Monmouthshire Merlin

PARLIAMENTARY AND MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS COMMITTEE. The Committee appointed by the House of Commons to inquire into the mode of conducting parliamentary and municipal elections met again on Tueslay; the Marriuis of Harrington in the chair. The other mem- bers of the committee present were Mr. Ward Hunt, Mr. G. Hardy, Mr. H..Tames, Mr. Raikes, Mr. Lrll- tham, Mr. C. P. Villiers, Mr. Brand, Sir M. Beach, Mr. E. Egerton, Mr. E. Howes, and Sir F. Heygate. Mr. Francis Taylor, of Manchester, stated that hf had been connected with elections in Manchesterand Salford since 1832, and was chairman of the com- mittee whi"h had the management of the test ballot taken at Manchester on the occasion of the candida- ture of Mr. Ernest .Tones. There was a good deal of public excitement as to the result of that ballot, but the ballot itself was taken with th« greatest order! It was determined to test the Australian system on a large scale in this country. There being no time to get a water mark on the voting cards, their cards were stampei with a die. A circular was issued to the electors describing the plan of voting, also a paper anTainiT3^ number of the voter on the register, Replace where he was to vote. The voter was to sign the paper, he simply handed it returning officer, to enable that officer to turn hp" 18 Bame an_<i number on the register, and these found, a voriug card was given to the voter. Wp6 Voter to°k the card into one of the recesses which k re 00ristructed for that purpose, and there, unseen for aVyonp> barked off the name of the can li Inte Pi't^ti'000 not illteild vote, after which ha bility of -rarci.iri'0 an envelope to prevent any possi- given tha*8 ^R'n? 8een- Positive instructions had been booth lMn?c70fcer was to take a voting card out of the —l-er afL^tors were entitled to vote; the whole of the n Was U>475, or 62 per cent of the informal; 1 SOMA' Eighty cards were rejected as Dead Letter Offi aFcn'a:r8 were returned through the I n°t vote, "pi- 6' having 5,500 electors who did ^rpioporr 6 DQTnber of persons who vo'ed was a Case of an 10D'an^ Woul<I have been so considered in that the It was not correct to say fact wa '5he1, c';1S8e* abstained from voting. The tin? o 3 rhe lowest per eentage of persons vo- there Ccurref^ in the poorest wards. The per eentage was 54. In a ward where the clapse* were in a T)er oentage was 68 and in a ward consist- ? almost entirely of the higher class of shopkeepers 1 mercantile men the voters were 67 per cent. In the eight working class wards there was one in which the per centage was 54 two in which it was 53 two in whi"h it was 61; one in which it was 62 one in 63 and one in 64. In the next five mixed wards, the per rentage in two wards was 57 in one 62; in another and in the fifth 68. In the four upper and middle wards the per eentage was respectively 62, 63, H 65, and 65. The cards were put into ballot boxes' hieh after the election was opened by four persons J Pointed for that purpose by the Town Council. The he h Were f°nu(' to balance within eight, and those tak ^eVoc^ cou*d have been traced lia 1 si eps been ■o K*1' r^'iere were 80 cards rejected, 32 of which were °f t>a marked that it could not be ascertained which Hon'e n^Iaes the voters intended to strike out; 32 had °ut atIJes crossed out at all; 12 had both names crossed jjj fn 20 that ha.l no names crosse I out there were the S °PP°site one r^e names» an(^ in of these 0 e niarks were opposite the name of Mr. Ernest .Toms. which was in behalf of Mr. Jone^, had a auk card along with it. It was found tbar, under e system adopted, -00 votes could be taken at one °ot,h per ilour< t}je iast general eio -tion there loTh P°^ing booths in Manchester l.a I the bal- 0 been adopted, the whole of the constitutmy could ave been polled in 25 booths. There was every check gainst personation, which existed under the present ystem. "Witness had heard of the Tasmanian dodge, consisted of the substitution of one card for the ()thel' > but he thought it a very clumsy coatii vance, 8'la4 one which could not have been successful in the th anchester case, where the voter was in full view of ^turning officer and others e-vfriged in the booth. I r, ltHess produced some cards that had been used at I -afford. They were stamped with a die that was not I een by anyone except the returning officer until the I horning of the election. The system adopi ed at Mau- I Chosier was after the Victorian plan. Wituess did I aot think a scruriny was necessary under the ballot I Properly carried out. The envelope used in Man.'hes- I ter was not a necessary part of the sys em. In cases I ^here the voters could not read the dirticuity was met at I ^;iliciiester by printing tue name of the candidates in I different coiours. Tue ballot had been in opera; o i I Maryport, in Cumberland, for some years. It v ai I here resorte I to in the election of ti.e local board I Where contests arose, and was sanctioned by the lo; al I act of Parliament. The ballot was taken there 011 tiie I ^,Ustraliau principle, an I witness believed that tne iu- I °t Maryporr, both Conservative and Libc.al Bibt 'llSe(l very strongiy ou Parliament the srentrj.1 I r°duction of that kind of voting. ■ JWr OF TILh C^Al 'S PRESERVER.—Our rea lers

'emember that tue Czai's life was presei ved by a named Komisarrow turning aside tne assess.u's • Great homage was paid to him by the Czar and ■0 "obles, and the title of nobility was conferred Hdi. He and his wife were invited to baas and einers, and be was besides promoted- to be the coio- KUnia a crack regiment. In addition to this, and large bestowed on him by the Czar, it was sail that tr Was ra'*se(i f°r him as a national subscrip- ■v-O'nissarrow had before this been a workman ■n shop, and his unexpected prosperity would h 'a Llilt 8ave turned his brain, as a Paris corres on- tated that he has been living in a state of gro- drunkenness in St. Petersburg, and mat on laSt he iiUao himself. Be ezo-wski, wi,t> a*"« ^ByiiL L shoot the Czar in the Bois <ie Boulogn<, o t disease ab the Fiauch penal seUieuteu$ ^*ledouia. T u Nunsiui) tiv," hundred larties in LonrSon have Iged themselves not to shop after two o'clock on SrI urdays. The G"«Ap states, that- about 250 foreign bensts v. ere stormed at Thames H'wen and Brown's wharves, on Monday, on Recount of disease. TTIE Fir.ST TEA SHIPS.—A telegram from Shang- hai communicate" the sailing of the first tea ships this sermon for England, namely, the Titania and Hnntlv Castle sailing ships, and the Agamemnon and Earl King steamer*. Their cargoes in the aggregate amount to 6,000,000 lbs of tea. DISASTROUS FIFE AT DUNDEE.—Cn Sunday a division of the .Tnte Spinning Mill, two storeys high, the property of Messrs. Adie and Co., of Dundee, was burned to the ground. The preparing:, spinning, and weaving departments of the works are to^llydestroyed. The damages are estimated at £ 12,000, and 4,000 workers also lose employment. The cause of the fire is unknown. David Baird, accused of having fired at a man named John Daly, in Monaghan, in the course of a riot on the 13th of July last, has been acquitted at at the assizes at Monaghnn. Baird was tried and admitted of the murder of a man named Hughes, whose death was caused by a shot fired on the same occasion. RIOTS IN BELFAST.—Belfast was in a state of great excitement and alarm on Sunday might in con. senuence of a collision between two mobs-Profes-ant and Romanist—near the spot where the riots of 1^64 commenced. Stones were freely thrown, and for some time serious results were apprehended. A large force of police soon arrived, and made some arrests, and dispersed the mobs. At twelve o'clock tranquillity was restored. SUSPECTED MUPDER IN LIVERPOOL.—At the Po. lice-court, Livernool, on Monday, a labouring man named John Locket was brought up on the charge of having caused the death of his wife. They lived in a court in Finch-streot, and on Sunday morning a police- man found the woman lying dead on a bed there. When questioned on the matter the prisoner admitted that they had quarrelled on Saturday night, and that he struck her on the head. He was remanded in order that a post mortem examination might be made. The Limerick assizes were opened on Friday. In the city Judge O'Brien was presented by the High Sheriff with a pair of white gloves, there not being a single criminal for trial; and Judge Fitzgerald was able to congratulate the county Grand Jury on the peaceful state of the county and the extremely ii-lit calendar before them. He, however, had to deplore the prevalence of threatening letters, nine of which were noticed in the police reports, thonsrh no one has been made amenable for this class of offence AN UNSUCCESSFUL INDIGNATION MEETING.—A meeting at Mallow to denounce the Attorney-General proved of far less importance than was anticipated. Only a thousand persons, chiefly from the neighbour- ing towns, attended. The chairman attacked Mr. (/Sullivan and Mr. Downing, and resolutions strongly censuring the former were carried, but the demons- tration was principally one of sympathy with the pri- eoners. Only two elector, attended, and no person of influence. Many of those present wore orange and green emblems. ELOPEMENT or AN M.P.'S DAUGHTER _TH« daughter of an Irish member of Parliament, who hns a very large fortune m her own right has eloped As we mentioned some time ago, a ientleman^^ware of the fact, obtained the assistance of a lady friend of the heiress, with the understanderstanding that if an introduction led to a satisfactory result, the introdu- cer should receive a portion of the inheritance. The introeuction was given, and was turned to such ac- count that the fair inheritress, of £ 100,000 was in- duced to elope with her admirer. The pair were, how- ever, stopped by the irate father within a few miles of London. A second attempt has proved more sue- cessful, and no doubt Mrs. has" by this time re- ceived her commission of £ 10,000.— John Bull. BOILER EXPLOSION.-Two MLN KILLED.-On the afternoon of Friday a tube in a boiler in connection with the blast engine of Coltness Iionworks, at Wishaw, burst, raising the boiler between nveand six feet from its seat. The consequence was that 1 nomas Lithgow, fireman; Hugh Hamilton, engine- Cieaner Peter Waiker, fireman and Robert Walker ere severely burned. P. Walker also received a cut on the back of the head. The men were taken out from the rubbish of the explosion, conveyed home, and attended by Dr. Miller and assistant. R. Walker had been there with his brother's dinner, and was amusing himself in front of the boiler when the acci- dent occurred. The cause of the explosion of the tube is not yet known. The sad result is that Hamil on and Lithgow both died on Saturday morning-. Lithgow lias left a wife and child, and was only twenty-three years of age. MR. GLADSTONE ON CONCURRENT ENDOWMENT. —The Echo publishes a reply from Mr. Gia stone to a memorial from the Independent Orange Associa- tion of Uister, dated Monday, in which he states that Her Majesty's Government will give no countenance either to a direct ptoposal for concurrent endowment or any plan for postponement of those provisions of the bill which relate to the ultimate appfopriation of the residuary property of the Church. They regard any such postponement, independently of the incal- cuJBble mischief of keeping alive the controversy for an indefinite period, as the most acknowledged road to concurrent endowment at some future time. With respect to the laws affecting land in Ireland, Her Ma- jesty's Government have already declared their inten- tion, as soon as the Church question shall have been settled, to frame a measure for the improvement of those laws, which will aim at placing them on a footing of justice to all the parties whom them may an ct. COLLIERY ACCIDENT AT ST. HELENS.—On Mon- day morning a sad accident occurred at the Alexandra Colliery, Sutton, near St. Helens, which resulted in the loss of two lives, and serious injury to three miners who were working in the Russia Park mine of the pit. Some of the roads in the pit wanted repair, and as Monday was pay day advantage was taken of the absence of many of the men from the pit to repair and prop up the roof. Five men were set to do the work, under the charge of Mr. Joseph Hopton, the fireman. They commenced their taskatsoven o'clock in the morning, and all went well until the time of the accident, half-past eight. At this hour the men wnre excavating for the purpose of fixing props to support the roof, when suddenly a large mass of earth feii( burying two of the five and Beriously injuring the otl er three, Mr. Hopton had just left the spot when the accident occurred. The following are the names of the killed :—Robert Rylance, collier, 33 years of uge, of Liverpool Road, St. Helens; Peter Ashall, day wageman, 33 years of age of Park Road, St. Helens. The injured men were TuomaB Hopton, collier; Robert Leyland, collier and John Miller pony boy. THE ROYAL VISIT TO KING'S LVNN.—WHOLE- SALE CAPTURE OF THIEVES.-Since the visit of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Mayor and borough magistrates have been engaged in the investigation of the charges made by Sergeant John Moss, of the City of London detective force, Detective Inspector John Shiels of the York city police, Inspector Manton of the Birmingham de. tective police, and Detective Officer Brown of the Norwich city police, who were acting under the in. struction of Superintendent Ware of the borough force, and whose special services were engaged upon his (Mr. Ware's) recommendation, in order to prevent and detect crime upon the occasion of the Royal Visit. There were 17 individual charges against persons either for housebreaking or as being suspected cha- racters, and frequenting public places for the purpose of committing felonies. Among those committed for trial for the next quarter sessions in October are Henry Capstick alias" Flash Harry" alias "Harry G 1 een," William Dawson, of London, and George H. Neville of Branford, and upon these were found ske- leton keys and implements for housebreaking. Those who ii ei-e committed for the several terms of impri- sonment, for frequenting places of public resort with intent to commit a felony, are—for two months, John McFarlin, John Greaves, James Allen, John Green, John Bennett; for three months-John Buigess, Thos. Cas.ey, and Catherine, his wife. On Saturday, Lau. rence Townley (upon whom was found a formidable "jemmy," and who was captured by Detective Walter FJslier, of the Great Eastern Railway Company's ser- vice, at Eiy), George Hill, and John Shaw, were com. mitted for two months upon the same charge. Tna houses broken into are—The Four Anchor public- house, Boat street, from which f50 in notes and two silver watches were stolen; the Hulk public house, horn which above 940 and two silver watches were s.men, AIR. R. Brook's house, Friais' street, baker, and tI ÍJoUL £ 4in copper and silver stolen. Mrs. Prid- geon's house, in Valingei's road, was likewise en- tered, but from it no pioperty was taken, the thieves being distuibed by a neighbour (Mis. Billing); as also was the Lincoln Tavern, Mill Fleet-terrace, u.e thieves, who waul disturbed by De aclira Brown, ea. caped, bat afterwards wax* captured. It shvtid ba siat?d that aw. th* prepari? fttoltti 10"4 iwoad. Two coloured phvsicians, of ^Inngton, com plain that the Medial Society of the District of Columbia Si not admit them as members, after having granted f hem licenses to practice. Discoveries of rich silver mines between White Pine and the head of navigation on the Colorado R ver are announced. Our ledge is described of very rich ore thirty feet wide. Wood, water, and g> ass are abundant in the neighbourhood of the new mines, which are situated not far from the line of the survey of the Southern Pacific Railroad. The New York papers state that the French At- lantic Cable is to be landed in America about the 1st of August, at Duxbury, a town of fon* °* J* J™" sand inhabitants, thirty-six miles south-east of Boa- ton It is described as a very retired place, hitherto but'little known, but likely to grow in importance. The Jewish Universal Alliance has forwarded the following note to the journals A telegraphic des- ra'ch fromBclarade announces that the Servian Cham- ber has pronounced the emancipation of the Jews, by promulgating the equality of all citizens before the law of the country. We are happy to communicate to you this important piece of news, which will de- light all friends of religious liberty." THE SUEZ CANAL. —The Paris financial papers Ptate that the Suez Canal will be opened on the 17th November next. The dimensions will be 100 metres (3L'5ft.) wide by 8 metres (26ft.) deep. In celebration of the event, all merchant vessels or men-of-war wish- insr to pass through the canal from either Port Said or Suez, on the 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th November, will be allowed to do so free of all dues. From the List November the canal dues will be collected at the rA. üf 10f. (8s.) ner passenger and per ton. The Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the most numerous religious bodies in the United States, is row votins: upon the ouestion of "lay representation." The nuestion is, whether or not the laity shall send representatives to the "conferences" or governing bo- lies of the Church, which are now composed excla. sively of the clergy. The Churches vote separately upon the question, the majority of the members de. ciding each Church for or against, and the female as well as the male members are entitled to vote. Thus far a very large majority is in favour of "lay repre- sentation," so that principle may be regarded as carried. A vote was taken upon "lay representa- tion" several years ago, when the majority, both of clergy and laity, was decidedly against it. The remains of John Wilkes Booth, the murderer of President Lincoln, received final sepulture on the S6 h of June at Greenmount Cemetery, Baltimore. The remains of all the deceased members of his family in America are now gathered there, and repose beside the ashes of his father, Junius Brutus Booth, who died 17 years ago, and his grandfather, Richard Booth who died in 1839, aged 76. The remains of John Wilkes Booth were quietly conveyed to the ground by pall- bearers selected from the theatrical profession. Some 40 of the relatives and friends of the family assembled at the grave. The Church of England service for the burial of the dead was read by the Rev. Fleming James, of St. Luke's Hospital, New York, the aged mother of the deceased, his sister Rosalie, and his brothers Edwin and Junius Brutus standing in a group beside the clergyman. STRANGE PROCEEDINGS AT CLAREMOUNT UNI- TED METHODIST FREE CHURCH, SCA' B-P ap- pears that, for some time past, the) o lias been some disagreement between the minister (the Rev. J. Col. man) and the trustees, teachers, and superintendents of this place. The church and congregation have not been in a Prosperous way, and the funds were so low that they did not meet the expenses. The school has paid a rent to the trus'ees of So per annum hn- it was advanced to £ 20, and the teachers would not pay that amount. In consequence, they receive 1 no ice to give UP possession about a fortnight ago. On Sun- day, the superintendent protested asrainst this, and at the opening of the school the minister, superintendent teachers, and scholars assembled in the usual way, but when the hymn was given out by the superin endent the minister re nested the children not to si. g. When it came to the part for the superintend nt to engage in prayer, the minister requested the children not to kneel down to pray. This caused quite a commotion, In the afternoon the school-room door was locked, and the children, teachers, &c., had to walk back. THE INDIANS. — THE RECENT ATROCITIES IN KANSAS.—WASHINGTON, June 29.—Surveyor-Gene- ral Babcock, of Kansas, in a letter to President Grant, dated June 20, says that Governor Harvey had v sited in person all the settlements where the Indian enor- mities were recently committed, and ascertained that more than thirty persons in all had been killed. Ao-ent Iloag places the number at about twenty. At°the time of the outbreak four surveying parties were in the field. All had returned. Two of them report that they saw no Indians; the third, that they saw several small bands, and the fourth party say that they were attacked by a small band, which fled after the sur- Teyillg party had fired four or five shots. A 1 the sur- veying party were frightened, and declined returning to the field at present. The Indians are not combined", and do not intend to bring on a regular war. There are several small bands scouring over the country for mischief, and intend to kill and plunder without tak- ing too many chances. Settlers and trains are in great danger from these parties. General Schofi-ld has comparatively few troops for so wide an extent of country. The Governor of Kansas, therefore, asks the President for additional troops if they cannot be furnished, then he requests authority to raise a re-i- ment of volunteers, and Surveyor-General Babcock joins m this request. LIBEL CASE^—An action for libel against the Ha verfordwest Telegraph was tried at the Hnverford west assizes last week. The plaintiff was Lieutenant .Brand, who was concerned in the Jamaica insurrec- tion, and is now in command of the gunboat Pheasant at Southampton. It appeared that some correspond. ence had been published between a Lieutenant Gil- more, of the Revenge, which was at the time stationed at Pembroke, and Sir Hugh Owen, the Liberal candi- date for Pembroke, respecting some proceedings at the last election, and an article was inserted in which the inquiry was made One wonders can Lieutenant Gilmorebe related to that impudent, barbarous yonn<* rascal Lieutenant Brand and if Lieutenant Brand was called to account for his conduct, should not Lieutenant Gilmore also be called to account for his ?" —Lieutenant Brand was cross-examined as to his letter to Mr. Buxton, and whether he had acted as president of various courts-martial when commanding the Onvx in Morant Bay, the defence being that his conduct had become matter of history, and that the alleged libel could not possibly have produced any injury to his character.—His Lordship, in summing up the case expressed his approval of the extended freedom of comment now permitted to public journals, but thought the words impudent, barbarous young rascal" did not come within the fair bounds of criti- cism.—The Jury, after retiring for a short time, said they were agreed upon a verdict for the plaintiff, but wished to know what amount of damages would carry costs. Upon His Lordship refusing to satisfy them upon that point, they again retired, and after two hours' further deliberation returned a verdict for the plaintiff: damagestzio. A CORONER'S INQUEST BURLESQUED.—The coro- ner who is enquiring into the fatal results of the Portadown disturbance some ten days ago a Mr. Magee, is distinguishing himself in a very funny way. Some protracted wrangling having been indulged in on Friday by opposed attorneys, the Coroner broke in I have the power to commit, and I am the very fellow to do it. The last man I threatened to commit was » magistrate of the county. I'll not have this court trifled with.—(Some laughter.)—Later in the day a local newspaper proprietor was sorely pressed as to his actual knowledge of circumstances which his pa- per had reported, whereupon Mr. Magee asked if he was to write down everything that was in the news- paper. What the d-l had he to do with the case ? —(Laughter.)—Mr. Cochrane, attorney, insisted on the question. It would test The Coroner: Ah test the d—1.—(Laughter)—I don't care what all the newspapers in Ireland say. They are not accountable for the peace of the country; magistrates are and I would mind what they say on the subject—Mr. Rea attorney, said he thought Mr. Cochrane should have been sent to gaol two hours ago.—The Coroner In heaven's name let us go on. I'll rule the roast here. -(Loud laughter.) Mr. Cochrane read a passage from an article about an immense multitude "swaying hither and thither, yelling at the police." The Coro- ner (to Mr. Cochrane) You are affirming every line of this article ?—Mr. Cochrane assented—The Coro- ner: Yes but what the devil's the use of it r- (Laughter.)—A discussion at length arose as to the day to which the inquest should be adjourned, and in the course of it the Coroner said the lawyers had ber- ter stay at home.—Mr. Rea said His Worship could not do without the attorneys. (Laughter.) He had never conducted himself better in his life. He had been interrupted by the turbulence ef Mr. Cochrane, whom His Worship should have sent to Armah prison' two hoars before. It wa* he who had misconducted himself.—-The Coroner: By my soul, I advise both of you not to attempt it again.—The inquiry was then adjeuraed to the 3rd AogosU The quantity of beer annually produced in Europe is estimated at 1,000,000,000 gallons. Two Suffolk farmers were, on Monday, sent to prison for one month each, for sending bad meat to the London market. In opening the nssizes at Armagh, on Monday, Mr. Justice Morris cnlie ) attention to the fact that in that county the number of police, in proportion to the population, was only one-half the general average number required throughout other counties in Ireland. TTIB ARREST rip MR. MURPHY.—Mr. Henry Hol- land Mayor of Birmirtcrhnm, and Mr. George Glos- BOP Chief Superintendent of Police, have been served with notice of action "for having assaulted WRA. Murohv, and caused him to be imprisoned for a long period—to wit, one hour." The death is announced of Mr. L'ilHam Lee, Q.C., who was for many years an eminent member of the Chancery bar. He was born in 17F6, and in due course became a member of the Hon. Society of the Inner Temple bv whom he was called to the bar, At tho time of his deafh he was one of the benchers of tho Inner Temple, and the oldest member of the society. A boat accident happened on Saturday, at Henley- on-Thnmes. An excursion train brought, a large num- ber of persons from London. Several parties were formed to have a row on the beautiful reach of the River Thames, the scene of the annual regatta. The wssage down the river was safely effected to the Temnie when near there, two boats were drawn up side by side. and an attempt was made bv some of tho yoTMig pcrc.ons to exchange positions. This had the effect of causing an oscillation of the boats, and the result was that the boats were capsized, and two young men lost their lives. DEATH OF LORD TAUNTON.—Lord Taunton, for- merly the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, died on Monday afternoon, after a brief illness. The follow- ing short notice of the deceased nobleman is taken from Wnlford's Men of the Time :"—" Lord Taun- ton the Right Henry Labouchere, eldest son of the late'P. C. Labouchere, Esa., of Ilylands, near Chelms- sord Essex, was born August 15, 1708, and educated at Winchester and Christ Church, Oxford. He was a magistrate and Deputy-Lieutenant for Essex and Somerset, and an Elder Brother of the Trinity House. Between 1832 and 1846 he was a Lord of the Admi- ralty, Master of the Mint. Vice-President and Presi- dent of the Board of Trade, and Secretary for Ireland. He was re-appointed President of the Board of Trade 1855 and was Colonial Secretary in 1858. He repre- sented St. Michael's in the Liberal interest from 1826 till 1830, and was one of the members for Taunton jrom 1830 till 1869, when lie was raised to the peerage. SALE OF THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE'S WINES.— Six thousand botles of wine, the contents of the cel- lars of the Duke of Newcastle, weife sold at Clumber last week. Seventeen bottles of Malmsey made 60s. per dozen, 95 bottles of pale sherry (1846) made 60s. per dozen. Bin No. 8, containing 342 bottles of Ma- deira, was sold at 67s. 6d. per dozen. Bin 16, 85 bottles of pori, vintage l c50, sold for 72s. 6d. per dozen and 400 bottles (1F51) for 75s. per dozen. 494 bottles of Madeira, 1816 vintage, were sold for 110 per dozen; 42 bottles of white port fetched 77s. 6d. per dozen; 33 bottles of Marco Brune, V'61. fetched 70<. per dozen 350 bottles of champagne made from 60s. to 52s. per dozen; 276 bottles of Lafitte fetched from 72s. 61. to 75s. per dozen some fine old S'einberg, vintage 1'65, sold for 75s. 61. Per dozen; 258 bottles of cider were sold at from 34s. 6i, to 45s. per dozen sweet cider fetched 55s. ,per dozen; 40 bottles of Curacoa realised 82s. 6d. per dozen cherry brandy ,of which there were 88 bottles, fetched 54s. per dozen; whisky, 1834, 6s. per bottle; rum 4s. 6d. per bottle; brandy 5s. 6d. to 6s. 61. per bottle. THE EARL OF WESTMORLAND AND HIS CREDI. TORS.—Four summonses came on Monday at Cham- bers, before Mr. Baron Bramwell, in reference to the Earl of Westmorland. They had been taken out (ex- cept one) on the part of the Enrl of Westmorland for liberty to the sheriff of Northamptonshire to sell by private contract instead of public auction and in a case of a new execution a public sale was perferred. The several solicitors in the matter dis- cussed the application. The execution creditors asked for a sale by contract as beneficial compared to a public auction. The sheriff of Northamptonshire was represented before the learned judge, and he wished for an order to enable him to sell by contract. It was stated that the property, other than that claimed by the dowager countess, wolli(i fetch about P,500 more than by public auction. The first execution was to Mr. Solomon for £ 3,000, the next to Messrs. Bevfus for £ 9,000 and upwards, and the other executions would take if anything was left. Mr. B.iron Bramwell made the order for leave to sell by private contract, and as to the interpleader matter, it was to stand over until Messrs. Bevfus's issue was tried. NEW TRADES UNIONS BILL.—Oil Saturday a con- ference of barristers and others interreste I in the set- tlement of the trade unions question, among whom were Mr. Frederick Harrison, Mr. Wright, Mr. Gol- frey Lnshington, Mr. R. Apnlesrarth, secretary of the Amalgamated Carpenters' and Joiners' Society, was held in chambers at the Temple, for the purpose of framing a bill, to be introduced into Parliament this session, to protect the funds of trades unions. The whole question was discussed at length by the con- ference, and reference made to the judgment of Mr. Justice Hannen in the recent case connected with the Amalgamated Carpenters' and Joiners' Society, in which, as showing that the funds of the Society should be protected, the learned judge said the rules of the society, so far from being illegal, appeared to be of the most praiseworthy character." The result of the conference was that a bid, containing one clause pro- tecting the funds of the trade unions and makin» em- bezzlement of them punishable, was framed and it was resolved to entrust it to Mr. Rathbone, the mem- ber for Liverpool, for immediate intro luction into Parliament, with a view to its passing into law this session. THE L^ND^N, CHATHAM, AND DOVER RAILWAY COMPANY.-W ATEHLOW I. SHARP.—GARDNER p. _SHA> P. On Tuesday, Vice Chancellor Stuart gave judgment upon a question which arose in the above suits, namely, whether any preference was to be given to the holders of such of the Company's debentures as were payable a* the date of ihe Company's first tl'nsl fiee l, oOth June, If60 over the holders of de. bentures not paynbie till after the date of the second trust dee;), 19th January, 1^07. He said that the argu- mpnt, iu support of the claim of the former clte-s of debenture-holders over the lat ter cotild not p. evail. The trusts and purposes of the deed of the ijOih Jane, lbC6, were entirely superseded by the deed of the 19th of January, 1567. One of the only two creditors who concurred in the first deed joined in the conveyance of part of the Company's property to the trustees of the second deed. According to the plain language of the trusts declared by that deed, 110 creditor of the Company whose debt was not then payable to him or whose debt was not then recoverable by him, was to be paid by the trustees. The deed directed the trustees to apply the property comprised therein, "in payment to the creditors of the Company of the several snms now payable to or recoverable bv them respectively pari passuy and without any preference or p) iority whatsoever," and dispose of the balance as the Company should direct. The 421 section of the Companies Arrangement Act directed that the debenture holders should be paid pari passu. De- benture holders who were entitled to payment un ler the deed of the 19th January, 1;-67J were not bound to deduct the value of their securities. A BOAT UPSET ON THE RIVER HULL.—On Sun- day night a boat, in which were three men and two women, was capsized in the river Hull, between Wawne Ferry and Stone Ferry. How the accident; happened is not explained beyond a statement that the men were not in a fit state to be on the water. rhe occupants of another boat which had passed ti.em a little dis-ance had their attention attracted astern, and on looking round saw the boat capsized, with two of the men ciing-ing to it, and the third swimming to the shore. Tne women were struggling in the water partly buoyed up by their clothes, all l it'ogefl.er uncared for by the men, with whom self. preservatiou was the chief object. Ttie young men at; jnce pulied their boat back to the scene of the disas- rer, and succeeded in saving the women, both of whom were much exhausted, and one of them oa the point of drowning, as she had been down the second time. They were got on shore, and for some time it was feared that one of them was past recovery. Ulti- mately, however, a little brandy was forced down her :hroat by Mr. Rawson, one of the young men of the rescuing boat, when she began to 11IO,V signs of re- turning animation, and, after a very short lime, bodi females were taken to a hp,uae in the neighbourhood. fl,e names of the young men whose aid was so funu- oafe were :-Jwm Rawson, steward of the New Hol- land boat; Mr. Hepton; Messrs. L' e an I Sergeant, 3leiks at the Manchester, Sheffield, and LiucoiiHnire booking-office; and Rogers, a porter. lnll" ea ) of as. 1,sting ill the restoration of the women who had thus aairowly escaped drowning, one of the men who ac- companied them threatened violence to those who ad- ministered brandy as a restorative. We understand that considerable re iuctious are being: carried in the consular service, and that varioul existirg posts will be abolished as vacancies occur. A workman named Cox was run over and cut to pieces early on Friday morning by a spare enlline near the Ted d inert on railway station on the Sonth-Western line. He stepped in the way of one engine in the act of avoiding another. A Cnbipet Council was held on Saturday at the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury, in Downing-street. The Ministers present were Mr. Glacisto! the Lord Chancellor, Enrl de Grev, the Enrl of Kimberlev, Mr. Bruroe, the Earl or Clnrendon, E°.rl G anville, Mr. Card well, the Duke of Argyll, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Childers, Mr. Rricht, Mr. Goschen, the MarquiF of Hartington, and "M r "Fortescue. SHIPWRECK AND LOSS OF TWO LIVES AT GHOLE. -A lamentablE' occurrence took place at the port of Goolp on Saterdav evening. A billyboy lighter, called the Stene Merchant, laden with copper or-, for the Goole Alum Works, was coming: up the river in fdmrcre of a steam tusr, and when abrersf of the L'^k Hill, the tuestopped to allow the lighter to swing" round on n aut rope. At the same time the screw steamer William Canlman was leaving the steam packet lor-k for the continent, when the two vessels came into violent col- lision, the sloop sinking instantlv, taking down with }¡"r the master, John Carmichael, of Hull, and his wife. The tide was flowing with great rapiditv, and although from the floating wreck it would seem that the vessel was breaking up, the bodies have not been recovered. MESSRS. BRIGHT AND FORSTER AND TTr7 CT,UB.—There is every reason tosunpopethatthe diffi- culty which lately arose in the Reform Club mav be effectually arranged, and that precautions will bo adopted to prevent the recurrence of a similar cause of misnnders+anding. We are informed that Mr. Bright and Mr. Forster have withdrawn their resignations, in compliance with the desire of the committee, who, at their meeting on Friday, the 2nd, refused to sanc- tion the minutes in which the hostile vote had been recorded, and thus virtually undid the offensive act of a very small pection of that body. This withdrawal of their resignation by Messrs. Bright and Forster has reduced the question for discussion to practical and verv simple issue, and eliminated from it any cause or occasion for bitterness, by rendering it a matter for the future, and not of the present. It is said, how- ever, that some members of the club deprecate the hasty action of these gentlemen, and consider it un- wise, and even improper.—Observer. COMING OF AGE OF VISCOUNT DALRYMPLE.-This event, which takes place at the end of the present month, is to be celebrated, we learn, in the first week of the next, by a series of splendid festivities over three days, at the family seat in Wigtownshire. A pavilion on a largA scale is to be erected on the lawn, in which, on the first day, the tenantry, to the nnmnpr of 600, will dine; a grand ball will be given to 1,500, including the tenantry, with their wives and sons and danchters and on the third day the festivities will be wound nn by a substantial entertainment to the numerous labourers on the estate and their families. Combined with the rejoicings on the occasion of Lord Dalrymple's majority, the Castle of Inch, the mnoni- ficent new residence of his Lordship's father, the Earl of Steir, is to be heated," when, it is believed, the conntv families and leading inhabitants of Stranraer will he invited to participate in the hospitalities of the Noble Earl. On the other estates of Lord Stair, in the counties-' of Lanark, Ayr, and Edinburgh, sim- ilar rejoicings will doubtlees take place.-Glasgow Cifizcn. NINE PERSONS POISONED.—An extraordinary case of poisoninsr, in which nine persons have had a very narrow escape from death, is reported from West Cornwall. Mr. Hnddy, farmer, of Tredinnick, was first taken suddenly ill soon after he had dressed'him- self in the morning. He appeared to be wandering in his mind. The symptoms rapidlv srrew morenlarrm insr, and Mr. Bennett, surgeon, of Tresronv, was sent for. By the time he arrived Miss Huddy was also seized in a similar manner. Another sister, who was at Tren-onv, went to wait upon her brother and sister, but had not been Ion? in the house when she also be- came ill, and the same happened to a Mrs. Cratro, who is also a sister to Mr. Huddy. Mrs. Elliot, a neigh- bouring farmer's wife, then came to the assistance of the prostrated familv, bnt soon shared the like fate, and the servant man and three other persons who came to nurse the family, making nine in all, were speedily seized in a similar manner. From the raoiditv of the attecks and the symptoms manifested Mr. Bennett considered that it we an outbreak of Asiatic cholera, but. on the arrival of Dr. Bnrham, of Trnro, that g-en- tleman at on"p pronounced it to be a decided case of poisoning. Upon inquiry, it was found that all the offerers had nartakpn of a batch of bread baked on Thursday. Miss Huddy herself made the bread, as- sisted bv the servant Pill, who brought the flour, &r'. The girl Pill was under notice to leave. Dr. Barham, having satisfied himself that his patients had been poisoned, sent for the crirl and told her to bring him the remaining loaf of bread, but she returned and sfale(i that she could not find it. The loaf has en- tirely disappeared, the police who have been investi- gating the matter, being unable to discover it. A striking circumstance connected with the affairis that every person who partook of food in the house, except the servant Pill, was seized with illness. It was at firRt feared that some of them would succumb to the effects of the rtoison, but all are now in a fair way of recovery, and the friends of the family have been re- moved to their 1 omes. The case is creating great ex- citement in the county. WILLS AND BEQUESTS.—The will of the Right Hon Frances, Dowager Countess of Allemarle, of Sonth A udley-street, was administered to in Her Majesty's Court of Probate in London, on the 30th ult., and the personalty sworn under £ 30,000. Her ladyship was twice mnrriei1-first. in 1816, to Augustus Frederick Keppel, fifth Earl of Albermarle, who died without issue in Lc51 secondly in IF61, af third wife, tc L: en tenant-Colonel the Hon. Peregrine Cnst, son of the first Raron Brownlow, and brother of John, Ea' ] Brownlow. Her ladyship died at Lyons, on May 1C last, having executed her will .Tulv 14, IP63, with two codicils—the last dated January 13, 1867. The execu- tors and trustees appointed are her hnsbnnd, the Hon. Peregrine Cust, and her brother, Mr. George John Steer. Her ladyship was the daughter of Mr. Charing S eer, of Chichester, and possessed a power of ap- pointment, under the will of her late uncle, William Steer, over a sum of f 20,000 and other property, and in e -ecntion thereof appoints to her husband a sum of £ 5,000, and also leaves him the interest arising from the remaining sum and from the other property for his life and upon his decease the same is to be divided among several of her relatives who are des- cribed in her will. The residue of her property, on the decease of her husband, shebequeathea to her said brother, Mr. George John Steer, absolutely.-The will of Mr. Peter Maze, of Portland-place, was proved nnder £ 350,000 personalty. It bears date November 10th, 1853, with two codicils, 1855 and 1863. The executors appointed are his nephew, the Rev. Maze William Gregory, M.A., Mr. Philip William Skynne Miles, and Arthur J. Knapp, solicitor, both of Bristol. The testator died May 14, last, aged 63. He bequeaths to his wife an immediate legacy of £ 1,000, and an annuity of £ 400 to his sister, Emma Gordon, a legacy of £:200 and an annuity of £:200; and he has left legacies to his nephews, nieces, cousins, and o'hers. He leaves a sum of £50,000 for the younger children of his daughter and only ohild, Charlotte Emma Blackburn Maze (the testator requiring the surname of Maze to be used by the successor to his es'ates, and the family arms quartered with his). His real estates he has settled upon his daughter and her issue. To his son-in-law, William Ireland Blackburn Maze, he leaves, as a token of esteem and affection, a legacy of £450 the residue of his real and personal estate to be applied in augmentation of his freeholds. By his will.he has left a contingent interest in 935,000 to several charitable institutions, and by his last codicil he has made absolute all the following be- quests to charitable institutions, viz. Bristol Infir- mary £ 1,000, General Hospital at Bristol 2100, Bristol Penitentiary £ 600,Bristol Protestant Association 9250, London Female Aid Society £i50. These institutions, together with the Seamen's Hospital in the city of Bris- tol,are included in the contingent bequest. All the le- gacies are to be pa,id free of duty.—The will of Miss Jane Morris, late of 7, Connaught-place, Hyde Park, was proved in London under £ 140,000. The executors appointed are Mr. Henry Rucker, of Wandsworth, and Mr. James Morris, her brother. To each she leaves a legacy of £500. The will is dated the 17th of July, 1 Hid, and testatrix died on the 6th of April last, aged 70. She has made many very liberal bequests. She has left liberal legacies to her servants; to James Dtivis, a blind man at Bath, she leaves 6s. a week for his life. She appoints her brother James Morris, residuary legatee. There are the following charitable. bequests :-To the schools at North Malvern, Morris Miii-iane, and Barnard's-green, dEaOO; the Dispensary at Great Malvern, £ 300; Clothing Club, Great Mal. ( vein, £50; the Honicultural Society, Great Malvern, I £ o0. All legacies free of duty.—Illustrated London News. zzzi o Ihe''e *S,a rUrtTT> at ^le p'ubs that Captain Charles S. S. Stanhope, R.N., m command of H.M.S. Ocean, on the China station, has been wounded. The Isle of Man Legislature have agreed to grant £13,000 from the insular reserve fund for the purpose of satisfactorily completing the breakwater at Port i Erin. The committee appointed to consider the question of taking evidence on oath before the House of Com- mons, have agreed to their report, and it is understood that they strongly recommend that sworn evidence ( shfdl be admissable.—Observer. The Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851 have » decided to hold a series of annual international exhi- bitions of select works of fine and indnsTial art and I scientific inventions at Kensington. The fiist Exhi- bition is fixed for 1S71, and as respects industrial works will consist of only three classes. The annual dinner of the Cob-ten Club took place at Greenwich, on Saturday. The Duke of Argyll pre- sided, and Mr. Mill and M. Chevalier we'-e among > Tlr sP^ker»- Mr. Mill said he believed the princi- ?T • a e TRADE WERE DOW FIRMLY established in the ef~an observntion which was endorsed by Mr. George Walker, of Massachusetts. LIFE PEEFAGES,-The rejection of the Life Peer. ages Bill should disappoint no one who desi-es to strengthen the constitutional influence of the Upper House. Lord Russell's measure, as modified in Com- mittee, if it were not a piece of childish tinkering" with organic legislation, would have been a wholly inadequate settlement of a question which has been pending ever since the year 1856. Now there is no- thing more impolitic than inadequate, and therefor* provisional, settlements of grave questions which arE fully before the public mind. It may sometimes hf possible to anticipate revolutionary proposals by far sighted statemanship, and such an opportunity wai lost by the House of Lords when it yield( d to the evii counsels of Lord Lyndhurst and defeated the Wensley- dale Peerage..The error, indeed, may still be re- trieved, but it could not be retrieved bv a compromise between two very feeble schemes,hurried through both Houses—even had that been possible-in the last month of a session.— Times. SPADE DMLL-Notwitwstanding the frequency with which the regular field days have been held du- nng the last month at Aldershot,the subject of "spada dril" has received a considerable share of attention Parties varying from two to five companies strong have been repeatedly exercised under the superinten- dence of Colonel Lnffan and the engineer officers on the station. The parades for the purpose have been nsuaily under the command of Major-General Lvsons, V ,The Ro>'al Engineer Train has in each case brought and distributed the necessary tools It ha« been ascertained that one wing of an ordinary infantry battalion can throw up cover sufficient for the whole regiment in an hour and a quarter in easy soil each file of two men digging a six foot length of a trench about two and a half feet deep and five feet wide and throwing the earth to the front to form a low parapet Of course such a work can be easily run over by man or horse; but there can be no doubt that the fire of the breech loader would prevent its being directly ap- proached by infantry or cavalry, as long as the defen- ders were prbperly supplied with ammunition. The working parties have, it is stated, been actually able in some cases to gain rough cover for themselves in twenty minutes but it must be remembered that the ground at Aldershot is of an especially favourable character for the diggers.-Pall Mall Gazette. FALSE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.—A Parliamen. tary return issued, and which seems intended to be annual, showing the number of persons convicted in Great Britain in a quarter of the year (the second quarter) of having false weights and measures, be- longs to a class of returns which give an imperfect re- presentation of facts. It states that there were 447 convictions in the metropolitan police district, 165 of them in Newington, Surrey. In Lancashire there were 203. In Staffordshire, 208. In Sussex, Wilts, West- moreland, Northumberland, and Monmouthshire there were none at all. In all Berkshire there were only two convictions in less populous Buckinghamshire there were 18, in Bedfordshire 17, in Cambridgeshire 49, in Cornwall there were only two, in Devon 49. In Hampshire there were only seven, and all in Ports- mouth. In Nottinghamshire there were 11, all but one in Nottingham town. In Warwickshire 59, the majority in Birmingham. In the East Riding of York- shire there were five, in the West Riding 117. In all Wales there were 55, above a fourth of them in the borough of Welshpool. It is plain enough from the return that there is a vast number of unjust weights and measures in use but where there is no efficient i inspection there are few exposures. The Bath rule seems a fair one all persons using weights and mea. sures are required to have them examined twice a year at the office of the inspector, and those who comply with this rule are not summoned if, at any intermedi- ate visit of that officer, their weights and measures merely indicate defects consequent upon the usual wear and tear. The Report of the Directors of the Convict Prisons in Ireland for the year IS6S, just issued, contains one or two items of a more than usually interesting cha. racter. For instance, Mr. Harold, who has spent four- teen years in the capacity of head schoolmaster in the convict service, in his report of the school at Mourn joy Male Government Prison, observes At the time of admission to this prison the educated convicts bear but a very slender ratio to the uneducated," and Mr. Organ, inspector of released convicts in the Dublin district, m his report as lecturer at the Irish Inter- mediate Prison, shows how powerfully the manner in which the convicts are employed in that little colony, and ihe system upon which it is governed, have con- tributed to the reformation of the criminals confined there. Criminale (lie save) of almost every tvpe are to be seen here emulating one another in hard, honest In hour—compensating for the wrong-doing of the past. Gladly and cheerfully they engage in their respective works, and no matter how severe their task, or what extra labour imposed when the requirements of the farm need such, no murmur is ever heard, no dissatis- faction evinced. They reap and mow and plough and feow with as great an interest as if tl;e produce of their ;abour was to be their own, or the farm itself their inheritance; and thug from corning till night tho pea cful, prosperous work of rural labour proceed* ,i..( s iarmon\ and goo 1-will. Immorality is com- pletely and entirely absent from the colony,and a sound v.gotous one shows itself throughout—so much so that the slightest instance of dissatisfaction or non-~o- operauon very rarely occurs. T„e men are all alive to the great confidence reposed in them, and feel grare- fnl, if not proud, to know that they are deemed worthy of sne-h trust; and their gratitude for beiug so trusted can best be read in the progressive and prosperous T aTil- 6 /arm- I have been connected with the LitSiv r arm from the commencement of its colonisa- tion. I saw it when a bleak barren waste; it is now a promising aud valuable farm." A LADY ON THE LADIES' GALLERY.-During tha discussion on the subject of the Ladies' Gallery, in tIn House of Commons, on Friday night Mr Lavard 2? f Wo-i* »>*• £ lie sai l, he hai lonet mna y \"My dear iIr- Lavard,—I d« ri v oTrp? CXfCrt t W6ig]lt 0f your official autho „ T n 'US th(i Protection of the grating in nn L0Ui 8'aller^Iwhlcl1 some honourable members, no doubt prompted by feelings of mistaken kindness aie disposed to remove. I appreciate the chival- rous zeal of Mr. Herbert, but if you have an opportu- nity I hope you will tell him how many more effectual ways there are of defending our cause in parliament, and earning our gratitude. Do not suppose tnat I mean 10 say that the Ladies' Gallery could not be improved. The occasional visits we receive from our 1 iiem'trt'vi fhe House of Commons are too short for tiemiobe able tojudgeof our sufferings up there, h „^ V >lty °f the flr Whic3i Pr°vide for our remedv /f rem°Val °f the SraliQg would be no from -r' k 1 contrary, the protection we derive urn it enables us to sit as we like, to talk together, ntl'fS mP. °Ur 8hawl8 and bonnets, and dress as we Fvo ?, a,re many advantages, for you know e aie compelled to sit quiet not to lose our places while bore. are addressing the House. You will not take it amiss, dear Mr. Layard, if I say that theie are some bores in the House of Com- mons. Yon cannot feel for us, because on these occasions you can go and talk to your friends, and write letters in the library. The grating also enables us to leave the gallery in the middle of dull speeches, which we would otherwise be compelled to sit out patiently, especially if the orator was an acquaintance and had obtained our seat for us And, then, the grating is of enormous advantage to honourable mem- bers themselves, who could not come and stretch, and 6ieep, and snore as they do immediately beiow us in the galleries if they saw that we saw them. And last, but not least, do you not think that a good many iii-natured remarks and suppositions are made im- possible by the interposition of this objectionable {.'rating ? Who can say now that Mr. sai(j BO aud so because Lady was in the gallery, or that Sir aiwavs stammers and breaks down when Miss is present ?"