21 JANUARY 1854, Page 4

CO Violating.

Sir Robert Harry Inglis, who for twenty-five years has represented the University of Oxford in the House of Commons, announces his inten- tion of resigning his seat, in the usual way, as soon as Parliament meets. At a Convocation, held at Oxford on Monday, the Senior Proctor read the following letter addressed by Sir Robert to the Vice-Chancellor.

"My dear Mr. Vice-Chancellor—It is my painful duty to request your permission to retire from the service of the University in the House of Com- mons ; a service which I have found to be alike honourable and delightful, and in which I should have rejoiced to have been enabled to continue longer ; but a warning in the state of my health, since my return from the Continent in October last, compels me, according to the judgment of my medical ad- viser, formally delivered to me a few days ago, to withdraw from the labour of the post in which the favour of Convocation has placed me in nine suc- cessive Parliaments.

"I still enjoy, thank God, that measure of strength which may be equal --to other duties in other stations. I have even well considered, before making this formal communication, whether I might not have lingered as one of your -burgesses in my place in Parliament—withdrawing from every other work there except that which was directly connected with my immediate share in the representation of the University. But the distinction is often so fine between the obligations which might devolve upon me in that character, and the obligations which must belong to me as one of the general bay of the House, that, having undertaken the whole I cannot now deceive myself with the belief that I could consistently retain the one portion and system- atically neglect the other. " Though a vacancy cannot literally take place till the House of Com- mons shall, be reassembled, I feel it to be lay duty to intimate thus early my respectful wishes and intentions.

"I will not affect to deny that I abandon the House of Commons with ' -considerable reluctance. I have received a very large share of kindness on -all sides—without, I hope, any sacrifice of my own opinions. But my chief Reeling arises from the severance of my connexion with the University. While I live, I hope ever to remember with the deepest gratitude the unabated in- dulgence with which you and your predecessors, and the whole constituency, have accepted my endeavour to discharge the trust confided to me. To the fulfilment of that trust I claim to have brought nothing except watchfulness and labour; I may, perhaps, add, an adherence to those principles which, as already set forth by me in my previous course in Parliament, originally in- duced the University, a quarter of a century ago, to place me where I have since continued to sit. "The experience of this unexampled confidence, while it increases my gratitude to those who have conferred it, increases also my regret at my separation from them ; and if I could have hoped hereafter to serve them as in the long period of my previous engagement, I should not now have felt it necessary to place.at the disposal of Convocation the greatest honour and one of the greatest enjoyments of my life—my seat as one of their burgesses in the House of Commons.

"I have the honour to be, my dear Mr. Vice-Chancellor, with the greatest respect, your most obliged and most grateful servant,

" 7, Bedford Square, Jan. 13, 1854. ROBERT HARRY INGLIS." As soon as the resignation was made public, the respective parties in the University went to work to find candidates. An old correspondent gives a faithful account of the subsequent proceedings of the Gladstone party from a local point of view. It will be seen that the candidateship of Sir William Heatheote is regarded as a compromise by the Oxford Liberals.

"It is now virtually settled that Sir W. Heatheote is to be the candidate of the Gladatonites. A meeting here on Saturday gave the preference to Roundel]. Palmer by 2 to 1: a somewhat thin one, of course, as it is vaca- tion-time, but respectable, (there were 21 present,) and representing, so far as one can judge, the feelings of Gladstone's resident supporters. We found, however, that in London it had been ruled otherwise. Palmer, on being applied to, said that he could not come into competition with Heathcote, who had great claims on the party, and was thought the most desirable candidate by his London friends. One of these friends (Sir Stafford Northcote) came down to a second meeting here on Monday morning, to explain their view ;— which in effect was, that Heathcote, though not so able as Palmer, as sufficiently good ; that his services as Chairman of Gladstone's andon London on three occasions merited the acknowledgment ; that he was likely to provoke no opposition, or if any, a less formidable one ; and that seeing he was the more desirable of the two as a colleague for Gladstone, who is looked on with distrust by the 'moderate' part of the House, as too clever by half,' and consequently wants to be balanced by one who has a character for 'moderation,' not by a double of himself. After much discus- sion, we resolved not to give up Palmer ; though by a diminished majority, the result mainly of an influx of non-resident Heathcotites. But we felt that the game was up, and were not surprised when Palmer re- peated his decision on a second application. The only hope now is the forlorn one of putting before Heathcote the fact that the residents prefer Palmer : but as he has already been written to by Sir Staf- ford Northcote, and expresses his willingness to come forward, much i will not be done by that in the face of his London advisers. You will under- stand bow mortified I feel at this result, at least if you take my view of the respective pretensions of the two men. Surely it is too much to reward Heathcote with a seat because he was of great use in procuring the return of the other Member—to make the constituency pay (as was said in the course of rather a sharp discussion this morning) the bills of the last election. After all the enthusiasm called out by Gladstone's triumph, it is a little humbling to be shown the other side of the tapestry, and find that we must make a compromise with Derbyite or quasi-Derbyite High Churchmanship. For myself, I am glad that I can now call myself one of Gladstone's sup- porters, especially having seen how uneasy his developments are making some of his friends ; but I think you will see some justice in my objections to the tactics of his party. Whether they will secure their man is doubtful. The other side keep very quiet; but it is understood that they have applied to Lord Robert Cecil, whose election at All Souls was so much commented on last term."

A committee to forward the election of Sir William Heathcote is formed under the chairmanship of Dr. Williams, Warden of New College: it has issued an address describing Sir William as a faithful adherent of the principles of the constitution—willing to improve " our most valued in- stitutions," but ready to defend them against injurious attacks.

Lord Robert Cecil has not, so far as we are aware, consented to stand. It is even said that an application has been made to Sir John Pakington.

The National Public School Association held a conference at Manchester on Wednesday, which was well and influentially attended. Mr. Alex- ander Henry presided, and Mr. Milner Gibson and Mr. Cobden were present. The latter was the chief speaker, but there was no lack of ora- tors. Mr. Samuel Lucas congratulated the meeting on the position the question had gained ; and he moved the first resolution, which declared the inadequacy of existing means of instruction, and that funds for schools should be raised by local rates and controlled by a local com- mittee. Mr. Cobden made his speech in seconding this resolution. People say the Association ignore the vast number of school-houses already built : but they never do that. Why, Government has paid a mil- lion sterling out of the taxes for building schools during the last twenty years—the schools have not been built by the voluntary system ; and the Association always contemplated making use of them. It is said that the voluntary system has educated the people : "I will call it the involuntary system," said Mr. Cobden. "The voluntary system has not educated the people ; and there is one bold staring fact which Mr. Lucas has mentioned— the fact that in 1850, 33 per cent of the men married in this country and 46 per cent of the women married in this country could not sign their names to the marriage-register, but were obliged to make their marks : there is that one fact in answer to the assertion that the voluntary system has educated the people. And when you hear these astounding statistics, bear in mind what they mean. They do not mean that any proportion of the higher and middle classes cannot write their names. The under-graduates of Oxford and Cambridge do not make their marks when they get married ; your pro- fessional men and merchants, and the great bulk of the middle class and shopkeepers, who have dealings with trade, and have bills to sign, don't make their marks because they are unable to write their names, and their sons are educated sufficiently to sign their names to the marriage-register : so that, when you say that 33 per cent of the young men who get mar- ried cannot write their names, it means that a great deal more than half of the labouring population of this country are unable to write their names." The labouring classes are, indeed, so utterly wanting in education, that the mechanics' institutes are compelled to become schools of elementary instruc- tion. " I want secular instruction to be separated from religious instruc- tion, because I want secular instruction to be improved. It is quite impos- sible for the schoolmaster to do justice to secular instruction if he is to give religions instruction as well. Secular instruction is quite enough for him, and you have no'right to ask him to fulfil the duties of a religious teacher ; and it is idleness on the part of the teachers of religion to seek for aueh an evasion of their own duties If you separate secular from religious education, you will do what you have done in every other pursuit of life— improve the quality by a division of labour. And where do I find my ex- ample to prove it ? We have now a few secular schools ; there have been a few schools established owing to the munificence of an individual—Mr. Ellis ; the schools called the Birkbeck Schools in London, and a school in Edinburgh also, the Williams's School. Well, now, I have seen these schools : they don't profess to give religious instruction ; they don't profess to oppose religious instruction ; but they say, we profess only to give secular instruction here, and you must get your religions education elsewhere. Well, but there cannot be a doubt that the quality of the instruction given in those schools is vastly superior to that ordinarily given in other schools for working people." Several other gentlemen addressed the Conference. The resolutions agreed to declared that schools, to be permanently satisfactory, must not confer sectarian advantages ; that "industrial schools" must form part of a system of public instruction ; that a permissive bill should be introduced and pressed forward in Parliament ; and that provision should be made in the bill to include existing schools.

The public meeting in the evening, which, as is usual on these occa- sions, followed the Conference, was held at the Mechanics' Institute ; Mr. Absolom Watkin in the chair. The principal speakers were the Borough Members and Mr. Cobden ; but the significant fact which makes the meeting memorable is the appearance of Mr. John Bright on the platform of the Public School Association. Hitherto Mr. Bright had stood between that body and the " Voluntaries " ; but henceforth he will advocate secular education in accordance with the principles of the Asso- ciation. All the speakers seemed elate with their prospects. Mr. Bright, in explaining what induced him to join the Association, put in the van of his reasons the fact that there now seems a prospect of? doing something. He combated with great -vigour the arguments of Mr. Baines and Mr. Miall, who contend that State interference enfeebles a people, decreases their freedom, and destroys the springs of voluntary exertions. He pointed to the example of the people of the United States, who certainly are not less free or less strong because they have a system of public education. Both Mr. Bright and Mr. Gibson strongly insisted on the material ele- ments of the scheme of the Association, local rates, local management, and liberty of conscience.

" Why," said Mr. Gibson, " were their municipalities to be deprived of the power of managing the schools, when the constitution vested in them so many important powers of governing in their different localities? Why was the Committee of the Council to direct all the important principles of man- agement of these schools, so that the local municipal bodies would become mere agencies for carrying out the routine of business pointed out by the Committee of Council in London ? It could never be agreed to ; and it was entirely at variance with the policy which had been pursued in this coun- try, upon which they were wont to pride themselves when they talked of the confusion and disorders of other states. If there was one thing more im- portant than another to be kept in the hands of the people—if they were to be rated for it—it was the management of their schools ' • that they might not, supported by public taxes, be made the instrument of circulating any particular views which the Government might desire, and so be open to the reproach which such schoea were open to in foreign countries, where, al- though there was a public education, yet, being directed by and in the hands of the Government, it was very often moulded to purposes adverse to the true interests of the people."

Mr. Cobden endeavoured to show the error of Mr. Baines in regarding the question of education as one inseparably connected with the opera- tions of religious training. There are five millions of people in Great Britain who do not go either to church or chapel ; how can religious or- ganizations reach them ? It is said that secular education will promote infidelity : no such thing—the first step to bring these people to the churches and chapels will be to tempt their children to schools. Mr. Cobden declared his disbelief in the existence of active scepticism in the country : all the sceptics could be put into a drawingroom, and be as harmless a clique as any drawingroom ever contained. Dr. M'Kerrow and Dr. Watts also addressed the meeting. It lasted till a late hour.

At the annual meeting of the Manchester Commercial Association, the President, Mr. Aspinall Turner, opened the proceedings with a speech touching on two of the most interesting topics of the day—the strikes, and the coming war. He pointed out the importance of capital as an ele- ment in production; and combated the fallacy of the working-men, that the capitalist owes his fortune solely to his operatives, and shares unduly in the profits of trade. There is a contest for the market itself ; and one effect of the attacks on capital, both by the workmen and by legislation, would be to drive capital from the country. He himself had been asked to commence works out of England; but he was not un-English enough to do so. If we do not fight

the battle with energy, we shall lose it. He had heard for some time ru- mours of war. It is a new cry in this country, and one which it is very much to be lamented we have heard raised amongst us. The Government of the country have shown wonderful forbearance in endeavouring to stave off any possibility of our being engaged in war. Some people think that they have been rather too cautious—too dilatory in their proceedings : but he was willing to attribute only the best motives ; for certainly war in any form is one of the most disastrous events both for the comfort of this country and that in which it may be carried on. We scarcely know what war is in this country, and long may it be before we have it located upon our shores. It will be disastrous whenever it takes place. He believed we little know, and he thought our opponents, if we are to have them, little know, the strength and power which could be put forth when England is really roused to the force she possesses. He hoped, if we were drawn into this position, that we should not use the power ineffectually ; he hoped, in mercy, we should use it strongly ; he hoped every effort would be made by Government to carry. on the war with vigour, so that it might speedily end ; and he hoped further, that the public would not begrudge the expense it may be necessary to incur in order that the dignity of the nation may be maintained. He Was speaking amongst merchants and manufacturers likely to suffer by the destruction of trade that would occur ; but as this country has carried on Wars, perhaps less necessary or justifiable, on former occasions, without hin- derance, so he hoped the community the gentlemen he saw around him re- presented would never embarrass the Government by unnecessary complaints of the expense incurred, and that their patriotism would lead them to endure whatever evils war thus originated may bring upon them. (Cheers.) Mr. Ross, vice-chairman of the meeting, mentioned that British capital is already finding investment in establishments on the banks of the Rhine.

A new " trade school" has been recently established by the exertions of Sir James Kay Shuttleworth, of Gawthorpe Hall, near Padiham : on the 11th instant it was inaugurated by a tea-party in the baronial hall at Gawthorpe. About two hundred persons were present ; scientific dia- grams adorned the walls in the place of weapons of war ; and the choirs of three neighbouring churches lent their aid. After the removal of the evening feast, Sir James Shuttleworth delivered a long speech, showing the mischief of strikes, and calling upon the manufacturers of the district to help in carrying on the school, by which the working men would be disabused of the fallacious doctrines out of which strikes arise. Going very fully into the subject of the relation of capital and labour, and mi- nutely into a history of strikes, Sir James showed that there had been a great improvement in the character of these proceedings ; opinion and sympathy doing now what violence did in former times. He also stated, from personal knowledge, that the Germans look upon our strikes as the ulcer of our manufacturing system, which will enable them to obtain our commerce by expelling capital from the cotton-trade. With respect to the solution of the difficulty, Sir James said-

" The true solution of this great danger of trades unions appears to me to have a twofold relation. It is to be sought, first, by an increase of the in- telligence and knowledge of the entire operative population. It would be impossible to calculate the mere commercial gain of weaning the working men from gross living and from sottish habits ; in causing earnings to be ex- pended in rent, furniture, food, and clothing, which are now wasted in drink unclouding the brains of our energetic Northern population of all the fumes of the alehouse, and to the improved health and vigour of a more re- gular life, adding the light of a well-ordered education But we can only approach such a solution of our present difficulties by successive steps. We have to build better cottages, or improve those which exist ; we have to provide for the sanitary condition of our streets and towns; we have steadily to create a system of national education, accessible to all; we have to lead the population forward in social and political knowledge, and to a higher sense of religious duty. My second point, therefore, is, that these benefits should flow from the middle and higher classes. They should be- come the means of welding together the operative and the capitalist by a sense of benefits conferred. The workmen who are inaccessible to reasoning on abstract truths, and even slow to be taught by experience, may be more open to kindly sympathies. They may be able to see when their masters strive to raise them in intelligence and comfort, and to provide rewards for fidelity, skill, and capacity. They are sooner to be won by the heart than by the head. A master who ceases to think that his workmen are a part of his machinery, and is impressed with the conviction that they are beings for whose destiny, morally and socially, he must give account when the secrets of all hearts are laid open, will have solved the mystery of trades unions."

Dr. Lyon Playfair also delivered an address, inculcating and illus- trating the necessity for a knowledge of "common things."

The school thus founded offers the youth of the district, between the ages of seven and fifteen, a sound course of instruction at fifteen shillings a quarter ; and additional instruction in the higher branches of science, such as algebra, surveying, mining, and chemistry, at an additional charge of ten shillings a quarter, or two shillings for each additional subject taught.

Active steps for levying the Coast Volunteers are in progress. Captain Sheringham, commander of the Western division, extending from Gosport to Weston-super-Mare, and commissioned to raise 2000 men, addressed a number of seafaring men at Plymouth on Monday. He told them that we are on the eve of a very severe conflict, and it is the duty of every man to defend his own home and hearth. They would be drilled for twenty- eight days at the utmost ; they would be paid ten shillings on entering, and one-and-sevcnpence a day on drill, with a guinea at the end. Every twenty-fifth man would become a petty officer; and when sick they would be taken to the Naval Hospital. Fifty men had already volunteered : should ten thousand, the whole number required, not volunteer, England would look contemptible in the eyes of Russia, and the Admiralty would be compelled to go to Parliament and get power to ballot. They would never be taken more than one hundred leagues from shore : if an enemy came, they beat him back—if he did not come, they stay at home. Several men volunteered on the spot.

In reply to a circular addressed by Lord Palmerston to the Mayors of all the towns on the Tyne and Wear, inquiring whether they were aware of any construction of vessels in those ports for the Russian Government, the Mayor of Sunderland states that there are no vessels of the kind building at that port ; but the Mayor of Tynemouth has ascertained that in the Tyne two iron vessels, 140 feet in the keel, are in construction, built ostensibly for a Russian mercantile house, but in reality, it is sur- mised, for the Russian Government.

The funeral of Lord Beresford took place on Tuesday, in the district church of the parish of Goudhurat, in the presence of a numerous and distinguished company of mourners ; among whom may be mentioned, Mr. Beresford Hope, chief mourner, and Lord Hardinge. Not the least interesting incident in the ceremony was performed by John Blunt, a veteran soldier, who lost a leg at Albuera. He sprinkled the earth on the coffin containing the remains of his old commander.

There was a great Protestant demonstration at Liverpool on Monday' against Popery, the " deadly antagonist." The meeting-place was de- corated with flags, evergreens, and a portrait of Lord Roden. The stewards wore scarfs, and the ladies rosettes of the orthodox orange hue. Mr. T. H. Liddell, one of the Members of the borough, was received with the Kentish fire. He made a moderate speech ; agreeing in the necessity of opposing Popery, but inculcating principles of toleration. The old freemen of Liverpool are known as one of the most corrupt bodies of the kingdom ; the Liberals have got up a petition to Parliament praying for inquiry with a view to their disfranchisement. The peti- tion sets forth the report of a Committee of the House of Commons, showing that, in 1830, the Parliamentary election cost each candi- date 40,0001. and upwards, and that 2661 individual freemen were bribed. In consequence of that report, a bill passed the House of Com- mons disfranchising the Liverpool freemen, but it was thrown out by the House of Lords. The petition further shows, that both in 1852 and 1853 the vast majority of the freemen who voted polled on the winning side, while the votes of the burgesses were pretty equally divided. And, as the prosecution of petitions is very costly to private individuals, the peti- tioners pray that a Special Commission may issue to investigate the case, with a view to disfranchising the freemen. The Cambridge Town-Council are about to petition the House of Commons to adopt stringent measures for the more effectual suppression of electoral corruption.

Mr. Hadfield, one of the Members for Sheffield, met his constituents on Thursday morning, and rendered an account of his work during the last session. In the evening there was to be a banquet and political gather- ing. Mr. Roebuck had written to say that the state of his health would not permit him to attend.

The Bishop of Manchester has presented the Free Library in his cathedral city with copies of the Scriptures in twenty different languages. Mi. Ogden, honorary secretary of the Manchester Athenaeum, has been presented with a piece of plate and a valuable set of books, on his retire- ment from that post.

A hint is expressed in some of the provincial papers that Archdeacon Denison is about to secede from the Anglican communion. Preparations are in progress at Liverpool to give the British Association a proper reception next summer. The committee appointed for that pur- pose has already collected 3001.—about a third of the amount required.

time since, tha Corporation of Bridgewater petitioned the Privy Council against the removal of the Assizes of the county of Somerset from Bridgewater ; but a letter from the Privy Council in reply to the petition informs them that the Queen has been pleased to approve an order direct- ing the Assizes to be held in future at Taunton and Wells.

A long-continued cessation of work and wages at Preston is telling severely on the operatives and the tradesmen : years will not efface the traces of the disasters of this period. Meanwhile, the struggle goes on; masters and men placard the walls with statements and counter-state- ments ; and the unemployed .receive their three thousand pounds a week in the shape of subscriptions. Several employers now assert that they paid before the strike higher wages than the vaunted "Blackburn prices." The locked-out operatives of Bury make known that they are in a la- Inefitit'uie condition from want, and they call upon the working classes to assist them. For a long time they have had but two meals a day, lying late abed in order to dispense with breakfast ; but, sooner than give up the 10 per cent which is in dispute, they will lie abed till four in the afternoon, and exist on but one meal daily. At the present moment the manufacturers of Bury are at liberty to make terms individually with their workmen ; but the workmen have generally refused the pay offered. Some of the locked-outs have been arrested for intimidating a few weavers who had gone to work at Mr. Walker's ; but the proceedings have been adjourned, with a view to drop- ping them if no further misbehaviour occurs.

The colliers round Bradford demanded an advance of wages—the fourth within a brief period ; and some of the owners granted it; others resisted, and the men have turned out. There is also a strike of miners near Wakefield.

The cloth-bleachers at Barnsley, at the end of the year, asked for an increase of wages and a diminution of the hours of labour. Last week, the masters had a conference with delegates appointed by the men : the employers offered to reduce the hours, and to increase wages for " over hours ' : this did not satisfy the delegates and their clients, and notice was given of a strike.

At Wigan, on Saturday, there were still 1000 hands out on strike, and 900 at Hindley ; one mill had been reopened at the latter place. The Wigan Magistrates have resolved that the company of infantry stationed in their town can now be dispensed with, as there is no probability of any further serious disturbances.

The worsted-weavers at Mr. Lund's mill at Keighley, after a twenty- weeks strike, have decided to return to work at the old wages.

There is a new movement among the artisans of Portsmouth Dockyard for an increase of wages : they complain that high prices have reduced them almost to the starving point.

The iron trade is reported to be in a very prosperous condition. The orders for iron in South Staffordshire are large, and taken reluctantly at present prices. In some cases there has been an advance, and it is ex- pected to become general.

The Magistrates of Tiverton have made a decision of some interest to the railway world. Clarke, a commercial traveller, took a ticket from Welling- ton to the Tiverton junction, but proceeded on to Exeter. At the Exeter ticket-station, ' he tendered eightecnpence, the fare from Tiverton junction to Exeter, at the same time handing in his ticket. But as the through fare from Wellington to Exeter was one shilling more, the ticket-taker demanded half-a-crown. This was refused ; Clarke was summoned, and fined 21. and costs. The dodge adopted by Clarke is not uncommon.

Lord Palmerston has written to the Mayor of Exeter, requesting that • officer to transmit to the Home Office an accurate report of the outbreak, known as the " bread riots" ; and also to Mr. Bere, the County Magistrate who gave the troops authority to proceed beyond the boundaries of the city. Both reports have been promptly furnished.

After the Exeter Magistrates had committed thirty persons, last week, ibr having been engaged in the bread riot, thirteen others, male and female, were arrested, some of whom have since been sent to prison for trial. It appears that real want had little to do with these outrages ; many who were the first to engage in them having been drunken women or young thieves of the other set. The example set by the mob at Exeter has been followed at Newton Abbot and Bishop's Morchard : the rioters at the latter place were railway navvies. Special constables soon quelled the disturbances.

A number of lawless fellows have got up a "food-riot " at Taunton,— emptying sacks of corn, pelting the butchers, and compelling butter-dealers to lower their prices. 'After a time the authorities dispersed the mob.

Isabella Crosier, a gipsy, has murdered an infant, in Bishop Auckland Workhouse, by striking its head against the mantelpiece. It was at first believed that it was her own child ; but it turns cut that it belonged to a poor woman named Thompson, of Sunderland, who had hired the wretch to nurse it: Crosier stole it.

The inquest at Harling on three of the sufferers by the collision on the Eastern Counties Railway terminated with a verdict of "Manslaughter" against Mr. Latham and Mr. Ashcroft, the officers of the railway who had i charge of the train which proceeded on the up-line from Hurling in spite of express orders to the contrary. There has been a sixth victim to this " accident " : Mr. Ellison, the ba- rometer-maker of Norwich, died on Saturday. The inquest was begun, at Thetford, on Tuesday : there was nothing new in the evidence; and the in- quiry was adjourned.

There was a collision on the Great Northern Railway, at Knaresborough junction, on Saturday evening. The Edinburgh express ran into a coal- train which was crossing the line ; a first-class carriage was smashed, and four passengers were hurt. The disaster is ascribed to the want of a signal- man : coals had but recently been carried on the Knaresborough branch, and a signal-man had not been appointed at the junction for night duty.

A drunken man, a labourer at the railway, has indulged in a perilous freak at Birkenhead ; he took possession of a locomotive with the steam up, drove up and down the line at great speed, and finished by driving his en- gine into another that was stationary. The drunkard escaped unhurt. A Chancery suitor has died of starvation at Bedminster. William Waters- had amassed considerable property, and at his death he bequeathed the bulk of it to his niece, Elizabeth Waters. Other relatives disputed the will, and theproperty got into Chancery. Elizabeth Waters retained possession of her uncle's house ; in the course of years it became dreadfully dilapidated ; Eli. zabeth sold nearly all the furniture to buy food ; she occasionally got em- ployment as a sempstress, but her poverty was very great. Recently, after she had not teen seen for a week, she crawled to a neighbour's—she was dying of cold and hunger ; and the food and fuel which were immediately provided came too late to save her.

At Luton, Bedfordshire, an old man named Adams, an itinerant preacher against drunkenness, wes found in his room a few days ago in the last stage of starvation. He is supposed to have voluntarily shut himself up for the purpose of terminating his life; and he very nearly succeeded in his attempt. He is now under the care of his friends.

A still was recently discovered in the church of Euxton, near Chorley, concealed under the pulpit. The minister of the parish ordered it to be removed to the vestry. When the excise-officers heard of it, they made a search and found a part of the still in the pantry, and another part in the coach-house of the parsonage. The remainder was discovered under a heap of other things in a vestry cupboard.

Messrs. Thomson Brothers and Sons, calico-printers of Clitheroe, have failed for a large amount—variously stated at from 60,0001. to 120,0001. The firm was one of the oldest in the trade.

The lambing season in the Southern counties has commenced well.

The lower parts of Doncaster have been visited by a flood, from the melt- ing of the snow, which greatly swelled the Don. Muth damage has been done, but no lives have been sacrificed.

Mr. Collinson, a farmer of Teesdale, has perished in the snow. His faith- ful dog remained by him, scraped the snow from his face, nestled on his breast, and never left his corpse till the searchers approached.

A French vessel has been wrecked off Lyme Regis. A life-boat put out to aid ; some of the crew got on board the ship ; a squall capsized her, and she fell on to the life-boat; one of the men in the boat was drowned, but the rest righted her, and, with the Frenchmen, got to land.

A farmer's son has been drowned at Exeter by walking into the basin in the dark : a thin crust of ice had formed on the water, on to which he stepped, not perceiving that he was quitting the quay.

Some portion of the East Cliff at Dover was removed last week by means of mines fired by electricity. The object was to prevent dangerous falls of the chalk, and to prepare for the formation of a new road to the South Foreland meadows.

An old woman and a girl have been suffocated at Haygate, near Burnley, in consequence of the room in which they lived-having a very smoky chim- ney.