€10t Vrovintro.

Mr. John S. Trelawny, formerly Member for Tavistock, has been again invited, by some of his old and influential constituents, to come forward for that borough in the event of a vacancy.

There are two candidates in the field for the vacant seat at Lincoln. Major Sibthorp, the son and heir of the late Colonel, whose "principles are essentially Conservative"; and Mr. Charles Seeley, a Liberal, re- turned for the borough in 1841, but ousted on petition.

Mr. Frederick Peel paid a visit to Bury last week, and addressed to bis constituents his views on the objects of the war, the pending negotia- tions for peace, and the vigorous intentions of the Government should peace not be concluded.

" We are told we are fighting without an object, because unable to specify any terms on which we are prepared to conclude the war. But that must be a mistake ; for we know what reason obliged us to take up arms—namely, because Russia was indisposed to obey the dictates of international justice, and defied the recognized law of Europe; and the object of our war, as long as we continue it, is so to humble Russia—so to injure and damage her in every way we can—that she may know that when the Powers of Europe are banded for the support of justice, she, or any other country, how- ever strong, is powerless, and obliged to bend the neck. That object, however, is not to be accomplished by terms of peace. The field of an army is one thing—the field of diplomacy another. I desire not that in the terms of peace there should be anything which should humili- ate and rankle in the mind of Russia ; I do not believe that peace upon such terms would be lasting and enduring : but what I desire to see effected by negotiations is' security to us and to the other states of Europe; and if such a disposition (as I trust we shall, by means of our armies, most severely chastise on the present occasion) should continue to actuate Russia, the condition of things in Europe may, through these negotiations, be so arranged that there will not be the facility which there has been for carry- ing such a policy into effect. We have heard of rumours of peace. I know not what dependence or authority is due to such rumours; but I would say, that if Russia offers terms of peace which will satisfy those conditions that have been mentioned, I would accept them, whether she came to us direotly, or through Austria, or any other intermediary. But if Russia shall be found not content to sue for peace, and make terms which shall not be satisfactory to us for the future, then I say, our course is clear and defined enough : we will redouble our efforts to carry on this war with effect ; we will run a race with time during this next winter, in order that we may be fully prepared to commence operations in the coming year. That, you will agree with me, is the only safe course; the only course by which we can insure to ourselves peace at the soonest moment, and by which we can accelerate the dawn of that day when tran9uillity will again be restored to Europe, and the sane- tity of public and international right be established on a basis that will, I trust, not again be shaken." (Loud applauae.)

Two dinners were given on Thursday sennight—one by the Bruton Agricultural Society ; the other to Mr. Powell, Member for Ludlow. At the former, Mr. Knatchbull M.P., referring to the rumours of peace-ne- gotiations, said that if any proposals had been made, there was no cer- tainty that they were of a kind that would be acceptable to the country. It was said that they came from Austria,—we have bad enough of Aus- trian proposals. Austria is more Russian than English. Whatever pro- posals are to be made, should come direct from Russia. "I do not wish to see Russia crushed, or that she 'Mould become one of the minor powers of Europe ; but I think she should be so damaged as to be humbled, and to come to us for peace, upon sure guarantees that no aggression shall in future arise upon any country in Europe I trust that I am as much attached to peace as any man living can be ; but I believe that, unless Russia is humbled and made weaker, the proposals, if any, that come from her, will not be satisfactory." At the Ludlow dinner, Mr. Clive said he was desirous of peace, but it must be solid and durable.

"At present I cannot but think that there are ne solid grounds for sue- posing that Russia is sincere in any negotiations which she may have insti- gated; and I am inclined to think we shall have at least one more campaign

before those results can be obtained for which we went to war Even if we were willing to make Fleece upon the four points, I do not think that Russia is sufficiently humbled to accede to the terms imposed by them. I do not mean in regard to territory—I would not touch that ; but I do say that we should not leave her in possession of the power which she MI at present command."

At the dinner of the Chippenham Agricultural Association, yesterday week, Captain Boldero and Captain Gladstone made speeches touching on the war. The more novel and notable speech was Captain Glad- stone's.

"This is an important period," he said ; "for if the war is to be con- tinued, energetic preparations must now be made, and if these were neglected they could not expect to see the end of the war for many years to come. He believed, from information he had received the other day, and upon which he thought he could rely, that within three weeks or so we should know whether the war was to be continued, or whether there was a fair probability of pears. His own opinion was that Russia was now in a posi- tion to offer terms of peace, and she might' fairly be expected to consent to what might be considered honourable and satisfactory terms of peace. She had certainly received a very severe lesson ; for, with one exception—the captute of Rare—she had not met with a single success, and the fall of Rats

could hardly be called a success; ind if peace were now proclaimed, he be-

lieved many years would claps oefore Russia would attempt to break the peace of Europe. She had foui that the Western nations of Europe were prepared to unite, and would not allow her to commit any violence or ag- gression on her weak neighbour, Turkey. He did, therefore, entertain the hope that these negotiations would take place, and be followed by peace : but after their experience in the negotiations at Vienna, one could not feel verY certain upon the point." In addressing the members of the Callington Agricultural Association last week, Mr. Kendall said it was good to go to London sometimes to learn what was really going on. At the Carlton Club, he had heard a gentleman say that be thought Russia is humbled enough now ; and that the war is a landlords' war. He was afraid Mr. Disraeli is ambition's.

He saw that the Press, Lord Stanley's paper, II all for peace.; but he hoped that his party would repudiate Cob&n And Bright and the Press and Lord Stanley : and thatif Kr. Disraeli sought to -thwart the efforts

of the Government in the vigorous prosecution of a just war, the party would repudiate all connexion with him and them : at all events, in that cure, Mr. Disraeli will no longer be the leader of Mr. Kendall and Cornish Toryism.

The members and friends of the Marsden Mechanics' Institution, nearly three hundred in number, assembled on the 14th, in a large room on the premises of Messrs. Ecroyd and Sons, Lomeshaye, near Burnley, to hear a lecture from Mr. Bright. Mr. W. F. Ecroyd presided. The Member fir Manchester, remarking "the numerous and important meeting then before him," dwelt at length on the immense educational advantages of the present generation—cheap books, and especially cheap penny and twopenny newspapers. What a wonderful thing is one of those penny newspapers ! From cheap newspapers Mr. Bright edged gradually down to an attack on the present war policy. In this country there is some- thing like twilight on political principles and questions ; the state of par- tial seeing and partial knowledge makes us the victims of fear and panic. In 1850, this great nation trembled before the apparition of a gentleman from Italy in red stockings'; in 1851 we were told that 60,000 Frenchmen would come over in one night—and the people of England believed it ; two years later and by the same process of twilight examination we discovered that Russia was dangerous to Europe and to England. By and by, we shall find out that Cardinal Wiseman, the French invasion, and the Russian Emperor, all belong to the same class of "imaginary perils." Our true rival is imerica. It has a population equal to ours; a great external and internal commerce, more tonnage in shipping, more railroads, more newspapers, than we have; a great manufacturing interest, and freer in- stitutions—except that horrid slavery, that unhappy legacy of the past. And how do we start in the race ? The Government of the United States raises from twelve to fifteen millions sterling per annum. This year in loans and taxes we shall expend a hundred millions sterling. Can we hope to be as well off as America'' to lessen poverty, to uproot brutality, while we spend these millions in the vain scheme of saving Europe from imaginary dangers ?

A very interesting incident occurred on Tuesday at llatfield—a banquet to a "Crimean hero," but not one of the ordinary kind. The object of the dinner was to present a sword and three purses containing 1201. to Lieutenant Gardner, of the Thirteenth Light Dragoons, who was wounded in the Balaklava charge. Lord Rayleigh presided ; Sir John Tyrell, Sir Claude de Crespigny, and many ladies and gentlemen of Essex, were present. In presenting the testimonial, Lord Rayleigh said that the gentry, the landowners of Hatfield parish, and many others, had seized that op- portunity of doing honour where honour is due. "1 should like it to be known not only as far as this oom is concerned, but further still, that we first of i all knew you as a boy living in this parish, and on Fridays attending Chelmaford market with your father, to dispose of the produce of his soil. We also knew you as a lad, who desiring to know your duty to God and man, trudged to Witham on your leisure-days. We also knew you as a youth, who,-'preferring independence, made your way to the metropolia, entered a chemical manufactory, ansl afterwards introduced your brother into it, when fourteen years ago you enlisted into her Majesty's service ' • and then, step by step, from the private tothe Sergeant-Major ; then to the regimental Sergeant-Major ; and then, on the 27th of September 1854, you became in rank what you were previously in conduct—a gentle- man—and received her Majesty's commission as Cornet, and were made Ad- intent of the Thirteenth Light Dragoons; and that last September you were promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Let it be known, I say, that we, of all grades of society—that we, of all pursuits, occupations, and employments— are assembled here today to congratulate you upon this your meritorious suc- cess, and to express our admiration of your conduct as an Englishman and a soldier."

Lieutenant Gardner, in returning thanks, with much feeling said- " I revisit my native village after an absence of many years expecting to find it inhabited by strangers ; but instead of my humble name being forgot- ten, I find myself welcomed and honoured in a way which I cannot suffi- ciently acknowledge. About seventeen years ago I left this parish a poor bey. I had the wide world before me, but without any apparent prospect of winning a position in it. I entered her Majesty's service, rubbed on quietly, and passed through every grade up to the rank of Sergeant-Major. At that time all was peace. A very little while after right was ordered to march against might,—and I had the honour of being one in the ranks of the for. mer." (Loud cheers.) Narrating, in brief soldierlike terms, the principal events of the campaign, he said that he trusted the Northern forts of Se- bastopol will be ours before the spring, and that then England might lay dawn her arms and rest in peace and quietness for generations to come. "But., should it be otherwise, I amuse you that the sword you have just in- trusted. to my keeping shall never bring dishonour upon those who have so handsomely and kindly conferred it upon me ; and God grant my life may be spared, that I may hand it down to my son, and impress upon his mind the circumstances under which his father received it. The contents, too, of these purses, I faithfully promise you shall not be squandered away, but put to some good account for the benefit of my family hereafter. As to the purses themselves, I shall put them with the sword ; and they shall go down together from generation to generation, to commemorate the kindness of the ladies of Essex." (Misch cheering.)

The incorporation of Brighton was celebrated on Monday by a banquet at the Pavilion; the Mayor in the chair. Among the guests were the Duke of Richmond, the Lord Mayor of London' Lord Alfred Hervey, Sir James Duke, Mr. Black, the French Consul, and Mr. Charles Pearson.

At Winchester Assizes, on Thursday, Abraham Baker was tried for the murder of Naomi Kingswell, at Southampton. There was no question about Use facts ; witnesses and the prisoner's own statement proved them. The young man was very much in love with the girl; they lived in the same service ; she appears after at first returning his affection to have trifled with him ; and annoyed at his jealousy, to have intimated that she no longer loved him. She would not speak to him. In B passion of jealousy and despair, he bought a double-barrelled pistol, one Sunday morning ; went behind Naomi, in the kitchen, in the presence of the cook, and fired the pistol;--the charge entered the girl's brain. Both Baker and Naomi were well- bonduoted and very religious persons ; Baker was a Wesleyan. His counsel pleaded that he Must have been insane when he killed Naomi; but the only witness he called made out no case of insanity. Mr. Baron Parke laid down the law very carefully to the Jury : strong passion or jealousy was not infetnity. The Jury—many of whom were in tears—touched by the simple eloquence of the murderer's confession—returned a verdict of "Guilty." Thu Judge, who was also much moved, passed the capital sentence. The prisoner was iu a dreadfdl state during the trial, and after the sentence ho

was carried out "more dead than alive." The whole trial was a very pain. ful one.

" Alice Grey " has been committed for perjury by the Wolverhampton Magistrates. The case was that of the two boys she got imprisoned for rob- bing her, as she falsely alleged.

James Buglass, late Superintendent of Police at South Shields, has been committed for trial for many frauds on the Watch Committee. It was his duty to receive fines from persons convicted of petty offences, " drunk and disorderlies," and BO on, which he should have amounted for to the Watch Committee ; but it appears that in many cases he represented that offenders had gone to prison, whereas they had paid their fines. In one instance, he actually sent a man to prison without any judgment- by a Magistrate, and kept him there till his friends had paid 17s. 64. I The inquiry has reflected no credit on the administration of justice at South Shields; one fact that came out was, that a policeman there is allowed a shilling "head-money" for every person convicted,—a premium on the multiplication of petty pro- secutions.

A good deal of attention has been excited in Yorkshire by the case of Mr. John Jackson, a pawnbroker of Doncaster. A man stole a diamond ring, and pledged it with Jackson ; Mr. Jackson and his wife attended at the Ses- sions at Sheffield as witnesses; the thief was convicted. But Mr. Jackson was suddenly arrested on a charge of feloniously receiving the ring; a bill of indictment was preferred against him; next day, site of appeals for time, he was tried, and, chiefly on the thief's evidence, convicted. The Chairman, without consulting his brother Magistrates, immediately sentenced him te twelve months' imprisonment with hard *boar. Mr. Jackson is sixty-five years old. Most people seem to think he was treated harshly, and tried and sentenced with indecent haste, if not unjustly. The pawnbrokers as a body have taken up the matter, and the Home Secretary is to be appealed to.

A female impostor of the "Alice Grey" kind—and who probably per- formed some of the feats credited to Alice Grey—has been arrested at Can- terbury.. She calla herself Smith, and other names;- tells many tales of her good connexions; and seems generally to have ticketed Roman Catholics for dupes, by pretending that she was passing from the English to the Roman Church. Her last trick was played on a shopkeeper at Oapringe: she was a persecuted "heiress," and intended to put him into a farm of hers ; he as- sisted her to get to Canterbury ; bat there she fell into the hands of the police.

During Saturday night a daring burglary was committed at Portsea, on the premises of Messrs. Emanuel, jewellers at the Hard. The spot is very public, the locality respectable, a police force close at hand at the dockyard- gate, and twenty people were sleeping in the house, some immediately over the shop. The thieves forced their way into a wine-merchant's premises adjoining Messrs. Emanuel's, and then got access to the jewellers' work- shops, whence they proceeded to the front shop. Here they plundered the window of goods valued at more than a thousand pounds, and got away in safety. Mr. Ezekiel Emanuel was twice disturbed ,by a noise during the night ; he arose, but not perceiving anything unusual he thought the noise must have been occasioned by neighbours.

The death of Mr. John Parsons Cook, a gentleman of Rugeley, who kept race-horses and was a betting-man, is attributed by a Coroner's Jury to poison, administered by William Palmer, a surgeon of Rugeley. It appeared from the very. extended investigation before the Coroner, that Palmer and Cook were at times/partners in betting on horses, unclasp made bets against each other ; there was a bet pending between them at the time of Mr. Cook's death ; what was their general position towards each other in money matters is not clear—Mr. Cook's betting-book has mysteriously disappeared. On the 13th November, Mr. Cook was at Shrewsbury Races; his horse Pole-star won a race; Mr. Cook received some 8001. Palmer was with him. While drinking grog at night, Mr. Cook complained that his liquor Mont his throat—there was "something in it " ; Mr. Palmer took up the glass, drank about a tea-spoonful of the liquor that remained,and said, "There is nothing in it " ; then he asked another person to taste it—when none was left. Soon after, Mr. Cook was seized with sickness : he told a Mr. Fisher that he be- lieved Palmer had "dosed" him ; he gave Mr. Fisher 8001. to take care of, saying, "Take care of it, for I believe I have been dosed." Mr. Cook got better. Ile afterwards hinted to- a Mr. Herring that Palmer—" that villain "—had put something in his liquor, and that they had had betting transactions: be added, "You don't know all." Mr. Herring asked him how he could continue to associate -with Palmer. "Ile again replied in an absent manner, and, walking towards the door, Ah I you don't know alL" Cook and Palmer returned to Rugeley on the 15th November ; Cook lodged at the Talbot Arms; he continued to associate with Palmer. On the 18th he was seized with sickness; Palmer attended him; Palmer sent for Mr. Jones, a surgeon at Lutterworth. Mr. Jones could not asse any symptoms of bilious diarrhcea, which Palmer said Cook was suffering from. Mr. Bamford, surgeon, of Rugeley, was also in attendance at Palmer's request. Mr. Bam- ford prescribed medicines for the patient. On the night of the 21st, soon after he had taken pills administered by Palmer, Mr. Cook was very ill. Palmer was sent • for by Mr. Jones; he came with extraordinary speed, bringing two pills which he sixid—contained arnmonia. They were given to Mr. Cook. Mr. Jones describes the sequel—" Immediately after taking the pills, Mr. Cook uttered loud screams, and threw himself hack on the bed in very strong convulsions. He than requested to be raised up, saying, 'Ishall be suffocated.' We endeavoured to raise him up ; but he was so stiffened out with spasms that it was impossible to do so. Whee he found that we could not raise him he said Turn me over ' ; and I turned him over on bis right side. I listened to the action of his heart; which I found to gradually cease, and in a few minutes he died. I never heard of his having a fit before. I have never seen symptoms so strong before. They were symp- toms of convulsions and tetanus ; every muscle of the body was stiffened. I cannot say what was the cause of convulsions. My impression at the time was that it was from over-excitement."

The local surgeons made a post-mortem examination to ascertain the cause of death—but in vain ; there were no signs of disease of a mortal nature, nor any . of poistis. having been administered. The viscera were sent to London, and en

icitaned by Professor Taylor and Dr. Bees. They could find no traces of poison; they-detected antimony in amall amount in the various organs and their contents; but antimony is a safe medicine, though enough may be giveifto kill: the viscera presented no 'appearance to account for death. But how did the antimony get into the system ? Mr. Bamford, who made up the medicines which Mr. Cook ought to' have taken, did not use any antinginy. Mr. Bamford had sent pills containing calomel; yet no mercurysvas detected by Professor Taylor and Dr. Rees. After hearing the general evidence, and especially that of the chambermaid who waited on Mr. Cook, Professor Taylor said he was fully prepared to give his opinion of the came of death—Mr. Cook died from tetanus, caused by medicine given a short time before death. "I believe that the pills administered on Mon- day night and Tuesday night contained strychnine. I do not believe that the Medicine prescribed by Mr. Bamford could have produced any such effects Two men, Rayne and Cain, are in custody for the murder of Mr. Sterling, the surgeon, at Burnopfield. as those I have heard described." "The witness Mills, the chambermaid, has accurately described the symptoms produced by a small dose of strych- nine, such as would be caused by pills given at halt past ten on Monday night ; and the symptoms on Tuesday night would be those produced by a larger dose of strychnine given in the pills taken on that night. There is an absence of any natural cause, or any natural disease, to ac- count for this tetanus: the brain and spinal marrow are healthy ; there is no insensibility before death,—perfect consciousness, and that effect of spasm on the nervous system which a poisonous dose of strychnine would cause." Dr. Taylor then referred to the other symptoms which are attend- ant on the result of administration of strychnine ; observing that he knew of no other poison that was able to produce convulsions like strychnine. There were poisons which would cause paralysis, but he knew of no other which would produce the effects he had heard detailed there except strychnine ; and therefore his opinion was that death had been caused from its administration. The only medical difficulty which presented itself was the absence of any proof that the pills contained strychnine, in consequence of none having been discovered in the analysis of the body ; but there existed this difference be- tween arsenic and poisons of that kind and strychnine—that, while the for- mer would remain in the body and bear the test of chemical analysis, the i latter was so speedily absorbed n the blood that in the course of an hour after administration no chemical test at present known could detect it. Mr. Cook had not died from prosaic acid—its effects would have been more sudden. There was also another symptom, in the head and heels, with the body, being drawn like a bow, that strychnine had been administered ; and, taking into account the whole of the symptoms, he had not the slightest hesitation in saying that the deceased had died from the effect of strychnine contained in the pills.

A chemist's apprentice deposed that he sold six grains of strychnine to Palmer On the 20th November. Remarkable evidence was given of Palmer's conduct after Mr. Cook's death : he was seen by the chambermaid looking under the bolster and pillows of the bed, and searching the pockets of the deceased's Coat. Mr.-Jones said—" Shortly after deceased's death, I left the room ; and on my return I found Mr. Palmer with Mr. Cook's coat in his hand. I did not see-Mr. Palmer take anything from the coat. He said to me, You, as his nearest friend, had better search his pockets, and take i possession of what there may be n them.' I searched his pockets, and all that I found in them was a purse containing a five-pound note and about bs. Some conversation took place about the betting-book, and Mr. Palmer said that all the bets were void, and that the book was of no use to any one. Both of us made a slight search for the betting-book, but we did not find it. On Friday, on my return from London, I searched for Mr. Cook's betting- look, but could not find it." Other persons searched in vain. Mr. Cook, a druggist Of Stafford, said that Palmer had recently asked him what dose of prussic acid 'wbuld kill a dog. Palmer did not attend the inquest—he was confined to his bed by indisposition. The Jury deliberated for a few minutes, and then found that "the de- ceased died of poison, wilfully administered to him by William Palmer." The Globe states that suspicions of foul play are entertained with regard to the deaths of Palmer's wife and brother. The wife's life was insured for 13,000/., which was paid by the office. Palmer induced his brother to in- sure, and then got possession of the policy ; he tried also to insure his brother's life himself, but failed. The brother died. The life-office had in- quiries made ; and the claim of Palmer seems to have been resisted. It is also said that Palmer tried to insure a "gentleman's" life for 25,0001.—the gentleman was his occasional groom.

The Coroner ef Warrington has placed himself in a curious position. It has been the custom in that town to make the juryman whose name stands first on the list, foreman. The other day, the name of Mr. Holmes, Quaker, stood first. The Coroner desired him to give way to a non-Quaker; he refused ; the Coroner gave' ut, the point, but ordered the head constable net to place the names of Quakers first any more. The head constable disobeyed, and placed the name of a Quaker at the top and the bottom. The Coroner declined to take the affirmation of the first ; the Jury contended that they had a right to appoint their own chairman ; but the Coroner dismissed the Jury. Another was assembled; and, by the Mayor's orders, a Quaker was put at the head and tail of the list. The Coroner objected to a Quaker, because it was "inconvenient" to take his affirmation. The Jury had no Rower to choose their own foreman. The Jury elected a foreman ; the Coroner would not acknowledge him. The Coroner went into the next mom; the Jury; their solicitor, and spectators, followed him ; then the Coroner returned to the first room; still the Jury followed. The Coroner onieied the landlord and the chief constable to clear the room ; they declined -the solicit:1r sayink he should like to see the man who would keep him out of court. After great uproar and confusion, the belligerents adjourned to • another house ; the Coroner marched into the street, and up and down the street, with the Jury and crowd at his heels—the foreman-elect reading diligently and aloud -from a book -on-the rights of juries. This scene con- tinued for-some tine, the Jury- hunting the Coroner to the boundaries of the borouglOvhere in the road another row took place.. The. upshot was, that the inquest did not take place, and the body remained unburied !

There has leen another fire at Aldersliott'Camp, by which a number of huts were destroyed. It brake out in the night, Rod one officer had to escape almost naked, The dangerous stoves are now undergoing improvement, and more efficient means to combat fare are to be organized.

Mr. J. Blaylock, a tax-collector, has been killed at Tranmere station. He -was- knocked down by a train soon after six in the morning, as he was at- tempting to cross the rails. It appears that Mr. W. Williams, the station- master, overslept himself that morning: he ought to have been-on the plat- form-to look after the passengers ; he had been too late for this train seve- ral times. that It further appeared at he hadleft unlocked a gate leading to the station-ivhich should have been locked. A Coroner's Jury have pro-- flounced a verdict of "-Manslaughter" against Williams. .

At the'village of Bellesdon, near Leicester, Mr. Partridge, his aged mother, his two children, and a bailiff who Was in possession, were poisoned by eat- ' ing of a batter-pudding, and Mrs. Partridge died. It appears that she made the pudding, and it contained arsenic ; but whether she accidentally or-In- tentionally introduced the poison, is not yet evident : there was arsenic in the house, part of the remains of a druggist's stock.

A fatal accident has occurred at the iron-smelting works of Messrs. Hick- man at Billiton. By some means, water ran into a furnace of molten metal ; an explosion ensued, and the liquid iron- was scattered around. Five people were at work—three men -and two boys'; they were frightfully burnt and mutilated, 'and four soon died ; the fifth was not only burnt by the metal but also scalded by leaping into a tank of.hot water. Three men have been suffocated at Middlesborough. Two went to sleep- in an attic in which the -landlady bad placed a pan of burning coke; there was no vent ; in the morning they were found dead : there was no sign of suffering on their countenances. The third man perished by sleeping in an oven used for drying moulds at iron-works.

There has been thick and bad weather on the Welsh' iroasts, with loss of life. Five mariners are believed to have been lost by a collision which caused one vessel to sink ; and two boatmen have been drowned.