The Express. — London, England, 1867-12-20 00:00:00

LIFEBOAT SERVICES.--During the storms of the present year the National Lifeboat Institution has contributed to the saving of 1,027 lira from various shipwrecks ana 42 vessels from destruction. The Institution also expended itt9.6.55 in the same period on its Lifeboat Eatablishments, in addition to granting £2,444 for rewards. The Committee of the Institution earnestly appeal to the public for assistance to enable them to meet the coutAnsed heavy demands on their lit; Lifeboat Petablhhmenta. Contributions will be thankfully received by the London and country Waken, and by the Richard Lewis, Sion, at the Institution, 14, John-etreet, Adelp , Loudon. OVERCOATS for the PRESENT SEASON. Oentlemon who do sot mind ming a fur prioe for Mat elots WINTI.R OVERCOATS can depend on the bag materials at HAMILTON and KIMPTOICS, Tailors end Overcoatemakers, -makers, • 105, STRAND, OPPOSITE EXETER-HALL B REAKFAST.-EPPS'S COCOA. VALENTINE and ORSON—the Great Panto mime of 1867—will be weduced on CHRISTMAS-EVE, Dec. SI, at the HOLBORN THEATRE. Scenery by Ile. Whin. Principal Danseust,Mdlie. Montero. Clown, the celebrated Little Rossetti'. Boz—os open on Wednesday, the lath Inst. ghe OVllrefiO• TO OOREESPONDENTS. ,dvertieements Intended tor " The Erma," London Evening Paper, must be at the Odle., 10, Eonveriettreet, by Two e'clork on the day of publioatioD. HAVIAJZZ't Tits Ivo OCR AMERICAN COUSIN. Nam Bother Raymond, Gordon, Rogers, to. Mealtimes Odppendsle, Burke, Wri,:ht, Robertson, td-I'O PARIS AND BACK FOR XS. Mr. Budistone.—Conelnding with A KISS IN Tag DARK. PRINCVIWS. WHITE:MO, A LlTiaiiiiiiTlON.—Alter which THE COLLEIV BAWN. Messes. Beach=lt, D. Murray, E. Atkins, O. Neville. J. G. Shore, H. Mellon, &o. Boucle:atilt, & Misses Barnett and Elsworthy. —And NO. ONE BOUND THE CORNELL smarm Tan aVlNnra. NOTHING TO NURSE. Mr. Thorne and Mhs Ne.ton.—KlND TO A FAULT. Main. Parselle, Belford, and James; Heedarase Johnstone, flarynne, and Hughaa—And WILLIAM TELL WITH A VENGEANCE HIGH WAIIII AT LONDON_ BILIDGI. DA7=liceikini, O. 9h. 5311. to-Mosioll—Marsing, 10b. —Aftlenoos, 11h. lm. LONDON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20. Ota London Police Magistrates so rarely break I through their habitual reserve to remark on the policy or effect of the law they administer, that when they do so we may be sure that it is upon some strong provocation. Mr. Trawairr, of the Marlborough-street Police-court, was stirred by the' case of a poor woman who came before him on Tues day last to pronounce an opinion upon our system of Poor-law relief which certainly has not the merit of novelty, but which, falling from an impartial magistrate of large experience, is likely to com mand attention. An Irishwoman named MA HON"; who had been discharged from an hospital, complained to the court that her husband had refused to receive her. Sho had applied to the pariah of St. Martin's, but the officials would not assist her, and she was in danger of starvation. Mr. Trawl:LITT said he could do nothing for her until the parish autho rities moved in the matter, and he added— " Boards of Guardians are wrongly constituted ; " they consist mainly of tradesmen who have their " own purposes to serve, and of others who look to " get the parish contracts. Until this is altered " the poor will hardly get proper attention." This is a very severe judgment to pass upon the guar dians of the poor, and all broad assertions respect ing large bodies of men must be subject to many exceptions. Nevertheless, we believe the public is being gradually educated by experience to agree ment with Mr. Trawairr's opinion. If one thing has contributed more than another to this result, it is the failure of so many gallant minorities of upright and public-spirited guardians to effect any real and lasting reform. Rates are going up, and the poor are going down, and it seems vain to expect any remedy from within the system itself. We cannot go on much longer as we are doing at present, with paupers literally dying for want of food on one hand, and ratepayers crushed with the burden of local taxation on the other. If nothing better can be done, we may be driven to make Poor-law administration a function of our Police courts, while Mr. TOULMIN SMITH writes the epitaph of local self-government. A CURIOUS point arose for determination yesterday, at the Central Criminal Court, upon the trial of WES; one of the prisoners charged with an assault in connexion with the Hammer smith murder. After evidence for the prosecu tion had been received, Mr. DALY, the prisoner's counsel, proposed to call Taos'Psow, the man whom the jury hail just found guilty of murder, and upon whom Mr. Justice Luau had solemnly pronounced sentence of death, to give evi dence for his client. Upon the Court express ing some doubt as to the competency of a man in THOMPSON'S position as a witness, Mr. DALY urged that he was not dis abled by the statute, and that persons who bad been convicted and sentenced to penal servitude were frequently called as witnesses. The judge held, however, that the cases were en tirely different, inasmuch as a man under capital sentence is already civilly dead ; he would, how ever, reserve the point if desired. Aa the prisoner was acquitted, the question thus raised will not be carried any further ; but, as affecting the ad miatration of justice, it is worth notice. Desirable as it is to place as much information as possible before juries, there are certain limitations to the com petency of witnesses prescribed by the evidentinterest of society. If one man under sentence of death might be called as a witness for his fellow prisoner, it would not be easy to show why in another case another man in similar circumstances should not be called as evidence for the Crown, and thus a subject might be liable to have his life sworn away by a person whose own life was in the hands of the prosecutor. This would seem very shocking. And yet some thing like it is sometimes done, with the acqui escence of the public. Occasionally we see a prisoner who is distinctly marked out for the gallows by the flagrant and overwhelming evidence of his guilt, accepted as an approver, and brought up with a policeman's hand upon his collar, to make statements which it is hoped will lead to the conviction and execution of somebody else. In ordinary cases juries may be induced to take the testimony of interested witnesses at its just value ; but in times of intense excitement it is very difficult to decide simply according to the dictates of reason. Suppose the bands man M'DoNato had been murdered in Holborn last Saturday instead of long before, and that Mrs. JANMAN had made her statement against Gaol's this week—is it certain that it would have been sifted as closely, and rejected as summarily, as it was two months ago 1 Perhaps it would, but we cannot feel sure upon such a matter. The Go vernment very properly repudiated the evidence of Mrs. JASMAN as soon as it appeared that she was swearing with a single eye to the reward which had been offered for evidence leading to a conviction; and doubtless it will be equally jealous for the honour of justice on occasions which may yet arise. At Axminster, in Devonshire, there is now to be nen a starling's nest, with young ones in it. OUR CONTEMPORARIES. (THIS DAY.) 1 THE IRISH LAND QUESTION. Lord Clanricarde sends to the Times a copy of his scheme on the law of landlord and tenant; which was set aside by a majority of a select committee, but which be in tends, it appears, to submit again to parliament. Treging of the general subject, the Times thinks it must be allowed on the evidence that, with the exception of certain large estates, belonging for the most part to wealthy English owners, the burden of improvement is in Ireland thrown on the tenant ; and this gives special significance to the other fact that in Ireland lemon are rare. It is true that in England leases are rare also, but where the landlord bears the burden of outlay for permanent improvements it is of comparatively small importance that the occupier should be only a yearly tenant. The backward state of Irish agriculture is universally confessed, and is a sufficient reason, apart from the question of discontent on the side of tenants, why the relations between landlord and tenant should be pressed on the attention of the legislature. Let it be remembered that we have to deal in Inland—object to some great and prominent exceptions—with a poor proprietary clinging to their rights with the same tenacity with which the peasantry cling to their holdings, unable if desirous, but commonly as indifferent as unable, to under. take the coat of any considerable and permanent improve ments ; and besides these we have the actual cultivators, on whom the burden of making improvements is thrown, and who, strangely enough, do sometimes make them, though conscious that the property in the improvements passes to another as soon as made, and that they are liable to the alternative of immediate eviction or increased rental ; and the problem to be solved is now to reconcile these con flicting interests without introducing a new and, perhaps, still more dangerous element into the complicated relations of landlord and tenant. Observing that the trade murders of Sheffield end other places are in themselves quite as serious as the Fenian outrages of Clerkenwell and Manchester, the Daily News adds that the question they involve is only adjourned. Mr. Mundella's account of the process by which a good feeling has been brought about in Nottingham, the headquarters formerly of the Luddite movement, will greatly assist in the discussion of this matter. The board of arbitration there established works so well, that questions are seldom pushed to a division. Full and candid explanations usually produce unanimity ; the grounds of dispute appear. The artisans become better acquainted with the general laws of trade and the special conditions imposed by foreign and domestic competition upon their employers. The employers, on the other hand, learn by the free interchange of opinion with their opera tives the mechanical and material conditions of the manu facture in which they are engaged, and the arrangements which will beet meet the interests and convenience of the workmen. For seven years this council of conciliation has averted strikes and lock outs in the trades which are represented in it, and the good example baa been followed pretty generally through out the counties of Notts, Derby, sad Leicester, and is likely to be introduced into one of the iron trades of . . Sheffield. It is applicable to all branches of industry, and to every district in the country. Let councils of concilia tion be established in the mining district of Cleveland, and the ironmasters and ironworkers of Staffordshire and South Wales will be unable to afford the expensive luxury of lock-outs and strikes. IS TOPICS. The Post says there is every reason why the law should superadd flogging to a term of imprisonment where the accused is convicted of participation in any crime like that of the Fenian' at Clerkenwell, for which the punishment is not death ; and even where it is death, there seems no good reason why flogging should not still be enforced. The Star supports Lord Ranelagh in the resolution which he moved yesterday at the meeting of magistrates in Clerkenwell, expres;ing dissatisfaction with the conduct of the Chief Commissioner of Police in regard to the recent ontrege. It is only common sense to maintain that when the Chief Commis loner knew of the contemplated attack on the previous day, it must have been within his power to prevent it. The Telegraph supplies some information respecting the position of special constables. There is a provision that they shall not be called upon to act for more than three months. They have all such powers and immunities, and aro " liable to all such duties and responsibilities, as any constable, duly appointed, now bag within his constable. wick by virtue of the common law of this realm, or of any statute or statutes." Also, under extraordinary stream- I stances, they may be required to act in a county adjoining that in which they are serving. It will be seen, therefore, that the obligations attached to the office are, theoreti cally, of a serious kind. The persons sworn in are under orders, and may be lawfully summoned at any hour like ordinary policemen. The Daily New suggests that until science can insure THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EvENING, DECEMBER 20, 1867. of 500 fr. for her life. The appeal court bee just overruled so much of this judgment as Weds the contractor. It held that he, acting under the orders of an engineer appointed by the Prefect of the Seine, was not liable ; and decreed the Prefect of the Seine to pay the whole damages awarded by the court below, and to indemnify Valetta for the costs he had in curred. The Bourse remains with scarcely any alteration. THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION. The Secretary of State for India has received the following telegram from Colonel Merewether : " SINAFZ, DEC. 7. " Advanced brigade all encamped now on a fine plain here. This body has come up from the coast without a hitch, proving that the British troops can enter Abyssinia with ease. Several more chiefs have come in to pay their respects. All well." 8. W. W. B.W. W.N.W. B.& B.L w7w. N.N.W. F.E. N.W. N.W. W.S.W. W.N.W. —"- 1 16. 00 . 74sirn 69.84r 39 Aberdeen 1 9 :91r 36 Leith —33.91 r Ardroa;/; 49.9• J '% 611110110141111 39.841 sO I Valenti& . 31.91r 2 Cape Clear . 151.87 1 Rochs'ePt 10.97 I li i tyVL: ? 78 r 40 Pomace 98146 Brest WWI :1 Latent... 29.926 1 lioehelort 29.9fr 1 Plymouth 12695r 40 ' Weymouth 30. 36 Portamouth 29.92 r 1 London =29. 9 1r 36 Parmouth 126.34 r 38 Beszborough 29.97 r 31 ' Shields 1:94r 66 1 Heider 95 46 us that nitro-glycerine will not undergo such changes as may lead to spontaneous combustion, it may be proper not only to forbid its storage in towns, but even to prohibit its use. the gratin. OSBORNE, Dec. 19. The Queen drove yesterday afternoon, accom panied by Princess Louise, and her Majesty walked in the grounds with her royal highness this morning. Prince Leopold and Princess Beatrice also went ont. A Cabinet Council was held yesterday at the official residence of the First Lord of the Trea sury, in Downing-street. The Ministers present were the Earl of Derby, the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Marlborough, the Right Hon. Gathorne Hardy, Lord Stanley, the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, Sir John Pakington, Sir S. Northoote, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Right Hon. H. T. L Corry, the Duke of Richmond, Lord John Manners, the Earl of Mayo, and the Right Hon. Spencer H Walpole. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial office from the Governors of Hong Kong, Ceylon, the Mauritius, the Australian Colonies, Malta, Gibraltar, and the Settlements on the West Coast of Africa. Despatches were mat to the Governors of Gibraltar, Malta, the Mau ritius, Ceylon, Hong Kong, Labuan, the Straits Settle ments, the Australian Colonies, Barbadoes, and to the Governor-General of Canada. A deputation from the Chamber of Commerce, South ampton, consisting of Mr. G. Dunlop, Mr. H. J. Buchan, Alderman J. R. Stebbtng, Mr. R. G. Bassett, and Mr. Lankeater, had an interview with the Lord President of the Council and Lord Robert Montage, at the Privy Council-office yesterday, on matters relating to quarantine. The deputation was introduced by Mr. Moffatt, M.P., and Mr. Capper, M.P. His Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, accompanied by bis soon, Viscount Hamilton and Lord Claud and Lord George Hamilton, leaves the Viceregal Lodge, Dublin, on Tuesday next, for Baron's Court, for Christmas. The Duke and Duchess of Buckingham and Chandos and family are expected to leave Chandos House to-morrow for Stowe, for Christmas. The Marquis and Marchioness of Bath have arrived at Longlent from town, and are about to receive company. The Marquis and Marchioness of Ailesbury left town yorterday for Sarernake, Wilts. The Earl Brownlow and Lady Marian Alford arrived at Ashridge Park, Herta, yesterday, from Belton House, Lincolnshire. Viscount and Viscountess Milton left Curzon etrest yesterday for Wentworth House, Yorkshire. Lord and Lady Leigh have been entertaining company at Stonaleigh. The Right Hon. Sir Stafford Northoote, Bart., M.P., and Lady and Min Northoote have returned to The Pynee, near Exeter, from visiting the Right Hon.Gathorne and Mrs. Hardy at Hemsted-park, Staplehnret. Lady Molesworth has left town on a visit to the Right lion. Sir Robert and Lady Emily Peel at Drayton Manor. S&CRZD HARMONIC SOCIETY, EXITER-HALL. Tin thirtyeirth annual Christmas performance of Han dell Messiah takes puss this (Friday) evening. Princi pal ,aeali ts:—.Madam FlmrrineVen, Madame &Anton by, Mr. G. Perna, and Signor Foli. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. • THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION. We find the following amongst the " latest news" of La Liberte : The Austrian government has meeived a despatch from its Consul-General in Alexandria, informing it of the suspension of the English Expedition, in consequence of a declaration of the Emperor Theodora, that he was ready to yield to the demands of England. We pub lish (it adds) this news, under reserve. THE POLITICAL SITUATION. The Avenir National says : "From the moment of the second expedition to Rome and more particularly since the commentary upon it of 81. Rouher's ' never,' events have been hastening on in the East of Europe. We were the first to announce the minis. terial crisis in St. Petersburg and the possible advent of General Ignatieff, the representative of a policy of action, to the post occupied by Prince Gortchakoff, who held the opinion that it was wiser to pursue for some time longer the secret operations of Russia amongst the Greek and Solave populations. It is certain that the general has been ordered to St. Petersburg by Alexander 11. We do not conclude from this that the Milk may end in his triumph, for it is possible that Prince Gortchakoff may adopt the ideas of the general and that the latter may return to Constantinople. But in either case Russia is about to abandon the policy of meditation which she has followed for the last ten years. In doing the business of the Pope-king our diplomacy and the Cheese pot have without knowing or wishing it, done the business of the Emperor-Pope. The resumption of hostilities in Crete is authenticated and there are reports—from a Greek source it is true—that the insurgents have obtained advantages in the last encounters. What gives importance to the resumption of the Candiote insurrection is the cir cumstance that Montenegro and Service have adopted a policy decidedly hostile to Turkey. The Vienna Wanderer states that there are two Montenegrin envoys in Constan tinople. For what They have gone to demand in the most menacing tone what is now called a rectification of frontiers, that is to say, an extension of territory at the expense of the Sultan-Pope. In case of refusal, they are instructed to declare that they will maintain their demand by arms, and that they reckon on the aid of the Servians. It is much more probable that they rely on the support of the Russians. The Courrier d'Oricnt of the 11th informs us that the Russian General Boecicroff, accompanied by several officers of engineers, arrived recently in Philippe poll. Eli mission is to make a geographical map of two provinces which would admirably suit Russia—Bulgaria and Thrace. The apparent object is of course &scientific one. The Cur is such a lover of geography ! In the pre sence of these circumstances it is easy to understand why he is making fresh military sacrifices. According to the Gazzetta d'ltalia the young men inscribed in the first cate gory of the class of 1846 are to be called under arms — which will increase the effective of the army by 50,000. England, on her aide, is preparing to augment her mini. sons of Malts and Gibraltar. The military preparations in Service are so considerable as to attract attention of Austria. The official journal of Servia has published a note on this matter which gives but little satisfaction to Austria, and leaves but small hope to those who believe in maintaining the ;data quo in the East. (azurines TZLEGRAMIL) WAR IN THE BRAZILS. PARIS, Rae. 20. The Moniteur of this morning states in its bulletin that, on the 3rd of November the Paraguayans carried the allied camp by storm, but, not having taken the necessary precautions, they were attacked in their turn, and driven back with great loss. Their object was, however, partly attained, as they had time to destroy the enemy's magazines, and to spike a number of their guns. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. EXTRAORDINARY TRIAL FOR ADULTERY. (1 , 8031 ova OWN CORRESPONININT.) PARIS, THURSDAY EVENING. An adultery case extraordinary has just been tried in Paris. The injured husband, who had in 1866 obtained a sentence of six months' imprison ment against his wife, which imprisonment she suffered at Dunkirk, found out that she gave birth to a child while in prison, and a comparison of dates proved to his mind that he was not the father. Thereupon he determined to prosecute his wife a second time, but ho also wished to in clude in his vengeance the partner of her guilt, and though he had pregnant suspicions it was not easy to prove that M. Jules G-- was the man in I question. In order to get evidence the husband dictated to a public letter writer an epistle purporting to come from an intimate friend of the suspected Jules, and addressed to the wife. In this letter she was instructed that in order to divert suspicion from Jules, the best thing she could do was to write a letter, ante-dated, at an address, designated to a suppositious person named Joseph Delrieux, in- which she should speak of being enceinte by him. The wife fell into the trap. Here are two of her letters, which, as specimens of the result of education before M. Duruy's lectures for young ladies were invented, are worthy the atten tion of the Bishop of Orleans : Dunkirk, April 28,1867. My dear Joseph Amidst all my troubles a new and terrible one has come upon me. The month of December has ever been fatal to me. I must no longer hesitate to tell you that my weakness has brought forth its fruits, and I am now in a sad position, I shall soon be a mother. What will become of me? There will be no means of escaping from the fury of my husband when he knows of the birth of the child. Oh! my dear Joseph, I cannot tell you what I suffer. lam in despair when I think of my family and my poor mother.—All yours, she who ever loves you, O. mime L. The next letter, addressed in equally passionate and glowing terms, to the same imaginary person age, and dated several months before the time of its composition, was thus worded : Dunkirk, April 30. My very dear Joseph,—Sins our meeting in December, I cannot express all the anguish I have felt. I would not believe the truth for a long while. But there is no doubt now. lam eneiente. Oh ! my dear Joseph, I cannot get this dreadful thought out of my head. My husband's fury will know no bounds. I have lately heard that he is taking steps to find you out. Be easy ; I will take care that you shall be kept in the background. Rely on my discretion. Adieu, my good Joseph. Write to me soon. I embrace you as I love you. O. ?moo L. On the strength of these documents the husband instituted a new prosecution against his wife, in which he included M. Jules G—. The court, however, held the fraudulently acquired letters evidence against the wife, but not against the ao compile°, whom the husband thought to entrap. He has therefore lost his pains. He has to pay the costs of suit against M. Jules, and though he has a new judgment of six months' imprisonment against his wife, that will not satisfy his vengeance. Some time ago a tradesman named Buechy, passing at night along the new Boulevard Males herbes, fell into an excavation ma le for the forma tion of a drain, and was so much injured that he died shortly afterwards. His widow brought an action for damages against M. Valette, the con tractor for the works, and the Prefect of the Seine. The Tribunal of First Instance held that the death of Buechy had been caused by the neglect to put up a railing along the edge of the excavation, and that the question whether he was imprudent or not need not be gone into, as he had a right to consider himself in safety while walking along a public highway. The tribunal decreed that Valette, the contractor, and the Prefect of the Seine should jointly pay the widow 2,000 fr. down and an annuity LIBERAL DEMONSTRATION AT MALDON. A liberal demonstration of some importance took piece at Malden Essex , yesterday ( Thursday ) evening. The chair was o ccupied by Sir T. B. WILSTIRN. M.P. for North Essex, who was supported by Mr. J. A. Hardcastle, M.P. for Bury St. Edmunds ; Sir T. F. Buxton, M.P. for Lynn ; Mr. C. Buxton, M.P. for East Surrey ; and Mr. J. Gordon Behove, M.P. for Colchester. Mr. A. Trollope, the distinguished novelist, was also among the company, as well as Mr. Alderman Mesh'. The tone of the speeches was strongly in favour of a close allegiance to Mr. Glad stone, as the leader of the liberal party, while the incon sistency of the conservatives in departing from the old traditions of their party and violating their pre vious profession was strongly commented upon. Mr. C. Buxton, M.P., looked somewhat to the future, and observed that the waking parliament, more responsive to popular impulses, would increase the emery, and, if he might use the phrase, the velocity of legislation. Some how, during the list few years, our rulers appeared to have suffered from a sort of paralysis of will ; but now we might fairly expect to see courageous legislation. The meeting was also addressed by Mr. Sutton Western, the late liberal member for Ml don, and also by Capt ain Luard, R.N., Mr. Johnstone, and other gentlemen. It was stated that great attention was being paid to the registration in the liberal interest both in South Essex and also in the new division of North-east Essex. In South Essex it was an nounced that the prospects of the liberals had improved to such an extent that it was hoped and expected that at the next general election the present conservative members would be improved off the scene altogether. At another period A the evening it wee, however, admitted that it was impossible at present to say what the effect of the reform WLITHER REPORT.-(THIS DAY.) FIIDAY, DICIII - 0111 20, 8 LX N.N.W. Barometer corrected and reduced to 32 deg. at sea leveL The letters r aideg), I (telling), s (steady), Indicate direction of d =knea the.merc rywithin last 12 hours. Thermometer exposed in shade. Extreme force, with Redirection during last 24 hours. Z.—calm. Weather: h. bine sty; c.— clouds (detached) ; 2. fog; ; I—lightning; (hazy) ; o.—orsrcast (dull) ; r.—rain; s.—snow; t. —thunder. Rain fall, snow or hall melted during last 24 hours. Bea disturbance. REMkRK& Pale Sherry. Sherry. In the west of Ireland there has been a small decrease la baro metrical pressure since yestenlay. In other districts an increase is noticed, amounting at the eastern stations to upwards of 3-I!.the of an inch. Temperatures are variable, and increase is shows In the SW. of Ireland, where the temperature is consider ably higher than in Scotland or ou our south coast. Winds are vety variable In character: at Valentla a very strong westerly wind is reported, whilst at all other stations light winds or calm 1 1 now prevail. Fog and mist have been very prevalent, and snow has fallen at some stations In the north and east. THE LORD CHANCELLOR'S LIVES/U.—Four years have now elapsed since the act for the augmentation of benefices in the gift of the Lord Chancellor came into ope ration. In that period 03 of the poorer advowsons have been sold, and 10 of the livings of a clear yearly value of 2001. or more. Among the present year's sales of the former class is the advowson of West Newton, Norfolk, purchased by the Prince of Wales for 1,2001 . The total amount of the purchase-money of the advowsona sold is 174,0091., including 5,450/. secured by rent charges or land. The amount received from sales of the higher class of livings under the 23rd and 24th sections of the act has enabled the Lord Chancellor to apply 20,9001. in augmen tation of other livings and grants for parsonage houses, and to appropriate a further sum of 9,8001. for the like purposes under a scheme of last May to meet benefactions provided from other sources. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. —The performances of Italian opera, which should have been given next spring and summer at the late Opera•house in the Haymarket, will be held at Drury-lane Theatre, an agreement having been concluded to that effect between Mr. Mapleson and Mr. Frederick ft. Chatterton, lessee and manager of the lest-named establishment. _ - - - KLLB AND BEQUESTS .—The will of Marquise Etiennette Marie Catherine Charlotte d'Aligre de Foment' was proved in London under 80,000/. personalty in Eng land ; that of the Right lion. Lady Eliz ab eth Anne Smyth, daughter of the fourth Duke of Grafton, K.G., under 7,000/.; and that of Anne Maria Lady Colquhoun, 16,000/. The will of the Right Rev. John Lona dale. D.D., Lord Bishop of Lichfield, of Eccle. shall Castle, Stafford, was proved in the registry at Lichfield by his two eons, the Rev. James Gylby Lona dale, M.A., of King's College ; and the Rev. John Gylby Lonsdale, M.A., Canon of Lichfield, the joint acting executors. The personalty was sworn under 90,0001. The , will is dated March 17,1804 and his lordship died, 0ct.19, 1867, at the age of 79. He ias devised his freehold estate at Everton to his eldest son, James, and leaves him the plate presented to his lordship on his leaving St. George's, Bloomsbuii, as well as that presented to him on leaving King's College, of which he was principal. He has left pecuniary legacies to both his sons and his three doubters. The residue of his property he leaves equally amongst them, as well as the property under his marriage settlement. The will of Samuel Hibbert, Esq., of 2, Sussex-terrace, Hyde-park, and of Billiter-court, under the firm of Hibbert and Co., West India merchants, was proved in the London Court under 90,0001. personalty. The will of the Rev. Thomas Forster, M.A., of New College, University of Oxford, was proved in the district registry of Oxford b&C is atherine Ann Forster, the relict ; Francis Bellinger, .of Lower Clapton, and the Rev. George Cribb Rolfe, , .A., of Halley, the executors and trustees. The personalty was sworn under 10,000/. After making bequests to his brother and a few friends, and a legacy of 50/. to the society founded by Dr. Cotton, Arch- deacon of Cashel—the proceeds arising therefrom to be distributed every Christmas amongst six poor widows of Coadneton—he leaves the residue of ! his property to his wife fur her life ; and after her &oases he leaves to his executors, Mr. Bellinger, 2001., and Mr. • Rolfe, 1001., and to the son of the latter (the testator's godson), Thomas Forster Rolfe, M. ; also the following charitable bequests : —Radcliffe Infirmary, 1001.; the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1001. ; and , the Church Missionary S.Jciety, 100/. ; the residue to be equally divided between the three following institutions :—The Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy, Clergy Orphan Society, and the Friends of the Clergy Corporation. The wills of the un dermentioned have also been proved :—George Thomson, Esq., 120,0001. personalty ; Thomas Sedgwick Summers, Esq., 80,0001. ; .Alfred W. Beall., Esq., 40,000/. ; John Grifllths,Esq., 35,0001. ; John Sills Charlton, of Tunbridge Wells, 30,0001. ; and John Modena, of Croydon, 60,0001. Mr. Morland has left legacies to the Peace Society and the Friends' School atCroydon.-17lustrated London lime. THE HUNTING FIELD DCRINO THE PAST MONTH. —Ever since the first of this month (December) sharp frosts have sadlyinterfered with scent and "good riding." , From Leicestershire we hear that about the 12th the treat ' broke, and disappeared to a great extent, and the ground was in tolerably good condition everywhere for good riding, but up to the date it was rather hard in places. but, on the whole, there was not much very bad going. From South Berke we hear great complaints as to the badness of scent, which seems to have been the great cause of trouble, now that the frost has become less severe. In North Staffordshire Jack Frost fixed his icy fetters upon everything for nine or ten days, and thus completely stopped all &anus of sport ; milder weather ha • op portunely come in his stead, very capital runs have been enjoyed. It would be of very little interest to further specify each district from which we have received from our correspondents accounts similar to the above. But we are rejoiced to find that a "southerly wind and a cloudy s." have for the peat week proclaimed hunting mornings. We do not ;mums to foretell what the sky is going to do, or prophesy as to weather forecasts. but, if we may hazard a guess, there is not, so far as we can judge, any sign of a severe or lengthened frost.—land and Wafer, Dec. 21. HORSE-EATING. The first serious attempt at horse-eating in Eng land took place last night, when 22 gentlemen sat down to an elaborate banquet at a leading Wort-and hotel. This banquet has been in course of preparation for months, and considerable pains were taken to malt* it anceeadol. The horse was the gift of one of the diners, who has personally superintended its diet and regimen ever since its fate was determined on, who rode it into town last Saturday, and had it killed "on approved principles" two d►ys later. The cook was the most celebrated artist of the day ; the dinner wee presided over by a well-known and accomplished public man ; and the church, the bar, the bench, physic, literature, science, the arts, the Royal and the other learned societies, were all represented among the people dining. We subjoin the bill of fare, which may possibly become historical, and from which it will be seen that, although horse flesh was served in great variety, it was supplemented by the ordinary dishes of a wall-served French dinner: LE DINER DU 10 Duoltubau, POIAOZ. Le Consomme de &erg aux Qttenelles. A la puree de Alum POISSON& Rudeshehner Le Turbot i la Hollandaise. and Les note de Eamon 1 la Tartare. Amontillado. BO!IB.D . GOTUS. Les Sauclseesjeeliejai aux plataches. Lae Crepinettes de Cheval aux traffes. Amontillado. les ciu7nThes de 'Vol. Lea petite; Woilstades sills it la Valemony. I Is Moelle. Lea CateJetta Ala Du- Lea Escalopes aux tines chew. herbal Champagne. LOB Fllsta de Perdreaux lacelnole il la I la puree de Chataigneu Poloaalss. L DiiirdeTliPixigustu. Molt. Le Jambon aux fovea L Belledellouton rode. (=VAL. Le Mot *pat rdtl 1 la Pobrade. la Culotte de Choral bralaile au: Chintz SECOND SERVICE. Beaune Is Canards Sausages retia. Les Italians retis. Let Choux-de-mer k la Sauce. Amontillado Is Mayonaists de itomard Sandie de choral. and Les Gateaux de Comptigne. Liqueurs Les Macedoine' de Netts. Les bombes Glades. DINIUST. Les Bad= Les Poiret. Larose. Ls Pommy. Les Oranges. Les NM: Is Avelines. IA - • Les Gateaux. GLAM. De Fraley; ► lean. DOranges i la Cintra. We may say at once that the dinner was eminently sue• cesaful, and that it was the unanimous opinion of all pre sent that the horse-flesh portions of it were as unexoeption ablyexoellent se the rest. Althoughhippophagisteof twenty years' standing were among the company, the majority had not tasted horse before, and every dish of it was sub jected to searching and severe tests. The animal eaten last night was more than 18 year. old, but the meat was tender and succulent, and when, after the sonpnand made dishes had been discussed and approved, the braised joint came on, and the flavour of the meat, undisguised and un aided by sauces or condiments, was tasted, the verdict was even more enthusiastic than before. There is, in fact, little to distinguish horse from other forms of animal food. Its taste is something between beef and fawn, and as afillet or cutlet it will compare favourably with any other meat. Of course the party last night were disposed to be critical, and from the appearance of the soup to the departure of the joint every mouthful was discussed in a grave and judicial spirit as became men who were trying an experiment from which im portant remits were expected. At first there was a little suspicious politeness in pressing the dishes upon neighbours as if to gain opinions without personal know ledge. The soup was smelt and sipped half-timorously, close questions were put as to " which made-Intl—horse or no horse—was being served now ;" bat the cheerful and steady example of the experienced was contagious, and in the end all present ate heartily and enjoyed much. The conversation ran on horse-eating, the speeches bore strictly upon the same subject, and the practical effect of introducing horse as an article of English food would be, it was maintained, to place a nourishing animal diet within the reach of thousands to whom meat is an unat tainable luxury now. In Perim horseflesh is sold at two- pence a pound, and as the age of a horse does not affect its fitness for the table, the advocates of the new food main tain that animals past work have but to be properly cared for to make first-rate butcher's meat when killed. The horses now devoted to the nourish ment of dogs and cats are in an enlightened future to feed men and women ; and ► horse patty, or sir loin, or " saddle," is to become as common and acknow ledged as a hone sausage is common and unacknowledged now. The experimentalists of last night invite their friends to follow their example, and by putting horse upon their own tables to make it a familiar article of food, and so to abolish the strong repugnance entertained by those un acquainted with its juicy merits. So long as this exists it will be in vain to advocate Its use, and,as these gastronomic philosophers insist upon the moral and material maven tans to be gained from the introduction of hone as an extra article of food, it is probable that the pri vate dinner of yesterday will be followed by a public entertainment on a larger scale. The first step has been taken, and the principal obstacles over come. And no one can appreciate the difficulties beset ting such a meeting as last night who has not tried to run counter to a well-established British prejudice. When the horse—a sturdy grey, 13 hands high—was given, and had been properly fed up, butcher after butcher refused to slaughter it, on the ground that "if the hide or hoofs were seen coming out of the slaughterhouse it would be their ruin." When a butcher had been found chivalrous enough to agree to run this risk, the hotel-keepers of Lon don refused to have the dinner at their house. The mere mention of the word " horse" converted civility into con tempt, and all arguments as to the harmlessness of the proposed banquet, and the admirable qualities of the meat to be used, were met by point-blank refusals and a eigni limit motion to the door. It was only through the supe rior enlightenment of the celebrated artist under whose auspices the dinner of yesterday was served that the experiment could be tried at all, and even now it is not considered desirable to publish the name of the hotel, lest the fear of its proprietors should be realised, and its custom flag, because a handful of scientific men were per mitted to try an interesting gastronomic experiment, and to dine as they pleased. Other proofs are not wanting of the deeply-rooted prejudice against horse prevailing among those who eat as well as those who serve dinners, among the tradesman who sell and the customers who buy 1 food. The streets surrounding the butcher who killed the hone are already liberally placarded with notices in which that fact is stated, as a warning to the neighbourhood; and a hostile knacker threatens legal proceedings under the act prohibiting horse-killing in London save at autho rimed places. The passage in Deuteronomy, and its con demnation of animals which do not divide the hoof ; the travellers' tales of starvation culminating in horse-eating ; the sentimental objection that devouring "the friend of man" has about it something cannibalic ; the jests on finding eggs in mare's nests, and on putting the " bits " of horses into human mouths, are among the forms of opposition of which the advocates of horn-eating complain. It is unnecessary to hazard any prophecy concerning the result of their efforts, or to weigh the objections against the advantages of hale-fhmk as an article of food; the matter has been practically and slur wailfully launched, and will now stand or fall upon its merits. The one fact about which there can be no sort of doubt is that the horse can be made both palatable and appetising, and that in a little society, which numbered at least one eminent gourmand in its ranks, opinion was unanimous as to its succulence, delicacy, and flavour. ZooLooicsi. Somerr.—At the monthly general meeting held yesterday at the society's house in Hanover square, Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., in the chair, the Hon. Frederick Walpole, the Hon. Chas. White, M.P., General Thos. M. Taylor, Captain John Woolmore Smith, Captain John Hopkins, Mrs. George W. Hughes D'Aeth, and Messrs. Henry T. Harrison, Henry S. Welsh Thornton, Herrmann Lang, Alfred G. Kemp, Robt. T. Firebnee, Gilead A. Smith, Chas. Robt. Bree, William W. \Vbelpley, Sand. W. Smith, Sand. D. Penrose, Henry Smith. Alexander N. Shenon, Jas. Drew, Allen Young, Henry Lee, John Bentley, George H. Strutt, Henry A. Glass, Edward Crabb, Edward S. Knipe, Thoe. H. Ferrer, and Edwd. T. Hierins, were elected Fellows ; and the Count Thomas Salvador', M.D. of Turin; M. Alfred Grandidier, of Bret*ny ; and Commander Hugh H. Knocker, R.N., of H.M.S. Alert, corresponding mem men of the society. Nineteen candidates for the fellow ship were pr op osed, and ordered to be balloted for at the next monthly meeting of the society. LAW INTELLIGENCE. (THIS DAY.) COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH. After term Nisi Prins sittings at Guildltsll—(Before the Lord Chief Justice sad a Special Jury.) WA/WS V. WAVIER, The fusible hearing of this case, which was an action against the Times for libel, was resumed this morning. c llte_eiintiff again appeared in person, the Attorney. Mr. Coleridge, Q.C., and /Ir. Wood were counsel for t he The plaintiff wished to correct a mistake made yester day in his evidence. On referring to the printed state. went he read from in opening his case he found that it does not contain the obnoxious epithet he applied to Mr. Delane. The Attorney-General, in opening the defendant's cue, said he had been informed by the plaintiff that he was un. able to find copies of the letters he forwarded to the Earl of Derby and Mr. Walpole, but he had found a copy of that which he forwarded to Mr. Cardwell. In that letter he refers to the appointment of Sir F. Kelly as Solicitor. General as a disreputable dodge. In conclusion he trusted Mr. Cardwell would consider it to be his duty to let him know, firstly, the party who proposed to Sir Robert Peel to refer the question; secondly, the names of those to whom it was referred ; thirdly, the terms of the reference ; and fourthly, the award. The learned counsel then said the action was brought against Mr. Walter, one of the proprietors of the Tintes, and it was for him and him alone that he had to make a defence. When the plaintiff said he had certain reasons for not em ploying counsel he had not the &lightest doubt of its on neatness, and he (the Attorney-General) would add another, viz., that it would have been impossible for the plaintiff to have found a practising counsel who would have been so licentious and so ignorant of the rules of evidence as to de liver a six hours' speech sallying noblemen and gentlemen who were not parties to the action, and mixing up names which ought never to have been mentioned in this ease. He was not there to make any excuse for Earl Russell, the Lord Chancellor, or Lord St. Leonard. not meeting the plaintiff in a cou rt of justice. They and the Lord Chief Baron were the guardians of their own honour, and if they thought the pamphlets which the plaintiff had circulated over the country were such that they could treat with the contempt which they deserved they were perfectly entitled to take that course. The liberty of speech permitted to a counsel had never been more fearfully abused than by the plaintiff in his remarks, and it then became his (the Attorney-General's) duty to cell their attention to what it was the plaintiff complained of. His chief complaint was that an accurate report had been published of the debate in the House of Lords, which the plaintiff had instigated. It was justifiable on the part of the Times to publish the debate, and the plaintiff had no right to complain of it, although the observations reflected upon him. The plaintiff in early life had known the Lord Chief Baron, then Mr. Kelly, who had been his polineal opponent in at least one contested election. In 1835 the plaintiff and Mr. Kelly had contested Ipswich upon different politica, and an election petition was the result. In the course of an address which Mr. Kelly was com pelled to make to the committee in his defence inconsequence of the absence of his leading counsel he made certain state ments which in 1887 were used as the groundwork of the petitions to the houses of parliament. Between these times Mr. Kelly had become eminent in his profession, and he was appointed Solicitor and Attorney-General by , Sir R. Peel and Earl Derby. In July 1886, upon the retirement of Sir Frederick Pollock, Sir Fitzroy Kelly was appointed Lord Chief Baron,and after that appointment the pinntiff wrote letters to certain eminent personages i for information upon which to petition both houses of parliament to address the crown to remove Sir Fitzroy Kelly from the judicial bench. Before the plaintiff pre sented his petition, he knew very well, having himself been an M P., that its contents would be the subject of debate, and would be faithfully reported the following morning in all the morning papers. It was unnecessary to inquire into the truth or false ho od of the charges con • tained in the petition. [The ease was proceeding when our report left.] THE POLICE COURTS. (THIS DAY.) GUILDHALL. In consequence of the notice issued yesterday by the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor at the Mansion-house, and the intimation by Mr. Alderman Lusk , M.P., at this justice room, that arrangementa had been made for swearing in special constables for the City of London, the Lord Mayor, accompanied by Sir B. W. Carden, assisted by an efficient staff of clerks, attended at the comptroller's office in the Guildhall entry at 10 o'clock this morning for that purpose. The numbers, however, who responded to the public appeal in the cause of law and order increased so steadily, and at last so rapidly that the room in which the chief magistrate and his colleague sat was found not sufficient to accommodate all the loyal gentlemen who tendered themselves to be .worn, and in • very short time the yard wee thronged with every prospect of a continuona stream up to the hour of closing for the day. ILUILBOROUGH-STREET. isazurrox HET THIEVES._ Two rough-looking fellows, named Eiro rd Cummings and James ThOIIUIS, were charged lo foie Mr. Benson as suspected persons loitering for the purpose of committing a felony. Polioe-constable William Gordon, :33 C, said that shortly before 1 o'clock that morning he was in Wardour-street, and saw the prisoners in a door way. He followed them, being in plain clothes at the time, into Berwick-street, and saw them go into three or four doorways, and fumble at the doors. He afterwards followed them into Oxford-street, and saw them try the door of No. 410, and on their leaving be followed them until he saw another constable, and he then caught hold of Cummings, and on the other constable going to lay hold of Thomas, he darted off and placed his back against a shop, and at the same time he (Gordon) heard the noise of something chink in the railings. He produced two skeleton keys, given to him by • person named Warren, and also a cap which he found in Cummings' pocket. The prisoners when taken into custody said they had done nothing. He knew them both as notorious thieves. Police-constable Bloated Webb, 112 C, said that on going to take hold of Thomas be made off and then went and placed himself against the shop of Mr. Young, a hatter, and a gentleman came up to him (Webb) and said " He has done you—they are down the area Wm. Warren, errandboy to Mr. Young, batter, of Or ford-street, said that at 8 o'clock he found a key down the area, and some time after two others, and he gave them to the officer Gordon. Thomas said that Gordon had put the keys down the area to get up a charge against him. Mr. Benson remanded the prisoners. SOUTHWARK. 1)008 THAT BITL. Thomas Rockeit, in the emploof the Chmingerose Railway Company, residing at 7 , Bentham-street, Toeley streets was summoned before Mr. Burcham for unlawfully suffenng a certain ferocious dog to be at large without being muzzled. Mr. Neale speared for the: complainant and Mr. Edwin for the defendant. Dennis Callaghan, • greengrocer, carrying on business at 101, Tooley-street, said on Friday afternoon, the tkil ult., be was standing at his door with one of his young children, who had some bread and butter in her hawk, when the defendant's dog came up to the child and made a snap at it. Fearing the child might be injured he put his left hand to push the dog off while he polled the child back with the other. The dog then flew at him and bit him severely an the left thumb and then ran off. Witness instantly proceeded to Guy's Hospital where the wound was cauterised and bandaged up. He had since been in great pain from the bite, and was compelled to keep poultices on at times. In answer to Mr. Edwin witness said that be never pro. coked the dog, neither did the child. He hid no doubt ibe dog flew at his child to get the bread and butter. Mr. Burchiuu asked what sort or a dog it was Mr. Edwin said it was merely • little lap dog, and not M all ferocious. Complainant informed his worship that it was • mongrel sort of • dog. snapping at everybody in the streets. Several witness., were called in support of the com plainant, when Mr. Edwin contended that the dog was not ferocious, and the complainant's thumb was merell scratched by putting it into the dog's mouth. Ho ca ll ed several witnesses, when Mr. Bayamon observed that these small snarling dogs wereagreat nuisance snapping at anyone coining near them. The case bad been clearly proved, therefore he should fine the defendant 20.. and eats. The money was immediately paid. WANDSWORTH. THE RAFFLE QUESTION —IIIPoLITAN'T Henry Brigdest, the landlord of the Horse and Creme beer-shop, Tooting, was summoned for suffering an me lawful game to take place in his house—to wit, a raffle , ' contrary to the tenure of his license. The defendant pleaded guilty. He said he had a 14 which was too large for his own consumption, and be raffled it. la reply to the magistrate, Inspector Bushnell, wbe attended to support the summons, said a raffle was a goo of chance, but he never had a case before. Mr. Layman thought a raffle was like • lottery, whirl was not a game. Every year there were thousands . 1 raffles, and more especially at Christmas time, but be Ili not remember any conviction. There were some faring which were illegal, but whether • raffle came under 0 0 Lottery Act be was not aware. The summons was ford offence against the tenure of the defendant's fiesses, Now, a lottery was not a game for • game must be Ora between persons who need not be present at a raffle. The defendant said he had been 14 years in busiest and this was the first complaint against him. Mr. Delman said it is • dry point point of law w betle! a raffle is a game. It seemed to him to be very odd tblo there bad been • ease decided, raffles should not have bete stopped. Persons playing against one another would le playing at • game. Blrittles is • game, and even dowse ° N.W. LTNIZ. N.W. W.S.W. N. W.N.W. N. N.W. N. N. W. N.W.