The Sun.
London, England, 1865-07-19 00:00:00

baronet boldly declared his belief to be that the
Whigs were anxious to keep the question unsettled
for fear that OTHELLO'S occupation should be gone,
and that they should be left without a subject for
threats, vituperations, and fair promises—be bank-
rupt, in short, of theirpolitical capital. In opposition
to Mr. GLADSTONE'S witty antithesis about Liberal
trust and Conservative distrust, Sir E. B. LYTTON
propounded a pithy aphorism, to the effect that the
chief distinction between the parties was, that the
one kept their promises, though they had lost their
places, while the other kept their places, though
they broke their promises. Whatever the prevail-
ing sentiments of the country, the electors of Hert-
fordshire will hardly hesitate to return a member
who does them so much honour, and whose shrewd
sense and good judgment, no less than his more
brilliant qualities, so eminently fit him for a place
in the senate of his country.

Mr. GLADSTONE has lost no time in coming for-
ward again, and in his speech last night in Liver-
pool he displayed great moderation in talking of
his recent defeat at Oxford. For this he deserves
great credit, since many men similarly circum-
stanced would have given way to natural feelings
of excitement and irritation. Mr. GLADSTONE has
chosen the better part, in appearing before a large
and influential assembly as the former representa-
tive of Oxford, and not as its defeated candidate.
He therefore dismissed the matter in a spirit worthy
of the theme, and showed himself above party con-
sideration, and beyond petty malice. When the
first excitement of the controversy is over, and the
temporary confusion has passed away, the tribute
last 'night rendered will long be remembered as
a gracious and grateful offering to the time-honoured
University from one who, alike by classical attain-
ments and oratorical gifts, was well worthy of being
her representative in Parliament, and ably qualified
to defend her interests. He said that nothing
would induce him to connect his defeat with " one
single word either of disrespect or indifference
as regards that ancient, great, and venerable
University." Having bade adieu to classic
scenes, the right hon. gentleman has turned his
attention to a very different sphere, and one asso-
ciated with very different recollections ; but, as he
said, there is no reason why the man who has been
the faithful representative of the University should
not be the faithful representative of the electors of
South Lancashire. Mr. GLADSTONE was very fav-

ourably received last night, but that is not a sure
sign or a certain indication of his success. Under
the circumstances he was sure of an enthusiastic
welcome. An English assembly, of whatever poli-
tics the majority may be, is always ready to accord
its tribute to one who shows a gallant spirit under
defeat, and exhibits an unabashed front in trial and
difficulty. Mr. GLADSTONE did not appear before
his audience last night so much in the character of
the Chancellor of the Exchequer canvassing for
election, as a public man of eminent reputation and
high character appealing to a large assembly of his

countrymen to afford him the opportunity of taking
that place in Parliament which he fills with such

brilliancy and effect. An unusual interest was
thus imparted to the proceedings in the Royal

Amphitheatre at Liverpool.

Mr. GLADSTONE declared with truth that Oxford
represented more conspicuously than any other
place the most " prominent features that relate to
the past of England, but in Lancashire he fcund an
assemblage of different phenomena." Yet he
argued from this that it was the duty of public
men to harmonise as far as possible between " the
past of our glorious country and the future that is
still in store for her.", This is quite correct, and
the right hon, gentleman's remark is particularly

; appropriate just now when so many distinguished
men make such serious mistakes in going to ex-
tremes in that direction of exclusiveness and beset-
ting doctrines. Mr. GLADSTONE desires now to be
returned for his native county, and his speech of
last night is more that of a statesman than those he
has :often delivered on similar occasions. He
seemed to rise to the height that was due in conse-
quence of the occasion, and to drop as much as pos-
sible the partisan and placeman for the statesman
and orator, and candidate for an important district,
and not the mere political agent of agitation and
controversy. Of course there was some exception
to this rule, when the right hon. gentleman touched
upon finances, and was in a manner compelled to
defend himself. One thing suggests itself to notice
when this topic is discussed, and that is that the
Conservatives really were allowed no chance of
displaying their powers and maturing their plans.
On both occasions their tenure of office was so
short that they had no time to do justice to them-
selves, or enable the country to judge of their merits.
Out of taste was Mr. GLADSTONE'S sneer at the
efforts made by his predecessors to reconstruct the
Navy. It is no sign of strength to refuse to accord
due merit to our opponents, and the right hon. gen-
tleman is going against the general opinion of the
country when he endeavours to detract from the
praise so fully and deservedly given to the Adminis-
tration of 1858 in this important respect. It may
well be observed, en passant, that the present Go-
vernment have not been very successful in their
attempts at ship-building, but by their failures and
mismanagement have made themselves the laughing-
stock of all competent judges, while they have
squandered the public money in the 'most reckless
fashion to suit their own perverse fancies. Mr.
GLADSTONE is very indignant indeed at the asser-
tion that retrenchment was forced upon him by the
Opposition side of the House. Mr. DISRAELI'S
remarks in Buckinghamshire on a recent occasion
have also given him dire offence, and he criticised
them in a good-humoured manner, but evidently
rather in a vexed spirit. He said he knew that
good harvests were not due to her MAJESTY'S Go-
vernment, but that some people blamed them for
bad ones ; and in 1860, when there was such a
wretched harvest there was a deficiency in the pro-
ceeds of the public revenue, little or nothing
was heard of the sound doctrine that the
harvests are not the work of the Government. "At
that time," said the right hon. gentleman plaintively,
" I do assure you, that the Government, and espe-
cially the unfortunate Chancellor of the Exchequer,
were held responsible for the harvest." However,
he took consolation from the fact that civilisation
must have progressed since that period, since so
large and respectable a portion of the community
had now discovered that Administrations were not
responsible for the state of the harvests. However,
added Mr. GLADSTONE, it is now found out that
there is such a thing as " luck and everywhere it
is thus said that the Government is the " luckiest"
Government, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer
the " luckiest" Chancellor of the Exchequer that
ever was. Mr. GLADSTONE must take his chance
in this in common with the rest of public men, and
noi expect every one to agree as to his merits. It
is, besides, true that he has had a great deal of work
during his recent career as Chancellor of the Ex-
quer. Mr. GLADSTONE paid a well-deserved tribute
to the manner in which the people of Lancashire
had borne the fearful visitation of the cotton
famine, and said that when we looked back upon
that period, " when we consider the noble qualities
that were displayed in the time of that affliction,
when we recollect how we then awakened to the

consciouswtss of what treasure we possessed in the
factory poLmlation of this county, we recognise
the wisdom of PROVIDENCE in drawing good from
that which seemed to be unmitigated evil."
Of coarse such an orator as Mr. GLADSTONE
can 2.lways make a successful speech, but it must
be noticed that in this speech he said nothing of
foreign policy, and nothing of reform. He pre-
ferred to keep to the generalities of things rather
than to the details, and perhaps finance is the most
successful feature of the present Government's
achievements. At any rate, it may be admitted
that he will be a fitting representative for South
Lancashire, and he will do well and wisely if, in
the prominent position he is likely to take in the
future legislation of the country, he adopt a more
calm and conciliatory tone than that which he often
displayed in the heat of debate and the excitement
of controversy. No great speaker ever impresses
less by moderation, and no statesman can attain
eminence without it.

The inhabitants of the good city of Plymouth
have just now a very imposing spectacle before
them. They are accustomed to see plenty of ships,
many of them well worth seeing, and the Channel Fleet
is no-stranger to their waters. But even these they
cannot often boast of after witnessing such a com-
bination of attractions as is just now visible. The
French, the Dutch, and Austrian ships mingle in
the spectacle. The former, indeed, taking a prhi-
cipal part, having come on a friendly visit of in-
spection and exhibition, which the English are
afterwards to return. The chief part of the French
visitors are to come over a few weeks hence, but in
the meantime the visit of the Prince and Princess
of WALES to the port is the occasion of additional
festivities. We'are glad to find the young PRINCE
and PRINCESS so willing to extend their acquaint-
ance with their own dominions, and so ready to
gratify the national and loyal desire of their future
subjects. Almost every great division of England
has its own peculiar character and distinctive
features, and the capital can by no means be taken
as an illustration of the provinces any more than
the busy life of a crowded seaport can repre-
sent the quiet agricultural districts or the manufac-
turing towns. The PRINCESS, as the daughter of a
country always famous in its ships, must look with
interest on all connected with the sea and sailors.
It is to be hoped the representation of so many
different nations may be accepted as an augury for
peace and unity in the future, and that it may be
long before the vessels now so harmoniously sharing
the admiration of the visitors to Plymouth may find
themselves engaged in hostile action. The Prince
and Princess, who intend to pass a few days at the
beautiful seat of Lord MOUNT EDGCUMBE, will have
a favourable opportunity of seeing that famous and
beautiful locality to full advantage.

AMERICA.

(REUTEUR'S EXPRESS.)
(Per City of Boston.)
NEW YORK, July 8 (Noon).

The decision of the military court at Washington
was rendered on the 3d inst., and approved by Pre-
sident Johnson on the sth. It sentenced David E.
Harrold, G. A. Atzerott, Lewis Payne, and Mary
E. Surratt to death by hanging ; Dr. S. A. Mudd,
S. Arnold, • and M. O'Laughlin to imprisonment,
with hard labour, for life ; and E. Spangler to six
years' imprisonment, with hard labour. The Pre-
sident-designated the 7th inst. as the day on which
the sentences were to be carried into effect. The
order was read to the prisoners on the sth instant.
Payne and Mrs. Surratt heard it with
quiet resignation ; the latter, however, earnestly
begged for four days more time in order to
prepare herself for death. Harrold was quite over-
come and wept 'bitterly, while Atzerott was para-
lyzed with terror. Mr. Clampit, one of the counsel
for Mrs. Surratt,' procured a writ of habeas corpus
from Judge Wyle, which was served upon General
Hancock on the morning of the 7th. In answer
General Hancock appeared in court and stated that
his reason for not making the required return to
the writ was in consequence of the suspension of the
writ by the President.- The following endorsement
upon the writ was then read :
" Executive Office, July 7, 1865.
" Major-Gen. Hancock, Commanding.
" I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United
States, do declare that the writ of habeas corpus has
been heretofore suspended in such cases as this,
and I do hereby especially suspend this writ, and
direct that you proceed to execute the order of the
Military Commission, and you will give this in re-
turn for the writ. " ANDREW JOHNSON."

Harold's sisters and Mrs. Surratt's daughter
, Anna appeared early in the morning at the White
House to intercede for clemency, and craved an
interview with the President, who had, however,
given imperative orders to admit no one. The
grief of Miss Surratt is said to have been pitiable.
Failing in all her efforts in behalf of her mother,
she finally sank senseless upon the steps of the
Executive mansion. Payne is said to have earnestly
declared Mrs. Surratt to be innocent, and to have
exhibited the greatest anxiety that she should not
suffer death. Even up to the hour of the execution
it was generally expected that Mrs. Surratt's sen-
tence would be commuted. From the time of hear-
ing of their doom the prisoners were constantly at-
tended by their spiritual advisers. Payne's religious
persuasion being Baptist ; Mrs. Surratt's, Roman
Catholic ; Arnold's, Methodist ; while Atzerott
selected a Lutheran minister.

At one o'clock p.m. on the 7th inst. the prisoners
left the prison building for the gallows in the court-
yard. Mrs. Surratt had to be supported. She was
closely attended by Fathers Wiget and Walter.
Next came Atzerott, trembling and utterly un-
nerved. Payne followed, attended by the Rev. Mr.
Gillett ; he walked firmly, displayed no bravado,
but manifested in no way the slightest fear. Harold
was pale and subdued in manner, but walked unaided.
Having reached the scaffold, Payne and Harrold,
through their ministers, thanked General_,Hart-
rauft for his uniform kinkness to them in their im-
prisonment. Prayers were then conducted, after
which, all being in readiness, the prisoners were
brought forward bound, and the halter of each
adjusted. Payne throughout maintained his firm-
ness, Harold being partially unconscious, Mrs.
Surratt calm, "and Atzerott quaking with terror.
The latter alone spoke upon the gallows, saying
" Good bye, gentlemen, may we all meet in another
world." At half-past 1 o'clock the ti-4) was sprung,
the four culprits falling simultaneously. There was
no struggle on the part of Mrs. Surratt, she seemed
to die without suffering a moment's pain. Harrold
struggled a little, but soon was quiet, and Atzerott
seemingly died easily. Payne, however, appeared
to suffer greatly : the fall did not break his neck,
and he writhed and heaved his body terribly, some-
times drawing himself up as in a sitting posture.
In six minutes all were dead. After hanging about
26 minutes the bodies were cut down, placed in
coffins, and at once buried in the prison yard. The
affair was conducted in a most orderly manner, and
was witnessed by about 300 persolis, including the
reporters for the press.

THE SALMON IN AUSTRALIA.—The salmon at
the Plenty still in the breeding ponds present as lively an
appearance as ever. Those that were let loose in the
Plenty cannot now be seen so well as formerly, owing to
the discoloration of the water, occasioned by the late rains
They are, however, believed to be in just as lively and
healthy a condition as those in the ponds. No further
signs of mortality have presented themselves among them
anywhero.—Australian and New Zealand Gazette.
DRIVEN TO DEATH.—On the 28th of June, in
pursuance of a wager for $6,000, an attempt was made to
drive a horse from Boston to Portland, 116 miles, between
sunrise and sunset. The horse got within six miles of the
goal considerably within the time, wherkhe fell and imme-
diately expired. The job is, therefore, unfinished, and the
true way to complete it would bo to harness the men con-
cerned in the bet to the carcase of the horso, and make
them drag it back towards Boston until each an 4 every one
brutal bipeds shared the fate of the poor animal:so wan-
touly murdered.—New 179rk ,Tima

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

HOLLAND.
THE HAGUE, -JULY 19.

The Second Chamber of the States-General have,
with the exception of one adverse vote, unanimously
approved the Treaty of Commerce with France.

THE CHOLERA IN THE EAST.
CONSTANTINOPLE, JULY 12.
The cholera is spreading here. The total num-
ber of cases that have proved fatal is 32 in the naval
hospital, and 11 in the city. Strict sanitary mea-
sures have been adopted. •
It is rumoured that Riza Pacha will be named
Minister without portfolio.
The Levant Herald states that the POrte has ceded
to Egypt two districts on the coast of Abyssinia for
a yearly tribute of 2,500,000 piastres.

THE CHOLERA IN EGYPT.

TRIESTE, JULY 15.

Advices from Alexandria to the 14th inst. show-
a decided decrease in the mortality resulting from

cholera.

FRANCE.

PARIS, JULY 19.

The Moniteur of this morning announces that
the health of the Prince Imperial is now completely
re-established.

BOURSE, July 18.—The subscription to the new
City Loan being officially announced to commence
on the 25th inst. has caused the Bourse to open
business on improved quotations. But the opening
prices soon gave way ; Stock, and more particularly
Credit Mobilier shares, declined constantly, though
at the present hour the market has again improved,
and attained previous prices. Threes, for the Ac-
count, obtained the following quotations-67f. 50c.,
67f. 45c., and 67f. 50c. Credit Mobilier shares
opened at 726 f. 25c., retrograded to 717 f. 50c., and
are in active demand at present at 725 f. No varia-
tion whatsoever the last hour. The closing prices
are about the same as at two o'clock :
Ditto Threes —
Mexican Loan 47 25
Do. Bonds —
Russian —
Austrian
Spanish Throes
Home Debt -
Deferred
Roman

41 per Cents —
Do. end month — --
3 per Cents. —
Do. end month 67 321
Credit Mobilier
Do. end month
Bank Shares —
Credit Fonciei 1250
Italian Loan —
Do. end month 64 77
RAIL

WAYS.

(';ish.

Acct.

Orleans
Northern
Lyons and Mediterranean
Southern
Western
Eastern
Sardinian .
Austrian
Lombard
North of Spain
Saragossa
Ditto to Barcelona

- - 1043 75
- - --- ... 846 25
- ... 562 50

- ... 285 -
- 420 -
- 485 -
- - ... 178 75

323 75

_. - ... 135 -

LITERATURE,

Charles Dickens's Serial Story.
Our Mutual Friend. By Charles Dickens. No. XV.

Chapman and Hall

It may be that having advanced so far, Mr. Dickens
feels, in sailor phrase, that he has more " way" upon
him. Or, it may happen, again, that he simply
finds his hand of cunning and mastery, by this time,
fairly "in" to the accomplishment of the particular
work he has here set himself to do. Or, yet fur-
ther, it may just merely have so chanced with him,
that he has himself become gradually more familia-
rised with the intricacies of his own plot, or with the
idiosyncracies of the various characters with which
he has peopled it. At any rate, whatever the reason
' may be for what we are about to remark upon, certain
it is, that " Our Mutual Friend " evidences, now,
month by month, more and more clearly, chapter
after 'chapter, instalment after instalment, greater
rower, a more delightful ease, a more enthralling
interest, and, together with all that, an
obvious and instantly appreciable development or
expansion of its more salient and distinctive ex-
cellencies. The mystery of the plot—or, more
strictly speaking, we should say, perhaps,
of the under - plot—still, even at the close
of this fifteenth number, remains, as it appears
to us—just utterly inscrutable. The root idea of the
whole tale, the bhckbone, so to speak, of the entire body
of the story, has long ago been manifestly the
testing by John Harmon—under an assumed name
—after his supposed death : the testing thus by
John Harmon, at one and the same time, of the
affections of Bella, and of the honesty of Boffin.
That—so far, it appears to us, is what may be called
the main drift of the whole narrative. That, so far,
seems to be the general scheme upon which
the plot of "Our Mutual Friend" has been
constructed—meaning by Our Mutual Friend,
according to the reader's whim and pleasure,
either the book itself or the hero of it. The
underplot of the tale, it is, that alone, as it
seems to us, fairly baffles the wiliest reader's con-
jectures as to the significance of it. This extraor-
dinary change, in point of fact, that has latterly
transformed the whole nature, or at any rate the
whole bearing of Noddy Boffin—Boffin whilome so
true-hearted, of late so miserly and now at length
so outrageously insolent and domineering—that be-
wildering change still remains, we cannot but think,
even down to the very close of the very last chapter
of this the fifteenth number of " Our Mutual
Friend," a problem little less than absolutely in-
scrutable ! A problem that, so far as the story
has yet gone, justly simply defies solution.
Chapter fifteen of number fifteen, the chapter lead-
ing off this July instalment of the story (now alas !
three quarters finished) shows to the wondering
reader " The Golden Dustman at his worst !" Shows
him to us—reviling, dismissing, insulting, outraging
by every conceivable indignity, by every kind of
contumelious and disdainful treatment his (Boffin's)
Secretary., or rather it should be said his late Secre-
tary, seeing that he is his Secretary now no longer
—John Rokesmith. Thus says Boffin in the pre-
sence and hearing of Bella—talking at rather than
to the subject and recipient of these accumulated
indignities : thus quoth Boffin in words of in-
tolerable insolence—" This Rokesmith is a needy
young man that I take for my secretary out of
the open street. This Rokesmith gets acquainted
with my affairs, and gets to know that I mean
to settle a sum of money on this young lady.
Oho!' says this Rokesmith here Mr. Boffin
clapped a finger against his nose, and tapped it seve-
ral times with a sneaking air as embodying Rokesmith's
confidentially confabulating with his own nose.
' This will be a good haul. I'll go in for this ! '"
Treated thus like the merest hound—having his very
wages tossed towards him, upon the carpet, so that
he has to stoop for it—Rokesmith is contemptuously
discharged from the Golden Dustman's service in the
presence of the Golden Dutsman's heiress. No
sooner, however, has the discarded Secretary disap-
peared than the pent-up ire of Bella Wilfer—no
longer frivolous, no longer selfish, but " all her
baser self slipped from her like a robe "—bursts
forth in the prettiest petulance, in the most bewitch-
ingly incoherent utterances of girlish indignation,
upon the devoted head of Mr. Boffin himself. The
bewilderment of the latter under this unexpected
outbreak of temper on the part of his pretty protege
is wonderfully droll, even in the midst of the in-
tensely emotional passion of the scene. " I hate
you!" cries Bella, turning suddenly upon him with
a stamp of her little foot, adding, " At least I can't
hate you, but I don't like you !" " HuL-Lo !" says
Boffin to himself, in an amazed undertone. Bella
thereupon pouring out upon him from her rosy lips
a whole string of little scolding epithets, as though
she were pelting him smartly over the nose, so to -
while—
staring here and staring there—" misdoubting that
speak, with sugar plums ! Mr. Boffin, the
he must be in some sort of fit." Bella still con-
tinuing her reproaches—" Mr. Boffin," we read,
" seething to be more convinced that this was a fit,
rolled his eyes andlomened his neckcloth." The close

of the scene between the two is the prettiest thing
imaginable :
" I am very glad," sobbed Bella, " that I called you
names, sir, because you richly deserved it. But lam very
sorry that I called you names, because you used to be so
different. Say good-bye !" "
" Good-bye," said Mr. Boffin, shortly.

"If I knew which of your hands was the least spoilt, I
would ask you to let me touch it," said Bella, "for tho last
time. But not because I repent of what I said to you. For
I don't. It's tru6."

" Try the left hand:" said Mr. Boffin, holding it out in a
stolid manner ; " its the least used."
" You have been wonderfully good and kind to me,"
said Bella, " and I kiss it for that. You have been as
bad as bad could be to Mr. Rokesmith, and I throw it away
for that. Thank you for myself, and good-bye !"

" Good-bye," said Mr. Boffin, as before.
Bolla caught him round the neck, and kissed him, and
ran out for ever.

The chapter immediately following this one in
which the Grand House of the Boffins (the Corner
house once sacred to Miss Elizabeth, Master
George, Aunt Jane, and Uncle Parker) is quitted
first of all by Rokesmith and afterwards by Bella
—the very next chapter to this one, relates surely
in the most whimsical and charming manner one of
the most whimsical and charming lovescenes that
ever was depicted by the hand of Novelist. A
chapter recounting " The Feast of the Three Hob-
goblins" !---according to the notion of Dr. Southey's
famous nursery-story. The materials of the Feast con-
sisting of three cottage loaves and three pennyworths
•of milk—consumed respectively, the loaves and the
pennyworths, by Pa, and Bella, and Rokesmith, in
their capacity as the Three Hobgoblins ! " A Social
Chorus" is the title of the last chapter of this
fifteenth number of " Our Mutual Friend "—said
Chorus consisting of that odious set of conven-
tional worldlings the Veneerings, the Podsnaps, and
the Lammles, et hoc genus omne, comprising among
the pick of that same " genus"—Boots and Brewer,
still industriously going about in cabs—Lady
Tippins ghastlier than ever in her senile coquetries—.
and poor little Twemlow ever and anon hold-
ing his head between his hands, overshadowed in
his room above the Duke-street stable-yard, by that
portentous effigy of the sublime Snigsworth over
the mantelpiece, " snorting at a Corinthian column,
with an enormous roll of paper at his feet, and a
heavy curtain going to tumble down on his head—those
accessories being understood to represent the noble
lord as somehow in the act of saving his country."
The Wondering Dinner, described towards the
close of this chapter, in which the Veneerings gather
about them their-choicest " intimates" to discuss the
collapse of the Lammles' No-Fortunes, is thickly
studded with the minutest, yet most trenchant and
piercing, and some among them absolutely scarifying
touches of sarcasm. The new specimens of the
intimate friends clustering about Veneering since
his entrance into the House as M.P. for Pocket
Breaches —are especially good—some of them indeed
are deliciously ridiculous—" These friends, like
astronomical distances are only to be spoken of," we
are told, "in the very largest figures." The Won-
dering Dinner, after all its oddities, arrives at
length at the aim and object of it all, the aim giving
to it, in fact, its distinctive title—namely, the
Wondering ! The wondering that is as to the
Lammels' smash ! " Gaming table," says one of
the new intimates, one of the Fathers of the Scrip-
, church. " Speculated without knowing that specu-
lation is a science," says another of the Fathers.
Boots says " Horses." Lady Tippins says to her
fan, " Two establishments." Mr. Podsnap, how-
ever, is best of all in the matter of the wondering.
Mr. Podsnap, saying nothing, is referred to for his
opinion, which he delivers as follows, much flushed and
extremely angry :
"Don't ask me. I desire to take no part in the discus-
sion of these people's affairs. I abhor the subject. , It is
an odious subject, an offensive subject, a subject that
makes me sick, and I—" And with his favourite right-
arm flourish, which sweeps away everything and settles it
for ever, Mr. Podsnap sweeps these inconveniently unex-
plainable wretches who have lived beyond their means,
and gone to total smash, off the face of the universe.
As the Third Book of " Our Mutual Friend "
reaches its close, here, at the end of this July
number of the story—there comes Mr. Dolls—
bringing with him in a cab (for a matter of fifteen
shillings) the promised direction (Lizey's) for Eugene
the Imperturbable. As Eugene tucks the slip of
paper containing this direction into his waistcoat-
pocket, and goes forth from the doorway of the
Veneerings into the night, wo have a sense coming
to us that the end is upon the eve of beginning.

The Wimbledon Meeting.

The gyeat yearly premium for good shooting was con-
tested and awarded yesterday. The second stage of
the Queen's prize is always a competition of unusual
interest, and on this occasion the curiosity as to the
result was probably greater than ever, owing to the
fact that so many well-known names were included
in the list of picked shots. The weather could
scarcely be called favourable, seeing that it varied
from bright sunshine at an early hour to dull shade
in the afternoon, with occasional showers and strong
puffs of wind. Private Green, of the 4th Cambridge,
and Lance-Corporal Fowkes, of the 6th Lancashire,
did not answer to their names when the squads were
formed, and so the rival marksmen were reduced in
number to 58, but between several of these the
struggle was very narrow, the scores fluctuating
greatly- at different ranges. Mr. Edward Ross,
concerning whose chance the greatest curiosity
was exhibited, shot very steadily at the 800 yards'
range, making 20 points, that is to say, five more
than the Volunteer who eventually became the
winner. But from that point onwards he was un-
successful. A remarkable evidence of the public
belief in the skill and good fortune of the Ross
family presented itself in the fact that, notwithstand-
ing the doctrine of chances gave fully 500 to 1 against
the likelihood that both the silver medal and her
Majesty's Cup would be carried off by the same
hand, persons were willing to wager evenly that
the double feat would be performed by Mr. E.
Ross. With many it is a fixed idea that rifle-
shooting, except to the initiated, is an exceedingly
dull occupation, and that it is useless for bystanders
to attempt to create or even to feign an interest in
the proceedings. But with a thoroughly-exciting
match like that of yesterday, where the prize is
measured by hundreds of pounds, and success leads
to world-wide reputation, it is astonishing how all
this apathy disappears. The spectators at the firing
points are seen eagerly discussing the chances with
each other, moving from place to place to ascertain
what scores are being made elsewhere, and in their
anxiety keeping utterly unnecessary registers, with
some half-formed purpose of detecting and expos-
ing possible errors in the returns prepared by the
staff of the School of Musketry. Not merely the
man who for the time being is ahead, but any other -
who has a fair chance of making his way to the
front, will find himself the object of numberless
little attentions. Everybody is delighted to carry
or to hold any portion of his accoutrements, and
enviable will be the distinction of that man who
may shade him with his umbrella when he lies down
to fire. For the moment the volunteer who stands
well for the Queen's Prize findsi himself as much a
favourite with his supporters as the favourite for
the Derby. But, reverse the picture, and with
defeat comes desertion. The very man who
would have been carried in by an exultant multi-
tude had he only made another bull's-eye, is
left to toil back with his own ball-pouch if he
fails to satisfy the expectations that have been
formed. At one time yesterday there was at least
a score of competitors whose chances of winning
were superior to those of private Sharman, of the
4th West York. At the first range he made only
15 points, 18, 20, and in one case 23 being recorded
against him. Lord Spencer's aggregate score of 39
at the first two ranges—made up of 16 at 800 yards
and 23 at 900 yards—looked so promising that at-
tention and, it may be added, good wishes were
widely attracted to his shooting. It certainly would
have been remarkable if, on the only occasion when
the Lords and Commons have been precluded from
shooting their usual match, a member of the Upper
House had entered the lists single-handed and car-
' ried away the great prize of the meeting from amid
2,000 selected representatives of volunteer corps all
over the kingdom. As it was, although Lord Spencer
was unable to distance all his rivals, his total score
was such as to place him among the highest squad of
the competitors. Sharman's shooting at the longer
ranges was something marvellous. 4-s bull's-eyes