The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-02-12 00:00:00

It is stated that the proposed Convention to be held
in Dublin will be prohibited by the Irish Government,
acting on instructions from England.

THE IRISH MANIFESTO.

After lengthy deliberations in the Conference-room of the
House of Commons, the recently suspended Irish members
agreed to issue the following manifesto :

"To THE IRISH PEOPLE.
"Fellow-countrymen,--At a moment when too
many acts of the Irish Executive abrogate law, and
tend to drive you from the position of constitutional
action, the reign of force has been inaugurated against
US as your representatives here on the floor of the
House of Commons.

"A proposal to depart from the ordinary and
legitimate procedure of Parliament, and to suppress
at a stroke the liberties of our country, imposed upon
us duties from which we could not shrink. Strictly
and admittedly confining ourselves within the rules
and laws of Parliamentary action, we resisted this
flagrant proceeding. Only by a resort to open
illegality could our efforts be defeated. On Wednes-
day last, in violation of the laws and liberties of
Parliament, the voice of the Irish representation was
arbitrarily silenced, not to facilitate any effort of
beneficial legislation for the English people (which
has always received from us advocacy and support),
but in order that a Coercion Act for Ireland might
be forced through the Legislature. Last evening, we,
36 of your representatives, for claiming our rights
within the rules and precedents of this Assembly,
were removed by force from the Chamber, and a scene
recalling the worst days of the Stuarts disgraced the
records of Parliament. Advantage was taken of our
enforced absence to rush through the House a resolu-
tion, which designed against Ireland, vests in an in-
dividual autocratic power, and deprive us as your
representatives of all guarantee of freedom of action
or of speech.

" In the midst of such proceedings, the news Which
reaches us from Ireland daily grows in gravity. Meet-
ings are illegally suppressed, arrests arbitrarily made.
Yesterday a man well known to us, and to many of
you during these recent events, as a counsellor of
tolerance, restraint, and prudence, has been seized
without warning, and ilung back into the horrors of
penal servitude.
"Fellow countrymen, we adjure you in the midst
of these trials and provocations, to maintain the noble
attitude that has already assured your ultimate
victory. Reject every temptation to conflict, dis-
order, or crime. Be not terrorized by a brief reign
a despotism. If you are true to yourselves, your
triumph is certain.
"To our countrymen in Great Britain we appeal to
frustrate all endeavours to excite enmity betweenthem and their English fellow-citizens, among
whom many generous voices are even now raised in
our behalf.
- - -•-

"Fellow countrymen! In the discharge of our
duties here, our attitude and our actions have keen
and shall be. in every instance guided by considera-
tion for your interests. We ask you by your oiderly
self.restraint, your unshaken organization, your
determined perseverance to strengthen our hands in
the struggle we maintain.
"Signed by C. S. Parnell); Justin M'Carthy ; John
Barry, Wexford County; J. G. Biggar, Cavan
County; G. Byrne, Wextord County; W. J. Corbet,
Wicklow County; John Daly, Cork City ; C. Daw-
son, Carlow Borough; John Dillon, Tipperary
County' J. L. Finigan, Ennis Borough. 11,
Gill, Westmeath County; E. D. Grey, Carlini,
County ; T. M. Healey, Wexford Borough • R.
Lalor, Queen's County; Edmund Leamy, Water-
ford City; James Leahy, Kildare County; j,
C. M'Coan, Wicklow County; E. H. larum,
Kilkenny County' B. C. Molloy, Kings County;
R. H. Metge, Meath County; Isaac Nelson, Mayo
County; Arthur 9'Connor, Queen's County; T. P.
O'Connor, Galway City ; F. H. O'Donnell, Dun-
garvan Borough; O'Donoghue, Tralee Borough ;
O'Gorman Mahon, Clare County' James O'Kelly,
Roscommon County; R. 0. O'Shaughanessy, Limerick
City; W. H. O'Sullivan, Limerick County; Richard
Power) Waterford City; J. 0. Connor Power, Mayo
County; J. E. Redmond, New Ross Borough,. Thomas
Sexton, Sligo County' J. T. Sraithwick, Kilkenny
City ; A. M. Sullivan, Meath County; T. D. Sullivan,
Westmeath Uounty.”- '
The Manifesto was telegraphed all over the three
kingdoms, to Amerioa and .Australia.

The roof of the Railway Depot at Buffalo, U.S.,
fell in on Tuesday, killing four persons and burying a train
containing twenty passengers, none of whom, however,
were injured.

•
On Monday afternoon a lamentable accident oc-
curred at Dysart, near Kirkcaldy. Three fishermen,
brothers, named Henderson, went out in a beat to lift their
lines, which they were usable, owing bo the storm, to reach.
On attempting to return to shore, their boat was caught by
a huge wave and swamped. Two of the men disappeared
with the boat and were drowned, but the third suceeeded
in clearing the sinking craft and was washed ashore stunned
fuad bleeding. He, however, rallied shortly alter.

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN,

A telegram from New Orleans says that owing to
storm having broken down the levee the Mississippi river
has overflowed and inundated 500 squares of the city. The
railway has also been damaged. The flood has caused
heavy loss, and the water is still rising*
A demand of sixpence per day inoreaso in their
wages has been requested by the miners of Fife and Clack-
mannan.

A return has been issued showing that the number
of soldiers who deserted during the past year from the army
was 6,110. The deserters from the militia in the same
period numbered 10,610.
The revenue of the Canadian Dominion for last
month was 2,365,000 dols., being 600,000 dols. over the cor-
responding period of last year.
'

With reference to the figure-head picked up by the
barque Gtrl of Devon, the officers of Devonport Dockyard
have reported to the Admiralty that they have examined
the figure-head, and that it did not belong to her Majesty's
ship Atalanta.
-

It may be mentioned that "The French Revolu•
tion "is the only work of Carlyle's ever translated into
French.

The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh will
leave London on Thursday night, the 24th inst., en route for
Germany, whither their Royal Highnesses proceed in order
to attend the nuptials of Prince Frederick William of Prussia
and Princess Amosta Victoria of Holstein-Augtastenburg,
which takes place at Berlin on the following Sunday, the 27th
inst.

An open competition will be held in London on
March Bth for one situation for a student interpreter for
Japan.

The increase of population in Prussia since the
last emit's in 1576 is rated according to the most recent
returns, at 586 per cent., Prussia now numbering 27,260,331
inhabitants.

Pigeons are employed in carrying messages from the
new geld•lielda in -New Zealand to the large towns; and
" pigeongrams " are regularly published in the newspapers.
The visit of Mr. Gosohen to the ilierman Emperor
Is regarded in Berlin, it is intimated, "as a sign of an
assured general peace." _ _ _

The Manchester Chamber of Commerce has adopted
a resOution appointing a court of commercial reference for
the purpose of trying matters connected with trade and
commerce in Manchester.

Last week's receipts of cotton at all United States
ports have been 147,000 bales, and since Ist Septeinber
4,092,895 bales. Shipments to England and Great Britain,
83,000 bales; and to the Continent and Channel, 45,000 bales
total &ince Ist September, 2,575,573 bales. Stock at all ports
240,000 bales.

Mr. Rowland Winn, M.P., of Nostell Priory, near
Wakefield, Ills returned 25 per cent. on the last half-year's
rent to the tenants upon his Yorkshire estate. On three
previous half-yearly audits Mr. Winn returned 10 per cent.
Minnesoto millers no longer "grind" wheat into
flour. They " crack " it, and the people of the North-West
claim that the new process makes their hitherto inferior
spring wheat the most valuable in the world. Burr stones
are things of the past, and Hungarian steel rollers have
taken their place.

It is said that Mdlle. Sarah Bernhardt's eighty-one
performances in America have produced 234,108 dollars.

The report of the Royal Horticultural Society for
the past year shows encouraging resets. There has been a
steady improvement in all branches, and both the number of
fellows and the receipts from all sources have increased.
The balance-sheet indizates that £1,278 Hs. Bd. had been
carried forward to general revenue account.

A large meeting convened by London working-men,
to express sympathy with the Irish people and their- repre-
sentatives was held on Sunday afternoon in Trafa4ar-
square, London. Resolutions approving the action of the
Land League and eondeinning the Government were declared
to be unanimously earned.

Advioes received from Paris by the Liverpool
Journal of Comments states that the nuraber of ships which
passed through the Suez Canal during the last ten days of
January was 75, and the transit revenue collected in the
same period was £65,000.

To Queen Louise and to Goethe statues were erected
In Berlin in the course of last year, and now a committee
for the raising of a monument to Lessing has issued an
appeal to all Germans abroad for subscriptions in aid of the
patriotic purpose. ,

It is announced by telegraph from China that Com-
mander the Honourable Horatio Nelson Sandys Hood, com-
manding her Majesty's sloop Pegasus, died on the 3rd inst.
at Shanghai, of small-pox. The deceased was the second
son of General Viscount Bridport, and was born March 24,
1143, and married September 28, 1872. Isabella Emily,
second daughter of Sir Robert Miller Muaday. He entered
the navy in February, 1857; became sub-lieutenant in
August, 1663: lieutenant, January, 1866; and commander,
July, MO ; and was appointed to the command of the
Pegasus in March, 1879.
It appears that the Spaniards are quite serious in
the demand that their country should be recognized as a
Great Power. Scores of articles have appeared on the sub-
ject in their newspapers, and some writers have already
begun to discuss the policy which Spain should pursue when
she is admitted into the "European Concert." It is signifi-
cant that the movement receives a great deal of ostentatious
support in Germany, where it is hoped that Spain might
become a valuable ally against France.

The Queen of Sweden, accompanied by the Crown
Prince, the Lord Chamberlain, and the Countesses Jarlsberg,
paid a visit to the ancient town of Wimbonie, on Saturday,
driving thither from Bournemouth. The Royal party
inspected the old minster, and after lunching at the Crown
Hotel drove back to 13ournemouth.

The Army and Navy Gazdle learns from gape Town
that a dozen applications, at least, reach there by each
mail from England, addressed to the Colonial Secretary,
from retired officers of the army and navy, applying for em-
ployment in the Colonial forces, or in any capacity under
the Colonial Government. It would be quite impossible to
provide for a hundredth part of those who are wishful to
secure appointments, and it may save trouble, expense, and
anxiety to know this.

" Half-Gainea.—Do you ever look here now? I have
been very wretched all this time, and instead of forgetting I
think more about you every day. Tell me if you will be true
and wait in hope? It cannot be right that both our lives
should be made miserable. It is not too much for you to do.
You must know how trying all this is. Please remember
your promises to me first. Forgive me for troubling you so,
but I care so much, and can never alter. Be kind, and write
one word only to stop my trouble."—Advertisement in The
Times.

The lateat accounts from America in reference to the
iron trade are decidedly encouraging. The market for Scotch
pig was very firm, with a large business, some descriptions
being 2s. per ton dearer. Scrap iron was also 2s. per ton
dearer and tending upwards, with heavy transactions. The
demand for steel rails continued active, and tin plates were
in good demand at firm prices.
South Australia and Victoria have agreed to com-
bined action for the destruction of rabbits at or near the
border, where they have so multiplied as to become a great
pest to the farmers, rendering much of the land compara-
tively useless. New South Wales, South Australia, and
Victoria have also agreed to bear jointly the expense of
exterminating the Phyllax,era vastatrix, the alarming
extension of which in Victoria has threatened destruc-
tion of the wine industry. The three Colonies are to con-
tribute equally to the extent of £20,000 for the above
proposal.
The Tay net fishings opened on the 4th at midnight,
under not very encouraging prospects, as the ice only broke
up-on the previous day. Very few crews ventured out till
after daylight. Some stations were not fished at all. On
Saturday fishing was very poor; only fifteen fish were
landed, averaging 231 b. each, the heaviest being 301 b.

The Colony of Queensland attained its majority on
the 10th of December last, having been separated from New
South Wales twenty-one years ago. Its population was
then 35,000, or only equal to that of. East and West Ballarat
at the present time.
Mr. Childers, who distributed the prizes on Mon-
day to the successful students of Netley Hospital, spoke of
the great value of that Institution, of the honour it did to
its illustrious founders, and of its being one of the most glori-
ous memories of the reign of her Majesty. He expressed a hope
that the museum would be enlarged, and that thus Netley
would become even more valuable than it had been, and he
then gave the students advice with regard to the career on
which they were about to enter.

Among the signs of returning business prosperity
In Switzerland may be noted the facts that the receipts of
the railways for the past year exceed those of 1879 by two
million francs, and that the watch trade has lately become so
active that manufacturers are raising their prices for watches
in the rough by 80 per cent. and for finished watches 30 per
cent.
Another illustration of the peculiar dangers to
which medical men are exposed in the.practice of their pro-
fession, states the Lanset, is afforded by the lamented death
of Dr. Ferdinand Teneken, of Kingstown. On January Ist
Dr. Jencken opened an abscess in the arm of a poor woman
having en his thumb at the time of operating a cut or
abrasion so slight as to have been entirely overlooked. The
hand and arm, however, soon afterwards became violently
inflamed, symptoms of pysemia rapidly supervened, and
death closed the scene.
In London last week 2,925 births and 1,926 deaths
were registered. Allowing for increase of population, the
births exceeded by 225, and the deaths by 43, the average
numbers in the corresponding week of the last ten years.
The annual death rate from all causes, which had steadily
increased from 21-3 to 291 in the four preceding weeks, de-
clined again to 27•1. During the past live weeks of the cur-
rent quarter, the death rate in the metropolis, notwith-
standing the late severe frost, averaged only 251 per 1,000,
against 270 and gr 2 in the corresponding periods of 1879
and 1880.
Attention is drawn by the Registrar-General to the
fact that the fatal cases of small-pox in London, which had
been 27, 42, and 62 in the three preceding weeks, further
rose to £4 last week, and exceeded the corrected weekly
average is the past ten years by seven. •

People who have been watching, the revenue re;
turns have been buoying themselves up with the hope that
this year will see an abatement in the income tax, It is
sad to dash snch hopes to the ground, but, from informa-
tion gleaned from a trustworthy quarter, we can say with
almost certainty that there will be no remission this year.
Two-and-a-half millions of Exchequer Bonds unprovided
for, and an Indian deficit preclude the possibility "for a
season" at least. —Court Journal.

The audience at McVicker's, Chicago January 4th,
was treated to a fainting scene by Sarah Bernhardt not down
in the lines of Padre, which she was playing. In the last
scene of the fourth act, where Phedre expresses a longing to
be left to "deplore fate," Mlle. Bernhardt dropped in a dead
faint on one of the couches. The audience generally was
not aware that anything wrong had happened until the pro-
prieties of the scene were disturbed by the appearance among
assembled Greeks of several stage hands and supers in their
stiirt sleeves, headed by the manager, who bore Mlle. Bern-
hardt behind the wings. The curtain then descended on a
rather picturesque mingling of ancient and modern cos-
tumes. The orchestra had to play double the time before
Mile. Bernhardt was sufficiently recovered to drag wearily
through the last act.

A noble service was rendered last Saturday morn-
ing by the lifeboat "Florence Nightingale," at Sunderland.
During stormy weather and a heavy sea a signal of distress
was seen from the steluner Broom hill. Steps were im-
mediately taken to launch the National Institution's life-
boat, which ultimately succeeded in bringing ashore 18 of
the crew from the wreck.—This brings up the number of
lives saved by the lifeboats of the Institution in the recent
storms to nearly 200.

The piercing of another of the spherical tunnels of
• the St. Gothard Railway—that of Wattingen, 1,090 mWes
long has just been completed. It is cofifidentially antici-
pated that within a few months all the minor tunnels on
the lines of access will be finished.
At the Leeds A!slizes an innkeeper named MlCenna,
residing at Arnley, brought annction against the Midland
Railway Company to recover damages for the loss of his wife
and injuries sustained by his two sons, the death of the
former and the injuries to the latter having been caused in
a collision on the defendants' line at Pennington in August
jut. Ile was adjudged £l,lOO. The nurse who was tra-
, veiling with thp;plaintiff was awarded £4OO.
Letters from the British detached squadron, just
received, mention that the first week in the New Year was
spent by the Princes Albert Victor and George with several
officers of the Baechsnte In a trip inland from Monte Video.
Subsequently there were great festivities a Buenos Ayres
and adjacent country. The young Princes were in good
health.
A destructive fire broke out on Tuesday night in
one of the tobacco warehouses in the Victoria Docks, Lon-
don, The high wind fanned the flames, which spread with
great rapidity, and were not subdued until the place had
been gutted. The wind, fortunately, was from a favourable
quarter, blowing from the quay, or the result might have
been disastrous to the shipping, although, as it was, one
vessel was slightly damaged. Right fire-engines were
promptly on the spot, and the police closed the dock gates
against the thousands who gathered to witness the conflagra-
tion,

It is said that more than one member remained in
the House of Commons during the whole of the forty-one
hours' sitting of last week.
The Waterloo Station of the London and South.
Western Railway and its approaches were illuminated on
Monday night for the first time with the Br/nth electric light
A reservoir has burst at Franktown, Nevada. The
waters overwhelmed the town, but the inhabitants had
timely warning of the danger and were able to escape
The President of the United States has sent aspeeial
message to Congress asking for a vote of 200,000 dols. to
establish United States naval stations on each side of the
Isthmus of Darien. •

1 A petition is about to be presented to the Queen
with :the object of keeping the tartans as now worn by
'Highland regiments intact.

-
The university library at Efarvard, U.S., is now
open on Sundays. Only regular readers, it is understood
are admitted.

An extensive landslip has occurred in the Isle of
Wight, the Linderoliffe and other portions of land in that
neighbournood having fallen, carrying away trees and
blocking roads and lawns.

Notice has been given by Mr. Cavendish-Bentinc.k
that he will move the rejection of the Ballot Act Con.
tinuance and Amendment Bill.
It is perhaps not generally known that under the
Standing Order just brought into prominence a member
thrice suspended may thereafter, by vote from the House, be
suspended for the rest of the session. Mr. Biggar has now
been suspended twice.

The telegraph service, which has greatly suffered
by the storms prevalent during the last few weeks. was
much disorganised by the weather on Monday. Communi-
cation with Scotland, more especially the northern parts,
was interrupted for many hours. The northern towns of
England found their telegraphic arrangements seriously de.
ranged. The actual expenditure and diminished receipts
imposed upon the Department by a day like Monday
amount to a considerable sum.

The American telegrams state that reports are now
coming in of the loss of life occasioned by the tremendous
floods in California. Steamers are plying on the submerged
plains, taking off the people and stock. About 8,500 square
miles of Sacramento Valley are reported to be inundated,
and the losses in this district will be very considerable.
A New York telegram says that the visible supply
of wheat on the 29th ult. amounted to 28,006,545 bushels,
and that of corn to 16,724,075 bushels. The exports of wheat
or the week were 1,213,326 bushels.
The projectors of the New York World's Fair gave
General Grant a reception on Saturday, when he accepted
the Presidency of the Commission. Subscriptions to the
funds were opened last week, and 322,500 dole* has beets
already subscribed by private indivials. The desire is to
raise 4,000,000 dols. The New York Central Railroad Com-
pany promises 250,000 dols, contingent on the
,whole sum
being raised. The projectors say that other New York
corporations will give 760,000;1101a. more.

Mr. Joseph Cowen was the only English member
who voted on Tuesday night for the adjournment of the
debate on the Coercion Bill.
It is arranged (the Daily Telegraph says) that Mr.
Gladstone will on an early date give the Irish Horne Rule
members and others interested in the matter an opportunity
of discussing the validity of the Speaker's ruling on the
occasion of taking the first reading of the Coercion Bill.

The cold weather has done nothing to check the
spread of small-pox in the metropolis. The returns for the
past fortnight show an increase of one hundred and four
cases over the number reported for the previous fourteen
days. What makes the matter more serious is the fact that
the accommodation for patients at the command of the
Metropolitan Asylums Board is almost exhausted, and,
owing to difficulties of various kinds, there is little prospect
of any further hospitals being opened at present.

Potatoes have buffered from the recent frosts. Large
quantities are discovered to be as soft as rotten apples, while
the eyebuds of a great proportion have been idestroyed At
present potatoes are not dear, but cheapness for the tutuKe
cannot be guaranteed.

"On the 28th Jan., killed in the battle of Laing'a
Nek, South Africa, Henry Dolphin, Lieut. 68th iterement,
second and dearly-loved son of theist() Thomas Dolphin, Esq.,
of'Swafield Hall, Norfolk, aged 2.4."—Obituary of The Twies
Feb. 7.
In contrast to the statement by Marshal Von
Moltke in the letter to Professaßluntschli, lately published
that "perpetual peace is a mere dream, and not even a
beautiful one, and that but for war the world would turn to
corruption," a Berlin Liberal journal recalls an epistle from
the same hand about a year ago to a working man, wherein
the great strategist declared "that a happier state of
things could only come about on its being recognised by all
peoples that every war, even though a victorious one, is a
national calamity.'
It is to be noted with interest (says the Daily Tele-
graph) that, whereas the total number of votes given at
the last election for those members of Parliament who obey
the instructions of Mr. Parnell was only ,05.3, the aggre-
gate number of registered eleotors in Ireland is 231,535.
Robert Appleby, corporal of the 46th Regiment,
was buried the other day, in a very quiets manner, in the
Bedford Cemetery. He had reached his 91st year, and, until
the recent severe weather, was in his usual health. He
served with his regiment at Waterloo and in the wars of
the Peninsula, earning several medals, of which he WWI
Justly proud About a year ago he was present at a public
entertainment given to the aged poor of Bedford, and after
the substantial repast the aged warrior went on to the plat-
form, and to the great delight of the old people sang a few
verses of a patriotic song.
"In answer to a gentleman who had a conversation
with Mr. Parnell, and who asked him, among other things,
What will be the policy of the Land League after the
Coercion Act is carried?' Mr. Parnell- is reported to have
said, 'We shall not deviate one inch from our policy. We
shall carry on the agitation constitutionally and openly, and
as fast as local leaders are imprisoned ethers will be en-
couraged and Obtained to take their places. The Govern-
ment will trust much to their first swoop, and after the
places of men arrested are filled up the weapon of coercion
will be broken in their hands, and there will not be much
advantage in making a second coup. We have some fear
that the people, either in Ireland or in England, may be
tempted to retaliate, and we are taking every means to pre-
vent this, and to maintain the policy of passive resistance
which the Land League initiated and has always preached."
—:Saturday s t intes.
Mr. Serjeant Simon, the member for the borough
of Dewsbury, has had a letter sent to him, threatening to _
kill him for the action he has taken in Parliament in voting
for the Coercion Bill. The writer says Ave ounces of lead ,
are waiting for him. A drawing, warning Mr. Simon of the • .
death intended for him, appears in the letter. The hand-
writing is evidently disguised.
Replying to a resolution of confidence in the
Government passed by the Wolverhampton Liberal Associa-
tion, Mr. H. 11. Fowler, 3LP., writes that the House of
Commons has been engaged in a grave struggle for its own
freedom, honour, and power. The leaders of the Opposition
have rendered a gallant and unflinching support to the
Ministers of the Crown. All who value representative in-
stitutions and who reverence the House of Commons as the
chief representative body in the world are under a lasting
debt of obligation to the Speaker for the patience, wisdom,
and courage he displayed in thiseunexampled crisis.
A large Parliament House, on the site of the ruins
of the Tuileries, has been suggested in Paris, in order to
unite under one roof the Senate and the Chamber of
Deputies, now most inconveniently separated. Should this
scheme prove too costly-4800,000 and five years' time would
be required—it is proposed to move the Senate from the
Luxembourg to the Foreign Office, which is close to the Petals
Bourbon, where the Lower House sits.

It is stated to be Mr. Fawcett's intention to pro-
pose a paresl post at uniform rates, regardless of distance.
The charge up to 21b. is likely to be 6d., between 21b. and
41b. is., the payment in each case being made by stamps.
The railway companies will carry and the Post Office will
collect and deliver, and the receipts will be divided equally
—one half to the Post Office and the other half to the car-
rying companies.

On Saturday Lord Coleridge delivered the judg-
ment of the Court of Appeal in the case of the "Attorney-
General v. the North-Western Railway Company," an appeal
by the latter from the Exchequer Division. That Court had
decided that the Company was liable to certain duties
beyond the ordinary duty, and especially with respect to
extra fares for Pullman cars. Their Lordships—the Lord
Chancellor and Lord Justice Brett being also on the Bench
—affirmed this decision, and dismissed the appeal.
An influential meeting was held at Bedford Ex-
change on Monday evening to consider a proposal to allot
about 61 acres of land, belonging to the hospital of St. John,
Bedford, as a people's park. The meeting was convened by
the mayor, at the request of the Attorney-General, who
wished to have the wishes of the town openly expressed on the
subject. There were present about 700 persons, fairly repre-
sentative of all classes. Resolutions in favour of the pro-
posed allotment of the land, and of the application of a
portion of the income of the estate in aid of elementary
education for the poor in Bedford, Were unanimously
passed.
Ait important benefice ha,s become vacant by the
somewhat sudden death, on Monday evening, of the Rev.
Canon Walpole, rector of Alverstoke, within which parish
the town of Gosport is situated. Mr. 'Walpole, who is a
brother of the Right Hon. Spencer H. Walpole, 31. P., has
held the living, the gross increase of which is stated to be
£1,345 per annum, since 1848. The present Archbishop of
Dublin and the late Bishop Wilberforce were for some time
rectors.