Glasgow Courier. — 1864-12-22 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

NOLO ARCIIIEPISCOPARL—"Lord Derby has succeeded brilliantly with Greek," said a nobleman to the Bishop of Oxford ; "I wonder whether he could translate Hebrew." I dare say he could," replied the witty hierarch. "I wish he were in a position to begin with a translation of Samuel."  The old idea has been conceived by Messrs. Wheeler and Wilson of constructing a miniature sewing-machine for Mrs. General Tom Thumb. The lady is very industrious, and turns out the General's supply of linen herself, and his shirt-buttons are always scrupulously attended to.  It is said that the rose of Florida, the most beautiful of flowers, emits no fragrance ; the bird of paradise, the most beautiful of birds, gives no song; the cypress of Greece, the finest of trees, yields no fruit ; dandies, the shiniest of men, have no.sense ; and ball, room belles, the loveliest creatures in the world, are very often ditto— only more so! The Princess of Wales is winning "golden opinions' from all who have the honour of coming within the circle of her acquaintance—to the poor her Royal Highness is considerate and charitable, to the upper classes affable and attentive. The Prince is particularly popular with the sportsmen who shoot at Sandringham, by not only attending their luncheon, but personally looking after their comforts. The critics are in ecstacies in Paris about Mrs. Tom Thumb, and the General is very jealous of one who has thus catalogued the beauty of his wife :—" Her shoulders are magnificent, her eyes are sparkling aloes, her feet are jewels, her bust is opulent of form (delicate that), her hair is brown and abundant, and she is the most adorable little woman I know, with the classic dignity of the Roman woman and the grace of the French woman." No wonder Tom feels uncomfortable. Call him out, General !  The Observer contradicts the statement that the Government are considering the propriety of purchasing railways under the Act of 1814. A fire broke out in Walworth, London, on Saturday, when an old lady named Durrant, mother of twenty-two children, was burnt to death. Brother Ignatius quietly pushes his way. He has opened Sunday and day schools in Norwich, and is about to establish a Benedictine nunnery there.  The day for the meeting of Parliament is not fixed, but it will probably be either Tuesday the 7th or Thursday the 9th, according to circumstances, which cannot yet be finally arranged. The Observer states that the Queen devotes the early part of every week-day to the public business of the country—" reading, and examining, and signing every necessary document with the same care and punctuality that she always did."  The Duke of Northumberland on Thursday completed his seventy-second year. The noble duke, with the duchess, is at Alnwick Castle, in excellent health. His grace's birthday was celebrated by his tradesmen at the Freemasons' Tavern. In reply to the toast of the evening, "The Health of the Head of the House of Percy, the Duke of Northumberland," Mr. Thomas Williams, the duke's agent, returned thanks for the honour done to the worthy and benevolent nobleman whose birthday they had met to celebrate.  At the Worcester Assizes, on Thursday, before Mr. Justice Byles, John Butler, lock-keeper at Hort Fleet, was charged with the wilful murder of Catherine Sullivan, on the 13th of last August. The particulars of this case have been two or three times laid before the public. On the completion of the evidence the jury retired for about an hour, and then returned a verdict of wilful murder, with a recommendation to mercy on the ground of the prisoner's advanced age. His Lordship assumed the black cap, and passed sentence in the usual form. At the Liverpool Assizes on Friday Ellis Green was indicted for the murder of Elizabeth, Lowe, his sister-in-law, at Liverpool, on the 2d of October. The prisoner, his wife, and the deceased lived together. On the day mentioned the prisoner came home intoxicated, and almost immediately commenced an assault upon his wife and the deceased. He afterwards knocked the deceased down with a violent blow, jumped from a box upon her chest, and with his nailed boots inflicted very serious injuries upon her. She was removed to the Northern Hospital, where she died. The prisoner was found Guilty, and sentenced to death.