The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-05-21 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS,

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

It h remarked as " curious " that Mr. Disraeli never
registered soy coat of arms.

Peru and Bolivia are squabbling and threatening
each other with wer. .

Pope Pule IN., entered upon hie seventy•ninth yes
on Sgturtisy, the 14th lett44t.

The Levant Tunes t.taten that Mrs. Lloyd's pension
from the Greek Government le to be £4OO a year.

Mr. Bright wee the only minister absent from the
Cabinet Council last Seturday.

A lad of twelve, named George Duff, has been gored
to death by a bullock, M the Ayr cattle market.
The fuueral of Sir James Simpson wan attended by
1,700 gentlemen, repreeentlng dric, untretaity, and prate.-
atonal bodies.

One hundred persona who were arreated during the
late disturbances in Parts have been sentenced to various
terms of imprisonment, ranging from six months to one year.
Mrs. George Macdonald is preparing for publication
a number of plays for young people, several of which have
been duly tested by actual performance.

The filar cheater Chamber of Commerce have decided
to send three gentlemen as witnesses to Paris, to give evi-
dence before the Court of Inquiry, now sitting, as to the
operation of the Treaty of IS6 with respect to cotton goods.

A fire broke out in an oilshop at Kingston early
on Wednesday morning, and before adequate assistance
could be rendered, the son of the proprietor, • lad twelve
years of age, was burnt to death.
_

An industrious person weceived the idea of farming
the heck cf the mdlione of letters of the Emperor to the
voter. of France, and letting the back page for advertise.
meets.

Information received from Lloyd's agent at Yoko.
hams, doted 26% March, says '' The Blue Jacket, which
arrived here to-day from Hong-Kong, reports Ghat she dis-
covered two new islands on the way."

A French gentleman, who recently died, smoked
forty cigars s day, and dried up his life in consequence.
However, he has left several millions of money but has stela-
gently forbid Ms inheritors tu smoke.

-
According to the Francais, the deserter Beaury, re.
cently arrested in connection with the alleged conspiracy
against the life of the Emperor Napoleon, has energetically
disavowed any connection with Gustave Niourens.
Last week the rate of mortality in London and 19
other large towns in the United Kingdom was 23 in every
1,000 of the population. The lowest rote, 11, wan in Ports-
mouth; the highest, 35, was in Bradford.

A despatch from Athens announces that the most
notorions brigand. In Acarnania and Lepanto have been
killed, and that the remaining band, are seektng to Neap° to
Italy, Turkey, and Wallachia We. Greece (the telegram
add.) Is freed from brigandage.
The Republican paper, the Marseillaise, has been
suspended tor two month.. The editor irra at the same time
.entenced to three months' imprisonment, and 5,000 francs
fine, and the manager to a year's Imprisonment and 10,000
francs tine.

The French Minister has informed the Greek Govern-
ment that should French aubJect• be seized by brigand, the
Government limit will be called upon to pay whatever ransom
may be demanded

It is said that Esparto has vrritten to General Prim
declining the crown on account of his great age, and that
he hae no heirs to succeed him. Much disappointment is
felt In political circles at thia determination.

-- -
The convict John Kelly, who at last Circuit Court,
Glasgow, eu sentenced to death for the murder of • de-
formed woman in a field near Duke-street, in that city, on
the 12th March, has been respited until further signification
of her Majesty 5

• - -
The other day, one of the girls attending the Man.
cheater Jewish School accidentally fell into a pond and waa
on the point of being drowned, when she was courageously
saved by Moises Raphael &pupil teacher belonging to the tame
Institution. .

A testimonial in money has been imbecribed for pre.
mentation to Baron Liable. At the Baron's request, however,
it is to he devoted to the foundation of a prize to he called
the ••Lteblg Medal,” and to be from time to time awarded to
the scientific Investigator to agricultural shennetl7.

In London, laat Sunday evening, the Rev. -Newman
Han preached to a crowded congregation, in the Surrey
Chapel, hie first sermon since his return from, three month.'
tour in the Holy Land. The health of the rev, gentleman,
which was ill a declining stet., appear, to have been restored.
In the afternoon he preached in St. James's-hall.

A Bill has been brought in by Mr. H. B. Sheridan,
M.P., to protect the goals of lodgers against executions upon
the property of the landlord It provides that an under-
tenant, If threatened with a distress, may make &declaration
that the immediate tenant has no property in the goods di.
trained, and LI after such declaration any person levies or
threatens to levy • distress on the lodgers goods, he shall
he deemed to be guilty of a misdemeanour, and shall also be
liable to an action at law for damagee.

The famous picture of John f3ellini, representing the
Death of St. Peter Martyr, which excited so much admiration
14th. recent exhibition of Old Masten, has Just been pre-
sented to the nation. This noble work of art lithe munificent
gilt of Lady Eastlake. It may be remembered that on a
former occasion she presented the National Gallery with a
most valuable and Interesting picture by Pisano of Verona.
This continued generosity will serve to auociate the name
of Eastlake still more closely with the rlae-and progress of
our fine national collection of pictures.
-

--
A Florence letter etatee that M. Leman, the French
consul-general at Leghcrn having been warned that the
parties who lately murdered the Austrian Consul Ingbiram,
Intended also to xeseeelnete hi n, made his escape, and took
refuge on board a French ship Ihe prefect of Leghorn offered
him a boat of the Italian navy to put him on board, but the
consul thought it more dignified to go in his own boat; and
ultimately toe prtfect accompanied him in that, while two
boats bearing police agents escorted him.
• - -

A Parisian gentleman recently gave a certain lady,
Madame , a very pretty little pet monkey, called
Jacque, which she showed to her friends, extolling its beauty
and docility. Happening to bite a male visitor, he has
taken his revenge by sending a paragraph to a paper and
hoaxing it in the form of an announcement of a birth. Thus,
" Mouaieur - —" (mentioning both
their names, and the residence of the latter), "of a eon,
which has been named Jacque."

•
The Executive of the South Yorkshire Miners'
Council have issued an appeal for thaistance on behalf of the
wives and children connected with the lock-out at ThorneMe,
which has now lasted eighteen months, and has proved one
of the most costly struggles on record. There are 360 women
and 722 children dependent on the fund. Since the let of
January. 1489, the .um of £34,490 haa been paid to men on
atriae and locked-out in the district, out of which upwards
of £17,000 has been paid towards the support of the Thorn-
cliff a men.

On Tuesday night the Queen gave a State Ball at
Buckingham Palace. Her Majesty was not present, but was
represented by the Prince and Princess of Wales, who were
accompanied by other members of the Royal Family. Betides
ambassador., the invitations included 16 dukes, 16 duchesses,
13 marquises, 11 marchioness., 72 earls, 59 countesses, '
35 vlscoun a 33 viscount..., 95 lords, 260 ladles of Hole,
28 right honourable., 57 honourable., 129 hon. mesdames ssd
misses, 58 baronets and knights, 140 messieurs, 134 mesdames,
214 misses, 28 admirals, 27 captains and officers of Ro) al
navy, 1 field marshal, 47 generals, 65 oolonela, 5 majors, and
11 oagdalns, to say nothing of the O'Conor Don, She limier of
Loved, and other nnsiabto notabilities.

Lord and Lady IStruicaater have been on a vhat to
Mar Majesty at Wladaar.

A Crystal Palace is to be built for New York the
capital, seven minions, is all paid up.
The Marius/ Standard says that the Emperor of the
French gracioualy preaented a magnificent set of pearls and
diamonds to Male. Nilsson, on her leaving Faris for London.
The Earl of Strathmore has presented each of the
tenants on his estates with a large photograph of the portrait
of himself, presented by the tenantry some time ago.
The Cambridge Chamber of Agriculture resolved, on
Saturday, to petition Parliament against the repeal of the
law on hawkers' licenses and game certificate.
-

- c— --
The Journal de St. Petersburg denounces as • mere
Invention the news publlahed in the Indian papers that the
Russians were marching upon Bides.
According to intelligence from Japan, by way of San
Francisco, and telegraphed to the New York papers, the
Japanese Budget for the current year Mows a deficit of
£2,600,000. . _

A monument to King Robert the Bruce in to be
erected on the field et Bannockburn. An Influential com-
mittee hes been formed in London and In Scotland. The
committee are obtaining a design from the yeteran arthd Ur.
George Cruikshank.

FrOM the public report of the health of Liverpool
for the year 1869. It appears that of 8,798 deaths from all
causes in the parish, only three were from small-pox.
Whether any of the throe were vaccinated persons is not
stated.

Mr. Bacon, a printer at Colchester, hal been con-
victed under the Factories Extension Act, for employing •
lad under twelve years of age without first having obtained
• surgeou'a certificate, and was fined £2. and £1 lls. ed. costa.
Three other informations failed on technical grounds.
On Saturday, 200 gallons of train oil and a quantity
of colt were seized and mid by the agent of the Bev. U A.
Baumgartner, vicar of 51evagmaey, Cornwall, from the stores
of Mews. Fox and Co., in diatrau or fah tithe, About hall
the market value was obtained.

The Times states that an arrangement has been
come to between the Government and the delegates from
New Zealand, by which Parliament will be asked to guarantee
a loan of £l,O JO 000, to be raised by the colony for the purpose
of employing the friendly Mantles in road tusking and other
public works, and for the promotion of emigration.
The proposed Republican meeting in Hyde Park
created quite • sensation in Paris But at a political meeting
the pertinent question was asked, "Don't you think that the
English might confine their attention to their own reform,?
—they seem to require many."
The Tablet states that an immense petition from
Great Britain, containing between 100,050 and 200,000 signa-
tures. praying the Holy gather and the Council to place the
Church under the special patronage of Si. Joseph, wan pre-
sented by his Grace the Archbishop of Westminster to the
Pope, a short time ago.
- -

The hankruptcy of the Duke of Newcastle came
before Mr. Baron Bramwell In Chambers on Saturday, and It
was arranged that the liability of • peer to be made •
bankrupt should be admitted in order to raise the question
whether the money paid Into court belonged to Mr. Padwick
or the aasighees under the bankruptcy.
• • --•- - -

.•
ID the ripe of " Vivian v. Vivian and Waterford," it was
announced by counsel lathe Divorce Court on Tuesday that the
Attorney-General had failed to discover any ground for
further intervention, and Lore Penzance accordingly said
that the decree nisi for dissolution of marriage obtained last
year would be made absolute.

I M. Duchernin has discovered that the mortality
which took place annually in early spring among the carp
In a French 'lsla-pond was occasioned by toads. An enormous
toad gets upon the head of a carp, and sits there with its
feet applied to the eyes of the &h. A film, causing blindness,
grows upon the eyes of the carp and part of its bead, and
death soon comes. The same circumstance has been often
WM in England.
The Gardeners' Chronicle last week recorded that the
styles and ovaries (the young fruit) of apples in the neigh-
bourhood of London were destroyed by the frost 004th May,
even in the unexpended flower. Our contemporary now
states that the flower-buds of the wild crab. in the hedges,
in low damp ground near Harrow, were similarly injured.
On Friday night, as Mr. Irving, of Castle Irvine
Ireland, warm his way home, he met • number of men, and,
believing that they meant to attack the castle, he gave the
alarm to his tenantry at Irvinestewn, who turned out
armed in considerable numbers. No attack was made on the
castle. _ _

There have been only two counts out this session in
the House of Commons—one on the afternoon of Wlll2,
and the other on Tuesday evening On each occaffn Mr.
Fawcett has had emotion on the notice paper to call atten-
tion to the condition of children employ ed In agriculture.
Each time, also, the Maniol Women's Acknowledgments
Bill has been down for discussion.

A Wrahington despatch says the Sioux are the
principal tribe of Indians whose dissatisfaction may break
out in open war. The War department har ordered all
available troopa to the plains to guard the Pacific Railroad.
The official reports show that the failure to comply with
treaty obligations is the cause of the reatleaaness of the
savages.

A cruions sect, calling themselves "Jehovah's
Band," have arisen. Their peculiar form of worship develops
Itself by blowing, whistling, shouting, jumping, wrestling,
falling to the floor, and rolling over and kicking Both men
and women engage In the exercises. New members are bap-
tised at midnight in the next pond, • capital notion if well
carried out. On Sunday they hold continuous service, taking
Men for meals only.

At a large meeting held on Monday night in the
Town Hall, Leeds, under the presidency of the mayor, a re-
solution condemning the Contagious Disease. Acta aa unjust,
immoral, and degrading, subversive of the liberty of the
subject, and ineffectual for their professed object of lessen-
ing dLsease, wan carried almost unanimously, and a petition
to Parliament for their repeal adopted.

A Constantinople correspondent ear that a brother
of the Greek brigand Arvanitakt has for some years kept a
small retail shop in Pert. His conduct has always been
good, and he can hardly 17 posaibility have had anything to
do with the massacre at Marathon; nevertheless, no much
popular feeling has been excited against him that he has had
to Mee himself te escape personal violence.

- -
A London housekeeper has written to The Times, to
say that his servants have a meat breakfast at eight, a.m.,
dinner at one, pm, tea and bread and butter at five, p m.,
• meat supper at nine, p m ; at all meals as much of the beat
food as they like to eat, yet two servants have given him
warning because he will not allow luncheon, consisting of
beer and bread and chews at eleven, am —iPoor halt-
starved creatures

The Engli.h public will receive with pleasure the
tidings that Mr. Charles Mathews has arrived at Melbourne
excellent besith not the highest spirits after • very agree-
able voyage. Immeliately on his landing, our popular
comedian had to encounters thrice of deputations, dinners,
and demomtratious of every kind, thus pleasantly preparing
the way for his first appearance on the Australian stage.
Shortly after midnight, on Tuesday, a fire broke oat
In the shop of an oil dealer at Kingston, named Drawater,
who also keeps • public-house a few doors sway, at which
he and his family reside. I ~te of his sons, however, a boy of
thirteen, slept at the oil sh,p with the man in charge. The
fire burnt with great rapidity, and the man was compelled
to precipitate himself from the window before the arrival of
the escape. The unfortunate boy was burnt to cinders.

It was stated at a recent meeting of the Royal
National Lifeboat Institution, that during the past sixteen
months the aociety had contributed, by its lifeboats and
other means, to the saving of 1,578 lives trom different akip•
wrecks, In addition to having saved thirty-seven vessels from
destruction. The Institution bas now 220 lifeboats under its
management, and contributes yearly to the saving of nearly
I,ono lives. During the past month the paymenta by the
society on various lifeboat stations amounted to £2,100.

•
In London, on Tuesday, Lord Halifax presided over
• meeting in connection with the forthcoming series of
annual international exhibitions, explaining that the branches
of Industry selected for next year's display were pottery,
woollen and wonted fabrics, and educational works and
appliances. The object of the gathering was to inviteco-opera-
lion, and to confer upon the best methods of appointing the
judges. The regulations suggested by the Commissioners
were unanimously approved.

-
A otory comes from Monticello, Kangas, which re-
calls the molt fearful feature. of the old daya of blood in the
Southwest. Two influential citizen. of that I,own, having
quarrelled, fought the old traditional duel wit! knives and
litols In a dark room. When the door was broken open
one of them was found with Ids throat cut and the other
ehot through the lunss.

In London, on Thursday in last week, Mr. Mahon,
a commercial clerk, made an application to the magistrate at
Bow-street police-court, regarding a nurse in his service who
had left his house on Monday, taking with her an intent
child, and had not up to that time returned. On Morday he
appeared at the same court, and stated that, in consequence
of the publicity given to the previous application, the girl
had been led to deliver up herself with the child—to the ap-
plicant'. great relief.

Prince Frederic, cousin and brother-in-law of the
King of Wurtemburg, whose death is announced, was aloe
of Prince Paul, the late king's brother, lie was born In 1808,
and muffled, in ISIS, hie cousin, the Princess Catherine,
third daughier of King William I. lie has left a son, Prince
William (born in tete', Who I. now presumptive heir to the
throne. the death ot Prince Frederic (say s the North German
Corr.Fpomfrnt) Is believed to have been accelerated by an
accident be met in hunting about nine years ago

- -
A number of what are termed the eetabliihed ship-
wright, and other mechanic, at Chatham dockyard hare
coneented to take the bonuses offered by the Admiralty to
Induce them to retire from the service, and several have
already left the dockyard on the terms laid down. The rate
of gratuity granted by the Admiralty le one month', pay for
every year of service in the dockyard which they have com-
pleted. the announcement that the Admiralty have ordered
• further discharge of the workmen at Chatham dockyard Is
not correct.

On Friday night in last week, during the thick weather
which then prevailed • brigantine, named the Dublin Lags
(gram master). of end from Guernsey for London, with •
cargo of broken granite, went ashore on the Long Sapd All
efforts to get her off proved unevailing, and ea morning broke
the crew, consiating of nine hand., abandoned the vessel
At the time of leaving the bows were under water, and the
crew Tore fortunately picked up by the fishing smack Laurel
and brought into itamsgate barb°. about 8 , when they
were taken to the Sailor.' Home and their wants promptly
attended to.

Her Majesty the Queen has forwarded to the Lord
Mayor of London • donation of £25 In aid of •fund, of which
his lordship Is treasurer, which Is being set on foot among
Devonshire men resident In Landon toward. the relief of the
sufferers by the disastrous lire on the 27th ult. at the village
of Brosdelyst, near Exeter. The fire, it will be recollected,
destroyed between sixty and seventy houses, or nearly the
entire village, and rendered houseless two thirds of the
Inhabitants.

The sonivemary meeting of the Peace Society wee
held in Finsbury Chapel, London, on Tuesday evening. Mr.
Pease, M.P., in the chair. Mr. 11. Richard, hip, furnished
some interesting incidents of his mission to the leading
capitals of Europe, and Joined with the chairman In an
expression of opinion that the signs of the times were
lsvourable to the caws of peace. one of the resolutions
expressed satisfaction at the motions for at, international
disarmament which had lately been made in several Euro-
pean Legislatures, and looked forward with hope to the
time when the same eubj,ct would be brought under
discussion in the British Parliament,

The greatest procession which has ever been wit-
nessed In Ulster passed throngh the atreete of Belfast on
Saturday aiieroooo, In connection with the laying of the
foundation stone of the relfut Working Alen's Institute.
Frienoly and trade societlee of all den aninations took part
in the proceedings, and numerous bands, both Protestant
and Roman Catholic, played upin the march. The proceed-
ings were most harmonious. and highly creditable to the
working men of !Isn't& sod Its neighbourhood. The In-
stitute is to cost £ti,ooo. The foundation stone war Lid by
Ulu Chatter., ciaughter of the largest contributor. The
Mayor of Belt 3st presided.

Mr. E. Bonita. M.P., draws attention to the greatly
Improved feeling that le manifesting itself towards the Go-
vernment Education Bill. •• The call," he says, "for secular
education appears almost to have mimed. The fears which
prevailed so extensively among the Nonconformists al to the
probable workleg of the bill are changed for • grateful re-
cognition of the intentions of its authors, and a hopeful view
of the removal of every venous objection by reasonable modi-
fications. The utter Impracticability of banishing the Bible
or Scriptural instruction from rate-aided school, Is generally
felt and expressed." He believes that the May meetings in
London have niipr with • healthy note of respect for the
Scriptures in the schools.
The dean and canons of Christchurch have, it is
stated, placed the matter of the destruction of the valuable
works of arts abitracted from the library of the college in
the hands of detectives, and have sought the interposition of
Government, the property destroyed being vested in the
Crown. On Saturday night • numerous meeting of the
junior members of the society was held, when • proposition
condemning the conduct tf those engaged in this disgraceful
outrage was unanimously named. but that part of the motion
in favour of giving up the names of the perpetrators was
rejected by a large majority Since then, however, • mem.
ler of the society has, it is stated, given such information se
will probably lead to the detection of the offenders, who will,
it is understood, be proceeded against criminally. It is
understood that those galloon suspected hove been
'Wed.

Griuid

Mr. Cannes, J.P., s brewer of IN oftheda, haa given
1,000 to the Suatentanon Fend of the Ir I.h Murat
-
The Queen tow inveeted the Earl of Minto with the
rand Crow of the Order of the Thistle
Now that Mr. Croachen haa taken tithe& ,d the reforms-
, of woreh9twee..a 94; grooms. they lama 14 he eel:netted

7.1111.-sa—o7d7echee."."
A bankrupt, the other day, irritated a • counsel
recently pleading epithet him, exclaimed et last, Thee
hold thy din ; I owed thee nothing."
It is announced that Barrett, who has been tried
WO for shooting Captain lambert., will be ULM a Oiled
time,
- • - •

--
A retired tradesman, namod Telford, seventy-two
Year. of age, residing In Bolton, committed suicide on
Saturday night.
At Maidstone a young man, named Draw has been
committed for trial on a charge of hay tng made an attempt
to murder hi/grandfather by shooting At him with • platoL
A meeting of all the pianists of P•ris is reported to
,be arranged—with what object It Is not laid. 11 is to be
hoped they are not about to strike.
1 "It is generally understood that the jreater part of
the foreign joiners' work imported Into this country Is manu-
factured by machinery made in England, principally in
London, and exported for that expres. purpow.'
The Pruasian Government has just given a further
proof of its solicitude for public instruction by authorising
the Lower Sileshm railway to issue third.clas, reign-tickets
at half price for children on their way to and from school.
The Rev. A. Campbell, rector of Liverpool, died on
Sunday last at • very advanced age. He had been ailing for
some time. Flags on the shipping in mat of the docks and
on the public buildings were hoisted halt-most high.
On Sunday morning an ordinary snake, about •
yard in length, was picked up at the corner or one of the
Streets near to Hamsden-street. Hudderatleld, and was taken.
to the police-station.
- - - - - •

•
The Queen has intimated her intention to offer in
competition to the female artists of all nations a prise of a
thousand francs (Z4O) for the best fan, painted or carved, by
▪ lady under twenty-five years of age. Such fan must be ex-
hibited at the International Exhibition of next year.
" The ladies have established a paper to suprt
their rights. It Is called the Shield. A shield for what/
Who wishes to attack them? If they want an illustration o.
▪ shield for a frontispiece we would suggest one—a man—th.
Very best shield for a woman."—Court Journal.
At Travancore' India, a tiger jumped into • cattle.
fold one night, and killed thirty-six bullocks in a few boars
Each one was found with its neck broken, and with the dis-
tinct, marks_ of la tiger's paw upon it, between' the head and
shoulders.

The Mormon trouble in the United State' seems to
approach a crisis. In prospect of the Anti-Polygamy Act, it.
Is related that each Mormon has resolved to "take another
wife," just by way of defiance. It is also said that the Mor-
inons are arming themselves rapidly in order to resist the
new Act.

The Clerkenwell Emigration Club, formed for the
purpose of aiding the industrious poor to emigrate to the
British colonies, hu already assisted 1,158 persons (including
15 wives and 41 children of lest year's emigrants sad 2
orphan.) to Canada and elsewhere, from whom satiaUctory
and encouraging accounts are being reosived.

The Commissioners of Primary Education in Ireland
have just presented their report, in which it is stated that
they recommend the maintenance of the national eysten4
with the exception that in parishes where the population la
all Roman Catholic, or here it is all Protestant, the denomi-
national system shall be Introduced.
' - - -

Mr. Dunlop, a tradesman of Liverpool, who suffered
severely from some luten3al complaint, in a fit of mental
aberration, from acute pain, shot himself In the face, and
afterwards cut a vein in his arm • few days ago. lie never
rallied, and at the inquest on Saturday • verdict In accor-
dance with the evidence was returned.

A scene of a curious nature occurred at a theatre is
Paris the other night. Of a sudden an actress stopped, took
off her diamond necklace and her earrings, and preuntect
them to a lady in a private box, using, " M. Is Marquis, who
Ti with von, sent them to me, but I was not aware that he
wan married.

His Royal Highness Prince Alfred may be expected
In Norfolk In the autumn. Writing to the Prince of Wales,
the Duke saye:—. Love to Alexandre smd the olive branches,
for whom I have got all kinds of brocades and shawls. I
look forward to see you all in time for the Bancirnighani
partridges."

-
According to Buenos Ayres advice', the European
emigration to the Argentine Republic, especially from Italy,
continues on a large scale, and now amounts to about 3,000
per month. Out of 2,849 arrivals In February the propor-
tions were 2,235 Italians, Hy Frenchmen, 132 Spaniards, 49
Englishmen and Americans, 41 Swiss, 19 Germans, and 186
rom various other countries.

M. Rochefort has been informed by the governor of
the Saint Palau% Prison that if he continues to write in the
Marseilktise under the signature of Henry Dangervllle, he
will be kept au secret, and effectually prevented from COM-
municattog with an, body outside the prison wails A similar
intimation waa made to hi. Paachal Grousset, the author of
the articles in that paper, signed "No. 144."

It is reported- from Oxford that a sucker-in o
mathematics asked several of those who purvey the liquid to
the student, what two figures multiplied together would
make seven, lie was on all sides informed that he was pro-
pounding an absurdity; but cosidescended at length to ex-
plain that seven times one would produce the required re-
sult.

An extraordinary scene took place outside a cafe
chummy in the Champs Ely.6es, Paris, the other day. A gen-
tleman flung down a lighted fusee, and it set fire to the dread
of a lady. Seeing the danger, all the consumers rushed out
to her rescue and inundated her with beer, which they were
drinking. The result was gunman', and die was not much
Injured., though frightened, and much scented with the
ltquid used in her preservation.
Archdeacon Williams, in his charge to the clergy at
Swansea on Monday touching upon the education question,
said he considered Mr. Forster's bln, as a whole, a fair and
reasonable measure, though capable of modification; and he
strongly deprecated, as savouring of intolerance, the claims
of the secularists to arkish the Bible from our elementary
schools. lie argued that what was called the 'religious
difficulty " was a mere phantom.

The British Museum was open to the public up to
8p m. for the first time on Monday the 9th inst. Great will,
of course, be the boon to the working dames eventually, but
at present they appear to be somewhat like emancipated
slaves, and to require education to make them appreciate
their newly-acquired privilege. The total number of men,
omen, and children who entered the Museum in the extra
hours between II and 8 was on the first day 75.

The rumours which have been in circulation about
the state of Mr. Bright's health the Daily Kew declares to
be entirely without foundation. The rigot hon. gentleman
In making rapid and satisfactory progress towards recovery;
and, hot for the undesirability of taxing too moon • newly
acquired strength, would probably be able to resume his
°Metal and parliamentary duties during the present seasion.

- -
A soldier of the second battalion Scots Fusilier
Guards, at Windsor, caught the smallpox in the town, a few
days ago, and was removed to the regimental hospital. The
dee.e is at present so prevalent in that borough, several
deaths having occurred from it within the last week, that
the authorities are taking precautionary steps to prevent its
spread amongst the troops. The hospital orderlies are for-
bidden to enter barracks, and hawkers from disposing of
fish and other edible commodities to the soldiers.

The Home Secretary has authorized the local authori '
ties of Colchester, to give notice that the Government offer
• reward of £4O for in f Jrmation leading to the discovery and
conviction of the murderer or murderers of the boy John
Harding, and the offer of • pardon to any accomplice, not
being the actual murderer, who ms/ give such information am
shall lead to a like result.
A special service was held on Sunday evening, under
the dome of Si. Paul'. Cathedral, on behalf of the society for
Propagating Christian Knowledge. There wan • large con-
gregation, and the service, which was choral, was admirably
sustained by • numerous and efficient choir. Goas's anthem,
"0 Cute and see," was beautifully rendered. The sermon
was preached by the Archbishop of York, who took for him
text "it dolls Oct yet appear what we shall be,' 1 St. John,
111., 2. Alter plesning for the society, his grace delivered an
eloquent sermon on the immortality of the soul.
"We are getting on splendidly with our church music
here in London ! At a well-known church where the very
extremity of ritual is in vogue, the members of the fashion-
able congregation were on Easter Day regaled with the
overtures to ' lancredi 'and ' Figaro' (striking ecclesiastical
compasitional performed, after a manner, as concluding
voluntaries! During the communion service, • selection from
that very religious opera known as ' Provatore' was blared
out to the astonishment of musical hearers, and to the
disgust of all not steeped In the sensational nonsense of
the time."—Nuainal Standard.

Dr. Lloyd, Provost of Trinity College, Dublin, hag
published au important pamphlet on commutation, in which
he estimates the present values of the clerical lila interests
of all clanees at £5,179,000. Ills object is to prove to the
Irish clergy that general commutation would be "sale," and
his hypothesis is that the capital sum might be invested at
lor St per cent. in secure funds. The gain on this invest-
ment, together with the 12 per cent. bonus secured to the
Church under the Act, and the mm of £.50,000 in lieu of
private endowments, would, at the end of fifteen and • half
years, when the last life would have dropped, and the Church
would be entirely dependent on its own resources, constitute
an endowment of £1.639,1100. This is exclusive of what
might be saved by clerical "compounding."