Vrouturtal.

It is far more the fashion now than formerly to talk politics at. cultural meetings. Mr: Newdegate met his constituents at the id table of the Rugby and Dunchurch Agricultural Society, and entered largely into political questions. He said— "I rejoice—and 1 speak as your representative in Parliament—that the example set by this society of not allowing ourselvea to be tongue-tied on subjects which, generally speaking,. interest every Englishman is being daily followed by agricultural societies throughout the country. It is well that this is the case, because there was a period subsequent to the breaking up of the great Conservative party .during which agricultural meetings seemed to be, politically speaking, in an unnatural state of abeyance. There were circumstances connected with that event which you all re- member, and which made it painful to men of honour to speak of politics in any general assembly, and especially polities connected with agriculture. That absence of political discussion at our meetings had an evil effect, for throughout the country education was advancing, there was greatly in- creased rapidity of communication, and as political discussion became more and more prevalent this restraint upon agricultural associations gave those who wished to depress the agricultural interest, and the representatives in Parliament who undervalued it, an opportunity of speaking as if all classes connected with agriculture were a set of tyrants or selfish dolts, whose minds were exclusively bent upon their own particular interest, and who were incapable of public spirit, and incapable of understanding those great questions which it is the duty of the citizens of every free country to entertain. This was done for the purpose of continuing that inequality of representation in the House of Commons which I depicted to you last year and which I am quite certain that every one connected with agriculture and the land has felt to be an evil. It was that inequality of representation which, by misrepresenting you, they sought to perpetuate. That time has now passed away, and it is well that it has ; for it is my firm belief that the constitution of this country derives its stability from the association of all classes, from the fact that the agriculturists, whose interests are most permanently identified with the country, bear a large share in its legislation, in the capacity of guardians of the public interests." Mr. Newdegate discussed Roman Catholic aggression and church-rates, and then went on to advocate National defence, particularly showing that a neglect of adequate preparation acts as a temptation to foreign Powers, ce and urging the establishment of a strong militia force. " We mean no offence to any other nation ; we mean no aggression against any foreign Power ; but, speaking of the House of Commons, I can say that we are acting in accordance with the earnest representations of two successive Governments, in sanctioning an increased expenditure for our national de- -Gm :es. No doubt it is an expenditure that may fall heavily upon the tax- payers, but it is an expenditure for the necessary purpose of insuring Eng- land against that, which would not only be a domestic peril, but the de- struction of that credit upon which our existence and the employment of our population depends. It is very strange that one who would pat himself for- *iird as a friend of the working classes should advocate a system of economy which would put this country is a position of defencelessness that might at any time paralyze her credit ; and you know very well that when her credit fails the employment of the population is gone. The immediate prospect of an invasion must produoe the greatest possible suffering to the working classes, and I voted for a proposition of. Mr. Horsman, who, in a speech of very great ability _proposed as it was probable that the object of the expenditure might be misunderstood and misrepresented if a permanent in- crease of taxation were agreed to, we should separate our expenses, and raise a loan to be paid off within a few years, for the purpose of providing for the national defences by increasing the establishment of our arsenals and dock- yards. Though it is generally believed that Portsmouth, the principal arsenal of our navy, the port which commands the Channel, is defended, the truth is that the defences it possesses are utterly worthless, and you could not devise a better scheme for the destruction of the garrison than the pre- sent state of its fortifications."

From his own peculiar point of view Mr. Newdegate touched on the Italian question.

"Everybody is now talking about Italy—that country which has so long been oppressed, and every Englishman who values freedom must sympathize with the Italians, must hope with them, and must trust that they may be enabled to deliver themselves from the bondage to which they have been subjected for.centuries. It was a bold step, but I concurred with Lord El- lenborough who, having heard that funds were being levied by the adhe- rents of the Papacy to arm troop.s for the resubjugation of Italy, at once de- clared that he was ready to join in a subscription to aid the man, who from love of freedom determined to resist that aggression. Garibaldi was a g_reat man, and was animated by the spirit which animated Washington and 1Vel- lington in the service of their country. ("Hear," and cheers.) The question now remains, shall England be represented in the Congress that is proposed to be held ? I should be sorry that England should damage her position in Europe by failing to take part in any great settlement of affairs, but England has had nothing to do with the disturbances that have ren- dered this Congress necessary, and therefore she cannot speak with the strength and power of a State which not only has formed a decided opinion upon the matter, but is ready to enforce that opinion. I myself cannot help thinking that it is far better that England should abstain from entering into the Congress at all. We all know what happened in the Congress of 1815 ; England came forward, and there was a proposal to reestablish the temporal power of the Papacy, which is the real gnevance at the present time. Well, England asserted that there should be reforms carried out under the influence of Austria, and that they were to disseminate the Bible in connexion with Prussia and Russia. The Austria of 1816 was almost Protestant, but the Austria of 1859 is the complete slave of the Jesuits. Austria, then free and independent, was to insure a real reform by the breaking up of the temporal power of the Pope. We assisted ; but what did it all end in ? The complete reCistablishnient of the Papacy."

An election dinner at Hanley gave Mr. Adderley an opportunity of speaking on public affairs. Mr. Adderley said under present circum- stances he would rather be in the company of the riflemen of Hanley than even of the Conservatives of Hanley. Turning from the common theme to politics, he said— He was only speaking the sentiment of every gentleman in that room when he said they were not only ready but anxious to carry out—not only now, but always—from time to time, that system of reform which shall keep the institutions of this country on a level with the advancing intelli- gence and political progress of the people. (Loud applause.) But when they found that there were men who put this question forward as having the monopoly of reform, and indulging in the grossest misrepresentations in order to keep that position of monopoly, and who put themselves forward as leaders in this question, to which they had so little claim, it was high time the Conservatives should understand these men and what they were about. Foremost of these men was Mr. Bright, who, Mr. Adderley did not hesitate ,to say, as he had frequently said in his presence, prostituted the highest abilities for the simple purpose of personal aggrandisement. But what did Mr. Bright say ? He said that this constitution of ours must be changed altogether ; it was a mere sham and pretence to talk of adaptino, it to cir- cumstances ; it must be revolutionized. Mr. Bright said the House of Commons did not represent the country ; but to Mr. Adderley's mind the House of Commons had always represented the country, and had always altered itself to suit the feelings of the country. Mr. Bright expresses his hostility to rich men ; but as he was pretty well off himself, and had rela- tions rich enough to bribe constituencies, he had restricted his animadver- -Mons to those rich men who had the misfortune to invest their money in land, and he said these horrible men, who filled the House of Commons, had no interest in economy ; they only take an interest in extravagance. Mr. Adderley appealed to Mr. Copeland—for let them test some of these men, and let them have a peep behind the scenes—as to the truth of what he said when he gave it as his opinion that Mr. Bright's party were strangely inconsistent. He hardly knew any man in the House of Com- mons who so little took his part in any of the discussions on Supply nights as Mr. Bright. He had scarcely seen him in the House on those occasions for eighteen years, and he did not recollect him ever taking part in a dis- cussion on the supplies. He recollected last session, when he proposed to save this country nc less than 2,000,0001. a year by throwing upon the colonies a task which ought to have devolved upon them long ago—making them support their own defences. Now, in such a moment as that was it not reasonable to suppose that the men who so loudly abused the Con- servatives for extravagance, would only too readily give the measure their support? But how was it ? Mr. Adderley said to Mr. Bright, " I belong to a class which you accuse of extravagance. I am going to make a proposal by which a large sum will be saved to the country. Be it good or bad, will you join me, and take part in the debate, and give me your independent opinion, whether it is done or not, or whether it is worth anything or not ?" In the course of the debate Mr. Bright disappeared, long before the debate was over, without taking any part in the discussion.

Mr. Alderman Copeland, one of the county Members, spoke on Na- tional defence, home politics, and the strike.

The annual show of stock and roots, at Abingdon, took place on Mon- day. It was the beat exhibition since the society was formed. In the evening the members of the society dined together, and had the advan- tage of hearing speeches from three Members of Parliament, Captain Vernon, the chairman, Mr. Walter, and Mr. Norris. All spoke on the subject of national defence, urged upon their hearers the duty of pro- moting the formation of volunteer corps, and expressed a hope that the movement would not be of a transitory character. Mr. Walter trusted that Berkshire would supply at least 500 first-rate marksmen, rather a small contingent for such a county. Captain Vernon said that he did not believe the Emperor of the French would, of his own will, engage in war with us, but that he might be compelled to do so against his better judgment. Mr. Norris, however, dissented from this opinion. He thinks not only that the Emperor has no desire to invade us, but that he will not be compelled. He relies for the maintenance of peace upon our commercial relations ; but he does not oppose measures for national defence. Our cry should be "Ready—aye, ready."

The death of Mr. Robert Stephenson caused a vacancy for Whitby. There were two candidates, Mr. H. S. Thompson, " a gentleman of wealth, education talent, and a friend of progress;' and Mr. Chapman, a native of Whitby, a Tory, and a friend of the shipping interest. The election took place on Monday and Tuesday ; the Maharajah Dhuleep Singh being present at the nomination, and looking on with evident in- terest. Mr. Thompson, the Liberal, carried the show of hands, and was victorious at the poll; the numbers being, Thompson, 229 ; Chapman, 190.

The inhabitants of Newcastle, Durham, and the north-eastern towns have resolved, at a public meeting, to erect a monument to the late Robert Stephenson. It is to consist of a statue, and some educational endowment.

The inquiry into the fate of the Royal Charter has been resumed at Liverpool. Mr. Patterson, the builder of the ship, his foreman, Mr. Vernon, who repaired her in 1856, have been examined. Mr. Patterson is of opinion that the ship was strong, and that had she been stronger she would, under the circumstances, have gone to pieces just as soon. The iron was examined and some rejected; Mr. Patterson has always used " boiler plates " in building ships. The foreman, Berry, had never heard any objection to the quality of the iron. The ship grounded at Flint in 1855, and had to be repaired. Mr. Jordan, surveyor for the underwriters, said her strength lay mainly in her shell, and he thought that some internal arrangement should be made to take some of the strain off the shell.

A meeting was held in the Radcliffe Library at Oxford, on the 18th, Dr. Acland in the chair, on the subject of boating accidents. It seems that since 1828 only fifteen deaths have occurred on the river, while in that period some 800,000 persona must have passed between Folly Bridge and Sandford. The meeting adopted a string of sensible resolutions, the main point being that boating men should all learn to swim, and that steps should be taken to create greater facilities for acquiring that art.

Mr. Joachim Hayward Stocqueler was examined on Wednesday before the Insolvent Court at Maidstone. The two opposing creditors were Mr. Eicke senior and Mr. Eicke junior. The examination touched upon a great many delicate topics arising out of the insolvent's transactions. There are, for instance, obscure allusions to some forgery of the name of Mr. Campbell, manager of the Great Ship Company, -upon a bill of exchange, but by whom committed does not appear. Reference is made to the insolvent's connexion with certain women, and to his dealings with Messrs. Armstrong and Co. in the matter of army commissions. It appeared that Stocqueler has lived with a Mrs. Wilson, and that he now lives in the house of a Mr. Ward- roper, that he has a double family, and that Wardroper resides in the same house. The insolvent had had transactions with one Cook, a money-lender; Pressed to say whether Cook had paid him for being " useful," he said-- " No: Cook was a money-lender, and my necessities obliged me to apply to several of that class. On one occasion I called on Cook, and he told me he had aeon who had just returned from India, having behaved with great gallantry at Luelcnow ; and he wondered if it was possible to bring his con- duct before the Commander-in. Chief. His Royal Highness was in the habit of granting me interviews, and I took advantage one day to bring the merits of this young man and the 32d Regiment before him. He was only twenty- two years of age' hardly within the age according to the regulations ; but when I saw his Royal Highness again he said, I am going to make your friend Cook a captain, with two others of the same regiment.' I, however, never received a penny for it."

Mr. Eicke—" Did you get Mrs. Wardroper to write to any official parties ? " Insolvent—" I think I did get her to write on one occasion, but I forget now for whom it was."

The Commissioner—" To write to whom ? "

Insolvent—" To the Commander-in-Chief. I knew that if any person chose to apply to his Royal Highness for a commission he was never refused if the applicant stated any ground for it." Mr. Licke—" What did Mrs. Wardroper know about the grounds in this case ? "

Insolvent—" Simply as I told her. I felt diffident in applying myself, having done so so often before." The Commissioner—" Was Mrs. Wardroper known to the Commander- in-Chief ? "

Insolvent—" No, sir." The case is again adjourned, and the insolvent's bail is enlarged.

The election scandals at Norwich have resulted in a host of charges and cross charges for corruption. The accusation brought against Messrs. Collins and Croxford that they conspired to bribe Mr. Joel Fox, a Town Councillor, has been judicially. inquired into. Mr. Fox repeated his story, and was subjected to a hurricane of brow-beating from the defendant's counsel, Serjeant Ballantine. The Old Bailey lawyer did not shake Mr. Fox's evidence, but he tried hard to impute conspiracy to him, and to make out that Fox and Mr. Wilde, a solicitor, had arranged a plant upon Crox- ford. Material witnesses, however, Mr. Harvey a banker, and his servants, refused to give evidence, alleging a fear that they should criminate them- selves, and thus for the time the prosecution was frustrated. The Bench thought the witnesses should answer, but refrained from committing them without taking legal advice. All the cases stand over for the present ; the Conservatives labouring under the imputation that they are defeating the ends of justice. Croxford has not appeared.

A foreigner, Serafin Manzano, is in custody on a charge of murdering Mrs. Trowbridge, a woman who dwelt with her husband in a lonely cottage on the Wiltshire borders of Dorset. On his return to dinner one morning, Trowbridge found his wife dead, but yet warm. She had been cruelly mur- dered with a saw ; and the murderer had decamped with various articles of clothing. The horrid incident caused a great sensation, and the police exerted themselves to track the murderer. Manzano had been seen in the neighbourhood, and after the murder his track was followed into the New Forest, the several stages being the houses where he had sold part of the plunder ; among other things, a blue coat which had been given to Trow- bridge by the Sturminster Agricultural Society. Much of the property was found in his possession when the constables overtook him. There were stains of blood on his garments. He has been examined at Lyndhurst, and notwithstanding appearances the lawyer who appeared on his behalf hopes to remove suspicion from Manzano to another person.

Mr. Bass, the Member for Derby, has had a narrow escape from drowning. During a fog, on Tuesday, his coachman drove him into a canal. For some time Mr. Bass could not open the door of. the carriage ; the water opened it for him, and striking out he swam ashore. His valet had arrived there before him. The coachman stuck to his box, and kept the horses' heads above water until aid came and they were got ashore. Had the coach- man not been so adroit and brave, the coach must have turned over, and then probably Mr. Bass would have been drowned.

At Huddersfield, on Thursday week, an inquest was held before Mr. Dy- son, the Coroner for the district, on the body of Sarah Steele, an unmarried woman, who had died from burning. On Tuesday night, about nine o'clock, the deceased went up stairs to comb her hair. She had a petticoat over her crinoline, and she was standing near the fire when her dress ignited. She screamed and ran down stairs. A charwoman did her best to put out the flames, and burnt her hands in so doing, but the deceased dashed past her. Mr. Hardy, the next-door neighbour, heard her scream, and came in and told her to lie down. The hearthrug was taken off the kitchen floor, to wrap round her, but the wires of the crinoline prevented this being done. She then darted into the street all in a blaze. A man came with a knife and ripped her burning stays off, and she was taken back into the house naked. She died at a quarter past two o'clock on the following. day. Only a week ago the deceased bad a new wrapper burnt in a similar manner, and had had several narrow escapes with her crinoline. Every article was burnt off her, except her shoes—the stockings being burnt down to her shoes. The Jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death."

An "accident" occurred on Tuesday at the Fleetpond station of the South-Western Railway. An express train was sweeping down from London, and it was known to be near the station. A goods train was there, signals were displayed, and the officials were trying to get it out of the way, when down came the express into the station. The locomotive, the tender, and guards' van were knocked to pieces, and the trucks of the goods train were smashed. Happily in this collision no life was lost. The driver and the stoker escaped by throwing themselves down ; and the passengers got off with a shaking.

A large iron-rolling mill, near Wolverhampton, has been demolished by a singular " accident." The large driving wheel, some tons in weight, suddenly broke into pieces, which flew in all directions, knocking down the iron pillars and bringing down part of the roof. Several men were in the mill : one died of injuries, three were severely wounded, and three escaped unhurt.