Year: 1868

Europe is at the present hour less
agitated than it has been since the be-
ginning of the late war in Germany. 1t
is true there is no lack of disturbances
of secondary nature, but the peace, or
to use more proper term, the truce of
Europe. may, according to present ap-
pearances, be preserved another year.
In our own country the trials of the Fe-
mans continue to attract the attention of
certain class of people, who take an
in that brotherhood. Thus far, though
the British Government has and may
still have to experience some annoyance
from the effect of the atrocities commit
ted under various pretexts by the cham
pions of Fenianism, the latter have de.
rived but little benefit from the foolish
actions of their followers. Still it will
become an imperative necessity for Par
Lament to consider the grievances of
the Irish population, and to pass such
laws as will deprive them of any fur
ther excuse for further revolts. Another
dark spot, and one which may lead us
perhaps into more complications than we
are ready to acknowledge, is the war
which We are at present carrying ON in
Abyssinia.


The latest news from there, which
has since reached you by telegraph, is
not of very encouraging character,
and our soldiers may find more bitter
enemy to contend with, in the shape of
the climate, soil and natural difficulties
to overcome than the weapons of their
antagonist. Nevertheless, it is clear
that the war has to be carried on, re,
gardless of expense; an additional
army may still have to be shipped from
our shores to the seat of war, for it has
become partly evident by this time that
Indian troops are of no avail for an
expedition outside of India, on account
of the numerous camp followers, indis-
pensable to natives of that Empire.


1t is foretold by persons whose judg-
ment is considered to be reliable, that
the present year will hardly see the end
of tt at struggle. Our Government, there
fore, will take care not to get entangled
into the differences of the Continental
powers.


The news received from France has
reasonable ground for the belief that the
Imperial throne is somewhat endangered
by interior disturbances and the dissat-
isfaction of the nation.


The army bill was by no means a
popular measure, and serious riot has
already broken ont in Toulouse, caused
by resistance of the young men drawn
for the conscription under this said new
law. Itis has become necessary for the
authorities to take measures for putting
down any fresh attempt at riot. The
press law is another sore spot on the lib
erty of the nation, and it may at no dis
tant date require all the energy of the
French Government to suppress revo-
lutionary movement, which the Or
leanistic party are more Jealous than
ever in agitating among. the people.
The reports from the north coast of Afri-
ca continue to be discourging
to the extreme. Famine is still raging
at fearful rate, and the Elho
De Dram has the following: No histor-
ical famine has presented to the sad
dened eyes of humanity SO horrible
spectacle as that which is at this mo-
ment to be observed among the Arabs.
Two days ago a native women, in the
neighborhood of Misserghin, killed her
daughter twelve years of age and
gave the flesh to the other children and
partook of it herself. The legal authori-
ties hearing of the circumstance at once
proceeded to the spot and on entering the
hut occupied by these cannibals, learnt
that the heart, the liver, and the inte-
rior portions of the corpse were eaten
because they could not keep. The
mother was occupied in sailing the flesh,
cut up in pieces, exactly as it is done
with pork.


In East Prussia the suffering of the
poor has not yet ceased, still the great
est efforts are made by the Government
and private parties to effect prompt re-
lief. Owing to its more isolated geo.
graphical communication the Russian
Province of Finland is in less fortu-
nate position, and it may take a long
time before the famine in that region
can be alleviated.


Every day more than fifty peasants
present themselves at my house COM
pletely exhausted by hunger, imploring
bread for themselves and their families,
who for some time have been living on
moss, hay and the bark of the fir. This
frightful famine is far from being local,
as the whole of this province is suffering
under it. The last resources are ex-
hausted, and the population has no other
alternative than to eat hay and straw or
die of starvation.