At a meeting held to forma rifle corps at Worksop,
Lard Robert Clih- ton in the chair, the Duke of Newcastle took a prominent part in the proceedings and made an excellent speech. His advice on the question of organization deserves to be recorded. Ile recommended his hearers to farm companies of some battalion, and to meet as often as possible for battalion drill. If they did not learn to act in concert it would be diffi- cult, perhaps impossible, to command them. By forming battalions they would not only be doing patriotic service to the country, but they would benefit themselves, and at the seine time be improving their social po- sition. He had seen the advantage of it in the town of Nottingham, and was fully persuaded that it would do much good by keeping young men mit of bad company, and at the same time afford relaxation and re- creation. He recommended them to select strong and useful uniforms ; to chose officers on whose judgment and good sense to command they could place the firmest reliance. At present, he said, do not enrol men who cannot pay for their outfit, but do not be exclusive ; and above all do not attempt too much at first.
He hoped the company they were about to form would prosper. The movement was one of solemn importance ; he held it as a great blessing that it had been taken up in this country in so warm a spirit, and he wished it every prosperity. (Loud cheers.) Sir Charles Napier has attended a meeting at Lowestoft to promote the raising of Naval Volunteers, and has made a capital speech to the men assembled.
The Members for Oxford, Mr. Cardwell and Mr. Langston, met their constituent; or such of them as are "Druids," on Monday, and delivered speeches usual at this annual gathering. Mr. Langston, touching on the common topics, warmly supported the Volunteer movement, expressed a strong hope that Italy should be -free ; insisted on the necessity of set- tling Parliamentary reform, and removing corruption. He said he was afraid he should not live to see the income-tax abolished, and when he spoke Mr. Cardwell said he "shared the same anticipation. Mr. Cardwell said he felt no apprehension of present danger from any quarter, but he contended that we should be placed in a position of security as well as of peace. "When England has assumed her panoply peace becomes a matter almost of necessity." Mr. Cardwell gave an encouraging descrip- tion of the state of Ireland, its growing wealth in commerce and agricul- tures and its diminished poor-rates ; and suggested that Ireland should be governed by the golden rule of doing to others what we wish others to do to us ; and that we should look at Irish questions from an Irish point of view.
Sir John Trelawny paid a -visit to his constituents at Tavistock on Tuesday, and rendered an account of his stewardship. His speech was an animated commentary on the doings of the session, taken in connexion with subsequent proceedings. National defence, dockyard mismanage- ment, and church rates were the prominent topic.;
The contest at Beading, although only in its preliminary stages, is carried on with great vigour and vehement party spirit. The Conserva- tives are endeavouring to raise a prejudice against Sir Francis Goldsmid, by denouncing his religious belief. The electors of Reading, it seems, -will abandon Christianity if they elect a Jew. So says the Conservative Dr. Cowan. Sir Francis has met the charge in the front, and denounced it as an attempt to cloak Toryism in the sacred garment of religion. On the other hand, the Conservative Mr. Benson boldly avows that he has entered the contest on religious grounds. He considers "the contest is entirely one between a Christian and a Jew."
At a meeting of the Town Council of Birmingham on Tuesday after- noon the Mayor announced that it was the intention of the Government to establish a central arsenal, and that various sites had been spoken of as suitable. Birmingham being the capital of the midland districts, and also the centre of a network of railways, surrounded also by a great population, it was desirable, in the opinion of his worship, that these facts should be brought before the attention of the Government, and he suggested the presentation of a memorial to the Executive on the subject, which *as agreed to.
The Town Council of Lincoln, after a smart debate, has decided by 8 to 5 to fix the Corporation seal upon a petition to Parliament in favour of a measure to legalize marriage with a deceased wife's sister.
Some time since the Berkshire Quarter Sessions decided upon dosing the Abingdon Gaol, which has become unnecessary. It has turned out,
however, that in the opinion of counsel consulted in the case, the Court has no power to close the gaol without an Act of Parliament Some doubts are entertained as to the validity of the opinion. Under these circumstances the question remains in abeyance.
The Manchester Guardian describes a_wonderful swindle practised by a woman in Lincolnshire. A Mr. Taylor, widower, living at Lincolai, became acquainted with a widow. She induced him to marry her by telling him that she was the heiress of a large estate in Scotland, but that she wanted a few hundreds to pay law expenses. Taylor married her, placed his sav- ings at her disposal, and raised a loan. He moved from Lincoln to Boston, bought a flour mill, and congratulated himself in all places as a millionaire. Many lent him money. Growing impatient at the cost of the "proceed- ings," the clever wife conveyed her prey to London, and he came back with a document bearing a seal, "the Lord Chancellor's seal," and certifying that Mrs. Taylor was the heiress of "the Gordon property." Taylor wu satisfied, and readily gave his wife money until he had no more. He bragged about his estate, and even invited friends to fish and shoot next autumn, when he should be in possession. At length, all the money being gone, the bubble burst. The Lord Chancellor's "seal" proved to be the impression of half-a-crown, the certificate of course a forgery. Persons who lent: money on "plate" found chests full of, stones and rags. And so on. Mrs. Taylor has been apprehended.
Twenty lives were lost in the Mersey on the afternoon of the 30th. A boat load of workmen were returning from a ship to the shore in a sailing- boat. The wind and heavy sea capsuied the boat, and all on board but five perished.
A most boisterous hurricane, wind, lightning, and hail, occurred near Caine on the 30th of December. The wind blew so fiercely that huge trees were snapped asunder, roofs were torn off, and ricks were blown to pieces. The timber trees uprooted and broken in Bowood and other parks, numbered by scores, blocked up public and private roads.
Previous page
