Monmouthshire Merlin

GENERAL NEWS. I To BE READ BY HUSBANDS ONLY.—Last Tuesday evening an affair of honour came off between two females in Prospect-street, near the corner of Lyman-place. As exaggerated reports are in circulation respecting this transaction, we have concluded to give the public a state- ment of the facts, which have been in our possession a day or two. It appears that a married gentleman, resid- ing in Poplar-street, has been on intimate terms with a female who figured in our courts a few months ago as the prosecutrix of two police officers of the Fourth Station, and this intimacy had proceeded so far that he was in Possession of her daguerreotype and things. A few days ago one of the gentleman's children, while at play, found the picture and several letters from the frail one concealed tinder the carpet, and by this means they were placed in possession of the injured wife. Of course this created a matrimonial breeze. The wife sought the femalo who had broken her peace of mind, and in the course of the interview an arrangement was made, by the terms of Which the letters which had passed between the lovers Were to be exchanged. The letters which were addressed to the husband were promptly handed over to the young Woman, Rnd she returned his billet-doux, with the ex- ception of one, which she retained, as was suspected, for Do good or honourable purpose. Of course this arrange. ment proved to be a hollow peace. The husband still hankered after the frail one, and on the evening we have mentioned, he had been walking and communing with her, and had just parted from her, when the injured wife made her appearance upon the ground, armed with a Cowhide, and backed by her sister's husband. The wife immediately commenced an attack upon the seducer of her husband's affections, with a cowhide, which she used With all the energy which jealous rage can infuse into the female nature. The cowhide was wrenched from her hand by her husband, who rushed to the rescue of his inamorata, and he was knocked down by the brother-in- law of his wife. The exasperated wife followed up the castigation of her rival with a small cane and with her tlaws, and damaged her apparel considerably before the affray was ended. The affair caused considerable excite- ment in the bosoms of the actors in the drama, and in the ^ighbourhood where it occurred. The sequel remains to be duveloped.-Boston Herald.-[It is to be hoped a policeman will be present at the "sequel."] "HUWATHA" IN THE PULPIT.-The last thing we should have fancied is t' have heard within the pulpit echoes of the form and fashion of Longfellow's Hiawa- tha." In the fore-part of the season, down at (then not crowded) Ramsgate, an acute Dissenting preacher, to attract a numerous gath'ring, advertised his fixed inten- tion, twice (D.V.) on the next Sunday, sermons twain then to deliver, in majestic blank verse uttered. And he 4id it! they who listened, had a weary weary season !%&son very weary had they, list'ning to the man who did It; man obese, obese his wit too. To describe we will laat venture, how the pump went onward working, at each lifting of the handle dribbling forth its stinted mea- lure. Very painful 'twas to hear it, very pleasant to the Ppeaker; Love was the all graceful subject; quite ttn- *Ovely was the treatment. But 'twas with a moral Pointed; moral pointed very sharply; sharply pointed to the pocket; and it showed how if our bosoms glowed With the Love he painted, we should prove it by a hVral coming-down at the collection !—Athenceum.— [This imitation of Hiawatha" is strained and poor, im- measurably inferior to the admirable travestie which appeared in Punch soon after Longfellow published his Poem.] A VERT INTERESTING PARAGRAPH.—A correspondent has supplied us with the following description of a won* derful lustts naturte, which presents a junction of two Perfect bodies of miniature gilt pigs. The union com- mences at the middle of their respective bellies. The vUttle animals are symmetrically formed, the face of one In particular being a model ot porcine beauty. The he id the other, though not so fully developed, is marked by astonishing peculiarities. Polyphemus like, it has W one eye, in the centre of the forehead, the snout being immediately above the eye, and the ears immediately helow it; or the heads may be described as Janus-like, one being perfect and pretty, and the obverse as above. 7he little animals stand almost ereet rampant; the "Diature hams are well rounded, and the legs and feet proportioned. Great pains have been bestowed Ili their preservation, and, standing as they do in the manner described, their Lilliputian tails curling vigor- ously, they present an appearance of life-like reality. Unlike some of the strange doings of "fantastic Nature," tbi,, );1 a most agreeable and truly pleasing sight. The "ye rests with pleasure and surprise on what the mind Ooriteuiplates with astonishment. But the most graphic description that could be given of these Siamese-like pro- digies would fail in giving an adequate idea of them. To be properly appreciated they must be seen, and when Seen cannot fail to strike even the most listless spectator With feelings of wonderand admiration. These strangely United animals constitute a portion of the produce of a gilt" of about eleven months old, still in Mr. Fletcher's Wssession. On the 9th of the present month, this animal Pigged five young ones, and on the following morning She produced the interesting phenomenon in question and though at the time her life seemed in imminent peril, Jet she is now, together with her five young ones, "doing well." We may mention in passing that Mr. Fletcher has been offered J625 for these strange animals, Whioh he of course refused.— Wolverhampton Chrotaicle. [The above is a great improvement on the enormous gooseberries and cherries which are generally found during the Parliamentary interregnum. It is delightful to see the fondness and loving admiration with which our Wolverhampton contemporary dwells on the two won- derful pigs, one of which is blessed with a face the model of porcine beauty." Can none of our Monmouth- lbire farmers produce such a "phenomenon? ] REFORMATORY SCHOOLS.—A small pocket blue-book, just published, contains the first Report of the Inspector ^pointed to visit the different Reformatory Schools of ^feat Britain. The number of certified Reformatories tt the end of 1857 was 40, and on the 31st of December, 1867, the number of inmates was 1,866, namely, 1,198 Protestant boys, 411 Catholic boys, 160 Protestant girls, and 97 Catholic girls. Few counties in England are Without some Reformatory School or Association, and even in these there are signs of movement denoting the Making of the authorities from their apathy on the sub- ject. These delinquent counties are not stigmatised by Rame. The condition of the Reformatories is reported by the Inspector to be generally good; the general cha- racteristics of the institutions are simplicity, plain- Otss, and practical utility," while the arrangements, for reasons, are not exactly compatible with an Eng- ■iahman's notions of ease and comfort. The children are 310t coddled, and their work is real hard labour for one- *hird of the civil day. ID fact, many of the boys confessed the Inspector that they would rather be in prison than where they were," assigning as the reason, We Ibould have more to eat and less to do." Want of soli- tary cells for very refractory boys, and arrangements for the more thorough supervision of the pupils" by the masters of the Reformatories, are noticed as desiderata. Suitable superintendents and a more adequate number of staff officers are also required. Mental training, in the majority of the Reformatories, is comparatively little attended to, but the Inspector contends that it ought not to be wholly neglected. The effect of the law requiring PareDts to support their delinquent children in the Refor- matories is excellent, and the Inspector says that some Contribution ought to be exacted In every case. A list of the Reformatories, with "remarks" appended, shows that the following are, or were, not axactly in a satisfac- tory state, viz., the Berks Reformatory School at Shin- field, Reading; the N ewcastle.on..Tyne School, in Bar- rack-square, Newcastle (since improved); Wilts Refor- matory, near Warminster; and Woodberry-hill Refor- matory, in Worcestershire, but the defects noticed are hot radical ones. The Catholic Reformatory at Brook- green, Hammersmith, is well worth a visit. On the Whole the Reformatories appeaeto be working well. INTERESTING DISCOVERY.—On Saturday last, whilst a man was dragging the Thames for a body, be brought up the fossil remains of a prodigious animal of the elk kind, Consisting of the skull and horns-the width of the horns lbeasures seven feet four inches. It is impossible to say the period of time when euch an enormous animal existed; the presumption is that it has laid in the river thousands of years. He also brought up an ancient battle axe made Of brass, and of curious workmanship. CAPSIZING OP A BOAT AT BRIGHTON.—On Sunday evening, just before duek, a party of eleven persons were lailing merrily along the water at Brighton, near the pier, "hen a sudden gust seized the vessel and capsized her in moment. With great presence of mind, the boatman regained the boat, and, having righted her, the whole of the party were picked up, after some difticulty, from the toughueiw of the sea at the time, t ODDFELLOWS AND OTHER FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.— The number of friendly societies registered since the year 1793 is 22,500. But it must not be supposed that all these are now in existence; it is, however, conjec- tured that full 20,000 of them are still in operation, with funds exceeding JE9,000,000 sterling. Mr. Tidd Pratt, in his valuable report, slates that he forwarded last year by post forms of annual return for filling Uj> to the entire number of societies in the register, but up to March last, only 5,940 responded to the invitation. However, the returns are going on, and allowance must be made for tardiness of information, as the secretaries are generally working men, with merely the rudiments of education. Moreover, the sending a return is a voluntary act, and its omission is attended with no penalty or disability. As might have been expected in any English community, the item for drinking and feasting constantly recurs under the head of expenditure. Our humbler brethren, it ap- pears, cannot conduct their simple societies any more than our great men their companies and institutions without a plentiful supply of creature comfort. But Mr. Tidd Pratt is by no means pleased at this application of the funds, and has reminded the offending communities in a very reasonable and friendly letter, that it is not legitimate, and must operate as a hardship on many members, if the contribution to the feast be made com- pulsory. About 500 of those letters were forwarded, and from the replies received it seems that in most instances a meeting of the members was called, and, after the sub- ject had been discussed, the necessary reforms were made. This is that kind of gentle suggestion and cor- rection which best succeeds with our people, and affords a striking lesson to arbitrary legislators, who would bring everything that is injurious under the strict pro- hibition of the law. But Mr. Tidd Pratt has had occa- sion to direct the attention of the managers of those societies to a system much more ruinous than any mere outlay on the comforts of the table. It was found that a large amount of money was invested in the hands of the societies' treasurers, of private bankers, of brewers, and manufacturers, and in various other speculative quarters. In the published account of an estate which was in the Bankruptcy Court this year, as much as £ 5,096 was due to various friendly societies and wholly unsecured. At a meeting of the creditors of a large firm of brewers, which took place also during the present year, it was stated that no fewer than 44 societies had their funds invested with the firm; and the same, we are told, has happened with several late bankruptcies. In these and similar instances, friendly societies take share with the general creditors, and have not the pre- ference they would have if the investments were made in accordance with the act. On obtaining this alarming information Mr. Tidd Pratt very properly dispatched one of his admonitory letters, directing the managers to inform the trustees that if any loss arise to the society through their investing the funds upon any other securi- ties than these authorised by the 18th and 19th Vic., c. 63, s. 32, they may be called upon personally to make it good. Money intended for the support of the sick and old, the burial of the dead, and the relief of the widow and orphan, is not a proper fund to invest in speculation?. Besides being illegal, it is unjust to risk money saved for such .praiseworthy purposes; and the Act of Parliament, in restricting the modes of investment to securities of the highest class, may be said to endeavour to compel the members of friendly societies to take as much care of their funds as possible. Twenty shillings in the pound, in case of bankruptcy or insolvency, can only be claimed by a legally established friendly society for moneys in the hands of any officer of the society BY VIRTUE of his office, but in no case where money has been lent to an officer at interest." Nearly 700 letters containing this useful intimation, coupled with the exact words of the Act of Parliament, in a copious extract, were forwarded, and from the replies received, the Registrar assures us that a considerable amount of good has been effected by the actual withdrawal of the funds from many very inse- cure and illegal investments. If a similar friendly con- trol and direction were exercised for the guidance of shareholders and others interested in our large com- panies, would the disasters which we have so often to de- plore constantly recur ? As there is nothing prying, tyrannical, or injurious iu the kind of supervision which the Registrar of Friendly Societies maintains over these communities, would it be impossible to assign the same duties to the registrar of joint-stock companies or some similar officer ? Of a truth we are a charitable nation we take care of the thrifty and humble, hut alnost wholly neglect the interests in which the bulk of our middle and uppar classes are most deeply concerned. WILL OF THE DUCHESS OF ORLEANS.—The will of Her Royal Highness the late Duchess of Orleans has been proved this week, and copies have appeared in the papers. The deceased lady speaks in the following touch- ing terms of her children and relatives:—•" I leave my maternal blessing to my beloved sons, and pray the Lord to guide them through this life, to give them prosperous days, and to grant them eternal felicity when they shall have nobly fulfilled their destinies here below. I bid them here a last adieu, whilst thanking them for the hap.. piness they have contributed to my existence. I entreat the Queen to accept the last expression of my respectful gratitude. I bid farewell to my mother, to whom I owe so much to my brothers and sisters for whom I have ever felt sincere affection; to my mother's family, whose tender hospitality has lightened the bitterness of exile of my sons and myself; to my friends and servants, whose fidelity in the midst of misfortune has inspired me with grateful attachment; and, finally, I bid farewell to France, which I have loved so much, and where the hap- piest years of my life have glided away. I recommend my sons never to forget that thg fear of God is the be- ginning of all wisdom, that it is a guide and beacon in prosperity, and a stay amidst misfortune; to remain ever faithful to the precepts of their childhood, and con- tinue steadfast likewise in their political faith. May they observe it both by their constancy in adversity and exile and by their firmness and devoted patriotism when the course of events shall restore them to their country. May France, restored to her dignity and liberty, may constitutional France, reckon upon them to defend her honour, her grandeur, and her interests, and may she find once more in them the wisdom of their grandfather and the chivalrous qualities of their father. They should ever bear in mind the political principles which have made the glory of their house, which their grandfather faithfully observed upon the throne, and which their father, as his will and testament bears witness, had ardently adopted. His last directions have been the guiding rule of their education. In quitting this world I recommend my children to the Queen. Whatever the place of exile where my days may close, and whatever the tomb I may happen to find, I request my sons, and in their default my heirs, to have my remains conveyed to France whenever our family may return to it, there to deposit them in the mortuary chapel of Dreux, beside the tomb of my husband. I here close my last will with an assurance of pardon to all such as may have offended or afflicted me, and with an entreaty to all those I may in my turn have offended or pained, not to retain the memory thereof. My last words are for my beloved sons —a prayer and a blessing." The will is dated Eisenach, Jan. l,18o5. PETRIFACTION OP THE HUMAN BODY.—In the Alta California of July 20th, appears a letter from a German physician, Dr.Freiderich Lichterberger, at Fort Lano-ley on Fraser River, which gives a detailed account of the death of a minerby petrifaction, consequent upon drinking a mineral fluid known as water of crystallisation—a solu- tion of silica—found in a gcode, which is a rounded mass of quartz, containing cavities lined with crystals, and varying in size from a few inches to sometimes a couple of feet in diameter. Geodes occasionally, as is often the case with single orystals, contain a transparent fluid, known to mineralogists as the water of crystalhsation-a liquid charged with a solution of the substance forming them, and from which, indeed, the crystals are aggregated into different geometrical solids- The quantity ot this liquid is usually so small that it has never attracted attention, except as a subject of curiosity, but it appears on this occasion the miner in striking one of these geodes broke off a piece, leaving a cup which contained half a pint of water, which he drank: Music IN PARIS.—The Theatre Italien is to be opened in Paris on the 2nd of October with a splendid troupe of artists, among whom figure Grisi, Penco, St. Urbain, Alboni, Nantier, and Cambardi, among the ladies; and for tenors, baritones, and basses, M ario, Tamberhk, the two Grazianis, Corsi, Zucchini, and An- gelmi. The opera of Don Giovanni" i8 l0 b0 ona 0f the gems of the season; the baritone part of the Don being transposed to tenor for Mario-a dangerous innova- tion, of which the idolators of Mozart do not approve though it will give occasion for the appearance, in one opera, of two of the greatest living tenors—Mario and ^mberlik. » At Romo a few days ago a mischievous boy, amused at the vast crinoline worn by a lady, contrived to set fire to it as she was crossing the Piazza delle Carrette. The poor lady was dreadfully burned, and expired the next day, after suffering frightful agony. A letter from Rome complains that the boys of that city cause great annoyance to strangers by pelting them with stones, and other wanton acts, or by begging alms of them and insulting them in case of refusal. A NOVELETTE-The Oste Deutsche Post of Vienna has the following :—" A wealthy ironmaster of Silesia, M. Godulla, was in 1845, in one of his walks, solicited for charity by a remarkably handsome little girl, but he abruptly refused her. Oa his return the girl again begged earnestly for a pfenning, and in doing so fixed her large blue eyes on him in a marked manner. He was much struck with her, and was so pleased with the intelligent replies she gave to his questions that he took her home, and obtained the consent of her parents to adopt her. Three years after he died, leaving a fortune of 4,000,000 thalers, and by his will he directed that 3,000,000 of it should belong to the girl, the other 1,000,000 to his own relatives but the will set forth that if the girl were to die without children the 3,000,000 thalers should go to the relatives. The girl lately married Count de Schaffgotsch, head of one of the oldest and most distinguished families in Prussia, and shortly after an attempt was made to assassinate her. Great sensation has lately been occasioned by a fresh attempt of the like kind hsving been made." EXTENSIVE EMBEZZLEMENT.—On Saturday, Mr Henry Burbridge, formerly income and assessed tax collector for the Richmond district, was charged before Sir F. K. Reeve and a bench of magistrates, at the Court-house, Richmond, with having.embezzled large sums of money, the property of her Majesty, andalso with having obtained different amounts of money as income and property tax by false pretences. Evidence having been given which fully established the truth of the oharges, the defen iant, who declined saying anything at that time, was committed to take his trial on four several charges at the Central Criminal Court. Great preparations are being made for the proper cele- bration of the opening of the Vale of Clwyd Railway. LovE AND CRIME. A Letter from Warsaw, of the 26th ult., states that a woman, the mother of five children residing in the neighbourhood of that city, having be- come enamoured of a young man, contemplated getting rid of her husband by poison, and prepared a beverage for him for that purpose. The eldest daughter, however by accident drank the potion intended for her father, and died in the arms of her mother, after great suffering. The guilty woman lost her reason, and ran out in the forests, where she wandered about for several days, and was at length captured and delivered into the hands of justice. A VERY DELICATE PROPOSAL.—A correspondent of the New York Herald, writing about the Atlantio cable, makes the following unique suggestion Queen Victoria's eldest son, the Prince of Wales, if not already, will soon be wanting a wife, and let the United States offer one of her fair daughters for his bride, the lady that many be selected to be adopted by Uncle Sam, each of the States to give a bridal present suitable for the occasion, Uncle Sam to make up deficiencies in fortune for a dowry for the position that she would occupy. We can supply him with as splendid an affair as he could get upon the top of this globe, and the fact of her being Uncle Sam's daughter is as high a rank as any European power could boast." GREY HAIRS DESCENDING WITH SORROW TO THE GRAVE.—A week before the execution of the young man, John Baker Bucknall, for the murder of his gradfather and grandmother at Creech St. Michael, the culprit was visited by his mother and sister, who were much affected thereat, and Bucknall himself told his mother not to visit him again, for he could stand no more of it." Since the morning of the execution we understand that M rs Bucknall, the mother, has taken no food, but gradually sank uuder ber trials, and expired of a broken heart on Tuesday morning, a week within a few minutes of the time when the extreme penalty of the law was carried out upon her guilty offspring The sister, a girl about 11 years old, we "hear, is dangerously afflicted, and it is feared has lost her reason.— Taunton. Courier. THE IRISH PIG'S HEAD.—"They have got my pig's head, yer honner's wortcbip," exolaimed a red-faced, jolly Irish woman, entering tho witness-box at the Thames Police Court, last week. Mr. Selfe Who has got your pig's head, my good woman ?—-Applicant: Och faith, yer honnor, my pig's head was raffled for, and shure not a farthing oan I get, at all at all; and they have kept all the money, shure.—Now tell me all about the pig's head, as shortly as possible, and if I can assist you I will.- Well, Pat O'Brien——Whatof him?—Sent me a pig's head in a bashkit by his shister from Ireland. -Well, and what did you do with it?—I raffled it shure at a public-house, and the publican has kept all the money, yer honner. She then put in a raffle paper,which Mr. Weddle, the second usher, began to read from as follows To be raffled for, a rale Irish pig's head, 20 mimbers at 6d. a mimber." Then followed the names of Michael Lyons, Patrick Murphy, Michael Cronin, with Flanagans, Brallaghans, Regans, Fagaus. Nowlans, and Dowlans likewise. Mr. Weddle pointed out to the magistrate though there were plenty of names on the paper, nobody had paid their subscriptions except the landlord and landlady.—Mr. Selfe inquired if any money had been advanced on the pig's head?—Applicant: Ounly 2s. 8d. wuth of beer, yer honner.—Then you have been having drink on the security of the pig's head where is it now ?—Shure the publican and his famerly have aten it, yer honner.—Then there is an end of the pig's head if you have any claim against the publican go to the County Court.—The applicant then departed, groaning loudly, and exclaiming, "They've sthole mf pig's head." PLAY AT WIESBADEN.—The bank at the Cursaal of Wiesbaden was broken last week by a Prussian gentle- man. In less than half-an-hour the bank encountered two heavy series, which, being backed with spirit, re- sulted in a loss to the establishment of 250 OOOfr. The Prussian played the highest stakes (8,500f.) authorized by the bank, and his example was followed by other players. This success will doubtless afford immense con- solation to those whose hard cash had contributed to the accumulation of the quarter of a million thus rapidly swept away. AN AWKWARD FIX.-The Deesa correspondent of a Bombay journal gives the following startling bit of news The villagers are very uncivil in these districts, and I often wish myself back in Scinde. The night I entered Deesa I lost my road. It was raining hard, with lightning and thunder. I went into a village close by, and begged for a guide, but could not get one. After some trouble I got a man, who on the pretence that he was going to show me the way, led me to a place, gave a whistle, and about 80 men came out with drawn swords, and surrounded me. It was rather an awkward fix to be in, but I carried on by sheer bounce, threatened all sorts of things, and at last went away with a guide." ALKXANDER MONRO, a man of genteel appearance, was placed at the bar of the Lambeth Police-court, be- fore Mr. Elliott, on a charge of stealing a small glass jar, the property of Messrs. Batty and Co., from a standing in the Crystal Palace, and also the plated end of a scab- bard from the Indian Court there. James Darling, a special constable, saw him take the glass jar and put it in his pocket, and Serjeant Smith, 32 P, said, on search- ing him he found in his pocket the mounting of a sword scabbard which had been sent to him from India by a friend. The prisoner gave his real name and address- his father held high rank in the army, and he himself (the prisoner) had been an officer in the 42ad Regiment. The prisoner said he saw the jar empty, and thought- lessly took it up. Mr. Elliott said there could be no doubt he intended to steal the articles found on him, and sentenced him to pay a penalty of 40s., or 20 days' im- prisonment. Serjeant Farrell, of the Royal Glamorgan Artillery, stationed in Bridgend,while angling in the river Of tnore, discovered a nest of seven young kingfishers, five of which he succeeded in capturing. We have seen the birds and must say that they are as fine a specimen of the kingfisher as we have ever seen. They are remarkably handsome, and have a beautiful plumage. A PRIZE FIGHT.-Olle of these discreditable, and now happily rare, exhibitions came off on Monday, near the New Passage. The poor fellows who were content to afford sport" as it is called to a ruffianly mob of some thousands of the lowest riff-raff from the sinks of Bristol, were one Peter Miller and Tom Squires, both of that city. The stakes were said to be X16 a'-side. After being hunted by the police from place to place a convenient field was at length found, and the men pum- melled each other for nearly an how, when Millet was announced to pe. the conqueror. 9 i ATTEMPTED MURDER.-On Sunday night, between eight and nine o'clock, much excitement was created in the vicinity of Drury-lane, by .a most determined attempt to murder a young man named Philip Cronin. It seems that the man who made the attack assumes the manners of an idiot, and obtains a living by selling laces, blacking, and other small articles in Clare market, where he is well-known as Silly Billy his supposed affliction has excittid much compassion, and Silly Billy has contrived to save a good sum of money, which becoming known, several attempts have been made to rob him, and a short time back he was plundered of some of his money. It appears his suspicions alighted on Cronin, and he was heard to vow vengeance, and in fulfilment of his threat he attacked Cronin, and inflicted frightful wounds upon him with a large stiletto knife, one of which penetrated the kidneys. He is not expected to survive. With some difficulty Barret was apprehended. SUPPOSED CHILD MURDER.—Information has been received of the discovery of the body of an infant in Whitecross-street prison, which it was supposed came by its death by unfair means. It appears that the mother of the child has been in the service of Captain Hicks, the governor of the prison, as cook, for about three months, and from certain appearances on Friday it was believed that she had been confined. A search was instantly instituted, and on looking into a drawer the body of a male infant was discovered, wrapped up in a cloth, and quite dead. Mr. Timothy, a surgeon, of Barbican, was sent for, who attended to the mother, and she was sub- sequently removed to the Union-house, at Homerton, in charge of the police, and the body of the child was re- moved to Cripplegate church. Upon being questioned why she had not provided any baby clothes, she replied that she intended to do so as soon as she was paid her wages. SHOCKING OCCURRENCE. — Last week, a young lady named Martha Moffat, about 22 years of age, was found lying on the floor of her bedroom with her throat fright- fully cut, in her lodgings, at Edinburgh. On searching the room, a table-knife, marked with blood, was found in the bed amongst the bed clothes. It appears that she had only lodged in the house since Monday last, having then arrived from London by steamer, accompanied by a gentleman, about 60 years of age, who passed himself as her uncle, and having scarcely any luggage with them, although they stated they intended to take a tour through Scotland, Miss Moffat, since her arrival, had been ob- served by the inmates of the lodging to be in very low spirits, and h<pl on more than one occasion expressed her desire to return to her friends; but not being further communicative, and the alleged uncle being her supposed guardian, no particular attention was paid to her remarks. On Wednesday evening she complained to her landlady of being indisposed, and wished that some one might re- main with her during the night, but this request was not complied with. The young lady then evidently seemed as if she had some presentiment of an approaching cala- mity. Mr. Gray was taken into custody; and the cir- cumstances attending the painful occurrence have been partially investigated by the procurator fiscal. Mr. Gray states that when he awoke, about five o'clock in the morning, he got up and proceeded to Miss Moffat's room, in order that he might ascertain whether she felt better from the indisposition of which she had complained on the previous evening, and that on reaching the bedroom, and seeing her lying upon the floor, he ran and alarmed the lady of the house. From the position in which the body was found, it is supposed that if the unfortunate young woman committed self-destruction, she must have arisen from bed, gone to the parlour for a knife, and, re- turning with it to the bedroom, leant over the bed, and cut her throat, letting the instrument drop from her hand, and then falling backwards upon the floor. It seems that the person who lives in the house immediately beneath, and who happened to be Ritting reading in the room immediately below that occupied by Miss Moffat, was startled about twelve o'clock by hearing something heavy fall upon the floor of the bedroom above, but followed by no other movement. Although the man Gray is in cus- tody, there is no ground for supposing that the deceased met with foul play. CARDINAL WISEMAN IN IRELAND.—Great rejoicings took place at Dundalk last week, on the occasion of the visit of Cardinal Wiseman. In the evening a grand banquet was given, at which his Eminence, in the course of.a speech, said:—"Any one who witnessed the conduct of the population of this district to-day must know per- fectly well that their enthusiasm was nothing more than an earnest expression of purely religious feeling, of at- tachment to their ecclesiastical superiors, and to the Church which has bestowed upon them-the poor parti- cularly-I may say almost the only happiness allotted to them on earth. (Loud applause.) We know perfectly well that the other version of my coming here, or of the kind manner in which I have been received by the people, is pure fiction-is, in short, one of those examples of that playful imagination which is so commonly exercised in dealing with events in this country. (Hear, hear.) I am sure that no one, whether in Ballinasloe or in Dundalk, who has had an opportunity of listening to the beautiful and natural effusions of religious love which has met my ears on every side, could for a moment imagine that this good, and zealous, and warm-hearted people viewed the proceedings as anything else than an exhibition of reli- gious warmth and approbation, cheering to their hearts, and consoling them amongst their many miseries-past miseries I should say-because everything I have wit- nesed around me shows me that there is a bright and glorious day coming for social prosperity and for religion in Ireland. (Loud applause.) There is always a fear, when the transition takes place in any country, from one social state to another, that it may in some way injure the interests of a higher character which it is our duty to cultivate. I own that I am one of those who fear that what we read of the prosperity appearing in the country might in some way obscure those high and noble foelings of attachment to religion which have formed the greatest boast, the real prerogative of the Irish people-that the removal of those great calamities that have visited Ire- land, the relief from which might be considered to consti- tute almost perfect happiness, might, however slightly, diminish that amount of pure attachment which they have always manifested towards the faith. (Hear.) We have heard some boasting of late, that after Ireland had been tried and tested in vain by the touchstone of adver- sity, she might yield, perhaps, to that more fatal and fear- ful trial of happiness and wealth. But my visit, short as it has been, has consoled and gratified me in nothing more than this-that I have been enabled to satisfy myself, that while the enemies of the people and of the Church take care to put prominently forward whatever may serve their purposes, they are careful to conceal everything that may be adverse to their views; and therefore when they speak of tillage and all that relates to agrarian peace and welfare, they have been studiously careful not to let us know the progress made in everything that develops religion, gives it solidity, and adds to ita beauty. (Hear, hear, and applause.) I have not yet visited any of my old friends and relations. I have not revisited the scenes of my early life, which are in the south of Ireland, be- cause I felt that I must first discharge my duty to those places to which I have been invited on purely ecclesiasti- cal and religious grounds. I have now stated the reason of my coming here and whatever certain persons, in the exercise of that playful imagination to which I have be- fore referred, may circulate on the subject, I can only say that I have given you the simple story. (Hear, hear.) I have come to you merely as a bishop and a cardinal in- vited for an ecclesiastical purpose. I have discharged that duty to-day, and I depart with a heart full of emo- tion, animated with the kindest and most friendly feeling towards the people, towards their pastors, towards the venerated archbishop, and the other distinguished pre- lates who have assembled on this occasion. I shall always retain a vivid remembrance of my visit to your town, and in future I shall always have one temptation to resist, and that is-when perplexed and anxious, harassed and annoyed on every side, I will be tempted to say, "I will run off to Dundalk." (Great applause.) However, who knows but that I may have the pleasing opportunity some day of revisiting you. (Loud cheers.) What you may do after what you have already done no one can tell; but I think the next thing will be to see if we can't induce the Pope to come here. (Laughter and applause.) I am quite sure that his Holiness would see much in this town to rejoice and gratify his kind and paternal heart; but in his default I am here, however feebly, to represent that Holy See to which I am so warmly and devotedly attached." (Loud cheering.) WRECKS.—During the month of August the number of wrecks reported in our columns was 112, in the month of January the number was 154, in February 162, in March 179, in April 142, in May 128, in June 102, and in July 101—making a total during the past eight months of 1080.—Shipping Gmtte. SHOPLIFTERS AGAIN.—At the Guildhall Police Court London, on Saturday, Anne Leather, alias Francis alias Martin, alias Franklin, and Anne Rowe, a couple of re- spectably-attired females, were brought up charged with stealing a shawl from the shop of Mr. Butcher, of Long- lane, Smithfield. John Sherrington, a shop boy in the employ of the prosecutor, stated that the prisoners came into his master's shop to look at some shawls, and after showing them some at various prices, and taking some from almost every part of the shop, Rowe at length asked him to take one out of the window, which he did, and with Rowe's assistance he held it out to let her see the size, the prisoner Leather being so concealed by it as to exclude her from the witness's view. He, however, saw the shawls on the counter move, and that excited his sus- picions. Rowe said the shawls were too bright in colour, and that her mistress would not like her to have one of them. She then requested him to send some other shawls to the Victoria Hotel, opposite the Post-office, on the following day, and to ask for Anne," and he would find her. As soon as they left the shop he counted the shawls and missed one, upon which he pursued them He succeeded in securing Rowe, while some one else captured Leather. The shawl was picked up by another party. The officer said the prisoners pretenled to know nothing of each other, but they both refused their ad- dress. Several officers said they knew both prisoners well, and had seen them associating together, and that they belonged to a notorious gang of shoplifters. Lea- ther had been convicted and sentenced at different times to twelve months, three months, and one month, and Rowe had been in custody in another name. The pri- soners were committed for trial. THE "TIMES.We obtain news vid the United States it would he difficult to learn in England. The Boston Witness states that John Walter, M.P., principal proprietor of the London Times newspaper, holds nine- teen shares out of twenty-four into which that valuable publication is divided. The publisher, who is responsi- ble for all libels, &c., has one share. Mr. John Delane, the editor, has one share; and Mrs. Garden, mother of Sir Robert Carden, Lord Mayor of London, has three shares.—[We need scarcely recommend the reader to place no taith in the above statements. The Americans may be able to stump the universe," but they know very little about the internal arrangements of the Time*.] SERIOUS ACCIDENT.—We regret to have testate that Mrs. Hayes, the lady of the Solicitor-General for Ireland, has met with an alarming and serious accident. Whilst standing near the kitchen fire, her dress became ignited, and before the flames could be extinguished, Mrs. Hayes was severely injured. RUSSIAN CHIVALRY.-The small infamies of Russia excite almost as much indignation as her national crimes. She has begun to deface the monument of the faithful English soldiers who fell in the attack on the Redan on the 8th of September. This monument the Russian Go- vernment solemnly promised to respect and protect. We now learn from the Leader, who has spared no pains in attesting the truth of the statement," that "although the English inscription on three of the sides of the obe.. lisk are left intact, that in Russian, on the fourth side, has been entirely chipped away It was a practice of old Christian chivalry to publish the name and merits of a dead and courageous foe; Russia dishonours the me- mories of hers as far as she c&n.—Athenaum. MEMORIALS OF THE BRAVE.—Within Dover Castle there is now a collection of pikes and lances, which we will undertake to say no visitor will look upon without a reverential emotion. These are the lances of the sur- vivors of the renowned "Six Hundred," who in the charge across Balaklava won immortal fame. The con- dition of the lances now in the Castle speaks forcibly of the nature of that bloody passage at arms; there is scarcely one that is not stained with the heart's blood of of the noble rid8. In some cases, on the outside of the white arm-straps of the lances are little masses of clotted gore. The sight wins sympathy of all beholders. RETIREMENT OF MR. CHARLES KEAN.—The public will regret to hear that it is the intention of Mr. Charles Kean, the eminent actor, to retire from the stage at the close of next season. After the performance of Friday night last, Vlr. Kean came forward and saidLadies and Gentlemen,-At the close of each successive season f/. cust°m to address a few words to you in thankfulness for kindness and support. The present year, from various circumstances—in part unavoidable, and in part unexpected-has been to me a period of great re- sponsibility, anxiety, and fatigue; relieved, however, by expressions of public feeling and sympathy, the memory of which can only fade with life. Contrary to my ori- ginal intention, I feel compelled, from the mental and bodily strain i have undergone, to seek a few weeks' comparative repose, that I may be the better able to bring to a successful termination my next and last season. Permit me, therefore, to take this opportunity of an- nouncing my intention of re-opening this house on Saturday, the 2nd of October and at the same time to state that, on the 30th day of July next, I shall take my final leave as Director of the Princess's Theatre. In the mean time, Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me, in Mrs. Kean's name, as well as my own, respectfully and grate- tully to bid you farewell." These words were received with great demonstrations of respect by the audience. AN UNDUTIFUL BRIDE. -An extraordinary application was made at the Lambeth Police Court the other day on behalf of a Mr. ihomas Stevens, house decorator, of mid- dle age, who was married on the 1st inst., at St. Luke's, Chelsea, to Miss Martha Elizabeth Dunkley. After the performance of the ceremony it was suggested that they should commence spending the honeymoon with a visit to Cremorne that evening, whither they repaired. They left early tofyroceed home, and were joined by the bride's sister. After proceeding a short distance Mrs. Stevens took a fancy to some dainty in a ham and beef shop win- dow, when her husband requested her to stay outside while he went in and purchased it for her. To his sur- prise, on regaining the street he found his newly-married wife and sister some distance off, running as fast as their legs could carry them. He called to them to stop, but in vain, and being unable to follow them at any pace, owing to a recent attack of paralysis, he lost them, and found that all attempts to recover his wife were useless. He saw no more of her until Saturday evening, when he met her in the stieet, in company with a Mr. Jalfan, a formidable man of colour. In consequence of what he had heard he was afraid to go up to them, but was de- termined to watch them, in which, however, he was, after keeping them in sight for a few minutes, only frus- trated. To add to Mr. Stevens's mortification he had not only lost bis wife, but his clothing and several other articles. He had applied for a portion of these where he believed his wife to be secreted, but could get no satis- factory answer, and had then betaken himself to the house of his wife's father, in Church-street, Chelsea, where, in anticipation of his alliance with the family he had deposited other property, when to his surprise and alarm he told him to be off, or he would run a knife into him. Mr. Paynter observed that the case was truly singular, and granted the required summons. DUEL BETWEEN FRENCH JOURNALISTS.—On Satur- day last, M. A. Delvau, of the Sieclc, and M. Vaudrin of the Pays, met at Fontenay-aux-Roses to measure swords in deadly strife. "A word unkind, or wrongly taken," said to have been followed by a "slight blow," led to the combat. After several passes," without any other result than a trivial rent in M. Delvau's shirt, the seconds interfered, and declared that honour was satisfied." DRURY-LANE THEATRE.—ENGLISH OPERA SEASON.— Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison have issued the programme of their second season, which commences on the 13th inst. For the coming season, at Drury-lane, it is stated they have spared no exertions to obtain the very highest available English talent; and they confidently trust that the result of their endeavours will enable them to present every opera with completeness and excellence in all respects worthy of a national undertaking. Amongst the novelties to be produced this season a new opera is announced, written expressly for them by M. W. Balfe, whose Rose of (Jastille, last season, was received with such favour at the Lyceum. The Rose of Castille, and an original opera, Rip Van Winkle, by an American composer (Mr. George Bristow), will be performed in the course of the seaaon. Another novelty will be the production in English of Flotow's opera of Martha. Mr. Alfred Mellon will maintain his position as conductor and musical director. The company will comprise the following artistes :—Mis? Louisa Pyne, Mdlle. Pauline Vaneri, Miss Susan Pyne, Miss M. Prescott, and Miss Rainforth; Mr. F. Glover, Mr. J, G Patey, Mr. Bar- tleman, Mr. Kirby, Mr. T. Grattan Kelly, Mr. George Honey, Mr. A. St. Albyn, Mr. J. Terrott, and Mr. W. Harrison. The programme promises altogether an agree- able entertainment to the public during the autumn evenings, and will doubUesa prove remunerative to the talented company. SHOCKING RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—A dreadful occur- rence took place at Flatworth, on the Blyth and Tyne Railway, and about two miles and a half from Shields, on Saturday. In consequence of a quantity of Ria. having fallen, the farmers in the neighbourhood had told the reapers to leave off work, and a number of females belonging to the pit village of Percy Main were returning to their homes down the side of the line, when a little paralysed boy, Francis Hails, seven years of age, who was with his grandmother, ran between the rails. About the limp I, did so, his grandmother noticed the train from B vth lu .M.irpeth coming down the incline towards them, and she immediately rushed to save the boy. She had not time to do so, however, before the train was down upon them, and she had but time to push the child out- side the rails, when the engine struck her, and knocked her down the wheels of the engine and carriages passed over her abdomen, and severed her in two, carrying one part of the body about 20 yards beyond where the other was left, and cutting one arm from the shoulder. Upon the train being stopped an inquiry was made for the boy, when it was found that he also had been struck by the engine, and was unconscious. He was taken to a road. side inn, the Dun Cow, and was attended by Mr. Davison and Mr. Wheldon, surgeons, but they entertain no hopea of his recovery. No blame is attached to the engine- man or guard of the train. FATAL BOILER EXPLOSION.—On Saturday morning a frightful explosion occurred at the mill of Mr. Samuel Almond, woollen manufacturer, in the village of Gilder- some, near Leeds. The explosion scattered destruction around in every direction to life and property. As soon as the confusion had subsided, and the sufferers were col- lected and examined, it was found that four persons had been killed on the spot, and seven others very seriously injured. Amonpt other effects of the explosion, a room in which several young women were working was thrown down, causing two of the deaths recorded. Considerable portions of the mill, and of the adjacent pottery of Mr. E. Ackroyd, were also blown down. Portions of the boiler, with bricks, stones, flags, timber, iron, &c., were found in all directions, and at a distance of 200 or 300 yards from the boiler-seat. Three men were loading a cart in the yard at the time of the explosion. The cart was smashed and the horse killed, as well as a pig that was near but all the men escaped without severe injury. As to the cause of this catastrophe, we fear it is but too obvious. It seems that during the night the steam waa got up, or kept up, and that the boiler was for several hours left in the charge of a mere lad to fire up, &c. Bradley, the regular engineer, a young man of 18, who appears to have been very ignorant and unfit for sueh duties, came about six o'clock in the moining, and sent the lad home. Bradley, upon looking at his boiler, was amazed to find that some of the plates were red hot, Knowing no better, and desirous of cooling them without delay, he at once turned on a quantity of cold water. Of course the explosion followed instantaneously, and the wretched youth full amongst the victims of his gross ignorance. A SCENE IN TIlB LIFE OF AN ACTRESS.-A respectably- dressed young woman, apparently about 20 years old, and who was described as an actress, was brought before the Lord Mayor at the Mansion-house this week, charged with attempting to commit suicide, by endeavouring to throw herself into the Thames from the parapet of London bridge. John Laing, a scavenger, deposed that about one o'clock in the morning he was sweeping the roadway on London bridge, when he heard the cry of, There's a woman jumping over the bridge!" and, on looking round, he saw the prisoner standing on the para- pet, in the act of jumping over. He immediately threw down his brush and ran up to her, caught her by the clothes, and held her till one of his companions came up, when he called Police Police!" The prisoner said. Oh, don't give me to the police, take me to my father; but a policeman came up and took her to the station. Lord Mayor: Well, prisoner, what have you to say ? Prisoner I have been very unfortunate for some time, my lord. I have had no engagement, and cannot get one. What are you ? I am an actress. Where were you engaged last ? At -(mentioning some theatres in the provinces), but my father lives here. Well; it was very wrong to attempt to take your own life.—(Despondingly) Yes, I know it was but I couldn't help it. I went out yesterday, in very bad spirits, to see it I could get an engagement, but 1 could not, and at night I went to the —— Theatre. I was going home afterwards, very tired and very desolate at heart, and when 1 was crossing the bridge I caught sight of the water, and it frightened me, and I thought I would drown myself; and then I got up on the parapet, and was going to jump over, as the man has said, but the water glistened in the gas-light, and I was frightened then at what I was about to do, and I was turning back again when they came up to me. A respectably-dressed female s-tid she was sister to the prisoner, who h;¡d recently been in a low way, because, having nothing to do, she was a burden upon her father, who, however, would be glad to maintain her until some- thing better turned up and the Lord Mayor, therefore, committed her to her sister's care. MYSTERIOUS ASSASSINATION.-The Moniteur du Cal. vados records an extraordinary affair at the village of Saint Germain de Tallevande:—A farmer named Desert, and his wife, occupying an isolated house, were a few uights ago awakened from their slumber by a loud Knocking at the door, and in answer to their inquiries, a man cried out that he wanted to learn the way to Vire. They told him to turn into the high road, which was near, but he still continued to knock, and Desert got up. After exchanging a few words, Desert went a few steps from his door to direct the man into the road; but as some time passed without his returning, his wife got up. To her horror, she found her husbanddead, bathed in blood-he had been killed by a stab in the heart from a large knife. Who the assassin was, or what was his reason for the crime, the poor woman known not; but as he attempted no robbery in the house, it is supposed that he must have been actuated by personal animosity. HEREFORD, HAY, AND BRECON RAILWAY. — This scheme appears to have emerged from its dormant state within the last few days, a meeting consisting of the local committees of Brecon, Hay, Talgarth, and Eardisley having been convened, at the instance of the Brecon committee, for Thursday, the 26th ult., at he Swan Hotel, Hay, when there was a fair muster, a deputation of the Brecon committee, D. Thomas.Esq., solicitor, and James Williams, Esq. coroner, having attended, and explained the views of those interested in the railway in the neighbourhood. It appeared that the much desired extension to Swansea was found impracticable at the present time, for want of support, and it was therefore resolved by our Brecon friends to revert to the original proposal, a line from Hereford to Brecon. This once made, all hands would be free to consider the importance of any proposed extension. It is safe to be a through line, only give time. The subject of nominating the Provisional Committee was discussed and several of our leading and most influential men were proposed to fill the office so far as this dis. trict is concerned. Some other matters were also brought forward but not of a character to be deemed necessary for publication. Suffice it to say the original scheme is again afloat, and with every prospect of a rail. way, between Hay and Brecon. MARKING CATTLE WITH KNIVES.—Wm. Williams, cattle dealer, of Penllwycynon, Brecon, was summoned before Colonel Morgan and C. James, Esq., at Swansea, on Tuesday last, charged with cutting some cattle with a knife, for the purpose of marking them, but doing so in a such manner as to cause considerable pain. The charge was brought under the Act for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The Bench had some difficulty in the case, owing to the fact that the above mode of mark- ing was the custom in Wales. A letter was read from the secretary of the above society, from which it ap- peared that Wales was the only part of the kingdom where the cruel mode o £ marking by deep incision was adopted, it having been abolished in the other parts of the country. The Bench (this being the first case of the kind) merely marked their disapprobation of the custom by hoping the complaint would never occur again, and expressed their determination to punish any other similar case that might be brought before them. FIENDISH OUTRAGE.-The Droit says A young girl, apparently about sixteen years of age, was found the day before yesterday hanging to a tree at the road- side in the commune of Pantin. The marks of a strug- gle were visible in a field close to the place, and from an examination of the body it appears that she must have been first shamefully ill-used then strangled with a cord, and the body afterwards hung to the tree by a handkerchief." J