The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-05-25 00:00:00

MONSIGNOR CAPEL ON RITUALISM.

On Sunday evening, at the Pro Cathedral, Ken-
sington, London, Monsignor Capel gave the third of a
series of lectures upon the "Recent Movement towards
Catholicism in England." The handsome church was
crowded long before the time for the commencement of
the service, and hundreds of people were obliged to go
away unable to obtain admission.
The very rev, gentleman devoted the entire lecture
or sermon to the subject of the confessional ; and he
commenced by showing what amount of preparation,
in the shape of study and instruction, was required
before amass was fit to sit in the confessional and hear
the sins of any fellow creature. This preparation, he
said, was provided in the Roman Catholic Church,
where every priest received a thorough theological
education. Raving shown in detail what where the
measures taken for the proper preparation of priests to
hear the confessions of their penitents, he then went
on to criticise the Ritualistic confessional prac-
tices of the present day. He took up especially a
"Parish Catechism of Christian Doctrine," published
at Folkestone under the auspices of the High Church
party, and he asked the attention of the congregation
to the remarkable resemblance between the doctrines
laid down therein and those in the old Catechism of
Christian Doctrine. The Roman Catholic catechism
had this passage: "What is the sacrament of
penance ?" and the answer was," Penance is a sacra-
ment whereby the Rini we have committed after
baptism are forgiven." What did tho Ritualistic
catechism say to the same question! Here was
the question and the answer : "What is penance
or absolution ? Answer : It is the means ,by
which sins are forgiven which we have committed
after baptism." In the Roman Catholic Catechism the
question WAS asked: "When did our Lord ordain this
sacrament?" and the answer was, "When he breathed
upon His apostles, and said, 'Whose sins you shall for-
give they are forgiven.'" Now, what said the
Ritualistic book? It had this question, " Whenilid
Christ institute it?" Mark the answer, and compare
it with that in the Roman Catle lie catechism. It was
this -" When He breathed on His apostles, and sail,
'Whosoever sins ye remit, thy are remitted unto
them." The very rev. gentleman went en to argnethat
while the Roman Catholic Church, by its practices
and its teaching, framed the minds of its priests so
that they could properly confess men and women,
the Ritualists sent into their so-called conies
sional, inexperienced, and unpractised men. And
these men, while copying the forms and the
language of the Roman Catholic priesthood, did

„-
not po,sess their experience or their genuineness.
Having illnstratsd this by a series of quotations
from the two Catechisms, he observed that that
used by the Ritualists was an imitation made
by would-be Roman Catholics, and any
.person
of common sense could see at once the gonumeness

-
on the one side and the litter hollowness ant miserable
imitation on the other. The very rev. gentle-

man quoted again from the "Paris! Cateehism
the catechism ,d the Rituslists—in which the following
pass we is found: "Q. : "You have spoken of the
Eucharist, of a sacrifice—what is it besides? A. : It
is a communion in which the adorable body and blood
of Christ are taken as food"—a passage bearing out
distinctly the charge as to the doctrines which the
Ritualists are attempting to teach illegally, if not dis-
honestly. In conclusion Monrignor Capel urged that
all present should weigh well the great considerations
which this grand picture of the true Church presented.

THE BURMESE EMBASSY AT ROME.—The
Rollie of Rome states that the Burmese Embassy,
which has arrived in that city, is composed of an am-
bassador, two secretaries, and a suite of thirteen
persons. The party alighted at the Hotel de Rome,
and were shortly after visited by Count Tornielli, who
came toworapliment them on tbe part of the Minister
of Foreign Affairs. Iu the afternoon they drove out,
and visited :it. Peter's and other public monuments.
The chief speaks no foreign language, but the secre-
taries are familiar with English and French. Allwear
silk robes of the richest quality, with magnificent
cashmere turbans, and their aspect is described as

noble and imposing.
THE Fool. AND MOUTH DISEASE.—The last
official return of this diAcase shows a very serious in-
crease over that of the previous week in the county of
Oxford—in cattlet.l ; sheep, 317; pigs, 13 ; and
farms affected, 11. The divis'on of Banbury and
Bloshain is reported as having 115 cattle, 203 sheep,
and 30 pigs diseased ; three of tbe sheep are suffering
from web; the &ease is confined to 11 farms. in the
Chiallington division, with three farina affected, there
are 6 cattle' 115 sheep, and if pigs diseased. In the
Bullingdondivision there have been four cases of jileuro-
pneumonia reported at Tetsworth since the Sc! inst.
The foot and mouth disease still prevails with consider-
aide severity in Norfolk ; the last weekly official return
records upwards of 2,000 cases as having occurred in the
county within coven days.
DOCKYARD LABOURERS' PAY. —A numerously
attended meeting of labourers in Portsmouth Dock-
yard was held on Friday evening in last week, in the
British Workmen's Hall; Landport, to adopt such
measures as might seem best calculated to obtain an in-
crease of wages. The chairman, a labourer named
Keenan, referred to the agitation which was going on
throughout the country for an increase of wages,
and urged that they were justified in asking for an
increase. A labourer named Monck said they had
trusted to die genei osity of the Admiralty long enough,
and moved that they should ask for an increase to 22.5.
per week. This was seconded by a man named Goodall,
who said they could not live upon 14s. a week. A man
named Itchin declared that the dockyard labourer was
worse rif than the agricultural labourer. The resolu-
tion was carried and a committee appointed to further
the object of the meeting.
WORKING OF THE VACCINATION ACT. —A par-
liamentary return relating to summary convictions
under the Vaccination Act shows that in England and
Wales there were, during: the years 1868, 1869, and
1870, 1,419 summary convictions for neglecting to pro-
cure the vaccination of children, and in thirteen cases
more than one conviction in respect of the same child.
There were sixty-five convictions for disobeying the
order of a justice for the vaccination of a child, and in
nineteen cases more than one conviction in respect of
the same child. In Scotland, during the same period,
there were only two convictions—both for refusing to
allow the varcination of a child. In Ireland there
were 2,859 convictions for not causing children to be
vaccinated, but in only thirteen cases were there two
convictions in respect of the same child, and there
were not in any case more than two such convictions.
4'Am:ix's AND MINISTERS."—If ladies are to
have a finger in the political pie, as is threatened by
the Woman's Rights Movement, and exchange solici-
tude for evening parties with anxiety for parties
political, many of us will find ourselves constrained to
alter Scott's beautiful lines to suit the circumstances,
aa thus :

When
.pain and anguish wreck the brow,
ntiniaterial angel, thou !"—Punch.

THE MANCHP,TER, SUNDAY SCHOOLS. —The
annual procession of Sunday schools in connection with
the Church of England took place on Monday, and the
weather being fine there was an unusually numerous
gathering. The number of children and teachers
generally fluctuates between 15,000 and 16,000, and on
Monday it could not have fallen much short of the
higher number. The clergymen churchwardens, and
sidesmen usually accompany the schools, and each
school i headed by a band of music, and numerous
scholars in the ranks bear aloft banners with various
devices, some of them of elegant design, giving to the
procession a gay and exceedingly animated appearance.
Most of the chi!drEn were well dr, sqe,l. An immense
crowd of people lined the sides of the streets through
which the procession passed, and from nine till twelve
o'clock all access nearly was cut off to the business
centre of the city. Some of the older scholars, with the
teachers, afterwards attended Divine Service at the
cathedral, v.hilst the younger ones were taken back to
their respective schools, and regaled with buns and
milk.

PRESENCE OF MIND.—An Italian named Gio-
vanni showed remarkable presence of mind the other
day in a tunnel on the linen bridge not far from
Bieune (says the Series Time.). Six holes had been
made in preparation for a blast, the six matches had
been applied, and the six workmen were to be drawn
up, one after the other, in a basket, out of the reach of
danger. Giovanni, who was the last, had already got
one foot into the basket when, by some mistake' the
basket was drawn quickly up, thereby jerking Gio-
vanni out. The clanger of being blown to pieces or of
being dashed over the precipice became every instant
more threatening. Such a situation might well appal
the stoutest heart, for each moment might be tire last.
Giovanni, however, did not stop to think, but taking
ont his knife, severed each match one after the other,
and by this method his safety was secured.

AN UNSINEABE &i.-.--Captain M. Tweedie,
RA., has addtessed an important and valuable sug-
gestion to the Royal Artillery Institution for iron-
plating a cruising ship no as to avoid the disadvantage
appertaining to iromplated vesicle generally, and to
provide a comfortable eea-oirg ship, fairly capable of
holding her own with an ironclad on on emergency,
and yet almost unsinkable. At rresent, he thinks,
neither the iron-clad nor the wooden ship fulfils the
nem wary conditions—the iron-clad on. account of
.the

injuriou.ej action of the ask water noon her iron-plating
exposed to it, the diiticulty of repairing in foreign
ports, and her doubtful qualities as a sea-boat; the
wooden ship, on account of her being an easy prey to
an iron-clad enemy on a sudden outbreak of hostilities,
awl her liability to be sent to the bottom by the first
gale of wind.
TFIE MORMONS.—A conference of Mormons
was held in Glasgow on Sunday. Mr. G. Reynolds,
Vice-President of the Cotifirence of Saints was pre-
sent, and delivered an ad-tress. In closing he alluded
to the recent trial of Mormon leaders in the United
States. The Latter-day Saints, he said, lived above
the Constitutional laws of the United States. They
lived according to the laws of God, and the assurance
that God would assist them to keep His command-
ments. They expected to be persecuted, as they had
been in the past, for righteousness' sake. The plural
marriages, patriarchal order, and many other things
God had revealed to them; but it was not because of
their belief that they were persecuted, but because
their pure and righteoes lives were a reproach to the
peopld around them. He did not claim that they—or
even Brigham Young—were perfect; but they lived
as near God as any men on the face of the earth. The
various speakers expressed indignation at the treat-
ment their leaders had recently been subjected to.
MAKING ROYALTY WELCOME. Their Royal
Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, while
istayirg at Danielle's hotel at Venice, bad a grand
[serenade given in their honour. At nine p.m. all the
gondolas were illuminated with coloured lamps, and
the grand canal was crowded. A large barge, which
was gaily decorated with flags, flowers, &e., held the
bawl and chorus. This went down the canal first, and
was followed by the gondolas containing the Royal
iiarty and their suite, and 1,000 others. The effect
was quite fairy-like, and most thoroughly foreign,
everything being so well arranged and successful. The
night was very fine and bright, which heightened the
charm of the whole proceedings. Most of the houses
were illuminate I; one in particular, being adorned
w ills red and green lamps, which were constantly re-
volving and throwing most lovely colours on the scene,
bad a very striking appearance.
THE MARSEILLES MURDER.—The trial of the
prisoners accused of the murder of M. Greco, a mer-
chant of Marseilles, commenced at Aix at nine o'clock
on Monday morning. The three young men arraigned
are :—Toledano, a broker, 21 years; Sitbon, a mer-
chant, 20 years; and Sizouri, 92 years of age. The
prisoners maintained a thoroughly apathetic attitude,
and did not appear to realise their position. Toledano
answered the questions put to him in the most imper-
turbable manner, his countenance not betraying any
sign of emotion. lie did not admit any important fact,
declaring that he had only played a secondary part,
and accusing the two other prisoners of the chief share
in the murder. Violent altercations frequently oci nrred
between the prisoners, who reciprocally accused one
another.
PRICE or MEAT.—The Registrar-General,
who records from time to time the price of food, which
has its influence upon the comfort and health of the
people, notices in making his return for the first
quarter of the present year the enormous rise in the
price of meat in the last 20 years. In the year 1852
the average price of beef by the carcase at the Metro-
politan Meat Market was 44.1. per lb. and of mutton
4i,d. In the first quarter of the year 1872 the averages
have been iL and 7tel. respectively. In the 20 years
beef has risen in price 48 per cent, and mutton 46 per
cent. The price of beef may have been affected by
the cattle plague, and the measures of restriction to
which it led, and the prices during the whole 20 years
have been increased by the deists ciation in the value ot
money circulating in the world. The Registrar-General
suggests that the exorbitant price of butchers' meat
might be reduced to some extent by diminishing the
consumption, which in many families is excessive; he
regards it as well known that bread, fruit, potatoes,
vegetables, and similar diet furnish adequate sustenance
to all adults, except to the men employed in severe
physical labour. He adds that p renter simplicity in
publie dinners, where so much food is wasted, might
lead to private economy.
A WHALE IN THE WAY.—The steamer Bovne,
which arrived at Southampton when off Cape Finis-
terre, last week, found her speed suddenly diminish,
although her steam power was kept up. After some
time the diminished speed was discovered to be owing
to a huge whale which the cutwater of the ship had
struck and penetrated in the centre, and was driving
along. The whale roust have been floating on the KU,
face dead or asleep when the ship struck it. The
passengers wanted the monster to be hauled on bsard,
but the captain could not afford the time to do so. lie,
therefore, backed the ship for some distance, and the
leviathan become disentangled mid sank.
LORD DENBIGH ON RICE.— Lord Denbigh saws
his attention has been drawn to a report of a speech by
Mr. Arch at an agricultural labourers' meeting at War-
wick, in which the foilowing words occurred :—" The
speaker then referred to the statement of Lord Den.
high, that a werking man could live on rice, end
challenged the noble lord to a week's mowing on that
diet." ilia lordship denies ever having made such a
statement, and explains that all he has said is that
agricultural labourers do not half appreciate the value
of rice. Lord Denbigh now adds--" If, instead of
spending their money almost exclusively on white bread
and tea, they would lay out some on rice, which was
the staple food of many hard working nations, they
would find their motley go further in providing a good
meal for their families. I have often regretted to see
the very imperfect knowledge of even the first principles
of cooking possessed by our poorer elassee, which, if
they would only once roaster, would enable them to
nourish themselves much more wholesomely and com-
fortably, and, at the same time, not less economically.'

A DISTINGUISHED GuwB2.—Mrs. Malaprop is
determined to obtain a tadi ticket for next year's
Literary Fun Dinner, as she thinks it must be a most
amusing entertainment. —Punch.
Hatisios OF THE BIBLE—The Revisers of
the New Testament Company met on Tuesday, for
their 20th session at the Jerusalem Chamber, and sat
seven hours. Twenty-two members were present—the
Bishop of Glocester and Bristol (who presided), the
Archbishop of Dublin, the Bishop of St. Andrews,
the Deans of Wed + minster and Rochester, the Master
of the Temple, Archdeacons Bickersteth and Lee,
Canons 131akesley, Kennedy, Lightfoot, and Westcott,
Professors Brown, Eadie, Moulton' Newth, and
Roberts, Drs. Angus, Scrivener, and Vance Smiths,
Prebendary Humphry, and Mr. Scrivener. The com-
pany considered and revised the 19th chapter of St.
Luke's Gospe:
STRATEGIC ABILITY OF BRITISH OFFICERS.
The public will be gratified by learning that in the
opinion of Colonel Hamlev there are numbers of officers
in the army who are well qualified to retam the tradi-
tional reputation of the force. The offer of a prize by
the Duke of Wellington for the best essay on tactics
called forth thirty seven responses; and Colonel
Darnley, who Was asked to award the priz-, speaks of
the successful competitor in very high terms. The
President of the Staff College says that the essay dis-
plays in an "eminent degree" knowledge of the theory
of modern war, extensive reading of contemporary
literature, and the power of drawing from theory and
fact new and original deductions.
UNSUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES. —After a recent
examination of female teachers in Ohio, some of the
unsuccessful candidates complained that injustice had
been done them, whereupon the examinern were so
cruel as to publish extracts from the papers written by
the rejected applicants (remarks the Boston Advertiser).
The following are a few specimens of the answers -
"The food is first masticated and then passes through
the phalanx • " " Respiration is the sweating of the
' body ; " " The chestis formed of tee bones, the sternum
, and spinal cord ;" "Emphasis is placing more distress
on some words." One candidate says that " Virginia
obtained its name from the Virgin Mary '• " another
that "it was so named by Queen Victoria calling it a
Virgin Sttte."
A PROFITABLE PATIENT.—M. Latour, referring
to the death of M. Cherest while still young, mentions
a singular patient who contributed to his income
11,6C0f. per annum and in leap years, 14,040 f.
(says the Medical nines and Gazette). This patient,
a well-known person in the mercantile world, had
a terrible fear of dying, and besought Cherest to
pay him a visit while in bed every morning at nine
o'clock, his fee being 40f. per visit. Cherest consented,
and for several years paid his daily visits, always re-
ceiving his 40 franc piece. During the last years of
his life this patient, a very old man, became really ill,
and exacted nest two visits a day, then three, and then
four, always paying his 40f. for each.
ADMISSION OF THE PUBLIC TO ALTON TOWERS.
—The Earl of Shrewsbury has addressed a letter, of
which the following is a copy, to Mr. Cook of
Leicester :
" Alter consideration, I have determined to allow these
garden. (at Alton Towers) to he open to the public, and I
trust that the privilege I thus accord will not be taken undue
advantage of. I have made arrangements that the refresh-
ment-rooms in the grounds should only be open at meal
times ; for whilst I am desirous that those who come from a
distance should have what they require. I have no intention
of allowing any excess. My object in opening the grounds is
to afford real enjoyment to those who appreciate the beauties
of nature, and its not often get a holiday in the country ; and
I rely upon the ptiblic to keep order, so that I shall not have
to regret the permission that I have until now cheerfully
accorded. Kindly give publicity to this letter, and believe
me, sincerely yours.--SugEwsEu RN."
THE LIVERPOOL SAILORS AND THE WAGES
MOVEMENT.—A large meeting of the sailors of the
port of Liverpool was held on triday, at which the re
port of a committee was received recommending the
following rates of wages :—To the west as far south as
Orleans, considering the yellow fever, E 5 per month
to Cape Horn, 10s. ; the Pacific (a healthy voyage),
£3 • the Mediterranean (a short voyage) E 3 10s •

coast of :Africa, £4 ; East Indies, China, and Japan,
£3 ss. ; with a month's advance in all cases. The pre-
sent rates for the respective voyages (with no advance)
are £4, £3, £3, £3 10s. for firemen, and £3 for sailors,
to the East Indies, &c., from El 15s, to £3, a general
rise having recently taken place on account of the
scarcity of seamen. The burthen of the sailors' corn
plaints at the meeting was that they cannot get into
contact with the shipowners to explain their grievances,
not only as to wages, but in respect to treatment on
board ship; and a deputation was appointed by the
meeting to wait upon the shipowners' and steamship
owners' associations to represent the case of the men.
The speakers for the most part deprecated a strike, and
repudiated intinddatim. In the meantime, however,
they rem dyed to withdraw themselves from the Sailors'
Home for a few days. It is understood that if the
owners offer some advance on the present rates, even if
it is not equal to the scale recommended by the com-
mittee, it will be accepted.
HABEAS Court's (No. 2).—Tho Anatomy Act.
—Punch.

SCENE AT THE TRIAL OF A COMMEINIST.—AII
exciting scene occurred the other day, in Paris, during
the trial by court-martial of a woman named Augustine
Chiffon. During the fighting in Paris this woman was
seen in the streets, her bands steeped in blood, and
boasting that she had killed two soldiers. On the
entry of the troops she was taken prisoner and placed
against the wall to be shot, but on her saying that she
had tended the wounded, the troops spared her life.
On the trial, an officer who was charged with her de-
fence pleaded that her mind was deranged. "I ant
not mad," she exclaimed, "and protest against the
words. I have suffered too much in prison, and de-
mand to be put to death ! But your turn will come
also ; the men of Versailles were too cowardly to kill
me, but you will all be shot like dogs ! Vice la Com-
mune!" At those words the public rushed on her, and
the guard had to intervene for her protection, and
dragged her away still cr.} tug out, "Vice la Com-
mune ! A bag lee Versaillais !" and without her bonnet
or shawl, which had been torn from her in the struggle.
The Court eventually condemned her to twenty years'
bard labour. The woman was then brought back, and
on hearing her sentence read, she again burst out in a
tone of mockery. "The cowards, they do not dare!
Bah! lam thirty-five, and in twenty years I shall be
only fifty-five, and still good for something. But it is
only a matter to laugh at; a change of Government,
and I shall be out at once, and that will not be long.
Vive la Commune !"
RATIONAL ANCIENT ROMAN. " Nothing,"
said Sempronius to Cato, "would make me consent to
die for my country but the fear of worse punishment
if I declined." "Don't be pusillanimous," was Cato'a
reply. "Abuse," rejoined Sempronius, "is no argu-
ment."—Panch.
" PAPER CLOTHINO."—A journey into the
country of the Bedawin Arabs requires to be taken
under their guidance and protection (remarks the
...elvish Chronicle.) They by such means levy black-
mail on all travellers who pass through their country.
It Eeems singular that the. Sultan does not provide
givirds or make the road safe. But it seems to be a
part of the peculiar niisgovernment of the country to
allow the Bedawin tribes of each locality to levy con
tributions on travellers t or, in other words, to rob them
of conduct money. Iravellers have to purchase the
protection of the Bedewing of the Jordan against all
enemies of their own or neighbouring tribes ; and the
agreement is to the effect that they shall be taken by
the Sheik Reeehid and a proper guard to the Dead Sea
and the Jordan and back in safety to Jerusalem. With-
out such protection the journey is simply impossible,
and there is an amusing account of a lady and gentle-
man who had attempted the trip without the formality
of a Bedawin guard, and who had been met and robbed
of their baggage, their money, clothes, and valuables—
the gentleman having to beg of the Bedawin robbers
The Times newspaper in which to clothe himself and his
wife. The husband returned to Jerusalem 'in that
valuable journal, his wife being wrapped up in the
supplement.
NOVERCA.—Master Bandersnatch is learning
Latin. The other day he declared that a Step-mother '
must be an idle woman. His reason being demanded, I
he said that she was no-corker. He was worked off to I
bed, promptly.—Ponce.
M. LOUIS BLANC ON THE FRENCH REPUB-
LICANS.— M. Louis Blanc has just published in the
Rappel an article entitled "line Republic without
Republic-ms." He thinks that past sufferings entitle
the Republicans of the present day to places and
honours, and the fallowing picture is set by him before
the eyes of his readers
"The history of the nineteenth century Is, one may say,
the martyrology of the Republicans. Engaged during the
French Revolution is an epic struggle in which their blood
flowed in torrents for the conquest of right and the
defence of the people decimated under the First Bons.
parte, persecuted to the death under the Restoration.
delivered to the numberless perils and grievances of a
military policy untler Louts Philippe, gagged by the Second
, Bonaparte, they have during eighty years experienced
and endured everything—the scaffold, prison, exile,
outrage, calumny. For them, 1040 was smly the flash
of lightning which readers still darker the night it traverses
When they were not killed or proscribed they were pointed
, out as sectarians to the hate of some, and as Utopias to the
, mockery of otters."
; A Gramme CANDLE.—In the Romish Cathe-
dral of Seville the service on Easter Eve is begun
; without sound of bell or note of music. On the north-
, side of the altar stands the Paschal candle, a pillar of
wax nine yards in height, and thick in proportion,
weighing eighty arrobas, or about two thousand
pounds. This candle is recast and newly ornamented
. every year, being broken in pieces on Whitsun Eve,
, and a part of it used in the consecration of the bap-
; tiemal lent, The candle is lighted with new fire,
• struck by a priest from a flint, and burns until
, Ascension Day. It is lighted and trimmed by a our.
/diced chorister, who climbs to the top by means of a
gilt iron rod, furnished with steps like a flagstaff.
, DEATH OF A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.— on
• Saturday intelligence was received at Oldham that
, Mr. John Platt, one of the members of Parliament for
r that borough, had died suddenly at Paris. Mr. P att
r had been travelling on the Continent for a few weeks,
his last ply* of visa being the French capital. His
friends received word about the beginning of the week
• that he wan suffering from oolil, and one of his Eons
t left England to join him at Paris. On Friday night
a telegram conveyed the information that the hon.
, gentleman was seriously ill, and on Saturday
r about noon tidings of his death came to hand.
The deceased was head of the firm of Platt, Brothers,
and Co., one of the largest machine-making concerns in
r England, if not in the world. They hold a pee-
eminent wielder' as makers of machinery for spinning
and weaving cottoe. Mr. Platt was first elected for Old-
ham at the general election in 1865. He was again
I returned at the general election in 1868, but his
; majority was to small over that of Mr. J. M. Cobbett
i (the votes being—Platt, 6,122; Cobbett, 6116) that an
t attempt was made to upset his election upon petition.
, The petition Was beard before Mr. Justice Blackburn,
r the rerult being in favour of the Liberal candidates,
I Messrs Hibbert and Platt. In politics, Mr. Plain was
an advanced Liberal, and it is not ton much to say that
r he enjoyed the eonfidence of his party in Oldham to
I the fullest degree. Mr. Platt is the second member of
r his family whose sudden death Iris for a time deprived
the constituency of a representative in Parliament. In
E August, 1857, his younger brother, Mr. James Platt,
r then jubior member for Oldham, was killed by the
- accidental discharge of a gun when accompanying a
shooting party on the Saddleworth moors.

Anew verb to exprew4 the awblen accesa of heat in
the atmosphere has been invented— " It l'ertirivted
. . . • -

A bill has been read in the Spanish Parliament fix
log the number of men liable for military service th year at
40,000. _ . _

Deschamps has been condemned to death by the
Military Tribunal at Versailles for the murder of a soldier
during the reign of the Commune.
• •

The Norwegian people are at present preparing for a
great national festival, to cclubrate the Loooth aim versary
of its existence in a wilted state

On Sunday the King of the Belgians, after a visit to
this country which has extended over twenty days, em-
barked from Woolwich for his own domini.ms.

The King and Queen of Saxony will celebrate their
"Golden Wedtling " this year, according to the Gtrman
custom, their Majesties having been married fifty years.

-
It is said that, on a recent occasion, the people
waited patiently outside the doors of the theatre at Dresden
for a space of eleven hours to hear iladanio Laura sikg in
Faust.

-
It is stated that the Associated Master Builders of
London have by a majority, resolved to meet the threatened
withdrawal Of the men by • general lock-out It is added
thstamany of the masters are In favour of a compromise.

In Mississippi hundreds of horses and mules are
dying from the attacks of the "buffalo goats," and the
farmers in some places are unable to cultivate their crops
for want of teams.
- - -

A company is putting up a large factory in Fairfield,
America, and wilt shortly engage in she building of carriages
entirely of imliarnliber, except in axles and tires. A great
superiority is elainied for the materiel over wood.
The death is announced on the 14th hot. of
Katherine, daughter of the late Sir James Hall, Hart., of
Dunglass, who, Debrett's Peerage" states, married, 1831
General Sir James Russell, K.O Ii , who died 1659.

Greenock

•
Prince Humbert will shortly leave Rome for Berlin,
where bets to he godfather to the last infant of the Princess
Imperial of Germany. The absence of his Royal Highness
will be about ten days.
On Monday afternoon between two and three o'clock
another melancholy occurrence took place on the Thames
off Twickenham Eyrit, throw,h the upsetting of two pleasure-
boats, whereby four young men were drowned, and four
others had a very narrow escape.
There are now WO newspapers published in Italy;
81 of these are clerical. Since the chair of theology bas been
abolished l,v the Italian Parliament, the bishops and arch-
bishops of Piedmont propose to found a theological univer-
sity, after the model of that of Louvain, in Belgium.
The number of foxes captured and destroyed during
the last two or three months in various districts of Perth-
shire has been unusually large. Gamekeepers have in many
instances succeeded in capturing from half-a-dozen to up-
wards of 20 foxes each.
Recent uneasiness as to the position of the Christian
population in Japan, for which there seemed nut too grave
cause, will be relieved by a message from Yokohama, stating
that an Imperial decree has abolished all edicts agaimit
Christianity.
The Belgians are delighted with the reception given
to their king in Loudon, especially at the Literary Fund
Dinner. Mr. Disraeli's speech on that occasion, which hs.s
been translated and printed verbatim in the Bruasels news-
papers, has given great satisfaction.
A new green has been discovered which is brilliant
! enough to replace the poisonous col ur produced by arsenic.
It is composed of twenty parts of oxide of zinc and one
of sulphate of cobalt, mixed into a paste with water, and
exposed to aced heat.
The Germans are paying very special attention to
annul affairs. It is announced that the Gorman Government
Will shortly submit a memorandum to Parliament reeom.
mending the acquisition of some naval stations abroad, but
rejecting any idea of forming colonies.
• -- •

•
No plant absorbs nitrogen so rapidly as the sun-
flower, ravenous as the stomach of an ostrich. A pigeon
was buriedi between the roots of a sunflower; after some
weeks not a vestige of thO bird was found—the plant had de-
voured and digested even the feathers. _

The Journal Officid says that the courts-martial ren-
dered, between the 20th April and the 6th Slay, 640 judg-
ment, and liberated 32 prisoners for want of evidence. The
totAl number of sentences pronounced hitherto is 9,353, and
the individuals set free amount to 21,312 ; making • total of
30,670 cases decided upon.
- - -

"You can read and write a little, I suppose?" salcal
an eminent educationalist the other day, in the neichloour.
hood of Newcastle, of a stalwart young collier. "Read an'
wroite !" laughed the youthful giant ; whoy, there's noine of
no ft family, an' noun on no con tell clock!"
. . .

A new cannon of thirtyaix tons is to eclipse the
Woolwich Infant of thirty-fire tons. The new gun is to be
employed on land for harbour defence, most probably hi
In iy,me of the new forts at Plymouth, while the use of the
Woolwich Infests will be confined to the navy.

The Earl of Aberdeen, the Premier, appears to have
been rather awkward in a ball-room. When obliged on one
occasion to stand up with an ambassadress, Samuel Rogers
said, 'The earl danced as if he was hired for the purposo and
was not sure of being paid."

The subject of Chinese labour still engages the at-
tention of the southern planters in the United States. It
appears that a company has been formed with a capital of
200,000 dollars for the purpose of carrying out fa is project.
The emigrants are to be engaged at wages of eight dollars
per mouth with all found.
From the Scotch Registrar General's returns it
appears that the births in Scotland last year show an increase
of 704 as compared with the precious year; the deaths show an
Increase of 577, and the marriages 178. Of the total number
of births, 11,073 or rather more than 9 per cent. were

The Mormon ladies an; going to start a paper in
Utah to advocate their "sights," including, no doubt, that
comer-stone in the Mormon theological edifice, polygamy.
Accordieg to a Mormon publication in this country, the
hates of Utah are "tired of the misrepresentations of the
Ignorant and the bigoted,"
The Rangoon Times publishes a wanting to native
boatmen not to go to sleep in the bows of their boats, as the
allieators have discovered that, by a little exertion, they can
reach them. Several cages are said to have occurred lately
of men being dragged off boats by these monsters.
A young man of a fast turn, and lo ling like an
but a doctor, complains that all his tradesmen are de-
tdonined to give him the title of Dr., but they put the Dr.
after his name instead of before it.
According to Bayonne advices the province of Biscay
is now compietoy rift of insurgents 5,000 are said to have
submitted on Sunday list. Importance is attached to the
news that the Cal list Junta its Biscay, which first pronounced
for the rising, has be-n dispersed, and that the insurrec-
thmary forces are thus left without organization.
From April lot to the 18th instant the Exchequer
receints amounted to £9,00,623, an increase of nearly
£1,800.000 upon the revenue in she corresponoing period of
last year. The expenditure has horn £10,553,129. On Satur-
day last the balance in the Bank of England was £0,026,160.
A man, who described himself aa a cooper's labourer,
was on Tuesday sentenced to six months' imprisonment, with
hard labour, by the Southwark police magistrate for having
committed a brutal assault upon his wife. At the came
court three months of the like punishment were awarded to a
man who hail beaten a female companion with whom he haa
been on torsos of intimacy.
The Emperor of Japan was recently witty • he was
shown the corking of a bottle of wine by a steamliammer.
He requested that the hammer might be made to micelle the
bottle, as that was the most serviceable proceeding. It was
explained that it was powerless to doa, when his Majesty
signified his intention of taking the shine out of the hammer
, —uncorked the bottle, and called for glasses.
An English artist, travelling professionally through
Scotland, hail occasion to remain one Sunday in a small town
in the North. In a walk in the environs the picturesque
ruins of a castle met his eye fie asked its name Of a coun-
tryman who was pass ng. The reply was, "its no the day
to be speeriti aboot sic things."
"The latest method of New York thieves is to pick
pock.. Is at funerals, where persons are naturally least on
their guard against such depredations. A day or two ago,
at a funeral up town, three of the pall-bearers, while carry-
ing the coffin from the house to the hearse, were robbed of
their watches in the most adroit and mysterious manner. In
some instances where I ttnerals are large, policemen are stet-
Defied at the door of the family residence to prevent the en-
trance of well-knon-n cut-purses.
It is stated that in the Tanjore district no fewer
than nineteen persons in every 100,n00 die annually from
snake-bite. Taking the population according to the census,
this would give nearly 030 deaths per annum in that district
ahem ; mid Resuming the rate of mortality over the whole
Presidency of Madras to be only half that which prevails in
the Tanjore district, and the population to be 30 000,000, we
get the. startling total of close on 3,0;i0 people annually
dying from snake-bites.
"The sending round of the hat for 'the Claimant
is, it svould appear, to be made a precedent for further ap-
peals to what is currently understood as our English sense
of fair play. The attorney for Marguerite Diblane comes
forward on behalf of his client, whom he pathetically des-
cribes as a ' defenceless alien,' and begs that a little of the
stream of bounty fiowieg towards the many-sided 'Sir Roger'
may be diverted to sustaining the cause he has espoused."—
Doan News.
All the fragments of the Vendome Column have
been recovered except a small portion near•the top and
middle part of the shaft. It has now been ascertained that,
in spite of the surveillance of the Commune, some foreigners
in the surrounding hotels (Americans, it is said) were able
to secure at a high mice four large pieces; in addition to
which it has now become known that a Swiss, staying at the ,
HOW Chatham, became the propricter of a fifth piece,
weighing alb. Con., of which he has just made a present to
an old friend of his.
The London School Board have at last hit upon the
propable cost of edocation. They have ascertained that it
will take a million of money to provide for the education of
100,000 children, and that tide would entail a rate of lid. In
the pound. It has been eetimated that it will take twopence
three farthings for 200000 children, and threepence three
farthings for 300,000 children. The estimated cost of each
child is twenty-five shillings yearly, of which the State will
bear one portion and the fees another portion
"A widow lady, aged 40, residing in the country, is
desirous of corresponding with a willower, over 45 years of
age, with, view to matrimony; he must be in business, and
be passe-nod of a moderate Meow-, as she has some means ;
Children no objection whatever. Address," Ac—" A
highly-respectable gentleman, in a good position in businees,
wishes to cerrespend with a lady, from 25 V; 35, of good
family, with a view to matrimony; she must be loving and
fond of children ; money a consideration; no objection to a
widow without a family; bona fide; all correspondence
strictly confidential; enclose carte.—Address," cto—Adver-
tisementeLin the Manchester Examiner.
Lord Northbrook arrived at Bombay on. the 26th
ult., and snot with a very enthusiastic reception. The My-
Dig Squadron, under the command of Rear-Admiral Beau-
champ Seymour, had anchored in the harbour four days
before, and from the rigging of all the vessels there came
lusty cheers, followed by the roar of large guns, as his lord-
ship stepped into the boat that convey° I him on slime. Ac-
cording to the Bombay papers, the new Viceroy of India
seemed mach pleased with the loyal and hearty ; eceptlon ac-
corded to him by all classes. Its imposing nature is even
said to have taken him somewhat aback. In the evening he
was present at a ball given at Government House to the
officers of the Flying Squadron, and on the day of the de-
parture of the mall he was to unveil the statue of Queen
Victoria, presented to the city bythe late Guiceiwar of Barode.
It may interest lady readers (says the kevant Tinto)
to be informed that Queen Olgaof Wertember, when visited
by the Sultan, wore sere,s of magenta colour trimmed with
velvet and white lace, her head-dress being a small diadem.
On her Majesty returning the visit tie same afternoon, she
wore a green satin dress richly trimmed, It is stated that
the Russian Steam Navigation Company had laid out more
than 30,000 rembles in fitting up and decorating the 0/ga
steamer, in which the Qneen is Vcrl aging and which also
serves her as ru hotel. tier 31aji sty has skit on board
during her stay here, suit has held her receptions at the
Rts,sian Embassy.
In Lon ion, on Tuesday afternoon, a desperate at-
tempt to commit suicide was made at Waterloo- Midge, It
would appear that about .half-past two o'clock a young
woman, well-dressed, was observed walking over the brbige
towards the Strand, and when she got about half-way
across she tot:lied into one of the recesses, and monntieg
the parapet of the bridge, she exclaimed, 'Farewell all
and then leaped into the river. A cry was raised, aid,
boat was put off to her rescue Dorn Waterloo steps. She
disappeared under water time, but upon rising to the sur-
face the third time she was seised by the dress and put
into the boat. A stretcher was procured, and she was at
once conveyed to the hospital in a sinking condition. The
unhappy creature appeared to be about 22 years of age, and
all her clothes appeared to be quite new.

he Vienna papers describe the want of house-room
for the poor iu that city as most deplorable.
The Marquis of Lorne and the Princess Louise left
London on Monday, tia Carlisle, and took steamer at
Greenock for Inverary, IN here they arrived in the evening.
An eccentric gentleman in New York has had his
hruse painted black, as a token of his grief for the loss of his

University College, the oldest foundntion in Oxford,
or indeed in existenoe; having been founded by King Alfred
In 872 A.D., will celebrate its thousandth anniversary on
June 12.

Earl Brnwillow has advanced his labourers wagea to
lie. Od. per week, and reduced their hours by half an hour
daily, and they are to cease work at three o'clock on Satur-
days.

At the Junior Can Club at Hendon a novelty in
pigeon shooting has been introduced, each competitor in the
Rail Handicap Sweepstakes having to rest his gun on a
hurdle until the shooter calls "pulL"

Conscience Money.—The Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer acknowleOges the rogeipt of a Bank of England
sltincherter) cote for £lO from "A C.mverted Mau," N.
U-32 74,080.

Have you in your album any original poetry!"
asked one young lady ,d another. " No," was the reply;
"but some of my friends have favoured me with original
spelling."

Mr;. Elizabeth Cooper has joist died at the village
of Cumnor, Berke, at the age of 102 years and five nxuths,
having been born on the 13th of December, 1709. She rw
tained her faculties to the last.
We learn Irons the Pekin Ga:eite that 'the per.
mission to nee a 3 ellow bridle previously granted to lust li-
pa-cha-esh-cha.pu, Mongolian noble of the first rank, is
withdrawn, it having been discovered that 110 such privilege
has ever been allotted to nobles of either the third or (earth
rank !

The inhabitants of Syracuse are building a monu-
ment of white marble to :Westin' in the famous quarries in
which 7,000 Athenians were confined after the siege of
Syracuse by It is a curious antithesis that a menu.
meat to a liberator should he raised hi a prison.
A large watch and clock manufacturer in Neuchatel
bas net the example of participation of profits with his
workmen. A regular account is opened with each man, and
his book is nimidup annually, four per cent, being added by
the employer to the amount due to be paid, as interest on
the capital for one year.
Mr. John Bellows, of Glocmder, prints for the Go-
vern meilt the hank forma for electric telegraph messages, and
has to issue weekly 300,000 copies—that is, 1,300,000 monthly,
and 15,000.000 in the year; and the order Involves the use of
42 tons of naper in the twelvemonth. This paper Is a strange
composite ; it is made of palm leaves, Esparto grin, and
bright oat-straw.
It is stated that the executive committee of the
Loudon Irish home Role Association has determined to hold
a rcrics of public meetings in the metr.politan boroughs,
for the purpose of pr .pounding the principles of llome
Rule, and of promoting the registration of the Irish residents
In London. The first of these dens nstratt,ns will be held
In the Amicultural Hall, Islington, on Monday, June 10.

Professor Palmieri has just received an address,
signed by seventy citizens of Rome, ekprcssing;their admira-
tion of his character and conduct, and congratulating him
on the success of his efforts to save numerous victims
from destruction iu the late terrible eruptiou of Mount
Vesuvius.

In London, on Saturday evening the Duke of Edin-
burgh. follow Mg the example not by so many illustrious
personages, was admitted to the Livery of the 51 orshipful
Company of Fishmongers. The ceremony was succeeded by
a banquet, at which his Royal Highness, the Duke of Cam-
bridge, the Lord Chancellor, the Archbishop of York, and
Mr. Bouverie, M.P., were amongst the speakers.
The Swiss Times, the only English newspaper printed
In Switzerland, has just celebrated its first anuiversary. At
a dinner given on the occasion at Geneva the remark Was
made that. by the establishment of an English paper, another
had been added to the already rather numerous languages
current lathe Swiss Republic.
On Monday two children lost their lives on the Mid-
land Railway, near Bristol. They were standing at a cross-
ing. waiting till an approaching train had passed. After the
train had gone they went on the line, when an engine and
tender at lull speed ran over them and killed them.
A story of Theodore Hook is told by Cornelius
O'Dowd in one of his toms, to the effect that at some civic
banquet, on the appearance ef a fifth course of dainties,
Hook laid down his knife and fork, and declared that he
" would take the rest out in money." The idea O'Dowd de-
clares was " eminently British."
A correspondent of the &Osman writes that since
the Queen arrived on Deeside the weather has been very
stormy, snow falling every day, and the hills around being
covered with it. Her Majesty, however, has taken several
walks in the grnunds, and in company with the Princess
Beatrice, attended divine service in the church of Crathie on
Sunday last.
It is remarked by the Registrar. General in his r.tnin
that the fatal cases if small-pen in Lomb's, which in the two
previous weeks had been 62 and 39, rose again last week to
54, of which 23 occurred in the special small-pox hospitals,
against 17 and 15 in the two preceding weeks.

Commerce is urging on diplomacy in the matter of
the Alabsiiia claims. Numerous bookers and business
corporations have forwarded addresses to the Foreign Com-
mittee and the Senators In favour • f the ratification of the
Supplemental Article; plainly stating shot they do so as a
means of relieving the embarrassments of business caused
by the pending disputes between Great Britain and the
United States.

Monte Video has been visited.with a diseafte reßembl-
ing yellow fever. Prompt measures were taken by the
authorities. A military cordon was established around the
affected districts, and the inhabitants forcibly removed in
two Government steamers to Fiore. Island, in order that
they might perform quarantine.

Mr. Maguire intends to move the re-committal of
the Ballot Bill for the purpose of omitting the 26th rule,
described as the "illiterate clause." The hon. member will
move it as on amendment to the third reading of the 11111,
which the Government propose to make the first order of the
day on the 27th inst., to which day the House of commons
stands adjourned.

The gradual disappearance of woods and forests
from the face of the civilised world has raised a cry of
alarm from various quarters. The question has received
much attention in France and Germany, and the diminution
of the pine forests of Norway has been lately noticed ; and
It seems that the apparently inexhaustible timber supply of
North Aurelian may are long show signs of exhaustion. It is
alleged that the Western forests are perishing like dew.
For the last three Or four years French smokers have
been complaining bitterly of the bad quality of the tobacco
which the Government has been providing in spite of the
extra charge of If. 200. per lb. by way of protest the
grumblers have taken advantage of the Prussian occupation
to indulge in unlimited smuggling, and the consequence
has been a very appreciable diminution in the prints whi,ls
the French Government make on the sale of the noxious
weed.

The Assize Court of the Morbihan has been engaged
In trying a woman named Bourgeron, aged 20, on a charge of
having set fire, in 1871, to the prison at Vannes, where she
was at that time detained. The conflagrition was very
terrible, one woman perished in the flames, and the loss was
estimated at £2,000. The evidence showed that the prisoner
had repeatedly sp-kon of fire as the only means of recovering
her liberty. The Tribunal condemned her to hard labour for
life.
The Swiss society for promoting the better obser-
vance of Sunday invite competitors to send in essays On the
subject of the most practical means to abolish or reduce
Sunday railway goods traffic and to secure a day of rest for
railway servants. Two prizes of 400 and 200 I. respectively
will be given ; the merits of the conipositions to be decided
by a jury. Any language may be employed at the option of
the competitor, but a translation into French must accom-
pany all productions not written in tnat language.
"Hurry seems to be the curse of London existence
nowadays. Everybody wishes to crowd the life of forty-eight
hours into twenty.four. 'Fast, fleeting' pleasure is no mere
poetical description, but fact. All those who are supposed to
he 'idle men' about town seem to me to Inc olio-eased with
the weight of their amusements, and the necessity of getting
them over at once. You meet a fellow at breakfatt, and
when you see him at dinner you find he has been to Brighton
and back, or lie has driven 'One side of the road,' on a public
coach ; the 111011 next to you has come from Dublin before
dinner ; and the one next to him starts for a day's racing in
Faris after his coffee."—Correspondent of Daily Telegraph,
In London, Monday was the working man's holiday,
and as the weather was bright and sunny, immense numbers
left London In all directions for the various places of
suburban resort. The throngs in quest of recreation atood
thickly upon the decks of the river steamboats ; they besieged
the stations upon the metropolitan lilies of railway ; and
they filled the omnibuses upon every road leading out of the
metropolis.No previous holiday has been mere generally
observed, not only in the City, hut throughout the entire
capital. At some places the number of sightseers was un-
precedented. There were nearly 45,000 visitors to the gaol..
gical Gardens, and more than 21,00., to the Exhibition.
The new alloy phosphoro-bronze seems to be coming
Into very general use for the purpose of artillery. The
Belgian Government are using it for rifles, and the Russians
for cartridge cases. It Call be made as tough as wrought-
iron, while its hardness may be regulated to that of steel ;
It, elasticity is great, it is said to Inc perfectly homogeneous,
Rh a tine grain and fine fluidity. This prepares the way for
considerable economy inn the manufacture of revolvers. Its
power of resisting large charges of cannon-powder is ap-
parently very much greater than that of ordinary metal.
Last week 3e, members of the Devonport Police force
petitioned the Watch Committee of that town to increase
their pay and give them some privileges. A previous appli-
cation had been refused, and not only did the committee
refuse again, but they decided that all those who did not
agree to remain in the force on the present terms were to
be disniissed. At six o:clock on Monday night some with.
drew, and 16 were discharged. They had an opportunity
given them of rejoining the Devonport Force next morning,
but they all refused to take advantage of it,