... At the Swansea Police Court, on Oct. 23rd, Hy. Williams was commuted for trial on a charge o setting fire to his house, the Black Cook Hotel. The stock was heavily insured, and it was shown that the prisoner was about to be called upon to meet heavy liabilities. Casks and other articles were found saturated with turpentine. A telegram has been received by the Deputv Mayor of Yarmouth from Mr. ...

... LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS. (To the Editor of the Monmouthshire Merlin.} SIR,—In the summer of 1878 delegates were nomi- nated by the following societies, viz., the Royal Insti- tute of British Architects, the Society of Telegraph Engineers, the Physical Society, and the Meteorolo- gical Society, for the following purpose :— To consider the possibility of formulating the existing knowledge on the ...

... I MONMOUTH. I Mr. T. Blake, M.P. for Leominster, preached three setmons at the Baptist Chapel, Monmouth, on Sunday, in aid of the funds of that place of worship. The little building was crammed to excess at each service, and crowds were unable to obtain admission. ...

... GENERAL BOOTH.—The Salvation Army have been holding crowded services at the Pavillion, and General Booth has preached. The effect upon the place is thus described The town appears to have undergone o -1-r,- s reigns now wiiere general disturbance and fights usually prevailed. The effect of the preaching upon some of the noted characters of the district is wonderful, the police having little or ...

... Sir Harry Parkes, British Minister in Japan, has .eft that country for England, returning by way of ;he United States. The reason assigned is Lady Parkes' illness. Several shocks of earthquake have been felt along the Valley of the Danube, extending as far as Bes- jarabia. Several towns on the military frontier have been seriously damaged. For attempting to smuggle a case containing 241b. of ...

... The Turkish preski preaches a political sermon to the British Government. The people of Gabul, so the papers say, noticed that large boxes were being forwarded to the unwelcome foreign guests, and on surreptitiously making examination found to their horror that the boxes contained Bibles and Korans printed by infidels on infidels' paper. At once it was assumed that the text of the sacred, ...

... THE LATE CHURCH CONGRESS.—The annual session of the Church Congress closed at Swansea on Friday. At the morning meeting a novelty was introduced, a discussion taking place on the Epistle to the Ephesians in its practical bearing on Christian life. In the after. noon a debate arose on the supply and training of young men for the ministry of the Church, and another on the Church literature of ...

... THE REVISION COURTS IN MON- MOUTHSHIRE. LIBERAL GAINS. We have received the following communication with respect to the work of revising the county register of voters :-In the districts of Usk, Rag- lan, Monmouth, Trelleck, Croesyceilog, Blaenavon, Abcrsychan, Pontypool, Cross Ash (including Llanvihangel-Crucorney, Kemeys Suspension Bridge, and a portion of Newchurch polling dis- tricts), ...

... The following proclamation, issued by General Roberts, will be read with interest:— Proclamation to the People of Cabul. Be it known to all that the British army is advancing on Cabul to take possession of that city. If it be allowed to do so peacefully, well and good if not, the city will be seized by force. Therefore, all well-disposed persons who have taken no part in the dastardly murder ...

... [BY TELEGRAPH. ] Since last Tuesday there has been considerable excitement in the trade, and values of foreign wheat are quoted at 3s to 4s higher. English in very bad condition, and the qualities so various that prices are not quoted. Barley 6d higher, maize Is dearer, and oats unaltered. A quantity of inferior Irish oats arrived, and sell at irregula-r rates. ...

... EISTEDDFOD.—An eisteddfod was held on Mon- day last, in the Wesley Hall. The adjudicators were :—For the music and impromptu speech, Mr Place; and for the writing, Mr Knowles and Dr Davison. Accompanist for the quartette, duets, and solo, Mr E. G. Morgan; and for the choruses, Mr T. H. Morgan. The room was crowded, and the audience were very greatly pleased with the various performances, all ...

... BY ARCHIBALD CAMERON, (Author OJ Musings in an Infirmary Ward, I do not soar to giddy heights to flatter prince or king, My theme is one of low degree—in Pussy's cause I sing; The sleek, fur-coated forager, sly tenant of the hearth, A target for mischievous youth, fond cause of childish mirth. What slanders, libels, cuffs, and kicks, thick on her shoulders fall; Things broken, stolen, or ...