, 1880-01-07
SUMMARY OF NEWS By THE MAIL.

FE
matters referring to st. Croix, among
which q long "~letter from the West
Indies'' deserves attention. 1T handles
the Central Factory Question, dealing par
ticulsrly with some of Mr.. Hagemann's
structures. and we MAJ have occasion to
return to it later. The English papers
are naturally much occupied with the
serious news from Afghanistsn. We give
in another column the Spectators view of
the situation revealed by the kilograms.
There is reason to fear that the position of
General Roberts had become much worse
since the last news dated 18th Dec. pub
lished in the Tines of the 18th; for, iudg-
ing IRON the kilograms received by way of
America which We reprinted last Saturday
from the st. Thomas papers, communica-
eion with Cabul had been interrupted on
the 18th, and the Indian Government is
consequently Ignorant of the state of
affairs since that date, the last news
received having shewn that the dangers
menacing the British forces were fast
increasing, and the only encouraging
feature being the brave spirit shewn by
the cutnumbered and b~eleaguared troops.
Tt is clear that the English Government
has entirely moderated the strength and
organization of the Afghans. So late as
the 12th ult. the Times writes "Afghanis-
tan is q conquered country. 1t has offer
ed no resistance worth speaking of, and it
is certain that it can offer none. We
bold it with an overwhelming force, and
can pass practically unimpeded from one
end OF it to another in whatever direction
we may please" How heartily the poor
fellows cooped up 10 the cold at Shirpur
must wish that this were true. The
liberals have shewn a much clearer preyi-
sion 10 this matter as we'll as in some
others, and if anything will shake the
confidence of the country in Lord Beacons.
fields Ministry it will be their evident
o OF foresight. AS, however. there is
now no alternative but fighting through
the difficulties both in Afghanistan and at
the Cape, it is not unlikely that the pre-
cent combative Government may be sus.
tanned till that WORK is done.
The weather throughout Europe had
been intensely cold. At MilIotitz in
Moravia nine gipsies and two horses were
frozen 10 death 10 a field. To Hungary
the water which had flooded the country
on the banks of the Arad river was one
sheet OF ice. Venice is frozen up, and is
also threatened with the loss of drinking
water. the canals supplying it being cover
ed with q inches of ice. Even ip Sicily
the ground is covered with snow. In
Upper Alsace the wolves and bears had
com cut Of their coverts. The former
are said TO be providing around the villages
near Mulhouse, and several bears had been
run over BY railway trains. The mails on
the railways connecting France end
Spain had been delayed by the lines being
blocked with snow, and several lines in
Italy were also blocked. Death from cold
are reported from several parts of Eng
land:
The debates 10 the French Chambers
which preceded the late change of Minis
try contain sOme interesting points. III.
Washington, 10 a defensive speech, stated
that, III spite of the bad season and
the depression of trade, the revenue had
exoeeaed the estimate by 140,000,0O0 fir.
He also said that q reference to the Official
journal. would shew that a large number
OF Es~actionaty officials had been dismissed,
butdthe Government could not consent to