The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-09-11 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS,

13RITISII AND FOREIGN.

The number of volunteers who have already an-
nounced their intention of being present at the Belgian fStee
exceeds 1,000.
The money sent to the Chancellor of the Exchequer
fir conscience take in the financial year ending March, 1869,
amounted to 5.4,191. ln the preceding year the amouut was
4.4,1938.
The New York correspondent of the Scotsman says :
--s1 singled to say that with one voice the American news.
papers refuse to place the slightest credence in Mrs. Barnet
Beecher "town's shameful story concerning Lord Byron, and
reprove her In no measured terms for her bad tame in con-
necting her own name with • statement so loathsome and
horrible."
A facetious tradesman in Worcester, after having re-
pestedif announced that he was "selling off," has now pla-
carded his house with bills that he Is "selling on !"
" Bscchus" seems decidedly to pay better than
Mars, for within the last two years over twenty officers have
retired from the army and entered the wine trade.
A sharp iralusfrisl crisis in feared in Paris. For
several years past crowds of workmen have been attracted to
Paris by high wages, and as most of the building was done
by contract under hem time penalties the workmen were
masters et the situation. Matters are now changing, con-
tracts are few, worlimea are many, and masters are obdu-
rate, and the commencement of a difficulty palpable for
years past is said to be at hand.
A terrible catastrophe took place at Ulm, in Wur-
temburg, a few days back. The members of a Catholic asso-
ciation were making an excursion on the Bas,uhn in three
large boats lashed together, aa I+ sometimes done on that
river, when the vessel., being suddenly caught lathe current,
wide dashed ai:ain,t the piles of a mill and upset. Out of
50 persons on board more than 20 were drowned.
Mr. Jefferson's "Rip Van Winkle" has so de-
lighted his countrymen that be is asked to Mnbl a
thoatre of Ids own, and go on acting Rip " for thirty yeses.
Some of hie critics complain bitterly ot his audiences, who
laugh Itatileat at the actor's most pathetic expressions I
Speaking at the Sheffield Cutlers' Feast last week,
the Marquis of Hartington referred to the task which lay
before the Government in the ensuing session in dealing with
the Irish land question. He expressed a hope that the sub-
ject might he debated with as little as possible or political
feeling, for it was one which had never been made the battle-
ground of party Men were comparatively unpledged. and
statesmen of visions opinions had shown an honest disposi-
tion to grapple with the difficulties which aurrounded this
highly important matter.
The TOW publishes a long letter from its corre-
spondent on boatd the 494f/t0•11, describing the voyage of
tie Lords of the Admiralty and the ironclad squadron from
Plymouth Sound to Gibraltar. The evoluqous made with
the ships during the voyage were, he states, merely pre-
liminary to the more important evolutions that will be made
o 1110 c,mlitneil fleets during the next portion of the cruise
Wane° Gibraltar and Lisbon,
On Saturday an inqueet wan held at Leeds on the
body of • girl named Harker. A few days prevensly the
deceased became sees ilk and a surgeon who was summoned
found that her sufferings were canned by her hainng swallowed
some of the poisonous sends or posit of the laburnum, which
she had obtained in the gmden attached to her father's
house. The remedies applied were hieff, coral in preserving
Isle, and, after enduring much pain, the girl died on Friday.
A verdict that she hail been accidentally poisoned in the
inamer described was returned.
The New York papers of the 20th of August an-
pounce the arrival, ill that city, of C.ptain Shaw, the chief
of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, on a tour of Wanted. ai to
examine the wekii.ge of the different fire departments in
the proicipal cities of the United States. The cumin asioners
i.f the New Yolk fire department, on the 19115, waded their
engines and flrimen far Captain Shaw's inspection The
engines were formed in a line, and the alacrity and discipline
with which they were worked sod maateurred, elicited his
highest prase sad oommewirtions.

The market continues dull, at 401. 9d. for Y t . on the spot
47e. 191. for October-December, 47a. 91. for December, Ce rid
or January to March, and 47. 94. for Ma-ch. Tow., tallow
II quoted at 491. 64. sot sash.

. on the spot
ad. for December, 475 01
- 475. WI for Mach. Town tallow
las (U. iallt sash.