THE HERA

MAY 27, 1868.

(Coutinued from fourth page.)

Mr. McGee numbered amongst his devoted friends
the leading minds of the Irish race in this generation,
Gavan Daffy, John O'Donovan, Kagene O'Curry, Samuel
Ferguson, and his gifted wife, Father Charles Meehan,
Henry Giles, Dr. and Shelton MacKenzie, were his life-
long friends, as was also the prsent writer, to whom he
dedicated his admirable History of Ireland. ‘fo Charles
Gavan Datty he dedicated his volume of * Canadian
Ballads,” published in Montreal, in 1859.

The published works of Thomas D'Arcy McGee are;
O'Connell and His Friends; The Gallery of Irish
Writers of the Seventeenth Century; Life of Art Me-
Murrogh; Memoir of Duffy; Lrish Settlers in America;
History of the Reformation in Ireland; Catholle IMs-
tory of North America; Life of Bishop Maginn; Cana-
dian Balluds; Popular History of Ireland; Notes on

. Federal Governments, past and present; and Specches

on British American Union, London, 1865.

Ilis leetares comprised the following amongst many
other subjects : The Reformation; The Jesuits; Cofun-
‘bus; Shakespeare; Milton; Moore and Butos; Daniel
O'Connell; «Edmund Barke and Gerald GriM™n; The
Moral of the Pour Great Revolutions; Growth of the
Middle Classes iw England; The Irish Brigade in the
Service of France; The American Revolution; The
Spirit of Jrish History; Wf and Skill; Cathglic Life
fa the Middle Aves, &e., &e.

Of late his mind, alded by his greater regularity of
life, had taken an emineutly religious turn Ie was
connecting himself more and more with the Catholic

ress. ‘To the Dublin Nation, and New York ‘Tautrr

Was, and had been, a frequent and regular contri-
bntor; and had just commenced writing for the Cathelie
World the paper inthe May nomber on “ The United
Charches of England and Treland,” being fron his pen,
(he did not live to see it in print); and he was busily
Cngaged in an article on “ Oliver Plunket, Archbishop
and Martyr,” for the same periodical at the time of his
death. That, alas! the asstssin’s bullet left unfinished!

yen in the Are Maria appeared some weeks sluce, a
Rraceful little poem of his, on “fHumflity.” Truly, he
died in the harness ; one of the most industrious of liter-
ary men, one of the greatest, and most ceaseless brain-
tollers we haye ever known, or expect to know. But
he is gone—we have lost him precisely

* When our need was the sorest!”

and this gentleman, at least, has none to supply his
place, Truly do we mourn his loss,

THE SISTERS OF CHARITY.

Tn an article upon the charities of Paris, published
over the siguature of IH, D.F., in a recent number of the
N. Y, Evangelist, a Protestant journal. we find the fol-
lowing touching tribute to the Sisters of Charity:

“But little wonld be accomplished by the largest

eans and the most judicious organization, were it not

or those humble auxiliaries who take upon themselves the

hardest part of the work, bart of Charity, Thev are
not paid for it, they derive From it no worldly advantage,
but devote their lives to it inthe most beautiful spirit
of Christian self-denial. On their banner is inscribed
Only these words of the Divine Master: ‘Inasmuch ag
Ye have done it nnto one of the least of these, ye have
done it unto me.’ They may sometimes have a narrow
euperstitious conception of their calling, but I have
seen a great deal of them, and my experience leads toa
different opinion. I found them. on the contrary, re-
markably free from bigoted prejudices; they deal too
movh with the saddest realities ot lite, not to be indul-
gent and liberal in their views.

“ The snaerifice of domestic ties and affection seems
to direet all the instincts of their womanly natare to-
Wards the suffering objects of theircare. She, who ean
never have children of her own to return her love, ean
lavish her affvction on the wretched little orphans com-
mitted to ber; she can be a sister to the wounded sol-
dier in the hospital, to all the sick and dy ing. ‘The
finer the womanly nature, the more beautifully 1s her
duty fulfilled. It inquires their sweet wards of coneo-
lation and sympathy, ii leads them to relieve, by the
most graceful devise, the dreariness of the hospital
ward, making it really 2 home for the wanderer and
tao forsaken, and it truly justifies the names of mother
and sister which snffering humanity has given them.

** Once. in the Hoepital for Foundliugs, I was taken
with a Sister having charge of the room which receivex
the children as soon as they are found, when # little
being was brought to her. “On the rags which hard!
covered him, was pinned a paper, hearing this saddest
of all human records, * Father, mother, unknown! It
was a beautiful boy, four or five weeks old. but it had
heen exposed to thn cold all night in an alley, and its
short life was rapidly ebbing away. Ilow many homes
Would have blessed the advent of euch a child! But no
young mother, exulting in the possession of hor first-
born, could have tended it more lovingly than did this
humble Sister. She covered its pale face with kisses.
4s if recalled hy them a moment to life, the child open-
éd its eyes and met hers with a singular expression of
intelhgence, then shut them for ever, thus taking to
Meaven the sweetest thing of this world, a mother's
smile. This woman was young, very handsome, and
naturally refined. yet her whole life was enclosed with-
in those walls, where vice, stame and despair, threw
their innocent victims into her arms, Long shall I re-
member the eweet eaintly face and the thrilling sympa-
thy which she whispered, as we were watching together
the last moments of the poor little foundling. ‘You have
no children of your own!’ our womanly hearts united
jn. an almost unconscious yearning for this young life
mee away. Was that a useless existence, the pro-

act of a weak superstition? On the contrary, its moral
beauty illamined this snddest of all abodes of charity ;
for the mere thought that those poor little ones had
been abandoned by those who gave them being, seemed
fo fill the very air of the place with chillness and gloom.
In the ward which receives children past the first stage
ofinfancy, collected in alleys, in the streets and tene-
ment liouses, I found a group of poor little girls that
neither carésses nor loving words could awaken from
thelr sad apathy. One just brought from the hospital,
where her mother had died, made the room resound
with the piteous cry, ‘ mamma, mamma!’ and they all
stared at her, as if the sweet word had no meaning
for them.

** Leaving with a shuddor this scene of desolation, 1
turned my steps to the Hospital for Convalescent Chil-
dren ; there, all was hope. lite and sunshine. From the
homes of the Ee. from the different hospitals for the
rick. the children are brought when all danger « past,
for the benefit of fresh air and ae nourishment, fos
in sp halls, under the « of stately avenues,
and amid beds of flowers, they romp and play, and get
fresh blond in their cheeks. Each little face ha
smile for the visitor, eo emaciated er had ‘

pathetic pressure. @ Sisters were moving to an
fo in ahappy bustling way, propping up this one in
his Mttle chair. giving a kiss to another, distribating the
nourishing food so greedily craved by all. It was one
of the prettiest sights in the world; the sky seemed
bluer, flowers sweeter, ag if nature joined in the
work of love and charity.

° . . * * * *

** Had I not already passed the limits of a letter, I
could describe many other places where the same wise
fore thought, the same devoted charity, are workin
equally beautiful results. Often, during these visite,

of St. Luke's Hospital, in New York, and of
that olic man whose large heart has created this
noble institution. He had once argued with mo for a
Protestant Sisterhood, devoted to works of religion and

_ charity, while I coatended that such an influence might

beat issue from the of domestic life. Bat I now
felt the foree of his argument as 1 had not before.
Such a lot can be ppy. One may be led to it

by sorrow cr disappointment. but it ie often a»

pure,

hopeful heart which !s thus offered on the altar!
with the Sisters, 1 found that almost all had

been brought
teeling.',

to their resolution by a deep religious

4 | next is in circulation here, but causes no alarm.

‘News by Telegraph.

ee ete

Loxpvon, May 15, midnight.—In the House of Com-
| mons to night, John Bright presented a petition from
Nova Scotia, praying that Parliament would Repeal
the Act hy which that Provinee waa united to the
Dominion of Canada. The petitioners denounce the
Canadian Union Act as injarions, and the result of
fraud perpetrated upon the people... ..After the read-
ing of the docnment, the evening of the 25th {nst., was
assigned for debate on the subject.

Loxpon, May 18, midnight.—~In the House of Com-
mons to-night, the Scotch Reform Bill was under con-
sideration. Mr. William E. Baxter moved to add to
the number of Scotch members of the House, by taking
the franchise from some of the small English boroughs.
Mr. Boverie moved that the rating clause in the bill be
thrown eut. The Government opposed the motion,
and on a division of the House were beaten in both
cases, Mr, Disracti, after the result of the last division
was known, rose and said the Ministry must now con-
eiler their position.....The Paris newspapers of this
day say that the Emperor Napoleon has been ill, but
his condition has been much improved.

Loxpon, May 21.—The Queen has gone to Seatland,
Her absence from the seat of Government daring the
present Parliamentary crisis is widely censured by the
Provs.....In the House of Commons to-myht, the
Scotch Reform Bill was again under disenssion. Mr.
Baxter member from Montrose offered a new clause to
the bill, exensing the poor from payment of rates, on
condition of not using the franchise. Tho amendment
was accepted by Disraeli, and the farther consideration
of the vin was postponed,. ... Advices via Rio dancrio,
represent that the American Minister, Mr. Webb, urges
Brazil and the other belligerent powers to vet the
mediation of the United States in their _— with
Paraguay ; and it 1s said that he has told the Emperor
of Brazil that unless the war is soon ended the govern-
ment of the United States will interfere to prevent
further bloodshed. Mr Webb has sent important de-
spatches by the United States steamer Wasp, to Mr.

ashburn, United States Minister to Paraguay... ..
Mr. Eyre, late Governor of damacia, has been held for
trial on the charges against him.

Lonpon, May 22, eve.—In the Honse of Commons
to-night, Mr. D. J. Reardon, member for Achlone gave
notice that he would propose to the government the
following question. “If te health of the Queen is
such as to detain Her Majesty from London, why do
not the ministry advise abdication?” The question
was ruled oat of order,

May 23, 3 o’clock.—The dehate on the Irish Church
was again resumed, the suspensory bill being under
consideration, Mr, Gladstone made a speech explain-
ing tle character and interests of the measnre. He
said the Liberals would not consent to subsidize any of
the religions in Ireland. He expressed his surprise
that the Tories should now threaten resistance to this
bill after yielding their assent to resolves of which it
was the logical resuit. The House of Lorde might
possibly reject it, but still it was the duty of the Honse
of Commons to proceed with the movement of reform
which it had commenced. Mr, Gladstone closed by
moving that the bill have a second reading. Mr.
Garthorne Hardy moved it be postponed six months,
and supported his motion in a speech of much warnrth.
He declared that the bill was, a surprise and meant
confiscation ; it misstated the Qneen’s reply to address
of the House concerning the disposal of Ecctesiasticat
patronage, and relieved the Crown of some of its
greatest prestige, including the veto power. Ie as-
cribed the origin of this movement to the enemies of the
Church and State, and made an earnest appeal to all
Protestants to oppose it. The debate continued at

reat length. Mr. Dieracli, ata late hour, rose. He
fefended the action of the Tory party in resisting the
bill, ‘The policy which had created this measure was
disastrous i» the country, and its direct result was to
abolish both the Church and State. Mr. Gladstone re-
plied. Ie said the step taken by the Liberal party was
not hostile cither to Protestantism or the Church ol
England. The debate terminated with Mr. Gladstone's
speech, and a division took place on the motion that the
bill have a second reading with the following results:
for the second reading $12, against it 258, majority 54.

¥| The announcement was received with loud and pro-

longed cheering from the liberal benches, A motion
was then made that the House go into Committee for
the consideration of the Bill on the Sth of June; the
motion was carried without a division, aud the [louse
adjourned at 2a.m. Gold 1393.

ONDON, May 24.—The eftorts made to prove an alibi
in the case of the Fenian Barrett, the Clerkenwell con-
spirator, have failed, and his execution will take place
at the expiration of the week for which ho was respited.
«.+-Telegrains from Sydney, Australia, in anticipation
of overland maite, says that Prince Alfred had left there
for England in command of the steam frigate Galatea,
and that he was quite well. Farrell, the attempted as-
sassin of Prince Alfred, was executed on 22nd of April.
.+--Deepatches received from General Napier to the
5th inst, states that a portion of Ins troops had reached
the coast. and embarked for Bombay, and that the re-
mainder of the troops rd stores belonging to the ex-

edition had been hastened forward, to be shipped from
ula as rapidly as possible, and that the evacuation of
the country wonid be soon effected. The wounded are
doing well, and rapidly becoming convalescent. The
troops are generally in good health,

Orrawa, May 18.—Bills assimilating the criminal
laws of the Dominion were defeated in the Senate on
Saturday last, by a vote of 25 to 22. The vote was
only taken on one bill, and the Government withdrew
the others.....In the Commons, the militia bill passed
its final stage, The salary of the Adjutant General was
reduced from $3,600 to 83,000, hy 67 to 63—-ministers
voting in the minority. Deputy District Adjutants
were also reduced from $1800 fo $1200.....Fresh
evidence discovered relative to the plot for the assassin-
ation of Mr. McGee, bnt it is not made public.

Orrawa, May 22.—The House of Commons mot to-
day at 11 o'clock. Sir G, Cartier announced that the
money already voted for militia purposes would be
sufficient to pay Volunteer Officers without an addition-
alappropriation. ‘The House adjourned till two o'clock.
wheu the Governor General will come down to sanction
Bills and close the session.

Orrawa, May 23.—The Legislative chambers are
completely deserted to-day, Mr, Savary left this morn-
ing. Mr, Stewart Campbell is still in town... .. A re-
port of a threatened Fenian Invasion in June or pind
The
volunteers are held in redness... Adjutant General
MeDougall is indignant iat the salaries of the Deputy
district Adjutants should have been cat down from four
hundred and fifty to three hundred pounds, and hie
resignation is reported, but I believe he will be induced
to remain in office.

Vienna, May 20.—The Emperor of Austria has given
hia aseent to the law paesed hy the Reichrath, establish-
ing the legal equality of religions sects.

New York, May 21.—A severe storm prevailed in
Havana on Tuesday, daring which several lives were
lost. Iv the harbor many ships and steamers dragged
their anchors... ..The National Republican Convention
at Chieago, nominated General Grant for President,
amidst the greatest enthusiasm. No nomination of
Viee President has been made up to this p.m. Gold
stead,

New York, May 22.—The Republican Convention
at Chicago has nominated Gen. Grant for President,
and Schuyler Colfax, of Indianna, for Vice Prosident.
Colfax is the present Speaker of the National House of
Representatives. :

Arms ror Fextan Use.—The Hartford Courant says ;
‘General Jobn O'Neill, Presdent of the Fenian
and part of his staff, visited Colt’s armory
on Saturday, and inepecied the Gatling battery gun and
Berdan rifle; and it is rumored that he has effected a
large cortract for the above arms, and has also con-
tracted for a number of thousand of Colt's revolvers,
navy size, for use in Ireland - the dominion.

The Dablin Evening Mail affirms that the question

of Cardinal Collen's ence at the Dublin Castle

an ‘ elaborate preliminary ne-

ei es ftp accepted, in “wo

Cardinal stipala ‘or precedence next to the roya

and before the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, which
was finally acoorded to his eminence,

The Merald.

LD, WEDNESDAY,

Wednesday, May 27. 1808.

Wr are indebted to an
—formerly of this Island —for late papers, eia Panama,

containing fall particulars of the attempted assassina- |

tion of Il. R. H. Prince ALrrep. From these we learn
that O'Farrell, the would-be assassin, ls a native of
Liverpool, England. His father and mothet were both
natives of Lreland, and shortly after thelr marriage they
left Treland for Liverpogl, where Mr. O'Farrell started in
business as a bucchtr, He was tolerably successful In
this pursuit, and having saved a considerable sum of
money, he left Liverpool and came to Melbouriic.
O'Farrell, the would-be assassin of His Royal Highness,
in the yeam 1841, was placed under the charge of the
Rev. David Boyd, who presided over & school in Mel-
bourne. There he renialned for about three years, and
then left to join the Roman Catholic College, near St.
Francis's, Je spent several years at this College, and
acquired a thorongh knoWledge of the élassics, as well
as the French language, which he speaks with refined
purity. Ilis father destined him for the Roman Catholic
priesthood, and having passed through his preliminary
studies, he left Victoria for France, Belgium and Rome,
where he continued his studies, and at the expiration of
ten years returned to the Colony. He was then pre-
pared to take holy orders, but falling in love with a
young lady prevented him from following this course,
and he accordingly turned his attention to other
pursuits, It seems O'Farrell spent some _ time
mining. In or about the year 1862, he joined a man
named Kennedy, and opened a hay and corn store at the
corner of Doveton street, in the house oceupied by
Mr. Boyd as the Corn Exchange Hotel. The firm did
not progress so well as they desired, and this partial
failure caused Mr. Kenuedy to take to drinking, and
ultimately he was found dead in the yard at the rear of
the building. O'Farrell also took to drinking; but, re-
covering from an attack of delirinm tremens, he tem-
porarily abandoned the habit, and fora tine led a steady
life. Subsequently he commenced to speculate in min-
ing, and one morning he met his old school-mate, and
showed him a cheque for £200, which he said he had
made in the previous three days by buying and selling
scrip. At this time Fenianism broke out in America,
and he pronounced himself a decided partisan of Head
Centre Stephens. Ife continued to speculate in mining,
and ultimately not enly lost all he had, but involved
himself In debt to the amount of some £600. He was
then sold off by the Sheriff of the District, under'a writ
of fl. fia, the whole of his assets only realising £60,
This occurred in March, 1867. In the meantime, he eon-
tinued to drink heavily, and had several attacks of deli-
rium tremens, for one of which he was attended by Dr.
Whitcombe. The particulars of the assassination state
that the attempt was made upon the Prince's Ife at a
pic-nie near Sydney, got up for the benefit of the
**Sailor's Home," which he attended, to lend eclat to
the affair, and to enable the managers to dispose more
readily of their tickets. Everything, up to the time of
the attempted assassination, went off admirably; the
tickets sold like wildfire, and on the morning of a sanny
autumn day, the beanty and wealth and fashion of Syd-
ney gathered at Clontarf to amuse themselves as people
on such occasions generally try todo. The spot select-
ed for the ple-nie was one of the most charming and
lovely to be found in any part of Sydney harbor, and
every preparation had been made to insure the enjoy-
ment of the pleasure seekers,

Abont haif-past one the Prince arrived In a special
steamer, and the people collected at the wharf and
cheered lustily, while the Prince smiled and bowed his
thanks. Immedtately upon landing he was conducted to
the luncheon tent, and in company with the Gove-nor of
the colony, Lady Belinore and several others, partook of
some reffeshment.

Leaving the tent, the Prince led Lady Belmore to a
special pavillon which had been erected for the use of
the elite of the party, and then sauntered away with Sir
William Manning, (an old resident of Sydney), to enjoy
a walk about the grounds. As he went along he met a
gentleman named Allen, with whom he shook hands and
chatted for a few moments, and then handed an envelope
to Sir William Manning, saying that. it contained a do-
nation to the Sailors’ Home.

Searcely had he finished speaking, when a man,
whose name is now known to be O'Farrell, was obsery-
ed to run quickly across to where he was Standing, and
fire with a revolver at the Prince, who immediately fell
forward, crying out, “Oh, my God, Iam shot; my back
is broken.”

Sir William Manning turned hastity round upon hear-
ing the report of the revolver, and secing that the man
who had just flred had pointed the Weapon towards him
(Sir W. Manning), he stooped to get out of the line of
fire, and in doing so fell. ‘This time, however, the re-
volver snapped, and while O'Farrell was again levelling
his pistol at the Prince, a gentleman named Vial, who
had witnessed the whole occurrence, ran up and pinion-
ed his arms to his body, thus changing the direction of
the weapon, which, lowever, exploded, the bullet hitting
a Mr. Thorne in the foot.

Meanwhile, the report of the revolver had drawn to-
gether the pic-nicers from all parts of the grounds, and
a scene of confusion and disorder ensued which no
words ean depict.

O'Farrell struggled hard to get free from Vial, swear-
ing flercely and louldy, and in the tussle the identity of
the combatants became a little confused. When,
therefore, the by-standers, who had now discovered
that the Prince had been shot, rushed in and separated
the men, they were uncertain as to which of them was
the assassin, and while the majority of the crowd
pitched upon the right man, Mr. Vial was also selzed
upon and very severely maltreated. After a while, the
police succeeded in getting hold of O'Farrell, but not be-
fore he had been terribly and brutally beaten. ‘The
ple called savagely out, “Kill him!” “Wang him!"
“Lyneh him!” and fought desperately with the police
to possess themselves again of his body, the wretch

etting a dozen kicks and blows for every yard the po-
ice progressed down to the wharf. Tho police, how-
ever, at last succeeded in getting to the water, and here
a last determined effort was made by the mb, who had
heen yet further infuriated by a speech which was made
by one of their number appealing to them not to let
‘the assassin leave the ground alive.” But the police
were again victorious, and O'Farrell, bleeding and un-
conscious from the injuries he had received, was con-
veyed to Sydney and lodged tn Darlinghurst jait.
eanwhile, the Prince had been raised from the
ground and conveyed to his private tent. He was evi-
dently in great pain, and once or twice asked the gen-
tlemen who were bearing him along to carry him more
slowly and gently. Although very
blood, he did not become unconscious, and noticing
that the people crowded around the tent, he desired a
gentleman to assure them that “he was not much hurt,
and would be better presently.”

An examination of his wound, however, showed it to
be a very serious one, and, indeed, it is strange that the
bullet, entering where it did, an inch or two to the
right of the spine, about the middle of the back, did not
produce tnstant death, or, at any rate, more serious re-
sults than it has done, In describing the sensation he
felt when the bullet struck him, the Prince said it seem-
ed to him as if he were lifted from the ground.

Towards evening he was placed in a litter and taken
by water to Sydney, where a carriage was waiting to
convey him to Government House. The best medical
ald in the city was, of course, obtained, and although
for several bm the physicians were wnable to extract
the bullet, the Prince was unable to He down lest it
should change its position, no unfavorable symptoms
occurred, there was no apres of hemorrhage,
which was naturally the chie danger, and at last the
necessary operation was successfully accomplished. It
has now been officially announced that he is out of dan-
ger, and for the past few days he has been out through
the streets in a carriage, guarded by a strong escort.
Even with youth, robust health, and a strong constitu.
tion in his favor, it Is singular that he has escaped so
lightly as he has.

It is almost impossible to deserthe the excitement in
Sydney the night of the attempted assassination, The
cafes and saloons were crowdel with people, whose sole

Australian friend, Mr. Watsh, |

Weak from loss of

'
ople of conversation seemed to be the disaster to the
be wag ‘The theatre and all other places of aniusement
| were closed; the evening paper hoarly Issued extras;
‘and immense crowds gathered round the bulletins giving
an official account of the condition of the Prince, that
were posted up in various quarters of the city.

Arrangements were made for all sorts of mectings to
‘express the indignation felt by the various classes of
‘the community. ‘The first one that canie off was a gen-
eral meeting of the eitizens of Sydney, the following
day, at the Pavilion, a temporary building, accommodat-
ing about four thousand people. The place was, of
course, crowded. Since that there have been meetings
of eVery description; of Catholics and Protestants,
Masons, Odd Fellows and Forresters; of native Ans-
trallans and Colonists; of American, Hungarian, Polish,
French; Weish, Swedish, Chinese, Spinish and Italian
residents, and iniiumerable others Besides. :

‘The day after the ple-nic, Henly oe oO Farrell was
Arraigned before a special court i Uié debtor's prison,
Darlinghurst Jail, Mr. H. Hl. Voss presiding as magis-
trate. Most of the members of the suite of the Prince,
together with the Governor and several of the Ministry,
were present,

The prisoner, who was dressed in the prison uniform
of white canvass, presented a very horrible and repulsive
appearance. The left side of his face was frightfully
swollen, and the right side cut and bruised in several
places. His right eve was black, protruding and closed,
amt his left livid with brulses and only partially opened.
His nose was considerably swollen and distorted, and the
skin down the front of that feature cut open. His lips
were also swelled. A very few witnesses were examin-
ed, and their evidence gave the same account of the af-
falr as that detailed above, The superintendent of po-
lice testified that after he had been taken into custody
the prisoner had said, “I've made a mess of it, and all
for no good; but it ean't be helped now,” adding subse-
quently, **I am a Fenian; I've done my duty, and am
not afraid to die, and may Gotl save Ireland.” It was
also testified that in addition to the revelver with which
he shot at the Prince, and which was found on the pic-
nic ground, another six-shooting revolver, loaded, was
found upon hin after his capture. The weapon which
he flred was an American revolver, bearing the names of
Sinith & Wesson, Massachusetts.

After the testimony had been taken, the ptisoner was
told to stand up, and was then asked if he had anything
to say. He replied, without hesitation, “IT have nothing
to say but that the task of executing the Duke was sent
out and allotted to me." The Crown Solicitor asked
him to repeat what he had just said, and he then added,
“The task of executing the Prince was sent out to me,
but I fuiled, and am “ot very sorry that I did fail, That
Is all I have to say.” ;

The Prince, who is styled the Duke of Edinburgh, was
to leave Sydney on April 4. He comes as far as Suez in
his own ship, the Galatea. After crossing the Isthmus
by rail, he will go on board a royal yacht, which will be
at Alexandria to receive him. The passage from Sydney
to London by the mail steamer is estimated at fifty days.

HER MAJESTY S BIRTH-DAY CELEBRATION,

Tur bieth-day of Her Majesty the Qteen having
fallen on Sunday, the Anniversary wWas celebrated on
Monday, the 25th inst. A General Holiday was ordered
by the Government and the City Council. The City pre-
sented a gay appearance from the quantity of bunting
displayed fom public and private buildings, and the num-
bers of volunteers in gay uniforms, and crowds of well-
dressed people who thronged the streets. At eleven
o'clock a feu de joie was flred on Queen Square, and
the City Companies of Volunteers, under command of
Major Haviland, were reviewed by Ilis Excellency the
Commander-in-Chief. A numerously attended Levee was
held at Government House at 12 o'clock, noon,—not the
least interesting feature of which was the presentation
by His Excellency the Licutenant Governor, on the part
of the Imperial Government, of a Sextant to Capt.
Brown, of the ship %. C, Owen, fot his bravery and hu-
manity, in’ rescuing, last winter, while on the voyage
from this Island to Liverpool, G. B., the crew of the ship
Norwood, in a sinking condition, In presenting the sex-
tant, Ilis Excellency said:—“ The Sextant, which I hold
in my hand, has been awarded to you by Iler Majesty's
Government in acknowledgment of your humanity to
British seamen in distress. In a heavy gale of wind
you fell in with the ship Norwood, water-logged and in a
sinking condition. For thirty hours you remained by
that wreck, waiting an opportunity for taking off its
crew. At great risk to your boat's crew, you at length,
(happily without loss of life), succeeded in rescuing all
hands. Her Majesty's Government has, for your conduct
on this occasion, awarded you the highest reward which,
I believe, is ever given for such services, and has for-
warded to me this Sextant for presentation to you. It
affords me very great pleasure to present It to you In the
name of Her Majesty's Government; for you are never
likely to forget that, on the first voyage in which you
had charge of a ship, you were the means of saving the
lives of twenty-Ave of your fellow-creatures, ‘This
Sextant Is presented to you a# a recognition—on the
part of tlhe Government of the Nation of which we form
4 part—of your conduct on that occasion, and will, lam
sure, be ever regarded by you with the greatest interest
in remembrance of that voyage.” Capt. Brown, on re-
celving the very valuable present of Her Majesty s Go-
vernment, and in reply to the Lieutenant Governor,
spoke at follows :— Your Excellency,—In rescuing the
Captain and crew of the ship Norwood, I considered I was
only doing my duty when beholding fellow-creatures in
distress, and rescuing them from a watery grave, J
have assisted several times, while mate of the L. C. Owen,
with Captain Fraser, her Commander, in giving aid to
shipwrecked sailors; and, actuated by feelings of hu-
manity, I always felt, as a British seaman, I was bound
to do so, not knowing what time I might be placed tn
the same perilous situation. I heartily thank Her Ma-
Jesty’s Government and Your Excellency for presenting
me with this valuable Sextant, and I can assure Your
Excellency, and, through you, the British Government,

peo-| that I will always recollect, with feelings of extreme

gratitude, this handsome presentation. ‘Tirat I may em-
ploy it hereafter with honor to the service to which I
belong, and with credit to myself and employers, shall
be my constant aim.” In the Afternoon, the various
City Fire Companies, ander command of Captain Strick-
land, paraded the streets, with Engines and paraphernalia,
and made a very fine appearance. ‘These constituted the
public demonstrations connected with the celebration of
the forty- ninth anniversary of Ter Majesty's Birth-day.
Long may Her Gracious Majesty live to dignify, by her
virtue and wisdom, the exalted position which she has
now held for thirty-one years.

Tue Islander is very anxious to know why the Hon.
B. Davies retired from the Executive Council, and asks
one of the organs to give the reason. All we can say is,
that the hon! gentleman alluded to has not given us the
reasons of his resignation, nor do we believe that it is
our place to pry into the secrets of his conduct. He
may have retired because his ordinary business avoca-
tions require his whole time and attention; or perhaps
he may not have been in harmony with his late collegues
in the Government upon every question. In fact, there
may be many reasons to induce him to take the step
which he has done, and for precise information on the
subject, we refer the Editer of the Islander to Me. Davies
himself, who, we have no doubt, will give all the satis-
faction which the importance ef the case, and his own
position demand.

Tur Eastern Chronicle says that Manganese, on the
East River, and Copper at Piedmont Valley, are among
the latest mineral discoveries tn the County of Pictou.

Tar Chicago Republican Convention has nominated
General Grant for President, and Me, Colfax, of Indiana.
for Vice President.

Tue Patriot gives 2,600 of potatoes and 30,029

bushels of oats as being among tho exports of last
week from the port of Charlottetown.

Tne Islander, of the 22nd inst., contains an article
headed “ Hard Times,” in which some very interesting
questions are proposed to a leading member of the Exe.
cutive Council. Our contemporary thus discourses ;~—
“Why liave we so many poor farmers in the Island, sec.
ing that the farmers have had such good crops and high
prices? Do they encourage trade by spending too much
moncy inthe shops of storekcopers andjof mechanics? Do
they drink too much ram? Do they keep too many cat-
tle, to devour, during the seven months of Winter, the
produce of the other five mouths; or is the country to
blame? Itis very evident that some*hing is wrong,
and the sooner this something is discovered, the better.
If we have hard times among our farmers, after crops
have been good, and when oats sell from 3s. to 3s, 9d.,
and potatoes from 3s. to 4s. a bushel; when butter is
Is. 8d. alb., and pork and beef at extravagant prices,
what would be the state of the Island should we have
years of bad crops, a8 we have had, with very low prices
for everything ?”

We do not know whether “a reader of Adam Smith
and J, Stuart Mill,” has the time or the desire to answer
those queries, but &s they really are, in our opinion, de-
serving of some attention, we Shall address ourself to
their consideration as fur as our space and time will per-
mit, One cause of poverty among certain farmers is, that
they spend too much moncy in purchasing American flour;
another is that they are too fond of running into debt.
Instead of keeping a few cattle of good breeds, they
keep a large stock, upon which fodder is almost thrown
away. Proportionately, there is not more rum drunk
now than in years gone by, when poorer crops were
raised, and less prices received fer them than at present.
But the great reason of the “hard times,” so generally
experienced, is, in our opinion, over-exertion on the part
of the tenants to purchase the fve simple of their farms.
Just ag over-trading produces a panic in commercial cir.
cles,so has the great efforts of the tenants to rid themselves
of the incubus of rent-paying, caused the present “ hard
times.” Upon no other hypothesis can we account for
the fact} fot tke people generally are as industrious and
economical now as In any previous period of the history
of the Island, Our contempdrary, whose knowledge ex-
hausts the Heavens ard the earth, may have his own pe.
cullar theories about the matter, and we have no doubt
an expression of his. views thereon would prove tn.
tensely interesting and edifying; but at the same time,
we miay be permitted to remark that if his judgmentisno
more rollable than im the case of the “ Wonderful Me-
teorle Appearance,"” which he fancied he witnessed from
Cape Traverse, the more profound his silence on the
subject Is, the better for his reputation.

WE are sometimes questioned asto the powers con-
ferred upon the Board of Education by the recent
amendments to the I.iw,in the matter of attendance
at the Normal Schoo! on the part of candidates for
teachership. | Many porsons imagine that ordinary
candidates fot teachership can, on the mere motion of
the Board, be dispensed from attendance at the Normal
School, This is altogether a mistake. The amendment
in the Edueation Act simply contemplates that grad-
uates from superior Educational establishments,such as
Colleges and Convents, may, after passing a brilliant
examination, be allowed a certificate to teach without
pending five months ata so-called Normal School,
Where the teachers are inferior in pomt of education to
the graduates. In no case can an ordinary candidate
from the common sehools be allowed to escape tho
prescribed five monthe training at the Normal School.
This is the actual state and spirit of the law, az affected
by the consolidation and amendments of last sessior, in
reference to this particular point. ‘The other changes
in the Education Act were detailed in the summary of
Mr. A. MeNeill, which appeared in these colomns a
short time ago, and we, therefore, deem it unnecessary
to reiterate them just now, feeling satisfied that this
explanation is sufficiently oxplicit to be understood by
those who take an mterest in the subject.

Tur Eleventh article of Inrpeachment, upon which
the President was acquitted, is ay follows :—'Declaring
that Congress, as now constituted, is not 4 legal body,
to the end that he might carry out only such laws as
he saw fit to approve ; and violating, in pursuance of
such declaration, the Act of March, 1867, the Tenure
of Office Act, and the Reconstruction Act.” Tmme-
diately after the vote on this article, the Senate ad-
journed for four weeks. The rest of the articles being
amere repetition cf the foregoing, are weak, and will
not, in all probability, be brought toa vote after the
reassembling of the Senate. ‘Che Democrats all over
the Union have manifested great Joy at the acquittal of
the President, who, if he exercises ordinary discretion
during the remainder of lis tenure of office,——which
constitutionally expires in November next,—ho will be
4 stronger man than ever, and will stand a goed chance
of being re-elected President or Vieo President at that
time,

A Cascumpee writer, in Thursday's Patriot, blames the
Government for having appropriated £3,000 to relieve
poor farmers this epring, and insinuates that most of
that sum was converted into ** grog money.” If this
be 80, it is to be regretted; but we think that it would
bbe a difficult matter for any government to devise a
scheme 0: relief which would not admit of misdirection
in exceptional cases. To blame the Goveroment for
having come to the resone of the people because of
those exceptional cases, savors very much of the con-
duct of a political “humbug,” and if the Patriot's cor-
respoydert had signed himself by that name, no
exception would have been taken to hise ommunication+

Some of the London papers aro belittling General
Napier, because he accomplished his glorious sucecas
without the loss of asingle man. In this, one would think
his real greatness consists, considering the almost insur
mountable difficulties he had to overcome in hig marelr
to Magadala. This Napier is not aecion of the family
Which produced the Admirals and Generals of the last
Senerr tion, and of which Lord Napier, the present Go-
gernor of Madras, is the head. He belongs to a com-
paratively obseure family of gentle blood in the High-
lands, and is a Roman Catholic by religion.

At a meeting of the Charlottetown Cricket Clab, on
the 16th instant, the Hon. J, ©, Pope was elected
Patron ; John Breckon, isqaire, President; Dr, Jenkins
and Albert Hensley, Esqrs., Committee; G. D,
Atkinson, Eeq., Field Captain; E. RB. Fitegerald,
Secretary and Troasurer; Hon. D. Davies and Wm,
Welsh, Esqr., Committee to collect subscriptions.

On Monday night the office of Francie Longworth,
Esq., was feloniously entered by three juveniles, who
walked off with Mr, Longworth's cash box containing
about £100, besides valuable papers. One of the
thieves was caught Sesterday, and the police are hant-

ing up his accomplices. So far the money has not been
recovered,

Tae last letter that Mr, McGee over wrote (to the
Earl of Mayo, Chief Secretaary for Treland,) is published
in the Canadian papers. It relates chiefly to the po-
sition and feelings of the Irish in Canada—givon

Specially to favorably influence Imperial legislation

with regard to Ireland,