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There seems likely to be a stirring contest at Tonnes, at all events on the hustings, whatever there may be in the polling-booth. Mr. Macken- zie, who has come forward to oppose Lord Gifford, the "nominee",of the Duke of Somerset, addressed the electors on Monday, making .a very un- defined profession of political .faith. After the meeting had decided that Mr. Mackenzie is a fit and proper person to represent them, Mr. Males M.P. appeared on the scene. He regretted that Lord -Gifford had not come forward as a Conservative, and that Mr. Mackenzie had not more clearly stated his views : he assailed Lord Palmerston, and urged the continuance of the war, until Russia, the great antagonist of civilization, is humiliated. Finally, Mr. Mackenzie said he concurred with Mr. Malin.

The social and political position of the Marquis of Granby always draws a certain degree of attention to the autumnal „proceedings of the .1 altham Agricultural Society, over which he presides. This year the annual din- ner was held on Wednesday, and the Marquis was "tn his place" at the head of a numerous company of farmers. The condition of the labouring classes, the bravery of our Army and Navy, the state of agriculture, and the great question of peace and war, formed the staple of the oratory. The Reverend Mr. Gillett, replying to a complimentary toast to "the Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese," made some remarks on education. He observed, that in consequence of the demand for labour, education is almost at a stand-still among the class of agricultural labourers. Ignor- ance exists to a frightful extent. Now, no persons have a greater inte- rest in providing a remedy for this state of things than the farmers them- selves;

and he strongly urged them to lose no opportunity of encouraging schools for the children of their labourers.

The Marquis of Granby, in proposing " success to the Waltham Agri- cultural Association," dealt with a variety of matters,—the flourishing prospects of the farmer, the average character of the harvest, the demand for corn from'France, its abundance in America, the benefits of agricul- tural associations, and the war. He did-not believe that the farmers are in favour of the war because it tends 'to keep up high prices—that is a most unjust accusation. They are in favour of the war because, like the -majority, they believe that it is just and necessary. But they would 'bear with him when he stated that he had arrived at a contrary opinion. -It was said Russia is aggressive : but let her be as.aggressive as she may, looking to our recent experience of the power of England and France, what fear need they entertain of Russian aggression? As an aggresaive power i Russia can do nothing. England and France have rushed headlong into this war. They were told that it was waged for the sake of freedom against despotism, civilization against barbarism. Beware. It is a most dangerous thing to interfere in the internal concerns of another country. "Had it not been for the submarine telegraph, England would lave been enjoying peace at the present time." What progress has been made in the perma- nent limitation of the Black Sea fleet ? The Emperor of 'Russia would not scruple to run an express-train through any treaty that may be framed. Supposing Russia to be that aggressive power which she is represented to be, the only safeguard we have is in our own fortitude and bravery, and in the junction of all the Western Powers—the cordial union of England, France, Austria, and Prussia. You might fight for forty years, and each year gain battles equal to the Alma, but all would be of no avail unless you came to some definite agreement with the Austrian empire as to the limitation of Russian power ; and we must hope for peace rather upon our own conviction of our power to resist Russia, and upon Russia's knowledge of that power, than upon any treaty which could be made. Mr. Chewier said that the Marquis had certainly made two accurate statements,—namely, that the farmers do not wish for extreme 'high prices ; and that they are convinced of the justice of the present war, and would be no parties to a dishonourable peace. (Loud cheers.) At the dinner of the Leominster Agricultural Society, on Tuesday,. Captain Hanbury and Mr. King King, two of the Herefordshire Mem- bers, made references in their speeches to the rumour of a coalition. Captain Hanbury observed, that something has been said about coali- tions likely to take place next session. Although residing near the Metropolis, he had only found it mentioned in one of the leading daily newspapers. It had been said that a combination of the three P.'s of tho House of Commons—Peelites, Peacemen, and Protectionists—was to be formed. If such a coalition took place, of course, they would turn out any Government ; but he for one would -never be a party to it. All Party politics are merged for the present moment to 'promote the war in which we are now engaged, until the objects for which it was , undertaken have been fully realized." Mr. King King looked forward to fierce perhaps earnest party contests in the coming session. He would not discuss the question of a coalition ; but he would say that he should like to see the Allied army in possession of the North forts of Sebastopol.

Wilton celebrated the third commemoration of the opening of its 'pa- rochial Library and -Reading Room, last week, in the National Sdhool- house, by giving a tea-party. Mr. Sidney Herbert presided; Mrs. Bracebridge, the coadjutor of Miss Nightingale, was present, and nearly all the leading families round Wilton. In addition to the other attractions, the Reverend Sidney Godolphin Osborne had come over, at the special request of Mr, Herbert, to give "the people of Wilton a little Crimean. talk."

Mr. Osborne said that he had never been in the Crimea ; but although he had not walked in the scenes of war himself, he had walked in the dark sha- dow of war. He had seen the hospitals at their worst stage ; he had seen the noble efforts of Miss Nightingale and Mrs. Bracebridge ; and he had learnt, by seeing them endure wounds and privations of every kind, df what good stuff the British officer and soldier were made.

He had brought with him two or three things, trophies of war, and which- might possibly be df some interest. For instance, there was a sabre taken from a Russian on the morning of the battle of Inkerman. It might be said 'there was nothing remarkable about that piece of iron and brass, but he thought everything was of interest which had been concerned in the de- struction of human life in a cause which its owner no doubt as much be- 'lieved-to be right as we ourselves believed to be wrong. Yee, we may have our opinion on the war—we may deem it our duty 'to shed blood, to drive 'the Russians to-those terms whith-only, for the safety Of Europe, can realize -a lasting peace; but the enemy also have their opinions. However bad we may deem the Russian.cause, we must admit.that, at all events, they have- fought like men who felt themselves in the right. We cannot dis- pute their bravery, though we deprecate its direction ; and, how- ever proud we may be of having conquered them, we must own that -they are an enemy worthy of our arms. No doubt, 'the hand which held the sword 'he now exhibited was actuated by the same emotion as the English soldier. It is very true that we are free and the Russians are slaves ; but they are still men like ourselves, and there ie• no reason why they should fear death more than we. Then, while we are glad to proclaim ourselves the conquerors, let us still honour the bravery which so long disputed our victory. England and France have found no common enemy, and the more-honour is there in the victory they have won. We, as a Christian nation, -have 'felt it our bounden duty to make the cause of liberty our cause—to protect the weak against the oppressor. He trusted -that we feel so on sure and certain grounds. We must not forget, however, thatthe Russians also went to battle for what they felt to be the cause of re- ligion and justice. We have all -heard of the great mass which was cele- brated by the Russian army before they attacked us at Inkerman. There was real if mistaken religion -in that observance, and as such we are bound to

honour it. The Russians had a strong feeling that they were right, and in that feeling they went to war. Upon the bodies of the slain Russians were found charms ; some of them were fastened round the head, and others, com- posed of small pieces of brass, were round the breast. It is the custom in war to pillage the dead, and our men got hold of these charms in a some- what summary manner, taking them from the necks of the slain and wounded.

Mr. Osborne here exhibited one of the charms, being a small picture of the -Virgin and Child, which he stated to have been taken from a Russian officer. That officer was killed by a bayonet thrust, and they would observe that the blow passed just above the charm. The Russians considered that if the blow had'struck the holy body of the image the wearer would have been safe. The neat trophy ho had to show them was, as they would see, nothing but a leather bag, used ordinarily to contain to-

bacco—in fact, what is familiarly called a " bacoy-bag." He would sooner part with all the relics ho had brought from the East than that bag ; for it had belonged to one of the bravest of men—a man-who had even aroused the apathy of the Turks and excited their admiration—he meant the gallant Butler, whose energy had saved Bilistria and compelled the Russians o raise the siege. It had been given to Mr. Osborne by Major Nasmyth. The next thing he had to show them was a pair of boots, made of Russian leather by Muller of St. Petersburg,—who, he supposed, was the " Hoby " of the Russian capital. They had belonged to no less a man than Prince Mensehikoff—they were, in fact, Menschikoff's boots, found in his carriage when it was taken by our troops after the flank march. The way in which they came into his hands was this. Orders had been issued that there should be no plunder, but it unluckily happened that an English officer was seen early in the morning with a turkey in his hand, whereupon the soldiers, following the presumed example of the officer, proceeded to plunder also ; among others, Major Nasmyth got hold of those boots, which he gave him, with an intimation that they had been taken from Menschikoff's baggage. Certainly neither the Prince nor his shoemaker could ever have anticipated when he first put them on that they would be produced for the amusement of a tea-party at the Wilton Reading-room. (Laughter.)

Referring to the character of the British soldier, Mr. Osborne said, that when he went to the East he had a far different opinion of the soldier from what he has now. Those who have only seen the soldier in the barrack, or in the street, should see him in the field, or on the bed of suffering. He had seen while in the East a constant stream of officers going backwards and forwards ; and, so unexceptionable were they in conversation and deport- ment, that he would not have cared to take his own daughters to dine with them, for a more Christian feeling he had never witnessed at any table. Place the soldier in the field surrounded by dangers and privations, and he is a very different being from what Englishmen generally suppose. The English soldier is light of heart, but once set him to the serious work for which he has enlisted and his character becomes changed, for he feels that the interest and honour of his country are involved in his own.

Turning to the more appropriate concerns of the Wilton Library and Read- ing-room, Mr. Osborne said he had always felt an interest in reading-rooms for the working classes ; and he firmly believed that no class has any more right to a monopoly of education than to a monopoly of the light of heaven.

Mr. Herbert, in acknowledging some complimentary cheers to himself and family, referred to the soldiers' letters as evidence of the good effects of education. He had a word for the war—

There never was a more justifiable war than the present one. He would say that even those who thought no war justifiable could not but feel sym- pathy with the merits of such soldiers as those of England. He did not know if there were any soldiers who bad gone from Wilton, but he trusted that whenever England wanted help the stalwart arms and stout hearts of her sons would never fail her. (Cheers.) At Coventry, last week, in a meeting at which the Mayor presided, Mr. Bracebridge gave an account of his experience in the hospitals of the British Army in the East. The facts were not new, and the manner of putting them did not throw any new light upon the matter.

Some extensive alterations and augmentations in the Church Schools at Padiham having been made by the Vicar, Mr. Adamson, a tea-party was held on Monday, to celebrate their reopening. Mr. Le Gendre Starkie, of Huntroyd, occupied the chair, and many of the neighbouring gentry attended. Among others, Sir James Kay Shuttleworth; who favoured the company with an instructive speech on the difficulties in the way of the extension of education, with some compliments to Lancashire for its efforts in the cause. Touching the question of rates for educa- tional purposes, he expressed an opinion that the middle classes should be led to interest themselves in the subject by enabling them to partake of the benefit of a public rate for establishing efficient middle-class schools. In order to excite the emulation of the wealthy, he told an anecdote relating to the Queen.

He was some eight or nine years ago called on by her Majesty to organize for her and Prince Albert some schools in the Royal Forest of Windsor. The view the Queen took was, that a very large portion of the population resi- dent in that district being dependent on the Crown, and employed as la- bourers on the farms, or in the forests, or in the household duties connected with the Royal farms, and so forth, she had therefore a personal responsi- bility in their wellbeing. The people were scattered over the districts be- tween one town and another, in which there were no schools or means of education ; and the children were brought up in a half-wild manner, very much in the same condition as in remote portions of the country in the South of England. Her Majesty resolved that an efficient school should be established ; and it seemed desirable that the school should be typical of the act of Royal munificence which was about to be accomplished, and not only worthy of the Crown but an example to the country at large. Her Majesty made no stipulation whatever as to the cost, and he drew out a scheme which involved an expenditure of 10001. a year. It provided for the instruction of the children not merely in the ordinary secular and religious knowledge, but also supplied the beat form of instruc- tion in common things, such as in gardening, in household economy, cooking, washing, making up clothes, &c. ; in preparing dishes suita- ble for, and otherwise enhancing the comfort of cottagers, which latter were taught in kitchens and washhouses prepared for the purpose. Her Majesty not only assented to this plan being carried out, (and the plan had been in operation during the last nine years,) but she has pro- moted its success in every way ; and all the linen worn by the Royal chil- dren and a very great part of that used in the Royal apartments is the work of this establishment. The Queen is in the habit of inspecting the place in person, and takes a deep interest in its operations. The boys have a garden of several acres, in which they cultivate all that is necessary for cottage use ; they have a plot which they jointly cultivate; and in addition they have small separate plots, which they cultivate upon the plan of the common cottage-gardeners. They are employed also in workshops, but chiefly in gardening. This establishment does not simply exist as a sort of outside show, but is a subject of personal interest to her Majesty ; is regularly in- spected by her, and often by the different visitors at the Court ; and the Prince of Wales is in the habit of examining the scholars in certain branches of their studies.

Lord Stanley delivered an inaugural lecture on the opening of the new buildings of the Bolton Mechanics Institution, on Tuesday. He de- scanted on the advantages of schools, parks, public buildings, public libraries, public baths, and a "poor man's club " for recreation—all of which ought to be established in every town. He also dwelt on the true relation between the employer and employed,—a relation that can econo- mically, but not morally, be regulated on the principle of supply and de- mand. He did not wish to reproach manufacturers, many of whom under- stood their duties ; he rather approached the subject in a spirit of envy— an envy of the advantages that were enjoyed by those who could deal with a large and intelligent population, and concentrate their energies for good upon a tangible mass. In rural districts it is not an easy matter to set up a library : the distance is too great, the population too sparse, and other difficulties are presented.

There is a literary institution in the village of Hawarden, near Ha- warden Castle, the seat of Sir Stephen Glynne. The funds, of course,

like the funds of so many of these institutions, were not abundant- Last week it chanced that Mr. Gladstone arrived on a visit to his father-in-law at the Castle ; and the working men, forming the committee of the insti. tution, besought the retired Minister to give them a lecture on the Colo- nies, " in aid of the funds." Mr. Gladstone readily complied • and al- though charges of one shilling and of sixpence were levied on admission, the boys' school-room was crowded by the members of the society, and " the elite of the surrounding district." They seemed greatly pleased with the elaborate yet popular dissertation on Colonial policy delivered by Mr. Gladstone. His argument was, that the Colonial policy of Eng- land has been too much like that of the Romans—a policy of conquest ; except in the reigns of Oliver Cromwell and Charles the Second ; and the lecturer expressed a hope that the experiences of the past may be of use in the present, and that the future policy of England in regard to our Colonies may be candid, honest, and wise ; for it is only by a liberal and enlightened course of treatment that the parent country can reap the full advantage and benefit of her great territorial dependencies.

Tuesday was the three hundredth anniversary of the burning of Ridley and Latimer at Oxford. It was commemorated by a sermon, preached to a crowded congregation by the Reverend J. C. Miller, in the church of St. Mary Magdalen, which stands near the memorial marking the site of the martyrdom.

A meeting took place at Honiton on Tuesday, for the purpose of es- tablishing a Central Association having for its object the advancement of the "great religions societies of the Church of England." Among those present, were Sir James Patteson, the Honourable W. W. Addington, the Honourable and Reverend J. Gifford, and Sir John Kennaway. Mr. Justice Coleridge presided, and explained the nature of the association.

The institution would be composed of all persons who were members of or dispos0 to support the societies formed upon the principles of the Church; and a meeting, preceded by Divine service, would be held once a year, when

they hoped to see deputations from each of societies disposed to cooperate with them. Information would then be given of the position and prospects of each society ; and he trusted it would have the effect of exciting an in- terest in their welfare. In a meeting of the present kind, it might be as- sumed that it is lawful and expedient for the Church to carry out the great objects which she had in view—the maintenance and advancement of the kingdom of Christ—by means of societies; but in the provinces the multi- plication of these societies had become so great, and the interest in each so divided and subdivided, that they had gradually fallen off. It was therefore thought that if they were all united in one, with one secretary, one ma- chinery, and one meeting, it would be the means of rendering the assistance given to them very much more effectual. That is the ground upon which it is proposed to form the present association. It is not intended to fetter the inclinations or opinions which any persons may form of this or that society, as the amount subscribed might be devoted to any particular society named. It is, however, expected, that there would be a number of persons who would have confidence in the committee of the Central Association gat place an additional donation or subscription in their hands, to be devqlholl to the society they might deem the most deserving. The collection, after' the annual sermon, would also be applied in a similar way. In the managemrat of the society., there are two matters which they would have to bear in mind. On the one hand, they would have to take care to avoid such an indiscrimi- nate admission of societies with whom they might cooperate, as should either tend to introduce confusion in keeping the accounts, or in the application of the money, or should tend to introduce jealousies, which are most especially to be avoided, and still more, would tend to introduce that licence of prin- ciple which, if once admitted, he was quite certain, however specious the charity might be, would never cause it to flourish, and to which true Church people would never lend themselves. They must not be mistaken in sup- posing that, when they open their doors in the way he had been describing, they intended to degenerate into what is called "latitudinarianism " in prin- ciple. He was quite certain, that without holding the true doctrine no Church society could endure. He, for his part, would never lend himself to anything of that kind, and he thought they must be careful on that head. Some limit must be drawn, and it had been thought that all societies which profess bona fide to act upon the basis that they pursue—Church objects upon Church principles—should be admitted into affiliation with them. The defi- nition, if he might venture to draw it still nearer, is this—it is not merely the society with which conscientious Churchmen could cooperate„ -because that would open the door to such a vast number of associations that it would be impossible for the Association to carry on its operations ; on the other hand, he was most anxious that they should take this opportunity of extend- ing as far as may be in their power the charitable kind of feeling which should exist between all branches of Christians.

Resolutions were passed, establishing the Association, which is at first to consist of five societies—for the Propagation of the Gospel, for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, the National Society, the Church Building Society, and the Church Mission Society.

A project is on foot to establish a Reformatory Institution for the joint use of Devon, Somerset, Dorset, and Cornwall. At the opening of the Somerset Quarter-Sessions, on Tuesday, Mr. Miles M.P., the Chairman, spoke in favour of the plan. He suggested that a bill should be passed giving the Magistrates assembled in Quarter-Sessions the power to charge the expenses of such reformatories on the county-rates, not compulsorily, but in such manner as the Magistrates might deem proper. In the mean time, he recommended that a subscription should be raised for the purpose of establishing a reformatory institution.

At the opening of the Worcestershire Quarter-Sessions, on Monday, there was an unusual attendance of magistrates, and a discussion on Re- formatory Institutions. The question before the Court was the desir- ableness of reappointing a Committee named last year to consider the act for the better care and reformation of youthful offenders. Sir John Pa- kington said, that in his view the county had better not move in the matter, but wait the result of the efforts made in other counties. If they did move, they must move on the voluntary principle, and he did not feel sanguine as to the success of that principle when applied to matters of this magnitude. In Warwickshire 1600/. had been collected : be was not aware whether that sum would be sufficient for the purpose, but he had been told by personal friends that the funds granted by the Govern- ment were not enough by 71. a head for the support of the prisoners con- fined in these establishments. He was anxious to see these establish- ments carried out, but he repeated his doubts of the success of the volun- tary system. Two clergymen expressed their regret that Worcestershire had no Reformatory Institution. Lord Lyttelton was anxious that some- thing should be done, but he saw no use in reappointing the Committee,

because Quarter-Sessions have no power to deal with county-rates in sup- port of these establishments. The Committee was not reappointed. The Court &tided that the county should be divided into three Police districts, and that thirty-one men should be added to the force.

At the Berkshire Quarter-Sessions, held on Monday at Abingdon, Lord Barrington in the chair, Mr. Gibson proposed, in the terms of the act of Parliament, the establishment of a County Police force. This proposi- tion met with two objections. Dr. Arnould objected to the adoption of so large a scheme, and proposed the appointment of one superintending constable in each of the nine petty sessional divisions of the county. The Reverend Dr: Neilson opposed the establishment of any Rural Police force, as " odious, obnoxious, and mischievous." It was unreasonable and unjust that the Western part of the county should pay for a force which rich gentlemen in the Eastern part alone want. On a division, the original motion was carried by about a dozen.

Mr. Jardine, Recorder of Bath, at the opening of the Sessions last week, explained to the Grand Jury the character and working of the ticket-of-leave system, and recommended an alteration.

It is quite true that the ticket-of-leave men might, if they proved a nui- sance to society, be re-apprehended and again confined • but to do this, some one must take upon himself the trouble and responsibility of proving that the d party had misconducted himself. Suspicion would not do, and the police are not likely, without some pretty plain evidence, to proceed against the party. A warrant must be issued by the Secretary of State to a magistrate,_and the magistrate has again to issue his warrant to the police ; in fact, the ma- chinery is so troublesome and difficult that it is not likely to be acted upon

i

except in some extreme case. With regard to the description of reformation that occurs in our gaols' what does it amount to ? Mr. Jardine said he remembered asking Mr. Pike, the Governor, some years ago, in reference to the sentence he should pass upon a prisoner, whether he had behaved well in gaol ? upon which Mr. Pike replied, very. properly, " Why, Sir, he could not act otherwise." And it was so : under the Separate system, and with the tie- cipline practised in the gaol, the only offence a prisoner could'commit would be a breach of some of the rules of the prison, which was not very likely, as he knew perfectly well that he must submit to them. Mr. Jardine did not deny that, under such circumstances, a man might become reformed; there is no knowing what effect might take place upon the mind and heart of a man under separate confinement, and a prisoner might, no doubt, become changed in his character: but he believed that a prisoner oftener came out, especially under this ticket-of-leave system, as great a rogue or thief as he was when he went in, with the addition of the hateful sin of hypocrisy attached to him. By their hypocrisy these persons eheat-the chaplains and schoolmasters : for who can judge of the heart of man, which ie known only to his Maker ? and by professions of repentance and reformation they obtain their liberty, in too many instances, only to commence afresh a life of crime. For these reasons, he considered thb ticket-of-leave system exceedingly dangerous. At tfie.East Sussex Sessions, opened on Tuesday, at Lewes, the Earl of Chichestei, after recommending attention to the question of juvenile re- formation, expressed his opinion on the ticket-of-leave cpiestion. The two necessary conditions to success were, first, that the convicts should undergo sufficient punishment previous to their discharge, to make an im- pression upon them, and to acquire certain new habits under the system of penal labour ; the other, that when discharged, they shouldle so far watched over by the authorities as to be immediately reported whenever it appeared that they were living in an idle and disorderly way. Without waiting for them actually to commit a crime, the licence should then be withdrawn. He -believed that, under these restraints, the regulations would be most useful, and, in the great majority of eases, the convicts would prove to be as useful and well-conducted men as in the Colonies. He could speak of several cases from his own knowledge, where he had employed men of this sort and he had known other parties who had employed discharged convicts, and found them to be reformed characters, and useful and industrious men.

The Witham Agricultural Society held its show and dinner last week, at Witham. The topics of the speeches were similar to those enlarged upon at the meetings recorded in our last number,—the necessity of pro- viding better accommodation for labourers, preventing drunkenness, and the indiscriminate huddling together of both sexes by working on their Moral feelings. The chief speakers were the Reverend J. Bramston, the Reverend T. Co; and Mr. Mechi. The farmer of Tiptree Hall diverged from the ordinary themes, and discussed drainage, manuring, and agri- cultural machinery. Although he is not now laughed at, and some at- tention is paid to these matters, yet " it is impoasible," he says, " to travel from one end of the kingdom to the other without seeing that bad farming is the rule and good fanning the exception." "This year, he could not help making a good harvest; and he was satis- fied that it had cost many of his neighbours a higher rate to produce the same quantity of corn simply because their landlords had omitted to make those improvements which few practical men would now deny to be remu- nerative. Who would dispute that the interest on drainage is more than re- paid by the increase of the crop ? In the same way, good buildings, good steam-engines, and improved implements, are all remunerative. It is of great importance to a farmer to put in the proper quantity of seed, because not only is a very large quantity of corn wasted by its being sown in excess, i

but the injury to the crop is often more than equal to the amount of the rent. He had often asked farmers how they knew that they were sowing the proper quantity, and whether they had ever tried less ; and the answer he had received in most cases was that they had never done so, and did not want to. It was this pigheadedness on the part of agriculturists which he wished to remove. He felt perfectly comfortable about the results of his own improvements, and hoped that his neighbours would cease to feel for him so much as they had done." (Laughter.) A soldier of the Foreign Legion has lost his life at Portsmouth under very lamentable circumstances, A number of the men attempted to force their way out of barracks, contrary. to order ; the sentries were directed to resist them ; and two presented their bayonets. In the excitement and confusion, Joseph Goltswaltz, a Frenchnian, seems to have run upon the bayonet of Nusbaum, a German ; and almost instantaneous death ensued. An unfortu- nate feeling has been created between the French and German soldiers by the misadventure. Nusbaum is in custody.

An inquest was held on Thursday. The evidence clearly proved that the soldier on, guard only performed his duty ; and that the deceased himself, in his furious excitement, ran upon the bayonet presented against him. The verdict therefore was "Justifiable homicide."

Railway "accidents" are the subject of a number of reports this week.

About three-quarters of a mile from Boston, there is a junction of the Great Northern Railway with ilk East Lincolnshire line. On Monday. a passenger-train on the East Lincolnshire was advancing to the point as a goods-train was approaching it on the Great Northern line; the weather was very foggy ; while the goods-train was crossing the point, the passen- ger-train ran into it; a number of waggons were smashed, but the passen- gers escaped with slight hurts. The pointaman says he eilaibited the stet signal to the passenger-train ; the driver admits it, but declares that e could not pull up in time, as the rails were very slippery.

An inquest has been held on the body of John Hart, guard of a geode- train, who was killed by a passenger-train running into his van, near Kid- derminster. The disaster originated from mismanagement or want of means at Churchill station. When the luggage-train arrived there, as apassenger- train was not far behind,. it should have been put aside till the faster train had passed ; but the station-master explained that he had no siding, and he could not shunt it on to the other line, for a train was also just due on that: as the best course, he sent it forward. But when the passenger-train ap- proached shortly after, it was not stopped by signals. The evidence of a number of witnesses as to what signals were exhibited was utterly contra- dictory ; but no one seems to assert that the danger-signal was up before the train came. The train proceeded, and, though speed was slackened, it soon after ran into the goods-train. The Jury pronounced the death "Acci- dental" ; but added an opinion that " the accident arose from the very de- fective arrangements of the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway Company, more especially with regard to the want of sufficient sidings, the irregularity in the despatch of goods-trains, and the youth and inexperience of the servants employed."

At Heaton Norris, a mail-train ran into a luggage-train which was stand- ing at the station ; several passengers were hurt, and one dangerously—Mr. Hesse!, of Salford. The railway people contradict each other as to where the blame of the "accident" should lie—whether on a neglect to exhibit signals, or on a neglect to observe them.

Mr. John Langley, of Burnley, has lost a limb by attempting to descend from a railway-train, near Burnley,. before it had come quite to a stand—he fell, and the carriages passed over Ins leg.

By an explosion of fire-damp in a coal-mine at Bilston, said to have been caused by a boy having dropped a lighted candle, two men and a boy have lost their lives, and seven or eight other colliers have been badly burnt. There were a hundred people in the pit, but nearly all escaped unhurt : there were two shafts communicating with the surface, and they ascended the one most distant from the foul air.

Two children were killed at Liverpool from the firing of guns and minia- ture cannon on the occasion of the Duke of Cambridge's visit.

Patrick Battle, a lad of eighteen, has died in Parkhurst Prison from swal- lowing poisonous pills with intent to get admitted to the infirmary and its comforts. The evidence of James Limb, another convict, is curious as show- ing the shifts adopted to escape from hard fare and hard work. " I have been here four years. I have known the deceased ever since he has been here. On Thursday he told me he wished to get into the infirmary for the winter, and he asked me the best way to manage it. I told him that if he was to take some of the pills it would make him sick. I told him to get some of the stuff off the pump, and swallow it, and if it was made round he could swallow it like a pill: and so he did—he took off the green stuff of the brasses, with -a bit of tin and I made it into pills for him. He was at work on the pump that day. It was green and I mixed it up with soap from his cell into pills, with the oil from the top of the pump. I told him where to get it, and I made it into six pills about the size our doctoregives us. He got is.drink of water, and swallowed them one at a time, and in the after- noodle told me he had a pain in his head. I saw him the next morning, when he said it had'nt made him quite bad enough, so he would take some more pills; and I think he did, for he had enough stuff in the box to make six more, and there was none left in the box the next morning ,• and then hie cocoa got on his stomach, and it made him sick ; and he told the officer, and he put him in his cell. I took the oil myself when I tried to get into the infirmary; but there was no verdigris in that, but it made me very sick. He said he thought the verdigris would make it all the better, and so he took it. It is a common practice for us prisoners to make our eyes and legs sore, to got into hospital. Some eat ground glass, and Put copperas into the sores. I can't say whether deceased knew of these pills before I told him; but the last time he got in by running a stocking-needle right through his leg, above the knee. It was full of thread, and he did it to make his leg sore ; but he 'most lost his leg by it. He got in all last winter; and he often tried the same thing over again when he did not suc- ceed at first ; but he got in every winter somehow. He asked me what to do ; and I told him what I had tried, and I got in. You must mix soap with it to make it stick; but it's two years ago since I took any. He said, he wouldn't like to try the experiment that No. 17 did of eating pounded glass. I was sent here for stealing a horse. I was only eleven years old then, and was remanded for two assizes, 'cause they couldn't find the man I sold it to."—The witness detailed the particulars of this horrible practice with the greatest coolness and effrontery, and seemed proud of the part be had taken in the transaction. Mr. Dahlia, the prison surgeon, stated that he knew of some of the tricks of the prisoners. Ho cited one ease of a pri- soner for whose disease he could find no remedy, and who appeared to be daily wasting away. He at last ordered him to be stripped naked, and to spread out his arms; when a vein in his arm spirted blood ; and Mr. If then discovered that he had by some means obtained a lancet, with which he frequently bled himself down to death's door, in order to remain in the hospital. The Jury gave a verdict that the deceased died by poison admi- nistered by his own hands, with the view to gain admission into the in- firmary, and not to occasion his own death.

No fewer than three deaths have resulted from the gas-explosion caused by lightning at Liverpool : the last victim was the firework-maker in whose house the disaster occurred.

Numerous fires have occurred in farmers' stack-yards round Barnsley, but all were got under before much damage was done. They were caused by an insane man, Robert Hendee& ; who when he was taken before the Magis- trates, requested immediate freedom, as he had a number of other stacks to burn!