The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-07-24 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

The London Hospital Sunday Fund amounts to
£30,000, this being about £4,000 more than the sum col-
lected last year. The total receipts will probably exceed
those received in any year since the origination of the
fund.
Festivities have taken place at Athens on account
of the decision of Berlin Conference with regard to the
Greek frontier. Hundreds of telegrams are said to have been
received expressing the joy and gratitude of all classes of
the people.
The Australian cricketers on Tuesday won the
nineteenth match which they have played in this country,
beating the Crystal Palace team by ten wickets.

The Standard says :—" The storm that has slowly
been brewing in the East is rapidly beginning to gather.
The Sultan is arming, the Greeks are arming, the Bulgarians
are arming, and the Albanians are armed already.
The Registrar-General states that last week scarlet
fever showed the largest proportional fatality in Norwich,
Oldham, Bradford, • Salford, and Sheffield; and measles in
Sunderland. Small-pox caused three more deaths in
London, but not one in any of the nineteen large provincial
towns. The deaths referred to diarrhcea in the twenty towns,
which had steadily increased from 51 to 183 in the four pre-
vious weeks, further rose to 258 last week, of which 165
occurred in London.
On the Long Island Railway, America, the other
day a train with Italian labourers passed under a derrick
near Roehaway. Just as the train passed a heavy guy-rope
was loosened, falling on the train and sweeping the entire
twenty-seven labourers off. Seventeen were injured, several
fatally.
The Labour News says that the home labour market
shows some improvement, and at several important centres
the iron trade is better. In the Cleveland district more
furnaces are about to be blown in, and at Wolverhampton
iooth the iron and coal trades are brisker. Returns of
pauperism at Manchester show considerably diminished de-
pression. Ship-builders at the leading ports are generally
busy, and marine engineers are equally so. Railway con-
struction works are making progress in various parts, and
several important new undertakings have received Parlia-
mentary sanction.

At Newbury, on Sunday, St. Nicholas Church was
crowded on the occasion of the annual flower service. At
the close the flowers were packed in large hampers and for-
warded by train to various metropolitan hospitals. The
offertory was devoted to the maintenance of the Newbury
Cot in the East London Hospital.

French commerce continues to prosper. The Board
ot Trade returns for thepast half-year have just been pub-
lished. The imports amounted to 2,402,903,000 francs, and
the exports to 1,635,768,000 francs, showing an increase of
171,878,000 francs and 58,642,000 francs respectively over the
corresponding period of last year. The principal feature in
these returns is the increase in the export of manufactured
articles.

In London, on Saturday afternoon, a fearful acci-
dent occurred to a boy named King, eight years old. The
little fellow was riding behind a van, when he got his legs
between the spokes of the wheel and was twisted round.
Several persons who witnessed the occurrence ran to the
horses' heads, and on the vehicle being stopped it was found
that the boy's leg was dreadfully fractured, and there was
also a deep cut waund.

There are more than fifty Frenchwomen studying
medicine iu Paris A young lady, Algerian by birth, has
just distinguished herself by translating Horace.
- - -

An election riot has occurred ' in Brazil, twenty per-
sons being killed by the military, and many wounded.

In London, on Tuesday, at the meeting of the Wes-
leyan Conference, in the City-road Chapel, the Rev. Ebenezer
E. lenkins was elected President for the year, in succession
to the Rev. B. Gregory. Mr. Jenkins has been much engaged
in missionary work, and has since spent twelve years in cir-
suit work, principally in London. •

Mr. John Guest, F.S.A., died suddenly at his
residence on Sunday, while preparing to attend church. Mr.
Guest was well known for his industry in historical re-
searches. His latest work was "The History of Rother-
ham."

At a public meeting held in Manchester on Tues-
day, the Bishop presiding, a resolution was adopted in
favour of forming a limited company for the purpose of
building improved dwellings for the working classes near
the great centres of labour in the city and in Salford. It was
also resolved to request the corporations of the two boroughs
to put in force more fully the ample powers they possess for
the demolition of dwellings which are unfit for human habi-
tation, and for the alteration of dwellings requiring It.
There will sail from Liverpool this week another
batch of tenant-farmers from various parts of England, who
will visit Canada on the invitation of the Dominion Govern-
ment for the pnrpose of reporting to their neighbours the
character and capabilities of that country as a field of emi-
gration for practical agriculturists with sail capital.
A terrible accident occurred at Gibraltar ou Tues-
day, when the boiler of the donkey.engine on hoard the
English steamer St. 04.-.cin exploded, killing two of her crew
on the cpot, and inflicting Lever° injuries on fourteen
laboucrs at work On the vessel. The ship's cook has since
died, and two more of the L.row lymg inl;ospital in C. 11:0L-t
precarious condition.
The Earl of Dalhousie died very unexpectedly on
Tuesday niglt,at the family seat of Dalttousie-caatic, Mid
Lothian. So sudden was the event that Lord Ramsay, Lord
Dalhousie's oltici..t son 'was in tho Itouse of Commons up till
coven o'clock in the evening. i.d.rniral George Rains..nr,
-Qa.). the if.lth Earl was bor. in ISOU, and tat'in the Mtld of
Lordi. as Baron Raniaa.y. IS:o was op.:Tinton/lent of pora.
broke Dockyard from 1847 to
.1E62. and CoraGlall4Cr-intb,ief
on the 6cictla Jerican ata on /rain 18/41 1U3.9. /
I mid
vaThgav,
„li - d barij and thus a vacancy is
a-am rolteßettat on Of Liferptoi.

The maple and. pear.crop in the orchards of Here-
fordshire is reoortkd to bp a failure this year.
During the late Zurich singing festival the pangert-
hall wAs plated, by means of a Bell's telephone,. in com-
munication' with Basle, and the choruses, it is said, were
distinctly atidible there; •
A semi-offieial contrAdiction has leen published in
St. PeterfibArg of the report that in conspqnence of the bad
harvest the Russian Government would_prohibit the e.xport
of corn. It is also announced that the statements respecting
the failure of the crops have been much eragzerated.
An official teleuam received in Madrid announces
that Manila has been visited by an earthquake, which did
immense damage, totally destroying several government
buildings and other houses. Some of the native inhabitants
were killed, but no Europeans suffered any injury.
It is stated that an agreement has been come to
between the representatives of the Associated Chambers of
Commerce and the Government with regard to amendments
to be introduced into the Partnerships (No 2) Bill. The
Bill, which is now to be proceeded with immediately, will
consolidate in one Act the law with regard to private
partnership.
The Examiner learns that several learned professors
at the Kazan University, Russia, are preparing to translate
"Shakespeare" into the Tartar language. It also under-
stands that the Russian Imperial Geographical Society is
about to undergo a complete reorganisation..
The New York papers received by the last mail
recount a boat accident on the Prassue River, when a lady
five times swam out to the middle of the stream, returning
each time with a drowning friend. The accident occurred
after dark.

The Balloon Society of Great Britain have -deter-
!mined to make a series of ascents, with a view to determin-
ing the best method of managing balloons in the Arctic
regions. The society consists of several of the most eminent
engineers and others interested in mechanical and kindred
pursuits.

The King of Denmark, the King of the Hellenes,
and the King of Sweden met on Sunday at Ilelsingborg.
A very fine specimen of the sun-fish has been taken
off Brighton, and is now exhibited in the porpoise tank in
the Aquarium. It measures between 4ft. and sft in length,
and weighs nearly 2cwt. It belongs to the short sun fish
species or molebut (Or(hragor isms 'nola).

At the late athletic sports in Carrick-on-Suir, Mr.
P. Davin, the celebrated Irish athlete, jumped 6 feet 21
inches, the jump having been nieasuredirom the centre of
bar to the ground, the bar having been tested with a spirit
level.

The Parisian ladies are becoming veritable dandies,
owing to the masculine tendencies of fashion. The ladies
wear jackets, paletOts, coats, collars, cravats, as they think,
after the fashion of Bromine!, the supremo dandy.

- -
Mr. M'Laren, the Lord Advocate for Scotland, was
defeated on Monday at the Berwick-upon-Tweed Parliament-
ary election by a majority of two by Captain Milne Home,
Conservative.

Green placards were posted up through Belfast on
Monday evening, announcing that a national demonstration
will be held on August 16, and calling upon Irishmen to
assemble in their thousands upon that day. The placard
states that further announcements as to the demonstration
will be made.

The Bill for the distlibution of the colours has just
been made up by the French War Minister. The total cost
of that imposing military ceremony was twenty-two thousand
pounds, thirteen thousand of which were spent in bringing
the officers and men chosen to represent their regiments up
from the provinces.

Though there is no reason for serious anxiety re-
specting the Eastern Question, it is well to recognize that it
has entered within the last few weeks into a new phase, and
that very important consequences depend upon the manner
In which the European Powers address themselves to its
solutiou. The characteristic feature of the situation is that
there is a substantial agreement between the Powers on the
main point at issue.—Tuesday's Tunes.
The Turin papers publish accounts of CavaHere
Salvi's fide from Turin to Casale, a distance of 58 miles,
accomplished in 51 hours, on a black Italian-bred mare, six
years old, under a burning sun at a temperature of 88 deg.
Fahrenheit, and amid suffocating dust. Notwithstanding
these drawbacks, the mare, it is said, was in excellent con-
dition on arriving at Casale. The return journey, under
even less favourable conditions, there being a thunderstorm
with drenching rain, was performed in six hours, the mare
being none the worse on arriving at Turin.
The Queen has been graciously pleased to accept
copies of the special editions of the Oxford Bible for Teachers
which have been printed to commemorate the Centenary of
Sunday Schools.
On Tuesday, in the presence of the Duke of Cam-
bridge, the Aldershot Army Corps, numbering 10,000 men,
2,300 horses, and eight batteries of artillery, divided into
two opposing forces, had its first great sham fight, under the
direction and superintendence of General Sir DantelJ..ysons,
K.C.B. Major-General Cameron commanded the southern
and Major-General Payton the northern force. The fight
lasted about three hours. For the first time in the history
of mimic warfare at Aldershot, balloons were employed,to
reconnoitre the positions. The troops were under arms
about five hours.

A good deal of rain has fallen in Germany, but the
temperature has been high and the water apparently favour-
able for the growth of cereals. Sanguine expectations are
held with regard to the crops of wheat and barley, but rye
and oats have never thoroughly recovered from the effects
of late frosts.

Prince Guenther, of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen,
in consequence of suffering from an affection of the sight,
has abdicated in favour of his eldest son Prince Charles,
who has assumed the government of the Principality.

The Earl of Kintore died suddenly on Sunday even-
ing in London. His lordship, accompanied by Lady Kintore,
left their town residence for a drive, but the carriage had
not gone many yards before Lord Kintore showed symptoms
of illness. The carriage was turned homewards, and the
servants were in the act of carrying his lordship through the
hall when he expired in their arms. The deceased was born
in 1828. He is succeeded by his eldest son, Lord Inverurie,
who unsuccessfully contested Chelsea in the Conservative
interest at the general election.

At the late review at Longcharops the waggons
carrying the so-called " sapeurs montes " marched past for
the first time since the formation of the corps. Each of
these waggons is drawn by four horses, and carries eight
sappers with a supply not only of entrenching tools, but
also of implements for rapidly destroying railways. In time
of war it is intended that these waggons shall be attached
to the cavalry divisions pushed forward in advance of or
covering an army in the field, in 'order that the skilled work-
men conveyed in them may be at hand either to promptly
wiry out any repairs or demolitions of railways which it
may be desirable to effect, or to perform any other pressing
work.

The Medical F css is glad to hear that the Secretary
of State for War has sanctioned an additional allowance of
four ounces to the three-quarters of a pound of flesh with
bone that for a long time past has constituted the daily
meat ration of the British lion, as represented by the infantry
of the line.

By the death of a member of his former congrega-
tion at Notting-hill, a Mr. Love, the Rev. James Archer
Spurgeon, brother to and co-pastor with the Rev. C. H.
Spurgeon, of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, becomes entitled
to a legacy amounting to about £15,000. Mr. J. A. Spurgeon
has now a large church at Croydon, besides being officially
connected with all leading movements undertaken by his
brother.
The Governor'of Newgate has received a respite for
the convict John Hey, who was recently sentenced to death
. for the murder of his wife in Patriot-square, Bethnal-green.
The unhappy man was much overcome when it was read to
him, and expressed himself as very grateful for the Queen's
clemency.
It is announced on authority that Prince Leonold
has been obliged to cancel all his engagements at Newport
owing to a slight injury to his ankle while salmon fishing.
The National Zeitung, in adverting to Mr. Glad.
stones conduct of the Government, predicts his early fall.
It observes that by giving way to impulsive impatience and
yielding to an instinct of precipitate action he has to some
extent already forfeited the name of a statesman.

A leading event in the celebration of the Jubilee
of Belgian Independence was a military procession, which
took place on Sunday at Brussels, before the King and the
Royal family. The weather was magnificent, and the entire
population devoted itself afterwards to outdoor amuse-
ments.

The new French flag, which was formally inaugiar
gurated on the 15th, is a handsome tricolour, surrounded by
heavy gold fringe. On one side are the words "Republique
Francaise," on the other " Honneur et Patric," with the
achievements of the particular regiment to which it belongs,
and any motto which it has adopted. In each corner is the
number of the regiment, surrounded by a wreath of laurel.
The staff is surmounted by a spear head, whence hang tri-
coloured ribbons, upon which the number of the regiment is
again embroidered.

An accident resulting in much damage to rolling
stock and permanent way occurred on the Great Western
Railway, near Banbury, on the evening of the 16th. As a
heavily-laden coal-tram was approaching the Cropredy
station, the wheel of one of the wagons flew off. The driver,
noticing the wagons "jumping - on the line, slackened
speed, and signalled to the guard to put on the brake.
Nevertheless six trucks were completely destroyed, and
both lines at the station were covered with broken wagons,
coal, &c. The rails were bent, the chairs broken, and the
line was not thoroughly clear until about eleven o'clock at
night. The guard though much shaken, kept to his post,
and through his doing so the hinder part of the train was
kept on the metals.
The general belief on the Continent appears to be
that if the Porte refuses to satisfy the claims of Greece and
Montenegro there will be a naval demonstration in Turkish
waters. England is understood to favour the proposal,
while it is warmly supported by Russia and Italy. The
" attitude " of France is "reserved," but Austria and Ger-
many (according to the Vienna correspondent of the Daily
Telegraph) have announced that if the demonstration is
generally approved of "they will not cause a division among
the Great Powers by refusing their co-operation." It is
not, however, pretended that humediate•meastires of a
stronger character are contemplated. On the contrary, it
is asserted, "not one syllable has been said on any side
about landing troops, or other coercive measures." In that
case, it is difficult to see what good the naval demonstration
is to do. Turkish statesmen have never been easily
frightened by mere show, and they will be tempted to smile
at a display which is admitted to be without serious mean-
ing.--St. James's Gazette.

, There was an open air concert at Peel Park, Brad-
ford, on Saturday, in connection with the Sunday School
centenary. There were 35,000 performers, namely, 1,000
instrumen,talsist,s, principally
Sundaycipalymscilihtflar military
and teachers.
and
31,000 am.er , t w
1 ip Mar(a, Captain Stephenson, arrive d
The London and South-Western Company'sdatsou t asitnepatnoin-
q Scheldt, destroyed by lire
:Ili Saturday itiiiioernßielliggilainavibnagrouneboard the master an crew
(19 in all) of
.inining,sahbipoulv!lit
d by the Marta at two o'clock in
sighte
at the back of the .Isle of Night.
ThtletebinTi
de for her immediately, when the fire was found
iles south of St. Catherine's Point, and the captain of the
steamer Jua_
longside. The men were taken on board the Maria
to be in fullyosses,sion of the vessel, the crew being in her
boats a
and landed at Southampton. The ill-fated barque was
bound from Antwerp for Hongkong, ladeu with matches,
petroleum, .20.
The unbroken success of the Australian cricketers
in England has caused general satisfaction throughout
Australia.
The Calcutta Correspondent of The Times gives
some particulars of the bursting of the great etnbankment
in Sciudo known as the Kusmore Btmd. This embankment
extends from the town of Kusmore re the mouths of the
Bejari Canal, a distance of about forty miles. It was con-
structed to protect a Large tract of country from floods, like
those which in 1574 injured about eighty villages and
threatened Jacobabad. The bund burst two years ago at
the end next the Indus, and the flood carried away several
miles of the Indus Valley Railway. This year the breach Is at the other end, and will, therefore, be more easily re-
paired.
On Saturday, at the parish church of St. Mary
Abbots, Xensington, was solemnised the marriage of Captain
Edward U. Clough-Taylor, 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers, son
of Mr. Clough-Taylor, of Kirkham Abbey, Yorkshire, with
the Lady Elizabeth Campbell, second daughter of the Duke
of Argyll. The bridesmaids were the Ladies Mary and Con-
stance Campbell, sisters of the bride ; Miss and Miss Con-
stance Clough-Taylor, sisters of the bridegroom; Hon.
Florence Mimes, second daughter of Lord Houghton; and
the Hon. Antoinette Saumarez, • daughter of Lord and Lady
de Saurnarez. The bridegroom was accompanied by Cap-
tain G. Duncombe. The marriage ceremony was performed
by the Dean of Westminster, the Duke of 4rgyll giving his
daughter sway. The brid3.l presents were very numerous,
and inclUdt4 a macM.lcent Indn4rawl L•cht from tho
Queen ,
In London, an Friday in last week, a meeting of the
Rowland Hill Memorial Committee was held at the Mansion-
house, the Lord Mayor presiding. The fund, it was stated
amounts to £16,7a3. It was stated that the space would not
pernait.otthe erection of the statue to Sir Rowland ROI
beidith tlae portico in front of the General FostOffice, and
it was determined to ask the Conunislioners of sewers to
allow it to be placed at the so'uth-eat dorm of taiti4Doral
Ezeharefe. Dean Stinley, it was sate), bad coubente4 tea
wAloria.l taiga being plsced in Ureattainster Abbey, rear
the grave of the Post igfaZt reformer.

•
The het in Rome bpa been illuvauktlY intense, t
therm Marking 0.5 tieg. Fahrenbat in the nOper or
newqs the city, and Pa in the neighbourhood of the
Piazza. Bpligna.
Marshal Bazaine has been serinusly for e4orne
little tim,e, and his (radars give no hope of his rpooyury.
Na leas than 180,000 person visited the camp at
Wimbledon on Sundly.
The Philadelphia correspondent of The Times tele-
graphs that the ISth bast. was the hottest day of this
summer, the mercury rising above 100 degrees at numerous
places along the AAantic coast and also at Chicago.
Twenty deaths from Mnstroke are reported from different
cities.
Mr. James Gordon Bennett, the proprietor of the
New York Herald, is preparing for a very curious match.
He has offered to shoot pigeons against M. Dorlodot, a
Belgian, in the Bois d'e Boulogne, for £l,OOO. The betting
at present is on the Belgian.—Court Journal.
A. new feminine appendage has been started at
Brussels, where the visitors to tbe Exhibition were astonished
by the appearance of a lady with a handsome pair of
epaulettes on her shoulders, of the same colour as her
dress.

Emigration to America has, it is said, become a
positive passion in Bohemia, and not a day passes but seve-
ral families leave for the New World.
On Monday morning the Queen and Princess
Beatrice, attended by the suite, left Windsor Castle at ten
o'clock for Osborne, where, according to present arrange-
ments, they are expected to reside for a month or five
weeks, when the Court, it is understood, will remove from
the Isle of Wight to Scotland, her Majesty travelling direct
from the South Coast to Balmoral without calling at
Windsor en route.

Wednesday was the 22nd anniversary of ths birth
of Queen Maria Christina, wife of Alfonso XII., King of
Spain, her Majesty having been born on July 21, 1.858.
Queen Maria is the oily daughter of the late Archduke Karl
Ferdinand of Austri by his marriage with the Archduchess
Elizabeth, cousin of the Emperor of Austria. Her marriage
with King Alfonso, as his second wife, was solemnised on
Nov. 29, 1879.
A telegram from Victoria says, that considerable
activity prevails in the gold mining district of Ballarat.
where rich yields are.reported.
The Lads Meicury says the reports received from
the moors fromßenistone and district show that the pros-
pects of sport en the 12th of August are considerably im-
proved. It is stated that young birds are not over plentiful,
but they are, as rule, very healthy, and the majority are well
on the wing. A few, late in hatching,, are just beginning to
, fly. it is expected that, all things conlaidered, there will be
I a fair amount of sport.

There were 14 British and foreign wrecks reported
during the past week, making a total of 127 for the present
year, or a decrease of 16 as compared with the correspond-
ing period of last year. The approximate value of property
lost was £703,000, including British £600,000.
Sir Baldwyn Leighton proposes on going into Com-
mittee of Supply to move—" That the incidence of taxation
on ratepayers and on real property for national purposes,
such as relief of the poor, cost of main roads, education,
public health, and other objects, is Inequitable; and seeing
the great increase of value in other taxable property since
the imposition of these taxes, and the proportionate decrease
in ratable property, it is the opinion of this House that the
time has come for a revision and readjustment of the
same." s . .

During a severe thunderstorm which broke over
Greenock on Monday evening, the north-west corner of
the new post-office, now being erected, was struck, and
about 20ft. of the copestone was thrown down. one was
hurt.

"One hundred and seventeen captured guns from
Cabul have arrived at Rawul Pindee, and were received by
a triumphal parade of the whole garrison. Mugurab Shah,
one of the Aihan State prisoners, was present as a spectator
under a police escort."—Calcutta Correspondent of The
Times. _

At the meeting of the Dublin Mansion House Com-
mittee on Saturday, it was stated that the amount received
since the last meeting was £572. The total received was
£.17C,880, and the balance in hand £6,453. A further report
on fever in the west of Ireland by Drs. Sigerson and Kenny
was read.

A return has just been issued giving the number of
arrests for drunkenness within the metropolitan police dis-
trict of Dublin, the cities of Cork, Limerick, and Waterford,
and the town of Belfast, on Sundays from the 20th April,
1879, to the 25th April, 1880; and the corresponding numbers
for 1877-78. This return shows the following numbers :
Dublin, 1879-80, 1,274; 1877-78, 1,936. Cork, 1879-80, 382;
1877-78, 857. Limerick, 1879-80, 134; 1877-78, 158. water-
ford, 1879-80, 84; 1877-78, 114. Belfast, 1879-80, 258; 1877-78,
255. This shows a total of 858 arrests in 1879-80, as com-
pared with 884 in 1877-78. A similar return for thirty-five
counties shows that in 1879-80 there were 1,840 arrests, as
corapo.red with 4,555 in 1877-78.
The winner of the grand prize of the Franco-
Americm lottery, 20,0001., is an ex-omnibus driver, residing
at Orleans.

-The number of publications of all sorts issued in the
1 Presidency of Bombay was last year 1,097, or nearly 200 more
than were brought out in 1878. Just over a hundred were in
European languages, and by far the largest part of the re-
mainder were in Marathi and Guzerati: Of 472 books 20s
were published in Marathi and 205 in Guzerati. Only two
works, and they were reprints, were printed in sindi, and the
other vernacular of that presidency, Cunarese, was not em-
ployed at all. Ninety-nine were published in the Indian
classical languages, Persian, Sanscrit; Zend, and Arabic.

All hope has been abandoned of the safety of the
smack Swell, of Lerwick, which sailed lately from Shetland
for the cod-fishing at Faroe. Not being successful there,
the vessel proceeded to Rockall, and when last seen she wis
labouring in a heavy gale. There is no doubt now that she
has foundered, and that all her hands—fourteen in number
—have be en drowned.

The French National Fête had a disastrous end at
Bar-le-Duc. The whole population were out in the streets
amusing themselves, when suddenly the sound of the alarm
bell threw them into consternation. A terrible fire had sud-
denly burst out at the extremity of the town. The garrison,
which was immediately called out, had great difficulty in
circumscribing the tire, which destroyed eleven houses.
Several persons are reported. to be more or less seriously -
injured.
The village of Remus, in the Engadine, has been
burnt down. A high wind baffled every effort to limit
the flames, and 98 houses, together with the school and .
church, were destroyed. The origin of the fire is unknown;
Mr. Gladstone has conceded in part the demand 4 -
made to him on behalf of the Irish members for the altera-
tion of the scale of licence duties adopting the scale stib-
mitted to him up to rentals of £5OO. The Irish members
will, however, support the amendment to be moved by Mr.
O'Sullivan in favour of the uniform system of valuation.
The English representatives of the wine and spirit interest
have determined to oppose the extension of the scale to
rentals over £4OO.
Sir E. Watkin M.P., in presiding at the half-yearly
meeting of the Metropolitan Railway Company, stated that
during the last half-year the lide had carried no less than
31,602,000 passengers, as against 29,968,000 in the correspond-
ing half of last ydar.
The Earl .of Derby has sent a contribution of twenty
guineas to the funds of the London Temperance Hospital.
An Indian official paper published in the North-
West Provinces Government Gazette gives some details as to
the epidemic of fever which prevailed in those provinces
last year. The epidemic appears to have caused the death-
rate to exceed the average by over 2.1 per 1,000, and it is es-
timated that 75 per cent. of the whole population suffered
from the disease. The worst two districts were Bulandshahr
and illighur, in both of which the ratio of deaths from the
fever was 113 per 1,000. Meerut came next with 81, and
most of the other districts showed very high rates.

The market price for false calve-a
in Paris, accord-
ing to the Parisian, is five and a half franca a pair.

- Writing from Geneva, the Correspondent of The
Times says :—" An Alpine accident, which came near having
a fatal termination, eccurred on Wednesday. While Herr
Gore, of Strasburg, with two Grindelwald guides, Rubi and
Inabnitt, were making the ascent of the Jungfrau, they were
struck by a piece of falling rock or an avalanche of stones, it
does not seem clear which, and hurled into a crevasse.
Inabuitt will, it is feared, be laid up for some time. The
others escaped with comparatively slight injuries."

"We have to announce the death- of Margaret,
Duchess of Somerset, which occurred shortly before one am.
yesterday, at her residence, Somerset-house, Park-lane. Her
Grace had been suffering for a few days previously from a
cold, and had been for two days prior gradually losiug
strength, but her death was quite unexpected. The late
Duchess was the eldest daughter of Sir Michael Shaw
Stewart, Lord-Lieutenant of Renfrew, by Katherine,
youngest daughter of Sir W. Maxwell, of Sprinkell, and was
sister of Admiral of the Fleet Sir Houston Stewart, G.C.B.
She married in 1838 Edward Adolphus, Duke of Somerset,
K.G., who died in 1855. The late Duchess till within the
last few years displayed the most generous hospitality to
distinguished foreigners who in the course of their travels
visited London "—Obituary of The Times, July ligh.
The Constantinople Correspondent of the Daily
News telegraphs that certain military preparations continue
to be made by Turkey, though not, he thinks, to an extent
indicating that opposition to the decision of the Berlin Con-
ference is really intended. The one hope of the Porte is to
detach some of the Great Powers from the rest. On the
whole, the Correspondent adds, the indications point to the
certain acceptance by the Porte to the terms recommended
by the Powers if the determination be expressed to enforce
them. Mr. Goschen and M. Tissot have both spoken very
plainly to the Sultan, the latter having told his Majesty that
his throne would be in danger, and that the precedent of
Egypt would be followed if he refused.