The Sun. — London, England, 1868-02-11 00:00:00

LIFE BOAT SERVICES.—During the Storms of the past year the National Lifeboat Institution con tributed to the saving of 1,092 lives from various ship ecks and 36 vessels from destruction. The Institution also expended £36,845 in the same period on its Lifeboat Establishments, in addition to granting £3,189 for rewards. The Committee of the institution earnestly appeal to the public for assistance to enable them to meet the continued heavy demands on their 186 Lifeboat Establishments. Contributions will be thankfully received by the London and country bankers, and by the Secretary, Richard Lewis, Esq., at the Institution, 14, John-street, Adelphi, London. TO LICENCED VICTUALLERS. ESTABLISHED 1842. WILLIAM HOLDICH and CO., LICENCED VICTUALLERS' DRAPERS, No. 105, Fleet-street, corner of Farringdon-street ; and at No. 5, The Pavement, Clapham-common (Southern Branch). COUNTER CLOTHS FOR LICENCED VICTUALLERS. rfIIIE only article really suitable for that purpose, -I- ss. 6d. per dozen, hemmed, ready for use. Address 105, Fleet-street, and 5, The Pavement, Clapham. GLASS cum's SUITABLE FOR LICENCED VICTUALLERS, 7s. 9d. PER DOZEN. WILLIAM HOLDICH and CO., No. 105, Fleet-street, foot of Ludgate hill ; and No. 5, rho Pavement, Clapham-common. TABLE CLOTHS, in every Width and Length, expressly for Licenced Victuallers. Damask Napkins for Tray Cloths, Drills for Bar Aprons and Towellings of every description. Patterns gratis and post free. CRDIGAN JACKETS made expressly for Bar use, Warm and Elastic, from ss. 6d. each, for Ladies' and Gentlemen's use. WILLIAM HOLDICH and CO., LICENSED VICTUALLERS' DRAPERS, 105, Fleet street, City, and No. 5, The Pavement, Clapham-common. AVILLIAM HOLDICH and Co., LICENSED VICTUALLERS' DRAPERS, Established 1842, at 105, Fleet-street, City ; Southern Branch—No. 5, The Pave ment, Clapham-common. Patterns_gratis and post free, with Price List, THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-WE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. F. B. Chatterton. THIS EVENING will be performed the Comedy of THE HYPOCRITE. Mr. Phelps ; Messrs. Edmund Phelps, Charles Warner, J. Rouse, W. C. Temple, F. Moreland; Mrs. Hermann Vezin, Mrs. H. Vandenhoff, Miss Kate Harfleur. After which, the Drury Lane annual grand Christmas Pantomime, written by E. L. Blanchard, Esq., entitled FAW FEE FO FITM ; or, Harlequin Jack the Giant Killer. Morning Performance every Wednesday and Satur day until Feb. 15. T HEATRE ROYAL, HA YMARKET. Sole Lessee, Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, THE BROKEN-HEARTED CLUB. Mr. Gordon, Mr. Braid, Mrs. Chippendale, &c. To be followed by A WIFE WELL WON. Messrs. Sothern, Buckstone, Howe, Kendal, Rogers, Braid, Weathersby, eec., and Robinson. After which, AN UTTER PERVERSION OF THE BRIUAND. Messrs, Compton, Kendal, Rogers, Clark, Braid, Weathersby, Johnson, &c.; Mesdames Burke, Wright, Dalton, rriIEATRE-ROYAL, HAYMARKET.-MR. GEORGE TURPIN, Box Book-keeper, begs most respect fully to announce that his ANNUAL BENEFIT will take place on WEDNESDAY, 19th February, 18G8, on which occasion will be performed the Comedy of DAVID GARRICK! With (by desire) BOX AND COX: And other Entertainments! lIEATRE ROYAL, ADELPIII. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. WEBSTER. Directress, Mrs. Alfred Mellon. THIS EVENING, UP FOR THE CATTLE SHOW. After which, at 8, NO THOROUGHFARE. Mr. Fechter (his 41st appearance here), Mr. Billington, Mr. H. Neville, Mr. R. Phillips, Mr. G. Belmore, Mr. C. J. Smith, and Mr. Benjamin Nile,‘)ster; Miss Carlotta Leclercq (her 41st appearance), Mrs. Alfred Mellon, Mrs. Billing,ton, Mrs. H. Lewis, &e. Commence at 7. R OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Vining. THIS EVENING, a Grand Combination of Two Great Dramas, THE OCTOROON and A BEAU NA POGUE. Mr. and Mrs. Dion Boucicault ; Mr. J. S. Clarke, Mr. Vining; Messrs. Dominick Murray, Dan Leeson, G. F. Neville, J. G. Shore, Mao lean, H. Forrester; Mesdames Henrietta Simms, E. Barnett Rachel Sanger, K. Stafford, and Addie. Scenery by Mr. Telbin, Mr. F. Lloyds, and assistants. Doors open at half-past 6, commence at 7. QUEEN'S THEATRE, Long-acre. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Alfred Wigan. THIS EVENING, HE'S A LUNATIC. Mr. John Clayton. After which will he produced a New and Original Drama, entitled DEARER THAN LIFE. Michael Garner, Mr. J. L. Toole. _ _ . _ _ . To conclude with (17th Time) the New and Original Operatic Extravaganza, by Mr. W. S. Gilbert, called LA VIVANDIERE; or, TRUE TO THE CORPS. The Scenery by Messrs. W. and T. Grieve, Johnson, and Assistants. Messrs. J. L. Toole, L. Brough, and Sanger; Misses P. Markham, F. Addison, Jordan, Montgomery, Heath, Sylvia, li. Everard, and H. Hodson. Doors open at Half-past Six, commence at Seven. Acting Manager, Mr. W. H. Liston. Bux-office open daily from Ten till Four. itOs l l ' , ,t L Lessee and 118. a STRAND ress,llrs. THEAT RE. SwanboroUah THIS EVENING, at 7, OLD SALT: Messrs. Emery, James, au Belford; Mesdames N. Moore and Gwynne. After which will be produced a Grand Christmas Operatic 3r:ental Extravaganza " THE CALIPH OF BAUDAD." Messrs. Thorne, James, Turner, Murray; Mesdames A. Swanborough, Johnstone, Harland, Holt, Newton, &c. To conclude with COAL AND COKE. Mr. F. Robson, &c. HOLI3ORN THEATRE ROYAL. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Sefton Parry. THIS EVENING, at Seven, THE FLYING SCUD. Messrs. Atkins, Price, Garden, Arthur, Westland, Wilmutt; Mesdames Henrade, Goodall, Lennox, and C. Saunders. After which, the Grand Comic Pantomime of VALENTINE AND ORSON; or, Harlequin the Big Bear and the Little Fairy. Mesdames Saunders, Goodall, White; Messrs. Garden, Odell, Arthur; Mdlle. Montero, Miss Ellis, Lupino, Green, and the Great Little Rowella. R OYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. New Management. Sole LEssee, Mr. B. Webster; Manager, Mr. H. Wigan. THIS EVENING, HEN AND CHICKENS: Messrs. Ashley, Stephenson, and G. Vincent; Mesdames L. Moore and Stirling. After which, A FOND PARENT; or, One Too Many for Him. Mesrs. Ashley and C. Mathews; Mesdames Caulfield and E. Farren. To he followed by IF I HAD A THOUSAND A YEAR. To conclude with BETTY MARTIN: Mr. Geo. Vincent and Miss E. Farren. Commence at Seven. LICENSED VICTUALLERS' GUARDIAN el R. GLENIE, of the Sporting Library, • 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park, Loudon. W., begs to his customers, and the Licensed Victuallers in general, that he has been appointed Agent for the above-named paper in addition to his agency for the Sporting Edition of " Tile Sus," and can supply the same on Friday evening, if required, in town or country. G. R. d. begs to inform the Trade that he is Agent for the LATEST EDITION of "TILE SUN," and can supply it earlier than any other man in London or C ountry the evening of publi cation. No connection with any other persons. Emily's, Ruff's, Wright's, and M•Call's Guides. All the Daily Papers, Maga zines, and Periodicals as soon as published. Agent for the Joint stock Coal Company. Orders by pout attended to. SPORTING.—JOIIN ROBERTS supplies the LATES V EDITION of "'TIE SUN " as soon as pub lished.-4, Bath-street, City-road, E.C. r ,, iE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN supplied, as soon as published, Every Evening, by W. A L ExANDER (late Brooks), Newspaper Agent, IN o. 4, Old Cavendish-street, Oxford-street. rr HE SUN " NEWSPAPER.—" The Mitre" Tavern, New Church-street, near tho A Ipha-road, Pad dington. "TH N SUN " (Third Edition), containing the Latest Sporting News, Results of Races, Latest Parliamentary Debates, &C., can he seen as above " A ll the year round." *** A well-selected and extensive stock of WINES, SPIRITS, &c. THE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN," giving all the SPORTING NEWS of the day, may be seen XNTON'S house, " The Swan and Horse Shoe," Little Britain, City, E.C. WO'S GRAINGER? LICENSED VI CTUALLERS' TOBACCONIST, SHEPHERD'S-BUSH. The SPORTIAG EDITION of "THE SUN " can be seen at -; it I NGER'S Establishment, as above, every evening by Eight THE"SUN" NE WSPAPER.-G. R. GLENIE, spurting Library, 4, Connaught -terrace Edgeware-road, delivers the LAT h; EDITION of " THE SUN " at the earliest P'''• • s ible moment after leaving th e press. He is able to deliver • 'fawn , the Suburbs, and in many parts of the country ;!,,pi,-; in . I.):trativoly early hour the same evening, say 40 miles by at 0. COD , nine o'clock. Orders by post punctually attended to. THE LATEST EDITION of «TH E mix „ supplied as soon as published, containing all the LA .TEST NEWS and SPORTING INTELLIGENC I.!, by 11. W. umis, Newspaper Agent, 4, Blackfriars-road, London, S. TILE LATEST EDITION of " TIIE SUN." J. HOLIES begs to inform his friends and the public generally that he supplies the LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN " as soon as published.—No. 10, Hampstead-road, N.W. I "SUN" NEWSPAPER.—G. R. GLE'NTE delivers the L TE EDITION at Chelsea, 7.40; Kilburn. 4; Star,•h-green, 8; Woolwich, 7.30; Uxbridge, 9.20; Watford, Ii N."--I, ATEST RS: [ALT, of t:to Neeld A rms," Harrow-road, op o,ite the Lock Hospital, takes the ittlition of 11l it; SUN" con atumg the result of the day's Racing. Latest Betting. Money alarket &c.—Omnibuses every half hour to and from the City. iJIIIE LATE EDITION of " TIIE SUN " at J. SMITH'S, 39, Bow-street, Covent-garden. THE LATE EDITION of " THE SUN " W. SMITH'S, " Camden Stores," 78, Park-street, Camden- town. LONDON, TUESDAY, FEB. 11, 1868. It is not surprising that under the heavy pressure now being put upon the ratepayers of some of our metropolitan parishes another effort should be made towards obtaining a most desirable result—the equalisation of the poor-rates. When in one of the very poorest districts of London the rates are nine shillings in the pound, it is quite time that the question was at least openly discussed. Last even ing a meeting of the ratepayers of the northern and eastern parishes was held in the Shoreditch Town hall. After the adoption of several resolutions it was determined that a deputation should wait upon the Poor-law Board to urge the necessity of imme diate action in the matter. It was further resolved that the several Boards of Guardians should be in vited to send representatives to the deputation, and that a petition should be presented to Par liament embodying the spirit of the resolutions passed at the meeting. It is difficult in justice and common sense to find an answer to the substance of the first resolution proposed, which was as follows :—" That this meeting considers that the burden of the support of the poor is one that ought to be borne equally by all classes of the people in proportion to their means ; and that the present system, by which an undue share of the burden is cast upon the poorest parishes and rate payers, is impolitic and unjust; and therefore de clares that, at least as far as the metropolis is con cerned, an equalisation of the whole charge of the maintenance of the poor is an urgent necessity and a just demand." As more than one M.P. was pre sent we may hope to see the matter vigorously agi tated during the present session. The extremity of the distress in many of the eastern parishes renders it a peculiarly appropriate time for investi gating the matter. Setting aside the dispute about the wages of the shipwrights, we know that there is at present a very great depression of trade and slackness of employment in these parts of London. Where, then, is the justice or the reason of demanding from those householders who are suffering from these causes a large in crease in their contributions to the public bur dens ? A bad season, or the fluctuations of trade, affect the population of a particular locality more severely than the other residents of London. The better class struggle on with difficulty, though the small householders lose their lodgers and the small shopkeepers lose their customers. But the labourers and their families in many instances are driven to the parish for temporary relief. Whose place is it to supply their wants ? Reason says those to whom the badness of the times makes least difference. The Poor-law says those who suffer most from it, and who are themselves trembling on the verge of pauperism. In this aspect of the case alone the present system is bad enough ; but it has another side. The pauper has as much reason to complain as the ratepayer, since the poorest unions have to support most paupers, they have naturally less to spend, and the poor suffer for it. The guardians are blamed for stinting the poor and neglecting to provide comforts and decencies for the sick ; but they know that the ratepayers can hardly scrape up their three and four shillings in the pound as it is, and they dare not increase their demands. Their only resource is to reduce the expenses to a minimum. IVe know with what result—out-door relief to the amount of sixpence a day and a weekly loaf for a man and a child—in-door relief, which refuses to the sick comforts which are almost necessary for the healthy. The evil is a gigantic one, and until our members of Parliament have the courage and the honesty to face it boldly and deal with it disinterestedly, the administration of our Poor law, howeyer well intentioned, can be nothing but a scandal and a national disgrace. At the annual dinner of the Lynn Constitutional Association last week a good many subjects of public interest were discussed. The speaker, to whom a Lynn political audience is in the habit of listening, and whose words have lent so much im portance to Norfolk rural gatherings, was not in deed present, but though the place of Lord STANLEY was not filled, the gentlemen present spoke with good sense and ability. Of course, their political views might not be equally acceptable to all their hearers, but it is always well to hear what is to be said by men of opposite opinions from f o a u i r rne o s w s n a , na pr g o o v o id d ed tem th p a e t r. the l y le ar p e ri e u x e p ip r a e l ss s e p d ea w ke it r h s of the evening were Sir W. BAGGE, M.P., the llon. ROBERT BOURKE, and the lion. T. DE GREY, M.P. It is rather singular, remembering the tone adopted by Conservative orators in former days, to find them talking about the Reform of Parliament and the lowering of the franchise with all possible good will and cordiality. Sir W. BAGGE, indeed, may well be satisfied with the result of what many be lieved to be a rash experiment, for be is confident that the lower the franchise goes in the western division of the county of Norfolk, the more votes will be recorded for himself and his colleague. Sir MOH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAL—Morning, 4h. sm. —Afternoon, 4h. 25m. To-Moßßow.-Morning, 4h. 47m.—Afternoon, sh. 10m. aq - .4 I°ll7- - THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 11, 1868. THE LATE EDITION of "THE SUN" at JAMES SPEEDY'S, "The Wellington," Wellington-street, Strand. MOSES and SON (the Originators of the 1 • Ready Made Clothing System) beg to remind the rublic that in every department of their business a large and varied STOCK is constantly maintained, and excellence and cheapness are combined in a degree hitherto unequalled. The articles com prising their stock are too multifarious to be enumerated in an advertisement, but a list of distinct departments is subjoined:-- READY MADE CLOTHING FOR ADULTS. READY MADE CLOTHING FOR JUVENILES. READY MADE CLOTHING for SAILORS and MECHANICS. CLOTHING MADE TO ORDER. HOSIERY AND DRAPERY. MANTLES, SHAWLS, & LADIES' UNDERCLOTHING lIATS AND CAPS. BOOTS AND SHOES. OUTFITS for SEA or SHORE, List of pttces, with rules for self-measurement and patterns, forwarded gratis and post free. winter Clothing of every description at unusually low prices. E. MOSES and SON'S ESTABLISHMENTS are CLOSED EVERY FRIDAY EV ENING at sunset till SATURDAY EVENING at sunset, when business is resumed till 11 o'clock. Every article is marked the lowest price in plain figures, from which no abatement can be made. Any article not approved of will be exchanged, or the money will be returned 2 The following are the London addresses of E. MOSES and SON:- 154, MINORIES 155, MINORIES. 156, MINORIES. 157, 5111 ORIES. 83, ALDGATE. 84, ALDGATE. 85, AL DGAT E. 86, ALDGATE. 87, ALDGATE, 88, ALDGATE. 89, AL DGAT 506, NEW OXFORD STREET. 507, NEW OXFORD-STREET. 508, NEW OXFORD-STREET. 1, HART-STREET. 2, HART-S 1 REST. 3, HART-SPREE I'. 137, TOTTENHAM-COURT-ROA.D . 138, TOTTENHAM-COURT-ROAD. 283, EUSTON-ROAD. Also, 19, BRIDGE-STREET, BRADFORD, YORKS. 20, BRIDGE-STREET, BRADFORD, YORKS. SPECIAL NOTICE. In consequence of frequent misrepresentations, E. ➢iOSES and SON find it necessary to state that they do not employ any tra vellers or agents, and that their only Establishments are the above-mentioned. WILLIAM resents the notion that Conservatives are opposed to progress, and declares that many per sons seem to think that Conservatives do not mend their fences or drain their land for fear of imprudent innovations. "It is all very well," he exclaims, with humorous indignation, " to say we do not do this and we do not do that. One might fancy that none of us ever did anything at all ; and it might be said, " Look there, there's a Tory ; you can tell it by his hedges and his gates !" The lion. T. DE GREY, Sir WIL LIAM'S colleague for Norfolk, declared that, iu his belief, no measure of Reform was imperative. The working classes had become better educated and better informed, and were consequently more de sirous of obtaining the franchise ; and they had been taught to believe there was a studied intention of excluding them from power. Speaking of the future Mr. DE GREY said, truly enough, that some thing more was wanted in the education of these classes. It is not mere hnowledge that is needed, but a certain discipline and respect for the law. " Those who are concerned in making the law must be taught to feel that their very first duty is obedi ence to the law." At present, what with Trades' Unions and Fenians, the law is not observed with such fidelity as it should be, but the new classes of constituents are not more likely to offend in these respects than the old ones. Mr. BOURKE, as an Irishman, naturally gave a good share of his attention to Irish subjects, and insisted, not without reason, on a distinction being made between the " Irish question" and the " Fenian question." " The Irish question appeals for its solution to the philosopher, the philanthro phist, the statesman, and the divine ; the Fenian question appeals only to the bullet of the bravo and the dagger of the assassin. The Irish question con cerns the wellbeing and happiness of a generous, a warm-hearted, a virtuous and religious people ; the Fenian question concerns only the treatment of foreign filibusters and low conspirators. The Irish question, I believe, is to be solved by a conserva• tive and at the same time a generous policy ; the Fenian question must be met by the strong arm of justice and the vindication of the British law." Mr. BOURNE expressed his conviction that Fenianism was entirely of foreign origin, and that, though it had, like everything else, thriven apace on Irish soil, it had not the sympathy of the people upon whom the future of the country really depended. The true way to benefit Ireland, he believes, is to be found in pass ing measures which shall encourage confidence, and thereby induce capitalists to invest their money there. Under such circumstances the country would prosper, and the peasant and farmer would get a fair share in return for their produce and their labour, in place of the very inadequate remu neration which they receive at present. Legal reforms, Mr. BoURKE reminds us, must occupy a prominent place among the tasks of the next session. The judicial system, the bankrup'cy laws, the statute-book, all need energetic and care ful revision. So far, then, as we are to accept the views of the Norfolk orators, as representing those of their political chiefs, we may look for some vigorous action during the coming session. Marshal andtime, NIEL And h is tathehas resolvedto lose no accordingly steps to put into effect the resol m ut o io u n th. s passed has ors the Army Bill the first of this ord ered x e t m h e p t e e e d n s f u r s e m t o m b i t t a a k r e y n d o u f t i t es h o s f e o r w t h h o e have last three years or so, but who are now to be sum moned into the ranks of the National Garde Mo bile. In consequence of this the bill has been put before the Legislative Body setting forth the num ber of conscripts to be one hundred thousand for this year. It is impossible to overlook the import ance of all this, and not to foresee that it is indica tive of stormy days at hand. There is no reason to suppose that all this is a mere matter of form, for the Marshal hurries on one thing after another with a surprising velocity, and in a manner which attracts general attention. His object is very plainly to consolidate the forces of France and as quietly and effectively as may be, and to deve lope all the resources which the bill admits of. He informs those whom it concerns, in the circular he has drawn up, that the " service in the Garde Mobile commenced on that day, the law was suffi ciently promulgated; it is, therefore, requisite to proceed immediately to the drawing-up of the list of the young men who are to serve in it." This shows that the Army Bill was not merely designed, as some supposed, to revise and reorganize the military force of France in the abstract, as it were, but that its promoters had the firm intention of pushing it on to work out a speedy and comprehensive change in the state of affairs, and prac tically to render the nation fit for war, however imminent that might be, or however serious the consequences it involved. Amid all the talk of peace we are by no means secure, and who that looks at the matter calmly can fail to perceive the risks we run of a Continental war some time this year. Peace is certainly no nearer when there are no apparent preparations for war, but still this great haste in France to have all things quite in a state of efficiency, coming as it does so soon after the gigantic scheme of P russ i an military organi sation, looks rather ominous. It is hard to say that the EMPEROR is to blame for all this, because he must be well-informed as to the secrets of Berlin policy, and besides that he must know the flaws in the old system. Still we cannot but lament the real or ima ginary necessity which exists for this con stant disturbance of the Continental nations, for the consequences are most disastrous to the people, and cannot fail to exercise a direful influ ence on the prosperity of the countries thus affected. We are not surprised to hear that Marshal NIEL'S Circular is looked upon somewhat in the light of a military manifesto, notwithstanding he intimates that the object he has in view is to inscribe those liable to service on the rolls of the National Guard. All that sounds very well of course ; but the people are always apt in such cases to put their own con struction on the text, and to compare the observa tions made with the indications of events abroad and at home. As for the Prussians they have already had much cause to complain of the hard terms they live under in the new order of things, and more especially have those newly-annexed provinces been unfortunate who are weighed down by the oppressive laws inflicted on them by their new masters, called by courtesy their friends and the inaugurators of a regenerated system. It is not going too far to say that the responsibility of all this loss and distress rests in a great measure upon Prussia. Ilad not the states men of that country persisted for some years past in pursuing the aggressive policy so much to be re prehended things could not have come to this pass. Bitterly have the nations of Europe, individually and collectively, had cause to repent of the tame and pusillanimous course which they followed on the occasion of the war with Denmark. We have yet to reap the harvest then sown, and it is a warning alike to the Powers who took part in it, and to those who looked on, if the evils that may be wrought in haste have to be repented of hereafter in. leisure. To say that the aspect of affairs in France is at all of a pacificatory nature would be to affirm what nei ther observation nor experience can ratify ; and though this new Army Bill be not a popular one, it may still possess a motive power that will draw the country on with irresistible force, until it appears ready and willing to encounter the best prepared foe on equal terms. Dr. The Reichsrath re-assembled yesterday. KAISERFELD was elected as President of the Lower House. In acknowledging the election he made reference to the guarantees which the appointment of a Parliamentary Ministry afforded as to the com mencement of a constitutional system, adding that a Ministry which was the interpreter of the senti ments. of the Reichsrath would most cer tainly receive the support of the House. The President of the Council, Prince AUERSPERG, asked the House to put confidence in the Ministry, and thus afford an opportunity for the system now in troduced being strengthened. This was a very just plea, and we hope that it will be responded to by the President, for it will be quite impossible for the Government to carry out their schemes unless they are permitted to have fair play. As the Pre sident truly observed, the Ministry has been ap pointed to carry out the principle of dualism, and it is now upon the most cordial footing with the Government of Hungary. It is not desirable to trench upon " self-government ;" but without doing that the Ministry must be careful most strictly to enforce the observance of the laws. On the whole, we must look upon this speech of the President's as the earnest of a better state of things obtaining in Austria than any which has been hitherto observable there; and if the authorities are met half way, there can be no rea sonable doubt that the new aspect of affairs may be a prosperous and progressive one. Nothing could be fairer than the way in which Prince AUERSPERG spoke, and a minority animated by such views is well worthy of confidence and respect. lie con cluded his earnest and impressive discourse by de claring that the Government desired to promote the strength of the State in unison with the Reichsrath. It is fortunate that the reassembling of the House should have been marked with such unanimity and good feeling, for it encourages one to hope that the work of the session may proceed vigorously, and that the reforms so much talked of may be put in practice while the minds of all are directed towards them. Most satisfactory proofs have been afforded that the general policy in Austria is in favour of a change in the right direction ; and if the Govern ment can be based on constitutional principles, and the Parliament will assist them in carrying them out, there will be witnessed a complete reform in one of the countries of Europe whers we least ex pected to see it, and this may show us the propriety of not trusting to appearances, for often the most striking improvements occur perhaps where they are least looked for. LATEST INTELL LGENCE. (ItEUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) AMERICA. QUEENSTOWN, Feb. 10. The Inman steamer City of Antwerp, from New York, arrived here at midnight, with nine passen gers, but no specie. She landed the mails and pas sengers, and proceeded for Liverpool immediately. All well. NEW YORK, Feb. 1. The House of Representatives has passed a reso lution instructing the Judiciary Committee to in quire into the truth of a report, that a Judge of the Supreme Court had, in private conversation, de nounced the Reconstruction Act is unconstitutional, and declared that the Supreme Court would so decide. The Committee is instructed to report whether the offence demands impeachment. The Committtee upon the Freedmen's affairs have reported a bill to continue the Freedmen's Bureau until July, 1869. A Resolution of the Ohio Legislature, rescinding the Constitutional Amendment which had been ratified by the previous Legislature, has been re ferred to the Judiciary Committee for decision as to its legality. A motion has been mado before the Supreme Court, by the military authorities, for the dismissal of the M'Ardle Test Case, on grounds of want of jurisdiction. Governor Jenkins, of Georgia, has notified the Military Acting Governor and Treasurer that he has filed a Bill in the Supreme Court, to inhibit them from using the State funds. The New York Herald publishes intelligence from Canada, stating that a strong movement had been inaugurated in Nova Scotia for the repeal of the Confederation Act. The Georgia Convention has passed a resolution asking Congress to vote a loan to the destitute planters in the South of $30,000,000 on Mortgage CORRESPONDENCE FROM FARIS kritC3l OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, MONDAY, Feb. 10. There is a calm in political matters. Since the defeat of thq Arcadians the Government have gained credit mad popularity, and the majority seem more disposed to relax the Press Laws still further. It is noticeable that several of them voted with Jules Favre and Thiers for having press offences tried by juries. Meanwhile, the Govern. ment is trying the temper of the provinces by the Army Bill, as, I have no 'doubt, the elections next year will show. The most contradictory telegrams and official declara tions are flying about the Continent as to the existence or non-existence of the Roumanian filibusters. The Consti tutionnel publishes a note which shows that the French Government are in receipt of information more trust worthy than the Havas telegrams ; and from Vienna we learn that the Austrian Government has been admonish ing its neighbour Prince Charles on the subject. At the present time nobody believes that these revolutionary movements could bring about another war in the East, but they may harass Turkey, and that is probably their object. The sick man has few chances of recovery. In presence of the Eastern question, and the everlasting complaints of the Czar on behalf of the Christian subjects of the S•iltan, it is curious to note that the treatment of Catholics in Turkey and Egypt calls out no such remon strances. On the contrary, the Pope has made a present to the Sultan in token'Of his appreciation of the protection afforded to Catholics in his dominions. A similar present has been made still more recently to Ismael Pasha in acknowledgment of the privileges extended to Catholics in Egypt. The latter consisted of nine cameos in precious stones, containing representations from an ancient statue of Augustus Caesar discovered a couple of years ago .at Rome. Gossip states that M. Haussmann was so chagrined at not being allowed to meddle with the cemeteries as he wished, that he offered his resignation, which was not ac cepted. Eh Lien, the Prefect of the Seine will avenge himself on the living : for every tomb spared now, many houses will fall. The projected international bridge (Pont International) between France and England has attained the importance to merit a long notice in the Constitutionnel. The first paragraph relates a forgotten incident. It was in 1801, just after the peace of Amiens, when Buonaparte and Fox visited the Louvre together, when the English statesman's attention was arrested by Matthieu's great project of a tunnel under the Channel. Fox was delighted. "It is one of the grand things which we will - accomplish toge ther," said the First Consul. And, let me add, we might have done it, but we spent the money and the time in grand alliances and campaios, in strife, slaughter, and destruc tion. The project of M. Boutet for uniting the two countries takes the form of a bridge from Calais to Dover, with a very few intermediate supports. The two points chosen are the Cap Blanc-Ney pn our side, and Shakspere's Cliff on yours. At these points the cliffs are on each side about 120 to 136 metres (a metre is 39 inches) high. The distance between them is 301cilometres, or nearly 33,000 yards, which M. Boutet would divide into ten huge spans, reposing on nine intermediate rows of. iron pillars. These he proposes to make 90 metres high, so as to allow large vessels to pass. The merits of M. Boutet's proposal rest, like his bridge, on the specialities introduced into the con struction of the iron piles and of the huge metal beams he would require. You may judge of the strength required for the support, since each pile would have to bear 14,000 tons of iron. The beams would, I understand, be on the plaited or chain-cable system, so as to give a maximum of strength with a minimum of weight. The ingenious Frenchman spent ten years in bringing his plans to a workable shape ; that is, if they are really workable. After what has been done it is hazardous to say what is possible. When man can converse with man from one hemisphere to another, he may some day bridge the Straits of Dover. The cost presents the least difficulty ; but I suspect it is put too low at £6,000,000 sterling. To bring Paris within eight hours of London would be worth that. The Chamber of Arts and Manufactures at Armen fibres have addressed a plain and sensible note to the Minister of Commerce on the present industrial crisis. They tell the Minister that the chief causes why so many of the working classes cannot find employment are the dearness of commodities and the insecurity of peace. On the last point the memorial is worth quoting. It says : " This is exclusively in the hands of the Government. It is notorious that the question of war or peace has been uppermost for a long time, and if that has not been the principal cause of the present state of industry, it has at least aggravated all the others. To dissipate this uncer tainty would be the most efficacious intervention in indus- - trial matters which the Government could make." The Chamber in question represents a population who have felt the dearness of provisions and the want of work very severely. The late storm was felt with severity in the 2tlecti terranean. The Algerian opors give a distressing account of a voyage just made by the Alger steamer. The vessel left Marseilles on the 28th January, with forty-nine per sons on board, and for eight days was not heard of. She was caught in the hurricane, during which several seas struck her successively. One of these carried away eight of the crew and put out the fires. The ship became en tirely unmanageable ; but after the storm abated the remainder of the crew managed to drift the vessel into Algiers. In the meantime, their sufferings were extreme. It is rumoured in Dublin that Viscount Gor manston is to be raised to the British peerage. The Times has a powerful article on the disastrous effects of the military fever on the Continent. The French Government, it notes, is proceeding with inexplicable haste to enforce its new Army Law. The bill became law on the Ist instant. Three days later Marshal Niel ordered the census to be taken of those youths who had been exempted from military service in 1864-5-6, but who will now be called upon to enter the National Guard Mobile. Four days later again the bill fixing the Contingent for 1868 at 100,000 conscripts was laid before the Legislative Body. These hasty measures have created an immense sensation throughout France. What with Baron Hausa mann melting down the wealth of the country in Parisian improvements, and the Emperor drawing away its man hood into military service, the drain on the people is in tolerable. The military rule of Prussia is scarcely less grievous. The Times adds, that it is hard to think that men like Louis Napoleon and Bismarck, who aspire to leave their mark in history, should not shrink from the great havoc they inflict on the living generation, and should find it impossible to devise some plausible scheme for a general and simultaneous disarmament. Hope does not, we fear, point to their prudence ; rather to the time when the people of Europe shall manage their own affairs. At length common sense seems to have invaded the Italian Chambers. High politics and international dis putes have given way to sober discussion on home matters, and the paring down of the estimates. The improvement is due to the protests of the public against the absurd way in which the interests of the country were being trifled with. Addresses have been sent from most of the prin cipal towns, urging the Chamber to suspend its political debates, and devote itself to internal improvements and the finances of the country; in short, to mind its own business. The completion of the Mount Unis Tunnel has been entrusted to the engineers Sommeiller and Grattoni, two of the projectors of the undertaking. The company undertakes to finish the tunnel in four years, ending the 31st of December, 1871, and to pay a stipulated forfeit for every month beyond that time during which it shall not have been noxnpleted. If it ends the work before that time, the same sum is to be paid to it for every month gained. Mr. Fell is likely to have a good five years' car riage over the summit of Cenis before the traffic drops to a lower level and rumbles through the bowels of the moun tain. The summit railway line and the covered ways were ready two months ago, but some parts of the engines, which were made in Paris, would not stand the tests applied to them, and it was found necessary to re place those parts by-corresponding ones of greater strength. Ono of the experimental engines has been working in a most satisfactory way all along, and carrying materials for the covered ways. It is believed the line will be opened shortly. The Italian Scientific Association has made a gratifying acknowledgment to Sir Charles 'Wheatstone. The annual gold medal forwarded by the president, Professor Mat teucci, for the greatest discoveies in physical science, has been unanimously adjudged to Sir Charles, for his contri butions to the science of electricity. As the time approaches for the recommencement of the tug and strain of party struggles, politicians of all shades of opinion are rapidly gathering together at Westminster. There are anxious inquiries as to the chances of the Prime Minister's health enabling him to keep his arduous post during what must prove to be a most harassing session, and none the less so that it will in all probability be the last of the dying Parliament. Question after question is sure to be brought forward, and there will be urgent endeavours to settle more than one outstanding difficulty rather than allow them to remain to be dealt with when the house holder shall be master of the British Empire. The Times earnestly puts it to the Conservative party whether it would not be better for Lord Derby at once to retire from the Premiership. His advancing years, his disinclination f r office, and his continual attacks of gout, which last have prevented him from attending a single Cabinet Council since the beginning of the year, are weighty reasons why such a course shOuld be taken. It is better, argues the Times, to reconstruct the Administration before the actual labour of Parliament commences, than to leave it to be devised in the mid-stream of the session, Bonda. At a Democratic mass meeting that took place at New York on Thursday evening, resolutions were adopted denouncing the course of Congress as revo lutionary and partisan, and endorsing the acts of President Johnson. The prominent speakers were in favour of Mr. Johnson as a candidate for the Presidency. Mr. Thornton, the new British Minister, arrived at Washington on Thursday, and would be pre sented to the President on Tuesday. FRANCE. • BOURSE, Feb. 10.—Three o'clock.—The market closed as follows : 4i per Cent. End of month — 3 per Cent End of month 6B 65 Credit Mobilier End of month l9O Credit Foncier l3BO End of month 1383 75 RAILWA' Bank Sharps 3230 It&Pan Loan End of month 43 40 Mexican Loan Do. Bonds Spanish Threes Home Debt 34 Deferred — - Account Orleans ... ... Northern • ......... 1175 Lyons and Mediterranean ............... 905 Southern..... 555 Western ....................................... 565 Eastern • ....................... Sardinian Austrian Lombard North of Spain Saragossa Roman MALTA AND ALEXANDRIA TELEGRAPH. A Malta Correspondent, wr iti ng on the 3d of February, says —"Telegraphic commun i cat i on w ith Alexandria is again interrupted. As had been apprehended the cable has again broken down. This time we believe, the fault is near Benghazi. The telegraph ' steamer Hawk left port on the Ist inst. with the object of making good the defect. Her Majesty's screw sloop Racer, 11, Commander L. Brine, which was under orders to proceed to the coast of Syria un the sth inst., left Malta on the 2d to assist the Hawk in the operation of repairing the cable, with instructions tc go on to Beyrout as soon as her services should be no longer required." FEARFUL ACCIDENT TO A RAILWAY GUARD.—On Saturday night Andrew Martin, one of the guards of a train from Berwick to Newcastle, met with a fearful acci dent, which is very likely to prove fatal. He was seen to be all right a . Cramlington Station, where he appeared on the platform with the lamp in his hand, and attended to the duties required on his part at the various stages in their journey. Nothing more was seen of him until he was found lying on the top of one of the third-class car riages. He was frightfully injured about the head and face, and was in an unconscious state. It appeared that he had got on the top of the carriage, perhaps to seo if the way was clear, and that he had come into collision with ono of the railway bridgee. THE MAGAZINES. FRASER.—Regina's most attractive paper this month is R. A. Procter's contribution in regard to " The Great Nebula in Orion"—a magazine article that carries the reader's imagination far away into the depths of infinitude. There are two more chapters only of the serial story of the " Marstons"—another of the numerous loyal tributes to the Queen's " Journal,"—a third "Village Sketch in 0 udh"— some pleasant " Rambles in the New Forest," and " A Don's Arguments," for the most part very sen sible arguments indee,l, on " University Or ganisation." TlNSLEY'S.—Entering upon its second half year with this February number, Tinsley's has already come to be regarded as an old favourite, and still contrives to sustain its reputation. Although the place of honour is still gracefully accorded to Dr. W. Russell's "Adventures of Dr. Brady," by the con ductor of Tinsley's Magazine—there is no doubt at all about it that the serill story of the publication, the stock piece, the piece de resistance, the chief attraction of all every month, is Edmund Yates's own tale of " The Rock Ahead." Three more chapters are here added to each narrative—each of the two serials having its appropriate illustra tion—the one to Mr. Yates's " Rock Ahead," being a masterpiece in its way—" The Cut Direct" we mean, a scene in fashionablelife, drawn with admir able grace and audacity. From the Conductor's [modern fashionable for Editor's] " Flaneur at the Play" we are tempted to give the following laughter moving extract:— To possess the power of improvisation is of immense assistance to an actor. When he forgets the language of the author, when, in technical parlance, he "sticks," how happy must be the man who can carry on for a few sen tences until the prompter, who naturally never has the book open at the proper place, can give him " the word !" Instances of such self-possession are rare. It. was my good luck, some years ago, to be in the society of my Master in literature at the Rochester Theatre, when a haggard man in buff-boots strode to the middle of the stage before it occurred to him that he had not the least notion of what he was going to say. But he regarded the audi ence sternly, then said in portentous tones : " I will return anon !" and walked off to refresh his memory at the prompter's desk. A very delicious instance of improvisa tion occurred on last Boxing-night, on the first represen tation of No Thoroughfare, at the Adelphi Theatre. The gentleman who represented the Abbot of St. Bernard's, the custodian of the clock-lock-held secrets in the monastery, is supposed to be exceedingly angry at Obenreizer's hav ing closed the door of the strong closet without altering the dial of the clock-lock. Obenreizer, deprecating his wrath, asks by whom the contents of the closet could possibly be required. The worthy abbot hesitated and stammered —it was plain that he had entirely forgotten his part—but at last he said : "By 'oom, my son ? by 'oom ? Why by—by—by some of the parties staying 'e re p , Here is the latest theatrical mot. A manager who has never yet been accused of humour wrote to .a leading actress, asking her to play an engagement at the autumnal opening of his theatre, and begging her to name her terms. The lady, in reply, expressed her willingness to accede to the proposition ; her terms were thirty pounds a night. The manager's reply was this: "Dear Madam,—Make it shillings, and it's a bargain." The Hon. Alice Brand still continues her " Corre spondence," and "An American" this month be gins a series of " English Photographs." " Baby Nell" has an ingenious but rather ridiculous illus tratiou—her sire looking simply absurd. Besides the foregoing, there should be mentioned, among the contents, " The Romance of a Glove," as a paper worth glancing at by those who are in search of entertainment. COLBURN'S UNITED SERVICE—if for nothing else, would be remarkable for the third contribution, " Colonel Herbert Edwards on the Substitution of Native for British Troops." There are several other articles of great interest, however, in relation to both Services in this Febru try number—chief among these, perhaps, being the papers relating re spectively to "Our Naval Defences," and to the Abyssinian Expedition. BELGRAVIA.—Miss Braddon is certainly as inde fatigable in her industry as she is apparently inex haustible in her ideality. Her imaginative power still appears to run as clearly and freshly as ever, judging from her own contributions to her own monthly periodical. And judging not alone from these, it should be added. For, apart from the Belgravia, we see that it is announced by her pub lisher that in a few days there will be issued from the press a new three-volumed novel, never before published, from the pen of the author of "Lady Audley's Secret." Namely, the promised sequel to " Birds of Prey"—entitled, " Charlotte's Inheri tance." An announcement, this ie, which we our selves are doubly glad to see, and for this simple but sufficient reason—that we have purposely yet reluctantly refrained hitherto from noticing in The Sun the earlier half of this as yet incomplete whole, namely, the three volumes of "The 13irds of Prey" —because we regard the story, as it is there sud denly broken off right in the very middle, as alto gether too inartistic to be in any fair way reason ably dealt with. Let the lines be continued as we now hope to see them continued— and not only continued but completed in " Charlotte's Inheritance," and Miss Braddon's de sign as an artist will then, at last, but then only (so far as this work is concerned) for the first time come within the grasp of our appreciation. It was not so with a great master of his art like Lord Lytton, when he first of all drew " Ernest Maltravers," and afterwards "Alice," its sequel—each being perfect and complete in itself, each " one entire and perfect chrysolite"—yet when fused together eventually, as they are now, into a single work of art under the title of Ernest Maltravers, Part One and Part Two, distinguishable the one from the other simply as the Eleusinia and the Mysteries, they remain (when so fused) one and harmonious in their blended out lines. Now that " Charlotte's Inheritance" is an nounced, however, as immediately forthcoming, we are rejoiced to have delayed expressing our opinion of "The Birds of Prey" until its sequel should also have made its appearance. We hope, therefore, very shortly to have the opportunity of noticing the six volumes together, as making only one work of art, namely, the 3 vols. of " Birds of Prey" and the forthcoming 3 vols. of "Charlotte's Inheritance." To revert, however, to Belgravia—here, too, Miss Brad t don, we repeat, shows herself to beboth indefatigable and inexhaustible. Leading off the February num ber with four more chapters of her current serial story of " Dead Sea Fruit," she closes the number with some melodious stanzas of her own, entitled " After the Battle." Percy Fitzgerald continues, by two more chapters, his novel of " Diana Gay"— having but just now (this last week) finished in All the Year Round his serial tale of " The Dear Girl." From G. A. Sala's delightful paper "On the Sensational in Literature and Art" we extract the following admirable passage : May I whisper in the reader's ear that the agitation against "Romanticism" in literature and art in France was an exactly analogous outcry to that with which we are now deafened in England against "Sensationalism" ? But ere I take up that Cry of cries, and strive to show what a hollow, windy, worthless,ululation it is, I wish to say a few words concerning a Cry as worthless, which im mediately preceded it. Mr. Charles Dickens has enjoyed European, world-wide fame for thirty years. I have watched his career as nar rowly as I have watched it admiringly ; and I think I have read every line he has written, and have been enabled to trace with sufficient accuracy the successive phases of development through which his genius has passed, the mellowing of his faculties, the chastening of his style, and their gradual culmination into a splendid but sober after noon of intellect. He is probably, at this moment, the best-known and the most deservedly popular author in the world; and in the very first number of the very next serial in the familiar old green cover which he might pub lish, we should probably be constrained to admit that there was something—in the way of character or of description —as good as, if not bettor than, Charles Dickens had ever dote before. Yet, having a pretty retentive memory, and having been all my life more or less intimately connected with what are called " literary circles," I can perfectly well recollect that, in the year 1842—and we are now, I take it, in 1868—there was no commoner cry in polite society" than that "Dickens had written himself out." There used to be a man called Crolot., who had something to do with the Admiralty, and didn't know where Russell-square was, and wrote scurrilous articles in the Quarterly Review, especially delighting when it was upon a woman's shoulders that he could lay his dirty lash. You see that a woman is more vascular than a malt. You can fetch the blood sooner frcm her than from us tough brutes, and she can't hit back again. This Croker did his best to scarify Lady Morgan ; but ho himielf has been pilloried to deathless infamy by Mr. Dis raeli in Coningsby, and by Mr. Thackeray in Vanity Fair. lie did almost every conceivable variety of bad and base thing, but he sometimes said a good one. In the first bright dawn of Charles Dickens's fame, Oroker observe that the author of Pickwick had "gone up like a rocket, but would come down like the stick." This was " sack and sugar" to the charitable souls who were so fond of re peating that 60 Boz" had " written himself out." " Boz " wrote the Old Curiosity Shop, and pending the appearance of his next book the charitable souls reported that he had gone raving mad. He wont to America, and the charit able souls put it that he was dead. He wrote Martin Chuzzlewit, and the charitable souls deelared that there was "a great falling off in his style." He went to Italy, and the charitable souls hinted that ho had pawned his plate to raise funds for the voyage. There was no end to the malice of the charitable souls. Dombey, Copperfield, Bleak House, Hard Times, the Two Cities, Great Expectations, Our Mutual Friend were all asserted to be infinitely inferior to their predecessors; but somehow the man went on writ ing, and enlisting fresh tons of thousands of readers with every new book he wrote. And yet about this time of the New Year the rocket ig soaring high over the State of Pennsylvania, and the stick hasn't come down at all, save perhaps in the form of a stick of cheerful disdain, which has hit the charitable smile over the nose badly. The illustrations to Belgravia are still profusely abundant, and the literary contributions to it most agreeably amusing and miscellaneous. COLBURN'S NEW MONTHLY.—Among so many new faces, Cornhills, Tinsleys, St. Paula, Belgravias, and so forth, here comes an old familiar one enough in the New Monthly, endeared to magazine readers years ago under the editorial management now of Thomas Campbell, now of Thomas Hood, now of Theodore Hook, now of Lord Lytton, when he was Sir Edward Lytton Bulwer, or was it not when he was yet Mr. Bulwer?--at any rate when he was de lighting the readers of the New Monthly from month to month with the Essays afterwards col lected together in the two charming volumes of " The Student." By reason of those delightful recollections in regard to it we have a weakness for the New Monthly, still presided over as it is by an eminent editor in the person of Mr. Harrison Ainsworth. The two serial tales are still continued in this 566th No. of the "New" Monthly—namely, " The Deepdale Mystery" and the " Arlingtons." Besides these there are several other contributions of interest that we have neither space nor time here to particularise. BENTLEY'S MISCELLANY.—Another favourite, almost as old as the one just mentioned—this being if not the 566th No., at any rate the 374th—Bent ley's Miscellany still finds its chief attraction as it did so many years ago in another instalment of a current serial story by William Harrison Ains worth. Nowadays, however, that serial story is " Myddleton Pomfret" instead of "Jack Sheppard,' and appears too without the added attraction of marvellous etchings from the hand of George Cruikshank. Monk Saville this February gives us the second portion of his serial story, " Worth the Winning." The other contributors hardly admit of being particularised. THE BROADWAY—stiII caters with equal care and ability for the reading public of New York and London. If Francis Palgrave descants, in one paper on " Public Statues in London," Molyneux St. John, in another, writes (and graphically too) about " New York Theatres." Henry Sedley ex patiates onewhilo " On International Prejudices," and Robert Tomes another oa " Emigrants in America." Besides this, F. C. Burnand continues his amusing "Second Thoughts," and the Author of " Guy Livingstone " his dashing, crashing, lance splintering " Breakspeare.' THE DUBLIN UNIVERSITY.—The fashion seems latterly to tend among the magazines to the issuing simultaneously or contemporaneously of a brace of serial stories. Formerly magazine readers were contented with one—now they must needs have two. It is so here again in the Dublin—where we have several more chapters of " Sweet Anne Page," and several more chapters of " John Hall's Niece." Besides these we have a scholarly argument on " Ancient, Mediaeval, and Modern Preaching," and an able criticism on " Moliere's Predecessors." THE MONTlL—Happily one story suffices for the Month, the magazine so-called—not February. Eudoxia—the picture of the Fifth Century—begun the other day, introduces us now, among others, to Atnantine, Gunilda, and Olympias. The most im portant contribution to the whole number, how ever, is the first article, a politico-religious paper, having reference to "The Holy See and the Russian Go vern meat." TIIE ARGOSY—E iited by Mrs. Henry Wood, and "laden with golden grail," as its motto saith, still goes on swimmingly. The E litress, chiefly re markable as the Authoress of "East Lynne," pur sues her new serial tale of " Anne Hereford," the illustration to which this month is sufficiently lugubrious, more appropriate, seemingly, to the close of a story than to its commencement. There are plenty of other entertaining papers in this number under notice—among them " Kate Foley's Remains," and K. S. Macquoid's " River-side Story," to say nothing of " The Hungry Sea," by Frances Freeling Broderip, or of a Charade by the Dean of Canterbury. ONCE A WEEK—Edited by E. S. Dallas, and edited, we must say, at once admirably, and pub lished at a cost of no more than twopence for every weekly number, takes its place now in the form of its monthly part—this being Part I. of the New Series—takes its place now by right among the best and ablest of the magazines. As for the serial story now adorning its pages it may com pete with any serial story at present making its appearance. " Foul Play " is the admir able title of it: Eleven chapters are here given in the part for January, issued simultaneously with the magazines for February. It is the joint pro duction of Charles Reade and Dion Boucicault, and as such it is not merely worthy of either of them, but of both of them put together. Our interest in the plot has been mastered by them from the outset, and we get more and more entangled in the thread of the narrative as the yarn is spun out. When completed " Foul Play" will dramatise to perfection, and is safe to have a run that will compete with the run of " Masks and Faces," or, yet more, of " Arrali-na-pogue." George Du Maurier is on his mettle with the illustrations, one or two of which are befitting the literary excellence of " Foul Play." The, present number of Once a Week is remarkable, among other notable contents, for " Death Dealing his Arrows," a powerful original drawing by I. E. Millais, R.A. ; and for an original poem—some curious verses " On a Spiteful Letter"—by Alfred Tennyson, Poet Laureate. GOOD WORDS.—Edited by Norman Macleod, although the Doctor is far away in India on a Two Years' visit to various parts of our possessions in Hindostan, fully sustains its claim to be regarded as the Serial of Serials. It fulfils its admirably chosen motto from the old Poet Herbert—" Good words are worth much and cost little." Sixpence monthly is the cost of it—the worth of it being difficult, indeed, adequately to appraise. And no wonder, seeing that among the many illustrious contributors to this one among the very cheapest of all our popular periodicals, are numbered Alfred Tennyson, the Right lion. William Ewart Glad stone, Jean Ingelow, and Dinah Alulock—with promise among others yet of the Dean of West minster, and the Bishop of London, and Henry Rogers, and the Duke of Argyll. Nay, Henry Rogers and Dean Stanley are here already among the actual contributors—and associated with them, too, as such the poet and novelist, George Mac donald. The serial story of " The Woman's Kingdom," begun in January is continued in February, without making much progress—the two sisters and the two brothers being brought just a trifle more into communication with each other. Mr. Gladstone, by a second instalment, completes hi!: able and extenuative criticism on " Ecce Homo. With Henry Rogers' estimate of " Erasmus" we haY° no sympathy whatever—preference being here ac tually accorded by him to that cynical and cool.. blooded nature, as compared with the wise, witY , warm-hearted, genial, affectionate nature of Sir Thomas More I TuE MASK—is another new venture arnongt l periodicals : this time, however, among the lighter class, catering as it does less for the reader's instruc tion than for his amusement. The illustrations are many of them very amusing : instance this, stillcaricaturetill more ore the portraiture comical o c f u t Sir onN Edwino Thoroughfare, .I.Aand.' ee r a :1 in which Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins v ir not fail to be recognised. The monks a t the top are capital ; so, too, is Madame Dor. cent as f mot (2 112 to Alit. is a chai Tur Seri 921 Loa are Cell 99 1 Que Six are at rem crag' in s ordl as a ref e wer th e side Whil Mel are the pars, Mot T 1 the th e Dud, a '-' N I EI 3 , e , Ne A Arkt, E 0 i 33 till 1),