Vrtudirts.

The Times publishes the following letter as the reply given by "Colo- nel Mason, a stanch Protectionist," to an "application made by his ten- antry for a reduction of rent in consequence of the low price of farraing produce." It would seem to offer a clue to Earl Stanhope in his incre- dulous search after a farmer who has made aprolit on his farming during the past. year. "Neeton Hall, 25t1s,14,7,ovember 1849. "TO _THE TENANTS ON MY PROPERTY.

"My good Friends—Bv.free trade the Government of the country has pelt the landed interest of the United Kingdom under a different position than that in which it has been placed. It becomes necessary, therefore, for those who possess landed property, and for those who hire it, to come to a right adjustment of terms between them, as the circumstances of the case may require. " In my own occupation of about 580 acres, (of which 100 acres, as mystew- ard testifies, yield no profit,) notwithstanding the great disadvantages under which a gentleman must always farm, and although I have sustained a loss of five score stock ewes, I have up to St. Michael last not only made my rent, but more than obtained 10 per cent for my capital invested in live and dead stock.

"I therefore am come to this conclusion, that all and each of you shall have the opportunity of accepting the terms herein proposed- " Of rehiring your farm upon a new valuation, or of giving up your faro. according as may be considered best for your advantage under the altered nature of your tenure.

"I shall request that a reply from each may be sent within fourteen days from the date of this document.

(By direction of)

"Your sincere wellwisher and landlord, W. Meson."

The list of meetings held by the Protectionists this week includes Reading, Croydon, Worcester Bingham, (Nottinghamshire), Edenbridge (Kent), Hinckley "(Leicesterlire), Ross Kingsbridge (Devon) York, Penenden Heath (Kent), altham (Leicestershire), and Nortblinpieb. The campaign is chequered by qualified successes and actual defeats.

The Croydon meeting, on Saturday, ended, acceording to the Protection- id accounts, in a drawn battle ; according to the Times account, in a de- feat. The Chairman, a local banker, declared the original resolution to be carried; but the report in the Times states that the Free-traders were two to one. After the Chairman's decision the meeting became un- manageable; and, on the suggestion of Earl Stanhope, who appeared alarmed at the uproar, the Chairman'dissolved it, and thus prevented any reversal of the decision. An ineffectual attempt was made to pass a vote of thanks to the Chairman ; and shouts were raised for "Cobden," "Peel," and "Free Trade."

A meeting of "the farmers of the Southern extremity of Leicestershire" was held on Saturday, in Hinckley, "a considerable market-town, at which there is a large manufacture of silk and cotton hose" ; and "a defeat of the Protectionists" is acknowledged by the Horning Post, This result assumes an air of significance from the fact stated by the Post, pro- minently though without comment, that the farmers were most numerous at the beginning of the meeting, but voluntarily became a minority as it proceeded. "A considerable number of the runaways were congregated in the market in front of the Bull Hotel, on a spot whence they could see the Town-hall and hear the shouts of the Free-traders [nearly all of them stockingers] and the groans of their fellow farmers." Mr. Packe, M.P., presided. In his opening speech he said—" He was ready to admit, he rejoiced in the fact, that the stockingmakers were now better off than had been known in the memory of man ; but yet they were sub- ject to deductions for frame-rent, ;See., which deprived them of their fair share in the profits derived from the manufacture." Mr. Newdegate, M.P.' endeavoured to gain a hearing by a statement of the sympathy for the stockingers shown by his party in the House of Commons on the divisions upon the Steelcingmakers Bill, introduced by Sir Henry Raiford and Mr. Packe : but he was interrupted by cries of "We want no pro- tection ! "—" Lower the taxes !"—" Reduce rents ! " He obtained-but a very imperfect hearing ; although a working man on the platform de- manded a fair hearing for those to whom he admitted his class owed gratitude—" Hear these gentlemen," said he "they've had to keep us when we had no work to do." On the original resolution being put, says the report of the Post, the meeting seemed equally divided ; but the con- fusion was too great to judge correctly : however, it was declared to be carried. Subsequently, Mr. Pratt, a stockingmaker, moved a Free-trade resolution ; which was seconded by Enoch Bond, a stoekinger, and sup- ported by William Barker, "a local preacher," who had "felt the benefit of free trade, and set his -face like flint against every proposal to renew protection." This amendment being carried by a small majority," the Chairman dissolved the meeting, "amidst rounds of applause from the delighted Free-traders of Hinckley."

The meeting at Worcester, held on Saturday, in the large hall of the Criminal Court, was nullified by the obstinate clamour of a Free-trade minority, who demanded adjournment to a larger ball ; and whose de- mand was refilled, either for the ostensible reason that there were no ac- • coramodations for reporters there or the virtual one that a Free-trade party had beforehand posted themselves there to great advantage under what would have been the platform. Only the speeches of the mover and se- conder of the first resolution were audible. They were both in .a tone of favour towards Lord John Russell's general administration, and quite opposed to the idea of a dissolution. Beyond this the proceedings were dumb-show. A small knot of Free-traders, against the sentiment of their own party, maintained such uproar in form of calls for adjournment, that neither Protectionists nor Free-traders could obtain any hearing. Reso- lutions calling for measures to avert the ruin impending over all chimes - from Free-trade legislation were formally passed. The meeting at Reading, on the same day, was distinguished by similar • factious tendencies ; but • the result was very different The yeomen; were so numerous and resolute that they proceeded to physical force in suppression of the uproar raised by their opponents. The report of the meeting is more like one of a " row " in a theatre than of a deliberative, or didactic political character. The reporter of the Times describes the scenes with zest-

" There was a rush in the hall towards the platform ; and a gentleman, apparently in order to escape it, attempted to carry the Jury-box by esealade ; but was repulsed, and thrown back among the people amid much. confusion. This incident led to a general excitement ; for the audience were becoming? very inflammable, and the general excitement soon led to a battle. A shout arose of Turn them out!' a movement of the Free-traders to gain posses-: sion of some of the platforms was defeated, and the hall was soon the scene of a hundred encounters. To the spectators on the benches nothing was visible but a sea of hats bobbing up and down like chopping waves in a tide-, way ; fists whirling in the air, and incidental glimpses of hand-to-hand en-' counters, in which some bulky gentlemen in white top-coats appeared to great advantage. "Indeed, after a time, the white and grey coats and broad-brim- med hats, which we presume appertained to the agriculturists, were in the ascendant,- and a stream of gentlemen in darker clothing, and often hatless,: was impelled with great rapidity towards the door and tumbled down the steps. Meantime the speakers could do nothing; but, to carry out the spirit of the meeting, Mr. Weedon, (ex-Mayor,) on the orator's bench, accused the High Sheriff of partiality in not interfering to protect the Free-traders ; and rather a warm altercation ensued between these gentlemen. The row was

• every moment waxing in fury ; the noise of blows and kicks became louder and louder, and now and then a cheer told the effect of a good knock-down blow, or testified to the performance of some feat of strength or activity. The seat at the far end of the room formed the most warmly contested position- ' it was carried and retaken several times, with some amount of torn coats, ' black eyes, and smashed hats on. the part of the contending factions; and at last, after the affray had lasted half-an-hour, the Sheriff sent for Mr. Hamil- ton, Superintendent of Police, to come immediately with his force. Bydegrees, • the Protectionists ejected the Free-traders, and raised a shout of •victory ; when a counter-shout told them they had still more opponents to deal with."

'Easiness was resumed for a short time ; but at last even 'Mr. 'Job IJouseley, a popular and eccentric -Protectionist farmer in Berkshire, was .a second time silenced. The Marquis of Downshire essayed the popular .persuasiveness of an Irishman ; but in vain—the tumult was but trans- . ferrecl from the hall to the platform.

"lam an Irishman," said the Marquis, 't and ask only fair play for all

• parties. (Great cheering.) I attended a meeting. the other day 111 the county of Down, where arguments and common sense were put down by a mob, and where, I am sorry to say, we—the respectability—a:Mid not get a. hearing. I am sorry to say we were entirely beaten; but don't let your- -selves be beaten now. (Tremendous cheers and shouting, followed by some disturbance.) I am the last man in the room to appeal to physical force but I declare to you, if • there is any more row ru head some eight or teil farmers and turn them out."

The cheering that followed baffled description. Mr. Weedonrose to order ; expostulated with the Sheriff for allowing such language, unbecoming a Magistrate, to issue from the platform; and, as the farmers took the hypo- thetical CAPP of the Marquis positively, and proceeded to undoubted physical force, his Lordship again rose, and said-" Don't mistake me- I sin no ad- vocate for violence. I would only expel Those who disturb the meeting, and -will not allow fair play." The Times reporter continues— "Several were hurled off the seats at the and with violence, and kicked en passant to the door, while their hats formed temporary footballs ; and, as the Protectionists wore stout boots generally, the effect must have been most unpleasant. Some Free-traders showed fight; but were no match for the burly farmers, who knocked them down right and left. A large gentle- man in top-boots and a white coat having danced up and down the benches at the end of the hall, and pushed off some half-dozen men, who were im- mediately forced to run the gauntlet till they escaped at the door, shouted out, We've beat them all !' whereupon there was a great stamping of feet and hurraing." • Lord Radnor attempted to recall the meeting to its real object ; which was not contained in the resolutions, but really was, to get an Adminis- tration in favour of protective duties in corn. It Was to resist that ob- ject, he frankly avowed, that he came. there ; but he was not allowed to make half a dozen consecutive remarks. The Sheriff said he WAS ashamed &Them, and threatened twice to dissolve the meeting : but the 'disturbers were beyond control. Lord Radnor coolly said, i if they liked to decide without hearing, they might"; and he finished by reading an ethico- political amendment on the Protectionist resolution. From this point the meeting was less disorderly. The farmers, however, had been so exas- perated that they would hear no Free-trade opponents, despite the im- ploring of the Sheriff, and the appeals of the popular Mr. Stanford, Mem- ber for the Borough, and his assurances that his mind teemed with a thou- sand arguments to answer everything the Free-traders should say. Major Court formally seconded the amendment. Mr. Robert Palmer Member for the County, obtained the only perfect hearing ; and his speech sup- plies the following extract—

He saw no reason to suppose that the price of corn would range higher unless from some such an unfortunate occurrence as a bad harvest : if the price was to range at the present level, then he would say the time had come when it would be necessary for even- landlord to make a resettlement and fresh agreement with all his tenants. (Uproarious cheering.) No man could receive more than his tenant was able to pay ; and that was a principle ho was ready to act upon. If the prices of corn continued to range as low as they did now, (which he thought was more than probable,) he was perfectly prepared to place the whole of his estate—if his tenants conceived they would be benefited thereby—before any land-surveyor in whom they plight • have confidence, to say what the rent ought to be under present circumstances. Ile would go further than that : it was clearly impossible for any land-surveyor, however great his experieuce, to go upon a farm at this moment and say what was a proper rent to be paid for ten rears to come ; bat there was a mode of adjusting rents which. would be perfectly fair as

between landlord and tenant, if the terms could only be fixed upon - and why should there be any objection to taking the rents of lands wending to the average prices of corn for a certain period ? (Loud cheers : "Part's right, Mr. Palmer !") Persons could not then complain that the price they

• paid their landlord for his land was greater than the _prices they could get for their produce.

Mr. Philip Pusey, Member for the County, found audience only to state that the repeal of the Corn-laws had brought prices much lower than statesmen had expected; -and that he was prepared to advocate in Parlia- ment a return to a moderate duty. Protectionist resolutions, praying a dis- solution of Parliament, were passed.

At the meeting in York, on Wednesday, Mr. Oayley, M.P., and Mr. W. Busfield Ferrand, were the chief speakers. The Earl of EfarewoOd presided ; the Duke of Cleveland, Mr. J. G. Smyth, M.P., and the Ho- nourable 0. Ermicombe, were present The meeting was influential, but not very nuraerous ; and measures were taken to secure that it should con- sist only of Protectionists. The Duke of Cleveland thought there was no • probability that the House of Commons—for the House of Lords was quite secondary in comparison in these things—would in the present ses- sion, nor that the same party would in another session, repeal the fatal law of 1846; yet he believed that when another Parliament came to be called they would take a very different view : he knew that if a dissolu- tion took place tomorrow, several Protectionist Members would take their places on those very seats now occupied by Free-traders. Mr. Cayley declared that he was glad to find opinions rapidly changing : he had met many of his old Whig friends that day, who admitted with long-faced jocoseness that the matter was at last become too serious to be treated as one of party—" one by one as the shoe pinched, they were coming round." Mr. Ferrand entertained his audience with rhodomontacling sallies; drolly caricaturing the army marshalled against the Protectionists

• smiler Mr. Cotten-General Bright with his Peace Society, and Mr. Cot- ton-General Cobden with his bludgeon-men from Stafford, Worcester, and Reading. Sir Robert Peel, , Commander-in-chief, mounted on his Tam- worth bull,- would propose "three courses "—to fight, to surrender, or to run away ; he _would of course give the last his cordial approval. Mr. Ferrand gave Mr. Cobden notice that if he caught him running, he -would not let him compound for his. existence, "as he would make is do," but would hang him on the first . tree ; and Cotton-General Bright should only compound on condition of being Jack Ketch for all the rest.

The meeting of the West Kent Protectionists at Penenden Heath, on -Thursday, was another instance of virtual defeat. Earl Stanhope was very unfavourably received, and was at last shouted down, despite great pertinacity and many goodhumoured appeals; to fair play : the High Sheriff was unable to procure the fall heating "due to the noble Earl's station and his advanced age" ; and the latter; betraying some emotion, had to content himself with moving a Protectionist resolution. Sir' Ed- mind Filmer, the County Member, met with a reception only a little less unfavourable. 'Mr. T. L Hodges, the other County Member, amidst evidences of great personal popularity, rebuked the farmers for raising the Protectionist cry too late in the day ; they should have called their meetings, when Sir Robert Peel first attacked the Tariff. If the present meeting succeeded, the reins of government would fall into the hands of Lord Stanley, a member of the very Cabinet that introduced this mea- sure ; and who further brought in the Canada Bill, which let in the corn of North America to this country. He earnestly advised the meeting M separate without any resolution at all, and gave an enlivening assurance

• on sitting down : he had the strongest reason for believing—the strongest moral conviction, without official authority—that a considerable relief from the burden of the hop-duties would be proposed by Government next session. Mr. Beacon- moved a resolution stigmatizing the raising of the Protectionist cry, as a delusion aimed to catch the agricultural elasaea, and protesting against the weight of taxation. After some preliminary discussion, and preliminary blunders of form, the resolutions were put te the meeting. The show of hands appeared equal, but was declared fa- vourable to the Protectionists ; and great uproar then arising, the Sheriff soon after dissolved the meeting, almost before a resolution in compliment to himself had been moved. The crowd pelted the mounted farmers with mud, and dispersed with cheers for free trade.

The meetings at Waltham of the Leicestershire and Rutlandshire • farmers, and at Northampton of persons interested in protection, were numerous, influential, and unanimous in their support of protection. At the first, the Marquis of Granby and Lord John Manners were speakers ; and the Earl of Wilton, Viscount Newport, M.P., Lord C. Manners, M.P., -Mr. Frewen, 31.P., were present : at the second, the Earl of Southamp- ton, the -Duke of Grafton, Sir Henry Dryden, Sir Charles Knightley,

-M.P., Earl Pomfret, Mr. Maunsel, 11r. Stafford, M.P., and Cap- tain Vyse,

Mr. Cobden has paid a visit to his Yorkshire constituents in Sheffield, and addressed them at- an- evening meeting, and also at a public breakfast, on current political topics. The speeches were professedly -desultory and conversational, and much of their substance has been forestalled by late communications ; but some points of an original or freshened interest invite selection.

Some papers had professed to expect a kind of revelation as to a certain line of policy which he in connexion with a friend waste pursue in the House of Commons : he had no such plans to reveal ; and he disclaimed the arrogance of the idea that the canine of Parliament would depend on the policy of any individual or two individuals in the 'House of COmmons. It was gratifying to see the Whigs, who don't always show sufficient pluck in their policy, coiling on Mr.' Charles Villiers to move the Address to the Throne, ancl thereby proclaiming that there is to be no change of Govern- ment policy on the question of the Corn-laws. The agriculturists, at some of their meetings, have been moving resolutions that all the great interests throughout the country are suffering distress and are hastening to ruin : on the contrary, Sheffield has been getting better; and Buffering less and less, just in proportion as it is said to be suffering mere and more. In 1842, 20,000 people were dependent on parish relief, and 4,000 houses were un- tenanted: the latest returns show that the ablebodied poor in three town- ships have fallen from 74 in the last week of 1848 to 6 in the last week of 1849: so that the ablebodied poor in all Sheffield are now probably reduced to about twelve or fifteen, A Poor-law. circular frqm London asks—" Is the reduction in wages, where it has taken place, comparatively greater or less than that in the price of provisions ?" The answer of the Shef- field Union • Clerk is—" I don't think there has been a reduction in wages, but rather an increase, the trade here is so very brisk." The land-

owners say that free trade has proved a failure, -because the Free-traders now •

swell the cry for a reduction of rent. Mr. Cobden, at least, during the seven years' agitation of the question, never said anything about rent ; he left it to be settled between landlord and tenant : but now that the farmers are hypocritically placed in front, and told that protection is asked for their in- terest, he will proclaim, both in and out of the BMW of Commons, that the question is entirely one of rent. If a fanner cannot carry on business at 408. a quarter for corn, it is a proof that he pays too much rent for the skill and capital and produce on his land. There has been no failure of this kind. Let gentlemen hold their tongues about compensation for the Act-of-Parlia- ment rents of five-and-thirty years past : in Colonel Thompson's words, "We talk about restitution if you talk about compensation." Rather than ever have a new corn-law, to repeat the extortion of past times, "we Will have a subscription from the poor needlewomen and hand-loom weavers, and the landlords shall take it directly as a pauper's dole." The West Ri- ding of Yorkshire does not intend that its bread shall be taxed again and it sets at defiance these Protectionists, who cannot be unanimous even in their own villages. The experience of the Last two years has convinced all the working men—in the North of England at least—that low-priced food means fuller employment and better wages. How can the Protectionists persuade themselves that they are to go back to the little loaf at dear prices ? "There is a gentleman in the room here who showed me just before I came in a cu- riosity. in the anteroom. He has brought with him a penny loaf which was made in 1801. (Laughter, and cries "Show it P') [The loaf was handed to Mr. Cobden by Mr. Rink of s, of Wentworth, along with a penny loaf of the present day, which was about four times the size of the former.] Now, this is a loaf made in January 1801. The weight is 2/ ounces ; and the qudrtern loaf of 3k pounds sold at the time for Is. 101(1. This curious specimen of protected bread is brought from Wentworth by a gentleman today. The Free-trade penny loaf which was bought today was made in January 1850, just forty-nine years after the other. Its weight is 81 ounces ; and the quartern loaf of 31 pounds is now sold at 5d. It'. 5d. against ls.

Now, gentlemen, if you can go back to that size of a loaf for a penny—if you can restore the times when a penny loaf was sold of that size—why, then, you will place the landed interest in this country in the most happy possible con- dition. They will be quite satisfied then. But I think I may say that I have the unanimous vote of this assembly in favour of the bigger loaf." ((Theers.) The question may be left with the public it is settled ; and it will be aclmowledged to be so in six months. But there is a logical consequence of free trade, which Sheffield must enforce—a totally different footing in our relations with the Colonies. We must have free trade with the Englishmen in the Colonies; and we must give them free government, that they may thrive and prosper as Englishmen thrive and prosper in the United States. By the change which is inevitable in the government of our Colonies, you may not only reduce your national

• expenditure to what it was in 1835, but reduce it a great deal more. How- ever, no financial reform will be permanent until the people of this country .shall have a more thorough control over the representation of the country. The expenditure was reduced after the Reform Bill, but soon grew up again ; so after the pressure now felt is withdrawn it will again be found on the rise. These are reasons for demanding an extension of the franchise, and a fairer division of representation among the constituencies. He wanted a rating qualification— 'the Poor-law Guardians' register to he the register of Parliamentary voters." There is a soreat advantage in that principle, inde- pendently of the extension of the franchise. "It does away with all the chicanery of the Registration Courts. By having the Poor-law Guardians' rate-book, you have a list of voters made up from year to year, independently of any Parliamentary franchise ; and therefore you are not likely to have it garbled, or mystified, or tampered with, for political or party objects."

Alluding to the announcement in the newspapers about the intentions of Government, Mr. Cobden said he was not very confident that the remedy would come from that quarter : he opined, that if anything effectual were done it would be done out of doors; and he confessed that the work would be slow. "You might safely go back to the old Saxon scot and lot system of considering every head of a family to be a citizen, that is a free man ; and assuming him to be a free man, paying the poor-rate and taxes, let that man have a voice in the representation. (Enthusiastic cheering.) Well, but I don't tell you—I should be deceiving you if I did—that this is a measure that. These t • are done very slowly in this country, and they are not which we are Parliament, pass next session in Parament, or the session after

done at all except by systematic exertions on the part of the men out of Par- liament as well as the men in Parliament. As a step towards effecting not only a thorough reform of Parliament, but towards accomplishing financial reform, I have always been an advocate of availing ourselves of that lucky constitutional opening which the forty-shilling freehold gives." Men who have never thought of purchasing a forty-shilling qualification should watch the proceedings of Parliament, and see how nine-tenths at least of the County Members vote in phalanx against every measure of the weak minority of Liberals and, rather than blame the minority for being always beaten, they should reproach themselves for doing nothing to change the minority by qualifying themselves whenever they can do so. "I shall throw back upon the people of this country the responsibility of the result, if this ses- sion be not satisfactory, and not upon the minority in the House, who are trying to do something unavailingly against an overwhelming majority. . . . I have no doubt that we shall see a great movement made in this country, in endeavouring to effect those measures which we consider highly necessary for the prosperity, the security, and the happiness of the whole people of this country."

The remark was made by Mr. Robert Leader, that Mr. Cobden is the only man who has risen direct from the ranks of the people to eminent statesmanship; in contradistinction to such men as Sir Robert Peel, who started from the shoulders of their fathers in the ranks of the people and attained the highest civil eminence. Mr. Cobden responded, that he never entered a meeting, or did any other public act, without a deep conviction how little any one man can accomplish in this age on any one question. A man who would wish to accomplish anything must live from year to

year with the reputation of being. an Utopist. It is just by forfeiting all character for being a statesman., in the eyes of Red-Tiquists and men who call themselves practical politicians,' that I am ever like to accomplish the smallest modicum of good in this country." He confessed himself a pioneer of free speech ; one who cared not whether what he said might be proved to be sound and correct this year. He admitted the disadvantageous position of one willing to be always a year or two in advance of what can possibly be realized in practical politics. Whilst, however, he had the cooperation of the West Riding, he should cheerfully persist in the policy he conscientiously esteemed best, and trust to time and further exertion for realising hopes and projects : for ultimately, and at no distant time, any question upon which the West Riding—the empire county of England—is decided, must become the adopted policy of the country.

The Manchester Courier of Saturday reported the defalcations in the St. Helen's Savings-Bank already detected to be 8,300!.; and there were about 150 pass-books to be examined. Several cases had been discovered where persons had been allowed to pay in large sums above the legal amount, which Johnson appropriated; and of course the payers can enforce no claim against the trustees of the bank for the surplus deposit. It would now seem that both the JOhnsons used the bank money. The delinquents have been arrested on charges of felony and conspiracy. They have undergone a preliminary examination by the Magistrates; who have remanded them, refusing bail.

George Lambert, a young man of Sheffield, on Christmas Eve set out by railway to visit a relative at Doncaster. At Masborough station, some men accosted him said they were going to Doncaster, and got into thecarriage he was seated in. They gave him a lozenge, which he put into his mouth. He gradually became unconscious • when he partially revived he found he had gone far beyond Doncaster. His companions had departed, carrying off about 51. from his pockets. He was very ill for several days. No doubt the lozenge was drugged.

An inquest has been held at Buckingham on the body of George Luckett, a man of sixty-nine, who died on his way to the union workhouse. Lucked lived at Marsh Gibbon, ten or twelve miles from Buckingham ; his family was very distressed, and he was dangerously ill ; the union Surgeon declared that it was necessary to remove him ; and Josiah Jones, the Overseer, di- rected his removal. The old man was averse to it. A baker's cart was sent, and into it the deceased was lifted "like a pig" ; the people who carried him could • not get his trousers on easily, so he was laid in the cart in his shirt and waistcoat ; one of his daughters was placed beside him ; and both were covered with a "barn-door winnowing-sheet." The weather was very inclement, the road vile. When the cart arrived at Buckingham, the man was taken out dead, and the daughter was insensible. Luckett had died four miles from Buckingham. To excuse the manner of removal, it was said that the cart was no worse a place for the man than his own wretched house. A surgeon stated, that his removal under such circumstances hastened his death. The Jury returned a verdict of "Involuntary manslaughter" against the Overseer ; who was committed to prison.

Mr. Alexander Novelli, a merchant of Manchester, and Mrs. Novelli, his brother's widow, have been found dead under circumstances that immediately led to a suspicion of murder and suicide. Mr. Louis Novellli died abeut six- teen months ago, leaving his widow and two children handsomely provided for. Mr. Alexander Novelli was one of the executors, and he took up his re- sidence with the widow. They appeared on good terms. On Sunday last they seemed in orainary health; at night, the servants left them in the sit- ting-room. Next morning a servant found Mrs. Novelli dead, lying on the floor of the sittingsroom, and partly undressed ; the body quite cold. On searching for Mr. Novell', his body was found suspended to a rail in his bed- room ; the body was still warm, as also was his bet An inquest was begun on Monday. Mr. Novelli was twenty-eight years old, the lady thirty. -Witnesses described the finding of the bodies, and the marks upon them. There were evidences of a struggle in the sitting-room. There were marks of pressure and scratches on Mrs. Novelli's throat and head. Nothing poisonous was discovered in the viscera. The state of the heart, blood-vessels, and blood, showed that Mrs. Novell had died from strangulation. There was a mark on Mr. Novelli's nose, as if it had been scratched in a struggle. The inquest was adjourned, that evidence might be obtained of Mr. Novelli's mental state.

On Wednesday, a solicitor, who had intercourse with Mr. Novelli on the administration of his brother's affairs, described his strange conduct on seve- ral occasions. He complained that inspecting the accounts affected his head. The witness said the deceased was a weak, soft-headed boy, at school; he was passionate and impulsive. Another witness stated that Mr. Novelli's mother had been insane; two of his brothers died by their own hands; a sis- ter now living is insane. The Jury consulted for a quarter of an hour, and then returned this verdict—" That Mr. Novell had destroyed the lives first of Mrs. Novelli and afterwards of himself, being at the time of insane mind."

Policeman Stamford,1 of the Nottinghamshire Constabulary, was employed to convey a man charged with robbery from Cotgrave to Nottingham. The two set off in a cart. Subsequently the cart was found in the road, the horse standing still, and Stamford lying dead in the vehicle ; the robber had fled. There were no evidences as to the cause of death.