... (To the Editor of the Monmouthshire Merlin.) DEAR SIR,—Will you kindly allow me to correct the criticism of your correspondent on the decorations of St. Paul's. He says, Very little attempt has been made at anything like artistic ornamentation, and there are no illuminated texts. That is quite true. He then says, The general effect is heaviness in a sombre building. The pillars are wreathed ...

... The colliers in the employ of Messrs. Richard Evans and Company, Haydock and St. Helens, are at present out on strike, in consequence of the failure of negotiations between themselves and their employers entered into in order to make the neces- sary arrangements for payment by weight instead of measure, as required by the Coal Mines Regula- tion Act, 1872. Interviews between Mr. Josiah Evans, ...

... LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. NEWPORT BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—At the weekly meeting of the Board on Saturday there were present 0. Morgan, Esq., M.P., in the chair; the Rev. John Griffiths, Messrs G. B. Gething, W. Jones, B. Thomas, J. Brown, D. Da vies, L. Williams, H. P. Bolt, J. Davis, J. Parsons, P. Woodruff, S. Scard, and John Rees. -Statistics for the week Number of inmates, 261 corresponding week of ...

... TRIAL of THK'.CLAIMANT. The trial at bar of the Claimant was resumed on Monday mornmg for the 146th day. before the Lord Tn f England and Justices Mellor and L..SJ, at Vlestminsfer. There was a large crowd of spectators both in Palace-yard and in the Hall, and by a portion or them the Claimant was cheered as he passed on his way to the court. Dr. Kenealy said he was informed that on the occa- ...

... Mr. Chirles Reed, M.P., speaking at Leeds on Monday, said the country had at last provided for elementary education, and what was now wanted was that youths should be assisted in acquiring technical and scientific instruction, which, in his opinion, to be successful must be based upon religion and the recognition of the authority of God, without which there could be no solid or lasting ...

... A meeting of bisbnpp is to be held at Lambefh Palace, on the 13th of January, to consider divers important matters connected with the Church. Sir John Pakington has consented to preside at the Anniversary Festival of the Friend of the Clergy Corporation, on Wednesday, the 4th of February. The schooner Arab, of Penzance, laden at Hull with coal, has been stopped from going- to sea, the Board of ...

... THE LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAILWAY COMPANY CENSURED. Mr. Barstow, deputy-coroner, held an inquest on Monday touching the dearh of David Beardsell, of Holme, near Holmfirth, 61 years old, who was killed in a remarkable manner on the 20th Dec. on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, near Berry Brew. The evidence tendered was of the most conflicting character as to who gave the order for ...

... BLACKBURN SCHOOL BOARD.-This school board election, which was fixed to take place on the 10th of January, and which promised to be a severe contest, has been satisfactorily arranged, so that no contest will take place. Tuesday was the last day for sending in nominations, and by agree- ment the following persons were nominated:— Rev. Canon Birch, Messrs. A. Bury, W. H. Hornby, Jun., H. ...

... FIRST MON. VOLUNTEER ARTILLERY. Week ending January 10th. No drill until Monday the 19th of January, 1874. The Drill Hall will be open on Tuesdays and Fridays from seven to eight p.m., for the purpose of enrolling young men, wishing to become members of tke Brigade. ...

... A NEGRO MILLIONAIRE. The New Orleans Times says :—Men whose taxes foot up from 1000 dols. to 10,000 dols. each year can get two per cent. per month for it or use it in more lucrative ways, while the interest on their taxes is nothing in comparison. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are retained in this way. A notable instance of this practice is the case of a coloured millionaire, who has ...

... LONDON LETT-ER. LONDON, Thursday. The Royal marriage is drawing near. It-has been finally arranged that the event shall be consum mated towards the end of the month that is inau- gurated to-day. It is rather remarkable, though, to note the couparative indifference w ich is mani- fested in an event which, it might have been sup- posed, would have elicited congratulatory festivities on an almost ...

... A PERSIAN STATESMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH. A letter from Tabris in the Mshak, an Armenian paper published at Tiflis, says that great excite- ment has been produced there by the execution of Mirza Yussuf Khan, one of the ablest and most popular of all the statesmen of .Persia. Yussuf was educated in Europe at the cost of the Shah, and studied for some time in Paris. On his return he brought with ...