The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-04-27 00:00:00

THE LANCASHIRE COTTON STRIKE.

A meeting of delegates of the Amalgamated Associa-
tion of Operative Cotton Spinners was held in Man-
chester last Saturday, to consider the course to be
adopted with respect to the strike in north and north-
east Lancashire. Eighty-one delegates were present,
and after a long discussion, a resolution was passed to
the effect that while deeply symi,athising with the
operatives in their resistance to the proposed ten per
cent. reduction the delegates instruct them to accept
the terms offered until a more favourable opportunity
presented -itself. This resolution does not affect the
weavers on strike.

On Saturday a meeting of the amalgamated male and
female association of card and blowing room operatives
was held in Blackburn, to consider the proposed reduc-
tion at ten per cent. There were 27 delegates present
from Lancashire, Cheshire, Derby and Yorkshire.
The meeting lasted over three hours, and a determined
spirit of resistance was expressed. The following
resolution was adopted unanimously :
"That in the opinion of this meeting the action of the
employers in proposing and persisting in a reduction of 10
per cent. In the wages of the card and blowing room opera-
tives of Blackburn and district is unjust, considering they
are already underpaid to the extent of 15 or 20 per cent., to
the districts in South Lancashire, and promises to use every
tffoit to assist them to carry out the strike."
The delegates from Cheshire, Derby, and Yorkshire
state that the societies they represent would willingly
find those out on strike with means to fight the battle
out. The amalgamated society has considerable
funds, and this branch of the cotton trade would, it
was thought, hold out to the last. The d3eision was
received with every satisfaction by those outside.

Mr. J. T. Ilibbeit, M.P., referred to the strike in a
speech which he delivered at Oldham last Friday. The
contest was one, he said, which, if persisted in, would be
of far greater extent than any which had occurred for a
long time, and would pioduce as much suffering as
was caused by the cotton famine. 'I he emplo3 ers in-
sisted on the wages being reduced 10 per cent. Both
the spinners and the weavers, on the other hand,
agreen to accept a reduction of 5 per cent., while the
Spinners' Association had recommended the spinners
to coLserit to a 10 per cent, reduction till trade re-
vived. He asked both the masters and the men to be
wise in time. What he would suggest was that the
parties should come together and split the difference
between 10 per cent. and 5 per cent„ and agree to a
reduction of 7i per cent. for a time. He felt sure
that if the masters would throw open the mills on
these terms a week after Easter many thousands would
return to their work.

On Monday night the operative spinners of Ac-
cring ton held a meeting and refused to comply with
the recommendation of the Executive Council at
Manchester to accept 10 per cent, reduction, but re-
solved to accept 5 per cent. reduction and four days
per week.

On Tuesday morning at all the mills in Burnley pre-
parations were made to start working if the operatives
had been willing to go in at the reduction. No effort
was made on the part of the masters to induce them to
go in, and, speaking generally, the operatives acted
unanimously in refusing to commence at the reduc-
tion. The engines in must cases were started, but the
number of operatives willing to work was so small
that all except two stopped again. In one of these
cases about sixty looms were worked, and in the other
about 200, or a little over. Had all the weavers
willing to work been in one place, about 400 looms
might have been run out of 32,000. This indicates
the unanimity of the operatives in resisting the pro-
pQeed reduction,
A mass meeting of operatives, probably numbering
about 7,000, was held in the Cattle Market, Burnley,
on Tuesday morning. There was a good deal of en-
thusiasm manifested, and a firm determination to re-
sist the reduction. A resolution was proposed that
they should refuse to return to work until the notices
of reduction were taken down. There was an amend-
ment to this to the effect that an offer be made t 9 the
employers to accept a reduction of 10 per cent., aad
four days a week, or 5 per cent. reduction and five
days a week. There was a respectable show of hands
for the amendment, but the resolution was carried by
a substantial majority.

On Tuesday Messrs. Riley and Co., Church,
arranged with their workpeople, who reamed work on
the terms of four days a week and a 10 per cent. re-
duction. It is said the Weavers' Local Committee will
withold any strike-pay from operatives who do not re-
sume work on short time where they are sath,fied with
the word of the employers to give full wages when
they begin f nil time. ,

Sir Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth, M.P., of Gawthorpe
Hall, Lanca,shire, has suggested arbitration as a means
of settling the present dispute in the cotton district.
The Masters' Central Committee, however, decline to
arbitrate. This decision was arrived at at their meet-
ing at Manchester on Monday.

A correspondent, writing from Preston, says that
the strike in the cotton trade; so far as Preston is
concerned, may already be looked upon as virtually at
an end. From the first this leading cotton manufac-
turing town in the county of Lanmshire had shown the
least desire to strike, and it is also the first to set the
laudable example of bringing about an amicable settle-
ment of the difEculty. There was a mast meeting
of operative c4tton spinners in Preston on Mon-
day, from which the Press were strictly ex-
cluded. At the meeting opinion appeared to be
greatly divided as to the course to adopt in the present
crisis, after the meeting in Manchester on Sunday.
It is now said that at the meeting, after much
excAed contention, a resolution, or an amend-
ment to a resolution, was carried, though by a
very faint majority, to the effect that the cotton
operative spinners should see the masters, and try to
bting about a conciliation of affairs; and in the event
of the latter resisting any comprondse, the hands
should proceed to work at the full reduction of 10 per
cent until a more favourable opportunity presented
itself for pushing their claims. Accordingly, many of
the hands proceeded to work, the mills were thrown
open—notably those of Messrs. Hawkins and Sons—
and the machinery WM once more set a-doing.

The American papers speak of the purchase in the
t4terll tats of 18,t)00 horns by the British Cioverliment.

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN,

The Princess of Wales has been riding lately in
'Rotten now early in the morning, goirg out at eleven
o'clock and returning soon after twelve. She is an admir-
able horsewoman --.l"anity Fair.
It is stated that the Emperor William has put off
his visit to Wiesbaden, in order to remain in Berlin should
the Congress meet.
It is asserted that 21,0nn Russians have succumbed
to typhus f,ver during the last three months in the city and
plain of Erzeroum.
The crowned heads who will visit the Paris Ea
hihitiou necessarily remain uncertain as long as the Eastern
Question is pending. There is, lio,,ever, some expectation
,f the arrival of the Kings of Italy, Spain, and Belgium, and
the shah ot Persia is on his way hither. King. Hamiieit will
Probably spend a week here in June. .11 number of native
Indian Princes are also looked for.

---
The Barcelor a MuDicipality havinz put a duty upon
gas, and the inhlbitants in a majwity having* protested in
vain' they decided to dispense with its Ilse A gel:era'
darkness prevAiled in the city on the 15th and 16th, and the
crowd resorted to violent demonstrations agairn, the 'lowa
Hall and the shops of traders who refused to have recourse
to candles and lamps.

A vessel which has arrived at San Francisco from
Tahiti reports that a terrible hurricane occurred at the latter
place on the 7th of February, in which 120 persons were
killed and much property destroyed. •

- -
A bulletin was issued on Monday stating that Mr.
Buskin has during the past week considerably improved in
health, and his convalescence has so far advanced that no
further bulletins will be issued.

--- -
A correspondent points out that on two occasions
within the last twenty years E ister Sunday has Neu as late
as in the present year, viz., in 1839, 24th April, and in 1867,
21st April.
In Paris the fashion of adding streamers to the back
of bonnets is again revived; they are six met long each, and
with a pair in your band you might fancy you could drive
that divine creature.—Court Journal.

Upwards of 5,600 visitors passed through the State
Apartments of Windsor Castle on Monday.
It . appears from a parliamentary return that
although the number of houses licensed for the sale of
liquors to be consumed on the premises demeased from
109.421 In 1875 to 109,147 in the following year, the number
of them having only six day licenses increased from 2,092 to
3.059; the number having early closing licences frem 218 to
231; and the numl,rr having licenses masked both as six-
day and early-closing licenses from 355 to 387.
Up to the present time only 13 public and 36 local
Acts have been passed in the present session, which com-
menced on the 17th January, more than three months.
Notice has been formally given of a reduction of
wages to the extent of 5 per cent. all round in several of the
oldest sninuiug and natnutacturiog establishments in Brad-
ford ; Cue reuuetiou en nips oseb fruan .62, aay in
week.

A French newspaper, the Avenir lifilitaire, calls
upon the uovennment, in the interest of the French Cavalry,
to put a stop to the British purchases of horses in Nor-
mandy.
A correspondent writes :—" It is a mistake to sup-
pose that that the English are singular in eating buns at
this season of the year. The Swedes have their Lenten
buns, very much like ours in shape and size, but somewhat
lighter. They are eaten first on Shrove Tuesday, and after-
wards during Lent. They are usually served at dinner, in-
stead of pancakes, in a plate of boiled milk, with sugar and
cinnamon strewed over them. The inside of the bun is
stuffed with a paste made of sugar, almonds, butter, and
cream, but without ginger. There is no cross on them."
A band of brigands in Sardinia have broken into the
house of the parish priest of Alusei, and stolen articles worth
500 f. They put the priest, the sexton, and two women into
sacus and threatened to murder them, but, assistance
arriving, they decamped, two of them, it is believed, being
wounded by the rescuers.
Queen Margaret, the Defense says, set a noble
example of devotion at Rome last week On Thursday, clad
in mourning and accompanied by a maid of honour, she
visited seven churches on foot. _ _ _

•
Mr. Leeman, M.P., speaking on Monday at a ban-
quet, after the laying of the corner stone of a building, at
York, to be called the Yorkshire Fine Art and Industrial
Exhibition, in re.ponse to the toast of "The City Members,"
expressed a hope that before many days were over they
might have some word that peace was to abide with them
In the meantime, as one of their members, he would speak
out his mind. Ile did not believe there ought to be war,
and if there was war it would be a sin at the door of those
who did not take care to prevent it. it would be a disgrace
to the country and its diplomacy if they did not possess men
who could settle a dispute like the present.
The New York papers state that marvellous stories
are told of a recent discovery of a rich lode of nearly pure
gold on Silver Creek (Canada). eight miles above Silver City,
which is about twelve miles front Ileleoa. It is said that
the men have to clear away the gold with shovels from the
stamps in the mill while working the ore. This has created
censiderable excitement, but the reports have yet to be
verifie
From early returns issued by the Commissiovers of
Customs at Ottawa we learn that the wheat crop of last year
has been one of more than usual excellence.
According to the Neue Freie Presee of Vienna, the
telephone is employed in China on a large scale. The points
connected are in some cases 500 miles distant.
A waterman named James Etheridge was drowned
at Brighton on Sunday morning under most distressing cir-
cumstances. Ile and a man named Parkins were rowing
asnore, after collecting whelk pots, when a wave capsized the
boat within a-few yards of the beach. A heavy ground swell
precluded any efforts to rescue them from the beach, and
Etheridge, although an expert swimmer, was overpowered,
and in the presence of hundreds of spectatos s, sank beneath
the waves. Deceased leaves a widow and five children. His
companion, who could net swim caught aline flung out from
the suspension pier and was saved.
A good deal of excitement was caused at Portsmouth
on Monday by the receipt of an order for 3:0 men of the
Royal Marine Artillery to prepare at once for embarkation.
The detachment is for service in the five ironclads which
have been ordered to be cimmissioned at Devonport, and
the min were marched down to the Portsmouth Dockyard,
headed by their band, and followed by a large crowd, by
whom they were loudly cheered. They embarked on board
the Tamar for passage to Plymouth.
A large meeting of the working men of Peterborough
was held on Tuesday night to celebrate the anniversary of
their co-operative society. The meeting was addressed by
, Mr. George Potter, of London, who delivered an address on
the "History, Progress, and Results of Co-operation.'" he
stated that at the present time there were in England 1,163
co-operative stores, with 421,000 members, having funds to
the amount of £6,110,000.
The wife of the Governor of Toula, General
ushakoff, was thrown from her carriage last Wednesday
week and killed on the spot.
An American financial paper tells the world to
listen to it, and wonder at American enterprise when it in-
formus them that the amount of money paid to the newspapers
for advertising in that country annually exceeds £300,000,000
dollars. This enormous total it says is mainly disbursed by
skilled 'advertising managers, who represent personally
the leading firms and corporations, and make advertising a
study.
" I don't suppose that for twenty years past has silk
been so cheap as it is at present Even good black silk can
be got for three shillings a yard, and the best qualities
ought only to be four or five shillings.
•This of course is
owing to me present depression of trade, and as that cannot
possibly last for eves all prudent husbands with spare cash
ought to go in for buying their wives black silk dresses a
dozen at a time."—The • Tidier" in Pictorial World.
A monument to Bastiat, the French Freetrader,
was unveiled on Tuesday at Mont de 31arsan, his native
place. M. Lain Say, the Minister of Finance, presided and
made the en incipal speech.
The French Post Office has announced that from the
let of Islay to the 31st October next it sill maintain within
the Exhibition an office fur the transaction of every kind of
postal and telegraphs business.
Some excitement was caused in Sheffield on Monday,
by the abrupt postponement of One of the roost popular
entertainments in the town. The members of a local Band
of Hope who have previously petformed the sacred drama
Joseph and his Brethren, were announced to appear this
week at the Albert Hall and the secretary to the proprietors
obtained a dramatic licence for the hall. The drama was
performed before a crowded house on Saturday nieht, but
on Monday evening a telegram was received from the Lord
Chamberlain, prohibiting the performance and stating that
the drama was unlicensed.
The German Government has authorised the reduc-
tion by one half of the railway fares to artisans visiting the
Exposition.
The, Afaidstone Journal says the fruit trees are in
full blossom, aud if the present weather continues there
will be a good crop of cherries and plums. The apple
bloom is riot yet sufficiently forward, but there appears a
probability of a good bloom. Some of the black currants
and gooseberries have been struck by the frost, but there
will he, with favourable weather, a large quantity grown.
The grass lands have a very green and healthy appearance,
and we may look forward to a good crop of hay.
The Civilian says :—" We have good reason to be-
lieve that the Government has not closed its eyes to the
danger likely to accrue to our commerce from the Yankee
privateers with which we are threatened in the event of our'
Isping compelled to enter upon a great European .war.
ould Russia, forgetful of her treaty obligations, issue
letters of marque to our enterprising cqpsins across the
Atlantic, the Admiralty would at once Me over a large
number of fast merchant steamers—arrangements have
been already entered into with their owners—arm them with
32 and 64 pounders, and officer them from the large staff
employed at Greenwich."
Wheeling, Virginia, is now indulging in "necktie
sociables." Ladies attending these novel entertainments
wear an apron, and take with them, in an envelope, a neck-
tie of the same material, or so made that they can be recog-
nized by the tie and apron corresponding in some manner
Each gentleman receives at the door as he enters one of
these envelopes containing the tie, when he is expected to
hunt up the lady wearing the apron to match, and provide
for her at the luncheon or refreshment bar.—Philadelphia

Ledger.
111 r. Samuel I. Clemens (Mark Twain) was present
at a dinner given recently by the insurance company directors
at Hartford, Connecticut, and in the course of a speech said:
" Certainly there is no nobler field for human effort than the
Insurance of life business—especially accident insurance.
Ever since I have been a director in an accident insurance
company I have felt that I am a better man. Life has
seemed more precious. Accidents have assumed a kindlier
aspect. Distressing.special providenees have lost hal4 their
horror. I look upon a cripple now with an affectionate
interest—as an advertisement. Ido not seem to care for
poverty any more. Ido not care for politics; even agri-
culture does not excite me. But to ale now there is a charm
about a railway carriage that is unspeakable. There is
nothieg more beneficent than accident insurance. Three
weeks ego I got a man to insure with us, and now he is the
brighest, happiest spirit in this land, has a good steady in-
come and a stylish suit of new bandages every day, and
travels found on a shutter."
On Easter Monday, the Lord Mayor of London and
Sheriffs, in accordance with annual custom, went in state to
the " Blue-coat " School, where the Bishop of Hereford
preached the Spital Sermon. In the evening the Lord Mayor
and Lady Mayoress entertained a select company at dinner
at the Mansion-house. Admiral Sir Edward Inglewood, in
replying to the toast of " The Navy," observed that they were
never so fit as they were now, and it they were to go to war
at all the sooner the better. As for those "horrid torpedoes,"
he believed with .Achnital Porter, of the American Navy,
that the more he thought about them the less he liked them,
The Statist, referring to the orders for the despatch
of native troops to Malta, observes that Prince Gortschakoft
must at last understand that if he maintains his monstrous
pretensions, he will have to support his resolution by anus
against the wealthiest, most populous, and most powerful
empire in the world. If the country is forced into hostilities
to safeguard its interests, it will use all the resources which
the vastest and most extensive dominions upon earth give it,
and will so direct its efforts that Itunia may not soon again
be in a puaition to disturb the settlement of the Eastern
Question now attained.
'lle Anchor liner Australia, from New York, which
arrived in the Victoria Docks (London) ou Tuesday. le bran rift
87 horses, all of which were landed in fine condition.

Cardinal Mantling presided at the annual meeting
of "The Total Abstinence League of the Cross," held on
Tuesday night in Exeter Hall, anti delivered an address, in
the course of which he gave particulars as to the death ot
the late Pope. The Cardinal also urged the value and im-
portance ot temperance.
The conference of the National Union of Elemen-
tary 'ratchets vr;ts resumed on Tuesday at the Guildlaall,
Plymouth. It was decided that the next conference should
be held at Nottingham, and that in iwure the c.o.ierences
should be held in Loudon only once In three years, instead
of alternate years, as heretofore. Compulsory education,
pensions to school teachers, and the educational rftults of
the code were discussed, and revolutions respectirg them
were paned.
•

During the recent .-hurricane about 150 Ekermen
from the neighbourhood of Bilbao and Santander were
drowned.
The United Service Gazette says it has good reason
for stating that there will be a strong combined Channel and
Baltic fleet formed during the next two months.
In certain sections of Illinois, unless men sign the
pledge three times per day, they are deemed base enemies
of temperance.
The French Government will issue 25,000 invitations
for the inaugural ceremony at the Exhibition.
A verdict of Accidental death was on Saturday re-
corded on-the body of a little boy named West, aged five
years, the son of a bricemaker at Burgess hill, who, while
paying on a plank across a einall stream of water all Good
Friday afternoon, hit in headforemost and was drowned be-
fore help could be procured.
Nineteen British and foreign wrecks were reported
during the past week, making a total of 450 for the present
3 ear, or a decrease • of 262 as compared with the corres-
ponding week of last year. The approximate value of pro-
perty lost was £250,000, including British £lOO,Ol-0.
On the 25th ult, there were 3,747 persons affected
with typhus in St. Petersburg. A commission appointed by
the Government has prescribed measures in the hope of
preventing the spread of the epitemic.
In commemoeation of his efforts for the reduction
of the tax on soap, M. Leon Say is to be represented at the
Exhibition in a statue of that material by the grateful manu-
facturers of Marseilles.
Epidemic cerebro-spinal meningitis has once more .
shown itself in the German army. The garrison towns of
the present empire have suffered from this curious form of
inflammation of the brain and spinal marrow at intervals
since it was first described at Geneva in Mb.
"A gentleman lately returned from San Stefano
tells me that the Russian army there is in a sad condition.
Be heard much of disease, but saw little of it. The soldiers,
who long for home, are bitterly incensed against England,
but above all are alarmed at the prospect of another war."—
Correspondent of the Standard.
Monday's Magnet says the weather has again been
favourable for agricultural prospects. An abundance of
warm rain has fallen, and it it be succeeded by genial spring
weather the effect upon vegetation will speedily he apparent.
Thus far the course of events has been very satisfactory for
future resell* and equally faveurable reports are to hand
from the Continent and America. '
A young man of ehichester, has walked 50 miles in
10 hours 55 minutes; and a boy, aged 10, rode a bicycle 51
miles in about six hours.
Locusts have appeared in 53 Communes in the pro-
vince of Badejoz.
At the All Saints' Easter Vestry at Cambridge a
matter of more than local interest was introduced by Mr.
J. D. Digby ; this was the fact that there is no memorials,
mark the resting-place of Kirke White, the poet, who died
at St. John's College, and was buried in the Old Church of
All Saints'. Mr. Digby proposed that a subscription be
entered into to place some tablet or memorial on the spot to
inform passers by that the site is that of the old Church of
All Saints., aria oets+cana the gr Ave of Kix Ito White; and
after some conversation the resolution was carried by the
casting votnof the chairman.
Another batch of Socialists are to be dealt with at
Odessa on the 30th instant. The defendants, who number
between three and four hundred individuals of both sexes,
represent every class in Russian society, and hold opintots
identical with those unfortunates who were recently
despatched from St. Petersburg to Siberia. Revolutionary
placards were again posted on the walls of Odessa last
week.
At the Chinese Embassy in Portland-place, London
(says the Court Journal), a short while ago (the date is always
kept secret), the wife of his Excellency the Chinese Ambas-
sador was safely delivered of a child (the sex is also kept a
mystery until both mother and offspring are enabled to
appear). The only notification of the event was the presenta-
tion of a basket of eggs, coloured red, exactly after the
fashion of the Easter ewe now sold in the London shops, to
the wives of Her Majesty's Ministers. The baskets were of
Ingeniously-plaited straw, and ,the eggs symmetrically
arranged all round the edge.
The Vienna Prase considers that war between
England and Russia is inevitable, because each *wishes to be
recognised as the representative of Europe, and adds that,
as neither has the right to assume such a mission, Europe
will look on calmly at the duel between the two claimant,.
An inquest has teen held at Chester on the body of
Herbert Drysdale, twenty-five years of age, son of Dr.
Dry sdale, a well-known physician of Livei pool. Deceased,
who was a general broker, went to Chester on Saturday,
b haviu- previously sent on his canoe, and on Monday morn-
ing ho went up the Dee as far as Eccleston Ferry, about
four miles up the stream. Here he lauded, and about
twelve o'clock commenced the return journey. Shortly
afterwards the canoe was seen to heel over, and Mr.
Drysdale disappeared, and did not come to the surface
again. The body was not recovered till half-past four in the
afternoon, a few yards from where the accident happened.
Deceased was an excellent swimmer, and his sinking cannot
be accounted for. A verdict of "Accidentally drowned"
was returned.
At an evening party at which Dumas was present a
young lady performed one of those difficult pieces which are
woithless if not executed to perfection. At the end of the
display, the company were in ecstacies. On being asked his
opinion, Dumas replied: "She plays like a good Christian'
her left hand knoweth not what lier right hand doeth."
"At the recent sale of Turner's works, an amusing
anecdote was current. A well-known artist was at his easel.
•aith his 'boy in buttons' in attendance, when for a moment
the artist ceased painting, placing upon a chair his palette,
upon which patches of a variety of colours were dotted in
admired disorder. The page thoughtlessly sat down upon
the palette. The painter's rage at first knew no bounds ; but
suddenly he exclaimed, 'Stand still, boy don't move; you
have got a magnificent Turner on your breeches 1' "—Truth.
A Renter's telegram, dated New York, April 19,
says that agents of the British Government are purchasing
cavalry horses in New York State and Vermont, it is asserted,
to the extent of 200 weekly.
An accident occurred on the Thames, opposite the
House of Commons, on Tuesday, resulting in the loss of two
men whose names were unknown. It appears that at half-
past two o'clock they engaged a boat near Westminster-
bridge. After rowing round the Cleopatra, they proceeded
towards Lambeth-bridge, where they ran into another boat
and were immediately capsized. Every effort was made to
save the lives of the men, but they were lost before help
could be rendered.
Upon the suggestion of Sir W. Armstrong an ex-
periment in hydrodynamics has been made at the Queen's
Dock, Stobcross, near Glasgow. The object was to ascertain
whether a jet of water striking a face of boulder clay with
great force could undermine the bank and came it to fall.
A pressure of water equal to 7001 b. on the square inch was
directed upon the bank for twelve minutes, at the end of
which time it was found that the impact of water had left
but a faint trace on the bank, and that the experiment was
a failure.

A new Paris police regulation interdicts the entry
to the Morgue of children under fifteen. This lugubrious
place was a favourite promenade of nurserymaids with their
young charges.
The German squadron which is to be commisioned
on the 6th May will consist ot some of the strongest vessels
of which the navy of Germany can boast. They are the
armoured broadside ship lionig Wilhelm, 9,425 tons, carry-
ing 25 eight-inch Krupp guns, and having plating eight
niches in thickness. The turret ships Preussen and Fried-
rich der Grosse, each of about 6,660 tons, armed with four
ten-inch Kruppa and -two guns of lighter calibre, and pro-
tected with nine-inch armour; the turret ship Grosser
Kuritirst, of similar tonnage and a like armament, but
having only eight-inch plating at the water-line. A despatch
vessel will accompany this squadron in its cruise, and there
Is at Malta the German frigate Gazelle, which will join the
flag of the German Admiral should this squadron proceed
to the Mediterranean, as is anticipated. The Kfinig Wilhelm
cost £508,C00, and is engined by the English firm of
Mandalay.
"There are no holiday-makers who enjoy their holi-
day more than the hapf.y fishermen. For bard-worked
men, the brainworkers especially, there is no recreation like
fishing—for the worried in mind, the nervous, and the de-
sponding, to remedy like a trout rod and a pretty stream.
What old Isaak said of angling in general is specially true
of flyfishing. It is • a rest to the Mind, a cheerer of the
spirits, a diverter of sadness, a calmer of unquiet thoughts,
a moderator of the passions, a procurer of contentedness.
For overwrought brains, for the greatest mental toilers in
our human hive, fishing is the best holiday pastime."—From
an article on the Easter Holidays in the Standard.
The Americans, we learn by the telegraph, ridicule
the idea of Russian privateers being fitted out in the ports
of the United States. This is the right view of the case
(remarks the Pali Mali Gazette). It is absurd to suppose
that the American Government would sanction the sale or
equipment of such vessels, and the American people, we
may be very sure, have no wish to pay for the infringe-
ment of the Three Rules for the benefit of Russia alone.
No doubt, as some of the journals frankly confess, they
would not be sorry if the result of a Russian war were to
turn the balk of our trade into American bottoms, and in
this respect Germany probably is at least equally anxious.
But such natural selfishness is the happy privilege of neu-
trals, and we who have so often profited by it ourselves Can
scarcely complain at the somewhat cynical parade of satis-
faction by others.