The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-12-06 00:00:00

t.sceUarrcirit Intelligtna.

HOME, FOREIGN, AND coLonau

T.SE SIEGE OF OARLISLE.—A bagful of historical
documents relating to the proceedings which led to the
siege of Carlisle in ,1644 and 1645 has been found under
a beam in the triforium on the north-west side of the
choir of Carlisle Cathedral, by the workmen who were
making some repairs. The documents bear the dates
of 1642 and 1643, and they must have been hidden
under the beam 240 years ago. They have been taken
possession of by the Dean and Chapter. The siege of
Carlisle by the Scots, after the battle of Marston Moor,
forms one of the most interesting episodes of the
history of the city. The place was invested on all sides
by Lieut. General Leslie, and his force numbered 4000
horse and foot. The garrison consisted of about 700,
200 of whom had come with Sir Thomas Glenham,
Commander-in-Chief of King Charles's forces. The
siege lasted many months, the Scots finally getting
possession of the city an the 25th of June, 1645.
VALUE OF LAND IN LONDON.—From some statistics
obtained from official sources cited by Mr. 4. E. Sly, in a
paper recently read before the Ald gate Ward Ratepayers'
Association, it appears that the rateable value of pro-
perty within the limits of the city has during the
present century increased rather more than sevenfold.
In 1801 it was £507,272; at present it is £3,582,102.
The most rapid and remarkable rise appears to have
taken place during the third quarter of the century.
Even as late as 1856 it was only £1,203,466.
A ROYAL STUDENT-AT-LAW.—Prince Albert Victor
will shortly be entered as a student-at-law at thp
Middle Temple. The exact date of his entry is not yet
decided, but it will probably be in the course of next
Hilary Term. His Royal Highness will not be the first
distinguished lawyer who began life at sea. The late
Lord Chelmsford was a midshipman, and so was Lord
Erskine, and both were Lord Chancellors. Neither will
be be the first Prince who has taken an interest in the
science of law, if we are to believe Fortescue's " De
Laudibus." His accession to the Temple is likely to
increase the popularity of the Inns of Court as educe-
eational establishments, and gives an opportunity to
the benchers and all concerned to enlarge their ideas on
the subject of legal education, with the view to some
approach to the Legal University which the Lord Chan-
cellor has so long had at heart.—" Law Journal."

FOREIGN IRON TRADE.—Business in the Austrian
iron market is getting much duller, and prices, both of
pig and manufactured iron, can only be uphold by the
efforts of the various trade combinations. The Belgian
iron trade continues in a very bad state, values declin-
ing all round, owing to the poor demand. The French
iron market is stagnant, and every hope
of improve-
ment during the present year is given up. The output
of pig-iron in the Meurthe-et-Moselle has been
restricted. In the German iron market a more cheerful
tone is being maintained. The German production of
pig-iron during the first ten months of this year was
i
2,982,846 tons, against 2,806,640 tons n the correspond-
ing period of 1883, which shows an incree.se i!Jr 1z...84 of
176,202 tons. The American market continues de-
pressed.—" Iron."
STAPLB AND BARNARD'S INNS.—An interesting relic
of London before the Great Fire will probably shortly
disappear. Staple Inn, Holborn, ie said to have been
sold to Messrs. Baxendale (Pickford and Co.) for
£BO,OOO, and will be converted into a depot. The
quaint entrance gateway, the picturesque houses in
Holborn, and the interesting hall, with its prettily-
designed turret, must, we very much fear, almost as a
matter of necesssity, be destroyed in order to adapt the
site to its new use. The ancients of the society have
divided the plate belonging to the society between
themselves. The ancients of Barnard's Inn appear to
intend to pursue a similar course; they have divided
their plate, and propose to let their hall. Barnard's
Inn is described by Dickens in "Great Expectations"
as a "club for cats," and it was here that Pip took
chambers when hc+ first can 4-r% Lan Aron .—" Builder. n