Vranturiat.
The provincial Volunteer corps are now in full activity. Preparations for county reviews are going on in all directions, and sonic reviews and inspections have taken place. The battalions are as energetic as ever in all kinds of drill, and the prediction that the rifle movement would take the place of the old exercises of our warlike forefathers is so far amply fulfilled. In Lancashire there is an encampment where real military duty is performed morning and evening by men who during the day are engaged in the ordinary avocations of town life. We are very glad to see that the county magistrates are taking up the matter in so hearty a spirit as a county affair ; and we especially commend the example of the men of Lancashire to the attention of the whole kingdom. Lord Derby will entertain 13,000 Volunteers at Knowsley on the 1st of September.
In answer to a vote of thanks accorded to him by the Northern Reform Union for his speech against the necessary measures for defending the British ports, Mr. Bright has sent the following curious statement- " The resolution you have sent me has given me much pleasure. I 1111 only sorry that my efforts have been so fruitless in the House of Commons. In many sessions past, indeed since the beginning of the Russian war, eco- nomy has been despised, and every man who has attempted to prevent a waste of the public resources has been condemned as unpatriotic and anti- national. The people have been hoodwinked and befooled almost beyond all former example, and the 'services' which should be their servants and guardians have become their masters and spoilers. I know not when we shall see a change, but our late and present course cannot be continued without danger and disaster. Possibly we may see disappointments and re- verses in trade which may drive us to take notice of the enormous suns which is annually and needlessly taken from the proceeds of the nation's industry. Englsnd, with its population of thirty millions, will raise seventy two millions in Government taxes this year. The United States, with an estimated population of thirty-two millions, will raise about twelve millions in Federal and State Government taxes this year. How long will Englanil maintain her position in the race with this burden, and what institution is there in the English system that is worth a tribute of sixty millions sterling a year? The time may come when the people will discover that monarchies and aristocracies may be purchased at too dear a rate, unless monarchies and aristocracies become more wise."
Lord Derby laid the foundation stone of a ragged school at Rielrdale, near Liverpool, on Saturday, and spoke with much effect in favour of ragged schools as a means of preventing the spread of delinquency among poor children.
Mr. Price, with a body of stout followers, made an attack on the Aga- pemone last week, in the hope of releasing Mrs. Prioe. Price gallantly carried the outworks by a rush. But he found the main entrance shut His supporters broke down the door with iron bars, and discovered Prince and his partisans behind an inner retrenchment composed of furniture. Prince menaced his assailants with firearms, but gave way when he found that Price's men were resolute to storm. Search was made all over the house and grounds, but in vain ; Mrs. Price was not there ; nor could she be discovered in any of the outlying buildings belonging to the firm of Prince and Company. Mr. Price seems to have carried on the campaign against a farm belonging to the Agapemone ; butin this he was outgeneralled, and darkness compelled him to desist. Mr. Price has made another foray this week into the dominions of the Agapemone ; but he again failed to find his wife.
At the Liverpool Assizea, on Monday, the trial of Thomas Winslow for for the murder of Mrs. Ann James, was commenced, and continued on Tues- day and Wednesday. The cause of the death of Mrs. James was cancer of the csacurn—a natural disease which had perforated the bowels ; an analysis of various parts of the body disclosed the presence of antimony. In her life she had frequent vomiting, particularly after taking sago, but she had several times recovered from the attacks, though always labouring under extreme nervous prostration. The medical men believed her death to have been accelerated by the repeated administration of small doses of antimony. The charge against Winslow resolved itself into the question, did he ad- minister the antimony ? Evidence as to his possession of antimony ; the property of Mrs. James and the preparation of a will at the prisoner's in- stigation; and the preparation of sago, in which antim,ony was found, by the prisoner, was given. The evidence, though conclusive as to the will and the bequest of the property to the prisoner, as also to an attempted pur- chase of antimony from Dublin, was entirely circumstantial as to the main charge, whish Winslow retorted upon a niece of the deceased and her hus- band; Mr. and Mrs. Caffarata, who were living in the house at the dates of the illness and death. Dr. Cameron, a local physician, suspecting the ad- ministration of poison, had Mrs. James removed to the hospital, and before the death took place satisfied himself as to the presence of antimony. Mrs. Caffarata proved that on the 9th of June she gave her aunt some sago, which refreshed her ; that the cup which contained it was washed ; that about three in the morning she went to bed with her aunt, for whom she made a cup of tea and boiled an egg which Mrs. James did not take ; before going to bed, she locked the door and put the key under it. When she awoke in the morning, she found two cups on the table, which must havebeen brought in during the night, but the cep she brought up at night was gone. Wins- low was in the habit of bringing in things at night, and he made a state- ment to the police that in the night between the 9th and 10th he prepared sago for the deceased and took it into the bed-room at five in the morning. Dr. Alfred Swain Taylor proved the presence of antimony, and that death was accelerated by its aaministration, Professor Miller confirmed chemical evidence of Dr. Taylor. Mr. Baron Martin left it to the Jury whether the death of the deceased was accelerated by the administration of antimony ; and if it was administered by the prisoner and him alone. The Airy immediately returned a verdict of Not Guilty.
Mr. George Crawshay, Mayor of Gateshead, has applied for a warrant against the editor and publisher of the Newcastle Dady Chronicle for in- fractions of the Foreign Enlistment Act. The application was made to the Newcastle Bench of Magistrates, and sustained by citations from passages in the paper, giving on account of one Captain Styles, formerly of the Fu- silier Guards, who is said to be raising a party of excursionists to South Italy in whom General Garibaldi will take a great interest. Mr. Crawshay thinks that the giving of information as to the best way of joining Captain Styles, and through him of General Garibaldi, and making a tour in the dominions of the King of Naples clad in a picturesque costume, and in com- pany with several thousands of Italians, is a violation of the Foreign En- listment Act. The Newcastle Bench held that the publications in the newspaper did not amount to an infringement of the Act, and refused to grant the warrant. Mr. Crawshay said he should appeal to the Court of Queen's Bench.
John Edmund Gagg, the fellow who accused himself of having committed the Road murder, has been severely reprimanded by the Trowbridge Magis- trates for telling untruths of all kinds, and has been sent back to Westmin- ster, his parish, and there left to his own resources.
George Cass was executed at Carlisle on Tuesday, for the murder of Ann Sewell at Embleton in March last. Ile made a confession, showing the falsity of his previous statement. It now appears that he deliberately killed the girl. He formerly said that she threw a knife at him, and that when he threw it back at her, and hurt her, she begged he would "put her away altogether."
A naval court-martial held at Chatliam has tried two cases. Lieutenant James Waller O'Gradys of the Elk, has been found guilty of using disre- spectful language to First-Lieutenant Bell, and of refusing to apologize. Re was sentenced to lose two years as a lieutenant, and be severely repri- manded. John Burridge, boatswain of the Elk, was found guilty of re- fusing to do any more duty, and of telling First-Lieutenant Bell to go to helL He was reduced, and ordered to serve three years as an able seaman.
A Coroner's Jury at Dover, after a long inquiry, has returned the fol- lowing verdict on the gun accident, whereby two Volunteers were killed and several wounded.—
"The Jury are of opinion that the death of Lieutenant George Thompson and Sergeant John Monger was caused by the bursting of a gun at Antheliff Fort, on the evening of the 9th instant, while at ball practice, and that the said accident was accelerated by the long use of the gun, and from the metal not being of a quality suitable for the casting of guns for artillery practice. The Jury are unanimously of opinion that a periodioal inspection of all guns used in forts should take place."
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