Cbt Country.

A meeting of the Somersetshire freeholders was held yesterday week, at Bridgewater, to petition against the Government plan of Tithe Com- mutation. The Reverend P. Thomas proposed, and Mr. Crosse seconded, a petition to that effect ; which was also supported by Mr. Bickham Escott ; but when the High Sheriff put the question, only twelve hands were held up in its favour. Mr. Sandltud then came forward, and spoke in favour of the Tithe Bill as a whole. Mr. Tynte also appreeed of it, and of the new Poor-laws Bill. Another petition similar to the first was then proposed, but almost unanimously rejected ; the meeting, which consisted of 1:200 farmers and freeholders, was dissolved.

TLC ceremony of layilig the foundation-stone for a Convent in Alan- ehester was emiducted en th great eclat on Thursday week. The site of the strtaquie is hear St. Patrick's Chapel, in Oldham Road. 'there were about t‘velity rathoi:e clergy present on the occasion, and a vast concourse of spectatm The convent is intended for the education of 400 or 500 pour female ail.lren, and is to be conducted by four nuns of the order of St. Francis de Vales.

Mr. George Rennie is making a survor for aline of railroad between York and Leeds. About 70,0001. hait been subscribed towards the undertaking.

The Overseers of the parishes of Salisbury have been enabled to lower their rate this year 300L, principally by finding labour instead of money relief to able-bodied applicants.

The Trades Union Lodge, held at the Craven Heifer, Manningham, near Bradford, in consequence ql the money-box having been stolen, went

through the process of dissolution on Saturday night last; when the

stock in trade was disposed of to the best bidder.-Manchester Guardian. A bank post-bill for 2001. dated 15th April 1831, was stolen with other property in that year, from a warehouse in Manchester which was broken into. It was stopped lust week at the bank, the date having been altered to 1834. It thus appears, that the thieves kept it till the year arrived when the alteration of the date could be made with the greatest ease.

An affray took place at Portsmouth on Friday week, between a party of soldiers of the 97th and 99th Regiments stationed in this garrison, in which, by the use of their bayonets, most severe wounds were inflicted on several of the combatants. This is the second disgraceful affair of this kind that has occurred here lately, by which the lives of those en-

gaged in it were placed in the greatest jeopardy, and the peace of that town most alarmingly broken by those who ought to be employed only in its conservation.-Hampsliire Telegraph.

The following is a remarkable instance of sagacity in a hound which was purchased about a fortnight ago, in the neighbourhood of Bolton- le-Moors, conveyed in a railway carriage to Liverpool, thence by a

steam-packet to the Cheshire side of the Mersey, and forwarded to Chester by coach. He was taken from Chester inside a car in the

dark to the neighbourhood of Malpas, about fifteen miles further, and

tied up for the night. The next day the dog seemed quite settled, and was allowed to go loose; however, he soon quitted his abode, and ar-

rived at his former home before night. This is one of the most sur- prising cases of that sort we ever heard of; for it is evident the dog could not have returned by the same way that he went.-Manchester Herat& At Wisbeach, last week, a man, literally in rags, and who represented himself as in the utmost distress, was taken before the Magistrates of that town by the beadle, for contempt of his authority, or sonic other trilling offence, and was fined two shillings ; but declared himself un- able to pay, having, he said, but sixpence lalfpenny in his pocket.

Before, huwrver, letting hint deini t, the Magistrates directed him to be searched ; when a puree was brought forth, containing a hundred and twenty sovereigns !

Upwards of thirty families were on Sunday afternoon last deprived of their homes by the destruction through tire of a long range of houses near the church in Taunton. This calamity occurred during service, and has occasioned: very considerable distress. Fortunately, the wind was in a favourable quarter, or it is apprehended full half of the tow' would have been consumed.-Taunton Courier.

It is mentioned in the Globe, on the authority of a private corre- spondent, that there have been 153 incendiary fires in the county of Norfolk during the last three years.