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

THE ARTS, LITERATURE, &a. INTELLIGENCE has been received that Mr. Cooper, who is at the head of the expedition for the survey of the Yellow River, made his way as far as Bathange, when the Chinese authorities refused to allow him to cross over into Thibet. Under these circumstances he deter- mined to fall back on the Bhamo route, in the direction of Calcutta. AT the Standard Theatre a realistic effect never pre- viously seen upon an English stage is being exhibited. A play called Danger," now performed, gives a modi- fication of the ordinary railway sensation." The inci- dents, however, occur in a thunderstorm, and a real shower of rain drenches the stage, and, to all appearance, the actors also. A NEW drama by Dr. Mosenthal, with the title of "Pietra," will be produced at the Haymarket on the 7th -? December. Miss Bateman will play the heroine, who gives her name to the piece. JI.1R. ABMITAGS is painting a picture of considerable size, representing Hero holding the beacon-light for the swimming Leander. SCHOOLMASTERS and pupils who are preparing for the next Oxford local examination will learn with vexation —if they are not already informed-that the French subject for juniors has just been altered. Instead of Haurean's "Charlemagne," as announced in the pro- gramme dated May 9th, it is to be Lazare Hoche," by Emile Bonnechose. PILOT CHARTs.-From the Hydrographic-office of the Admiralty there has just been issued a large thin book entitled Pilot Charts for the Atlantic Ocean." ,iour of the charts represent a year, one for each quarter; and in each one the prevalent winds and weather over the North and South Atlantic Oceans are indicated, so so that any pilot or captain may ascertain what wind and weather he is likely to fall in with wherever he may Happen to be. The fifth chart represents the currents of the whole of the Atlantic, and we are glad to see that this publication is to be followed by a similar series for the Pacific and Indian Oceans.—Athenceum. rR. FKEDSKICK WHTMFEK, of travelling fame, has ncceptedan engagement on the Alta California, a paper published in San Francisco. Mr. Whymper has been making a tour of the wine districts of France and Germany with a view to his future usefulness in Frisco." He starts for the Golden Gate early next year, lIfE. BICKMOKE, whose Travels in the East Indian Archipelago, and across China, were so eagerly received by the Royal Geographical Society, last year, has been appointed Professor of Natural History, in Madison University, U.S. The University has purchased the collection of Natural History gathered by him in the Indian Seas. A PARIS paper states that at the rehearsal for the last Concert Populaire the members of the orchestra revenged themselves for being compelled to play the overture to Wagner's Meistersanger by hissing the work which they had just performed. THE marriage ring of Martin Luther is at present being repaired by a jeweller at Waldenburg (Saxony). It is of silver gUt, and bears the following inscription on the inner surface D. Martino Luthero Catherina v. Bora, 13 Junii, 1525." M. KOHLFS, the well-known African explorer, has just left Berlia for Marseilles, whence he is to embark for Tripoli He takes the presents sent by the King of Prussia to the Sultan of Bornou they will afterwards be transported to Timbuctoo. A FEATURE in the present programme at the Adelphi Theatre, Liverpool, is a sparring exhibition by Jem Mace. The scene with the gloves is introduced into Mr. Moncrieif's piece, Tom and Jerry. M. HAVIN, late chief editor of the Siecle, was buried on Tuesday. He leaves £ 570,000. THE space cleared at the juncture of the Rue de Richelieu and the Rue Saint Honore has been christened the Place du Theatre Francais. Two magnificent white marble fountains, each measuring 35 feet in height, are to adorn the newly-created square. The design ef these monumental fountains is most imposing. OFFENBACH, a few days ago, received an intimation from a Madrid notary that Madame Offenbach's great- great-grandfather, who died in 1652, had left a will which had just been proved, and by which his great- great-granddaaghter inherited £ 20,000, which little sum he accordingly enclosed to the fortunate composer of La Grande Duchesse. A PROJECT has been set on foot at Milan to erect a monument to Rossini in that city. A solemn musical festival is to be given to raise funds for that object. THE Ely Diocesan Society are (says the Musical Standard) about to offer a prize of five guineas for the best musical arrangement of the Nicene Creed for parish choirs, and a prize of three guineas for the best simple organ harmonies as accompaniment to the Nicene Creed when monotoned. MR. SIMS REEVES has published a letter complaining of the orchestral pitch now used in this country, which is a semitone higher than that of most foreign orchestras. Mr. Reeves therein mentions his already expressed deter- mination not to sing for the Sacred Harmonic Society so long as the present pitch of the orchestra is maintained. -Aftfsical Standard. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—One of the pictures by Mr. Ward, in the Commons' Corridor, at the Parliament- house, Westminster, has been protected by glass. Another work of the series is to receive a like protec- tion: this is "William and Mary." Mr. Cope's pic- tures in the Lords' Corridor of the same build- ing have been treated with the new paraffine solution, to which we referred some time since, with, we believe, a view to staying deteriora- tion which may be caused by bad air, damp, fumes of gas, or what else, which has done so much mischief at the Houses. Mr. Herbert's picture of Moses Presenting the Tables of the Law" is said to show signs of deterioration that artist, more fortunate than his fellows—who were compelled to execute their pictures in situ-is believed ta be at work at home on the second painting for the Peers' Robing Room. The labours of Mr. Maclise in the R@y\l Gallery are in abeyance, if not ended.—Athenceum ROSSINI and Meyerbeer greatly esteemed each other, but seldom met. A friend once asked Rossini why he was not more familiar with his German rival. "You know he admires your Semiramide and Cenerentola, and you admire the merit of his chefs d'ceuvre." "That is quite true," said Rossini, but Meyerbeer and I caunot get on together." But why net ?" Why, he always will have it that sour krout is a better thing than anaccaroni."

ORDER OF THE LORD CHANCELLOR. The Lord Chancellor has issued an order in which he says that, in consequence of the present state of the business in Chancery, it is expedient that fifty of the causes set down for hearing before Vice-Chancellor Malins should be transferred for hearing to the Master of the Rolls. A list of the causes so transferred is appended to the order, and among them are those in which the Great Eastern Railway Company, the Somer- set and Dorset Railway Company, the Sevenoaks, Maidstone, and Tunbridge Railway Company, the Mill, wall Ironworks, Shipbuilding, and Graving Dock Com- pany, the Metropolitan Railway Company, the Ecclesi- astical Commissioners of England, the Bop and Malt Exchange and Warehouse Company, the Yentnor Har- bour Company, the Clarence Hotel Company, and the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Works and Public Buildings, figure either as plaintiffs or defendants. The Master of the Rolls has issued an order to the effect that be will not hear any of the above causes before the 4th of December, unless by the desire of the parties them- selves.

THE AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENT has published a red book, in which the position of the empire and its relations with foreign powers are described, diplomatic documents being appended.

AGRICULTCRIM. THE IMPROVED FARM. Poor clay land is not fashionable it is costly to work, uncertain in results, more dependent upon seasons than lighter soils, and, above all, unsuitable for sheep hence is follows that farms of this class are not eagerly sought for, and thousands of acres remain to this day un- drained, yielding scanty unremunerative crop-, occupied by needy men who seldom continue long in occupation. It is a downhill business, and the land often goes from better to worse, until at last, unable to get his rent, the landlord in despair steps in, and commences improve- ments which should have been done years before. We are speaking from experience. It was our misfortune to come into possession of a farm such as has been de- scribed, on which no tenant had stayed lon, and where the bailiff bad been frequently in occupation. In the hope that our experience may be an encouragement to others similarly placed to go forward, we give publicity to our sperations. The farm in question occupies classic ground, being a part of the battle-field which decided the fate of | Charles I., and gave us constitutional liberty as a birth- right. Here brave Rupert, flushed with the success ef the earlier part of the day, learnt what discipline and j generalship, acting on English pluck, can effect. The lronsides snatched a victory out of the hands of the Royalists. The rising ground, from which Cromwell surveyed the tide of battle, and where his eagle glance discerned the weakness of his enemy, is marked by a clump of young trees, planted by an enthusiastic admirer of his military genius. The bones of the combatants are still occasionally turned up. The Rectory farm, con- taining 160 acres, thirty of which aie grass, was often in the market-so poor and out of condition that only needy men nibbled at it, and at one time it went begging at 7s. 6d. an acre the clergyman not unfrequently losing his rent, and being much plagued with his tenants. At last matters came to such a pass that the proprietor of the farm determined to relieve him of all further anxiety, by renting it for a term of twenty-one years. The quality of the land may be judged of from the rent—10s. an acre. The condition of the land was deplorable. The whole farm had been drained after a fashion but as often as not the drains fell back, the work having been attempted without a proper water level. Owing to the extreme flatness of the surface, draining would not be easy; but without water to ascertain that the water would travel down the drain, it could only be a failure. Many parts of the land were rendered even wetter and more unmanageable than if undrained; for the water, accumulated in the drains, rose to the surface, and for weeks such spots were under water.- On the strength of the land being drained, the surface, which doubtless formerly was in lands, was laid flat, and the crops perished from the wet. The first thing to do was to improve the drainage, and this was effected at a comparatively moderate cost. A main was taken up the lower side of each field, parallel with the small drains from this main, which was usually a 4-inch. 3-inch drains were cut transversely to the old drains, generally as deep or deeper by a few inches than the old drains, which were carefully let in. These drains were placed at considerable intervals, about three chains apart; and yet, by affording so many fresh outlets and giving the old runs an opportunity of emptying, the smface was immediately relieved, and has sirica been fairly dry. These new drains terminated in a ditch, and the ends were left open to the air. The action of the drains was, however, greatly facilitated by steam cultivation. Ever since the enclosure of the land the cultivation had been of one description, shallow ploughing with three or four miserable cattle in line—treading, treading, treading, until the subsoil became like a kneaded dumpling, through which water could not find its way. The effect may be imagined when this puddle was broken through, and air and water allowed to penetrate. Draining and steam cultivation were the mechanical forces employed, but alone these would have failed of a result. The land was utterly poor. On seme of the fields no one could remember having seen the dung cart. The pasture was blue with carnation grass, and full of rushes, sedges, &c.; and so unproductive that the first year there was not sufficient stuff grown to feed the cart horses. Bearing in mind what had been done by Mr. Ruck, at Braydon Forest/' under circumstances not dissimilar, we applied a mixture of artificials, chiefly guano and su- perphosphate of lime, in the spring of 1866, and have continued the dose ever since- the cost per annum about 27s. The result of this, and feeding the stock whilst grazing with cake, has been successful beyond expectation. Rushes and carnation grass are seen no more, and in their place a verdant carpet, rich in clover and fine grasses, now exists, and go nutritious is the herbage that during the summer Irish heifers will graze and get quite fat. The transformation must have been seen to be realised. The contrast between the improved land and that adjoining in a natural state is most striking and satis- factory, and has been the means of drawing the attention ef neighbours to the evident policy of laying out money on grass. We have no hesitation in asserting that grass on clay, however naturally poor, is, when drained, certain to pay handsomely for judicious outlay indeed, a little consideration will show this. Theie is but the one expense—no outlay in cultivation, barring the trifle per acre for spudding thistles and knocking the clots- so that all we gain in the form of increased keep, be- yend the value of our outlay, is clear profit. Artificial manures are of great value in securing a growth of clover and good grasses; but the permanent improvement will be best ensured by a good dressing of farmyard muck mixed with any light soil, road scrapings, ditch parings, soil from banks, &c., which can be collected together at odd times. We are greatly in favour of composts for grass land. The difficulty is to spare farm- yard manure. Hitherto, it has all been wanted for the arables; and until each field has received a dose, we cannot think of the grass moreover, theie is another reason why grass on strong land will not get much dung. The roots that are grown are not, as a rule, consumed en the land where they grow, and must either be given to cattle in the yards or fed on old grass or seeds. When on grass, the latter is much enriched at the expense of the tillage land, and therefore all the manure will go to compensate. This appears the best practice we can pursue. The arable land, besides receiving all the home- made manure, which is usually carted out into heaps during winter, and applied to the fallow for roots and wheat, is regularly dressed with town manure, a mixture of ashes and night soil. This comes by railway, and costs about 4s. to 4s. 6d. a ton, delivered to within half a mile of the farm, varying a little accord- ing to season. It answers well tm strong land, the cinders helping to keep the surface porous. It is applied at the rate of ten tons per acre, scaled on from the carts as it is fetched from the railway, before the last ploughing for wheat. In addition to foldyard manure or town night soil, a good dressing, not exceed- ing 30s. per acre, of a composite manure of which guano, nitrate of soda, and sulphate of ammonia are united with a small quantity of superphosphate of lime, is applied in the spring se soon as there is a chance ef growth recommencing. Thus it may be said that the crop is bought before it is manured or gathered, and it is certain that the expenses are heavy; but wo are satisfied that the returns, both from the arable as well as the grass, will pay well so soon as the farm is once put in good heart. Hitherto the largest wheat crop has barely reached four quarters per acre but we live in hopes to see this much in- creased. The root crop is the difficulty. On most of the land it would be absurd to try and get a crop but a portion contains sand, and here, in an ordinary season, we can succeed. This last summer the crop, though twice planted, failed, as well as a few mangolds, which were tried for the first time. At the outside some ten acres per annum are all that can be grown, and of these we hope eventually to secure three to four of mangolds. Though so difficult to grow, the quality of the roots is excellent if we can only get them, and the cattle will almost feed upon pulped swedes and straw, so superior are both to the same crops grown on light land. The wheat is planted early in October, and looks now green and strong. It is all on fallow, which has been steam-cultivated, and afterwards dressed and horse-ploughed. Oats and barley are both grown, the former from seeds and on wheat stubble, the latter after roots. We had close upon five quarters of barley per acre, and sold the same a few weeks since at 50s. a quarter. At the present time the stock consists of four horses, twenty Irish heifers, which will be made fat without roots, and a quantity of fatting pigs; these vary very much. They are valuable, not for any immediate profit, but for the manure, which we must have in abundance and good. In addition to the above, we have a few north-country ewes picking up a living @n the clover, which will be broken for oats in the spring. Thus it will be seen that the productive powers of our little farm have largely in. creased and though we are as yet far in arrear of Mr. Mechi, and probably shall never reach his really extra- ordinary returns, yet if we can show, as we believe we shall, a fair return for our capital, an item of valuable experience will be added to our agricultural knowledge, and an encouragement held out to others to lay out capital on their bad land. That we could readily let the A report of this spirited work will be found ia the Eoyal Agricultural Society's Journal. t farm at douole the rent it was wortb. before we com- menced operations, speaks for the improvement that has been effected, and so far proves that our money has been laid out judiciously.-Field.

GARDENING. KITCHEN GARDEN.—Mildew is very prevalent in damp seasons, and is encouraged by a foul state of the ground; therefore keep all clean, and remove dead leaves from among sprouts, kale, &c. Paths should be turned, and protective materials got ready, and kept under cover for use wherever wanted. Peas and beans, for the first crop next season, may be sown on well-drained ground; but where snails abound they are likely to be entirely eaten up before the new year. To sow now is altogether a speculation. FLOWER GARDEN.-Continue to plant hardy bulbs a sound loam moderately manured will grow any of the kinds ordinarily used in beds and borders. Large bulbs place with their crowns four inches from the surface, small ones two inches. Take up dahlia and marvel of Peru roots, dry carefully, and store safe from frost. Air hardy plants in pits well, and look out for mildew and vermin. Make all speed to complete improvements and alterations. FRUIT GARDEN.—Planting and pruning should be commenced at once. Old apple-trees infested with vermin should be well scrubbed with a hard brush dipped in warm brine, and all the holes stopped up with a paste made of clay, sulphur, soot, and cow-dung. Plant at once all bush and tree fruits. Stake newly-planted trees. Put in cuttings of gooseberry and currant trees. Prune vines and wall-fruit trees. FRAME.—Auriculas to be placed in their winter quarters, be kept clean, and have plenty of air. Violets potted now, by taking up strong runners, will bloom early, and be of service. Use plenty of charred rubbish to lighten the compost, which should be rich. CONSERVATORY.—Camellias are now in fine bloom in many places, and only need moderate protection to keep them gay. But as they are not yet wanted, those show. ing colour must be retarded as much as possible to keep them back till the chrysanthemums are over. Chrysan- themums to have plenty of water, and no more liquid manure. By keeping the backward plants out to the latest moment which it is safe to do so, they will come in usefully as a succession to keep the conservatory gay till after Christmas. GREENHOUSE AND STOVE.—Keep the house as cool as possible to be safe from frost. Give plenty of room, or the plants will get spindled and mildewed. Plants to be forced should remain in the greenhouse a fortnight before going to the stove. Roses, Siberian lilacs, deutzias, camellias, azaleas, double flowering peaches, &c., should be brought on in batches to keep up a succession. Cinerarias coming forward must have attention, or some may be lost through damp. Give plenty of air, and place the forwarclest in the house near the glass. Fuchsias done blooming to be left out as long as possible to harden the wood, and those for specimens next year to be started gently as soon as they have shaken off their leaves, preparatory to repotting in a month's time. Standards must be kept slightly on the move all winter to make sure of them. Geraniums potted from the borders to be pruned in, but not severely, sufficient only to remove the soft sappy growth, as severe pruning would cause them to grow again too quickly. Those for special purposes and for early bloom should be cut in close, and put in bottom- heat for a month. Scarlet salvias may be kept in bloom a considerable length of time in a warm light place in the conservatory, especially if rather pot-bound, and kept in vigour with manure-water. VINERY.-Vines breaking to have air cautiously, as a chill may result in disease of some kind hereafter. If red-spider appears on vines planted inside, give the roots a liberal watering, in addition to the other means of eradication a vigorous growth will prove as powerful a preventive as any special applications of Gishurst, &c.- Hibberd's Gardener's Magazine.

A FATAL PANTHER HUNT. The following is extracted from a letter dated Secun- derabad, 7th October "A sad incident occurred here on last Monday evening. Colonel Nightingale, command- ing the Hyderabad cavalry contingent, was the greatest sportsman in the Deccan, and, having caught a large panther in the trap, he had him brought in, and sent round a chit' to say the animal would be speared near the residency at Bolarum that evening. At five o'clock, a large field having assembled, the panther was let out, and at once ran across the plain, followed by thirty spearmen, well mounted. When the panther found that the horsemen were closing in on him, he got into some bushes and prepared to spring at the first horse that came near him. He did try it two or three times, and on the last occasion very nearly reached the horse's back. The horsemen now commenced riding round him in a large circle, rushing in when there was a chance of spearing him. Colonel Nightingale had tried several times unsuccessfully to do so, and suddenly became so very ill that he had to be lifted ftom his horse, and carried to the Resident's house, whither I accompanied him, being the only medical officer on the field. He died in about two hours afterwards. We did all that could be done for him, but he never spoke again. He died from an attack of heat apoplexy. His wife was present, but he never recognised her. The doctors in England told him he would die of apoplexy if he did not avoid exposure to the sun, and keep from great excite- ment, but he did neither one nor the other, as during his twenty-two years' service in this country he shot over 500 tigers, and no end of bears, panthers, &c."

WILLS AND BEQUESTS. The will of Sir Geo. Bartholomew Pocock, Knt., formerly Standard-bearer to the Corps of Gentlemen-at- Arms to his Majesty George IV., at whose coronation he received the honour of knighthood, has just been proved. Sir George died at the advanced age of eighty-nine. He has left the principal part of his property between his two sisters, Misses Luey and Arabella Pocock, whom he appoints residuary legatees. The will of the Very Rev. William Goode, D.D., Dean of Ripon, who died suddenly at the age of sixty-eight, was proved, at Wakefield, under X6,000 personalty, by the executors, the Rev. James Metcalfe and testator's widow, Katharine Isabella, daughter of the late Hon. William Cust, and cousin of Earl Bfownlow. The will of Martin Hadsley Gosselin, Esq., of The Priory, Ware, Herts, was proved, in London, under £ 100,000. The executors are George Middleton, Esq., of Marshalls, Herts; Charlotte Gosselin, testator's sis- ter and Frances Orris Gosselin, the relict, who was the daughter of Admiral Sir J. Marshall, C.B., K.C.H. The testator was the son of the late Admiral Thomas Le Marchant Gosselin, and died in October last, at the age of fifty-five. He was a magistrate of the county of Herts, and was High Sheriff in 1859. He leaves his residence, The Priory, and all his other freehold estates, to his wife for her life, and afterwards to his eldest son, Le Marchant Hadsley Gosselin. He leaves his mansion at Bangor, Herts, late the residence of his father, Ad- miral Gosselin, deceased, to his second son, Hillier Ro. bert Hadsley Gosselin. By the will of the late Maria Hadsley he had a power of appointment over zCSO,000, by which he leaves X6,000 to each of his children and under his marriage settlement he had the power of dis- posal over X20,000, which he leaves to his said eldest son, and, on his attaining twenty-three, he leaves him an annuity of £ 800. The rest of his property he leaves to his wife for the support of herself and her children till they are twenty-three, when the same will devolve to the eldest son for life, and afterwards to his children. The will of the Rev. Thomas Harrison, M.A., late of Barham, near Canterbury, was proved in London, under X80,000, by the executors and trustees, the Rev. John Branfill Harrison, the son, and testator's two sons-in- law, John Fish Pownall and Robert Dean Parker, Esqs. To each of them he leaves a legacy of 2200. The will is dated December, 1867, and testator died in August last, a widower. He leaves his property under settle- ment amongst his children. He leaves to his. eldest son his estate at Chigwell, also his estates at Stepney and Shoreditch and divides the residue of his property amongst his sons and daughters. By a codicil dated May, 1868, he has left to his butler and his gardener a legacy of nineteen guineas each. The will of John Garrett, Esq., late of Chesham, Bucks, was proved under X-80,000, the executors and trustees being his son-in-law, Frederick Butcher, banker, of Tring, Herts; Henry Appleton, M.D., and James Gurney, of Chalfont, Bucks; Robert Pegg, also an executor, having died. The will is dated 1864, and a codicil October, 1867, and testator died July 31 last. He has divided his property and estates, in specified portions, between his two daughters, Mrs. Pegg and Mrs. Butcher, and their issue. The wills of the undermentioned have just been proved :—John Blenkinsopp Coulson, Esq., of Blenkin- sopp Castle, Northumberland, under X20,000 William Hills, Esq., £ 20,000; Richard H. Carter, Esq., £ 90,000; Robt. Oliverson, Esq., of Lloyd's, X300,000 Samuel Fox, Esq., at Nottingham, 245,000 Thomas Blake, Esq., at Wakefield, X35,000, who has left several charitable bequests.

Facts and Facetiae, LADIES disrobing is a beautiful peal of belles. THE dancing master's paradise—A hop garden. Is the force of gravity equal to the strength of beef tea ? SOME men cumber the ground, others cucumber it. BOARD in the country.—Sleeping on a farm- house floor. THE lady who dropped a remark was unable to find it. THE Mormon religion is singular and their wives plural. WHEN is a foot like a stable ?—When there's a corn-bin in it. WHEN is a scheme like the third of a yard? -When it's a-foot. WHY are good husbands like dough ?—Because women need them. A CLASSIC invalid upon being asked if he were ill, promptly replied, sic sum. THE man who waxes strong every day-The shoemaker. THE best vessels for chopping seas-Revenue cutters. WHAT light could not possibly be seen in a dark I room ?—An Israel. WHAT part of a cart-wheel is like the foreman of a jury ?—The spokes, man, of course WHY is water-cress like a very melancholy event ?—Because it is so often cried about. WHEN are men like eye-glasses ? When they make spectacles of themselves. WHAT part of a fish is like the end of a book ? —The fin-is. THE chap who looked his destiny in the face was put out of countenance. WHEN are two potatoes precisely alike?— When they are pared (paired). WHAT animal has the most brains ?-The hog. He has a hogshead full of 'em. WHEN are gloves unsaleable ?-When they are kept on hand. WHEN do Parliamentary proceedings represent a serious matrimonial squabble ?—When they come to a discussion. ELECTRICITY," says the scientific D., travels faster than light." "Yes," says the reflective B., 'it is easier to shock than instruct. A VAGRANT who had been fined regularly for several weeks for drunkenness requested the magistrates to fine him by the year at a reduced rate. WHY should physicians have a greater horror of the sea than anybody else -Because they are more liable to see (sea) sickness. ONE of Bishop Blomfield's latest lon-mots was uttered during his last illness. He inquired what had been the subject of his two archdeacons' charges, and was told that one was on the art of making sermons, and the other on churchyards. Ob, I see," said the bishop, "composition and decomposition." LAZINESS. One hot day during the heated part of last summer, one Mr. Jones, of Jackson county, was observed to throw himself on the grass, under the spreading branches of a large tree, and to exclaim emphatically to himself, There, breathe if you want to-I shan't!" HUME the philosopher and the witty Sheridan were crossing from Harwich to Holland, when a high swell rising, Hume seemed under great apprehensions lest he should go to the bottom. Why," observed the wit, that will suit your genius to a tittle as for my part, you know I am only for skimming the surface." STAMMERING. W-waiter, g-get me a b-beef- steak, co-cooked rare."—" W-we have no b-beef-steak," was the reply. The country gentleman, getting angry at the idea of being mimicked, rose, and was about levelling a blow upon the impudent fellow, when an- other gentleman rushed up, and exclaimed, D-don't strike that man. He s-stammers the s-same as we do." A FELLOW addicted to telling queer stories said he saw a man beheaded with his hands tied behind, who directly picked up his head, and put it on his shoulders in the right place. Ha ha said a bystander, how could he pick up his head when his hands were tied behind him?" "What a fool you are!" said the story teller. "Couldn't he pick it up with his teeth." THE Duke of Saxe-Weimar, when in New York, hired a hackney-coach to take him to a party, de- siring the driver to call next morning for his fare. The latter did so, and finding the duke in the public-room of the hotel, where several other visitors were congre- gated, first stared at him to make sure, and then ad- dressed him, "I calculate you're the man I drove out last night." The duke nodded assent; on which the driver continued, "Well, I've come ibr my fare; I'm the gentleman what drove you." No WONDER.—"I've been running all the forenoon and yet haven't taken a step," said Twitters to his friend Stokes on Saturday. Pray, how did you achieve that impossibility, let me ask ?" was the response. How did I achieve it-well, that is good better ask how I evaded it. With the mercury at 96, and writing a sonnet to Arabella's eyebrows, as well as being inside this flannel shirt, made by the Green Tea Sewing Circle for the heathen in the Fejee Islands-do you wonder that I run rapidly without moving a foot ?" Stokes made no reply, but moved off rapidly. WHAT are you digging for ?" Money." The idlers collected. "We are told you are digging for money" "Well, I aint digging for anything else." Have you had any luck ?" First-rate luck pays well; you had better take hold." All doffed' their coats, and "laid hold" most vigorously for awhile. After throwing out some cart loads, the question was put, When did you get any money last ?" Saturday night." "How much did you get?" "Eighteen shillings." Why, that's rather small." "It's pretty well; three shillings a day is the regular price for digging all over the town." The spades dropped, and the loafers vanished. AN old and popular Irish clergyman had a dis- agreement with one of his parishioners, who was an extremely refractory person of great wealth, but of low origin, vulgar habits, and abusive tongue. Upon hearing from a third party that his ancestry had been 3poken of disparagingly by this rich boor, the old parson, borrow- ing a Scriptural metaphor, exclaimed, Why, sir, my father would not have set him with the dogs of his flock." This remark reached the ear of his nabob, who immediately repaired to the clergyman and demanded an apology. The good old man listened patiently to the ravings of his parishioner, and closed the discussion with the remark, "Did I really say my father would not have set you with the dogs ? I was wrong, sir; I believe he would."

THE GREAT CLOCK AT ST. PAUL'S. This celebrated piece of mechanism wag made by Langley Bradley, clockmaker, &c., in the year 1708, in accordance with the instructions given by the great architect of the structure, Sir Christopher Wren, and which were in the form of a specification, as follows For a large and substantial turret clock, going eight days, and to turn the hour and minute hands on three several dials, viz. —on the east, south, and west sides of the south-west tower; and to keep the same in good order fbr the space of seven years from the day of its completion." The amount paid for the work, under these conditions, we find to have been £ 300 only. The clock is considered to be of a very superior description of workmanship, and has been pronounced by competent judges to be one of the largest in Europe. It has at the present time two dial-plates, which are placed due south and west. Each of them are 57 feet in circumference, or nearly 20 feet in diameter. The length of the minute hands is 9 ft. 8 in., and their weight 75 lbs., the hour hands being 5 ft. 9 in. in length and weighing 44 lbs. each. The figures are 2 ft. 24 in. in height, small as they may appear to the spectator below. There are also, in the inside works, two small dials which work the reverse way, one showing the hours and the other the minutes. The pendulum is 16 ft. long, with a large "bob," weigh- ing 180 lbs., at the bottom, and which is suspended by a thin metal spring, about the thickness of a shilling. The beat of the clock is technically termed a dead beat," or two seconds-thirty to a minute instead of > sixty. Since it was first made it has been very much altered, in consequence of the repeated repairs it has undergone, but it still maintains its reputation as a faithful tirae-keeper and hourly monitor to the citizens. -Rock..

ELECTION SQUIBS EXTRAORDINARY. The Dundee Advertiser says It has been remarked that Mr. Bright, in his best oratorical efforts, draws deep draughts of inspiration from the Sacred Writings, using not only Scripture imagery, but often-as at Edinburgh recently-the exact words of the Bible. This is not to be wondered at in his case, for, although such language might be misapplied, or employed in a very injudicious manner, the great tribune of the people has never sought to introduce it in such a way. We cannot tell whether the example set by the member for Birmingham has directed attention to the Bible as a source from which to obtain materials for electioneering pur- poses, but it deserves to be noted that on Thursday the only squib" we have seen in reference to the return of Mr. M'Combie, of Tillyfour, as the re- presentative of West Aberdeenshire was one which simply contained an extract from Scripture—not, how. ever, from any of the canonical books. The quotation was as follows How can he get wisdom that holdeth the plough, and that glorieth in the goad that driveth oxen, and is occupied in their labours, and whose talk is of bullocks ? He giveth his mind to make furrows, and is diligent to give the kine fodder. He shall not be sought for in public counsel, nor sit high in the congre- gation he shall not sit on the judge's seat, nor understand the sentence of judgment he cannot declare justice and judgment, and shall not be found where parables are spoken." Eccle- siasticus, xxxviii. 25-33, The placard contain- ing this quotation was speedily answered by a handbill bearing the following passages "not from the Apo- crypha —" Seest thou a man diligent in his business ? he shall stand before kings he shall not stand before mean men.Prov. xxii. 29. "Blessed shall be the fruit of thy cattle. The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face they shall come out against thee one way, and shall flee before thee even ways.Deut. xxviii. 7.

WESTERN SUPERSTITION. The child of a Devonshire labourer died from scalds caused by its turning over a saucepan. At the inquest the following strange evidence was given by Ann Manley, a witness I am the wife of James Manley, labourer. I met Sarah Sheppard about nine o'clock ou Thursday coming on the road with the child in her arms, wrapped in the tail of her frock. She said her child was scalded then I charmed it as I charmed it before, when a stone hopped out of the fire last Honiton fair and scalded its eye. I charmed it in the road. I charmed it by saying to myself, I There was two angels come from the north, one of them being fire and the other frost; in frost, out fire, &c.' I repeat this three times this is good for a scald. I can't say it's good for anything else. Old John Sparway told me this charm many years ago; a man may tell a woman the charm, or a woman may tell a man, but if a woman tells a woman or a man a man I consider it won't do any good at all."

DESTRUCTION OF SEA BIRDS. We hear much of the destruction of sea birds on our coasts, and of the possible extermination of many species in consequence of the ruthless manner in which they are persecuted for the sake of their skins and feathers. This, however, is likely to be but a temporary evil; ladies now wear plumes and skins on the head in place of bon- nets, but who can say how long the fashion is to last ? A few months hence, and feathers may be as vulgar as crinolines now are, and as every one with the slightest taste for the elegant hopes that chignons soon will be. The next dynasty, for aught we know, may be one of flowers or ribbons, or, as people like to go from one extreme to the other, bald heads may come in fashion as the opposite of hair-balloons. However that may be, there is unfortunately another source of peril to our sea birds more permsnent than the claims of fashion. Commerce is more greedy than taste, and if any profit can be got out of the slaughter of our feathered inno- cents, they will be slain without mercy. In the case of many of our long-winged seafowl, the chief effect of persecution is to drive them from one part of the world to another but those which are limited in their range are doomed to hopeless extinction if they are once in demand. A striking instance of this cruel destruction of animal life was mentioned at the last meeting of the Zoological Society. It was stated that four very small vessels, each of a few tons burthen, had collected in the Falkland Islands upwards of 50,000 gallons of penguin oil and that, as it takes eight birds to yield one gallon, this amount showed the destruction of upwards of 400,000 penguins in the Falkland Islands alone. -Field.

MISS RYE'S FEMALB EMIGRANTS. Miss Rye arrived in Toronto with a second batch of female emigrants from this country on Nov. 6. There were 73 ia all, and their ages varied from 16 to 30. The passage out had been very stormy, but the girls all looked well, and by the 9th only a few were left without situations. The Home" in which they were lodged was in fact besieged with applicants for them as soon as their arrival became known. General servants were most in demand. For these there were 70 more situations vacant than Mise Rye was able to fill up. Farm and dairy servants were also much wanted. The Toronto Globe, after mentioning these facts, says that whether Miss Rye discontinues her emigration efforts or not, the great demand for her last batch of girls, and the rapidity with which they were engaged, forms a sufficient answer to the malevolent diatribes which have been indulged in against her.

OFFICERS AND GENTLEMEN. The London Review, quoting a writer in one of the Canadian papers, tells a story in which the officers of an English regiment, the 53rd, now stationed at Quebec, do not appear to advantage. It appears that, at a ball given in Quebec, a gentleman named Le Mesurier, who is himself responsible for the accuracy of the whole account, observed that an officer of the 53rd, Captain Elmhirst, continually jostled him during the evening. He was willing to believe this acci- dental until he heard the Captain say, "Now for a charge," and immediately afterwards found himself thrown, along with the lady with whom he was dancing, against the grate. He afterwards learnt that the captain had boasted of his splendid victory, and said that he intended to teach the young Canadian man- ners." He then called on Captain Elmhirst for an ex- planation, which the captain finally gave, by admitting that he had boasted of the incident in the ball-room as an intentional insult. Subsequently, after one or two efforts to induce the captain to apologise, M. Le Mesurier broke his cane over that officer's shoulders. He was at once called to account by half the mess for having insulted the regiment by caning one of its officers when in uniform, and ordered to publish all sorts of apologies, with the alternative of "a trip across the border "-a duel, in plain terms. This M. Le Mesurier declined, and still declines to do he has explained to the colonel of the regiment that he had no intention of insulting the whole regiment; but that it is impossible for him to apologise for having caned the one insolent officer.

THE BRITISH CORN TRADE. The weather of the past week has been cold, with frosty nights, though unusually free from fogs and, being dry, it has been perfectly practicable for farmers to proceed rapidly with any field work yet undone. The cold will give a salutary check to the forward wheat plant, while that only lately up has as yet received no damage, but the grass in several places shows it has felt the biting frosts. In more northerly regions winter has commenced in earnest; Cronstadt being already blocked up with masses of ice, and several vessels shut in. We may yet have a sufficient change before mid- winter to enable some places to escape, though the rest must wait till spring for their liberation. The wheat trade has again been heavy, and prices have rather declined, say nearly Is. per qr.; but the cutting .1 off of Russian supplies, which have hitherto been most i liberal, may give tone to the markets as the elections are drawing to a close. France still shows a moderate upward movement in rates, and keeps furnishing some supplies to Spain; but in the yet unsettled state of that country, and the general poverty of the people, prices either keep much as they were or look downwards. Belgium, Holland, and Germany note very little change. Dantzic does not shape itself to the London market; and the sales lately made thence have all lost money as also has been the case with the recent arrivals from America. But, after a continued decline at New York, a speculative spirit has appeared, and purchasers for Great Britain have been made at some advance, that, without a decided change upwards in England, will do importers no good. We shall now soon be left to our own resources, as the frost is setting in and as some shipments of foreign wheat have been made from Liverpool to Spain, the low prices of our own produce may induce shippers to send English wheat to Santander and other Spanish ports, leaving our own im- porters to make up the deficiency in the coming spring. This year's quality will tell its own tale wherever it is sent, as exceptionally fine and abundant in flour; and if we should have a hard winter, some may find its way into France.—Mark-law Express.

Our Misoeuany. THE first Times was published on New Year's- day, 1788, a modest "folio of four pages." And now the paper alone on which it is printed is worth all the money charged for the news; and if you doubt its quality, ask my housemaid, who has vainly en- deavoured to light her fires with the penny papers," instead of with the Times. Its size may be judged from the fact that one copy of the paper, with its full supple- ment, contains about 20,000 lines, or 200,000 words, is equal to an octavo volume of 500 pages, as commonly printed, and could not be written out by the most rapid writing lawyer's clerk in a fortnight, at the rate of ten hours a day.-Leisure Hour COMPIEGNF.The Palace of Compiegne was erected during the reign of Charles the Bald, in the 9th century, and has since been repeatedly enlarged and em. bellished by different sovereigns, of whom it has always been a favourite residence. Five councils were held in that town, and there also Joan of Arc was given up to the English. The forest is one of the finest in France. It has a superficies of 36,590 acres, and is 55 miles in circuit. It contains 1,635 plots of ground planted with trees, separated by 238 roads or avenues, of a total length of 550 miles. There are 270 cross-ways, 318 bridges or arches, 8 small lakes, 13 ponds, and 11 water- falls, fed by four streams. The chateau of Pierrefonds is in the same forest.—Galignani. THE USE OF PRAISE.—Praise those with whom you live, if they really deserve it. Do not be cilent upon their merits, for you should cultivate their reasonable self-esteem. If they have merits, other people—strangers—will tell them of it, and they think it is unkind of you, who have lived with them, and ought to love them, not to have recognised their merits. A person shall live with a person his junior, and during the whole of his life shall never have told that junior of his good qualities or his merits and it is only perhaps when that first person dies that the other finds out that, during the time they have lived together, he had been thoroughly appreciated but, unfortunately, it has been a silent appreciation.—MaemillarCs Magazine. THE SPIDER AND THE FLY.—Equally wender- ful as the structure of the feet ef the spider, is the formation of the organs with which the spider grasps and kills his prey. The instruments with which this iF effected-called the mouth hands, or mandibles, or falces —are as fitted for their purpose as the fang of the viper. Most readers must have observed the manner in which the spider seizes a fly how firmly the victim is gripped by the two mandibles, which act both as spears and poison tubes. The sharp points pierce the insect; and the 1-wison is then injected into the wound through a tube which runs down each mandible from the venom reser- voirs at the upper end. Thus the entrapped fly is assailed in four ways at once—pierced by the mandibles, stupefied by the poison, bitten by the mouth of its foe, and fettered by the lines of its web.-From Cassell's New Popular Educator. MAN'S HUMAN WEAKNESSES.—Miss Stanbury had tried this with her nephew but her nephew had been too strong for her, too far from her, too unlike to herself. When he came to see her he had smoked a short pipe-which had been shocking to her-and he had spoken of Reform, and trades' unions, and meet- ings in the parks, as though they had not been devil's ordinances. And he was very shy of going to church- utterly refusing to be taken there twice on the same Sunday. And he had told his aunt tbat, owing to a peculiar and unfortunate weakness in his constitution, he could not listen to the read in g of sermons. And then she was almost certain that he had once kissed one of the maids She found it impossible to manage him in any way; and when he positively declared himself so permanently de- voted to the degrading iniquities of penny newspapers, she had thought it best to cast him off altogether.— lie Knew He was Right," by Anthony Trollope. HIGH PRICES.—A copy of the Roman de la Rose," by Guillaume de Lorris, given by the Duke of Hereford (afterwards Henry IV.) to Mary Bohun, his wife, cost 400 crowns in gold, something equivalent to X700 of our money. The prayer-book given in 1412 by Charles VI. of France to the Duchess of Burgundy cost 600 crowns in gold, and the Viscounty of Bayeux was specially taxed to pay for it. In 1430, at the coro- nation of Henry VI. of England as King of France, at Notre Dame, the Regent Bedford was presented with three works of chivalry, and the young monarch with five, by a deputation of the citizens of Paris. The eight volumes together were valued at 2,400 crowns and it may be instructive to add that his Grace of Bedford being subsequently in need of cash, disposed of them all for about a third of that sum. A scroll of music, purchased in 1441 for the abbey church of St. Stephen's, at Caen, necessitated an outlay of twenty-two sols (or silver pence), "the value of ten bushels of wheat." And, as a final instance, the Bishop of Poictiers, Simon de Gramand, having presented a Latin and French dic- tionary, in two volumes, in the year 1426, to the Jacobine monastery of the town, it was resolved, in a council of the order, that as a token of kindness for so munificent a gift prayers should be recited for him daily ad perjpetuitatem, and that after his death, masses for the sanctification of his soul should be offered up the first Sunday of each month, in the chapel of the convent. Dickens's All the Year Round. Fox's CONTEST FOR WESTMINSTER.—The can- vassing on both sides was conducted with extraordinary vigour. The Prince of Wales rode through the streets wearing Fox's colours, and a sprig of laurel in his hat; the beautiful Duchess of Devonshire made a house-to house canvass, and bought a butcher with a kiss. Some excellent stories are still told of this election. "Sir," said one voter to Charles, who was pressing for his sup- port, I admire your abilities, but hang your prin- ciples." "Sir," replied the wit, "I admire your sin- cerity, but hang your manners." A saddler in the Haymarket, when solicited by the same candidate, pro- duced a halter, with which he said he should be happy to oblige him. Fox said, "I return you my best thanks, but I should be sorry to deprive you of it, as I presume it must be a family piece." Other lady canvassers for Fox on this occasion were the Countesses of Carlisle and Derby, and Ladies Beauchamp and Dun- cannon, who all wore the fox's brush in their hats, and begged, with all their charms, from door to door. We do not hear that Sir Cecil Wray had much of this kind of zeal exerted in his favour. But most of the eminent men of the day voted for him > an^ Lord Kenyon, then Mr. Kenyon, whose house was just outside the liberties of Westminster, slept in his stable a suffieient number of nights to qualify bimself to vote.—"Election Papers" jn Cassell's Magazine. A CANDIDATE S WOP.K.-cl I attend ward meet- ings in public-houses and tanyards twice a week to explain my views on the topics of the day to my future constituents, and to answer questions—and such ques- tions. What I think of the three-cornered trick? How I voted upon the dog-tax ? What I think of the currency? What my opinion is upon courts of con- ciliation ? Whether I will vote for the Permissive Bill ? How I got my pension ? Whether I think I have either a moral or a legal right to it ? How I intend to deal with Ritualists ? Whether I will blow up the fortifications of Bermuda, throw up the colonies, disband the army, and put the napf out of commission; abolish all sinecures, relieve the bishops of their duties in parliament, and pass an act for the protection of trade unions ? Of course, I offend ten to every one that I conciliate by nly replies and the next day the Tory papers are down upon me, x- posing my inconsistency and my faithlessness, denouncing my revolutionary and godless tendencies, and Heaven knows what besides. I am anathematised by the dean and chapter with bell, book, and candle I am preached at every Sunday afternoon by the prebendaries, and lampooned and caricatured by the wits. I have a brace of Tories to fight, and a working men's candi- date for a colleague, who is booking all the split votes on the hypothesis that I shall not want them. Thank God! it is a penal offence to bribe, or else-well, you know what Lowe said. If parlia- mentary life is to be tolerable under this system, we must have, not triennial or septennial parliaments, but ten Years' parliaments." I can vouch for every fact of my friend's pathetic description of his contest; for I have had a run through the shires, and seen the constituencies exercising their right of baiting cabinet ministers and parliamentary representatives—and I speak from personal observation when I say that they bait them even more meeilessly than they are baited at two o'clock in the morning by the keenest and most audacious matadors of St. Stephen's—Bernal Osborne, Ayrton, or Bright. IThe Elections," in the Gentleman's Magazine.

IT IS UNDERSTOOD in Worcester that the Right Hon. Sir J. S. Pakington is about to be raised to the peerage. ON SATURDAY, Captain Vesey, of the 2nd Battalion of Coldstream Guards, whilst hunting with the Guards flying pack of Drag-hounds, which met at Southall, met with an accident soon after starting. His horse fell on a fence, and on coming to the ground rolled on its rider, breaking the bone of his right leg im- mediately below the knee.