The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-06-26 00:00:00

THE STOTTRI3RIDGE OBSERVER.

Okla NON or NAMIL—One Of the gentlemen to
be ill ,minated for the Ofhee of Sheriff of London and
'1 thilestex for the ensuing year bears the name if
Valentin. The election takes place on the 24th,
known in tOe Calendar as Midautumer Day, but
which will this year be commonly spoken of in the
City as Valentisi'm day !—Punch.
LORD SHAFTESBURY AND THE LATE " DlVl-
illoel."—'rhe'EarV of Shaftesbury writes to the Record
explaining his silence in the recent debate on the Irish
Church Bill. He says
In the whole aoureetefiroy life there has been no subject on
which Oink been mere ansious to say what I felt ; but a
recent less he death Of • sister detained me from the Ithuse,
sllli when pu Friday I went down, having had an assurarce
that an oe&ortunity would he reserved for me, I found that
the list of speakers was arranged for the entire evening to
attempt the disturbance of such an arrangement would have
been unbecoming on my part, and I was shut out from re-
cording a protest—and the will of the nation, expressed both
on the Suspensory Bill and at the general election, had
reduced the Constitutional action of the House of Lords to
nothing but • protest—againat the most momentous measure
that. except In times of revolution, was ever submitted to the
deliberation of a Legislature.
RAPID OCEAN S f EAMlNG.—Collaiderable interest
was excited in the month of February het by the fact
of the Cunard stearnahip Russia, Captain ("ink, and
the /wenn steamer City of Paris, Captain Kennedy,
both iron screw vessels of great speed, having left New
York for Queenstown in the same day, and within a
short tigne of each other, and heavy bets were made
in Liverpool on the result. The City of Paris on that
oceagion gained 42 minutes on her great rival, she
having made the voyage across the Atlantic in 8 days
10 hours 23 minutes, and the Russia in 8 days 20 hours
5 minutes, the distance from New York to Queens.
town being about 2,855 miles. A similar race has just
amideritally occurred Letween the City of Parisi and
the North German Lloyd screw ateamehip Main,
Captain Oterendorp, both these magnificeut vemels
having left New York on the sth inst., within
an hour and a half of each other, the Inman steamer
having this start. The Main gilt to sea at 5.15 p.m.
on that day, when the City of Paris was already out of
night; at ex o'clock the next morning the two vessels
were abreast of eich tither; at seven pan. the Main
was ten miles ahead; at daylight on the 7th she was
15 miles ahead, and at noun on that day lost sight of
the Ciro of Paris, the weather being fine, with a clear
sky. From this time the two steamers continued their
respective voyages without again sighting each other.
The Main passed the Needles, en route for South-
ampton, at 11.15 a ni. 01 the 15th inst., the City of
Paris having arrived off Queenstown at 12.15 a.m. on
the sonic day.
to New York bylehtLlV2rtBOonf ii(ller or 2t42'l7urbs'`isntgealu7rin'gr,
than Southampton the Main, had her destination been
Queenstown, would have arrived there at 1.15 p.m. on
the 14th inst. ; and as she left New York an hour
and a half later there was a result in her fa, air of
125 hours over the celebrated Inman steamer. Neither
c. or pany permits any racing, but every art of seaman-
ship was doubtless exercised on board tooth vessels.
PLOUGHING MATCH IN FRANCE.—Near the
ancient city of Aix, formerly the capital town of Pro-
vence, but now in the departinent .of the Bunches do
Rhone, an important :tap icultural meeting (cur...ours re-
SUICIDE IN THE. CHA s NEL. The coroner for Mono!) came off last week. The main feature of int,
Plymouth has held an iriquiry into the e inutematuces rest was the competition in ploughs and subsoilers. The
tg tending the deal h of John Pat ne, a young man French makers Put
.forth all their ntrength, but in both
about twenty-live years of age. The de-easel was a cases, .after an exciting contest, they hail to succumb
• senger on bond the slap Caldera, from London, to their English rivals, the Howard. lif Bedford,. who
Irffinl to Fable Bay. He was very imeinpet at, for a carried off both gold medals and the money prize as
few data before the ship sailed, and during the voyage well.
he continued to °rink hard. One of the wine an TUN EMPEROR'S VISIT TO TIIE CAMP OF CHALONS.
stated that the deceased drank upwards of ten bottles _The Nord says his itlajeety'a principal object is to
of spirit during the week's voyage! On Sunday morn- examine the new military the, icy shout to be put into
ing a friend ot the deceased was expostulating with him practice. The platoon and battalion drill are to be
for drieking so freely, when he suddenly struck him modified; the deep trier loin general suppressed, and
several blows, rushed on to the deck and springing on the thickness of the ranks will be sacrificed to their
the bulwarks, plunged into the water. A boat was greater extent. The line of battle may thus become of
immediately lowered, and after searching for over an greater length, 81111 the attacks may be much more
hour, his body was recovered al•out a wile and a half divided. Erigagemeins would then take niece over a
from the vessel. The ship put into Plymouth on larger space 01 ground, and the action of the cavalry,
Monday limning. The jury returned as their verdict
, rep-daily the heavy. be considerably reatrictetl. Al.
that the deer/wed cianmitted suicide While in a state or noes changes, whii•h are as yet Itidy in the state or
temporary insanity. project, are the result of the adoption of the new arum-
THE &mar or DRESS.—If we (Pall Mall tueut.
Gazette) remember rightly, statistics shewed a marked Tug DIST I smolt M ADE.—A Roman ecclesiastic
increase in the number of suicides during the few in reply to whatever question might be prop ice 1, began
months following the Prince Consort's death, which by saying, "1 make &distinction." A certain cardinal
was attributed to the depressing effect of a whole nation having invited him nto dim.. proposed to derive wane
in black. To take another instance, a lady vieiting a amusement for the company from the well-known pecus
country workhouse noticed the unusually melancholy liarity of his guest. Saying to him that he had an
look of the younger boys, as well as a grotesqvie important question to propose he asked, "Is it under
appearance, for which she mull not at first account. any circumstances lawful to baptise in soup ?" "I
At last she discovered the reason. The matron, having make a distinction," sahl the pnest. "If you ask, is
an extra supply of bonnets and a dearth of hate, had it lawful to baptise in soup in general. I say no; if you
made the bonnets do for the little boys, thus, from ask, is it lawful to baptise in your Excellency's soup,
sheer callmeness, inflicting an indignity far beyond I say yea; for there is really no difference between it
that of the severest puuishment. History affords and water.'
ample proof if the effect of dress upon mermen; and
morals. The Church, always quick to use such THE ABUSE or JUSTICE.—The Law Lords have
weapons as lay at hand, attracted the imaginative to been sitting for about twenty days hearing Mies Shed-
her ritual by the gorgeous robes of her priests, int- den conduct her own case. Reasonably enough, they
parted an added terrorism to her power by the awful appear to have grown a little tired of such a S(h)ed-
garb of the inquisitors, and made the habiliments of her dentary life—Pasch.
children emblematic of meekness and poverty through- IT DID NOT DE.sw !—A lecture on the Alabanus
out the world. question was delivered in New York on the 7th inst.
AMERICAN "NEWS."—AU American paper Oyes by an English journalist. Everything had been done,
the following as news : it is stated, to secure the success of the lecture.
Advertisements had appeared in all the tapers; eulogies
Prince Alfred, Victoria's son, Is at present making a grand
tour around the world, and, appearing recently in Australia, of the lecturer had been published y the editors ;
was overwhehned with demonstrations of colonial loyalty. 1 large posters were stuck up in the streets ; the hall was
The people, it is said, were almost frantic. After remaining I roomy and well selected, and yet only 150 to 201)
in aielbourne a sin rt time, the Prince went "up the ' persons were present. The New York Times draws the
country," wbereupon, according to report, the whole country conclusion from these facts that most of the excitement
"got drunk," and kept it up until long after the Prince .
At Melbourne the Prince was measured for a pair of bootsleft. . In America about the Alabanus question, and of the
The entire adult male population then tried to play the part wrath against England, is in the leading articles of its
of Cinderella's sisters, and smieese their feet into boots 111100 , contemporaries.
after the sanie measure. The Mayor of Ballarat, it is recorded, 1 avR. a 0
succeeded in effecting a fit, and has since reaped in corns .7.1. EABODY IN AMERICA.—Mr. Peabody
what he has sowed in suffering. I arrived in New York on the Bth inst. Oat of de.
, ference to his wishes, no public reception was given to
Jonathan, our son, when wilt thou amend?
him. He was simply met by two nephews at the
DISCORD AMONG MUSICIANS.—A singular battle . landing-place, and driven to their residence. His
between about 50 lads of fp um 12 to 18 years of age, health and appearance are said to be much improved
mostly Italian street musicians, and divided into two by the sea voyage. The New York TillteB of the 9th
parties, was witnessed, a few evenings ago, on tile avails itself of Mr. Peabody's return to America to
Champ-de-Mass, Patis. stonee were thrown feat se comment upon the manner in which his gift to the
hail i n each ride, and many of the combatants could London poor has been turned to account. It says it
already show broken heads and bloody faces when a had an opportunity not long ago of making a thorough
number of police came forward, and the two armies at investigation of the Peabody Buildings, of conversing
once dissolved, friends and foes rushing off in all direc- with the tenants, of ascertaining their means and
tions one young harpist abandoning his instrument in position, and their views with reference to the admit.
the flight. The quarrel appears to have originated in istration of the fund. A general sense of disappoint-
an attempt of some of the pifferari to avenge a young merit resulted in some days' devotion to this task. The
Italian girl of the profession, who had been seduced rooms were found to be too small; the rents too high;
and abandoned by one of her countrymen. Some of the buildings themselves " clumsy, heavy, dark. end
the fraternity took part with the deceiver; and, after unsightly." The Nem York Times thinks that what is
several isolated fights, the two camps agreed to tenni- wanted is better houses at a cheaper rate and more.
nate the conflict by a general engagement. over that a part of the fund might be advanced in
A FAITHFUL SERVANT.—The following anecdote ' loans to the deserving poor.
is related of the Count tie Flahault, whose death his THE WRONG OF PETITION—In the notice of
friends are hourly expecting:— the debate in the House of Commons, on the question
The (bunt, as will he remembered, took SII active part in of Opening Public Museums, &c., on Sunday, the fol-
the three days at Waterloo. He had a servant, one l'eter, 1 lowing instructive statement I .CCUre :—" NI.•, deposed
who died lately, devoted in his attachment, which attachment
that he had tilled in 200 fictitious signatures [to a peti-
however, TIOW and then proved somewhat inconvenient, .
owing to the persistence with which he manifested it. A Lion], and that at 13,. Cook's Court, from 12 to 20 per-
heavy storm of lain, as well as of bullets, was pouring down sons had been occupied for more than three week filling
on the field of Waterloo. The general, absorbed by watching in fictitious signatures." Thus it seems that petitions
the movements of his brigade, suddenly perceived Peter fol- as well as accounts can be cooked—Pouch.
lowing him. "Go back," he sub], " I forbid your beim; with
me," and, putting epees to his charger, moved his position. Du r LLING IN FRANCE.—A correspondent writes
All hour later a shriek of anguish uttered on his right made as foliose' :
Min turn his head, and he then saw Peter on the ground, his Duelling, as you are aware, is an art extensively practised
thigh-bone smashed by a splinter from a ball. Furious. and in La Belle France. Last week the Marquis of Hertford lent
without reflecting 011 his words, "Serves you right," exclaimed a shady avenue at Bagatelle for the accommodation of his
the Count; " why did you not obey my orders? - U'ell !" friend Viscount du Lau, the successful winner of the prise
replied the devoted servant, "if these English lisd broken awarded at the pigeon matchei shot for the week before the
your thigh instead of mine, who would have carried you to Grand Prix, and M. den Perrieres, the result of which was,
the rearr. that M. Ilu Lau was wounded in the arm. M. Victor 011ivier
ADVICK GRATIN—To a Fool amongst Philo- and the Marquis de klieleod having il•ffered as to an article
lit the !Vain Jaune, went out the other slay at Wm d'Avray.
soph—
irsltesp u ect yourself in proportion to the contempt Si. de Mauls ne received
a sword-thrust ill the it and In tbe
with which you are treatedg—Punch. right band, whereupon the seconds, Count litzjames, M.
~
THOMAS WRIGHT, THE PRISON PHILANTHROPIST. Durozey, and MM. Jolivet and Neil, interfered, declariug the
honour d both parties to have been thus amply satisfied. A
' —The kind and gratuitous services which have so long
been rendered liy Thomas Wright, the prison philato 'O9titel
5
'1
5
e'hniiienhrthe,":ser,
..m i,!..1 enrol tol,yug::llle..let
thropist, are at length about to receive a fitting and made, namely. that the press should be unanimous In reins-
welldeserved Public recognition. Subscriptions have ing to record the names either of the combatants or of their
I been freely promised, and the committee who lassie ...eds. The vanity of these pseudo-heroes would thus
taken the work in hand have just decided upon the receive an irretrievable blow. Their chances of becoming
form which the memorial shall assume. It is to con- the lions of the hoer would in that case he so infinitely small,
slat of at least three life-size pictures, illustrative of ?ill :lint scarcely
tilierectealett'Urr ?tenet:tile iiiiil a7if get:se"ge
Mr. Wright's life and lab Ire The first ,4 the Pc- wi:ini is cogrosara of the fact Cod an affair fib onour, in
tures, " l'he Condemned Cell," painted by Mr. Charles which O the 'Oared party displayed the antique valour of his
'Mercier, represents the priscn philanthropist minister- race, Was the cause of the,e diAlgurements, which otherwise
I ing ton convict under sentence of death. The court might be attributed to a Nulgar cab or railway accident? The
hint is at least worthy of consideration.
Mitten have placed this picture in the hands of the
engraver, it having been determined to present a copy Ave EARLY SEPABATION.—When Lilian (in a
of the engraving to every prison., ragged school, and novel) promisee her beseeching Alfred that she will
reformatory in the kingdom. This picture will be share his home " one day," are we to understand that
publicly presented in London on the Ist of July, she intends to leave him at the expiration of twenty.
and a banquet will be given to Mr. Wright on the four hours' • --Punch.
evening of the same day, at which the Lord Mayor LOGIC OF THE LADIES' GALLERY QUESTION.— '
will preside. The principle on which ladies are screened off by a ,
A SINGULAR WEDDING.—The Belvidere (N.J.) grating in the House of Commons is much the Fame as •
Apollo says a wedding under the following extraordi- that whereon negroes are restricted to nigger-cars on '
nary circumataness has occurred in that place : railways in the United States. Therefore—understand
Its Tuesday, the father of the bridegroom, a wealthy and intervening premisses—the grating of the Ladies' Gal- ,
respecied citizen of Poughkeepsie, died arid was duly lery ought to be abolished. But the negroes in the
shrouded in the garments of death, the body placed in a rich Crtited States are n, ot too beautiful, whereas the ladies
and costly coffin, the whole being placed in the parlour of his
late residence. On Wednesday, at twelve o'clock, noon, few in nrgiand are. 'therefore the grating ought to be
witnesses being present, the son of the deceased led his retained.—Punch.
affianced bride into the room where lay the body of his father, MR REVERDY JOHNSON AT HOME.—The New
the bridal party walking solemnly up to the coffin, wh. the
cover on the face of the corpse was removed. The It idr. York Times, of the 7th instans, publishes a long rer ort
liagemain, of the second Reformed Church, then, annul of a conversatien, at Baltimore, between one o its '
breathless silence and by the open coffin, joined the young staff and Mr. 1-teverdy Johnson. Mr. Johnson ex-
couple in the holy bonds of matron.). The bridegroom, pressed himself in strong terms of admiration of Eng-
when asked why he was married in such a manner, replied land and its people, and said his career there was a
that the spirit of his father hovered about him, telling him to
get married there and then. The affair has caused a prototuld regular ovation from first to last, Ile declared that
sensation,
A QUISTIoN FOR CONVOCATION.— As a complete the British Government would never accede to lair.
Sumner's demands, and that England would rather
example of what is meant by the Church Militant, lose her last man and her last shilling than give in
would it be correct to instance the ChaplaimGeneral ' Canada. In Mr. Johnson's opinion, Mr. Mode,
—Punch, would have some difficulty in obtaining a settlement d
A BALL AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE. -- A COr- the Ala,rama question, owing to
_tlit_soeraisLiefdelL.ahetr.
at the rejeztion of the treaty by h
respondent furnishes an account of a recent extension
of the uses of the Crystal Palace. A few neighbours Serte. .o
not far from the Palace had united for the pu-
giving a ball, which, by permission of the direcjiraof THE BALLOT IN AUSTRALIA.—Mr. Dllttoll, Wio
roomsuperintendence
oof t the build, i n Under
t AM) tri k. placetr
..i nm tiih e diningskilfulwas for eleven years a member of the Legislature of
South Australia, gave some important evidence on
aged in an
tri ercllnlinl y,, swli iiitrth t
di mraew,
it.hgi s
awnesd
Bcou
pniv,
eerr t
redooinin to.
.a
Is poliennitl Friday, before the Parliamentary and Municipal ES,
lion Committee. We have the unqualified testionny
of Mr. Dutton that the adoption of secrst voting in
elegantly decorated arid fitted up for the °Lesion:
The musicians were picturesquely placed among the South Australia has been greatly in favour of purity
of election, and quiet, orderly conduct. Althougf the
beeps and glaciers of the North Pole, whilst the ball- introduction of the ballot was much opposed be the
rosU3 was surrounded by plants of southern growth. Legislature, Mr. Patton said the feeling now was
The company appeared to great advantage in the unanimously in favour of it, even among now who
au i 1 de space afforded to the dancers, whilst their dresses were formerly opposed to it, and he had not se,n any
evils misting from its adoption. Asked as to wiether
were set off by a wall of green shrubs on the one side
evils
and reflected mirrors on the opposite. Dancing was candidate wishing to gain an election by *irrupt
kept np with unflagging spirit till three am,, when means might not promise to pay money to zertaiu
a special train conveyed away most of the grests
voters if he were elected, Mr. Dutton replied thst such
i to
a coarse might be tear°, but the person pa!ing the
!ondon, each hoping that another such ball might
money could not know whether he was posing the
speedily follow, attended by equal success. persons who had voted for him or not, and he did not
SPEEDY JUSTICE.—A case recently tried in the think anybody would throw away his money is such a
Liverpool Comity Court, affords a striking illustration Manner.
of the excellent working of the County Courts Ailrinr- To BE PRONOUNCED SOFT.—If the Lords had
alty Jurisdiction Act. and is in strong contrast with
thrown ont (may
,tw:
b'ho . "evicted?")
have
,:u t
gghe
hoad
tv:e't
in
an) the
ttt.tfihneeb Irishsut
t;
, thmanyßishopat hpeeor
f:
might the tedious and cumbrous pr.cess of the Court of
r 1 ntohoc ee
Admiralty. On the 20th of lust month a collision
occurred is the Mersey between two steamers, and a
of
I li
his
ir er: sheui Bill,ol tq
suit was instituted to rec.iver the sum of El5O for
damages done to one of them. In giving pidgment —The Great Magescian.—Punch.
on the 16th instant, in favour of the plaintiff, Se, A LITTLE JEALOUST.—A few years no it Wollld
jeant Wheeler made some appropriate remarks upon have scarcely been an exaggeration to say that the
the great advantages secured to BUit,rB by the new Act, longboat of a British man-of-war was a fair match for
and referred especially to the value of the clause of Prussia's whole fleet' ambles, can undersand the feel.
the Act which gives power to county court judges to ing of legitimate pride with which Coact Bismarck
snmonons nautical assessors to their assistance. By lately found hinself able to assert that her nav is at
this simple process justice was obtained in less than this moment second to none in the Baltic. The Yextra-
one month from the occurrence of the oolliaion, al. ordinary rapid itv with w hi, h i ryn el a 1 af to r ironclati
though the cam wm hotly contested. has beau built aud lmualted in the Prumian ports,

such attentn oi to its cause and effects that similar
calamities might for the future be avoided.
It is said that salmon is being sold in Norway at
three-half pence a pound. What a pity the Norwegians
donotsend us more than they du! We consider ourselves '
fortunate to get it for 10d, a pound, and surely Nor-
way might make a good thing of it if they would but
send us a shipload packed in ice, seeing that Christiana
is but some 50 hours from unromantic Billingsgate.
Poor John Parry has long been ill, and it is to be
feared he will never again charm an audience as he
has done so many thousand times. So a few of his
friends are getting up a benefit programme for
him; and well does he deserve it. His genuine
humour has never been sullied with the coarseness
that is so common an accompaniment to it; he has
written many and many a really good comic song, and
his acting and " entertaining "have deservedly given
hiss the epithet of "inimitable." It may be said, with
probable truth, that "take him for all in all we iie'er
shall look upon his like again."
It is said of Dr. Johnson that in talking about the
thirst for knowledge he mentioned that he once asked
a boy what he would give to know all about the
Argonauts, and that the boy replied that he would
give all that be had. Whether the sententious
doctor ever asked this foolish question and got this
foolish answer (unless the boy had nothing to give) is
of little consequence now; but what would you give,
reader, to know all about the myths of Athena? I pop
the question because I see announced "The Queen of
the Air; an attempt to interpret the Myths of
Athena," by John Ruskin. This very clever gentle-
man has some reputation for rendering somewhat
, mystical subjects which in themselves are of a plain
practical character —political econemy for example.
Whether he will render a profeesedly mythical object
plain may therefore writhe doubted.
The south-eastern Londoners, if we may geographic-
ally divide ourselves, have just had a boon conferred
anthem in the opening of Southwark Park. Simul-
taneously with this we learn that Wandsworth Common
is gradually di,appearing. It at first possessed 800
acres of pasturage, and by the Enclosure Act nearly
all of this was taken for public institutions; now It)
acres more are to be taken for a pauper asylum, and
"an additional slice will also be taken for building
purposes shortly." Strange that we should go to an
enormous expense to make a park and at the same time
allow a suburban common to be filched away from us.

and the scarcely disguised peetenworei ot tee Pr
filen Government to the supremacy of the Baltic
Sea. have created no little ralon.y and anxiety
in Busaia. L .at year, at the suggestion of Count
Bismarck, the Prussian and Russian fleets cruised and
maw euvred together during the summer months; but
a propmal to renew the same exercises this year has
t at St. Petersburg with an unituslifisil refusal.
This incident has caused much aensatien in Russian
naval circles, the eeneral impression be;ng that the
kiivernment is aware of the present superiority of the
Prussian nave and unwilling to let their fleet serve as
a foil to that of their active and enterprising neighbour.
CHARGE icy ASSAULT AGAINST A BARONET. —A
case which appears to have excited a great deal o
gossip in the immeiliste locality came before the
Buxton magistrates on Saturday. A baronet, who is at
present cm ft visit at this beautiful watering pima., Sir
Hew Pollock. was cloirgeil with assaulting s commie
sionaire employed by the Duke 'if Devonshire to look
after the Consent and the gardens. In accordance with
his orders to remove a watering musicians, the corn-
miasionaire was driving away two boys playing and
singing in front of the lemon where Sir Hew was stay-
ing, when the baronet iume out, seized and threw the
commissionaire to the ground, and pulled out a quantity
of his whiskers. The answer to the charge was, that
the }sip, were plating tor the amusement of Lady
Pollock anal Sir Hew, and that the batter had a legal
right to eject the commissionaire from the private
grounds of the house, where he had uo lousiness to in-
trude. The magistrates, however iofliiited a fine of
ss. and costa upon the boronet ; whereupon there was
some attempts at applause in court.
AN OFFEND', o KaitYsit !—A singular action
has been heard in the Chancery Court, in London,
before Vice-Chancellor James. The plaintiffs were
clergymen and others connected with or intereel el in a
Itonian Catholic Church in Granby Itow, Manchester,
d the defendant was Mr. Joseph Whitworth, the
well-known gun manufacturer, whose works are within
a fee yards from the church. The plaintiffs alleged l that
a large steam hammer at the works of the defendant has
occasioned great annoyance to the plaintiffs and the
c mgregation, and interfered with the church sere ices
and the schools. Evidence was called on behalf oi
NI,- Whitworth, to show that there was no foundetion
for the complaint, but ultimately it was arrang, d that
he hours during which the hammer is to work shall
limite,+, as as to lessen the annoyance, if any, pending
an antic in which has haven instituted for the abatement

massivelymesisned ir.oe,iilUres len, rmbly gilt
and psinted with raised birds and cupids. with branches for
o'ght lights, the plate measuring 56 inches by 26 locims-61
guineas Ii henjamii(. 6,6 A pair of mirrors iu elegant
Dresden china frames, with raised fi .wers, figures. and
birds, with Nam:hes for six lights each—fit guineas Friiser).
691 A beautifully-designed os3 &red timepiece, with blue
enamelled dial and figures, and a pdr of candelabra to
match, with velvet stands for the same—OS guineas (Lane;.
Dressing- room.-701 A handsomely-marked walnut Ward-
rho, with tulip wood beading and edges, the centre fitted
with dress yokes and drawers, enclosed by a silvered plate
glass do.d. ; the wings fitted with sibling trays and drawers.
The splendid old libelant, 1616. Rods, told at 110 e. per
dozen.

The Times of Tuesday, in a leader, commenting on
the sale of the Duke's property, necerraitated by "the
same ruinous propensity which has wrecked as. many
noble families within living memory," says :
..fiadtkt the eo
fv the!
ptimepo when
Upper
u ootsheeo: hot ei
Issue, as
somewas a
thought,wa 1 og hoet
constitutional life or death, and the most frivolous Peers felt
an unwonted thrill of patriotic responsihilit., " the last of
the Duke of Newcastle's horses, comprbing Mood mares,
stallions, homes in training, and yearling*, were sold at
Climber in the preaence of a large assemblage,' not, as we
need hardly add, for his own benefit, but fir that of Mr.
Pad wick and his other creditors.. ..
Never, probably, billce the treasures of fi:owe and the his-
toric accimadations of centuries were put up to auction,
has the interior of a ducal reabience beee turned ISO rut',
lesaly halide I)ut for the satisfaction of vulgar curiosity. It
lathe old story—a thrice-told title—
lire st.d a ruffian with a horrid face,
Lording it o'er a pile if massy plate,
Tumbled into a heap for puhlro Kale ;
There Wall another making villainous jests
At thy undoitig. lie had taken pi arsenic,'
Of all thy ancient mist domestic ormimenta,
Rich hangings intermixed and wrought with gold."
Not a keepsake valuable only to its owner, not a crucifix or
sacred engraving, not a family picture or precious element.i
of travel, except tho,e relics which the provident care of the
Duke's father or moilier.in-law may have designated as
heirlooms, WOlllll appear to have been excepted from the
invent...ly. Not •le dr. 4011 is LIOSOIi 1114101111 t the inroads of
that squalid crowd of brokers and bargain seekers which
seems to be called into existence by auction., just
as Mids of prey flock to a carcass from invisiole
regions of the atmosphere In one part of a room
are two life-size portraits of the late Duke ticketed
for sale; iii anoth, r lies • broken guitar, once, perhaps, a
favourite instrument of the Duchess; one It is "is Court
suit of blue Velvet, coat and vest embroidered," the next
is " six stable table-cloths and,hufm.dozenrollerblinds ; "the
costliest articles being refidered all the less saleable by the
addition if a corimet and cipher. Everything is pulled about
arid discussed with the coarse familiarity which loves to have
aristocratic grandeur at its mercy, and the pulse-proud
cynicism which is willing to pay a fancy price for a token of
aristocratic humiliation.
There are others, ant we trust not • few, on whom this
melancholy apectacte will produce a very different impression.
Moralist... of course, will reflect on the fatal rower of one
evil habit over the destinies of a life ; philanthropists will
regret that all this property, depreciated as It is, should be
going where it may do more harm than good; econ. mists
will deplore so enormoes a waste irs unproductive ex-
pendit are ; and politicians will not fail to remark how
seri ua' y one or two examples like this discredit an hereditary
Peerage.
lb Is not of these, however, that we now speak. Let it be
granted that virtue is too dull an ideal to be the object of
life-long pursuit, that self-indulgence may be consistent with
beneficence, if not with economy, arlil that our national
love ..f rank and titles is proof against the scandal of an
occasional escapade Di high places. Let so much be granted
for the sake of argument, though be the sake of ar_ounent
wily; still, we cannot help asking whether the career of a
sporting Duke ever drifting into insolvency, and ultimat. ly
sold up by his creditors, is really one id conscious enjoyment
or rattier 01113 Of Cl/11.10118 shame and anxiety, 1111101Villlt
cruel sacrifice of personal happiness. TIII2 is 110 imeation
of how to make the be-t of both world,. is is simply a fp.-
tion of how ti make the best of this, not in the higher sense
of duty, I.ut in the lower sense of plemmre.
It would riot he unprofitable to hear or read the experi-
ences, honestly recorded, rd one who has aucceeded early not
.ly to a great estate, hut to a plre reputat on and his
added to all the advantages of birth and wealth the adv.-
tage of good abilittee mid a gm,d education, realising
without au i effort all and more than all that men of
rare aeonis and burning ambition cal, win by forty
years of uphill toil, who yet has bdotred it away tor
the worse than worthless prize .if popularity and die
Mellon in circles where popularity and Olathe:Don are
the eheapest buts for titled dupes It would be in-
teresting to hear upon what principle, or from what
point of view, a young English Duke, with prospects
before him that Kings might envy, prefers the society a,,il
venal flattery of blacklegs—not to honourable induetry, not
to patriotic efforts which might justify the privileges secured
to him by law, but—t.i social ascendancy, to esthetic luxury,
1.. the respect of those whose respect is sot designing
servilif y.
There is no greater mistake than to fancy that noble gamb-
lers compensare themselvea beforehand for the inevitable
collapse if their fortunes by niaguiticent thonA short-lived
hospitality. On the contrary, the Duke of Newcastle had
never lived in .y great state, had entertained much less
than noblemen of far inferior position and estate, and has
literally nothing of part emcees to allow for the loss of all
that he possesses at the age ot thirty-five, and within five
years of his succession. One of the finest country houses in
E.iglanil, one of the best town houses in London, and the com-
mand of all that can g.ve zest even to selfish lives, contributed
little, fir aught that appeared, to his gratification. De might
easily have kept within his income, indulging refined tastes
more freely, and practising a more ostentatious generosity,
but he chose rather the extravagance which eariia no gi ati-
Lade, and the labour for which there is no reward. For such
infatuation there may be pity, but there can be no excuse Or
reticence. The influence of aristocratic apentlthrilta would
indeed be pernicious if a veil were hi be cast over the it as'
grace which get.erally overtakes them, and part o, the
amends which they owe to society lain serve ass warning to
others.

of the " nuisance."

NEW FABRIC.—At a State Ball at Buckingham
Palace on the 17th, we are told that the Prince.ss
Louise wore a dress of "straw-coloured pont de sole."
Rather a remarkable sight to see a young lady in a
braroom dressed in a " bridge of silk ! (Viscountess
Punch's Court Milliner telegraphs to say that t(nis is a
mistake for posit de see.) --Pane/i.
DEATH PROM CR LO OEORM.—A n inquest on the
body of Mr. Perris, has been held at Ross. The de-
ceased had for years been in the habit of inhaling
chloroform for the purpose of lulling the pain attend-
ant upon a disease if the spine, from which he had
long suffered. Owing to the presence of scarlatina
amongst his children, he had been sleeping at the Swan
Hotel during the previous week. Theievidence of the
boote at the hotel, who was the first to discover that
Mr. Perris Was dead, showed that the deceased must
have saturated his hand k erchief with chlorofi orni, and the
sudden stupefaction a hich followed rendered hill in-
capable of removing it from his mordh, for his hands
were found with the handkerchief between them, rest-
ing. upon the pillow close to his face. The other evi-
dent:, taken alma eil that, although the deceased had
bog been habituated to the use of chloroform, he had
never taken it Mr any other purpose than that of
assnagiug pain. The jiiry found that the deceased
die:l flora the effects of chloroform taken to alleviate
pain.
FIRING A &imam:L-0n Monday the Birming-
ham, lot Warwickshire Administrative, and let Wor-
cestershire battalions of Rifle Volunteers, met for
brigade drill in Stoneleigh-park, by permission of Lord
Leigh. The brigade, which numbered about 1,700
ineo, went through a number of movements, under the
c.iintuand of I AeutenantColonel Campbell, Assistant-
Inspector lif Reserve Forces. An unfortunate and
servals accident happened whilst the Birmingham
battalion were skirmishing, in conserence of Private
Barker, of the 9th company, accidentally firing away
his ramrod, which struck a young man nameld Lower,
the son of the Coventry town-crier, on the,forehead,
. I inflicting a severe scalp wound, use ramrod passed
upwards, thringh his billycock; and 'entered the arm
of one Luke Warrall. Lower and Wan all were sent
, in a cab to k'toneleigh Abbey, where their injuries
, were attended-to, and they were then sent home.
THE RKASON WRY OF THE WEATHER—
Amongst the various camies to which the present cold
weather at midsummer has ben attributed, is the fact
that at this moment the disk of the sun has an unusual
number of spots. The Giornale di Boma publishes a
communication from the celebrated astronomer Father
Secchi on this subject, on which that savant says:—
The sun is at this moment at a period of an unusual pre-
valence of spots. On the morning of the 7th 33 principal
sties were counted, disfa.sed in seven or eight groups. Their
number is rapidly approaching a Inaximurn. The whole so-
lace of the londriary is covered with them, arid it appeared
to us several times to present the aspect et a mass of white
flame on an ash-coloured ground.
COMPANIONS IN ARMS.—TWiII Babies !—Judy.
VELOCIPEDE Acm DENT.—OR Sattllclay Mr.
Whitehead, a Manchester manufacturer, had a serious
accident while riding a velocipede at Armathwaite,
about twelve miles south of Carlisle. lie had gone
down from Manchester on that day to spend a few
days at Armathwaite (7astle. where he has some fishing
leased, and had taken with him a bycicle. In the
evening the machine woe brought out, and Mr. White-
head mounted ; but unfortunately, while he was work-
ing the crank his fimt slipped, and, becoming fixed
between the lever and the front wheel, was whirled
round, and his ankle was very iseriouely fractured, the
broken bones protruding through the flesh. Ile was
removed into the Cole and surgical aid WAS procured.
The sufferer is progressing favourably, alihough, being
: nearly sixty years of age, the accident is to him a much
' more serious matter than it would have been to a
younger MAD.