The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-02-22 00:00:00

Pi:id-atom .Iticlllgnite,

ROME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL

'IIIK ADMIRALTY BOARD.—It ha-5 been it COM-
Moil expression in the mouths of Englishnien that
• • boards" have souls; but, to prove that the
Admiralty Board has some sense of feeling, we (Arta!,
mot Nary (Jareth') can say that only lately a Cl/Pl-
ummier in the Royal Navy who had met with a fear-
ful accident had his ease properly represented, and,
to the gratification of himself and friends, a dk,eision
was rapidly arrived at by their Lordships doubling
the pension which under ordinary circumstances he
would have received. .\ gain, a poor assistant-surgeon
olied who had not served sufficiently long to qualify
his widow for a pension --in fact she was in deep dia.
tress. My Lords lost no time in directing a handsome
gratuity to be sent to her, following up the principle
of "bi.l got q.ii cito dot."
SINKING or AN HOTEL.—The .To7,rda/ Paris
relates a curious circumstance which is taking place at
Beeenrano, in the province of Brescia, in Italy
The Hotel de Porta Vecchia, hilt upon piles on the chore
of the Lake of Garda, is gradually sinking atthe rate of about
six inches a day ; the ground iloor has already disappeared.
This immersion is taking plave imperceptibly, and without
any shock. Every means of preventing it have been em-
ployed, lint without avail. Numbers of persons have come
from a distance to witness this singular spectacle. The
proprietor of the hotel, who was at first in despair nt this
misfortune, at length determined to charge a fee for ml.
mission to the house, and has already received slam of
money which will go far to compensate him for his loss A
scientilic commission Is about to visit the spot to open an

--
RAILWAY CONTRACT TICKETS.—At the police-
court, Liverpool, on Monday, a builder named Hughes
was summoned by an officer of the Lancashire and
Yorkshire Railway for travelling on that line end
refusing to produce his ticket or pay the fare. It
seemed that Mr. Hughes had taken a contract ticket
for a certain period for travelling between Liverpool
and Crosby. At Sandhills station, on the sth of
December, he was asked by the collector for his ticket,
when he informed the latter he had lost it. The man
then demanded the fare, amounting to ad. Mr.
Hughes, however, declined to pmy the money, on the
ground that he had purchased a contract ticket, and
had given notice to the company that he had lost it.
According to the bye.laws, if a person loses a contract
ticket he is to pay the fare for each journey he takes
after such loss, and in the event of the ticket being
recovered the money is to be returned. Mr. Hughes
complained that he bad to show his ticket something
like 1,500 times in the course of a year. He had
incurred a penalty of 405., hut the bench ordered him
to pay a flue of 2s. 1;1., with 2s. lii. COAL

•
Axi ILLUSTRIOUS SOLDIER.—Prinee Iturbide,
the grandson of the preceding Emperor of Mexico,
who had been adopted by Maximilian, has arrived in
Home, and has enlisted as a common soldier. The
Austrian Government allows him a pension of 50,000 fr.
This young Prince, who is scarcely twenty years of
age, has refused the post of Aide-de-camp to the Em-
peror of Austria, declaring that he would only serve
the Holy Father. He is a handsome young man, and
received his education at St. Itarbe. He sleeps in the
barracks with the soldiers of his squadron. The Pope
has offered him the grade of major, which he has re-
fused. The Prince is at this moment the lion of the
Eternal City ; he goes, however, very little into society,
an.l appears to ho a a melancholy turn.

Alr E xcust:!—At a jury trial in a northern
sheriff coin I a juryman pleaded the excuse that he had
a timber b fP. The Sheriff remarked that? as it was
the head and not the feet which wa.s refinared for the
right discharge of the duty imposed on him, he could
not bet xcused. The juror then explained that he had
examined the jnry.box and 1 niml from its construction
there existed a physical impossibility of his taking his
seat therein. The Sheriff having ascertained the fact
to Iwo reprepented, excused the gentleman, remarking,
however, that the objection might is.rhaps resolveinto
his having "a defective understanding."

BURNING 11ER TI VAL.—The Court of Aqsizelr
at Aj:wcio hu, just tried a woman named Maria
Castola 00. a elarge f burnieg to death a married
Woman whims tie cooeidcred her rival. The victim
had gone from her huabature houde to viait her parenta

and recover her, health, and, on her return, she found
Castola occupying the position of her husband's mis-
tress. Quarrels took place between the two women,
and the accused finished the affair by forcibly placing
the wife upon the fire and holding her there until she
was literally roasted to death. The htusband was not
implicated, no charge bring made against him. COs-
tole WB,B condemned to hard labour for life.

THE EFFECTS OF HUNGARIAN • WINS !—The
troop of Japanese jugglers who gave representatii,us
In Paris during the Exhibition are now performing at
Pesth. A curious scene is reported to have taken place
there on the occasion of the first exhibition. They
had been invited to breakfast by an amateur the
morning of the representation, and during the repast
the strong white wines of Hungary were circulated
freely. In due course the doors of the theatre were
opened and all the seats speedily occupied. After long
delay, the public became clamorous, when a gunk.'
inissary of police came ha ward to announce that the
actors were unable to appear in consequence of having
drunk too copiously at breakfast. Great tumult
ensued, and the result was that the defaulters were
obliged not only to return the money received, but also
to pay a fine of 54.) francs for having failed in their duty
to the public. They are said to have required two
whole days to riaxiver their equilibrium.

BY FALLING OVER A CLIFF.—AII
lfl-
llilrlt was held at Skinburness on Saturday, on the
body of Edward Wilson. Deceased was driving a
horse and cart along the highway heeling from tie
port of Silloth to tkjW,uniec.s, n the coast of the
Solway Firth, and owing to the darkness of the night
he had missed his way, and driven the horse and cart
on to a piece of green ground lying between the road
and the sea brow. This piece of ground was only
eleven yards in breadth, and the poor fellow had driven
the horse to the very edge of a cliff, which at this
is,int is ten feet high, awl horse, cart. and driver went
crash over on to the beach below. When discovered,
about two hours afterwards, Wilson was lying under-
neath the upturned cart with his neck broken awl
quite dead. The horse was as 11111111 l injured that it
had to be at once destroyed. Verdict, Accidental
Death.

ME. DICKENS AT DOSE.—A correspondent of
the Chicago Tribuor says the headquarters of Mr.
Diekena in New York is at the WAgtinster IfttMl,
a quiet and very expAnsitte• home on irving-place, in
the immediate vicinity of Steinway)lall, where his
readings are given. nere he taßes his meals with
Dolby, and occasionally a few friends. lie is un in-
veterate story-teller, awl expects all within earshot to
listen to his anecdotes, which he tells with considerable
spirit 811,i dramatic effeet ; but when not engaged in
story-telling, he always him the air of a man who its
frightfully bored with everything and everybody; awl
therefore to please the great novelist, it is nscese .ry,
while in his company, to be a listener rather than A
talker. Although his frequent engagements to read
are enough to keep any tote man busy, I lickens is at
the same time a most. industrious literary worker, and
spends touch of Ma time at the desk, writing for the
Atlantic magazine, or taking notes of his present
American tour. lie will undoubtedly make A hand-
some fortune out itf his isit to this country. No oue
will begrudge it to hint, for no pecuniary recompense
is too great for the man who "crested" Little
Nell and Tiny Tim, Captain Cuttle, and Wilkins
Mieawber.

AN UN K MOWN QUANTITY.—Chi RCM Illlndrols.

_
RUSTIC hiltOltAlCK.—A3 illustrating the ig-
norance which prevails among the working classes on
religious subjects, notwithstanding the control which
has been exercised by the clergy over their schools for
BO many years, a correspondent relates the following
story :—The scene was a village in the diocese of
London, and within seven miles of the tieneral Post.
office. A child was brought to be christened at the
village church. The offiei attng clergy mattank ed the usual
question, "I [as this infant been baptised?"" Oh, yin,
mt.!" was the answer of the godmother. Knowing
that this was not the ease, the minister rewired
to be informed of the name of the Limon who had ad-
iiminintered the rite. "Mr. ---, the druggist."" Oh,
you mean that Mr. has registered the child."
"bang it all," was the reply, "'Flint's what I meant.
I thought it was the same thing." A titter from the
standers-by and a rebuke from the clergyman followed.

A "GRIEVE' FOR GARIBALDI.—It appc:.rs
from the following advertisement in Thc Dims that
General Garibaldi has sent to Scotland for a minister
of agriculture, and that the applications for that office
at Cavern have been inconceivably numerous: -

NvilcE To•APPLI,ANTS —The situation of Gricre, st
Csprera, to neneral 4:arihabii, has been filled up. From the
numerous applications ,upwards of 100; it sous found impos-
sible to communicate with all; but in every calm where
original testimonials were sent copies were taken and the
originals returned..—Forres, February 11, 1,61 f.

FOOD FOR 'Bea HORSES.—AII the food for the
seven thousand and odd London horses is speeially
prepared at the feeding depots of the company, at Mil
Lane, and at Iron Gate Wharf, Paddington (says a
writer in Cassell'a Magazine.) The system on which
the company feeds its horses is worthy of the attention
of all who have notch to do with these animals, and
require to give them as much rest as possible. The
horse's food is co prepared that it shall take the
animal the shortest possible time to consume it, in
order that he may lie down and have his rest. It is
therefore cut tip fine, and consists :4 mixture of
various nutritious materials—lndian corn, oats, barley,
chaff, dm This mixture is weighed out to each horse
--a very proper precaution where so many have to he
fed. Each animal is allowed nineteen pounds of corn
and ten pounds of chaff per day, thoroughly mixed. I
am told that upon the prire of cem the nature of
dividends declared to the shareholders is governed : if
corn is der, a poor dividend may be expected ; if it
is cheap, a good one. When we consider that the cost
halt yearly of this food is one hundred thousand
ponnds, the price of this item must make a material
difference to the credit side of the ledger.

PROOF POSITIVE.—MiStreSA : " Your dUlrio!frr
is satisfactory, but I'm very partieula,. about one thing
--I allow my servants to have plenty, but I don't allow
any waste " .1' age : Oh, no, 'm; which I'd eat and
drink till I lusted, In, rather than waste anything,
'm ! "—Punch.

DEPUTATION 01 LADIES TO THE POPE.—Tho
Rome correspondent of the Pall Mall Gazelle say, :
A few days ago the Pope gave a politic audielt,e to up-
wards of two hundred ladies, amongst whom were a ritimlier
of Pinball Catholics, this fair throng came fnr thly doubt')
purpose of evincing their "illicslon ti tho brief ef ieteher
Id, 1+67, rotating to belies' toilets, and id presenting the
holy sather with some valuable gifts, in testimony of their
devotion to the Italy Sao. (toe of the ladies expressed these
sentiments in a speech, to which the Pope replied by IM
allocution in Italian, reminding his hearers that St. Peter,
after his miraculous delivery from prison by an angel, found
on asylum in the midst of women. The Holy Father this
dwelt severely on the licence of the female toilet of the
present day, referring to the fantaatic hcaddresaes In ties.
the vestments borrowed from the Pagan hincse, and the
scandalously Indecent yokes Ile exhorted his andience to
oppose to thrs l• propaganda of the devil" a counter display
of atholic attire, worthy of their character and sex.

THE PAP.IS FASHIONS.—A prop.; of the ball
at Baron Ilaussmann's, Galignani mentions that the
multitudinous skirts of last year have disappeared ;
the dresses are without plaits in front, the fulness
being thrown back to terminate in a long inaeue sashes
of exceedingly wide ribbon, to 'rat, h the dress, are
tastefully armored in a knot behind, the ends falling
low : flowers ornament the bottom of the skirt ; the
dress is not worn so low as last year, either on the
back or front; very little black lace is to be Keen and
when white is worn, it is no longer placed flat, but in
zigzags or festoons on the dress, the points of the
former and the semi-chrle of the latter being orna-
mented with flowers; chignons are no longer seen, tho
hair being worn high on the head, with long stray
curls allowed to float freely at each side if the neck.

ST. VAI.R.NT N E'S PAT.—Friday being St.
Valentine's Day, as usual there was a vast increase in
the delivery of letters in the metropolis. The first de-
livery (eight o'clock) commenced at an earlier hog., thc
number being as immensc thrt supernumerary post-
men had to he employed to assist the regular letter
carriers. This delivery was not completed until long
after the ordinary time, and at eleven o'clock the
letters that passed through the General Post-office
exceeded in number that of pro ions yearl. At mid-
day substantial repalts were provided in the several
district' for this overworked axon, and those attached
to the central district bad their dinner in the great
hall, General Post-Office.

FROM THE IGNITION OP A LINIMENT.
—A. singular and fatal aceident WWI the subject of
inquiry on Friday at liverpool. 't'eter ttngsn, an
old man troubled with rh,untatiam, had obtained a
colourless liniment, which on Sunday last he gave to
his wife and asked her to rub it upon one of his hips.
She poured some of the liquid upon her hands, and
after rubbing her husband for some titne, in order to
increase its efficacy, she warmed her hands at the fire.
The liquid on her hands became ignited, end st'e was
very severely burned. ILr husband approached to
render het assistance, and the liquid upon his hip
became ignited shot his clothes were burned, and he
sustained such serious injuries that he died in the
Northern Hospital on the following Thursday. A.
verdict of Accidental Death was retqrned.

AN Exeree it Cunt& --According to the
Atrautie Monthly "Men say, in reply to those who
object to their did" their men's dinner parties, and
their smoking rooms, ' Women overwhelm society
with superfluous dry goods. The moment ladies are
invited, the whole affair becomes a mere question of
costume. A party at which ladies assist is little more
than an exhibition of wearing apprrel. They dress,
too, not for the purpose of giving pleasure to
men, but for the purpose of inflicting pain on one
another. Beside, a lady who is carrying a consider-
able estate upon her person must devote a great part
of her attention to the management of that estate.
She may be talking to Mr. Smith about Shakcspeare
and the musical-glasses, but the thing her mind is
really bent upon is crushing Mrs. Smith with her new
lace. Even dancing is nothing but an exceedingly
laborious and anxious wielding of yurds of silk trilling
out behind,'" &c.
TEE RULE OF THE ROAD AT SEA.—Late on
Sunday night another fatal disregard of the rule of
the road at sea produced a collision in the Gull Stream
oil Itrunsgate. The ship Superior, outward bound to
Carthagena, was on the starboard tack, steaming
S.W. by S., with the wind N.W. The night was clear
and starlight, when the lights of the Lena, screw
steamer, bound to London from Odessa, came in sight,
Which vessel WAS to blame remains yet to be estab.
lished, but one or other blundered with the helm and
the remit Wad that the steamer cut the ship Lien
abaft the fore rigging to such an extent that she sank
directly, giving the crew, two only excepted, scant
time to scramble on board the steamer. The two men
who failed to reached the Logi were drowned. The
latter vessel wan also much injured, but managed to
get, it!to port. -

"CHAMrAONv CIIMILIE."--" Challipal.7lC Charlie"
is a revived soubrii pint applied to swine tioTehsot once
living under the Opera Colonnade in the Haymarket,
London—a Mr. Charles Wright. Among the eingers
and dancers of Her Majesty's Theatre WI ight was very
Popular, and his presents of cheap champagne °rips
n.ated the farniliicr niekname of " Chanapasuo
Lat.. in his he laboured Tinder the monomania that
one of his legs belonged to Ma.laine Vestris, who at that
time loot made a sensation in the character of
and exhibited a matchless pair of limbs. The Italian
image-men made models in plaster of "Maclaine

Vestris's legs," and did a lively trade in them—a dr.
cumstance which affected the mind of Champagne
Charlie, who on one occasion, when the late Tom
Cooke visited him, refused to make an attempt to
walk.

THE REASON WHY !—" What can bo the
object of my much•esteemed Austrian colleague in
having a fort?" inquired the sly old diplomatist
whose dint &Aims were- bereft all control of natural
causes. And "what makes Count llismark apply for
and obtain leave of absence for an indefinite penod at
this particular season ? " is the subject of shrewd con-
jecture both in and out of Germany. He took a
similar holiday eeyeral months ago, and his retirement
from active lifwthen, as now, gave rise to a variety of
wild gni-mistily analog; how'ever, in the explanation
ithat there was no inyitery whatever in the matter—
that Connt Blainark, Hie ether men' wanted relaxa-
tion after the wear and tear of a busy Session, and that
he would return as 84,00 as fresh air and repose had
soothed his shattered nervea. We (Times) hope he
way again enjoy his hardly earned respite, and that
nothing may be materially changed in the position of
affairs in his absence.

MARRYING A MAID OF Low Dsor.P.E.—The
Archduke Henry, cousin of the Emperor of Austria
Ime just been married to a young lady of the name of
Hoffmann. She was formerly on the stage, but for
two years past has I.een living with her family, near
Vienna. The wedding tAmk place without any pomp
or ceremony, in the Archduke's palace at Brunn. He
had, it seems, endeavoured to obtain permission from
his Majesty to form this connection. but in vain.
Accordingly, some days ago, Fraulein Hoffmann was
summoned to Brum by her future husband, with
strict injunctions to mention the journey to no One.
She was, Btol was the arehduke'n wish, to mpearat
the altar in a eimple dress of white nnwlin. In the
room where the ceremony was gone through were two
witikesxes ; this was all the company. They have now
left for Italy, where for some time they will remain.

- -
AN EDITORIAL EXCURSION IN AMERICA.—
American editors for some years past, have been in
the habit of enjoying a holiday in the aritamm, and of
visiting the place which is tillpleaild to have made the
most rapid stride in the scale of civilisation and im-
provement. Their lad visit was to Omaha, and the
editor rd the I haolot Jourool, among other rich
Americanisms, says Id them -" TWO Isandred real,
live, bona fide, Simon-ruro editors in Omaha! We
could swear on a thousand Bibles that each excur-
o onist is the most learned, most Asp:cid, must
righteous, nurst disinterested, most statesmanlike, and
most poptdar editor in the world!" •
A CIIALLENGE.—Tho Marquis of Tweeddale,
an agriculturist of no mean sagacity and experience,
has submitted to the Highland Agricultural Society
the following proposal for testing the merits of horse
labour r. steers ploughing, and it IS BO ppueed that his
lordship's challenge will be accepted:
have a flew of clay land which has been dnilned at 15
feet apart and has never been ploughed also S inches, most
probably 7 holies, in loch I have lately take-. into my own
hands. This nehl will-ho ready for cross plongliing shout
the middle of March, whesi a trial could take place. I will
produce seventr'ell I,airs if hows to work against, the steam
plough, so that 'lemma be said the hor:Ch have been picked.
as that is the number if pairs I haVe at work. As steam
cultivation 14 stated to be the new olt bron king up the
soil, I soy that It" ineheri, the depth that .1 will fir for the
tdal I beg wi will lay my proposition Inforo the monthly
court of directors.

A NOYET; ARMAM SNP ! Unibli Nervice
olazettr, are given to understand that H.M.S. Warren
is at present armed with " three guns and a half," the
explanation iif this cirennistanto being that in experi-
menting with YiUlb. shot the breach of one of the
muzzle-loading 300-pounders Waif blown completely off.
An order has been given that the Wllverm is not to fire
her gnus for the present.
AMERICAI7 PRISONERS IN ENOLAND.—A Wash-
ington telegram of the 3rd to the /fits York Herald
says -

The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Bonin., it is
understood, will take into eAmideration to morrow the
question of the release of American citizens now in British
prisons. Thh question has been entirely overlooked. It Is
thought that action in the matter will be speedily taken,
and a request be made upon the l're•hieut, with assurances
of support, to make a formal demand for the release of all
American citizens so imprisoned.

The bill Waki taken up in the House on the 4th, but
was 1:.i.1 ever until the :ith.

A M RACULOUS ESCAM—A very extraonlinary
incident occurred on the South Leicestershire branch
of the London and North-Western Ilailway on Satur-
day morning,. As the train which left Nuneaton at
10.10 a.m. was approaching Narborough the dtiver
observed something lying between the metals, and at
once took means to stop his train, but was unable to
do so until it had proceeded some three hundred yards
beyond the object which attracted his attention.
When he had stopped his train he went down the line,
accompanied by the guard and several of the pas-
sengers, when they discovered a "navvy" lyirg be-
tween the motels helplessly diguik and fast asleep. It
took the united efforts of the men to rouse him from
his perilous slumber. Although the whole of the
train had passed oyez him he was perfectly uninjured,
and was quite unconscious of the danger to which he
had expose I himself. Ile abused the men for disturb-
ing him, and, making a desperate resistance, declared
that he would net move from the spot. Ultimately a
" trolly" which was in use on the line was procured,
the foolish fellow was laid upon it and with great dif-
ficulty conveyed to the tram, and thence to Leicester,
where he was locked up in a cell at the police-station,
and kept there to recover his senate.
PROFESSION L MURDPITIr RS —A lette* from
Vesth states that the daughter of a man employed on
the roads near that city, and who resided in a cottage
between Alt Oren and Uereton, has just confessed, in
a fit of renunsw, that in concert with her father, she
had committed not less than sixteen murders during
the lag ten years, for the purpoee of robbing their
victims. z'even skeletons had already been discovered
by the authorities., arol infovmrtion gee's 1-v the yours
sVoite.n has led to the iinding of the nine others.

POOR FELLOW Mexican vipers give an
account of the murder of Mr. Brewster Russell, of
Landon. Mr. Rossal was employed by the Mexico
and Vera Cruz Railway Company. Having occasion
to go to Mazatlan, he was indoceil by one Ochoa, who
feel been a captain in the Juarist army, to travel riel
,uraug,o, and by an unusual route. (hi the road, and
when near fciezeii, Mr. Russell lent him pistol to Oehoa
(who had pretended a desire to relieve the owner of the
hard, nof carrying it). IVo sooner had (Mina obtained
the pistol than he shot Mr. Russell. Two boys of the
party aided Ochoa in crushing with stones the head of
the victim; finally, the trunks and valises of Mr.
Russell were broken open, and the contents carried off.
It is not known that any attempt has been made to
capture the murderers.

ROY A Lin! IN DEVAlll_T.—A.Vstoliati
state that the majority of the entire population of the
district aesembleil in Geelong to greet the Duke of
Edinburgh on hie arrival. The groups about the pier
included the principal people of the town ; and last,
not leas., was the at monarch of the Dandenong
tribe Of nioriginals, King .lerry, deessed for 'Mae
respectably in a nsw suit of clothes fresh from the
eg,i•lmes and R,wics on his feet, a rosette and medal
on his breavt, and a rifleman's badge on his arm. He
VMS to have presented an address and a vonone of
Dr. Bruce's work on the aboriginal languages, and
swaggered about for hours on the strength. of his future
interview with the Prince. But alas ! when the time
came King Jerry was away, and the two scions of
dill'urent Boy al races never met.

M. Louts BLANC.—The following letter to a
London magiArate has been publiKbed by ruquest

To2,ir I qardecr

fAr,-4 countryman ov mine whom t.lo not hitow, nod v. lilt
whom I have poevlitly nothing in contra.li bar thin ottote, was
brought before you 011 the 13th that , charge.l. with smuggling
215. of foreign manufactured tobacco and it nip- can. from a
report published in several newspapers that you told the
prisoner you were "very sorry to see a Man hearing Orb a
ilistimmistwl 'gm, as Lonia hiatiC et milted a Mt antugv..i:ng."
ant not vainglorious enough to 'oppose that the allusion
is pointml at me, but my Mende will have it that ills. If
no, it really puzzles one to decide whether I ought to thank
you, or may consider myself free from gratitude. Was your
rentark meant as a mere compliment ? In that CAW, cannot
help regretting that the rentetre phonld be so ambiglVnil as
ra srmi the enuet of youc gao,i intentiouz you WA—
which seems to me hardly credible—that 1 was the pertain
it was your painful duty to tine 3ds. 1 Then allow One to put
you on your guard, In the event if some other Louis Blanc
being henceforth found In posaession of foreign manufactured
tobacco, by Informing you that I do not smoke am,
sir, your obedient serrent, LOUTS Maar —Brighton, Feb 15.
ADRIFT ON TTIN E:.—Atiollt four o'clOck
oil
ti,, afteruxot of the Poth while !'OO or 300
people—men, women, anti children -mainly paoeedgera
by the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad train, were
crossing the riveron foot, at St. Louis, the ice suddenly
broke loose and floated down the stream (says the Nero
York Tribune.) The people ran hither and thither in
terrible fright. They could not get off at either shore,
as thtl had float-A the river bonito,t‘nrl a btoad
open space of water intervened between them and the
land. It seemed as though the loan of life must
have been fearful. Thousande of citizens gathered on
the levee and watched the scene with intense excite-
ment. I uet,ily t 5.9 immense field did not break, and
after floating the distance of two blocks, it pressed
against a steamer on the Missouri shore, from which
planks were pushed out, and all the terrified people
were rescued. No one was injured.

A PROnATIT,E Surroprriox:—A ,lePtruetive fire
took place on Priday at Leeds, by which the premises
and machinery of a large building firm were destroyed,
damage to the extent of several thousands of pounds
inflicted, and mant workmen thrown net of mploy.
Unfortunately tires of this description are not 01 00
unusual occurrence as to require special remark • but
in this cage there appears to be evidence that the
mischief was caused by burglars. It is imagined that
finding themselves unable to force open a large safe
supposed to contain money, they broke their way out
of the counting•hoose into the carpenter's shop to
obtain more powerful tools? and when then i• probably
set fire to the i,ilace accidentally. Perhaps other
catastrophes of the kind where everything has been left
and remained safe for hours, and where the out-
break has been inexplicable, may haw- had a Similar
origin.

CHARACTEIL—A new discovery
has been made in Paris, and appears likely to become
quite the rage. This is called, physiognomancie, and
consists in the power of divining by the features. Pro-
fessors of this science pretend that by means of
scientific and artistic researches they are able to repre-
sent all the different changes through which the
countenance of a child will pees until he arrives at
minhood. The inventor, by the aid of photography,
produces two portraits, the one of the child as at
present, and the other as be or she will be at her
eighteenth or twentieth year. This science being of a
nature to excite curiosity., will, no doubt, lecome the
delight and amusement of parents.
A SILLY .I.OI:IC.—A serious practical joke has
jmit been played by a Franco-American gentleman
wl oil, is likely to cost him cry dear. He announced
in the call of the Grand Hotel that a well-known
American packet had been burned in the Atlantic.
Several gentlenien present immediately left the room,
and proceeded, some to break the news to families ex.
necting friends and relatives, ~then to insure mer-
chandise to make "sicker" what may have been
forgotten on the other side. Some insursumes had
been effected before the offices became aware of the
rumour, but on their doiriii so they resolutely declined
..Mg any more risks. Our joker seeing the gravity

of his pleasantry, then acknowledged the error of hie
ways, but too late to prevent actions being taken
against him by the insurance offices and those who
had effected insurances.

TIIE IRISH CATTLE TRADE.—A memorial,
signed by about 2,000 if the principal landed pro-
prietors in the grazing districts of Ireland, praying
for a withdrawal of the Order in Council of the 17th
January, lSit, restricting the transport and sale of
cattle and sheep, is about to be presented to the govern-
ment. The memorialists protest against interference
with this important trade as unnecessary. The diseases
referred to in the order, viz., the mouth and fo,-t
disease and yleuro-pneumonia in cattle, and the scab
and mange in sheep, are not, according to their ex -
perience, of a kind to require the stringent measures
prescribed in the order, and the enforcement of these
would, in fact, almost entirely Slop the cattle trade.
THE FORTIFICATIONS OF ROME.—A correspon-
dent of the DiLate, writing from Rome, says :

The works of fortification are still prosecuted with great
activity. The whole of the wall surrounding Rome is being
crowned with battlementa; part of the covered gallery lead-
ing from the Vatican to Yon St. Angelo is being repaired or
reconstructed hut I ought to say that the sanot bags have
disappeared from the parapet of the Pingian. The military
administration has at last admitted what was obvious to
all, namely, that no attack could possibly be attempted on
that aide.

AlUBBILI: BY A LUNATIC MOVER. —A WOBiall
named Fletcher has been committed at Illoucester for
trial for the wilful murder of her child. The prisoner
is the wife of a rural pisdnian, living at Sevenhampton,
six miles from l'heltenham. A few years ago she was
in a lunatic asylum, and lately her mind had again
ls conic affected, through the over-suckling of a baby.
(hi New Year's-day she tried to cot her own throat.
She was very fond of the infant, which was her only
child living. A I lay or two ago she put the child into
a tan of dirty water and suffocated it. When the
neighbours went into the cottage they saw the mother
looking wild and ghastly, and the child dewl and
naked. The poor creature begged her fr;ends not to
touch the child, bemuse he would lw back presently.
She has since often inquired for the child.

THE USE OF CHLOROFORM FOR OUTRAGE AND
114,85i/if.- -It is a difficult thing at any time to bring
an individual under the influence of chloroform against
his will, and particularly an athletic person such as
Mr. Speke is flescrffsxl to be (remarks the Lanett). it
is exceedingly improbable that any one for cri 11l inal
purposes would use an agent like chloroform, hich
would infallibly cause considerable struggling, and
consume a good deal of time before it induced insensi-
bility. It is simply a delusion to suppose that this
agent can be employed for the immerses of robbery,
Ake. ; its administration under such circumstances would
be attended with infinitely greater difficulties than the
brute-force expedients which would be used by
powerful and tletermined.ruttiano.

No QUERE !—A story i 4 related of the late
Judge }lemon, of Pennsylvania. On one oceasion he
was trying a ease where the law awl evidence was
altogether ea ale idle of the plaintiff. On the juey
was a mein who pretended to be learned in the law,
was in the habit of giving legal advice, and added
largely to the litigation of the county. In this ease
he bail gives assurance to the defendantthat he would
surely win the case, awl when the judge had con-
cluded his charge I w jumped up mid exclaimed, " But,
Judge, eerie as ti that law.'' "Silence, sir," said the
Judge, "you are a great iwf, awl of that, at least,
there is no getrir.- The verdict was for the plaintiff,
and the inquiring juryman never hail any mime clients.
A JAPANESE EcTmEn.—The agent of a Califor-
• Ma wine company recently forwarded a case of wine
to a high military officer in Japan, and received the
following acknowledgment, written in English on the
rough brownish paper of the country :

Japan. Tenth Moos, 1%7. --To Mr. R N. Van Brunt
I received your letter dated September eel , and were glad
to real R. Vont thankfull for your sending the wine, an
when I distrilette the eloe among my Meals they wer glad
to ilure in your favour. I beg that yen shall inform mo of
the price of per Cabe which contains 3 um* dozen,? When
I drink the wine and become pleasant, I feel as If I were
trkether with you. I have honor to he your servant,
M ATSII. 4'o JUDiyJapan.

THE END OF A Witt:T(llED LIFE !—A poor 41
lady of seventy-tlme has just ended a long and
wretched life in lianwell Lunatic Asylum. When
young she was heiress to a fortune of lAA°, but she
married a perfumer and her relatives discarded her.
Iler husband subsequently fell into difficulties, and
died, leaving her penniless, with a daughter, who was
a cripple. ror yesre the mother and daughter eked
out a scanty living, but at last their strength failed
and they both went into the workhouse. There Ihe
old lady became insane with thinking over her troubles,
and was sent to Hamel), where she died from exhaus-
tion soon after her admission.

A FRENCHMAN ON THE QCEEN'S BOOK.—The
.feuilletoniate of the Paris Mats, in the following
observations, represents the general sentiment of the
French press . . .. . . .

I intended to enPy the luxury of criticising a Queen's
work to-day, having before me the two volunies recently
published by Queen Victoria. 1 said to myself that should
be mereif al—at once respectful and indulgent. Who, indeed,
could be severe lit presence of so much sincerity and so
much frankness? Never were books so truly "livres de
bonne foi," to use the expression of Montaigne. One must
pusxess great rudeness—one must have a pitiless idea of
literary justice—not to be disarmed by works where thyre is
RI, much of the woman anti so little of the author, nay, Bo
little of the writer. There is much to be said of these narra-
tions of a Queen to her people; simple and touching
disclosures which my cause mockers to smile, but which
will captivate and move the artless.
- -

" VAQABONDMIE" IN SPAIN.—The Spanish
Chamber of Deputies have pe.sse.l c bill against vaga-
bondage. It declares that the following persons will
be regarded as vagabonds :- "1. Persons, though even
married and living in fixed habitations, who do not
possess some property, who have no profession, trade,
or occupation, and no legitimate or known means of
existent., :-. Persons in any employment or business
constituting the sole means of living, who do not hal&
tunny follow it cp. Persocs without sufficient
means who frequent gambling houses or othcr ens.
pectisl places." At eighteen years of age the vaga-
bond is to be under the surveillance of the police.
Above that age he will he imprisoned fora long or
short period, according to circumstances.
DECENPI:II IN AUSTRALIA.—The thermometer
at the Melbourne Observatory reached 104 der. in
the shade on the Illth of December. An instance of
extrone variability of temperature in the climate is
afforded by the fact that at Grant, on the Crooked
River, on the 10th, the Iteat was very great, tile glass
standing at 8A deg. in tho shaele—:m altitude one -
mon in that alpine locality. On the 12th—only two
days afterwards—the temperature was at freezing
point, and snow was lying six inches deep on the
plains.