THE OLD COUNTRY AND THE NEW. (From the Town and Country.)

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 116, 1 February 1873, Page 2

THE OLD COUNTRY AND THE NEW. (From the Town and Country.)

Christmas over, wo mint go back to work again ; some to the close confines of city olKcei, some to the hard labour that win* the daily broafl. Our children mn»t return to school, and I and mv fellow diggers must return to our claims, and sec what luck 1873 will bring us. If it does as well for us as its predecessor, wo must not complain. These holidays give us all a few clays out of harness, and I hope we shall all go into the tugs again wiser and better for the rest and association of tho season. May no unforgncn foe nor unrepented fault blot the unsullied pago of this new year. It will be many a jear before (lip recollections of this Christmas, and tho happy hours I enjoyed, pass away from my mind. Mv mate and I had been prospecting for gold not many miles from Queanboyan, near tho selection of n, well-to-do farmer n.imcd Ham*, with whom we wero on friendh term*. A few days before Christmas ho was round our wav, and stopped as usual for a yarn. Before lea\ing he inquired if we intended to spend Christmas in the town. On our answering in the negative, he said, " Well, nova, I'll tell you how the mi-sus and I have arranged You must spend the holidays w ith us. We haven't much to baast of to olfer you, but we generally have a pretty jolly time of it. So you'd better say you'll come." My mate and I did not need much persuasion to accept tlie kind offer; and when he pressed us to go over on Christj mas Eve, we promi-ed gladly , delighted at the prospect of so welcome a change from our sjlitary life Thus it was that we found ourselves on the uightof Chrisfc- ! mas Eve seated under the broad verandah of Harris' wellbuilt house, enjoying our pipes and a quiet chat with om jouil host Tho vest of the family were up to their eyes in work, preparing for the feast. As we were all from the old country, the conversation naturally turnod to subjects connected therewith, and an argument arose, eincerning tho merits of the old world and the new, Harris and I standing up stoutly for Australia, and n\y mate, who had enjoyed soft times over there-, maintained that Europe i» the only habitable part of the globe for persons of civilisation and refinement. " It's all very well," quoth Harris. " It's all very well for the rich and great, and even for those who can get a decent living : hut for the poor life is one long struggle to keep body and soul together. And this is ofteu a hard time- with them. Christmas brings them only the very meagre ploasure of Beeing others enjoy themselves, of seeing the profusion and splendour around them, while they knowthat they have nopait nor lot in anything but toil and privation." " I dare say they don't get along first rate," mv mate remaiked, as he lounged ou the long wide bench, and I smoked his pipe. " But there are poor people everywheie — there always have been and always will be. But speaking of Christinas, I've never seen one since I left London, now live years ago. Theie we have something like a jolly time, with the ice and clear winter sky and bracina air. Tbere we can enjoy the sumptuous fare and Yule log Then there's the Christmas family dinner and Christmas f«ire generally, the company and the Christinas games, romping, dancing, and all sorts of fun. By Jove it's gloiious ' But out here — bah ! You are roasted beneath a burning sun, stung to death by mosquitoes, and worried out of your life by flies. That's Christmas in Australia for you. A fine show for enjoying yourself, truly. The only thing a fellow can do is to lav under a shady tree and di earn of the little island on the other side of the world, and envy our luckier brethren there." 'lhe farmer laughed as my mate concluded. " You can lie on the broad of your back, if you like," he said, " and dicamnf past pleasuies. But I'll enjoy the present, and be thankful ; only w. lshing that nobody was worse off You have seen the bright bide of English life. I obtained all my expeiience from ita darkest phase." "If you lik.e, boys," he continued, in his olwery tones. " I'll tell you how 1 spent thi3 day fifteen years ago, and &ow it was I cime out heie " We were both well pleased with the proposition, and begjred he would begin. "You know I wasn't a Londoner," he commenced, " M\ father was a «mall f.irmer dow nin Essex. Whan lie died he left the lca«e and stock to mv brother Tom, while I got a little over a hundred pounds — the savings of a life tune. With that 1 got mnrned, and went to London to try my luck I spout a good bit of money in looking about for the best thmn; to do with it My capital was too small for almost ci en thing I thought cf, I had got acquainted with -ome real decent chaps that were doing a good "-troko at ribbing. They luul l,u*ge premises in a mows near the We^t End. They had about a down c lbs and about t« ice as main horses. I n>ticed they got on well, leading an easy life driving slashing turn-outs, and keeping lot of men. Thcv used [to tell me that thej began with a cab apiece, gradually increasing their business as they made a rise. Such accounts were very enticing to a, poor fellow like me, dribbling away the little money I had in knocking about London looking about for something to do. I sometimes got a lift with one one of theso "onng fellows, and once or twice, when the; were pushed, drove a day for t em. I liked it first-rate, am' took a good bit of money. And so at lant I invested my al in a turn-out. I bought a good-looking cab and a fine up standing black innrc, as glossy as velvet and as good as gold — and thus equip' d I took my stand as a. London cabman. I did not half fancy the profession when I had got into it. ] found that u khoil many ofin\ fell awa were r» fast set, lon ignorant, and drunken. Iliad been decently brought up and felt that I had somewhat compromised im respectabihtin joining them. However, I consoled myself that a pro f 'r-sion don't lower a man, but a man a profession. So 1 kept on, associating only with the dceenter sort, but kccpmi on mil terms with all. For tno or threo years I made good thing of it. I bought anothor turn-out ond nn <» f horde, and ran a night cab. But the nen T got in ' iye wrrp not tho right sort, iin 1 I found that a good f eadv oVm^ that would look after Ins horso was veiv hard to got hold of. After two or thrw years I hid to «i 11 off tb. second cab and horse-sand return to mv old vav« ag un 'lim Igj , well. My mare Boss held cut tirst-rate, hut 1.,. .. I took > miuh care of l<cr as if «'i was a Christian, and sho Luen i -In fact, hero wasn't much jlic didn't know. Well, 1 wil

on protty snug for a d.iy or Uo, and then a dull season came, and after that my wife and children — I had four then fell 8 i c l( W ith fever. I had to pay doctors' bills and ono thing and apother till v y little sayings were completely exhausted. I nevor recovered myself, but sank deeper and doopjr into poverty. My cab liB,d grown old aud shabby ; I had clono it up till paint and varnish failed to restore itsi'ftilod punols, and I had to gne it up for a bad job. Bess, too, looked rough and ugly. Poor thing, she only wanted plenty of oats tq set her to rights. Ah ! It used to grievo mo that she had often to go with an empty belly, and I unable to help it, for trade grew worse and worse. Some days I novcr got a fare at all, only leaving quo stand to try another. Tho good-looking hansoms woro flying about tho streets at till hours, earning any amount of money, while mv neglected turn-out was passed by with a sneer. " They were hard times if you like, and to have a helplc"s3 family to keep, and a hard winter to contend with. As Christmas drew on wo had got to tho lowest ebb I remember I ucnt out on tho morning of Christmas Ere with a vory scant breakfast — there naa not a sixpence in tho house, and very little coals or ppovision*. I drove to a stand, aud many a weary hour I remained there, pacing the curb to keep the warmth in my body, poor 8e33 turning her head wistfully and often whinncym< r as I approached her. She wondered why I did not put her nosebag on— it lay empty in the boot Like me, she was dinnerless, and tho chances looked as if we should go supperlc3S, too. In the afternoon I went to another stand, hoping to change my luck I stood there till the early dusk. It was a little after four when my little girl Gracie, that's dead, eam 3 up to me. There was a sad anxious look m her childish face that sent a pam through my heart. She was about nine year-, old and a very sensible child she was. 'Hivn't you boon o IF all diy, father?' she asked. 'No, Grade not once ' 'Oh dear, that is bad, 1 said the little woman, looking very old. ' Mother will be so vexed. She spnt me to see what luck you had. I shall have bad news to tell her,' and the tears w elled up into her eyes. ' Never mind, child, we'll manage somehow. Wo must pawn something to get the mare a feed, and I'll go out to-night. I shall" get a job this bu»y night, surely.' I wanted her to get into the cab and both go home together, but she persuaded me to stay a little longer, and I did, thank God. The poor child went home to tell the bad news to her mother. In about an hour I followed her, taking a wide circuit to reach home, in hopes of picking up a fare. My hopes this timo were not to be disappointed, for as I was turning round the last, corner a gentleman hailed me. ' Dme to No 21 Lyons Buildings Baker-street ' Away we went, the old marc steppin" out bravely, as if she knew she had a fare, and conseouentlv the prospect of a feed Arrived at our destination, tho old gentleman enquired the charge When I told him eighteen pence he remarked, ' Tv\o shillings is little enough, God knows ' ' You're a strange gent,' thought 1, as I waited while he opened his purse and found tho money. As sopn M T had it in my hand I saw by the light of a lamp cloaoby that ho had given me a sovereign by mistake. My first impulse was to give it back, the next to hope he would not find it out before I had time to flunk again lie had entered tho honse and the door was closed behind him I stood thero for more than a minute, considering what I should do I had been brought up to respect honesty and to detest anything approaching to fraud— but my necessities were great. After a struggle I determined to keep it, and drove away. As I went along I repented half-a-dozen times that I had not given it back at once, and a3 many times persuaded myself that I had done right, that with my starving family I had no right to throw away the slice of luck that had fallen in my wav But, excuse myself as I would, I found all my arguments knocked dow n. Conscience would not let me ha\ o it all my own way. As soon as I had made up my mmd that I had done the best thing, and began to reckon up what a lot of tilings thnt sovereign would buy, tho ' still small voice' would"' whisper, 'It's not yours; its dishonest.' I remember I pulled up at tho comdealer's and spent tho shilling I had on some hay for the mare. I didn't get up a<min, but led her into the mews. As soon as I had got hep iirto the stable and given her the hay, I went up to our rooms. When I told my wife about it sho was overjojed at first, but after a little consideration she wished I hadn't kept it Wo had a lons consultation about it over our scanty supper, poor Gracie joining in it, talking as sensible as an old woman, ut-n-inf me tnko it back so earnestly that I began to think of it mveelf To toll the truth, I could not bear to look mean and dishonest in her eyes she was so pure and good, belonging, I often thought, more to heaven than to earth. So after supocr her mother and I started off to take the vexatious, pound buck to its owner. Arrived at Baker Street, tho missus walked on, while I knocked at No 24 I enquired for the gentleman I had driven there, and was ushered into an elegant room, whew a mi Idle-aged man, whom I recognised at once as my late fare, was sitting. I told him of the mistake he had made, and ga\chim the sovereign. He appeared greatly surprised, etclnimed nbout his stupidity, nnd said, ' You are an honest fellow, I must pay you for )our trouble in bringing it back to mo. Will fhc shillings satisfy you ? ' I accepted the proffored coins thankfully. I was about to leave the room when lie called me back to enquire mj number. ' I shall want a cab pretty often while I stay in London.' ho said ; ' and I should like to employ you, as I am under an obligation to you for the act you have dono to-night.' As it would bo difficult to find a particular cab amongst the thousands in London, and as a customer was a God-send to me, I promised to call occasionally to see if he required my services. I don't know how I got out of the hou«e. I felt as though I walked on air. My wife was close by as the door shut behind me. I showed her the two half-erown,s, and related the unheard-of luck I had met with in having secured a regular customer. The good woman actually cried w ith joy, and I was as triumphant as if I had made a fortune. We made the best of our way home, but not before we had provided ourselves with a supply for a Christmas dinner, Poor Be*s too had n good feed that night, in fact, she never had to go hungry again, for Mr Bradley, the gentleman in Baker Street, pretty near kept me going for tho next two or throe weeks. * Sometimes I had to take him about London, sometimes away several miles into the country. I don't believe he hired another vehicle all the time He often used to have a long talk with me, inquiiing what I had bpen before I began cabbing, how I was doing, whether I liked it, and so forth. He told me that he was a squatter in Austirlia,, and spoke veiy much in praise of th.c colony, and at length made me an offer to pay our passages if I would accompany him back and agree to serve him for two yeais at low wages, to increase after that time if I choose to stay with him. ' I've just got a place that I want a steady man for. A man that I can trust. You have been accustomed to stock and land, and I know you are honest— l hav'nt forgot the sovereign, Harris. I don't wish you to jro with me wholly for my own sake,' he continued, 'but Ido believe you would get on. A peisever-. ing hard-working steady man can't help making his way in the colonies. As a fnend, for your sake, and your family's, I strongly advise you to accept my offer.' After consulting with the old woman, I agreed to go. I sold the cab aud the little hits of furniture, but I could not find it in my heart to sell old Bess to run m a London night cab, hard worked and half staned would have been her fate. I could nit endure the thought that my good luck should condemn her to a miserable end, so I resisted the tempting offer of six notes, and stai ted with her down into E&sex, to leave her with Tom. He >\as \eryglad of her, for she was a well-bied thin#, and has since Drought him some real good foals, besides doing a lot of woik. The last letter I got from home she was still alive, and in good order, though very old. After having left Bess in good hands I had nothing more to do but piepare for the voyage. It was in tho middle of February that we started. My poor Gracie died on the passage. She was always a delicate child. The air of London and the pu rations she had endured had rendered her too weak to bear a long sea voyage. We buned her in the fathomless ocean. I don't believe there was a dry eye on hoard when they lowered her into the awful deep, for they all had grown to love her, she was so good and quiet. It was a fearful blow to us." Here the old man's voice grew tremulous, and he paused to recover himself. "I stayed with Mr Bradley over eight yeais," he continued. " I saved a good bit of money and accumulated some cattle and horses, then T s leeted this place, and I can't complain of my luck; Mnce I have been here." "Well," said my mae, as Harris concluded, " they do have hard times in the old country, sure enough, if that's a specimen I itupss I'll ha\o to give in." Tho next clay was a day to be remembered. Harris' large fomily, married and single, ossomblod, and also a few neighbours A pleasanter party I never saw. Everything went off well. My mato forgot all about the shady tree, but was a« brisk and jolly as any of us. Our host whispered to mo as he presided at the groaning board. " Some diflerenca this from the Christmas I was telling you of, last night God help the poor creatures at home that suffer as 1 did. Australia for ever, my boy."

Vcrv recently (^ay* the Walrarapa Standard) there •was a case in the Featherston Court, two working men against in employer, for work under an ngreoment. The Court iiked for the document. The men had no copy, but stated he original to be in the possesion of the employer. This t-he solicitor admitted, stating, howcnei, that it hud attached i penny instead of a shilling stamp, which would make tho ■arty producing it liable to a penalty of £50. Of course, "•hereforc, the working mon had to abstain, nud accepted i nonsuit. Only laat week we saw a cheque filled, two nontiis after date, in tho same way This was a promissory note, with a cheque stamp, and thorefore illegal. It was in tho hands of a. working man also, and would subject him to > penalty of £50 if produced in evidenco m Court. Now wo "V the Court ought to receive and impound such documents sending them to the Stamp Office, with an expression > r ther convicton as to who should be puimhed for tho viilation of the law j and we presume the Stamp Office has p >wor to punish tho wrong Toer, but if it has not wo think n« ico th* Act, fthniild bo ho far amended, alile m the causcof lid of thp revenue. The vulgar presumption that cvny, inji is acquainted with tho law cannot bo too soon disnrrled, whrn we 0,1 l k ow that large numbers laniiol b,O i.ppoied to be io,C3peotally m cases of tblt nature.

Mr N Whitley, Honorary Secretary to the Royal Corawall Institute, rcjent'y read a paper ou flint flakes, in which he showed how uncertain is thecwdencc demed from these flukes, relative to the antiquity of ma-i. Alluding to the famous Windmill Hill Cavern" at Bnxham, he says, "the #mt 3 rvliumod from tins civo are said to consist of a core from winch flint ilav.es have been struck off on every side, and nt least fiftepn of theso flint flukes have him recognized as artificially formed, and are icfcrrcd to as flint implements and manufactured tools. The mind impressed with this word painting looks with surprise if not with any stronger feeling, on the four rough pieces of shattered flint figured by Mr E\ans, in his recent work, and describe 4 as some of the most remarkable specimens obtained from the exploration Judging from these illu9tratious, and also from inspection of somo of the most noted flints, I can affirm that these soa tiled manufactured tools are some of the roughest of the shattered flints and subsoil flakes w lich may be found by thousands scattered through the soil of Devon and Cornwall. This opinion 13 confirmed by a geological survey of the neighbourhood for similar shattered flints may be seen m tlio nectiop of the soil expqsed qn the low pliff on the cast of Bmhnm harbour, and also on the hill side, and on the top of Berry Head. From the soil of Windmill Hill I obtained two characteristic flint cores, and a typical flint knife, with other broken flints; and traces of drift gravel with pebbles of quartz and trap are found on the brow of this hill. From tliis source it is probable that flints were derivecPand w ashed into the cavern with the drift gravel in which they arc found. To call these rough flints knives or manufactured tools is to assume the very point to be proved, and to put words in the place of arguments. A nodulo of flint crushed h\ a cart wheel or by the great »cc sheet of the G'asial l'enod w ould produce similar forms " The whole of the paper whence the preceding extract has been fakon tends to corroborate what Dr Carpenter stated in his address to tUe British Association — namely, that " No logical proof can be adduced that tho peculiar shapes of these flints were given to them by human hands." Tne EvGLibii Wheat Market. — The following are extiacts taken from a letter supplied by Mr H. Kains- Jackson to the Tunes : — While admitting the great deficiency of the English wheat crop, and the great ravages of disease among the potatoes, I pointed to the coming imports of the latter, which have since arrived, from France, Germany, Holland, and seriatim I gave in detail the sources whence, wanting cloven million quarters of wheat and flour, we might draw thirteen million quarters if required ; while, basod on these calculations, I estimated the \alue of wheat at 60s, and of maize at 30s per quarter ; and, notwithstanding the various claims of commerce- on papital, I yet bclie\ c the above rates furnish real security for all the money employed in thegiain trade. The fact has been pointed out bofore, but may here be repeated, that while corn brought from distant ports, in London and Liverpool brings 60s, yot a large portion of the total remains in England for cost of transit ; and, indeed, .so high have freights now risen, that the Cahforman wheat rnrgoes bring to the sljip-owners, mostly British, £5 per ton, or about one- third of the cost of the wheat. In other years these rates have sometimes been less than half those now current. The rate of interest, 6 per cent, is undoubtedly higher than speculative wlicat-trading can bear ; but, as brcadstufjs are a necessity of the country, the consumptive trade must and will bear any amount of interest, for which consumers mii'-t pay the moment the ordinary speculation of importers is diverted from corn to cotton, or any other branch of trade. The recent grain imports have been heavy, and large supplies nre undoubtedly assured from the countries I named m my last letter ; but then the bulk arriving is certainly not beyond the estimated requirements of tlic country. Wanting a larger total than the nation has ever before required in one year, tho stream of imports has for the moment made the fact appear of but little importance Yet the fact remains that the feat of bringing to the United Kingdom 11 million quarters of wheat and flour, will, in he first place, severely tax our shipping (as high rates testify), and secondly demand a moderately high range of nine, failing which the supplies will not be attracted. Xow taking the year round, some 900,000 quarters monthly will probably be suflioicnt to iatisfy all our w«\its, but without raising our stocks to any unmanageable bulk ; yet, ns during home four months in the year we do not usually pet more than 300,000 quarters monthly, instead of 900,000 quarters wanted, the other eight months are proportionately taxed to forward the 200,000 to 300,000 quarters which we are now rciemng As regards the quantity grown in Fiance, a journey made over 590 miles lini just shown me an abundant u op, m lows of stacks and piles of grain at railways and vharfi , but tVe quality of the wheat is scarcely supcrioi to that grown in England, and for making flour will require as laigc a mhturcof dry foreign qualities." A EiuNOCrßos at Lakok — A letter from Red Bird, a small town in Monroe county, 111., gives a thrilling account of the escape from its keepers of tho rhinoceros belonging to A\ inner and Co 's menagerie and circus, on the occasion of its being brought into tho ring for the first time. The showman hnd prepared the animal for exhibition by attaching to n ring in it* nose two trorg wire line*, and 24 men were deemed sufficient to control the beast. It submitted quietly to being led fion the cage, but oh entering the arena suddenly throw up his head, and plunging madly to the right nnd left, broke looso from the men and clashed forward through the tents. Its finst \ictim was John Gillem, a canvasman, who was knocked c'own, and, and beast trampling upon his bren«t, he was killed instantly. It next ran its nose agninot Martin Ready, another canvasman, striking him m the stomach, ripping out his bowe'a, nnd killing him on the spot. It then made a dash in tl c direction of thp Fonts which bv this time were cleared by tho frightened spectator, nnd knocked down nearly all of the seats on one side of the tent, dislocating the shoulder of one of the employes nnd breaking the arm of a spectator Running next into menagerie tent, it upset Mr Forepaugh's | den of ] ci forming animals, after which it struck the centre pole with its head, bringing it down with a crash upon the cafjcH of the tiper nnd leopard, but not breaking them so as to allow the animals to escape. Dashing into the museum tent, it broke all the curiosities, frightened all tho people in tho neighbourhood, and rushed out through tho canvas into the street, finally stopping in a vacant home, the door of which stood open. Here the men succeded in capturing the animal nnd getting it into a cage. Tho damage to the show was about £>'J,OOO. Surgical Experiment. — The Ttcxr Jersey Guardian states — " One of the most remarkable cures on record has recently been effected on the person of Miss Hattio Thomas, of Waterbury, Conn , who was scalped m a but! an manufactory over a} ear ago, from the nape of the neck to tl c eye-balls, so that the whole skull was laid bare Death was expected ; and almost hoped for as fhe only relief that could come to her ; but the doctor noticing thnt sho rallied from the first prostrating effects of the accident, determined to experiment with the French process of ' skin grnfting,' nnd after the head had been brought into a healthy stitc of suppuration, he made the first attempt ; taking the ' seed skin from the patient's arm. The result was admirable but exhaustion was induced by the new wounds, nnd ii supoly of skin had to be taken from other sources, The doctor, delighted with his success", applied tho knife to his own arms ; and many young lady friends came forward nnd sacrificed portions of their own skins for the 6alvntion of their suffering sister. Over one huudrei separate pieces made up the new scalp, and Miss Thomas has souvenir of her friends much better than bed quilts, or oven locks of hair " Under the heading " A Good Word for Local Pnpe-s," the Fern York Times says: — You might nearly ns well forget your churches, your academies, nnd school-houses, as to forget your local paper. It speaks to ten times the audience that your local minister does. It is read eagerly each day from beginning to end. It reaches you nil, and if it has a lower spirit and less wisdom than a sermon, it has a better chance at you. Living as it docs, on every table, in almost every house, you owe it to yourselves to rnllv to its support, nnd exact from it ns able, high-toned a eharactor ns you do from any educator, in your midst. It is in no sense beneath notice nnd care — unless you yourself are beneath notice and rare— for it is your representative. Indeed, in its character, it is the summation of the importance of the aggregato of your own consequence, nnd yon cannot ignore it without miserably depcecntmg yourselves " A Nbisov Coujk'oe Pifil at tiie University of CamBRIDOX — Mr Percy Adams, youngest son of W. Adam*, Esq , of Wildcn, matriculated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, in October last ; nnd came out "on the screens," as (he snv1113 in, taking; first class in Mathematics and cccond cla c i in Clnssics He was the youngest of thirty-six others who ■went up along with him, fourteen of whom wre plouchorl " Ifis success is all the more creditable to himself rndtho Collejre, from the fact that beirg a passenger by the unfortunite Zealanflia, from Lvtteltnn, ho was six month* <-n the voyage, nnd had only a fortnight for preparation in England before going in for his examination. L\RGK PinOHASK OF RIFLEB BT TIIE PrHSSIAN GOVERNMENT — The Prussian Government have, it is stated, ordered from the Wcstly-Richards Small Arms and Ammunition Company in Birmingham 150,000 rifles on tho improved pattern, together with a million cartridges. This new weapon is said to be capable of being fired with effect, when in nction, twenty times in a minute. If every bullet, says the Echo, has its billet, one man armod with this riflo will be able to k'll 1500 an hour, and if all the 150,000 aro discharged cont nuously for one minuio, nnd each bullet take effect. 3,750,000 corp ci will strew the ground in front of them. This ought to muke the nexi war short, sharp, and flecUive, and leave nothing to be desired in the way of " deadly liveliness." Perhaps our most active ingenuity will somo day take the form of baying lifo as well as destroying it. I |A Western editor relates that ho onco ifropped at a restaurant in Washington, and noticing that the waiter was uncommonly nober, niked him if he wns sick. " Yes," very curtly, "lis " " Whnt's the matter?" " Why, sir, Washjn'tons the wus plnco ever I ice. When it ■ dry you can't see where you're gwyn, and when its wet you can't go." Wi^t w*s Lfvt — " Now, mv boy," said an examimr " If I had a minro pie, nnd should givo two-twelfths to Isaac fcwo.fwclfths tollarrv. and two-twelfths to John, and should talo half the pio myself, what would there bo left 9 Speak up lou'l -ln'id. so that tic j.caplc can hear." — "The plate," sboutfd tliJ W I

Kokrous of the Sia\k Tiuue.— Two cutters of her Majesty's ship Vulture recently captured a sla\c dhow oIT Ka3-el-bad. The Tunes of India s.ns that the chase lasted upwards of two hours, during which tho Arab nt the helm of the dhow was mortally wounded b\ n foit mate bullet from the rifle ot ono of Ihe covswains of the boats, at adis taneo of about 6QQ yards. Tins, however, had no effect upon the dhow's couisc, and she --.till held on, but w ith the boats steadily gaining The rocket cutter be.ug '.he li 1-*1 -* heavily weighted, olosed first, and by i well-directed rocket, when ■within about 150 yards, shot away the parrell winch secured the jard to the iiM*t, bringing the sail down instantly, and causing the vessel to kca\e-to. The gun cutter now coming up, the two boats went alongside and tho crews boarded together. The crew and passengers, including the slave merchants, were found to number 3L Arabs, all armed to tho teeth. Mauy of them were very reluctant to g.ve up their swords and creases, but this, of course, was bpecdily enforced, and the whole, with the exception of the captain and three of the crew, were lauded wit hunt del.ij. The cipfain was lamenting that he had escaped four men-of-war oiT Zanzibar, only to fall a prize to n man-of-war's boats at the end of his voyage The number of slaves it was impossible at tho time to e>timate ; crowded on deck and in the hold below, the dhow scorned, but for the aspect of misen, a very nest of ants. The hold, from which a most intolerable stench proceeded, was several inches deep in the foulest bilge-water and refuse, among which there w ere number j of children and adult 3 in the most loathsome stages of smallpox and scrofula of every description. On examination by the surgeon, there were no fewer than 33 cases of small-pox in various stages ; and from the time of the first taking of the dhow to their landing at Butcher's Island, Bombay , 13 died out of the whole number, 169, and since then there have been more deaths among them. Perhaps the most atrocious piece of cruelty of the Arabs was heard afte/warcU from the slaves themselves. They said that at the first discovery of small-pox nmong them by the Arab-, all the infected slaves were at oiH'O thrown oterboard, and this continued day by day till forty had perished. I