The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1865-02-25 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

PEASANTRY.—Thi• Russian Government, an a consequence of the ernancination of the peasants, hats just taken measures for the diffusion of instruction among the agricultural population. An additional budget of 450,000 rouble for the year 181;5 has just been decreed, no that the buslaet of Public Instruction now amounts to about 1,300,000 roubles. This aupplementary budget provides for the founding of village schools', of II new gymnasia (colleges), for the purchase of imoks, paper, &c., for the poorer peasants, for supplementary payment to schoolmasters and professors, for the purchase of mcientitic instruments, for the establishment of laboratories and InUßellies, for the reorganitettion of the University of Wareaw, for the foundation of a Polytechnic School, and for other schools for teaching agriculture and horticulture. THE GALLIC GAR: V IuTORIOVf4.—A few days since much agitation was percedtible in the neighbourhood of Wattreloe, a French village near the Belgian frontier, and one would have thought that an invamionl4 Belgium by France was impending, for a body of Frenchmen carrying sacks' pawed the frontier singing denude en France l'etrangerne regaera !" hut the truth was that asock-fight on a grand scale was coming off between the fancieri of the two coutitriem, and that the sacks contained the champions of the Gallic CRAM, who were to sustain the national 1 ~,,, our against Re best birds Belgium could produce. Tour. cuing, Roubaix, and Lille reprementsd France, and the amateurs of Courtrai, Merlin, and Ghent supplied the boldest champions they could get to do battle on tles part of Belgium. The arena of contest was a Belgium oublic-honme near the frontier ; said the victory was keenly contested, for more than one bird remained dead on the field. The French birds eventually triumphed, having won seven mains against five. After the battle, the contending parties fraternised at a banquet, where friendly toasts were drunk to the .health of both belligerent parties, and were loudly applauded. VICTOR HMO ON CAPITAL PC NiPllm s.NT.— The Caernsey Star publishes a letter from Victor Hugo, in which that eminent writer mays : - In France renzziont would have been condemned for murder wdhout premeditation to a temporary punishment. The English :sentence is wanting in this great corrective— extenuating circumstances. Let England In her pride ridlect on this. At presser her criminal legislatiiin is inferior to that of France— impel fect Within may he. In this matter England Is behind France. Would England regain In an meant all the ground she has lost, and leave Preece in the rear? She cm n its al. She has only to take this one step—abolish the rmishmeet of death. This great act is worthy via great nation. I invite her to it. The puniehment of f'eatit has lately been-abolished in several of the republics of I'?- rib and Sou h America. iii, about being almlished—ii it have not already been—lit Italy, In Portugal, uu R igmaiiia, and in (Ireece. lielgium will not he lent leff ore On, follows these nolde examples. It would be is 'mtralile for ainelelni to tak the slime initiative, and chow by the ouppreasion of the scaffold that the laud of liberty is also the land of humanity. TFisilMnNiAL TO DR. GUTIIRI bix months ago Dr. Guthrie, the celebrated-preacher and philanthropist, intimated the resignation of his pas. total charge in Free St. John's, Edinburgh, owing; to the state of higilealth. In testimony of his eminent :publiq servicesr particularly assiftirsiottudar of the Edinlnirgh Original Ilasared School, it was isesalved to institute a. public subscription for a testimonial. Above 5 000/. were contributed by 774 subscribers, and on Monday thetsietimonial was presented -by the Lard Provost in presence of a crowded assemblage. The surplus over 5,000/. enabled the committee, through bard Arrimillan, to-present MrS. C nthrie with a silver tea wavier. value 1254 , The inscription:on the silver Plata bore that the teetirnonial was 'contributed on the rev, doctor's retirement front public fife) "by a large Tlll4llllels of subscribers Of all C1A1414114, MIA parties, and different religious denaminations. in token of their 'admiration and regard for his personal worth, his distinguished endowments 614 a preacher of the Gospel, and his inestimable services 14•1 a large Warted Christian philanthropist." .:./ A WE-Li:FD