32 days, no vessel touching at the island, these people generously shared with the sufferers their stock of food." The shipwrecked men were eventually conveyed to the Cape by a schooner that had brought a supply of provisions to the island.

The ship Emily has been wrecked on the Andaman Islands, and it is feared that all her crew have perished. On the arrival of the East India Company's steamer Proserpine, in search after the crew, the body of the second officer was found near the wreck, bearing spear-marks and wounds which had caused his death. No other token of the crew was found. The provision-casks had been broken up by the natives, to gain their iron hoops for conversion into weapons. The islanders were hostile, and were deterred from attacking the party on the wreck only by the discharge of grape-shot. They are spoken of as cannibals.

14. RARE BOOKS.-At the sale of the library of the late Mr. John Poynder, a first edition of the Plays of Shakspeare and an autograph of Milton were sold. The work to which the autograph was attached was entitled Arati Solenses Phænomena, cum scholiis Gr.," which had been in Milton's possession, and which in itself was of no particular value. The autograph signature was-"Jo. Milton. Pre 2s. 6d.; 1631." On the title-page were the words "Cum sole et lunâ semp. aratus erit." There were also numerous autograph annotations interspersed throughout the book. After an active competition the lot was sold for 401. 10s. The first edition of the Plays of Shakspeare was knocked down for 35l. 10s.

The library of Dr. Libri was

sold in February, when many valuable and rare books were dispersed. The collection was particularly rich in all classes of Oriental literature, and contained some of the late M. Jules de Klaproth's MSS.; also a very interesting series of works, written in the various dialects of Italy, France, and Spain. "Cicero de Officiis," printed upon vellum, the first edition, and the first classic author ever printed, date 1465, sold for 361. 15s.; some time since a copy brought the absurd price of 3007. "The German edition of Columbus's Lettter on the Discovery of America," a tract of eight leaves, sold for 261. "Danse Macabre," with a variation in the date, hitherto undescribed ("X.jour d'Avril, 1491"), sold for 117. 15s. "Lactantii Opera," 1465, first edition, and the first book printed in Italy, sold for 321. • Lancelot du Lac," 1494, printed upon vellum, a fragment only of this noble book, sold for 91. 5s. "Molina Vocabu lario en Lengua Castellana y Mexicana," 1577, sold for 161. 10s. This book was long supposed to be the earliest work printed in South America; such, however, is not the case. "Orloge de Sapience," 1493, printed upon vellum, with illuminations, sold for 331. "Historia Apocalypsis Sancti Johannis," a very rare book, printed from wooden blocks, before the invention of movable types, about 1440, sold for 40l.; this copy had two leaves supplied in fac-simile.

18. DESTRUCTION OF CAVERSHAM-PARK HOUSE BY FIRE.-Between 7 and 8 o'clock in the morning a fire broke out at Caversham Park, the mansion of William Crawshay, Esq., situated on a commanding eminence about two miles from Reading, which was entirely

destroyed. The family had been absent, but their immediate return being expected, the house had been airing for their reception, and it is supposed that the fire was caused by the over-heating of a flue. On the domestics rising at the usual hour in the morning, a strong smell, as of something burning, was noticed, and on the drawing-room being entered shortly afterwards a dense body of smoke and flame presented itself. An alarm was instantly raised, and a messenger was dispatched to Reading for the engines, while all the labourers on the estate were hastily summoned to render assistance. In the meantime the fire had gained rapid ascendancy, the flames having penetrated several rooms communicating with the drawingroom, until at length they had enveloped the whole building. As all hopes of saving the mansion were now at an end, the efforts of the workmen present continued to be directed to rescuing such portion of the furniture and other valuable property as could be safely approached, which afterwards lay strewn out in the park. Unfortunately, no water was near at hand, there being only a pond at some distance from the house, and in consequence, the engines, several of which the light of the conflagration had speedily summoned to the spot, could not work with any effect. The conflagration presented a scene of fearful grandeur, especially on some portions of the roofing giving way, when the flames burst forth with increased fury. The work of demolition internally continued unabated for several hours, and as each portion of the burning mass gradually gave way, the utmost alarm and anxiety were felt for the safety of some of the

workmen and others, who evinced great courage in endeavouring to save some portion of the household property. The roof of the large dining-hall gave way with a tremendous crash, and, all the internal portion of the mansion being destroyed, nothing remained but the mere skeleton of the once noble residence. The outer walls gradually fell in, and the work of destruction went on so rapidly that within six hours after the outbreak of the flames nothing but a heap of ruins presented itself.

The greater portion of the household furniture, plate, and other valuable effects was saved, though other property, to a considerable amount, was destroyed.

19. OUTRAGE IN MILLBANK PRISON.-The Millbank Penitentiary has been again the scene of a most desperate outrage, which was committed by one of the prisoners under sentence of 10 years' transportation, upon a warder named Balls, who narrowly escaped being murdered in the same manner as the late unfortunate warder Hall. (See ANN. REG., 1849, p. 145.) It appears that the warder, Balls, let the prisoner in question out of his cell for the purpose of allowing him to empty his chamber utensil in the customary manner. The warder followed the prisoner to the end of the passage where the closet was situated. After the prisoner had emptied the slops, the warder proceeded along the passage, this time followed by the prisoner. They had not gone far when Balls noticed the shadow of the chamber utensil upon the wall, and the next instant received a violent blow upon the side of the head, which partially stunned him, but

on recovering his senses directly afterwards he turned round, and saw the prisoner in the act of striking him a second blow with the chamber utensil which he held in his hand. The warder dexterously avoided the blow, and called out instantly for assistance. In the meantime the prisoner commenced a most murderous attack upon the warder, inflicting several severe blows upon the head, face, and arms, and causing extensive wounds, from which the blood flowed profusely. The warder, after a most desperate struggle for his life, succeeded in closing with his antagonist, and, although he was weak from the loss of blood, ultimately forced him to the ground. At that moment, several warders, who had heard Balls' cries for assistance, entered the passage, and saw the prisoner and the warder on the ground struggling violently together. The prisoner was instantly secured and removed to one of the strong cells. Balls was conveyed to the infirmary in a very exhausted condition, bleeding from the wounds he had received upon his head and face.

20. MURDER AND SUICIDE AT MANCHESTER.-Mr. Alexander Novelli, a merchant of Manchester, and Mrs. Novelli, his brother's widow, were found dead under circumstances that led to a suspicion of murder and suicide. Mr. Louis Novelli died about 16 months ago, leaving his widow and two children handsomely provided for. Mr. Alexander Novelli was one of the executors, and took up his residence with the widow. They appeared on good terms. They had been to church both morning and evening, and had taken tea at the house of a friend, when they seemed in their ordinary health and spirits;

at night, the servants left them in the sitting-room. Next morning a servant found Mrs. Novelli dead, lying on the floor of the sitting-room, and partly undressed; the body quite cold. On searching for Mr. Novelli, his body was found suspended to a rail in his bedroom; the body was still warm, as also was his bed.

An inquest was held on their bodies. Mr. Novelli was 28 years old, the lady 30. Witnesses described the finding of the bodies, and the marks upon them. There were evidences of a struggle in the sitting-room. There were marks of pressure and scratches on Mrs. Novelli's throat and head. Nothing poisonous was discovered in the viscera. The state of the heart, bloodvessels, and blood, showed that Mrs. Novelli had died from strangulation. There was a mark on Mr. Novelli's nose, as if it had been scratched in a struggle. The inquest was adjourned, that evidence might be obtained of Mr. Novelli's mental state, when a solicitor, who had intercourse with Mr. Novelli on the administration of his brother's affairs, described his strange conduct on several occasions. He complained that inspecting the accounts affected his head. The witness said the deceased was a weak, soft-headed boy at school; he was passionate and impulsive. Another witness stated that Mr. Novelli's mother had been insane; two of his brothers died by their own hands; a sister now living is insane. The jury returned the verdict-"That Mr. Novelli had destroyed the lives first of Mrs. Novelli and afterwards of himself, being at the time of insane mind."

21. DESTRUCTION OF A CHINESE PIRATE FLEET.-The India Mail

brings news of the complete destruction of the great piratical fleet under Shapng-tsai, by a squadron under Commander Hay, consisting of H.M. sloops Columbine and Fury st. and the East India Company's steam sloop Phlegethon. The force left Hongkong on the 8th of October, and proceeding along the coast, arrived at Hainan on the 13th, where they met with a most cordial reception from the Chinese authorities, who prepared a small force of eight warjunks to co-operate with them, and offered a Mandarin to accompany them, who was accordingly received on board the Fury. The squadron set sail again from Hainan on the 14th; on the 16th reached Chookshan, which the pirate fleet had left five days before, and found the same sad story of towns destroyed, men murdered, and women taken away, marking its track along the coast. After a close search all along the coast they fell in with the fleet on the 20th of October in the Bay of Tonquin. The dispatch of Commander Hay says Proceeding into Chokeum for the purpose of reconnoitring, on Saturday morning, the 20th, saw 37 of the fleet under weigh. From 7 o'clock until 4 P.M., like terriers at a rathole, we hunted for the channel. Then a pilot managed to escape from the shore. I proceeded in the Phlegethon, with the Fury astern and Columbine in tow, over the bar, 14 feet (mud), and at 4:40 had the pleasure of finding all the ships warmly engaged. At 5.5 Shapng-tsai's junk blew up with a tremendous crash, and at 5.30 they had ceased firing. Before 8 o'clock, 27 were in flames, and the squadron in position to blockade the river. On the 21st of October, the steamers and boats destroyed 24 more; and nine of

them gave Lieutenant George Hancock, in a paddle-box boat of the Fury, assisted by Captain Moore, R.M., and Mr. Close, acting mate, with Mr. Leao (a Brazilian lieutenant), an opportunity of distinguishing himself. Two large junks turned to bay to defend the retreat of the rest, but Mr. Hancock so handled his boat, and her gun, that after an hour and 20 minutes he had beaten them from their guns, and carried them by boarding without loss, and then pursued and destroyed the other seven. On Monday, the 22nd, I proceeded in the Phlegethon and boats to destroy all that were left. We found that the Mandarins had destroyed four, and we finished two others. The low flat islands at the mouth of the river were at times covered with men deserted from the junks, yet afraid of the Cochin-Chinese, who had assembled in great numbers to attack them. The ships' boats and small-arm men harassed and destroyed many by constant fire of shell and grape, whilst the CochinChinese destroyed and captured the rest.

From the best information, it appears that the fleet consisted of 64 vessels of war, which may be classed as follows:

Commander Hay distributes official praise among his own officers, and adds, "Major-General Wong, the Mandarin, proved himself a gallant, active, and efficient ally."

21. THE INDIA MAIL.- The overland mail, with date from Bombay of 17th Dec., would be almost destitute of news were it not for an impudent act of brigandage of the Rajah of Sikkim, on the Thibetian frontier of Bengal. This potentate has thought proper to lay hands on Dr. Campbell, the British Resident at Darjeeling, and Dr. Hooker, a distinguished English naturalist.

"Dr. Campbell, with Dr. Hooker, crossed the frontier and went into Thibet; we do not know how they managed to pass the guard of one officer and 20 men, but they did so, and remained four days in Thibet. On their return they went to Tumloong, the Rajah's winter residence, in Sikkim. He would not, and did not, receive either of them; when they determined to go to Chola, a lofty mountain two marches off, although they were warned not to cross the frontier. They reached Chola, and finding Chumbee, the Rajah's summer residence in Thibet, to be only one march further, they determined to see it, well knowing it is across the boundary and in Thibet. They passed the fatal boundary, and were seized upon by a guard of 60 soldiers and carried to Choombee or Chumbee, prisoners, whence they were ordered to be taken to the Sikkim Rajah at Tumloong. On their arrival the Rajah wrote a letter to the GovernorGeneral inclosed in one to Captain Bishop, officiating superintendent, both containing a long list of com

plaints against Dr. Campbell, and stating that the Rajah would keep him a prisoner until he received an answer from the Governor-General, to whom he has been writing for three years without receiving

an answer.'

The captives were treated with some harshness, particularly Dr. Campbell; but the Indian Governor having made a peremptory demand for the tradition of the prisoners, the Rajah released them without waiting for the force which was sent to back the demand. The Indian Government have mulcted the offending Rajah in one-fourth of his territory, and stopped an allowance of 600l. per annum for the use of Darjeeling as a Sanatorium.

22. DESTRUCTION OF BUCHANAN HOUSE.-This fine old mansion, the Scottish seat of the Duke of Montrose, situated in the parish of Buchanan, Stirlingshire, on the banks of Lochlomond, was in great part destroyed by fire. The flames were observed to proceed from the top story of the old or original house, which is flanked by modern wings. Mr. Jolly, the land steward of his Grace, was in immediate attendance; the alarm bell was rung, and hundreds instantly congregated from the village of Drymen and the adjoining farms, as well as the workpeople of the Duke, but their efforts were unavailing, for it was found that all the cisterns, and the pipes communicating with them, were frozen up. As the means of combating the advancing flames were thus inadequate, the whole of the original mansion-house, presenting a frontage of 135 feet, was totally destroyed; and the north wing, containing the billiardroom, &c., and extending to 47 feet, shared the same fate. The old fabric was occupied as parlours, sitting-rooms, bed-rooms,