, 1891-08-15

ewelIery to the amount of 9377 from Mr..
Murphy, who gave it in order to strengthen
his influence" in applying for contracts.
This admission has created a profound SEN
sation in the Dominion, as it had for a few
days been imagined that all the charges
had been invented for u political purpose.
The inquiry is still proceeding.
An agitation has arisen in China which
may be unimportant, but may also be most
serious. A wave of anti-forcign feeling is
passing over the people, and not only have
several MiSSion stations in the interior been
attacked, but the foreign quarter of Shang-
hal has been threatened, and is watched
by English, French, and German gunboatS.
The Emperor has issued stringent orders
to protect the foreigners but it is said the
military Maudarins do not obey them.
These outbreaks are periodical, and more
annoying than dangerous; but it is said
that this one is fomentpd by the dangerous
Secret Societies with which China is honey
COmbed, and which see in the new reign
an opportunity for demonstration against
the Tartar dynasty. They desire confusion,
and the quickest way, in their minds to pro-
duce 1t, is 70 embroii China, by a series of
maSsacreS, with the principal foreign Pow
ers. This story may DE the outcome of mere
panic, but the Ambassadors are acting with
a concert never visible in China unless they
perceive serious grounds for alarm.
Mr.. GOSchen on Wednesday introduced
his bill for Withdrawing light gold coins
from circulation, in a speech containing
som Interesting figures. 1t appears to be
most difficult to ascertain the amount of
gold coinage in the country, but the most
1lOr.ihI,. ,,i,,, - tI.A: - $500 -A
Seventy-fvr millions and of this about
thirty three millions is believed to he light.
These are very low figures, aud are subject
to modihca ION; but the largest estimate
does not exceed a hundred millions. II
opposition to some French calculations, the
authorities OF tie Mint are confident, after
careful calculation, that while the average
HE OF a sovereign is eighteen years before
1t Sinks below legal weight, the average life
OF a hat sovereign is only ten years, the
truth being that, although friction may not
wear the little coin faster than the big ore
Which is The French atfirmatiOn-a half
sovereign has vice as much friction 10
bear as It's wrighner Iiyal. Mr.. G0Schen
proposes to withdraw all the light coin at
national expense, and to devote to that
purpose 100000. At present, 1t Will be
remembered he loss on light coin is practi-
Odly oOIHe uN the LAST Bank which accept
Ell 1t. The big Bill which is to provide an
automatic system tor Withdrawing light
com, IS pos, poned to next year.
Mr.. Chamberlain made an interesting
little speech Oh horticulture on Wednesday
at the fity-second anniversary festival OF
the Gardeners Royal Observation-Disclosures,
at the Whitehall rooms 0fthe Hotel Metro
pole. He quoted Bacon'S essay in praise Of
gardening, and added to it tina gardening
gives pleaSuret 30 the poor and the rich alike,
and may be easily adapted, being so elastic
as 1t IS, either TO the frugal means of the
very poor, or to the ample resources Of the
millionaire. Cottage gardens yielded no
less dellght,-nig't he not have said, a
good deal more?-than the most splendid
conservatives OF l0Idly mansions. A new
variety OF the p tISy or auricula raised in the
cottage, reared by the tender care of Il viii
Iago amateur, was "a source of as much
Self-glorification" as the C~oStliest orchid inn
ported from the tropics ever was to the richest
hOrliculturi>t. We should have supposed
that 1T was the source of a good deal more
tender pride, though perhaps ola COOL deal
less "seltglOriicatlon.' The, pridei in aSuccess-
tul expenditure of pains aud skill on a rare
HA