Irvine Express. — 1884-08-29 (Irvine, Strathclyde, Scotland)

BICACIORT. Badminton, August 25."  MR Glanstorres progress northwards from Hawarden to Dalmeny was triumphal At Chester, Warrington, Preston, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Carstairs, and other stopping stations, he was met by great crowds of people, who cheered him with enthusiasm. At several places addresses were presented to him, which the right hon. gentleman acknowledged. Replying to the address at Carstairs, Mr Gladstone said that in the course of a day or two it would be his duty to endeavour to set before his kind and brave constituents in Mid-Lothian the views that he took of the cause of Reform. He shared their confidence of the success which must attend the Liberal party in passing the measure which at the present moment engrossed the attention of the country The reception at Edinburgh was of the most enthusiastic description. An address was presented by the Executive of the Mid-Lothian Liberal Association. On leaving the station, Mr Gladstone was loudlycheered by an immensecrowd which had assembled outside the station. During his stay in the county, Mr and Mrs Gladstone and family will be the guests of the Earl and Countess of Rosebery at Dalmeny Park.  A RECENT Liberal meeting held in Larkhall Church, Lanarkshire, has been brought under the notice of the Established Presbytery, on the ground of the impropriety of granting the State churches for the propagation of political views. The report leaves room to doubt whether the condemnation would have been quite as strong had the meeting been a Conservative one. Mr Creighton, minister of the church, explained that having granted the use of the church for similar meetings for Tories, they could not refuse it to Liberals, and the kirk-session had granted it unanimously. The Clerk, giving some remarks on the law of the subject, explained that the kirk-session bad power to refuse the use of the church, and argued that they ought to have done so, especially considering the recent deliverance of the General Assembly anent the secular use of churches. A resolution was passed, expressing strong disapproval of the conduct of the minister and kirk-session.  • ACCORDING to recent intelligence from China, ' the French loss in the bombardment of FooChow-Foo was 7 killed and 14 wounded, while the Chinese loss is estimated at 1000 killed and 3000 wounded. The same telegram mentions that a Chinese war vessel was blown up by a torpedo after she had fired a broadside at the French torpedo boat. The boiler of the latter was exploded by the hand grenades thrown from another 'Chinese vessel, and the boat was sunk by the Volta in order to prevent her from being captured. The French are expected to occupy the heights commanding the Pagado anchorage, but 75,000 Chinese troops are reported to be in the vicinity. According to the reports received at Shanghai from the south, a force of 80,000 Chinese have invaded Tonquin, and annihilated the French troops. It is added that several thousands of the Chinese were killed in the engagement.  Two fresh suicides are reported from Monte Carlo. Self-destruction was in both cases prompted by gambling losses. France is slow to awaken to the enormity of her responsibility in permitting the continuance of such an infernal curse as Monte Carlo.  GENERAL GORDON, by latest reports, gained a great victory before Khartoum on the 11th inst. Two of the rebel leaders were killed.  DR WALTER SMITH writes to the Scotsman a short trenchant poem which he entitles "Salisbury." • The best of the quintette of verses in which he apostrophises his lordship and the Conservative peers generally is the following : Ah, ye shall rue it Who follow his lead, Unless ye uudo it— This foolishest deed. Ye are not the stronger, Ye are but a caste, Who may not much longer Survive the dead Past Which ye belong to, Like an old song to Be sung but while fancy and sentiment last.  LORD WOLSRLY has been appointed to the command of the force which is to be despatched for the relief of General Gordon at Khartoum. His Lordship's appointment is said to be due to the declaration of General Stephenson, that the plan of the Soudan campaign by the Nile is impracticable. His Lordship, it is well enough known, has been mainly instrumental in inducing the Government to adopt the Nile route for the Gordon Relief Expedition, and as the difficulties have been raised in reference to the scheme, it has been thought desirable to intrust to him the supervision of the measures which may be necessary to carry it into eftect.  Ma WARTON'S constituents are sore on their champion blocker. They do not evidently appreciate their member as he deserves to be appreciated, else they never could have resolved, as they did in public meeting assembled on Tuesday evening, "That this public meeting of inhabitants feel that the obstructive course pursued in the House of Commons by the borough member, Mr Warton, is so extraordinary and erratic as to make it desirable to move the Government. to institute such an inquiry as may assure his constituency whether he is in a fit and proper frame of mind to represent them in Parliament."  ON Tuesday evening the Treasury returns from the let April till the 23rd August showed that the revenue had amounted to £30,760,059, ad the expenditure to £31,679,528, as compared with £32,423,967 and £34,442,068 for the corresponding period of last year.  , 4 • 4 ' , -1, •