biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

Ank.

rnE STOTTRB

-plaintiff said she Would not pai—untir these articles
were restored to her, but the defendant wanted
the money in the first instance. Ultimately she
consulted a solicitor, and he went to the defendant
and, producing notes for the amount, offered
to pay him 25t. if he would return the goods. He said
he would not take less than the 29f., observing he had
no doubt that rather than make a fuss about the
matter she would pay the money. The defendant's
charge was said to be out of all proportion to the
work done, and extravagant, considering that the
furniture had only to be taken half a mile, and was only
kept a fortnight. In addition the plaintiff claimed a
deduction for damage in respect of a large marble
slab belonging to a cheffonier, which had been broken
in two in the removal, as well as of a ems jug, a
birthday present from Sir Gilbert, the bottom of which
had been broken off and replaced by the defendant.
The mum of It. 104 had been paid into court for the
' damage dune to these articles, but the plaintiff said
that sum was notimfficient.
Miss Lina Braham, the plaintiff, was examined in
support of the above facts.
Several witresses engaged in the same business as
the defendant eetimated the proper charge for what he
bad done at sums varying from lit. to lilt. The
original value of the presentation ju; was proved to
be 231., whde in its damaged state it was said to be
wholly worthless.
Eventually the parties came to an arrangement, by
which a verdict was entered for the plaintiff, with 411.
damages 401., to be deducted from that sum in the
event of the goods being returned.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

"Do., loving soul! ah, early lost
Affection's arm was weak to save ;
Now friendship's pride and irtue's boast
Have come to an untimely grave."

There we have boast made to rhyme with lost. If pro•
pony sounded we must call boast," host, which is
absurd ;;and to *cause °minime of being no poet because
he thee wrote would be equally oluurd. Hundreds of
similat cnstances I have by me, but this will nettle°.
Two charges of tautology are next brought forward—
money sod gay, mirth and lee. This name charge might
be brought forward with equal force against mot of our
petind writers. Take no inntsnc, from the •• Idle Shep-
herd Buy," by Wordsworth, and in the first verse you
have An inidAUCO--

" The valley rings with iuirth and joy."
And numerous other instances will occur to any other
reader of poetry.
The next childish charge is one of your critic's own
devising, and shows very clearly how imperfectly he
moat hare read the piece through. lie charges thalweg

Printed and PubiLthed by the Sole Proprietor, SIMEON
FIELD, at hitt Mikes. 82, Steiirbridge• .
the County of Woreeetor: to which place all lettere And
other communised/alto roost be addressed.
baturday, DuccuLbog 29,
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

CHRISTMAS WAITS.

The Walt!, the Waits, the Christmas Welts,

AU In the dark and cold.
Without the Future's clime-barred gates
Their Chilly night-watch hold.
Their dbcord drowns the Christmas chime
That peals the blamed birth
Nor theirs the song of Christmas time,—
Peace and Goodwill on Earth
Look, the Pope waits for Rome to rise,
And Italy to tall,
By Spidn's and Austria's empire,
Al Titremontanee' cell,
Waits till the ages' course run back,
Till, with the dial', turn,
New Dominic. shall ply the rack,
New Torquemsdu burn.
Lo, Rome wafts till the Pope decide
If he shall shake her dust
From his vexed feet, or gulp his pride,
And " cannot " change for must "
Waits till the leopard shifts her spot.,
The .f.thlop his skin,
Till priests know God'. from Cremes lots,
And let lay-rulers in
Lo. where Napoleon waits to crown
The structure of his will,
That for the Freedom promised long
Hu waited, and welt. etili
Waits till his broader tighter gr.up
On France'. strength is laid
TIII Europe shell. like Pub, ciup
His Sovereign knees, dismayed.
Lo, where, with mushroom growth of night,
Half elate, half aghset,
Prussia, noon her dizzy height,
Walta itianurk's daring cut.
Waite till she know If what is lett

.• _
Of oermany shall fall
Into her lap, or she be cleft,
Herself, in pieced; smell.
And to, where hatter'd Austria waits,
With a Mica,bor air,
For something to tuns up, her fates
To change from foul to fats:
Waits President, waits Copgress keen,
Two atheletee on their guard,
To give each other back-fella dean,
And hit each other hard.

Britannia Inns to .ee what Bill

Tee Derby lot can hatch :
Bright waits for Dizzy—Dizzy dill,
Waits for Bright at the Scratch.
Financiers. great in cant and crash,
Walt Justice blind and dumb:
Choused shareholdera ..it for their csah
Till the Greek !Calends come.—P.unch.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

Prinee of
'4 Paris

of Prunes will, it
, Exhibition with a

SATURDAY, DEC. 29, 1966.

at
• A GAROTTER'S CHRISTMAS.
At the Leeds Winter Assizes a poor fellow, namd
Minheel Gait?, wee convicted of a street robbery,
committed on the 15th of September last at Bradford.
lie had the miefortune to be tried before Mr. Justice
Lush; for the robbery appears to have been accom.
pealed by violence; and Judge Lush is accustomed
to take care that the law recently enacted for the
punishment of that species of crime shall be carried
out. Moreover, a previous conviction had been
proved against poor Guity. and although only twenty.
gig years of age, he appeared to have led, for many of
them, a life of crime. So:—
His Lordship sentenced the prisoner to ten years' penal
servitude, and said that as the Legislature had recently given
the power to punish by flogging crimes of this nature, and
an the present case seemed • very proper one forth, excrete,
of that power, be should further order the prisoner to
receive twenty-four strokes with the cat-n, flint tails
, before the commencement of the sentence of penal servitude.
The day fixed for the chastisement allotted to
Michael Grit, was not named. Time is usually
allowed a convict to prepare for the scourge. Per.
haps, if Michael has not been flogged as yet, his
flagellation was postponed till after Christmas. We
affectionately invite our dear roughs ti coneider what
a Christmas, in that case, he mud have pawed.
Together with all the resit of his brethren in boucle, he
was probably regaled on Christmas-Day with the
"customary old English fare—roast beef and plum.
pudding." With what appetite could he have par.
taken of Christmas cheer when "whipping cheer"
awaited him? A victim of ruffianly violence may
, derive some satisfaction from imagining the emotion
with which Mr. Michael Guity, anticipating the recepe
tion of two dozen lashes, must have beard the wish,
poosibly addrerated to him, of "A merry Christmas
and a happy New Year."
That, by the way, is a congiliment of the manna
which we take this opportunity of paying to that
judicious provider of whipping cheer and a warm back
for garotters, Mx. Justice Lush—Punch.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

TRIAL OF A CONVICT FOR MURDER.

At Maidstone assozes James Fletcher has been
tried for the wilbd murder of James E,.yle, at
Chatham, on Sept. sth last. The accused was a fine
looking etzlwart young fellow, only twenty yearn of
age, and his vistim seat one of the warders in Chatham
Convict Prison. The former, who Via 4 undergoing a
sentence of seven years' penal servitude, had been
ordered to be kept on bread and water for insubor.
dination. Attributing this punishment to the warder,
he seized an opportunity when at work to strike the
poor fellow dead with a hammer. When the prisoner
war before the magistrate on the charge he made the
following statement :

The reason I did It was the officer was regular taking
advantage of the men, and reporting them when there was
no cause for It The principal warder here. when I was in
the cella on the second depot this month, said he would
make In, head and the wall meet together, No that the brains
should fir out. I thought whril I got out! would do this
and get shut (I my hie altorodber. I 'lv. Oct and tired of It,
There Is inen constantly •Iying in the pris Ai now, Sur, with
hunger and starvation Men regularly eat eandlea, and soap,
and tallow, 'tato•peolinge, or anything they can get hold
of, and drink the oh out of the 011-cans. Ido not wish to
arty any more now

Mr. BarrOM addressed the jury on behalf of the
prisoner, and attempted to prove that the case might
be fairly be reduced from a charge of murder to a
charge of manslaughter, on the ground that there was
no evidence that the prisoner meant to kill the deceased,

but only to revenge himself upon him for the Injustice
which he eupposed he had suffered from him.
Hie Lordship summed up, and said that he should be
shrinkiwg from the proper performance of the duty
which had been imposed upon him by the Constitu-
tion, flintier the solemn sanction of the oath
he had taken, if he did not tell the jury that the
present charge was not capable of being reduced from
murder to manslaughter; but if the facts were clear
and undisputed, the jury had no alternative but to
return a verdict of wilful murder. It would be for
the jury to say whether or not they believed the facts
which had been stated; if they did not the prisoner
must be acquitted, but if they did they must not heM-
tate to return • verdict of guilty.

_
The jury, after a deliberation, found the prisoner
guilty, and his lordship passed sentence of death.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

HALESOWEN.

HALZSOWEN PRAPOSED 111011 WAY DISTRWT.—A meet-
ing of W.. Overseers and Surveyors of the parishes inte-
rested took place at the New Inn, on Monday afternoon,
to consider what stops should be taken to oppose We for-
mation of the proposed highway district, to consist of 2.2
parishes, viz.: The fourteen townships forming the an.
cleat parish of Ilale.nwen, the parishes of Cleat, Frank.
ley, Nagley, Upper Swinford, Lye, Wollaston. Wolles.
*kite, and part of Stoarbridge. There was • very large
attendance. and the whole 22 parishes were well repro.
sealed. Mr. Thomas White, of the Quinton, was called
to the chair. A general dioeuteion took place, and it was
ultimately agreed that • petition to oppose the formation
of the proposed highway diAtriet should be signed by the
representatives of the various parishes interested, mud be
forwarded to the Clerk of the Peace, to be laid before
the Court of Quarter Sessions on Monday next. Mr.
John °riffle, Upper Swinford, and Mr. George Rose, of
the Lye, with the Chairman, were appointed •deputation
to wait upon the Lord-Lieutenant of the County, to re-
quest his Lordship to support the prayer of We petition.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceed.
imp, and Ile marling broke up.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

OLD HILL.

Ts t MI{F.TIN(4-011 Monday a tea meeting W&A held
in the large school room adjoining the Primitive Metho-
dist Chapel, the proceeds of which are intended to be
applied to the erection of a new place of worship, the
present chapel being considerably too small, and rather
dilapidated into the boxgain. About 500 sat down to tea.
AddreAsea were afterward, given by several gentlemen,
and a very enjoyabls evening was spent. The committee
hope to realize a good profit from this large gathering.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

A YOUNG WOMAN ACCIDENTALLY
SHOT.

Another of those melancholy accidents, arizing from
thoughtlessly trifling with firearms, ham occurred at a
farmstead near Masham, in the West Riding of
Yorkshire. The victim in a young woman named
Cherry, servant to Mr. Blackburn, farmer. About
six o'clock on Thursday evening lent a young man
named Taylor, farm servant at the same place, went
into the house, and observing a gun in the kitchen,
which bad been net down temporarily by him master
while attending to some busineas. he took it.up, and,
playfully remarking to the girl Cherry that he would
shoot her, he levelled the weapon at her heat The
girl inn,inctively nhielded her face with her bands, the
trigger wan pulled accidentally or otherwise, and the
charge shattered the hands of Cherry and penetrated
the face. The wounds were no serious that her life
WAS for some time despaired of, and only the slightest
hopes are entertained of her recovery. Three medical
men were speedily in attendance, and on Friday she
had so far recovered as to become sensible. An
attempt was made to amputate the sufferer's shattered
hands, but she fainted before the operation could be
commenced, and it had to be abandoned until a
return of consciousness should afford a possibility of
success. No charge of premeditation in made against
the unfortunate young man who committed the
act, he being not aware the gun was charged, and
it dors not appear that any ill-feeling existed between
the parties.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

A MAGISTRATE CONVICTED.

At the Haddington Sheriff Court on Saturday, Mr.
Fletcher, jun.. of Ssiton, and two of his gamekeepers,
named respectively Young and Antos, were charged
with assaulting a miner, named Scott, on the 901 of
November last, by probing him into the river Tyne,
near Salton, and finally keeping him in the water
against his will, and to the injury of his person. Mr.
Fletcher pleaded guiity to being art and part con-
cerned in the assault : and the keehers admitted the
charge as libelled. Mr. Watson, writer, on behalf uf
the accused, made a statement to the Court of the
circumstances under which the assault had taken
place, which are as follows
- - •• - -

There had been a shooting party on the day named at
Salton. and In the comae of the shooting the keeper, came
upou Scott catching singing birds on the Mnde of the home
farm, the pito., where he was found was by the aide of the
river, aid within range of the tire of the sportsmen. Hewes
there found illegally on the croon" by the keepers Pr.
yoked st the shooting piety being thus disturbed, and judg-
ing from a statement made by Scutt that he was • notorious
poacher, the keepers ordered him to recrosa the river, which
was ebout foe r feet deep at the place. This tee man refused
to 'to; and Mr. el-letter coming up at the moment, and
letrnhig the state of affairs, approved his keeper.' threat.
Under his encouragement theretere, the keepers compelled
the man to go into the river, and, as he would not cross,
kept Dim standing in the water for a short time. It was
urged that what had been done was trioer provocation of
S..ott baying illegslly put hitntelf within the range of the
sportsmen's hr., and limier a mistake se hi his l !entity and
(hot Mr Fetcher had taken no actual hand In the assault.
Shorn! Clark, In passing !sentence, said that In hie mind
, the slaSement able& had been made did not alter Me Muria

- -
tif of the charge snidest Mo. Fletcher. Considering Mr- I
Fletchor's education end station, and that baked encourtged
and supported his servants in .it they bad don., he could
only look upon him se equally guilty with them. It was
enough that be had forgotten the birch position in which in
was plaood, and had taken the law Into hi. own hands,
wbereas, an a good subject, and one who, from his high
station, ought to be the moat ready to regard end respect the
msjesty of the law, he had taken It upon him to brooms the
Interpreter and Matron:tent of the law for himself. The
Sheriff further taid be was clad to find that by Cl olioe ed-
mining the offence, Mr Fletcher had made all the amend-
ment in his power for what he bad done; and be believed
and trusted that no greater punishment could be Inflicted
upon a gentleman in such • position than the fact of his
standing convicted of such • crime. The sheriff then
eontenced Mr Fletcher to &fine of 10/ , with an alternative
Of ten days' Imprisonment. and the keepers to a fine of 3L
etch, Or five days' Imprisonment The ilnee were immediately
OW.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

PRICE ONE PENNY.

PUBLIC NOTICES.

PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT.

A GRANT)
y E OMA NEI' CAVALRY Bax.

(UNDER DISTINOCIVILD PAiIIOWAOZ]
Will be held in the
PUBLIC HALL, DUDLIT.

ON WEDNESDAY. JANUARY, SOtz,

IN AID OF THE RELIEF FUND FOR 11311
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

NETHEREND.

ANNUAL Tlll.Vl.—Yesterday, at Netherend, upwards
of one bemired old men and women were regaled with
mast beef, plum pudding, &e., ad I ibil ans, by the genero-
sity of Thomas Pargeter, Peg ,of Wollesente tionse.
The dinner took place in the school-room, and profuse
were the thanks tif the old people to the kind benefactor
who had provided them with such is treat.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

GEORGE YARDLEY

BEGS to retnrn thinke to the Gently NA
Public to general, for the farriers he ham mieelmst
from them in his CARRYING BUSINFSS tinting the
last Ten years, and bmis to inform them that he has
added an ACCOMODATION OMNIBUS to hie Mistimes
to and from Birmingham daily. thrinigh Quinton. Ben&
Lane., and Edglwodon. leon, the George Inn,
owen. at 10 a.m., and the Phenix Inn, Park-etreet,
half-past three, and the Crown Inn, Broadritreet, Atoms
precisely.

,f 2,000 TN CASH PRIZES TO 111
GIVEN AWAY
Se ' THE UNIVERSAL NEWS" (the only Oros
of YHA Catholic Opinion in England.) Price 2d, even,
Sal .rd ay.

Order nt any Nee...et-rt. or from the Herd Office. 147
neet-etreet. Lontion, EA'.

CHEAPES PASSAOE
• . 701 TO ALL THE COLONIES.

kTEW ZFALANT). AITS'FRA LTA. CAN-
ADA. AMERICA. VANcOIiVERI4 ISLAND.
&e.. Air Steamera amt M.ilimgVeitarla, regularly des-
patehs4l from T.iy..rpool. kr
Apply to Bayard Bent, F migration Office., Beet-
atre,t. Brierle
Information given free to intomling Emigrants. Pass
sage Warrants and Bounty Tickets attended to. OutAtit
always on band, and may be ba.l at theshnitest notice.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

THE COXING BRESION.

We are now in a politically dull time of the
year, but the holidays will soon be over, and we
may reasonably anticipate that political activity
will soon revive. We have no intention of spec-
ulating on the possible or probable events (Atha
coming session. "Coming events cast their
shadows before," but in this matter the shadows
are too confined and dim to be outlined. But
we may, nevertheless, glance at the probabilities
on one subject, the most important of all. Re-
form will be the touchstone of the Ministry, and
we suspect that nobody knows this better than
Ministers themselves. There are two rumours
now floating about in the political world, b)th
of which would attract more attention than they
do but for the year, when anything political
must he unusually important to attract any at-
tention at all. These rumours arc, first, that
Ministers will try and shelve Reforin for the sea
non by " proceeding by resolution," and secondly
that they will ignore Reform altogether. We
d"srlY disbelieve both reports, and we are do.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

LYNCH LAW IN SHIELDS.

The ft..tith Shields Market Place Irak no Saturday night,
the Beene of great excitement sod uproarione proceedings,
arising out of the follow/1i g circumatances

A %vellum bought some plates from a crockery dealer,
to whom she gave a sovereign by mistake in the dark
for a shilling. She did not discover her loos until she
hail left the stall and made a purchase at a grocer's
shop, when she made it her immediate business to go
hack and demand her change. The crockery dealer,
however, on being spoken to about the mistake, denied
that her customer had given her a sovereign, and
said she had not such a coin in her pocket. The woman,
however, persisted that she had the sovereign among
some silver in her purse when she first went to the
stall, but the ,irockery vendor as strongly denied that
she had received anything more than a shilling. The
contention grew more boisterous, and in a short
time a crowd collected round the stall. Find-
ing there was no other chance of recovering
the sovereign the police were called into requisi-
tion, but all their effort-sat permission were of no avail.
The poor woman weeping at the side of the stall roused
the sympathies of the spectators, who by this time had
swelled to • great mob. Notwithstanding their hoot-
ing and taunts the crockery seller showed no signs of
yielding. and the result was a regular onslaught on her
stall. Plates, dishes, pots, and every description of
crockery were smashed, not a single article being saved.
The policemen interfered, hut were utterly helpless to
restore order, beiag carried about by the surging of
the crowd as if they were children. An attack was
next made upon a cheesemonger and ham dealer's stall,
which it was discovered belonged to the mother of the
crockery vendor. 'rhe work of destruction, however,
was not so speedy, hut hams and cheeses were Hung
into the air and hurled at each other as if they had
been footballs. So eager were the crowd for revenge,
that the tradesmen in the Market-place were tinder
much alarm for their shop-windows. It was not until
all the things on the stall had been demolished, and
the women had escaped to the railway station, that the
mob dispersed.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

POETRY.

WINTER.

BY THE REV. J. WHITE.

(Continued from our last.)
But winter drear will soon be past,
For cheerful spring approaches fast,
Wben flowers will deck the plaias ;
And trees will bud and blossom fair,
And warbling songitert tilt the air
With sweet melodious strain..
E'en no does life's abort wintry day
Keep gliding rapidly away,
list nests to return;
To some, perchance. 'twill close in night,
To others, in the glorious light
Uf an immortal morn.
Winter, thy cold and cheerless state,
•

,
Precisely represents the Lite
Of him whose end is near;

Whose life•blood freezes in his veins,
And who, while on the earth remains,
Is dead to all things here.
She aged mat with silvery hair,
And who his frame can scarcely bear,
And leans upon his stall;
Ilm now arrived at winter's stage,
His hod* wrinkled o'er with age,
Earth's joys he cannot quaff.
Wham matesa's spank sad days an law,
And dissolution just in view,
The ehristilm's not alone;
For angels wait to waft bib soul
To yonder happy, peaetful goal,
Where winter is unknown.

Bright, joyous, endless spring will come,
And round the christian's path will bloom
Perennial fruits and flowers;
Grief cannot mar an augers face,
Storms cannot reach that heavenly place,
To blast its golden buwers.
Pub-street, Dec. 26th, WS.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

ACTION FOR DETAINING GOODS.

fa the Court of Erchequer in L >odor", the cause of
"Braham v. Roots" has been tried, and wax an a Alm
for detaining certain pods. The defendant pleaded
that he did not detain them. and also set op • lien.
He paid it 10s, into ci nrt, which he said was
enough to satisfy the plaintiff's claim.
Accoroing to the opening i.tatement iif council, the
plaintiff was Lina Braham, a young lady who for seven
or eight years lived with the late Sir Gilbert East,
Bart., his wife, in the neighbourhood of St. John's
Wood, London, the two panning under the name of
Mr. and Men. Braham. During that period Sir
Gilbert provided her with furniture suitable to the
condition in which they were living. and 3140 made
her many presents. Last summer they were staying
at the Dle of Wight, and unfortunately, an Sir Gilbert,
who had taken too with to drink, was passing along
the pier to hie yacht, be accidentally fell MI and was
drowned. After having given evidence at the coroner's
impoeu Mien Itrahatu returned to town, and, being
under an impression that the exectitoraof the deceased
unaht possibly lay
lain' to the furniture, she employed
the deferblant, who keeps ii depository in St. J Jtin's
Wood, to 10310140 her goods to his premises and warm
Millen them. l'he whole property wart taken away by
the evening of the 15th Angli.t, and shortly after wanie
.he wari informed by the executers that she ha el given
herself a great deal of unnecessary trouble, an they
intended to set up n 1 right to the furniture. The
lalottff then directed the defendant to return the
34111'14'N STA by the 29..11 Auguet 311 1,041 I've., brouatit
back except a piano and two musical I oxen' and the
defendant refused to give up these until he wan paid
hie charge*, which amounted 50 201,, i.s. tid. The
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

"JOY IN HEAVEN °YEN ONN SINNER THkT

LEPEN•flall."

Lues XV, 7.

Like glorious drrainintis of the night,
When music from celestial spheres,
And Seriph-harp;i4:: of delight
Chime down ou our entranced ears.
So, yet a thousand times more sweet
Than mortal dreams, can ever be.
The joy in Heaven, when angels greet
Relenting souls with costae,
The dead re-lives—the lost is found—
The sinner turns to God again;
I.llii hallclujalt3 isooe4
The Angelic chorus chant "Amen.'
Bright Cherubs, bending from their thrones
Of glory, natch the blissful strains,
And join the Spnipbim in songs
Which echo round the heav'uly plains.
Myriads of happy souls unite
To strike their golden lyres anew;
And from their seats of shining light,
Swell the triumphant anthem, too.
Lord ! when we pass from earth away,
And mourners round our death-bed throng.
Ascending to the realms of day,
Oh, may we join that rapturous song t
W. MOSELEY RICHARDS.
Dawli.h, Devon (late of Cleat), Dec., Mg.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

THE CONDEMNED CONVICTS IN
MAIDSTONE GAOL.

The proceedings at the Rent winter assixem were
inweeted with painful interest this year, from the
unusual number of eerions cape for trial ; and two of
the criminals were left for death. One of these, Ann
Lawrence, condemned for the murder of her child
(notwithetanding that she persisted in accusing her
paramour, Highatus, of the deed, even after mentence
wee passed upon her), 'has now confeseed her guilt.
After the trial she appeared in a very depressed state
of mind, walking restlessly op and down her cell, and
taking very little rest. On Major Bannister, the
governor, going to her cell on Surulay evening, she
stated to him that it wan she who killed the child, and
she deeired this to be known, that others might not be
falsely accused. She also made similar admissions to
the chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Framer. She mad@ no
statement an to the motive which induced her to com-
mit the act ; but the general tone of her conversation
leads to the belief that she did it while in • state of
jealous frenzy. After her-confession she became much
more calm, and abe is now e, ident ly thoroughly pen•
tent for her crime, listening earnestly to the exhorts.
bone if the chaplain, and apparently entertaining
little or no hope of a reprieve.
With regard to the other criminal, James Fletcher,
convicted of the murder of a convict warder named
Boyle, although the demeanour of the prisoner, almost
up to the day of hie tilal, was most hardened, it has
since become greatly FM hllllKi ; and he also in evidently
alive to the terrible reality of his p••sition. lle
I. visited daily by the chaplain, and makes no attempt
to juetify his crime. Following the ordinary course,
the execution of the criminals would take place on
Thursday, the 10th of January.

SHOCKING SHiciDit OF A TURN K KY. —On
Monday morning considerabls excitement was created
in the county prison at Stafford upon its being die.
covered that one of the turnkeys, named Thomas
Parker, had committed suicide by hanging himself
from the ceiling of the store-room of the institut .
The unfortunate man was filly-num years old, and
was possyseed of wane freehold property in addition to
a considerable sum of money he bad saved during
the long period—over twenty years—he had held him
situation in the prison. The deceased had for some
time been in a desponding state, and It would appear
from a letter written very shortly before hia death
that a fellow turnkey had a short time ago been sen-
tenced to two months' imprisonment for supplying
prisoners with tobacco. This circumstance seems to
have preyed upon Parker's mind, and he fancied him.
self the object of stumicions which in the letter referred
to he declared to be unjust. A coroner's inquest was
held on Monday night, when • jury returned a verdict
of temporary insanity.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

FIFTY YEARS' CHANGES IN EUROPE.

The fellowirg le extracted from the new edition for ISB7
of the Statesmen's Vest Book":
- -

Daring the half century which will have elapsed
when the present year closes in a few weeks, the facts
recorded below, illustrating the progress or retro-
gression of the principal states and governments of
the world, have taken place.
In 1817 there were in Europe two Emperors; there
are now three, France having changed her kings for
an imperial dynasty. Of these three empires, during
this brief period, MINIA ham augmented her territory
by 567,364 English square miles; France has been
aggrandised by 4,620 square miles; but Austria has
lost 16,045 square miles of her domain.
The changes among kings and queens have been
several, and have lessened the number of them by one.
France has no king now, and the King of Hanover
has ceased to reign; but Belgium and Greece have
been constituted kingdoms, while the King of Sardinia,
having absorbed among other territories those of the
Two Sicilies, whose king was expelled, has become
the sovereign of United Italy. Sardinia was
i'2 4,t1•20
sonar. miles n extent; the kingdom of Italy now is
167,961 square miles.
In the meantime Prussian territory has been enlarged
by 29,781 square miles, and she now covers 137,064; ;
while Denmark has lost 7,414 square miles, the Nether-
lands, 11,313, and Wurtemberg 165. The other king'
doms retain their old dominions.
.

Of regnant grand dukes, dukes, princes. and electors,
14 have disappeared, and there have not been any new
ones made or deposed ones restored.
The minor rulers whose territcries have thus been
absorbed are Tuscany, Anhalt, Bernberg, Anhalt-
Cothen, Luca', Modena Nassau, Parma. Saxe-Gotha,
Saxe-Hildburghansen, Hesse-Homburg, flohenrdlern,
Siginaringen, Monaco, and Hesse-CasseL Four remit).
lha have also ceased to be, viz., Andorra, Cracow,
Frankfort, and San Marino.
In 1817 there were 19 sovereigns and republics in
Europe; there are now 41.
States other than those already mentioned have
altered or had changed for them the extent of their
territories as follow: The 'United States fifty years ago
had an area of 851 802 square wiles, they now have
2.819,811 ; Chili has increaged by 77P6; Eritish India
then had fi53,0116, it now has 1.001,616. But Turkey
has lust 18,9.00 equate miles, and Mexico 680,061.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

110 Pi.

,
In conneonence of the holiday. and Ihe almost entire
insane* of buyer., boldness wan at a ntandotlll, and prices
were Nominal. The (report. into London laid week con-
noted at 210 l hales from Antwerp. 57 from Bremen. ail tr.•En
limogaiesh. C 9 from Ontend, and 1.P9 hales from Rotterdam.
Slid an, East Kent., 168. to 231. ; Weald of Kent, ISO. to
Manes, 15Is fo 106... Yearling., 115 s to 150 a per ea%
WOOL

Col-mall wool entre oar la, report has met vrith but little
attention, at late rates The trade for kngli.h wool has kßell
very quiet, on former terms. The Imports Into London last
week coruilst.d of 364 holes from Sydney, and 1,3k6 bales
from the Cape of 6 att llope Quotations are
Fleeces: Southdown horses, Is ;id to IS hid half-brit
ditto, le Aid to In le/A Kent fleeces le Sti to Is Di • Sou*.
1-n ewe. and wethen, In 7d to Is Stl Leicester ditto, Is: I
to Is Pd. Sorb: Clothing, Is 6d to Is ; combing4la i.
10 SI nd Per lb.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

A

THE PENIANS AND MR. STEPHENS.

General F. F. Millen, late President of the Fenian
al hoary Conned in Ireland, and late Acting C. E.
I. R.. has leaned the following letter acainet 'Tamen
S•ephesa the ao-called C. 0. I. R. The Times, in
alluding to it, ears that it in a very pretty atory for a
Chnsaa fireside, and not likely to frighten anybody
either!—.

NEW VRK. Lc 3
To THE 81NCIRE 31E31BERs THE FANIAN BR,TIIER•
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

lb the Editor of the" Observer."

Pica fita,—The strictures of your eorrespoodent
" XX," of last week's paper, scorn to me to call forth a
word or two in reply. By way of introducing myself, I
would ask your correspondent if he ever read meek
poetry, or ever tried his band upon this species of cons-
position; or, if he ever read attentively those works to
which be so personally calls your poetical contributor's
special attention? If lam to judge of the intellectual
status of your correspondent by the letter of last week,
I mast say that he, himself, stands very much in need of
a regalia course of training in the elements of that
grammar to which be make. reference before he can pre-
sume to dictate to others the course of study they should
pursue. Having given him this advice, allow me to pass
on to adios hi, letter. In doing so I would first draw
the attention of your readers to the first two paragiaphs
as specimens of composition—the misplaced adverbs, the
substitution of incomplete, for the complete participles
with preaouns, the redundancy of expression, and to the
misses of words which follow for further proof of the
utter ineapecity of "XX "for tbe office of critic. Now
for the criticism itself.
The first charge he brings spinet your Parketreet
poet is "that throughout all the verses dm 'ethos 'sew
to think that rhyme is quite an immaterial part to the
proper eonetraiitian of verse," and then tiro indiums
only ire brought lowan) ia support of this 'seeping
charge. To vindicate the poet and put his crille epos a
proper footing I would give aa instance, out of many.
from one of our most pleuing poets of the same want of
rhyme. It is taken from hi:nee thiamine, "on the death
of his sister—
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

DUDLEY.

CHRUTMAFI AT THE PAI:1311 CHURCH. The Parish
Church on Christmas Dsy presented a very beautifal ap-
pearance. Itwao most besutifully decorated with holly
and evergreens. togelber with inscriptions arourtd the
galleries; and g 'eat tauuble must have been taken in
making the whole no appropriate to the season. The
service wee choral. The R.,. C. Green, M.A.., read thu
lessons. The anthem was Best's fine setting of " While
shepherds watch." The elaborate organ accompaniment
was well played by Mr. Blandon. The Christmas hymns
were well sung by the choir ; and the sermon was preached
by the Mee. Dr. Browne, mar.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

1) UN N AND HEWETT'S
CNOCOLATN POWDER.
!"ELAND MOSS COCOA,
kIOMMOYATIIIC COCOA, AND
MAIZENA COCOA,
Are all guarant.ed to be Genuine nodes • penalty ot I (ZPLEN DID ROOMS, arid SUPERIOR
Y tlty oiliness, and still stand unrivalled lot Flavour and 13 REYRESNMENTS,: at, tbe BLUE PIO
quality. TON STUNT, DUDLEY.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

ITALESOWEN FREE. MILD LAND & BUUXINO

SOCIETY.
THE SOCIETY king now formal, the
Beerefary will be happy to resolve the wsmiss
proposed Shareholders.
WILLIAM B. MOORE, fletestan.
Public Office, Balesowen, Dec. 8, 1866.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

A SINGULAR WILL CASE.

The ease of Young r. Dendy, after oc,upying the
Court of Probate four days, terminated on Saturday.
The testatrix was a Miss Dendy, late iff FeMum, who
.114 s accidentally burnt in her house in the month of
February lest. She was one of a family of four. Her
mother was subje X to epilepsy; one of her brothers
died a lunatic in St. Luke's Hospital, London, and
her sister is and has been from infancy an imbecile.
Her eldest biother, the defendant, is a barrister, and
resides at Torquay. She herself was excitable as a
girl, and was also doll of apprehension. It is alleged
by her brio her that die was never ca Dahl e of reasoning;
bat she lived away from him, and had the manage-
ment of her property up to the time of her death. A
witness, a achoolfellow, who was called to
prove her mental incapacity, also admitted, on
cross-examination, thxt she was very shrewd in
money matters, and letters which were written by
her on family sail baldric.s matters displayed ordinary
intelligenc-. The oral evidence on this point was
very conflicting, but on the part of the defendant, who
disputed the will, a mass of diaries of an extraor-
dinary character have been produced. They are, it is
allege, in the hand-writing of the testatrix, but it is
doubtful at what time or times they were lei-Peen.
They ny e wild and incoherent in the extreme; many
are blasphemous, ad some obscene. l'bey all
betoken a diseased mind; and the peculiarity of the
case is this, that while, according to the medical testi-
mony, the testatrix must have been labouring under
chronic insanity during her whole life, and have been
for site time a dangerous lunatic, she nsver by word
or action caused it to be suspected that she was subject
to delusions. The diaries were found amongst her
papers after her death ; she was never detected
writing them; and the letters that she did write, as
already stated, were sensible ami intelligent. The
jury found for the validity of the will.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

FEMALE EMIGRATION.

The Umberley, Captain Ilrawn, a large iron Railing
ship, of the White Star Line, left the Mersey on
Saturday last on her first trip, carrying ninety-three
single young women and ten families as emigrants to
Ali-lbourne. This is the second ship despatched by
Miss Rye since her return from New South Wales in
June last, and under the regulations of an improved
system of female emigration. Like the Rol Jacket,
the ship is divided into compartments—for single
women (aft), married people (andilehipe), and single
men (forward), with the same discipline which was
adopted in that vessel and described at the time in the
newspapers. Mrs. Graham, an experienced matron,
and Dr. Newbold, an experienced emigration prac-
titioner, accompany the emigrants, and Miss Rye,
assisted by Mr. Chant, the despatching emigration
officer, superintended their embarkation. Many of
the young women sent out are very poor, and many are
orphans (but not direct from orphanages), and in
these cases assistance has been rendered by Lord
Shaftesbury and a number of his lordship's friends,
whose liberality has obtained outfits for them. There
an, girls from every part of the United Kingdom, all
capable of hard and tuella work; and the limn ist care
has been taken to secure thole, ,of good character.
The theory upon which Muss Rye works is that emi-
gration in such caeca should be offered as a reward for
good conduct, and not held out ass a punishment for
wrong doing. The orderly and cheerful demeanour of
these emigrants during the week in the depot at
Birkenhead, under Mies Rye's care, has given great
promise for their future career. Another ship, we
believe, will sail under the same direction early in the
cooling year, with 100 girls and ten families.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

CORRESPONDENCE.

We wish it tn be distinctly understand tkat inserting
letters in this c 01,,,,,.. do Not thereby ideut ovules.,
rich U. opinions of our t'arrespundents.

WINTSR.
lb the Milos of de '. Observer.°

Stn,—Your would-be critic, " XX," most certainly
thinks himeelf comebely. Ilic eiwature strikingly in-
dicates from what quarter he hal received his potations
prior to penning his remarkable lucubration. Let on
hope, sir, that when he writes again for the public eye,
he will take care to be free from such a muddling iuflu-
Cute.

'XX thinks that " are "awl " bare " do not rhyme
properly. I suppose be would elaas " bare " with "care.'
Then what still he say whim I tell him that Cowper
rhymes 'care' with "are." lie says :

"Mortal. whose pleasures are their only care,
Firbt wish to be imposed on, aud then are.

XX" says that Mr. White "SCCIII3 tO think that
rhyme is quite an immaterial part to the proper construe.
tion of verse ;" and then afterwards speaks of Mr. White
" committing " tautology 'for the purpose of hatching a
rhyme." How does "XX " reconcile these statements?
Alas I abut for the influence of his potation.,
Let me also request "XX to pay a little more atten-
tion to grammar himself, and not commit such uograco•
matical blunders as " Dout (?) Alr. White know how to
pronounce, &e." "XX " appears to be ignorant of the
tact that great license is granted to poets in the use of
words, tfcc., which is never allowed to prose writers.
Without troubling you any further with remarks on
" XX's" strange production,
remain, yours truly,
CASTIGATOR.
Dec. 26th, ISGG.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

THE "WILD MEN" OF JESSO.

A correspondence has taken place between the
Aborigines Protection Society and Mr. Walpole, the
Rome Secretary, in reference to an exhibition now
travelling the provinces of so-called 'wild men of
Jemo." Representations of the brutalising nature of
this exhibition have been made to the society, and
their interferenco has been repeatedly invited. They
have done what they could in the matter, hut hitherto
without any practical result. It has been their chief
object to ascertain, by verbal communicati.,n with the
unfortunate creatures themselves, whether they were
detained against their will ; but although they
employed • highly intelligent Japanese gentleman, he
was unable to understand them, or to mike himself
understood. It is, however, the society shale, irra•
possible to believe that these wild men—of whose
Asiatic origin, at all events, there can be no doubt—
would willingly permit themselves to be confined in a
den like wild beasts, and voluntarily endure the
wretchedness of rerpetual imprisonment behind iron
bars, if they had the alternative of personal freedom,
or of restoration to their own country fairly presented
to them. They suggest to the Home Secretary that it
is legitimately within his province to put an end to an
exhibition which is felt by all who have witnessed it
to be a grave public scandal. In reply Mr. Walpole
states that the matter has been inquired into; and that
there appears to he good reason for supposing that
the public are deceived as to these supposed savages,
and that the Aborigines Protection Society, if it should
make further researches, will probably tind that there
is not in reality any such restraint upon these so-called
"wild men as they apprehend to be the case.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

Stourbridge.

Sir—] ern happy to info: n yen that the f-at dose of you
Stomach P. 11., gave mo great n."ef. I have triton one box
and they have entirely removed the Dinginess rid Noise in
Ivy Head, Sick Heaaacbe, said the wretched psis In my
Stomach, from which I suffered so long. I hare hail no re-
turn of my complant, thanks to your invaluable Stomach
Pills, awl! ma noted well as ever lum in lay life.
Viewed in Bones and BotUes, price 7111., 1..161., rid
2a. V.l eacb, with directions for use, by

GEORGE WRITWELL,
CILEMIST,

lIIARKIT HALL, BTOURBRIDGE.

ENGLAND DI
'S REMEDY FOR IN-
oRSTION. It is mow in admitted faid that the
dimaam Mug writ/ are ladigestioa sad Liver
Couirlaiate. From one or the other of these comp/Mats
the tamp -ty of the popeatiori of ! -sigma are
salforiag ; sad as tithes of them causes groat ilab"ity rid
mitering, di. ot the gmateet importance that they should
have presort atimalioa ad propertrealinent.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

INDIGESTION.

Ind igeeron is • disorder of the stomach and first "tea
tines or bowels, rod some'ines extends itself to other
organs of the body.
The .3.300 ms of Indigestion or -Dinkel Digestion
of the lood, a sense of Oppression and linens iessof the
liowels, sometimes Looseness,Furred Tont, le, impaired
Strength, Flat 'ence, Sic! ess. Headache. Pr'pitalkon ,
of the Ifeart, Pains -1 the lit of the Stomach and
towr-di the Hight Side, SalleaJess of Comple"on, De-
pression of Spuits, Nervousness, Distecbed Sleep, Cold
I;mb', Fevel,sh Heat, Flusl,ng of the }time, Dry aces in
the Mouth, Weal was is the Lee.; soineemes the sight
is d'-n, and the. perms Is laid prostate, end thus the
hopeless of "s, as for 1W ber'th is concerundi in
des Mord.
In Ohs treatment ottadisest:on, the ebjmtsb..osshs '
Is Is mien Os Momsh and the system M larg•ln
proper tone and strength. These ends mut be obtained
by the use of self wild aperients, vegetable bitters, and
ast:sgents. Thine remedies are to be found in the
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

Ob I have yea heard the &rime seve
Of °AIMS'S famous Boob aed Shoes?
Which are all over the country used,
So tamed are We Hooter,/ ()ekes's.
Short Boats, 7.6.1.

They're good sod cheap and very strong,
And suitable for old and young;
Besides they'll last near t. ice as long,
Will the Boots theirs bought at Oakes's.
I,ace.upe, Is 6d.
They are the best that you can buy,
They cannot rip. and I'll tell you any—
They are screwed together. so you may rely
On the rivetbid Boots of Oakes's.
Elastics, 7.1 61.
They have one fault. mid that is true,
But that's ',Most him. and not 'gainst you;
They last too long, indeed they do.
Do the.. fatuous Boots of Oakes's.
Bluchers, 4s.
One thomend's worth he has on hand
To meet the very great demand ;
For the very bat Boots to the hind
Ladies' arid t,etearawo's Boots IL ode to Order.,

REMEMBER-W. OAKES,
GI, KM-STREET, STOMBRIDGE.

Are those that come too Oakes'..
Women's, Is 114 d.
,manler big aor.Al slake.
'1 I. e) will hot bolt how upper break!
Such pains at home his men they take
To preserve the good name of Oakes's.

Women's, Ss ed.
The workman, too, in figures plain,
On the tongue or each Boot mark, his name,
That the feulty man may In ar the blame.
And no longer work for Oak.'.
Women'e, 4. 64.
But ale we my, in truth and pride,
(Inc workmen ere all so well tried.
Both home and out door can be rake,
Or they'd not be employed by Oakes's.
Wroaen's very best, Se 611.
With much advantage none can deny
That emmpetition we can defy;
tio prey ~nr Boots and Shore come buy
At the Cheapest shoe mart, (*tee's.
Children's, etd.
Retain yeatly executed ow the shottett outtio.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-29

CRADLEY.

SEANONAPLE Mitteiricatics.--About eighteen of the
oldest of the poorer elan of persons residing in Cradle!'
and the neighbourhood were, by the kind hospitality of
Mr. Thomas 'fouler, solicitor, of Colley Gate, enter-
tained at his house on Christmas-day. A good supply of
Christmas beef, mutton, plum pudding, and she, were set
before them, and the old folks were allowed to eat as long
as they could. After dinner old Mr. lienjaniin Coo, of
Crudity, • veteran Methodist who is beloved mud respec-
ted by all who arc acquainted with hire, spoke to the uld
people se the importance of steering to thenmelree •
Wive 4 happiness and peace and reminding them of
the shortness of time end the uncertainty of death he
tried to persuade them to give theuenakes up entirely to
IbM (hod whose kind Provide**. lead spared them to see
that Chrietnias.day. A very pleasant and happy after-
noon was spent by the old wimple, and their bright, happy
countenances, sod their looks of gratitude, amply repaid
their beneficent entertainer.

TEA MEETING.—On Thursday evening the annual tea
meeting wim held in the Infant School room. After tea
the Incumbent gave a detail of his late wanderings on
the Alps, but re our Raporter WM refused admittance
unless he paid 13 6 I, we cannot give a detailed account.