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

M. NARCISSE MICHELET, uncle of the cele- brated author of "L'Oiseau" and "L'Insecte," died lately at Voscoeil (Seine Werieure), at the age of 90. He was a working printer, and the senior of the fraternity in France. In obedience to his express de. sire his funeral took place without Catholic rites. The mayor of hi3 commune superintended the "civil" inter- ment. In consequence of the Redaction in Duty, RomiMM.9 Teas are supplied bl the Agents EISHTPENCE per lb, cheaper, n'sailif Pai;iftd AN Dipe(ln a:cmrimæ 'a ,MW -,t '-V,,

THE HOURS OF LABOUR UNDER THE NEW ACT. The Act for regulating the hours of labour for children, young persons, and women employed in workshops was issued on the 27th of August. It states that by the Factory Act of the present year provision was made, among other things, for regulating the hours during which children, young persons, and women are permitted to labour in any manufacturing process conducted in an establishment where 50 or more persons are employed, and that protection should be afforded as to the hours of labour to children, young persons, and women working in smaller establishments, and also to make provision re- specting the employment of a fan or other mechanical means for the prevention of the inhalation of dust by workmen in processes of grinding. The statute, which is to be cited as The Workshop Regulation Act," contains 20 sections, and is to take effect on the 1st of January next. Subject to the exceptions mentioned in the first schedule annexed to the Act, no child under eight years of age is to be employed in any handicraft; no child is to be employed on any one day for a period of more than six hours and a half, and such employment to be between the hours of six in the morning and eight at night; no young person or woman in any handicraft during any period of 24 hours for more than 12 hours, with intervening periods for taking meals and rest amounting in the whole to not less than one hour and a half-and such employment is to take place between the hours of five in the morning and nine at night. No child, young person, or woman is to be employed in any handicraft on Sunday or after two o'clock on Satur- day afternoon, except in cases where not more than five persons are employed in the same establishment, and where such employment consists in making articles to be sold by retail on the premises, or in repairing articles of a like nature to those sold by retail on the premises. No child under 11 years is to be employed in grinding in the metal trades or in fustian cutting. Penalties are to be levied for offences, and power is given to the officers to enter the workshops. There are regulations as to attendance at schools, and parents are to cause their children to attend under a penalty of 20s. for each offence. A sum may be paid for schooling and deducted from wages. The other provisions relate to the local authorities, inspectors, and as to the working of the Act, and the three schedules annexed contain the forms and certificates to be used in carrying into force the various provisions of the statute.

SEDUOTION AND BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE. Joseph Wood, an omnibus conductor, 39, Carlisle- street, Edgware-road, was summoned before the magis- trate at the Clerkenwell Police-court, on Saturday, to show cause why he should not be adjudged the putative father of two illegitimate children, at which Emily Rodgers, of 3, Camden-street, Islington-green, alleged him to be the father. Mr. John Wakeling, solicitor, appeared for defendant. The complainant was a servant, and met with the de- fendant, who seduced her, and then introduced her to his parents as his wife, and cohabited with her. The result was the birth of three children, the last of which was born in and buried from her father's house. About four months since he left her, and promised to give her 10s. per week for the support of her children. This he kept up for a few weeks, and then having fallen in with another woman neglected to pay the money, and left the complainant and her children to starve. As he had promised her marriage and seduced her, and now ne. glected to support his children, under the advice of her friends she had brought the present proceedings. The defendant hoped that the magistrate would not order the full amount to be paid, as the complainant was as well able as himself to support the children. Mr. Newton said this was about the worst case that had ever come under his notice, and ordered the de. fendant tli pay 2s. 6d. per week for each child, and the full costs.

John Gosnell and Co.'s Cherry Tooth Paste prioe Is. M. Decidedly the best preparation for cleansing Sold by »U perfumers and chemwte.- 83. Upper Itemes-street London- Keating's Insect Destroying Powder. -Fleas. Bugs, Beetles, Moths, &c., are instantly destroyed by this Powder—quite harmless to animal life. Sold in Packets Is., and Tins 2s. 6d., by T. KEATING, 79, St. Paul's Church-yard. We continually hear of themortsur^singwcOTerlM from consumption, asthma* and other disordersof tiio lungs, through the use of DB. XJOGOCK'S PULMONIC WAirzus. AU who have weak cheats should certainly try them. K AAA PIANOFORTES, by C. HAMPTON, QlUUU attest the worth of this maker's principle of construction. The new Illusti ahed Catalogue, shewing re- gout improvements, tree. 74, Charlotte-st,, Fitiroy-s^ W.,

EPITOME OF NEWS. RELIEF FOR A PAUPER.—A pauper in Preston Workhouse has just come into a small fortune of £ 6,000. The recipient of this piece of luck ha been about eight years in the house. ON SATURDAY morning Thomas Hutchings, a fish hawker, residing in a court in Leicester, cut the throats of two of his children, and then his own. One of the children is not dangerously wounded, but the other is considered by the medical attendant to be in a very critical state. A COTTON MILL DESTROYED.—On Sunday morning an extensive cotton mill, forming a portion of the premises belonging to Mr. Robert Fitton, Turf-lane, near Oldham, was destroyed by fire. The machinery in the main building is completely destroyed. It consisted of 56 carding engines and preparations, there being no less than 50,000 spindles in the place. The damage is estimated at X40,000, which is partly covered by in- surances in various offices. BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.—At the Sheriff's Court, Liverpool, on Monday, Mr. Aston and a jury sat to assess damages in an action for breach of promise. The plaintiff was a Miss Jane Foley, of Birkenhead, and the defendant a Mr. Higlifield, a commercial traveller for a Warrington bone and alkali manufacturer. The de- fendant did not appear. Plaintiff claimed £ 500, but the jury awarded 130. SINGULAR SUICIDE.-At Dublin, on Saturday, one of the strangest scenes which has ever been recorded occurred. A private in the 69th Regiment and the wife of a sergeant who was separated from her husband tied themselves together by the necks with a scarf and jumped into the Liffey, near Carlisle-bridge. The splash was heard, and a boat put off to save them, but when picked up they were both dead. The man had been absent from his regiment for four days, and had been drinking. A SERIOUS COLLISION OFF THE WELSH COAST.—A STEAM-TUG SUNK.-About eleven a.m., on Friday, as the National Steam Navigation Company's steamship Helvetia was passing Holyhead, she unfortu- nately came into collision with the Liverpool steam-tug Prince Arthur, and sank her. The crew of the Prince Arthur were taken on board the Helvetia and conveyed to Liverpool. The Helvetia sustained no damage. THE WESTERN FISHERY.—A large quantity of red mullet was caught on the Cornish coast during the past week, of which London had a very liberal share the fish were sold in Cornwall at 2d. and 3d. each. The Cornish pilchard fishery was also attended with satisfac- tory results. In a seine at Perranporth about 500 hogs- heads were enclosed, and at Newquay two seines had a total of nearly 60 hogsheads. The St. Ives driving boats averaged from 2,000 to 3,000 fish per boat for several nights. A WARD IN CHANCERY.—On Friday at Vice- Chancellor Malins' Chambers, an application was made on summons before Mr. Edwards, the chief clerk, relating to the proposals of a marriage settlement of a ward whom Lord Justice Cairns had given permission to marry on the settlement of her fortune being agreed upon. The chief clerk declined to interfere in the matter, as it was not vacation business, and the young lady, he thought, might wait three months, when the case could be heard. The parties intimated their intention to go before the Vice-Chancellor, at his country seat, on the matter. FIFTEEN QUARTS OF ALE IN A DAY.-At a recent inquest on the body of a man who had drowned himself in a fit of delirium tremens, Dr. Lankester said he had long been trying to find out hew much some working men drink in a day but he had never been able to ascertain. He had once asked the landlord of a public-house frequented by navvies how much a man had drunk in a day, and his answer was he did not know-he had served him with 15 quarts of ale in a day. The next day the man was dead. Working men could stand more than any one else, because they worked it off, and navvies could stand most of all. Tailors could not stand much, and his advice to them was to abstain altogether HEAVY DAMAGES AGAINST SIMS REEVES.— This was an action by Mr. F. B. Chatterton, the lessee of Drury-lane Theatre, against the defendant, Mr. Sims Reeves, for a breach of contract, not having, according to an agreement entered into with the plaintiff, acted and sung in Rúb Roy for 12 nights, at 40 guineas each night. The case was tried before Lord Chief Justice Bovill and a special jury in Trinity Term, and the damages were laid at £2,000. Mr. Serjeant Ballantine, Mr. Joyce, and Mr. J. Ernest Brudenell Bruce appeared for the plaintiff; and Mr. Huddleston, Q.C., for the defendant. The re- sult was a verdict for the plaintiff, with a reference as to damages. On Friday the arbitrator awarded the plain- tiff, Mr. Chatterton, XI,500 damages, and also the costs of the proceedings. STRANGE CAB ACCIDENT.-Un Saturday morn- ing as hundreds of passengers were leaving the Waterloo terminus for their City destination great excitement was caused by an accident to a Hansom cab, containing a gentleman who had just left the train. The cab was driven at a smart pace down the sharp incline leading from the platform to the Waterloo-road, and the horse, apparently unable to stop or turn at the bottom, shot forward and fell into the open works of the metropolitan sewers now in course of construction. The shafts, fortunately, brake, and the cab remained checked by some piles or hoarding on the very verge of the sewer, into which the horse fell to a depth of several feet. The poor creature was not killed, and great efforts were at once made to extricate him. MORE COLLIERY AcCIDENTS.-Two fearful colliery explosions took place on Tuesday, one near Ashton, in Lancashire, and the other at Longton, in Cumberland. In the former 14 lives were lost, and the disaster is said to have been occasioned by the firing of a shot. In the latter the loss of life was not so great, but the explosion appears to have been one of extra- ordinary violence, the report being heard at a distance of three-quarters of a mile. Two colliers were killed, leaving each of them a widow and children to lament their loss. FATAL OCCURRENCE ON THE RIVER.—A very melancholy accident took place on Monday afternoon, a little below Putney-bridge. Mr. Kerridge, a member of the West London Rowing Club, was sculling in com- pany with a friend, when he suddenly felt ill, and called to his companion to come to him. Almost immediately, however, and before any help could be given him, he let go his skulls and rolled into the water and though he clutched at the boat he could not retain his hold of it, and sank, never rising again. His body had not been recovered up to a late hour on Tuesday night. It is supposed that he must have been seized with a fit, or that the heat of the sun affected him. ROYAL HORTICULTURAL GARDENS—In com- memoration of the 49th anniversary of the birth of the late Prince Consort, the Royal Horticultural Gardens, South Kensington, were opened free to the public on Monday, by command of her Majesty. A great number of persons, including various schools, proceeded thither, and military and other bands were in attendance, and played at intervals during the day. This was the fourth occasion on which the birthday of the founder of these delightful grounds has been celebrated in this manner. The persistent rain that fell during the afternoon, how- ever, spoiled the fdte. WORTH KNOWING.—Slate rock is ground to a fine powder, and mixed with mastic or any bituminous substance to the consistency of a thick paint, in which condition it is applied to canvas, cloth, paper, felt, or any similar substance, for roofing and other purposes. This is doubtless the elastic slate of which we have heard from America. It soon hardens, and by the action of the elements, or by means of chemical action within itself, becomes, it is said, almost as impervious to the action of fire or water as slate itself, though con- siderably less brittle. It has been applied as cement for cisterns, tanks, cellar-floors, leaky hydrants, pipes, and pumps. Inkstands have been made of it while in a plastic state, which have become as hard as stone. It has also been applied as a cheap paint to outbuildings and fences.-Buader. FOUR POUND v. TEN POUND HOUSEHOLDERS. —Mr. James Acland sends to the Daily News the fol- lowing list of boroughs in which the male occupiers under X4 exceed those of Xio and upwards :— Ifajarity. Majority* Aylesbury 1,169 Shaftesbury. 241 Berwick 1,412 Shields 821 Buckingham 263 Stockport 117 Calne 117 Stroud 1,540 Carlisle 598 Thetford 85 cockermolx,th 126 Tynemeuth 327 Cricklade .i. 1,032 Wallingford 150 Eye 240 Warekam 93 Frome 272 Wenlock 97 Halifax 345 Whitehaven *■ 543 Helston 338 Wilson 457 Kendal 1505 Woodstock 177 Kidderminster 52 Beaumaris 256 Knaresborough 173 Brecon 604 Leeds 1,324 Cardigan 207 Macclesfield 1,616 Carnarvon 155 Malmesbury l Denbigh 243 Midhurst 55 Flint 725 Morpeth 131 Merthyr 2,355 Ponfefract 666 Montgomery „„„„„„ 372 Ripon 15 c, AN INDIAN CHURCH P ATRON.-His Highness I the Maharajah Dhuleep Singh has presented the Rev C. H. Shaw, late curate of Beccles, Suffolk, to the living of Hatherop. The preferment is worth £ 300 per annum, The Maharajah and the Maharanee appear to be attached members of the Church of England. CIVIL SERVICE COLLEGE.—Lord Strathnairn and Mr. Edward Romilly (late chairman of the Board of Audit) have accepted the invitation of the committee to become vice-presidents of the proposed college. Contri- butions are now flowing in from members of both Houses of the Legislature and friends of the Civil Service gene- rally. Amongst the former may be mentioned a donation of £100 from Admiral the Earl of Egmont. NEW LAW ON DOGS.—Several enactments on dogs appear in the new Metropolitan Traffic Act, issued on Saturday, and which will take effect on the 1st of November. Dogs not under the control of any person may be taken by the police, and if not owned in three days destroyed. Dogs may be ordered to be muzzled, and if a dog has bitten or attempted to bite any person a magistrate may order the animal to be destroyed. SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUM. Visitors during the week ending August 24: On Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday, free, from ten a.m. to ten p.m., 9,520; on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (admisj sion 6d.), from ten a.m. till six p.m., 1,419 National Portrait Exhibition, by payment, 3,970 total, 14,909. Average of corresponding week in former years, 14,072. Total from the opening of the museum, 6,919,062. BAKING ICED CREAM. There are many wonderful and curious things in Japan. The latest and most anomalous secret they have communicated is a culinary one, and naturally has been confided to the French cooks of Paris. It is, however, no longer a secret, but is thus betrayed in a foreign journal:— The cooks at the Grand Hotel in Paris have learned from the Japanese attached to the Embassy a method of baking ice cream. This is accomplished as follows :— The cream is frozen as hard as possible, a very thin crust of pastry is quickly wrapped round it, and the roll is put in the oven. Dough being a good nen-conductor of heat, the paste bakes before the ice melts. It is with- drawn promptly, and served hot." NOT SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE.—The trial of John Smith, a tramp, for the murder of an aged inhabi- tant of a lone cottage, near St. Helen's, was brought to a conclusion on Saturday. It will be remembered that the deceased heard a thief in his house in the middle of the night, and, going downstairs, was at once assailed. His wife hearing the struggle was alarmed, and ran downstairs to the back door, from which she called the neighbours. While hallooing for assistance she was knocked down from behind by a man, who also cut at her throat. The neighbours, however, being alarmed, came to her help, and the man ran away. The old man was found dead in the house. Mrs. Mather swore posi- tively to the identity of the piisoner as the man who ran away from her, and the prisoner was apprehended in the neighbourhood. Prisoner's cap was found satu- rated with blood under the body of the deceased, and there was other circumstantial evidence against him. In defence it was contended that the evidence of identity was insufficient, and the judge being also of that opinion, the jury returned a verdict of acquittal. CONFERENCE OF MORMONS IN BIRMINGHAM* a^nuai conference of the Mormon brotherhood residing in and around Birmingham was held in that town on Sunday. There were several elders present from Salt Lake City. Elder Moses Thatcher presided. It was stated by the travelling elders that Mormonism is making numerous converts in England. It was denied by Elder Dr. Richards, who is one of the Twelve Apostles, that there has been any split in the camp at Utah. Elders Orson Hide, Orson Pratt, and Amassar Lyman, who are next to John Smith in rank, had not seceded. The brethren were living in perfect unity and peace, and the people of this land of ignorance and superstition could not conceive the happiness that reigned in the Zion across the waters. A resolution was unanimously passed acknowledging Brigham Young as prophet and John Smith as patriarch. SHOCKING FATALITY FROM LIGHTNING.—A terrible calamity, caused by lightning, has just occurred at Estaing, France. Dr. Douziech, caught in a storm, took shelter in the house of his father-in-law, M. Laurens. He was standing at the kitchen fire drying his clothes, and all the family and servants were in the room, when suddenly the electric fluid struck the house, setting fire to the thatch of the roof, and descending to the kitchen, knocked a lamp out of the hand and a wooden shoe from the foot of a maid-servant. The room was thrown into darkness, but a light being procured, M. Laurens dis- covered that Dr. Douziech had been struck dead. During this time the upper part of the house was wrapped in flames, and when some neighbours arrived, it was with difficulty the dead body and the inmates were got out before the roof fell in. FOOLHARDINESS. -Mr. Bowker, a member of the Canoe Club, on Monday crossed in his canoe, the Octoroon, from Ambleteuse, a village seven miles north of Boulogne, to Dover. After having put on board two bottles of wine and a can of biscuits, Mr. Bowker paddled out of Ambleteuse at 6.45 a.m., and came in view of the English coast, after running some 14 miles west of Cape Grisnez, having lost sight of land only about a quarter of an hour. About ten miles from his destination he was hailed by the South-Eastern steam packet, the captain of which vessel pointed out the route, Mr. Bowker having unfortunately lost his chart, and found his compass would not act. He saw during his voyage several shoals of porpoises, one of these monsters rising within a few feet of the bow of the boat. He reached Dover at 5.44 p.m., after paddling (with the exception of 30 minutes' rest) about 11 hours, his arrival causing no little excitement among the pro- menaders on the beach. The Octoroon is 16 ft. long, 23 in. wide, and 8 in. deep, unquestionably the smallest boat which has ever crossed the Channel. The weather was fine; but the sea not without surf in some places. Wind, S.S.W. RIVAL TOBACCONISTS.—At Leeds Assizes on Saturday, a case-Elliott v. Strafford-was tried. The plaintiff and defendant are rival tobacconists at Leeds, and some few months ago each rejoiced in the possession of a wooden figure which stood at their respective shop- doors as attractions to customers. The defendant's figure was thatlof a Highlander in the act of conveying a pinch of stuff to his nose, but after a short time it dis- appeared during the night, much to the distress and annoyance of its owner. Some time afterwards, how- ever, the defendant was informed that his Highlander was in the plaintiff's shop, and he went there with a policeman, and found a figure which closely resembled the one he had lost. The plaintiff's case was that the defendant then and there charged him with stealing the figure, and gave him in custody to the policeman who took the plaintiff and the figure down to the Town-hall where the defendant, on a closer examination, found that the figure was not his. The case for the defendant was, that although he, had told the policeman that he believed the figure to be his, he did not give the plaintiff into custody, and was no party to the arrest. Verdict for the plaintiff-Damages, Is.

BETTING CIRCULARS. A communication has been addressed to Alderman I Sir Robert Carden, at the Mansion-house, London, in his capacity of a magistrate at this court, calling attention, with the view of putting people on their guard, to a printed circular which the writer says is being widely circulated at present, and may, he apprehends, have most mischievous consequences, a copy of it having been addressed to himself, a poor clerk with a family, among others. It is upon the subject of betting, and purports to emanate from a person who alleges that he has dis- covered a principle of backing horses by which "winning to any amount is reduced to a certainty," and that in the years '64, '65, and '66 he carried it out with the most incredible success. He offers to impart his secret for 4100, and on receiving a written agreement guaranteeing him, in addition, £ 900 out of the first 29,000 cleared by the person to whom he shall communicate it. For less, he adds, he cannot divulge the process entirely but for every .£10 invested he guarantees a return of 960 a week for L20 invested, X160 for £ 30, £330; and for .£50 invested, 9700 a week and so on," he says, "deducting 10 per cent, as commission." He says further, that statistics clearly prove that there are every week, and have been ever since the establishment of racing, several norsea on which you may stake £ 1,000 with the positive cer- tainty of landing' every bet;" and then he puts down certain amounts alleged to have been won by the p. tion of the system" starting with X100 capital I)- namely, in 1864, £ 30,000 ia 1865, £ J8,400 and in 1866, 29,000 adding, that all calculation is baffled when an attempt is made to amve at the point where the profits of this infallible system really terminate." Sir Robert Carden's correspondent, believing that the circulation of such a missive, unaccompanied by any word of caution or warning, may be attended with incal- culable mischief, by inducing a simple people to part with their money-and, what is worse, to drift into the pursuits of professional betting men-has appealed to him with a view to its public exposure. *•

THE CRETAN INSURRECTION. CONSTANTINOPLE, August 24. The Turkish cruiser Izeddin, after a desperate engage- ment with the Greek blockade runner, Arcadt, in Cretan waters, drove her ashore and destroyed her with great loss of life. The Izeddin arrived yesterday with the news and to repair damages. Arrivals from Trieste are subjected to quarantine on, account of cholera.

RUSSIA AND TURKEY. ST. PETERSBURG, Aug. 24. The commander of the Russian fleet in the Mediter- ranean announces that while a Russian ship was embark- ing Cretan refugees, she was hailed by a Turkish steamer, Both vessels were prepared for action. At the negotia- tions which ensued the chief of Omer Pasha's staff declared that the responsibility would rest with the Russian commander if, after the transport of these Cre- tan families, the insurrection should spread. The Invalide Russe, referring to the fruitless diplo- matic. negotiations with Turkey, blames the Turkish reforms of Fuad Pacha, and calls the Hattihumayoum a fraud, adding that a peaceful solution of the Oriental question will only be achieved by granting the Chris- tians in Turkey independence, and institutions separated from the Mahometans. The Emperor returns on the 25th August.

,h'. THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON. PARIS, August 27. The Emperor Napoleon, during his journey to Lille to be present at the fetes to be he held in that city in com- memoration of the 200th anniversary of its annexation to France, passed through Arras yesterday. The following is his Majesty's reply to an address from the mayor of that city With pleasure I find myself once more among you after so long a lapse of time. I have seized with eagerness the occasion of a national fete to come and acquaint myself with your desires, and to assure you that my solicitude for all the interests of the country shall never fail you. You are right to have confidence in the future. It is only weak Governments who seek in foreign complications to di- vert attention from troubles at home. But he who derives his strength from the great body of the nation has only to do his duty and to satisfy the permanent interests of the country, and while hold- ing aloft the national flag we should not allow our- selves to be drawn away by intemperate impulses, how- ever patriotic they may be. I thank you for the senti- ments you have expressed towards the Empress and our son. Be assured that they share my devotion for France, and that their most ardent wish is to put an end to all misery and alleviate all misfortunes." Despatches from Lille state that their Majesties were received in that town with enthusiasm and passed through the streets and boulevards in an open carriage. The following is the sense of his Majesty's reply to the address of the Mayor of that town:—"It is now 14 years ago when, shortly after my marriage and the commencement of my reign, I was received here in a manner which will always be remembered by me. I have constantly sought to make France prosperous and respected. If there have been some dark spots, France has nevertheless resumed her place in Europe. I hope to obtain the co-operation of every one in con- solidating the work begun." —— • '•' >

THE RISING IN SPAIN. '1' PARIS, August 20. The Patrie of this evening states that the Spanish plot prepared at Brussels has completely failed, and the insurgent bands in Catalonia have been dispersed. They are expected to retire to the French frontier, where they will be disarmed. Papers seized from the Spanish refugees urge the insurgents to disperse, as the attempt has proved a failure. General Prim is said not to have quitted Belgian territory, and is reported to have told his friends that he would only go to Spain when a fortress shall be in the possession of the in- surgents. La France of this evening publishes a despatch from Madrid stating that tranquillity prevailed throughout Spain, with the exception of Catalonia, where, however, up to the present time, the insurrection has proved abortive. The Situation states that the town of Girone has fallen into the hands of the insurgents. TOULOUSE, August 20. The insurgents who had entered Spain have retired to the French frontiers. The insurrection appears to be put down. MADRID, August 20. A grand review of the troops was held yesterday in honour of the King and Queen of Portugal. It is officially announced that the troops are pursuing bands of insurgents in Catalonia and Arragon, who have not met with any support from the population. One band under the command of Pajoles has been beaten and the others all fled to the frontier.. PERPIGNAN, August 20. Armed bands have appeared in various parts of Catalonia and at Barcelona. Great agitation prevails. The only cry raised by the insurgents is Liberty." The Captain-General of Catalonia has sent troops to pursue them. It is stated that the insurgents have at their head leaders of distinguished position who are known. The railway and telegraphic communication in the province is cut off. Intelligence received here from Catalonia states that the Captain-General has expelled 200 liberals from Bar. celona, and has ordered the closing of one of the clubs of the town. MADRID, August 21. The official reports from Catalonia announce that the insurrectionary bands in that province had been beaten and dispersed, many prisoners being made. Other in- surgents had availed themselves of the amnesty which had been offered. The band under Contreras had been beaten in the province of Lerida, and Contreras himself, with the rest of his partisans, was endeavouring to gain the frontier. The insurrection in Catalonia was con- sidered to be suppressed. In the province of Valencia Castellon's band had been beaten and dispersed. The ex-General Pirrad had committed great excesses in Arragon during his retreat to the French frontier. The rest of the peninsula was tranquil. None of the soldiers had joined the movement. MADRID, August 22. The Official Gazette of to-day publishes reassuring in- telligence in reference to the insurrectionary movement in Catalonia and Arragon. The military authorities in Madrid have published this morning an edict proclaiming a state of siege in Castille. BAYONNE, August 22. Advices from Madrid announce that that city has been declared in a state of siege. No insurrectionary move- ment has taken place either in the city or its environs. Five regiments of infantry and three squadrons of cavalry have been sent from Madrid to Catalonia and Arragon. A rumour is current that General Prim has arrived in Catalonia. PARIS, August 22. The France of this evening publishes a telegram from Madrid, according to which the greater per. tion of Spain has been proclaimed in a state of siege, but simply as a precautionary measure, since the insur- rection has not extended beyond Catalonia and Arragon. The number of insurgents has not exceeded 700 or 0P.1 MADRID, Aug. 24. Private advices from Saragossa to the 12th inst. state that the 22nd Regiment of Navarre infantry had been completely beaten by the insurgents in Arragon. Yesterday, at midnight, 700 infantry and a regiment of cuirassiers were despatched from Madrid by railway to Arragon. Tranquillity prevails in Madrid. It is officially announced that the main body of the insurgents m Arragon is moving towards the French frontier, closely pressed by the Royal troops. General Manzo was killed with his aide-de-camp in the encounter with the insurgents in Arragon. The Royal troops maintained their position and recovered the general's body. This misfortune had, however, no influence on the operations of the insurgents, who had been forced to retire, and other columns, under the orders of Vega and Sielona, were driving them towards the frontier. 480 insurgents, the remainder of the bands of Eleada and Baldrich, in the province of Bar. celona, had given themselves up to Santa Colonna. Official despatches published here this evening state that 480 wounded insurgents have surrendered m Cata- lonia to the military authorities. PEBHONAN, August 25. The insurrection in Spain is assuming important pro- portions; the local authorities are losing ground. On the 28rd the insurgents, acting under the command of Baldrich, destroyed the Alcantara regiment, and a squadron of cavalry was put to flight. The insurrec- tionary forces in Catalonia number 8,000 men* The deatk of Genera1 Manzo is confirmed.

SUMMARY OF PASSING EVENTS. 0 THE weather during the month of August has been the hottest on record. In large towns hard-working men found it difficult to perform their daily duties, and all those who could afford it took advantage of a blank season to visit sea coasts and rural scenes. THE Queen has arrived at her Highland residence, a.ter paying a visit to the Duke of Roxburghe at Floors Castle, and her Majesty has been received in the Border counties with great enthusiasm. It is more than three hundred years since a female sovereign had been in that part of the country; the last who visited Kelso was the unfortunate Mary Queen of Scots, and it may well be imagined that a loyalty so long pent up was expressed on the late occasion by Scotchmen in a very hearty and genuine manner. Among other places visited by her Majesty during her short sojourn at Floors Castle were Melrose, Jedburgh, and Dryburgh Abbeys, localities long hallowed in song and story. A GREAT deal is said about the visit of the Emperor and Empress of the French to the Emperor of Austria, and rumours have been current that it is the desire of Napoleon to make a firm ally of Austria that jointly they may humiliate Prussia. A correspondent of the Pall-mall Gazette gives what he describes as trustworthy information on the subject. He says the subject of dis- cussion between the Emperors thus embraces every question of European interest. Each of the sovereigns has come to explain the view he takes of his particular interests, and how these interests will make it necessary for him to act should certain contingencies take place. An alliance between Prussia and Russia, an inimical step taken by Russia against Turkey, the action of Prussia in the question of North Sieswick, the over- stepping of the line of the Main on the part of Prussia —such are the matters which constitute the subject of the conference between the two Emperors. Each will thus become acquainted with the views, as regards politi- cal interests and political necessity, of the other; and should in any case their interests clash, a means will be proposed for obviating the difficulty. Thus a thorough understanding of the relative position of each will be arrived at, and such a mutual understanding must-so, at least, it is thought here-be the surest means of main- taining peace in Europe." THE cholera which has raged so dreadfully in and around Rome appears to be spreading. There have been many cases at Rotterdam and the surrounding towns and villages, and it is feared that it is fast travelling westwards. Our Sanitary Commissioners are giving their attention to. this matter, and the medical officer appointed by the Privy Council to investigate in the localities where cholera was most prevalent in England the causes which attracted the malady to those particular spots, gives his decided opinion that it was impure water taken into the system, and that this impurity was consequent upon sewage water finding its way to streams used for drinking. The Sanatory Commissioners, acting upon this report, are about to make the officials in every Poor-law district purchase land, into which the town sewage shall be deposited, and insist that the liquid shall go a sufficient distance through the soil to be thoroughly filtered before it mingles with the water of any stream or river. This has led to a plan being proposed, whereby the sewage may be profitably utilised. It is suggested that per. forated pipes shall be laid very thickly in the ground into which the sewage water shall run, and this will afford such sustenance to plants that treble and quad- ruple crops can be produced. This new system is called "subsoil irrigation," and we are told by practical men that when this comes into existence plants will no longer be affected by drought, but, receiving moisture from the roots, will flourish in the hottest and driest weather. In fact, it is proposed that in every district a certain portion of land shall be cultivated under parish officials, and that the pauper population shall be employed to work thereon. AN extraordinary account of a Fenian man-of-war having visited Ireland and returned to America has been published in some New York papers. This ship —the Plato-is said to have got into Bantry Bay, to have sent passengers on shore, and to have "passed under the very nose of an English man-of-war at the dead of night, and after this sent up rockets as signals which were answered from the shore." The writer then describes the journey back to America, but the purport of the article is to prove that the coast of Ireland can- not be patrolled by English gunboats, so as to prevent the landing of considerable bodies of men. Now we are quite of a contrary opinion, and believe that the newspaper scribe's good ship Plato is a creature of his own imagination, and as a lily on a river floating, she floats upon the river of his thoughts." We think our coast guard are too well up in their business to let a man-of-war pass without knowing something about her. THE notorious Broadhead, secretary of the Saw. grinders' Union of Sheffield, has had the modesty to apply to the Sheffield magistrates for a renewal of his licence to keep a public-house. The application was refused. Broadhead's solicitor, Mr. Sugg, said that his client had been a licensed victualler something like 20 years, and there had not been a conviction, fine, or even a complaint against him since he had been in the house in which he now lived. He urged also the fact that the certificate of indemnity which Broadhead possessed guaranteed him, in accordance with the Act of Parlia- ment and the promise of the chief examiner at the open- ing of the commission, against all consequences, civil, criminal, or social, which might otherwise result from the disclosures before the commission. Meantime the conduct of the association in reinstating this person in his former position as secretary has awakened feeli ings of unmitigated disgust, and has caused the trades' unions throughout the country to express their opinions on the subject in a very decided manner. Thus, in the town of Sheffield itself, a resolution has been passed by the executive of the organised trades, denouncing the course taken by the Sawgrinders' Union, and refusing to have any communion with that union till it had expressed contri- tion for past misdeeds, and given a guarantee for its future good conduct. The trades' unionists of Manches- ter have declared that they view with the most profound regret and abhorrence the determination of the Saw- grinders' Society of Sheffield to retain the membership of Broadhead and his criminal associates, and denounce that body as unworthy of the countenance of all well- regulated trade societies, such procedure being calculated to bring discredit and odium upon the whole trade- unionist interest of the country. At Liverpool it has been resolved that the "fearful outrages recently brought to light in Sheffield are a disgrace to the nation, and the perpetrators of them are hereby denounced by all the members of the various trade societies now assembled and we are further of opinion that the officers in particular of the Sheffield trades implicated in these disclosures are deserving of the strongest condem- nation from all those well-regulated societies whose object is to promote the moral and social elevation of their members by peaceful and lawful means." Opinions expressed in this plain and straightforward manner can hardly fail to have their weight even with the Sheffield sawgrinders. THE strikes are now extending to the rural districts, and the agricultural labourers refuse to harvest the crops without increase of pay. In some instances the able- bodied soldiers of the line have been permitted by the Commander-in-Chief to take part in the harvest, but the rural peasantry have refused to work with them. On the whole, however, the crops are being pretty well secured, and there will be more than an average yield of wheat throughout the country. TRAVELLERS make great complaints about the in- creased fares charged by railways within the last six months. One of the railway companies, which has just made up its sweounts, cannot understand or explain to the shareholders how it is that there has been a vast falling off lately in passengers' money, and a great in. crease in the money received for transporting goods, the fact being forgotten apparently that the fares for tourist and return tickets have been increased 30 per cent. consequently, the number who travel is greatly re- duced. Foreign railways—even those of the Papal States—are reducing fares and increasing profits. Who would ever suppose that the Pope could give us a lesson on political economy t

THE HARVEST. Mr. Turner, of Falmouth, writes the following letter to the Times, dated the 28th August:— "Last Tuesday morning I had a ramble into the country round Chester, and afterwards went forward to Leicester. The corn crops in Cheshire I found generally ripe, though there was a good deal to cut; it was the same up the Trent Valley, but there was greater irre- gularity in the grain being ripe here and there on one side of a hedge a field of barley would not only have been cut, but also carried to the stackyard, while on the other side of the fence there would be a crop of wheat which it would take ten days to ripen. The pastures in all that district are unusually full of rich green grass, and the turnip crops, especially as you come near Leicester, are very promising, though evidently later sown than our turnips in the north. On Wednesday I proceeded to Atherstone, where I had the pleasure of seeing that harvest operations were still more advanced. There had been heavy thunder-rain on Monday night, which had laid the corn a good deal; still, the bright sun and the freshening breezes which almost im- mediately succeeded that rain entirely prevented any injury to the corn, while it greatly improved the grass and root crops. On Thursday I went through Warwickshire and Oxfordshire and into Berkshire, and remained near Read- ing all night. The rich pastures in Warwickshire were very pleasant to look upon, and the corn crops, now in a forward state, were all any reasonable man could desire. In passing through Leicestershire and Warwickshire I was particularly struck with the boldness and brightness of the straw and ears of the wheat and it was very gratifying to me to hear the occupier of one of the best and largest farms I let in that district remark, that he had not for some years seen his wheat look so bright in the ear and straw as this year, and, although he had not thrashed any of this year's crop, he was satisfied the yield would be good. In Berkshire the crops of corn are not very regular. On some lands the crops are very good; on many fields they are. light; but on much of the best part of the country the crop is cut, and before this letter can be printed the bulk of it will have been carried in xcellent condition. Then, again, the root crops are promising. On Friday morning I went through Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorsetshire, and Devonshire, down to Ply- mouth. In this extensive district there is great variety in the soil, much of it a thin crust of soil on gravel or chalk, much of the grain was cut and a deal carried, the crops varying with the quality of the land but they are as good and in as good condition as could reasonably have been expected. I rubbed some wheat out as it stood in stook and found it dry enough to grind. "The root crops were generally promising, and the grass land full of good food. I saw in Hampshire several fields of beautiful sangfoin, a crop which we do not grow in the nerth. From Plymouth I came on to this place of course, I found Cornwall, as I expected, very hilly, and the arable land most of it of moderate character. I think the grain crops as good as could be looked for, and a great portion already cut. They have a custom here which is new to me-when they cut grain, instead of putting it into stooks of 10 or 12 sheaves, they make on the spot as soon as reaped little stacks containing from 60 to 100 sheaves, and top up this structure with about half a dozen sheaves, drawn to a point. Before they carry this corn, they take down those little stacks and set them out into ten or twelve sheave stooks to dry for a day or two before they carry them into large stacks. It is affirmed that by this plan they succeed in preserv- ing the crop in a wet season much better than it can be done by the ordinary plan. In driving round this neighbourhood to-day I was gratified to see some as promising crops of turnips as any farmer would like to look upon."