Monmouthshire Merlin

The London Gazette contains a Board of Trade memorandum on the subject of the prohibition of the export of cattle and grain from the province of Smyrna to the effect that a despatch has been received from the British Consul, reporting that the prohibition has been rescinded as regards the export of grain, but re- mains in force as regards the export of cattle. Mr. G. L. Basset has built, at Camborne, in Corn- wall-th, most important mining centre in the county, a laboratory, and fitted it. up with all necessary con- veniencps for assaying, or for the chemical analysis of ores. He has handed this building over to the Miners' As-ociaiion of Cornwall, for the use of the teachers and of any of the members of the classes. The following peers will bo proposed as members rf tho Archbishop of Canterbury's Select Committee on Intemperance:—The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, Duke of Westminster, Earl of Donoughmore, Er.ri of Shrewsbury, Earl of Shaftesbury, Earl of Belmore, Earl of Onslow, Earl of Morley, Earl of Ximberley, Viscount Gordon, the Bishops of Peterbo- rough, Exeter, and Carlisle, Lord Penrhyn, Lord Aberdnre, and Lord Cottesloe. During last year the deaths of children at Warring- ton were '(', per cent. of the total mortality of the borough. Dr. Joseph, the local medical otiicer, re- gards this as an "alarming" state of matters but, asks the linrrpnol Post what is to be said about West Derby (Lancashire), with an infant mortality exceed- ing ';0 per cent. of the deaths for the year? Dr. Joseph is in favour of the establishment of public nurseries for children suffering from non-infectious diser-scs. Me?srs. Mr.cmillan will publish shortly a new work "On the Application of Electricity to Railway Work- ing," by Mr. W. L..ngdon, of the Postal Telegraph Department, and formerly Telegraph (Superintendent to the London and South-Western Railway Company. The work is to deal with block signalling, single line working, the protection of station yards, sidings, and junctione, passenger and guard communication, and numerous other useful and practical applications of the science to this special purpose. A BUTCHER7:- BIIX IN 1773.—A correspondent, sends to the Times the following extracts from a bill for metot supplied to an ancestor mere than a hnndred years ago Mr- D- His bill, 1773. July ye 10, for n neck of veal, wd. 7p. loz., 2s. 5d.; July )e '7, for legs of moten, wd. IGp., 4s. od.; July ye 30, for a neck of lam, wd. <p.. Is. C)d.; August ye 14, for a rump of boe, wd. 22p., 7s. 4d.; August ye 25, for a line of lam, wd. 4lb.^ Is. (id. Sept. ye 2, for 27p. of beef, 7s. iO.d.; Sept. ye Hi, for 3(ip. of beef, .10s. (id. "Thus." adds the correspondent, "we learn that. the price of the best joints averaged 4d. per lb. Even with the aid of American beef we can never see these prices again." AxoTnrn PAKis MYSTERY.—Scarcely has one Paris mysterv been cleared up, says the Paris correspondent of the 'Times, than another has arisen. Cries being heard by a passer-by proceeding from a dry well in a field near Bagneux, just outside the city, a little girl, five or six years old, was found in it, her leg fractured and her head bruised by the fall. She was unable to speak, and died shortly afterwards. It is supposed that the murderer thought the well contained water, and intended to drown the child, who appears to have lain there about three hours before being discovered. The body presents no injuries beyond those caused by the fall. It is reported that the body of the girl has been recognised by her grandfather, a wheel- wright. The police are investigating as to whether she fell or was thrown in. C >5HNC RAID ON SPIRITUALISTS.—A London cor- respondent writes:—It is whispered that a regular raid ia to be organised en the Spiritualists all over the country. The judgment ou Dr. Monck has shown- that mediumshin" is a dangerous business, and taking advantage of that fact, the anti-Spiritualists are going to appeal to, the law whenever they get a chance. In one Bense this is good news to the Spiritualists. It will advertise their creed. But they are not likely to invite martyrdom. Even if the pro- fessional medium class were suppressed, the sdherents ot the new cuite would still continue their propagan- dists But the professional medium class is not so easily to be stamped out of existence. They have a very fino coach and six to drive through the Vagrant Act. Supposing that they give no opinion as to their performances, leaving inferences to their audiences, what then can be done to them ? The law has nothing to say to conjurors. The only question is whether, with so much acknowledged trickery about, ilio mediums will gain guineas for manifestation a which are not absolutely guaranteed. MANSIAUGHTER BY A MOTHBR,—An inquest was held at Egreniont, near Whitehaven, on Feb. 0, on the body of Minnie Rus-ell Bushby, aged abwt two months, who was drowned by her mother, Elizabeth Bushby, on the 7th instant, in the river. She also attempted suicideby drowning. From the evidence it appeared that Mrs. Bushby, who is the wife of a tailor and draper at Ecremont, went to Jane Wilsons at E^remont, with her baby, and told her she had left her husband. On asking what was the cause, she replied, "Jealousy. She asked to be allowed to stay all night, as she was going next. (hy to friends in London. On the Wednesday she sent telegrams to her uncles in Ireland and London, and stated to P'rs Wilson that her uncle would ba coming to take hpr awav Although she appeared in low spirits sho io <3„«™v lb h^lf. J*™, i. C, aha went ouf. With her b-,by, and in a^mYnuSes afterwards James Waddell saw her in the river holding on to a branch of a tree at the river side in deep water. Sho appeared most reluctant to side in aeep pulled out she never be taken f £ bei^ in rhe water. Mrs. mentioned about tne i Bushby was oiled and examines. I drowned the child and myseif. -Ihe, urj returned a verdict of BMBtasUter. It is believed she 19 insane. HOAXING STOCKIUIOKKRS.—A disgraceful hoax was played upon a well-lnown firm of stockbrokers the other day. About two in the afternoon a boy went into their office with a note acidrts.-ed to them and marked immediate." Bot h partners happened to he out at the time, but, one of their cleris immediately ran over to the Stock Exchange, and gave the letter to the junior partner. He opened it, and found it to be one of those printed memoranda used in houses of business. It bore the"name and address of a well- known bank in the City, and on it were written direc- tions to Messrs. So-and-So, stockbrokers, to buy immediately for the next settling day £ 100,OOtt worth of different securities. The brokers, who had oeen in the habit of acting for the bank, believed the letter to be genuine, and at one-* executed the commission, ilthough there was a falling market for all the securities they were ordered to purchase. An hour or so later the usual memorandum of the purchase and brokerage was sent to the bank, and was of course at once repudiated by the partners ami all connected with the establishment. The boy who delivered the Jefter W,¡s found, 'inds-aid he had received it from "an eiderlv !!elltlcmi>n" near the -Mansion Tlouse, who cave him sixpence t,o deliver it quickly. The loss, which amounts to about, £ 4000, will of course fall on the stockbrokers.— Whitehall Review,

A CARDINAL SENTENCED TO MPl;iSONMKN'l. INMWRADLAW, Feb. 9.-Cardinal Ledochowski has been sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment and a tine of 300 marks for violation of the Prussian ecclesiastical laws. He is also found guilty of high reason.

PURSUIT OF AN ALLFGED UN SEA WORTH* SHIP. DORCHESTER, Feb. 9 (Evening).—The petition to the Home Secretary regarding the unseaworthiness of the barque Ogmore brought to Weymouth on Wednesday evening Mr. Turner, principal shipwright surveyor of the Board of Trade. On the following morning ho left the harbour in the Customs' galley for the purpose of boarding that ship, when he was informed that she had sailed some hours previously. Chase was given, and after a stiff pull of about four miles, the officials came alongside the vessel. Mr. Turner commenced his examination by first, going out on the bowsprit, which he condemned, as also one of the masts. Whilst the examination was being continued th" shirvs husband came alongside the Ogmore te a steam launch, and ordered the ship to be pnt to sea again, arid this was actually done. Mr. Turner directed the detention of the ship, as he had found so many defects in her spars. The ship's busbind strongly protested against this, and had at last to be brought to his senses by a threat of send- ing her Majesty's ship Warrior after the barque unless she put about for the roadstead. In consequence of a message sent to head quarters by Mr. Turner respect- ing the condition of the barque, Mr. Price, collector of customs, received a telegram last night from the Marine Department of the Board of Trade authorising him to detain the ship as being unsafe. Mr. Turner resumed his examination of the to-dry. Part of the former crew are in Dorchester gaol for refusing to go to sea. The former captain, mate, and boatswain have left the ship.

THE FRILICX) MURDERER. (From the Standard.) The case of Frederick Tread&w.sy, who has been sentenced to death for the murder of Mr. Collins in Pimlico, in December last, presents some points worth consideration. Among the chief of these we may note the apparent absence of motive for the crime, and the excuse of insanity which was offered in defence of the prisoner. It is clear that the one suggested the other. Mr. Besley, in defending Treadaway, pleaded that he was not insane either before or after the net but insane at the time of its committal, on account of an epileptic seizure and he stated further that there was insanity in the prisoner's family. This, then, is not a plea of homicidal mania, pure and simpi. though Mr. Besley might have been reminiscent of the laws said to govern it when he spoke as he did. For there were several features in this murder which might have been explained by the rules which M. Esquirol, a high authority on the subject, lays down regarding homicidal mania, or—as it has been called, from the sudden impulse to kiil—impulsive or paro- xysmal mania. Esquirol says that tue homicidal maniac disdains accomplices—so did Treadaway. The sane criminal has always a motive, and assuredly no motive was discernible, though no doubt the convict could enlighten us on that point. To quote the san.e authority, the sane prisoner endeavours to conceal his crime, and Treadaway appears to have been in many wavs reckless after the commission of the murder. We must add that even if Mr. Besley hod urged such points, the existence of this species of madness—moral insanity as it is designated—hM been severely called in question. As has been often pointed out, there is no evidence of overwhelming impulse, of manin transitoria, but the act itself, and no wonder, therefore that, as Dr. Taylor says, Its existence as a state inde- pendent of the reason or intellect is denied by the great majority of lawyers as well as by some eminent medical authorities." Mr. Besley, however, did not base his defence on these lines; but went farther and pleaded that. Treadaway's crime was committed during an epileptic seizure, and that he was not conscious of what he was doing. With no desire to press hardly upon the criminal, whose case may safely ba left in the hands of the Home Secretary, no one can be surprised that; such a defence failed. Persons suffering from mania. mav be epileptic, and the latter disease may bring on brain lesions which produce mental derangement, hut in such cases there are evidences of that disturbance, and it dues not break out suddenly. The question for the jury was the re- sponsibility of the prisoner, and that,, as Mr. Justice Lush very properly pointed out, depended upon the view they took of the condition of Treadaway's mind at the time. The plea of insanity must always render the work of a jury exceptionally hard. If, as i. sound authority tells"U9, it is improperly admitted, punish- ment falls unequally on offenders; if improperly re- jected, punishment is administered with undue severity, We have discussed the case in its medico-legal bear- ings, and from that point of view it is impossible, after a careful perusal of the report of the trial, not to agree with the verdict.

POPULAR, FEELING IN RUSSIA. (From the Times.) The most important parts of the first Blue Book are those which exhibit tbe feelings and the intentions of Russia, Lord Augustus Loftus gives an interesting account of the popular sentiment on the authority of a person, big-h in rank and influence, who is known for his admiration of England and everything English. He says that the present Eastern question is viewed by the whole Russian nation, from the highest to the lowest, as one of religion and humanity." So powerful is the feeling in favour of the Christian Sclavs that the Emperor would not, dare to run the risk of opposing the current. The fervour is likened, indeed, to that, of the Crusades. The Russian statesmen have expressed a similar opinion in the cooler and more restrained terms of diplomacy. Count, Schouvaloff said to Lord Derby that, in his opinion, it would be difficult for the Czar to stop the flow of volunteers to Servia without, an immense loss of popularit y and influence, and t tifit in Russia the excitement was incomparably greater than in this country. For months the language of Russian diplomacy has been invariably menacing. So long ago as August last Prince GortschakofT declared that Russia waited for ^urope to act, but that if nothing should be done to stop the bloodshed in Turkey, and if the C^ar should order him to use his pen, "je vcus garantis qu'elle sera trempee dans une encre qui comporterait aveo la dignite et la puissance de l'Emplre. He added, in- deed, Mais ce ne seraif, pas la puerre but that assurance wis weakenpd by the words of the j Emperor himself, who, in addressing his troops, had declared that if the honour of the country should be attacked he would defend it. The later and more famous speech was still more positive, for it plainly said that, if Eussia's demands at, the Conference should not be granted, she would be forced to appeal to arms, and he would rely on the support of his people. Such a declaration seems more, rather than less, important now that, we know it to have been no hasty answer to Lord Beaconsfield's speech at the Mansion House, but, it would appear, a deliberate threat. From such utterances we cannot separate the proposals of Russia to cut the knot of the Eastern diCiculty by the military occupation of Bosnia and Bulgaria, and by a naval demonstration in the BOB- phorus. Our own Government rejected the whole of the plan but for the first time we learn the important fact that the opposition of Austria was limited. Wh !e declining to support a military occupation, Count • Andrassy endeavoured, as Sir Andrew Buchsnan in- forms Lord Derby, "to satisfy the Russian Govern- ment that the object which they have in view will be more safely and certainly secured by the employment of naval means nlone." Thus Austria favoured some kind of coercion, and the C,:ar was ready to accept, the very kind she proposed. It would be interesting to knowwhotborAustriaiastinoftbesamemind. TheBIuo Book contains several declarations of the Czar's almost pathetic eagerness to win the trust of the English people and to act in concert with their Government. Lord Augustus Loftus was assured that, Russia was perfectly willing to be the nandatoirc of Europe in Bulgaria, as England and Frnnce were in Syria, and that she would not object to tbe participation of any otli-i- Power, The Emperor pledged his honour that he had "no views of conquest or of Constanti- nople," and he could not understand why there should not be a-complefe undfr-standinghptween England and Russia. Prince Gortschnkoff proudly adds that, under the Russian form of government, the word of the Emperor is not, "like a parliamentary declaration, revocable at the will of a majority."

The Society of Arts memorial praying the Lord Chancellor to cause the Patent Ltw Amendment Act of 18;,2 to be carried out in its integrity has now been signed by lloO persons interested in Patent Lay* Reform, including nearly a:1 the principal patent agents, representatives of Chambers of Commerce, yiembera of Parliament, manufacturers, fmlineerii. artisans, members of mectu<.nii's" institutes, &c.

THE FAMINE IN INDIA. (Timcs despatch.) CAI CI TTA, Feb. 11 (2 p.m.).—The famine statement of the Bombay Government for the week ending the 2nd inst. reports no mo-'e rain and no improvement in the prospect of the crops. The public health was bad in the southern districts. On the other hand, prices bad slightly declined, and there was a marked decrease in the numters on the relief works, which were 290,037, against 324,938 of the preceding week— a decrease attributed chiefly to the reduction of wages and the exclusion of persons not really destitute. prom the Madras reports for the same week it ap- ^F peared that prices were falling slightly in nine districts and were stationary in 11, rising slightly in one. The number engaged on the works was 907,404, against 1/290,257 of the preceding week—a decrease attributed to a more systematic regulation and to the occurrence of the Mohurrum Festival, and also in part to the in- completeness of the returns. There is a had account of the condition of portions of the north of Arcot, where it is feared the distress is likely to be very severe. Relief camps have been established at Chittoor, Vellore, and Runipet. The relief camp at Red Hills has greatly reduced the numbers of the destitute in Madras city, but nearly 12,00!! are still fed daily by the Government and private charity in the town. The railway line between Madras and Tirconum will be doubled, both as regards relief work and to facilitate the conveyance of grain. There is much cholera in the distressed districts, and the water supply is very deficient, even in the Presidency town.

DEATH OF SIR WILLIAM FERGUSS0N. It is with regret that we announce the death of Sir William Fergusson, Bart,, which took place on Satur- day evening at his house in George street, Hanover square. The deceased eminent surgeon was born on March 2U, 1808, at Preston Pans, in East Lothian. His father, Mr. James Fergusson, was in 111" Excise, and the deceased was tramferrzd :o his uncle's charge, who undertook the care of his education at the univer- sity, intending him for the legal profession. W hen 17 years of age Wm. Fergusson abandoned t he study of the law, and became a pupil of Robert, Knox, the celebrated anatomist, and in 25 months lie became a licentiate of the College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, and took the fellowship the following ye".r. Mr. Fergusson in 183 > was elected surgeon to the Royal Infirmary, and began to divide the surgical prac ice of Edinburgh with Mr. Svme. In 1840 he came to London, having oeen appointed Professor of Surgery at lung's College. On the death of Mr. Key be was in 1S-19 made Surgeon in Ordinary to Prince Albert, Surgeon Extraordinary to the Queen in 1855, and Sergeant Surgeon to her Majesty in 1SG7, having been created a baronet in lg(A?. When he was in t he flower of his youth as a surgeon, Fergusson had a splendid field laid open to him, and no man can say he neglected his golden opportunity. Be strove to make his art, useful to mankind rather than St end his life in seeking after strange novelties in operating. Ho believed it to be his duty on all occa- operating. Ho believed it to be his duty on all occa- PiCn5 to concentrate his energy and his brains on c.,rin £ r his patient, and that too with the minimum of sacrifice to health or limb. If in the course of so doin? be stumbled on new suggestions or ideas wbish might advance science, well and good, He was grateful for them, and did his utmost to propagate them amongst his pupils. Still his primary aim wns to' make the best possible practical use of what he knew, and then to enable his tiigCiples to do likewise, raiher than to strike out original paths of surgical activity. Perhaps it was the steedv and faithful pursuit of this modest course, to- gether with a naturally humane and sensitively tender heart that led him into a (rack of work which brought him in the long run credit for original talent. He was one of those rare and conscientious operators who, despite their manual dexterity, regard the knife as the scandal and opprobrium of their art. Thus he became credited In the popular mind with the honour of having originated the modern school of "conservative surgery." There is probably no truth in the legend that it Was because they thought "conservative surgery" bad. some connection with Toryism that the patrons of h.s chair gave him a professorship in King's College. Be this as it, may, it is, however, a fact that in Fergus- s, n's)-outli "conservativesurgeons" worenotnumerous. Men who could wield the knife clearly were rather fond of using it, especially in great operating theatres where crowds of students were looking on. Into this vain and foolish practice Fergusson's sound sense and native an odesty prevented him from entering. It, wa9, he considered, the duty of the -surgeon as far as pos: Bible to preserve, not to cut off limbs. The principle on which his practice was based was that tbe sur- geon's primary business must be to help the conser- vative energy of the maimed body, and free its reparative powers from hampering influences. It was his success in this wplk-the resolute patience with which he refrained from using the knife until all hope of saving s», l'mb was gone—and then his skill, his clearness of head, and delicacy of hand in operating ,where all other resorts were of no avail, that enabled him to achieve the professional success which brought him fame and fortune. It will be many a day ere the kindly memories associated with his genial presence fade from the minds of his pupils at King's College. As for those who are old enough to remember his career in Edinburgh, they will be apt to say that, with the death of almost the last of its greatest alumni, the once famous northern school has sunk into the dark shadow of eclipse.—London Telegraph.

THE SULTAN AND HIS ALLIES. (From the Staizdard.) Few people remember that there are more Ma- hometans in the dominions of her Majesty than under the rule of the Sultan of Turkey. Èiot counting the followers of the Prophet in the Straits settlements, in the West African colonies, in Ceylon, and other places, it is computed that there are in India alone forty millions of Mussulmans; and Sir Frederic Goldsmid's recent lecture at the Royal United Service Institution, on "The Forces of Islam," ought, there- fore, to interest the British public very much; espe- cially as it is a fact that in North-Western and Central Africa the faith of Islam has for many years past, been making steady progress. According to Sir Erederie G-oldsmid, the number of Mussulmans in the dominions of the Sultan of Turkey is nearly sixteen millions. Of there the majority are Osmanli, who re- gard the appellation Turk a3 an insulting nickname. In Asia Minor tfcere are about 85,000 Turcomans and about 200,000 Kukilhasbes, who are. it is believed, a tribe of Persian origin. In Syria are to be found the Druses, numbering about 80,000 souls. It has been denied that they are Mussulmans, but their faith is certainly hiin to that of Islam. Besides the Druses there are about 170.000 Sbiahs, the remainder of the population of Turkey, or Roum, as Orientals term it, being Sunnis. The Druses are a brave and warlike people, as are the Kurds, whose Mahommetanism is equally doubtful. Whether Moslem or not, however, tho latter are loyal subjects of the Sultan, and have already volunteered their services in case of a war with Russia. They would be of considerable value, not only from the position of their inaccessible country on the flank of the line which the Russians must take in case of an advance into Asiatic Turkey, but because they aro good shots and unrivalled horsemen. The Kurds number about 100,000. TIle Lesghians and Circas- sians would also furnish a strong contingent of war- riors, animated by a fanatical hatred of Russia and it is notorious "that in the districts inhabited by them a strong Mahometan revival has been going on for several years past. We cannot follow Sir F. Gold-mid in his calculations of the strength of the Tiii-Iiisli land forces, for reliable data are wanting, and we believe that no one, even at Constantinople, knows the real strength of the Ottoman army. Turning to Perr'.a, where the Shiah branch of Islamism almost exclusively prevails, we find that half the population consists of Turcomans, Kurds, and ether nomad tribes, the remaining half being Shiahs, with a few Jews, Christians, and Parsees. The Persian army on a war footing is nominally 1.05,000 strong. but on a peace establishment the number is less than one-third. The raw material" is good, but from neglect and maladministration the Per- sian army is practically not worth tuking into con- sideration at present. At the same time, under Russian officers it would be formidable, and the hatred, both political'and religious, of the Persians for the Turks is such that they would not bo averse to a war with the Sultan. Without, money, however, they could do little. Now money they have not got, and Russia could not furnisu them with it. Central Asia is in- habited by races the majority of whouytre Runnis, and acknowledge the spiritual supremacy of the Sultan' Thus it is evident t hat in case of any strong Mahom- medan movement,the Ottomans would not, want for aid from their od-religionists,

Herr Wilhelm j, the violinist, has commenced a tour in the provinces, with the co-operation of Herr R. Niemann (pianist), Mdlle. Redeker, Miss G. Warwick. and Mr. F. Wood. ♦

NEW QUEEN'S COUNSEL. The following gentlemen have been raised to the rank of Queen's Counsel: On the South Eastern Cir- cuit—Mr. W. Grantham, M.P., Mr. W. fl, Holl, Mr. W. G. Harrison, Mr. F. M. White, Mr. W. Patchett, Mr. C. M. Griffith, Mr. W. Willis, Mr. S. R. Kemp, and Mr. W. S. Marriott; on the Midland Circuit— Mr. 0. G. Merewether, M.P., Mr. J. C. Lawrance, and Mr. M. C. Buszard on the Western Circuit-BTr. A.J. H. Collins, Mr. A. Charles, and Mr. H. M. Bom pas and on the Northern Circuit-Mr. W. C. Gully.

RAILWAY ACCIDENTS. The axle of one of the trucks of a goods train broke the other morning while passing through Wood Green station, on the Great Northern Railway, and befo: e the train could be pulled u;) six trucks were thrown off the line, completely stopping both lines of ra ls. The local line was cleared in about two hours, and the main line shortly after. The train consisted of twenty- nine trucks and waggons.—A carriage in one of the trains from Stratford-le-Bow to Liverpool street, London, got off the line near Old Ford, through some defect- in construction. After some dimcu.ty it W!.s replaced on the line, but again it. left the me'-als near Bethnal Green. Eventually it was detached from the train. All trains from Stratford to Liverpool strfer. and Fenchurch street were much delayed, causing great inconvenience to passengers proceeding to the city. 00

THE REV. A. TOOTH AND HIS SYMPATHISERS. Tile following is the reply of the Rev, A. Tooth to the address of sympathy recently sent him, and which was sitrned by 12-10 persons" Horsemonger lane Gaol.—My dear Parishioners and Members of my Congregation. — The address I have had the pleasure of receiving to-day from your deputation, from irs importance, claims more than a verbal expression of my thanks. I then fore begged the churchwardens to give me the opportunity io reply to it by letter. I wish to acknowledge, in he first place,your generous trust and confidence which I have enjoyed during the past eight years, during which it has been my privi.ege to work among you, and to thank you for it. It has been a period of growth and consequent trial, but never of embarrassment; there is no unhappy remembrance to cloud this time spent so happily together; and when the time of real trial to us. all came, it w-.a cheering beyond measura to me, in the midst, of all the anxieties winch weighed so heavily on us, t,) find so much earnest support and loving sym- pathy. I have no longer an opportunity for the exercise of my office, and your church ie closed against you; but you once more rally round me with words of kind- ness and of hope. To His care I commend you, a; d may He return all your goodness to you with His own good measure. Yours very faithfully and affection- ately in Christ Jesus, AUTIIUII TOOTH, Vicar of St. James, Hatcham, Feb. 1, 1877.The Ci/rrch Litt oi Gaiette states that, so far from the English Church Union having suffered by the loss of members in consequence of the course it has lately taken, nearly 400 persons have joined since the publication of the resolutions adopted on the Kith of January, while the number of members who have signified their wish to withdraw on account of the recent action of the Union is only 22.

A CHURCHWARDEN ASSAULTING A CLERGYMAN. At Whitehaverl Police-court, last week, Mr. Ken- dall, one of the churchwardens for the parish of Har- rington, was charged with having assaulted the Kev. E. S. Goodhart, after the performance of divine service on the evening of the 28th January. Mr. Goodbart holds a living in Lincolnshire, which is at present under sequestration, and he is living at Harring- ton, and has been so doing for about two years, upon sick leave from his bishop. On the 2;ih of January hp performed evening service at Kar- rington Church at the request of the rector, the Rev. A. F. Cur wen. After the service Mr. Good- hart was in the vestry, and Mr. Kendali came to Li-it and said, according to the prosecution, that he was beastly drunk." and was a daiuned, creni en scoundrel.' ile followed this up by showirg Mr. Goodhart out of the vestjy into the churchyard, and shutting him out. The complainant alleged that he was in a very weak state of health, suffering from a complication of complaints, including BrJght's disease, rheumatism, and nervousness; that he had expected Mr. Curwen to read prayers, and that he was not able to read well on account of being short-sigh'ed by reason of his illness. The defence was a denial of tbe assault, and a crocs-summons having been taken out Mr. Kendall swore that Mr. Goodhart was drunk and unlit, to perform the service, that, he could not read, and that he expected to see him fall as he went up the pulpit steps. He could not. iell what the sermon was about, and all he could make out was that Mr. Goodhart said he had been in a land "where honey dropped from the rocks and milk flowed from the cross." Mr. Goodhart said he had seen honey drop from the rocks both in India and Palestine. Several witnesses were called on both sides. One cor- roborated Mr. Goodhart's account of the affair, and a medical man described nis physical condition. On the other hand, two witnesses were called who had gone out of the church during the service on account, as they alleged, of Mr. Goodhart's conduct, and others expressed an opinion that be was under the influence of drink.—Mr. Kendall was fined i.3 for the assault, and the cross-suiumona was dismissed.

THE IMPORTS FOR JANUARY. (From the Times.) The imports take precedence of the exports in the trade returns, and may, therefore, be considered first, though, perhaps, the converse arrangements would be in some respects more logical and convenient. In January hm. we imported from foreign countries and Brit sh colonies commodities to the value of nearly thirty-three millions sterling—about two millions and a quarter more than in the same month of löjí'" and half a million more than in the same month of 1875. Among the particulars of importation we look first at the food supplies. The wheat imported during the month was less in quantity and in value by one-third than that taken in 1670, but. a little greater in quantity and consider- ably greater in value than tbe imports of 1875. There was a decrease also in the supply of live animals —cattle, sheep, and swiue-ns compared with 18; but a slight increase over 187; The most noticeable change is in tbe supply of fresh baef, due, doubtless, to the lately-developed trade with the United States. In January, 1875, we imported it to the value of £10.4:)(; only, and in January, 1870, to the value of ■ £ 13,(183; but lastmonththe imports reached £ 57.708. The quantities of preserved meat of every kind in- creased in some cases by one-third, in others by one- half. The same thing is seen in the entries of other food supplies. All this goes to prove that the apparent stagnation of business has not yet seriously affected the physical comfort and well-being of the majority of the people. When one source ohupply is closed or narrowed others are immediately oponed up and tiio importation of American meat would go a long way to mitigate the pressure of a cattle plague panic. But more important than the food supplies is the demand for raw material, which shows whether our main in- dustries are healthily active. In very many branches of industry this demand during the past month com- pares most favourably not only with the depressed level of 1870, but even with 1875. Taus we imported in Januarylast2,448,OOOcwt.of raw cotton, compared with l,917,000cwf.in January 1875; lf>J,O00cwt.of flax, com- pared with in 187 and 30 million pounds of wool, compared with 24 millions in 187". Otherclesses of raw materials, it is true, exhibit a decrease in im- portation, as unrefined sugar, jute, and silk. But while the cotton and woollen industries are making larger demands upon :ho producing countries, we cannot be justified in taking a desponding view of the temporary depression of our trade and the failing off of the ex- ports. Fortunately, BritisU industry is founded upon a solid basis of home trade, and when our commerce with foreign countries meets with a check, our manu- facturers can afford to bide their time and to encounter the slack tide of fortr.ns with cheerful endurance. At th.o same time, it uiust.be admitted that the time has come when a chanee for the bet ter will be regarded as a welcome deliverance from a painful if not a perilous situation.

THE R>I.ARXUUI;>R MRUDUI:. —<_>N the Mth Feb., Mr. Prtriiifliioii, of Prepton, the owner of the Morgan, that scerited the r-mains ot Emily Holland, Black- burn, r»>'Mrived a troai the Home Secre- tary tr.y! j.ng to application 111-' sent for the covern- raenfcrew.ii<1 of £ 1 1 > which he wished to divide between thp family of c ;sh and the parents of the murdered child, and staiiug that th»* re ^ard would be given to Peter Taylor, of Preston, who took tho dog to Blao.kbnrn and found the remains in the chimney.

MUTINY AT A REFORMATORY. p Oil the Sth lnstanrt, whilst the otfioers in Dalbeth Catholic Reformatory, near Glasgow, were placing two refractory youths In a cell the other boys mutinied, and forcing a door escaped to the banks of t he Clyde. The a othcers pursued, but the boys took to the river, which was swollen. The officers shouted, "For God's sake boys, turn back or you will be drowned." They all tuined back but two, named Quin, aged 13, and Makin, ageu lo, who, after struggling in tbe swollen current) sank,and were both drowned. Another boy was nearly drowned in trying to effect a rescue.

A'ESLEYAN LAY REPRESENTATION. The discussion on this subject was resumed on Feb, Sth, at the Centenary Hall, London, the president of H'E Conference (Kev. Alexander M'Aulay) pretidjnT. It was decided T&y a large majority that the members composing the representative Oonftrence should he 24C ministers and 240 laymen. It was agreed that the representative Conference should elect one-eighth of itl lay members from year to ye".r It WM agreed that the next Conference should elect the whole of the lay repre- sentatives for ISi8.. The question was raised as to whether the circuit stewards should be representatives to the districts, and whether there should be circuit or district lepresenta- tion to the Conference.—After a disrussion, in which Mr. Fowler and Vr. Rigg took part, the Presid-nt took a vote, the result of which was that there should he no direct circuit representation to the Conference. Several proDosals were then voted upon and lost. The following resolution was voted upon and adopted "That in view of all the difficulties, representatives to the Conference should be elected by the district meet- ings as at present constituted." The following resolution was adopted by a large ma- jority:—"That lay repie«eatatives should attend the Conference when the business of the ministerial con- ference was finished." The following resolution was also agreed to:—"In order that the Conference may be concluded within twenty-one days, the committee deem it desirable (1) that tbe business to be transacted when mit,inters or,!v are present should be completed on the second Saturday of the Conference term; and (2) that laymen should unite with ministers for the joint transaction oi business on Jhe following Monday, and throughout the week up to Friday evening or Saturday morning if necessary." The draft of the proposed order and form of business for the ministerial and representative Conference was read and substantially agreed to. There was so-^o discussion about the admission of spectators to the re- presentative Conference, and it was felt that some regu- lations were absolutely necessary on account of the pro- bsble number of applications and the limited 1 accommodation. It was finally agreed that all ministers attending the pastoral Conference should have the privi- lege of attending its sessions without taking any part in its proceedings. It was also agreed that laymen who were members of connexional committees, but not members of the representative Conference, should be aiiowed to attend its sessions without taking part in its proceedings. It was further decided that, the President; of the Conference should have some discretionary power a3 to admitting other spectators by ticket. The question of lay representation in the Wesleyan Conference is thus now in a fair way of settlement. The reports of the committee will be sect to tbe M> y dis- trict meetings, to be discussed and voted upon bv ministers and laymen. Their decisions wiil agnin :8 considered by the general Connexicnai Committee, who will report direct to the Conference. The matter will then be decided, and for the first time the laymen will be admitted into the Conference in 1878. —^

DEATH OF ADMIRAL SIR ArGUSTCS CLIFFORD. The venerable Usher of the Black Rod, Admiral Sir Augustus Clifford, died shortly after ten o'clock on the bth inst. at his official residence, at the House of Lords, after an illness of little over a week. Sir Augustus Wm. Jas. Clifford was born May 24, 178% so that he had attained an almost patriarchal ag.. He entered the navy as far back as May, I606, his patron being Earl Spencer, then First Lord of the Admiralty, on board the Yilie de Paris, 110, the flagship of Earl St. Vincent and Admiral Hon. Sir Wm. Cornwallis. lie served under Admiral Sir John T. Duckworth and other distinguished naval com- manders of that period, and saw some severe service, partieulary ofi the coast of Egypt in lS'9. He was subsequently actively en-ployed on the Italian eons and bad some severe fighting with the enemy until he obtained his post rank in Ju'v, 1812, during which obtained his post rank in .Ju'y, 1812, during which period he rendered many important services. For some time, as Captain Clifford, he was employed in attendance on the Lord High Admiral Wm. IV., and in 1825 took out his friend, Lord Wm. Bentinck, as Governor-General, to India. That was his last tervice afloat, as he had not been actively employed. since Lv31. For a short time Sir Augustus sat in Parliament as representative for Bandon Bridge in 1818; for Dungarvan in 1820: againforB&ndonBridge in 15*31. In July, 1832, he was appointed Gentleman Leber of the Black Rod, to which he was nominated by the late Duke of Devonshire, Lord Chamberlain, an office he had held ever since. The late Sir Augustus was created a bsronet of the United Kingdom in 1838. He married, Oct. 20, 1813, Lady Elizabeth Frances Townshend, sister of John, fourth Marquis Townshend, and leaves surviving issue.

HOW THE JAPANESE REBELLION TERMINATED. (From the Daily News.) The Conservative reaction in Japan has been com- pletely repressed, for the moment. At Yamaguchi six ringleaders have been beheaded, and three at Kuma- noLo, while the minor conspirators have been con- demned to the galleys for life. Equally stringent measures have tranquilised that Japanese La Vendee, Fuknoka. So far nothing had oocurred that might not easily find a parallel in European history. But the duties of Japanese nobility were to be illustrated by men of rank more true to their order than those who submitted tamely to -the touch of the headsman, or who are now expiating their offences in the prisons and hulks of the Mikado. Four insurgents of good birth. escaped when the rest were taken, and determined, H they could not live like Japanese, to die like Daimios, and so to set an example which posterity would not forget. The brave Yone- moura, hospitable even in this supreme moment, put bis house and grounds at their service. There they were to hold their death feast, and there to perform the operation of the happy despatch. The hari-l iri was a mode of death by which none but a noble, we believe, had a right to leave this world, and enter that of his ancestors. The Japanese of former gene- rations were carefully taught in boyhood through the medium, doubtless, of native classics, with illustrative cuts, how to perform the melancholy but imposing ceremony. Even before the present Mikado broke with the past o2 Japan, and from a semi-divine pri- soner made himself a mere king of the barricades— the happy despatch had ceased to be practidfed with taste and certainty of execution. Duels became tame affairs when a nobleman could nofrbe certain that his enemy, coached by a European doctor, would not slice hiivseif in a mode less than fatal. Moreover, as the duel became the privilege of every French- man afier the revolution in that country, so after the innovations in Japan, mere parvenus might, if they chose, despatch themselves in private, in the manner which nobles once enjoyed the right of adopting in the presence of witnesses. Moved by these thoughts, and determined never to let their sacred persons be touched by the executioner, the conspirators met at the house of Yonemoura. Though on self-destruction bent, they had a jovial turn of mind, and determined to make a day of it. J ust as Mycerinus, the virtuous Xing of Egypt, gave hiniseif up to festivity and profane conversation when the oracle informed him that he had onlv six years to live, so the Daimios went merrily to their doom. They drank, danced, and sang songs, till the lady of the house was alarmed, and pointed out to her guests that if they did not go on to the business in hand the skischu, or armed policemen, would be upon them. No one, however, dared to interfere with them, and at sunset they laid aside their robes of revelry,* put, on their ancient Japanese court dress, prayed to their gods, or their ancestors, and slew themselves in the way appointed by ancient custom.

The Duke of Connsught appears to have suffered little inconvenience from his recent accident. His Royal Highness hunted with the Duhallow hounds at Liscarroli the followifair morning. STKIKE or COLLIERs.-In the Forest of Dean col- liery district a strike commenced last week against the proposed reduction of 10 per cent. in waees. Seme 2000 colliers assembled at the Speech House, and offered to resume work at a compromise of .5 per cent. A deputation was appointed to confer with the em- ployers. A singular death by misadventure has been investi- gated by the Manchester Coroner. A druggist's assis- tant gave a dose of santonin for a child au I with a fatal result. Inquiry disclosed the alarming fact that a portion of strychnine had been mixerl with the san- tonin The druggist, imputed blame to the de .ler who supplied him with drugs; and a verdict of accidental death was returned.