The Sun.
London, England, 1834-02-25 00:00:00

EAST INDIA AND CHINA TRADE.

THE PRINCESS OF ORANGE'S JEWELS.

In the month of September, 1829, jewels and other
valuable property, belonging to the Princess of Orange,
were taken out of a casket in which she had deposited
them in her bedchamber in the Palace at Brussels. The
affair caused a great sensation at the time, and in conse-
quence of the extraordinary circumstances under which
the very valuable articles disappeared, many strange re-
ports were circulated in the Nether! Inds respecting " the
mysterious robbery," as it was called. It might Ise ex-
pected thatethe mystery would be cleared up by the trial
of the person charged with the offence, and now in cus-
tody at the Hague, but though the jewels were found in
his possession, he has in the different examinations he has
undergone persisted in denying that he was the thief.
The Dutch papers have published some accounts of the
prehrpinery investigation by the Judge, who instructs
the process, and as facts disclosed are curious, a brief
nee rative of them may be interesting to our readers.
Tyr begin, then, at the beginning. In the morning of
the 26th of September, 1829, while the Prince of Orange
was absent from the Palace, and the Princess was at the
Castle of Tervueren, it was discovered that a casket called
a diamantaire, in which her Rectal Highness kept her
jewels, had been forcibly broken open and carried off, with
a great quantity of precious stones and pearls which it
contained. A number of valuable papers had also been
removed from the casket, hut these were found scattered
about on the floor, anti part of them torn. The dia
mantaire was covered with a glass, through which the
jewels deposited immediately under it were visible. On
breaking the glass, these being removed, beside them
would be found the key of the lower part of the casket,
the different compartments of which contained other jewels.
A costly shawl belonging to the Princess was also miss-
ing, but it was afterwards found on one of the ramparts,
and it was supposed that it had been wrapped about the
casket in the bed-chamber, and afterwards dropped or
thrown away.
The manner in which the Princess's bed-chamber must
have been reached has been the subject of much inquiry.
It is said that marks were observed on a wall, which were
supposed to be made by a ladder having been placed against
it. This wall being surmounted, the thief or thieves
must have passed through the garden of the Palace to a
terrace, upon which a glass door opens. One of the penes
of the glass door was found broken, after having first
been smeared over with clay. When the pane of glass was
broken, the door could be opened on the inside. From
this door a suite of apartments led to the Princess's bed-
chamber, where the casket stood on a table dote to the
fire-place.
The measures taken to trace the property supposed to
be stolen in the manner described were long fruitless. At
last, in July, 1831, Mynheer Bangaman Huygens, the
Dutch Consul at New York, was waited upon by a
Frenchman, named Roumage, who told him that the lost
property was in that city, and claimed the reward offered
for its discovery by the Dutch Government. He stated
that the jewels had been brought to New York by one
Constant Polari, who had arrived there in company with
a female named Susanne Blanche. However, before
giving this information to Heer Huygens, Roumage being
a wa:e that precious stones are subject to a duty on impor-
tation into the United States, gave notice to the col-
lector of the customs at New York that Polari had intro-
duced jewels fraudulently. The collector caused Poleri's
lodgings to be searched, where a great number of jewels
were discovered and seized. Nevertheless, a considerable
number of the precious stones escaped the vigilance of the
collector, because they were concealed in a tube in the
form of a walking cane, and in the stick of an umbrella,
which was also hollow. Immediately after the search,
Polari, assisted by Susanne Blanche, buried these reserved
jewels in a certain spot in the country near New York.
On hearing of tie seizure made by the collector, the
Duch Consul had the jewels compared with the descrip•
tion in his possession, and was satisfied that they were the
property of the Princess. Polari was then apprehended,
and required to explain how the jewels came into his
possession. After various evasions, he at last remarked
that Mynheer Huygens must be already acquainted with
the fact through Susanne Blanche. The jewels, he had
no doubt, were the property of the Princess of Orange,
but he solemnly declared that he was not the thief, and
knew nothing of the manner in which the robbery hae
been accomplished. The Dutch Consul had indeed been
told nearly the same story by Susanne Blanche, with the
addition that Polari had buried in the neighbourhood of
Brussels a pot containing other valuable articles and all the
cases and gold settings of the jewels.
It appeared that Roumage had formed an intimacy with
Susanne Blanche, and learned from her the facts which
he had disclosed to the Dutch Consul, and also the spot
where the remaining jewels were buried, in a wood not far
from New York. Having got Polari fa-t in prison,
Roumage and Susanne resolved to dig up the jewels, and
go off with them to England. No time was lost by
Roumage in extractin the jewels from the hole in which
they bad been deposited, but before be was prepared for
the voyage to England, he brought a few stones of great
value to the Dutch Consul, and said that he bad discovered
them since Polari was in custody. His motive for this is
not known It is conjectured that these were jewels
which he thought he could not easily dispose of, and the
delivery of which to the Consul would lull any suspicion
which might have been awakened against himself.
On a future examination of Polari, the Dutch Consul,
in the hope of obtaining further disclosures, exhibited one
of the jewels he had received from Roumage, and asked the
prisoner whether he knew it. Polari immediately per-
ceived that he had been betrayed by Susanne Blanche, and
described the place where he had concealed the treesute.
The Consul proceeded immediately to the spat, but ofcourse
found nothing. He then got warrants fur the appre-
hension of Roumage and Blanche, but learned that they
had only the day before sailed for England. Heer Huy-
gens, however, immediately despatched a messenger with
the necessary evidence, in a vessel bound to Liverpool,
where the fugitives were apprehended, and the jewels
delivered to the Dutch Consul at that port. In the mean
time an iron pot, which had been buried in a wood near
Brussels, was dug up, and in it were found a number of
cameos and small stones, and all the gold settings of the
jewels.
Polari, in his examinations before the judicial authorities
at the Hague, has stated that in the year 1827 be came to
Bi nasals Irom Lyons, where he had been carrying on
business, but had failed; that in the month of November,
1829, as he was walking in a wood, he observed three per-
sons busy in digging a hole ; that on the following night he
went to the same spot, and, on digging, found the casket
and the jewels; and that on examining the jewels he be-
lieved that they were those which had been stolen from the
Princess of Orange.
He further stated that in July, 1830, he went to Lyons
to see Susanne Blanche, with whom he had formerly
lived, and took with him some of the jewels, one of which
he sold there, and returned in January, 1831, to Brussels,
accompanied by Susanne. They soon after resolved to
leave Europe, and, on embarking for New York, be took
the name of Carrara.
Constant Polari is a Swiss, aged fifty-three, born in
the canton of Tessin. From the inquiries which have
e
been made, it appears that he once carried on the busi-
ness of a tanner. The expression of his countenance is
crafty, and altogether unfavourable. It is with the
greatest reluctance he answers any questions on the
subject of the jewels, and particularly those which have
reference to the trick played him by Susanne Blanche.
His trial is fixed for the 7th March, before the Court of
Assize for South Holland.

HULL RAILROAD.—This town is now con-
templating a railroad from Hull into the West Riding.
Preliminary steps have already been taken.—Doncaster
Gazette.

EXTENSIVE ROBBERY AND EXTRAORDI-
NARY DISCLOSURE.-In the beginning of this month a
robbery of 8451. took place on the premises of Messrs.
Cropper, Benson, and Co. The affair was last week
brought to light. It appears that in 1832 the Jedhurgh
Linen Company enclosed a bill for 681. to Messrs. Crop-
per, who were to forward it to New York. Intelligence
arrived last week that the bid had never reached New
York, but it was discovered that it had been regularly paid
by Messrs. Smith, Payne, and Smith, in London, and also
that two of the names on the back of it were written the.'
one by a young man named Gregg, in the employ of
Messrs. Cropper, Benson, and Co., and the other by his
faller, a master shipwright, who it has been ascertained
actually went to London to receive the proceeds of the
acceptance. This led to the apprehension of the delin-
qtvnt, who has, we underst ind, confessed to the transac-
tion, as well as to that of taking the 8451. There is
also another charge, which implicates both his parents.
In the same year, and about the s true time, two 5001.
bank notes were forwarded from Birmingham to Messrs.
Cropper, Benson, and Co., and were lost. Both of these
500/. notes were exchanged at the Bank of England for
100 Si. notes and 500 sovereigns by the father of Gregg,
and the mother has been recognised as the person who
passed some of the 5/. notes in Liverposl, giving at the
time a fictitious name. We understand that the defalca-
tion amounts to 2,0001., 1,1131. of which has been given
up, and is now in the hands of Mr. Parlour, being the
8451. and 29f5/. of the money obtained from the Bank of
England for one of the 500/. bills,

Monday, pursuant to an advertisement addressed " to the
merchants, ship-owners, tea-dealers, and others interested in
the trade with India and China," a meeting was held at the
City of London Tavern, the object of which was to receive the
Report of the Committee, appointed at a meeting held on the
9.d of January last. The room was well filled by gentlemen
connected with the above trade, and amongst those present we
observed Mr. Grote, M.P., Mr. Crawford, M.P., Mr. Lyall,
M.P., as well as Mr. J. Horsley Palmer, who took the chair
shortly after one o'clock, and proceeded to address the meeting
to the following effect :—" He conceived it to be necessary that
he should state the causes which had led to the object for which
they were now assembled, as also the nature of the communi-
cation which it would be his duty to make to them. As
soon as the alterations made by the Government in the affairs
of the tea trade became generally known, the merchants of
London expected to have found some regulations made by
which they would have been enabled to take the place of the
East India Company, as regarded that trade, and when the
matter was first agitated all means then in the power of the
merchants were made use of to obtain from the Board of Con-
trol some determination in favour of that object, but all those
efforts were at that time ineffectual. The period was then fast
approaching when all the mercantile operations should be
commenced, but the trade was, notwithstanding, still kept in
the dark as to this most important branch of the new legisla-
tion; they were led to expect that they would receive the ne-
cessary information, but no such information came. The con-
sequence was, that on the 2d of January last about twenty or
thirty of the most influential persons concerned in that branch
of commerce were called upon to form a committee, which they
accordingly did, that committee being desired to take the
earliest possible means of bringing the Government to a deter-
mination on those unsettled points. The matters to the settle-
ment of which the committee were to address themselves
were--

1. The disposal of the enormous stock of tea in the pos-
session of the East India Company, without the regulation of
which question it would be impossible for any merchants to
embark in competition upon any fair and equitable terms.
2. The better arrangement of the scale of duties on tea fixed
upon under the late Act of the Legislature, to act upon which
with any regularity or fairness was impossible, and which in
fact opened the door for the commission of frauds, and for the
encouragement of the illicit trader.

3. A question of vital importance to the trade—viz., the
duties imposed by the Order in Council on goods in the port of
Canton, the operation of which, unless under better arrange-
ment, would be so prejudicial to the interests of the trade, that
it was quite monstrous that they should ever have been pro-
posed, and by which the trade would be exposed to such diffi-
culties that they would never have been able to have gone on,
or that they must have been obliged to open a new outport.
4. What is the intention of the East India Company as to
advances on tea cargoes and India cargoes, looking at the pre-
sent state of the exchange and of their charter—a matter
which if not properly settled would effect such an alteration in
the exchange and prices as to prove (for a time at least) most
detrimental, ruinous, and destructive to the commerce of
India, already affected by the state of credit in Bengal, and
more so by the state of the remittances of the Company to this
country.

5. Whether the limits of the port of Canton were to be con-
sidered as sufficiently defined simply by the letter from the
Board of Control to Lloyd's,
And 6. Whether the Commissioners appointed for the port
of Canton are to have authority elsewhere—a matter of the
importance of which the House of Commons could not have'
been made properly aware.
Those were the points to which the Committee were to draw
the attention of the Government, and he (the Chairman) need
hardly say how important they were to the interests of the
trade, at the same time that he could not help referring to the
fact that those interested had been kent in the dark upon them
from July to February. He was not aware that an instance of
such negligence on the part of a Government had ever occurred
before, on an occasion where such important interests were at
stake; and he believed that nothing but a direct application to
the Premier, which was at last retorted to, would have effected
their object at all. At the same time, therefore, with that
observation he must say, in justice to Earl Grey and Lord
Althorp, that the blame, if any, did not rest with the higher
department of the Government, for as soon as that direct appli-
cition to themselves was made, those Ministers gave to the
question their most prompt and decided attention. His object in
imputing blame at all was with reference to the prejudicial
effe. t which delay had occasioned to the vast quantity of East
India shippi g now in the docks, three parts of which might
have been employed if the necessary information had been de-
livered to the applicants for it before. He must also, in justice,
observe, how very much they were indebted to the Chairman
and Deputy Chairman of the India Board, for their interfer-
ence with the Board of Control, in endeavouring to procure
the information required. The report of the Committee,
giving the decision of the Government on all the above ques-
tions, would now be read to them, and he had only one more
observation to make upon it—viz., as to the proposal to alter the
scale of duties on tea fixed by the late Act of Parliament.
Upon that point the Government had not decided in compli-
ance with the desire of the Committee. The reason stated by
them for that non-compliance was, that it was desirable that the
lower classes should be enabled to purchase the lower priced
tea cheaper in proportion than that purchased by the higher
classes. He (Mr. Palmer) however, thought that the Govern-
ment were under a delusion in that supposition, for ha thought
that, in fact, as much of that descripsion of tea was not con-
sumed as the Government seemed to suppose.
The report was then read. After detailing facts, the sub-
stance of which we have given above in the opening address
of the Chairman, it concluded as follows, with the decision of
the Government upon the six questions submitted, that de-
termination having been communicated by Earl Grey on the
13th instant

" 1. That the East India Company will give instructions to
their agents in China, and to their Governments in India, pre-
suming no unforeseen impediments to arise from the state of
the Indian finances, to make advances upon the cargoes to be
shipped in India and China for this country in the course of
the present year, under certain regulations, which may be
seen at the secretary's office at the East India-house, such ad-
vances, for the year 1834, being limited to about the sum of
1,000,0001. or 1,200,0001. sterling, a moiety of which will be
applicable to the shipments from China. The Committee were
further informed, that in future years the amount of the ad-
vances will probably be considerably increased.
" That the rates of exchange for bills taken in India and
China, will be fixed at the time of making the advances at the
rates then current.

" That parties wishing to avail themselves of the opportunity
of fixing the rates of exchange upon the commencement of
their operations in this country may take advantage of the East
India Company's offer to draw direct from London upon their
Government at Calcutta.

" 2. That the East India Company will limit their sales of
tea, in 1835, to 16,000,000 of pounds, unless the market
value should, during that year, exceed the proposed upset
prices now advertised for the sale in June next, in which case
they reserve to themselves the rights to put up for sale at such
upset prices any further quantity which they may deem to be
expedient.

" 3. That his Majesty's Government will not at present make
any alteration in the proposed scale or mode for collecting the
duties upon tea after the 24th of April next. _

" 4. That his Majesty's Ministers will recommend to Parlia-
ment to withdraw the duties proposed to be levied by the late
orders in Council upon the British trade and shipping in the
port of Canton, provided the East India Company will concur
in defraying one-third of the charge for maintaining the consu-
late establishment at that port.
" The committee have further to report, that they were in-
formed, at their interview with his Majesty's Ministers on the
7th inst., that the construction of Government as to the limits
of the port of Canton was in conformity with the letter ad-
dressed to the Chairman of Lloyd's,—viz., within the Bona
Tigris; and that the President of the Board of Control would
give any more formal assurance to that effect which the mer-
chants might require.
" It was further stated to the committee at the same in-
terview, that the commissioners at Canton had no authority to
extend the exercise of their powers to any other port in
China than Canton, without a previous declaration to that
effect in the London Gazette ; and that the commissioners
would take no cognizance of any clearances of ships apcl car-
goes for the United Kingdom from any other part of the Chinese
empire than the port of Canton. . _

" In submitting the foregoing information for the guidance
of the merchants in conducting their commercial operations
with India and China, the Committee have only ,o suggest
that due attention be paid at the time of making their ship-
ments of the different sorts of teas at Canton, from the diffi-
culty which may otherwise exist on the part of the revenue
officers in this country in assessing the duties upon the respec-
tive kinds, the difference in duty between Bohea and Congou
being Bd. per lb., and between Congou and Souchong 10d. per
lb. The Committee would recommend, if it be practicable, to
obtain at Canton certificates, attested by the consulate, of the
respective sorts when shipped, which, though not conclusive
evidence, will be the best proof which can be adduced, in case
of dispute in the assessment of the duties in this country.
" Having thus fulfilled one of the principal objects of their
appointment, the Committee have only further to suggest that
they may be permitted, on behalf of the importers of India
and China produce, to consider whether any and what mode
should be adopted for continuing hereafter that principle of
periodical public sales which has so long continued through
the East India Company, with advantage to the buyers as well
as sellers, and with benefit to the port of London. It will at
the same time be an object with the Committee, in taking this
'natter into their consideration, to endeavour to establish an
uniformity in the weight, notes, and warrants to be issued by
all the public docks in London, thereby affording the greatest
security in the sales, and giving every practicable facility to the
transfer of the property which the documents may represent."
The CHAIRMAN then added one concluding observation—
that it was the wish of this committee, should they continue
their labours, to concert measures which should make London
hereafter the great port for eastern produce, as it has always
hitherto been, and, without standing pledged to any particular
method, they would be happy to receive suggestions for the
furtherance of that object.
On the motion of Mr. LYALL, M.P., seconded by Mr. CRAW
FORD, M.P., the report was then adopted and approved by the
meeting.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman especially, as well as to
the members of the committee, was then agreed to; and the
Chairman having returned thanks, the meeting separated.

BANKRUPTCY COURT, FEB. 21.

(Before Mr. Commissioner WILLIAMS.)
IN RE JOSEPH STRANGMAN.

Some curious circumstances connected with this case
have been under investigation for the last few days.
The bankrupt, Mr. Strangman, carried on business as a
flour-factor, at Queen-street, Cheapside. In June last be
suddenly withdrew to America. carrying with him a con-
siderable sum of money. A meeting of his creditors was
shortly held, and a fiat of bankruptcy issued against him
in July, to which he did not surrender on the 42d day, as
required by the Act, and was accordingly proclaimed in
the usual manner. By a curious coincidence, a profes-
sional gentleman named Mardon had started about the
same time in pursuit of another runaway (Marfleet), whom
be had succeeded in capturing. Shortly after his arrival
at New York, Mr. Mardon received a letter from London,
acquainting him with the flight of Strangman, and with
directions to lose no time in looking after the fugitive.
Pursuant to his instructions, Mr. Mardon made diligent
inquiries, and traced the bankrupt first to New Yolk, and
then to York, Upper Canada ; being, however, pressed
for time, he relinquished the pursuit, and returned to
England, but left with a professional gentleman at N..itv
York instructions to follow up the inquiries he had com-
menced, and on the 14th of this month Mr. Mardon
received a letter front his agent at New York, informing
him that Strangman had returned to England, and had
left behind him in America property of considerable
value. A communication was then set on foot between
Messrs. Young and Vallings, the solicitors to the fiat,
and Mr. Harrison, the solicitor of South-square, Gray's
Inn, when Mr. Mardon was instructed to take immediate
steps for the recovery of Strangman and the property.
After considerable inquiry among the American captains
recently arrived in London, he ascertained that the bank •
rupt had landed at Portsmouth on the 27th of January,
from the Am ricas ship Montreal, in which he had sailed
from New York under the assumed name of Perkins; he
then traced him to London, thence to Calais, and thence
to Boulogne, and eventually to Waterford, but, expecting
him back to London, he had the house which the bank-
rupt was in the habit of frequenting when in town well
watched, and at seven o'clock on Thursday morning last a
special messenger, who had been placed on the 100k-out,
saw Strangman alighting from a cabriolet in the neigh-
bout hood, and immediately took him into custody. The
bankrupt, on being brought into court, made a very candid
disclosure as to the way in which he had disposed of the
cash with which be had absconded. He gave up the se-
curities of his purchases in America, giving a full descrip-
tion as to the mode in which the property could be reco-
vered for the benefit of his creditors. In the belief that he
was sincere, and would do everything in his power to assist
the assignees, he was then set at large, and it was suggested
to him the propriety of instantly petitioning the Court of
Review for leave to surrender, and by that means annul
the proclamation issued against him for not surrendering
within the time prescribed by law. A petition to this
off ct is now in the course of preparation. It was stated
by Mr. Mardon that too much praise could not be be-
stowed o❑ the legal authorities in Americ r for the seal and
activity with which they aided him in his arduous task.

Sir George Murray has at length formally
declined the invitation to stand for the Ayrshire burghs.
—Edinburgh Paper.

The whole country surrounding this city,
within a circuit of 50 miles probably, wa, in a blaze on
M .nday night last, at an early boor. The illumination
extended through, the counties of Limerick, Clire, Coik,
Kerry, and Tipperary, spreading with amazing rapility
at both sides of the Shannon. The mountains presented
most extraordinary spectacle. It is supposed the fires
were first kindled in Tipperary for Mr. Sheil's acquittal,
and the signal was instantly telegraphed and spread through
the contiguous counties almost simultaneously.—Limerick
Chronicle.

Pierce Egan, after " fretting his hour upon
the stage" in all parts of Ireland, has succeeded in wilting
a musical but letta for the Dublin Theatre, which has met
with decided success, and which will, in all probability,
be transferred to our London boards. It is entitled " Life
in Dublin," and is a continuation of the merry frolics of
the well_known Tom, Jerry, and Logic, in the capital of
the Sister Kingdom. The whole thing is admirably got
up, and gives a humorous view of the " Sprees of the
tight Irish boys" at Donnybrook Fair, Howttt Rices, and
all the well known scenes of fancy, fun, and frolic, on
that side of the water.

HISTORY OF THE COMMONERS OF THE
UNITED KINGDOM. —This new Work by Mr. Burke, the
well-known author of the Peerage and B iruaetage, begins
to excite very considerable interest among the landed
gen'ry. The following is an extract from the preface:—
" The first volume of this work is now completed,
and an opinion may be formed of a project, which was
deemed at its announcement so beset with difficulties, as
to bold out little hope of a successful issue. Those diffi-
culties have, however, passed away—the completion of the
first volume is accomplished, and nothing formidable re-
mains to impede the proeress of the second. In the•e
pages will be found the lineage of nearly four hundred
families, enjoying in the aggregate probably a revenue of
two millions sterling, and deriving, many of them, their
lierritorial possessions from William of Normandy ; invested
however with no exclusive rank—designated by no ex-
clusive title—and born to no exclusive privilege. To this
grade in her social system—her indepeneent country gen-
tlemen—England is mainly indebted for her greatness
abroad, and her prosperity at home. In this—and her
tree institutions, she differs from every other country in
Europe." _ _ _

. .
GAsPAR 11 AUSER.—This mysterious being
seems destined to keep the mystery-loving Germans occu-
pied for some time. At present there exists, we believe
we may say rages, a fierce controversy whether Gaspar
Hauser killed himself or not. Several ingenious men have
maintained the affirmative of the proposition, and it is
yet so much in doubt, that we observe in almost every
German paper the announcement of a new pamphlet on
the subject. What a delightful leaf for the bibliography of
some Ditolin a hundred years hence. Toe prevalent opi-
nion appears to be that Gaspar Hauser committed su!cide.
From the post-office returns just made it ap-
rars the Duke of Richmond has 2,5001. a year; Sir
Francis Freeling, 4,165/. 6,. 4d. ; Mr. G. H. Freeling,
8001. ; Mr. T. Lawrence (Chief Clerk), 6271. 10s. ; Mr.
C. Johmon (Surveyor of mail-coach department), 877/.
10s., and 265. a (Lay whilst travelling and chaise hire ;
Mr. Peacock (the Solicitor) 3001. a year salary, and
1,4001 average profit on law proceedings; Mr. Willitnot
(the Receiver General) 800/ ; Mr. J Bowden (the
Chief Clerk) 6001. In the Foreign Office there are is
Superintending President, two Presidents, and thirtten
clerks, who have no salary or allowance of any kind from
the revenue, but are paid sums descending from 6601. to
31/. 2s. 6il. a year, by the privilege of franking news-
papers to and from abroad, supplying the London news-
papers w;th translations from foreign journals, fees upon
registers:: packets, letters after time, and for keeping ac-
counts wick the merchants, &c. The emoluments of the
clerks of the roads, derived from dealing in newspapers,
have been already stated.
When Burns was first invited to dine at
Dunlop-house, a westland dame, who acted as house-
keeper, appeared to doubt the propriety of her mistress
ploughman who
t rnaßdeyrwy
rhymes, as
con-
vincing hewere a gentleman mere
of
old d
Mrs. M‘Guistan, for that was her name, of the
bard's right to such a distinction, Mrs. Dunlop gave her
entertaining
" The Cotter's Saturday Night" to read. This was soon
a
done : she returned the volume with a strong shaking of
the head, saying, " Nae doubt gentlemen and ladies think
mickle o' this, but for me its naething but what I saw
l' my father's house every day, and I dinna see how he
could hae tauld it in any other way."
ALLAN BRECK.--The new novel by the
author of " The Subaltern," is a story of considerable in-
terest, and the subject quite as worthy of the immortality
of fiction as " Eugene Aram." Allan Breck is not, as
Eugene Aram was, a convicted murderer ; but little doubt
can remain on the reader's mind as to the amount of his
guilt. " The scene is laid in Scotland, about ' the forty-
five,' and the work illustrates the state of Scottish society
during that period. Mr. Gl,ig frequently, in the course
of this new production, turns his past experience of milli
tary life into account. The whole of that eventful cam-
paign, which annihilated the last faint hopes of the un-
fortunate Stuarts is described with knowledge, vigour,
and graphic effect. In fact, ' Allan Breck' has great
merit, and equals any novel the past year has produced."
—Spectator.
IN A TRANCE.—In the village of
Sheepridge, near Huddersfield, a boy, about 14 years of
age, has been in a trance for the last sixteen weeks, with-
out any sustenance whatever. A neighbour, seeing his
mouth partially opened, placed in it a peppermint drop,
which remains undissolved.—Halifax Express.
MELANCHOLY INSTANCE OF SUDDEN
DEATH.-Mrs. Bull, wife of Mr. William Bull, farmer,
of Moreton, in the parish of Thame, while engaged in her
domestic avocations, suddenly exclaimed to her daughter
"Oh dear ! what can ail me? Lord have mercy on Inc!"
She fell down and instantly expired, in the 55th year of
her age.— Oxford Journal.