The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-09-13 00:00:00

rWe deem it right to state that we do not at all tirais,
dentify ourselves with our Correspondent's opinions.]

.1
his is pre•eminently a time of the year wnen
weather permitting, crowds of English tourists cross
the English Channel, mostly to France, but some to
Germany, others to Belgium, Italy, and Switzerlemd.
The horrors of the "middle passage," as the voyago
across the Channel has been described, have been the
theme of many a thrilling narrative; and there can
he no question that, but for the discomforts of the
sea, a great many more passengers would cross the
Channel than is now actually the case. Some years
ago a railway tunnel was projected under the English
Channel, or as the French call it, La Manche—the
Strait, for they will not concede the possession
of this piece of water as being exclusively Eng.
lish. But in the first place the cost of carrying out
the scheme would have been enormous; and in the
n xt there was some uncertainty respecting the con.
tinuity of the chalk forming the bed of the sea, for if
there was a rift in it, such a result would naturally
render the construction of a tunnel impossible. It is
now proposed to sink an enormous tube of cast iron
right to the bottom of the channel, this construction
to be sufficiently large for the utmost amount of
traffic that could ever be expected between the two
countries. This is the principle of the Tower Subway,
a tube having been constructed under the river for the
small sum of £16,000, as compared with the very large
amount of the expenditure upon the Thames Tunnel,
In connection with the Channel scheme, it is estimated
that traffic could be opened in about two years from
the commencement of the work.

The half-yearly meetings of the various railway
companies are now over, and it is ',possible to form an
approximate estimate of the actual results of the
operations. Seven of the principal companies, with
published decreases of traffic receipts, amounting in
the aggregate to £657,800, paid less by £290,000 than
they did for the same period last year. Only three
r_,ompanies paid increased dividends. Three companies,
showing an augmentation in the gross receipts to an
aggregate amount of £65,000, made no addition to
their dividends, increased capital charges absorbing
the whole of the expanded receipts. It may be added
that the first half of the year is never so good in
traffic receipts as the second, which includes the
holiday and excursion season.
It is one of the peculiar privileges of Englishmen to
grumble at everything; and one of the special subjects
which have come in for general abuse this year is the
weather, It is either too hot or too cold, too wet or
too dry; and yet whatever kind of atmospheric condi-
tion prevails, we are told by one that it is unhealthy,
and by another that it is exactly the reverse. Many
people have concluded that the weather of the past t welve
months has been unwholesome so far as the public
health is concerned; but this is not so. The metro-
politan death-rate has been considerably less than the
average, and has not been so low since 1860, when, as
stow, there was an excessive rainfall. Therefore,
although the summer has not been an enjoyable one—
indeed it was one in which many classes of the com-
munity suffered heavy loss, it was one of the healthiest
we have had for nearly twenty years.

- -
Not long ago, Mr. Gladstone drew attention to the
Importance of garden and spade cultivation, not only
as a means of healthy recreation to those who are com-
pelled to lead sedentary lives, but also as a source of
Improvement in position. The subject is one to which
other public men have often drawn attention; and
there is no more enthusiastic advocate of what is
called window gardening than the Dean of West
minster. When Lord Strathnairn was Commander•
in-Chief in India, he exerted himself greatly to
promote the giving to the soldiers a useful, healthy
and remunerative means of occupation through the
agency of a garden. His efforts produced an ex-
cellent effect on the discipline of the troops. From the
nature of the climate soldiers in India have many idle
hours on their hands; and it is notorious that idle-
ness, both directly and indirectly, promotes both
disease and crime, Some philanthropic officers have
urged that the system should be regularly adopted in
England, and their recommendations have been in
some degree attended to, that is as far as our army
system will allow. First of all, regiments change
quarters so constantly, and at such irregular intervals,
that it has hitherto been found difficult to carry out
any org„nized plan of providing soldiers with opportu-
nities of employment in gardens. In the second place,
with short service, which in many cases lasts only
three years, and with battalions in which there are
very few "duty men," there is no time to spare for
other than purely military work.
One of Praed's most sparkling elegies was entitled,
"Good-night to the Season!" and good night to the
London season of 1879 might have been said a long
time ago. There are some who may be disposed to
doubt whether it ever had any existence. Estate
agents in the West-end, firms who deal largely in
articles of summer attire, the purveyors of breakfasts,
dinners, and suppers—in a word the entire multitude
of those whose business it is to minister to the luxury
and pleasure of life, will have long since arrived at the
conclusion that no such season as that which lately
closed has been known in recent years. Not
that London has been less full at the West-end
than in any previous year. But one particular
feature of the ordinary season was conspicuously
absent garden parties, picnics, and water parties. The
constantly dripping skies rendered these impossible,
and thus the fancy toilettes which would otherwise
have been required, remained unmade. The meteoro-
logists tell us that we are not likely to have another
such a year for a very long time to come; and there
are none, in town or country, who will not rejoice at
the assurance.

The holiday rambler who is a disciple of Izaak
Walton may be regarded either as a devotee of a sport
which to some minds is intolerably dull, or as the
professor of a pastime requiring infinite patience
and skill to conduct it to a successful issue,. Some
of our best known public men are expert anglers,
and the names of Mr. Bright and Mr. Fawcett
are often in print as the captors of salmon of abnormal
size. Within the last few weeks several large salmon
have been taken in various rivers throughout the
country, many of which have found their way to
London. Amongst these the largest, which weighed
no less than 651bs. was taken in the river Tay,
and was a grandly proportioned fish. Daring the
earlier months of the fishing this season several heavy
salmon were taken at various places; and it is gene-
rally believed by those who have opportunities of
judging, that big fish have become much more pre-
valent in our riven of late years than formerly. This
is considered to be due to the legislation which
has from time to time since 1861 been adopted by Par-
liament for the protection of a valuable and nutri-
;ious article of food. The importance of increasing
our food supplies is becoming more and more recog-
nized with the growth of the population; and the
original declaration that he is a benefactor who raises
two ears of corn where only one grew before is more
than ever true in the face of the constantly. growing
numbers of our people.
The Washington Government have published
the reports of the United States' Consuls on the con-
dition of the various European countries to which
they are accredited; and the rehults are, in many
ways, remarkable. The general conclusions arrived at
are that wages in the United States are double what

they are in Belgium, Denmark, France, and England,
three times those of Germany, Italy, and Spain; and
four times what they are in the Netherlands; that
the prices of the necessaries of life are lower in the
United States than in Eurcpe ; and that the labeurer
in the United States can purchase his food for less
money than it could be bought for in Europe. These
consuls also unite in the opinion that the French
working people, with far less wages, are better off
than our own, who receive the highest wages in
Europe, on account of the steadiness and economical
habits of our immediate neigbours across the Channel.
Of the frugality of the working people of France there
can be no doubt, for it was sufficiently attested by the
ease with which that country paid off the enor-
mollB war indemnity of two hundred millions sterling
exacted by Germany nine years ago.
Amongst the Acts of Parliament which must be
passed next Session is one for taking the Census of the
tellowing year, when every great town in England
will be curious to see what progress it has made during
the ten years. There are many who hold that a
decenniAl period is too long to be allowed to elapse
between the numberings of the people. A quinquennial
census is advocated on the ground that occasions arise
io which important calculations have to be made and
decisions arrived at on the basis of the population of a
community, and that such a basis cannot be accurately
arrived at upon an official return taken eight or
nine years previously. So far as London is colic
it is comparatively easy to estimate what its
population is likely to be in 1881, In, 1871 it
was three millions and a quarter, and it increases
at the rate of about 40,000 every year. Consequently,
when the inhabitants of the great metropolis are again
numbered, they will amount to close upon 3,700,000, a
vast aggregate which will very soon approach the
whole pok.ulation of Ireland as it already exceeds that
of Scotland. Paris, Constantinople, and Vienna
combined would but make up one London, which may
well be described as a mighty sea, into which thou-
sands plunge never to be heard of more—an enormous
agglomeration of towns which constantly attracts by
the sheer force of its huge bulk, tens of thousands of
persons from the smaller communities in the king-
dom,

cerned,

THE ATTACK ON THE BRITISH
EMBASSY AT CABUL.

The following telegram was sent from the India
Office for publication
(From Viceroy, 6th September, 1879)

"During night of the 4th September information reached
Ali-khel that on morning of 3rd British Embassy at Cabul
was attacked by three revolting Afghan regiments, joined
later by six others. Embassy defended itself when mes-
sengers left Cabal. General Massy ordered to move from
Ali-khel on Shutar-gardan to-morrow morning. General
Roberts, from Simla, will reach Peiwar in five days and take
command of rapid advance on Cabal. Colonel Baker will
command one brigade. General Stewart ordered to hold
Candahar and threaten Ghuzni, if necessary.
"Two letters from Imeer received at Ali-khel. Pint,
dated 3rd, 8 morning, says troops assembled for pay at
Bala Hisser, suddenly broke out, stoned their officers,
then rushed to Residency and stoned It ; received volleys
in return. The confusion reached height beyond control;
people from city and surrounding country poured into
Bala Hisser, began destroying artillery park and maga-
zine. All troops and people attacked Residency. I,
Ameer, sent Daond Shah to help Envoy. He was
unhorsed at Residency by stones and spears; is dying.
Then I sent Yahya Khan and my own son with
Koran, also Mollahs, to troops, but no use. Disturbance
continues till now, evening; confusion is beyond concep-
tion. Letter ends. Second from /timer, dated 4th, says :
Yesterday, from morning till evening, thousands assembled
to destroy Embassy ; much life lost both sides. At
evening they set fire to Residency. All yesterday up to
now, I, with five attendants, have been besieged; have no
certain news of Envoy, whether he and his people have been
killed in quarters or seized and brought out.

Under date Calcutta, September 7, The Times of
Monday published the following
"Most serious news from Cabal is published this morning.
Certain Afghan regiments, which for some time past, owing
to their pay being heavily in arrear, have been manifesting
a spirit of insubordination, broke out, it appears, in open
mutiny on Wednesday and attacked the British Residency
in the Bala Hilmar. The first intelligence of the outbreak
was brought by a Ghilzat messenger, who arrived at AU-khel
on Thursday night and reported the matter to Captain
Conolly, the political officer there, adding that the envoy
and his escort were defending themselves. On Friday
night letters from the Ameer reached Captain Conolly,
the substance of which is said to have been as
follows :—Certain regiments which had already shown a
mutinous spirit and had made repeated and violent demands
for pay, had assembled in the Bela Hisser to receive arrears.
Suddenly, and apparently without a warning, they broke into
open mutiny and stoned their officers. They then attacked
the British Residency, but were received with a heavy and
effective fire by the escort. The repulse, however, was only
temporary. The mutineers were joined by the city mob, and,
after plundering the arsenal and mapzii e and the Ameer's
stores, the united bodies renewed the attack on the Residency.
The Ameer states that he was taken entirely by surprise
and he did his best to restore order, but in vain. He sent
General Daoud Shah to Major Cavagnares assistance, but the
General was attacked by the mob, unhorsed, and so severely
Injured that it is believed he cannot recover. The Ameer
then despatched his own son with the Governor of Cabul
and other persons of influence, but the mutineers and the
mob had got beyond all control and the attempt at inter-
ference on the part of those sent by the Ameer was unsuc-
cessful. The only news yet received regarding the envoy
and his party is that the defence of the residsncy was kept
up all Wednesday. That evening the building took fire, but
as to the effect of the lire on the defence nothing is yet
known. The Ameer, in letters dated Thursday morning,
says Phil had no certain news as to the fate of the British
officers. He writes in great distress and says that he is himself
besieged. The news of these unfortunate occurrences
reached Simla by telegram from Captain Conolly early on
Friday morning. The Government is losing no time in
taking active measures to remedy the disaster as far as
possible. Most fortunately, the headquarters of the Canda-
bar field force have not yet evacuated that city. General
Stewart has, therefore, been directed to hold his position
there and such portions of his force as have commenced
their return march have been instructed to reassemble at
Candahar. The troops in the Khyber and at Peshawur have
been ordered to prepare for an immediate march on Cabul
under the command of General Roberts, who started from
Simla yesterday and who will at once be strongly reinforced.
General Many, commanding at Ali-khel. is directed to hold
himself ready for an immediate movement on Shutargardan.
There is no doubt, therefore, that sure and swift retribu•
tion will fall upon the mutineers and that speedy assistance
will reach the Ameer it he continues faithful, The British
advance, however, be it ever so swift, can hardly be in
time to save Major Cavagnari and his gallant companions.
Doubtless they made a gallant defence and sold their lives
dearly, but that they should have been able to hold this
Residency against mutinous regiments and an overwhelm-
ing fanatic mob for any length of time is almost
beyond the bounds of possibility. It is difficult
on the imperfect information before the public to
form an opinion as to whether this movement is a merely
local emeute which will be easily extinguished when our
troops appear on the scene, or whether it is likely to spread
to other parts of Afghanistan. There is, however, good
reason in favour of the former view, it the Ameer only re-
mains true to us, and the Government apparently does not
doubt his fidelity. We may, therefore, fairly hope that the
arrival at Cabul of the news of the British troops preparing
to move will be the signal for the collapse of the mutiny."

(From a Special Edition of Monday's Daily News.)
A LLAIIABAD (vid Teheran), September 8, 9 a.m.

Several messengers from Cabal have reached All Kheyl.
Some of them have seen the bodies of the British envoy and
suite. No doubt remains concerning their fate. Nine
sowars belongiog to the escort, who were out grass cutting,
have escaped. A stubborn defence was made by the En-
voy's party. The loss of the Cabulees was heavy. The
mutineers at last burnt down the doorway and swarmed in.
The whole city seems in insurrection.
General Roberts will advance on Cabul by Shaturgardun
immediately, supported by a movement from Khyber.
The regiment which mutined at Cabal were Heratees, un-
wisely brought to toe capital. They had been giving much
trouble, and the Ameer tried to send them to Turkistan' but
they would not march. Allowing them inside the fort,
even unharmed, was terrible blundering.

-
The Viceroy's proposed Child trip, has, of course, been
abandoned. Officers on leave are momentarily expecting
orders to rejoin their regiments. No time will be lost in
avenging the outrage committed.

The following has also been sent from the India Office for
publication :

"(From Viceroy, September 7, 1879)
" Following from All-khel, dated Sept. 6. Message begins :
Previous reports of disaster confirmed. Messengers describes
how Badshah Khan visited spot. Saw dead bodies of
Envoy, staff, and escort; of latter, nine troopers, absent
on foraAng, escaped. Defence was very stubborn ; loss of
Cabulees heavy, reckoned above 100. The mutineers, being
unable to storm the place, set fire to doorway below, and
when that gave way, swarmed in up to upper story, over-
whelmed the defenders, and sacked the place. Ameer
invokes our aid, and Badshah Khan expresses anxiety to
join us.' Message ends.

Hassain Khan expected on 7th that ; Ameer intends making
his excuses to him. Rumour that the Sepoys were taken
and are still alive."

A Renter's telegram from Simla, dated Sept. 10, says :
"The latest intelligence received here from Ali Kheyl of
yesterday's date fully confirms the previous information that
Sir Louis Cavagnari and the pertionnel of the British Mission
were killed while charging from the burning Residency in
the Bala Risser.

"Twelve Afghan regiments took part in the attack on the
Residency, and sustained a loss of 210 men before the
British Envoy and his staff were overpowered by numbers."