, 1875-08-21

with him and lent to the English King,
dining placably as representative of Flor
ence In the Guildhall! The Lord Mayor
next time, however, should complete his
set by asking the municipal head of Da-
m1scuS' the oldest city probably in the
world and somebody from Pekin. The
arrangements and dinner are said to have
cost fl8,OOO, the guests dined in their
robes, and everything was very grand ex-
cept the speeches, which were ffth.rate.
The Burgomaster of Brussels can talk
English effectively, but the Syndic of
Rome's Italian was too much for the re-
p%orters, while the majority of the speakers
had nothing to say. Municipal greatness
is apt to be inarticulate, but the Lord
Mayor with Rome and Quebec present at
dinner, had a subject which he missed.
The French Government has evidently
taken a rPactionary turn. Not content
with advocating a Recess to November q.
and announcing through NJ. Dufaure that
the Government holds itself absolutely
free with respect to the Dissolution,
NJ. Buffet has imposed stringent conditions
on the right of candidates for the Senate
to address the delegates who elect them;
has qualified all officials, except Projects
and Sous Projects, for the Senate; and
has refused point blank to abolish the
state OF siege, on thu ground that it ena-
bles him to manage the journalists. He
has also informed NJ, Christophle, for the
moment representative of the Left Gem
tire, that he was not his ally when he IN.
ChristOphle) was in Office, and is not his
ally now that he is out of it. So remarka-
bic is the change In the official tone, that
suggestions have been made. which we
discuss elsewhere, of German influence,
and great irritation lie manifest through
the country. 1t is probable that Deputies
will learn in the Recess that they must
not support this new course, but mean
while time is being lost, and the Assem-
bly, may be coerced into passing some d.
Conservative Electoral Law.
The revolt in the herzegovina has be.
come more serious during the week. Tie
Turkish tax-colIectors have been robbing
the peasants in the usual way, and the
peasants, wearied out, have attacked them
and shut them up in the towns. All that
is usual, but the peasants have beaten the
troops in a first engagement, and their
brethren in Montenegro, DaImatia, Bosnia,
and Servia are Aocking in to give them
armed aid, The Turkish Government
therefore is moving asmaiI army, the Aus
triaa Government is sending troops to the
frontiers, the RoumaniaEs see their way
to seem important, and the whole Eastern
question is a5og. The Austrians deny,
probably with truth, that they are striving
to annex Herzegovina, for although Dali
malta terribly wants "back-country," the
Austrian Government does not want a
war. The affair therefore will probably end
as usual, the Turkish troops turning
Herzegovina into desert, and the Pashas
announcing that the insurrection has been
successfully repressed. The Turks are
the worst governors in the world, but they
cannot be beaten by their subjects only.
The first meeting of Messrs. Collie's
creditors was held on Wednesday, and a
terrible condition Of affairs was laid be-
fore them. Messls. Turquand, Youngs,
and Co. informed them that the total LA
bilities of the firm amounted to FL 1864, 1856,
and the "estimated available assets" to
925O,542, or, say, 2s. Cd. in the pound.
There are further possible assets to the