Literary Extracts.

consequent acquittal , that he had taken no means to prove the alio i . Three days only remained before he must suffer , and nothing but the most positive and precise evidence in his favour could now be expected to have the effect of averting his doom . But fortunately , three persons had Been him when hebegged , and , by avisitto thecondemned cell , they were able to confirm each other ' s opinion as to

his identity ; then the date was fixed by referring- to the tradesman ' s account for the gardening tools , which , as it happened , had been bought and brought home on that morning only , and the exact hour was ascertained by the punctual summons to dinner . The gentleman who had so humanely interested himself , having conferred with the sherifftheyposted toliondon togetherand , returning

, , with a reprieve , had the unspeakable satisfaction of averting a judicial murder . —The Law on its Trial . A SWARM OP LOCUSTS . —Soon after the crags in our rear had shut out , perhaps for years , perhaps for ever , the desert'and Central Arabia from our view , while before and around us lay the indistinct undulations and uncertain breaks of the great Hasa plainwhen on a sloping bank

, at a short distance in front we discerned certain large black patches , in strong contrast with the white glister of the soil around , and at the same time our attention was attracted by a strange whizzing like that o ? a flight of hornets , close along the ground , whilst our dromedaries capered and started as though struck with sudden insanity . The cause of all thi s was a vast swarm of locusts ,

here alighted iu their northerly wanderings from their birthplace in theDahna ; their camp extended far and wide , and we had already disturbed their outposts . These insects are wont to settle on the ground after sunset , and there , half stupefied by the night chill , to await the morning rays , which warm them once more into life and movement . This time our dromedaries did the work oi

the sun , and it would be hard to say which of tho two were the most frightened , they or the locusts . It was truly laughable to see so huge a beast lose his wits for fear at the flight of a harmless , stingless insect 1 Of all timid creatures none equal" the ship of the desert" for eowardice . —Central and " Eastern Arabia .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

TEE COURT . —Her Majesty the Queen left Balmoral on the 28 th ult ., and arrived at Windsor on the following day . Tho Princess of Wales , accompanied hy Princess Hilda of Anbalt , and Prince John of Glucksburg , and attended by the Hon . Mrs . W . Grey , visited the French Gallery , 120 , Pall-mall , on Saturday last , to view the thirteenth annual winter exhibition

of cabinet pictures , the contributions of British artists , and on Sunday attended divine service at the Chapel Royal , St . James's . The Prince and Princess of Wales left London on Monday to visit ? the Earl of Derby at Knowsley . They arrived at Knowsley about twenty minutes past five o ' clock in the afternoon . On Tuesday their E . oya . 1 Highnesses visited

Liverpool . The town made holiday . The royal party passed through several of the principal streets , and then made an excursion on the river , and on Wednesday they enjoyed themselves at Knowsley . The Prince joined a shooting party , and the Princess made a trip to a place of attraction in the neighbourhood . Their Eoyal Highnesses the Crown Prince and Princess of

Prussia arrived at the Castle on Wednesday from London , attended by the Countess Ilolientlial , Count Eulenburg , and 31 . de Norman . GENERAL HOJIE NEWS . —The death rate in the principal towns last week was 27 in the thousand ; the total number 2 , 992 . The lowest in the average was Bristol , the highest Liverpool . London stood next to Bristol and is three below the average . The London mortality , however , is 158 above its own

average rate for the last ten years . The births are also much , higher than the average . It is observed that the rate of mortality increases as the season advances . The remains of Lord Palmerston were interred in Westminster Abbey on Friday morning , the 27 th ult . The fineness of the morning enabled large numbers to witness the procession , and the ceremony was

invested with all the dignity of a public funeral . Tbe Dean of Westminster , surrounded by an illustrious assemblage , officiated in the Abbey , and a full choral service added to the beauty of the ritual ordered by the Church . The Prince of AVales was present , and there was a large representation of provincial corporations . The Ambassadors from fourteen States were

among the spectators , and the pall was borne by ten Cabinet ' Ministers . Greater honours could not bavebeen paid tomortal . The City Corporation is going to work in earnest in reference to the gas monopoly . At the Court of Common Council , on the motion of Mr . E . D . Rogers , a resolution was agreed to , the effect of which is that all necessary steps shall be taken by the

Corporation to enable them to bring in a bill in the next session of Parliament to authorise them to erect works and manufacture gas in the City . The only way to ensure good gas at a moderate price is for the municipality to take the manufacture of the article into its own hands . A very gratifying fact was made known at the Court of Common .

Council by Mr . Gibbins , the chairman of the Markets Committee . He stated that very few diseased animals were now brought to the cattle market , and added that he believed tbe disease was abating in London . In answer to a further question Mr . Gibbins stated that since the plague broke out tbe supply of cattle at the market had not been less but larger than before . It is clear , therefore , that a scarcity of beef-cattle is not the ennse of the butchers charging us such high prices for meat

although they very frequently allege shortness of supply as the reason for an increase of price . The Midland Railway Company has been censured by a coroner ' s jury in London . In the parish of St . Pancras the company is taking a great quantity of house and shop property to make room for tbe extension of its line . It seems that wherever the tenants have not a lease

all compensation for loss of business or anything else is refused . One man who was thus to be driven without compensation from the house where he carried on his business was William Gullett , a fishmonger , of 3 , Brill-yard , Somers Town . He was so much depressed at the prospective loss of his means of livelihood that last Tuesday morning he stabbed himself frightfully in

the abdomen , and died in consequence . A coroner ' s jury inquiring into tho cause of death found a verdict of temporary insanity , with the addition of a resolution of censure on the railway company for tbe bard measure it dealt out to the poos people whom it was displacing . With regard to the Covent Garden tragedy ifc is satisfactory to learn that the wounds inflicted

on Mary Ann Jennings by her lover are not likely to be attended by fatal consequences . Professor Masson , who has been appointed to the chair of rhetoric in the University of Edinburgh , was entertained at a dinner at the Freemasons' Tavern on Saturday evening last . Mr . Stansfeld , M . P ., presided . A large number of literary celebrities were present . Dean

Stanley delivered a panegyric of Lord Palmerston at tbe afternoon service in Westminster Abbey on Sunday . There was not much in the discourse that was new . The preacher did little more than repeat , with a few moral reflections , what has been said over and over again hi leading articles since the death of Lord Palmerston . Dr . Gumming also preaehed on the

dead Premier . He touched rather upon the religious aspects of Lord Pabnerston ' s death , and then speculated upon what was to be done now he is gone . Dr . Cumming thinks the times are