The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-04-30 00:00:00

Rlisttlf anions flttlligtnte,
HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.

THE ALLEGED ATTEMPTED PARRICIDE AT WEIL
—The further hearing of the case against Charles
Joseph Green Wilson, who kends charged with
attempting to murder his father, Dr. Wilson, of Went,
Salop, took place on Menday. A gunsmith deposed
that the bullet which had been extracted from the
injured man's head was tired from his own revolver.
Dr. Wood swore that Dr. Wilson could not have in.
thited the wounds himself, and added that he was
then in a state which rendered it advisable not to ex.
amine him that day. Superintendent Haines, of
the Shropshire constabulary, spoke to a conversa-
tion he overheard between Dr. Wilson and his SOD
(prisoner). Dr. Wilson, holding his son by both hands,
said, "Oh, Charley, this is a sad affair. I do not
know whether you did it. If you did, I forgive you.
You have my free and full forgiveness, and you had
better prepare yourself for the worst." Prisoner
answered, "Oh, father, you must not die," Mr. Wilson
continued, "I can hardly hope to live after this. I
had thought I should have lived many years to labour
for you; but should I be spared I shall not be fit for
anything." He then embraced prisoner, and they
separated. Prisoner was remanded for a week.

CASHMERE 0 UATS.— A bout two thousand Cash-
mere goats are in course of transmission, ei/1 Plymouth,
to the Cape of Good Hope. One hundred and fifty
have already arrived, and are at present detained in
a warehouse at the Great Western Docks, in that
town, awaiting the continuation and completion
of their long journey by the mail boat due in
the course of a few days. The animals were
shipped at Constantinople, and were conveyed
by a Russian steamer thence to Pls mouth. Fif-
teen died during the passage hem the Turkish
eapiaal, and two are " invalided " at the present time,
entering from dysentery. The consignment is being
made tor breeding purposes, and contsists entirely of
male animals. In appearance the Cashmere goat is
considerably smaller in every way than the kindred
creature indigenous to this country ; the hair, too, is
finer and more flossy, and hangs in wavy locks over
the body, while the horns are twisted in such a degree
as in some casts to be almost spiral, and they spring
from the head nearly at a tangent.

SIGNIFICANT CatmoN.—A correspondent of
the Church .11,Tirw calls attention to a " significant "
fact. Colonel Elphinstone, the persecutor of Mr. Pur-
chat., died rather suddenly ; Mr. Colquhoun, the chair-
man of the Church Association, died after a few days'
illness; and the Bishop of London summons six faith-
ful priests to meet biro at London House—for what
purpose we are not left in doubt—and he is smitten
with sudden illness!

GENER&L PRIM ON DrIELLINO.—In a discus-
sion in the Spanish Cortes on the lenient sentence on
the Doe de Montt. nsier for the participation in the
fatal duel, General Prim said :

i• I most say I cannot comprehend what motive Senor
Ochoa Pas in bringing up this question. A lamentable deed
has occurred which I not only deplore, but which, if I
had known of it, I would have impeded at all cost, even at
the crit,cal moment ; but it was impossiole for me to do so,
hut, gentlemen, is it a new thing among as? flow often
have not such things been repeated? Here in these very
Cortes does not Senor Ochoa know of deputies whom force
of circunistancea has compelled to cross arnis with those
who were their friends of yesterday, hut who by the accidents
of life, were suddenly converted into eeemies ? This has
,wcurred even here, and this will emtinue until God sees
fit to enlighten all men anti to teach them that reason Is not
lobe encountered lathe blade of a sword or in the barrel of
a pistoL" (Loud cheers.;
- - - • -

,
TnE GoLDEE ORIOLE—Mr. Edward Hearin
Rodd writes from Penzance, April 23
It may interest some Of your readers to know that • large
number of these fine-phimaged birds have immigratoi to
this district and the Scilly Isles during the last few days.
Those I have seen were in the most brilliant adult plumage.
A large lick, estimated at 40, were flushed in a large thick
covert at Trevethoe, near Hayle, and out of another flock of
eight eve were obtained. 1 received a notice by the packet.
from Scilly to-day that four were seen together on the
rre,coe Abbey road; another seen on Sampson " Isle, and
others at St. Mary's. The female, in very fine adult plumage,
placed by the side of a male, appears considerably
larger.

-------
ATTEMPTED ESCAPE FROM A NIIIINERY.—On
Sanday morning, a nun, known as Sister Agnes, made
her esi ape fror the convent at Baddeley, near Knowle,
Warwickshire. It seems that the poor lady, who has
lately been under medical treatment, is not at present
responsible for her actions, and that her strange esc A-
pade was only rendered possible by a momentary
failure of vigilance in one of her curses. Her ailment
is a form of monomania, which leads her to fancy her
food poisoned, though she has no objection to eat what
chit obtains by stealth, and it was under the terror in-
spired by this belief that she is supposed to have made
her escape from the convent. 'this event occurred
about eleven o'clock, when Sister Agnes, plead-
ing indisposition, was allowed to go into the
garden while the rest of the sisterhood were
in the chapel at prayers. From the garden
she got over the wall by means of the shed, and
descended into the highway. Here she was seen and
recognised by one of the villagers, Mrs. Heath, who is
occasionally employed by the Lady Abbess Clifford, at
the convent. Mrs. Heath questioned her and finding
from her manner and replies that she was not of sound
mind, induced her to return to the village and enter a
cottage. Here she was presently visited by some of
the sisters, who had been greatly alarmed, but before
removing her back to the convent, it was judged ex-
pedient to have her examine d by medical authorities,
who at once prononnoed Sister Agnes insane, and ad-
vised her speedy removal to the County Asylum at
Ilatton, whither she was accordingly taken.
MR. SOTRERR'S VARIATION OF AN OLD SCENE.
--During the recent visit of Mr. Sothern to Edinburgh
he was asked nut to dinner by the officers of the 17th
Lancers. Before the wine was cleared off the table the
officers pressed Mr. Sothern to perform a part of one
of his characters, which, of course, he very naturally
declined. They continued, however, to press him so
much that he reluctantly consented, and commenced
the drunken scene from "David Garrick," when to the
astonishment of all present he swept the cloth clean off
the table, smashing glasses, decanters, plates, Ac.,
wholesale.

THE MARQUIS OF BUTE'S LIBRRALITT.—The
Times' Correspondent, writing from Rome, amongst
other gossip narrates the following :

The Marquis of Bute has left after a long and I should
think to him a costly season Among other instances if his
liberality. °tie hoe much gratified many kind people. There
is a Miss Lewis here, a sculptress of merit, born in a wigwam,
her mother a red Indian, her father a negro. In common
with several score brothers and sisters of the craft, she has
been without orders this season, or, If with an order or two
without ready money. A sculptor has to pay rent foes studio,
wages to workpeople, and immense sums for marble which
sometimes turns out good for nothing when it is cut into.
Their own personal expenses may be trilling, but they always
have friend.. The Marquis has not only ordered a Madonna
from Miss Lewis, to be a copy of one now In the workmen's
hands, but also paid her promptly for it, and so relieved the
poor girl from some embarrassment. I hope this will not
draw upon him a crowd of canvassers, representing I fear,
equal claims and equal needs. The Margate is by no means
So rich as people supposed. With a large but speculative
income, he started with a large debt, and has had to borrow
more. lie Is now on board his yacht, and is to spend his next
winter in Scotland.
TOM DIVORCE COURT.—The Court for Divorce
and Matrimonial Causes wax established by an Act
passed no longer ago than in 1857, and already nix Acts
to amend it have been found necessary. Lord Pen-
zance ban laid before the House of Lords a bill to con'
sr dilate this part of the statute law by rep-aling all
these Act, and arrangint, in • new Act in better order
I Sin enacianents in fon* upon the subieeh The bil

contains ninety•three clauses. The first thirty-four
are devoted to the coustitution and powera of the
Court; the next thirty.three to the relief aff Ided by
the Court—judicial separation, protection orders for
deserted wives, dissolution of marriage, with clauses
relating to alimony, settlements, and custody of
children; the last 26 clauses embody the statutory
provisions relating to procedure._
_ .

THE Bato Lew TROPMelth.—The Journal de Liege
states that the King of the Belgians has commuted the
capital sentence pronounced against Dessowole-
Moustier into hard labour for life. This criminal had,
as may be remembered, murdered three '
cattle-dealers,
ed
brothers and buried them in his court-yard, and had
poison his own wife. No doubt whatever existed as
to his guilt, and the only motive for the present act
,4 mercy is to be found in the repugnance of Leopold
IL to sign a death warrant.

" DE Ts."—What the "thoughtless husband"
said to his family—"l don't think much of you."—
Punch.

NEW ZEALANDERS AT COURT.—The Special Cor-
respondent of the Southern Cross states that during the
viceregal visit to the Thames the Maurice who were
presented to his Excellency brought cards of the newest
fashion. It was tunny to see one of the natives, who
presented him card as though he felt vastly important
in so doing, but whose whole dress for the occasion
consisted of a Crimean shirt and canvas trousers, worn
to a fringe at the bottom of each leg. But that native,
nevertheless, got through the presentation by no means
badly, and he beamed with delight at the hand-shake
of the Governor and his Excellency's greeting.
- - -

THK STMKES IN PARls—The strike- of the
workmen engaged in the various iron-foundries and
machine manufactories of Paris seems to be extending.
A certain number of masters have held a meeting and
agreed—not to consent to the demands of the men, not
to take back any workmen as long as the coalition lasts,
and lastly, all to open their establishments at the same
time or not at all. However' the four great houses of
Cail, Clap.irede, Farcot, and Gouin have refused to
accede to this last condition, as they are anxious to
have work resumed at the very earliest moment. The
number of men absenting themselves from the sugar.
refineries is also becoming greater.
- -

A SHOOTER'S ILL.—It is proposed that ever;
one who uses any lire-arm shall pay a pound a-year
for the privilege of doing so. Are the volunteers to be
exempted from this charge, and if not, may we not ex-
pect them to fire with indignation I—Punch.
SINKING OF THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS.—III
recently issued report on the vegetation of the Andaman
181 ands, Mr. Kurz, the curator of the herbarium of the
Calcutta Botanical Gardens, gives it as his opinion
that these islands are in a sinking state, and must
eventually disappear. Mr. Kurz, however, has made
an estimate which will relieve the superintendent of
the settlement, and the 6 000 odd convicts under his
charge, of any present fear of &deluge ; for he assumes
that if the pro em of submersion proceeds at the rate he
expects, namely, of one foot in 100 years, it will take
1,000 years b-fore all the stores and houses along the
beach at Ross Island disappear under water. Mr.
Kurz is not without a reason for the faith that is in
him, and seems to have arrived at this conclusion from
having observed, at various points of the islands, a
vast extent of decaying vegetation, stumps of trees,
&c., covered by, or open to the action of, the sea.
A RUFFIANLY Sotnim.---Yesterday evening
(says Indian Public Opinion of the 25th of March) a
little boy met his death near the Lahoree gate in •
most shameful manner. In the canal cut which runs
past the city some native children were busy amusing
themselves picking up the flowers which floated down
to them from the bathing ghats above, and which were
caught at the bridge. Some European soldiers passed
over the bridge, and one, thinking to play a practical
joke on the boys, went behind a poorlittle fellow, about
six years old, on the edge of the bridge and toppled him
over. Unfortunately, the bed of the canal, for the
most part shallow, deepens there into a pool, and the
child being out of his depth was carried at once under
the bridge. After some delay he was got out, but died
immediately after. It might be expected that a
European soldier having committed such a painful
mistake would have been the first to try to rectify it by
attempting a rescue. It gives us much pain to record
that he did nothing of the sort, but instantly ran away,
and being followed by an indignant crowd made the
most violent efforts to escape. He ran through the
gardens to the Moree gate, where the constables
managed to overpower him, not however without being
severely wounded by the buckles on his belt which he
used vig,rou,ly. He has been handed over to the
military authorities.
MILITARY VOTERS.—Referring tc the participa-
tion of the army and Navy in the approaching P/ebis-
citum, La Marseillaise draws the following picture of
the process which may be expected :
"In order to prepare soldiers to become citizens, care is
taken to send off to Algeria all those who may be suspected
of having attended .y public meeting. Those who are
found reading democratic journals are confined in the guard-
room Punishments and outrages are showered upon those
who are suspected of independence. When the day of voting
arrives, there will be prepared in each barrack shallot-box or
a register. Around the bath ot-box or register will be ranged the
body of officers. The orders of the day will tell the soldier to
vote Yes ' Then the roll will be called, and one after
another, with head erect and body stiff, and one hand on the
seam of the trousers, the soldiers will bring to the urn or tne
egister the 'Yes of which the Empire stands in need"
DEATH OF MR. MACIAS'S, R.A.—Mr. Daniel
Maclise, the Royal Academician, died on Monday
afternoon. He was born in Cork in 1811 ; but he was
of a Scottish family, his father having held a com-
mission in the Elgin Fencibles. His passion for art
led Lim at an early period of his career to give up a
situation in a counting-house in his native city, and
come to London, where he studied for two years at the
Royal Academy, and twice in succession took the gold
medaL His first-exhibited pictures were painted in
his twenty-second year, and were shown at the British
Institution in 1833. Two years afterwards the Royal
Academy elected him an associate, and in 1841 he was
elected a Royal Academician his age then being thirty.
When, in 1866, Sir Edwin Landseer refused the
Presidency of the Royal Academy, it was offered to
Mr. Maclise, who also declined it.

ALL CLEARED Ur.— Mrs. Chitterby says he
knows all about the Spots on the Son, for her little
Charley has just been vaccinated, and is doing beauti-
fully. —Punch.
A NOTICE TO BcrnoLAßs !—The Hon. Mrs.
Norton has written to the Echo denying thata burglary
has been committed at her house. Mrs. Norton is
anxious, however, "not only for the reassurance of
Mende but for the information of those gentlemen who
get their living by these irregular adventures, to declare
that the most moderate-minded burglar would be dis-
appointed in the result, unless he were able to avail
himself of manuscript papers in verse and prose and
deal for them with some liberal publisher, there being
nothing else in her house worth taking."
AN EXCITING TIOER HONT.—Quite a "thrilling"
incident occurred in the course of Mr. Nlorris'e recent
tiger-slaying expedition to Mawowil (says an Indian
paper). The hunting party, consisting of Mr. Morris
and some of his friends, arrived, mounted on elephants,
at the lair of the man-eater ; and on the first appear-
ance of a stripe our officiating commissioner, with his
customary skill, put in a well-directed bullet from his
bone-crusher. This, however, instead of cowing,
enraged the brute, and made him turn to show tight.
The whole of the elephants ran like rabbits, hut Mr.
Morris's one, being the best trained and pluckiest of
the lot, was, after a little encouragement, induced to
face the foe. The tiger came on so rapidly that before
Mr. Morris was ready to tire again the brute had time
to make a tremendous spring on the elephant. On this
Mr. Morris drew a heavy hunting-knife and almost
severed the tiger's head from his body before the
animal let go his hold and fell to the ground. Another
bullet gave him his quietus as he lay. Mr. Morris's
coolness and presence of mind at such a momentous
crisis is all the more striking and praiseworthy when
we take into consideration that his movements were
much hampered by a native servant, who clung to him
in a tit of the most abject terror. We have some
mighty hunters in these tarts, but not one f them will
dispute Mr. Morris's claims to being the Nimrod, par
excellence, of this province.
DUEL AT Tosis.—A Tunis letter mentions
that a duel has just taken place in that port between
a lieutenant of the hilea a i Gcnora frigate of the
Italian navy, aril M. It—, writer of a communica-
tion to the Corriere di Sardigne, containing some of-
fensive remarks on the behaviour of the officers of that
veeeel when ashore. These latter drew lots for one to
represent them, and the hazard deeignated Mr. V--,
of Genoa. Toe encounter came off in a garden, and
resulted in the offender receiving two wounds, slight in
tltemeelveit, but sufficient to necessitate the termination
of the combat. —Galignani.

A DANGEROUS -T
RlCK.—William Gillard, a
youth of 16, emoloyed by Messrs. Humfries, carpet
manufacturers, Kidderminster, did a rash trick one
afternoon last week. Some goods were being drawn
up the front of a warehouse by a rope and pulleys,
when Gillard thoughtlessly seized the end of the rope
and allowed himself to be drawn up. He was soon too
high to relinquish his bold with safety, and as the
person winding up the rope did not see his position the
unfortunate youth was drawn higher and higher. When
he reached the level of the third storey he was too ex-
hausted o retain his bold any longer, and, relaxinir his
grasp, fell to the ground with a most violent concussion.
The fall was enough to have killed him on the spot, but
he was alive, though seriously injured. He was re-
moved td the local infirmary, when t was found that

he had sustained a fracture of the base of the skull,
both bones of his left forwarm were broken, and he
was severely bruised.
M 96H WANTF.D.—In North Germany they
have an Assembly which they call "The Custona
Parliament." A Parliament of that sort in this coun-
try would find a good many bad customs to investigate
and correct—Pooch.
MR. CARLYLE ON EafIGRATION.—The following
extract cf a letter received from Mr. Carlyle, on the
emigration question, was recently read in the course
of a debate in one of the Australian Legislatures
The subject used to he of earnest—almost painfol—inte-
rest to me rii old years. It seemed that nn nation ever had
such glorious opportunities of changing its nearly intolerable
curses and choking nightmares into blessings and winged
angels an Great Britain by c.d.-miring. or was so scandalously
throwirg said opportunities away. I have since learnt that
Great Britain will go oil with parliamentary palaver, die.,
were the Day of Judgment close at hand, and turn adeaf ear
to all eorsiderations of that or the like kind, and so I have
drnpped the speculation long ago, and it lies quite dead hi
THE PROPOFED CrIANGE IN RAILWAY TAXA-
TION.—A return which has been issued shows the
effect of the change in railroad taxation proposed in
the Budgtt. the public purse the result will be
substantially the same as if the present 5 per cent.
duty on passenger fares were reduced to 4 per cent. ; • o
the companies the results will be different Suppokibg
the same traffic as in 1869, the North-Eastern will in
future have to bear an increase of taxation to the
amount of above inaooo a year; the Great Eastern
will have its taxation reduced by above 1.10,000 a year.
The Caledonian will have its taxation increased by
£4 800 a year the Midland by £3,770; the Mans
chaster, Sheffield and Lincolnshire, £3,000 a year. As
the total of the taxation is reduced, the gains, of course,
outweigh the louses. The South-Eastern will pay less
titration than at present by £22,000 a year; the South.
Wwern, shin, will gain nearly £22,000; the London
and North.Wrattru and the Sri, ham ale., e 1:18 000 ;
. _

ihossZ;;rvii-- —slio6—vara ; I. blvtroPulatmo;

.£9,000 ; the Cnatham and Dover, £7,000 ; the Great,
£6,000 ; and the Bristol and Exeter, £4 000,
The total taxation is reduced by radier more than,
a fifth of its present amount ;bat such is the °huge in
the incidence of the impost that the taxation of the
North-Esstern, the Caledonian, and the Manchester
and Sheffield will be increased by more than On,
third, while the t axation of the South-Western and
the Brighton will be reduced to less than half de pre-
sent amount, and that of the Metropolitan to leas than
a third of the amount now paid, and the South-Eastern
nearly as much.

AN ENGLISH PICKPOCKET ABROAD—The cor.
resitional Tribunal of Tours has just tried two Eng -
lishmen, named Golt and nal, for picking pockets in
that town during the late sittings of the High Court
of Justice. They appear to have made acquaintance
at Marseilles, and to have travelled in company to
Tours. Golt admitted that he had tried the ponketis
of several ladies in the church, and had abstracted
a porteemonnaie which was seized on him' but the
other prisoner denied all knowledge of tbe theft,
and declared that he had believed his companion to be
a respectable man. A letter found on the latter
showed that he had shortly before received • sum of
12,000 f. from his friends in England, but he had loot
a p iv: of it in gaming at Monaco. The Court sen-
tenced Golt to Six months' imprisonment, but ac-
quitted Hill.
Trot GAME LAWS.— A meeting of the limpohite Chamber of Agriculture was held on Monday,
at Fordnagbridge, under the presidency of Mr. Beach,
M.P. It was resolved—
rivZhWaht,winistherionospe4inuieoLofotfhtisheChesomopbeir„tettelitmereehdaLater-
or the country, some means should he adopted for sneaking
the great evil of the over-preservation of game."
A semnd resolution was also adopted by a largo
majority to the effect, that in any. future lsgislation
ought to be dec'ared that ground gam, should be the,
property of the tenant, andsinged gatitf. the l'h"Perlif
of the landlord, any agreement to the contrary not-
withstanding.
AN ANECDOTE OF GENERAL THOMAS.—AMON:
, the stories told of General Thomas is one of all
dent which occurred when he and his chief of staff,
General Garfield, were inspecting the fortifications or
Chattanooga in 1863. They heard a shout, Hello,
mister! You! I want to speak to you ." and General
Thomas found that he was the person allressed by am
uncouth backwoods, East Tennessee soldier. He
stopped, anti the dialogue which ensued mai as
fel-
lows:—" Mister, I want a furlough." •• On what
grounds do you want a furlough, my man ?" "I waht
to go home and see my wife." "How long since yon
saw your wife?" "Ever since I enlisted, nigh on to
three months." "Three months!" goodmaturealv ;
"Why, my good man, I haven't seen my wiie for
three years." The East Tennessean [stopped whi t lint
for a moment, and stared incredulously ; at length he
said, "Well, you see, me and my wife ain't that kind."
Even General Thornas'e grimness was not proof against
the laughter which he rode away to conceal, leaviag
the astonished soldier without an answer.

CONVENTUAL INEITITUT/ONS.—The number of
nuns in Great Britain han been stated 1,7 Mr. Newde-
gate and others to amount to 6,000. This in an ex-
aggeration, and a very considerable one—says the
Weekly Regina., and thus continues :
The number of convents in England amounts to 216, and
In Scotland to 17—total 233; and the total number of pro-
teemed nuns and lay esters (not including novices) amounts
to rather more than 2,500, or less than half the numl
stated by those who are arguing in favour of a parlianir,t,ry
committee of inquiry. We sustiect that in the very 1110 r
statement of 6,000 nuns Mr. Newdegate has inclinlcd lot
only the novices who are in the various convents to try their
vocation, but also the young ladies, and even the poor school
girls, who are in some of the religious homes for etimat
But these, even If we include the unfortunate women who
are being reclaimed in some of our convents, would not make
the number up to 6 OCO. Of the 216 convents in England
there are not more than 20 that belong to cloistered dere ;
and amongst the 17 religious homes in Scotland there is only
one convent that is cloistered.

On Sunday, at St. George's Roman Catholic Cathedral,
Southwark. and at most of the metropolitan Roman
Catholic Churches, the congregations were invited to
pray, during the ensuing week, "that the threatened
act of injustice and insult levelled at the Roman
Catholic religious communities through the proposed
inspection of conventual and monastic institutions,
may be averted."
THE IDEA OF THE PLEBISCITE.—We have re-
ceived the following curious story from a source en-
titled to respect (says Le (Jauloia):—AccardiLg to our
informant, the first idea of the Plibiacite orh,inated
neither in the mind of M. 011ivier nor in that of the
Emperor, nor even in that of M. Rouher. The
Emperor, it is asserted, has kept up since his residence
in England very intimate and confidential relations
with a certain person whose advice he has been in the
habit of taking in all difficult cases during his reign.
In the late crisis, disquieted at the turn taken by
domestic politics, he is stated to have had recourse
once again to his private confidant, and it is at this
persons suggestion that the Imperial decision was taken
to appeal directly to the French people. The reasons
which debar us from writing the name which is on our
lips may be readily comprehended.
OPPJETUNE SONG FOR THE JOCKEY CLUB.—
" Hawley 's lost now ! "—Punch.
cJA-EitY OF MONEY SPENT FOR DRINK.—A
Michigan woman has recovered by law all the money
that her husband had spent in a liquor saloon for six
years. The prohibitory liquor law of that State does
not regard liquor as "property," and the woman
recovered the money on the ground that it had been
paid to the liquor vendor without consideration. After
his verdict gets to be well understood throughout the
State (says a Baltimore paper), very few men will be
found courageous enough to undertake the retail liquor
traffic within its limits.
MATRIMONIAL CHANCEE.—(From the Manches-
ter Examiner) :
-

" A gent!eman, aged SO, of good appearance and affection-
ate dispusition, desires a matrimonial alliance with • domes-
ticated lady, possessing an annual income of about
Particulars in strict confidence to G 0., atc.

Wanted, by a widower jmo.rt fide), a -well-brought up and
educitt,l young lady or widow, between 24 and 30, to take
charge of his small establishment and family, with a view to
tuatriniony.—Address, wither without carte de visite," &c.
" A young gentleman (29), of rerpectable family, is desirous
of corresponding with a thoroughly domesticated female
wiai a view to niatrlmony.—Address in confidence, enclosing
carte de visite , which will be honourably returned if not ap-
proved of), C. J. M.," &c.
. . . .

"To ladies.—A gentleman of posibion, in the prime of life,
is desirous of meeting with a lady in similar circumstances,
with a view of marriaze ; the Continent, if agreeable, would
be their chief residence; the strictest privacy may be relied
on; cartes exchanged before an interview.—Address, in brat
instance," &C.

•
THE EDUCATION QUESTION.-A meeting of
about three thousand people was held on Monday
night at Sheffield, for the purpose of considering the
Education Bill and the various amendments which
have been proposed. The meeting expressed itself
strongly in favour of undenominational teaching, and
Mr. Mundella, M. P., while giving credit to the Govern-
ment bill for its provisions, insisted that secular educa-
tion was imlispensable for the country.—At a meeting
of the Education Union at Manchester, Bishop Frazer
said it was unfortunate the education question had
passed into the hands of philosophers, doctrinaires, and
system-framers, who had no practical knowledge of the
matter. He suggested a modification of the Church
Catechism. Resolutions in favour of the principles of
the Union were passed.
AN INDIAN STOKY.—General Pleasanton tells
an amusing Indian story. He was once, while sta-
tioned on a frontier poet, surrounded by threatening
bands of Cheyennes, with whom he wished to negotiate
a treaty, but they were too auspicious or hostile to
place themselves in his power. At last he succeeded
in capturing a young Indian of rank, whom he held
as a hostage. One day this captive, sullenly stalking
about the fort came upon a soldier who, for want of
better amusement, was playing with a child's jumping
jack. The savage was transfixed with wonder and ad-
miration. lie watched the antics of the little figure
in breathless silence for some minutes' then turned
and ran past the sentinels, leaped all obstrumions,
and escaped from the fort. In a short time, however,
he returned, heading a deputation of chiefs, who, after
spending an hour or so in rapt contemplation of the
jumping jack, held a solemn council and negotiated
the desired treaty, stipulating as the most important
condition, that the marvellous little toy should always
remain at the fort.

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A SHARK STORT.—While the barque Arabella
was on her passage home from Trinidad a shark was
observed following the vessel. The shark-hook was
immediately baited and thrown over the side, and the
shark was immediately caught. As usual in such
cases, the mate eepayed to pass a hitch over the back
of the animal, when be fell over overboard, and in
his fall caught hold of the back of the shark. The
master sprang overboard to the assistance of the mate
and in the midst of the struggle which ensued the
shark pot clear off the hook, but fortunately themaster
and mate were drawn promptly on board, or the shark
might have had the best of the business.
A NAME OF ILL OMEN—Persons who are sub-
ject to fits of toothache, and do not wish to be re-
minded of their distressing malady, should avoid going
down Long Acre—Punch.
WASTE LAND IN NEW ZEALAND.—The Otago
Government have set aside 100,000 acres of land at
Preservation Inlet, \Vest Coast, as a sic for a settle-
ment (says the New Ztaland Examiner). The
gronnd is being rapidly taken up. The settle-
ments at Martin's Bay and Preservation Inlet are
formed under a special Act. Under this Act the
Orago Government was empowered to make free
grants of 100 acres to any person above fifteen years of
ape, on condition of at least two years' occupation, and
a Crown grant to he issued at the expiration of the
third year; the party having, hi iwever, the option of
purchase at 103. an acre after the first year, if they ,k-
-sire it, The guar tity to be disposed of in this way at
each settlement, Martin's Bay and Preservation Inlet,
not to exceed 10,000 acres. A second class, amounting
to 30.000 acres at each settlement, is open for sale at
ss. per acre; and a third class, 60,1100 acres, at as up-
set price of ss, at public auction, or at 100. if mold
privately; the holdindt under this class by any one
person being restricted to 500 acres.
" FRIENDS' IN COUNCIL"— A genealogical con-
temporary remarks upon the numerous inst.-tuxes in the
present House of Commons of two or more members
bislongirg to the came family. 'This, tne writer ob-
serves, can ro longer arise from proprietary boroughs,
but probably more than ever from the preponderance
of wealthy families, either territorial or mercantile, in
certain districts. S irdething also must be attributed
not so much to hereditary genius as to the influence of
the great political talents of a statesman in recom-
mending othors who are of the same name and blood.
Thus Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Bright, and Mr. Hardy all
have their family repfteentatives, and the Duke n
Aberemn rivals the late Daniel O'Connell in the length
of his "tail." There are nine families which contribute
each three members, viz., Beaumont, Cavendish, Fitz'
william, Grosvenor, Hardy, Lennox, I.owther, H the-
c.iild, and Viola',. In seven fautilii a father and son
are represented, and there are twenty-one pairs o
brothers. In fact there are in the House of et/n1111,133
no less than 101 members who are closely connected in
blood with each nther.
MEDICAL—We are delighted to read that Kirg'3
College Hospital is out of debt, and the authorities are
at once going to build another "wing." Whether this
is advisable at the moment is a taatkr of frismon.—.
Punclie