The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-02-03 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS,

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

The Queen of Greece gave birth to a son on the 2i3rd
ot January.

Prince Arthur of England hag reoeived the order of
the Black Eagle of Prusaia.
At St. Petersburgh a temperance society has just
been established. This i 4 a stride.
No lady's equipage in New York is considered corn
plete without the athlition of a Lilinutiail Scotch terrier on
the back seat.
A compliment to a Scotch pastor was thus neatly
cop. cssed by one of his flock I like the sermons that
bejanoble the judgment and confound the sense oil, sir, I
never saw me that could come up to yourser at that."

Count Moltke's autograph, preserved in the Royal
Library of Munich, and dated Berlin, November 23, IS7I,
runs as follows Free only is the people which is strong
enough to maintain its freedom. Strong it becomes through
union."

Correspondence has taken place between several
committees of London Dissenters and Mr. Gladstone, in re-
gard to the rumoured intention of the Government to endow
a Roman Cat pine University in Ireland. The Premier
assures them that there is no foundation for this report.

Fourteen young Chinese, belonging to the noblest
families of the Celestial Empire, have just arrived in Varis
from Canton, sent by the Emperor to be instructed at the
expense of the state. Every year fourteen young men are to
be sent to France.

It it said that the portion of the art collections of
Prince Napoleon which was not destroyed when the Com-
munists set fire to the Palate Royal has been brought to
London, and that the whole of these articles, many of
which are of very great interest and value, will soon be
offered for sale.

A very simple des ice has been suggested by French
ingenuity for perpetuating the ill feeling which is Pin of the
legacies of war. It is proposed that all documents connected
with new taxes shall he endorsed with the words " Ex-
penses of the war against Prussia, 1870-1871," and it is
said that the Assembly approves the suggestion.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer acknowledges (az
"Conscience Money ") the receipt of the following—viz.,
second halves of notes for £2OO from "X. 0. ; "Is. 3d. for
unpaid postage the first half of a note for £lOO. for In-
come-tax, "sent at the request of a dying man : " and of the
second halves of notes for 44.5 from "MN. 0." No stamps
have been sent to him by "M. N. 0.-

By desire of Arch-bishop Manning a thanksgiving
prayer for the recovery of the Prince of Wales was offered in
all the Roman Catholic places of worship in the diocese of
Westminster, last Sunday.

At the meeting of the Amnesty Association in
Dublin, on Sunday, a letter was read from Mr. Gladstone, in
rejoinder to the resolution adopted by the association in
answer to Mr. Bruce's letter on the subject of the Fenian
prisoners. The letter conveys a distinct refusal of the
demand of the Amnesty Association.
A youth named Stacey, thirteen years of age, in the
employ of a farmer at Langtree, Devon, has committed
suicide by hanging himself. It appears that he told a
fellow-labourer that he was going to a farm occupied by
his master's brother, adding, with an oath, that he would
not go there another night, for he would not give them the
chance.

Of the five divisions of the county of Huntingdon
two are declared free from cattle disease. Only 104 head of
stock in the whole county now remain affected with the foot
and mouth c, anplaint, and some of these are very slight cases.
The sheep-scab is also disappearing, only .50 suffering from
that disorder.

A large number of Staffordshire colliers have ceased
work, notwithstanding the recent concessions of the mas-
ters, and the acceptance of terms by one section of the
millers. A conference, however, has been agreed upon, and
hopes arc entertained that the threatened great strike may
be avert cd.

Last week Sir Moses Montefiore visited the lale of
'nutlet Union Workhouse, and, in commemoration of the
restoration to health of his Royal Highness the Prince of
Wales, distributed gratuities to the inmates. The gifts con-
sisted of 250 jibs. of tea, 250115. of sugar, 100ozs. of tobacco,
60:,z, of snuff, a ease of oranges, a quantity of nuts, and U.
to each of the children.

The family of the late Field-Marshal Burgoyne have
intrusted to Mr. George lientley for publication the complete
Journals kept by Sir John during the campaigns o
180-10-11-12-13, and 14, which have been discovered among
his papers, and also his private conespondence during the
-

A meeting, chiefly composed of and addreased by
ladies, was held in Manchester on Tuesday aught, when a re-
solution was passed declaring that the disqualification of
women to vote for members of Parliament was unjust in
principle and inexpedient in practice. Among those pre-
sent were Miss Taylour, of Stranraer ; Mrs. Ronniger, of
London Miss Alice Wilson, and Miss Lydia Becker.

"The history of the South-Eastern Line for the last
four years shows conclusively that railway companies have
their fortunes in their own hands, and need only develop°
the resources mid privileges they already possess. The
utmost Parliament can do is to permit thorn, by amalgama-
tion, to turn their existing powers to the best account. It
will certainly not permit them to acquire niece stringent
rights against the pubic—Loader in The Times.

- - -
There exists in Belgium a society called the " Libre-
Pensre,'' whose avowed object it is to upratt teligion from
modeni society. It has just published its annual report, and
from that document we learn that the members consider
their cause to be making satisfactory progress. They say
that the number of civil funerals—that is, funerals without
religious rites—was last year double that of the year pre-
vious and of the persons " civilly " interred one half were
women. Civil marriages, too, they say, are becoming the
rule. The Free Thinkers declare that no compromise is any
longer possible between the old ideas and the new ; men
must be for the Church or against it.

An influential deputation of brewers waited upon
the Home Secretary last week, in order to place before the
Government their views with regard to the future Licensing
Bill. Mr. Bruce assured them that their views would be
considered, and he hoped the measure to be produced would
be acceptable to Parliament and would satisfy all reasonable
people. The Government, he added, did not intend to re-
peat the mistake of trying to legislate on too many subjects
at once ; but the Ballot Bill, the Scotch Education Bill, and
the Mines Regulation Bill must precede the Licensing Bill.
The New Testament Company of Revisers met at
eleven o'clock on Tuesday, at the Jerusalem Chamber, London,
and sat, as usual, till six o'clock. The company is engaged on
the fifth chapter of St. Luke's Gospel. The members pre-
sent were—the Bishop of Gloucester, who presided the
Archbishop of Dublin, the Bishops of Salisbury and St.
Andrews, the Deans of Westminster and Roehester, the
Master 01 the Temple, Archdeacons Bickersteth and Lee,
Canons Blakesley, Kennedy, Lightfoot, and Westcott ; Pro-
fessors Angus, Emile, Moulton, and Newth ; Prebendary
Humphrey, and Mr. Hort,

- -
A few days ago the Berlin Stunk Exchange was
filled with alisfird rumours of the Emperor Napoleon having
secretly left England, and toeing about to land on the shores
of France. This rumour, which, was not supported by even
the smallest scrap of telegraphic intelligence from London
or Brussels, was finally traced as having conic from Vienna,
when at once a general outbreak of hilarity On the Exchange
put 4 stop to its further dissemination. "Vienna news"
signifies in Berlin what " Hamburg news" signified in London
during the wars against Napoleon the First, al.' from the
latter derisive term that wonderful "humbug " is said to
have sprung.

Mr: Dixon and Mr. Muntz addressed their con-
stituents at Birmingham on Monday evening. In the coursv
,d the proceedings a letter WilA read from Mr. Itrizl,t, In
which he expressed his gratitude for the indut:ence which
had been extended to him during his two yesai absence from
Parliament. Even now he dared not attempt to take part
in or to attend at a great poEtiial meeting, but he expected
to be present in the l;ouse of Commons some portion of the
ensuing session. Without entering into political discussion,
the right hon. gentleman hoped that the legislative year
would be fruitful in good measures, and that a determination
to lessen the public expenditure may be manifested by the
Government and the House.
On Monday, as pre-arranged, the shooting party
at Sandringham was formed for shooting the Wolferton
coverts. The party consisted of his Royal Highness the
Duke of Edinburgh, Colonel R. N. F. Kingscote,
Colonel Teesdale, Major G. If. Grey, the lion. Eliote Yorke,
and Lieut.-Colonel Ellis. The game was plentiful, and the
hag when made up was found to consist of about a thousand
head. Ills Royal Ilighneas the Prince of Wales Wiln Unable
to be present to witness the sport, owing to the very un-
favourable state of the weather, rain falling in almost con-
tinuous showers.

Mr. H. B. Sheridan, Ml'., in addressing his con- I
atituents on Monday eight, at Dudley, reviewed the events I
of last session, and spoke in favour of an alteration In the
Criminal low Amendment Bill, lie was heartily for the I
passing of the Mines Regulation Bill, and, with respect to ,
the Education Act, said the Noncontomdsts had his sym•
patliy, and would receive his vote and influence when the I
Act came to be amended, which must happen• Ile would !
not support the new LieensinL: Bill unless compensation
were given for vested interests. A vote of confidence in
Mr. Sheridan, woe passed.
Go Monday night, Dr. Brewer, the Liberal member
for Colchester, delivered an address at the Public-hall, upon
the vote of censure passed by the house of Lords on the
Government in consequence of using the Royal prerogative ,
In corinsction with the Army Purchase Bill. The argument ,
relied 1%.,0n by Dr Brewer was trait the vote of the Notice of '
lords was unconstitutional, Inasmuch as it emanated from a '
nonelective hereditary chamber, and was incidentally a re-
llection upon the Sovereign. The chair was occupied by the
chairman of the Working Men's liberal Organization. The
working glasses were well represented.
The Board of Trade have awarded a billoodar glant
to Captain Thomas C. flicks, of the lw,lime of Liver-
pool, in acknowledgment of his kindness and generosity to
the survivors of the crew of the barque Nary Davitlean,
of Abordeen, whom he rescued from the Falkland Islands
Rocks, on the 20th September, 1871. The Mary Darkk:w
was bound from Liverpool to Guayaquil, with a general
cargo. When off the Falkland Islands, on the 23rd August
(in running through some straita at raiduight), she struck
on rocks and soon became z. total wreck; seven of the
crew were lost, threa only succeeding in reaching land.
These men, aiie‘ being twenty-seven days :in the rocks, and
'Acting great privations, were rescued by Captain Hicks,
and were taken to and landed et Valparaiso by him, after
having been forty days on board his vessel. De also gene-
rously declined to receive any payment, for their sub.
sisten2O, and treated them with great kindness.
A judgment wee given en Saturday in the Court of
Queen's Bench of scale importance with respect to the cus-
tody of a child, whose deceased father was a Protestant and
mother a Roman Catholic. The father died about eleven
years ago, and the mother since then had been In and cut of
various workhouses. Six or seven months ago the mother,
being in a consumption, went into a hospital, and a benevo-
lent lady, with her consent, obtained admission for the child
Into a Protestant establishment for de:tante children at
Ealing. The mother, being now In a dying state, wished the
child to be handed over to a Roman Cathodic institution.
The Court said that religion had nothing to do with the case,
and decided that the application of smother who was dying
and who was a pauper could not be /sena fide. The child,
therefore, remains at Ealing,

The Dowager Empress of Brazil has given freedom
to the whole Of her slaves, 140 In number.
The eel, ants in the bathing establishments of Rams-
gate are spoken of as sousemaids.
The Prince of Wales is now so far recovered as to be
able to take walking exercise.

Under a recent act, £'2o a day ie the fine for towing
more thsn a pint of bensoine in one vessel on the premises.
Chicago's fate is borne in mind.

The French anti-tobacco association is widening the
field of its operations, and now includes alcoholic liquor
among the abuses which it aims at remedying. This lath
first temperance society established in France.

"Some one has suggested a use for pretty girls—
namely, that they should be employed to take round the
plates at churches for charitable collections."—Court
..ournal.

A letter-writer, (leClibiO a reeent ball, gays the
feature which made the deepeq impression on him wairill
unusual number of very plump women foaming over the
tops of their (treason."

An influential meeting has been held at Wigan for
the purpooe of establishing an—association for the relief of
the hunilies 114 all colliers killed or hurt by accidents in
tauoaahire or Cheshire.

Cintng,, the Chinese giant, has found a wife in
Australia, the lady, we are toll, reaching up to the lower
button of his waistcoat. He has returned with her to China,
where he carries on the business ot a merchant.

One who know the Chancellor of the Exchequer's
Intentions. it would appear, says that he thinks 'as a very
few workmen in the kingdom pay direct taxes, it would be
no hardship to impose a slight one on them and he proposes
that it should take the shap to fa receipt stamp to be used by
them when they receive their wages.' --Court Journal.
Her Majesty the Queen, accompanied by their
Royal Highnesses Prince Leopold and Princess Beatrice,
attended by their suite,' a eapected to return to Windsor
about the Aith of February, being somewhat hates than was
at first anticipated.

The Alliance Itipublieainc publishes a letter from
NI. Louis Blanc, in %thick he pronounces against the creation
of a second Chamber. Ile says I am not for that two-
chamber system, so much praised by DeMime, of IVMch the
example of England tends to demonstrate more and more
from day to slay the Inanity, although there, more than any-
here else, it has its roaon Wetly."
It has been suggested that a penny stamp on all mr-
tificstes of character would yield a reepectable Item for the
revenue, and at the same time give an additional guarantee
of authenticity to the document Security and cautionary
obligations are at present stamped, ami the kindred clan of
writings, being representations and assurances of conduct,
credit, and ability, could easily stand a penny.

In Paris, on Sunday, the anniversary of theeaptitda-
tion of the city to the Germans was very generally keo.
The majority of the women were dressed in mourning; the
churchee were unusually crowded ; more shops were closed
tHit usual and all the public places of amusement were
shut. Atrthe same time no demonetrations were permitted
of a kind likely Lobe offensive to Prussia, or reflecting upon
the Government of the National Deletion.

On Monday, Miss Barlow, the daughter of the Mayor
of Newton Abbott, fell into the river Limon, and was carried
off by the current before any assistance could be rendered.
Some of her companions, seeing her fall in, raised an alarm,
but she was washed down the stream nearly a quarter of a
mile, the greater part of the way in a tunnel muter the town.
On her emerging from the tunnel a man named Richard
Adams succeeded, by means of a ladder, in seizing her and
saving her life. She was much exhausted.

The Duke of Newcastle has caused it to be made
known to his tenants in North Notts that he wishes them to
vote " exactly as they please " in the forthcoming election ;
but that personally he is "very strongly in favour of Mr.
Monckton," the Conservative candidate, whom his Grace
" hopes and expects to see returned by a large majerity.'•
The Duke, at the same time, makes known his views on some
of the loading topics of the day, taking care to say that " ke
leans to the Conservative side."

A bill for the admiseion of Utah as a State into the
Union has been hastily pushed through the House of Re-
presentatives. It is generally believed, however, that no
such bill will pass the Senate so long as Mormon Polygamy
continues to flourish in that territory. The President has
decided to put it down, and Congress will rather alb than
embarrass him in the good work. Were Utah to be admitted
into the Union as a state, on condition of the abandonment
of polygamy, Young and his cunning Mormon chiefs would
snap their fingers at Congress, and make polygamy the
supreme law of the new Commonwealth.
The Troy (New York) Times announces the death
of Mr. Hasegawa, one of the Japanese sent to the United
States to be liberally educated for the future advantage of
the Empire. Ile had been in the country only one year
but at the Troy Academy he had already acquired such as
familiarity with the English language as to enable him to
converse and read fluently. It was his purpose to study law
as soon as practicable. He Is described as a gentlemanly and
noble-hearted young man, who made friends wherever he
was known. He died from consumption.
The reasons for the adoption of a new programme
by the National Education League are stated at length in a
circular which was Issued on Saturday. This document
points out that it is no longer possible to secure the original
objects of the League by merely endeavouring to supple-
ment the deficiencies of the denominational system. The
efforts of the League and of kindred organizations must now
be directed towards remodelling the present system in such
a manner as to secure efficient control by the State and the
ratepayers, and at the .11to time to afford to the denomina-
tions the fullest opportunity of giving religious instruction
in accordance with their respective opinions.

At the annual soiree of the Association in Aid of
the Deaf and Dumb recently held, at which some hundreds
of adult deaf mutes were present, a resolution was most en-
thusiastically passed expressive of their thankfulness that
It had pleased God to spare, his Royal Highness, who laid the
tint stone of their church. The following reply has been re-
ceived :—" Sandringham, King's Lynn, 27th January, 1872.
—General Sir William K nollys is desired by the Prince of
Wales to express his sincere thanks to the members of the
Association in kid of the Deaf and Dumb for the resolution
transmitted to his Royal Highness by Lord Ebury. The
Prince heartily and gratefully joins with the members of the
institution in thankfulness to siod for Isis restoration to
health."

Loot week the aggregate mortality in London and
twenty other large towns in the United kingdom efts at the
rate of 28 deaths annually to every 1,000 persomi estimated
to be living. In the metropolis 2,317 births and 1,602
deaths were registered the former having beta 52, and the
latter 170, below the average. Ninety persons died from
small-pox, 41 from measles, 19 from scarlet fever, 7 front
diphtheria, 08 from whooping-cough, /8 from different forme
of fever, and 12 from diarrheea. Since 12th December Mk
the mean temperature at Greenwich has been almost con-
tinunusly above the average. The average daily excess
during the 40 days caging last Saturday was ?:9 deg. The
mean last week was 42-0 deg., and 4 '2 deg. ah.nve the average.
During the gale early on Wednesday morning the reading of
the barometer fell to 2011 in., a loner point than has been
touched since 1311 s January, la4l,

Several of the India papers received in England by
the last mail condemn the destruction of grain which is being
accomplished by the expedition against the loshais. The
Bombay Gazette says We read done village after another
bond to the ground, with inunense stores of food collected
by the miserable population to feed them for many months
to come. This work of destruction appears to be carried out
with pitiless severity,stliough the resistance to the advance
of the British troor, is so trifling that there is in truth no
' enemy' for the troops to contend against." The llnglink-
man write, in stronger terms. It maintains that It is "a
piece uf the most inhuman barbarity, utterly disgraceful to
a civilized people," to destroy the entire stock of food of •
remote and isolated people. The Times of India thinks that
the "semi-barbaric' Loshai expedition, and the " absurd
Wahallee prosecutions:' will be cited as two notable blots on
Lord Mayo's reign.

Mr. Childers was examined before the Megrrra Com-
missioners on Saturday. Ile stated the purport of the %theist
communications made to him respecting the ship whilst he
was First Lord of the Admiralty. The last of these was to-
wards the close of 1870, just before Ms serious illness. Sir
Sidney Decree then reported that the Megeerg was an extra-
vagant vessel, and that she ought to be paid off. After Nome
Inquiry Mr. ehibiers approved of that course, but there was
no understanding as to her future employment. The right
hon. gentleman then explained at scone length the changes
In Admiralty Administration which he introduced on becom-
ing the head of the department, and expressed his opinion
that they had had a very beneficial effect upon the service.
Ito had endeavoured to abolish useless forms and useless
writing, but he knew that the task was by no means com-
pleted when Ilia health gave way, and he had to give it up.
Mr. thiklers also defended his policy in relation to the
cloning of the dockyards and as it alerted the construction
of the navy, and fleeted that there was any basis for the
statement that the ofticlency of any vessel lathe service was
acrinced to economy.