The Commonwealth. — 1866-08-18 (London, England)

EPITOME OF NEWS.  In the Greenwich workhouse, containing upwards of 900 inmates, there has not been a death from any cause the first fortnight in this montb, although the average deaths are five weekly. Dr. Russell, the special correspondent of the Times attached to the Austrian army, niainta,ins, in contradiction to the Prussian military correspondent of the same journal, that in every encounter the Austrian cavalry has shown its superiority to the Prussian. A wonderful cashmere shawl, now in Calcutta, will be among the sights of the Great Exhibition at Paris next 3 ear. It is worked in arabesques of unhoard-of fineness on red ground, and was ten years in the workman's frame. It was originally ordered for the Queen of Owls, not long before the Sepoy revolt. The Murder of a Boy in St. Oiles's.—Much excitement prevailed on Saturday in the neighbourhood of Bow-street, consequent upon a report that the murderer of the boy in a cellar in Earl-street, Seven Dials, had been captured. Though the person captured answered in many respeets the description of the murderer, yet the witnesses upon being confronted with the suspected person did not identify him. Drowned whilst Bathing.—An inquest was held at Whitsfable on Saturday, on the body of Alfred Welby, a clerk in the Customs. He had been out bathing with a friend, and was last seen floating leisurely at about fifty sards from the beach. When his friend found that he had sunk be took steps to save him, but it was not until an hoar had passed that the body was recovered. A verdiot of "AcJidentally drowned" was returned. The Convict Colthorpe.—Sinoe her conviction this murderess has maintained a quiet demeanour. Her mind appears, however, to be much relieved by a communication made to her by the chaplain of the Ipswich G tol that the execution of the sentence of death passed upon her had been reepited until farther signification of her Majesty's pleasure. The prisoner's tcond child has been weaned, and will shortly be taken from her.  A Gang of Thieves in Trouble—At the Liverpool Police-court, on Saturday, seven men and one woman were charged with having attempted to break into the shop of 11r. Wilkin, pawnbroker, in Islington. The prisoners (only a portion of the gang) were arrested in a house in a disreputable street; the officers also seized various instruments, dresses, &0., evidently used for nefarious purpesee. They were all sent to prison for two months. The Wesleyan Conference.— At the Wesleyan Conference, held at Leeds, a building committee was appointed to superintend the erection of a theological institution at Headingley, at a cost of £12000; and a committee was also appointed to consider the desirableness of the erection a another theological institution in the neighbourheod of Birmingham. It was also decided to eppoint the Rev. W. B. Pope, successor to D. Hannah, in the theological chair at Didsbury. The Needle Gun a Diabolical Invention. —A letter from Rome, in the Opinion Nationale says —" The needle gun had very nearly been adopted here. The successor of Mgr. de Merocle, General Ka* zler, had en egested it, and the pmpoeition appeared to be favourably received when,* cardinal remarked that the arm in question had not YAt hoen ueed by any Catholic army, aa.l that it was not for Rome to show too rum:4 eagerness in an invention with which the Lutherans had been inspired by the Prince of Darkne. .. • 'Much surmise was ocessioned in North Shropshire on Saturstay, by the announcement of the fact (glemcd in the' first inbtaaco from the Parliamentary re,,..rt** ‘ ',Lc iii.cri.thg pai•ers), that Major Cust hed i ..