biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-27

A FALSE ALARM.

The Daily Telegraph (in a leader) says :—Referring
to the successful voyage of the Strati'leven to London,
with a cargo of refrigerated beef and mutton from
Australia, to which we called attention some weeks
ago, the American journals moralise on the incident
very characteristically. The New York Tribune thinks
that the United States exporters of beef must
look out for their interests, but also seems more
struck by the singularity of the positioh which
Great Britain must occupy as the result of
this growing dependence on foreign supplies of '
food. Our contemporary is of opinion that "an
island which must be fed week by week from outside,
and which has neither coast defences nor men-of-war
enough to protect her, would be in bad condition if
some other nation should see fit to beseige her." It
would be interesting to know how the Tribune thinks
that the United Kingdom is to be " beseiged," and
where the fleets are to come from,that are to blockade
two or three thousand miles of coast; also what the
English navy is supposed to be doing while multitu-
dinous cruisers try to seal up our harbours,
estuaries, creeks, and rivers; and further, how the
various countries that are supposed to " feed " Great
Britain will take the interruption to their useful and
lucrative business. It is almost a pity to have to unde-
ceive kind Transatlantic critics, but the truth is that
'England is not quite so helpless as her consumption of
foreign beef and mutton would lead some people to

think. She might do without both at a pinch, at a
cost, doubtless, of consuming and wasting less, and of
paying a good deal more for what was to be had. But
she would not starve, or even fall on painfully short
commons-•-unless, indeed, she happened to quarrel
with all the world, including her own colonies, simul-
taneously, a contingency which .the New York journal
may rest assured has not attained the region of " prac-
tical politics. 7
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-27

THE MARKETS.

MARK-LANE.—MosnAT.
At Mark-Lane not much was doing. Supplies were only
moderate. The attendance was not large, nor was business
brisk. The cold weather imparted:a steady tone, which, how-
ever, was checked by the lower American prices.
Wheat met a quiet sale throughout, both English
and foreign changing hands at about last week's
prices. The barley trade was without feature. Malting was
scarce and dear. Grinding sold at previous prices. Malt was
steady, on former terms. Oats were purchased to a mode-
rate extent, at Pd. to Is. per qr. more money than on Monday
last. Maize was in fair request, and was steady in value.
Beans and peas were quiet and unaltered. The Hour market
was tolerably firm, but not active.

METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET-MONDAY.

Although not animated, the trade has shown flriwooss.
Supplies were about the same as usual, and there was again
plenty of room for improvement in quality and oondition.
The cold weather strengthened values to some extent. Front
Norfolk and Suffolk the receipts of beasts were rather lower
than last week, but are still much below the average num-
ber forthe time of year. From other parts a moderate
number came to hand. The tracli3, on the whole, was
steady, and full rates were reacted for flne breeds. The best
Scotch crosses made ss, O. to to. 10d. per 81b. From Norfolk
and Suffolk we rooived about 1;300 from the Midland and
Home counties 600, ancrfrom Seotland.about 140 bead. The
foreign trade of the market. Was fairly supplied. There were
receipts from Denmark, Sweden, and Spain. A fair demand
prevailed at steady Neils for choice breeds. The sheep pens.
were fairly well Oiled. More steadiness was observed in the
demand, and the tendency of prices was against the buyer. The
best Downs and half-breds with wool, made Cs. 10d. to 75., and
ditto clipped, 6s. to 6s. 21. per 81b. A few lambs were offered
at 10s. per 81b. Calves and pigs were quiet at late rates,
At Deptford were about 50 beasts and 6,000 sheep. itiferior
beasts, 4s. to 4s. 60. : second quality, 4s. 6d. to ss. 04, prime
large oxen, ss. 6d. to ss, Bd. ; prime Scots, ss. 80. to :
inferior sheep, 4s. 60. to Is. 60. • second quality, ss. CA to
65. Od. ; prime coarse•woolled, Os. 6d. to 6s. 80. ; prime
Southdown-,:, Os. Bd. to 7s. 00. ; largo coarse calves, ss. 6d. te
Cs. 00. ; prime small ditto, Os, to 6s. 80, large hogs, Is. 6d.
to 4s. 00. ; small porkers, 4s. 6d, to Is. 00.; lambs, 10a. per
81b., sinking the offal,
METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET---3fostar,

The supply of meat being large, there was little activity In
the trade, and prices were firm under the influence of cold,
dry weather. Inferior beet 2s, " Bd. to Is. 4d. ; middling
ditto, Is. Gd. to 4s. 4d, ; FiMe ditto, 4s. ad. to 4a. 10d. ; prime
Scotch ditto, 4s. lokt. to IS. 2d. ; veal, Is, ad, to es. 4d. •, in-
ferior mutton, Is. 4d. to 4s. ; middling ditto, 45,.4d. to ss. 2d. ;
primp ditto, Is. 4d. to Is. Bd. ; Scotch ditto, 6s. 10d. to es.
4d.; pork, 3s. Bd. to Is. per B,lb, by the otuvase.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-27

THE UNIVERSITY BOAT RACE.

For the first time since the contest between the two
Universities in the year 1829, the University boat-
race had to be postponed last Saturday, and was fixed
for half-past ten o'clock on Monday morning.
The early mornings of the first part of last week
were fair, and at half-past seven o'clock each day
there was scarcely any fog to be seen at Putney
and along the course of the river to Mortlake.
On Saturday, however, a thick fog prevailed, and it
became necessary to abandon the race, as it would have
been impossible for the two crews to have rowed a
hundred yards. The tide, too, was falling off very
much, and the President of the two University Boat
Clubs, after consulting together, came to the conclu-
sion that, as there was no reasonable chance of rowing
tie race, it should be postponed until Monday morn-
ing, when the tide would, suit at half-past ten o'clock,
so that the race should still be rowed up from Putney
to Mortlake.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-27

ROP,

Good hops of the last growth have met with a little better
inquiry, and the supplies being limited quotations have
ruled firm. No improvement however, can be noted in
quotations. Medium and inferior hops have been dull, and
somewhat irregular in price. Old hops are heavy in tone.
Prices :—Kent, 1879, £4 10s. to £11; Sussex, £4 10s. to
£lO 10s. ; Farnham and country, £6 to £l3; American, £.B
to £lO 10s. ; Belgian, £3 sa. to £3•los. ; English, 1878, LS to
£5 15i. ; foreign, 1878, a to £3 10s. per cwt.
- .
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-27

THE STOURBRIDGtE OBSERVER.

plants, on the 19th inst, the property of! William
Jonah at Crad:ey. Mr. Morris defended. Mary
Ann Jones proved that the plants produced were
the prop,rty of her father. She said that she put
the plants ia build, 0, and tied them up with string
She could swear to the plants. Etward Leonard
said on the day in question he saw the piisoner
who sait there was an old hare about. He had
some some suspicion about the person, and watched ,
him go into the field whe:e the plants were.
Prosecutor proved that the value of the plants were
205., and his own property. , Police-sergeant Payne
said he searched the prisoner pretnises. and found
the plants produced concealed in th 3 pantry.
Prisoner was sentenced to six week's hard lAbour.
STEALINU litinnnEs.—Yoho Poole, an old man,
was chargcd with stealing on the 20th inst, an iron
hurdle, the property of George Cook of Chaddesley.
John Mark said he saw the prisoner in the field of
Mr. Cook's. Prisoner took an iron hnrdle out of
the fiAd and put it on a cart and take it avuiy.
ProAcaior proved he had lose the hurdle. Prisoner
was furtni-r charged with steeling an Iron furnace
the property of Michad Carter. There were other
charges against prisoner. Police-constalm Smith
proved applehend:ng the piisoner. who was com-
mitted to take his trial at the Worcester Sessions.
T„„FTs FRot Suors.—ltosannah Burnes was
charged with stealing a pair el bi.ots the property of
James Carless, of Dudley Street, Brierley H 11.
Prisoner was committed to the house of cortectiou
for six weeks, with hard labour.—John Hudson
was charged with stealing a woollen turnover the
property of Annie Anthony on the ilih inst. Pri-
; soner was sentenced to two month's hard labour.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-27

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO BORROWERS.

IVIOI\TMY
Advanced promptly on Borrower's
OWN SECURITY,
Repayable by Install:nal:lts or otherwise.

No DELIY,_no ENORMOUS LAW or other COSTS

FULL AMOUNT ADVANCED.

MORTGAGES,
Interest at the rate of FIVE per cent. per annwn.

TRADE BILLS DISCOUNTED.

LIFE POLICIES,
Reversional:, Interests, &a., Purchased.

MICAS : 8, VICAR STREET, DUDLEY.
Office Hours, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
PRIVATE ItRAIDENCR vicronm TERRACE.
BRANCH ORTICRA :-
29, EIDDERIIIINsTER STREET. STOURBRIDGE
Fridays only).

NeTIL—NO SURETIES ARE REQUIRED

MONEY LENT FROM £lO to £3,000,
(...)N easy Terms and without Sureties to re-
spectable Householders, Farmers, Cabowners,
Dowkeepers, Professional Gentlemen, Lodginghouse
XeePere, and Others,
APPLY YO

MB. T. BANNIN(3TOr,
First Floor, 48, Union Passage, Birmingham.

iAstance no object.

MONEY TO LEND, WITHOUT SURE-
-ea-L. TIES, BY THE IMPERIAL ADVANCED
Baxic.—DISTANCE NO OBJECT.—AII respectable
Householders, whether they are private Gentlemen or
Ladies, Shopkeepers, Farmers, Car Poprietore, Cow
Keepers, Tradesmen, or Clerks, can be accommo-
dated by this Bank with Sums of Money from 210
to £lOOO, repayable by easy instalments, extending
ever one year and upwards, to enable them to increase
their stocks and afford them every kind of temporary
keoolll2l32odatiOD, without friends as sureties and without
say unnecessary delay Applicants would do well before
applying to any °Mee to consider its respectability. This
ease was established in 1875, and since that time its
business in advances has been rapidly increasing, audit
now has a very extensive business in making advances
without security. Every information willingly afforded
Apply, either pers,nally, or if by letter state amount
required, to

LEWIS SIMMONS, Proprietor,
27. 6.nth John-street, Liverpool.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-27

A GERMAN OPINION ON LORD
BEACONFIELD'S POLICY.

Commenting editorially upon the prospects of the
impending elections in this country, the Berliner
Boersen-Zeitung records its conviction :that "Europe
can wish for nothing better than the victory of those
statesmen who now direct the public affairs of Great
Britain. For six years Lord Beaconsfield has guided
the State rudder with a steady hand. That once again
a Europe exists is chiefly due to him. He has
reinstated the European Balance, which appeared
annihilated in 1871, by boldly picking up the Russian
gauntlet of defiance, and compelling Russia, to submit
herself, in the spirit of European order, to the sentence
pronounced upon her by civilisation. The purchase of
the Suez shares, the Indian Imperial Title Bill, the
rejection of the British Memorandum, the stultifica-
tion of the San Stefano Peace Treaty, the transfer of
Indian native troops to Malta, the Salisbury-
Scha,uvaloff Memorandum, the attitude of the British
Plenipotentaries at the Berlin Congress, the Secret
Treaty with Turkey, by which Cyprus was acquired,
the Ultimatum to Shere Ali, the complete subjugation
of South Africa, and an achievement of an impreg-
nable stragetic frontier to North-Western India—all
these feats constitute a glorious wreath of successes such
as no other living statesmen, with the solitary exception
of Prince Bismarck, can boast of having won. The
English people well know that Lord Beaconsfield must
be fully credited by them with these splendid deeds.
It is, in our opinion, extravagantly improbable that
the coming elections should result in the return of an
Opposition majority."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-27

AGE AND WEALTH IN THE HOUSE

OF COMMONS.

There used to be a complaint some time since that
year after year the House of Commons was getting
more and more filled with rich elderly men who were
too old to learn the profession of politics, and afforded,
therefore, little promising raw material for the manu-
facture of future Cabinet Ministers; who rarely were
able to enliven the House or the public with any
speeches worth hearing or reading; and who were
often urged into Parliament, not by a sense of their
own fitness, but by the social ambition of their
wives and daughters. There is a certain amount of
truth in these allegations, though at the same
time it is fair to remember that these kinds of
M.P.'s are usually men of high personal character,
sensible, and hard-working, that they are well fitted to
represent a country whose main interests are industrial
and commercial, and that they are not likely to lend
their aid to crude proposals and rash enterprises. But
in spite of all these middle-age excellencies, we can't
help thinking that there would be more liveliness and
" go " in the House of Commons, and that therefore
its proceeding would command keener attention out
of doors than they now do, if there were more young
men among its members. We do not ask anything
unreasonable. By "young men" we mean men under
forty. Now, judging from that useful little manual,
"Who's Who," men under forty are rare in the
present House of Commons. There are only 103 of
these tender fledglings ' • all the rest, some 550 in
number, have passed that forty-year Rubicon whereof
Thackeray sings so pathetically. And please note
this. Out of these 103 no less than 18 have " H.R."
attached to their names. Taken all round the Home
Rulers are the youngest men in the House. No
wonder, therefore,. that they should seem gamesome
and troublesome in such an assembly of greybeards.
We further note that most of the English members
who are really young are the sons or near connections
of noblemen. .Now would it not be well if we English
were to take a leaf out of the Home Rulers' Book, and
send up some members to Westminster without mind-
ing whether they were aristocratically connected, but
taking care that, besides other merits, they should
possess f
yth.
sso thoautra_reargaupailiiitc.y in an English M.P., the
m
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-27

THE LATE PRINCE IMPERIAL.

Prince Louis Napoleon's coat has, it is stated, been
found not far from the place where the young scion of
Imperialism fell, and brought to England by Colonel
Villiers, who gave it to the Queen. It is pierced in
many places at the front with assegais, and the blood
upon it shews that most of the wounds were made ere
the Prince died. Her Majesty has given the garment
to the ex-Empress Eugaie, who leaves it at Chisle-
hurst while she makes the journey to Zululand.—At
Pietermaritzburg a local sculptor, who received Her
Majesty's order to supply a stone cross, for erection on
the spot where the late Prince Imperial of France was
slain, has completed his task. The inscription reads
thus :"This cross is erected by Queen Victoria, in
affectionate remembrance of Napoleon Eugenie Louis
Jean Joseph, Prince Imperial, to mark the spot where,
while assisting in a reconnaissance with the British
troops on the Ist June, 1879, he was attacked by. a
party of Zulus, and fell with his face to the foe."—
Court Journal.

The Paris Correspondent of The Times says :—" The
money subscribed here a year ago for presenting a
sword to the Prince Imperial on his return from the
Cape has been devoted to a marble tablet recording
his death. This has been forwarded to Chislehurst,
and the Due de Bassano, in a letter on behalf of the
Empress acknowledging its arrival, says
"'The subscribers' idea of commemorating by this fine
tablet their faithful attachment to the memory of her
beloved son has gone to the heart of Her Majesty.
She will carry out their wish, and will see that the
marble is placed in the chapel where the remains of his
Imperial Highness will rest.'"
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-27

THE NATIONAL DEBT.

A statement has been issued explanatory of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer's financial statement
respecting the National Debt. It appears that on the
31st of March, 1874, the debt amounted to £779,283,000.
The net amount of debt due on the 11th of the present
month was £758,941,000, showing a decrease of
£20,342,000. The net debt is arrived at by deducting
the £2,000,000 loan to India, the £14,700,000 for public
works loans, and £3,801,100 outstanding for purchase
of Suez Canal shares.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-27

CUTTINGS FROM AMERICAN PAPERS.

A Utah paragraph si-!Faks of a man who "narrowly
escaped being cartrigized.

Economy is wealth. And it cannot be too forcibly
brought to the minds of young married folks, that if they are
as economical in some respects—such as both sitting on
one chair, (U.—after the event as they were before, they
cannot well fail of becoming wealthy.
- -

A young man in Cincinnati lost his bride the other
(lay. She smelt whisky in his breath, and left him at the
altar. It is the general belief that if her example becomes
any way common, it will result in the practical abolition of
marriage.

Thrift is one of the lowa virtues. A clergyman was
called upon to marry a couple recently. They were nicely
dressed, in their twenties, and evidently well-to-do. After
the ceremony had been performed, the groom thrust his
hand in his pocket and fished out three quarters of a dollar
which he held in the palm of his hand, saying to the
minister—" There, take your pay from that 1" "Let us see,"
mused the minister, e the publishing of the marriage notice
will cost half a dollar 1" "Oh, will it," replied the groom;
"well, then, take the whole of it I It ain't much matter,
anyway!"

A man, says a New York paper, nearly lost forty
dollars in silver by placing it in a stove, where his wife sub-
sequently started a fire. It is quite popular to conceal
money in stoves, and while the profession of burglary is con-
fined to the male sex it is a more secure place than a safe.
No man will have any more to do with a stove than can pos-
sibly be helped.

The excitement created in a Western town by the
report that a vein of copper had been discovered near the
place rapidly subsided when it was explained by a pundit ,
that the vane of copper" was an old weather-cock.

A merchant in San Francisco, wishing to make a
friend in Napa Valley a peculiarly unique present, sent him
a case containing 500,000 speckled trout eggs, for propaga-
tion. The next week he received a letter, which said—
" Ever so much obliged to you for your box of roe. It tasted
pretty well, boiled, but the next time would rather have the
herrings themselves."
"Have you any objects of interest in the vicinity?"
a tourist in America asked a native. "I have ! I have 1 "
eagerly replied the other; "but I can't get at it to show it to
you. It's a ninety-day's note, and it's down in the bank now,
drawing interest like a race-horse or a mustard plaister."

A country editor, being asked, "Do hogs pay ? "
says a great many do not. They take the paper several
years, and then have the Postmaster send it back " Refused."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-27

SALES BY AUCTION

RAGLEY STOCK SALE
TUESDAY, MAIiCH 30th, at eleven.
250 SHEEP

35 Head of CAT TLE,
The Uenal entry of adves and Pigs.
OATES, PERRENS, k WOOLDRIDGE.

AUCTION SALE ROOMS.
102, 111CIFI bTREET, BTOURBRIDGE,

AIESSRB.
(IATES, PERRENS, and WOOLDRIDGE
Itac=, tt,r3 pleasure to announce tut they hold
gales peri,lically at the above Rooms, fo, the disposa
ef Estates, Houses, Building Land, Pastures, Wines
Works of Art, &c., Sm., at a moderate fixed, scale of
*barges, to be had on application.

STOURBRIDGE STOCK SALE.
FAIR DAY,
.3102'inA Y, MARCH .29th, 1880. at twelve.
The Side will include 2 SIDES, HOME-CURI4D
BACON.

U. KING, Auctioneer, Stourbridge,
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-27

AN ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

The council of magistrates for the City of Berlin
have had under consideration a proposal, submitted by
the firm of Siemens and Halske, for the construction
of an electric railway across a portion of the capital.
The line would start from the Bell Alliance-place, and
run through FrQidrich and Chaussee streets on to the
Wedding-place. There will be two lines of rails, one
for the up and the other for the down journey. The
viaduct will be carried on iron pillars 14ft. 9in. high,
and nearly 33ft. apart. These pillars will be placed
along the edge of the foothpath, so as to cause the
least possible interference with the ordinary traffic.
The carriages will be narrow and short, containing ten
sitting places and four standing places. The electro-dyna-
mic machine which will propel the carriages will be
placed under the floor of the carriage between the
wheels, and a steam engine of 6.0-horse power, which
will be employed in the production of the electricity,
will be placed at the terminus. The stoppages will be
very few, and the rate, of speed will be, it is expected
about 20 miles an hour. The chief object of the
undertaking is to convey. persons quickly across the
city, and especially-to facilitate access to the city line
of railway. The chief objection raised is that the
carriages will pass along at the level of the first floor
of the houses in the streets which it will traverse, and
it is feared this will lead to.a depreciation of property.
The magistrates have appointed a special commission
of engineers and architects to examine into and report
upon the proposal.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-27

A PRIMITIVE COMMUNITY.

'The Geneva Correspondent of The Times writes, under
date March 12 :

"The smallest Protestant commune in Switzerland,
probably in Europe, and certainly the most primitive,
is that of Ablandchenen, in the circle of Saanen, can-
ton Berne. Ablandchenen, a word literally signifying
a little outlying place,' is situated in a remote moun-
tain valley, 4,000 ft. above the level of the sea, and its
unsophisticated inhabitants contrive to dispense with
most of the appendages which are considered insepar-
able from modern civilisation. Sir Wilfrid Lawson
will be pleased to learn that they do not possess
a single public-house ; Dr. Richardson might
possibly find in Ablandchenen the Hygeia after
which he sighs ; for albeit there is not a
doctor in the village, there has not been a death for
many years; and were Mr. Bright to take up his abode
there he would be freed from a trouble of which he has
more than once feelingly complained, as though the
commune enjoys the blessings of a penny post it has
only one delivery of letters a week. As may be sup-
posed in these circumstances' daily papers do not com-
mand a very ready sale in the neighbourhood. Com-
merce and handicrafts are conspicuous by their ab-
sence; there is neither blacksmith, baker, wheel-
wright, nor shopkeeper in all the commune; and the
people being all honest and peaceable, they require
neither notary, lawyer, nor policeman. Every 14 days
a pedlar with a van goes tbe round of the commune and
supplies the housewives with all that they want in the
shape of crockery, drapery, thread, needles paper, and
sundries; food is provided by their own flecks, herds,
and poultry, and, it is hardly necessary to say, as they
have little need for ready money, the Ablandcheners
keep no banker. They have a tiny church with a
single bell, and it is a standing joke in the place that
when a girl is born they ring a peal, but on the birth
of a lad they ring only one bell. It may be supposed,
perhaps' that the inhabitants of this sequestered
valley find their lives somewhat hard and monotonous,
but a correspondent writing thence to a Zurich paper
says this is so far from being the case that they enjoy
a far larger measure of happiness than falls to the lot
of most man, and have no desire to exchange their
Alpine home for the life of cities."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-27

Sotal atO istrict

A few weeks ago we drew the attention of our
readers to a very excellent work just commenced by
Messrs. Letts, of Londoa, of diary noto iety, and we
now have to acknowledge and brine- before their
notice a very ingenious " Book-post Holler," for
ransmission through the port of prints, pictures
photographs, plans, and the like without crelisiug,'
without tying or scaling. Their utility is obvious,
and the material is such that they can be cut to the
required length with a common pocket-knife. A
simple twist of the picture or map by inserting the
finger into it draws it out speedily and safely. In •
side ours, by-the-bye, came tbe seccnd part of their
Popular Atlas, fully csarying out faeir s9lf-imposed
programme.
Dautrx AND DIsORDEELT AND Antrim) TO QuIT.
—At the Police Court on Thursday. Col. Fletcher,
Messrs. R L. Freer and F. Even, .on Bill was
charged with being drunk and dizordariy and re-
fusing to quit the Crab Mill Inn, wh an se,quested,
on the 20th inst John Wilcock, the landlord,
proved that defendant became d!scrderly and
refused to quit the house when requested. Police-
constable Eaves also corroborated and said that the
defendant made use of very bad 1:-..:2F-aage. The
summons of being drunk was dismissed. Defend-
ant was fined ss. and costs for re-I.:_Eing to q•dt ;
in default It days.—Wiliiam Richards was charged
with being drunk and disorderly at tle Lye, on the
22nd inst. Police-constable Payr.la::. proved the
case. Defendant pleaded guilty stk..' was r"..ned 103.
to include costs; in default 7 days.—.;onr. Weaver
was charged with being drunk L., La highway at
Wollaston on the 20th inst. PolicLastable Cart-
wright proved the case. Fined 2s ed and coste.
, ' eorge Nicklin was charge ii with s, Limiier offense
at Wollaston on the 20th inst. 'oc:ice-constable
Cartwright proved the case. Wthd::avra on pay-
ment of co4s.—Samuel Bing:2ao was clarged wit
, being drunk and disorder:y a'.l, th, 1:,;c, L"-...'4 the 21st
, inst. Police-sergeant Payne 7es-i .;:he ea,e and
said be defendant was very vid.talt, nn•-.1 gave his
IWrong name. Fined ss. and*ses.
.„„" STEALING CABBAGE PLANTS.--WiLiOTO all, an
id °tender. was csharpd with Meal* SO ObtOge
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-27

EXECUTION IN LONDON.

John Wingfield, aged thirty-four, was executed in
London at eight o'clock on Monday morning within
Newgate gaol for the murder of his wife, Mary Wing-
field. The prisoner, who was separated from his wife,
met her in 'Kilburn on the 27th of January, and in-
flicted no fewer than seventeen wounds upon her with
a Imife. Since his conviction he has manifested great
sorrow for his crime, to which he said he was driven
by jealousy. He prayed earnestly during the pre-
parations for the execution on Monday morning,
and during the whole of the progress from
the cell to the scaffold he continued exclaiming,
"Oh God, have mercy upon me! God have mercy
upon me." He continued to repeat these words the
whole time the executioner was performin,o, the opera-
tion of placing the cap over his face and adjusting the
rope, and it may be said that he died with these words
praying for mercy on his lips. He had a drop of
Bft. 3in., and Dr. Gibson, the surgeon of the gaol, ex-
pressed his opinion that the neck was broken and
death instantaneous. The black flag was hoisted
outside the gaol and the other formalities gone through
at the moment the execution took place.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-27

MR. SPURGEON'S CIRCULAR TO THE
LAMBETH ELECTORS.

- Mr. Spurgeon has issued a circular to the Liberal electors
of Lambeth in which he says :

I am informed by persons of judgment that if the
Liberal cause should not succeed in Lambeth at this
election it can only be through the apathy of its pro-
fessed supporters. I trust that no such apathy now
exists, and that every Liberal elector will present him-
self at the poll. The crisis involves such weighty
matters that every man should record his vote for that
which he conscientiously believes to be the side of
right. Indifference will be a crime against the best in-
terests of the commonwealth. I can understand that
quiet people are anxious to avoid the noise and worry
of mere party strife. Ido not look upon the present
contest in that light. We have something else to con-
sider besides our own ease and personal advantage.
Great interests are at stake, and he who does not vote
or the right, will by his silence give consent to the
wrong and become a sharer in it. Do you sorrow
over the warlike policy which has thrust might into
the place of right, and invaded weak nations with but
scant excuse? Then return the two candidates
who are opposed to the Beaconsfield Ministry.
Do you believe that constant bluster creates
political uneasiness, disturbs our peaceful relations
with other nations, and thus hinders trade and com-
merce? Then send to Parliament the Liberal candi-
dates to strengthen the hands of Mr. Gladstone. Do
you believe that great questions of progress at home
should no longer be pushed into a corner? Then in-
crease the number of men who are the advance-guard
of liberty. Lovers of religious equality, your course
is plain, and 3-ou will not leave your duty undone.
With hand and heart support the men who would rid
religion of State patronage and control. You would
ease the national burdens by economy and retrench-
ment, vote for "A,lessrs. NVArthur and Lawrence. You
who would promote temperance cannot support the
party whose most eager partisans belong to the oppo-
site camp. Imagine another six years of Tory rule,
devoid alike of peace and progress and you will rouse
yourselves to do your duty, and all hazard of a repeti-
tion of the Southwark disaster will be far away.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-27

GERMAN POPULATION STATISTICS.

The Imperial Statistical Office of Germany has pub-
Wished some interesting facts concerning the popula-
tion statistics of that country. The estimated popula-
tion of the Empire at the end of 1878 was, in round
numbers, 44,211,000.

The number of births during the year was 1,785,080,
and of deaths 1,228,607 (70,647 children born dead are
reckoned among both births and deaths), giving an
excess of births over deaths of 556,473, or an annual
increase of population amounting to more than 125
per cent.
The number of marriages during the year was
340,016. For every 1,000 of the population 154 were
married, 404 were born, and 278 died; so that the
births were more numerous than the deaths by 126 per
1,000. In the year 1872 the number of marriages was
423,900; they have been steadily decreasing every year
since then, until 1878, when the decrease amounted to
83,884, or more than 197 of the number six years
previously.
The greatest annual number of births during the
present decade was in 1876, when they amounted to
1,831,218. The proportion of deaths to births has been
slightly gaining during the last couple of years. The
number of children born dead is 39 of the total number
of births.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-27

THE DRUM AND THE BUGLE.

An animated controversy has of late been carried on
in the French military papers respecting the relative
value of the drum and bugle, some writers maintaining
that the former, others that the latter instrument
should be abolished (says the Pall Mall Gazette).
Among other arguments against the drum it is urged
that signals beaten upon it are understood by very
few, and in support of this assertion an anecdote of the
campaign of 1 i
859 is related by a writer n the Avenir
lifilitaire. On the evening of the Bth June, 1859, the
2nd French Corps had arrived in the neighbourhood of
the town of Marignan too late to cut off, as it had been
intended it should, the retreat of the Austrians along
the Lodi road. Its movements had been greatly
impeded by the bad state of the roads ; and con-
sequently, finding that it had come up too late to
accomplish its mission, its commander had issued
orders for the troops to bivouac for the night. The
first company of the 72nd Regiment was extended in
skirmishing order in front of the rest of the regiment,
and its commander, in order to collect his men, ordered
his drummer to beat the "assembly." The 2nd Regi-
ment of Zouaves happened to be on the right front,
and about 206 yards only distant from the skirmishers
of the 72nd; and the men of the former, hearing the
taps on the drum, mistook them for the reports of
muskets, and at once opened fire in the direction of
the sound. The night had become very dark, and the
men of the 72nd Regiment, in turn believing that
they were being fired upon by the enemy, also opened
fire. Hearing the noise of the firing, Marshal Mac-
Mahon rode hastily up, and found the two regiments
engaged in a hot musketry combat, which was only
stopped by ordering the buglers to sound the march of
the 2nd Corps, followed by the call to " cease firing."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-27

THE GREAT AMERICAN DESERT.

Many millions of acres of land in the far West are
almost entirely without value unless they can be irri-
gated by water supplied by artificial means. The
arid region of the United States embraces
900,000,000 acres, lying in the territories of Arizona,
Dakota, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and
Wyoming, the States of Colorado, Nevada, Cali-
fornia, Kansas, Nebraska, Oregon, and Texas, and
the Indian territory. Not 1 per cent. of this vast
area has been sold. It has been ascertained that about
200,000,000 acres are mountainous land, upon which
agriculture cannot be successfully carried on even with
an abundance of water. Of the remainder, 200,000,000
acres are lava lands, covered with cinders, &c., lands
without soil or vegetation and desert plains of drift-
ing sand. On the greater part of the 500,000,000 acres
not included above valuable crops can be raised by the
aid of water. By spreading the water of streams over
the land while the crops are growing several thousands
of acres of this area have already been re-claimed, but
these methods can be applied to not more than
15,000,000 acres. There remain 485,000,000 acres
which are now used only for pasturage, and on which
the vegetation is so scanty that they are almost worth-
less. It has been shown that the introduction of
I WAter is all that is needed to make these lands fertile.
A •
. . .
'

- . -

The Government is asked to provide for the sinking of
two artesian wells east of the Rocky Mountains, and
three west of the Rocky Mountains, as an experiment
towards the solution of a great problem—the reclama-
tion of what used to be described on maps as the
Great American Desert.—New York Times.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-27

THE LEGAL PROFESSION IN THE
HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The Times, in a leader, makes the following observations
on the legal profession in the House of Commons :-
- - - -

_
A legal contemporary stated last week that a hun-
dred and thirteen members of the profession of the
law have already announced themselves as candidates
for seats in the next House of Commons. Large as
the number is, we believe it is an under-estimate if all
candidates are meant to be included who have been
admitted to the bar or roll of attorneys. The present
Parliament, when it met, contained a hundred and
forty-one barristers and solicitors; and legal ambition
shows no symptoms of failing energy in these days. A
certain number of those who are catalogued in the
ranks of the law doubtless never had any intention of
practising. Legal learning sits lightly upon them. Of
the rest many have relinquished the active prose-
cution of the profession. But after all deductions
it is surprising how very considerable a portion every
House of Commons comprises of members who have
at some period or other devoted themselves to legal
studies. A company of lawyers not much below a
hundred may be reckoned on as members of the new
House of Commons; and possibly there may be more.
For a sixth part of the entire representation of the
country to be conceded to a single profession seems at
first sight a very formidable matter. Let it be
imagined that a hundred grocers, or even a hundred
shopkeepers of all denominations, had obtained seats;
legislation would very speedily show a bias towards
the protection of retail trade from mischievous
intruders 'like Civil Service Clerks and the im-
pertinent demands of the general public for
cheap goods. The brewing interest is mighty ;
but the brewers in Parliament are a mere hand-
ful compared with the lawyers. Officers make
their voices loudly heard whenever an Army Dis-
cipline Bill or a Purchase Abolition Bill is produced
for discussion; but no company of military members
could by their aggregate votes influence a division. A
hundred votes cast into the scale on one side or the
other in any political question would commonly turn
the balance. If all these legal gentlemen were to set
themselves as a party to pass laws which benefited
their professional prospects and to negative whatever
reforms decreased litigation, they would carry three
or four fold the weight of the whole Home Rule con-
tingent. Were the lawyers in Parliament to take to
meeting in the Tea Room like the Scotch members,
they might add what they pleased to the salaries of
County Court Judges, and replace every Court of
Petty Sessions by a stipendiary.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-27

THE DISASTROUS FIRE AT MOSCOW.

A letter from Moscow dated March 12, gives an
account of the terrible fire at the weaving mills belong-
rig to M. Givartoffski. The establishment consisted
of several distinct buildings. In one of them, which
Was four stories high, the ground floor was occupied
by the counting-house and the shearing-room, and the
other stories were divided between printing-rooms and
dormitories for the workmen who were engaged in the
various stages of the manufacture. Their number has
been variously given at between 100 and 200, most of
whom slept on the premises.
There was a single staircase for the whole building,
from top to bottom, and this was of wood. The fire
broke out on the ground floor, at the foot of this single
.wooden staircase. • The several stories were formed by
wooden joists laid across the width of the building
and covered over by light floorings of boards. There
were no dividing walls inside the building • whatever
partitions there were were lightly constructed of wood.
It is easy, therefore, to understand that within ten
minutes the whole building was a prey to the flames.
The unfortunate workmen, aroused out of their sleep,
rushed to the stairs, only to find them a mass of fire.
They then made for the windows, the only remaining
means of escape, and in the scramble for safety many
were thrown down, falling into the body of the burn-
ing building. Many flung themselves down from the
third and fourth stories some of them being much
injured.
The police report states that 33 men were burnt to
death in the building ; two more men died subsequently
of their injuries. our women who had come inl'from
the country to see their husbands have disappeared.
Thirty persons are in the hospital suffering most
seriously from burns and other injuries. But this is
not the worst. The police have ascertained that
I several workmen used to sleep in the building who
were not authorized to do so. Their number is not
known, but the police declare that several who are
known to have acted thus are now missing.