The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-19 00:00:00

FIRE AND LOSS OF LIFE.

This morning about three o'clock a fire of a very
distressing character, and unfortunately attended
with fatal consequences to an octogenarian, broke
out in the premises of Mr. Henry Dewry (private),
situate at 66, Stepney-green. It appears that at
the above-named time the neighbours were aroused
from their slumbers by the springing of policemen's
rattles and a cry of " Fire." Upon proceeding
to the spot it was found that the second floor was
in flames. Information was, therefore, despatched
to the fire-escape stations, and also to the metro-
politan fire-engine stations, and in the course of a
few minutes numerous land manual engines and
steam engines (one by Merry weather and Sons)
attended, and by great exertions on the part of all
present the fire was confined to the part of the
premises in which the catastrophe took place. Upon
the salvage corps entering the room they found Mr.
John Leathwaite, 81 years of age, burned to death.
The body was removed to the dead-house to await
the coroner's inquest, which it is expected will not
be held until Friday. The origin of the fire is
unknown.

RAIL TVA Y ACCIDENT NEAR CLAPHAM

J C7WN.—This Day.

we are informed that an accident, of which we
have not yet received the full details, took place
this morning to a train on the South Coast syr-
tern near Clapham Junction. It is stated that the
engine and some of the carriages rolled down the
embankment ; but, although some passengers were
hurt, it appears that the accident was not attended
with any serious consequences.

Foreign Mail Packet List.

MAILS DUE.

kustralls. and New Zealand, via Southampton... —Feb. 19.
Ditto, via Marseilles 2l
Ditto, via Panama ....... .......... ........ ...Feb. %S.
Brazil, Buenos Ayres, and Monte Video March 5.
Ditto, by French packet
Capa Verde, by Brazil packet March 5.
Cape of Good lope. Ascension. and St. Helena Feb.
China. Penang, and Singapore. via Southampton Feb. 19
Ditto, via Marseilles
Faikla,nd Islands March 5.
Gibraltar, via Southampton Feb 19
India, via Southampton Feb 19
Ditto, via Marseil es
Malta, Egypt, sac.
Ditto, Marseilles... Feb. 22.
Mauritius, Cape of Good lope, and Natal, via
Southampton ...Feb t,)
Ditto, Alarseides March ,5
Newloandla d
Portugal March 5
Ditto, by priN le ship to Oporto ..
Ditto Ato to Lisbon
United States, t anada, California, &c., by British
packet
Ditto, by L Lited States packet
Ditto ditto 'New York)
Ditto ditto rlit.w York)
Ditto dittt (Baltimore)
Ditto, by Canadian packet Feb 21.
West Coast of Africa, Madeira, and Teneriffa
West Indies and Pacilio (except Mexico and Baha-
mas)
Cuba and Mexico ....Feb. 28.
Bahamas, via New Yor .
March 2.
Bermuda, via Halifax

GAMING TABLES IN GERMANY.—The Prussian
Government, not having been able to obtain from the
lessees of the gaming-tables at Wiesbaden, Ems, and Horn-
berg their consent to the cancelling of their contracts,
has resolved to terminate those privileges by a legislative
measure. It has presented a bill to the Chamber of
Deputies at Berlin, fixing the year 1872 as the limit to the
existence of those establishments, and even authorising
the Government to suppress them at an earlier period by
a royal ordinance. No indemnity is to be allowed to the
persons bolding concessions.

FISII CULTURE IN FRANCE.—The establishment
of pisciculture created last year at Chateauroux (Indre)
by the Administration of the Ponts-et-Chauss6es, under
the direction of M. Naline, overseer of works belonging
to that department, :and with the object of restocking the
rivers Indre and Creuse, has already produced important
results. The salmon and trout fry bred last year have
boon placed in the two rivers, with the exception of a few
specimens of each, which have been kept in basins at Cha-
teauroux in order that their progress may be watched.
Some of the young salmon there have already attained a
length of nearly five inches. The establishment of Hu-
ninguo (Haut-Rhin) sent this year to Chateauroux 11,000
fecundated eggs of that fish and 2,000 ,of trout, all of
which are now hatched, or nearly so.

THE PUBLIC INCOME AND EXPENDIT URE. —The
account of the gross public income and expenditure ci the
United Kingdom for the year ending 31st December, 1867,
and of the balances in the Exchequer at the close of the
year, show that the total revenue was £68,663,515 4s. 11d.
The excess of total expenditure over income was
£1,265,540 125., making t0gether.£69,929,055 16s. 11d. The
total ordinary expenditure was £69,499,055 16s. Ild.
The expenses of fortifications, provided for by money
raised per the 28th and 29th of Victoria, cap. 61,
amounted to £430,000. The balances in the Exchequer
at the commencement of the year amounted to £6,361,937
3s. 3d. at the close of the year they w;.-Ire £4,363,030
Bs. 10d.

LIFEB OAT SERVICE.--ST. IVES, CORNWALL,
Wednesday Morning (By Telegraph).—Mr. E. Grenfell,
banker, reports that the St. Ives lifeboat, of the National
Lifeboat Institution, this morning saved the crew of five
persons of the Gipsoy, of Chepstow-, wrecked off this
place. A gig had previously gone off to the rescue, but
bad capsised anel drowned one of her crew. The lifeboat
picked up another of the men. She shipped some tre-
mendous seas, -which washed overboard the coxswain and
two of the crew, who were some minutes in the water, but
who were fortunately soon got into the liiui~vat again.

PREFERENCE S a ARES.
Midland, Leicester and Hitoben, 46 per cent., BS6
FOREIGN RAILWAY:
San Paulo, gua. r
per.cent.,lBl
tiliarbefaa r t
udxeSmanboNu'rragn,coiu, guk 7 per cent., 15

Prit
Chontales Gold and Silver Mining, ,lien., 31
uon redro. Nor Ii Del Rey, 2i
Frontino and Bolivia Gold. lira.,
Port Philip, 1a
St. John del Rey, Urn , 21 a

BANE b.

Agra, lim., A, 111
Consolidated, lira., 4 9-18
Imperial Ottoman, 9 9-16
Loudon and County, 52

Ditto, new, 27
London Joint Stock, 34
London and 11 esti-flinger, 03

Ditto, Scrip, 401
Oriental Bank Corporation, 42

MISCICLLANEOws.
Anglo American Telegraph, 192 I
•
Atlantic Telegraph, 49
Dit, o, 8 par cent., 106 ti
Berlin Water Works, 11m., 13}
City of Moscow Gas, lim., 81
Couimercial Union, Insurance, 51
Credit eoncier of England, lim . 3 3-. 6
Crystal Palace,
Ditto, 6 per cent. perpetl. deb., 109
Egyptian 9 per Cent., Viceroy Loan, gua. by Egypt. GOYt 88}
Eyyptian Corn, and Trading, Urn., 1*
Electric and International Telegraph,

Ditto, new, 13i
English and Australian Copper,
Fore-street Warehouse. lim., 1!:1
Gen. Credit and Discount, iim., 5k
Uudson's Bay, 141
Land Securities, lim , 11
Emidon deneralOmnibus Company, Um, 2
National Discount company. llt
New Quebrad*, 5-i6
North British and Mercantile Insurance, 17i
Peninsuta and Oriental Steam, 58
Di to, new, 1867, 5/ t',/
Royal M. Steam, 67/
Viceroy of Egypt (Mortgage) Loan) 74k 3k

The Price of Gold.

The quotation of gold at Paris is about at par, and
the short exchange on London is 25f. 12;c. per £1 sterling.
On camparing these rates with the English Mint price of
£3 its. 101 id. per ounce for standard <4-oil, it appears that
gold is nearly two-tenths dearer in Pans than In London.
The course of exchange at New York on London for bills
at 60 days' sight is about 1091 per cent. At this rate there
is no profit on the importation of gold from the United
States.

ELECTIQN OF CORONER FOR WEST MIDDLESEX.
—This forenoon the nomination of candidates took place
in front of the Town Hall, Brantford. Tho show of hands
was in favour of Dr. Diplack, and the polling was fixed to
take place en Friday.

COMIESPONDENCE PROM PAUL

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, TUESDAY, Feb. 1.O!

One official paper follows another in repudiating the
idea that any organic change in the Government is con
temjdated. The Pays smartly rebukes the journals whick
usually support the Government, with having spoken of
measures of which nobody has any idea, and the propaga•
tion of which could only disturb Imperial institutions.
This is specially intended for the France. M. Piel, in the
Constitutionnel, is equally indignant with his quos ego,
"At a moment, he says, when everybody admits the
talent and authority with which the thought of the
Emperor is interpreted to the Corps Ldgislatif, people
speak of changes in the Government, and of projected
modifications, I know not how vague, in our institutions.
Go to the source of these rumours and you will find they
have no object but to draw attention to the journals that
produce them." The definition which this passage gives
of a French Minister's function is worthy of %.;e—" to
interpret the thought of the Emperior." It is eu...ous that
similar promises of extended freedom have prevailed in
Algeria, and they have been contradicted with equal
tunphasis. Parisians, notwithstanding, persist in .half
.::editing the rumours.

The French Government rewards its supporters in the
press by a monopoly of judicial advertisments. This sub-
ject gave rise to a long debate. M. Berryer moved an
imendment, with a view to consult simply the public
interests in making the announcements required by law.
PraCtically, the rule he would enforce would oblige the
tribunals to designate for the receipt of the advertise-
ments the journal or journals of the arrondissement or
department interested in the subject of the announce-
ment. He was defeated by 125 to 101 votes. The result
was'&erta,in bef9Te,hand when the Ministers opposed the
motion, but a minority of 101 is, on such a subject, worth
noting.

The military law, although so recently promulgated, Is
tieing actively put into operation throughout France in
the formation of the moveable National Guard. This is
not the only indication of the determination of the
Emperor to be ready for any event. The arsenals, the
establishments for provisioning the army, and the
clothing depots are centres of extraordinary activity.
All this, of course, creates surprise, and if ex-
ternal politics were not so eminently favourable
for peace, it would create commercial embarrassment.
The papers which support the Government proclaim that it
is acting on the Roman maxim, "Si vis pacem para
helium ;" but the apology is transparent. The public
attribute the military urgency to the alarm produced by
the battle of Sadowa. No sooner had that occurred than
the Government set itself to work to fill up the gaps left
by the administration of Marshal Randon, and replace all
the material of war reduced by the expedition to Mexico;
and at this moment of peace it is preparing for war as
vigorOusly as if it were at hand.
In connection with French politics, a prize is offered for
the best essay on a curious subject. Two thousand francs
will be awarded to the writer "who shall trace the best
line of conduct for the French people to follow in order to
guarantee the enjoyment in the elections of complete
legislative sovereignty." The manuscripts must be sent
'ii, before the Ist April, to Deputy Marie.
The Monde expresses some anxiety about Admiral
Farragut's fleet visiting Florence, Naples, and Caprera,
and, indeed, about its presence in the Mediterranean at
all. The Avenir National remarks that the United States
have had a Mediterranean squadron for fifty years.
Admiral Farragut's fleet cruises in the Mediterranean by
the same right as the French fleet cruises in the Gulf of
Mexico, and the fact has no more significance.
M. Creppo, a French deputy of old, has just been ar-
rested at Lille after crossing the frontier from Belgium, on
a charge of attempting to introduce prohibited books.
They have produced, at the Odeon, Alexandre Dumas
" Kean." The piece was by no means well received. In
the ent'ractes the audience lustily cried out for Victor
ango's " Ruy Blas"—forbidden fruit being of course most
tempting. One of the scenes was no doubt supposed to be
specially illustrative of English manners. Kean is intro-
duced boxing a professional pugilist, whom he places hors
congratulateseoibat.
Kean A c(-mosnt constable,
le
ciitenneese.si, La police in Franceng the performance,
,
Floes not patronise boxing, and the audience greeted this
English peculiarity with the cry of " Tlve la police
,4nglaise."

The belief that the Emperor of the French intends to
iubstitute Ministerial responsibility for personal govern-
ment gains ground in Paris, notwithstanding the contra-
dictions of the official press. A correspondent of the Nord
relates that last Wednesday M. ltoaher told the Emperor
plainly that unless Ministerial responsibility were restored,
he should feel it his duty to resign his portfolio. This is
?robably a daring canard, but it is significant that the
course of events should suggest it.

The Liberte announces among its latest intelligence that
I new Convention, more strictly defined than that of the
15th September, between the Governments of France and
ita'y, is under consideration. This proposed Convention
would not restrict itself simply to guaranteeing the
temporal power of the Pope, but would also "guarantee
Italy against any risk of dismemberment by which it
,night be menaced." The Cabinet of Florence would thus
be enabled to reduce its military forces to the lowest figure,
And so avoid deepening the abyss of annual deficits, already
Jeep enough.

A very large emigration from Italy to the States in
La Plata has been going on for the last few years.
the total for 1867 amounted, it is believed, to
about 16,000. The bulk of the emigrants are
males, who go to the Republic of Buenos Ayres ; but a
good many are to be found in Uruguay and the Argentine
Republic. In Buenos Ayres there are 70,000 Italians, and
In Monte Video 12,000. The Genoese are the leading mer-
chants, shipowners, and traders of these places. The
emigrants generally seem to do well. It is calculated that
they remit to friends at home sums amounting to two-and-
a-half million francs. These facts explain the importance
which is attached to the treatment of Italians in the
argentine provinces, on account of which they are pre-
paring a naval expedition to the Rio de la Plata.
The relations of Prussia and Rome seem to be growing
more and more friendly. A foreign telegram states that
he Pope is disposed to send a Nuncio to Berlin.

The Paris papers publish a favourable telegram from
Madrid. In view of the distress prevailing, the munici-
pality have taken measures to afford employment to 4,000
persons, on works of public utility. In consequence of
these measures, and of the efforts of private liberality, the
condition of the populace is, according to the telegram,
" far from being so dangerous as certain journals have
described it." 'These efforts to content the people of
Madrid have probably some connection with the rumours
of Carlist movements in different parts of the country.
A correspondent of the Indepcnlance Berge, writing from
Constantinople, states that since the commencement of
this month the strife in Crete has been renewed with
fresh intensity. According to letters from the island,
the Turkish soldiers had been guilty of outrages upon
Vomen and children, which had roused the Christian
population to the last degree of exasperation, and they were
preparing for a supreme effort to rid themselves of their
oppressors. The Mussulman population was a prey to
continual alarms, the new administration had failed, and
the situation generally was further from a pacific solution
than ever. It must be remembered, however, that this
account is Cretan.

It will be a considerable satisfaction to the public to
learn that Lord Derby, although very much shaken by the
effects of the late severe attack of gout, is now better.
The noble earl is weak and exhausted ; still, he is making
satisfactory progress, and, according to the Herald, there
is even some prospect that he will be able to resume his
duties at no very distant date. The remarkable leader in
Tuesday's Times, in which the Premier was definitively
written off the roll of life, has attracted much attention.
It was curious to read of the veteran Minister only in the
past tense, melancholy to learn that Lord Derby " was "
not only a classical scholar, but read and wrote well
more than one modern language ; that he had
qualities which are popular,, amongst the mass of Eng-
lishmen; and that he was " fond of racehorses and
tle amusements in which horses are concerned.
This funeral sermon over the still living Prime Minister
following so speedily after the leading journal had uncere-
moniously killed Mr. Justice Shee, has drawn down much
ridicule upon the conductors of that paper. The Telegraph,
of course, loses not the opportunity of having its bark at
thess Tesimes. In its most pulling style of writing, it
ur Lord Derby that " his career is not ended, nor will
his character be hi the bands of history till it shall please
God to call him." It is hoped that the Telegraph is regu-
larly taken in at Knowsley, otherwise his lordship will
lose the assurance which reads very much like one from
the comforters of Job.

The Dublin Mail states that s(?,far as present intentions
go, with regard to the character tif the Irish Reform Bill,
it is not intended, so far, to alter the present franchise in
Irish counties. It is intended to adopt the household
rating franchise iih s
ies olfhorboroughs ; but as no occupier is liable
to berated not valued at a figure above
adi
£4, the practical minimum franchise figure will not be
below £5. It is not intended to group boroughs; but
whenever the constituency of a borough admits of being
increased by extending its boundary to a circle of houses
immediately conterminous with it, that course will be
adopted. Small boroughs not capable of such extension
will be disfranchise& and their representatives thrown
into the county in which they are situated. The condition
giving freehold, in addition to occupation votes, which
now belongs only to counties of cities or towns, will be ap•
Plied All 09 ini'94lll Viat Rhp,ll be prmovd,

LAW INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

COURT OF DIVORCE.

(Before the Right Hon. Sir J. P. Wildo and a
Common Jury.)
woODIVARD V. WOODIVARD AND SMITH.

This was a suit instituted to obtain a dissolution
of marriage on the ground of adultery, and damages
were also claimed.

Dr. Spinks, Q.C., and Mr. Searle appeared for
the petitioner, and Dr. Swabey for the respondent.
It appeared that the parties were married in 1860,
and resided in the Old Kent-road at first, but after-
wards went to Drury-lane, where they kept a coffee-
house. The conduct of the wife was dissipated;
and it was alleged she had formed an adulterous
connection with the correspondent Smith, who was
a lodger in the house.

Mary Anne Clayton said that she was the sister
of the respondent, and was present at her marriage
in November, 18G0. They lived in Dover-road at
first, and afterwards at 125, Drury-Jane. She had
never visited them, and only saw them when they
came to visit her parents. They used to live at
Silbourne-grove, Old Kent road.

Walker said that in 1866 he had apartments
at No. 105, Drury-lane, and Mr. and Mrs. Grant
lived in the next room. He always saw Mr. and
Mrs. Woodward together. He had occasionally
seen respondent intoxicated. He was generally at
home on Sunday.

Mr. Grant said that he was a currier, and that
he lodged at 105, Drury-lane, and had done so two
years. Ilis wife assisted in the business. When
he was first lodging there Mrs. Woodward was
sometimes there. The sister was assisting then,
but subsequently went away, and Mrs. Wood-
ward came back. Her habits were intempe-
rate. They occupied No. 4 room, that was a
back room. No. 6 is on the same floor. Joseph
Smith occupied that room. lie was a journeyman
currier ; he could make about 50s. a week. He
remembered Mrs. Woodward about 2 o'clock, one
Sunday in April, 1866, coming up to his room.
She was the worse for liquor. Mr. Woodward was
below. She stayed some time in their room. She
then went into No. 6 and he went with them,
and Smith and he and 'Airs. Woodward hal a drop
of gin on the bed. When he first went in, Mrs.
Woodward embraced Smith. He fetched the gin.
He saw nothing indecent, only rolling on the bed.
All the evening they were either in his room or
Smith's. They stayed in Smith's room about an
hour, or perhaps two hours. He frequently saw
her and Smith together in No. 4 ; that was his
room. Mrs. Woodward grumbled, because she
said Mr. Woodward neglected her.
Cross-examined—There was nothing the matter
with him this morning. They had lodged in Drury-
lane two years last January.
The wife of Grant corroborated this evidence,
and stated that she concealed the matter from the
petitioner until she had been grossly insulted by the
respondent, when, in the presence of the respon-
dent's brother, she revealed all. Her son also con-
firmed the statement.
The defence was that this evidence was not cre-
dible, and that it was given through spite.
The jury returned a verdict in favour of the peti-
tioner, and gave £lO damages.

7171 E METROPOLITAN RAILWA.Y COMPANY'S

Judgment was given by the Lord Chancellor in the suit
f Bloxam v. the Metropolitan RailwaY. Company. The
;ppeal was from a decision of Vice-Chancellor Wood, who
tad restrained the defendants from treating certain pay-
nents made in respect of expenditure of the company, as
nade out of capital and not out of income, and also
rom applying for the purposes of dividend sumsof
noney payable by the contractor of one of their extension
ines as interest on the capital for the construction of the
inc. The effect of the Vice-Chancellor's injunction was
hat a dividend of only 5:3 per cent. was declared at the
ate meeting of the company. The court was, crowded,
ind amongst the audience were a number of the members
if the Stock Exchange, the decision being looked. upon as
me of great importance, and materially affecting the Pre-
.ent value of the company's shares.
Sir Roundell Palmer, Q,C., Mr. Giffard, Q.C., and
Bri3towe appeared for the appellants. Mr. Amphlett,
and Mr. Turner for the respondent.
The Lord Chancellor, in giving judgment, premised
;hat he had not to pronounce an opinion on the merits of
the case, which would have to be decided at the hearing,
)ut he had to consider whether or not the questions raised
xere of such a doubtful character that the operations of
;he company in the way of p •ying dividend ought to be sus•
?ended by injunction while the whole matter was before
;he court. The points to be adjudicated upon were,
Adiether the directors', auditors', and office expenses were
eroperly charged in the accounts ; whether the interest
?aid on debentures ought to be charged to capital; and
;whether money received from Mr. Kelk, contractor, was
rightly employed in paying dividends. The second ques-
;ion, his lordship remarked, did not appear to him to be so
!ree from doubt as the Vice-Chancellor had supposed.
rhere was nothing in the Act of Parliament for-
eidding the course pursued by the directors ; hut
;he 120th and 121st clauses of the company's Act
mplied that dividends could only be paid out of
profits actually earned. It was true that there had
Seen no direct payment of dividend out of capital, but if
the directors had indirectly made the payment the prowl-
;ions of the Act were still applicable, and the question
must be settled at the hearing. Referring to the action
taken in connection with the-extension line, the Lord
Chancellor remarked that if it could have been shewn that
the money received from the contractor was really divided,
and would not at a future time have to be repaid, the
course pursued by the directors would not have been a
wrong one ; but the plaintiff undertook to say that the
amount must eventually be refunded. Upon the point
that the action taken by the directors was entirely a matter
of internal arrangcn-lent sanctioned by the shareholders,
and that therefore the court should not interfere, 11:3 lord-
ship remarked that it was clear, and, indeed, had been
admitted, that this observation could only extend to what
was not ultra. vires. A.s to the statement that the cer-
tificate of the creditors was a sufficient authority and
proof that payment.; were rightly made, he could
not construe the section of the Act as asserting this
His lordship said no one could approve of the manner
in which the plaintiff had introduced himself to the com-
pany. However, he had an actual interest, though ho
might be; as the late Lord Justice Knight Bruce said of a
plaintiff in another cause, " a person who made himself a
shareholder simply for the purpose of instituting the suit."
The fact that he had once acquiesced in the acts of the
directors would not prevent his complaining of the course
they pursued afterwards. Having referred to the injury
which it was stated on the one side would he sustained by
continuing, and on the other by dissolving the injunction,
and remarked that if the dividend were paid it would pro-
bably never be recoverable, th,e Lord Chancellor held that
the injunction must be continued until the hearing of the
cause. No order as to costs.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.—This Day.

(Before the Assistant Judge.)

Robert Walter Morris, 23, describing himself as
fencing master, was convicted of robbing a gentle-
man of his watch and chain, value £29, and was
sentenced to ten years penal servitude.

MARKETS—(Ihis Day.)

CORN.

The general tendency of the trade is firm, whilst without
much activity. At Liverpool yesterday advanced prices
were realised, and from most of he provincial markets the
reports quote full terms.
At Mark-lane this morning the attendance was mode-
rate, and advances of all kinds of grain, excepting maize,
were light, giving support to prices.
English wheat taken off slowly at the full terms of Mon-
day last, but samples tending in favour of sellers.
Foreign wheat on stands firmly held, but purchased
sparingly. For floating cargoes, stiffer rates asked, and
several buying orders from the continent in the market.
Flour remains as quoted on Monday.
Malt unaltered in value or demand.
Barley, beans, and peas maintain their previous value.
Oats in good steady request, and with nominal arrivals
the market is very firm.
The increased supply of maize causes buyers to act
cautiously, and to sell easier rates would have to be
taken. _ _

TALLOW.
Tbo market is dull, at 41s 9d to 42s on the spot, 42s
April to June ; 43s 6d last three mouths.
NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL.
MEAL—There is not a large supply of dead meat on
sale, and prices are uphold ; but owing to the weather the
demand is not so good, and the market is not cleared.
Monday's quotations may be reported.
POULTRY.—Pigeons havo advanced in price from ls to
14 3d each ; wild rabbits aro cheaper, at 10d to is 2d ; other
poultry remains as before.
WILD FOWL in fair supply. Ducks, 2s. 3d ; widgeons,
is 3d to is 6d ; teal, is 9d; snipes, is 6d • woodcocks,
4s. 6d. to 55.; golden plover, 2s. to 2s. 6d. each.
COTTON.
• • -

LIVERPOOL, Fob. 19.—Market opens in a very mit ed
state. Sales about 20,00 bales, at about i(1. gdyttizo.

HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, Feb. 18.
Her Majesty went out this morning, accompanied
by Princess Beatrice.

Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales
drove out attended by the Countess of Morton.

The Prince of Wales hunted with her Majesty's
Staghounds yesterday.

The Earl and Countess of Fife and Lady Agnes
Duff arrived at their residence in Cavendishisquare yes-
day from Paris.

The Countess de Grey has issued invitations for
evening parties on. Wednesdays during. this and the en-
suing month.

The Countess (Frances) Waldegrave will have
evening t arties on Saturdays during the present month.

IMPERIAL PARLIA ENT

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—Tms DAY.
CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS.

The SPEAKER took the chair at 12 o'clock.

Mr. FAWCETT gave notice that on the 4th of March
he should call the attention of the house to the sub-
ject of the Civil Service Examinations, and to move that
the people of India hal no fair chance of competing for
commissions as long as the examination was held only in
this country, and in order to alter that system he should
propose to the house to express an opinion that simulta-
neous examinations should be held in Calcutta, Bombay,
and Madras.

COAL MINES.

In reply to Mr. NEATEN

Mr. HARDY said he could not say at the present
moment whether the Government would during the pre-
sent session introduce a bill founded on the report of the
committee presented last year.