The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-10-24 00:00:00

THE STOUIRBRIDGE OBSERVER_

tieis exPense, much of which Mr. Hardy thinks
might be prevented if the magistrates, after conference
with the parish authorities, were to appoint certain
days specially for a hearing of applications for
excuse].
LETTER OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON.—A letter,
written by the Emperor Napoleon 111. to an old
schoolfellow, who, having become a surgeon, had fallen
into distressed circumstancea, has just been published.
lie was unable to wait on his Majesty at Salzburg In
1807; but he requested an audience of Prince Napoleon
when the latter was at resth, and was recommended
by him to write to the Emperor. He did so, and
received the following reply, dated St. Cloud,
Sept. 10 :
I have learned with much sympathy your painful situation
and I hasten to comply with your request. Never have I
forgotten the time I passed in Germany, where my mother
received a noble hospitality, and [myself the first advantages
of instruction, and found in you a kind companion and a
friend Exile offers painful but useful trials • it teaches us
better to know foreign nations, and to judge without
prejudice their good qualities and their worth. And if at a
later period the natal soil is revisited, the reminiscence Is
always preserved of the companions among whom one's
youth has well passed, and the reinembrance remains !fruity,
notwithstanding time and politics. Your letter affords me
as opportunity of expressing these sentiments which are
shine —Receive this as a proof of the close sympathy with
which lam yours, NAPoLEofi..
A WORTHY MEMORIAL.—They who think
that a Free Press is an advantage to a nation, should
subscribe to the Memorial 44 a man who, in his time,
fought many a brave battle for the freedom 44 the
Frees. Leigh Hunt was sent to prison for publishing
opinions which Mr. Punch in perfect safety may now
put forth when he pleases ; and the fact that Mr. Punch
can Pay just what lie likes without a fear of Newgate,
is owing in great measure to the battles Leigh Hunt
fought. Gratefully and gracefully remembering this
fact, Mr. Punch would say a word for the Memorial to
Leigh Hun', and they who would be sorry to see Mr.
Punch in Newgate (imagine the world living for a
week without its Punch !), will freely give their
guineas to perpetuate the Memory of a writer who
worked manfully to gain for England a Free Press.--
Punch.
A PARTS MYSTERY.—The Paris correspondent
of the Court Journal relates the following :
Every year. on the same olay, at the same early hour—this
week was the mysterious anniversary—a beautiful woman
conies to the Palaus- Royal on foot, and enters the" Freres Pro-
veneaux." She is always alone, always dressed in black, and
deeply veiled ; she wears no ornaments that may attract atten-
tion, no jewels, save two beautiful black pearls in her ears.
Without saying a word to any one, she walks quickly up the
stairs, and enters the private room No 4. The proprietor,
of the establishment, who knows her ways, orders her
dinner, comisting always of the same dishes. These are all
placed upon the table at the same time, and the mysterious
lady is left to herself for about two hours. No bill is made
out; the unknown visitor leaves one of her pearl earrings in
payment. For twelve years, we are told, she has come thus,
always melancholy-looking, always dressed In black. Whx
can she bet The waiters have surnamed her "La rrincesse
aux Penes."
TAXES uroN HORI•ES.— The witness no fre-
quently quoted by Carlyle, who defined a gentleman
as one 'who keel.; a gig," will find some interesting
information in the recently published tax returns. He
will find, for example that during last year taxes were
paid upon 654,116 horses, which, after making the
necessary deductions for horses used in trade. (te.,
scarcely leaves a quarter of a million to represent the
" gbginianity "of the country in all its grades. In the
following statistics the reader will note the sorry figure
which " ltoman Catholic Priests and Dissenting
ministers" make, compared with "rectors, vicare, or
curates." We are informed that in the last financial
year the duty of £3 17s, upon racehorses was paid
upon 2,406. The guinea duty upon horses exceeding
thirteen hands used for riding and drawing carriages
chargeable with duty was paid upon 194,958, and the
half-guinea duty upon horses under thirteen hands on
63,415. The half-guinea duty was paid also upon
217,405 horses used in trade, 125,369 kept by farmers,
4,088 kept by bailiffs, shepherds, or herdsmen ; 4,406
kept by rectors, vicano, or curates; 537 kept by Roman
Catholic priests or Dissenting ministers; :1.574 kept by
physicians, surgeons and spothecaries ; and 13,655 used
by common carriers. The 50. 3d. duty was paid upon
24,300, being horses under thirteen hands need in trade.
The grows produce of the tax was £421,465.
A SPORTSMAN DROWNED.—The body of a man
named William Redmond, who came by his death
under singular circumstances, was found on Friday
in the lake .4 the Lady's Island, about ten nines from
Wexford. Redmond, who resided in that locality, went
out on the lake on Sunday, the 4th inst., in a shooting
boat, for the purpose of shooting wild fowl, but as he
did not return his absence gave rise to the most alarm-
ing conjectures. His gun wan found in the boat, a tiny
craft about nine inches deep, and a wild fowl was seen
floating dead on the lake. It is now supposed that in
retwhing for the bird Redmond fell into the water and
so came by his death. Hs leaven a wife and four
children.
THE GENERAL EtwrioN.—The Committeejof
the Scholastic Registration Association has passed the
following resolutions : " That it is expedient, in the
prospect of a general election, to remind schoolmasters
throughout the country of the valuable opportunity
thins presented of enlisting the future members of the
House of Commons in favour of such a bill of seholastic
registration as shall give to the public the means of
discriminating between duly qualified teachers and in-
competent enipirics." "That the committee recom-
mend to the association to introduce a bill into Par-
liament early next year."
DECISION ON IMPORTANT MATTERS.—" The
So 'red Congregation of the Rites," says the Monde,
'• has inst miblished four decrees, the first of
which authorizes the pleadings for the beatification
and canonisation of the Venerable lin (thee Domini, me
Antoine ; the second affirms the validity of the account
given of the miracles performed by the Venerable
Brother Michael Angelo de Saint Francois ; the third
miii, tine's the sati,factory result of the investigation
at Vienna ae to the sanctity of life and miracles of
the Venerable Clement-Mane Hofbaner, belonging to
the congregation of the Holy Redeemer ; and the
fonrth e,i.sfirms the veneration rendered from tin.e im-
metnorial to the Dominican Guala Bishop of Brescia."
A. Haim Gist,. —A ease which shows that the
rule of red tape is not yet at an end Was mentioned at
the Westminster police-court, in London, on slowlay.
A respectable old man stated that on the 17th Sep-
tember, his son, twenty years of age, was sent to
prison on an unfounded charge of having been a
deserter. The man for whom he was then mistaken
had since been arrested, yet his mon was still detained
in prison. On the 12th inst. he made the facts known
at the War-office, and was told that the young man
wouhl be liberated on the following morning. He had
not, however, been released, and the applicant now
wished to know what was to be done. By the
direction of the court a letter was written to the
Waradtice, calling the attention of the authorities to
the matter.
TEE SPANISH CHARACTER.—A correspondent
residing in Spain, writes :
The Spaniards are certainly a far more pleasant people to
be among than the Italians. They are an eminently like-
able people ; they are so uniformly quiet and courteous in
demeanour. They may at the present moment admire, and
wonder at, the wonderful things the Spanish people have
done, a little niore than one is disposed to consider their
due. But their pride never shows itself ill an unpleneant
way. Young Spain has none of the swagger and bluster
which are so walked and so Offensive in young Italy. A
young Spanish officer does not conceive it necessary to, talk
looeler, or to stamp harder upon the ground, than any one
else when he enters a eafee ; lie does not, as a matter of
course, clank his spurs and rattle his sworol. 'I he young
Spaniard. mud indeed the Spaniard in general, is eminently a
outlet, natural, unaffected fellow. Eight or ten of them sit-
ting round a table in a coffee will talk gravely by the hour,
it is rare to hear a raised voice. or to see an animated
gesture. The speaker is seldom interrupted, and each man
listens find is listened to with attention. I confess that the
more I see of the Spaniards the more I like them, Mit I do
w for their own
aud a little Illnre practical.
MR. G. F. TRAIN.—According to the Irishman
Mr. Train has committed himself to the chivalrous and
difficult task of retrieving the character of Mr. James
Stephens. At his last "levee" on the Marshalsea—
which, by the way, is to be his last—Mr. Train ex-
pressed the most unreserved confidence in the ability
and honesty of the discarded central organiser, anti de-
clared that if Ireland el er attained independence it
would be owing to his patriotism and devotion. This
genenms sentiment did not seem to meet with the ail-
Koval of the circle of friend's to whom it was tittered.
Tilt RESULT OF PRACTICAL JOKING. —At
Bolton, Mr. Brierley, book-keeper, met one of the
apprentices of the firm where he WM employed. Taking
the lad up by one arta and a leg, he carried him to a
bridge, which spans the River C'roal—only a shallow
stream at this point. He held the youth over the
battlement of the bridge, and, unintentionally it is sup-
posed, dropped him. He tried. to catch the falling lad,
but in the effort lost his balance and fell after him,
a depth of about 40ft. The two were afterwardstakenup
and conveyed to the infirmary, where it was found that
they had sustained serious injuipiem. Mr. Brierley was
drdadfulle cut anol bruised about the head and face; and
the boy hh4l his legs broken. Mr.Brierley has since died.
At the inquest Oil Friday, the only new fact elicited was
that deceased was a little intoxicated at the time, for
which he had been repeoved by his employer only a
few minutes before the accident. The coroner said had
the youth died instead of Brierley the case would have
been one of Manslaughter, though the affair might
only be a "lark? A verdict of " Accidental (teeth"
was returned.
A TRIFLE FROM BRIGHTON.-011 the quest ion
of Purchase in the Army there may be doubts ; but
there can be none as to the necessity of aboliehiug
Parches in the Church.—Punch.
FATHER AND SON !—A gentleman was chiding
his eon for staying out late at night—or rather early
next morning—and said—" Why, when I was of your
age, my father would not allow me to 1.0 tett of the
le (use after dark r "Then you hada deuce 44 a father,
you hail," sneered the young profligate. Whereup in
the father very rashly vociferated, "1 had a confounded
site better'n than yon, you young rascal
THE STRONG HAND.--The correctional police
at Paris was occupied on Thursday with the trial of
nine persons charged with clandestinely introducing
the Lanterne into France from Brussels. It appears
that they were all leagued together, and had sent one
of their body to the Belgian capital to purchase :1.000
copies, for the purpose of selling them at a large profit.
A confederate co,trived to take possession of the
packet at the station of Bondy, and brought it to Paris,
but was seen by a police agent when entering a book-
seller's shop with it. An investigation being instituted,
and the bearer of the copiee arrested, ;his latter con-
fessed the whole plan, and gave the names of his
associates. The court condemned the whole of the
accused to various terms of imprisonment, varying
from six days to a month.
HORSE PROPERTY TN NEW YORK—The sales
of real estate in New York and Brooklyn for the past
six months have been very large. In New York a
building now almost necessitates a tearing down for
from Fifty-ninth-street to the Battery there is hardly
a lot which is not covered by some building. Purchasers
have paid large prices, but desirable property has been
in such active demand that tante prices were easil
(Attained. In Brooklyn building has been much more.
active than in New York, especially in the line of
private residences. The inonosing population of this
city, in spite of crowded tenements and the unceasing
noise of saws and hammers, ask for residences without
finding them. High rents, small houses, and a move.

meat into the country--this is the history of Brooklyn
emigrants. The tranefers and leases have been more
steady throughout the summer than those in New York,
although, of course, not reaching so high a figure. In
New York, in the six months ending the 30th of Sep-
tember, there were recorded 2,874 transfers of real
estate of the value of 90,864,934 dole., and in Brooklyn
5,873 dots., the value being 28,868,317 dole. In New
York there were recorded 812 leases of property of the
value of 2,745,933 dohs., and in Brooklyn 261 of pro-
perty of the value of 229,373 dole. In New York there
were in the six months 2,237 sales by auction of pro-
perty of the value of 11,200,704 dole., and in Brooklyn
423 sales of property
of the-value of 1,510,941 dole.
AN EMIGRATION INCIDENT.—A Cy'farthfa rail-
man emigrated a little while ago in company with a
married sister and her infant. On arriving at New
York they journeyed into the interior, and had taken
their places some distance from their starting place in
a railway carriage at a junction where there were other
trains going off in other directions at the same time,
when the sister stepped out for a moment, leaving the
infant to his care. She never returned; it is believed
she must have mistaken the train, and went off to
another quarter. At all events, he found himself in a
strange city at nightfall with a little child, ignorant of
the proper destination, and almost penniless, as she
carried the purse. tie wandered about souse days,
finally became insane, and died in a lunatic asylum.
Intelligence of his singular fate arrived at Merthyr
Tydfil last week.
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE BY A PRIEST.—An extra-
ordinary attempt at suicide was made the other day in
Paris at the Hotel-des-Invalides. A priest, aged
about 50, was visiting the tomb of Napoleon, when he
suddenly drew a pistol from his pocket, and discharged
it in the direction of his heart. Probably from his
agitation at the moment, his hand wavered, and the
ball merely passed through his left arm. He imme-
diately received medical assistance, and was afterwards
removed to his home. He declared that a difference
with some members of his family had led him to make
the attempt on his life.
THE ANGEL SHARK. MY. J. C. Wilcocks,
writing to the Field, says :—" Whilst working a tram-
mel on the north-east coast of Sark, on Friday, Oct.
9, with an amateur of sea fishing, we captured an
angel shark (Equatina angelus), about 401 b. weight.
his is the first, says Pennant, which connects the
rays and sharks, partaking something of the character
of both; yet an exception to each in the situation of
the month, which is placed at the extremity of the
head. The pectoral fins are large, and having some
resemblance to wings, the fish has on this account re-
ceived the name of angel,' although its general aspect
is anything but angelic ; in fact all the genus
have much malignity of appearance, for their
eyes are sunken and oblong, overhung by the skin,
and, as Pennant also observes, 'are fuller of
malevolence than fire. The flesh is now but
little esteemed on account of its coarseness and rank-
ness, yet Archestratus (as quoted by Athenteus), speak-
ing of the fish of Miletus, gives this the first ph ice in
respect to its delicacy of the whole cartilagenous tribe.
Amongst fishermen it is known as the fiddle fish, to
which instrument it has a decided resemblance, sup-
posing the wings trimmed off to half their width. It
is also known as the monk, and is so named by Mr.
Ray in his work on fishes. It seems of a very sluggish
disposition, and lay like a dead thing at the bottom
after being lifted on board the boat, requiring some
caution in the process, in order to avoid tearing the
net as little as possible, as well as to keep clear of its
numerous sharp teeth, which, from its power of jaw,
could inflict a severe wound on hand or foot inad-
vertently or accidently introduced into its mouth.
This is the second 'angel' lately captured."
A STEP IN TIIE RIGHT DIRECTION.—A Court
of Arbitration and Conciliation has been formed in
Manchester. The first step was taken by the Chamber
of Commerce, which invited a conference on the subject
with the Trades Council. The invitation was cordially
entertained, and on Thursday deputations from the
two bodies met and formally agreed that a Court of
Arbitration should be established. One of the rules
provides that the objects of the court shall be to
arbitrate on any question relating to wages or other
matters, that may by mutual agreement be referred to
it, from time to time, by the employers and operatives,
and, by conciliatory means, to Interpose its influence
to hut an end to any disputes that may arise. The
court is to be appealed to only when the employers and
emplayed have failed to effect an amicable settlement
of any dispute by other means. The members are to
consist of s, chairman and sixteen members, eight of
whom shalliee selected by the Chamber of Commerce,
and eight by the Trades Council.
No PARTY QUESTION.—"I do not," says the
Knight of Kerry, in a sensible letter to The Times on
the Irish Chun+, "presume to say whether Mr.
Disraeli should have approached Mr. Gladstone, or
Mr. Gladstone Mr. Disraeli; but undoubtedly they
ought to have met" If they had, he thinks that a
measure might have been passed which "must have
commanded the respect of the country." "I believe,"
concludes the honourable gentleman," that all that
was needed on the part of the leaders for such a
happy consummation was the possession of two
qualities most rare indeed among eminent statesmen—
common sense and common honesty." Just so; and
if the Leader of the Liberal Party and the Conserva-
tive Premier had met together, there would have been
a conjunction of Common Honesty with Common
Sense. Which would have been which I—Punch.
SWIFT TRAYELLERS.—OD Thursday morning in
last week. Mr. Popplestone, the station-master at
Starcross, Devonshire, received from London per rail
in a tin lox, six carrier pigeons, which had been sent
by a mend or ,da London Pigeon Club, with the request
that the birds ought be set at liberty the same morning
at 9.30. The request was complied with. Mr.
Popplestone received a letter from the sender of the
pigeone, stating that one bird returned to its loft at
1.35 p.m. on Troirsday, four others were found in the
loft at two ,'clock, and the last made its appearance a
few minutes later. The pigeons were only six months
old. Between London and Starcross the distance by
road is about 180 miles, which one of the pigeons must
have accomplished in little over three hours and a half.
A REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL COINAGE.—
The royal commissioners who were appointed to con-
sitter the possibility of establishing an international
• coinage have issued their report. In examining the
• merits of the proposal adoloted at the l'aris Conference,
to reduce the value of the pound to that of 25f., the
commissioners point out that this reduction would din-
;
turb all existing obligations, and cause many serious
difficulties. They therefore decline to recommend
• that this country should adopt a 25f. gold coin in sub-
stitution for the sovereign, and express an opinion
that, with a view to the general interest of the world's
commerce, the English sovereign and pound might
form a convenient basis for international currency.
The consideration of this question, however, involves
one of a much larger character—that of a complete
assimilation of the currencies of the principal com-
mercial countries, and this can be dealt with only by
an international conference.
IRONSTONE MINES.—The Inspectors of Mines
report that 70 lives were lost in the year 1867 by
accidents in or about the inspected ironstone mines of
Great Britain, which, however, are only the mines of
• ironstone of the coal measures worked in connection
with coal mines. The number of lives lost is 11 less
than in 1866, one more than in 1865. There were 14
persons killed in the smith-western district in 1867—
Monmouthshire, Chmeestershire, Somerset, and Devon;
six in South Wales ; five in the Midland district—
Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, and
Warwickshire ; eight in the South Staffordshire and
Worcestershire district; 23 in the North Staffordshire,
Cheshire, and Shropshire ; one in South Durham; and
13 in el. The number of separate fatalaccidents
. in the mice •, ills shafts, three no
the surface. No less . 1•1. Litt, . •
mine (four in every five) were from falls Id r
ironstone; and falls caused 41 of the 70 deaths. Mr.
Brougli, reporting on the coal and ironstone mines of
the south-western district, says that the deputies
should be charged with the setting up of timber, or, if
that cannot be, the special rules should provide for the
planting of numerous props, whether the top appears
to require it or not. Hoofs that look and sound like
thick cast iron or rock of vast depth will fall without
the slightest warning. The prudent course would be to
set up much more timber; if the place appears to
require three props, set half a dozen. As the timber
can be used over and over again, the real loss of
material would not be no very great
TliE COST OF WAR. —The Boston Advertiser
publishes a statement showing that in the period from
April, 1861, to June, 1868, the emit occasioned by the
civil war in the United States, as shown by the finance
reports of the Secretary of State (over and above the
public expenditure which would have been required
had there been no war), has amounted to 4,000,000,000
dols., raised partly by taxation and partly by loans. This
sum represents the labour of 860,000 men for more
them seven years, at 2 dollars per diem. It is calculated
that three-eighths of this cost of the war has been al-
ready paid by taxation levied almost exclusively slam
the loyal States, although for more than half the
period the most effective portion of their population
was withdrawn from productive industry, and engaged
in the destructive occupation of war. During that
time of active war, the Southern States must also have
collected taxes, or diverted labour from production to
war equal in gold value to above 800.000,000 dollars.
According to a calculation published in 1862, the whole
amount of revenue derived from the people by taxation
from the adoption of the Constitution and the forma-
tion of the 13nh •i down to June, 1861, was only
1,846,275,863 dollr en.
THE PERILS OF LONDON.—The "perils of the
streets" do not aj•pear to diminish (says the Standard).
Hardly a day pa -ses but the lolice reports chronicle
robberies of the most daring character, often accom-
panied with say, e violence. Lately the approaches
to the bridges •on the south side of the Thames have
had a bad eminence in this respect, but we question if
a m, tee cowardly or brutal outrage has; taken place than
that brought under the notice of the Bow-street magis-
trate on Saturday. Mrs. Helsdon, the wife of a
respectable tradesman, was passing through the Strand,
at about seven in the evening, when a ruffian seized a
black leather satchel she was carrying, which contained
her purse and other articles. She clung to it, upon
which he felled her to the ground with a life-preserver,
the blow knocking out two of her teeth and loosening
another. Fortunately a youth who was near raised
the cry of " Stop thief !" and the ruffian was captured.
He was remanded.
THE GUILTY CONSCIENCE.—Ii is said to be sus-
his
hpa takends s
if ip
gharis
froms tmmh quartersis lae
grocer, dth
and family
fou n in
ceptible of proof that a New York gentleman, who
one of 41st outlying suburbs, recently purchased seven
it
sadly adulterated with sand. IS ext day he inserted the
following paragraph in the village paper :
Notice—l bought of a grocer In this village seven pounds of
sugar, from which I have extracted one pound of s ind. It
the rascal who cheated me will send to my address seven
ages of sugar
we
pounds of sew the scriptural measure of restitution I will
The
leftenextatdatyheninadevesertzenr-pos ihinod., pack
their being nine
be satisfied if not, I will expose him.
grocers in the village, and each supposing himself to
have been detected.

A SCEFE IN THE OPERA HOUSE AT MADRID.—
On the night of the 11th instant there was a universal

-fete in—Mif;drid. After buiffights carne—ili—el—ffi'ie a.
There was a grand performance for the benefit of the
wounded of Alcolea. The theatre was full, and Marshal
Serrano, General Prim, and Admiral Topete occupied
a front box. The piece selected for the occasion Was
the Altietta di Port in. The celebrated duet, "Sacred
I love of country," given with great energy and passion
1 by Tamberlik and Selva, raised thunders of applause,
land was twice encored. But this was nothing to what
occurred in the second act. A poet of the neigh-
bourlusid had written three stanzas, which were
adapted to the grand air with which this act opens, and
naturally related to Spain and liberty. Tamberlik who
appeared to feel great sympathy for the Spanish
Revolution, sang these stanzas hi the Spanish lan-
guage, and was applauded to the skies. There was an
enthusiastic ovation which seemed as though it would
never end, and the signal for which was given by
General Prim, Marshal Serrano, and Admiral Topete.
The scene recalled to mind s free of the wonderful
performances of Rachel in Paris after the 24th of
February.
A PRESF.NTIMENT F ULFILLED. —A London COll-
- says:—
The death of Mr. wiggin, the proprietor of the .6 Northum.
herland Arms," Bermondsey, took place on Thursday morning,
the sth inst. Mr. Wiggin retired to bed the previous night
in Ms usual health and spirits, but at five o'clock in the mom-
Mg ho ruptured a blood vessel, and in six hours he expired
from exhaustion. It seems a remarkable presentiment of
his death was made known two months previously, when, to
amuse his children, he drew upon a slate a coltin, and wrote
an inscription, a verbatim copy of which was inscribed on his
coflin plate, on his interment, as follows—" Frederick If.
Wiggto, died Ocrober elk 1468, aged 40." This sketch and
inscription he showed to his wife, and others who happened
to be present. The reniains of the deceased, who was much
respected, were, on Monday, taken from London to Horton,
for interment by the side of his father's grave.
TIIE "COUNTESS OF DERWENTWATER."-011
Saturday a wooden house, fitted up with great care,
having a partition across the middle, and suitable doors
and windcws, was carried from Blaydon to PUMA.,
and placed at the end of the Countess's tent. Prior to
its being conveyed from Blaydon, it was visited and
inspected by a large number of inhabitants, all of
whom expressed themselves astonished at the neatness
of the " Countess's house." No obstacle was pre-
sented to the placingof the house, and the "Countess"
was so overpowered by this kind expression of
her friends that she shed tears. Luring the day
the Mickley Brass Band vaid her a visit, and dis-
coursed net eral sweet strains. The "Countess, on
being removed from her late abode, had to be supported
by her attendants, owing to the cramped position in
which she has been confined. However, she still per-
sistently asserts her intention of remaining until forcibly
removed. It is distinctly understood that a meeting of
the Hexham Highway Board will be held on Tuesday
first to consider the case. It is reported that even
amongst that body a majority is in favour of no action
being taken. An amusing feature of the case was
when the watchers on the opposite side of the road saw
the wood house put down ; they pulled down their tent
and set about constructing a more substantial one.
FATAL ACCIDENT AT A BOAR HtJNT.—A fatal
accident has occurred to M. Jacquot, a member of the
Council General of the Vosges, France. He went a
few days ago, accompanied by several friends, to a
boar hunt in the forest of Malfoss. Towards two in
the afternoon he wounded one of those animals, and
followed it closely to give it the second barrel. A
gamekeeper who was near, not knowing that the
gentleman had quitted his place, and seeing the
branches move, believed the wild boar to be escaping,
and fired. Two buckshot struck M. Jacquot, one
breaking his :4 3'5 arm and the other traversing his
abdomen. ' ~ce of the efforts of the medical men
called in he died the same evening.
RATIIER SHARP WORK !—A few days ago the
birthday of a private person was being celebrated at
some inn of the city of Vilna ; and the cloth being
removed, as we say, toasts followed toasts and songs.
The company present consisted of two Poles and three
Germans, neither of whom understood a word of
Russian; and no the conversation was carried on in
German, a language with which they were all ac-
nuainted. In a little while it occurred to one of the
Polish guests to sing a song in his own tongue, no
stranger being nigh, and the room looking out upon a
dead wall. Early next morning each of these five
gentlemen received through a Cossack a a " pozew,"
or
decree, requiring them instantly to pay five roubles
each, or to board the Cossack until sucn time as these
roubles would be ready. Mine host himself was
mulcted in thirty roubles; so that one Polish ditty
enriched the exchequer of the Czar by exactly fifty-
five roubles.—At the same time Austria is making the
Polish language obligatory at the University of
Cracrow.
IN FAVOUR OF DISESTABLISHMENT.—Three
more clergymen have spoken out lwiffily in favour of
the disestablishment of the Irish Church. The Rev.
F. F. French, rector of Newton, in Meath, has pub-
lished a pamphlet declaring disestablishment and ills'
endowment in Ireland to be desirable under existing
circumstances, and affirming his deep persuasion that
Protestant ascendancy has been religiously injurious to
the members of his own Church; and at a meeting
held in favour of the Liberal candidate at Cricklade,
last week, the Rev. T. Maurice, a clergyman of long
standing in the neighlxmrhood, and the magistrate for
Wilts and Gloucester, said that for many years he
had looked upon the Irish Church as an establishment
as a grievous injustice; and another clergyman, the
Rev. W. H. Beadon, spoke to the same effect.
WHAT IS LAVA I—A telegram in the morning
papers states that 'the eruption of tltotnt Vesuvius
is increasing in intensity ; the flow of lava is more
copious, and the dynaniie action the cone niore
vigorous." But what is lava (asks the Express)?
Coming no one knows whence, it might be suspected
to be formed of, or at least to contain, unusual sub-
stances ; but such apparently is not the case. Here
is an analysis, by M Silvestri, f lava recently thrown
out of Vesuvius : Silica, 39; lime, 18 ; alumina, 14 ;
magnesia, 3; protoxide of iron, 13; potash, 1; soda,
10; water, 2 ; which means that the specimen closely
resembled common wine-bottle glass. In short, lava,
though varying considerably in colour and solidity or
friability, at, occasionally containing little groups of
crystalline minerals, would seem to be a sort of rough
natural glass or earthenware mainly produced from
sand, chalk, clay, and similar common earthy sub.

stances.
COMING M.P.'s.—Papers and politicians are
guessing at the composition of the next Parliament.
Have they noticed that amongst other orders and
degrees of men, our criminals are not unlikely to be
represented? for to what other class of society can
those candidates belong who let out what their pre-
vious career has been, when they seek to be returned
"unfettered ?"—Puneh.