, 1880-12-12

ward rumors that the Queen is seeking coun
sci outside her constitutional advisers. Such
tumofs are unfmportant In practical politics.
out are undoubtedly true. Lord Beacons-
neia rather ostentatiously retains his per-
sohal relations with the sovereign, which is
unusual tn the case Of the leader of the Op.
position. Palace tradition limits all visits to
windsor to single night, but Lord Beac-
onsfield staid two, - Wednesday and
thursday. Lord Rowton, who Is still
Lord Beaconsfeld's private secretary, re-
Gently visited Balmoral, and Lord Beac-
ohsheld himself went to Osborne whel,
the Queen was last there. No
precedents exist for such frequent commu-
Eicatlon between the sovereign and an ex-
Minister: Society gossip explains the pres
ent visit on literary grounds, the Queen de-
sitting to talk over "Endymion With the
author, Lord Beaconsfield having sent her
the first copy, richly bound, witt, an auto
graph inscription. In the same quarter
much comment Is made on Mr. Gladstone's
recent
REFUSAL TO OBEY THE ROYAL COMMAND
10 visit Windsor, the truth being that Mr..
Gladstone Interpreted the Invitation as pure
" formal, and hence declined formally bk
cause of the pressure of his official duties,
There Is no reason to suppose that the per-
sonal relations Of Mr.. Gladstone and the
Queen are other than cordial.
The current reports that the marriage of
Mr. Bartlett and
THE BARONESS DURDErT-courrs
VIII not take place are wholly unfounded.
baroness Bnrdett-Coutts' intimate friends
say she Is fully resolved to complete the alli-
ance, regardless Of pecuniary loss The
preparations for moving from her present
house, which is the property of Coutts'
Bank, were already advanced. It is
privately limited that the wedding will oc-
cur next week. The Baronlss Burdett-
Coutts lately told a Peer that a judicial
decision on. the money matters may event.
ually come before him, being resolved,
though Indifferent to wealth, to maintain
what she believes to be her rights and
carry the proceedings to the House Of Lords
for final decision.
AMERICAN SECURITIES.
H. de Lesseps' Panama Canal scheme meets
with little or no support here, but all Amerl-
can securities are sought for more eagerly
than ever before, In consequence of the of
hcfal reports concerning the flourishlng condi-
ton of the Union that have been made public
during the week. The Spectator declares
that America excites the half awe-struck
admlratlon Of the world at her material pros
perity." Everybody who has any money at all
now holds some American securities.
4 NEW ARCTIC EXPEDITION.
To the Western Assoctated PFcss.
LONDON, Dec lit is understood that
the President of the Council of the Royal
Geographical Society is considering plan
for new Arctic expedition. 1t is under
stood the route by way Of Frame Josetland
will be recommended. but the mere feat of
reaching the North Pole will not be the main
or even one Of the principal objects Of the
expedition. 1t will be simply to explore the
unknown area north of the seventy-ninth and
eighrieth degrees of latitude. The Society,
while 1t is not lnlmical to the plan Of estab-
fishing observing stations around the pole,
can only consider them as subsidiary to the
work Of geographical exploration.
CAPT. BoGARDus CHALLENGED.
DR.. Carver challenges Capt Bogardus to
a pigeon-match for 2500 side and the cham
pionship Of the world. They shoot at 100
pigeons
Si1ty~six hundred bales of wool were sold
to-day, chiefly, Sydney, Port Phillip, and
Cape. There was a moderate attendance,
with fair SPIRIT but prices were less firm.
Tonight closes this series of sales Fifteen
thousand bales have been bought in or with
drawn. The prices of good WOODS averaged
over and Of faulty under those of previous
series.