The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-12 00:00:00

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Tuesday (Bth) being the fourteenth anniversary of
the birthday of Prince Albert Victor. eldest son of their
Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, the oc-
casion was celebrated at Windsor with the usual rejoicings.
The Copenhagen students, by 280 to 220, have re-
fused to admit their female competitors into their club.

The number of persons who left the Mersey for
foreign parts in December was 2,109, an increase of 306 on
December, 1876. The number of emigrants from the port in
1877 was 54,873. _ _

•
A correspondent in Jersey writes :—"You had
recently an article on china grass; it was cultivated here as
ai experiment during the cotton famine. It yields even
here three crops in the year, producing a silky fibre one
hundred times more than hemp or flax, and incalculably
more than cotton. A friend of mine has succeeded in dress-
ing it with little expense; in fact the treatment required is
so simple and inexpensive as to be within the reach of the
poorer natives of India."

Victor Hugo has presented 500 f. as a New Year's
offering for distribution among the drivers and conductors
of two lines of omnibuses by which he is frequently a
passenger,

The following vessels despatched by Sir Julius
Vogel, the Agent-General for New Zealand, are reported to
have arrived safely at their destination :—The Canterbury,
which sailed from Glasgow on the 29th of September, arrived
at Port Chalmers ; the Opawa, which sailed from Plymouth
on the 27th of September, arrived at Lyttelton ; the Ren-
frewshire which sailed from Plymouth on the 29th of
September, arrived at Napier.

Francois Vincent Raspail, the celebrated French
chemist and veteran champion of the people, died at
Arcueil on Monday right. He was within a few days of
attaining his eighty-fourth year.

Direction posts for the guidance of strangers to the
town are to be erected in the various streets of Sheffield.
Consequent on the stoppage or partial cessation of
the principal ironwork, sod collieries at Wolverhampton,
the distress in this district continues to increase, and on
Saturday last relief, in the shape of bread and oatmeal,
was distributed at the Town Hall to about 630 families.

A sum of £40,000 has been bequeathed to the
Western Tnfirmary, Glasgow, by the will of Mr. John Free-
land, a Glasgow merchant, who died lately at Nice.
At the Roanhead iron pits, Ulverston, a charge of
dynamite had been placed in a rock bore-hole on Saturday,
but did not explode On Tuesday two men were drilling
another hole beneath it, when an explosion took place. One
of them was severely injured in the face, but the other
escaped with trifling inluries.

Lord Suffolk, while hunting with the Beaufort
hounds with the Prince Imperial at Aullavingtfron on Satur-
day, came in contact with the projecting branch of a tree,
and received severe contusions about the head.
The few Englishmen left in Pleyna after the invest-
ment established a club. With a tender recollection of home
they gave it the not altogether incongruous name of the
"Rag and Famish." Their favourite refreshment was very
thin Beaune.—The World.
Steps are aliout to be taken to obtain a quantity of
good tobacco seed from America for cultivation in tthe
North-Western ProVinees of India. The seed is expected to
reach India in time for next year's sowings.

On Saturday the Prince Imperial, who has been
paying a brief visit to the Earl of Cowley at Draycot-house.
near Chippenliam, had a day's hunting with the Duke of
Beaufort's hounds, a special meet being held at Hul-
lavington, some four miles from Draycot-house. There was
a brilliant assembly, the company including the Duke of
Beaufort, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Marquis of
Worcester, the Earl of Suffolk, Lord Ilinchingbrook, Lord
Dangan, Lord Fitzroy Somerset, Sir Gorald Codrington, Sir
Thomas and Lady Dancer, Colonel Kingscote, M.P., Mr.
Sotheron Estcourt, li. P.. Baron de Brigne, Baroness de
Toyle, k.c. The Prince had a capital day's sport, one fox
giving a run of over two hours' duration, and eventually
saving his brush. On the previous day the Prince shot over
the preserves on the Draycot estate, and about 200 head of
game was credited to the guns of the inooting party. In
the evening a grand ball was given in his honour and was
attended by the lite of the county.

Can it be a fact that army surgeons are required to
learn that elegant manoeuvre the "goose step" upon first
joining? If it is true, evidently 'coining events," &c., and
as it is proposed giving medical men command over their
own men, it will no doubt be necessary that they should
know how to "march past ! "—Whitehall Review.

The Premier, in a letter to the ex-Lord Mayor of
London expresses the great pleasure he experienced on
hearing that the Mansion House Indian Famine Fund had
reached half a million sterling.—According to the weekly
statement of the 31adraa Committee the famine is passing
away, but the after-effects of such a terrible scarcity as that
experienced by the Presidency continue to be very great,
and the death-rate still continues very high.

Mr. J. Newton, C.E., presiding on Saturday evening
at the 25th annual meeting of the Loudon Association of
Foremen Engineers, commented upon the part which the
Royal Navy would have to take on the outbreak of war.
The most important work would fall to the navy. A ship of
war was a floating machine shop; almost every operation on
board was performed by the agency of steam-propelled ma-
chin.ry. That mmbinery was necessarily managed and con-
trolled by Engineers, who were not contented with the
station of life to which it had pleased "my lords " to call
and appoint them. Mr. Newton said the utmost dissatisfac-
tion existed among the steam officers of her Majesty's navy.
What was needed was to place those officers on a footing
similar to that which was occupied by the medical officers.

"We understand that a marriage has been ar-
ranged and will shortly be solemnized; between lhe Earl of
Rosenery and Miss flannah de Rothschild, daughter of
Baron Meyer de Rothschild "—Saturday's Times.
In answer to the aplication for remuneration, the
jury in the "detective case" have been informed by the
Lords of the Treasury that, notwithstanding the recom-
mendation of Mr. Baron Pollock, their lordships cannot re-
gard the services rendered by the jurors of entitling them
to special consideration or payment for their time.

Last month 69 ships left the Mersey with 2,109
emigrants, a decrease of 932 compared with November.
During the year just closed 54,813 emigrants sailed from
Liverpool, a decrease of upwards of 11,000 compared with
the previous year. The English emigrants numbered
32,467, Scotch 425, Irish 5,021, foreigners 14,238, the
nationalities of the remainder not being described.

Mr. Gladstone has written another letter to Mr.
Chamberlain respecting the continuance of public meetings
in reference to the position of the Government on the
Eastern Question, in which he sefs no disadvantage. Ile
expresses his satisfaction at the recent speech of Lord
Curnarvon, and entirely relies on what the noble earl said,
but enjoins vigilance, as he knows not what a day may bring
forth.

The Eoonomist thinks "the political events of the
next few weeks will doubtless have a great influence on
trade. Should a satisfactory peace be arranged between
the belligerents, it may be hoped that a feeling of greater
confidence may spring up. The last twelvemonth has been
fortunate in one respect, the list of failures is compara-
tively small But should business not revive it can hardly
be hoped that the effect of the small profits recently ob-
tained, and of the general depression of trade, will not
show itulf in difficulties of this description."

By the deaths of the Marquis of Ailesbury and
Lord Kinnaird, the Prime Minister has at his disposal the
blue riband of the Order of the Garter, and the green riband
of the Order of the Thistle, as well as the Lord.Lieutenant-
cies of Wiltshire and Perth.

Now that purblind conscripts are to be admitted
into the French army, the martially-disposed among the
stone-deaf should not be debarred the chance of glory.
They could be trained to manceuvre to the ear-trumpet.—
The World.

- •
The annual week of united and universal prayer, in
which the principal part will be taken by the Evangelical
Alliance, opened on Monday.

- -
Mr. Watkin Williams, M.P., in addressing his con-
stituents at Denbigh, entered fully into the Eastern Ques-
tion, and declared that England must not, on the plea of
British interests, prop up a rotten State like Turkey, and he
really did not believe the Government meant war, but had
called Parliament together thus suddenly because the end of
Turkey was come from her own internal rottenness. A
resolution of confidence in the hon. member, and another
adverse to the country going to war, were passed.
A sad case of drowning is reported from the British
fleet in the Bay of Yourlah. A boat belonging to H.M.S.
Agincourt& was coming off from the shore bringing Mr.
Gibson, secretary to Admiral Cornmerell. There was a
stiff breeze blowing at the time, and it was quite dark.
Something went wrong with the mizenPail, and the cox
swain of the boat stood up to clear it but he fell overboard
Mr. B,usbworth, midshipman, who was officer in charge of
the boat, jumped after the man with an oar, and was
drowned, though the coxswain was rescued.
The late Hon. Mrs. Howard, of Ashtead-park,
Surrey, has bequeathed £2,000 to the Orphan Girl's Home,
Kendal; to the Westmoreland Diocesan Church and Par
sonage Building Society, £1,000; and to the Solety for the
Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, £l,OOO, as well
as other bequests of a minor character.

There were 2,878 births and 1,892 deaths registered
in London last week, the births baying exceeded by 172, and
the deaths by 185, the average numbers. The annual rate
of mortality from all causes was 27 per 1,000, calculated
upon the population in the middle of this year, which is esti-
mated at 3,677,204 persons.

_
The Times' summary of the agricultural affairs of
the past year is short and sweet. It is as follows :"The
Harvest year in England was one of the worst on record.'—
Mark Lane Express.

- The "short time" movement has made consider-
able progress amongst the manufacturers in the Halifax
district. A numerously attended meeting resolved on
Saturday to run their mills for only 38 hours per week for
the next four weeks. The firms present at the meeting
represent about 800,000 spinning and doubling spindles.
It is announced in Manchester that the late Mr.
William Muter has left a considerable sum of money for
the advancement of the Presbyterian cause in En.i4land. lie
recently gave 4,2,600 to found scholarships in connection
with the Presbyterian College in London for students who
are abstainers from intoxicating drinks and tobacco. After
providing for his family, the residue of his estate is to be
equally divided between the Sustentation Fund of the Pres-
byterian Church of England and the Free Church of
Scotland.

The latest novelty in protection against fire in
theatres was shown at one of the Brooklyn Theatres recently.
It is nothing more nor less than an iron funnel, eight feet in
diameter and about twenty feet high, which surmounts the
dome of the stage. The ceiling above the stage and the
Inside of the proscenium is lined with heavy sheet iron, so
that a fire on the stage can be confined to that part of the
house. It is claimed that when the valve winch closes the
funnel is opened, a fire could occur on the stage and the
flames and smoke would go up through the funnel, while the
audience sat safely by and witnessed the conflagration free
from all harm.
The Astronomer Royal reports that the duration
of registered sunshine last week was 3.5 hours, the sun
being above the horizon during 65.1 hours; the recorded
duration of sunshine was, therefore, equal to 6.4 per cent.
of its possible duration.
According to a Parliamentary statistical report of
the health of the navy just issued, the total number of
entries on the sick list of the service afloat was slightly
greater in 1876 than in the preceding year, as were also the
invaliding and death rates; but the most noteworthy fact
in the comparison between the two years is the great increase
of deaths from violence. In 1875 they formed 2244 per
cent. of the deaths from all causes, whereas in 1876 their
percentage was 35 09, an exceptional increase chiefly due to
casualties on the home station. Notwithstanding the in-
creased sick rate, however, it is satisfactory to notice that
the death rate of the total force from disease alone was
nearly one per 1,000 less than in the preceding year.
"R.—As I have tried in vain to see you, and as
none of the letters I send through the post even reach you,
the correspondence must now close, and with every good
wish for your happiness, I must say, finally, good bye.—A."
—Advertisement in The Times.

The Rev. James Leslie Randall, rector of Newbury,
'has resigned the charge of the parish after a ministry
extending over twenty years. The rector's intended depar-
ture has caused much regret, and the feeling was increased
by the death of his second daughter a few days previously.
The funeral took place on Saturday, when most of the busi-
ness establishments and private houses in the town were
partially closed.
The long-continued season of bad trade has caused
great distress among the working classes in Sheffield, and
among the ironworkers especially is this the case. The
Sheffield Workhouse has more inmates, and many of these
able-bodied men, than it ever held before; and it is stated
that for at least ten years nothing like the privation has
existed that may be found at present. Everything available
has gone to the pawnbrokers long since, and how some of
the men and their families live is a mystery. Applications
for relief of rates are unusually numerous, and the appli-
cants are altogether of a different class from those who
usually make their appearance before the overseers. Many
of them are young men- a large number of them are iron-
workers and men employed in the steel trade. .

It is stated that the Prince of Wales will go to'
Berlin as the representative of the Queen at the marriage o
the two Prusqan Princesses, which is fixed for the ISth of
next month.

Saxon, the only rem Pining gaming establislimmt in
Switzerland, was closed on the 31st of Decembei; under the
Federal Coilistitution of 1874.

Cardinal Manning is endeavouring ti) bring about a
approchement between Pope Pius Ix. and the Emperor of
Germany, and his efforts are, we hear, likely to prove suc-
cessful —Vanity Fair.

"We are in a position to state that the Queen will
open Parliament in person, and that their Royal Highnesses
the Prince and Princess of Wales will come to town for the
occasion. Possibly the rather alarming indisposition of
Prince Leopold, however, may cause some alteration in the
programme."— Whitehall Review

On Saturday Dr. Lang, of Southport, was attempt
ing to discover an escape of gas at his private house with
the aid of a light, when the gas exploded. Dr. Lan was
killed, and the house was considerably damaged.
By request of Dr. Manning, Cardinal Archbishop
of Westminster, prayers were said on Sunday in all the
Catholic churches throughout his diocese for the health of
the Pope.

Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., replying to a communica-
tion from the Thetford Working Men's Liberal Association,
observes :—" I am glad that the past and present action of
her Majesty's Government in preserving a strict neutrality
in the Eastern war meets with your approval, and I believe
that policy will continue to guide the Crown unless the
honour and interests of Great Britain are assailed by either
belligerent r

Prince Gortschakoff is said to have spok€ns follows
to a foreign diplomatist :—" As we do not know when
England intends to begin and when Turkey intends to leave
off, we must pursue our course without taking any notice a:
either."— Vanity Fair.

Mr. Arundella addressed his constituents at Shef-
field on Monday evening, and spoke of the prospects • !
trade in connection with the question of peace or war. He
considered that more danger threatened England now than
at any other time since 4he close of the great French war.
_ _

He urged that the country has a right t, -know of any con-
templated departure from the policy hitherto understood
to be the policy of the country; and he hoped that the
Cabinet was united in its support of the policy which had
been announced by the Earls of Derby and Carnarvon.

At the general elections in Jersey on Tuesday, the
only noteworthy result was the defeat of a candidate who
was the champion of the anti-vaccination party.

A telegram to the Galos from Riazan, dated the 2nd
instant, announces the discovery, in a wood outside the
town, of the murderea body of Crown C.;uncillor Rosen
berg. Death must apparently have been instantaneous,
a revolver bullet being found lodged in the heart of the
murdered man. The assasiin is still at large. Secret
police have been sent from Moscow to investigate the case.
It having come to the ear of the Russian Govern-
ment that the Tartars in the province of Taurida contem-
plated the sale of their estates with the view to migrating
to Turkey, an ukase has been issued forbidding the saleot
laitded property in the province until the conclusion of the
war.

A large meeting has been held at the Middlesbrough
Town Hall to take steps to relieve the distress now existing
in the Cleveland di,trict. Several persons spoke of cases
which had conic under their knowledge; and one said that
the poor people sold all their furniture and pawned all they
could, and were on the verge of starvation. Hundreds of
men are working at 4s. a week in the stoneyards, and thou-
sands of people are being partially relieved. A relief com-
mittee was formed, and £145 subscribed at the meeting.

Telegrams inquiring after the health of the King
of Italy were received from the following Sovereigns and
personages :—Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales, the
Emperors of Germany, Austria, and Russia, the Archdukes
Albert, Charles, and others of Austria, the Sultan of Turkey, ,
the Kings of Spain, Denmark, Portugal, and Belgium,
Marshal MacMahon, and the Empress Eugenie. The Pope
has also received information continually. ,j

There were 43 British and foreign wrecks reported
during the past week. They were mostly foreign vessels,
and the amount of property lost was very large, the total

approximate value bin a considerable over half„ a million
sterling (£627,500, including British £130,000). Eight s,
steamers were among the number, and the aggregate
tonnage represented about 18,370 tons. The grand total
number of wrecks for the past year ending last Monday "
reached to 1,864, which is an increase of 67 as compared
with the total for the year 1876.

Did you ever hear of an excellent reason why
soldier—a horse soldier in this ease—never takes off his

Swift, iu his "Grand Question," says :
" For a captain of horse never takes off his hat, •
Because he has never a hand that is idle,
For the right holds the sword and the left holds the bridle."
—Whitehall Review.

Reform Bills notwithstanding, the House of Com-
mons is in its composition very like it was sixty years ago. - z
Looking into an almanack of 1817, I find that some of the
constituencies returned amongst their members gentlemen
bearing the following well-known names, all of which are
on the Parliamentary list of to-day.—Percy, Russell,
Dundas, Clive, Halsey, Morgan, Bowyer, Tremayne, Hicks
Beach, Freemantle Temple, Lopes, Peel, Lennox, Grosvenor,
Davenport, Lowther, Egerton, Manners, Tavistock, and
Jenkinson.—Mayfair.

The Council of the Church League for the Separa-
ration of Church and State at their meeting on Tuesday
evening, in view of a general election, resolved to recommend
their members to vote only for candidates who were in
favour of the disestablishment of the Church of England, and
without reference to their opinions on other matters.
From a recently printed official report it appears
that great difficulty is experienced in obtaining the required
number of schoolmasters and schoolmistresses for the public
schools in Prussia.

The death is announced of Mr. John Forster, for-
merly M.P. for Berwick. Mr. Forster died suddenly on re-
turning to his residence on Monday. He was the eldest son
of Mr. Matthew Forster, a merchant largely engaged in the
Wtst African trade, and the representative of Berwick for
many years in Parliament.
According tl the Printers' Register there are now
published in the United Kingdom 151 daily newspapers, as
against 149 at the same period last year. The number is
made up thus :—London, 20; the Provinces, 89; Wales, 2;
Ireland, 19; Jersey 1. Of these eighty-three are issued in
the morning and sixty-eight in the evening; all the latter,
except seven, being halfpenny papers. In politics sixty-
seven are returned as Liberal, forty-one as Conservative,
twenty-nine as Independent, and fourteen "of no politics."
The Hon. Elizalleth Caroline St. John Mildmay,
daughter of the first Baron Radstock and wife of the Vener-
able Archdeacon of Essex and Rector of Chelmsford, died at
Bournemouth on Monday, in consequence of an accident
which befell her a few weeks ego. While on a visit at Bourne- .1)
mouth, the deceased, who had attained an advanced age, . .
had the misfortune to fall upon the fire, and she was severely 44,
burnt about the shoulder and arm. Her injuries were such '•'=,
that she was unable to be removed home to Chelmsford,
and lingered in a critical state until Monday. .17