GENERAL NEWS BY THE ENGLISH MAILS.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 774, 3 January 1871, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS BY THE ENGLISH MAILS.

Captain Henry Ley, North Devon Hussars, committed sidcide a few days ago by shooting himself in the saddle-room attached to the stables of his mansion at Marwood, neav Bavnstaple. It is srmewhat remarkable that his father shot himseJMn the same house. ■. <jn the 15th Octobg» a severe fire occurred at the shipbuilding yard of Messrs Laird Brothers, Birkejihead. It was discovered by the workmen coming to bi-gin the work of the day, its seat being tlft central portion of the long range of sheds and workshops which bound the yard on the Birkenhead side. As a precaution against fire, water pipes and buckets were at hand, but so rapid was the progress of the flames that the men could not use them. The shed in which the fire broke out joined the engineers' shop and pattern-room on the one side, and the mould-room on the other, and the chief efforts of all were directed to prevent the flames gaining an entrance into these apartments. This was a work of considerable difficulty, but, happily, it was carried out successfully. An iron door affording communication between the engineers' shop and the store-room was heated to redness, and the floor of the shop was flooded with water used in keeping dowu the heat. Had the fire passed this door the destruction of valuable machinery must have been enormous. The damage is estimated at L 3500, and is covered by insurance.

An attempted murder and suicide took place on the evening of the 30th October, at Brussels. A lady — a lively, brighteyed brunette — who stated that she was a Hungarian countess, hired an apartment on the second floor in a house in the Rue Montagne de la Cour. Some three or four days ago she was joined by a certain marquis, a man of forty-five years of age, stout and tall. The marquis and the countess seemed to adore each other, and were in fact much attached. On Sunday evening they went out about five o'clock to dine, and returned together about nine o'clock. What then transpired is unknown, but several reports were heard in the apartment of these two lovers. On opening the door the countess and the marquis were discovered bathed in blood. The police, who were immediately informed of what had taken place, hastened with some surgeons to the apartment. The countess had received a bullet in the breast, but, being stout, and the ball being badly aimed from a small pocket revolver, it had not entered yery deeply into the flesh, and no mortal wound had been caused. The marquis had fired six shots in the region of his heart. From inquiries it appears that, led away by an attack of jealousy, he attempted to murder his mistress and then commit suicide. No hope is entertained for the marquis, who in his delirium confesses a most violent passion for his victim. He* stated, amongst other things, that after having fired at the countess and seeing her fall apparently dead at his feet, he •fired several shots at his own heart ; some of the shots, however, missed fire, but, wounded as he was, he again loaded his revolver as to make an end to his life. A very disgraceful and malicious jack was crmmitted by some person at THJosetftT unknown Jone night lately m Edinburgh. . It was discovered that-the statues of Sir Walter Scott and Professor Wilson had been painted over and disfigured with black and white oil p&int, evidently a wretched attempt at practical joking. The magistrates have offered a reward of L2O for such information as will lead to i the conviction of the offender.

The Earl of Dalhousie, Grand Master Mason for Scotland, has definitely arranged to lay the fonmlation-ston© of a new hall for Lodge Journeymen, No. 8, in -*Blackfriars' street, Edinburgh. The ceremony will take place most probably on St. Andrew's Day, November 30.

Two gentlemen of her Majesty's service lost their lives in Cork harbour the other evening at the commencement of a gale. Captain Charles H. Hatchell, 43rd regiment, said to be a son of the Right Hon Mr Hatchell ; and Lieutenant Nugent, Royal Engineers, nephew of a Welsh nobleman, sailed about the outer harbour in a 12-ton cutter. As evening approached the rising gale warned them to return, and they steered for the shore under Carlisle Fort, where they were stationed. Having moored the yacht they got into the punt to land, and were never seen afterwards. Next day the punt was found on the strand, in a cove not far from the fort. The boat was broken almost to pieces by dashing on the rocks. There was no other person with them during their cruise. Two extraordinary cases of elopement have just occurred at Bawer Maddon, Thurso. A tribe of tinkers were lately bivouacked near the houses of two small farmers at the place mentioned, when it happened that two young fellows connected with the tribe succeeded so far in captivating the hearts of two of the farmers' daughters that an elopement was planned and carried into effect one evening last week. It is supposed that the young women and their swarthy charmers have gone to Orkney. The affair has created quite a sensation in the district. The thriving city of Glasgow is rapidly extending its boundaries in every direction. Wherever one goes ranges of buildings are being put up, and these apparently adapted for the occupation of all classes of the community.- There is, however, no part of the city and neighborhood exhibiting at the j>resent moment greater changes, or so much interesting activity, as the Paisley and Govan roads, substan-tial-looking buildings running west of the city for several miles, and bidding fair before long to.annex the town of Paisley to its populous domain. As for the Govan road, it may be almost said that Glasgow already embraces the important burg of Govan within its outstretched arms. It is noc a little surprising to find the estate of Plantation, so very recently entirely rural, in course of complete transformation from country to town. Plantation Burn, where it debouches Captain Dyer further stated that the Irish Ambulance Corps was found to be quite unnecessary ; but that all of them would be expected to join the Irish Legion, of which he had the honor to be the commandant. With the exception of fifteen men, all refused, and of theße fifteen four withdrew their .names. ,- Dyer was highly indignant, and left, as he said, for Tours, to inform the Government, and to see what must be dono with them. They were strictly confined to barracks, being under the charge of armed sentries until the return of Dyer, which was n&jt until

after the lapse of four days. Their names were then taken by an officer of the Garde Mobile, who marched them aboard a steamer and accompanied them to Havre. Here they were handed over to the British "Consul, who treated them with great kindness, and after providing them liberally with food, they left Havre by the John Bull, the same boat which carried.them from London, accompunied by an official from the Home Office (who had been sent over to meet them), who took the name and address of each man. The men were unanimous in their praise of the conduct and , kindness of the British Consul at Havre, and loud in their denunciations of the men who had duped them. On lauding, the men proceeded quietly to their homes. The man described as a journalist, upon whose representation the men proceeded to France, is being proceeded against in the police court.