The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-02-15 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS,

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

It is said that a gentleman who has received half-
pay for over fifty years ha never in his life joined his regi-
ment or worn a unnorm !

Among the list of contributions to the Bishop of
London's fund is "A mite towards the spread of the Gospel,
6d." As it cost at least one shilling to acknowledge
tne above donation in the London Tine, "A mite" is in-
debted to the fund 6d., and something handsome for extra
publicity.

A Parisian dairyman has taken an action against a
Russian princess to recover £2O, the amount of his bill for
milk supplied to the Princess's bath The latter sa)s the
milk was hot pare The datryman denies the soft impeach-
ment, mating that he himself poured the milk into the bath,
and that the Princess added the water. The trial promises
some fun.

" 1 here in trouble about a contract for the tomb-
stones authorised by Congress for the graves of Union sol
dices. Secretary Stanton is accused of unfair managemeht,
taking the job away from legii imate contractors and putting
It into the hands of speculative partizaus."—New York
Lewitt

A prisoner in Taunton gaol, whose term of inx.
prisonment expires in a short time, has just been left a legacy
of £lO,OOO.

•
Five brigands, armed with guns, pistols, and poig-
cards, broke into the ex-monastery of Benedictines at Cesena,
In Emilia, a few flights since, and binding the ye, son in
charge and a man servant, the only people on the premises,
took possession of 2751., a silver lamp, and a few other
articles, and, saving they had been deceived, as they Lad
been told that there were 10,0001. in the house, supped off
wine, bread and cheese, ttc., and then departed.
Venison is selling at St. Paul, U.S., at from six to
ten cents a pound.
It in stated that Mr. Theodore Martin is sufficiently
recovered horn the accident which he lately sustained to
leave Osborne The Queen presented Mrs. Martin (Helen
Fauclt; with a magnificent ruby diamond bracelet, as a
souvenir ci their visit to her marine residence.
The Poet Laureate is at present on a visit to the
Rev. the Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, Dr. Thomp-
son.

—There is a rumour to the effect that the Government
I, about to create an Educational Minister," and that the
poet will be offered to Mr. Lowe, with a seat in the Cabinet.
Roebling, the builder of the Niagara suspension-
bridge, has retired to farming life in lowa. Ito" little
garden" contains 23,000 acres!

•
"Taking a sight," or, as ladies call it, a snooks, has
been gravely recorded by a French writer as a fine old
English custom !
Special arrangements for the protection of the New
Bailey, Salford, wherein several Fenian prisoners—one Sc-
cased of murder—are awaiting trial, have been considered
necessary.

It may, perhaps, be looked upon as a sign of the
times that Herr Krupp, the celebrated gun manufacturer,
has been decorated by the Emperor of Russia, and has re-
ceived the order of St. Vladimir of the third class. Herr
Knipp's representative in Russia, lierr liner, was at the
saline time honoured with the third class of the less distin-
guished order of St. Anne.
- - -

An advance of Is. per week in the wages of farm
labourers in Norfolk Is becoming general. The amended
wages are 13a per week.

Dr. Jackson, brother of the hotelkeeper who shot
Colonel lasworth at the commencement of the American
civil war, was recently shot leati by his own son.

-
. - -
It is rumoured that the Rev. Mr. Simko is not the
only person mysteriously missing from the metropolis, but
that another gentleman of aristocratic connections has dis-
appeared in an equal inexplicable manner.

•
The late Mr. Charles Kean is said to have left pro-
perty amounting to upwards of £50,000.

- -
M. Benedetti, the French Ambassador to Berlin,
irsve a magnifkent ball last week. at which the King and
Queen were present. On entering the ballroom his Excel-
lency presented the Queen with an immerse bouquet of
Parma violets, sent from Paris to her from the Empress
Eugenie.

Another ritual case—Flamank v. Simpson, is now
before the Arches Court. The arguments were brought to
• close on Saturday afternoon. His lordship said he should
consider the elaborate and able arguments which he had
heard on both sides. of course he must take a reasonable
time to consider his judgment, but it would be given as
soon as he was able to give it with due regard to the im-
portance of the case

The American Colonisation Soci ity reports having
sent 633 Africans to Liberia durirg 1867, twelve more than
during the previous year. It now has applications for anti n
emigrating from over 3,000 negroes, and during the year
expended 84,000 deli. It has a ship called the Golconda,
which makes the voyages to Liberia, and It supports the
emigrants not only on the passage but, also for six mouths
after landing there.

••
A New Orleans jury declared a man to have come
to his death by "an unknown cart." About on a par with
it is the Philadelphia verdict, in which a man had been
crushed to death in a mill, where the jury added to their
verdict, "No blame can be attached to the machinery."

Dean Stanley. in the article on the Athanasnan
creed, in Macmillan, sios that, though it Is Mill read in our
service:, there ie fl.lLli.h ehutpia W. 1.0 biaii.Voll
it, scarcely even any priest in the Roman.

-
On Tuesday the Prince and Princess of Wales, with
the infant Princes and Princess, terminated their winter
visit to Sandringham, the Prince of Wales's Norfolk seat.
The present has been rather a longer stay than usual, having
continued since November 14, and it is gratifying to be able
to state that the Princess of Wales has derived the utmost
advantage from the healthy atmosphere In which she has
been living. Iler Royal Highness is now able to walk with-
out the aid of the stick, and almost without any perceptible
lameness.

" Lovers of scandal rejoice in the prospect of a suit
for separation between a married couple living in the upper
circles of the Parisian world, which will supply most curium
revelations as regards the manners and customs of the
soi disant aristocrats. The quarrel which has led to the
suit in question sprang from a telegraphic mistake. A
message intended for the wife, and which consequently
ought to have been addressed ' Madame —,' 1:1„ire only the
letters 'M. --,' and was, therefore, delivered to the
husband."—Paristorrespondent of Morning Star.
During the evening service at St. David's,
Nierthyr, on Sunday, the clerk saw, with alarm, that the
stove pipe had become red hot at the top near the roof, and
that the roof was on fire. The alarm was instantly given,
and a scene ensued of the moot startling character. The
people screamed and rushed to the doors, and in an incre-
dible sriace of time the church was cleared of the congrega-
Mon. Then a rush was made for the fire plugs, and, by the
energetic aid of Mr. Superintendent Wrenn, the Ere was
soon got under.

The Chamber of Agrieulture Journal, a new paper,
lays—'' If all legislation on the-employment of children,
young persons, and women In agriculture ia deferred until
the commission appointed in 1567 has lamed its report,
nobody need be In a hurry with either philanthropic schemes
or obstructive agitations; for, on the very best authority,
we are enabled to declare that, while the foundation repprts
of the several assiatitht-commiesioners are not yet written,
the commission itself is not likely to make its final report for
another year."
---•- • • - -

Forecasting the probabilities of the coming Session,
the London Review believes that, although disunited, the
Liberals are still powerful enough to be dangerous and they
will have to be kept in good temper by a considerable defer-
ence to their views. It Lord Derby continues able to support
his Chancellor of the Exchequer in the pliant policy which
the circumstances require, there is no immediate danger at
ships reek It is, however, mil ortimately impossible to regard
the noble Earl's retirement from political life an a remote
ecintingency ; and if such an event should omour, it would
undosbtedly street, in a most merlon. manner, the petition
and prospects of the present Government.

eastern

The return which has been Waled by the Poor Law
Board, giving an account of pauperism in England on BA
July, 1.5.,67, shows that at that date there were 41 513 insane
rersons in receipt of relief from the poor rates, of whom as
may as 11 103 were in the workhouses.

At Falkirk, a servant girl, aged eighteen, has been
fined 40. and costs for pl.' log ghost. She set bells ringing
inn sterious mauler and at unaarth,y hours.

On Saturday morning at Mr. Hunter's, the New-
market House Inn, IVAcefield, while Thomas Jackson, a
brewer, was stirring up the liquor in a vat in the brewhiluae,
he accidentally fell into it, and was almost entirely immersed.
He died the same evening.
•

A gentleman, whose name has not been made pub-
lic, hoe given £i,004 to be applied to the purpose of xtving
recompense to police constables injured in the execution of
their duty.

-In 1& 1,200,000 postage stamps got loose from
letters autt newspapers in the post olticee and 760,000 in
ISG6.

The Committee of thp First Swedish Chamber haa
Just decided. by eight votes to seven, in fa, our of the aboli-
tion id capital punishment. That resolution was adopted
contrary to the opinion of the Minister of Justice, Baron de
Geer, who is opposed to any change.
- -

Mrs. Edward A. Pollard hats shot a Dr. Moore at
Baltimore, during an altercation about the whereabouta of
to r husband, who ha, been absent from her some weeks.
She was committed to jaiL
• •

•
The Spanish government, which had already de-
prived the Infant Don Henry, brother of the King Consort
of his privileges and decorations, has just suppressed his
pension of 6,00,1 douros 51r. each on account of an offensive
letter which he had addressed to the Queen.
Dr. Manning, Roman Catholic Archbishop, has ad-
dressed a letter to Canon Oakley, in which he strongly objects
to the adioission of women into church choirs.

Her Majesty's "Life of the late Prince Consort" is
to be reproduced, in a condensed form, in einimsaed letters,
for the use of the blind. The work of abridgment has been
entrusted to Mr. John Plummer.

Father Fischer, private secretary of the late Em-
peror Maximilian, was a passenger in the Australasian
steamer from New York, a hich reached Queenstown en
Saturday. He landed at that port.
Joseph Eisele, alias Schaefer, was arraigned for
murder irk Parherseurgh recently, when he voluntarily con-
tweed to having killed three men and premeditated the
murder of a fourth, for no reason whatever except the irre-
sistHe temptations of the evil spirit.
-

•
A correspondent of the Irish Titne3 telegraphs from
Lmishm, that a young member of the aristocracy lost
the other night at one of the clubs £lO.OOO at whist.
Professor Mackie is of opinion that he is not worthy
the name of a man who would not stand his chance of being
shot for the sake of science.
Johann Stratwa is reported to be engaged for a four-
month concert tour through America', for which he will re-
ceive the large sum of £12,000.
- - - - -

The Gwrduxn says it is now intend,d that 11r.
acrorie shall be consecrated, not in Scotland, but in South
Africa.

Prince Leopold has had an attack of hcemcare,
which occasioned dangerous exhaustion; he isregaining
strength.
- -

The youthful Prince Salvador Iturbide, grandson of
the Emperor lturbide, shot in Nies' co in 1823, hu lust en-
tered the Pontifical Zonaves. He is a yonbg man of twenty,
whom the Emperor Maximilian had adopted, and the cost
of whose education at Sainte.ltarbe was defrayed by the
Mexican Government. A special decree of the late Emperor
conferred on him the title of Prince.

All the colliers in Monmouthshire, with the exception
of those at Kis,* are now on strike, haying come to the
determination, after holding several meetings, not to accept
the proposed reduction of 3d. per ton.
The recent Royal visit to Liverpool cost the Cor-
poration abut £3,850.
It is believed in New York that George Francis
train bribed the British police to arrest him. The
New fork Mail is sure Train would not have had it other-
wise for £l,OOO.

•
The Government commimion appointed to investd
gate the qualities of steam coal produced in Lancashire and
Uheshire have made a report that it is superior in economy
and power to any other.

The election expenses of the Lord Advocate of
Scotland on the occasion of his recent election for Thetford
have just been published. The amount is A:.30., of which
1;107 is for agency. The right hon gentleman was returned
without opposition eventually, but was opposed in the first
Instance by Lord F. Fitzroy, whose expenditure somewhat
exceeded 1:100.

A letter from Mune of the lot says:—" The event
of most recent interest to British society in the Eternal
City, and to the upper dames of Roman denizens also, as
well as to the members of the corps dipirmatiqus. is the
matrimonial alliance contracted between Mr. iido Russell
and Lady Emily Villiers, daughter of the Earl of clarendon."
Advices from Havana state that the famous Mexican
General, Marquez, arrived there on the 26th January. He
escaped from Mexico in disguise on board a South American
vessel, and reached New Orleans some time previous. He
was stopping incognito at the Hotel Europe, and was
accidentally recognised by ex-Minister lafeiza and others.
The Duchess of Morny's marriage with the Duke
of ftesto is to be solemnised on Saturday. The late dillies
tour little children will be transferred to the guardianship
of a member of the Keith de Elanault lousily, as by their
father's will the duchess, in consequence of her second mar-
riage, loses all rights over them.
At the Manchester police-court, a young man, of
reepectsble exterior, named Patrick alullady, has been
charged with taking part Is the attack upon the prison van
and the murder of Sergeant Brett, in Hyde-road, on the 18th
Septeniber. The prisoner arrived in Manchester at ten
o'clock on Monday night, in custody of Inspector Kirtland.
Ile was remanded-
A police officer was conveying a man and a woman,
prisoners, from Greenock to Paisley on Friday, and on the
train emerging from a tunnel, the officer found that his male
prisoner had left the carriage. Subsequent search discovered
the man lying near the mouth of the tunnel, with one arm
nearly severed from his body, and the right foot shattered.
At the ball at the Tuileries, the other night, an
English lady attracted more attention than admiration by
wearing a dress ot mauve silk literally coveted from head
to foot with green flowers.
A conference on technical education, attended by
Mr. Akroyd, M.P., Mr. Samuelson, M. P., and Mr. Mundella,
of Nottiegharn, has taken place at Halifax. After a long
discussion a resolution was passed, declaring the necessity
of increased facilities for a system of technical education,
and that the only sure foundation for effectieg this is
largely to improve the present system of primary education.
The four distinguished oxen selected to fi4ure in the
Carnival processioe in Paris as Inrafs gras weigh front 1,311
to 1.480 kilos. (each 21.1011,3. Their names are "Gulliver,"
"La Cagnotte," Liontlin," anti " Rumford."
"A contribution box in a Portland church received
two packages of horse railroad tickets last Sunday, marked
Acts iii, V. 6. Silver and gold have I none, but such as I
have I give thee.'"—American paper.
A lady has left the Society for Promoting Christian
knowledge a legacy of £25,000.
Her Majesty's letter to Mrs. Charles Kean is
written by the Gnetm's own hand, and is seven folios in
length. commencing. "My dear Mrs. Kean," and concluding
thus, "VICTORIA R."
The East Lancashire coal proprietors have resolved
In consequence of the depression which at present prevails
Is the trade, to reduce the wages of the colliers of that
district.
Mr. Bennett, landlord of the Victoria Arms Inn,
Wilton, loin possession of a pair of canaries which hatched
and reared nine nests of young ones, consisting of 33 birds,
since April last, and the hen is now sitting On four eggs with
every chance of success.
It is stated by a Glasgow paper that a Roman
Catholic hierarchy is about to be established in Scotland.
. The Archbishop or Cardinal is to be Bishp Lynch, now re-
. siding at Carstairs: and Father Parkinson, "an Oxford
convert," will he Bishop of Glasgow.
The Lil.erte announces that Lady Palmerston is
about to visit the Suez Canal, the making of which her hus-
band always opposed.
The Weekly Register says it is reported in the clubs
that, within a day or two of the meeting of Parliament, Mr.
Gladstone will bring forward a motion respecting the Irish
Church which must try the strength of the two great parties
in the House.
It is noticed in New York that emigration to Cali-
fornia from the Atlantic States has taken a fresh start, one
steamer losing hat port on January 25 with over 790 pas-
sengers, ;sidle 10,000 have sad, it within the past three
months. The dulness of trade on the Atlantic seaboard is
leading many to seek fortunes at San Francisco.
A death from a strange cause has just occurred in
the 'Westminster House of Correction. The deceased, a
young woman, hail from a very early period of her life been
a " smasher "—that is to say, she passed had money, and
whtn detected swallowed whatever counterfeit coins she
might happen to have about her The coins thus swallowed,
it scents, corroded in her stomach and brought on epileptic
fits, from which, after tan fears of acute suffering, she has
at length been released by death.
About 700,000,000 letters now pass through the
Post.ellices lit Great Britain and Ireland in the course of.
year, and neatly 5,000,060 telegrams pass through the tele-
graph stations in the Tutted Kingdom during the same
period.
A serious flood, resulting in immense destruction of
property, has been occasioned by the overflow of the river
Hull. On Saturday, the tide rose four inches higher than
the highest tide known in the present century, flooded many
of the streets of Hull, put out the tires of mills, inundated
houses and places of business, carried off property, drowned
cattle, and 11 id immense damage in other ways. The tide of
Saturday appears to have been unusually high all along the
' coast.

On Saturday, at Birmingham, Charles King, a re.
tired licensed victualler, and William Breckenridge, agent,
were charged with conspiring together and obtaining plates
for the purpose of defrauding the British Linen Company.
Bank of Scotland Inspector Stanton said the plate and other
property produced were found in the possession of the two
prim-niers. There were several plates, each for A'..5 notes. The
prisoners were remanded till Friday.
Notwithstanding his very great success,. and the
strong tt mutation offered him to remain for another season,
Sir. Dickens has determined not to extend his stay in America
beyond the period originally fixed, and he will accordingly
return home about the middle of ApriL

Catherine Claughton, a servant girl at the farm of
Mr. dames Brown, Aighton, near Ribchester, was killed on
Friday night through the accidental discharge of a gun.
John Brown, a young man of eighteen, was sent by his
father into the kitchen for an old gun. There were three
guns in the kitchen, and the young man took up the wrong
one In a frolic he presented it at the girl, not knowing It
was loaded; the gun exploded, and the contents entered her
head, causing almost instantaneous death.
_

•
The hind,* Rune states that in the town of
Doubrawa, government of Minsk, 2,000 Catholics, with
their curt, named Kahko, have become converted to the
Greek-Russian religion. In the town of .lastaw, same dis-
trict, the former Catholic church is about to be 'solemnly
blessed and converted to the purposes of the Greek me.
- - -

The Palace of Industry, which the Minister of the
Emperm's Household has Just conceded for five years to
the French Hippie Society, is at present in the hands of
workmen who are fitting up stables for 500 horses which are
expect, d to contend for the prizes of training, aniounting
to GO 0001. The competition will last from the lit to the
15th of April next.

The Lancet observes that though the Court of Assist-
ants of the Apothecaries Company has decided not to exclude
women from thee examination in Arts, there is no probabi-
lity that this concession will be folios e.l. by admitting them
unreservedly to the examination in Medicine. There is not
the slightest chance of any woman getting the thence of
the Apothecaries Society tinder the regulations imposed by
the Court of Examiners in Medicine.

On Saturday a lad named Sills, aged 10, waa ever-
rising a spirited horse in Nottingham, with no other reins
than a common halter. The animal suddenly took fright,
and started off at a frightful pace. It ran for some distance,
and then came into collrdon so violently with u cart that
was in the way, that its skull was smashed In by the force of
the concussion. The lad was thrown off and was taken to
the ho.pital. lie sustained a fracture of the skull, leg, and
arm, and but very faint hopes of his recovery are entertained.
The horse had to be slaughtered.
A somewhat singular case of attempted murder on'.
curved on Monday in the neighbourhood of King's-cross,
London. A leather pocket-book maker named Britten,
maned into the street With kin throat bleeding copiously,
and claimed the protection of the bystanders against his
wife, who, he said, had attempted to mailer him. Be was
conveyed to the hospital, and his wile taken into custody.
She denied all criminality. and stoutly affirmed that her
husband, who w-as in liquor, had announced his Intention
and then cut his own throat tin bring confronted with the
patient at the hospital Mrs. Britten challenged him to
repeat the accusation, whicii lie did at once, saying he would
screen her if he could, but that in truth hers was the hand
by which the wound 'was inflicted. The injury, though
serious, is not expected to be WY.

,

It is authoritatively stated that her Majesty's stay
St Osborne being unavoidably prolonged in consequence of
the late illness of his Royal Highness Prince Leopold, the
Court which was announced for Tuesday, March 3, is post-
poned till Friday, March 6.
- - -

• •
A lady has written to the Drogheda Argus, stating
that last week, while walking in Lord tlasscritene's demesne,
she came upon a party of men drilling, who had firearms
with bayonets fixed.

The organ of the War Office at St. Petersburg
publishes a curious article in which, while making strong
professions of peace, it argues that circumstances render a
European war inevitable.
The Emperor Napoleon has sent Queen Augusta of
Prussia a pair of fqvres vases, for which her Majesty had
expressed great admiration at the Exhibition.

•
It was reported in the political world on Monday
that Lord Derby eiiher had actually Intimated his intention
of at once resigning office, or that he was immediately about
to do so.

The following advertisement is cut from The
Times :—" Etitication.—Wanted, by slather, a school, where
his son may receive an education to tit him for a manly anti
uveful life, without any humbug as to nations dead and
buried thousands of years ago.—Address, stating terms
A , at —."

'The sum required to purchase all the Irish railways
has been ascertained to be a little over 20 millions sterling.
This does net include the sum requisite to put them into
thorough working order.
- -

-
Female stiff rage, although defeated at the last
election in Kansas, has, it appears, produced • tangible result
from its agitation. The Kansas legislature has elected
a Miss Emma Hunt an enrolling clerk, and that lady haying
taken the necessary oaths of °nice, is performing its
duties.

The ceresnouial of " inaugurating " a lifeboat, the
cost of which has been raised by the subscriptions of Sun-
day scholars, took place in Manchester on Saturday. It was
stated that Manchester and Salford have now provided,
either by public or private subscription, not less than twelve
boats for the National Institution, and that the city Is now
represented by a lifeboat on nearly every coast of the United
Kingdom.

The special correspondent of the Morning Poet
states that, in Abyssinia, a certain gallant captain, craving
for game, met with an elephant which hail strayed from the
transport lines, and. taking it to he a wild one, shot it. Ile
was summoned in the evening to an interview by the head of
the commissariat department, and informed that his prey
was Government property—in fact one of the nineteen tame
elephants which had only arnved from Bombay a fortnight
previously
Au interesting, and to Londoners important, docu-
ment has been recently published, Riving a variety of statist.
tical Information respecting the Metropolitan City Police
Force. It appears that 7,702 men are employed in metropo-
litan London to protect property extending Over 700 Ware
miles, and embracing a population of 3,4100064, being, with
deductions from the force for sickness and special service,
One loan to 72 acres and to 600 citizens,
,whereaa, hi
the city, the proportion is ace man to 5-'lO acres, and lei
persons.
- - - - -

- -
The J oho?. Bull announces that the Duke of Marl.
borough is prepared with an Educational Bill, which will de-
velop the existing system rather than introduce a new one.
It will not, we hear, substitute local for imperial taxation,
but aid will probably be given to poorer parishes non de-
barred from the grant, and uncertlflcated schoolmasters will,
under certain conditions, be aided. Miss Burdett l'outtes
plan for grouping parishes may not improbably be tried."
During last year the estimated number of hides
shipped from Texas was 2,000,000, and their *slue 4,000,01)0
dot. In some parts of Texas, elf the lines of railroads and
apart from the towns, the hides of cattle are not saved.
The Houston Telegraph mentions one stock raiser who has
never sold a single hide from the hundreds of beeves killed
on his premises.

The old meeting.houge in Newbury, Mausachugetts,
erected in 1806, has Just been burned down The bell was
among the oldest in the country, having been cast in London
In the year 1705.
- ' -

" The trial of M'Ewen, the stark spiritualist of New-
ark, NI.. for lewdness, was concluded yesterday in the Essex
County court. The jury returned a verdict of Guilty. Miss
Althea Reeves and others testified that she, her mother, and
M'Ewen had been in a nude state together, thinking not, ing
of it, for to the pure all things were pure.' liPEwenli
counsel took the ground that his client was. moral lunatic."
—Seto York Times
In Alabama the 30th of January was set apart as a
day of "tasting and prayer to Almighty God to deliver
the people of Alabama from the horrors of negro denomi-
nation."
"We learn that the War.office has decided to
extend the operations of the Contagious Inseaaes Act. 1866,
to Windsor. Twenty additional beds have been takes
up at the Lock Hospital, London, to provide for the neceu.
nary hospital accommodation for the purposes of the Act."—
Britinh Medical journal.
"Mr. John Gtadding, a venerable citizen of Provi-
dence, died in that city lately, at the age of elghty-six. Ile
had lived in his house for more than eighty years, during
sixty of which he had occupied one room."—Sea York
Herald.
General Von Roon, the Prussian Minister of War,
who received a sum of 300,000 thalers as a reward on the
conclusion of toe war, has devoted the amount to the crea-
tion of a "Family Fund," which is to bear his name.
An exploring expedition on the north coast of Aus-
tralia, under Captain Caddell, has discovered a noble river,
with a good pasture' country on its banks altos fine haven,
with an area of some fifty square miles; and 011 apart of
the coast hitheito represented as dry Mad they sailed up a
deep hay twenty miles in length by ten in breadth, with
three large rivers emptying themselves into it.

_
The other day the great world of Paris—the creme
de to creme, as Mrs. Trollops bald of Viennese aristocracy—
bethought itself of • new diversion, and great ladies and
. . .

-
grand seigneurs assembled on the Place de Chatelet, when
from their daintily cushioned equipages they descended into
the sewers of Pails: but whether they were gratified or dis-
gusted with their visit is not recorded.
The Odd Fellows Grand Lodge has reported thls'
strength of the Order in the United States. •It has 2,060
lodges, with 214,581 members, and 697 encampments, with
31,04 i, members. During the year ending September, )867,
the aggregaie income of the order was 2,029,111 doh , of
which 692,620 doh. was expended for various charitable
objects.

At Higham, a village near Barniiley, Vivo paw.
men, John and Henry Lawson, were practising a well-known

Yorkshire game known as • nurr and spell, in which an
ordinary stick some two feet in length bon a solid piece 91,
wood 3m. long and .2in. in depth screwed en for the pUrpose
of striking a marble. While John Dawson was striking at
• marble with all his force, the bottom, or pommel, flew off,
and striking his lether on the temple, killed him on the
spot. Medical aid was ceded in, but of no arail.

Captain Augustus Depeyster, late governor of tha,
Sailors Snug Harbour, New •York. who had been niiiiing -for
some time, has been found drowned in a small creek near
the Harbonr. He formerly commanded the packet-ship
ifs.icins, of the Dramatic line, sailing between New York and
Liverpool, and was one of the oldest captains sailing out of
New York

On Friday Mr. Tucker, a well-known Inannfae.
turer, of North Allington. Bridport, was returning home.
wards from the Yeovil market, which he had attended regu-
larly for many years past. lie was riding on the Great
Western line between Yeovil and Malden Newton, appa-
rently in good health and conversing with his fillow-pas-
sengers. when lie complained of a sudden tickling sensation
in his throat, and almost immediately expired.

The other day a Queen's counsel was engaged in a
long argument in one of the Loudon law-courts, which tried
the patience of the judge, who believed that be was able to
it e the end of the case without the assistance of the counsel.
After several milder hints he at last burst out with, "Come,
Sir. (Ix., time is pausing" "Then let it pass, my Led,"
was the reply given with imperturbable calmness, as (1.1 re.
unmet the thread of his dizcourse, and became ruure pro-
lix than ever.
An action for £l,OOO damages has been tried in the
Court of Common Pleas, Dublin, brought by Mr. Nfatthew
Tracy, a reporter of the Cork Herald, against Mr. Daniel J.
Crnice, resident magistrate at Killarney, for false imprison-
ment. Mr. Tracy, during the Fenian excitement of last
winter, when representing his paper in Killarney, presented
a telegram at the telegraph-office there, to be sent to Cork,
in the words, "Rumoured disaffection in the troops," dec.
The jury awarded alldi damages.
The death is announced of Mrs. Sarah Randall,
at the age of seventy-seven. She had been for forty years in
the royal household, attached to the service of George 111.,
George IV , and William IV., arid, after that last monarch.
death, she was wardrobe woman to the Dowager Queen
Adelaide, with whom she remained till tier Majesty's firMille.
She then retired on a pension from the crown. The Queen
never lost an opportunity uf noticing this old and faithful
servant of her royal predecessors.
"By a private letter just received from Australia,
we learn that the Duke of Edinburgh was about to become
a member of the Masonic Brotherhood, preliminary t con-
ducting the ceremony of laying the foundation stone eta
public hall in Sydney. The initiation of this popular member
of the royal family into the order can scarcely fail to have
• most important influence on the future extension of free-
masonry, and it. increasing patronage by all classes of her
Majesty's subjects, both at home and abroad."—Dunittortua
Herald.
!. The intentions of the French Government may be
peaceful. The Emperor, indeed, has repeatedly assured
Europe that they are. Nevertheless no time Is being out in
putting the recently passed Army Bill Into effect The
Minister of War has enjoined the prefect, of the various
departments to obtain a census of the men who are liable to
be called uptri to zerve in the National Garde Mobile. The
lists are to he ready between the Itith and the 23rd of
February. The circular in which this order is given con-
siderately adds that there is no neceasity for calling the men
together at present. All that is required is that the Govern,
merit may know who they are.
We (Morning Star) have much pleasure in giving
Increased publicity to the following advertisement, clipped
from the columns of a local journal,—" Educatlon.—An
excellent opening Is offered in C—for a first class educa-
tional establishment, where the daughters of ell tradesmen
may receive a good education without associating with the
daughters of mushroom merchants and quasi 'gentlemen."
But why mushroom merchants? It seems hard to exclude
them for the benefit of the dealers in toadstools, whose
daughters are evidently admitted Into this establishment.
Touching the state of affairs in Abyssinia, Lieu-
tenant Pruiesux writes to the Pall 6azette a letter,
dated front NI agtlala, December 23, in which he expresses
his belief that the expeditionary force sent out is much too
large, and that three thsusand nice would have been amply
aufficient. King Theodore's latest amusement is to thrust
a Wier, tent peg through • MAWS entrails, and when he has
thus fixed him to the ground, to drive his gun carriage over
hi m.

—•••••
Lord Lore, the eldest son of the Duke of Argyll,
addressed the electors of Argyllshire on Saturday. Ilia pro-
gramme was a liberal one, especially In relatton to Ireland.
lie thought that if a system of peamnt proprietorship could
be Introduced into that country, as had horn done in Ger-
many, good might be done. On the Ala'Alma question, he
advocated Lord Hobart's views.

The obituary of The Time., recently contained some
rare Illustration. of prolonged existence in five gentlemen
and three ladies, whose wiited ages amounted to 690 years,
giving an average of exactly eighty-six years and three
months to each. The oldest gentleman was in his 97th
year, the youngest SS the oldest lady had reached the age
of 85, the youngest el years of age.

- - -
At the instance of Mr. Oslo Russell, the " Scotch
Legion" forming at Rome under Papal auspices has been dis-
banded, and the men sent home. It appears that the sup-
pofied "Scotch,” so eager to flght for the Pope, had in reahty
come from the Emerald Islets, learn the trade of arum with
• view to eventually employing their attainments nearer
home.
Every day's experience proves it is almost impossible
to fortell what amount the earnings of the Atlantic cables
may 11111 up to. There may of course be a limit, below which
it would be snore than unsafe to reduce the tarfi of charges;
but at present reduction of charge, as hi postage or railway
fares, seems only to expand the gross receipts. And it must
be remembered that increase or custom does not infer that
increase of expense whl,ll would be • necessary consequence
in most other concerns.
The finding and sentence of a garrison court-Martial
lately held iuiCouk for the trial of one of the artillery soldiers,
named Hickey, who was ill charge of the Martell° tower in
Cork Harbour when it was plundered on the 26:11 of Decem-
ber last, has been circulated to officers commanding reM-
mettt,,, for the pro-lose of its being made known to every
soldier belongin to this command. The charges on which
Hickey was tried were disobedience to orders and neglect of
duty. The (..-irt sentenced him to imprisonment with bard
labour for a period of nt days.
A mrterictis affair has occurred on the Royal Canal
banks in Dublin. On saturday night the police observed a
respectably.dre used female lying near the water. She was
found to he insonsible ; but not under the influerme of drink.
I she was at ones conveyed to the hospital, and th,ugh the
efficacy of remedies was restored to consciousness She
male a statement to the effect that she was going home near
Nowth early in the evening When a young man thrust a
bottle into her face. The matter la aa yet enveloped Is ra3 a-
tery, but the pollee are in search of the perpetratur of the
' deed.