The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-11 00:00:00

Last night the attention of the House of Lords 1
was engaged in considering the question of the
Convict System. Lord GRANVILLE did his
utmost to make the worse appear the better
cause, but with very little EncePss, as the general
sense of the House appeared to be against him.
There is no doubt that public opinion will con-
firm the arguments of some of the speakers last
night, who vainly endeavoured to press forward
the importance of the subject, but were met with
the obstacles of circumlocution and red-tapism,
that everlastingly intervene when expedition is
necessary. Earl STANHOPE made some excellent
observations on this topic. After alluding to the
panic, in the course of last autumn, that had
been created by " the proceedings of convicts who
had been liberated under tickets of leave," he
remarked that the system of tickets of leave had
been adopted by the Government nine or ten
years ago, and however well intended, it had
been most unsuccessful in its aim. While he
trusted that, eventually, their lordships might
arrive at a satisfactory solution of the diffi-
cult problem before them, he still thought
that "it would have been better for
the public if, instead of appointing a fresh commis-
sion to examine into the subject, the Government
had decided on taking an independent course of
action, and provided a remedy themselves, they
should have acted on their own responsibility and
taken measures to repress the evil." There is great
truth in these remarks, but responsibility is the very
thing that this Government seems resolved to shirk
whenever it can find the opportunity to do so. A
bold decisive movement in any direction seems quite
impossible for them to take ; hence we meet with
all this shuffling and procrastination. Lord DERBY
called attention to a glaring evil in the arrange-
ment of the convict system, which was that if a
prisoner, who was at large on a ticket-of-leave,
committed a new crime, the new conviction super-
seded the former one altogether. "The system
which had been found to work so well in Ireland
was dependent on supervision, and the original in-
tention in this country was, also, that if
persons who had obtained tickets-of-leave
were found associating with thieves, or fre-
quenting their old haunts, their tickets should
be at once taken from them without waiting for any
conviction." Lord GRANVILLE said that the second
sentence would be considered by itself, and be totally
distinct from the former conviction. This is very
unsatisfactory, because, as Lord DERBY afterwards
explained, the culprit might actually gain by the
committal of the second crime, if his second convic-
tion chanced to be shorter than the first. It is cer-
tain that if it were generally known that on an
offender being again convicted before the expiration
of the first term of his servitude is completed,
he would be compelled to undergo imprison-
ment until that had been fulfilled, as well as
suffering the new penalty inflicted, it would
exercise a very important influence in deter-
ring the constant commission of crime. One
good thing at all events has been effected, that
with regard to persons who are re-convicted, no
hope whatever can be held out to them of a remis-
sion of their sentences. The authorities are to be
congratulated on the wisdom of this step in the
direction of general order, and for the furtherance
of the safety of the community. It is greatly to be
regretted that, in addition to this benefit, they did
not add the advantage already referred to. The
Duke of MARLBOROUGH called attention to a very
striking statement he had heard, that the convict
REDPATH, who had been sentenced to transporta-
tion for life, 'had been liberated on ticket-of-leave,
and was now enjoying the fruits of his felony in
some distant colony. Lord GRANVILLE promised
that he would make inquiries on the subject. Here is
a glaring perversion of justice. The judge who con-
victed REDPATH said that such was the magnitude
of the felony of which he was guilty that he could
do no less than sentence him to be transported be-
yond the seas for the term of his natural life. It
seems too bad that when so strong a condemnation
has been pronounced against a man that he should•
be allowed to be set at liberty.

Lord CARNARVON, who has already distinguished
himself in this question, made some remarks
well worthy of notice. He said with some
truth that it was fifteen years since Sir
GEORGE GREY first took charge of the disposition
of the criminal population. " Since then, Sir
GEORGE GREY had been Home Secretary three
times, and had had full and uncontrolled disposal
of the Home Office, and had himself passed one
or two Acts of Parliament on the subject of the
criminal population ; and, therefore, he (Lord
CARNARVON) asked how it was that, under Sir G.
GREY, we had become involved in the present
difficulty ?" Another, point strongly pressed by
Lord CARNARVON was that the duty which
belonged of right to the Executive Government
had been delegated to a commission, " whose report
would not, in all probability, be laid on their lord-
ships' table till the summer, when they would be
crowded with other business, and there would be
no time properly to consider it." Lord GRANVILLE
denied the likelihood of there being any delay in
the presentation of the report, and indignantly de-
fended Sir G. GREY from the charges brought
against him, he said ho was quite surprised at the
attack, and that his colleague was not at all to
blame. Lord HARDWICKIS concluded the debate
by remarking that the power vested in the Secre-
tary of State rendered it extremely doubtful in
many cases whether the sentences of the judges
would be carried into effect, and he would like
to know the opinion of the learned members
of the House on the subject. To this no
answer was returned, but at all events it
is something gained that a protest has been en-
tered against the unsatisfactory mode that has been
adopted of dealing with questions that are of so vital
a nature as regarding the interests of the commu-
nity and the order and good regulation of society.
It seems a suspicious circumstance that the Govern-
ment should insist on leaving the settlement of
the point to those whose opinions will not be in-
terfered with, instead of leaving the arrangement
in the hands of the House, which would have been
better if they were resolved not to do anything
themselves of a decisive nature. One thing is cer-
tain if Ministers trifle with this subject, they will
rue the day they did so, for they will call down a
storm of indignation that they will not find it very
easy to withstand. Already much time has been
wasted, and it is irritating to think that those who
like Lord CARNARVON have attentively studied the
sabject should be pooh—poohed, in their statements
by
the over-bearing manner of those who profess
to be
au fait with all the branches of the system,
that from
motives or misapprehension they pervert
so dreadfully
surely must have bee
from its original objects. Thesen
prevention of , and still ought to he, the
crime so far as human laws can make
that possible, and the real punishment of offenders
to the full extent that man can be justified in
carrying out sentences.

It is not often that we have occasion to express
approval of the official acts of Sir CIIAILLES WOOD,
but his recent interference with the law of contracts

The news by the Hibernian contains little of
interest. Nothing of any moment has taken place.
The Federals, with a determination worthy of a
better cause, are still obstinately bent upon taking
Vicksburg ; and to this end we learn that
M'CLERNARD'S expedition has landed on the
Louisiana side of the Mississippi, five miles below
the mouth of the Yazoo river, in view of
Vicksburg, the scene of their repeated reverses,
and that two brigades are occupied in ',-
opening the canal to change toe course of
the river. Although we consider the chance of
success to the Federal arms hopeless, we yet give
them credit for energy and perseverance, however
misapplied, but the idea of changing the course of
"The Father of 'Waters" by a paltry ditch is too
ridiculous to be for a moment entertained. The
Federal generals and Congress have set their hearts
on taking Richmond, but before they can accom-
plish this Vicksburg must be reduced. As yet they
have faiied in their attempt upon this stronghold
of the Southerners, and we do not see much probe,-
bility of ultimate success against earthworks from
which their picked regiments have been repulsed
with great slaughter after a moat determined
attack. To what purpose to turn the course of the
river whe❑ the land defences have been proved to
be impregnable ? Is it not as easy for the
Confederates to throw up earthworks on
one side as on the other ? But it is
idle to dilate further on the subject. A
narrow ditch—for, after all, that is what
the grand canal amounts to—cannot carry
off the waters of the Mississippi, and we suspect
that the troops are engaged on this work to occupy
their time, rather than in any hope of ultimate
benefit. With regard to the army of the Potomac,
General CONCH commands the right wing, General
MEAD the centre, General SMITH the left, and General
SIGEL the reserve. A heavy fall of snow has rendered
the roads impassable, and there is little prospect of
anything material being dono for some time.
Meanwhile General BURNSIDE is to be examined
before a senatorial committee concerning of the in-
terference of subordinate officers with his plans,
and General FRANKLIN has demanded a court-
martial to enquire into the alleged charges for tardi-
ness and inefficiency. Thus, not content with
being beaten by the enemy whom they pro-
posed to crush in ninety days, the Federal
Generals and Senate are cuttieg each other's throats,
and still farther weakening the doubtful confidence
which a misled people have placed in men who
can do no more to re establish the Union, that
falsify despatches, and report defeats as victorious.
Deluded as the Americans are by their
opinionated self-conceit, facts must in the end make
themselves felt. Sooner, perhaps, than is expected,
a reaction will take place. Mr. SEWARD'S paper
victories cannot counterbalance in the minds of the
Wall•street brokers for gold at fifty-nine per cent.
premium, or, more properly speaking, paper at
fifty-nine per cent. discount. The bubble must
sooner or later burst, and, in the cause of humanity
and common sense, the sooner it does, and this most
unnatural war is terminated, the better will it be
for America and the civilised world.

GREECE.—Thereis ---ureport that the Duke of
Saxe Coburg has again declined to accept the throne
of Greece; but it is still thought he will accept the candi-
dature, which Mr. Elliott has announced to the Greeks,
apparently to their satisfaction. Meantime we have received
the following paragraph :—' We understand that H.S.A.
Prince Ale,xauler di Gonzaga-Mantua may possibly be -
come a candidate for the throne of Greece, at the desire of
many very influential parties. the Prince is mar-
ried to an English lady, and has long resided in privacy in
England, but in 1848, when the crown of Sicily was offered
to him, he could not be prevailed upon to leave his domestic
circle for a court." .

A POINT OF HONOUR. By the Author of " The
Morals of Mayfair," &c.—The, author of "The
Morals of Mayfair" is an original, independent, and sturdy
thinker, who has more than once taken society by surprise,
assailed some favourite theory, and exposed some pern'.cious
practice. "A Point of Honour" appeals to the reader as
aaa4fan‘nriiedliatnthrtg ueesao,suimtnafryteot
annaoatgland as a novel. In the first character it is
impressive. In the second it deserves cjnsiderable praise.
There are the great human passions, love and grief; there
contrasts,
Honour"
ne
oaunrd,
author's
iesmcfpoaairnembatobezoriuke, ewewaovnhrekdni
noerxitthtchioesyer
adnetsleiricrittniorosunhtt.shi

M. 011ivier having replied, the amendment was
then rejected, and the paragraph in the address re-
ferring to Rome was adopted by the Chamber.
Le Siecle of this morning says, (rather after date
by the way) that " it appears that on the occasion
of New Years' Day, his Majesty FRANCIS 11. re.
ceived in his Palace (the Farnese) the delegates of
all his provinces, who brought to his Majesty loyal
addresses subscribed by 63,000 signatures. We have
not seen these signatures," adds the Siecle, " but
we have been en :bled, this morning, to read in
the Gazette de France the speech delivered in reply
by the ex-King of Naples on this occasion." After
giving a specimen of this discourse, it is remarked
(rather with a flourish) that the Gazette de _France
declares its opinion that this harangue will be
placed side by side with the manifesto of the Bth
December, 1860." Quoth Le Steele, upon this,
laconically—(it might mean anything, byfthe way)
—" We are entirely of this opinion."
"Every day," says the Opinione Nationale," they
are in expectation, at Madrid, of the dectee. of the
dissolution of the Chamber. The Ministry is very
much embarrassed."

M. Pedro Aurioles has accepted the portfolio of
Justice, and M. Ulioz that of Marine.
Le Pays observes :—" Russia pursues her system
of extension and of development in the far East.
She seeks to multiply her relations and her esta-
blishments, and to create there by their means an
influence every day more solid and considerable.
In effect we have just received news from Calcutta,
under date the Bth ult., which conveys tidings of a
rumour there afloat in that city to the effect that
a new treaty had been concluded between the Rus •
sians and the Chinese."

Speaking of the Imperial policy of Napoleon 111.,
Le Constitutionnel of to-day says—" The Govern-
ment of the Emperor has not the habit of giving
birth to illusions, or of tantalising the imagination
of the people with theories doomed by their very
nature to remain in the category of theories. That
which distinguishes it from other Governments is
its sincerity and its force. That which it advocates
it always practises, and it promises nothing which
it is not ready to hold fast by and to accomplish."

BOURSE. Feb. 10.—The upward movement in the
market continues, with a fair amount of business
doing. Threes, for the Account, are now at 70f.
75c. The Credit Mobilier also show a further rise.
The Railway Share Market is also firm, and with
an improvement on some of the lines.
The market closed as follows :

Sh
it per Cents. ..
Toanrees 3395
Do. cad month.... 1525
_9B —B5 Credit
ier - -
3 per Cents
Do. end month 7O 70 Italian Loan 7l 25
New 3 per Cents .. Russian
Do. end month.... Austrian
Credit Mobilier... ,1225 Spanish Threes —
!Do, end month.... Rome Debt

Cash. Account.
Orleans lllO .. 1112 50
Northern ....
New ditto
Lyons and Mediterranean 1187 60 .. 1192 50
Geneva 4lO 410
Southern
Western
Eastern ....

RAIL'

Sardinian .. 375
Austrian
Lombard
North of Spain
Saragossa 695 69,
Ditto to Barcelona

SPAIN.
MADRID, FEB. 10.

Marshal O'Donnell is reported better.

The charges which are being made among the
prefects indicate that the Ministry is preparing for
the elections. Should the Chambers be dissolved,
the various sections of the Opposition will probably
form a coalition. Ttie modification which has taken
place in the Ministry has secured a few votes to the
Government.

INDIA.

BOMBAY, JAN. 28 (via Suez).

Cotton active and advancing. Manchester goods
improving. Mahva opium, 1,520 r. Exchange on
London, 2s. ld. Government securities: 4 per
Cents., 941, ; 5 per Cents., 1041 ; 51 per Cents., 112•
Freights advancing.

CALCUTTA, JAN. 27.

Shirtings and twist firm. Exchange on London,
2s. Old. Government securities: 5 per Cents.,
1051. Freight higher.

THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA.

LIVERPOOL, FEB. 10.

The royal mail steamship Macgregor, Captain
Laird, has arrived here. Her dates are—Fernando
Fe, Dec. 31 ; Benin, 24;
Bonny, Jan. 7 ; Brass
Riyer, 7; Lagos, 10 ; Accia, 12 ; Cape Coast Castle,

Gen. Burnside is to be examined before a Sena-
torial committee concerning the interference of
subordinate officers with his plans.
General Franklin has demanded a court-martial
to inquire into the alleged charge against him of
tardiness and inefficiency.
General M'Clellan's popularity has increased. He
is now in Boston, receiving much attention. It is
proposed to give him a public reception.
The proposal in Congress to place M'Clellan at
the head of the army was received with loud ap-
plause from the public galleries.

The election of a United States senator will take
place at Albany on Tuesday next. Judge Dean,
Fernando Wood, and Amass Parker are the demo-
cratic candidates ; Tburlow Weed and Henry and
Raymond (ex-Governor) Morgan the republican
candidates.
It is rumoured that the Confederates have been
defeated near Savannah.

The Confederate Congress does not favour a
retaliatory policy.

The British steamers Rising Dawn and Antonina
have been captured.
NEW YORK, lan: 31, Evening.

General Corcoran is reported to have defeated the
Confederates under Prynor at Suffolk, Virginia.
Southern papers say that the Federals are ad-
vancing from Newborn in two columns—one to-
wards Kingston, the other towards Wilmington.
A Federal fleet of 92 vessels is reported in Beau.
fort Harbour.

The Philadelphia grand jury has indicted the
persons concerned in arresting the editor of the
Evening Journal,
The Tribune says that the French Minister
positively denies being concerned in any scheme to
bring about intervention.
The vote upon the bill to raise negro regiments
will be taken in Congress on Monday.
Mr. Wadsworth, of Kentucky, has declared in
Congress that if negro regiments were sent into
Kentucky, the Kentuckians would resist their pas-
sage thronghont the State. _ _ _

The steamer Sonora sailed from San Francisco
upon the 21st for Panama, with 1,000,000 dole. for
England.
The Kangaroo takes out 960,000 dols.
The steamer Giraffe has sailed from a Southern
port.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

NEW YCRK, Jan. 31, Evening.

Money tighter ; gold 59 per cent. premium. Ex-
change on London, 175. New York Centrals,
122,1 ; Illinois, 94; Erie, 75Z.

MEXICO.
RUMOURED DEFEAT OF FRENCH
TROOPS AT PUEBLA.

NEW YORK, Jan. 30.

Advices received here from Vera Cruz to the 9th
ult. state that it was rumoured General Legrate,
with 10,u00 Mexicans, had made a sortie from
Puebla, surprised a French division of 14,000 men
at Acacjete, and routed them, killing 2,000.
It was also reported that 8,000 Mexican cavalry
had surprised General Berthier's division of 4,000
men at Rio Seco in a dense fog, and that during
the consternation the French fired upon each
other.
The French loss was estimated at 1,600.
Another rumour was that Puebla had surrendered
to the French.
Tampico and Jalapa bad been abandoned by the
French.

GREAT DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY BY FIRE.—•
Llst night the firemen of the London brigade were
constantly engaged in attending fires in different parts of
the metropolis. The most serious occurred in the premises
of Mr. Gemson, card manufacturer, Garrett-lane, Wands-
worth, where the engine, glazing, and d rying rooms were
burned down, and the building occupied by Messrs. Bell
and Co., patent match manufacturers, slightly damaged.
Mr. Gemson was insured in the Royal. Another fire took
place in the premises of Mr. Joy, basebroom manufacturer,
James-street, Bethnal-green-road, which destroyed the
workshop. The sufferer was uninsured. Through a chini-
ney which had taken fire not having been properly extin-
gunisheci, the house, 13, Judd-street,
_ Brunswick-square,
took fire, and caused a good deal of damage to the apart..
went in which it began.

ESCAPE OF FOUR PRISONERS.—On Saturday
afternoon last, between 2 and 3 o'clock, four prisoners
under remand made a very clever escape from the lock-up
recently erected at the rear of the new market, Derby. It
appears that the prisoners, who were allowed to walk in au
enclosed yard within the building, and secured by et strong
gate from the adjoining passage, were successful in their
attempt to pick the lock of the gate, and the outer door of
the passage being open they walked into the market and
started off,

GAMBLING IN A MERICA.— No wonder Pa 3 master
Cook, when he proceeded to gamble, lost the money
destined for payment of the Federal soldiers. He played in
a room of which the walls and ceiling were papered with
paper of a star pattern ; a small hole had been bored through
the ceiling in the centre of a star here and there, and in the
room above a person stretched on a mattress was able to look
into Cook's hand, and by a telegraphic signal machine
communicating through the wall and door, to indicate, in
gentle raps on the professional gambler's boot or slipper, a
description of the cards held by the man who was to be
" fleeced." The tenants of the rooms being in debt, the
sheriff has had to transact business upon the premises, and
in the course of his researches made this discovery.
MELANCHOLY DEATHS OF THREE OCTOGENA-
RIANS.—Two octogenarians named Joseph and John
Fitzwalter, brothers, lived, together with their sister, in a
house in Parliament-street for a great number of years, The
brothers had been brought up to the business of lace design-,
ing, and the sister had acted in the capacity of housekeeper.
Joseph, the elder one, was, a short time ago, attacked with
bronchitis, under which he lingered for some time in much
pain. On Wednesday last, however, he died at the ripe old
age of 84 years. The brother and sister of the deceased were
much affected by his death, the brother showing excessive
signs of grief. His grieving, however, was not long, for he
expired in one hour after his brother. The death of two
brothers to whom she was devotedly attached was a shock
which the sister was unable to withstand ; and on the morn-
ing fixed for their interment, she also expired at the age of
88 years.
H 0 SPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN.—This institution
held its 11th annual court on Monday evening, at
the hospital, Great Ormond-street, Queen-square, Blooms-
bury; the Hon. Major Vereker in the chair. The report as
read and unanimously adopted showed that the hospital was
advancing in efficiency and public favour; the subscriptions
of the past year were £1,541 lls., being upwards of £l2O
more than the preceding year. The anniversary festival,
under the presidency of Lord Elcho, had realised upwards
of £1,200, and during the year legacies had been received,
of £lOO from the late Mr. E. B. Laurence, of £5O from the
late Mr. Lionel Lucas (both formerly members of the com-
mittee), as also £5O from the late Mr. J. Watson, £lOO
from the late Mr. J. A. cropper, £lO from the late Miss
Henry, 673. Considerable success had attended the estab•
lishment of collecting-boxes. The committee had to report,
during the past year the receipt of many valuable presents 01
clothing, toys, books, &c., for the benefit ant amusement of
the children, but more especially to mention hat her
Majesty the Queen was most gracious.y pleased, during het
stay in Germany, to direct that a large selection of toys
should be sent over to the children, thus testifying i , the
kindest manner her sympathy with some of the UlO6l. help-
less of her subjects. After expressing thanks for favour-.
able notices in various journals, the report stated that fro,.
pressure of other engagements, Mr. H. A. Bathurst, the
h3n secretary, had been under the necessity of resigning,
and the duties were at present being performed by tue as-
sistant secretary, Mr. Whitford. The receipts from all
sources had advanced from £3,371 7s. 2d. in 1861 to
£4,230 125.7 d, during the past year; but at the same time,
from the increase of patients and other additional expenses,
the total expenditure had increased horn £3,933 12s. 7d. to
£4,113 7s. 2d. in the past year, so that it was necessary to
appeal for further public aid. Thanks having been passed
to the medical and other officers, as also the chairman, the
proceedings terminated.

THE ACTON MURDER.—We undertand that the
widow of the unfortunate police constable, who wtb,
so brutally murdered while in the performance of his duty
to the publ c, is only to receive the miserable pension ofXl5
per annum from the Metropolitan Commissioners of Police,
being scarcely ss. 9d. per week, and not £25 per annum
as previously announced.

SIR JAS. GRAHAM'S MAIDEN SPEECH.—Mr. Gra-
ham's speech, delivered in the dialect and with the
gesture of an exquisite, savoured too much of anxiety for
out-of-door applause, to win the respect of the House of
Commons. Most of his assertions were true, indeed, as to
the excess of patronage and the political corruption it engen-
dered. But his generalities were too violent and too vague,
and his indignation seemed too vehement to be sincere.
His apprehension that the power of the Crown was increas-
ing and ought to be diminished, sounded too like a
reading out of date from the pages of Burke ; and the
inartistic mode in which he intimated his belief that
venal motives were chiefly potential in keeping up super-
numerary offices and undeserved pensions made his hearers
stare and smile, rather than listen or reflect. Some, in-
deed, of the more ttmporising and timid from the first dis•
liked him. He was not, they said, the style of man. that
was wanted ; he was too saucy for his years, too confident
on his legs, and too sarcastic across the dinner table.
He had no scruple about rallying them on their too fre-
quent attacks of the gout on the eve of trying votes in the
House of Commons, and it was probably in pique at some
caustic remark of his upon the want of efficient leadership,
that Mr. Tierney is said to have called him 4( a manly
PuPPY."

On the same evening a concert was given by the
Marchioness de Tillieres, and receptions by the
Duke of Padua and the Count de Flaviguy.
The quadrille " des abeilles," which is to be
danced at an entertainment to be given by the Em-
press, is being daily rehearsed at the Tuileries with
Madame de Tascher. A dozen ladies will take part
in it, but there will be no gentlemen. Amongst the
ladies already mentioned as intended to participate
in this quadrille are the Princess Troubetzkoi,Mes-
dames Brineard, Coppens de Lostende, Pereira,and
Madlle. de Tascher.

The Duchess de Morny will give a grand ball on
Shrove-Tuesday.

ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 4.

The Princess Soltikoff, lady of honour to the Em-
press of Russia, has just died at a very advanced
age. This event will be an additional check to
gaiety in the Russian capital, and will prevent se-
veral balls and other festivities from taking place
there during the short season this winter.

ACCIDENT TO THE DUKE OF RUTLAND.—On Sa-
WI day last the Duke of Rutland sustained a severe fall
while hunting in the neighbourhood of Grantham. Mr.
Shipman, the Duke's medical attendant, was quickly on the
spot, and accompanied him to the George Hotel, Grantham,
where from the nature of the injury—severe concussion of
the spine—his Grace M ill probably remain some days Woo
proceeding to Belvoir Castle.

Mr. GOWER, M.P.—The picturesque town of
Limpsfield presented a most animated scene on
Saturday last. It was understood that Granville Loves=
Gower, Esq., M.P., the successful candidate for Reigate,
was to return to Titsey Park, his seat, in the afternoon of
that day. The inhabitants of the town proceeded at once
in making preparations for a hear y reception. Three
triumphal arches, adorned with laurel wreaths, banners,
and streamers of the true blue, were erected across the
road ; flags were suspended from every window. The
inhabitants of Linepsfield and Titsey all appeared in the
victorious colours, and lined the road. At four o'clock
loud hurrahs announced .he first appearance of Mr. and
the Hon. Mrs. Leveson Gower; they were met by the
assembled crowd, and a large number of their tenantry.
The horses were quickly unharnessed, and before Mr. and
Mrs. L. Gower were aware of their change of horses, they
found themselves dragged in triumph through the town,
amid deafening. cheers on all sides, Mr. L. Gower then
addressed his friends, from the carriage. He thanked
them for the enthusiastic demonstrations of sympathy and
feeling they evinced in his success ; he explained his reasou9
t ,r wishing to represent Reigate, and his hopes of being
able to du so worthily. He spoke ot 11,s interest in the wel-
fare of these around him, Ile gave ha ideas on the rela-
tive Maui's and syn_pathies of all classes. He responded
gracefully to the feeling shown tor the young wre by his
side, concluding with again expressing his thanks. Mr.
and Mrs. L. Gower were not allowed to proceed to Titsey,
even at this period, with their own horses, new relays of
willing hearts took them at a great pace to the door of
Titsey, a distance of half a mile.—Surrey tandard.
COLLIERY EXPLOSION IN THE ABERDARE VAL"
LEY.—A fatal explosion of firedamp took piece 00
Saturday at Mr. ixop's Lower Colliery, Mountain Ash/
near Acerdare, Glamorganshire. About three o'clock in
the afternoon the men on turn up to that time had just
ascended, and those who were to relieve them had begun
to descend, when a loud noise, accompanied by the usn°l
indications of an explosion of gas, was heard. Several
colliers escaped more or less burnt, and when the number°
were told two were bound missing. Mr. Mown, the
ger, with extraordinary intrepidity, ventured into the Fork
in the dark, and, notwithstanding the danger from choke'
damp, felt his way to the particular heading where the
two men were known to be at work, and brought their life'
less bodies to the surface. They were badly burnt. There
is reason to believe that the men had indulged ,n 01°
(dangerous practice of smoking after they had reached the
heading,-and hence the explosion. Had it occurred a little
later the loss of life might have been great. The injure' t°
the works bee been considerable, the roof baying been blown
down in some places to a thickness of six or seven feet.
Fortunately, the disas'er was confined to one heading.
THE MURDER OF A POLICE CONSTABLE AT ACTON
—Yesterday afternoon Mr. J. Bird, coroner for Weston
Middlesex, resumed and concluded at the George and rri.,
es
gon Hotel, Acton, the investigation into the circumstance,
of the murder of William Davey, the police constable
0,
the 1' division, who was shot on the night of the 19thvei:
last month. The proceedings appeared to cause
,e
tho
greater interest than on the previous occasions, al?(,1,00,
court was densely crowded ; but little additional eTtried
was taken, and the jury, alter a brief deliberation, re.111:00
a verdict of "Wilful murder against Joseph and '0
Brooks." The announcement of the verdict was sec
~:led.
cornet
applause, which was, however, immediately en
The coroner then made out his warrant for the conr
of the (teemed to Newpte for trials e
igto