The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1879-09-13 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

LEIGH.  THE news of the massacre of our Embassy a Cabul has created quite a startling sensation in the breasts of most Englishman, many of whom are beginning to wonder when this war and tumult will be over, when we shall have ceased  to spend money and shed blood. We were just congratulating ourselves on the termination of two expensive wars, and it now appears that so far as Afghanistan is concerned we shall have as much trouble as ever. It is fortunate for us that; our troops are holding positions which give them to a certain extent the command of the country, or the consequences of this up-rising of the Calmlis might be terrible. As it is, a considerable sum of money will have to be expended in taking Cabul, and probably not a few lives will be lost, and when we have taken it, we shall probably not be in a much better position than we now are. At the time when the Treaty of Gundamuck was being signed with the present AMEER, we expressed a noubt as to his ability to carry out his tshare of it, and the sequel has shown the correctness of our surmises. A sovereign who cannot keep sufficient order in his own capital to insure the safety of a foreign ambassador is scarcely a potentate worthy of our negociations. It remains to be seen whether YAKOOR KHAN will be able to establish some sort of a kingdom, under British protection, after the murderers of CAVAGNARI and his suite have received quick and effectual punishment. In the meanwhile it is satisfactory to learn that the English commanders are on the march to Cabul to exact retribution for this almost unparalleled outrage.  THE approach of autnmn, which in its turn heralds the coming winter, naturally gives a little more interest to the price, the output and the distribution of coal. We hear that the iron trade is improving, and that as a consequence there is sotoe little stir at the collieries. As an instance of this we may refer to a somewhat peculiar, we may almost say unique incident, which quite recently occurred in North Staffordshire. A large colliery proprietor had given notice to his employes that he would reduce their wages something like ten per cent. A week or so elapsed, and before the notice expired, he had the pleasure of informing his workpeople that in consequence of the improvement of trade, he should continue to pay them at the old rate. On the whole coal has main• tamed an average price, so far as the consumer has been concerned, all summer, though we have just the ghost of a suspicion that the dealers have not done amiss. At the same time we have heard of men ceasing to work from various causes, we have heard of large iron-works being closed, and we have heard of many things which would tend, so far as any one can judge on the face of things, to materially lessen 1 the output. But what do we find are the real facts ? In the year 1878 there were produced in the United Kingdom over one hundred and thirty two millions of tons of coals, or only about two millions less than the previous year. Of course the bulk of this is raised in the north, Northumberland and Durham contributing over thirty millions. Leicestershire and Warwickshire raise something like two millions between them. It is satisfactory to learn that more is got out of coal now than formerly. It is made to produce more and better gas ; a less quantity is used in engines drawing the same weight of heavy wagons on railways —in fact coal used in engine-power both on land and sea has been materially economised of late years. This is of itself a source of congratulation, and no doubt as time goes on, and science advances, we shall witness not only the opening of new sources of fuel supply, but still greater economy in the utilisation of those we have. In the meanwhile it may not perhaps be amiss to point out to our readers that for various causes, some of which we have indicated, while others will probably be developed in the coming months, the price of house-fire coal will probably go up. We do not wish to create a panic, but it is as well to provide against an emergency when we can; and those who do not wish to pay dearly for their winter fires will take time by the forelock and lay in what stock they can while it is comparatively cheap.