relieve him. On the Welsh coast numerous vessels were wrecked. The Proteus, Prussian brig, was wrecked near Amlwch, crew saved; which was also the case with many others, the loss of life being comparatively small. The reports of Lloyd's agents give an account of upwards of 100 vessels having been stranded during these gales.

26. FIRE AT BUFFALO.-The flourishing city of Buffalo, the great entrepôt of the navigation between the lakes of North America and the ocean, by means of the Erie Canal, has been ravaged by a fire which laid the greater part of it in ashes.

"A very destructive fire broke out in this city about 4 o'clock this morning. The whole of the section of the city known as the Hooks, together with several squares north, between the Niagara Falls railroad and the lake, are in ashes. A strong south-east wind was blowing at the time, and the buildings all being of wood and very dry, the fire spread with fearful rapidity, and in less than fifteen minutes the entire block of buildings in Rock and Peacock Streets, from the ship canal and Erie Street to Evans Street, was in flames. The fire then crossed Erie Street, and seized upon the large planing mill of the Messrs. Eaton. It then crossed the canal and Erie Street Bridge, sweeping everything on the opposite side of the canal to the Terrace, thence down the Terrace to Mechanic Street, on both sides of the canal. At this point, through the greatest exertion, the flames were checked. The number of buildings destroyed is over 500. Among them is the large brick schoolhouse in Erie Street, District No. 2. A large amount of lumber in the Messrs.

Eaton's mill and yard was destroyed; also an immense quantity of lumber in the yards of George Oenell and the Messrs. Farmer and De Bloquiere. It is feared that a number of persons have been burnt to death. One dead body has been taken from the ruins. The loss is roughly estimated at 500,000 dollars. The insurance on the property is very slight. The buildings burnt were nearly all of wood. One of the firemen was seriously burnt while endeavouring to check the flames. The number of families turned out of house and home by this disaster is great almost beyond conception, most of the houses destroyed being occupied by poor families. Many of them barely escaped with their lives, so fearfully rapid fully rapid was the progress of the flames.

27. WRECK OF THE RANDOLPH. -Great Loss of Life.-Intelligence has been received of the wreck of the Randolph East India trader, with very serious loss of life. The ship left Port Louis, in the Mauritius, at the end of July. She had 250 steerage-passengers for Calcutta, men, women, and children-natives of India, returning from a term of labour in the island; Lieutenant Holland and Ensign Scott, of H.M. 48th Regiment, occupied the chief cabin. The cargo consisted of the produce of the island. On the night of the 25th, when the ship was at the north-east extremity of the Mauritius, breakers were discovered; and in spite of every effort of the crew, the vessel struck on a reef of rocks, running out some two miles from the land. The masts were cut away, but in the dark night nothing more could be done. The ship fell over on

her beam-ends. The surging waves swept many of the people from the decks. Some of these were saved by clinging to spars, but others were drowned; Ensign Scott was among the latter. When daylight came, it was seen that land was two miles off, while the water was studded with dangerous rocks. Fortunately, the boats had not been damaged. A channel was traced among the rocks for some distance, and by laying spars and planks on the rocks the land could be reached. With infinite danger and difficulty, the people were lowered by the sailors sitting astride the bowsprit into the boat, and all got safely to land. It was found that during the night between 20 and 30 of the Indian passengers had been lost, two of the crew, and Ensign Scott. The chief mate went to Port Louis, 30 miles distant, and the Governor sent a steamer to the wreck; but little could be saved.

30. SUICIDE OF A STOCKBROKER. -Mr. Ingle Rudge, a stockbroker, committed suicide at the countinghouse of Mr. Routh, also a member of the Stock Exchange, in Throgmorton Street, under singular circumstances. The deceased was a young member of the Exchange, having only been connected with it some four or five years. He was very highly respected in the city for his upright and businesslike conduct. Mr. Routh, in consequence of being intimately acquainted with the deceased, had allowed him permission to transact his business at his counting-house, No. 32, Throgmorton Street, he not having an office of his own. On Mr. Routh reaching his counting-house on Tuesday morning, at 11 o'clock, he heard from his clerk that the deceased was in

the private room, where he had been about a quarter of an hour. Mr. Routh entered that apartment and found the deceased lying on the floor of the watercloset attached to the room. He immediately called in assistance, and sent for Mr. Chance, a surgeon, who pronounced the unfortunate man to be dead. A wine-glass was found on the table containing the remains of prussic acid. A brief examination of the body by the medical gentlemen sufficed to show that the deceased had perished from the effects of that poison. On his person were found a loaded pistol and a knife: some letters also were discovered. Mr. Sewell, surgeon, of Fenchurch Street, and other gentlemen who were acquainted with the deceased, spoke of his disordered state of mind, from which it would seem that he laboured under the impression that he would never be able to do any good for himself and family, and that he would always be unfortunate. Tuesday being settling day at the Stock Exchange, he found himself not in a position to meet certain demands, not, it is understood, exceeding 2001., his account at his bankers being short of the sum required, but which could have been readily averted by application to the committee, who would willingly have extricated him from his difficulties. He was seen on 'Change about 10 o'clock, and it is presumed that the dread of meeting his difficulties induced him to commit the melancholy act.

with cruel treatment of one of her children, a little girl, eight years and a half old, by burning her with a red-hot poker.

The defendant, who carried in her arms an infant, seemed to be about 40 years of age; she was very respectably attired, and her countenance certainly did not betoken a cruel disposition.

The sufferer, a sickly-looking child, was led in by a young woman who had humanely interfered.

Mr. Long read the warrant to defendant, which set forth the nature of the charge of cruelty against her, when

Defendant eagerly and imploringly said, "I did it in the heat of passion."

The poor child deposed :-I am eight years and a half old. The defendant is my mother. Yesterday fortnight my sister gave me some cocoa to drink, and because I took it at her bidding my mother scolded me and burnt me on my bottom with a red-hot poker; after that she made me take off and wash my clothes; before I did so, and while I was quite naked, she beat me with a cane and whealed me, and also kept pinching me.

Mr. Long-At what hour was it she burnt you with the poker?

Child. At 6 in the evening, and at about 7 she tied me tightly to the bedpost with a rope round my waist. When my father (the man living with defendant) came home she loosed me for a time, and then tied me up again, so that I was obliged to lie upon the floor under the bed all night. My legs were tied together in the first instance, and so were my hands, but my hands were loosed when my father returned. I was secured tightly to the bedpost the

whole of the next day by cords, my legs, but not my arms, being then confined.

Mr. Fell (the Chief Clerk).Were you supplied with any food during the time you were tied up as you have stated?

Child. Yes, sir, a little. On Tuesday morning my mother gave me some milk and water and a little dry bread for my breakfast. I had the same for dinner.

Mr. Long-When were you untied? On Wednesday morning. Mr. Long. Who then untied you? My mother.

Mr. Long-When did you first tell anybody about what had happened to you?-On the next Friday, when I left the house and went to Kew to my grandfather and aunt, who live there. [The parties alluded to were not relations.]

Mr. Long (to defendant).-Do you wish to ask this child any questions?

Defendant (to her daughter).How many times have you run away? Child Several times, mother.

Defendant.-And why have you done so? Child-Because you threatened to give me a good hiding.

Prisoner. I have always treated you as well as I have the rest of my children.

Mr. Long. Then if you have done so, you must, according to what has appeared before me, have used all your children most cruelly.

Mr. Fell. You don't beat them all with a red-hot poker, do you? Defendant made no answer to this question.

Emma Gibson.-I live at 4, Bryanstone Place. On Saturday morning last, in consequence of something which I had heard from my brother, I went to the defend

ant, and asked her if she had heard anything of her child; when she said she had not, and that she should not trouble herself to look after her any more. I told her I thought she had better go to the workhouse to see if she was there, as it was such a wet night; she said she would not do anything of the sort, and she should be glad if the child was out in the wet and lying under a hedge. She

told me she had given her a good beating with a stick and burnt her bottom with a poker, which she had taken red-hot from the fire. She did not consider it would have been any sin to have "put away with it" if nothing had been found out respecting it. On Sunday I went to Kew and examined the child's person, when I found upon the right side of her posteriors the marks of a burn, as if caused by a red-hot poker as described; it was as broad as three of my fingers and as long as my hand; it was very sore and inflamed, and is so at the present time. The poor child cannot yet sit without experiencing much pain.

The prisoner was brought up again on a subsequent day. She now appeared to feel acutely the position in which she was placed, and shed tears plentifully. She was committed for trial. She pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour.

was to pay 201. more on this day. On Monday morning he took possession of the shop and commenced business, which, however, it was soon shown, was a total failure. On Tuesday morning he sent his wife out to post two letters; on her return she was unable to gain admittance, but in a short. time the door was opened by the eldest daughter, eight years old; she was covered with blood, her throat was cut, and her hands and arms. She said, "Oh, mother, go up stairs." The sight which presented itself to a neighbour who was at hand she thus described at the inquest on the bodies:

'I left the mother and went up to the back bedroom on the first floor. I there saw a child lying on the bed, covered with blood. It was a female child, and had a piece of bread and butter in its hand. It appeared to be dead. The blood was gushing from the side of the neck. Did not notice the nature of the injury. I left the room instantly and proceeded next to the back parlour. I there saw a male child lying on the floor. I went up to it and touched it, but found it was dead. It had some sugared bread and butter in its hand. It was dressed in its night dress, and had on its shoes and socks. Blood was flowing from its throat, and there was also blood on the floor, its bedgown being also saturated with blood. There was a wound on the left side. I saw no instrument there. I next ran out to the washhouse, and saw the policeman and another person dragging the body of a man from under the sink. He appeared to be living, gasped very much, and stared wildly. A small table-knife was in his right hand. Blood was

on.

flowing from him. He had on dark trousers, a shirt, and slippers; he had neither coat nor waistcoat There was a great quantity of blood about him. It was also on the floor, under, and about the sink. His shirt was bloody. Both his hands were stained." The circumstances of these dreadful deeds, so far as they can be known, were narrated by the surviving child.

Mary Ann Fawcett.-I was eight years of age last April. Yesterday week we were living in Wyndham Road. We came there on Saturday week. On the following Tuesday my father was at home, but I don't know when we got up. My mother, my sister Emily, my brother, and myself, were in the house, as well as my father. There was no other person in the house that morning. I saw something occur. Some one did something to me; it was my father. He cut me with a knifehis carving-knife. I was up in the front room, on the first floor, when he cut me in my neck. I had other cuts in both my hands. I don't know how he came to cut me on my hands; but I put them up to my neck. At the time he cut me I heard the baby crying. The baby was Frederick, and he was in the parlour. I saw him there before I went up stairs. My father told me to go up for a shirt collar. I had just previously come down stairs. I found the baby when I came down. He was sitting in a chair at the table, at breakfast. I had just sat down to break fast. My father was in the shop. He had just done his breakfast, and then had his coat on. My mother went out to post a letter for my father; I saw her go out. My father followed me up stairs

I

I said, Don't, father." After he had cut me he proceeded into the back room, wherein was my sister Emily. She was sitting up in bed, having her breakfast. found myself cut. I felt that my neck was cut. I ran down stairs as he was going into the back room. He then had in his hand the knife with which he had cut me. As I went down I heard my sister cry out, "Oh! mother." I went into the parlour, and then saw the baby lying down on the floor against the window. I saw nothing about him. I had left him sitting in the chair. He had his night dress on. I looked at him and saw he was dead. I supposed he was dead because he was cut in his neck. I saw my father run down stairs while I was in the parlour. He came into the parlour where I was. He took the knife off the table and cut me again. At that time he did not say anything to me, nor did he speak to me at any time. He cut me on the left side, the same side on which he had cut me before. I did not fall. After that he ran into the kitchen. I remained in the parlour. I heard no noise then. My mother was still out. Very shortly after I was cut the second time I heard a knock at the door; my father was still in the kitchen. I opened the door and saw my mother. We had no lodgers. There was no one in the house except the family. I saw no one come in or go out of the house. When I said "Oh! don't, father," he did not say anything to me. He did nothing to me ex