gbe girobintes.

The Magistrates and Police of Manchester have for some time past been vigilantly watching the proceedings of the Confederates there; and it has been known that the Club organization has become compact and exten- sive, so as even to combine various districts and towns for a large space of country. It seems to have been arranged that a demonstration should be made in several places. At Ashton, an actual outbreak occurred on Monday night. A great number of men, armed chiefly with pikes, also to some extent with fire- arms, suddenly issued from places of resort in which they had met, and held a position in one of the suburbs for some time; only separating at last under an impression that their plans had miscarried. A body of them, traversing the streets, came upon a policeman named Bright, and in a short time killed him. Warren, an old man who gave "unwilling" evi- dence, described his death as having been perpetrated in a very coldblooded manner, with pikes. The Police had been on permanent guard, night, and day, at the Town-hall for some time; and men had been posted all night in the belfries of the churches, to toll the bells on a signal, for the gather- ing-of the specifd constables. The signal was given, and messengers were sent off to the military at the Moseley Barracks. The messenger came on a sentinel, who fled; he then came on a body of armed men drawn across the road, busy making a barricade of carts and tim- ber; seeing which, he rode back to the Town-hall. Five other messengers were started by different routes, and at last some hun- dred special constables assembled, and marched towards the barricades. The conspirators had disappeared. A number of weapons were picked up. It seems that the conspirators expected to be joined by numbers from neighbouring towns, and that being disappointed in this they dis- persed. A party of them went towards Hyde, and on their way seized on two pieces of light artillery kept on the lawn at Dukenfield Lodge, the residence of Mr. Hindley, M.P.; dragged them some way, and left them. On Tuesday morning the whole affair seemed to have passed off; and the Magistrates took prompt measures to arrest offenders. A Police inquiry, and the Coroner's inquest on the body of Bright, are adjourned.

In Manchester itself, on Tuesday, a number of arrests were made. Three hundred armed Police, the Fourth Regiment of Royal Irish Dragoons, and two companies of the Thirtieth Foot, invested all the known gathering places of the Confederates and Physical Force Chartists, and arrested every person found in them. Some fifteen were taken to the Town-hall. All the Club papers and books, and a quantity of arms, were seized.

On Wednesday, the prisoners were eitamined by the Magistrates. There were six Englishmen, eight Irishmen, and a Scotchman. Mr. Pollock the barrister appeared, and called for their remand on charges of sedition: the Assizes began that day, and it was impossible to go fully into the cases then. Mr. Roberts, "the Miners' Attorney-General," defended the pri- soners. Some of them were arrested without warrant, and he demanded that a prima facie case at least should be shown. It was determined to liberate the whole on bail; those arrested without warrant, on their own security for 201.; those arrested on warrant, upon their giving two securi- ties for that amount each, to appear and answer the charges next Wednesday.

Two Irishmen were arrested at Birmingham on Thursday, for uttering a seditious speech at a "People's Hall" meeting. They were remanded by the Magistrates.

Cuddy and O'Brien, two Irishmen at Liverpool, some time since arrested with arms upon them, were committed on Monday, to be tried for treason- able conspiracy. Important correspondence was found at the abode of one of them, which implicates other persons.

The sectional meetings of the British Association afford a few gleanings of interesting science and art. Mr. Scott Russell related to the section of Physical and. Mathematical Science some singular accoustic facts. A bell heard by a person in a railway train rapidly advancing towards the bell is far louder than when heard at similar distances from stationary points; and a sound heard by a retreating listener fades with dis- proportionate rapidity.

Sir David Brewster read a paper entitled "An Examination of Bishop Berke- ley's Theory of Vision." He contested the theory that the idea of distance is purely the result of experience, and supported the opinion that "there is a line of distance impressed naturally on the retina." Berkeley's idea, that the line of distance, stretching lengthways from the eye, is to the sight only a point, would be true only in case the section of the line was equal to or exceeded the diameter of the pupil. In the human eye, the line representing distance is distinctly re- presented on the retina, and is visible throughout the whole of its length. And even had Berkeley's idea been true, it could only be so where one eye was used. The facts observed in cases of persons suddenly restored to vision by couching, are abnormal and untrustworthy. Infants have ideas of distance, for they do not reach out for the sun and moon; and ducklings run to the distant water when, hatched, and do not endeavour to breast it as if it were already Nvithin reach. Some new facts militate against Berkeley's theory. When a person takes hold of a cane-bottomed chair, and directs the axes of his eyes through the pattern to some point on the floor, the pattern of the woven cane is seen in a position where it is not, and by no effort of the mind can it be seen where it really is. The same illusion occurs when the eyes are directed steadily to the paper of a room, when the pattern is regularly placed in vertical stripes. Dr. Whewell de fended the Berkelevan theory of vision; contending that the facts stated by Sir David Brewster had been known before, and that they confirmed instead of over- throwing the theory. With reference to the vision of animals, he said that could not be adduced against the Berkeleyan theory, as it was an exhibition merely of instinct, or the nature of which we know nothing. It might as well be said that children do not walk by experience and practice, because some animals ran about front the moment of their birth.

In the Chemical section, Dr. Faraday, commenting on some electrical plias- nomena, stated that the two hypotheses of a single or a double fluid agent in electricity are as much a moot point now as in Franklin's time: each can be equally well supported. He was disposed to think electricity consisted of two antazonist forces; but of their nature he admitted his complete ignorance. Mr. R. Hunt stated some points resulting from experiments with the daguerreo- type apparatus: among others, it seems probable that the pluenomena of the pictures are in nowise dependent on light! Professor Grove thought it probable that the eyes of different animals received specific effects from similar, causes; so that light to some animals was darkness to others, and the reverse. lu the Geological sections, some popular facts regarding the great Welsh coal- field were stated. The extent of the coal-measures is 400 square miles, and in each Mile 43,000,000 tons of coals exist.

It was stated that the green sand or mineral guano formation of the Isle of Wight is of great thickness, and extends over a large part of the whole back of the island.

In the Mechanical section, M. Struve described a new kind of atmospheric railway. In the old plans are many difficulties, especially leakage. The new plan was to make a covered viaduct of the railway, the train passing through; the sides to be constructed of masonry, and the top of timber, or any other materials that may be found equally convenient. The piston to be a shield fixed on wheels made to fit the covered way, bat allowing a sufficient space round its outer edge so that it may pass along without touching. the interior surface of the passage: as the rarefaction required to urge the tram through would be very little, not much importance need be attained to leakage. The train of carriages would thus pass through a covered way, which might be lighted with glass: as valves in the shield may at any time be opened, so as to diminish or remove the pressure, the train might be slackened or stopped"at any point. The advantags of this plan were stated to be increased speedsafety, and economy; also the resistance of the air in front of the train would be diminished, and no stoppages would be occasioned by snow-drift or frost. The system also possessed all the advantages claimed by the promoters of the other mode of atmospheric traction. He pee. posed to exhaust the tube by means of two large hollow chambers, constructed like gasometers, moving up and down in water by means of a steam-en.gine, which would never need to be stopped, as the regulation of the speed and the stoppage of the trains would be effected by opening the valves in the shield, or of the doorways at the station. Each station would be provided with a loop line, so as not to destroy the continuity of the covered way; and the trains would then run into open sheds at each station, for the purpose of receiving and taking out the passengers. The cost of the covered way and apparatus for exhausting would in ordinary cases not exceed 7,0001. a mile, not more than the usual cost of locomotive engines and the extra weight of rails required for their support, nor more than the cost of the present atmospheric railways. A working model of the rail and its working was then exhibited, and gave general satisfaction; and it was stated in the course of discussion, that should this plan be found to answer, unlimited speed might be obtained: it could traverse the sides of roads without frightening horses; go through towns, and by means of side-wheels, &c., go round such curves at a high rate of speed in perfect safety, which were now impassable. It was also observed, that the great obstacle to a railway across the Isthmus of Suez is, that it would be speedily blocked up with sand; which difficulty this covered way would entirely obviate.

In the Statistical section, a paper read by Sir John Boileau on the statistics of mendicancy—the materials for which are very imperfect—cited figures from the records of the London Mendicity Society which show the immense increase of Irish vagrancy in the Metropolis. The number of meals given to Irish mendi- cants in January 1828 was 379; in January 1848, the number was 21,578: dividing by 4, this would suppose 5,396 individuals relieved; showing the enormous increase between the two periods of about 5,300 per cent, or 53 upon 1. From this it was fair to suppose that 50 per cent, or half of the 5,396, were grown-up persons; whereas in 1828, following the same rule, they amounted to 471,. While Irish mendicancy appears to have so much increased, English men- dicancy does not seem to have varied in amount since 1828; though it increased in 1832-3, and in 1837-8 considerably. The causes of the increase of Irish men- dicancy were presumed to be the failure of the potato crops in Ireland, the estab- lishment of refuge-houses and soup-kitchens in the Metropolis, and the alteration in the Poor-law of 1837 to 1839: before that time, it was the practice to. refuse relief to wanderers in the Metropolis; subsequently, it had been considered that Irish wanderers have as good a legal right to it as any other. At a meeting of the General Committee, on Tuesday, Birmingham was unanimously selected for the next meeting; which is to be held some time in September 1849. Dr. Robinson, of Armagh, was appointed the Presi- dent of the next meeting ; the Earl of Harrowby, Lord Wrottesley, Mr. Darwin, Dr. Faraday, and Professor Willis, were appointed Vice-Presidents.

A serious collision occurred on the London and North-western line on Thursday morning. At Ashton Bank, about five miles North of the Wolverton station, the Peterborough branch mail-train came to a stand-still: one of the eccentric bands of the locomotive had given way. While the driver was endeavouring to remedy the defect, the guard went back towards Roads, to stop any approaching train. The time of the occurrence was about two hours after midnight, and the weather. was very foggy. The guard affixed a fog-signal to the rail, and was walking onwards to place another, when the York mail-train came up. On the signal's exploding, the engine was backed, and the driver and stoker leaped off; but the rails were greasy, and the train running on swiftly, it dashed into the Peterborough train. The Post-office van and a first-class carriage were smashed- perfectly flat; the roof of each flying forward over other carriages. There were only two passengers in the train run into, and these with the engineers and guards had alighted; so they escaped unhurt. The people in the York train were less fortunate. The engine and tender, two vans, and two second-class carriages, were forced off the line, and nearly every passenger was more or less hart, though few very seriously. One guard had thrown himself among the coke in the tender, and he escaped with bruises; but Collins, a guard in a break-van at the rear of the train, was found insensible, and was brought to London in that state, suffering from a concussion of the brain. A number of other trains arrived soon after, but no farther accident occurred. The Northern mails were many hours after the time for arriving in London; the line having been blocked up for a long while.

Twenty-eight of the engineers and engine-fitters recently employed in the fac- tory at Woolwich Dockyard, left that place on Thursday last, to solicit employ- ment on the London and North-western Railway; and, on producing a certificate of their previous employment were immediately engaged, in preference to hun- dreds of other engineers applying from all parts of the country.—Morning Chro- nicle.

The engine-drivers who have left the North-western Railway held a meeting in London on Thursday evening, and a resolution was passed affirming the readi- ness of the workmen to refer the matters in difference to Mr. Bury of the Great Northern; Mr. Gooch of the Great Western, and Mr. Madison of the North-west- ern Railway, or to any three disinterested and competent men chosen from the locomotive departments of the railways of the country.

At Guildford Assizes, on Saturday, William Harris, aged twenty-seven, was tried for the murder of his mother, by beating her and casting her on the ground. Mother and son were a dissolute pair; in March last, they left a public-house in Guildford, at night, intoxicated; next morning the woman's body was found is a shed near a lime-kiln, bruised and covered with blood. From the evidence of men who slept that night in the lime-kiln, it appeared that Harris had beaten his mother, and had repeatedly thrown her on the ground. The counsel for the prisoner urged that he bad assailed his parent in a moment of excitement, and that his offence did not amount to murder. The Jury returned a verdict for "Manslaughter" only.

At Devizes, on Monday, Jonah Blanchard, a labourer, was tried for poisoning 198 sheep, the property of Mr. Pinkney, a farmer at Berwick St. James's. Mr. Pinkney and Mr. Tabor were the only holders of land in the parish, and from them alone could the labourers of the place look for employment. Blanchard had been discharged by the prosecutor; and though Mr. Tabor at one period gave him work, from 1895 his means of getting a livelihood were very precarious, and he was obliged to go into the workhouse. He used threats against Mr. Pinkney, for which he was put in prison; on his release he was still more virulent against the farmer, and declared that he would destroy his sheep. A number of sheep died of an unknown disease, and a chemical examination detected sulphate of copper in one of the carcasses. The evidence was very strong as to the animus of the accused against his former employer; but there was no direct proof of his poisoning the sheep. He was acquitted.

Mary May, the young woman who poisoned her brother to obtain money from a. burial club, was executed at Chelmsford on Monday morning. Since her con- demnation she had resolved to starve herself to death; but after a time hunger overcame her, and she subsequently took her meals regularly. She sullenly dv- flied her guilt, and treated her approaching fate with indifference; but on the scaffold her moans showed her agony at the last.

A young woman has been murdered on Shaw Hill Common, near Collingburn in Wiltshire. She was found insensible, covered with bruises, and with a wound itt the neck. She never recovered her senses, but died two days after. A mars

cost was lying near the body. A few hours after the discovery of the crime, a "nag man, without a coat, called at Everleigh rectory, and asked for alms; the 'Clergyman, Mr. Haddo, refused to assist him, remarking that he was an athletic man, and ought to earn money. On this the fellow palled some stones from his wad, and with one of them struck Mr. Haddo on the arm; he was about to latmch another, when the gentleman slammed the door to The villain was put- captured, and taken before a Magistrate; exclaiming that he was sorry he had net murdered Mr. Haddo—he had murdered one person that day, of which they would afterwards hear. The culprit—James Smith is his name—was com- mitted for trial. It was subsequently surmised that this was the murderer of the woman: when the coat found near her was produced, Smith, without making any remark, put it on; and a person answering his description had been seen with the deceased an hour or two before she was discovered on the common. Smith had money in his pocket. This man was tried for the assault on Mr. Haddo on Tuesday, at Devizes As- sizes, The charge was for assaulting "with intent to kill and murder"; and the evidence showed that the attack was of a more ferocious kind than was at first reported. The fellow was hunted down by Mr. Haddo and his servants, and when the gentleman attempted to seize him he defended himself with more stones. While he was in custody he had said that he knocked the woman down. The verdict was "Guilty," and the sentence seven years' transportation.

Swaine, a labourer of St. Alban's, has been killed by a number of Irishmen. A party of English and Irish labourers were drinking at the Plough public-house; one Field, finding some difficulty in passing the men who were standing by the bar, applied insulting language to the Irishmen, and left the house. Excited by this, apparently, the Irish entered a room, armed themselves with the fire-irons, and. assailed everybody. Swaine, who was quietly drinking beer, was mauled on the head to such a degree that he died soon after. The homicides made off to the farm where they had been employed, pretended that they had been threatened by the English workmen and were afraid to return to their labour, and thus got their wages paid; alter which they hastened away.