The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-11-07 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

The Italian papers state that the English each'
tionasy squadron, commanded by Lord Clarence Paget, re-
cently cast anchor in iladdalena Roads, on the coast If
Sardinia, and that on the following day lord Clarence Paget
paid a visit to General Garibaldi at Caprera, and was rsceived
with much cordiality.
The l'xince Imperial of France is this seamn to go
out for the first tine with his fatlrw's stag-In mid& at Com-
piegne. lie is said to have a capital seat, and promises to
become as perfect a horseman as the Emperor--dit reAtr, he
may have likewise inherited the art from his mother, who

rides remarkably welL —•
The New Free Press of Vienna says "We have
now authentic reports of the Austrian artillery firing at the
battle of Sadowa. There were in action at that great con-
flict 672 guns on the side of the imperialists ; 46,535 rounds
were tired; that is to say, an average of 66 each. The battle
lasted sine hours, and therefore the Austrians fired 5,200
shots an hour and 86 the minute."
A Madrid paper, the Iberia, has a stirring article,
calling upon the people to lay aside loafing, and to take to
w oil in earnest. "Let us all to work," it Concludes;
" eimugh of songs, enough of hymns ; the best singing will
not earn us a pennyworth of bread. The finest oration, the
most select poem, is of less value to us than a measure winch
would remedy the most insignificant evils in the country,.

The political excitement in Blackburn culminated on
Monday, upin the occasion of the municipal elections, in
serious disturtistices. Several of the polling Istoths were
surrounded with fighting mobs, whose proceedings acre not
long in provoking a row. rights, in winch bitalg.ons and
stones were freely used, ensued, and the aid of the dragoons
had to be sought to Quell the riots. A number of persons
were injured, many of them seriously.
A decree has been published by the Spanish Govern-
ment sanctioning the right of public meeting when con-
ducted in an orderly manner. Twenty•four hours previous
notice of the meetings must, however, be given to the
authorities ; they must neither Inc " periodical nor penno-
net t," and they will trot be regarded as orderly if attended
by armed persons
At Webes-sous-Thnin, in Belgium, two triple births
have just taken place. Madame Best Genie was a few days

hack 'delivered 4"iilree lulu all in vigorous health; a aluk
time previously a farmer's wife in the neighbourhood,
Madame Litchi, gave birth to three girls.
A grant of VlOO has been made to Mrs. Stevelly,
widow of Professor Stevelly, of Belfast.
On the 28th ultimo at the parish church of Hartley,
by the Rev. W. W. Allen, a baby was christened, one of the
godfathers being the child's great grandfather, who is Si,
years of age, and has living at the present time 8 children,
42 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren, making a total
of S 2.
The new Russian railway loan launched on the
English Money Market this week increases the amount which
Ru..sia has sought to raise this year on the English Money
Market for railway purposes to £20,000,000.
An "Immigration Convention," intended to smite in
one body all the societies throughout America, formed for
the encouragement of immigration and the protection of
=krauts, hail Just been held at Baltimore.
The Council of State of the canton of Obwald
givitserland has published an edict forbidding any youth
under eighteen years of age to smoke, under a severe penalty.
A story is going the rounds of gossip in Paris (says
the Post shout a RUSS6II countess having received • magni-
ficent bouquet of violets, on which were ingeniously placed
some small topazes to represent dewdrops The lady natur-
ally imbibed the sweet odours of the mysterious bouquet,
and shortly after was taken ill, and seized with fever The
Ito era were poisoned If ere the story ends by declaring
that the lady lives and is more beautiful than ever, as her
face now discovers an exquisite vein of melancholy.
In Chicago two weekly papers have recently been
established, conducted entirely by ladies. One of them,
curiously enough, is called the Legal Seim arid is wholly
devoted to legal intelligence trim the courts of the North
Western States, its editor is Mrs. V3ra Bruit well, the
wife 4.f an attorney of the Chicago bar. The other journal
is called the Sorosts (which is likewise the somewhat mystical
name of a ladies' club in New York), and is devoted to
"women generally."
Mr. Bright was on Tuesday presented with the free.
dom of the city of Edinburgh, as an acknowledgment of the
distinguished position which the lion. gentleman occupies us
a statesman. as an orator, and as one who has done so much
to promote free trade amongst the nations. Mr. Bright, in
reply, spoke at some length on topics which now command
public interest, and rejoiced that he had leen permitted to
bear some part in bringing about those shanges which would
be likely to act beneficially in future generations.