With the old year terminated the licence to hold public
gaming- houses in Paris. Laos Dco .1 It was painful to see the players, for the lessees of those hells were not the only mourners for their expirirg privilege. The consciousness that with the last stroke of the cloak at twelve would cease every chance to recover that which they ought to have previously known wap irrecoverably lost, added to the anguish of seeing literally their last stake wrung from them. The events of the week just closed at the gaming-houses were appalling. One per- son, tt hom I shall not designate, lost within that time 10,000/. (British) in the more reeherelli: of the hells ; while tens of thousands of work- men, servante, thieves, and labourers, were stripped of every farthing they could raise, rap, rut:, or rub at the pandemonium, No. 113, Palais Royal. A person well known on the Bourse won 10,000 francs at Frascati, on Saturday night, :.'8d ult. Pe said lie was then sure of " breaking the bank." He did not keep his word or his money, how- ever; for he lost 10,000f. on Sunday, 20,000f. on Tuesday, 10,000f. on Wednesday, 20,000 f. on Thursday, said 10,000 f. on Friday, and is, they say, a defaulter at the Bourse. Another wretched man (for he must have been wretched) threw down, at Frascati, on Saturday night last, a bank-note of 1,000f. A " 31 apres" turned up. In a paroxysm of despair, he seized his half-lost billet, thrust it into his mouth, and swallowed it. He was instantly made prisoner, and given into the hands of the Police ; but either from policy or humanity, the lessees of the gambling. houses, who have never proved themselves harsh or severe with the thousands of unhappy people who from time to time have attempted frauds upon them, caused him first to be helped to a glass of water, (for he was suffo- cating,) and then set at liberty. I shall close my reference to this hor- rible effair by stating, that rumours are afloat that the Government will be empowered by the Chambers to license two public giunbling-houses. I doubt it ; although there can be no question that private gambling will increase beyond calculation.—Paris Correspondent of the Times.
The splendid and unique medallion of Dioclesian, which formed part of M. Minaut's collection of antiquities, has just been purchased by the Royal Library at Paris, for 3,000 francs.
Le Commerce mentions a rumour, that the Grand Dutchess Olga of Russia was about being wedded to the Duke of Bordeaux ; and adds, that negotiations were on foot for the matrimonial union of the heir apparent of the Russian throne and the Princess Clementina of Ba- varia.
Thorwaldsen, the sculptor, has had the freedom of the city of Mayence sent him, in acknowledgment of his beautiful monument of Gutten berg. The city of Athens has sent a beautiful golden goblet to the King of Bavaria, together with a vote of thanks, for his contribution to the endowment of a hospital in that city.
The King of Prussia has ordered a new Catholic church to be erected in Berlin, as a proof that the proceedings against the Arch- bishop of Cologne were not dictated by religious bigotry.
The old Russian party at St. Petersburg are said to be annoyed by the establishment of an entail property in favour of Count Benketi. dorf, a German of distinction in the Emperor's service.
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