Visallanrong.
A PRISONER WITH A MISSION.—At the Marylebone police-court yesterday, a man, who has been frequently brought up at this court for defacing the walls and hoardings, by chalking verses from Seripture on them, also sentences satir- izing our statesmen and country, was placed at the bar charged with defacing a wall in Little Albany-street, by writing upon it with chalk. Prisoner's name is Edward Barnbrook, and is described on the sheet as of no home or occupation. Police constable Gaze, 256 S, said that between one and two this morning lie was in Little Albany-street, and saw the prisoner writing on the wall. Mr. Mansfield: What with ? Officer: With chalk, your worship. I took him to the station-house. There has been no end of complaints about this sort of thing. Mr. Mansfield: What had he written ? Officer: He had chalked:on the wall, " What nation can fight ?" Thomas Taylor, inspector of nuisances, said this chalking on the wall had been a source of great annoyance to the inhabitants of Regent's- park and the neighbourhood round about for at least a couple of years. Mr. Mansfield (to the prisoner): What makes you pursue this practice? Prisoner (solemnly): To fulfil the prophets and prophecy, also the saints, and to make the Bible universal. I have a mission.—Mr. Mansfield remanded him till Saturday. BIRDS IN FRANCE.—France is confessedly a birdless country ; even owls are a race extinct, though antique bronzes testify to their vermin-destroying habits, that solemn fowl being generally provided with mice under its claw. Le Courrier du Bas Rhin informs us to-day that the harvest time in that district has been heralded by a proclamation from the local authority offering a reward of a penny a dozen for the carcases of all field mice (campagnola) killed and pro- duced: already a hecatomb of 56,000 has been piled up at the mayoralty of St. Hyppolite after six days' slaughter.—Globe Correspondent at Paris. THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE THAMES.—The great race for the champion_ ship of the Thames, amongst gentlemen amateurs, is to take place at half-past
four this afternoon, the distance being from Putney to Mortlake. The compe- titors are Messrs. C. Patterson and E. D. Brickwood, of the London Rowing Clnb, and Mr. A. Lloyd, of the Leander Club. Although Mr. Patterson has
proved himself a great scalier in recent matches, many fancy he cannot stand so long a distance with the same probability of SURMA as Mr. Lloyd. A fine race is expected. THE MURDER AT EVERLEIOH.—On Tuesday, in the evening,. by order of the coroner, a post mortem examination of the body of the deceased, Ann Hill, was made, under the direction of Mr. Carter, surgeon, of Pewsey, assisted by Messrs. Barrett, Pilne, and Smith, the result of which proved that the strangu-
lation of the poor woman was almost completed previously to the throat being cut. On Wednesday morning the bench of magistrates commenced the rehear-
ing of the case at 10 A.M. 1 he prisoner was remanded to Saturday, at Marl- borough. The verdict of the jury on the inquest is—" Murdered by some person or persons unknown to the jurors " THE CRICKETERS' TRIP TO AUSTRALIA.—The preparations for the departure of the cricketers of England for Australia are nearly completed, the friendly and liberal terms of the invitation recently received from the gentlemen and players of Victoria having been cordially responded to. The party will consist of thir- teen of our most eminent cricketers, selected from the " All England Eleven" and the " United Eleven." As the colonial players have attained a high degree of proficiency great interest is evinced in both countries as to the results of the projected games. The list of the players chosen to represent the "old country," in which, probably, some changes may be made before the final selection is de- termined, comprises the names of A. Diver, R. Daft, T. Hayward, G. Anderson, H. Stephenson, J. Caesar, J. Jackson, T. Hearne, R. Carpenter, J. Grondy, W. Caffyn, G. Griffith, and T. Lockyer. H. H. Stephenson has the management of the trip, in the place of G. Parr, who is reluctantly compelled to decline accom- panying the expedition. THE MANSLAUGHTER BY A BOY AT BIREENIIEAD.—The adjourned inquest on the body of John Roberts, the unfortunate boy who was killed by a playfellow named Davies, yesterday week, on the shore at New Brighton, under circum- stances already detailed, was resumed on Tuesday, at the Magazine Hotel, before H. Churton, Esq., coroner. The boy Davies, who is eleven years of age, and nearly two years older than the deceased, was present in custody during the inquiry. Walter Dean, aged about twelve veers, stated that at five o'clock on Friday afternoon last he was with the deceased and two other lads on the shore near the Magazines. They met Davies, and apparently without any provocation, the deceased kicked him rather violently on the knee. Davies exclaimed, "What did you do that for?" and immediately after- wards he threw a large pocket-knife which he held in his hand at the deceased, who was struck a little above the left ear, the blade penetrating his head to the depth of nearly two inches. The witness pulled out the knife, and after carrying the injured boy home ran for a surgeon. Upon being struck with the knife the deceased shouted three times, "I am dead h" He then became in- sensible, and was a corpse before the arrival of Dr. Trull, who was in attendance about twenty minutes after the occurrence. The witness added that the boy Davies, upon seeing what he had done, cried very much, and appeared to be exceedingly sorry. The jury, after a short deliberation, ntumed a verdict of "Manslaughter" against the young prisoner, who was accordingly committed for trial on that charge, bail being accepted for his appearance at the Chester assizes SIR W. G. ARMSTRONG AND HIS WORKMF.N.—On. Monday evening a most interesting soirée of the workmen employed on the Elswick ordnance and engine works at Newcastle-on-Tyne was held in the pattern shop on the works. No less than 2500 persons, consisting of the workmen, their families and friends sat down to tea. After tea, in the absence of Sir W. G. Armstrong, the chair was taken by Mr. G. W. Rendal, one of the partners in the establishment, and speeches in furtherance of the interest of education, as promoted by the Mechanics' Institute, in connexion with the works, were delivered by Mr. S. Beau- mont, M.P., Mr. R. Lambert, and several clergymen and other gentle- men. Prizes were also distributed among the most successful students in the School of Design. There are 3000 men and boys employed upon the Elswick ordnance and engine works, and their united wages amount to more than 50001. a fortnight. The Elswick ordnance works are being largely extended. Among the more recent additions is an apparatus for the manu- facture of cannon of weight and strength hitherto unheard-of. An immense 300-pounder battery gun is in the course of being formed by the use of the new 10-ton steam-hammer, which can be worked up to 15 tons, and is the largest in England, and is daily wrought at from 40 to 50 strokes a minute. The anvil weighs 34 tons. The bore of the 300-pounder gun will be 10i inches in diameter: length. 14 feet ; weight, 12 tons. It will be a muzzle- loader, and the rifling of its bore will be on the rib pattern. It is expected to be finished in four months. There is also in hand a 200-pounder breach-loading gun, to be constructed on the wedge principle. Extensive foundries are being laid out upon the works, and a test for trying the guns before they are sent up to Woolwich is being built on the south side of the Tyne. Among the orders being executed in the engine department of those works are 13 locomotives for the East Indian Railway Company.
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