The Courier and Argus from Dundee, Tayside, Scotland • 5

THE DUNDEE COURIER AND ARGUS. TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 188 J. THE THE A FY1FT A If wat? 25 YEARS FOR ATTEMPTED WIFE MURDER. At Manchester Assizes yesterday. Lord Justice Brett sentenced John Aulta, farm labourer, to twenty-five years' penal servitude for wounding his wife with intent to murder her.

She had been cohabiting with another, on hearing which, prisoner persuaded his wife to accompany him into a field, where he made a desperate attempt to cut her throat with a razor. CABINET COUNCIL. A Cabinet Council was held yesterday afternoon at the Prime Minister's official re idence. All the members were present except Lord Salisbury Lord John Manners, and Viscount Sandon. CALLOUS CONDUCT OF A CAPTAIN.

A collision took place off Portland on Sunday evening between the iernwn three-masted schooner General Brialmont and a schooner, name unknown. THE IRISH DISTRESS. DEATH BY STARVATION. A Coroner's jury returned a verdict yesterday at Cork that a woman, named Mary Hurley, who died suddenly yesterday, died from debility brought on by want. It was proved by a neighbour that she knew the deceased was actually starving, but she was powerless to assist her, being in want herself.

Several jurors stated that there was much want and suffering prevailing among the families of the labouring men, who were nnable to obtain employment. This is the first fatal case from want reported in this locality. We are informed that the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland has declined to attend the Lord Mayor's dinner in Dublin on 3d February on account of the resolutions adopted at meetings of Irish members held on Tuesday and Wednesday last, over whinh the Lord Mayor presided. It will be remembered that on the motion of The O'Donoghue, M.P., a resolution was carried, which, after some suggested alteration, had been accepted, and was to the following effect That we beg to tender the expression of our sympathy, and promise all legitimate support to the gallant peasantry of ti West now struggling to retain possession of their homes, and as representatives of the people to protest against their being driven forth to starve for nonpayment ol rent fixed under a system which constitutes the landlord the absolute owner of the soil, and confers upon him the power of exacting whatever rent he pleases, such system being carried out in defiance of the repeated protests of the Irish people solemnly delivered through their representatives in Parliament." Messrs Davitt and Brennan have entered their appearance in Queen's Bench Division, Dublin. It was agreed yesterday by the Dublin Town Councd to abandon the Lord Mayor of Dublin's banquet, and to give 300 from the city funds to the Relief F'und.

Rooms Falling Oct. A policeman, a native of Corsica, has attempted to murder a fellow policeman, who had given evidence against him in a monetary dispute with his former mistress, but though two of the three shots hit him, his wounds are happdy slight. A WKDnrao Iwcide.it. The tirae-hononred custom of throwing an old shoe after the bride and bridegroom had an unfortunate result at a recent negro wedding in North Carolina. Just as the happy pair were departing in a waggon an enthusiastic friend owning a very large foot flung his shoe at them with such unfortunately good aim as to knock the bride ser.seless on the floor.

The bridegroom jumped out, punished the unlucky thrower by a sound thrashing, restored his wife to consciousness, and theu resumed the wedding tour. A Happy Kemindkb. A western physician was riding in an omnibus, when ou Irishman stepped in, and recognising the doc said "Och, an' sure, an' it's Dochtor I persave." "That's my name. Sir, but I haven't the pleasure of knowing you," responded the polite doctor. Indade hue I'm the felly that made your last boots, and which your honour forgot to a resate for the payment ov The ladies tittered, the doctor's memory was refreshed, and Paddy got h.s money, and gtve the "resate" when the doctor arrived at his destination.

Ax Extraordinary Story. An extraordinary story, the truth of which is, however, amply vouchetl for, comes from Marseilles. A man livm at L'Estaque hanged himself at the door of h.s house with a girdle of wool. A neighbour given the alarm a number of persons rushed up. but they never thought of cutting the an down, and calmly watched him as he writhed in the death aony, which was very long.

An officer of customs who reai lied the spot a quarter of an hour a'ter the. cio-vd had begun to collect, released the victim, but it was then too late, he had ceased to breathe. Revision (: the Acthorisro Version. The company appointed for the revision of the Authorised Versi jn of the Old Testament finished their 61st session on Friday afternoon in the Jerusalem Chamber. The following members attended The Bishop of Bath and We Is, the Deans of Canterbury and Pete borough, Mr Bensly, Mr Driver, Mr Klliott, Dr Ginsburgh, Archdeacon Harrison, Dr Kay, Dr Loathes, Professor Lumby, Professor Wright, and Mr Aldis Wright (secretary).

Communications were received from Principal Douglas, Mr Ge en, and Dr Gotch, who were unable to be present. The second revision of the historical books was continued as far as the end of II. Kings, liv. A CadsE Celebr. A case of much interest, from its novelty and other circumstances, is at present occupying the attention of the Canadian Court of Privy Council.

By the will of her father, a French Canadian, a Miss Symons was left 300, 0lM, coupled, however, with the wish that she would take care of her poor relatives. Supporting that wish, Miss Symons gave in money and o000 per annum to the persons indicated. 3bo tiy after the lady came to England and meb with the Marquis de Bassano, son of the Due de Bassano, then on the staff of Napoleon III. at Cnislehurst. They were married, and after some years children were born.

Now, Madame Bassano, on behalf of the interests of these children, seeks to have her gift of money conceded. She feels justified, she in doing this, for an old French law which was Iwaysused in ti Canada allows it. 1'be High Courts and all the Courts in Canada however, gave judgment in fa. our of the defendants, the poor relations, but gave Madame Bassano to appeal to the Privy Louncil, whe.e the case is at pres-mt going on, and it is likely, from one cause or another, to last some time. Photographs in Colocrs.

At any time thee last 20 years it has been said, Ah, if it were only-possible to photograph in colour The mystery has been solved the secret has beun discovered so at least it is said. A humble ltt.e scientific workman living in a Parisian cellai has called out Eureka 1'" and coloured photographs, brighte; ed by nature, and without artificial means, are to be the fancy next season. There is a vast difference between a photo-print coloured by hand and an impression that retains the colour that we see re-ected on the glass of a camera. Airea.iy Paris has developed the idea, the right of this admirable secret has been secured for Eng ami and the Channel islands, and when the sun comes again to cheer us tho young ladies with beautiful complexions, and the matrons with gorgeous dresses, can be reproduced in a picture, not in dull brown and monochrome, but in the colours that are so charming to the eye. Th-; new invention of photo-croiue will cause a revolution iu the art of portr.iit-taki- and by its means the most charming landscapes, forest-scenes, and flower-gardens can be preserved for the memory.

So may it be But hope tells many a flattering tale." Illustrated London Newt. Fkai-di-lent ELiSTMENr. James Bell, a private in tho Creua lier Guards, was charged on Saturday at the Westminster Police Court, London, with making two fahe statements on his attestation as a recruit for the Grenadier Guards at Sunderland on thp 1st September last. It is stated that in th prisoner's attestation he swore that he was no! married, a that he was tweaty-foor years of age. A few days ago his certificate of marriage was produced, and from this it appeared that he was a native of Dumfries, .9 married on the of June, 1S7L and wks at that time twenty-six years of age; so that at the time of his enlistment he Was thirty-three.

The prisoner said he had not stated his age twenty-four, lie was not a iked for it. The sergeant who enlisted him said. I shall put you down twenty and he did. Mr D'Fuycourt said he afraid there was some truth in that statement but there was another offence stating that be was not married. The prisoner admitted that he ha.i been very wrong in making that statement.

He ui 4 wife and two children. In reply to the magistrate, a sergeant of the regiment said the prisoner would not have been taken had he stated that he was married. Mr D'Knycourt said with regard to the age he suspected the prisoner was rig. it; he had, however, not only made a false stiten.ent respecting h.s marriage, but deserted his wife and family practically. He would have to undergo six hard labour in the House of Correction.

Ceimk AND Detectives. We do not wondei that the failute, so far, to detect the perpetrator ol tne Manchester murder has caused a deal of uneasiness. Within the last year or two ti.e.e have been a painful number of cases in which the police have been unable to track criminals of the worst type and there is a real danger that this well known t'acl will encourage ruffians who have hitherto been deterred by the chances of discovery, it seems rc us, however, that there is something unreasonable in the reproaches whicb arc frequently addressed tc the police on the subject. Most people vastly overrate the power of the police in suah matters these. They appear to suppose that detective should have almost superhuman ingenu.ty, and that if crime is not at once brought home to the criminal, the delay mi st be due either to indolence or to stupidity.

But the detective of real life has to work amid very different conditions from those which are usu illy depicted in novels. Clues do not always conveniently present themselves, an wnen they do. the police must take advantage of them witli the utmost caution. It is a terrible misfortune when an innocent man is accused dj heinous crime, and we have had recent proof that even in thee days such a misfortune is not impus-sible. If the police were to accept the advice whicb is often thrust upon thorn, they would arrest every one against whom there Is the slightest suspicion.

ThS would bo much worse than the evils from which we suffer. All that can be said is that do-tectives should be of intelligence and of approved character; and if the authorities take caro that tbey are so, ive have no right to condemn them because they sometimes fail to show themselves a cever as we expect them to be. It is right that wa should recall th many instances in which, notwithstanding an extraordinary complication of circumstances, they have managed to penetrate to the truth. Graphic. THE MANCHESTER MURDER.

ARREST OF TWO MEN. REPORTED CONFESSION. The Plymouth police, assisted by two Manchestor policem on Sunday arrested two men, one of wnom, named 1 Robert Hild, alias AVaite. is charged with committing the murder of Roberts at Manchester. Waite is a coal dealer in a small way at aiancnester, and has tramped to Plymouth in order to emigrate.

Several dnys ago the Plymouth police received a communication from the anchester police, giving a description of a man who was supposed to be about to from Plymouth for Australia, who was wanted for perjury. It appears that the warrant held by the police charged the man with perjury, which consiste 1 in having given his name in the emigration papers ns Robert Hild, whereas his real name was ascertained to be Thomas Waite The Plymouth police kept a strict watch on the emigration ships, and as the result, Sergeant Wallace, of the Manchester police, and a private constable, arrived at Plymouth on Saturday night and were conducted by the Plvmouth police to a lodging house, where they found Hild alias Waite, in co ii pan with a man named Laycock. They were in bed, but got up, and were taken to the police It had previously been understood that, although nominally wanted for perjury, they were suspected of complicity in the murder of Sarah Jane Roberts at Harpurhey, Manchester, two men answering to their description ha. in-been seen loitering in the neighbourhood or the house where the murder was committed. When taken to the station, and the warrant being read out to Waite, he sai 1 he supposed they wanted him for the Manches'er murder.

But it was all a mare's nest, as he had never heard anything about it until the previous when he read it in the papers. Letters in his on handwriting were found on Waite, the wrting of which corresponds closely with that of the 1-tfer sent to decoy Mr Greenwood, aud the landlady of the lodgingho ise where the arrest was ma le sf that she washed a pair of trousers and shirt for Waite. They were stained, but ah" does not know whether they were bloodstains or not. The men both had tramped down from Manchester to take a passage in the Government emigration ship Queen of Nations, but found that she wa filled, and therefore were waiting for the next ship, Silver Eagle, which is shortly to sail for Melbourne. The men were both sent to Manchester by the ehjht o'clock train on Sunday the one in custody and the other under surveillance nominally as a witness required against Waite.

It seems that Waite is a dealer in coal and coke, having a small shop an 1 horxe aud cart near Manchester, and that he has had dealings wlcli Mr Gooier, whose name is well known in connection with the murder case. Lay-cock is a smithy strike-, or something of the sort, neir Manchester, both of them disappeared soon after the murder, stating that they were about to emigrate. The original clue of the Manchester police is believed have been the handwriting of the lef.er. The particulars are being kept very secret. The men state that it took eleven days to tramp from Manchester to Plymouth.

There is a story as to Waite having endeavoure 1 to tic? a girl at Manchester to go with him to Australia under a false name, and stating th.t be had previously been in the colony for eleven years. The handwriting of the letter sent to her is said to resemble closely the letter by which Mr Greenwood was drawn away from home. another account. The man II add (says a Manchester correspondent) has been the subject of inquiries by the police for more than a wee Hail I is about 32 years of age, is married, and has a child. He is a native of Manchester, and carried on the husiness of a coal dealer in the neighbourhood of Harpurhey.

He had a small yard and a cottage attached, in which he and his family resided. Besides selling coals at the yard, he hawked coal in the district with a pony and cart. In 187She was in Oregon, I nitod States of America, and seems about that time to have travelled about a ood deal. The police are indebted to an outsider for the information in the first inst.ncc cist suspicion upon him. During the last few months he seems have been in correspondence with a servant girl at Berwick-on-Tweed.

On Saturday week this girl saw a lithographed facsimile of the letter by means of which Mr Greenwood, the master of the girl Roberts, was decoyed from his home shortly before the murder was committed, and whicli it it presumed was written by the murderer himself. She was struck with the resemblance between the handwriting of the decoy letter, which was signed V. Wilson, and one in her possession from Haild, and mentioned the circumstance to her master, who imme liately put himself into communication with the Manchester county police authorities, and forwarded them one or two of the letters a ldressed to the girL In tuiries were immediately made by the police as to Haild, and it was discovered that he had left Manchester. In fact on the very night of the murder he left his cottage in a mysterious manner, along with his wife and child. The wife aud child went to Chea He Hulme, near Haild, as is sh wa by his lette-B to the girl at IJerwiek -oti-Tweed, was evidently bent on emigrating, and the in juiry which the police made early last week enable 1 them to sejure a warrant for his arre.it on the charge of perjury, committed in a statement he made before a magistrate in regard to an assisted passage was being allowed to him.

It was ascertained that after leaving Manchester he made his way to Plymouth, and on Friday night two sergeants of the Manchester division of the Lancashire constabulary proceeded to Plymouth, where, as already stated. Haild was arieste 1. It is believed that a man ho was Haild's companion in part of the jouraej uh has communicated some important statements to the police, and he is being brought back, but not in custody, in order to give whatever evidence he is able. It does not appear Haild was known to the employer of the murdered girl, or to the girl herself, and the belief is that the object of the visitor to Mr Greenwood's house on the night of the 7th inst. was in the first instance pi under, and ih.it the murder was resorted to after a show of resistance by the unfortunate girl.

Laycock, according to another correspondent, is said to have made a clean breast of the murder, and informed the police how it was committed, and that the object was robbery. Both resided near to the scene of the murder, and had made the acquaintance of the girl some days before the murder was perpetrated. Haild's letter, which has been up by his wife, corresponds with the decoy loiter written to Mr Greenwood. The two prisoners are to be confronted with witnesses who are said to have seen them in the neighbourhood on the night of the murder. The statement of Laycock goes to the extent of principally criminating his companion Haild.

The murder was committed, it is alleged, by the latter, while Laycock kept watch. The question has not yet been decided to whether Laycock shall be allowed to give Queen's evidence or be placed in the dock. Haild is believed to be the man who desired to keep company with the murdered girl. Some additional facts says the WtH'ern Morning News of yesterday) have transpired with regard to the arrest of the two men. Detective Stone ascertained Haild's whereabouts.

Haild, it is fou id, had tramped from Manchester with a rather tall, dark man named Laycock. Roth wore dilapidated clothing. Their description did not tally with the account given of them when they were last seen in Harpurhey. On Saturday night Detective Ht me, with the Lancashire officers, went to Spr.igue's lodginghouse and found the men in bed. Hiild was apprehended on a chare of perjury, and is said to have replied, You don't want me for perjury you want me for that murder." His arrest seemed to utterly confound him.

In his possession writings were found which matched the letter sent to the girl Ellison. The landlady said she had washed clothes for him a pair of trousers of very light tweed, and a shirt, which had ltrge stains on them, which she had great difficulty in removing. She thought they must have been blood stains, or something of that sort. Laycock seemed to have been lately clean shaved, as though he had hitherto worn whiskers and moustache. His trousers and some handkerchiefs he had with him had large holes in them, though the material itself was not worn.

He accounted for this by saying that in employment as a smith he got his clothes burned. He was left at the lodginghouse, but, after communication with the Manchester police, was taken back with the other man. He seemed not to mind the arrest so much as Haild. Haild sold his horse aud trap which he used in his business for a very low sum, ti, the day before lie came away. His wife and child, he says, were to go on to Plymouth yesterday with 14 boxes.

A later telegram says man Richard Haild, who was arrested at Plymouth on Sunday night, was brought to Manchester this afternoon. He was accompanied by his companion Laycock, who has made a statement to the police, but it will not be disclosed until after the prisoner is brought up at the Manchester County Police Court this mor i-ing. Both men were lodged in the Old Trafford Police Station. A Press Association telegram says The girl Ellison is about 21 years or sga. Three or four years ago she had an illegitimate child, but some ladies befriended her, and latterly she has conducts 1 herself well.

She was in the service of a Mr Wallace of Cheadle, near Manchester, and there formed the acquaintance of Haild, whose wife was employed as a laundress at Mr Wallace's. He asked her to emigrate with hux, and she consented, and went with him to a person named Cooper to obtain an emigration order. Ellison informed a lady in Berwick who took an interest in her, that she was going to Australia with Haild, and both the lady and Mr Wallace dissuaded her from the step. When Haild w.is informed of this he threatened her by saying she would either have to forfeit 20 or suffer three months' imprisonment. She then consented to go with him, and gave up her situation.

On his disappearance she went to Berwick. Haild was se -n near Cheadle on the night of the murder. Haild's letters were forwarded to the Manchester police by the lady at Berwick. TAY BRIDGE DISASTER. DIVING OPERATIONS AT THE BRIDGE.

Yesterday morning, about eight o'clock, the direr Harley proceeded on board steam launch Newport to the Bridge to resume hu search among the ruins with the view of finding the two bodies he said he had discovered on Friday when he recovered Scott's body. The launch was moored between the and third piers, and Harley descended but found no bodies. In the course of the operations which occupied forty minutes, the launch was ordered to be shifted to the west side of the piers but through some misunderstanding the engine was put on full speed ahead instead of astern and the result was that the vessel was driven on the g.r-iera. Sue fortunately sustained no damage and was got off without much delay. Harlev returned to the Harbour about eleven o'clock.

He went out again to the Bridge about one, and again made another inspection between the second and third pier. In the afternoon the launch, with Bailie Being Harley. the diver, again to the Bridge to enWoar. if pole, to set eme trace o. bodu to continue th, se around the place where the had be seen.

The lauuch a moored to the thirl pier, and Hurley went down the west of the girders, as it was conjecture-, th.t the holies might have drifted in that directum, sin they could not he found at the spot where he says he saw them. A thorough search wa male in lis quarter, an 1 everv likely spot eage if scrutinise by Harley, who a -inns that he iw ootb.n ut of the broken columns and other parts of the ruins. The greatest difficulty was experienced in progress among the d-'irw, which lay scant re 1 around but Harlev" continued his search ooiowaoout forty minutes. When he returned su.ne doubts were entert lined whether he should be sent down again at the same spot, and was agreed that he should go down a little to the nor wards, still, however, to the south of the pier This visit wa a-unprofitable as the previous ones, for. after an absence of twen one minutes he returned with the assurance that bo lies were in that quarter of the rive-.

After a brief delay the Kunca was an 1 put in a position to the east of the girders, in a line with 3 pier from the south. Harley resumed the search at this side, about the spot where he had found Sett, but no bodies could be got; and in a quarter of an ur he returned to the Newport. The whole bed of the river on both sides of the girders, at the point where the bodies were indicated to be. has thus been traversed, and the bodies must have been washed away. The launch returned to Dundee abut five o'clock.

RAISING OF THE GIRDEIIS. To-day the wor. employed by Mr Waidell are to proceed to the Bridge to place buoys on the girders, and to begin to clear away the broken iron columns that are about. The first sunken girder will be raised, it is thought, ab out the middle of the week. A nail barge, fitted with a crane, was towed to the Bridge yesterday.

Two of the lifting pontoons have now been equipped. Strong iron girders are placed across them, the pontoons being a considerable d. stance apart, and to the girders the sunken girders at the Bridge will be attached. Two powerful pontoons, capable of raising about 360 tons, supplie 1 by the Glasgow Salvage ompany (Limited), and fitted with screws and chains, arrived at Queensferry yesterday, and a steamer was despatched from Dundee to bring them round. Mr Law, engineer, London, arrived in Dundee yesterday, and on behalf of the Board of Trade is to watch the lifting of the sunken girders.

It is understood that he and bis assistants are also to make drawings of the girders, and that he has been e-sked to give his views to the Board of Trade as to the re-construction of the Bridge. A SUGGESTION. Yesterday forenoon Provost Brownlee received a letter from a gentleman, residing in the county of Essex, who stated that having read of the apparently unsuccessful attempts to recover the bodies, he begged to offer some suggestions on the method of pricking the bed of the river. Two strong codhooks, he said, should be fastenei to the end of a loug staff, of a length according to the depth of the water. As many boats as thought fit should be supplied with two of these prickers, and in the case of a considerable depth of water, the staff should be weighted with pieces of lead in order to keep it perpendicular.

This is the method, he states, adopted by the cod-fishermen in pricking their wells. A model of the apparatus was enclosed in the letter. RELIEF COMMITTEE. A meeting of Relief Committee was held yesterday forenoon, when two applications for relief were made. In one of the cases temporary relief was granted, and inquiry ordered into the other.

In several other cases, which had been inquired into, temporary relief was also granted. The fund now amounts to 5060. The Committee are exceedingly anxious that all who have claims on the fund should make them without delay in order to their being considered and reported upon to the General Committee, which is to meet on an earlv day. THE HARBOUR TRUSTEES' RESOLUTION. Mr Cunningham, Harbour Engineer, Dundee, writes to the Engineer pointing out its inaccurate version of the Harbour Trustees' resolution, and my Yoa will see from its terms that nothing whatever is said, as you allege, about the stiffening of the piers, and I may state that the feeling entertained and expressed was sirmdy one of desire that step should be taken without for the construction of a Bridge which shall be, in virtue of its increased width anl r-duced height, more secure than that which has been so calamitously destroyed.

The following appears in yesterday's Nnocas'Je Chronicle THE TAY BRIDGE DISASTER A CRUEL HOAX. Sir, I find that a letter has been inserted in your Friday's issue stating that a number of persons, myself included, from this neighbourhood, have been lost in the Tay Bridge accident. The writer subscribes the letter Be kley Fray, what manner of can Berkley Hawkins be, that he can derive pleasure from writing what he knows to lie utterly untrue But did Berkley Hawkins write that letter? I think not. If so, then what a mean, contemptible thing your correspondent must be, to tall a he for the love of it, aBd then to put the odium on an innocent person I am, kc, Thomas Hodson. 52 Chapel Walk, Masboro Rotherham, January 24th, lfv80.

A similar communication has been addressed to as by Mr O. J. Warmer, another of the jiersons alleged to have been missing, but who also assures us that there is no truth in the letter, the whole of the parties named being alive and well. It is almost unnecessary to say that, had we had the slightest reason to doubt the genuineness of the letter referred to, it should never have appeared in our columns. AVe can only add that, so far as we are concerned, every facility will be afforded with a view to discover the perpetrator of the cruel and heartless hoax.

En. N.D.C. THE sCHOONER ASHORE ON THE KINCARDINES iIRE COAST. The Danish schooner Lousina Caroline, Captain Neilson, with two men and a boy, which, as we yesterday stated, ran ashore amongst the rocks opposite the Haughs of Benholm. about a mile south from Gourdon, at two o'clock on Sunday morning, will become a total wreck, as she is bumping amongst the rocks and a great portion of her bottom out.

As soon as daylight broke, and the vessel observed from Gourdon. the lifeboat (Young George Irelam) was launched, an 1 pulled off to the place to render assistance if required, but on arrival it was found the hands had all safely reached the shore in tbeir own boat. The captain is owner of the vessel, and has her folly insured. The sea was quit calm, and the cause of the wreck was thick weather, and the crew all being foreigners were unacquainted with the coast. M.

Gustave Fould, son of the famous Minister of Finance of Napoleon has suffered amputation of the thumb, lately bitten in a scuffle with M. Morel, who complained of a libel in the Gil Bias. Reward of Gallantry. The Board of Trade have awarded a piece of plate to Captain Robert Hacklin of the Russian barque Regina in acknowledgment of his humanity and kindness to the P-wrecked crew of the barque Chawdean, of Sunderland, during a gale la the Atlantic on 28th November last. An Intelligent Jury.

A French jury recently returned a verdict of not guilty after the prisoner bad confessed ber guilt. The accused, a young woman, was charged with infanticide and theft. She strangled her obild and robbed her mistress. The evidence against ber was overwhelming but the jury, after deliberating fifteen minutes, saw then-way to acquit the prisoner. Junes seem to go wrong bow aad again elsewhere than in England.

xne JJady Netot nrint fk. -i grams -B A Cabul, Saturday, 3.11 p.m. Yakh' elder brother, has lett Herat or Ghuzni a the Hazara country, ile is expected at Ghumi in ten days. His intentions are unknown. All the old Afghan sepoys invited to join Mahomed Jan's levies nave been sent away from Ghuzni for orderly conduct.

The Times' military critic says It is very evident from the tenor of the message from our special correspondent in Cabid that little I or no apprehension is felt at Sherpnr of any immediate recurrence of the disturbances i hlch. occurred last month. The leaders of I the. inS. have indeed, some cause to be satisfied with the result nf neir treasuri and magazines La 1 ean replenished they have seized the infant son of the late Ameer, whom they have set up as a puppet sovereign and they have hoisted the nag ol the Iiarakzais on the battlements of Ghuzni, the hope of rallying round it fresh hosts nf discontented fanatics.

Yet the call has met with but feeble response. AFFAIUSlxSOUTrFlFRICA. The Union Company's steamer Durban arrived at Plymouth yesterday mornin after very rapid run from Cape Town, which it left on January 6. Our correspondent states that the arrest of Mr Bok, secretary of the Boer Committee, was on information laid by Mr Swart, Treasurer-General of the Transvaal. The step is said to have been taken in consequence of a telegram from England that the agitation must immediately be put an end to at any cost.

It is feared that the arrest and others that will probably follow, will fan the embers of agitation into active resistance The number of those who are rongly discontented with the government accorded to them is much greater than those who are prepared to make resistance. The troops in the Transvaal are being distributed to the most disaffected districts. 21st goes to Pretoria. TIip 80th Regiment is, however, ordered to march to Cape Town. Charges of cruelty of a revolting character have been made acainut th native I listed us in an attack on Secocoeni'B stronsr- il Mowg aiiegea umt womenand children were savagely tortured.

According to the Cape Argus, Sir Garnet Wolseley sp -ech at Pretoria has created a painful impression amongst all who are desirous of seeing a pacification of the Transvaal but other papers regard it as a wholes' mm and necessary expression of the intentions of the Government, and, followed up a it has been by the arrest of Mr Bok. a Hollander, and the secretary of the Boer Committee, as likely greatly to assist the prevention of anything like active resistance to British rule. A notice has been issued in the Tramvaal Gavernmetti Gazette announcing that Seco-coenis country is open to prospectors for precious metals, and that the newly appointed Magistrate or Resident, Mr Irvine, will give genuine prospectors every assistance in the way of guides and information. The 80th Regiment left Pretoria on its march to Cupa Town last week, but has since been detained at Potchesetroom. The Dragoons and Artillery are dis ributcd in Pretoria, Shanderton, and Wakerstroom.

FROM THE CAPE. The Galatea (hiied tramport) arrived st Portsmouth yesterday morning from the Cape. She brings home numerous detachments, including some the Lancers or Glory Artillery and Engineers, and invalids. The passage has bt-en a tedious one, having occupied t'' dnys. The disembarkation will be proceeded with at once.

THE RUSSIANS IN CENTRAL ASIA. A BATTLE IMMINENT. The Daily Nwts has received the subjoined despatch Teheran, Sunday, 7.35 p.m. A very large force of Tekke Turcomans has arrived at Kashberdi, and is menacing the communications between Chatte and Tchikislar. A battle is imminent.

St Petersburg, Sunday Night. The information received from Teheran, dated the 24th, that there were no Turcomans at Tchikislar, and that communication between that place and the Russian advanced post unbroken, is a substantial confirmation of the statement of the Iuvalide Russc denying that the Russians had retreated from Tchikislar, and reporting all well there on the 17th. The seven days' wonder from Berlin, with the so-called confirmation from Vienna, must now be classed with the alleged disgraceful incident at Kalisch and other sensational stories so confidently circulated and eagerly commented on, in order to excite international ill-feeling. The Ihvalids. Russc, in repeating the official contradiction of the reported Russian reverse at Tchikislar, mentions that the latest official intelligence from the army in Central Asia was dated 17th and reported that perfect tranquillity existed at Tchikislar.

A telegram from Teheran also disproves the story. NEW LOAN FOR PERU. New York, Sunday Evening. The New York raid publishes intelligence from Colon, dated the 24th asserting that Pierola, the Dictator of Peru, has placed a loan of 21 million dollars with Messrs Dreyfus, of Paris, offering guano deposits as security. SHOCKING OUTRAGE UPON LADIES.

At the Manchester Assizes, on Saturday, before Mr Justice Bret. John Pilling (27) was indicted for having, at Crompton, near Bolton, on the 9th Dec, unlawfully wounded Sarah Ann Taylor, with intent to murder her, and also with having caused cert tin grievous bodily harm to Mary Clegg, with intent to murder her. Miss Taylor resides at Rushcroft Farm, in the township of Crompton, near Bolton, with ber sister, Mrs Clegg. On the night in question they walked from Crompton towards Shaw, and called at the residence of a cousin of their's. It was then eleven o'olock.

On leaving they passed under a railway bridge, and noticed standing beneath a lamppost a man wearing grey fustian trousers and a lieht coloured cap. Thev passed on, and soon after wards, hearing the voice of men in a field, they felt somewhat alarmed, an I turned down a side lane. Suddenly the man whom they had seen standing beneath the lamppost jumped over the hedge, and without saying a word, he rushed at Mrs Clegg, struck her with a stonebreaker hammer, and knocked her down. Miss Taylor screamed "murder," and the prisoner turned upon her, and knocked her down with the hammer. She got up, and he knocked her down again.

This was repeated five or six times, and then finding that his blows did not produce the effect he aesired, he struck her three violent bl iws in succession upon the head, rendering her irtially insensible. The prisoner then kicked her on the shoulder, took improper liberties with her, and she became unconscious. Mrs Clegg was also at the same time lying unconscious on the ground. When they recovered consciousness they managed with considerable difficulty to reach their home, and their injuries were attended to by a surgeon. A description was given of the man who had committed the outrage, and the prisoner was soon afterwards arrested, and was clearly identified by both Miss Taylor and Mrs Clegg.

When the prisoners clothing was examined spots of blood were discovered. Prisoner, after a lone trial, was found guilty, an I his Lordship, in passing sentence, said that, according to his directions, the jury had found the prisoner guilty of wounding only. If they had found him guilty of attempting to murder he should most certainly have sent the prisoner into penal servitude for life. He then sentenced him to penal servitude for twenty years. The prisoner Thank you, my lord, but I am innocent.

If you jrive me twenty years for doing nothing, what will you give that chap that burnt his The prisoner evidently alluded to a case in the calendar in which a man is charged with burning bis wife with paraffin. He was then removed. The Earl of Bessborough is dying at his teat, Bessborough Park, Piltown, County Kilkenny The Southampton Board of Guardians yesterday received intimation that the distressed Russian emigrants there will be allowed to return to Russia. The Pope has sent a beautifully wrought pyx to the Italian Church, Hatton Garden. Lonlon as reparation for the sacrilege recently committed there.

THE ROMAN CATHOLICS AND THE CLAIMANT'S BIBLE. A public meeting was held in Glasgow last night to protest against the unconstitutional discipline which denied the Claimant liberty to read his Bible. A letter was read from the Home Secretary, stating that under the statute a convict was supplied with only such books as were approved by the chaplain anil the religious denomination to which he belonged. The Roman Catholic chaplain had not yet sanctioned the Claimant's application for a Roman Catholic Bible. MARRIAGE OF GARIBALDI.

Rome, Monday. Telegrams from Caprera announce that the civil marriage ceremony between General Garibaldi and Donna Francesca was performed to-day. The General at the same time recognised her two children. REPRESENTATION OF LIVERPOOL. Lord Ramsay addressed five meetings yesterday, reiterating his former declaration of his opinions.

Several Conservative ward meetings were also held. At a meeting of the friends of local option the resolution supporting Lord Ramsay was met with an amendment postponing the decision till Mr Whitley had stated his views. An uproarious scene ensued, but ultimately the amendment was lost, and the resolution, with a rider leaving the temperance electors free to vote with either candidate should Mr Whitley adopt the temperance test, was pnssed. LORD RAMSAY, THE LIBERAL CANDIDATE FOR LIYERPOOL. An Edinburgh correspondent writes There is some curiosity among Lord Ramsay's Scotch friends about the bold venture he has embarked upon at Liverpool.

He is a black swan among tho young Scottish nobility. Nothing Is more common there than to meet with heirs to Liberal Peers who are rampant Tories, or rathar Beaoonsfielder. It is also common enough to meet with the future representatives of ancient houses who are trying to correct paternal freaks of Gladstonism by standing more firmly on the old Whig lines. I'ut Lord Ramsay is a ntca avis. He is the (-ladstonian sun of a jingo father.

If you can imagine Lord Edmund Fitzmaurice or the Hon. Lyulph Stanley as successor to -dr William Edmonstone, you will have an idea of how Lord Ramsay's present move is appreciated at Brechin Castle. His father is a qua -ter-deck Tory, aud an admiral of the true Edmonstone cut. He himself ho! is the rank of commander in the navy, and of extra equerry to the luke of Edinburgh, with whom ho made the tour of the world in the Galatea fourteen jears ago. Where, it is often asked, can tho young man have picked up his Radicalism? Certainly not from his wife, the Conservatism ot whose family is uuim-peauhable.

For nearly half a century the Earl of Tankerville has been one of the most familiar figures at the Carlton. Up to a certain point Lord Ramsay's development was as straight and as sound as coull be desired in the responsible successor to one of the of the constitution. He went to tho right schools he joined the right profession, nd at an early age he went to sea, where eve; ybody is supposed to be of the right politics. Till very lately the Forfarshire Conservatives looked forward to his taking the field on their behalf against their arch-tormentor Mr Barclay. When they heard the first rumours that he not all that they had been reckoning upon, they still consoled themselves that he would be at least moderate enough to puss for a Whig.

He was actually consulted, I believe, about running at the net election as a moderate Liberal, and the result oi the overture was so far unfavourable that wh Mr Harrv Scott offered himself on the hybrid platform the Conservatives of the county tacitly accepted him. Lord Ramsay's liberalism or Gladstonism, whatever it may be, has been made the most of by scotch editors, who, though disapproving of aristocracy in principle, yet dearly love a Lord more dearly even than Tom Moore. He has been metaphorically embraced and glorified as the cjnverted scion of a Tory race. That is absolute rubbish, which can only impose on innocent people who live far enough away from Brechin Castle. As a set-off against tho Toryism of his father, which is indisputable, we may take the Peelisin of his half-uncle, Lord Panmure, the Fox Maule of the Crimean Administration.

His family connections are so crossed and interlaced that his blood can have no very marked political strain. He combines the characteristic qualities of the Maul an I the Bamsays, in whom from the days of Flodden self-will ha3 predominated. His ancestors have intermarried at various times with the Douglasses of Morton, the of Southesk, the Hays of Tweeddale, and with many well known Scotch families of lower degree. They were king's men in the days of the Stuarts, and to one of them James the Sixth owed his life in the Gowrie conspiracy. His son was High Sheriff of Edinburgn during the civil war, and for the trouble he gave to the Ironsides in 1046 Cromwell fined him in the then considerable amount of 1500.

At the end of last century the Rimsays were as staunch Churchmen as they had been Jacobites in the century preceding. The eighth Earl was Her Majesty's High Commissioner in a su cession of General Assemblies. Playing at lay bishop was a penchant of several later Earls, but they combined with it other recreations which Assemblies, as a rule, do not hold to be compatible. Fox Maule, ulitin Lord Panmure, alias the 11th Marl of Dalhous was the subject of a good many tea meeting gossips in country manses. Though his Evangelicalism was about as elastic in certain directions as Samuel Wilberforce's own he took a fancy to have himself made an elder in the Free Church.

Ho had been of great service to the Disruption leaders, and Dr Chalmers himself was not insensible to the merit of a good social figure-head. Lord Panmure had his ambition duly gratified, a church at Brechin having qualified him for standing at the plate and taking part in the reverend deliberations of the General Assembly of the Free Church. But it had not occurred to him that at Brechin the eldership of a church involves many practical duties which recur at least every sevonth It scandalised hU brother elders a little that even when at the castle he should take so little interest in the collections. It terrified them to hear that his Lordship's absence, so far from being attributable to works of necessity and mercy, was due to his being out with his rod and line on the Esk. A deputation wks appointed to wait upon him, anl with great trepidation the rock of offence as revealed.

But instead of a conscience-stricken punitent they found in his Lordship an inveterate Waltonian, who valued a good rise above either the collection or the sanctity of the Sabbath. The Free Kirk Bession pleaded and remonstrated in vain, even threatening the ultimate vengeance of a libel but their titled brother was immovable. A cousin of the Free Kirk Earl was the great tovernor-Genernl of India from 1847 to 1850, and the nnnexer of the Puujaub, from which he derived ons of the few Indian titles ever admitted into the British peerage. In 1849 he was created by a Liberal Ministry, observe you Marquis of the t'unjaub, a distinction which unfortunately died with him. The constitutional question miht have been raised more appropriately in his case than a quarter of a century later with regard to the Empress of India, and the Liberals might have settled it discreetly among themselves.

Perhaps the greatest loss the Scotch peerage lias sustained in our generation was the death of the great Marquis of Dalhcusie without male heirs. Had he left sons they would have taken first rank among the descendants of the Bairds, the Hays, the Wedderburns, the Lyells, and other Indian heroes, with whom North Britain literally teems, the east coast in particular. But the great Marquis left only two daughters, one of whom married Mr Bourke, and the other was the first wife of Sir James Fergusson. With these two prominent Conservatives Lord Ramsay is, therefore, rather nearly connected. From her mother, a daughter of the eighth the Peninsular Marquis of Tweeddale, Lady Susan Bourke inherited the estate of Coats-town, in Haddingtonshire, where Mr Bourke generally lives in autumn.

Some political changes have taken place among the Hays of Tweeddale as well as among the Ramsays. The Peninsular Marquis was as bluff as the Iron Duke himself. His eldest son, who enjoyed the title onlw for a conple of years, was scientific and mildly Conservative. His brother, who succeeded him last year, was the Lord William Hay of Lombard Street and Capel Court, latterly almost as notorious as Lord William Hay of the Haddington Burghs. He is a man of moral suasion, and may have had something to do with the defection of his young relative from the paths of the constitution.

It is clear that the Liberal leaders fully appreciate the value of Lord Ramsay's proclivities in their favour. There was an understanding some time ago in the family that out of respect for his father he should not avow his Liberalism during the old man's life. He is evidently not to be allowed to shelter himself any longer un ler the domestic compromise, and, without affirming it, one might be justified in assuming that the recent raid in Midlothian was the cause of its being broken through. A Luxurious Railway Pabsinger. The World hears that Mr Panmure Gordon is having a Pulman cur constructed for himself, to run betwixt Brighton and London.

Afi -rate cook is to be attached to it, and Mr Gordon contemplates having breakfast, if not dinner, on board" daily. For this luxury the railway company is to charge him 1200 per annum but then he is allowed to carry a certain number of passengers, and these will no doubt combine with him in dividing the expenses. The former was seriously damaged, and was towed into Weymouth. The schooner proceeded own the Channel, without attempting to render assistance. PRINCE LOBANOFF.

The arrival of Prince Lobanoff, the new Russian Ambassador, to the Court of St James's, will be delayed for a few days. His Highness remaining iu Paris for a short time with the Duke and Duchess of i.dinburgh. INDISPOSE riON OF LORD SALISBURY. Lord Salisbury has been confined to his be at Hatfield House since Friday last with a severa attack of bronchitis. His Lordship was consequently unable to attend the Cabinet Council yesterday.

On inquiry at his London residence in Arlington Street last night, tne Pres Association reporter was informed that his Lordship's illness was by no means of a serious nature. He was expected in London yesterday, and preparations were made for his reception. His Lordship, however, remained at Hatfield, though his son, Lord Cran-bo-irne, was in London during the afternoon. A telegram received from Hatlield at half-past six last evening says Lord Salisbury much better." THE LEYCETT COLLIERY EXPLOSION. Our Hanley correspondent telegraphs that the distress anong tho families of the victims daily assumes proportions qnite beyond the reach of local relief.

In one case six children are left almost to starvation. In another, four children, the eldest only 11, are left absolutely alone in the world. A few only were insured in benefit societies, and some families have received substantial relief on policies effected in October, November, and December last, and one the present month. iixtraordinaty charges in connection with the accident are rna but i othitig has at present been as to the cause of the accident. THE BURSCOL'GH RAILWAY COLLISION.

pointsman' CHARGED WITH manslaughter. At the inquest yesterday on the five victims of tho Burscougn railway collision, Mr Maddock, superintendent of pisscnger traffic, stated that Spencer, the pointsman, iu formed him he set the points for the Burs, ougii train to pass when Melia relieved him, and ho saw Melia kick the points back. Witness then asked Melia, who put the points back. He replied i beliave I did, but whetner before or alter the train tot through I cannot siy. The jury at first returned a er ict attributing culpable negligence to th pointsmen, but on the Coroner out that Speucer was off outy, they returne I a verdict implicating Melia who was committed for trial on a charge of manslaughter.

BREACH OF PROMISE CASES. On Friday, at the Hertford Assizes before Lord-Justice Beam well and a common jury the case of Palmer r. Wootton was tried. It was an action brougot by Anna Maria Palmer to recover damages from John Wootton fo the breach of his promise to marry her. The defender pleaded that he bad never made any such promise, and that if he had it was mutually esiindo.i, and he also pleaded that ho not of age when the alleged promise was made.

Mr Murphy, L.C, and Mr Williams were for the plaintiffs; and Mr Serjeant Balluntine and Mr Mayel for the defendaut. Mr Murphy said the plaintiff was a young lady now about years of age, the daughter of a grocer at -Sotheray, in Norfolc, and the defendant was the son of a farmer iu a good position at the same place, and who was about one year younger. it wius not disputed that the promi-e of marriage originally made when the plaintiff was not of age, but the est- for the plaintiff was tint the promise was renewed after he w.s twenty-one. He should produce a number of letters to show that the defend. wit promised to marry the plaintiff after he came ot age.

The intimacy between tne defendant ani the plaintiff was not agreeable to the parents of the former, and they were obliged to meet secretly, and all tho letter! that pawed between them were conveyed by a tiusty messenger and it appeared to have been the practice of tiie defendant not to put any dates to his letters, and the tites to one of th letters that would be guen in evidence was in the plaintiff writing. The plaintiff's lather subsequently got into difficulties, aud removed to Westford, and iu 187U the defendant married another lady, who was stated to be possessed of considerable property thereupon the present action was commenced. The ie irned counsel then read a number of letters of the ordinary character, and they showed that the parties were on very affectionate terms, and that there were expressions in them that amounted to a promise of marriage. The only question in the case was whether these letters written before or after the defendant came of age. At the time the original intimacy commenced the plaintiff was and the defendant lo years old.

in 167o the plaintiff became acquainted with another man. Nothing more appeared to ha taken place between the parties until January, whou the plaintiff wrote a letter to the defendant, claiming L'oOO as damages for the breach of his promise to marry her, and threatening to bring an action against him if he did not comply with her request. Miss Palmer, the plaintiff, was examined, and she spoke to the intimacy that had existed between her and the defendant at Sotherav, in Norfolk. Witness aud her father lived at that pi ce until June, IS71, when her father went to live to i ittleport, and then to Westford, and she accompanied him. The defendant told her that he would come of aje in April She and the defendant were teachers at the Sunday School at Sotheray she used to day the harmonium and he used to teach.

He repeatedly told her that as soon as he was of age and took a farm he would marry her; and after left Sotheray the labourers on the farm of the defendant father used to bring her letters from him. A number of letters written by the defendant were then put in and identified by the witness and she admitted that the date to one of them the 13th March, lS71-was in her writing Lord-Justice Lramwed asked is it was possible for the jury to find that there was an engagement to marry existing between theparties.aftershe ha lhadachild by.iuother man. The jury said they were of opinion that they coold not artiste at such a conclusion. Mr Murphy said the plaintiff was anxious to give her version and explan.it. on of the matters that had neen referred to The plaintiff then said she was delivered of a child in January, 1877, he went to the house of a married man, and while his wife was ahsent at a tea-meeiinc the intimacy place that resulted in of a child.

She had only been in the house a day when the oceu-rtnee took pi and he gave ber to that made her insensible. Ihe jury here interposed, and they did not want to hear any more of the case, and thev returned a verdict for the defendant. Lord -Justice Bramwell said it was about the most impudent action he had eer heard of. It was not pretended that any communication had taken place between the parties for years, and then the action waa brought for the supposed breach of promise to marry In the Sheriff's Court, at York Castle before Mr Gray, deputy-sheriff-on Friday, a jury was asked toassesi the damagesdueinabreaoh-of -promise case Ihe plaintiff was Mrs Catherine Bolton of Sutton, near Thirsk, in the North Riding of Yorkshire and the defendant, Ueorge Bosomworth of the same village The parties were in a respectable sphere of hfe, the plaintiff being a widow, aged 4d keeping a shop at Sutton and the defendant bein a retired farmer The latter was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist body, and through that means he formed the acquaintance of the plaintiff. In December of 1877 the plaintiff wi3 assisting a lady friend of hers named Mrs Wilson, who was ill and at the same time the defendant wa, vhiting that lady, and frequently prayed with her.

Thus plaintiff and de.endant were often thrown together a circumstance which resulted in defendant, in June Dgiher an ofler of mrriage. He said hi should hke to take her with him to Port Natil She considered the proposition, and towards the latter end of the month it was agreed that the? ounbe mted At the defendant's request plaintiff went to considerable expense but a few yLn have taken place he told her that his children did not wish him to marry He added, however, that he would get fv" obJection. was going to Jr. them -200 each, and then he would mar 12 in April of 1879. She agreed to, and didwlit till then having another offer of marriage in the mean-time frorn Mr Wm George Kn.ld, a farmer, 6fSS ton Husth waite The latter, of course, she refuse" th.nkmg it well to be off with the old love before she was on with the new and she had the mvrtiflcation in the month when she wa, to have become the de fendants wife to see him pass her house without looking towards the side of the street it Wa8 on Kvidenee was giren that the defendant, who is 66 years ef age, had acknowledged that he was possessed of between 500 and 600.

The jury gave a verdic for the plaintiff-damages, 60 verdict Norman yesterday won a enp and the amateur skating championship of Engl.n "aseur Lord Ebrington, son of Lord Portsmouth, has retired from the position of Liberal candidate for St Ives in favour of Sir Charles Heed. Yesterday the boiler of a locomotive on the North-Eastern Railway, near Silksworth Colliery, exploded severely scalding the guard and fireman MR PARNELL IN AMERICA. STRONG language. New York, Monday. Mr Parnell delivered a speech to a large assemblage at Buffalo, State of New York, yesterday, in the course of which he denounced both the Duchess of Marlborough's relief fund and the Dublin Mansion House relief organization, because, as he asserted, no relief would be granted from the funds to suaerers who were in default with their rent.

The speaker proceeded to make a violent personal attack upon the principal gentlemen connected with both relief organisations, all of whom he denounced by name. Mr Parnell, in conclusion, expressed his belief that Ireland had a right to a separate nationality, ami that if it were possible to gain this every Irishman's blood should be shed in his country's defence. He did not len whether a peaceful settlement might be obtainable, but if not the landlords must go. Resolutions were then passed calling for abolition of the feudal lan 1 system in Ireland, an I a 6900 dols. subscription was announced.

LORD DERBY ON SCHOOL BOARDS. Yesterday Lord Derby, in distributing the prizes given by the Liverpool Council of Education, said, although only fiv years in existence, the Council now received 1800 in donations and subscriptions, possessed a scholarship fund of 4000, and had founded eightschools of "00 each. Of these five were permanently endowed and two temporarily provided for. Between 1874 and 179 the average attendance at the Liverpool Public Elementary School increased from 40,000 to 40,000. The object had been to avoid corapul-iou as far as possible.

The schools were matte attractive by giving rewards and prizes. It was no use denying the fact that much jealousy existed in some places against extensions of the School Board system, but in England people soon reconciled themselves to the inevitable, and these schools must before long become universal. Cheap, good, and moral teaching could be given quite its effectually under the School Board as elsewhere and though an admirer of Voluntaryism, he held that whou public duty was discharged by voluntary agency alone, it was apt to fall on very few shoulders. REPRESENTATION OF EAST ABERDEENSHIRE. A meeting of the Liberal electors of East Aberdeenshire was held at New Maud yesterday to receive the report of the Council of the United East Aberdeenshire Liberal Association, recommending General Sir A.

H. Gordon, the sitting Member, as the Liberal candidate for the division at next general election. There was a good attendance, and Mr Thorn -on, Dumoreck, presided. The report having been read, it was moved by Mr A. O.

Milne of Ardmiddle, seconded bv Bailie Smith, Peterhead, and unani uously agreed to, to approve of the same, and adopt (ieneral Gordon ns the Liberal candidate accordingly. Both gentlemen expressed, in the name of the meeting, their thanks to Mr Ainslie of Deigaty for accepting the awar i of Mr Gladstone and Lord Harrington and saving a division in the Liberal party. Sir Alexander Gordon then entered the meeting, and the resolution having been intimated to him, expressed his thanks, and gave at some length his views on various agricultural topics. THE REPRESENTATION OF BARNSTAPLE. Am it is expected that the writ for the vacancy caused by Mr Waddy resigning his seat in order to contest Sheffield, will be moved for in the House of Commons on the first day that Parliament meets, both parties have recommenced hard work.

Several ward meetings are to beheld this week, and at an early date there will be a large meeting of Liberals in favour of Lord Lymingtoii. The Conservative candidate is Sir Robert Garden, the London police magistrate. MR MUNDELLA, M.P., ON THE BANKRUPTCY LAWS. At the annual meeting of the Sheffield Chambor of Commerce yesterday, thj President strongly opposed the reciprocity system or the establishment of retaliatory duties in the United States or other importation. Mr Mundella, who was unable to attend owing to a severe bronchial attack, wrote in reference to the Bankruptcy Law, saying that the measure introduced by Government last session was very inade juste, and incomparably inferior to that of the Associated Chambers introduced by Mr Sampson Lloyd.

Mr Mundella's experience led him to distrust measures of bankruptcy reform emanating from great lawyers. They were entirely wanting in the practical experience and technical knowledge which were the for dealing with it. If the law was ever to be made to promote justice and morality in commerce, it was not from the Lord Chancellors or the Ariorney-Generals that the change must come, but from commercial men and their trusted legal advisers. He sincerely hoped it might come soon. Several cows were burned to death at Jersey yesterday.

Prince Bismarck arrived at Berlin from Yarzin last night. The Hon. and Yery ev. Dr Duncombe, Dean of York, expired last night at the Deanery. A Frenchman named Gric quel yesterday received a medal from the Foreign Office for saving the life of a drowning man at Plymouth.

At the Exeter Assizes yesterday, a gentleman of independent means was sentenced to eight years' venal servitude for the manslaughter of his wife by shooting her. Death or a Rhpl-ted Cornish Witch. An ext aordinary but well-authenticated instance of belief in witchcraft comes from St Baaey, Cornwall. A woman named Ream, who the other day, was believed to be a witch, and great difficulty was experienced in getting anyone to bear her to her last resting-place. It was feared, in fact, that tho funeral would have to be postponed, but at the last moment several bricklayers, who happened to be at work in the neighbourhood, were induced to lay down their tools and carry the coffin to the church in their shirt-sleeves.

After the service a like difficulty was experienced iu getting the coffin to the grave, and that duty had at length to be done in a very irregnlar way. The decease of the witch, it is said, has apparently lifted a weight from the minds of many weak persons, one cripple asstrting that he shall now recover, and should never have been a cripple had this poor old woman not iU-wished" him. The U.se ok Iron in Shipbuilding. The fact (says the Pall At til Gazett-) that on the river Wear wooden shipbuilding is dying out is one of the most remarkable signs of the progressive substitution of iron for vessels in place of our wooden walls' More than two centuries ago the adjoining River Tyne was described by a Committee of the House of Commons as the nursery for shipping but in later years the Wear ran it closely in the production of the noted clipper ships prior to the use of iron. When the latter material was introduced into the northern shipbuilding trade, it was first on the Tyne and when the use of iron was general on the Tyne it was far from as general on the Wear, so that the average tonnage of the vessels built grew more rapidly on the former than on the latter.

For years the average tonnage of the vessels built on the ear fluctuated from 330 tons to 470 and it is only within the last dozen years that the average tonnage has exceeded 500 tons. Since iron became generally used on the Wear the overage has risen, one of 10H0 tons being reached in 1872, while in succeeding years the nnmber of wooden vessels built on the river has decreased, and the average tonnage and carrying capacity have increased with the building of heavie iron vessels. Last year only one wooden vessel was built on the Wear, and it may be fairly concluded that with the decay of the trade in its great strong hold in the north its end is not far distant. DUNFERMLINE. Fife Coal Trade.

Both inland and shippina sale orders have now greatly fallen off, und the most of the collieries are stocking coal. The strike of the female workers at St Leonard's orks came to an end on Saturday morning when work was resumed at the old rate and scale of wages. The Rev. Dr Mitch-11 presided on Friday evening the Music Hall over a very successful social meeting of the North Church choir, when over ona hundred ladies and gentlemen sat down to tea. The assembly which followed was also singularly succesa- Police Court.

On Friday, Thomas Kelly and Bridget Kelly were accused of being drunk ou the streets, and were lined us or twenty-four hours. John Mahon and David Blyth were convicted of breach of the peace, and were fined the former 10 or eight and the latter os or three days. Laihe Walker was on the bench. All of the abovo went to prison. Captluf.

uk a Deskrter. After an exciting chase through several streets Constable Harley succ eded capturing on Sunday evening a seaman named Daniel Toshack, who some days ago deserted from H.M.S. 8t Vincent, now stationed at Portsmouth. Toshack passed the bar of the Poli-e Court yesterday, and will in due course be sent on to Portsmouth. Kir.KLAND.

Soibhe. There was a fruit soiree in the village hall here on Friday evening for the children attending the Sunday School. This hall was long tho Tillage school. The School Board put tip a school and schoolbouse at Crossroads. While it was in the course of erection, Mr John Dnnnan, who had been for Pwds of half a century, died on the 19th August, 1875.

He kept a Sunday evening class. The school belonging to the Messrs Peters was afterwards altered at a considerable cost and made into a hall. Sometime ago a few in the place who take an interest in Christian work organised a Sunday School, and through the kindness of the Messrs Peters got the use of it free of charge. The superintendent, Mr Robert Hain, who presided at tne soiree, stated that there were 63 scholars and 7 teachers. Short and useful add esses were given by Messrs Sottie, Stewart, and Dunsire, Buckhaven Messrs Gnnett and Grant, Leven and Mr Master-ton, teacher, Crossroads School house.

The muslo was led by Mr Walker's choir, and there was a large attendance..