NEWS BY THE MAIL

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 310, 29 July 1868, Page 2

NEWS BY THE MAIL

The committee who managed the successful ball given by the Prince of Wales in the Dublin Exhibition Palace have a surplus after paying all expenses of nearly LOGO, which is to be distributed among the charities of the city, without distinction of creed. The American prisoner William C. Nugent has been released from Mountfoy prison and his passage-money, like that of Nagle and of Leonard, has been paid by the United States Government, The passages taken for these prisoners. Nagle's included, are third-class.

France and Prussia have both at last proceeded to les-en the strength of their respective standing armies, but neither, however, to the extent of a "peace footing." Three men, named Corcoran, Dunne, and Mitchell, have been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the late shocking murder of Mr Fetherstonhaugh, in the county of Westmeath. The two first named are tenants on the estate and Mitchell is a farm servant. His passage to America was paid about a fortnight before the murder. Coccoran aud Dunne are stated to be in comfortable circumstances. Coccoran keeps a jaunting car. They were the tenants whose rents Mr Fetherstonhaugh intended to raise On the Monday before his death they both tendered the rent which they had been accustomed to pay but he refused to accept it, They returned on Corcoran's car with the money in their pockets, picking up Mitchell on he way, and drove to Kinnegard, four or five miles away from their homes. They drank in three or four public-houses, and in each denounced the " cruelty" of their landlord. On the night of the murder the three men who are in custody never left their own residence. There is little reason to doubt that the murder was the result of a conspiracy. The county has always been a stronghold of Eibandism. The local proprietors have subscribed aboutL2ooo to be offered as a reward for the discovery of the persons concerned in the murder. The prisoners have since been discharged. Her Majesty left London on Monday evening, May the ISthat about half-past 0 o'clock, for Scotland. She was accompanied by the Princesses Louise and Beatrice, and other of the junior members of the royal family. No special receptions or addresses took place during the journey, and the Queen reached Balinbral on May the 19th at 1,50 p.m., after travelling nearly GOO miles in about nineteen hours.

Ascot races will lie graced with the presence of their Eoyal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, who will occupy Windsor Castle, and go thence in slate to the course.

The South London Press says that William Eoupell will shortly be released from the Portland Convict Prison. His health has severely suffered during his punishment, and his return to the world —broken-down and despised—will be a bitter discipline for some who, it is rumoured, were morally as criminal as he.

The Marquis of Westminister has sent to the Royal Hospital for Incurables at Putney Pleath the handsome contribution offilOOO. This is a third gift of the same amount made by his lordship to this institution. On Wednesday afternoon, May 20, an accident took place which resulted in the loss of life to seven boys, the pupils of the Bey. Joseph Fletcher, of Christchurch. The boys—whose names were Horace and Leonard Moser, sons of P. Moser Esq., of Carberry, Christchurch ; Harry and Howard Pewtress, William Smith, of Southamptom ; John Atty Hunt, of Southampton, and George Johnson—were bathing in company with Joseph Milnes and the German tutor, at Mudeford, near Christchurch, when they were struck by a wave of immense strength, and the first seven were drowned. Joseph Milnes was saved with great difficulty by the tutor. Six of the bodies were recovered the same day. Prussia is sending to the East a couple of corvettes —the Hertha and the Meduca, —which will proceed to China, in order to carry out an old idea of Von Bismark, by occupying some island of these distant seas to serve as a naval station of the Confederacy of the North. The firm of Ckristophe and Monti gviy, of Brussels, have, just sold to the Prussian Government a murderous piece of ordinance, called the mitrailleuse, furnished with thirtyseven barrels, and firing 370 rounds per minute. The Prussian smiths are now engaged turning out a monster gun, whose ball weighs 3001b5., and which is said to be as handy and manageable as pieces of a much smaller calibre, also massive iron plates to protect field-artillery instead of earthworks and batteries.

At a mooting of the Edinburgh As* soeiation for the Improvement of tho Condition of the Poor, held on May 1, the Rev. Dr Hanna gave the following account of what he called a "scene of horror " which lately occurred in Edinburgh : —" A father dies, leaving three grown-up sons. By membership in two friendly societies they became entitled to receive £LO, which was spent in drink before the burial. The sons then took their father's clothes, pawned them, and spent what they got for them in drink. The mother having remonstrated, she was told that if she did not hold her tongue they would do with her as they had done with the dead; —and they did it. They took off her clothes and pawned them, and sent her to bed. Next came the pawning of the furniture, which they disputed about; and in order to settle the dispute, what did these men do ? They dragged the dead body from the coffin, set it up against the wall, having previously agreed thai] when it was shaken, if the head fell in this way the one was to gain, and if it fell that way the other would be the gainer!"