Monmouthshire Merlin

| MY BONNIE CRAVEN LASSIE. i IN May's expansive ether Floats many a downy cloud- Some white and pure as silver, S' Some edged and streaked wi' gowd. I care na for the gorgeous sight, Though fair as sight may be r My bonnie Craven lassie Is the dearest sight to me All yellow as the cloudlet, 1 My love's bright locks are laid, And radiant as its silver y The neck and brow they shade. The heart that beats within her breast Is now no longer free— Mv bonnie Craven lassie Has bestowed her heart on me. The bloom is on the hawthorn, The green leaf's on the tree, The king-cup gems the meadow, And the gowan stars the lee. I care na for the charms o' spring, i, Though fair those charms may be- My bonnie Craven lassie Is the dearest charm to me On yonder bank a blossom Is mirrored in the lake- The next wild breeze that sweeps it The shadowy charm will break. But what wild breeze shall e'er efface The impress here of thee ? L My bonnie Craven lassie, P Thou art wealth and fame to me ), ROBEBT STOBT.

r¡ = VARIETIES. last definition of the legal phrase, moving for a trial," is courting a second wife. „ Att old man told a barber that he ought to reduce his now that the times are hard. No sir," replied j 8 shaver, for now customers have such long faces that II". twice the ground to go over." MAN'S PARADISE.— Every man has a Paradise *r&und him till he sins and the angul of an accusing con- duce drives him from his Eden. And even then there holy hours, when this angel sleeps, and man comes and with the innocent eyes of a child looks into hia T 1 paradise again-into the broad gates and rural soli- of nature.—Longfellow. ^1ME—Years rush by us like the wind. We see not .Tilce the edily comes, nor whitherward it is tending, Wo seem ourselves to witness their flight without a | f J^tuat we are changed, and yet tiuie is beguiling man Si-'1'8 strength as the winds rob the woods of their vjla6e. He is a wise man who, like the millwright, em- every gust.—Scott. t BY COMPAHISON.—An Edinburgh clergyman « ^ays particularly neat and trim in his own attire) had an applicant for marriage present himself in the «08t disgusting figure that ever darkenened his study Ifoot. •. When ia it to take place ?" 44 Directly, sir." J^°U mean after you have cleaned yourself ?" (looking f °*n at himself with evident satisfaction). Ocb, 1 ui eoough." You could'nt be married in such a llty state." Me dirty What if ye saw hir ?"—Salmon- C!cfata and Stray Shot. THE SNAKES OF ENGLAND.—(From the Field.)—1 M shootin" in a w ood near Cheltenham many years ago, I observed a snake cross the path on which I was PIKING, some three yards before me, and I most dis- observed it to be red in colour. Mentioning the rOUtnstances to my acquaintance, I could meet with no WHO had seen, or even heard, of such a snake, and I 1 8oon induced to drop further mention of it, in con- !>ENCE of the silent incredulity with which my red F*E N-AS generally received. Two years ago, however, fishing on the Tivy, in Cardiganshire, near Uan- "•lil when, the sun shining very bright, I observed the animal, a red snake," coiled up on the gravel by e river side. Getting between it and the bank, I took aim with the butt end of the rod, and crushed its and thus obtained a specimen of this very beautiful its colour generally being that of a dew-worm, MINUTELY AND beautifully mottled. The under part o the snake was a light lend colour, a narrow black line E*ch side, extending from head to tail, sparating the ') CO'OUR8- THE animal was twelve inches in length, I the thiokness of a swan's quill. Only a few days FORWARDS my attention was drawn by a bystander to RJJ°THER snake of the same species, but as thick again, was lying IQ TBE cart-rut of a driftway in front of RRF' Thomas's house, in the village of Llandissil. I have killed that animal also, but refrained from TO under the impression that it was not venomous, *QD certainly it was a most beautiful creature. Perhaps one of your naturalist correspondents will be so as to give the scientific name of this red" snake. Peaking of venomous snakes reminds me that, many *«*R» ago, I saw at Acklatn, a village between Malton JM Poclington, a black viper, which some woodmen of Tillage had caught, and which they kept alive in ^HAMPER. Its length was about fourteen inches, being PICK at the end of its tail, like the adder. Now, unless J Can be affirmed that the adder changes its hue some- "TTES from a light brown to a black colour, the snake I J*" at Acklatn was what the men who caught it said was ) J^Utioning all persons to be careful who came to look at a poisonous viper." After thirty years'discredit of | FT red" snake, and then its palpable reappearance, I J .1 but little disposed to doubt the evidence of my eyes | R*TO there being two kinds of snakes in this country of a PRISONOUS character—viz., the viper and the adder. IN YING this, I am well aware 1 am running my head 4RItinat received opinion but, sir, if it be true that no RJTIMONY can satisfactorily establish such a fact as is not tttaeable to our experience, thence it will follow that the INTERN prince judged wisely and rightly in at once as a manifest falsehood the account given him If' the phenomenon of ice This argument I commend the quiver of your fascinating correspondent 44 Firefly" ^^EaiPLECroMENES.— [There are three species of snakes v'»oake-like animals in Britain. 1. Anguis jragilis, the find worm, or slow worm a small animal about a foot length and as thick as a swan's quill: its colour is f^dish grey, with a black line along the back; it i9 £ *fectly harmless. 2. Natrix torquatus, the ringed i or common snake—a much larger animal, being a «*rd jn LENGTH and thick in proportion its colour is olive with several rows of black spots. 3. Felius berus, adder, viper, black adder, red adder, &o.; the terms It d..r and viper are equivalent everywhere. This species -fc*Q;rally about two feet in length, and the colour is adder, viper, black adder, red adder, &o.; the terms and viper are equivalent everywhere. This species -fc*Q;rally about two feet in length, and the colour is white, or red (the red adder), or brown (the common or Pure black (■ he black adder); and in all of these ^*tpt the last there is a series of confluent rhombodiral v"CK spots all the way down the back: it is highly T«kg«oii8.—ED.J IQQ\&I.-ED.) r The doctor in the last illness of George Coleman, be- ing late in an appointment, apologised to his patient, saying that he had been called in to see a man who had fallen down a well. Did lie kick the bucket, doctor ?" groaned out poor George. DIE LIKE A "BIlITONER,Not far from Bradford, an old couple lived on their farm. The good man had been ill for some time, when the practitioner who attended him advised that a physician should be sum- moned from Bradford for a consultation. The doctor came, looked into the case, gave hia opinion, and, de- scending from the sick room into the kitchen, was there accosted by the old woman with Well, doctor, what's your charge?" "My fee is a guinea." 44 A guinea doctor, a guinea And if ye come again, will it be ano- ther guinea ?" Yes but I shall hardly have to come again. I have given my opinion, and leave the patient in very good hands." "A guinea, Dr. Hech ?" The old woman rose, went upstairs to her husband's bedside, and the doctor, who waited below, heard her say, 44 He charges a guinea and if he conies again it'll be another guinea. Now, what do you say ? If I were ye, I'd say no, like a Britoner; and I'd die first. IVItite's jUo)it/i in Yorkshire. A WOMAN'S VOICE.-There is One part of woman's education often forgotten or neglected-the culture and formation of a gentle voice. It is a great gift of nature, to be aided by culture-an instrument of powerful in- fluence fjr good. I speak not of singing hymns now, and the culture of harmony aud musical purposes, though these tend to God's praise, or to give innocent amuse- ment, but this gentle voice will be able to guide and per- suade to good the manly heart of a faithful husband, will mitigate sorrow, lessen trial, and speak of hope and joy to her dearest fr;ends and connexions, in accents at once powerful and pleasing. Let us then be careful in our schools to cultivate this most valuable acquirement. How different, in all respects, for a family, for friends and neighbours, are the kind, gentle, persuasive accents I have described, from sounds we sometimes (alas! too often) heir in the close abodes of poverty and trial— high, harsh, female treble tones of bitter import, scolding and reproaching, and driving away from the hearth and home (perhaps to sorrow and sin) the husband and the childreu.-R. A. Slaney, M.P.

CRUEL AND REVOLTING MURDER AT BRISTOL. A man, his wife, and daughter, were arrested by the Bristol police, on Saturday, and a second daughter (who is still in bed) had been placed under police surveillance, upon a charge of having all been concerned in the murder of a female illegitimate child of the last-named defendant. Oa the same afternoon the coroner for the city, J. B. Grindon, Esq., commenced an inquest on the body of the deceased, at the George Tavern, Kingsland- road, Dings, and from the facts then detailed, and from others which have been brought under the notice of the police, the murder would seem to have been attended by circumstances of a very painful and revolting character. The persons in custody are Isaac Pyne, aged 46, Ann Pyne, his wife, aged 45, and Eliza PYliC, aged 17, their daughter; the other accused party, Elizabeth Pyne, is 20 yelrs of age, and the entire family, which comprised also Isaac Pyne, aged 14, Mary Ann Pyne, aged 14, aud Sarah Pyne, aged 7 years, resided in a small tenement in Johnson's court, Kingsland-road, St. Philip and Jacob (out), where the father carried on the business of a shoe- maker, his wife and daughters assisting him as binders and as makers of what is known iu the trade as 11 child's work." The entire family slept in the same room, a circumstance which would almost seem to give counte- nance to some very horrible reports abroad respecting the paternity of the murdered infant. The snocking crime was brought to light in the fallowing manner:- Some neighbours of the parties, tad amongst them an aunt of the children, had for some time been impressed with a belief that the girl Elizabeth was in the family way, but the fact was always denied both by her and her parents. On Thursday morning the younger daughter Eliza was seen doing something which awakened suspi- cions that her sister had given birth to a child. Some of the neighbours questioned her, and her replies being un- satisfactory, they and the aunt went at a later part of the day into the house, and found that their suspicions were well founded, and that the girl Elizabeth was in bed. They insisted that the child should be produced to them, which was not done; but at length the mother, Elizabeth, said, pointing to her father, He knows where it is." Pyne was then questioned, and information was also sent to the inspector of the St. Philip's division of police, Mr. H. P. Webb. This gentleman at once set his detective officers to work, and the family, finding what was going on, confessed to the aunt and neighbours that the body was taken out to Crew's Hole (some two miles distant) and buried, and consented to the girl Eliza going with them and pointing out where it was. The aunt, a Mrs. Morgan, and a Mrs. Stockford, accompanied the gri to Crew's Hole, but she either could not or would not find the spot. They then returned to Bristol, and said to the father, You told us that she could show us where the child is, and you must know your- self." Pyne then consented to accompany them, and they found the body buried behind a tree, two large stones being placed over the earth which covered it. The body was brought into Bristol, and immediate notice given to the coroner, who lost no time in issuing his precept for the holding of an inquest, and also directed Dr. W. B. llereoath to make a post mortem examination of the body. Upon the inquiry, Dr. Herapath was the first witness examined. lie proved, by various evidence, that the child had been born alive"; that the umbilical cdrd had been cut with a rough knife and afterwards tied" that there were several marks of violence on the body. There were four distinct marks around the neck as it something had been tied tightly around it; the tongue protruded beyond the gums, and had been clenched by them. Upon removing the scalp, marks of coagulated blood were found, and all the veins were full ot blood. Witness was of opinion that the child had been burn alive, and was a fully matured infant, and that death had been caused by strangulation. The daughter Eliza Pyne admitted having buried the body, but said she did it by her father's orders. The first time she saw it, it was on the floor of the room, in a corner, wrapped in a towel, and she did not see its face. The father told her to take it to Crew's Hole and bury it, which she did, at the back of a tree, where it was found. The inquest on the body of the infant child of Elizabeth Pyne was resumed oil Monday, before J. B. Grindon, Esq., coroner, at the Lamb Inn, West-street, St. Philip's. The greatest excitement prevailed, the streets adjacent to the inn being surrounded by a vast concourse of per- sons. The three prisoners, Isaac Pyne, his wife, Ann Pyne, and the youngest daughter, Eliza Pyne, were present in custody. Susan Hibbs, the wife of a labourer residing in Collins's-court, Kingsland-road, Elisabeth Morgan, Eliza Pyne, the younger daughter of Isaac Pyne, and Elizabeth Pyne, aunt of the girl Elizabeth, were examined. The prisoner Isaac Pyne was asked if he wished to put any questions to the witnesses. He declined doing so, and said he should say what he bad to say upon his trial. The inquiry was then adjourned till Friday. The populace were so exasperated against the man Pyne that the police were obliged to smuggle him out of the inn by a secret way. A mechanic who had the ill luck to be mistaken for him was sadly mauled by a lot of women, and had not the police rescued him he would no doubt have been seriously hurt.

FKIGHTFUL ACCIDENT ON BOARD A STEAMED.—Two ladies Maria Hunter, of Newry, and Mary Jane Morri- son of Derryhale, were killed on board the Shamrock screw steamer, on Friday, while on a pleasure trip from l'ortsdown to Lough Neagh. Ihe unfortunate ladies' dresses having become entangled in the machinery they were virtually cut to pieces before assistance could be rendered. SIXTY THOUSAND POUNDS IN GOLD IX A CAB, On Saturday, at the City Police Committee, a cabman was summoned for causing an obstruction in Gresham-street. The road was being taken up, and there was only room for one vehicle to pass, and the cabman, who had drawn up, refused to back so as to allow the traffic to proceed. Mr. J. Innes, of King s Arms yard, who had hired the cab, said he would not allow the cab to be backed, as he had 15,000 ounces of gold in it, which was of the value of £ 60,000, and which he was taking from the Bank of England to tLe inciter's. The police, though told such was the case, exhibited great irritability of temper and instead of protecting such valuable property, backed the horse and cab, at the risk of overturning the latter • he however, contended it was not the cat) that caused the obstruction, but another vehicle standing near. Alder- man Cballice considered that so soon as the police were informed there was such valuable property in the cab they ought to have afforded it immediate and effectual protection, and dismissed the aummonf.

GENERAL NEWS. REVOLTING AND UNNATURAL CASE.-After the dis- posal of the ordinary business on Friday, at the Manors Police-court, Newcastle, a case was heard before the magistrates almost without a parallel for atrocity, and which had been adjourned from the previous day, the prosecutrix being too ill too attend. The prisoner, George Rayne, is a glnss cutter, and is of a very unpre- possessing asp ct. When placed in the dock, and on being charged by his daughter, he often interrupted her evidence by calling her a liar," in a manner which betrayed his utter callousness and want of all feeling of shame or remorse at his very critical position. Lelis Rayne, the prosecutrix, was called, and stated that she was the daughter of George Rayne, the prisoner, was eighteen years of age next birthday, and lived with her father in the Long Stairs, and had kept his house since the death of her mother, which occurred on the 28th of June of this year. On Tuesday night he locked and bolted the door, and, pulling her on his knee, began taking improper liberties with her, the nature and extent of which we suppress but, which, when stated by her, caused mingled feelings of abhorrence and disgust on the part of those in court. He then took out a knife, and, standing over her, and threatening to cut her 44 head dI" if she said anything, ordered her to undress herself and get into bed. As she hesitated, when un- dressed, to comply with the latter part of his order, he took her in his arms and put her in himself, and then, placing his hand on her mouth, committed the offence with which he was charged. As soon as she got released from him, she went and lay down on a "shakedown" bed which was in another part of the house, whither the monster followed her, and, although she was suffering severely, he repeated his former conduct. She succeeded in getting out of the house about nine o'clock on the following morning, and then went to the residence of her aunt, and apprised her of the circumstance. It ap- peared that when the prisoner's wife was on her death- bed, she charged the people who were about her not to allow the father and daughter to be left alone together in the house as, if they were, she feared the conse- quences. The bench, after a patient hearing of the case, fully committed the prisoner to take his trial at the next assizes. LORD PALMERSTON IN FRANCE.—Viscount and Vis- countess Palmerston have had the honour of being re- ceived by their Imperial Majesties, at St. Cloud. The Emperor, accompanied by Viscount Palmerston and some other distinguished guests, proceeded early on Thursday afternoon to the preserves, and passed some hours in shocting. A banquet took place in the evening, at which the ex-Premier and Lady Palmerston were present. THE COMMISSION OF LUNACY. — The commission of lunacy on Mr. Ruck was again resumed on Friday morn- ing, when Mr. Wainwright, the solicitor of the alleged lunatic, after giving some explanations respecting his previous evidence, said that his reason for preventing the visits of medical men, except in the presence of his solicitor or medical attendant, was that such visits had ,a tendency to affect his client. Mr. Sergeant Peters- dorff having summed up the evidence on behalf of Mr. Ruck, Mr. Montague Chambers summed up the whole case. The learned commissioner then addressed the jury on the bearings of the evidence, when they retired, but returned in about ten minutes, and said they were of opinion that Mr. Ruck was of sound mind, and compe- tent to manage his affairs. Twelve of the jury were in favour of this verdict, and six dissented. A burst of applause followed, and the proceedings closed. THE AMERICAN PRESS AND THE ATLANTIC TELE- GRAPH.—The New York Herald of the 18th instant, de- votes sixteen columns to a description of the enthusiastic demonstrations made throughout the United States in honour of the final confirmation of the success of the Atlantic Telegraph. The following imposing heading precedes the narrative :—" The Ocean Cable The Me- tropolis in a blaze of Glory; Ovation to Science and Civilisation; "Vhnt has caused this great commotion the country through ?' Queen Victoria's Message in full: Its Effect throughout the Union The Way the Short Message was sent: The Celebratiun in the Metropolis; Salutes of Three Hundred and Thirty-three Guns One Hundred Grand Rock Blasts at the Central Park Splen- did Illuminations of Public and Private Dwellings Sen- timents of the People in Transparencies Merry Peals of the Church Bells: Union of the whole World: E Pluri- bus Unum Quarter of a Million of People in the Streets the Vox Populi: Scenes, Sights, and Sensa- tions Message of Mayor Tiernan to the Mayor of Lon- don the Niagara boarded More Salutes today: Was there Ever Anything like this Display ? Exceisior, &c.. &c., &c." WHO'LL TRY IT?—The following cure of a violent case of acute articular rheumatism is related by the Abeille Medicale The patient, who had a strong fever, and had been suffering for 12 days, was wrapped in a sheet dipped into cold water and well rung out; she was then covered with a blanket and featherbed, and remained so for three hours, at the end of which time she got up in a profuse perspiration. Her whole body was then rubbed with napkins dipped into cold water, after which she got into bed again. This process was repeated eight times in the course of as many days, and a perfect cure obtained. Before commencing this treatment an emetic had been administered the general drink of the patient consisted in a decoction of dog's grass strongly dosed with nitrate of potash and the wrists being strongly affected, cold bandages were applied to them, and changed three or four times a day. Sip CHARLES NAPIEU ON CHERBOURG.—Sir Charles Napier has addressed a letter to the papers on the new French harbour and fortifications. Discussing the pro- babilities of an attack on England, lie says: We had not time to count the guns, nor perhaps would it have been prudent; but judging from the great extent of for- tih'jation?, and the ground they covered, there could not have been less than 2,000; and, from the loud reports, they must have been of very heavy calibre. So many guns, and so many forts, at considerable distances from each other, would require a large army to defend and still larger army and fleet to attacii; and the probability is, Cherbourg would not be seriously attacked with a view to its capture, but it might be so tormented that a fleet could not lie there with impunity. France may be asked, What is all this for ? and she would no doubt re- ply, We have no Isle of Wight for the protection of our roads, and the Emperor has made one. We have no Portsmouth harbour, and he has made three basins and is about to make a fourth, which he has a right to do It is no business of ours but it is our business to take care of ourselves, and that can only be done by a strong and powerful fleet. If she means invasion, she must collect her steamers to carry troops, and these steamers must be covered by a fleet, and before she can land we must have a regular stand-up fight, and I have no fear for the result. But, sir, what I fear is that, in time of profound peace, France, having a large army at com- mand, a large fleet, and a large number of seamen always ready, may suddenly make an attack on this country from Brest, Cherbourg, Boulogne, or any other Channel port she pleases. Remember, this does not now require ships of war (though she is preparing steam transports to carry 15,000 cavalry); she would only have to seize steamers—no matter whom they belonged to to collect them at Cherbourg, and this is only 60 miles from Port- land. I do nut say Fiance would do this, but we were told last summer by the Chancellor of the Exchequer that we were within a few hours of war. The same thing has happened once or twice before, and may happen again, and this great and rich country ought to leave nothing to chance. We must either arrange with France to keep a moderate navy, or we must keep a well-manned and well-disciplined Channel fleet; and this may be done at a very moderate expense. At last we have a Channel squadron of six sail of line, but that is not sufficient we ought to have ten sail of the line, manned by efficient seamen-there ought not to be a landsman amonff«t th-m Only 100 marines should be embarked in each shin «nd their number filled up with able seamen. Our marines should be inc. eased 5,000 men (which I see we are about to do), and all our seaport towns garrisoned bv them. r.ns J pointed out years ago. We ought always to have ten sail of the line in reserve, and ready so that in the event of war, or armament, the Channel fleet should turn over one watch to the reserve, fiil both with officers, marines, and boys, call out the coast volunteers for landsmen, and we should have twenty sail of the line better manned than the generality of our ships last war. That is not all; we have, or will toon have, 10 000 coast-guardstnen. They are for the protection of'the revenue, and must not be disturbed unless in case of emergency. They are all told off, and ready to be put on board a ship; but we have no ships to receive them, for I do not call the blockshipa fit for that purpose: Three of them are tolerable, but the rest are worse than useless. A BANK TRANSACTION.—An action of great commer- cial importance was tried at the Liverpool Assizes on Thursday, before Mr. Baron Martin. The plaintiffs were Messrs. John Scott and Robert Robinson, and the de- fendant Mr. Joshua Dixon, a director of the insolvent Liverpool Borough Bank. Mr. Dixon was not satisfied with the management of the Bank, and three yaars ago he purchased shares solely to become a director, and in 1857 he was appointed a managing director. He ob- tained a statement of the affairs from Mr. Smith, the retiring manager, and Mr. Dixon himself was then of opinion that no dividend ought to be declared. But still, according to his own account, he was overruled, and he did not persist in carrying out his views. It was thus that he became a party to a report which the direc- tors issued to the proprietors on the 28th of July, 1857. In that report the directors stated that the Bank pos- sessed a capital of one million, though the actual capital reported was only £ 936,000. They reported that there was a balance of £7,439 6s. 6d. to be carried to the re- serve fund, though there was no reserve fund in existence; that all bygone losses before the current year had been amply provided for, although it had been stated, before a meeting at which Mr. Dixon was present, that j6371,000 odd had actually been written off as loss yet the direc- tors declared a profit of five per cent. This was done on the 28th of July on the 23rd of August Messrs. Scott and Robinson were registered as having bought ten shares; the Bank stopped payment on the 26th of Octo- ber, and the plaintiffs now brought their action against Mr. Dixon, to recover the value of these shares. The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiffs.—The writer of the Times' City article thinks that there will be many similar actions, not only against directors of the Liver- pool Bank, but also in connection with the analogous cases of the Northumberland and Durham District D'ink and the Western Bank of Scotland. The paid-up capital of the Liverpool Borough Bank was £1,000,000; that of the Northumberland and Durham was £ 650,000; and that of the Western of Scotland £ 1,500,000. The proportion of these amounts held by individuals who purchased their shares after the practice of issuing deceptive reports had been commenced is doubtless large, and as several of the directors of each establishment are still reputed rich, a series of actions will now most probably be commenced, unless some steps with a view to a general compromise ara speedily taken. THIRTEEN PERSONS DROWNED.—Worthing was the scene of a sad accident last week. The children of two gentlemen, named Smith and Torr, visiting that town, were sent in a sailing yacht for a trip in front of the tONn, while the parents went to Littlehampton. There were on board eleven children, six servants, and two boatmen. Suddenly the yacht capsized. One of the boatmen was drowned. One, a youth of nineteen, named Tester, saved many lives. When the boat went over, one of his legs was caught by the ropes running from the bulwark to the mast. Here he became fixed one of his feet gained a hold on the mast, and the ropes on either side of one of his legs had the effect of supporting him there. In this situation he stood for nearly a quarter of an hour with a little girl under his arm, a little boy clinging to his shoulder by his guernsey, shrieking to a distant boat's crew, 41 Sailor, come here Come here, sailor Three female servants were clinging to him in front, and the coachman's wife, with her infant in her arms, hanging on him behind, all uttering piercing and agonising shrieks. Tester entreated the woman with the infant to relinqnish her grasp, for it was pressing his guernsey on his neck almost to strangulation. She would not, and the poor fellow's strength had all but failed. Hap- pily a pleasure-boat saw the accident, and reached the wreck in time to rescue Tester and those he I had saved. Thirteen persons were drowned, including nine children, all under nine years of age.-A coroner's jury has returned a verdict of accidentally drowned, add- ing its opinion that the boat was insufficiently manned, and calling on the authorities to take measures for the proper regulation of such boats in future. ANOTHER FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT.—On Thursday afternoon a sad accident happened on the Helford river, a few miles west of Falmouth, which resulted in the drowning of Mr. Samuel Clark, an officer attached to the Coast Guard Station of the district, and his daughters Martha and Ellen, two fine girls, aged respectively fifteen and fourteen years. They were accompanied by another child,-a boy, who was saved. It appears that they went out for a short sail, when they were overtaken by a squall and the boat upset. The boy succeeded in getting hold of the bottom of the boat, and was eventually picked u but the unfortunate parent and his two daughters perished. The bodies were recovered, and on the following day, an inquest was held by Mr Carlyon, when a verdict of 44 Accidental Death" was recorded. The event has created a painful sensatian in the neighbourhood, Mr. Clark being much respected. ABDUCTION OF A WARD IN CHANCERY.-It is not often that the vigilant watch which the Court of Chan- cery keeps over its wards has been so successfully thwarted as in the recent case of a young and wealthy lady of the age of seventeen, who, for some years past, resided with her mother in a country town in Sussex. A lieutenant in one of the line regiments stationed near the town, not being disposed to go through the formality of obtaining the Chancellor's consent, and unwilling to wait until the lady had arrived at that mature age when the assent of his lordship would not be required, proposed, and the proposition met with the approval of the lady, that she should elude the care of the stern dragon of the Court of Chancery. A few days since the pleasant little villages, the town of Walsham, and some other places in Norfolk, were visited by the young couple, and last week the marriage of Lieutenant —— and Misa .was duly solemnised in the church of Southripp, by the curate of Archdeacon Glover. There were, of course, many anxious inquiries after the missing lady, and Inspector Frele, with his assistants, assisted by all the power of the awful Court of Chancery, was scouring the country in every direction. The lady was at length tracked to the secluded village referred to, but only in sufficient time for her pursuers to learn that the bird and her mate had flown. After many inquiries it was found that on the evening after the marriage the happy pair" had travelled to London in the coupe of a first-class railway carriage, which they had specially engaged. Thither the fugitives were followed by their tireless pursuers. Once more the latter were behind time, and they had the satis- faction of learning that every arrangement had been made respecting the passports, and that the request of Lord Malmesbury to give aid and succour to Mr. and Mrs. British travellers visiting the continent," had been duly complied with by the authorities at Boulogne. Last week the baffled officer proceeded to Paris to disturb the serenity of their honeymoon, by serving them with the terrible notices of the Court of Chancery. In the capital of France, however, these notices are nothing more than waste paper, and the happy couple, so long as they reside there, may defy the threats of the all-potent Lord Chancellor. TENORS WANTED.—The cry of the musical world is for tenors. Basses, baritones (there are yet newer sub- divisions of low voices now a-day !) rain by the dozen into the theatre-but a gentleman with a high, higher, or highest voice, who can sing, act, look agreeable upon the stage, and there make love or commit young heroism—such an Adonis is indeed a precious rarity. We are for ever hearing that a treasure of the sort has been found. The other day it was an ex-professor of rhetoric at the Grand Opera of Paris. This week it is an ex-aide de camp of Major-General Count de Mensdorf, M. H. D. W** who is to come out at VL-nna with a five years' engagement. May either or both fulfil the promises made for them!—may both resist the vanity which is the sin by which tenor 44 angels" (who have not learned to sing) are apt to fall! Whom—to digress without impertinent digression-have we just now in England capable of dividing duties or of doubling them with Mr. Sims Reeves ? What has become of Mr. G. Perren ?-a gentleman who had, for a moment, the ball at his feet, and who could, and who should, have sung well-not one ballad merely, but the whole range of tenor's music ?-what of Miranda, of Signor Millardi ?- of Mr. Haigh ?-of others more enticed out into public, and flattered with encores, so as as to make them dispense with all necessity for future work ? From abroad we get name after name. M. Dufresne has come out at the Grand Opera of Paris as Leopold in La Juive. M. Warot is coming forthwith at the Opera Comique in a revival of M. Auber's La Part du Diable. Whether either the one or the other will establish himself" as a tenor is, with us, problematical, to say the least of it.—Athenainn. A NOVEL REMEDY FOR HOOPING COUGH. Great numbers of children labouring under hooping cough now visit the gas works in Preston for the purpose cf breathing the exhalations from the gas lime. It is said that all the little sufferers feel considerably relieved, and many are absolutely cured by this simple remedy,- frttton Cfmrdrn*. STRANGE ACCIDENT WHILST PLAYING AT CRICKET.— On Saturday afternoon two men were playing a game at single wicket; one of them threw the ball with great force at the wickets whilst his opponent was running, when the powerful action of the muscles in the effort of throwing it, fractured the upper and main bone of the arm.-Leeds Intelligencer. BOY ATTACKED BY A RABID CAT.—A boy of the name of Alexander Gordon, aged about six years, while walk- ing with a companion of about the same age in one of the back straets of Fochabers, on Tuesday last, was furiously attacked by a huge cat which had come up, and which, as they thought, was going to pass them. The creature sprung at the boy's throat, and would have destroyed him but for the timely aid of some persons who happened to be near. After being removed from the throat it caught hold of the thigh, and ultimately of the leg. Additional assistance was sotn attracted to the spot by the screams of the sufferer, and it was with the greatest possible difficulty that the cat could be got to quit the leg. It was strangled, and its brains literally knocked out before it would relax. The poor boy's thigh and leg down to the ankle is a perfect mass of wounds, and there are several wounds about his throat. Great praise is due to those who effected the boy's rescue. Dr. Robertson dressed the wounds, but the unfortunate lad still iic", we learn, in a very precarious state. Dr. R. says, we believe, that the animal is more of a polecat than the common domestic cat, being a cross between the two, while it was quite rabid at the time.—Banffshire Journal.. WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO ADVERTISE ?-Busi- ness men make a grand mistake when, in consequence of dull times, they discontinue advertising. Then is the very time, above all others, when advertising should tie persistently persevered in. The public then needs to be reminded and tempted, by unusual and attractive invita- tions, to visit and examine a merchant's wares. Those business men who, through all the storm of the panic and the subsequent stagnation, still boldly and'persistently ad- vertise as freely as ever, have prospered far more than those who discontinued their advertising, and, sitting down with folded arms, resolved to wait patiently for better times before they would begin again. Discon- tinuing to advertise is like taking down one's sign. It is a sort of intimation of retirement from business, and the public treat it as such. Or they may regard it as evidence of something having gone wrong in the busi- ness, which requires privacy for the purpose of investi- gation. Whatever construction may be put upon it, the result is disastrous. While business creates advertising, it is equally true that advertising creates business. It creates a talk and a stir in business circles, and reminds people that they have no right to be leading drones' lives, even though the times be dull. And even in the worst of times, advertising always pays well, and the more of it there is the greater will be the business ac.ivity, the more free will be the circulation of money, and the sooner will things be restored to a condition of prosperity. —American Railway Times, AN INSOLVENT BARONET. In the list of insolvent debtors is the name of Sir William Magnay, Bart., who was until recently an alderman of the City of London, sheriff of London in 1837, and Lord Mayor in 1843-4. He was created a baronet immediately after the Q,ueen's visit to the City on the opening of the Royal Exchange. He is described in the official insolvent notice as for- merly of Buckingham-street, Strand, Middlesex, then of Potsford, near Guildford, Surrey, then of 74, Eccleston- square, Pimlico, chairman of the Great Luxembourg Railway Company, then of 30, St. John's-wood, then 7, Norland-square, Notting-hill, and next and now of 1, Thurloe-place, South Kensington, all in Middlesex, not following any business or occupation. The insolvent baronet is to appear before Mr. Commissioner Murphy, at tho: court-house, in Portugal-street, Lincoln* s-iou, to be examined and dealt with according to the statute, at ten o'clock, on Wednesday, the 10th of November. BREAD FROM COA.L.-The nutritive ingredients of wheat are carbon and hydrogen the proportions in which they unite together in the vegetable product are known, and the elements are abundant in nature why should not the chemist put them together so as to form nutritious food ? Coal presents us with all the ingre- dients for making the best of bread and when we con- sider what the chemist has already done with coal, it need not excite surprise that he should knead it into the staff of life. Look at the splendid lights which illumi- nate the streets; at the beautiful translucent candles called paraffine: admire the brilliant dies, of all the colours of the rainbow, which are extracted from that hard black mineral, and then cease to think it absurd to expect that from the substance, which contains the ele- ments of wheat, we should be able to obtain loaves of biead. Professor Falkland informs us that within the last two or three years nearly 700 organic substances have been produced by various modes of combining the elements which are found in coil, and among the com- pounds thus produced are the peculiar essences which constitute the flavour of our choicest fruits. It is no longer needful to cultivate the pear, the peach, or the pine apple to obtain their delicious flavour, for they can be produced by chemical agency from the combination of the constituent elements. It is in this manner that, by processes whil;h it may not be desirable to investigate too curiously, the full flavour of tbefiuit is given to con- fectionary that may be bought for less than one penny the ounce, By other chemical processes grape sugar, ethers, and the essential pal ts of oit, have been obtained without the aid Of vegetation. Those substances might contribute that portion of nutriment which tends to maintain animal heat, and to supply the fatty materials of the body, but the means ot supplying the muscles and fibres have yet to be discovered, for all the attempts hitherto made to form organic compounds with nitrogen have failed. When we bear in mind, however, that only thirty years ago the production of any organic com- pound without the agency of vitality was considered im- possible, and that 700 of such products have since been formed, principally within the last five years, there is reason to expect that further researches and discoveries will ere long disclose the means of waking from the inor- ganic elements all kinds of food adapted to the sustenance of man. And that which thus seems within ttie range of probability ior the production of food is equally possible for the materials of clothing. It was stated not long since that a method had been discoverad of producing silk directly from mulberry leaves, and dispensing with the troublesome, precarious, and consequently costly operation. of feeding aad tending the worms, and of winding the cocoons. The invention may be only in abeyance whilst undergoing the process of perfection through which all great inventions have had to pass be- fore they became practically useful, and silk may in a few years be grown like cotton. What is possible with silk should be equally so with wool, hair, and hides, and all the animal material of manufacture might be extracted directly from grass and foliage. Nay, the chemist may advance still further and as he hopes to obtain, by the action of chemical affinity, organic materials for the food of man without the agency of vitality, it would be but a slight step to derive the materials of clothing independ- ently of vegetation. DIMINISHING RAINFALL. The year 1858 will be noted as a season of great drought in many places, but especially so on the north-east coast. At Berwick-upon- Tweed there has not been an available shower of rain from August, 1857, to August, 1858; and numerous springs are dry which the oldest inhabitant" cannot remember before to have failed. The local water-works have, as a consequence, run short of water. The water- works at many other places have also partially fai'ed, as at Bolton, at Liverpool (the Pike), and Manchester. At Washington, near Durham, the actual recorded fall of rain for nine months (November, 1857, to July, 1858) has been 8-86, or a little more than eight and three- quarter inches, in the nine months. It has been noticed for the last fifteen years that the seasons are modified, and that the fall of rain is diminishing. SINGULAR CASE OF BIGAMY.—John Curie, a middle- aged man, formerly in the Coldstream Guards was charged with bigamy on Saturday, at Wandsworth police- court, he having intermarried with Susan Grace Sparks his first wife, Sarah, being still living. This was a most singular case. The prisoner was married at Pad- diugton Church eighteen years ago, but the marriage with his wife was never consummated, as the bride and bridegroom paited at the church-door. She was there met by a former sweetheart, and told the bridegroom that she loved his little finger better than his (Cuile's) whole body, whereupon the bridegroom replied, Then you had better take him." This she agreed to do, and they never met afterwards but once, when he saw her in bed with her old sweetheart. Cur.e admitted having subse quently m»rried Susan Grace Sparks, as he did not con- sider hia first wife to have any legal claim on him. The sider hia first wife to have any legal claim on him. The prisoner was remanded ou bail, given by his seeoad wife. Before Mr. Landor, the poet, left England, he sent his collection of pictures to Mr. Capes, of Manchester, for sale. His collection had acquired (falsely enough) a kind of reputation. He had picked his pictures up in Italy, fancying himself as good a judge of art as his brother in the muses, the late Mr. Sjtnued Rogers. Rogers's collection brought noble prices; Landor's collection sold (and not unjustly) for insignificant prices. In short, the average price of each picture—pictures bearing the noblest names in art—was under ten shillings. A Pvnaker that sold for three guineas has been resold fur fif)" guineas. 1 Wt LVE VESSELS WRECKED OX THE ENGLISH COAST.lalunby's returns at Lloyd's showed that no fewer than twelve vessels had either foundered or been wrecked on the English coast during the week, involving a serious loss to the underwriters and insurance clubs. The whole of the crews, however, with one exception- and in that case their fate is unc..rtain-were scived. On the Kentish Knock, in the course of Wednesday morning, the French senooner Biarrot, Captain Lavernis, bound to the North, was lost she struck in thick weather, and sank. The crew took to the rigging, and a Margate lugger succeeded in rescuing the pwor fellows. On the same day the brig Adelbert, bound to the Mediterranean, from Hull, with oil and coal, went on the Long Sand, and became a wreck. Here the crew also took ti tne rigging, were taken off by a lugger, and landed at Ilarwick. The Amulet, from Sunderland, bound to ti,e fagus, became a total wreck on W diby rocks on tn. ntghtot Wednesday. The foundering of the Times steamer from Harling^n, some miles off Hartlepool, has already been noticed. The biigantine Heroine, Captain Pall, laden with coals, frOiU Swansea to Southampton, sprung a leak off the Lizard, and went down, the crew just having time to t-ike their boat. During heavy wea- ther the Rotherham, from London to Guole, went ashore at Caistor, near Yarmouth, the crew having great diffi- culty in saving themselves. The tnig Ellen, of Whit stable, weut ashore at Walton-on-NaVe, near Harwich, and was abandoued. The Agnes, from the Tyne to Gal- way, was wrecked on the Ncwcome Sand, off Lowestoft. The schooner Christine, bound to Norway from the liris- tol Channel, sunk near Lundy Island. On Wednesday, a small schooner, called the Dart, from Montrose to Charleston, was overtaken in a gale and capsized; the crew saved. At the entrance of the Channel, 120 miles distant from the Lizard, a large vessel was observed to heel over and go down fate of the crew unknown, The number of other casualties on the books is also numerous. APPROACHING MARRIAGE OF THE DUKE OF MALA- KHOFF.—There might frequently have been noticed, es- pecially at Cherbourg, near the person of the Empress, ti young Spanish maiden, who accompanied her nearly everywhere. This young' person hud been formerly brought to Paris by the Countess do Montijo, her friend, or, as others say, a rotation of the family, belonging to one of the most honourable names of Spam. Mdlle. Sophie Valera, daughter of the Marchioness of Peniegi, comes from Grenada, and is the sister of M. Valera, secretary to the mission of the Duke of Ossuna, when he went to re- establish diplomatic relations between Spain and Russia. The grace and the distinction of Mdlle. Sophie Valera had been, on her several trips to France, the object of the most tender attention, and, it is said, that the conqueror of Sebastopol appreciates deeply the beauty and qualities of the young lady, to whom he is about to give an illus- trious name and a high position. We are assured that it is to sign the mariiage contract that the Emperor has put off for eight days his depn ture for liiarritz. It is also added that the dowry of Mdlle. Valera will be given by the Emperor, and that it amounts to a million francs. Probably there is some exaggeration in this figure, but ic is also stated that the trousseau is given by the Empress. Lord Cowley, it is understood, will be the other witness of the illustrious duke. Prince Napoleon will also do the marshal the honour of assisting at the ceremony. The ambassador of Spain, M. Mon, uxpected on the 31st of August, will be one of the witnesses for Mdlle. Valera. It is further stated that the marriage will take place on the Slh of September, the anniversary of the taking of the Malakhoff. The Countess do Montijo, who has al- ready crossed the Spanish frontier, will be present at the wedding.— Observer. THE MUSICAL GLASSES.—Musical iniignation has been caused by the honour conferred by the Emperor upon Miohotte, the player on the mataphom, or collec- -tion of tumblers and ine-glasses. this gentleman, who has just been decorated with the cross of the Legion of Honour, has achieved great reputation, in spite of the judgment of musical connoisseuts, who, of course, choose to ignore the man, the maUphoae, and the music. The first performance of M. Michotte in Pans took place in Rossini's salon. A friend, coming up the stai.s, found the great composer leaning on the wi ndo of the lauding. Woat are you doing here, all alone i" said he in alarm. 41 Why, there is a man there," pointing to the salon riming out 4 Robert le Diable,' and I am waiting till he has wiped his glasses dry." EAST INDIA COMPANY.—On Monday a general court of the proprietors of this Company was held at their house in Leadeniiall-street, for the consideration of important business. Sir Freder.ck Cuirie, chairman of the board of directors, presided. The first matter laid before the court related to the confirmation of a resolution for graining an annuity of £ 2,000 to Sir. J. M. Lawrence, Lia; t., V.U.H. 011 the motion that it be coutirm.-d, Mr. Janes proposed an amendment, but the chuiimau said as tHe amendment went only to modify the resolution, which mtist cilrier be confirmed or rejected, it would be irregular to put it to the meeting. Alter a few ub..erv .tions from some of the proprietors, the motion was carried unanimously. The Chairman then said the court was made special for the purpose of laying before the proprietors the opinion of counsel upon certain points submitted for their considera- tion by the committee of proprietors appointed by the general court Oil the 11th ult. The questions to, and answers by, counsel were then read, and a discussion took place respecting them, wlieu it was agreed that the questions and answers should be printed tor the use of the proprietors. The re-appointment of the committee was then proposed and agreed to, and the proceedings terminated. THE UNIVERS'' ON ENGLAND.—The Unieors con- tains the following spiteful attack on England it shows the feelings entertained towards us by the partipretre which that journal represents In the interesting history of the great struggles between France and Eng- land since William 111 one fact deserves to be pointed out-Great B.itain has never dared to combat France single-handed. Once, at the period of the American war, England found herself in face of a France free on the Rhine, and able to direct her forces and her energies towards the sea, and England was obliged to recogniz the independence of the American colonies. Those who consider the British power so formidable that France could not enter on a struggle with England with any chanoe of success, forget that if in the wars of the 13th and 14th centuries England had her Cressy, her Poictiers, and her Agincourt, France paid off the debt at Orleans, at Beaugé, at Patay, at Formigny, and at Cas- tillon, and followed up her victories until they drove back the enemy to their own island. If, instead of studying the history of England in the articles of the Debats and of the Rvveu des lJeux Mondes, in the works of some men affected with a monomania of parlia- mentarism, and in the writings of superficial men, who, srduced by the riches and the luxury of the lords, the bankers, and the manufacturers, have proclaimed Eng- land to be the first nation in the world, those who do so would give themselves the trouble to study the history of England from facts, they would see that alone England is not formidable, particularly for a nation like France. When she wished to knock at the gates of the great Chi- nese empire, she was too weak to act single-handed, and was obliged, in spite of herself, to submit to the assist- ance of France; and if ever the Chinese war should assume a serious character, and the Western Powers be obliged to send an army there, it may be affirmed before- hand that the war in China wouid be carried on by French soldiers as Sebastopol was taken by them. In presence of these facts, what has France to fear from England? Might not the pnra.se be turned, and it be said-What would not England have to fear from France ? If France were so inclined, what would become of India ?" FRIGHTFUL SUICIDE IN LIVERPOOL. On Sunday evening, about six o'clock, Mr. Blam, jun., of 63, Chat- ham-stieet, committed suicide by leaping out of a window. He fell on his head and broke his skull in pieces. He was killed on the spot. The unfortunate deceased was insane; and it appears that, up to a short time since, he was for a considerable period in Ashton Lunatic As) t um. He was discharged, but his insanity returned, and it was intended to send him to an asylum again; but before the intention was carried out he destroyed himself.— Northern Tim*,