The Sun.
London, England, 1869-03-05 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 5, 1869.

derivable from his own Australian experiences. That
speech of Mr. (:,lIIILDERS' we are glad to see has within
these last few •3aysbeen opportunely reprinted, together
with an appeindix of singular value and importance
just now, cons isting, as it does, of extracts from the
legislative Act of the Parliament of Victoria, by which
the system of Secret Voting by the Ballot was adopted
in the representative organisation of that im-
portant colony. Than that particular system,
we know of no better, that could be sub-
mitted to the consideration of Mr. BRUCE'S
Select Committee. Upon that Committee we would
fain see enrolled, if it might be in any way possible,
besides Mr. BRUCE himself, his two Cabinet col-
leagues, Mr. CHILDERS and Mr. BRIGHT. Associated
with whom, one would also like to secure, if
that pin might in any way be practicable,
such energetic independent champions of the
Ballot as the light Honourable Sir HENRY
LITTON B ULIV F.R and Mr. HENRY FITZHARDINGE
BERK t..LEY. Anyhow, it is earnestly to be
hoped that all possible care may be taken in the
selection of its members, for upon the labours of
this coming Committee there will, clearly enough,
devolve a very weighty and solemn re3pon3ibility.

It cannot, of course, bat have been observed last
evening how very carefully the Prime Minister
endeavoured to guard the Government, of which he
is the head, from the imputation of having for-
mally, as yet, committed itself to the adoption of
the Ballot as a Ministerial measure. "So far,"
he said, "as the collective view of the Govern-
ment is concerned, it can hardly be said—and I
speak under correction—to go beyond this :—lt
is quite evident that the very large extension of the
franchise which has taken place has altered—in some
cases, perhaps, slightly, in many very greatly and
even fundamentally—a number of the conditions
under which elections are carried." Granted that
much, he went to say, " This, then, appears to us a
fair occasion for examining into the whale snbject ;
and, undoubtedly, as respects the exercise of the
suffrage with freedom, that has become a matter, if
possible, more vital than at any former time in pro-
portion to the larger number of persons inte-
rested in it." hence—from a recognition
of all this, and of the distinctly altered
circumstances of the case—the proposition, by
Mr. BRUCE, in the name of his colleagues and
himself, for the appointment by the House of Com-
mons of this Select Committee of Inquiry. That
proposition has been at once accepted by the House.
The Committee will, in due course, and forthwith, be
formally appointed. At the first notion of it the
late Horne Secretary, the Home Secretary under the
two last Premiers—under Lord DERBY and under
Mr. D ISRAELI--tOOk occasion to remark, " I
Lore the Committee will be allowed to
inquire into the intimidation by mobs." Whereupon
what said the now Premier, Mr. GLADSTONE? Why,
he said manfully and instantly this—" Most cordially
do I hope so too; for no doubt intimidation must
form one main chapter of this inquiry. The commit-
tee, I hope, will endeavour," he added, " to gain evi-
dence on all these questions—on questions that bear
on intimidation by violence, questions that bear on
intimidation in other forms than by violence, ques-
tions that bear on treating and drunkenness, questions
that bear on excessive expenditure, and questions
that bear on bribery ; these being the chief evils
connected with elections." The work before the Com-
mittee may seem considerable, may seem to be some-
what difficult and even laborious ; but, to our notion,
the direction in which it will all tend, or, in other words,
the result eventually tobe arrived at, is also as plain as
a pikestaff. sever has any matterlong under discussion
been more clearly or more unmistakeably ripe for its
final settlement than this perfectlysimple and perfectly
comprehensible question in regard to the Ballot. It
works freely, and steadily, and satisfactorily, un-
der every system of Government under which it
has been tried. It works thus under a pure Demo-
cracy as in the United States. It works thus under
a lure Despotism as in the France of NAPOLEON M.
Above all —it worthy of more partieu:ar 113 as di-
rectly affecting ourselves—it works admirably, as it has
done ever since it was adopted there, under the Consti-
tutional and Parliamentary Government inaugurated
in Australia some fifteen or sixteen years ago, under
the personal observation and watchful scrutiny of
one of the youngest no doubt, but also one of the
most keen-witted Cabinet Ministers in Mr. GLAD-
STONE'S Government, the Right Hon. gentleman now
the First Lord of the Admiralty. With Mr. CHIL-
DERS in the Cabinet—and Mr. BRIGHT—and
Mr. BRUCE--and (we will add) Mr. GLADSTONE
at the head of it, and of them—we are sanguine
that the great reform of " The Ballot" will at last,
and as the natural sequel to Household Suffrage,
be triumphantly accomplished.

As Government is prepared to deal with the ques-
tion, the PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE
rightly declined to accede to Mr. ACLAND'S proposal
for a select committee to consider the expe-
diency of establishing a Department of Agri-
culture. Commissions and select committees
are not a reassuring resource. They are apt,
in keeping the word of promise to the ear,
to break it to the hope. The best that can be
said of them is that they are a slow and tedious, but
sometimes necessary, means of examining new
schemes of legislation. In this case there is not the
slightest need for a committee, except in default of
more direct procedure, for the grievance which
Mr. AcLAND brought under discussion is not
only of considerable moment, but admits of
gradual and partial reform. It is notorious
that the arrangement of the English adminis-
trative departments is the worst in Europe.
Some of the chief State offices are entrusted with
several distinct duties ; in other cases a single
act of the Executive must be begun in
one office and completed in another. The
War Office has hitherto conspicuously failed
in ruling the army in conjunction with the Horse
Guards. The great work of education is lamely
done in a branch office. The Board of Trade has
abundance of employment, but though its functions
comprise several distinct duties, the interference of
the Home Office must be sought in the discharge
of nearly all of them. It was this very
ingenuity of confusion that furnished Mr.
BRIGHT with a partial reply to Mr. ACLAND'S
motion. The member for North Devon expressed
the wish of the entire agricultural community in
desiring to secure some well-defined authority over
matters affecting agriculture. At present State
interference in this direction is exercised by half-a-
dozen different offices, whilst proper responsibility is
to be found in none. The Home Office, the Board of
Trade, the Privy Council, the Statistical Office, and
two others, assume some of the functions which
ought to be vested in one central Department of
Agriculture. Such a sub-division, added to a variety
of local authorities, necessarily produces unsatisfac-
tory results. Statistics are not collected with sufficient
rapidity, and are much less useful than they might be.
The unlucky farmer who happens to require the
assistance of a State department meets with such
trouble that Mr. BRIGHT himself recommends the
agriculturists to " conic as little as possible to any
Government office." Many chances of important
reforms fall through the sieve of this ill-arranged
administration. But whilst all these departments
interfere, none is responsible if anything goes
wrong. Mr. BRIGHT did not deny that
the system was bad, but urged that the
same grievance was to be met with in every
State department—trade, for instance, was in no
better case than agriculture, It is not clear how the

farmers are to be consoled by the knowledge that
they are no worse off than the merchants ; but
Mr. BRIGHT ended his confession by stating that a
change was contemplated. This will be a better
triumph for Mr. ACLAND than an elaborate blu
book.

The nature of the proposed reform is not difficult
to define. A. Minister of Agriculture is scarcely
required, and would tend to unduly increase the
number of State secretaries. But there can be no
reason why the entire agricultural jurisdiction
should not be concentrated in one branch
of the Board of Trade, or other department.
It is of little consequence what form the
authority is to take, provided that it be well defined,
sole, and responsible. And this species of redress is
the more easy because it may be gradual ; one reform
of the kind will in no respect interfere with another,
and little by little the entire Executive may
undergo a wholesome regeneration. There is much
that an Agricultural Department might do. The
concentration of the work that is already done
would in itself amply warrant the change. But the
member for North Devon pointed out that, with the
aid of legishtion, its functions might be advanta-
geously extended. It might superintend the transfer
and improvement of land, especially with regard
to better dwellings for the labouring classes. Then—
though this is a great subject—there is the question of
better internal communication, which a distinct
department might profitably undertake. It might
undertake far more efficiently than at present the
supervision of cattle traffic. The management of
water-courses and river basins is also an important
subject. To these suggestions we may add that the
recent commission on the employment of women and
children in agriculture, said much relating to the farm
labourer generally which this department might well
consider with the help of Parliament. The com-
mission especially urged the great moral and
material benefit which the labourer derived from a
cottage allotment, and pointed out that the Legis-
lature might do something to promote this practice.
How greatly a distinct central authority would facili-
tate this work it is hardly necessary to point out.
These are, however, ulterior questions. The primary
principle of concentration is good, and it is to be
hoped that the present reform will not be the last of
the kind.

LATEST INTELL LGENCE

(REtr"ER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AMERICA.

INAUGURAL PROCLAMATION OF PRESI-

DENT GRANT.
WASIIIN'GTON, March 4.

General Grant took the oath of office, at noon
to-day, as President of the United States. The
following is his inaugural proclamation :
" Citizens,--Your suffrages have elected me to
the office of President. I have taken the oath
prescribed by the Constitution without mental re-
servation, and with the determination to do, to the
best of my ability, all that is required of me. The
responsibility of my positiun I feel ; but I accept
it without fear. The office which has been con-
ferred on me was unsought. On leading questions
I will express my views to Congress when I think
it advisable. I will interpose my veto to defeat
measures to which I am opposed, but all laws will
be faithfully executed, whether they meet with my
approval or not. I shall have a policy to recom-
mend, but none to enforce against the will of the
people. The laws are to govern all, those approv-
ing as well as those opposing them. I know no
method to secure the repeal of obnoxious laws so
effectual as their stringent execution.
"Many questions will arise during the next four
years, and it is desirable that they should be appre-
ciated calmly and without prejudice, the greatest
good of the greatest number being the object to be
obtained.

"This requires security for the person, for pro-
perty, and for religious and political opinions
throughout the country. All laws to secure this
end will receive my best efforts towards their en-
forcement.

"A great debt has been contracted in securing
the ljuiou, the pa.) in,2nt of which, and a return to
a specie basis, as soon as can bct accomplished with-
out detriment to the debtor, or to the country at
large, must be provi led. To protect the national
honour every dollar of the Government indebted-
ness should be paid in gold, unless otherwise ex-
pressly stipulated at the time of being contracted.
Let it be understooi that there must be no repu-
diation of a single farthing of the public debt, and
it will go far towards strengthening our credit,
which ought to be the best in the world,
and will ultimately enable us to replace
the debt with bonds, paying less interest
than we now pay. To this should be added the
faithful collection of
the revenue, strict accounta-
bility to the Treasury for every dollar collected, and
the greatest practicable retrenchment. Who doubts
the feasibility of paying every dollar with more ease
than we now pay for useless luxuries ?

" Prostrate commerce must be rebuilt and in-
dustry encouraged.

" The young men of this country have a peculiar
interest in maintaining the national honour. A
moments reflection upon our future commanding
influence among nations should inspire vationalpride.
How the public debt is to be paid, and how specie
payment is to be resumed, is not so important as
that the plan should be adopted. The united de-
termination to do is worth more than divided coun-
sel on the method of doing. Legislation on this
subject may not now be necessary, nor even advis-
able, but will be so when civil law is fully restored
throughout the land, and trade shall have resumed
its wonted channels.

"It shall be my endeavour to execute the laws
in good faith, to collect all the revenues assessed,
and to have them properly disbursed.

" I will, to the best of my ability, appoint only
officers who will carry out this design.
" Regarding foreign policy, I would deal with
nations as equitably as the law requires that indi-
viduals should deal with each other. I would pro-
tect law-abiding citizens, whether of native or
foreign birth, whenever their rights are jeopardized,
and wherever the flag of our country floats. I
would respect the rights of all nations, and demand
equal respect for our own. If others depart from
this rule in dealing with us, we may be compelled to
follow the precedent.

"The proper treatment of the Indians deserves
careful consideration. I will favour any course
tending to their civilization, Christianization, and
ultimate citizenship.
" I hope for and desire the adoption of the Suf-
frage Amendment to the Constitution.
"In conclusion, I ask for patient forbearance,
one towards the other, throughout the land, and a
determined effort on the part of every citizen to
share and cement our happy union ; and I ask for
prayers to God on behalf of this happy consumma-
tion."

SOgTHAMPTON, March 5

The Hamburg and American Company's steamer
Saxouia, from New Orleans and Havana on the 18th
ult., has arrived here with 71 passengers, $7,269 for
London, $11,600 for Pal is, and a large cargo, includ-
ing 176 packages of cigars and tobacco, for this
port.

DUNVILLE awl Co. Belfast, ate the largest
holders of Whisky in the world. Their Old Irish Whisky is re
commended by the medical profession iu preference to French
Brandy. Supplied in casks and cases for home use or exporta
tion. Quotations on application to Messrs. Dunville and Co.
Belfast; or 4, Beaufort-buildings, Strand, London W.4.—Lid-
Tertiveumato

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM our: OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, THURSDAY, March 4.

I am assured that N. Emile 011ivier's book was sent,
before publication, to the Emperor. It is likewise stated
that it met with a very good reception in that high quarter.
It is doubtful, however, if it will meet witb
the same welcome from the members of the
Democratic Committee, who are charged with the
task of selecting Opposition candidates for the depart.
meta of the Seine, which M. 011ivier represents. One
idea strikes me in perusing this book. Can it be possible
that new reforms are contemplated, and that this publica•
tion, containing the Emperor's liberal letter, is a not
undesigned preliminary ?

The Presidency of the Senate is becoming a disputed
question. M. Baroche loses ground as the probable suc-
cessor of M. Troplong, whilst M. Drouyn de Lhuys and
M. de Persigny are both mentioned. It is probable,
however, that no definite appointment will be made during
the remainder of this brief session.

The Memorial Diplonzatique and many other Paris
journals are beginning to convince themselves that a
Montpensier sovereign for Spain is an extreme probability,
not to say a certainty. The not very veracious Memorial
says that the Cortes seat a solemn deputation to Dom
Fernandp to offer him the crown, but it was refused. The
Government has, therefore, definitely abandoned a candi-
dature which presented no chance of success. This intelli-
gence seems to be tolerably true in substance, and very
disagreeable is the impression it produces here. The official
papers are gradually assuming a semi-hostile attitude
towards Spain. Any candidate would have been preferred
to Montpensier.
The Figaro states that Madame Alboni receives £l2O a
night for singing in Rossini's new mass.
The weather for several days past has been dreadfully
tempestuous. So violent was the wind at Paris the day
before yesterday that one of the large trees planted more
than half a century ago on the Quai d'Orsay was blown down.
The telegraph wires have been injured in all direc-
tions. Communications are interrupted between Paris
and the provinces, as well as with Italy, Switzerland,
and part of Germany. The gale has gradually descended
from the North Sea towards the Mediterranean, and the
Bay of Biscay has been given up to a perfect hurricane for
two or three days. A distressing calamity occurred during
the tempest at Havre. The barque Lerida, of Nantes,
was wrecked off that port, which throughout the storm
has been almost inaccessible to ships. The Lerida was
not able to combat the immense waves which heat the en-
trance to Havre. The crew were seen to let go
two anchors, but the cables snapped by the
violence of the tempest, and in a moment the Lerida
was cast against the ramparts, the parapets of which
were beaten by her yards. The spectators who had been
watching the vessel from the shore in the most painful
axiety rushed to the spot with ropes, which they were able
to throw to the persons on board. The whole would have
been brought safely to land had not a passenger and an
apprentice both seized together the same line, which
broke beneath their weight. They fell back into the
water, and were drowned.

The famous poisoning case at Marseilles did not measure
the depth of iniquity in the South of France. A series of
revelations now being made at Montauban is even worse
than the story of Joye, the herbalist, and his customers.
The details ought never to go beyond the court of justice.
To form anidea of the nature of the crime it will be sufficient
to mention that eight women are all included in one act
of accusation for wholesale abortion and child murder.
No less than twenty-seven charges are preferred against
these eight persons. The rez-de-chausst'e of the house
inhabited by one of the women was a perfect graveyard.
Four infant skeletons were found in one place,
five in another. The Act of Accusation reads like a
chapter from the history of Rome in the worst days of the
Empire, but unfortunately it is a narrative of real events,
occurring in the nineteenth century.

THE WEATHER TABLE-THIS DAY,

METEOROLOGICAL RETORTS.

Friday,
March 5,
8 a.m.

Nairn
Aberdeen
Leith
?thields
iicarborough
Yarmouth
Helder
Cux haven
Skudesnws
A.rdrossan
Greencastle
Holyhead
Liverpool
Valentia 1
Cape Clear
Roch e's Pt
Penzance
Plymouth
Pembroke
Portsmouth
Lon don

29'53f.
29'52f.
ri9'7lf.
29 71f.
2916 f.
29 89f.

2914 f.
29'95f.
30'01f.
29'95f.
30'25f.

30'13f.
30'18f.
30 ff.
30 Of.
30 (Cf.
30 Of.
30.c4f.

W. N. W.
N. W.
W . N. W.l
N.W.
W. N. W.
S.W.

Extreme

1
5
4 I
2
5
3;

,W.N_.W.

W. N: W.

wlr:w.

W.N.W.
! N.W.

1` WY.

iW.N.W,
W.S.W.
W.S.W.

' W. N.W.
W.
W. N. W.
W. N . W.
N. N. W.

C'peGrts Nei
Brest ..
L'Orient
Roche fort
Biarritz
Corunna
Brussels
Paris
Strasbourg
Lyons
Toulon
Heart's Con-
tent (9 a.m.
local time)

30'23f.
30'335.
36'32r.

!0 'O9
10'05
'0 'O4
o'ol
0.04

20'06r.

NW.
W. S. W.

,W.N.W.
E.
E.

N.W.
IV.
W. N. W.
W. S. W.

DEPUTATION ON THE SALMON FISHERIEL

Yesterday a large and influential deputation of mem.
bens of Parliament and conservators of fisheries from
all parts of England waited upon Mr. Knatch.
bull - Hugessen, at the Home Office, to urge upon
the Government the necessity of introducing
Salmon Fishery Bill into Parliament. Amongst those
present were Earl Percy, Mr. Matthew W. Ridley, M.P.,
Mr. W. B. Beaumont, M.P., Mr. Davison, Q.C., M.P.,
Mr. Dodds, M.P., Hon. Octavius Duncombe, M.P., Lori
Frederick Cavendish, M.P., Hon. H. G. Liddell, M.P.,
Mr. Stevenson, M.P., Mr. George Elliott, M.P., Mr.
George Clive, M.P., Mr. Cadogan, representative of
Coquet; Mr. John Duncan, Mr. Cuthbert, chairman of
the Conservators of the Tyne ; &c., &c.
Earl PERCY introduced the deputation.
Mr. OLIVE, M.P., said that all the Conservators of
Fisheries were agreed that there was sufficient information
before Government for them to introduce a bill to legis-
late on the subject.
Mr. LLOYD, the secretary of Conservators Boards,
said they had been for many years at work in trying to
surmount the difficulties in the way of increasing the
supply of salmon. So long as the mill-dams and weirs
were allowed to remain, to the ir.jury of breeding grounds,
so long would the supply of salmon be circumscribed.
They wanted to have boards established, with powers to
take down the mill dams, free the river from pollution, and
enforce a proper close time. They thought the Govern-
ment were the proper parties to undertake such a
measure.

Mr. DODDS, M.P. for StocktDn, said the three points
necessary for legislation were—first, to free the river from
pollution of various kinds, gasworks, manufactories,
and so on ; secondly, to do away with milldams
and weirs ; and, thirdly, to regulate the close time.
With regard to pollutions, there was already select com-
mittee of inquiry and the deputation did not urge any-
thing to be done pending the committee's deliberations.
With regard to mill dams and weirs, the legislation of 1865
had done good to some extent ; but they wanted the appoint.
ment of a special commissioner to inquire into the legality
of fixed engines. The powers of commissioners at present
were much too limited for dealing effectually with dams
and weirs. It had often been urged that there was an
antagonism between commerce and the preservation
of salmon ; but their interests were perfectly reconcila-
able. Special commissioners might report on the legality of
fixed engines ; and if it was found that certain proprietors
had vested interests there ought to be a power of purchase
given to the local boards. With regard to the close time,
there were certain regulations that ought to be modified,
to omit certain localities; as it was manifest that what was
applicable to a river in the south of England, could not
be applicable to one in the north. He urged that there
should be a general superintendence, and such regulations
as would make the salmon fisheries do the greatestamount
of good. They wished to have mill-dams and weirs done
away with, and then have a free passage left to the salmon
from their breeding grounds to the sea. Unless this was
done, there never would be any permanent increase of
salmon. (Applause.)
Captain CREW REED, as a proprietor on the Wye, said
since the passing of the Fisheries' Act of 1865, the poor
People on the Wye had been deprived of the use of the
rod, and he urged upon the Government not to forget the
poor people, whose rights were as much affected as any
proprietor of river side property. (Hear, hear.)

The Hon. W. G. LIDDELL thought that some-
thing more ought to be done to do away with poach-
ing. with hand nets, which took away salmon when on their
way to the sea.

Mr. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN said Mr. Bruce was better
acquainted with the subject than he was, but he might
tell them that the Government were now considering a
Salmon Fishery Bill ; and in the course of a few
weeks it would be laid on the table of the
House. The deputation had acted wisely in not interfering
with the Select Committee on Pollutions of Rivers, which
had a much broader scope than the mere preservation of
salmon. He had the bill in hand himself, and he would
be glad to have further fnformation the matter. He
pressed them not to expect too much, for this measure was
looked much in the same light as the game laws, and
he thought the levying of rates for the preservation of
salmon would be distasteful. He hoped the gentlemen
would support the Government measure when it came
before the Houre, though it might not give everything
they required. (Applause.)
After thanking the hon. gentleman for his courtesy, the
deputation withdrew.

DOUBLE MURDER AND ALLEGED

SUICIDE.

Poplar seems likely to obtain a most unenviable fame
by the number of its murders. Another double murder
has just been committed, and that before Cooper, who
committed a double murder, has been discovered by the
police. It seems that at 271, High-street, resided a Mrs.
Browne, aged 50, confectioner, and her daughter, aged
23, and that on Tuesday evening, when they were
last seen alive, the shop was closed at the usual
time. Until Thursday forenoon there had been an

I— entire cessation of business—the shop having remained
closed. This aroused the suspicion of the neighbours,
5 who communicated with the police, and on the
relatives being apprised of the fact, an entrance was
effected. On some person getting into the back window
on the first floor the lifeless body of the daughter, represented
as a handsome young woman, was found lying in bed
with her throat cut in a frightful manner. On going
down stairs the mother was discovered stretched on the
floor—having met her death in a similar manner. Mr.
Brownfield, the divisional surgeon, was at once called
in, and was of opinion that death in both cases
was the result of murder. From the appearance of the
daughter she is thought to have died without a struggle.
Mrs. Brown had lived apart from her husband. For nearly
ten years a young man, named Bradshaw, a naval engineer,
had lodged in Mrs. Browne's house, which led to an attach-
ment between him and the daughter. Bradshaw, however,
left the place some time since, and on the night of Tuesday
was seen walking up and down and watching the shop.
It is said that he did not reach his lodgings in Campbell-
road, Bow, where he was cohabiting with another woman,
till after one in the morning. On proceeding to bed
he appears to have been very restless and uneasy in his
mind, and got up several times for the purpose of burning
a number of letters supposed to have been written by the
deceased young woman. Further, it is stated, he kissed
the woman living with him, and remarked "that it
might be the last time she would see him." He was after-
wards found in the house with his throat cut, and dead.
The police arrive at the conclusion that the Brownes were
murdered, and that the man referred to is the perpetrator
of the crime.

REPRESENTATION OF BEWDLEY.—LocaI politi-
cians have begun to bestir themselves in anticipation of
the issue of the writ to make good the vacancy in the repre-
sentation caused by Sir R. Glass being unseated. The
names of Major Anson (brother of the Earl of Lichfield)
and of Mr. W. C. Hemming (a private gentleman residing
near Bewdley, and who was for some months in the field
at the last election) have been mentioned as either of them
likely to be the Liberal candidate. The Conservatives
have fully determined to bring out Mr. Cunliffe, of the
firm of Cunliffe, Rogers, Sons, and Co., bankers.
ANOTHER ATTEMPTED IRISH MURDER.—The
Dublin correspondent of the Times telegraphs as follows,
under date March 4 :—" Mr. Anketell, the station.
master at Mullingar, was shot last night. Seven slugs
lodged in his'chest, and he is not expected to live. He
was at the time entering the back gate communicating
with the yard and kitchen of his own house, situated
close to the railway, along which he had walked
from the station. The gun was fired from the direction of
a door leading into an adjoining garden. Ho had reported
two railway policemen for insubordination. One, named
Moran, was arrested, but subsequently discharged, he
having shewn that he was elsewhere at the time the
outrage was committed. The other in not forthcoming.
The railway company have offered a reward of £2OO for
the discovery of the perpetrator."

FREEMASONRY AND THE PRINCE Or WALES.--
The quarterly meeting of the Grand Lodge has just been
held. The Right Honourable the Earl of Zetland having
been re-elected M. W. Grand Master for the ensuing year,
which will complete his quarter of a century in that office,
the noble earl acknowledged the kindness of the brethren,
and expressed a hope that ere long he would be succeeded
by a younger and more active brother, who would merit
and secure the confidence of the craft which had been
extended to him for so many years, and then proceeded to
state that, owing to a letter which he had received that
day, he was compelled to defer to a future opportunity his
communication regarding the Prince of Wales, which he
believed would be of great interest to the craft.

A Rim FIND. —A singular discovery of dia-
monds and jewellery has been made at Newton Abbot.
Denbury House, belonging to a gentleman at Torquay, has
lately been undergoing repairs. The house is a very
ancient one. In one of the rooms a painter discovered a
cupboard, which apparently had not been opened for
centuries. The cupboard was locked, but the painter was
curious to see what was inside, and having obtained per.
mission to open it, ;vas surprised to find a quantity of
diamonds, jewellery, &c. No one had the slightest know.
ledge of the cupboard, and it is the general belief that the
articles had been secreted there for generations. The
owner of the property of course took possession of the
find; which is estimated to he worth several hundr,,,,
mum%

41
r9:71%
Tit .1'
SI 'PUNT.
*it *)

HER MAJESTY.

Buc KINGITAM PALACE, March 3.
The Queen, accompanied by Princess, Beatrice,
visited the Zoological Gardens this morning.
In the afternoon her Majesty, accompanied by
Princess Beatrice, and attended by the ladies and
gentlemen of their suite, visited South Kensington,
Museum, and afterwards honoured the Dean n'
Westminster with a visit.