The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-13 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Her Majesty has received the following report of
Princess Louise, dated Saturday —"The• Princess came down-
stairs for the first time to-dpy. Improvement as satisfactory
as could be expected"
va 111011(.15y LBO Catetni Gawk gat, a a Tnlmr.
Cantwell, of the Royal Artillery, in the corridor at Windsor
Castle, with the distinguished service medal, for gallantry
displayed by him at the defence of the hospital at Rorke's
Drift. Lieutenant-General Hon. A. Hardinge, C. 8., and
Captain Edwards, RE., were in attendance.

In reply to the congratulatory letter of the Emperor
William, the Emperor of Russia says:—" The Czar will keep
all his life friendship with the Emperor William and peace
with Germany."
The rceipts on account of revenue from the let
Aprll, 1879, when there was a balance of £6,916,766, to
_March 0, 1880, were £74,910,910, against £76,999.959 in the
corresponding period a the preceding f1nan.71.41 year, which
began with a balance of £8 243 389. The net expenditure
was £74,878,262, against £77,673 882 to the same date in the
previous yr. The Treasury balances on March 6 amounted
to £7,938,177, and at the same date in 1879 to £7,491,710.
-

. .
We (Standard) understand that the R,yal Gimmis•
ston on Agricultural Depression have unanimously approved
the principle of Professor Bald win's scheme for the purchase
by the Government, out of the Irish Church Surplus Fund,
of Irish waste lands, to be allocated antofigst the local
farmers on certain conditions of tenure and improvement.

It is proposed that when the Parliamflgery Bill for
taking the Census Is passed, there shall be a °lame inserted
permitting the employment ot women.
- - - - -

- It is wad that the Princess Lluige lost a jewel daring
her recent accßent valued at 20,000 dols. Borne fifteen or
twenty persons spent the greater part of the afternoon
searching for it in the snow where the accident occurred.
Mr. Bourke has reneived a deputation from the
Manchester Chamber of Commerce upon the subject of the
revision of the French tariff. Mr. Bourke sad tee govern-
ment would do all they c,uld to induce the French Elovern-
ment to regard this subject from a liberal point of view;
but there were ominous signs that many British good* would
not receive such favourable treatment in France as hitherto.
The hon. gentleman promised to lay before the Marquis of
Salisbury the views of the deputation.

-
Lady Charlotte Bacon, widow of General Bacon,
died on Tuesday, at her residence, Btanhope-place, 1101
Park, at the age of seventy-eight She was the aecou—
daughter of Edward Harley, fitth ICarl of Oxford, and vv"
one of the well-known beauties of the ;early part of tht:
present century. She was the Lady Charlotte Ogee,'
whom Byron refers in his poem to "lanthe," which fora'
the prologue to "Childe Harold." - e

-- -----
The Standard remarks that "since the break-up of
the frost a greater number of accidents of either a serious
similar
or absolutely fatal oharacter, connected with our
and popular pastimes, field sports
in auf
has been recorded than
period of late years. This has been sPeulsilY he case
within the last week or so during which there seems to have
been a most untutaal fatality attaching to our outdoor
amusements. The hunting, steeple.nhale, and football
season has indeed from the beginning been prolific of Was.
troplies, but recent recordi of atcidents have been proVettly
without precedent."

It is expected that Lord Hartington will, in response
to a numerously signed requisition, visit Plymouth during
the Easter recess, and deliver addresses on behalf of efforts
in Devon and Cornwall to return Liberal candidates in place
of the present Conservatives.
The Crown Princess of Germany visited on the 3rd
inst., a Swiss school and a school for deformed children at
Genoa. At the latter the Prussian National Anteem and
Garibaldi's Hymn were given on the piano, and one of the
girls presented the Princess with a bouquet.
An explosion of fire damp has occurred at East
Nanticoke (Pennsylvania), causing the death of nine miners
A telegram from Berlin says it is understood to be
the intention ef the German Government to withdraw the
bill now before the House for extending the duration of
Parliaments.
M. Daubourg, a French eagineer, claims to have
devised a means of transporting large vessels over isthmuses,
however steep, and an experiment is shortly to be made at
Argenteuil by lifting a 2,000.t0n ship from the river and
taking it on rails to another point on the river,
The Correspondent of The Times says that Mr
Bowen Jones, a well•known English agriculturist, has arrived
at Bucharest on a tour of observation in the Danubian
Principalities, with the object of ascertaining what oppor-
tunities may be secured there for English farmers who are
discouraged with the state of farming at home.
At Piymouth Guildhall, the other day the twelve
men who went out in the Plymouth lifeboat to the assistance
of the steamship Haukow, when she was in imminent peril
off the breakwater on February 9, were each presented by the
mayor with £l.s. 2s. 6d., as a reward for their gallantry.
At the annual meeting at Wigan of the Lancashire
and Cheshire Miners' Permanent Relief Society, now num-
bering nearly 32.000 members, it was reported that during the
last seven years the society had dealt with over 26,000 cases of
disablement and 426 fatal accidents, and had provided for
256 widows and 249 children. At the close of the year 191
widows and 406 children were receiving annuities. Nearly
£l6 000 were paid last year to widows, children, and die.
abied members, and over £4OOO for surgical attendance.
Her-Majesty's ship Bacehante, Captain Lord Chas.
Scott, having on board the Princes Albert Victor and George
of Wales, arrived at Si, Thomas on Sunday last, and was to
sail next day.
At the meeting of the supporters of the Inde.
fatigable training-ship, the Mayor of Liverpool promised to
give a dock bond for £lOO, the interest to be appropriated
as a prize for a clever and well-deserving boy going to sea.
Toe authorities of the British Museum have ar-
ranged for an important sale of prints during April, includ-
ing a considerable array of works by many of the great
original engravers—impressions of which the museum, by
reason of it duplicate possessions, has no further need.
A great meeting of weavers on strike was held on
Monday morning in the Oddiellows' Hall, Ashton-under.
Lyng. Toe general secretary of the Weavers' Ailmalation
presided, and resointions pledging the hands to remain out
until the advance is granted and to leave the settlement of
the dispute entirely in the hands of the union committee,
were unanimously adopted.
• Thunder Was heard in various quarters in February,
Ali ancient saw gravely sets forth in the Boke of Knowledge,
that "Thunder in February signideth that same sear
many rich men shall die in greats sicknneese." The cause
and the effect do not seem to be very clearly connected.
Mr. Streeter, the jeweller of 18, New .3ond.street,
London, has on view (to any one presenting their card) the
largest piece of carbon (from Brazil) ever found, the weight
being nearly 800 carats.
The recent sale in Boston of sixty-two finished
paintings and one hundred and one charcoal sketches and
studies' by the late William M. Rant, produced the sum of
60,000 dole,, while those previously withdrawn will produce
as much or more. No posthumous sale of an artist's works
In that country ever produced anything like such a slum.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has Pad some
windfalls recently in the shape of legacy and succession duty,
the personal estate of the late Sir Hamilton Seymour has
been sworn under £450,001, that of the Hon. Octavius Duns
combat, late Chairman of line Great Northern. hallway, under
£160,000, and that of the Hon. and Very her Dr. Dancombe,
late Dean of York under £500,000 have all been proved during
the lasi few days.
Mr. Carlyle, who has now arrived at his eighty-
fourth year, has not been so well in health of late, and sees
no society beyond his own home circle and two or three
literary friends, including Mr. Fronde and Mr. Lecke,.
Although the body is weak and failing, the mind of the
"sage" Is as clear as ever, and an meeasional failure of
memory is the only trace as yet of intellectual decay.—Coltrt
Journal.
Trio New Yorkers are independent of the weather,
so far as skating is concerned; for they have now a fine
artificial ice-rink, presenting an unbroken sheet two hundred
fees long by forty feet broad. The ice is formed by circulat-
ing a very cold liquid through a series of iron pipes immersed
in the water contained in a shallow basin. When the ice
surface is cut up, it is swept and flooded with water, which
speedily freeze'.
English ladies who desire to take the place of the
mescaline gender in all operatioes which can be wade prac-
tical, will be glad to hear that a stock exchange has been
opened in the city of New York. It is said that it is in-
tended for the accommodation of married and single ladies
of large and inde
stocks, but whose apecuiative trnsactio have heretofore
pendent mesas, who desire to operate ine ns
been impeded by the lack of ample facilities and prompt in-
ferraation.—Court Journal.
Mr. R. Arthington, of Leeds, the originator of the
Tauganyika Mission' has offered She London Missionary
Society the sum of £3,000, on the understanding that they
will at once place a suitable steamer on Teske Tanganyika,
visit all the tribes on its shores, explore the country between
the north end and the Albert Nyanza and the neighbouring
lakes, with the view of finding the best route from Teske
Taugany ka to the Nile; and of bringing under the in
licence of Christian teaching the populations of the region.
Mr. Henry Michell, president of the Bradford
Chamber of Commerce, has made known his award with
regard to the Oen' strike, the dispute having been referred
to him for arbitration. He adjudges that the men shall
work at the rate of 60 hours per week until the 30th of April;
that they shall work 50 hours per week from the beginning
of May to the end of August' and that they shall work 54
hours per week from the let of September. The present
rate of wages la to continue, and all overtime is to be paid
at that rate. Nearly all the hands who were on strike are
now employed.
The funeral of Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Piekard,
V. 0., C. 8., of the Royal Artillery, Assistant Private Secretary,
Assistant keeper of the Privy Purse, and Groom-in-Waiting
to the Queen, was solemnized as Cannes on Thursday in
last werk Eh, ouftlu WAS Ind by wreathe of flower' trete
many friends especially from the Duke and Duchess of
Coneutuistit, Princess Beatrice, and Prince Leopold. Con-
spicuous among them was a great wreath of white camellias
ordered by the Queen' to which was attached by Ber
Majesty's command this legend, "A mark of high esteem,
gratitude, and friendship from Queen Victoria." By
special command, too, Mr. Berea Patteson, Bsitish Vice-
Consul at Cannes, attended on behalf of her Majesty.
The Globe says that Lord Hartington had a fall from
his horse while bunting on Monday with Sir N de Roths-
child's staghounds. Lord bielgund was thrown at a brook,
Lord Harlington fell at a fence, but was not injured. Lord
Ilehester was also down near the same spot. The meet was
at Steweley, in the Vale of Aylesbury, and, as showing the
nature of the country, there were no fewer than ten falls in
clearing 23 fences.
The warehouses of the Menageries Nationales, the
great French carrying company, in the Rue de Chabrol,
Paris, was burnt down on Saturday night. There was so
much woodwork in the banding that the efforts of 601
soldiers mild only save the adjoining premises. About 100
horses broke loose and rushed terrified from the spot. The
merchandise destroyed is estimated at from 1,500,000 francs,
to 2,000,000 francs, Saturday being the day when the ware
houses were most fnll. An area of 6,000 square yards was
cover.d with the debris of waggons and goods. The origin
of the fire is unknown.
Considerable progress has now been made with the
borings for the tunnel to be constructed by the Mersey Rail-
way Corniest, y under the bed of the river. The shaft on the
Birkenhead side has been sunk to a depth of abent 120 feet,
and so far the results have been very satisfactory. Tne
boring is through the red sandstone. The Liverpool Post
says the contractor is sanguine that, if the rock proves as
good as it has been so far, the construction of a railway
tunnel under the Mersey will be a comparatively easy under-
taking
In London, on Monday evening, a meeting called
by the General Council of Radical Workmen's Cinbs and
Associations was held in the rooms of the Westminster
Democratic Club, to organize measures for obtaining a strong
protest against the proposed erection of a memorial to the
late Prince Louis Napoleon in Westminster Abbey. Letters
of sympathy with the movement were read :from several
members of Parliament, including Mr. Gladstone, and it was
resolved to appoint delegates to confer with the two existing
committees, with a view to further action in the matter.
"The arrival at Vienna of the new Russian Am-
bascador, M. d'Oubril, seems to have given new hopes to the
influential party led by Baron Hilbner, which aims at break
log up the Austro-German atheist:re and replacing it by an
Amato-Russian one. The Vaterland which is the orgau of
that party, takes the opportunity of suggesting that
Austrian interests imperatively demand an alliance with
Russia. The policy of Count Andrassy, if mishits-toed, would,
it says, lead to the absurd result that Austria will ultimately
find all the Powers of Europe, including England, against
her except Germany. This view is strongly supported by the
Feudaliats, but ills as warmly opposed by the Hungarians
and the Poles."—Pall Mall Gazette.
A deputation, consisting of the Manchester City
Council, City Justine, and other bodies waited on Mr. Cross,
at the Home Ofßee, on Tuesday, for the purpose of urging
legislation for toe limitation of the hours during which
children should be employed selling matches, and engaged
In other occupations in the street. Mr. Cross assured the
deputation that if he had the honour to be again placed in
the office he now tilled, he would endeavour that the matter
should be considered.
The Vicomte de Roquefeuil, who has just died in
Brittany at the age of 91, was educated In England, where
his mother, on her husband being shot at Qaiberon, married
M. de Casales, the Legitimist champion. He entered the
Euglish army, served in Egypt and Malta, as also in Sian,
where he discovered a plot against the English army of oc-
cupation, and lastly in Spain, where he became colonel. At
the Restoration he jelned the wrench army and starved In
Spain, where Chaugarnier, whose reputation he predicted,
was under his orders. en the Revolution of 1830 he retired
from military end politteal life, but took to the lasts warm
interest in politics and literature.—Obituery of The Times
March 10.
Her Majesty's intended departure for Baden may
take place a few days later than originally fixed. According
to the most recent arrangements the Queen is expected to
leave Windsor about the 25th inst. for tne Continent.
The Vienna Correspondent of the Daily News tele-
graphs that, owing to the accumulation ot the ice 011 the
Vistula, floods have occurred in thirty vlllageN "me of
which have been completely destroyed. Thousands of
parsons are said to be without shelter or food.
Asa consequence of the forthcoming dissolution of
Parliament, the Volunteer Field day which it was proposed
to hold on Easter Monday will not new take place, but it
any desire is expressed to hold is at Whitsuntide, the
Government will offer the same factittles as they had been
about to give at Easter.
It is officially announced in the London Gazette that
her Majesty's birthday will be kept on Saturday, May 29
next,
for increase of population, the
In London last week 2 777 births and 1,617 deaths
were registered. Allowing
h
the average numbers in ereto the de:Us were 150 below,
births exceeded ny 190, wthe corresponding week of the last
s,
ten years The annual deathdsteadily
rate from all cause which In
the four previous weeks declined from 48.1 to
et er fell to 22 9. During the past nine
corresponding
rLr
ee
supdoonnd
naeg
23 7 per le 00, quarter the death rat
et 26:3 and 26 0 in thee
6gathB79 The deaths included
iseg aed 1 8 from small-
awvepertsg of the t3h)e
7c. urrent
periods of
trona mevnioegp,
i4n4g!erooiling
i:,cla4rlfertomfevdelffr'erßenfrtefmormdsiPoh;
pox, 17
Iberia 155 from di h
dl4 from arr
fever, an
The result of canvasses in nearly 400 towns and
Villages shows that 640,505 householders, representing a
population of more than three millions of people throughout
j;,gland and Wales, have given their opinion on the subject
of closing publlchouses during the ,whole of Sunday, viz,
For Total Closing, 634,652 ; against, 65,570; neutral, 40,373
iror reasons which have been sufficiently discussed,
Mr. Gladstone has chosen to leave Greenwich and to invade
the ducal family of Buoclench in their native county of Mid
Lothian. Of Mr. Gladatome's prospects in Mid. Lothian it
waned be rash to speak with any assurance. His supporters
are meet confident that he will win, but his opponents are
not less certain that he will be beaten. Meantime the town
of Leeds has offered to the late Prime ilinister the same
service which proved so opportune when humble, tendered
by Greenwich in 1863. Yesterday morning an announce-
ment appeared in the Toads newspapers calling upon the
Liberal electors to vote for Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Barran,
the latter being one of the sitting members. As the
Liberals will not venture to run more than two candidates
in Leeds, it is probable that Mr. Gladstone will be returned
at the head of the poll, and, if he should be defeated in Mill
Lothian, he will find at his disposal a seat which
was oboe
Mkt by Macantay.—Deater in WedneartUrs Tirsta.

A dry goods warehou.e ut Saint Patti, Minnesota,
has been burned down. The loss is estimated at 1,000,000
dots.

We have been informed that one of the features of
the Chancellor of the Exchequer's forthcoming Budget will
be an increase of the duty on whiskey.— Court Journal.

Whatever cause the Afghans may have to curse
others, they seem to have good reason to bless Dr. Charles
Owen, who, during the occupation of Cabal, has established
and worked dispensaries, which, up to the 27th February,
are said to have relieved no fewer than 10,962 persons, of
whom 3,324 were women.

M. de Lesseps bat paid a visit to Prvident Hayes
and explained that the Panama Canal soheme would not
interfere with the interests of the Untied States. In reply
President Hayes expressed his gratification that no political
objects were connected wish the work.
The execution of John Wingfield, who was recently
tried and convicted for the murder of his wife at Kilburn,
has been fixed for Monday. the 22nd of March. The Sheriffs
of Loudon and Middlesex made a communication to this
effect to the convict at Newgate on Saturday.

Derby has now been definitely selected as the town
In which the show of the Royal Agricultural Society for
1881 will be held, the authorities of the town having satisfied
all the requirements of the Society.

An Ana-triean paper says that Dalrymple, the great
Minnesota farmer, will use this season, twenty steam
threshers, 135 reaping machines, and 700 labourers.

- -
Immediately after the annonnoemesit made last
evening by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in reference to
the dissolution of Parliament, a telegram was sent from the
Hawse of Commons to Mr. Parnell urging his immediate
return to Europe.—Tnesday's Evening Standard

It is rumoured that the Ch:tneellor of the Exche-
quer, in accordance with the polioy he has recently pursued,
will propose that the expenses of the South African War
shall be spread over four years.—Eato.

The death is announced at the age of 74, of Signor
Brumidi, the artist who has been engaged for some years in
adorning the capital of the City of Washington with a series
of allegorical and historical fresco paintings.

An international dog show is announced to be held
at Haarlem from the 26th to the 28th of Jane. About the
same tdme there will be a lower show, chiefly of tulips and
hyacinths, on the grandest scale ever attempted since 1877.
The two little fellows, who, by their bravery and
presence of mind prevented a disaster taking place on the
Great Western Railway by D tuntsey, the bridge over which
the train had to pass haying fallen In, should be handsomely
rewarded. Apart from the loss of life and property thus
saved, the act in itself should not be passed over without
regard and recognition.— Uruth.
A Berlin telegram says that Lord Beaconsfield's
utterance upon England's co-operation being imperatively
required for tne maintenance of peace on the Continent is
very generally appreciated there.

- _
The Dal,ly News' correspondent at ()abut telegraphs
that liabomed Jan still kseps blocking the south-west roads,
and will declare his policy to be hostile or otherwise in a
few days. His intentions, the correspondent thinks, are
probably conciliatory. The winter has ended.
The fire statistics of the United !States present some
curious results. The annual loss is a hundred million
dollars; and it is siegular that the large and important
buildings should form the bulk of the total number of fires.
In four years no fewer than 1,354 hotels were burnt, 233
churches, and 182 school-house; the two latter being classes
of buildings which should show an almost entire immunity
from lire.

The New York foreign trade returns last week
showed 13,879,448 doh. imports and 5,293,449 dots. exports
(say the American Correspondent of the Times). This
Indicates such a marked revival of import trade that some
banks think that before long, if the movement should con.
tinue, gold will be shipped abroad.

According to the Yew Freie Pretse, Bret Harts is
on the point of resigning his office as Consul at Elberfeldt
intending to return ti the United States. His health has of
late been suffering from the climate.

At the meeting of the Conncil,of the Royal Agri.
cultural Society, it was announced that the actual loss on
the Kilburn Exhibition last year was £15,064. It was
unanimously resolved to hold next year's show at Derby.

A. fine meteor, the nucleus being larger than
Jupiter, was seen at Milan at nine p.m. on Friday the fills
inst.

The village of Nanderg, in the Upper Engadine, on
the Austrian side of the frontier, has been burnt down, a
high south wind carrying the flames from house to house.

The low projected English Pilgrimage to Lourdes,
headed by Cardinal Manning, will leave London on May 81,
so as to arrive at its destination on June 4.
Tn 4 Marquis of Salisbury was for the first time out
on Tuesday stnce his return to town from Hatfield, and
visited the Empress of Austria at Claridge's Hotel.

It has finally been arranged that her Inaperial
Maj,sty the Empress Eugenie will leave England by the
Union Company's steamer German, embarking at Plymouth
on the 26th inst. Her Majesty will disembark at Durban.

Thera sailed from Liverpool last month for foreign
porta 5,954 perions, an increase of 1,607 on the preceding
mouth aud of 3 001 on the corresponding month of last
year.

Aa an evidence of reaction to healthy activity In
trade, it is announced that an outlay ofiat least two millions
sterling is involved in the numbers oC contract stgned for
buildings and improvements throughout London, which are
to commence at the beginning of the ensuing month.

For 'some time past a firm of London publisher
hsve been collectine the post-cards which Mr. Gladstone hate
written to his innumerable correspondents, with the inten.
tion of publishing in a volume fee-similes of the cards by the
litho-zincogrephic process. The volume will be a large
quarto, which will allow of six post-cards being fac-similed
on each page.—Court Journal.

At an early hour on Sunday morning a further
number of amnestied Communists arrived in Parrs, and were
met at the Montparnasse Station by an immense concourse
of persons.

By eight votes to five the Birmingham School Board
have adopted a scheme for systematic elementary science
teaching In Board schaols, and for the appointment of a
science demonstrator, at a commencing salary of £250 per
annum; his duties to be the organisation of the instractien
in elementary science, the performance of experiments, and
the giving of oral instruction to Standard 4, and to teach
olasses of pupil teachers to be established in connection with
the Science and Art Department.
In London on Tuesday evening Mrs. Loyd•Linisay
distributed the prizes won during the past year by the
Honourable Artillery Company. The report as to the
efficiency and markimanehin of the Compeer we* eetisfece
tory, and Colonel Loyd-Lindsay toot{ occasion to compliment
them on being at the head of the shooting world
On Monday afternoon Mr. Chamberlain, M.P., in-
troduced to the Duke of Richmond and Gordon a deputation
whose object was to get the time for shearing sheep limited,
either by the issuing of an order by the Privy Council or b 1
an Act of Parliament. It was suggested that no sheep should
be shorn before the 25th of March. The Duke, in reply,
said that nothing could be done in this matter except bY
Act of Parliament, but that he could not see his way to bring
in a Bill to effect the object desired.
At a meeting held in London at the residence of Mr.
Morley, M P., of gentlemen interested in the subject of
technical education an interesting discussion took place, at
the close of which it was resolved to form a committee to
con•ider and report whether any steps can be taken to pro.
vide the technical and practical training of apprentices, and
to consider how far that object can be included in the
scheme of the City Land Guilds Institute, with the view of
making suggestions to that committee for the purpose.
The Select Committee of the House of Commone
appointed to inquire into the subject of the Sugar Duties
have decided that, in consequence of the Dissolution of
Parliament, they will call no more witnesses; and they have
agreed to recommend that the inquiry should be resumed
in the new Parliament.
Military chaplains are to disappear at the end of
this year in France. What, the Catholics will do is not yet
determined on, but the Protestants have decided on the
course they will adopt. In all the garrison towns where there
is a church or chapel of their faith the ministers will go
personally to the barracks to invite the soldiers to attend
Divine service on Sunday. But there are sixty-four garrison
towns which have no Protestant place of worship In these
ministers on special mission will ask permission of the
mayors to receive the soldiers in one of the halls WOO
mettle. If those functionaries refuse, a place in the town
will be hired expressly.

The ironclad litt:scar has again appeared upon ths
scene. Flying the Chilian ensign, she was, when the las 4
mail left, lying-to off Callao. The damage done to her 131
the enemy's projectiles has been made good, and now,
repaired and re-equipped, abe is ready to light again. The
armoured conning-tower which stood upon her deck hail
been removed, and a light bridge has taken its place. Other
C"ailian men of-war are expected to shortly join the nuaseal,
when a close blockade of the harbour of Callao will be
undertaken.
)1

The returns of the Liverpool emigration of6oes 'holt
a great increase in the number at persons who have era!'
grated, the number beii,g more than double those who awl'
grated in February, 1879, and greatly in excess of the figure!,
of the month of January this year. Daring last month 5,9,1
oersons Pmigrated, and of this number 5,331 went to Of
United States, 410 to Canada, 11 to Australia, 91 to Sonia
America, 54 to the East Indies, 10 to the West Indies, 4td
Chios., and 43 to the West Coast of Africa. Compared wits
the figures lest year these show an increase at 3,001, and
they are also 1,607 in excess of January ti2ts year.
"We have to thank Mr. Rylands for a curious Par'
liamentary paper, setting forth by name tke several cows*
ties and Parliamentary boroughs in the United Kingdodh
their areas in equare miles, the number of members Mei
return, and some statistic 4 facts relating to their popubr
non and their wealth. All this is interesting matter at an/
t tine, and more so than ever when a dissolution is announced
The paper brings together a good deal of curious and out'
ot•the-nay information as to the nature of the constitutors'
cies to which an appeal is to be made. It gives no explana•
lion of its contents; nor is it called upon to give any. Ile
simple duty is to record, and this it does with a total die;
re gsrd of any criticisms its pages may chance to provoke.
Leader in rhe 7smeB.

A deputation from the London School Board bad al
Interview on Tuesday with the Duke of Richmond and
Gordon on the subject of the examinations of pupil-teacher&
It WM stated that the results of the examinations of pupa'
teachers had not been found to be satisfactory ; and • tll.
deputation urged upon the Education Department th.
advisability of reducing the severe nature of the examination,
and also giving the pupil-teachers an opportunity for evening
tul lon. Lord George Hamilton said that the objection 10
the cter proposal seemed to be that it would necessarilY
enta,l the pupil-teachers being altogether diosevered aftOr,
school hours from the personal supervision of the teachers 01
their schools. Tre Duke of Richmond said he would eon'
alder what had been said.

A convict in the Parkhnrat Convict Prison, near
Newport, Isle of Wight, was on Friday last reported to IA
suffering from great pain in the bowels, and ordered into
infirmary, where, notwithstanding medicines given aria
efforts made to relieve him, he died on Sunday. On a post'
mortem examination being made, pieces of potatoes as large
as a hen's egg were found in his bowels and in his stomachs
and 11) was considered that dea,h was the result of tb.
obstruction caused by the undigested potatoes.

A telegram from Rtme says that on Satnrds9,
during the artillery experiments on board the Duitio one 01
the guns burst. The accident happened after twenty-two
shots bad-been Arad. The inner steel bore was shattered.
Saveral of the crew were injured by the explosion of gaol
which thrust them against the sides of the turret. Tbe
latter was slightly damaged, but no injury was done to the
machinery or any other part cf the vessel, and the artiliell
trials were rezumed. In all ten persons were injured; bU
only slightly.

Major W. H. Hare, whose death was announced oft
the 4tn inst., served in the campaign of 1808, unci .r Si!
John Moore, and was present through the memorable retreal
of the army to Corunna and at the battle near that place. fie
also served in the expedition to Walcheron, and during the
siege of Flushing in 1809 ; also with his regiment Old
Light Infantr)) in the campa'gns of 1811 12 and 1814 in the
Peninsula, and, finally, at the battle of Waberloo, for which
services he was awarded the usual medals.-oAttiary of I'M
Tones, March 8.
Toe North German Gazette gives an unqualified 0013
tradiction to the report which appeared in the newspapeee
that on the occasion of the last visit of the Emperor to Prin .06
Bismarck, the latter was confined to his bed. The Imperial
Chancellor, lays the Gazette was at the time suffering frogs
a severe cold, and was consequently forbidden by his Or
stolen to leave his room, but he was not compelled to keeP
to his bed for a single day, and although on the 27th of Feb'
rusty he was unable as urinal to receive the Emperor at hi!
carriage, he met his Majesty at the outer door of the Are;
ante-enambtr, and wore his uniform with his helmet AO
sword.

Mr. Gladstone has been asked by the secret •.ry 01
the Croydon branch of the Toting Men's Christian A,3ocili;
lion to address a public meeting under the auspices thP,
institution, or to give a written expression of his opt) •
to the practical value of the association. Mr. Gibi litone
wrote In reply I am truly sorry to be unable to comp',
even with your request in its considerately limited for
Too many letters of recommendation from me are already
oirculatien. They lose their force by repetition, and wolllo
be of no value in a case where I must be purely gifhdral trotO
ladk praotlcal Inforledgst"

t"-

SATTTDV MfICTT 1 1 1 lA.

Property Bill went through committee; but the Lord
Chancellor explained that in the case of both bills he took
this stage merely for the purpose of inserting amendments
and not with any idea that either of the measures could
become law in the present Parliament.
The Artisans' Dwellings Act Amendment Bill and the
Irish Local Government Frovisional Orders (Banbridge, &c.)
Bill were read a second time, and the Indian Salaries and
Allowances Bill passed through Committee.
Lord Houghton again brought under the notice of the
House the exclusion oi reporters from the gaol.yard dur-
ing the execution there of criminals. He complained of
the course taken in this respect by the High Sheriff of
Lancashire: and, declaring that "publicity is of the essence
of British justice," moved "that it is the opinion of this
House that it is advisable that other than official persons
should be present
.at intermural executions,"

After a short discussion, in which Lord Bidmouth, Lord
Fortescue, Lord Beauchamp and Loud Aberdare took part, s

•
Lord Cranbrook commented upon the fact as remarkable
that those who were most in favour of the abolitton of
capital punishment were persons who wished for more pub-
licity in reference to executions. No one desired the
absolute exclusion of all but officials from the prison yard;
but it would be unwise to lay down a rule that on all occa-
sions others than officials should be present. There could
be no doubt that the presence of the cbsplatn, gaoler, and
officials and the subsequent inquest, secured all the publicity
that was necessary.

The motive was negatived without a division, after another
protest from Lord Houghton.
Their Lordahips adjourned at 25 minutes to seven o'clock.
In the HOUSE Or CONltOrin, Mr. Stevenson withdrew his
resolution on the closing of publichoutes on Sundays, and
said that if he had the honour of a seat in the new Parlia-
ment he should renew it. Dr. Cameron also wilhdrew his
Vaccination Bill, in deference to an appeal from Mr. Bolster-
Booth; and in answer to Mr. Alderman Cotton, Mr. Cross
said that as the public did not appear willing to pay the
price for which alone the companies were willing to sell
their business the Water Bill would not appear on the paper
again.
In answer to Mr. Chamberlain, the Chancellor of the
Exchequer stated that Parliament will be prorogued on the
23rd, and the writs will be issued on the 24th.
In answer to kr. Alderman Cotton, Colonel Stanley said
that it had been thought advisable on the whole to postpone
the Easter Monday Review, and for these among other rea-
sons :—ln the first place, Volunteer Regulations prohibited
the assembling of a corps at any place between the issue of
a writ and the election, and the Volunteers if associated
with regular troops would become liable to the Army Dis-
cipline Act, which would not allow them to be in any town
on the nomination or polling days. Moreover, the review
might be a failure, as many of the Volunteers would doubt-
less remain at home to vote; but the military authorities
would be ready to give facilities for a review at Whitsun-
tide.

Sir J. 111 Kenna once more called attention to the unequal
Incidence of Imperial taxation, and to the fact that the gross
•'revenue raised by taxation of Great Britain was equal only
to six and a but times her income tax, whilst the gross
revenue raised by taxation of Ireland exceeded thirteen
times her income tax, struck on similar schedules and on a,
like poundage scale to that of Great Britain. The hon, gentle-
man moved for a Select Committee to enquire and report
on the subject.
Mr. O'C Power seconded the motion, and Mr M'Laren,
who supported it, pointed out that while £6,200,000 was
paid in spirit duties by the 9,000,000 inhabitants of Bootland
and Ireland, the 24,000,000 people of England only paid
£8,200,000. The Scoteh Act of Union, he asserted, had
been as grossly violated in this matter of taxation u the
Irish.

Sir H. Selwln-Ibbetton, speaking in the name of the
Government, denied that any case had been made out for
Interference, and reminded the House that, whereas in
England and Scotland the people were liable to every tax,
in Ireland they were exempt from inhabited house duty, land
tax, and other imposts.

- .
Egr G. Campbell, Mr. W. Holms, and Mr. Storer spoke, and
on a division the motion was negatived by 68 to 86.
Mr. Ratko' next called attention to the recommendation's
of the Royal Commissioners on Rsilway Accidents respect-
ing compensation to railway servants injured in the per-
formance of their duty. Arguing that railway servants
ought to be dealt with specially, he pointed out
that the railways are possessed of an enormous mono-
poly, and that it was a matter of public interest that
railway servants should be protected as much as
possible in the discharge of their duty Grounding
himself on numerous extracts from the Report of the
Railway Commission and from memorials of the railway
tervsntr, he sketched out a plan by which railway servants
killed or injured from no fault of their own should receive
a maximum compensation to be settled by a Board of Trade
arbitrator. The maximum for death he proposed to fix at
£2OO, and for injuries at £,lOO or thereabouts, and taking the
deaths at 60 per annum and the injuries at 500—the rates
given In the latest return—he calculated that these com-
pensations would cost the railway companies £60,000 a year.
He also propoasd that there should be an insurance fund
for meeting the case of accidents to which the men contri-
buted by their own negligence.
Sir L Watkin objected altogether to singling out the rail-
way industry for exceptional legislation, and denied that the
ansplo, meat was specially dangerous, quoting in support of
his denial the statistics relating to violent deaths, He in-
sisted that all employments should be dealt with on the
same footing, and m ,ved an amendment in favour of este•
bliseing some general and adequate system of insurance to
which both capitalists and workmen should subscribe in
equal proportions.
Mr. Hall argued in favour of dealing exceptionally with
railway servants, and during his speech an ineffectual
attempt was made to count out the House. Very shortly
after, while Mr. Davies was speaking against the motion, a
second attempt was made, and only 86 being found to be
present,
'the House adjourned at a quarter past ten o'clock.