The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-07-10 00:00:00

glisteliantous antettigan,

HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL

AND SEVERAL OF Tinst.—At the last State
Cone,at wae performed "Heaven preeerve the Em-
peror with variatuo.." Would not this do for the
French National Anthem ?—Punch.

HEALTH OF THE QCEILN.—The Medical Times
and Gazette says :
The public will have seen with satisfaction that her
Majesty has been able of late to take a greater share in public
ceremonial than has been her wont since the lamented
Prince Consort's decease. We are not revealing medical
secrets, but simply stating what is well known to all her
Majesty's inner circle, that the presence of a crowd or the
succession of persons who are presented at Court produces
on her nervous system the giddiness and other symptoms
common to landsmen at sea. Considering her Majesty's
habits of punctuality, and the hard labour and anxiety she
has undergone during her happily protracted reign, it cannot
be flatter of surprise that the nervous system should become !
fatigued.
MAGNIFICENT DIAMONDS, &c.—There has been
on view this week in the gallery of Messrs, Debenham,
Storr, and Sons' great auction mart, in King-street,
London, an extraordinary collection of jewels and
bijoutsrie. The more important items, some of which
must be of the value of hundreds, and others of
thousands of pounds, are a brilliant collet necklace of
graduated stones, a court necklace of emeralds and
brilliants, a five-row necklace of Oriental pearls of
remarkably large size, a Court suite of opals and
brilliants, several important brilliant pendants and
brooches, three large brilliant crosses, and innumerable
brilliant rings of large size and great lustre. There
are also 250 carate of lustrous brilliants and rose
diamonds, besides parcels of pearls of tine orient, and
other recherche effects. The catalogue describes the
whole (150 lots) as being one property, and sold to
cover an advance.

To THE MERCANTILE MARlNE.—Officers in the
Merchant Service, at least those under the rank of
Captain, who find their duties arduous, should marry,
for then they would be sure of a helpmate.—Punch.
DEFENCE oF CANADA.—An Ottawa despatch to
the American press states that the Militia report laid
before the Canadian House of Commons shows that the
Volunteer force of the Dominion actually enrolled in
1868 numbered 75,948. Of the reserve Militia there
are in Ontario, 315,352; Quebec, 215,216; New Bruns-
wick, 55,022; Nova ekotia, 69,876. The report on forti-
fications says that in February last there were 54,200
breech-loaders in reserve and in store; 31,000 Snider
liars, besides 25,000,000 rounds of ammunition. Be-
lieving this in excess of the requirements, Mr. Card-
well intends to withdraw in the autumn 25,000 Snider
rifles and 10,000,000 rounds of ammunition. The Im-
perial Government are of opinion that the military and
naval service must be largely reduced. It is intended
in the summer to withdraw from Ontario and Quebec
one regiment of cavalry, three batteries of field and
three batteries of garrison artillery, and three battalions
of infantry; from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
two battalions and one field battery. Halifax is to be
considered an Imperial station, and 2,000 meu left for
its defence. Four companies of Canadian Iliflee are
to he disbanded, and is to be left to the consideration
of the Dominion Government whether they are to be
supported at their expense. The number of armed
vessels is also to be reduced. Three gunboats will be
left on the lakes. Another naval force must be kept up
at the expense of Canada. Mr. Cardwell says these
reductions are only part of a policy long contemplated.
RAILWAY ACC:DENTS. A return bas been
issued of the number and nature of the accidents and
I injuries to life and limb which have been reported to
the Board of Trade as having occurred on all the rail-
ways open for traffic in England and Wales, Scotland,
and Ireland respectively, during the year ended the
list day of December, 1868. The number of accidents
to passenger trains was 92. The result from these
was 92 passengers and 10 railway servants killed, and
personal injury to 516 passengers and 44 railway
servants. Nine accidents occurred to goods and
mineral trains, whereby eight railway officials were
killed and live were injured.