On Monday and Tuesday last week, a grand festival of
no fewer than seventeen Temperance Societies in the towns and villages round Wilstlen, took place there. Monday was fine; and the vast body of members who arrived on the appointed ground in procession, each headed by a banner, presented a spectacle most interesting arid impos- ing. At twelve o'clock, IVilsden Church was filled by the Tempe- rance Societies ; and the Reverend Mr. Barber, President of that in the village, took the chair. Several highly-interesting speeches were delivered on this and subsequent occasions (in the evening, and on Tuesday, both in the morning and evening), by Mr. Buckingham, Reverend G. S. Bull, Messrs. Thompson of Halifax, E. Parsons of Leeds, Pollard, agent of the Yorkshire Society, and Livesey, Ander- ton (the Temperance poet), and Swindlehurst (King of the Reformed
Drunkards), all of Preston. Striking pictures from real life were drawn of the evils of intemperance, and of the blessings resulting from moderation, but especially from total abstinence; which was shown to have been remarkably beneficial to the health of sawyers, pressers, and others engaged in the most laborious and exhausting em- ployments. In a field near the Church, a splendidly decorated booth, 45 yards by 18, had been erected, down which seven rows of tables were ranged. In the afternoon of Monday, 1.100 persons sat down to- gether to tea, and were succeeded by 1100, who in their turn were fol- lowed by 6200. Mirth and cheerfulness pervaded the vast assemblage ; and when morally considered, scarcely any sight could be of equal in. terest with that presented on this occasion. Next day, the proceedings were resumed ; a prayer meeting and a public meeting were held ; and tea was again partaken of by an immense number of individuals. The same evening the festival terminated.—Leeds Mercury.
Considerable excitement prevails in Norfolk, in consequence of a discovery alleged to have been recently made of forgeries to the extent of 25,0001., by John Norris, Esq., one of the Magistrates of the county, and Chairman of the IValsingham Sessions. He has absconded, it is supposed for America, leaving a family of 12 young children without a mother, and wholly unprovided for.
In our paper of last week we noticed a suicide committed at Aber- gavenny by a private of the Twelfth Lancers. We have this week to announce another suicide in the same regiment, on their march from Birmingham to Dorchester. A man named sdiermingham, a corporal in the band, left here on Thursday, with head-quarters, as a prisoner under confinement, on a charge of striking Sergeant-Major Tanner, of the some regiment. On their arrival at Aleester, be was taken to his bil!et. house ; where by some means he got a comrade's pistol, and shot himself.—Birmingkam Journal.
About half-past two on Monday morning, Fearn Cottage, at Heston, near Hounslow, the residence of Mr. J. Frazer, was broken open by some thieves. Fortunately they were heard by some of the family, who immediately raised an alarm ; and on Mr. Frazer opening his window, he observed three men run from the house. He instantly fired off his pistols, with, it is believed, some effect ; as three men were a few minutes afterwards seen running out of breath in the direction of Osterley Park, the whole of whom appeared very much alarmed, and one of them lame, and apparently in much pain. But although they were closely pursued, the darkness of the night enabled them to effect their escape. On searching the house, it was found, that in their hurry they had only carried off a musical box, although a number of other articles bad been removed and packed up.
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