THE CHRONICLE-1865. MARCH 8th. About half-past ten o'clock at night, an alarming fire broke out on the farm of Mr. Fortescue, Winwick, Hunts. extending to Mr. Jellis's farm, and from thence to Miss Ashwell's farm, and from there to Mr. Gifford's farm, which latter was nearly half a mile from where the fire originated. It also burnt down two cottages. The damage done on Mr. Fortescue's premises was as follows:Part of the homestead was consumed, about 120 quarters of wheat, and other grain; also 13 beasts, and a horse, &c. The loss on this farm is roughly estimated at 8001. The injury done on Mr. Jellis's farm was the outbuildings, and 78 ewes and lambs were burnt, besides a portion of the flock, which was entirely roasted alive. About 60 quarters of barley, 24 quarters of beans, 47 quarters of wheat, a hundred sacks, and a greater part of his implements and waggons, &c., were destroyed. Damage 7001. or 8001.-On Miss Ashwell's farm, the house, farm buildings, and almost everything was destroyed; she had saved nothing but the clothes she stood in. The damage here is about 3501. On Mr. Gifford's farm, a quantity of corn and farm buildings were burnt. The damage is roughly estimated at 500l. The origin of the fire is unknown, but Mr. Fortescue had been thrashing with a steamengine for two or three days, including the day of the fire. The wind was very high at the time. The loss falls chiefly on the Norwich Union and Suffolk Alliance Fire Offices. 9th. A memorial having been presented to the Improvement Commissioners of Peterborough, praying them to put the Public-house Closing Act into operation in this city, was taken into consideration this day by that body. It was decided that the Act should not be applied to Peterborough. 11th. Peterborough Cathedral has been recently ornamented by the addition of a very elaborately stained glass window, being erected in the windows of the north transept. It is a late fifteenth century window, of two lights, with tracery, the subject being "The Last Judgment." The inscription thereon is-" Erected by G. W. Johnson." 14th. Trinity Congregational Church, Peterborough, was opened for divine worship. The Rev. Newman Hall preached on the occasion to a large congregation. The building is intended to accommodate 600 persons, and is estimated to cost 3,000l. 18th. At the Northampton Assizes, last week, C. M. E. Dore who was committed for trial in July last, on the charge of concealing the birth of her child, was acquitted by the jury. 25th. An exceedingly handsome new font has just been placed in Maxey church. It is of ancient proportions and sufficiently large for infant immersion. The bowl is of Ketton stone, and supported on a centre shaft of rouge royal marble. There are also four minor shaft supports, executed in beautiful Alpine green and white marble, highly polished. These small shafts have delicately carved capitals of conventional foliage, and the foliage of these capitals is ingeniously continued round the bowl. The upper and outer rim of the bowl is ornamented with the nail head ornament. APRIL 7th. At the Peterborough Quarter Sessions, Mr. W. Bate, J. P. (see page 200), pleaded guilty by the advice of his solicitor, to the charge of libel preferred against him by the Rev. J. Pratt. The court sentenced the defendant to be imprisoned for one calendar month, and in addition to pay a fine of 50l. to the Queen. A fire occurred in the stack-yard of Mr. H. Little, Boroughbury, and destroyed four wheat stacks. A plentiful supply of water being on the premises, the firemen were enabled to prevent the conflagration extending to the adjoining premises. Damage estimated at 8001. 14th. (Good Friday.) Chatteris market was held as usual, all the shops, with two exceptions, being open for business. 15th. A man named Pyet, committed suicide by drowning himself in the river Ouse. The body of the unfortunate man was recovered after a few hours' immersion. It appears that the deceased was a bricklayer, and a good workman, but had latterly been much addicted to drinking, and the poverty, which was the consequence of a continuation of this habit, preyed upon his mind. He had resided in Hemingford Grey for some years, and the spot where he was drowned was a shallow part of the river between the two Hemingfords. An inquest was held on the same day before Mr. Mellor, when the jury returned a verdict of "temporary insanity." The deceased leaves a wife and nine children. 20th. Mr. T. Barney, late manager of the Boston branch of the Stamford,Spalding and Boston Banking Company, was presented at a dinner at the Peacock Hotel, with a magnificent silver candelabra, weighing 260 oz., which testimonial was the result of a public subscription. Printed for the Proprietor by E. T. HAMBLIN, Machine Printer, Narrow Street Peterborough, "June puts all into tune," we have heard, but whether the word all refers to animate or inanimate objects we are left to conjecture. There is, however, one semblance of a tune, which we can call to mind as peculiar to this month, viz., that sharp rasping sound which the mower produces in the field when he whets his scythe; and this particular tune, when there is a heavy crop, may be said to be "frequently called for." We sincerely hope this will be the case during the forthcoming month, and that both man and beast-the one mentally, and the other bodily-may be abundantly edified by the satisfactory effect produced by "A sharp" in the meadows! There, O Goddess Juno! from whom (as Ovid allows in the 6th book of his Fasti) this month has derived its name, we have made a sharp cut at a pun, and-missed it! Now, speaking of Juno:-we should not like to say that the celebrated Goddess, who was the spouse of Jupiter, was given to boasting-for every scholar knows the modesty of her character-or, that she was in the habit of perverting the truth: but, we do think she went a little too far when she said "Junius a nostro nomine nomen habet," that is "June has its name from our name." We are inclined to favour a derivation rather junior than Juno. However, as the learned Porson used to say, we will leave the derivation of June "to those who are versed in such matters;" and we will just notice, in the little space we have allowed us, some few events which have taken place in this month, and which, as far as history is concerned, have rendered it one of the most remarkable months in the year. It was on the 15th of June, 1215, that a conference between King John and his barons was appointed to take place at Runnemede, between Windsor and Staines. There the two great parties encamped opposite each other, like open enemies awaiting the signal for battle; and it was on the 19th of June that the King, in hot haste, signed and sealed that famous deed, commonly called the MAGNA CHARTA, or GREAT CHARTER, which either granted or secured very important privileges to every class of men in the kingdom. On this memorable day was laid the foundation of that glorious English liberty which is the boast of every true born Briton. It was on the 18th of June, 1815, on the fields of Waterloo, a village of Belgium, about 10 miles from Brussels, that the fate of the great Napoleon was sealed. It was, as Byron has it in his "Childe Harold," "The first and last of fields, king-making victory." On that day Napoleon resolved to make a last desperate effort to break the centre of the British army, which was commanded by the duke of Wellington, M and to carry their position before the arrival of the Prussians. He had, however, for once made a miscalculation; he had imagined, although he was aware of the powerful diversion the Prussians were about to make, that Grouchy would be able to paralyze their movements, whilst he himself made havoc of the British forces! But this had not been written in the book of fate; every body knows that the assistance of the Prussians had been expected at an early hour, and that it was the knowledge of this fact which induced the duke of Wellington to accept a battle. Although on this day Wellington showed no anxiety as to the result, the brave hearted British troops had to bear the whole brunt of the action for a much longer period than was calculated; but the night of the 18th of June closed a day which will be held in honour by every Englishman to the latest posterity. We hope that the 18th of June, this year, will be throughout both England and France, a grand day of rejoicing; and that the two nations will lay aside all animosity, and vie with each other in celebrating a JUBILEE FOR THE 50 YEARS' PEACE. It was the 28th day of June, 1838, that witnessed the coronation of our beloved Queen, the only daughter of the Duke of Kent. This event took place amidst universal rejoicing: and for nearly a quarter of a century, great was the happiness of the royal personage who was called, at the early age of 18, to rule over the destinies of this nation. Soon after her accession to the throne of England, providence found for her a guardian, who held for nearly the same period a similar position in the hearts of the people to that which she held herself. Now, alas! that same providence, for some inscrutable reason, has, as it were prematurely, deprived her of that guardian, whose goodness had become proverbial, and the widowed mother of the "kings to be" has to struggle on alone. She has, however, the most heartfelt sympathy of all her loving subjects, and every anniversary of the "28th of June," only endears her more and more to that nation which takes a pride in showing its gratitude to her, for her virtue and amiable qualities as a woman as well as a queen. Thousands upon thousands have expressed the wishes of Mr. Tennyson towards her, though not in Tennysonian verse. "Break not, O woman's heart, but still endure; May all love, His love, unseen but felt, o'ershadow Thee, We have now mentioned three events which have occurred in the month of June, and which, in their consequences, have been of the highest importance, and most beneficial to the whole community. Let us look again. It was on the 17th of June, 1703, at Epworth, in Lincolnshire, that John Wesley, the great founder of Methodism, first saw the light. His father, Samuel Wesley, was born at Whitchurch, in Dorsetshire, in 1662, and educated as a Dissenter, but he subsequently conformed to the Established Church, and even went so far as to write tracts against his old connections. He first became rector of South Ormsby, and afterwards obtained the living of Epworth, at which place his son John was born. It is a singular fact that the son acted in a manner directly opposite to that in which his father had acted in matters of religion. The Rev. John Wesley, M.A., rose to be a fellow and an eminent tutor of Lincoln College, Oxford, in 1726; and then, 4 years afterwards, he left the Church, and in conjunction with George Whitefield, founded a sect of Nonconformists, very few of whom we think are able to give a valid reason why their leaders, who first began to obtain notoriety by fasting two days out of seven, became separatists or dissenters. It is somewhat satisfactory for members of the Church of England, who wish their Methodistical friends well, to find what a difficulty there often is in ascertaining the particular doctrinal points upon which they differ from the most orthodox churchmen. We ourselves have a great respect for the memory of John Wesley, but we have always felt heartily sorry that he wrote that extraordinary "preface" to his brother Charles' excellent Hymns. The month of June has been a fatal month to many well-known celebrities, a few of whom shall pass before our readers. On the 25th of June, 1830, died George the Fourth, at Windsor Castle, at the age of 68, after a reign of 10 years. "Oh! be his failings covered by his tomb, On the 6th of June, 1861, died Camille, Count de Cavour, the great Sardinian statesman, at the age of 52. On the 1st of June, 1841, died Sir David Wilkie, the celebrated Scotch painter. He died at sea, off Gibralter, and his remains were committed to the deep upon the day on which his death took place. There is a statue in his honour set up in the National Gallery. On the 5th of June, 1849, at Paris, aged 60, died Marguerite, the extravagant Countess of Blessington. For 20 years her salons in London were as popular as those of Holland House, and were the resort of all the celebrated men of the day. On the 8th of June, 1857, died Douglas Jerrold, at the age of 54; novelist, dramatist, and essayist. Long will it be before we "look upon his like again!" On the 16th of June, 1722, died the great Duke of Marlborough. On the 23rd of June, 1770, died Mark Akenside, M.D., who wrote "Pleasures of Imagination," a performance which proved him to be a true poet. It was on the 27th of June that the unfortunate Dr. Dodd was executed; and it was on the 30th of June, 1685, that the Duke of Argyll was beheaded. Truly this month of June has a dark side, as well as a bright one, as it regards its reminiscences! May, 1865. A KNOCK Ꮋ Ꭺ Ꭱ Ꭰ ON A Poem, by Ten-to-one. (Continued from page 208.) NOW WILLIAM felt more happy. New resolves Cleft for the thirsty soul. "This old man's words," Has he no fear that his old partner lives ?" "No, no, good soul" said PHŒEBE, "fear, not he! The Truth in time," made WILLIAM blame himself, page 45, page Soon brought their stunted forms before his face, And sure no worthier sight claims man's respect Buoy'd up that morning by a livelier hope Did WILLIAM whisper "after I am gone, Enoch Arden,) Then shall he learn my visit was not lost." But soon aside to ZIMRI BLANE he said "Master, I have a secret-come in here That I may tell you-here you have a book Which would reveal it, if I knew the place." "Place" stammer'd the good master, "bless his talk! I warrant, man, the place might soon be found." "Here" added WILLIAM meekly "is the book." And on the book, wide-open'd, each did pore: Then WILLIAM raising his glad eyes up from it, "Do you know who this morning brought me down ?" "Know what?" said ZIMRI " you are changed to-day: Ay, ay, I feel your coming down is sweet; On One rely, who cares for all men, now." Quickly and gladly WILLIAM answer'd him, "My wish is now to fix my eyes on Him, And think I hear but three words whilst I live, Behold the Man!" At which the master felt A real emotional real devotional joy. "Keep Him in view! yea,-sure you have been brought Enoch Arden,) Nigher than ZIMRI." WILLIAM said again page "Your prayer has brought me down to where I am, |