Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1889-06-12 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

MISTAKEN IDENTITY. In the Queen's Bench on Thursday, the case of William Henry Thompson, imprisoned for supposed desertion front the warship Calliope, came before Justices Manisty and Matthew. William Thompson appeared in the uniform of , the Derbyshire Militia. He is a lad .tf about seventeen. Mr. Stavely Hill, judge advocate of the Fleet, appeared for Captain Woodward, of the flagship Duke of Wellington, and said he produced Thompson in court. Mr. •Edmunds, for Thompson, said this was not a proper return tothe writ. Capt. Woodwardhadmerelyhorrowed Thompson from the military authorities at Derby, with whom he was still under arrest on a charge of theft. The judges called up Ms. Hill to produce the writ showing why Thompson was arrested in the first instance. The reply was zhat it had been forgotten. Mr. Edmund pressed for a writ of attachment against Captain Woodward. Mr. Hill repeated he had forgotten the writ. The judges told him such language was the veriest nonsense. He ought to know the practice with regard to writs. Mr Hill said "nonsense" was a very strong expression. The judges agreed that it was just. They thought they were being trifled with in the matter.  At the Swansea Marine Board examination held this week, Mr. Thomas Davies, 35 New Oxford Street passed as second mate. Mary Gulliford, the wife of a Penarth rigger, had been of unsound mind lately. Her body has been found in the dock, and it is concluded that she annmitted suicide.  A proposal is on toot to close the Cardiff Working Mena' Club on Sundays. The proposition is meeting with strenuous opposition. The British public is deeply and stubbornly indifferent to the affairs of "the West Coast." Unwillingly it may turn an eye that way when a King of Ashanti flourishes a golden axe, or ono swarm of bonny cannibals proceeds to de- ' your another; but lethargy soon resumes its sway. We shall have to look into things, though, before long, and that with a vengeance. The French may be as indifferent as ourselves, but their officials are active and ambitious. They have a natural and national wish to assert themselves ; they find life dull out yonder, and, strongest motive of all, they expect glory, profit, and promotion from carrying the tricolour into the wildesness. It is reported that the French Resident of Porto Novo was at Lagos when the mail closed, 'and that the occupation of Abeokuta and Dahomey was being Creely discussed." From the association of these two items we presume that the, resident had come over from his wretched little swamp close by to sound our Administrator upon the subject. If the French scheme be carried out it will be a mortal blow to Lagos, the only thriving station we have on that deadly coast. But how can it be resisted, if they persevere An expedition starting from Porto Fovo would march to Dahomy without infringement of British territi,rv. Dangers somewhat similar but more pressing are announced from Sierra Leone. There the French have actually begun ,perations in the Samoo country, behind our -ettlement. They are said to have destroyed villages within the British frontier, and to have harried a chief who enjoys British protection. These statements may or may not be true, but, assuredly it is high time to declare the limits of • our "influence." Even our frontiers are uncertain at present.