The National tribune., 1882-04-29
WHAT IS GOING ON ABROAD.

The French cabinet has approved OF plan
drawn by NJ. de Lesseps for digging canal
from point on the Mediterranean near the
Gulf of Gabes to the Desert of Sahara. The
advantages to be derived are partly political,
partly commercial, and hygenic. The canal
| would separate Tunis and Algiers from Trip
oil, and, in fact, serve the purpose of frontier
defense. If it be true that the level of the Sa-
hara is considerably below the surface of the
Mediterranean, the flooding of the country in
the rear of the French possessions in Africa
would he possible, and would render the incur
sions of the barbarians of the desert impossible,
seeing that there would be no desert left. The
other advantages spoken Of-the commercial
and hygienic-are obvious. Trade with Gen.
tral Africa would be much facilitated the
climate of the coast would be rendered cooler,
and the marshes south of Tunis and Algeria,
which at present breed malignant fevers,
would cease to be dangerous when once they
were made part Of the Mediterranean. The
effect on the French tenure of their new acqui-
sltions could hardly fail to be happy.-Mac-
Lean, who escaped punishment for shooting at
Queen Victoria on the ground of insanity, has
been ordered to be detained in custody during
persons were seriously injured and fully 1000
houses destroyed in the recent anti Jewish
riots at Balta, in Polish -Russia-An imperial
order has been promulgated in Russia prohibit
ing military men from publicly delivering po-
htlcal speeches or expressing political opinions.
The Spanish government has set apart
further sum of one million pesetas to be ex-
pended in the construction of roads, in order to
give employment to the laborers in the drought
stricken prOvinces.-Cardinal McCabe is try
ing to secure the good offices of the Pope in re-
storing peace to lreland.-SiIty families have
been evicted on the estate of the MARQUIS of
Sl1go.-During March 1867 emigrants sailed
from Hamburg, most of them for the United
States. Two Parisans, journalists, have
fought duel with swords, one of them being
severely wounded. - Mr. Gladstone has in
troduced the budget in the British House of
Commons and made a speech explaining the
financial situation Parnell has returned
to k1lmainham jail.-The funeral of the late
Mr. Darwin took place at Westminster Abbey
on Wednesday. His body was laid in close
proximity to that of Sir Isaac NewtOn-A
conference of representatives of the various
committees that have been organized to aid
the Jews in Russia was held at Berlin and
plan OF action agreed upOn.-Nine persons
supposed to have contributed to the Ring Thea
tre disaster at Vienna by their negligence are
now On trial.-The Pope is reported to be
seriously indisposed.
at the Sunderland Library sale an edition
of Darandus printed in 1859 brought f790.-
The army in British India will be reduced by
the disbandment of four rnoiments of natiya
cavalry and nineteen of nfantry.-France
will rely on private capitalists to furnish the
money for converting the Sahara Desert into
sea-The Spanish Chamber of Deputies
has approved the Franco-Spanish commercial
treaty.-The Bulgarian liberals are again
importuning Prince Alexander TO re-establish
the constitution.-Thei international sanitary
commission, at Constantinople, is taking pre-
cautions against the spread of the plague which
has broken out in Persian Kardistan.