The New York herald., 1877-01-07

will be resumed at Mondays sitting OF the Con-
ference.
EXPECTED EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS.
It's expected that an exchange OF prisoners be-
tween serva and Turkey will take place shortly.
The report that General Niketin has been recalled
TO Russia by order Of the Gear Is not confirmed UP
to the present time.
RuMORED FIGHT BETWEEN TURKS AND RUSSIANS.
a despatch from semlln says considerable force
Circassians and bashibazouks advanced against
Ngotin on the I'd o; January, and were repused by
te garrison and some Cossacks from Kladowa. Ac-
cooling to information received at the Servian
headquarters. thirty-fve Cossacks and Ill Turks
wen killed. AS a fresh attack Is apprehcnded,
Kladpwa is being fortified.
KRUPP GUNS FOR cRoNsTADr.
It vas rumored here yesterday afternoon that
Russia has ordered fourteen Krupp l1-inch guns
for Croastadt-
G EBMAHY TO WATCH POLAND.
for the purpose OF watching the Polish frontier.
This is in accordance with statement made some
time ago that in the event OF war Germany would
aid Russia by taking care OF Poland
AUsrRL PREPARING TO SEIZE BELGRADE.
Perhaps Rore significant statement Is that
Austria Is collecting munitions OF war at semlin,
opposite Belgradt preparatory to selling the Ser
Wan capital in the event OF Russian occupation OF
Roumania.
BELGIAN MILITARY ARDoR
Little Belgium is In nutter OF excitement at her
sudden Importance in tic eyes of Europe, given to
her by the request to sens Belgian troops to occupy
Bulgaria, and her vanity leads her TO commence
the forhcation OF Antwerp.
SIR EDWARD THORNTON 10 GO TO TURKEY.
1t is announced that Sir Edward Thornton, the
present British Minister to the United States is
to replace Sir Henry G. Elliot at constantinope.
STORMY NEW YEARS WEATHER.
Notwithstanding the general desire of the Lon
doners to enjoy themselves to the utmost during
the Christmas and New Years holidays, the
weather has been so extremely bad as to destroy
the common lot OF rich and poor alike. Cockney
from constant practice, can get along
with more Of both than almost any other dweller in
cities With the ankledeep black, pasty mud Of the
Iondcu streets all visitors to the metropolis are
familiar but somehow during the holidays the
quantity ana quality Of the fetid amalgamation Of
all kinds OF nnstiness that overlays the thorough
fares was abnormal.
TERRIBLE DESTRUCTION
During the first week Of the year 1877 the wrath
OF the storm king was poured out over the British
islands with terrible results The coasts and neigh.
boring seas were swept by extraordinary and de-
vAstatng gales and wrecks strewed the shores
from Lands End to the Hebrides. From the In
cessant rains that accompanied the storms the
country was inundated, and disastrous foods are
reported from all the river valleys throughout the
islands
THE THAMES VALLEY.
Owing to the effect Of the storm winds ON the
tidal waves, causing them to dow with extraordi-
nary force and to great height the valley OF the
Thames has been fairly drowned. The freshets
meeting the advancing tides have distributed their
waters over all the low-ying metropolitan districts.
The lands particularly affected by the disastrous
lnundations extend along the banks Of the river
!, Thames, above and below London.
PUBLIC INDIGNATION.
The municipal authorities are censurcd by the
thousands OF sufferers because of the effect pro-
duced by the northern Thames embankment on the
river currents. 1t is claimed that such inundations
we're unknown before the embankment was built,
and that they are now chiefly due to errors in the
plan OF the works.
WARNED IN TINE.
While the work was in progress the authorities
were repeatedly warned as to the probable effect
OF the completion of the cmbankment, but they
paid no heed to the protests.
sIGuTsEERs AND THE FLOODS.
Thousands OF the curious nock to the scenes O
parts OF the country hurry this centre OF attrac-
ton and pod about all day taking elaborate notes,
from which they build glowing descriptions Of the
scenes and Incidents. The London press moralizes
wisely on the whole affair." but out of all this interest
and hustle nothing is done, and the muddy Thames
is master of the situation.
a SCOTCH IRISH TOURNAMENT.
The coming season is expected to he the most
brilliant in English society for many years. One OF
the chief events projected Is medieval tourna-
ment, to be holden at birmingham, under
the auspices Of the leading Scotch and
Irish families, similar to the famous Eglinton
shire, whereat Lady Jane Georgiana seymour, after
ward Duchess OF Somerset, was chosen queen of
Beauty, and where Prince, afterward Emperor,
Louis Napoleon played part in the jousts.