The Cardigan Observer and General Advertiser for the Counties of Cardigan Carmarthen and Pembroke

■ LONDON CORRESPONDENCE. rfi HE dream of peace into which the country JL had dropped, after having its fears dispelled by the Ministerial speeches at the opening of Parliament, was rudely broken by the alarming intelligence which announced the resignations of the Foreign and Colonial Secretaries and the ordering cf the Mediterranean fleet to the Dardanelles. The springing of a mine under foot could hardly have bean more sudden or unexpected. Owing to the want of agreement in the statements contained in the morning papers the whole matter was involved in a good deal of uncertainty at tirat; but the critical character of the situation was soon made olear when questions were put and answered in Parliament. It was the Daily hews which announced that instructions had been sent to the fleet to proceed to the Dardanelles for the purpose o? landing in the vicinity of Boulair a force of marines and blue i-toketa in order that they might act as interi n defenders of the lines of Gallipoli; but it appeared from the Ministerial explanations subsequently given that the or<W— afterwards countermanded on the conditions of peace being made known—was for the ships to proceed direct to Constantinople, which could not have been done without the express permis- sion of the Porte. The Admiral of the fleet must have obeyed the first telegraphic order he received with promptitude, as it wa3 only when he had arrived at the entrance to the Dardanelles that counter instructions were received from the British Consul, and the ships accordingly with- drew to the familiar anchorage of Besika Bay. As we are led to believe that a strong feeling in favour of war pervades the navy, it is not difficult to imagine how deep the disgust would be when the counter-inatruoMons made it appa- rent that something had occurred to cause the Government to change its mind and purpose onoe more. It may be taken for granted that the ob- servations of the blue jaokets-who are as fond of fighting for its own dake as Irishmen-would not beat all complimentary to Lord Beaconsfield. To them, above all men, it would be aggravating in the extreme to find themselves doomed again to inaotion after the hope had been kindled in their breasts that they had got some of the right sort of work in hand at last. The friends of officers may expect to find the first letters they receive from the fleet all boiling over with angry complaints. Lord Carnarvon's resignation Is a very serious matter occurring as it does at a time when the state of affairs in South Africa is assuming a serious aspect. In everything undertaken by hi a in conneatiom with the Cape Colonies, he has shown how admirably fitted he was for conduct- ing the difficult business of the responsible post he has just left on account of his disapproval of the war policy of the Premier. In appointing Sir Bartle Frere to be Gover- nor of Cape Colony at a time when troubles were threatening on all sides, Lord Carnarvon displayed wise prescience, and he has also acted with the promptitude demanded by the occasion in sending out regiments to asaiat the contingents of volunteers in putting down the in- surgent Kaffirs. Lord Sandon, whose name has been mentioned in conneetion with the vacant post, will find the Colonial Secretaryship greatly more difficult and harassing than the offioe he has hitherto held. The successful exhibition of the telephone ai Osborne House, and the desire of the Queen, com- municlted through Sir Thomas Biddalph, to posaess a set of the instruments, will no doubt give an impetus to the widespread use of Professor Graham Bell's invention. Some time ago there was an American story of two telegraphic nlerks, belonging to the opposite sexes, conducting their courtship and arranging their marriage by means of the ordinary wire; and it seems that the King of Spain has set an example to all the world by devoting the telephone to a similar purpose, so far at least as wooing went. Before his marriage, according to the Madrid cor- respondent of the Times, he was in the habit of making use of this serviceable instrument for exchanging endearing words with the Prince is Mercedes, now his Royal consort. It i3 also stated thai the Persian Am- bassador in London sends telephonic messages to the Shah, and we may soon expeot to hear that the example thus set is being fo lowed by other Ambassadors at the Court of St. James's. The telephone possesses advantages over the telegraph as a ready means of asking and answering ques- tions. It will also prove of great service to newspapers. It wag announced in the Daily News one day last week that the Parliamentary summary and a portion of the Parliamentary report of the previous night's debate had been transmitted from Westminster to the office in Bou erie-jttreet by means of the telephone. There seems every possibility that this wonderful invention is susoeptible of such improvement that the voices of members, speaking in either House of Parliament, may yet be heard by the occu- pants of what we may call auricular halls at Bir- mingham or Liverpool, Edinburgh or Glasgow, Inverness or Aberdeen. Rurality Is not associated, in many minds, with tin idea or conception of London, > and yet it is reported that a woodcock was recently "flushed" in Rotten-row. Men- tion has also been made of occasions when wood- cocks have been taken at St. James's-park and the grounds surrounding the Horticultural- garden?, South Kensington. Londoners who are in the habit of looking skywards occasionally when walking along even the busiest thorough- fares may have it brought home to their minds sometimes, by what they see overhead, that the metropolis is not quite deserted by the denizens of wild nature. The aquatic birds not unfrequently take flight from the waters of one park to those of another —say from the Regent's-park to the Ser- pentine, or from the Serpentine to the tree and rush bordered lakelets in Battersea- park. To the keen eyes of birds in the air the numerous large parka lying within the limits of the metropolis must give an aspect of rurality to what is generally considered to be a wilderness of brick. On a olear day, at the migratory time, flocks of wild fowl may occasionally be seen con- tinuing their flight steadily from west to east or from north to south over the whole extent of London. However it would never do, even for an enthusiastic naturalist, to stand stock still on the street gazing upwards at the long flight of a detachment of migratory water-fowl. He would have two or three dozen of sky-gazers gathering around him in a few minutes, and if he did not come to his senses in time he might find a crowd all about seriously interfering with the traffic. The election that took place in Greenock last week shows how defective the Liberals still are in organisation as compared with the Conservatives. Of the four candidates three were Liberals, and, if tha constituency had not been deeply im. pregnated with Liberalism, the Conservative can- didate, who was not far behind the winner, would inevitably have gone in at the top of the poll. At Perth and Lelth the same thing might have occurred if some of the candidates had not sacrificed their ambition at the shrine of party. There is evidently an increase in the number of aSpIrants for Parliamentary honours, and we may look out for a terrible scramble all over the country when the next general election takes place. D. G.

KILLED BY A WINCH-HANDLE.—Mr. Grenfell, the West Cornwall coroner, held an inquiry as to the death of Themas Prisk, a miner, who was killed at West Seton mine on Saturday last by a blow from a winch-handle. From the evidence of three witnesses it appeared that the deceased and others had gone to the 140-fathom level to charge the bucket, which they commenced to haul up. There were four of them at the winA, two on either side, but they were not strong enough to raise the backet above a certain distance. Finding this was so, they commenced to lower it, when suddenly the chain gave a surge and the handles of the winch were jerked out of the men's hands. The deceased was struck by one of the handles and knocked down the shaft, a distance of ten fathoms. When picked up he was bleeding from cuts in the face and neck, and died immediately. The jury returned a verdict of Acci- dental death," but were uncertain whether death was caused by the blow from the winch or the fall down the shaft. HOBNIMAN'S TEA, 40 years has been preferred. HOENIMAN'S JTEA, supplied direct to the Putlic HOBNIMJLN'S Tu sold only in Packets. <

THE TERRIBLE RAILWAY DISASTER IN AMERICA. New York papers received at Plymouth by the Hamburg-American Company's steamship Herder contain details of the recent railway accident in America, by which fourteen lives were lost and over fifty persons seriously injured. The Herald says: From a careful consideration of the facts of the case, it is clear that a heavy responsibility attaches to the company or the agents representing it on the occasion, and that the disaster was not more terrible than it proves to be is a matter of pure good fortune. A little flame once started amid the wreck of cars would have added largely to the list of victims; as it is, it is somewhat remarkable that, with a single exception, every death has resulted from drowning rather than from the injuries that might be expected to follow the crashing of a train through a bridge with a clear fall of twenty feet to the icy current below. The tram, a special one, with two engines and eleven car. left Hartford at nine o'clock at night on the 15th Jan., bearing to their ilomes in the Western section of Connecticut a party of nearly 600 persons, who had cerne to the capital to attend the meetings held by the great Evangelists, Moody and Sankey. A heavy train with two engines is comparatively a rare thing on the Connecticut Western Railroad, and it is questionable whether the bridges and culverts on the line are cal- culated to withstand the resulting and unusual strain. However, no difficulty was experienced until the train reached the bridge, 200ft. in length, which spans the Farmington River, one mile beyond the Tariffville Station. This bridge, built on the Howe truss principle, has two equal spans, with a pier in the middle of the river and stone abutments. At the west-end it terminates in a trestle work half a mile long, extending over the river flats to the high ground beyond. It was erected seven years ago by the firm of A. D. Briggs and Co., of Springfield, Massachusets, The main supports are of Southern pine, but of a worthless character, as shown by an examination of the ruins. Many beams, &c., were affected by rot, and some witnesses state that the work can be picked away with the finger in some places. The effect of the cold on the iron work is alleged by the railway company's superin tendent as the true cause of the weakening, but this does not appear plausible. The first span was safely reached, but when the weight of both engines and two or three cars following came upon the western } span, it yielded with a terrible crash, and the vehicles fell 20ft., the engines upon the bank and four cars into the river. The night, happily, was not dark, and in the pale gleam of the moon those who were uninjured proceeded to rescue their leas fortunate brethren from the ruins. The position of two of the cars, which inclined sharply, made this difficult; but more trying and dangerous still was the recovery of the passengers in the baggage and first passenger car, which had broken through the ice, and were filled above the seats with water. Senerous help was given by the people of Tariffville, many of whom hastened to the scene upon hearing the crash, while others were summoned by the sharp peals of the church bells. Two long and weary hours were occupied in this work before the last living person had been removed from the wreck. Many were able to limp painfully away, but for others less fortunate the workers improvised rude sledges constructed of saplings and cushioned with car seats, upon which the sufferers were drawn across the ice to the shore. All were taken to the cars re- maining upon the track, and those who had been immersed in the water reached them with chattering teeth and garments partly frozen to their benumbed bodies. The appearance of the bodies indicated death from drowning in every instance, and upon none were there any indications of wounds or cen- tusions.'

THE WAR. INTERVIBW BETWEEN THE TURKISH DELE- GATES AND THE GRAND DUKE. Writing on Jan. 21st, a correspondent saya Server Pasha and Namyk Pasha bad a long interview to-day with the Grand Duke and M. Nelidoff, during which the question of peace was seriously discussed. When asked what, conditions they expected, Namyk replied that they came to treat as conquered people, and would throw themselves on the generosity of the con. queror. He then reminded the Grand Duke in a very adroit and agreeable way of Alexander the Great j and the Indian prince who, after being conquered, threw himself on Alexander's generosity, when the latter restored to him his kingdom, and concluded that the Grand Duke would not forget so noble an example. The Grand Duke expressed his deepest sympathy for a fallen foe, but could not, he feared, premise to be as generous as Alexander. THE BRITISH FLEET. The British fleet, under Admiral Hornbv, entered the Dardanelles on the 26th January and steamed up to Fort Sultanieh, about sixteen miles from the en- trance, passing two batteries aod exchanging salutes with the Turks. It then steamed back and is now at Besika. The explanation of the entry of the British fleet into the Dardanelles is that on the Porte persisting in its previous refusal to permit the fleet to enter except as an avowed ally, the English Gcvern- ment informed the Porte that the fleet would be obliged to enter without peliuission, in consequence of the Russian advance towards Gallipoli and Con- stantinople. The Porte then entered a formal pro- test, forwarding the same to the plenipotentiaries at the Russian head-quarters, but did not actually oppose the entry. The fleet steamed to Fort Sultanieh, and there found orders to turn back, in consequence of the news that the Porte had instructed the plenipotentia- ries to sign terms of peace. SUFFERINGS OF TURKISH A Bucharest correspondent, under date the 20th I' Jan. says: The rapid thaw has now lasted three days, and the state of the streets in Bucharest is so bad that traffic is almost suspended. It rained all last night, and to-day the Danube must be totally impassable. The suffering amongst the Turkish prisoners is greatly increasing, and it is stated that the day before yester- day over 100 died at Simnitza alone. Typhus fever is spreading. Many of the Russian doctors and sisters of charity have fallen victims to this terrible disease and it is with the greatest pleasure that we all welcome the signs of peace, which are looming in the distance, so that the combined efforts of both Russians and Roumanians may now be employed to lessen the terrible suffering which the war has brought about. THE WRECK OF THE TURKISH ARMIES. A correspondent, dating from Kesanlik, Jan. 20th, says: Of the Turkish armies in Europe there only now remains that of the Quadrilateral, and whatever forces there may be in Adrianople, which cannot be many. New levies badly armed will be panic stricken, and will hardly defend Adrianople at all. There is now between the Russians and Constantinople only the wreck of Suleiman's army and whatever forces there may be in Adrianople, for I do not believe there are any troops at all in Constanti- nople. This result, the destruction of three Turkish armies, the occupation of the whole country from Sofia to Adrianople, and from the Balkans to Rhodope, has been accomplished in a campaign of fifteen days. It has been as rapid as a transformation scene in a pantomime, and its results are disastrous beyond anything that can be imagined to the Ottoman Em- pire. The heroes of the campaign are Generals Gourko, Radetzky, and Skobeleff, who have car- ried out operations that for difficulty of execution, rapidity of movement, and quickness of combination, have hardly ever been equalled. The Russians are on the flood-tide of success. Long-delayed victory has come at last, and I doubt whether there is any Turkish force between them and Constantinople sufficient to arrest them should they choose to celebrate a religious service in St. Sofia. DISTRIBUTION OF RUSSIAN FORCES. | The special correspondent of the Daily Newt at Kesanlik says: The Russian forces now over the Balkans are distributed as follows: General Gourko- Three Divisons of the Guard, the Thirty-first and Fifth Divisions 01 the Ninth Corps, at and about Phi- lippopolis, except the second brigade of the First Division of the Guard, which is at Sofia. These, with two brigades of sharpshooters, make eighty battalions. General Raoetzky's corps on the march somewhere between Philippopolis and Adrianople, to which the Fifteenth Division had been added. Thirty-six battalions of the Third Division, under Ksrtzoff, on the march towards Adrianople. Twelve battalions of the Twenty-fourth Bivision at Slivno. Twelve battalions of Skobeleff s two divisions, with two brigades of sharp shooters, thirty-two battalions. Two divisions of grena- diers now crossing at Sbipka, twenty-four battalions— in all 220 battalions. I have no means of ascertain- ing the number of men in the battalions, but think 600 will not be an over estimate, which will give 132,000 bayonets this side of the Balkans by the time this appears in print. In addition to this there is the cavalry and artillery, about the numbers of which I have nd informa- tion. The cavalry has been considerably re duced by the death of the horses, and a great deal of the artillery is not yet over the Balkans. General Skobeleff is scantily supplied with artillery. Of Gourko's 400 guns he has only 100 with him, pert having been left at Orkhanie, and part left behin'i in his rapid pursuit. The artillery was found to be a very great check on rapid movement, and more trouble than it was worth. WARLIKE ATTITUDE OF GREECE. A despatch from Athens, under date 26th Jan. says: The news of the conclusion of peace caused great consternation here, and the Chamber of Depu- ties has suspended its sitting. A vast crowd of at least 10,000 persons went in disorderly procession to the residences of MM. Deligeorgis, Tricoupis, Zaimis, Ooumoundouros, and Delyanni, where they broke the windows and committed other damage. Pistol shots were fired at the hotel of the Minister President, M. Ooumoundouros. The rioters then proceeded to the King's palace, where his Majesty harangued the people, admitting that the present position of affairs was a painfnl one for the nation. The King added that no one loved his country more than he, but it was indispensable to remain calm. The mob then continued its way to the houses of the other Ministers, but were eventually dispersed by the troops. It is expected that a similar demonstration will take place to-morrow, and the troops have been consigned to their barracks, with strict orders to repress with energy any manifestation that may occur. C POSITION OF CONSTANTINOPLE. The Daily Newt Constantinople correspondent says The condition of the country for 100 miles round Con- stantinople is very serious. Outrages are being com- mitted everywhere by the Circassians, who are robbing and murdering everybody. So far as I learn, the Turks are not committing these outrages, but are being plundered and driven from their homes together with their Christian neighbours. At Bourgas great numbers of fugitives have come from the villages, mostly Greek and Bulgarian, but with Turks among them, driven in by the Circassians. The English despatch boat Torch brought upwards of 300 here. Captain Hammond chartered an English vessel, the Alexandria, on behalf of the English Government, but on his own responsibility, to convey the re- fugees to Constantinople, preferring to incur the risk of payment himself rather than leave the poor wretches to starve on the beach. From Rodosto, on the Sea of Marmora, come similar reports of outrages by the Circassians. The country all around is given up to plunder. The Greeks and Bulgarians are suffering most, but the Turks also in consequence of the Circassians and the advance of the Russians. Constantinople is full of refugees. The number is estimated at from 50,000 to 70,000. The suffering among the women and children is terrible. The greater portion are Moslems. Of these the men are armed, and iu the absence of troops the condition of the capital is very critical. I have reason to believe that the Government in its own interest will do the utmost to prevent an outbreak but hunger and fanaticism are dangerous stimulants. The Government is distributing the refugees about the city under the supervision of the Civic Guard but the work is very difficult. Should the armistice not be agreed to, and a siege of Constantinople be determined on, measures ought to be taken by the united Powers for the preservation of the very large Christian and foreign population. Probably the Porte itself would not object to the presence of a certain number of ships of each Power in the Bosphorus to prevent attacks by the law- less population, out of the control of the Government The debates in Parliament on the reply to the Queen's Speech have succeeded in convincing the Turks of England's neutrality. ADRIANOPLE. ElisSe R6clus, the distinguished French geographer thus describes Adrianople. Having referred to the monotony of the arid triangular plain which lies i between the Maritza and the Sea of Marmora, he con- tinues: The city of Adrianople, the Edirneh of the! Turks, which is situated almost at the northern ex- tremity of this unlovely plain, produces the effect of enchantment by the verdure of its gardens, con- trasting vividly with the vast treeless expanse' that lies beyond. No city is more charming or more diversified by gardens and groves. With the exception of the centre of the town, in the quarters around the citadel, Adrianople resembles an agglomeration of several distinct villages. The several — "?•— "*T ~T groups of houses are" separated from one another by" orchards, gardens, and alleys of cypresses and poplars,' above which, here and there, tower the minarets of 150 mosques. The waters of the aqueducts, the numerous Stream^, ai*$thie three large risers which here meet—the Maritza, tjae Tundja, and the Arda— all help to beautify the, suburbs and gardens of this scattered city. But Adrianople is not only a charming city it is also the most important centre of population in .t¡h,e.. interior- of European -Turkey. The confluence W^ -thre<K rivers, tlW '-convergence of the roads which descend the valley of the Maritza from the direction oT Sofia with those which come from beyond the Balkans, and those .Which <*oqoe: up from the iEgeananl f'the St a* of^Marmora—this com- bination of circumstances made it a site which must infallibly be occupied by a city of importance. As a fact here stood Orestias, the capital of the barbarous kings of ancient Thraee, and here the Romans built their Hadrianopolis. 'The Turks fixed "the seat of their Empire here before Constantinople fell into their hands; and there 'is yet standing, although unfortu^ nately in a very 'bad state of preservation, the beautiful palace in the Persian style which the Saltans Rf kui!t for their residence in the fourteenth century. But the Osmanli are in a minority in their ancient capital as well as in Stamboul. The Greeks are equal totheminpoint of numbers, and surpass them in activity. The Bulgarians, who are here on the frpatier Of their ethnological domain, are represented by a conaiderdMe community. There is also, aa in all the cities of the East, a harlequin crowd of men of all races, from the itinerant gipsy minstrel to the pedlar from Persia. The Jews, also; are proportionally more numerous afc Adrianople than in other Tdrkish cities. But by one of the most remarkable psycho- logical contrasts, the Jews of Adrianople differ (so at least it is said) from their co-religionists all over the world by their want of finesse and their commercial simplicity. According to a local proverb, "there must be ten Jews to make head against one Greek;" and it is believed th t, o e Irol n mi also a ore than a Ftch I than a match for the poor' Israelites in business matters. This certainly is a curious and exceptional phenomenon in the history of the Jewish race. ODESSA. Writing on the 12th inst. a correspondent at Odessa says: "Amerchant vessel which lately left Constantinople with a cargo, for Odessa, has safely arrived at Sebastopol. That makes the second in- stance of the Turkish blockade in the Black Sea having been successfully run within the last few days. Other vessels are expected to attempt a similar evasion. One of- them, a Greek merchantman, was seen the day before yesterday near Sebastopol by a Turkish ironclad, and ordered to turn back." Writing on the 15th inst., the same corre- spondent adds: The two Turkish monitors which bombarded Eupatoria last Friday, afterwards passed Sebastopol, the Imperial residences in the Crimea, and the watering-place Yalta, without making any demon- stration. At Theodosia, however, they threw more than 100 shells into the town. and with. considerable effect. They then crossed over to Anapa-and bom- barded that place. This spasmodic action on the part of the Turkish fleet is bolieved here to be in conse- quence of accusations made at Constantinople to the effect that the Turkish war-ships have done infinitely less then the improvised cruisers of the Russians." ARMISTICE PROSPECTS. The Journal de St. Petersbourg publishes an article which says "Immediately on receipt efthe first tele- gram intimating the Porte's desire to enter into nego. tiations we warned the public against exaggerated optimist expectations of peace, because the sincerity of the Porte's desire for peace did not ap pear to us to be sufficiently proved. Th< despatches published in the British Blue-boot confirms our view. The Porte's initiative was prompted by Lord Derby, not in order to offer the belligerents ground on which they might np. proach each other, bet to enable England from thE outset to interfere "in the negotiations. It is right thai this unprecedented diplomatic manoeuvre should bf brought to the notice of all friends of peace.' The article then points out that an armistict can only be concluded after an agreement has been arrived at upon the peace preliminaries, and continues 11 Now, the British Cabinet declares that it would only recognise a peace in the conclusions oi which Europe participated. It follows from this that even in face of the Porte's signature the peace preliminaries would be worthless, the Porte's assent not being binding because Europe might annul it. This situation is still further aggravated by the declaration of the British Government that it would await Russia's conditions before demand- ing a credit. Thus, if the present attempt fails, the attitude of England would again render an armistice and peace impossible, and plunge the East into fatal complications. We are, however, far from entertaining the idea that the British Cabinet desire; this, although to every sincere and impartial obeervel the cogency of our argument) will be manifest, Europe must judge, and it is necessary that in the public conscience and before the tribunal of history should bear their proper share of responsi- SIR ARNOLD KEMBALL. A Constantinople correspondent of the Times says: u Kemball, moving about the outer edge ol that huge circle of Oriental gossip, which has its centre in Constantinople, has naturally been the here 01 almoet as many legends as if he had lived in the daye of the Round Table. He has been killed, wounded, taken prisoner has won, and I am bound in candour to add, has lost, various battles of more or less im- portance; has been badly treated by the Turks, has been singled out by the Turks for marked distinction, and has even performed the proverbially difficult feat of being in two-not to say tbree-places at once. About the only point on which all the accounts agree is that he is a first-rate officer and amodel English gentle- Qian with a cool courage and iron physique which exactly fit him for the discharge of the difficult duties and hard work which his situation imposes upon him. The last legend afloat about him, even in well-informed quarters, is that he is the victim of interferente, so arbitrary and unreasoning,on thepartof his superiors, that hecannot choose his own sphere of action, but is ordered about to places at which he cannot get either food, beds, or even that still more precious commodity, news. I am assured, on the best authority, that this legend is absolutely without foundation. Sir Arnold Kemball received his instructions when be first entered on his duties in Asia, understood them thoroughly, and since then has been, and is, left to act and move about entirely at his own discretion. He has always acted so wisely and so well that no necessity has arisen for giving him any further telegraphic or written direc- tions for his guidance. It has been considered that Sir Arnold Kemball being on the spot u himself the best judge of where he ought to be at a given moment, and hia conduct has always met with approval from his immediate chief, the Ambassador at Constanti- nople, as well as from the authorities at home. TURKISH WOUNDED AT BUCHAREST. A correspondent writes: Letters just received from an English gentleman at Bucharest, Mr. Sheldon, manager of the Bucharest street tramways, states that a large body of wounded Turkish prisoners of war have just been brought to that city. They were in such a miserable condition that most of them were un- able even to lift a spoonful of soup to their lips. Mrs. Sheldon and other ladies had to feed them like chil- dren. The Russian authorities have very humanely ordered a large number of their own invalided troops in the hospital at Bucharest to be removed into less comfortable quarters in order that these emaciated Turks, their enemies, may be better cared for. From accounts received from Tatar Bazardjik, it is feared that the new schools and playgrounds, established by means of the contributions of English children, chiefly young members of the Society of Friends, have been destroyed by the Turkish troops in their retreat from the Balkans. THE ICE-BOUND DANUBE. The special correspondent of the Times at Sistova has the following under date Jan. 20th: I crossed the Danube yesterday afternoon on the ice, and as this link in the Russian line of communications is now of Tital importance, I shall give a somewhat detailed description of the present state Of the river and the means of crossing it. The Simnitza shore of the Danube is a steep bluff, fifty feet in heIght. Passing down by an excavated roadway, the traveller comes to an arm of the river running close under the bluff, about fifty yards in width and crossed by a trestle- bridge. Then comes an island half a mile in breadth, which brings us to a second arm of the river, mea- suring about 600 feet wide. The pontoon bridge which crossed this branch of the Danube was never wholly carried away; the flooring remains in its former position, and, being frozen firmly in the ice, affords a very solid means of crossing to the second island, which is not more than 100 yards in breadth. On the southern side of this island we come to the main northern channel of the Danube, which is 60U yards wide. Two-thirds of the raft-bridge over this channel, measuring from the northern end, still re- main intact; the other third has broken away from its fastenings at the southern end and lies Im- bedded in the ice, running out into the river at an angle of thirty degrees with the °f ^he bridge. Leaving the bridge at the point where it bends off into the river, as above described, we take to the ice ana cross the intervening 200 yards of the northern channel to another island, measuring about 300 yards in width. After traversing this island we reach the southern channel of the Danube, which washes the shore of Bulgaria. The pontoon- bridge across this arm of the river has been entirely removed, and the 500 yaids intervening THE RUSSIAN ALLIES. Great is the uneasiness in Roumania, Servia, Mon- tenegro, and Greece at the course of the negotiations and the prospects of an armistice which threatens to overtake them a) I much too soon. Not'one of these allies can boast of a single line of written agreement with Russia containing any stipulations or promise about the ultimate reward of their co-operation, and there is a race among them to secure the most before a suspension of arms puts a stop to their aperatio's. There seems, indeed, to have been among them at first a sort of inclination to rebel and to regard the conclusion of an armistice before they had taken all they aimed at as not binding on them. They soon, however, came to understand that this would not be tolerated, so each of them is trying to use the remaining time as best they can. As for the Greeks, they are quite in arrear of all the others, and are now anxious to give some sign of life before an armistice intervenes to nullify their ambition. The first step, BS might have been expected, was the crossing of the volunteer bands into Thessaly though how soon these marauders will be followed by the regular forces does not seem to be decided as yet, but according to accounts from Athens the contingency cannot be far off. Thus from all sides efforts are being made to secure the spoil before it is too late. AT SIMNITZA. The special correspondent of the Times at Simnitza has the following, dated January 19tb I came here by the new line of railway from Fratesti, though the Government officials have not as yet taken over the line. Officers, soldiers, and baggage filled the train in fact, we were detained at Fratesti for four hours waiting for men. The train travelled at the rate of five miles an hour, and after long delays at each station we arrived here at ten o'clock, having been ten hours on the way. There does Dufc ,?Ppe?r tany re?son why the Government should not at once take over the line. The severe snowstorm of yesterday cleared away by midnight. Two wounded officers came across the river in the evening with great difficulty. They stated that the supplies were nearly exhausted at Tirnova and that every department on the other side was s rained to the utmost, provision having to be made for the sick and wounded and for so many Turkish prisoners besides. All the captives and the wounded from Shipka. are to pass by this _v ero. are thousands of carts waiting here in ri;0nr./|I'eS but lying in all directions, r !nd There is no idea of sanitar^ nf'-r8' k ar>d dying soldiers, hucksters, swarms of Roumanian and Bulgarian cattle-drivers, w P'&8> dogs, live and dead cattle ■.? *°at must be the result in this small co n° pr°v^°n for carrying off the super- l °*'for the wants of this enormous popu- i 4f 18 fa ere so it must be in every other mint' °\gh no': *° extent. The Govern- atwla a, keing able to transport the contractors' ftinnUfJ.'088 t f'Ver according to the coaditions tha enaf ne j 'ged to reimburse the contractors iu- deten«on of their carts and people of roubles dailym°UQ'8 t0 some hundreds of thousands C OF DULOIGNO BY THE MONTE- On JJ NEGRINS. thn J e 19th, the Montenegrins attacked tViAm of/ i heights above Dulcigno, carrying • a £ and bloody fight, notwithstand ZLT n fim? from the Turkish ironclad in the tnt °e *k°le battalion of Turkish regulars Prisoners. The same evening the town ^™Ted',and the garrison of the citadel, in- i ver?l hundred Bashi-Bazouks, being driven „ refuge on board the fleet. The Turkish j Ve*7 Jarge, but the figures have not yet been The Montenegrins lost above 180 killed • L-fo n, Bulcigno is a considerable place, the 8f ?hich t0 remain* Montenegrin troops are mov«g towards Scutari.

-n WAR ITEMS. The Danube has at length been frozen over, and „ p.. U8 "tores of food and other supplies which f ,,118 .had accumulated on the Roumanian over the ice6 £ be-Dg!?nVeyed int° Bulgaria if it should provAT?-mDg C0TUmCatl°n81'6-Cn J; .;6 but temporary, will enormously im- SaL^lr" 'nBulgaria quote, an article of Proff-aaor f Pu^bshed by the Rmski Mir, proving that command!^ of the Dardanelles without a fort IPSA advanf ^trance of the Black Sea would be sent system. 8 for fiua8ian intereets than the pre- arms^nd g^!T?Pa larg« quantity of ancient weapons, found. Thev ° 8uPerior, wwkmanship have been Belgrade MuseS 14 u- t°l_be ,conJ67f to the, standing, boaS?' ^th4?ugh coins found in tu ich collectlon> especially of ancient yinces. Principality and neighbouring pro- remabed?\h^Msiaa famiIy.05' B88bl'-BaoZ0uihas Like locusts occupied by the Servians, vanished. came an(* locusts they have burst fromMthflSlrc.humli an outcry ,0f,indufi:1ati0Jn less bodies of t Vlans when they beheld the head- them LI'A.« enty-six of their countrymen, among Mashich. Petrovich and Vladimir have treated C^traat to 8UCb barbarity the Servians humanity to fk -^ur^'8b wounded with signal off their sometimes of even stripping their enemiea ,to warm the balf-frozen bodies of It ia alleged arn*nthebattle'fi.eld^ • u • to chocse bet Constantinople that Russia having clash with thtT'6611 con<tions of peace which w«uld clash with the 1^ere8'a °f Austria, and such as would latter alteraaHDtere8t8 of EDSland» bas selected the quiringthan0Ufr\ and» abandoning the idea of re- instead the riPU cautonomy of Bul8aria>wiU demand the cession of Paaeage through the Dardanelles, guarantees for P°rtion of Armenia, and material An Odessa Payment of a war indemnity, ironclads hav C01"resP°n<lent s'ates thit two Turkish Sebastopol, iQ6 as8umed a permanent blockade off steamer Russi °r<*er 40 prevent the egress of the war k arrived from& n <->dessa a &reek steamer has passed throui>k having successfully < 8b the line of Ottoman cruisers. Pre- < parations are being made at Kertch to resist the ) attack of a Turkish squadron, which the naval authorities are informed intend to bombard that fortress. Admiral Arkas has received the cross of Alexander Nevsky from the Cz»r in recognition of j his services in connection with the organisation of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. i' On the night of the 18th instant Colonel Panjutin was sent with the Eighty Regiment, eleventh rifle battalion, and two guas against a Turkish train which bad been observed by Russian scouts. Colonel Panjutin overtook the train twelve versts from Harmanli and found it escorted by six tabors of in- fantry aided by large numbers of armed inhabitants. After a severely contested engagement lasting two hours, the Turks were defeated and d ispersed, and the Russians captured the whole train consisting of 2000 waggons. The Russian loss was four officers and forty-six men. 8 There are immense stores of siege artillery ammuni- tion in and around the buildings of an old Roumanian monastery on the bank of the Danube above Simnitza. This collection of heavy projectiles is rather indica- tive of a serious intention to bpsiege the fortresses of the Quadrilateral; but the artillery operations around Plevns were not such as to furnish much encourage ment to attempt the reduction of positions protected by heavy Runs and well defended by earthworks; besidts which the process of masking or outflanking such positions has been found to be much more practi- cable.

say that, in consequence of the communication received t that day, a telegram had been sent directing it to wait further orders at the mouth of the Dardanelles. With re- J gard to Ministerial resignations, the Chancellor said I he was not authorised to make any communication to the I House; and as to further papers, though the Government had no objection to produce every line it had written, it could not produce confidential communications with other Powers without their consent. The Estimate would be laid had no objection to produce every line it had written, it could not produce confidential communications with other Powers without their consent. The Estimate would be laid on the table in the course of the evening, and the amount was £ 6,000,000. THE PROPOSED VOTE. — The House of Commons has seldom been more crowded than it was in anticipation of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement. The Peers' Gallery, and, it need hardly be said, the Strangers' Gallery were equally well filled. In the galle-'y for distinguished strangers were Midhat Pasha ai r suite. The Marquis of Hartington, rising when thi questions on the paper had been exhausted, appealed to the leader of the House to postpone the discussion of the supplementary estimates until a future nig-ht, in order that full opportunity might be given to consider his state- ment. The Chancellor of the Exchequer at once assented to this proposition, and the House having resolved itself into committee of supply the right hon. gentleman rose and made his anxiously-expected statement on the vote Of £6,000,000 for the military and naval services. The recital of the outline of the terms of peace, which are much the same as those plready published, was received with Opposition cheering, which was turned to disapproba- tion when, in course of his observatiors, the Chan- cellor ot the Exchequer used expressions which W afterwards qualified, hut were understood to mean i» the first instance that the Government regarded the vote as one of confidence. Russia, he said, had proposed terms of a wide and elastic character, but it would be impossible to satisfac,orily settle the questions involved in them without European concert. The Government could not admit or acknowledge any separate engagements between Russ a and Turkey as to the navigation of the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles. It could not be denied that the delay in the peace negotiations, whether designed or accidental, hud given Russian troops an opportunity to advance to a point where British interests might be affected. It had been declared by Prince Gortschakoff that tnere was no intentien of directing military operations against Gallipoli, unless Turkish troops were concentrated there; and the British flag was sen: to that point on Turkish troops taking that direction, in order to protect British lives and interests, and keep open the waterway of the Dardanelles. The present vote was intended to place England in a position to utilise her strength and give her due weight at a conference of the Powers but had no con- nection with the naval expedition to the Dardanelles. The money, when granted, would only be used if neces- sary it would be an efficient safeguard of peace, and not increase the chances of war. The Marquis of Hartington hoped that the debate would be postponed until Thurs- day. Mr. Bright protested against England geing "into a conference of Powers with an attitude of menace, t and asked if Russia had been consulted before the fleet had been sent to the Dardanelles. Mr. Gladstone inquired as to the accuracy of the statement that Bulgaria was to be ruled by a Russian Prince. Sir Robert Peel and Mr. W. E. Forster also pressed for an adjourn- ment until Thursday. Sir W. Harcourt remarked that thfy had not been told when notice had been given of the vote that the fleet had been despatched to the Dardanelles, and he declined to place unlimited confidence in a Government two of whose prominent members were reported to have resigned. The Chancellor, in reply, expressed his willingness to allow the debate to stand over ufftil j Thursday, and said there Was no truth in the rumour that { a Russian Prince was to rule Bulgaria. None of tbe "Great Powers had been informed that the fleet was to sail to the Dardanelles, because the dispatches prepared in the first instance were, like Admiral Hornby's instructions, counter- manded upon news of peace. The debate was then adjourned until Thursday. a.

REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE. (From "BelTs Weekly Messenger?) As regards the wheat trade, in view of th& crisif through which we are passing, it is natural that a ,firmer tone should be apparent, as war with Russia would mean that a very important portion of out supplies would be cut off. Holders were, therefore justified in holding out for higher terms, and onFridaf an advance of Is. to 2s. per qr. was obtained. There was, however, no activity in the trade. Millers were as re- luctant to buy as holders were to sell, and hence very little produce changed hands. The statistical position is still in favour of firm markets. In spite of a large importation this season, the consumption of foreign produce has been so great that the accumulation of grain at our outports has been trifling, but the strong hopes of peace which are held out, or rather which the public entertain, are favourable to the pursuance of a cautieus policy. On the Continent, the trade for cereal produce has been quiet during the week; but the supplies offering have been very moderate, and the political future un- certain. There has been some reluctance shown to sell. Good wheat and barley are both scarce, but good deal of inferior produce is offering at irregular prices. At New York the political news which has excited this country has been received with calmness, the value of wheat and flour having slightly declined. 10 the United States a belief in an early termination to the war is evidently entertained, but it is also reported o* authority, that the supplies of produce in existence are still very large. Choice barley has continued very scarce, and late prices have been fully supported. Medium qualities however, have sold slowly at about previous currencies* For grinding barley the trade has been quiet, but prices have ruled firm. Malt, of good and fine quality» has continued to realise extreme rntcs, but for inferior descriptions the trade is slow, without material change in the quotations. Rather more firmness has been apparent in the trader for oats; but the improvement established in price* has been very trifling. The supplies offering have been very moderate. A firmer tone has also pervaded the market for Indian corn, and the quotation has improved to the extent of 3d. to 6d per qr. Rather a firmer feeling has cbaracterised the trade !J for flour, and, although no distinct change has taken-, place, the tendency has been upwards.

THE BRITISH FLEET. Should eceasion require a very powerful fleet of vessels now in dock at Chatham could be got ready and despatched to sea in about two months, either to join the Mediterranean squadron or to proceed to acY other station where their services might be required* Although the work is being rapidly proceeded witb, still no very strenuous efforts have been made to get the vessels completed. Those now in hand are tbe armour-plated ship Penelope, 11 guns, 4394 tons, 4703-horse power; the Monarch, 7 guns, armour- plated turret-ship, 8322 tons, 7842-horse power the Euryalus, 16 guns, iron corvette cased with wood, 3932 tons, 5250-horse power the Garnet, 12 guns, compO" site sloop, 1864 tons, 2100-horse power and the Cor- morant, 6 guns, composite sloop, 1124 power. The three last are entirely new vessels, not having yet been in commission. It will not be many weeks,under ordinary circumstances, before the Eury"- lus i* ready to hoist the pennant, all that she is wait* ing for now being slight alterations in her boilers previous to proceeding to the measured mile for her steam trials. The Cormorant and the Garnet are also well advanced. With respect to the two armonT- plated ships, they may be said to be equal to new 80F since they have been at Chatham, they have been sup- plied with new boilers and condensers, and have besides undergone most extensive alterations and repairs. In addition to the above there is also a large number of other vessels in the basin, amongst them being the Beacon, Basilisk, Myrmidion, Newport, Nimble, Philomel, Barracouta, Scylla, Supply, troop ship, &c, the whole of which could be got ready for sea in a few months should they be required.

11UT. 0 COMPOUND ESSENCE OF LINSBED, a demulcent expec* torant, for Coughs VQolds. Sold everywhere, 9;d., Is. lid. DEATH OF A BONAPARTIST SENATOR.-The death is announced of a Bonapartist Senator, St* Mege, who was Minister of Public Instruction in the OUivier Cabinet of 1870. He was a fellow-townsman of M. Rouher, being born at Riom in 1817.—Theo- phile Schuler, one of the most eminent Alsatian painters, has also just died at Strasburg. SHOCK OF EARTHQUAKE.—A powerful shock of earthquake has been felt in the island of J eney. It was so strong as to cause houses to totter and bells to ring. Its course was from east to west. There was at the time a heavy gale from the Bouth-west in the English Channel. LAMPLOUGH'S PYRETIC SALRNX-" Have it in your houses, and use no other," for it is the only safe anti- dote in Fevers, Eruptive Affections, Sea or Bilious Sickness, and Headache, having peculiar and exclu- sive merits. The Master of the Rolls has granted a perpetual injunction agaimt others using the name and trade mark. Sold by all Chemists. GREENOCK ELECTION.—Mr. James Stewart# the extreme Liberal candidate, has been elected for Greenock, having polled 2183 votes. The votes given for his competitors were: Sir James Ferguson (Conservative), 2124; Donald Carrie (Liberal), 1648; and Scott Moncrief (Radical), 108. The town was in a fever of excitement during the polling. A LONDON CORRESPONDENT learns from trustworthy source that the conduct of Cardinal Manning in refusing to permit a Requiem Mass for the late Victor Emmanuel has formed the subject of an autograph letter from King Humbert to the Pope. Two IRISHMEN, On a certain occasion, occupies the same chamber. In the morning one of them in- quired of the other," Dennis, did yoa bear the thunder in the night ? "No, Pat; did it really thunder ? Yes; it thundered as if heaven and earth would come together." Why the deuce then, didn't y» wake me, for ye know I can't slape when J thunders ? Is Mrs. Bobblums in ? inquired a gentle- man of the servant who responded te his knoc*; "No, sir, she's not at home." "Wet), I'm sorry> I e said the gentleman, in a regretful tone, "111 I ovr her some money, and called to pay it." Where"po" a voice from over the stairs is heard, Oh! I am lU ? to be sure I am why, Sally, didn't you know that ? Ask the gentleman to walk in." Unfortunately J1 gentleman bad called for arrears of taxes. HAT'S COMPOUND ESSENCE OF LINSEED,for Colds & COUSW cures 9 cases out of 10. Sold everywhere, 9id., Is. lid.