The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-05-04 00:00:00

tJianou JnhiUcgcn.

HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.

AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN.—The follow
ing are the average prices of British corn for the week
ending April 27, as received from the inspectors and
officers of Excise :—Wheat, 51e. Bd. ; barley, 425. 6d.;
oats, 255. 10d. per imperial qr. Corresponding week
last year :—Wheat, 555. 10d. ; barley, 405. 6d.; oats,
255. 81.

A MONSTER GUN.—An enormous tube of cast iron,
which is to form part of a lareech-loading gun weigh-
ing 100 tons, has been recently successfully constructed
in the founelry of the Italian Government near Turin.
The iron used was melted in eleven large furnaces,
situated at some distance from one another and them
conveyed into a large receptacle, specially constructed
for the purpose. The heating of the furnaces was
begun at three o'clock in the morning, at ten o'clock
the molten iron was conveyed into the great recep-
tacle, an operation which was performed in thirty-five
minutes, and in less than half an hour afterwards the
casting was completed, not a single hitch or accident
of any kind having taken place during the whole work.
When finally completed, the gun will be rather more
than thirty feet in length, and the diameter of the
breech where it will be strengthened by steel rings will
be about six feet.

ILO7ING Too MUCH OF THEM !—The Turks have at
least 90,000 picked soldiers south of the Balkans. The
fact astonishes the Russians. "Yet you cannot mean
to attack us," said a Russian General very lately to
the aide-dc-camp of the Sultan, who chanced to be at
San Stefano. "We are now your brothers, and we and
you intend some day to go to Indiatogether. We have
no longer any quarrel ; it is the English who are our joint
enemies." "No," replied the aide-de-camp; "you
have so thoroughly proved yourselves to be our
brothers that you have kindly insisted on remaining
perpetually in the same house with us. Of ynur
brotherly feeling we have no doubt whatever; if you
had not that you would not care to stay in our com-
pany so long as you do. Yet is it not possible," added
the quiet Turk, "to have too much even of one's own
brothers?"

SPORT DowN WEST.—The Plumas (California)
National gives an account of the winter spats of the
Sierras :—" From W. W. Yeates we learn that
Eureka was the scene of some lively snow-shoe racing
on Saturday last. 'Dope' has been the rage up that
way lately, and the 'greased boards' are handled
with almost as much dexterity as in the more snowy
regions in the southern part of the country. The
ladies' race was a lively one, 12 entries being made.
The first prize, a gold buckle, was won by Miss Annie
Menzie, and the second, 10 dols., by Miss Alice
Menzie. The time made was good, but we have no
recotd. Snow-shoeing is lively sport, and the races
create more excitement than horse-racing. It might
be well to add that a prize of 5 dols. was offered to the
man that made the largest hole in the now by falling
down, and it was gracefully carried off by William
Becraft."

A LESSON IN SUBTRACTION.—Aunt Bella: "Now
look here, Tommy. Suppose there were three apples
on the table. Could I take away one and leave
three ? " Tommy: "Oh, no, Auntie! Certainly
not!" Aunt Belles: "And why, Tommy?" Tommy:
"Because it wouldn't be polite "—Punch.
NEWSPAPERS FOR THE FLEET.—The Times published
the following letter :
Sir,—Will you allow me, on behalf of our Bluejackets, to
convey through the medium of your columns our very sincere
thanks to those persons who have sent newepapers to the
ship? Jack takes a lively interest in politics just now, and
he prefers an English newspaper to a lower-deck "yarn."
He wonders who those kind people are who send him the
papers, and if they will continue to send them.—! am, Sir,
yours faithfully, VALENTINb' J. A. BRowNE, Chaplain MILS.
Swiftsure, Gull of Xeros, Gallipoli, April 20.

Ma. REDMAN'S C ORN. —Ma x Adeler says We
are surprised to read in an exchange that the "corn of
Mr. Redman, of Lycoming County, is 7 feet high."
We pity Redman. We cannot imagine how he gets
his bouts on, over such a corn as that, nor can we con-
ceive how he contrives to walk, even when barefooted.
It is hardly likely, we should think, that Redman
himself is morn than 6 feet high, and if that is the case
that solitary corn of his must tower above his head. It
might be a good thing to tie an umbrella to, or he
might carry a flower-pot on his foot, and have a honey-
suckle climbing up the corn and blossoming under his
nose."

INTOXICATING LIQUORS.—The Bill of Mr. Wilson
to prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquors on Sunday
has been appointed for second reading on the 29th of
May. It contains only one short provision :—" From
and aftert he passing of this Act all premises in which
intoxicating liquors are sold or exposed for sale by
retail hall be closed during the whole of Sunday sub-
ject to the provisions (except as to hours of closing on
that thy) of the Licensing Act, 1872."

MAT-DAY AT OXPoTtD.—An interesting custom was
observed en Wednesday morning at Oxford. Those
who rise with the dawn on May morning may hear a
carol "chanted loudly, chanted lowly," from the top
of Magdalen Tower. Of course this is a modern inter-
pretation of the "pious founder's" wish, who desired
a requiem to be sung for "some souls of good memory"
—Edward IV. and others. Again, the visit of Henry
VIT., in 1488, rendered a requiem necessary; this, in
turn, gave place to the mere cheerful ceremony of
ushering in spring with glet.s and madrigals. For
tln:so a Latin hymn has been substituted, and no doubt
with this modification the founder rests content. Not-
withstanding the early hour there are, as a rule, many
abroad; these are mostly townsfolk with some remi-
niscoices of early country hours. The May hero are
still blown from the break of day.

RUSSIAN PRIVATEERS.—Under date April 30, ths
Correspondent of The Times, writing from Phil°.
delphia, says :
"The German steamer Cimbria. of the New York anti
Hamburg Line, was chartered at Hamburg by the Russ
Government, proceeded to a Russi,in port on the Baltic, an
there took aboard 600 men, chiefly Finns, as steerage Pi,st
sengers, with 63 cabin passeugeis. The captain was r,
structed to obey the orders of a Ru•sian naval officer of
The Cimbria sailed on April 20, passed round the north el
Scotland, and put into South-West harbour, on the coast el
Maine, on Sunday. where she remains to-day awaiting in'
struction., meantime keeping steam up. She has no cargo!.
but ships' st(rt s and coal. No Government official has Is'
boarded her, noihing being known about her."
A " SPLIT " IN TIME IS SUPERFINE.—There nr°
likely to be no more divisions in the Cabinet till thfl
summer; then, however, we may expect to hear?,l,
somewhat numerous "splits," especially of APPOI
naris.— Fen.
POLYTECHNIC—DIVING BELL.—The following
been sent to us and vouched for as a fact Awe
dressed man a few day days ago paid his fee to g°
down in the diving bell. He entered, but just an
was swinging off he called out " Stop ! stop!
bundling out, had only just time to make his exit el
the bell reached the water. "What's the matter?
said Anderton, the attendant. "Matter enough," re;
plied he "think-I'm going to trust myself tut'
The 'tarnal thing's got no bottom I"—Public Opinion'
"A
-WARD" IN CHANCERY,—A lost cause and Per
ment of costs !—Judy.
1, id
TRANSMISSION OF SOUND.—Professor HugueS, - d
well-known inventor of the type-printing apparatus 5°
largely employed on the Continent, has made the
wonderful discovery that some bodies are sensitive
sound as selenium is sensitive to light. If such a boll
be placed in the circuit of a small battery it will be
affected by the sonorous vibrations when spoken tea.
to replace entirely the transmitter of a Bell te!ephone;
Conversation, music, and all the sounds transeaittep
by an ordinary telephone are easily reproduced.
mere scratch with the finger-nail, or a touch with the
soft part of a feather, is distinctly transmitted. 1"
sonorous vibrations produce strains in the condactoP
which cause variations in the resistance of the circult!
and thereby produce similar variations in a eurrelo
flowing through that conductor. —Nature.
HIGHLAND UNIFORMS.—" Righlander " writes t°
The Times :
Sir,—As some of the kilted Highland regiments may s
have to take the field, I should be glad if you would kinclig
allow me to point out some reforms in their uniform whiceit
are really urgent The shoes should be abolish
and the white gaiters also, for they take time to put on, al
troublesome to clean, they would soon wear out, and,
over, grit works tip the heel. 2. The coloured hose
cially the red and white check) are very expensive to Os
men, and wash badly. In place of these I would give the
ankle boats with plain brown or gray hose, such as worn 01!
the moors, and with knickerbockers. Lastly, I would de
away with the belted plaid, which is never worn in marehiPlig
order. I say nothing of the feather bonnet, as its antllo4
the Prince Regent, was a man of exquisite taste, and it
well known that ostriches are indigenous to Scotland.
GALLING,—It must be an unsatisfactory reflection
for those who pride themselves upon the select soder"
in which they move, that in Father Adam all men
have a common origin.—Judy.
THE CULTURE OF ASPARAGUS. —With a vie?' tif,
improve and extend the culture of asparagus threug.e•
out the United Kingdom it is proposed to gives seri,.
of annual prizes, extending over a period of set-
years. These prizes will be given in London, ET-r‘
burgh, Dublin, and the nolth and west of Englano
consecutive years. They are given with the object o
having thoroughly tested in all parts of the coue„tri
the plan adopted near Paris of planting wide eMja,
and without much expensive preparation. ln 1
system may be carried out in the smallest gardens, '"
fields, or fruit gardens, without the considerable PTA
liminary expense and preparation usually conside7,
necessary for the formation of asparagus beds- 1„f
prizes are offered by Mr. W. Robinson, proprietpr

-The Garden.
COLLECTING THE DOG TAX IN FRANCE.--T ht,
efficient manner in which the tax is collected ill -'l3fo
land is notorious. They do these things bette.„or
France, for at the beginning of the year a Pollcer,„4
calls at your house, and politely requests to know
arty
many dogs you keep, and on being inforrae
makes a note in a book, furnished him for the,P;a
pose. A few days later on you receive a Prill
declaration from the collector of taxes, in which
• d
fill in the number of dogs kept, and, having sigue ,ur11,0
'
you take it to the tax collector's office, where if Y"
return agrees with the police book, you may PAY vont
money and get a receipt for the twelve months.

COU
it
PAUCA VERBA.—Robinson (after a long w..ist W
at the club). "It's awfully late, Brown. Wila,v6h,
you say to your wife ?"—Brown (in a whisper). , r
I shan't say much, you know—` Good morning,
or something of that sort. She'll say the rest. ! •
Punch. c ever
INVETERATE TALKERS.—The writer Of a -1,1 'll
article entitled the "The Sociability of Silence 1.
the Pictorial World, remarks :—" There are so?'
people who talk merely for the purpose of exerelel
the muscles of their tongues—at least, such wow a
appear to be the case—and it is difficult to underotstili
why they cannot take this exercise on some seeludelp
common or in a padded room, where they vroul
no annoyance to their fellow-creatures. If they fa° ,r
there is any element of sociability in their chatter, sr.
that anybody is likely to be benefitted by their re„,
petual prattle, they are most egregiously. miatakei:4
There is far more reason in the
Silence' than they would imagine. Cannot I atiel
mind a certain panelled smoking-room down at SS
old country house. Here sometimes you may clo,
and find your host smoking and meditatinK 01 ore
favourite corner by the fire. He will scarcely dolltio.
than nod when yoi, Pritor, arid will point to thP.
On the table you will find pipes and cigars of all Y-Luour
and tobacco of various descriptions. You select
pipe, and fill it. You take the opposite corner of
fireplace, and you both sit and puff and puit
or
watch the wreaths of smoke curl upwards. Vtl
sibly do not say a word for ten minutes, but woo
your host at last speaks, the chances are that he ePe, of,
of something that you are that moment thinkilibabi
There is an infection of thought, there is a sYln,l3-0
in silence that is very remarkable. At times ill, ro
very smoking-room there is plenty of talk and T• 05,..,
ero"
are endless jokes, smart repartee, brilliant 000 tbio
tion, and roars of laughter. But no one talks for 00
sake of talking, no one is supposed to he sulky be?tej
he is silent. . . . In no place that I am 901'194/Icier
with is the 'Sociability of Silence' so clearly uticoit
at ior so delicately interpreted as it is in the an
illedsrnoking-room of which I speak."
to file
STORM WARNINGS. A Sufferer writes --

Times:—
Sir,—l find by The Times the value of " American er
casts" is being discussed. May I venture to offer ligh a
perience ? I left London on the mo•rning Of the .coatir
November last to join the Royal Mail boat leavießY,priai
ampton for South America, and purchased at the' •
station The Times to read on my way down when Ifo to
telegram announcement from New York of a storra th°reo pe
following day. The weather was very threatening w"ntitin
started, and at old sailor remarked he thought the ch-out•
w.uld put into the Yarmouth Roads, and not ventorevieoC
side the Needles. I was glad, however, to find 11! We
boldly to sea, the boat being all that could be desire'cole,
encountered four days of the most severe weather WOO
and if you will turn to your reports published in Theiyal
of the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th of November You t"
able to judge the value of the "American forecn;
which you rave warning on the 9th. I shall herea4Y: josi
due attention to these warnings, as my experiencu
taught me to do so. 5118
DUE APPRECIATION OF ARTISTIC MERIV-Ifhilag
doctor has been, Harry, and he says there's nu—tiired
serious the matter with cook, but that she recit ife
port wine. So I'm going to give her some of thAialt
got for baby last year."—" Good heaTeus, ~,s
don't give her that I Give her whatever rerosl-0 of;
the '34 your uncle, the Dean, left us; and thou g
with the '47, you know! "—Punch. ; t WhiCh
SELLING A DOG !—That was a knotty Po.n-
a French judge had before him the other daY, :tbst
a man bought a cow that snapped up the note.,,:t th.
were to pay for her! The judge decided tP"„s
buyer should be the loser as he had hold of the Noriorl
the time, which constituted possession. Thig The
has a parallel in a case reported some little ag; for •
owner of a very large dog agreed to part with la,ficise;
certain sum, but the buyer no having AsuTie di?
money put down a sovereign as a deposit. ohovu*
so, the doe- suddenly put its paws on the seller's Dirge
ders and 'knocked him backwards through fe
square of plate-glass. The man, not the less 00
mayed, picked himself up from the fragraellitAL 13°,
coolly remarked, "There, see what your
done," and demanded an extra sovereign for dare
—Court Journal. b nr tlie
THE LIABILITY OF MARRIED MEN To -e
Liabilities of Married Women.—Punch.
...ret11111,.1;
THE WAGER WAS NOT ACCEPTE,I).—Travea.--
ing from Russia say that there is an uneasinevicerre'
is ill-concealed (according to The Times rari,6 sots,:
spondent). The acquittal of Vera Zasuliteu. fafw"
lightning-flash which revealed an abyss. The Chle
Secret Police said the day before the verdict vii‘e: thre
"People may say what they like; I ara rris, 'Prt
Vera Zasulitch will be acquitted and, .r e
shall all have our accounts to settle." On waetten
hand, great hostility is manifested towards., hs
Ignatieff. The friend who told me this e51'',,,,01,01';
beard last week in one of the most brilliant L;bicil
rooms in St. Petersburg a conversation intbss
young Russian proposed to wager a largo si;jeut'e,f
General Ignatieff could not speak for threg oleo
without one of the following phrases
tell falsehoods." "You may believe svue'"idce
"I tell you it, so it is true. I an 2
father. I always speak the truth, eu ra/srs
of honour, and you know I seldonl
"Believe what I tell you." " What interes'opie 70i
in concealing the truth from you ?'' " i'ree aselfr
wrong not to believe me." "Falsehoodsevel'off
when one has good intentions." "I have geefloolt,
thing, and lam the most attacked." " eberel'o.c.
has always jeopardized the success of onr hoe ,of
' "If I had been listened to, that would riel'ope
curred." "The Turks know that I have lieeeilloy
their good ; I need not go on if you do not be,;oo of
I have written these sentences at the dictiola, ja
friend. The curious thing is that everybeus,na Pro
company, even official personages, laugl.l4„. Geolca,
nobody accepted the wager. Still, this as 0.% polVo
who but yesterday directed the whole ituss.T.iritielle
and the very persons who are amused a alefora
of him would not dare to blame binl
-11113'
Emperor. , 00
"A Goon Turn coG.'oojgbtodar
p,
hooray! Not to be outdone by the 13rdi
Midland, and other railway compaiSfes, sleePco
-stands that very shortly she will see Pullirrs. of
Cars "on every line in the kingdom. „,..-1014 A
only repeat her little remark as per au: o • owel,
-
Verily so, for all of us sleepy ones is 12"
fero
nappy time.—Judy. 13i1JA.,
THE SCHOOLMASTER ARROW:V-1— uole 9pa
Times calls attention to a "truly re1n?",0%,, af
laid before Congress by Senator Bunithe 014 ite
of April. It provides that, in the p__.., shimt,ol
the district of Colombia, the school in,c":ach fict7-01
troduce, as part of the daily exerci o
sehe:
elertlentrier.
in their jurisdiction, instruction in
-ndustry,
social and moral science, including..lenio, hterPtio,
ecenoiny, punctuality, patience, selg•"
P-'
hone'/' Fll
Y
purity, temperance, cleanliness, hilant r°er 1.
justice, politeness, peace, fidelity, P
veren'
triotism, self respect, hope, perse „dor,.
nem, courage, self-reliance, gratitudeaor anll.oo
kindness, conscience, reflection, And ,z,„;
teachers are to Live a leszon Oval

thou topic*.

THE EASTERN QUESTION.

DEPARTURE OF THE INDIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.

BOMBAY, April SO.—The first detachment of the native
force to be sent to Malta has sailed. A number of fresh
regiments are required to held themselves in readiness. The
e7Pedition will take stores for five months. The Begum of
Bhopal has offered her whole available force for service
abroad.

" CoNSTANTINOPLE, Sur_day.—The difficulties which were
atiPposed to have been removed have once more appeared.
The Russians insist more trongly than ever ou the giving up
to them of the forts on the Bosphorus. Troops continue to
Isrrive at San Sttfano, ostensibly for review, and provisions
n,lld war material are being accumulated there. The
ftuesians are drawing nearer Conatautinople."—Special Cone-
bpondent of the Standard.

'Writing from Berlin on the 28th the Corre=pondent of the
Daily 7elegraph says :—" Information just received here
leads to the belief that Austria has concluded her bargain
With Russia, and purposes entering Bosnia without delay.
I am assured this resolution was definitively adopted at the
State Council held yesterday at Vienna. It has been the
!utl and aim of the Slav and military parties in Austro-
gungary ever since the commencement of the insurrecthn
tn turopean Turkey, which broke out E.O shortly after the
Emperor Franz Josef's visit to Dalmatia: and Count
Andrassy endeavoured to bring it about with the consent of
the Porte only three weeks ago. He met with an absolute re-
fusal at Stamboul, and then caused official denial to be promul-
gated that any such Dropwition had been made. Subsequent
strangements with Russia have led, if I he correctly in-
19rmed, to the adoption of the resolve to take possession of
tosnia and Herzegovina by force, regardless of Turkey's
refusal, and a convenient pretext is afforded by the Mussul-
roan rising in Roumelia, which Austria assumes to be likely
to extend to provinces on her immediate frontier. This
Probability is to be discounted in the sense of the ultimate
Increment of territory ')3, Austria, with Russia's full con-
enrrence, and certainly no difficulties will be raised thereto
by Germany."

VIENNA. April 27.—The Political Correspondence of this
ovening publishes a letter from St. Petersburg, dated the 23rd
inst., which purports to give an account of the recent
~rgotiations touching the simultaneous withdrawal of the
"'llssian army and the British fleet from the vicinity of Con-
stantinople. The statement made in the letter in question
is to the following effect :—" The proposal of Germany for
the simultaneNus retirement of the Russian troops and the
tnglish fleet to a distance to be fixed by a time calculation
and for the neutralization of the positions thus evacuated
,was assented to in London and St. Petersburg. Since then,
nowever, matters have again taken a more unfavourab!e turn,
ttrtl3, in consequence of the continued • armaments of
ogland, and partly by reason of tho difficulties
raised by the British Government in arranging
the details in connection with the question of evacua-
tion. The difficulties were at first smoothed over by
anew proposal of Germany to fix a certain number of hours
in which the abandoned positions might be regained; but
suddenly England claimed that her fleet should not have to
retire from out the Dardanelles, as contrary weather and the
difficulties attending the passag3 of the Straits would, ac-
cording to circumstances, require more time. The letter
concludes as follows:—" By this claim England has again
gone back from a principle already accepted by her, in the
'Janie way as she has also withdrawn from the principle,
eqUally assented to by her, of the meeting of a preliminary
Coffference."

. BERLIN, April 27.—Referring to the report that a power-
Mißnglish ironclad squadron is to be fitted out immediately
for service in the Baltic, the North German Gazette this
evening says it will not enter into the question whether such
a fleet would not be without any basis of operation, or
,Whether at the best it would not have to content itself with
tshe la-nrels gained by the not very glorious blockade of the
Ansaian harbours. At the same time, however, the Gazette
.°41.1 not conceal its opinion that the despatch of a British
fleet to the Baltic, where many hitherto neutral interests
L'llitht be affected, might render the situation immeasurably
ore complicated.
ST. PETERSBURG, May I.—The semi-official Agenee Busse
"2"1/IY, with reference to the alleged intention of the British
Government to send a fleet to the Baltic, recently commented
Upon by the North German Gazette, says :—" It would be
'emit to understand such preparations at a moment when
gesia, sincerely desirous of arriving at an understanding,
le engaged in negotiations with England through the in
of Germany."

A Vienna paper publishes a London letter which states
that the British Government still considers it not im-
Dossible that its thoroughly earnest attitude will be appre-
ciated by Russia. In the contrary case, England will at her
?„*n risk rectify the state of affairs brought about in the
'Aiken Peninsula and in Asia by the war. Before doing so,
however, it is possible that the British Government will
"Ininon a Conference to meet in London.

The Constantinople correspondent of the Manchester
(guardian, telegraphing on the 28th, says :—" The Lazie
DePUlation of Batoum protest against annexation by Russia,
and a deputation is said to be on the way to Constantinople
!c. offer to raise, if necessary, an amount of money equal to
e share of the indemnity represented by the cession of
15a toum Twenty thousand Lazies are said to be mustered
tlear Batoum ready to dispute the entry of the Russians."

'Writing from San Stefano, on April 30th, the Correspond-
Of The Times says :—" The Grand Duke left this morn-
big at eleven o'clock, after having visited the Sultan. With
General Todleben's assumption of the command a new period
111 the war history begins. The impression in this army is
at his appointment portends strife. The General's own
oDinion, I am told, is that war is inevitable, and this
°Pinion is shared by the Chief of his Staff. The men are be-
ginning to talk more of war. The fact is they are tired of
,be,ing kept in these fever-begetting swamps, and many state
Luat fightirg would be preferable to the present state of on-
orialuty and inactivity. I believe this feeling, however, is
IllY evanescent, for the soldiers are heartily sick of the war
and long for home. The appearance of the troops yesterday
'lag very satisfactory. All had new clothes and looked
e eaner than usual. The battalions, however, were weak;
/Ilan). men, I was told, being temporarily unfit for duty in
!e'sequence of its being Easter Monday. Skbeleff's
Lkinous 16th Division looked especially smart. Every man
'larried a new spade slung across the back, indicative of the
eir system of warfare. This division yesterday morning
elarched 20 miles, and returned the same distance in the
:veiling. The horses of the Cavalry and Artillery were in
'leellent condition."

special telegram from Berlin to the Pall Mall Gazette
F'YIL that intelligence has been received at Berlin from what
cc!nsidered a trustworthy source to the effect that the
s'o'alian Government is making warlike preparatioLs on a
0105ewhat large scale. The object, it is said, is the despatch
ati expeditionary force into Albania in the event of the
Anstrians occupying Turkish territory in Bosnia.

The CronBdadt Westiiik announces that the greatest
rertlons aro being made in order that the Russian Baltic
f...,eet may be ready to go to sea as soon as possible. The three
;..Ftates the Pervenitz, Sevastopol, and Kuiaz Pojarsky have
tad all their machinery and equipments completed. Two
Zlidred artificers are at work on the frigate Peter the Great.
1,1 the military ovens throughout Russian Poland have
t 'en directed to bake dcuble quantities of biscuit, ttc. A
delegrarn to the Gotos, dated the 19th that., announces the
t:Parture from Odessa of the steamer Lazareff, with 1,000
r..t.8 of military stores for San Stefano. The cargo of the
zzareff, was composed of tents, trenching tools and tele-
-101311 wire. Other telegrams state that every day several
ratoers deeply laden with war matJriel leave Odessa
or the Russian headquarters.

The Russians have just made every preparation for corn-
sioning a Baltic Fleet, consisting largely of turret-ships;
some of the papers are discussing the possible effect of a
4roonstration in the English Channel, which they fancy
413 t cool the ardour of the Briton. But as Russia moves,
Zoo We, and we have this week commissioned more iron-
zit., including all our available turret-ships, and they talk
Ports of a cruise in the Baltic. Such an interchange
vislts might be very interesting at this moment, but it is
etY certain that we shall not go up the Baltic if the Russian
k:e! comes out, for we at e not going to allow our enemy to
eh lon the spot" and almost in possession of the Channel
*Mild war be declared. The harm we coulddo in the Baltic
oe°ll.lcl be as nothing compared with the possible operations
tZ an enemy in the Channel, and it must not be forgotten
the large squadron which has been spoken of as about to
L'r,oeed on a cruise under Sir Beauchamp Seymour consists
roaLTAY of coastguard and home-defence ships. The torpedo
hp be a very terrible weapon, but we would rather not be
elo; dePendent upon its services until our ships could be re-
eoued to the Channel. The squadron which the Admiralty
6,1,1,,t0 .?nplate forming is not likely to go farther than Religo-
-".—W7titehall Review.

•We(Olobe) hear from Odessa that the people there are sub-
g with enthusiasm towards the funds of the Moscow
~,,tatnittee for fitting out volunteer cruisers. It has been
Yrr.-
thO mused to form volunteer crews among the fishermen of
Bea, and it is stated that the officers of several of
coi Quips have already been selected. A telegram in the
from liherson, states that the Municipal Club has
ved to subscribe monthly 100 roubles towards filling out
luecaloscow cruisers. Private donations are flowing in
14..d1_,Y. The Cronstadt Vestnici: of last Friday states that
'enPtions amounting to 2,000 roubles had been received
dettiall sums during the week from local tradesmen
13 °Ws of promoting the objects of the Moscow Cruiser
oelety.

kup.an anyone say what naval resources Russia has accu-
lit.,_ft‘ed at San Stefano and along the coast of the Sea of
(1,-..ziora? Shortly after the occupation of the defences of
Lriltantinople 1,200 sailors were sent to the front from the
4,44, and scarcely a week passes that shiploads of stores
fr0,,,"0t sent from Odessa to Turkey; yet not a word comes
krir I Mar specials' with the Russian army as to thetr
Thijal or accumulation. One thing I know for certain.
it,"dlors have not returned to Russia, nor have the torpedo
Attie's. They must then be hidden somewhere in Turkish
tellt :a lam rather inclined to think that they have been
Rodosto, where a Russian Admiral is stationed with
hrdP,lciously large staff of naval officers, and where a dock-
aftgyfalli been improvised during the last few weeks,"—

ta.Thr2 Presse says that English agents are purchasing horses
-viver Italy, and despatching them to Malta.

said that the Russian Government has transmitted
l'esettoos to Nicolaeff for a further call upon the naval
topi,'e,ll in the southern provinces in excess of that which
"tee a few weeks ago.
!az ,s 6 Eastern Budget says: —We understand that, accord-
7, the information received at Vienna, the situation in
tt is growing more clitical, and that the Austro-
k.ouctsa"nan Government has redoubled its efforts both in
entk...."4 and St' Petersburg to facilitate the assembling of a
e ID,
wi4l,Blun circles in Paris it is said that England is ready
utlt wrdraw her larger war vessels from the Sea of Ilarniora,
tgajz:thes to leave smaller ships on the spot for safeguard
st the laying of torpedoes.

ikiletle review of the Russian troops which was to have
bol,ebd Place on Sunday at San Stefano was indt-finitely post-
-11444 It is said that the weather had made the roads
tot Or movement of guns. The Russian soldiers did
L'heuil7e any attempt to use the Greek churches on Sunday,
-11 —ere were fewer Russians in Constantinople than on
aY for some weeks.
It is ,
wit bea‘leged in recent letters from Athens that a treaty
...oeordea concluded between Greece and Great Britain,
;01ild lo which, in case of war with Russia, Greece
;troy .Place 45,000 men in the fled to assist the British
would receive full compensation for all expenses
"'sea incurred.— Vanity Fair.

to'
gt. Peterburg Correspondent telegraphs (by a cirpui-
-sigls-eta°llte) under -date 25th inst., that the Czar has just
allot,' a decree calling out 240,000 men
.of reserves, and
get3Lier decree proclaiming a state of siege In St. Petersburg,
and the Crimea.—Vanity Fair.
letterri
I„44atah to the proposed simultaneous withdrawal of the
-hitt: army and the British fleet, the Cologne Gazette
Ilk, at never since its existence has diplomacy been called
Lllerft°.,„aolve such a novel problem as that of establishing
1,711 quality of distauce between an army and a fleet,
-4EC tet",re to one and the other the possibility of re
i iturn-
qtltatinueir original positions if necessary. Not only s t a
te,°,l fixing upon a neutral zone between the %hale
,f,:Letalant, whose ninvements must be calculated
a;`uerent basis, but also between two armed Powers
-4
ag effrially, at ate peacel but who, in reality, are
iot 4
P-tonic warfare"
eZOdessa newspapers stlte that 3,030 labourers have
tVetVeaged to proceed to 'Rent to fortify the place. The
ce of the defensive works is entrusted to
tylf.2*4 urentein, who will also construct a strong strategic
414,'"a"'age noar Rent, on the Rivtr The war
tittid running from Bet der to Galatz his been incorpe-
With the Odessa Itaillway.

tktillirtY-five British and foreign wrecks were reporteil
a .4 g th
e past week, making the total for the year 455. or
t4"rtod 4411 of 255, as compared with the corresponding
year. Vesaels and cargoes were approxi-
,goo:4ll4V4 at 4.350,00, including British property

MR. GATHORNE HARDY, M.P., ON THE
EASTERN QUESTION.
On Monday afternoon the Ri4 ht lion. Gathorne Hardy,M.P.,
the Secretary of State for India, arrived in Bradford, and
performed the ceremony of opening the new Conservative
club. The day 's proceedings were very enthusiastie through-
out, and the reception accorded to Mr. Hardy was extremely
cordial. In addressing the members of the Club, the right
hon. gentleman referred to his long connexion with the
neighbourhood by family and other ties, and also thanked
the audience for the reception accorded to him. After the
ceremony Mr. Hardy pi esided at the opening dinner, the
proceedings at which were private. In the evening ho at-
tended a crowded meeting at St. George's Hall, and de-
livered en address on the political topics of the day. In the
course of his speech, the right hon, gentleman said :

_
. . . The Treaty of San Stefano has been carried
into effect, has been, rather, ratified at St. Peters.
burg. It is called a preliminary peace. If it be a
preliminary peace, I suppose that all of it that concerns
the Treaty of Paris ought to be open to consideration
before it is made a permanent peace. ( Rear.) I do
not know whether many of you have looked at the
maps of the Treaty of an Stefano—l only wish you
had looked at the map of the Treaty of San Stefano
—and I ask any candid, honest man, whatever his
party or politics, if he cannot see on the face of the
map that there is not a single element of permanent
peace in the Treaty of San Stefano. (Cheers.) I do
not say that it cannot be modified so as to bring
about a permanent peace; but as it stands it con-
tains in itself every element which would cause
dissatisfaction, which would cause a disruption of
unity, which would cause ambitious feelings, and which
would bring about eventually a war which must either
destroy Turkey or destroy those new provinces which
are set up. (Hear, hear). There are more than one
set of Christians in Turkey. There is a Slav popula-
tion, which is more especially interesting to Russia as
being of the same race as her own. There is besides
the Mussulman population, and I do implore English-
men not to forget that Mussulmans are men of like
passions with ourselves, men of like feeling with our-
selves, and that wrongs and outrages done to the
women and children of Mussulmans are as bitter to
their souls as the same done to the women and children
of other fellow Christians. (Cheers.) Besides that
there are the Greeks, the Greek religionists—Greek, in
nation, and Greek, as it is called, in religion, and these
men are as much separated from the Slav population
as the Mussulmans are. They are as distinct, and
have as distinct interests and feelings. And are they
to be thrown out of the scale? Are you to do every-
thing for one population at the sacrifice of the inte-
rests of both the others? All these things have care-
fully to be considered—(hear)—and you have to look
at the question in its magnitude and in its extent.
This country is not, as I have said and as others have
said, simply a European Power; this country is also
an Asiatic Power, it is an African Power, it is an
American Power. In every sea you will find some
island upon which the flag of England is waving.
(Cheers.) It is this great country, this England, which
was once called "a little body with a mighty heart,"
but which may now be called a great body with a
mighty heart; it is this England, the centre of those
great Powers which we have set up throughout the
world. I ask you whether it is this country which,
having entered into engagements, is to be deprived of
the benefit of those engagements? Or has it not the
right to ask that every circumstance which concerns
the treaties of 1866 and 1871 should be submitted to a
European conference, not for acceptance, but for dis-
cussion, so that we may come to a conclusion, if pos-
sible, upon suitable principles, so as to secure our peace
and the peace of the world? (Loud cheers.) Gentlemen,
we have since that time taken steps; still, I tell you,
not warlike steps, but precautionary steps, in the in-
terests of that which we have pursued undeviatingly
—the interests of this country. (Cheers.) A war
party ! A war Ministry Nothing is more impos-
sible in this country. (Loud cheers.) The conditions
of trade are such at this moment that I feel for you all
in these districts, suffering as I know you do from the
diminution of your trade. I myself have my share of
it, for I have a personal interest in the trade of this
country being developed. (Hear, hear.) Besides, as
I have said, you are liable to take an interest in every
portion of the world. You have your great responsibi-
lities, your great duties. (Cheers.) Do you think
that any ministry of this country, from a spirit of
military glory, would risk your trade, would risk your
colonies, would risk your dependencies for the uncer-
tainty of victory? (Cheers.) I remember in those
years which were passing during the time of the
Crimean war what Lord Beaconsfield, then Mr.
Disraeli, said. (Lord and prolonged cheering.) Now.
gentlemen. how did the Conservative party behave in
those years? In the time of the Crimean war the Con-
servatives gave the Liberal Government an ungrudging
support in the great contest in which it was engaged.
But when the question came to be about military suc-
cesses, Mr. Disraeli said that it was not for victory,
nor for military successes, but for great principles,
that people ought to go to war; that Otherwise Eng-
lishmen would become, not the champions of public
right, but mere military gladiators. (Cheers.) But the
present Government have no desire to become mili-
tary gladiators of the world. (Cheers.) Gentlemen,
there were three courses, of course, as is generally
said. (Laughter.) There was the course which is
called the peace-at-any-price course. (Laughter.) That
is the bourse of our taking no notice of anything that
happens outside this England of ours—a course that
forgets that we have anything beyond it—a course
that would make England a King Log among her
dependencies and reduce her to a position in which she
would gradually become the poor, miserable country
which a country will become if it does not accept
its responsibilities. (Cheers.) Secondly, there was
a course called the course of "a crusade." (A laugh.)
We find that Peter the Hermit was one of the great
examples we had to follow' and we were told that
we should draw our sword for nationalities. I hope
that the sword of England will never be drawn
against freedom and liberty anywhere. Dear to her
are the principles of freedom, dear to her the prin-
ciples of liberty; and I hope England will never have
to fight against them anywhere. But are we to pro-
clai.o ourselves the knights-errant of the world, going
about righting wrongs and redressing grievances? The
question is, not how you will deal with this or that
population, how you will set these up or pluck
those down • you have to consider the future of
those populations, and I say it is an iniquity to put
a population where it cannot maintain itself and
then leave it to its fate. (Cheers.) Unless you go
and establish such institutions as the people require,
you will be only doing them a wrong and an injustice.
(Cheers.) Then there were those who proposed that
we should not go into a crusade, but that we should
join Russia, and who said that if we had done so ac-
tually there would have been no war, for Turkey
would never have resisted. Well, Turkey has by no
means shown herself so pliant as some people would
suppose. (Hear, hear.) There was a time when•
France, England, and Russia did unite against
Turkey. They did destroy her fleet at Navarino, and
a blessed boon it was to Russia, because Russia was
able to advance against her and to make the peace of
Adrianople, which was so injurious to Turkey.
(Hear, hear.) But I say there is no proof whatever
that the thteatenings of England, combined with
Russia, would have prevailed to prevent Turkey from
maintaining what
.she believed to be her right; and I
say that to have joined Russia in coercing Turkey
would have been an iniquity so abominable
that the burden of it would have remained on
the conscience of this country for ever. (Loud
cheers.) But supposing we did go to war in this way
we knew what would happen. I would not say a
word to make light of the sufferings of the Bulgarians.
According to some accounts, 12,000 were massacred.
According to a more moderate estimate, about
3,000. That was an abominable and dreadful
outrage; but what has happened in vindication of
that outrage? I won't say what the sufferings of the
Christians have been in this war, but they have been
enormous. But what have the Mussulmans suffered?
From information which, I think, may be relied on it is
estimated that not less than 500.000, a great part of
them women and children, have died either by famine
or the sword, or have met with outrages worse than
death (hear, hear), and so by accumulating woe
upon woe the wrongs of the Bulgarians have been re-
dressed. We refused to enter into war, but we did so
with precautionary measures (cheers), and now, when
the question of the settlement of treaties comes about,
we claim our right to be heard. Of late we have called
out the Reserves of this country, and they have
responded to tne call in a manner which redounds to
the glory of this country. (Loud cheers.) Deeply I
regret that the necessity has arisen, because I know it
must have entailed much suffering on many families,
but never befure. I think, have Englishmen responded
to the call in such a manner as I foresaw they would,
and which, no doubt, as Englishmen they were bound
to do. (Cheers.) They have filled up the ranks
of our army, and while in former years there never
was a time when England had 30,000 men we
could send abroad, I believe at this moment she
could send 30,000 men into the field. Besides, that has
been a great blessing for another reason. There have
been people carping and grumbling about the Reserve
and saying it would never come forward. Well, I say
that if we were only to see what material we have be-
hind our army the calling out of the Reserves would
have been amply justified. (Cheers.) I dare say we
ehall hear something, too, of our Indian forces coming
into Europe. Much has been sail of disaffection and
dissatisfaction in India. Well, I wish that some of
those who have said so would read what is said in The
Times to-day of the readines with which the people of
that country are coining to Europe. (Cheers.) You are
no longer a small island; you are a vast empire, and you
have a right to draw from all parts of that empire de-
fenders in whom you may trust. I know nothing which
gratified me so much when recently I was at the War
Office as the offers which came from Canada to raise
regiments (cheers), and I believe that in our various
colonies throughout the world the same heart beats
as beats here, a true English heart, which will make
itself felt, and when anything threatens the old
country depend upon it our colonial brethren will
never rest but rush forward to the succour. (Cheers.)
Well, gentlemen, the peace-at-any-price party would
make England a little shop for the commerce of the
world. (Laughter.) You would have no right to
your armies and navies, you would'have only to look
to your ledgers and your cottons. I little know my
countrymen if that sort of language can please them.
(Cheers.) But there is even a fourth course—that of
the non-intervention party; and I agree with them as
far as relates to non-intervention in the internal affairs
of other countries' because there is nothing so pre-
judicial as that; but nod-intervention in the affairs
of Europe is to say that you have not an Empire at
all, that you are in an isolated position in which you
have no concern in the great events occurring in Europe
and the world. Such was not the opinion of 'or fore-
fathers, and sueh a thing would not suit you.
Well, eentlemen' there is a great England which our-
forefathers have handed down to us, built up by the
blood arid treasure and enterprise of our ancestors.
Whether in war or in peace they have gone to
.all parts
of the world, and everywhere the English name is
known, English is spoken, and the Enelish heart
beats. That is the great England to the Ministry of
which I have the honour to belong, and wilieb I
- desire to see maintained in all ifal.'lgMildoui, and in
all its majesty—(Cheers)—an England humanizing
the world, civilizing the world, bringing to every part
of the world her religion and her laws, ho wing
herself everywhere, as she does at home, the friend of
freedom and of justice, and not prepared to stand
by and see a great overshadowing cast upon the
nations of the world. And though there
may not be in that overshadowing a 'great dolga

to England, yet we may s(3 in the future
that the instruments which are put into the hands
of a great Power may be used for the destrue-
tion of English interests, as has been well expressed
by my noble friend Lord Salisbury, in that despatch
which be has written. (Loud cheers.) If Turkey
remains truncated, dismembered, pitiful and powerless
or rather a Power in the hands of another Power.
Turkey will still exercise dominion over a great por-
tion of the earth with which we are intimately cote
nected, and there is a danger if one great Power
should be enabled to use another that, without seizieg
her towns or taking possession of her ports, English
interests may suffer, for they are inextricably blended,
and.instead of the civilization and humanity of Eng.
land we may bring about a very different civilization
and a very different humanity. (Cheers.) Well if it dis-
pleases the country that the Ministry of England should
look to such an empire—if that displeases you, your
business is to displace us. If we are acting contrary
to the public opinion of England, you can make us
retire from the position which we hold. I cannot help
alluding to a resolution which was sent to me from the
ministers and delegates of Congregational churches in
which they say that a great repsonsibility rests on Her
Majesty's Government- and the whole nation, and
they earnestly hope that Her Majesty's Government
will seek by all honourable means a peaceful solution
of the crisis. That is what we are doing. (Loud
cheers.) It is not by the predominance of one that
peace can be secured. It is not by the destruction of all
that has been solemnly ratified by Europe that a
permanent and durable peace can be secured. It is
with the object of securing that durable peace that we
seek an entrance into a Congress where our voice may
be fully heard upon every question that affects the
treaties of 1856 and 1871, and we look to you and to
the people of England to enable us to speak with that
force and that decision which will give effect to our
efforts.

The right hon. gentleman sat clown amid loud and
prolonged &stn.

A CONTRADICTION.
These Lancashire Strikes

Are the worst civil war,
And the less that they loom,
The larger they are !—Punch.