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i Cfw â-  I tmm WHO ARE INTERESTED MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS/ IN From the Municipal Economist Our publishers say that, in C pper Ca- nada, an average of about five persons in each municipality interest thethselvefc in municipal affairs. As this information is derived from the experience of a firm whose chief business during the entire lile of our municipal institutions lias been that of publishing matter connected with them, it may be assumed that tl eir statement is not very wide of the truth. It follows therefore, that of our entire popu'ation, not more than about fifteen hundred consider it worth their while to make themselves acquainted with a system of local govern- ment which costs them about two millions of dollars per annum, and which has incur- red what may be justly considered as a provincial debt of upwards of more than fifteen million5. The fact thus disclosed ij sufficiently discouraging, and shows how necessary it is that municipal government should as- sume a higher place in popular estimation, and that the conditions involved in its succcssful application to our circumstances should be more carefully considered than they commonly are, in either the metro- politan or local newspapers. Our figuresâ€"which are only to be ac- cepted as an approximation to the truthâ€" show that of our contributions to the total of annual taxation, the amount paid into the hands of the various local trusts, is fully equal to the amount we pay into the hands of the genera! government, concerti- ng the administration of which there is a perpetual agitation, and a consumption of .printing material almost equivalent iu cost â- to that of tbs government itself. Now, >wifhout designing or desiiing to create the same degree of agitation in respect of mu- nicipal aflairs as prevails in relation to general politics, we do liope to increase the interest that is felt in matters of this nature ; and if we can succeed in doubling the number of those who take an active share in corporate affaiis, we shall take credit to a successful issue to our endea- vours. One of the chief reasons why the affairs of the general government excite so much attention, lies in the aggregation of the whole expenditure under one head. In this way totals are presented more likely to arrest attention and excite discussion then would be the case were they given to us in the fragmentary manner in which we have the statistics of our municipal nicipality and affixes its stigma of disgrace on all connected with it. Fortunately,!he undeveloped r'e'scOurces of our country afford a reasonable ground on which to found a hope that, in the fu- ture, there wi.l be discovered the means whereby the insolvency of some of our corporations^inay be redeemed ; but, in the meantime, the follies they have Committed should be a lesson to electors as to the importance of their franchise, and may be accepted as a sufficient answer to the question at the head of this article. TO COItRESPONDENTS. No Communication of a purely personal character, and having'110 bearing 011 the gen- eral interests of the community, will be pub- lished in this paper. Communications, how- ever, 011 all interesting subjects will be thank- fully received and willingly inserted. To in- sure attention, Correspondents must send their names and write in a legiable hand. Let each communication be as brief as tho nature of the ubjoct will allow . RICHMOND LULL, JAN. 14, 1859. OUR TOWNSHIP COUNCILS. ‘•Despise not the day of small things,” has become a cautionary proverb, containing much truth in a small compass. For there is nothing that man is so prone to; he forgets that iroin comparative tri- vial causes great effects often spring. An apple falling is a simple thing; but a Newton ob- serves it, and a new scientific era is commenced. A little boy is found to be remarkably fond of playing at soldiers, and becoming a mimic captain ; bye and by he is the hero of Austerlitz and Marengo ; and thus it is the world over.â€" YVe cry out about the corruption of our Government, and the imbe- cility and want of honesty in many of our M.P.P.’s.; and we grant you that there is cause for our indignation, but we ask you, w’here do many of our members get their education? It is, we be- lieve notorious, that most of them begin their study of political eco- nomy in our municipal Councils, and if report speaks true, it is ra- ther a queer kind of education they sometimes get there. They begin in these schools to finger the public cash by dimes, as it wTere (and, like the man that was hung, who began his criminal ca- reer by prigging marbles) find .. r , .. .the book-ket.'pin" rather loose, expenditure. 1 he farmer, vvno pays his amJ „)e ^ c°.eless anj jmJif. penny in the pound, rarely stops to reflect that it is contributed towards so large an aggregate revenue as we have above indi- cated, or to estimate its importance as compared with the sums he pays into the Natioual Exchequer. Nor does he esti- mate how much of the cost of his yearly “shopping ” is a contribution towards the municipal tax, paid by the city merchant or village store-kceper. And so it is with the city mechanic and labourer. Their direct municipal tax is perhaps but five cr six dollars ; and very few of them take into consideration that every article they consume in their do- mestic affairs is taxed for the payment of market dues, or of the larger amounts levied on those who are in business and with whom they deal ; iliey are usually well informed as to the exact fraction they contribute to every pound of sugnr or tea towards the provincial revenue, but re- main iu utter ignorance of the equally im- portant matter as to how much of the price paid for those articles goes to the municipal rates. rI lie fact is, that on everything we buv we contribute towards the income of the dealer, and therefore towards the payment of the interest 011 the civic debt and for the cost of our local governments. The ' more generally this fact is made known, aud the more thoroughly it is ap- preciated, the sooner we may expect that reform in the management of municipal matters which all are anxious to promote. Municipal taxes therefore affect the price of everything we buy, in the same way as the customs tariff; and there is just as much reason why we interest our- selves to secure the economical adminis- tration of municipal affairs, as in the e'ec- ?ion of our parliamentary representatives, :and every elector should value his civic •jfunchise accordingly. The application of our remarks is more TorciGIe when taken in connection with heavily taxen districts, where everything is mortgaged for the payment of interest on some ill-advised liability, incurred dur mg the speculative mania of former years ; when thus unfortunately situated, towns become disadvantageous located for the establishment of auy branch of business. -for the rates trench «o much upon the re- ceipts, that unless prices are high in com. jparison with those charged in more fa- voured places, a living profit cannot be fe.ahzed ; fence business decays, and tiie burden continues to increase uutil repudi ferent : the temptation oners, and what then? Oh! nothing; only that by and bye they become mem- bers of Parliament, and the his- tory of our railways and other jobs tell some curious, but by no means honorable tales about some ol them, that’s all ! We have recently elected Coun- cilman to attend to the municipal business, and we expect that we have placed ho est men there, and we hope it is so; but previous years show the necessity of watch- ing over them ; for it slanders no one to say that we possibly may be mistaken, and it is our duty to watch them, and see that they do their duty; if they are honest they need not lear the closest scrutiny, aud if they are not honest, the sooner we find it out the better.â€" For us, we have been led to make these remarks, 011 account of the indifference displayed by many towards Township affairs. Now we assert that it i-s just as neces- sary that, we should have honest, upright men in our Township Councils, as it is that w7e should have honest M.P.P.’s; and it may as well be taken for granted 1 hat the best way of keeping them ho- nest, is to give them as few chances as possible of being dis- honest ; and remembtr that it is not only necessary that they should be honest themselves, but that they should see that their clerks Assessors and Collectors likewise do their duty faithfully and well! Has this always been the case with our Councilmen, Clerks, Assess- ors, Collectors, &c ? He will be a bold man who asserts it, and a mad man who attempts to prove it; indeed, we have proof positive that such has not been the case. We will give a few instances, which have come under our no- tice in the Townships of Mark- ham and Vaughan. Our object in bringing these instances of remiss- ness is not to lay the blame at one’s door personally, but simply to insure against such direlections of duty in future. On April 29th, the Economist says One of thoir Collectors, it would appear from a communication we publish d from the Treasurer last week, still holds in his hands more than §>1000, of the taxes of last year. The School Teachers, especially, want theit money, but none is to be had, although five months have passed since tho Collector should have paid in the money ; but this pre- cious tiio of Councillors must be served, and the model Collector, being an important plants iu the bridge by which at least one ol the Councillors gained their election, must be al- lowed to use the people’s hard earned taxes Mr. Button replied to the above by stating that he authorized the Treasurer to prosecute for the atnount; but, nevertheless, we find that some months after this it is again stated that the amount \Vas not paid. It is not out- inten- tion to say which of the two par- lies in the Council were to blame to the curious in those matters, we refer them to the columns of the Economist and British Tribune of that period, which was the arena of a warm and protracted dis- pute as to who was to blame on this and other matters. That some of the Councillors were to blame is certain, or such delinquency would not have been allowed to continue so long without action being taken thereon. Now7, there is not the slightest shadow7 of suspicion of the honesty of the Councillors themselves, but still, it is open to grave doubts as to the right ol allowing this money to be so long unpaid. Was there not great dan- ger ol losing it altogether? and il not, was it right that the School- masters who badly wanted the money, should have to wait so long for it ? The answer of one and all we know in this case will be, that “ there was something rotten in the root of Denmark. Now, let us turn our attention a few moments to Vaughan Town- ship,â€"the minutes of which are now before us. We recommend to every inhabitant of Vaughan a careful examination of the able report of G. P. Dixon, Esq., who was requested to examine the books of the Municipality; they reveal a carelessness in book-keep- ing, &c., positively startling, and a method of doing Township busi- ness, which to say the least, is not credilablt\ We premise here that the late Councillors are acquitted of all blame by the electors, inas- much as they have been all re- elected. The suggestions offered to the Council by Mr. Dickson show plainly to our mind where the evil lays. Here are a fewr of them :â€" “ And now with regard to the more imme- diate cause of the examination of the Books, viz. :â€"Tho defalcation of Mr. Ashdown, the Treasurer; I would sat that if he can give a satisfactory explanation to tho several irre«u- larities to which I have referred, and 1 have no doubt but that ho can, the sum duo by him lo the Municipality, will be as indicated in the balance of the Cash Account, viz. : £-22G Is. 2d. “ Permit me to make a few suggestions respecting the Books. I would urge upon \ou tho necessity of causirg your Treasurer to keep a proper Cash Book, and to do awav with what is now termed a Day Book, or do away with tho present Journal, for I find the one a mere transcript of the other, and make one of those books tho Cash Book proper. ‘‘1 would also recommend that the Books be in tutuie kept by Double Entry ; and in order to prevent any use of the funds in the Bank. 1 wo Id open a Bank Account in the Ledger; aud also have a Check Book, which should i-hew in the margin tho balance in the Bank at any time, “ 1 beg to re er to a small matter which I was led to look into during my examina- tion of the Books; that was the circumstance of the Municipality borrowing from the Commercial Bank £400 for one month, in May 1857. At that period there was a bal- ance in the Treasurer's hands of £3bG 6s. Id To borrnv this sum for a month, and pav the Bank £1 18s. Vd. interest, seems to me rather odd : this circumstance suggests the propiietv of each Councillor, and more espe- cially the Chief Officer of [he Municipality, knowing thoroughly the state of the Finan cial atl’airs of tho Municipality. The Coun- cil will thus see tho absurdity of borrowing The meeting then proceeded tcf elect a Trustee in the room of Mr. William Wright, retiring Trustee. It was moved liy Mr. Edw. Shep- pard, seconded by Mr. Jenkius, that Mr. Geo. Barnard be 1 rustee in the place of Mr. Wright â€"The motion was put and carried unani- mously. In reference to the Public School Section Library, it w:as moved by Mr. Dick, seconded by Mr. Jen- kins, that a committee be appoint- ed to confer with the Trustees of the Upper School Section, respect- ing the removal of the Library or the disposal of it, in some other w7ay, for the greater benefit of the community,â€"and that Edw. Shep- pard, R. Marsh, and Geo. Barnard, be said committee, ihe motion was put and carried. It was also moved by G. P. Dickson, Esq . seconded by R. Marsh, that the Board of Trustees of the Richn ond Hill County Gram- mar School, be instructed to re- eoramend to the Teachers in the schools lo adopt anofher Book or Geography than Morse’s, and to discountenance Morse’s Geogra- phy as far as practicable. This was also carried with the approba- tion of the meeting. Sullivan’s Introduction to Geo- graphy, was spoken of as a good book of the kind ; and also llod- gins’ Geography and History of British America, as a supplement lo Sullivan’s Geography for Ca- nadians. THE COLD. atibn. Such a system, but. for the Separ ate School clause, we ha Vi attained al- ready in our present Common'Schools, which, if n t destroyed by its enemies, end of education in lopment of the intellec- tual and moral nature of man. J. F. D. Maple, Dec. 29, 1858, [The above article on Common we £jave in our MARKHAM COUNCIL. The first meeting of the Coun- cil this year will lake place in Size’s Hotel, Unionville, on Mon- day next, the 17th inst., when the Reeve and Deputy Reeve wall be chosen. THE RICHMOND HILL BATING SOCIETY, AN TABLISHED FACT. £40J from the Bank for one month, whiie there wasshoitol that sum on hand, or should have been, only £13 13-. lid.” We have thus shown the neces- sity of the electors being more watchful in future of their in- terests in the affairs of the Town- ship. Our remarks are not made with any hostile feeling towards any one. What we want is, to arouse the public to a sense of their duty and interest in Town- ship matters. We Would also beg ol our readers to read the able arguments and facts brought for- ward by the Municipal Economist, which will be found in another column. These arguments are to our mind unanswerable. We hope that municipal matters will soon receive that amount of at- tention which their importance demands. THE ANNUaT SCHOOL SECTION MEETING. . i > i i five months after it should have been paid into ruts 80 end to the crt'dlt of the mu- ! tl,* tiand8 of the Treasurer.” The annual meeting of the inha- bitants of this School section for the transaction of school business, took place on the 12th inst. in the Brick School House. The meet- ing wTas very badly attended, show- ing either, that the community have great confidence in the Board of Trustees, or that the people are very careless about their duty, in this matter. The Trustees, we think, are highly honorable men, yet they are not encouraged by the presence of their constituency in any thing connected with the school. Amos Wright, Esq., M.P.P., was called to the chair, and G. P. Dickson was appointed secretary. The annual report was read, re- ceived and adopted. The Finan- cial statement of the whole institu- tion was read, which showed con- siderable care on the part of the compilers of the statement. Also, a separate statement containing <i detailed account of the receipts and expenditure of each depart- ment separately. DE- ES- We rejoice to learn that a De- bating Society is now organized, in connection with our Mechanics Institute. Since our last issue ihe members of the Institute con- vened a meeting on Saturday even- ing, the 8th inst., and made ai- rangemenls for a more general meeting, wrhic,h took place at Mr. Henry Sanderson’s on Wednesday evening last. The By-Laws of the society were adopted, and the necessary arrangements made for holding the tiist debate on the evening of Tuesday next, the 18th instant, in the School room,â€"the subject for debate will be, u Are Agricultural or Commercial pur- suits best calculated to advance the interests of a country ?”â€"We congratulate our friend« upon the success of their eflorts in estab- lishing this useful institution,â€" and feel confident that it wi 11 be a i valuable auxiliary (in the promo- tion of knowledge) to our Me- chanics Institute, recognized as it is, by every gentleman of influ- ence and ability in the neighbour- hood, many of whom attended the meeting ot Wednesday evening, and expressed their intention of giving it active support. The Debates will take place on every alternate Tuesday evening,â€"to which persons will be admitted, as spectators on presenting a ticket from any member of the De- bating Society. We trust our young friends will avail them- selves of the benefits to be deriv- ed from taking a part in the dis- cussions which will take place from time to time,â€"and that “ plea- sure and profit may be the mutual result!” ANTI-USUIIY ADVOCATE AND SOCIAL REFORMER. We have received a prospectus announcing the publication of a worthy periodical, bearing the above title. We can say that we think such a Magazine much wanted. The evils of the credit system are universally felt. We are glad that this great evil is about to be thoroughly exposed.â€" The intentions and aims of the work are thus briefly set forth : “Our Magazine will be emphatically, the Anti-credit Advocate of Canada. E\erv lessor of experienceâ€"every fact in historyâ€" every conclusion of philosophyâ€"every declara- tion of scripture relating to the subject, will be brought to bear in th e exposure ol that fun- damental fallacy which luiks at the bottom of the credit system ; and, moreover, to shew how those ever recurring disasters, popularly denominated • Commercial Crises,’ flow from that system, as its natural and logical results, will be our constant aim aud endeavour.” The price will be $1 per an- num, and is to be obtained at J. Starke & Co., printers, Montreal.â€" We wish il success. We heard many who profess to be good judges of the weather, prognosticate that wTe should have , ... . 1 ° ... . . • , . ,i will secure t lie great t* a very mild winter ; indeed, there j • . . . were indications that such wodld successful devclopi be the case. Last Saturday, Sun- day and Monday, however, were intensely cold. We understand that Monday last Was ihe coldest day we have had since 1855. The [ Schools was'composed by one of thermometer stood 34 below zero!Mr. McLellan's pupils, and read at in Richmond Hill. We learn that ' the examination of his school,â€"a several accidents occurred, in con-j report of which sequence of the severity of the j last issue.]-â€"Ed weather, whilst frost, bitten faces, hands and feet, were common oc- currences. THE IRISH SECRET SOCIETY Pill SOMERS From tho Cork Examiner, Dec. 24. The prisoners were brought up for ex- amination on Wednesday, the 22nd, Counsel for prisoners, Messrs. M’Dowiug and fi. ii. Julian. For the Crown Mr Fagan. Mr. Fagan opened the proceed- ings by a short statement on behalf of the Crown. Mr. M’Dowing applied that a professional reporter be allowed lo lake the evidence of witnesses, w.th the under- standing that it should not be published in the public jc.m'nals. i he application was opposed by the Crown. After a lengthened discussion, the magistrates re- fused the presence of a reporter. Dr. Sullivan, the approver, was then called, and stated he was sworn a member •it a fair at Bantry, on the 20ih August. Took two oathsâ€"-one of stcrecy, and one of brotherhood. Attended a meeting tit “ Priest’s Leap,” on the borders of Cork and Kerry, and (hilled there wh-re mem- bers of Bantry and Kenmare met, ihe ob- ject of which was to take up arms, as the Americans were expected at Christmas, who would be joined by the French, and Ireland was then to be an independent re- public. By his oath be was bou id to take up arms at a moment’s notice, and yield implicit obedience to his leaders. V\ itness also stated that one ol the patriots who went, by the name ot Shooks, was making the necessary arrangements to rise when the Amei icans should land. Lie was ex- amined at great length. The court adjourned to Thursday morn- ino-, and Sullivan was again called, when the cioss examination was resumed. Ac- companied by another man, Mr. Downing, â- in the road leading to Drirnoleague, saw a great number of men drilling with pikes. We took th: two oaths at Bantry. He C o r r i s p ii b ni c t. S C ARRO ROUG11 MU NI CIP A L ELECTIONS. (Communicated.) Ward No. 1, Ashbridge and Egan ; Ashbridge returned by a majority of three. Ward No. 2, W. Helliwell with- out opposition. Ward No. 3, J. Crawford and W. H. Norris.â€"J. Crawford by the largest majority ever known in the Ward. Ward No. 4, J. P Wheeler without opposition. Ward No. 5, E. Snider and W. Clark. W Clark resigned early in the first day. Of the above, W. E. Snider is the only one who has not been in the Council before. Messrs. Brown and Clark represented Wards No. 1 and 5 Lst year, and W. Norris Ward No. 3, so that there are three Councillors in the Council of 1359 who were not in that of 1S58. OUR COMMON SCHOOL SYSTEM In every period of lile the acquisition of knowledge is one of ihe most pleasing employments of the human mmd, and a good education is invaluable to manhood, j c0l,|(j S.1V jf [ie iitended to keep them, and especially to those who let:I the ini- j |jt, (lluy |laV(J intended to do so. Ue went portance of it. We cannot enter any business in life without feeluig the impor- tance of a good education,â€"or deeply re- gretting the want of it. But at this period of the world's history the youth ot many countries have the ptjvilege of at- taining an education suitable for the duties of after life. In Upper Canada the Common Schools occupy a very high position, compared with the Common Schools of many other countries. Our system of Common | Schools being founded on all that is wor- thy of imitation in the system of various countries, (which are considered to have to confess ; the priest reftued to give ab- solution till he would break through them. It was at the suggestion of a police-ofiicer that he first went to Skibbereen. he examination of the approver then ended, aud the trial was adjourned to next morn- Fhiday.â€"Seven or eight witnesses were produced who were not examined fuHyâ€"examination* were merely read over to them and cross-examined. One ol the I constables contradicted the evidence of the informer, as to the privacy of the room called “ Pboeniz Room ” in Morly Downing’s house ; he stated it was always the best systems in the world.) is found to j c)jien to the public, and even the consta- be eminently adapted to the great end of bu!.iry [uj !ajCOi) refreshment there. The i‘s establishmentâ€"the education ol the form of oaths to be taken was not prodti- people ; it is accordingly ranked very high Iced, but the informer stated it verbally in by all true friends of our country. his evidence. Three of the prisone From our Common Schools we enjoy j McCarthy, Driscoll, and Stack, had not benefits which many countries aiC desti* (been examined, but they were identified tite of; ha ring a Common School where- yy tlie informer. there are pupils to fill it â€" that chil- ] The inquiry closed to-day at five o’clock dren may benefit by an early education, â- Stack, and Driscoll were dts which is not onlv easily acquired, but pro 1 ohurjjed on tlieir own recognizances of duces the most permanent results. Many, L()J each to ccmc u,, l0 ,nal when ca|;_ did they not get an education when young, | Qn> CollinaU) Uutlsn, Dennis Dowling, would perhaps be without it through life; and what is a man considered lo be with- out it ? he is considered as not to be j t[u.mseive!5 jn £100, and two sureties I Patrick Dowling, Timothy McCarthy, I O'Sliea, and O’Brien were admitted to THE MUNICIPAL ECONOMIST. We beg to direct the attention of all those who take an interest in Municipal matters to this Maga- zine. They will find much to in- terest them. We think that there is much need of improvement in the management of Municipal bodies. We have just read the first number, and can cordially rer commend it to all our readers; for w7e are all more or less inter- ested in our Township Councils.â€" We bespeak for the journal a wide circulation. Those who wish lo obtain it, can do so by applying, and enclosing $3, to Maclear & Co., Toronto. fulfilling tbe work for which he was creat- e,]<â€"because he is endowed with faculties capable of improvement, and they should he improved, Again, in our Common Schools there is a great deal of moral culture, (though in some Schools, I am afraid, it is much neglected), and the pu- [ pd.s are c harged against evil. W e are in the enjoyment of many other privileges of which many countries are deprived. But, notwithstanding all these privi- leges, we have enemies to our Common School system,â€" men who say that it is a Godless system. But this suggestion is not founded on good ground, for prayer is permitted to be offered at the opening and closing of the Schools and the scri- ptures also are read in many of them ; be- sides all this, the books used in Schools have lessons in them incu'cating sound principles of truth, and laying broad and deep the foundation of an eminently moral trainino*. What more would they want ? of J25Q each, to appear at the assizes. Paniel McCarty, E. Sullivan. J. Dono- glian, M. Moynam, W. O’Shea, aud Morty Downing were committed for trial without bail. The solicitors for the prisoners return- ed thanks to the magistrates and Crown solicitors lor the manner in which the pro- cefcdiri'-'s had been conducted. miners ar.d drawers escaped before the crash came, having taken alarm at the unusually dense accumulation of foul gas which was preceplible. One sturdy col- lier look himself and two boys to the pit’s eye through a considerable distance filled with the noxious atmosphere, but not be- iore the youths had become completely insensible and the man himself was thoroughly exhausted. The remaining colliers who were et work in the different bay» and in the levels have been killed.- l’lie larger portion ol the dead were marrt-* ed men, most of them having young fami- lies. The managers and persons em- ployed in tne colliery having recovered ine shock to their leelings caused by the melancholy occurrence proceeded with all despatch to adopt the best available- mean:- for clearing the mine of the deadly' vapor with which it was overcharged. An effective body of stalwart and anxious- men were told off to explore the mine as' soon as they possibly could, for the pur- pose of ascertaining beyond doubt the fate of those poor fellows who had been? in such fear'ui danger. '1 he state of the atmosphere, however, was such as to baffle their attempts lo make any incursion up the workings for nvo or three hours. By perseverance m a judicious use of the ven- tilating apparatus, in another hour they were enable d to traverse a considerable distance of the “ Jig, brow,” but lor some time they only succeeded in finding one dead body. Between five and six in the evening seven bodies had been met with, Aboul half-past five it was communicated* around that in the opinion ol the explorers- below’ it was impossible that any of those who had not been reached could be alive.- Thea it mi>>ht be said that the struggle* O F'O b* tween hope and despair terminated on: llie part of tiie survivors. Orders were issued that none of the remaining bodies should be brought to the surface until a- sumewliat late hour m the evening, in the' hope that the assembled multitude would uy tnat time have diminished and an un- necessary scene ol woo avoided. At. 10 17 p.m. ihe first dead body was drawn up, and the conveyance to the pit’s brow of the bodies of fifteen sufferers was accom- plished in an hour and a quarter. ith one exception, ail the fifteen seemed to> have lost their lives by the alter or choke- damp. Aspiuall, one of the sufferers, was- blown to pieces. As to the immediate- cause of the explosion, nothing is known, it had been conjectured that the gauze work of a safety lamp must have burst,- and thereby a naked light became exposed,, but no one is left to tell the tak\. Chinese Courage.â€"An officer serv- ii:g in the t.hmese expedition amuses a irientl in Paris by giving the following order ot the day, ailedged to have been, published by one ol the Chinese com- manders, directing ins soldiers what they are to do in order to overcome their ene- mies. It is drawn up in the form of a training bill of fare for 13 daysâ€"“ This is commanded by me, the chief of the Braves. Let all tremble and obey.â€" On tiie thirteenth day before the battle ;hey must eat jelly made from the tiger’s desh, in oider to imbibe the rage and fe- rocity of that animal ; twelfth day be- fore, the roasted liver of a lion, in or- der to have die intrepidity of that noble beast ; eleventh day, stewed serpents, to acquire their canning \ tenth, extract of cameleon, to deceive their enemies by changing color ; ninth, crocodile broth, to make them amphibious and be able to pursue and fight their enemies both on hind and on water; eighth, jaguar’s lirer cooked in wine, m order to have the ra- .idity and fury of that quadruped ; seventh, hawks’ heads, in order to have the quick eye of that bird in distinguish- ing the enemy ; sixth, zebra’s intestines* to be able to imitate the cry of that ani- mal ; fifth, hippopotamus’ brains, to make the body impenetrable to balls; fourth*, stewed monkey-, to acquire the activity of that race ; third, scorpions, in order that all the wounds inflicted by them may be as venomous as the sting of those rep- tiles. On the day before the battle, the half-raw breast ol a panther, m order to he as pitiless as that animal ; and on the morning of the battle, they must drink a glass of leopard’s blood, in order that they may imitate that animal, which never turns rout'd while devouring its prey. Tremble and obey!” The writer adds that, “on observing to a Chinese prisoner that, otwi'hstandmg the above preparation for combat, the Braves had fled before their enemies, the Chinaman explained that die cheat of •l cook had for his own profit served ui> the flesh of calves instead of that of pan- thers and tigers, and that that circum- stance had made them cowards”â€"=* Galignani. COAL LIT EXPLOSION. A coal pit explosion, producing terrible consequences in the loss of at least 2.r) lives, occurred on Saturday, December 18, at Tyldesley colliery, two miles from Leigh, Lugland, the proprietors of which are Messrs. Green, Holland Co. 'ihe: lire damp exploded in the lower brow running south, and then took a reclangu lar direction, extending to beneath rst George’s church, Tyldesley. In fact it is supposed to be right under the church that the gas ignited and the greatest de- struction of human life had taken place. It. is is not expected that we should teach j p°mt where the calamby is said lo sectarianism in the Common Schools, and so long as the sectarian element exists in our Common Schools, so long they will fa!I sho* t of entire success. For, to be successful, a Natioaal system of education must be established entirely free from the peculiar dogmas of any religious denomin- have its origin is some 1.000 yards from the pit’s eyes, aud therefore no loud re- port was heard above ground, but those who were below at the time of the ex- plosion say that the noise resembled the discharge of a park of artillery, and might have been heard some miles if it had not been stilled in some of the deep caves ot the earth. A few, but very few, of the Chuf.ch Burned.â€"The Bishop’s Church, fet. Denis Street, otherwise called St. Jacques Church, was destroy- ed by fire on Tuesday evening last. The buiiding was large, costing, accord- ing to the True Witness, $120,000, and had only been a few months complet- ed. It was beilt on the site of the old Bishop’s Chinch, destroyed by fire in ihe gnat conflagration which burned about a fourth part of tnis city, a num- ber of years ago. The fire originated, it Is understood, in the flues connected with die heating apparatus, and had attained great strength in the cellar of the church before it was discovered ; so that all ef- lorts to arrest its progress were utterly unavailing. From the Mountain side the burning church and tower presented a magnificent spectacle, especiaMy when the fire reached the small dome and cross on the top. This burned for ten minutes, with a steady white light, quite different from the forked flames winch issued from other parts of the building. On account of the isolation of the church and calmness ot t..e night, the fire did not communicate to any other building. The insurance is only J66.00Q. One man was injured by the fall of some part of the building.â€"Montreal Witness.