a Master Tailors Association of Seotland, and in the adoption of the following resolutions That the time-log in use since April last, having received a fair trial for three months, has been proved to be incorrect, inasmuch as it allows a much greater amount of time for making the various garments than is required by an average workman. It is also very complicated and ambiguous, and in the opinion of this meeting steps should be taken for its discontinuance or revision." That the committee be instructed to prepare a correct time-log, and issue it for adoption not later than the 25th of August." That the committee be instructed to endeavour to secure a better supply of labour, and to institute a register for enrolling the names of workmen who are willing to take employment on terms agreed on between them and the employers, without the intervention of the union." 1

YOUTHFUL BRITISH TABS. There is not a ship in the British navy doing better service than the wooden frigate Chichester, moored off Greenhithe in the river Thames. There the old tub lies, "grounding on her beef bones;" but John Bunyan would have said of her that she is really bound on a voyage from the Kingdom of Evil to the Kingdom of Good, with a cargo of souls. The excellent persons who have founded the refuges for London orphans begged the vessel of the Government, fitted her up at a cost of X2,000, and drafted 50 of their little human waifs and strays on board, to be turned into sailors for the Royal and mercantile navies. Afterwards Mr. Robert Fleming — all honour to him — gave XI,000, which enabled Lord Shaftesbury and his friends to ship 50 more of the rescued little ones. And this week there was a muster of the small crew, in presence of a friendly party. Could a "sweeter sight, or one brighter with the promise of useful and manly lives, be shown by the languid advocates of "sweetness and light," than this which had been obtained—be it noted b work in the slums-not talk in the saloons? Dressed, all to match, in the pretty man-o'-war kit, the lads toed the line" before their good friends. Every one of those lads had been rescued from rags and wretchedness and each one will become right good sea- stuff ? Who that has the means of helping in such beau- tiful work will not contribute something ? For .£15 sterling any body may take a little Arab from the gutter, and put him in the way of this happy and healthy transformation. We hope that at all our portsithere will be bold beggars," to give the Government no peace till they get such a ship as the Chichester, and that sub- scriptions will quickly secure a crew, and thus tend to empty, by-aad-by, workhouses, hospitals, and prisons. Fifteen pounds sterling, after all, is not dear for a boy's soul and body! They cost as much at Cuba and on the White Nile, and here it is from the Devil that we can buy tbem, and to God that we can sell them. Surely a new and glorious sort of slave trade !-Tekgraph-

THE KING OF THE BELGIANS AT BRIGHTON. —The residents and visitors at this watering-place were agreeably surprised by a Royal visit on UES ^Y after- noon, the King of the Belgians, returning from Osborne, landing quite unexpectedly at the new es ier. His Majesty, after a carriage drive through t e town, dined at the Grand Hotel, where he received the mayor, to whom he expressed his deep gratification at the enthu- siasm displayed on the recent occasion of the Belgian volunteers' visit to this country. At 9.50 his Majesty embarked from the West Pier for Dover, en route for Ostend. The unexpected event having become known throughout the town, an immense concourse of people had assembled, who greeted his Majesty most enthusias- tically.