The Aberdare Times

of Lords, June 16. the Royal assent was given to a number of bills, among which was the ind ( £ 12,000,000) Bill, the Juries and Registra- nt), Customs Duties (Isle of Man) Bill, and .Oan Bill. The Commissioners were Viscount rd Chancellor, and the Duke of St. Albans. Law Amendment Bill and the Fairs Bill with amendments. inquired upon what grounds the annual fused to men of the Militia Reserve who 1, and whose term of service did not expire sining of 1873? roe, referring to some memorandums of the the subject, replied that the annual instal- reserve bounty, to which those men were been withheld. ge and Lord Strathnalrn thought that the of the War Office on the subject ought to n up in less ambiguous terms. ord Deltwarr. Lord Halifax stated that, con- Bat voluntary exertions made in the cause of as not intended to enforce "he establishment Is everywhere throughout the country. mere annouocea that on the occasion of the s visit to Bpi head it was int nded to have an er than a review of the Fleet, and that tickets In to any Peers intimating a desire to be ien adjourned. lufie of Commonx, Mr Hinde Palmer gave notice tion to bring in a blil to disqualify clerks in holy acting as magistrates while they hold benefices, amending tue qualification of county magistrates, tters representing the Military and Naval Depart- closely questioned as to the accommodation to to memoers of the House of Commons at the d Portsmouth Reviews. Mr. Cardwell said that the I sent to the Speaker 600 tickets for the stands, cets for the carriage enclosure for the Windsor lr. Goschen stated that, though the Government iverse to following the precedent of the Sultan's account of the expense, and had originally not > make any special provision for the Houses of ytt, seeing the general anxiety, the Admiralty d to set aside one or two steamers at their dis- le accommodation of the Lords and Commons. verle gave notice of his intentioD to move as an t to Mr. Lowe's motion for the approval of the Contract that a Select Committee be appointed "ito the circumstances under which the contract after giving this notice Mr. Bouverie asked set,a^tther h3 tt»s aware that the S'anding Order 'hat^Plieri with in respect to this Contract, which 1 thn I"8 with a copy of the Contrac there sball B gj table of the House the Treasury Minute Mr /?**8 on *hich;the Treasury ha i approved the he o'Jfladstone replied that his attention had been ton*, 8*011—which was purely formal—to accom- Uwl0* with a copy of the Treasury Minute, and >ro £ guided by the decision of the Speaker course to be taken. Tne Speaker being ap- neas Standing Order was clear and decided, m" Minute not having been laid on the (j j* opinion the Contract could not be i0 its present shape. The proper course Mr tiarge ttle Order of the Day for approving the *s n'nt Unc how it came to pass that the tlnnf %PI0duced, and whether the Treasury had Mr. Gladstone replied that the omission TTiti U but no answer was given to the second med nately the Order of the Day for continuing 'onert was discharged, but, though Thursday positive arrangement was made for went into Commltte on the Rating (Lia- • Bill, and resumed the point in Clause 3 Itnhi ^udeclded on Friday—the mode of rating nd « ^kis gave rise to a discussion—exhaustive, °ccssionaliy very contused—which laited for hd « ? irst of all, the Clause was amended so as to hot used for growing saleable underwood, lo ProPosed to add a proviso that the gross Z, £ nd "ball be takeD to be the rent at which in it8 natural and unimproved state, be t > let one year with another lor agri- 'Wposeg Various amendments were proposed in 4. ttle progress was made, that Mr. Stansfeld was d by £ ore than one member for having refused to IUl to a sM«3t Committee, and at half past eight lcl* moved to vort progrtss, thouga he did not was caused by Mr. Percy Windham, who going away before was disposed of, ^v^^idment can be withdrawn except by the has moved it, it was necesa-i^ ^l y it in his abaenje; and IncidentaJ* certain amendments centemplated by M; 5. previous part of the proviso until •Ultimately Mr. Stansfeld carried by J-8 it 5dt^on to the proviso which gives the .Committee the alternative of reckoning the -at the rent for which the land would let wth of the underwood growing thereon. Mr. yi»!) as thus amended was agreed to; and the ho !Len Proceeded to consider the next point in the nl .'ating 0f sporting rights. This matter occupied t fu^ht. a proviso moved by Lord George Caven- rights to be taxed thall be let or reserved to id .1 0ccupiers of the soil, and that the land shall a lower value for agricultural purposes than it heen if such rights had not been reserved, was nega- tili?127- The bill, as introduced, proposes that the shall be taxed when severed frum the occu- .ership of the soil, aud Mr. Stansfeld now moved "*herahip." Thi* *as resisted, butin the end the in^ c«ried tiy 274 to 88. The Committee then until the following day. Agents (Scotland) Bill was considered, and several it been forwarded a stage, the House ad- Quarter to two o'clock.

L TRAIN AMBULANCE. iipt to convert a railway carriage into a mber and a breakfast-room having sue- appears further extension is likely to be e same method of travelling accommods- Patrie of Saturday describes a train ambu- ded to be despatched soon to the Vienna which the writer had sten on trial. The i of this train, which is said to be very ior to the Prussian trains of the same le wholly to the private initiative of the Aiding the Wounded. It left Paris for W. half-past six on Friday morning, [led to the station towards midday. & of the journey it travelled at the rate of ktres per hour, without any inconvenience. » besides the engineer, were several medical X others Dr. Ricord. director of the Eastern e chief engineer of the Northern line. In the locomotive and two ordinary carriages lpa.ny there was a carriage for kitchen another for provisions, one for the medical ,bree ambulance carriages, which may be i into hospitals, dining-roomf, transports t or even into baggage waggons, as all the an be easily removed.

.RGEST VINE IN THE WORLD. est vine in the world is to be found near >ara, California, and certainly, from the ac- 1 of it by the New York Herald, it seems to IXlOUS Hampton Court vine to the blush, of the Santa Barbara vine is nearly four feet Irence where it leaves the ground, and con- same size for eight feet up, where it branches egularly, and although kept well trimmed rers a surface of some four thousand square it thousand bunches of grapt:s, weighing Mand pounds, or six tons, were picked from It is owned by an old Spanish woman ot speak a word of English, but who 'y Well how to calculate correctly the 1e to her for a drink of wine made from the "big pine," which everyone is ex- Irink who visits it. The age of this vine is "stinaated at from thirty-five to fifty years, see has woven the tale th&t the original given to a Spanish girl by her lover as a P, and that she planted it as a mt-mento of cement. The appearance, however, of the ,dy who now owns it is such as to lead the conclusion that she never ( jld have 'rinQonial engagement, or that it any such 'as ever entered into, her lover was perfectly a forgetting it.

THE STATIONERS' COMPANY. T ———— t The Lord Mayor, Master of this Company, gave at c ts hall in Ludgate hill, London, on Saturday evening, I k grand banquet to about 150 guests, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of York, c he Archbishop of Armagh, the Bishop of Winchester, 8 LiOrd Houghton, Mr. Justice Denman, Sir A, Helps, J ELC.B., Sir J. Gilbert, R.A., the Master of the t Skinners' Company, Mr. Crawford, M.P.. Mr. Walter, M. f., Mr. Alderman Lawrence, M P., Mr. Serjeant s Parry, Mr. Saeriff Perkins, Mr. Alderman Fignins, i VLP., Mr. T. Hughes, M.P., Mr. Morley, M.P., f Mr. Otto Goldschmidt, Dr. Doran, Sir K. G. Key, c Sir A. Woods, Sir H. Thompson, the Master of the a Merchant Taylors' and Mercers' Companies, the Prime i Warden of the Fishmongers' Company, Dr. Forbes 1 Wmslow, Mr. Bentley, Canon Gregory. Mr. Eykyn, t M.P., Mr. Shirley Brooks, Mr. Alderman Bestey, and ( :he R-v. W. Rogers. The hall was largely decorated ( with flags. 1 After dinner several toasts were given, and the first 1 )n the list were drunk with the usual manifestations of | loyal enthusiasm. In proposing the next, "The Health of the Archibishop of Canterbury," who is patron of < the Company, the Master pointed out that the Arch- ] bishops of Canterbury had held the same position in connexion with it since its incorporation more than two centuries ago. In the year 1400 a society had been formed called the Brotherhood of Text writers, or stationers, who in 1556 obtained a charter. Serious obligations were, however, at the same time, im- posed upon them. They were required to ascertain in what houses presses were kept, and to keep a register of them. The records of the Company showed that at that time the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was one of the most important members of the Star Chamber, constantly sent warrants to the Master and Wardens, demanding that they should, under pain of forfeiture of all their rights, seize those publications which were deemed to be seditious, have them brought into the garden outside the hall and burnt. He had no doubt that the green tree which now flourished on the spot had its leaves very largely nourished by the ashes of those works. Even so recently as 1614 a warrant had been issued by the Archbishop direct- ing that all the copies of Raleigh's History of the World hhould be seized and destroyed. At present the state of things was widulv different. Tile Press was perfectly free, and the influence of public opinion was found sufficient to keep it within due bounds. The attachment of the Stationers' Company to its patron had, however, undergone no change, and he was very glad indeed to welcome in its hall that evening the most Rev. Prelate who sat upon his right hand, than whom no man who had ever filled the distinguished position in the Charch which he occupied took a broader, more enlightened, or tolerant view of the duties of his great office. The toast was very cordially received, and the Archbishop in returning thanks said they might be called a great guild of literature, seeing that they assembled round them from ti ne to time those whose works contributed to make up the great literature of which England was so proud; and though at the present day the Press was rather in the habit of being the censors of the clergy than the clergy of the Press, yet, fortunately, they worked happily together, and he, ai a Christian clergyman, felt they were engaged in promoting the same work, the morality and prosperity of the country. The Bishop of Winchester, in replying to The Health of the House of Lords," said that assembly and the Stationers' Company resembled each other, in that both, with the necessary modifications brought about by the lapse of time, still exercised the functions they had been originally called into existence to dis- charge, and had the art of drawing around them the leaders in art, science, law, wealth, authorship, and every guild of English life. Mr. Crawford responded for the House of Commons; Lord Houghton and Sir J. Gilbert "Literature and Art," proposed by Mr. Serjeant Parry; and Mr. Justice Denman for" The J ndges of England," pro- posed by the Archbishop of York. In giving the Health of the Master of the Company, the Archbishop of Canterbury dwelt in very compli- mentary terms on the share which the Lord Mayor had taken in organising an Hospital Sunday for the metro- P°The toast was drunk amid loud cheers. After the Archbishop of Armagh had returned for The Visitors," given by the Master, the company broke up."

After some of the notices of death in American papers, it is now the custom to put the words No Cigars." It means that the widows of the deceased do not intend to wear "weeds."

CIVIL SERVICE EXPENDITURE. The House of Commons Select Committee on Civil Service Expenditure have issued a second report. After summarising the evidence they have taken as to the cost of the administrative departments of the courts of justice, and the control of the expenditure in those departments, the committee make the following recommendations:— Your Committee recommend the appointment, by the Crown, of a small Commission of Inquiry into the adminis- trative departments of the Courts of Justine, which should be so constructed as to carry weight WIth Parliament and the country, ani which should include pereons familiar with the work of these establishments, and others acquainted with Treasury business and departmental organization. The in- quiries of this Commission should embrace the numbers, salaries, and superannuations, and the manner of appointment and promotion for each e tabli hment; and the Commission should recommend who ought to be responsible to Parliament for their organization, and what should be their relation to the Treasury. The Commission should also consider and report whether and in what manner the large number of persons formerly connected with courts of justice who are in the receipt of compensation on abolition of offioe, might be uti- lized, by baing appointed to other offlaes in these establish- ment's. In view of the probable changes under the Judica- ture Bill now before Parliament, and the prospsct of future legislation, it would be desirable that the Commission should first report what rules should be laid down as to compensa- t!on on abolition of judicial offices, or of subordinate offices in these establishments, in order that a general Act may be speedily passed obviating the necessity of special legislation In each case hereafter. Tour Committee also recommend that a short bill be introduced by her Majesty's Government providing that, pending such legislation as may follow the inquiries of this Commission, no vacancy in a salaried office In any of these establishments be permanently filled up, without the previous consent in writing of the First Lord of the Treasury for the time being; ana that every person so appointed should take his office subject to such alterations as to its duties, salary, and pension (whether on superannua- tion or abolition) as may be determined by Parliament after the report of the Commission.

THE OPENING OF MUSEUMS ON SUNDAY. Reviewing this question, which Is receiving a share of public attention, 2 he Timet has the following leader;- They who confidently believe that all social ques- tions are gradually and surely emancipating them- selves from old difficulties must feel their faith a little shaken by the Deputation which Mr. Forster has just had to meet and reply to. The Sabbath question, no doubt, is a very old one, but it bids fair to last at least as much longer. It only goes through endless transformations. The deputation of Wednesday re- presented several Societies, each a phase of opinion, but agreeing in the demand for a day of rest to the working-man. As to the proper nature and em- ployment of this rest they are evidently not agreed. The working classes of the East End, it appears, do not go to places of worship. They discard altogether, in opinion or in fact, the old ideas of a holy day, a solemn con vocation, and a commemo- ration of events in Sacred history. Nature leads them to appreciate one day's rest in the seven-nay, for the matter of that, as many as they can manage to get. Yes nine out of ten of those who were asked for their signatures, to the number of 40,000, ask that the Sun- day's rest oay not l a broken by the opening of the Bethnal-gieen Museum, and, of course, with it other Museums, on that day. Their line is simple and clear. It is rest for themselves and rest for others. The open- ing of Museums would entail Sunday work on the cus- todians and attendants of Museums and other public places, on policemen, cabmen, omnibus men, railway servants, sh 'pmen, refreshment-stall men, and others. This single consideration determines them. Sunday they regard as an ancient weekly strike against work of all kind, and they would enforce it as rigor- ously as they would any strike of the ordinary charac- ter at the fiat of a Trade's Union. Sunday, no matter how it came into the world, is an ancient, world-wide testimony to tr'l necessity of rest, and as such the working-men of tne East End hoid themselves bound to vindicate it. They concern themselves as little with the peculiar doctrines of the Sabbatarians as they do with the special cases and peculiar wants of those who would like to use the day for other purposes than mere rest. Upon the whole, we cannot wonder that Mr. Forster feels a difficulty. All be can say is that he does not feel the views and arguments alleged quite as strongly as the Deputation does that a good deal may be said on the other side that the religious question is evidently untouched by the line which the Deputation has taken; that he admits a primd facie ease • and tbat in one respect the Deputation and the East' End workpeople have the advantage over their op oonents-what they ask is that things shall remain as thev are. We should say that, but for the risk of disagreeably complicating the question, Mr. Forster might with truth and justice have said a good deal more. The de- putation stated only one side of a case that has really a good many sides. Upon its showing, here are 40,000 men who do not use the Sunday for that religious pur- pose which is quite as ancient and universal as the mere day's rest, and who, so far, must stand in the way of its use by others, but who demand that none shall be allowed to use it for the purpose of innocent recreation and improvement. A great responsibility lies on those 40,000. They come into court with a very grave contention. We think much might ba said on the side they have espoused. But are their hands clean ? Have they right to appear ? How about the beam in their own eyes ? If they spend the day in that homely, domestic, and quietly social manner which gives no trouble to anybody and disturbs n 'body, we can have nothing t) say to them, except that they must spend the Sunday aa they p ease, and the public at least has no right to interfere. But, unless we are much misinformed, a very large proportion of these men spend the day in a manner compared with which a Museum is innocence, peace, and holiness. All that the Deputation can say is that they do not go to a place of worship. Where do they go? How do they employ themselves? The East End omnibuses and railway-trains are crowded enough on Sundays. They must be taking the people somewhere. The line taken by the Deputation, if it would not be liable to the charge of hypocrisy, must be consistent. Will these gentlemen oppose all Sunday traffic and the opening of publichouses as well as the opening of Mnseums ? They wilt have to do 80 if they are honest, and to tell their 40 000 friends, too, what they are doing. It is quite possible that the greater part of these people never go into a Museum or public library, or other public place, unless it be a theatre or » It is no denial to theui to be shut out It is most certain, however, that if a Museum-that of Bethnal green for example-were open on Sunday, it would be fre- quented. There are those who would like to go, and have no other day, being bound to the desk or the counter. There are those who cannot walk far, who cannot afford a conveyance, who do not wish to spend the Sunday either in drinking or m doing nothing at all. They may wish to pass a ple^t and profitabl. hour iu the Museum. Why may they not ? Should the Sunday be rainy or dull, the Museum is under cover. It is not pretended that the Museum will take people from church, for the people who int-ist that it shall be shut are prepared as 1them eives are cencerned, to see Church and Chapel shut also. They go nowhere on Sunday, they want to go nowhere, and apparently want everybody else to go nowhere, except to TVTlKlin-h/Yn«Aa an£! tea gardens. 1"1,4IJ"U.u.VUIOt;D -a.U UV- D- Sensible people will feel,, with Mr. Forster, the serious responsibility attaching is always more safe to stand where one happens to find oneself and make others k p P1*06' one can. But there are two rather important con- siderations which it is impossible to overlook, and which are more likely to gam weight than to lose it day by day. The first of these M tl^ the much- boasted and much-cherished status q e actual condition of the working cla|8<f. tu 0 autual observance of the Christian Sabbat^ m not so unexceptionable as to make it P y rong to run the risk of a change. There!are ^things we do not disturb, even if we are not quite safc*fied with tbem, inasmuch as we might have • e do not disturb a tenour of quiet, a eur ^3ncy,a momentum of habit, or the mere c S °u- The rimplwt amTco^nonest rtaiidawl of proprietj. ABJ also, has special cl*im to notice a. en we are told there is to be a great prejudices, and all fixed ideas. nnlarwo enfcS of a Museum are calculated to enlarge, and even to elevate, the mind; leading it t° more compre- hensive ideas, and to a a» deeper range of inquiry. Every Sinday teacher, whether his place be in the pulpit or V**°o1 not to speak of his own honae, must often have occa- sion to wish his hearers better informed upon a good many points necessary to the understanding of the sacred text. A knowledge of the ancient peoples, of their external habits, their works, and all the material methods in which they expressed themselves, is an immense assistance towards that knowledge which our faith tells us is necessary. 1° the eattre absence of pictures, statues, and all material illustration, the Scrip- tural notions of an ordinary working person, 0f any »g«, must be very shadowy and n<> f° 8a^ °^a^ure. Of course it is possible to have the externals of know- ledge and no more; but the ^t ™^are P«.rt of the order of Providence, and in every-day affairs a man ignorant of the externals is n«uilly igiuorant altogether. It the immense, and, it mav be said, the providential opportunities of this age belp towards the lively con- ception of religious facts and ideas, they ought not to hrt neelected Why, theo, should not Museums for this purposebe allied to compete m Sunday with publichous* s and tea T"8 ground' we are well aware. But all ground 1st dangerous in these days We stand on the crust of a volcano an i, ShSS?« »' »»'. « »e day aetlle "iiisrM"i-for it is our religion—to JuuS

THE TRADES' GUILD OF LEARNING. A conference took ]n °f the Society of Arts in London, on Saturday, in promotion of a pro- ject which is now assuming something hke shape, for extending the advantages of a university education to the working and middle classes of this country. It is proposed tbat local organizations shall be formed in various towns, and put m communication with a central guild for the purpose of defraying the cost of the at- tendance of duly authorised lecturers sent from the Universites of Oxford and Cambridge, to conduct classes and deliver lectures on subjects such, for ex- amule as Political Economy, English Literature, Force and Motion, Agronomy' Geography, &c. Technical Education is to form a leading department of the scheme. Saturday s conferen e was very fairly at- tended by representative working men in the capacity of delezatea from societies more or lee s numerous and power- ful and the whole day from qlevep in the morning until seven in the evening was occupied in the discussion o?the project. Mr. Samuel Morley, M P., presided for the first few hours and was succeeded in the chair by Mr. Mundella, M.P. With them were the Rev. H Solly who is taking a leading part in the promotion of "the movement Mr._ James Stuart, M.A., hon. sec. to the Syndicate, who is actively engaged in furthering the scheme ip connection with the Universities Mr. Webster, Q.C., several reverend gentlemen, and a few ladies. Representatives were in attendance from the follow- ing bodies:—Workrng Men's Club Union, Lord Lyttelton, Messrs. V amdttart Neale, Joseph Newton, Thomas Paterson, Hodgson Pratt, G-. f1?' from St. John's Club, Hoib >rn, Mr. Trades Union Association, Nottingham, Mr. AJbtvri Richards; Alliance Cabinet-makers, Messrs. J. R. Smith, H. D. Rawlings; Working Men's Club ard Maidstone Trades' Council, Mr. John Potter; Uni- versity College, Working Men's College—Professor Clifford, M. A., C. Moseley, and Agricultural La bourers' Union, Mr. Joseph Arch. There wera also present Mr. G. J. Ho'yoake, who was sent to repre- sent the Co-opera1 ive News Company of Manchester and Newcastle Mr. George Odger, Mr. Lucraft, and several other generally representative men. Letters were read from Mr. Twining, Twickenham; Dr. Baxter Langley, and others, and it appears from the public circular of the Guild that favourable re- cognition of the scheme has been given, among others, by Lord Edmont Fitzmaurice, M.P., Sir Antoni,) Brady, Mr. A Brogden, M.P., Mr. J. Dodds, M.P., Mr. T. Hughes, M P., Mr. M'Arthur. M.P., Mr. Whitwell, M.P., the Lord Mayor, Lord George Hamilton, M.P., Mr. Cowper-Temple, M.P., Sir John Bennett, Rev. Canon Robinson, M.A., Mr. James Hole, Mr. Joseph Newton, C.E. In the course of discussion, which necessarily ex- tended over a very wide range, Mr. Morley, while be- lieving that the advantages of university education should be extended to the middle as well as the working classes, expressed himself not unconscious of the danger there is in the political future, unless those who will then be the stronger power in the State duly qualify themselves for the high duties that rest upon them. Therefore, he w"s glad to see that so large a number of working men had given attention to a move- ment which, not merely from a personal but also from a patriotic point of view, would be of incalculable value. He felt sure the scheme would be successful. Mr. Solly, Mr. Holyoake, and Mr. Hay, one of the working-men representatives, followed. Mr. Hay spoke strongly against the practice of engagements to io piece work," a system which he believed tended bo deteriorate the productions of English artisans. Mr. Allen trusted the effect of this schtme would not be, through instruction of technical education, to make known the secrets of British manufactures to all mankind. Mr. Richards said they had com- menced at Nottingham, Derby, and Leicester, and were determined to go on with this movement. Mr. Franklin feared the want of sympathy between the middle and working classes would render it difficult for them to meet together. Mrs. Lewis, possessing some knowledge of foreign workmen, and especially of Ger- mans, gave credit to English artisans for more know- ledge and political power, and attributed any superi- ority the foreigner might possess in technical education and mental culture to the superior advantages they en- joy for cultivation in these respects. Mr. Potter, of Maidstone, complimented the lady on having hit the right nail on the head. Mr. Watkinson, secretary of the Iron Ship-builders' Society, approved of the scheme. Mr. Stuart explained the objects to be, to give both technical and higher education; and al- though there was a distinction between the two, each to a great extent involved the other for while tech- nical education must be made the means of getting money and of bettering the material condition of the working classes, higher education was the means of putting ihem into such a position that their opinion would be of more value, and would, in fact, elevate the In into a higher sphere of life. Canon Ridgway, principal of the Training College, Culham, defended the clergy against charges brought against them that they had not taken the interest they ought to have taken in promoting education. It was moved by Mr. Savage, diesinker. seconded by Mr. Rawlings, cabinet maker, supported by Mr. King, treasurer of the London Trades Council, and resolved, That a trades guild of learning be now established, and the persons present pledge themselves to give it the best sup- port in their power.' Mr. Beadsall, secretary of the London Mechanics' Institute Union, spoke of the advantages of free lec- tures given to working men in Paris. Mr. Morley, reviewing the debate, pointed out that the relations between capital and labour were mutual, and any un- reasonable contention between them would damage both. Working men were now sharing more than ever in the prosperity of the country, and if they would keep down the animal and tram the mental faculties they would become a great power. On the motion of Mr. Hodgson Pratt, a vote of thanks was given to Mr. Morley for presiding. Discussion of details occupied the whole of the after- noon sitting, under the presidency of Mr. Mundella, and was joined in by Mr. Weston, Mr. Dodds, Mr. Vau-ittart Neale, Mr. Middleton, Mr. Hodgson Pratt, Mr. Lucraft, Lord Lyttelton, Mr. Webster, Mr. Franklin, Rev. Mr. Verney, Mrs. Lewis, Mr! Camuin, Mr. Stuart, Mr. Buckmasttr, of South Kensington, and several other speakers. It was agreed that women snould not be excluded from the advan- tages of the guild.

COMMITTEE ON COAL. The members present at the Select Committee of the House of Commons on Coal, on Thursday in last week, were Mr. Ayrton (Chairman), Mr. Liddell, Mr. Stan- hope, Mr. Carter, Mr. Edmund Potter, Mr. Cor ranee, Mr. Pim. and Mr. EUiot. Mr. Bennet Aitken, from the office of Messrs. Berger, Spence, and Co., of Man- chester, London, and Glasgow, attended to give evi- dence. This is toe well-known firm of merchants and brokers in chymical and mineral products, and its cir- cular, in the preparation of which the witness is engaged, is largely used for reference by the trade. A notable difference was pointed out between some of the witness's statements, and those of Mr. I. Lowthian Bell, especially with reference to the quantity of coal used in the making of iron. The witness repeated the snatement previously furnished to the committee by Mr. Meade, assistant-keeper of the Mining Records, that 6 t-ins 7 cwt. are, on the average, consumed in converting into rolled iron the equivalent amount of iron-stone. The statement is bain i on the opinion of the Coal Commission, but the President of the Iron and Steel Institute, who is himself a maker, gave the much lower estimate of 41 tons for bar iron, or if a few hundred weight be added for rough casting, some quantity under 51 tons. The explanation will perhaps be found in the suggestion made by Mr. Carter, that Mr. Bell judged exclusively from the consumption in his own scientifically constructed furnaces, and the fact that improvements have been made since the Coal Com- mission issued its report, which is dated 1871. The item is of importance, because it is an element in calculating the extent to which the iron trade has affected the price of coal, and because in the opinion of many competent persons that trade is responsible to the full extent of the increase of price. There are two quantities to be added togetaer,-first, the quantity of fuel consumed in smelting iron-stone, and so producmg pig iron next, the quantity consumed in converting pig into rolled iron. Rough casting makes a third amount, and all these quantities are liable to be and have been con- fused with each other, and with their total amount. Again, coke is used in the process of making iron, and a ton of coke represents something more than a ton of coal. These considerations show the possibility of mistakes occurring in the computation, and if they ex- haust the difficulties under which even members of the committee labour, they do not exhaust those of the public and the reporters, who are gratuitously placed in a position where it is very difficult to hear the evidence (writes y/K limes, from whose columns the following report is takenj :— Mr. Aitken said that the rate of increase in the amount of oal dealt with was, in 1872 compared with 1871, less than in 1871, compared with 1870. He first consi dered the transport of coal, and next the con- sum ption of coal at the p'ace where it was produced. The coal shipped coastwise in 1871 showed an increase over 1870 < f 26,698 tons. In 1872 there was a de- crease of 389790 tons. In coke shipped coastwise, 1871 showed an increase of 4,081 tons, 1872 a decrease of 6,181. The total difference between 1870 and 1872 was, theref ore, 10 262, and that reduced to coal gives a total difference ot 16,000 tons. In coal sent to London by rail, 1871 compared with 1870 showed an increase of 689,000 tons; 1872 an increase over the preceding year of only 531,748 tons. Tbat is to say, there was still an in- crease, but at a diminished ratio. In coal exported, 1871 had an increase of 1,030,836 tons 1872, an increase of 504 222. In coke exported 1871 had an increase of 15,569 tons 1872 a decrease of 62,843. The figures reduced to coal would be more than half as large again. The coal used in the iron trade had increased in 1871 by 3,418,854 tons in 1872 it had only increased by 1,386,834. There was in fact in 1872 an increase of 3 000 000 but the preceding year showed an increase of 6 000,000; and in 1872, though there was no absolute falling off, the increase was at a declining rate. Mr Aitken now proceeded to give a list of prices, some particulars of which were severely criticized by Mr Elliot. The prices in Glasgow, free en board vessels in the Clyde, were, for four qualities of coal, 7s., 7s 6d., 5s., 4s. 6d. in 1867 and 7s., 7s. 9d 4s. 31., 3s. 2d in 1871 • but 13*. 2d., 14s. 6d., 7s. 91., 6s. 5d. in 1872; and 17s. 9d 17s. 9d., lis. 7d., 9s. in the first five months of 1873. The rise in price in 1873 over 1871, was, accordingly, 155, 129,172, 194 per cent. Average prices at the pit's mouth m the West Riding of Yorkshire, were, for two qualities of coal, 8s. 4 i. ai d 6s. 51. in 1871; 19s. and 16s. in 1872 24s. 3d. ard 15s. 3d. in 1873. The price-of slack in a certain part of Lanca- shire was 7s. 3d. in 1871, 10s. in 1872, 1411. 6d. in 1873. A large firm in Yorkshire paid in 1870 8s. for best steam coal and 4-<. 6d. for small. In 1871 the pri e3 were the same in 1872, 13s. 8 1. and 9. 8 L in 1873, 18i. and 13s. The increase of 1873 over 1871 was 125 and 188 per cent. In the North of England the price for steam coal in 1871, free on board, was 10s. in January, 1872, 12s. in February, 14: in June, 168.; in July, 18s.; in August, 20s. in September, 25i. in October, 20s. in November, 18s.; in December, 16s. average for 1872, 17". 8d. In January, 1873, 20s.; in February and March, 25s., and even more at pre- sent, 22- average for five months of 1873, 21s. Mr. Elliot challenged the accuracy of figures which gave 25s. in September, 1872, and 16s. in December of that year, and hrimated that they threw doubt in his mind upon the whole of the evidence. The witness adhered to them, but promised to verify the figures and correct them in the official report if necessary. Mr. Carter supported him by saying that when prices went up 7s. trade stopped, and the colliers tound a diminution in orders, which brought down prices again. Mr. Liddell pointed out that this con- flicted with Mr. Bell's evidence, who said the iron- masters would have coal at any price, but doubtless manufacturers in general, as opposed to ironmasters, were here designated. The consumption of coal in the iron trade was the suVdfct of some tables submitted by Mr. Aitken. The amount of pig iron produced in 1871 exceeded the amount in 1870 by 663 664 tons. The amount pro- duced in 1872 exceeded the quantity produced in 1871 ] by 175,944, that is to say, thert< was a positive increase, but at a lower ratio. In 1872, 6,803,034 tons of pig iron were produced, 1,332,726 tons were exported in that state 373,479 tons of pig, which at the beginning of the year were in stock, were made into finished iron. The 6,803,034 tons of pig, at 3 tons of coal, consumed 20,409,102 tons of coil before they reached that stage. Deducting for exportation, and adding for stock, 5,813,787 tons of pigwere converted into relied or finished iron. This number multiplied by 3 tons 7 cwt. of coal gave 19,576,686 tons of coal consumed in the second operation which meichantable iron undergoes and so the conversion of iron-stone into bar, plate, or sheet iron (which may consume yet more fuel before it becomes available for use, as in the form of machinery and tools) required 39,985,788 tons of cosL The de- mand had increased in all commercial quarters, both at home and in America and Germany, and the result was to about double the price of pig iron. Cbymioal works consumed 2 per cent. of the total output of the collieries what was the demand for cop per-smelting tie could not say, but no doubt there had been an in- creased supply of copper leading to an increased demand for coaL After cross-examination had begun, the Chairman was anxious to know whether ultimately the demand was checked by the high prices, or satisfied with a sufficient supply. The answer was, it was checked. Mr. Elliot examined as to the amount of coal con- sumed in the iron trade. Had the witness heard the evidence of Mr. 1. Lowthian Bell? He had seen the report in The Times; he was aware that Mr. Bell's calculation differed from his own, which he had adopted on the authority of the Royal Commission. Mr. Bell might have said that 42 cwt. were required for making pig, and 52 cwt. for turning pig into b.r nevertheless, Mr. iiell had adopted the sum of 40,000,000 tons, as representing the tJtal consumption of coal in the iron trade, and witness was at a loss to know bow he arrived at that sum without assuming the same figures as wit- ness-na.mely, 3 ton and 3 ton 7 cwt. for the two operations respectively. The amounts consumed might be different in d fferent districts. Mr. Liddell asked what authority might Messrs. Ber- ger S pence's figures have, and why they were collected. The witness said they issued a periodical report, and their business reputation depended on its accuracy. It obtained publicity in many of the newspapers. Mr. Edmund Potter gave him the opportunity of saying that they bad business correspondents all over the world who (the witness hoped) had faith in the cir- cular. Referring to the export trade, he said there had been no revival in demand for America. Coal is exported in steam vessels for their own consumption, and also for manufacturing purposes abroad. He had not the slightest idea what the price of coal would be in future. Other witnesses had been summoned to attend and did attend. But the Chairman stated that they had asked for time to get up their facts more fully, and thcugh they had come, they had come without their evidence. The Committee, thereforejadjourned at an early hour.

The select committee resumed their investigation on Monday morning, Mr. Liddell in the chair. Mr. Andrew Landale, managing partner of the Lochgelly iron and coal works, Fifeshire, stated that the cost of producing coal during the last five vears was 4*. 9 £ i. in 1868; 4s. 21ii. in 1869; 3s. lOd. in 1870; 4s. in 1871; and 7s. 4i. in 1872. The cost as far as this y«ar had gone was 8s. 61. The output of coal in 1868 was 504 tons per man in 1869, 580 1870, 554 1871, 514 j and 1872, 445. It was muca about the same this year. The selling price of coal in 1868 was 5<. lOti, per ton in 1869, 4s. 6id. in 1870, 4s. 0 £ d. in 1871, 4s. 2d. and in 1872, 9s. lOd. The selling price now was 13s. The men worked from four to four and a-half days a week. For some years, as a rule, they had always had one idle day a fortnight—the Monday after pay-day. Latterly they had taken another day, in order to pre- vent the coal owners from accumulating stock. A considerable number of the men, about two-sevenths, declined to work more than three days a week. The rise in the price of coal did not in Scotland pre- cede the increase of wages. As an ordinary rule when the coals advanced Ie. a ton the men claimed an in- crease of 4d. Associations of masters existed in Scot- land, but no attempt was ever made to regulate the prices. The health of the colliers was very good, and as a general rule they were not nearly so hard worked as other. abourers. There had been no greater con- sumption of coal by the iron trade in Scotland than formerly on the contrary, there was a falling off in the production of pig iron in Scotland last year to the extent of 70.000 tons. By Mr. Vivian The restriction upon the output of coal was due partly to the action of the men them- selves, and partly to the miners' associations. The hours of labour were fixed by the union, but the men did not put out so much coal. Mr. Gilmour, colliery owner at Kilmarnock, gave similar evidence, and the committee again adjourned.

A TRIUMPH IN THE CAUSE OF < HUMANITY. Commenting on the success which has resulted from Sir Bartle Frere's difficult mlasion, the Daily News of Monday says:- We have this moraing the pleasure of making the welcome announcement that the peraeverance and tact of Sir Bartle Frere have been crowned with success, a Treaty putting an end to the Slave Trade in the do- minions of the Sultan of Zanzibar having been signed on the 5th inst. The famous slave market of Zanzi- bar, so well known from the frequent and vivid descriptions of travellers, was closed on the same day. In good time we sball know the precise character of the influences which have brought about this great triumph of humanity. That they must have been potent may be inferred from the nature of the resistance which the English envoy ori- ginally encountered. When Sir Bartle Frere saw the Sultan of Zanzibar last February he wai received with a profusion of ceremony, but in the end he was told that the abolition of the Slave Trade was not to be thought of. Zanzibar, it was represented, had not recovered from the effects of the recent dreadful hurricane, and could not afford the loss implied in a failure ot its supply of labour. Moreover, slavery was a time honoured institution, sanctioned alike by the Mahometan religion and by ancient customs, the aboli- tion of which would lead to insurrection and disaster. Those who knew most of S-yd Barghash were of opinion that he had in some way been imbued with the notion that Great Britain was not in earnest in this matter. Sir Bartle Frere saw him the day after this refusal, and pointed out the serious consequences that might possibly ensue from his resolution; but the Sultan was not to be moved from his purpose. By some means that exalted personage appears to have been since convinced that he had taken an ill-advised course, and that the isolation in which he had been placed by the subsequent successes of Sir Bartle Frere would give him an unenviable position. At any rate, he has BOW given way at all points. It will be for our country- men now to take advantage of the opportunity open to them to introduce a better system. There is a modern maxim that nothing is really destroyed until it has been replaced. Slavery has been admirably replaced on this same East African coast on the estate of Kokotoni, at the northern end of the island of Zanzibar, where Captain Fraser has, in Sir Bartle Frere's jlldg. ment, solved completely and effectually the labour problems of East Africa. It is encouraging to re- member that our successful Envoy wrote only last February If the Slave Trade were abolished there would be no difficulty in getting Indian and European capital, and nothing is wanted here beyond what has been done, and is done daily, by hundreds of Arabs in Egypt."

THE GERMANS KIB TRADE DISPUTES. A bill has been laid before the German Federal Council for making certain alterations in the law regu- lating the relations between employers and workmen, with a view to the settlement of trade disputes, and the punishment of illegal proceedings in connection with strikes. It is pointed out in the preliminary statement attached to the bill that under the present law "an employer has no redress in the case of a breach of contract on the part of his men but to pro- secute them in a civil court, which is a very difficult, and nearly always fruitless undertaking. This. combined with the agitation which prevails among the workmen, causes great dissatisfaction among the employers, and when strikes occur both sides act in a manner regardless of the law, thus creating a state of things which has almost become a public calamity. Other classes of society, which are not directly concerned in the struggle, are thereby seriously injured in their material interests, the total production of the country is di- minished, and the foundations of legal and moral order are endangered. Tae spirit of disorder and licence which has been produced in some workmen by their being able to break the law with impunity, and the feeling on the part of the employers that the law does not sufficiently protect them, threaten to undermine all respect for law among large classes of the people, and the terrorism which consequently prevails during strikes is a serious danger to public order and security. In order to remove these dangers effectively and rapidly, it is considered necessary to attach such penalties to a breach%of contract, both as regards em- ployers and workmen, as to restore the feeling of security in the protection of the law. With this object the first article of the bill regulates the mode of procedure, in trade disputes, and tha second completes the penal provisions of the existing law in cases of intimidation, &c., and extends them to persons em- ) ployed in mines."

THE IRON AND COAL TRADES. { (From Tuesday's Times.) A conference between Scotch mineowners and work- j men on the subject of the special rules under the Mines Regulation Act, which was brought about by the intervention ot several Scotch members of Parlia- ment when a general strike was threa ened, was held in Glasgow on Monday. Mr. Sheriff Galbrqith pre- sided. It was explained at the outset that only a few of the owners in Ayrshire were represented, and tbat n'ne of the Fife and Clackmannan employers were present, a settlement having been tff acted in the last- mentioned counties. Mr. Macdonald stated the case for the workmen. They were diasa isfied with the special rule sanctioned by the Home Secretary. They asked to be placed in the same position as the workmen in Northumberland and Durham, and while they would not object to set up props to secure their own working places, they wished deputies appointed for that purpose. Mr. Barns, for the mineowners, said the Scotch owners were following the example of the Associated Mineowners of Lancashire and Cheshire and of five- sixths of the English employers. Northumberland and Durham were placed in an exceptional position, and he considered the rules which had been adopted there were pregnant with danger, and left the question of duty entirely ambiguous. They were the worst contrived rules he had seen. A long discussion was held, and ultimately it was agreed to adjourn the Conference, to enable the masters to consider the proposal submitted but before the meeting separate! the Chairman read a letter, dated May 22 last, addressed to Mr. Maclagan, M.P., which had been received from Lord Elcho As you and Mr. Merry have undertaken to bring together the mineowners and miners of Scotland to consider the recently framed special rules, and as this conference origi- nated in a suggestion of mine made at tbe recent meeting of some of the Scotch members and miners' delegates at the Bouse of Common", 1 wish, being unable to attend the con- ference to say a word anent it. I am induced to do> mainly because It appears, from what we read In *n P prints, >»s li neither party were disposed to meet i j t)le ot coi'ci lati .n and conces-ion that leads to the amicable settlement of disputes. There seems are re»< IvkI foregone conclusion. The minenwhich to accept no settlement of the ^8Peownera on their gi le, they are coiitendmg; ™ the letter of the special h7epWTh«r^eUaUon cf the Mines Act was to insure rules. The JU'e"ti 0fthe miner by throwing the I *s far as possible reasonably prictlcahle upon > onus of responsibility as re,erence ia the Act tQ the ■ rutes vnll'show tnat in this spirit and to this end they wcre framed by Parliamen'. I cannot believe that any rnine- owner in Scotland will dispute that the intention of the Act was to throw generally the onus of the safety of the miner, not only in 'every travelling road,' but also In i every working place, upon the owner or manager, and that he should be responsible for the efficiency of the timbering or propping. On the other hand, It ooald only be, and was only intended, that this responsibility should he reasonable aud practicable. At the recent meet- ing at the House of Commons between some of the Scotch members and miners' delegates, already rrlerred to, these last, when I put it to their, aid not dispute tie absurdity of proposing that a nrneowner or wantg-r was to find a deputy to stand by each hewer of coal anr. be ready to prop Ms working-place at all times as hi- work proceeded. They one and all admitted that they must themselves timber their own working places in the absence of the deputy and as their work proceeded and that self-interest alone would force them to do S3, otherwise they would have to stop work until his return. It is not, then, to the propping by themselves of then immediate workingoplaces that the miners appear to object, but they object to the lesponsl- billty of the proper timbering of the wo'king places being thrown upon them, an i to their I being bound' by the special rules to prop and secure the roof and sides at which they shall be employed to the distance from the face of 12 feet, and in the stoop and room' system to prop and secure the roof and sides at least 15 feet back from the face One man at the meeting said that now, aocording to custom' in his mine, the miner was only responsible for propping three ftet back from the face, and that these spe- cial rules, therefore, placed all the men in that mine in a much worse position than they now were to respect to tim- ber ing. If, then, I am right in the view I take of the spirit and intention of the Act of Parliament and its framers at regards the prepping of the working-places, the special rules of the North of England United Coal Trade Association appear more in accordance with that spirit and intention than those against which the miners of Scotland com- plain. Then, by the North of England seventh special rule, if the working is unsafe for want of timber being set, In the absence of the deputy, there being sufficient timber of proper lengths in the place, the hewer to set it in order to keep himself safe or cease to work and report the same, o the overman. In all cases where necessary he is to sprag his jud of coal when working under it.' Now, under this lule no hewer in his senses will cease work* and report to the overman,' but will, as his work proceeds, set timber' to keep hinnelf safe, else he must stop work and stand idle, thus diminishing his earnings, so that practically under this rule the hewers prop their own Immediate working-places under the supervision and responsibility of the deputy or person appointed by the owners or manager. Surely some such arrangement and understanding may be come to In Scotland at a friendly meeting of the parties concerned, and a corresponding change In the special rules be mutually agreed upon? Meantime I am unwilling to believe that Scotchmen, whether mineowners or minus will f how themselves less capable than the men of North- umberland and Durham of coming to a just and amicable settlement in this master of timbering, upon the efficiency of which the safety of life and limb inmtnes so greatly depends. Let us at least hope that neither aide will go to this oon- ference unprepared to consider the question in a irienuiy and conciliatory spirit, and that a matter which appears thus capable of a reasonab'e and satisfactory settlement may not result in further deputes—ah jve all, in the strike, disastrous to miners, mineowners, and the public at large.— I am, &c., BlLCHO.

CUTTINGS FROM AMERICAN PAPERS. A new mode of suicide has been invented in Illinois, A man filled his mouth with gunpowder, and putting caps between his teeth, bit them up until an explosion took place. Here we are now, within a quarter of a mile of land," was the joyful announcement made by the captain of an ocean steamer to his grumbling pM- sengers. Where ? Which way is it ?" were the eager exclamations which followed. Anywhere down below there," said the captain, pointing towards the bottom of the sea the lead gives us jast two hun- dred and twenty fathoms of water, and the land comes slap up against the brine." A little beggar girl in New York got hold of the wrong paper which certified that the bearer is a widow with five children, in destitute circumstances. A Cincinnati paper brags a little over the dexterity with which its butcher boys do their work: The operation of killing and dressing is so rapidly performed that if you study the faces of the hogs after they are hung up to cool, you will find an expression of the most intense bewilderment upon them, as though puzzling themselves to make out what had been going on and where they were." A Mobile paper is indignant at a contemporary for announcing that Mobile is the fourth coffee-pot in the country." Investigation proved that "ootton port" was meant. A voung lady in New Orleans while playing croquet one scorching afternoon, was son-struck, it was a rich man's son. The marriage is believed to be a happy one. Surely the most practical man of our day has been discovered. He states that a young mwi writing to his sweetheart the other day said "I wish, my darling, that you would not write me such long letters; If you were to bring an action of breach of promise against me, the lawyers would copy the correspondence between us and charge 4d. for every folio of seventy-two words. The shorter the letters, the more we save from the lawyers." Strange to say, the young man never re- ceived a reply '1 he motto of the Good Templar girls of Salem, New Jersey, ifj-" The lips that touch wine shall never touch mine." At an elegant dinner party given at Washington, the enfant terrible of the family was permitted to occupy a seat near one of the most distinguished guests. This Mte noir is much given to conundrums, which are not always appropriate. Moreover, the young man of nine years old has a sister who is a shining belle in society. Eliza is the name of the young lady. He calls her Lize. The company wag startled by the voice of the youngster asking Why is father like the devil ? An awkward pause ensued. Then he shouted out, Because he is the father of Lize" (liefi). They have found out the way to bring up a child and make him smart. A Richmond lady advertises, under the head of Strayed or Stolen." for a "long, lank, lean husband, six feet high, broad shoulders, thin beard, light hair [ and complexion, blue eyes, and about forty-five years l of age, being about twenty years younger than r myself."

ttber of "hiton admitted to the International In London, last week was as followsSeason »; on payment ol 2s. 0cL, 3,846; on payment •7; total 18,188.

LORD DERBY on the STATE PURCHASE of RAILWAYS. The Earl of Derby presided at a special meeting of the members of the Society of Arts held in London, on Friday in last week, at which Mr. William Grdlt read an important pliper on the Purchase of Railways by the State, and awong those present were the Marquis of Clanricarde Lord Henry Lennox, M.P., Admiral Lord Clarence Pag.t. Admiral Ouamanney, Sir Walter Stirling, Dr. Farr, President of the Statistical Society Mr. K B. Martin, Colonel Strange, Mr. Edwin Chad- wick C.B., and Mr. Robert Rawlmson, C.B. Mr Gilt who was introduced to the meeting by the chairman, first of all gave a sketch of our railway legisla tion previously to 1944, when Parliament passed an Act ten abliuc Government to purchase, on certain specified terms, all the railways in the United Kingdom which fiom that time forward thould be constructed, but providing that 21 years should elapse before any change should be effected, or the rights of proprietorship in any way interfered with. The question, therefore, was whether or not it was desirable in the interests of the nation to carry out the object for which the Act was passed. He freely admitted at the outset that those woo advocated the purchase of railways by the State were called on to make out an overwhelming case in support of their views before they had any right to ask the country to adopt them. It could not be denied that what they demanded was wholly opposed to the traditional policy of this country. The m'lin complaints preferred againss tne companies were— first, excessive charges compared with the cost of conveyance secondly, arbitrary and exorbitant rates imposed upon some to-b- in camiianson with others thirdly, refusing to separate the rates for carriage from terminal charges fourthly, the great injury to the trade and commerce of the country from the want of unity of management fifthly, the refusal to publish a list of charges from station to station of the several ciasses of goods. Rail- roads had become the great high roads of the country, and he presumed it would not be questioned by any one that the greatest possible facility of transit for passengers and goods should be afforded to the public, and that tie fares for passen- gers and charges for merchandise should be raduced to the lowest possible rate consistent with the payment of working expenses and interest on the capital iu vested in the construc- tion of the lines. Assuming that in the case of State pur- chase the Legislature wished to reduce the fares one-half, what he asked, would be the extra expenses lor convejance of the increased number of passengers? The witnesses examined before the Royal Commission and tte Joint Com- mittee in reference to the proposed amalgamation of the London and North Western and Lancashire ani Yorkshire Companies agreed that there would be an enrrmous saving in working expenses by the amalgamation of the companies. Mr Stewart stated that if the whole irafflc of the country. was worked harmoniously together thern would be a saving 1 of 20 per oent. in the working expenses—in the London and North-Western they would be able to save £ 600,000 a year. Other comoetent witnesses calculated it at 25 pn ceut. In addition to that great saving, II sue railways ncio »» i fair price, and the shareholders were paid in Government itock, there would be a very large profit to the State, inas- much as a Z100 railway share paying S per cent. was worth )nly .£60, but Government stock paying the same Interest worth £ 92 He (Mr. Gait) was examined before the Committee, and at their desire he furnished them with at return of the then existing railways, and the cost of each, with their market value, so far as that could be ascertained. He divided them into two classes. The artt contained all the principal railways In the kingdom; thev were 40 in number, they had cost £ 69,680,01 0, and their market value was £ 76,734,000. Tne second Use con- tained all the railwajs in course of construction, and nearly completed, and cost then £ 8,160 000, and their value was £ 11 613 000 so that all the c»pital at that time invested in railway's amounted to £ 67,790,000, and its market value ttiaht be taken at £ 88,347,OOo. He now proposed to con- sider the terms of purchase by which the State was to buy a property that had cost nearly £ 600,0u0,000. He urged that the theory that the value of railways, or inde«d any other kind of property, could be estimated by the interest or dividend which it paid, was altogether erroneous. The Royal Commission, in their Report of 1867, and the Joint Committee in their Report of last year, state thitthe railways could not be purchased under the Act of 1841, and it might one day be worth considering if the market price could with justice to both parties, be made the standard of value' If an Act had been passed authorizing the Govern- ment to take the railways at their market price at a date previous to the time of purchase, with whatever bonus the Legislature might have thought proper to add, the Act would have had to provide for other matters besieet de- termining the market value of the shares. It would be necessary to have had the books of the companies examined, and also to ascertain if the prices quoted were genuine, and not the result of stock-jobbing operations. It would be im- possible under the Act for Government to purchase a single railway with the knowledge at the time of put chase of the sum which they might ultimately be called on to pay, as each company, in addition to tha 26 years' purchase of the profits, would of course make a large demand for their prospects." So they mlgtlt dismiss entirely any idea of compulsory purchase. Was there, he asked, any probability of the companies being willing to accept moderate terms for their property. Taking the returns of 1871, it was seen that the railways cost £ "63.000,000, of which sum £323,000,000 was debenture and preferenoe stock, and £ z30,i 00,000 ordinary stock, and that the sum distribited In profits that year was t:26. 740,000, or about 94 13s. per cent. on the invested capital ILie marktt value of the property, according to Mi. R B. Martin, who appearrd to have made a very liberal estimate, was £007,000,000 Now, according to the best authorities, they could not purchase that property tor less than 1,000 000,000. Mr. All port said it could not be purchased even for that sum and several other gentlemen of equally ^oud authority agreed with htm in that opinion, or, in other words, that the shareholders would not be satisfied with the payment of 400,000,000 sterling in lieu of oonaeqn.ntial profits." They might, therefore, also dismiss at once the iuea of pur- chase on such terms, and it must be remembered tiiat they were not in a position to enforce any terms lnoonsi«t»nt with the Act of 1844. They could well imagine, after their experience about the telegraph ^are-market, the effect which would be produced upon the Stock-Exchange by an authentic announcement that Government intended to recommend to Parliament the purchase by the State of all the railways in the United Kingdom. Taking the price paid for the tele- graphs alone, their market value, as a fair standard to regu- late the price which should be paid .or railways, a bonus of £ 400,000,060 would certainly be required. TLle railways of this country might one day be purchased by the State, but If ever that day should come it would be wten the position of parties was changed; when the directors of the companies must come to the Government, and not when the Govern- ment would be obliged to go to the directors It was generally known that a universal feeling prevailed throughout Ire- land that her railways should be purchased by the State, amalgamated under one system of management, and that a low and uniform tariff should be eatabit bed throughout the country. The capital invested in the Irith railways was £ 127,000,0t0, and paid at present about 4! per cent.; on the English railways it was about a hail per cent. more. Government had, however, lately expressed a deckled opinion against the policy of the Government under any circum- stances becoming a trader, and therefore declined to be in any wsy a party to the purchase of the Irish railways. But it would be hard to say whether the Iceling in Ireland in favour of the purchase of the rail *ays by tne State or the extension of the railway system was the stronger of the two. No one could question the right of the Legislature to authorize Government to c mstruct railways, and the asser- tion of these rights was particularly applicable to the state of Ireland There were 2,000 miles of railway completed, and it would take "kbout 1,200 more to complete the Irish railway Tystem. Ihose toes could not be constructed under rauway t hscanse there was no present proba- hi?ronh^S*6 per cent. but the counts through wh" h they would pass would only be too happy to be sup- nlted with railways, giving a guarantee on the county rates fh»t Government interests would be paid. In that case we ■hould establish in Ireland mixed system, as iu Belgium and Germany, by which the public miurt in England would be directed to the subject in a much more demonstrative form than was the case at present The English people possessed the abstract right to colistructtheir own railways, and when that right was practically asserted the claim ot jMOO 000,000 for consequential profits would disappear in the same way as the claim for the same amount had disap- peared for consequential damages. Bus to obtain that end the proper means must be used. In regard to a reform of our railway system, it had yet scarcely arrived at the first stage of existence, but one day it might become a living principle. Now it was a mere idea, but in the course of time that idea might be developed into a great plan recog- nized by the nation, adopted by the Legislature, and work- ing for the benefit of the whole community through all classes of society. -r#. A discussion ensued, in which Mr. Vignoles. Mr. Bramwcll, Mr. Cotterell, Mr. Elliott, Mr. J. H. Elliott, Mr. Say well, and Mr. Edwin Lawrence took part, and Mr. Edwin Chadwick, C.B., then moved the adjournment of the debate. Lord Derby, who on rising to speak was loudly cheered, aald —" My Lords and Gentlemen, as I have a Committee of the House of Lords to attend, which wilt make it impossible for me to be present at the adjourned debate, perhaps you will allow me to make a very few remarks on this occasion. I caroe here to listen rather than to lay down any propo- sition upon my own account. Everybody who has listened to the p»per which has been read and the debate which has ensued must feel that tuis is really an enormous question, and that we h»ve only been able to touch a very few points connected with it, and that it is a question whichi will no doubt be very often again before the Iherefore, every discussion even though slight and brief dition to our stock of information. I have not the slightest doubt, any more than the author of the paper, that if he public reaily want the railways purchased oy the State it is a th«ng which can done. (Hear, hear.) The °f price is not one which would present any insuperable ob- 1 stacle. No doubt it would be a veiy serious question and probably, as in the case of the telegraphs, we should find the State making a bargain which would be very advanta- geous to the sellers and not very advantageous to the pur- phasers Bat still it is a matter that could be settled, and I do not lay very much stress upon that diftlulty, nor do I say anythiug upen the general argument as to whether btate management is better or worse than that of individuals and oomnanies A very curious change has occurred with regard SoXt subject in public opinion within the last ffteen years. I recollect well the time of the Crimean War, when anybody would have been hooted down who, at a public meetinll, ventured to propose that anything which was a ■ that time in the hands of private persons or companies should be taken over by the State, There was at that time a ten- dency greatly toexaggeratethefaultsof Stite management and unduly to magnify the advantages of private management; but now the tide of public opinion has turned, and i think we are rather in danger of running into the opposite ex- trt me. But what I want the meeting to look at are the difficulties which really would have to befaeed before any euch gigantic change as that which has been proposed could ba made ? In the first place, is it a wise thing, without the very strongest necessity compelling you to do it, to make the State responsible for 600 or 800 millions of debt more than it is responsible for at present ? Now, it anvbody were to say that railways would be superseded, no doubt it would be a bold, if not a paradoxical, assertion but it is very difficult to fix a limit te the inventtve powers of mankind, and I do not think we are to recson with very perfect certainty en the present form and manner of railway communication being that which will be adapted as altogether final. You mcy nave very great differences uf gauge; you may have possibly to adopt locomotive power to common roads; joumay have various changes and processes which we do not now foresee, which may have the effect of exceedingly diruirii-ihing the value of the capital investe., in our present railway undertakings. And recollect, if you want an illustration, what would have happened if the State 60 years ago, yielding to arguments of the kind now brought forward in favour of the purchase of railways, had honghtupWl the canal property and had under taken to carry on the coachiag business of the country. It is perfectly clear that upon both those e^erprises there would have been an enormous loss incurred, not to mention what I only notice iu passiBg—that the State itself wou'd have been placed In a position m which there would have been the strongest possible inducement to check and prevent any alteration in the existing mode of communication. (Hear, hear) No doubt, if a change occurs now to any extent oii nursed lug our present railway system, that wiU be to a rlaBS of the community a very serious misfortune, and ,■? would cause a great destruction of capital and depreciation it would cause » gi misfortune which would fall IroS'Ei.,Z. tu sw. not a™* »•««■ »'.here 1.. P°i»« & £ It is all very well for the State to ^Sinu- latlve enterprises so long as you can rec ^ia—that OUB upward movement; hut you haye jo co national if any time, I don't say of national decline, hu diffimlty, were to come—for instance, if ral w y p were to fall off-that would be l^t the ta$ £ 1 the tlonal receipts from taxation would be falling tn in same manner; aud, therefore, if, ou the one hand the aaai tionlll responsibility which the State would have taken upon itself would, in time of prosperity, increase its resources, it i would, on the other hand, in a corresponding degree, Unrtto diminish its resources just at the moment when tne loss I would be most seiiously folt. (Cheers.) I "But apart from the question oflos3, Is it quite a wise thing to have so very large a portion of the public revenue as would required applied to pay off the Interest on debt? (Churs ) We cannot Ignore the rate at which national dtbts have grown up all over Europe and the civilized world, and they are growing still. Every ten years see the collective in- ftebtednesa of the great Governments of the world greater than in the previous ten years, and I have often been appre- t hensive that that tendency may conduee—I won't say here, » but In other countries—to very awkward results. Questions | may be raised which, In an abstract and speculative way, It Is not always very easy to deaJ with, as to the abstract right of the Legislature to tax posterity at d it is quite possible that all over Europe you may have schemes of partial repudiation dis cussed, and It will be held out to the people suffering under the pressure of taxation that they may relieve themselves from a good deal by reducing the interest on debt. I do not say I am seriously afraid of that feeling arising here, partly brciuse 1 think we have more seuse than our neighbours (iaughter), and partly because our hurdtns are comparatively mqe felt, but it quettioDS of that kind were generally raised throughout Europe, I do not know that it would be an ad- vantage to us in discussing them, to have to deal with a debt which would not be as it is now, excluding terminable annuities, little more than £ 7u0 0n0,000, but would be £ 1,200,0'Ji.COJ or £ 1,400,<>00,000. Whatever ri?k there may be, that risk would be infinitely greater if we had to pay the national creditor jMO 000,(00 of interest instead of having only to pay JM5 000,000 of interest. But pafsing from that part o! the subject, and looking at it as concerns the relations between the State and labour, I oo not exactly know whether it has been calculated how many persons would be directly em- ployed by the State, supposing the State to take over the railways, but the number would be undoubtealy se- veral hundred thousands, and the general result of It would be this—that the State would be by far the largest employer of labour in the country. Now, as we all know, questions between capital and labour have never been more keenly discussed than within the last few years, and hitherto it has always been the object of the State (and I think the State has succeeded pretty well in accomplishing Its object) to keep itself absolutely neutral and impartial as between employer and employed. Well, is it altogether a prudent thing, at a time when these questions are more likely to ne. raised than ever before, that the State should abanden that position of neutrality, and become itS.,U a deeply interested party on the side of the employer? (Cheers.) You woulli have the railway servants constituting an exeeedlngly powerful body, and you would have, pro; bably, demands on their part for higher pay and for shorter hours, and if those demands were resisted there would be great unpopularity and endless talk about the S ate, whose duty it was to set an example to other capitalists, setting a bad example instead of a good one, and if those demands were complied with-and I think the tendency would be in that direction—then you would find a large bole made in those profits which are so confident ly expected. (Cheers ) But that is not, to my mind, the gravest part of the question. The i eally serious part of it is—how would it be possible for the State, under the system proposed, to avoid exercising an enormous local patronage, which would affect every district and every town tnroughout the whole country ? (Cheers ) I am not talking now of the altogether minor question of the appoint- ment of railway servants. Of course there would be a great deal of small patronage in that way, and, with great respect to some who think otherwise, I do not imagine that with regard to a large portion of that patronage It would be possible to dispose of It by the favourite theory of competitive examina- tion. (Hear, hear.) I don't think you could quite carry tnat out in employments which require little more than mechani- cal or mai ual labour, and f you do not the patronage of the Government, or of the Eail way Board, will not be without its influence but that is but a very small part of the question of patronage generally. What I am afraid of is the dependence into which every town may be brought towards the ltailway Board or ad- ministrative body with whom the decision of questions rests with regard to the new lines that shall be constructed, with what new stations, and what extension of railway communication shall be effected. Every great town in the country in days of commercial prosperity might ask for extended railway accommodation, and it is perfectly clear that the requisitions of all could not be compiled with at the same time. It would be necessary that, a choice should be made, and I am afraid that thit choice might be governed by political pre- ferences at any rate, whether it was so governed or not, I am quite sure you would not get it out of the heads of the people tnat that as the case. And recollect that that is a control not over individuals, but over consti uencies as a whole, aud it is a coiatrol.which no extension of the franchise or the mode of taking votes will effect in the slightest oegree. You all know what that system of authority has done in continental countries We know that in France every public work, every public road, every bridge, and every public building is either constructed by the State or with its assistance at any rate. We all know, whether truly or falsely, that iu the days of Louis Philippe, and from that time to this, it has been continually said that the constituences which sent members lavourhble to the Government got their public works executed, and those who sent members who sat in Opposition got nothing. That was wholesale corruption, and I am afraid you would not find it very easy to keep clear of it here. (Cheers.) Of course you may con- stitute a Railway Board not dependent on the Minister of the day; but I think you will find that rather a difficult thing to do. A railway administration controlling a capital of 600 or TOO millions and having several hundred thousand I employes, and makingits influeace felt in every corner a, the country, will ba in itself so powerful that even if uetached altogether from the executive, it would be an imperium in imperii, and it you keep it with the executive you v. ill not find it easy to disconnect it from political party. (Cheers.) "Then there is th t question touched upon by Mr. Bram. well, as to its being the interest of the State under the system proposed to discourage the making of new lines. Of course, If tne same return can be obtained without giving Increased accommodation—that is to say, without an in- creased outlay of caplLal-lt will be very much to the advan- tage of the R ilway Board not to make these new lines _N ow, at present, clumsy and Imperfect as our system may be, there is to some extent a remedy against that danger It a company obstinately refuses to provide the accommodation in its dis trict whicu is required, some fresh company is quite sure to erasp at the chance, and whether that other company carries its Bill or not, at any rate the want of the district makes itself felt; and probably a good deal of accommodation is eivtn in that way, from the tear of cumpat tion, which would never be given at all if that compolit-oti were impossible. Of course, whtn the whole thing is in the hands of one central management there is an end of that, and the publie m general, exoectiuit to profit by the returns of the railway system, will be directly interested in not gtvuig that accom- modation to any particular district unless they think it is clearly made out beforehand that the line will give a good return. The same argument applies to the machinery and engineering improvements, and there would be a very strong tendency to settle down into one type from which it weula be very difficult to induce those who managed the matter to deviate. The question of canals, steamboats, and docks is also rather a serious one. It never will do to have the railways worked by a central Board so long as the canals which have to compete with them are in private hands. If the State buys the railways is must buy the canals also. Then, in the case of competition with the steamboats, there will be just the same complaint, and you will have pressure put upon you to take these steamboat companies also under Govern- ment control. Of oourse the same rule would apply also to docks. Whoever has the control of the railway system will have an enormous power in carrying traffic to the docks iu one place or in diverting it from docks in another, and you would very soon have it said that if the whole internal com- munication of the country is in the hands of the State it will not do for the docks to be left in private or local hands. The general conclusion at whieh I have arrived is, that although the objections which I have endeavoured to put before you may no doubt be capable of receiving an answer, still it does not seem to me that up to the present time they have been answered, and, that being so, I am in- clined to fall back upon that very haokueyed sentiment,- Rather bear those ills we have lhan fly toothers that we know not of.' (Laughter and cheers.-I will not detain you longer. If the process of amalgamation is to continue, and it the whole rail- way system of the country is to get into tne hands of six or teven great companies, that will to a certain extent alter the question, in so far that it will probably be necessary to have a greater amount of control and supervision by the State than has hitherto been thought necessary or desirable, be- cause in that case all semblance of competition wU have dis- appeared. I do not at all attempt tc predict what may come of that. I only say at present I do not think such a case has betn made out against our present system, and in favour of that which it is proposea to substitute, as would justify us in embarking on so enormous an undertaking as the douoiing of our National Debt, and placing the whole railway system in the hands of the State." (Cheers.) t

A BAD BITE-FOR THE ACTOR! A melancholy fracas has occurred at Indianapolis owing to an actor being bitten by a dog. It seems that there is an actor there of such exquisite proportion* tbat he is known as the Apollo Belvedere. He was walking in the streets the other day and exciting uni- versal admiration by the magnificent proportions of his limbs, when he accidentally stepped on the tail of a terrier dog who happened to oouoe across his path. The enraged animal immediately turned and bit the actor severely in the calf of the leg. The wounded man, however, stalked on apparently unconscious of the injury be had received until a bystander called his attention to the circumstance. He immediately stopped, and the utmost sympathy was felt for him and expressed by the spectators until to their amazement and horror they saw flowing from the wound-not a drop of blood-but a thin stream of sawdust. The incident naturally caused a painful sen- sation in the city, and was mentioned with kindly regret by one of the local papers. This annoyed the actor excessively, and announcing his intention to chastise the editor he proceeded to the office of that gentleman to carry out his intention but the musclefl of his arms proved as little formidable as the calvea of his legs, and after a short sharp struggle he was ig- nominiously kicked by the editor out of his room. Altogether he has sadly fallen in the estimation of the public, and it is understood he contemplates retire- ment from the stage—at all events for a time.

-.1- THE MARKETS. MARK-LANE —MOUDAY. Business at Mark-lane to-day has been restricted. The supply of English wheat has been limited, but the condition has been good. The demand has not been active neverthe- less, prices have been steady. A fair show of foreign wheat has been on the stands. Sales have progressed quietly, at about late rates. With barley the market has been moderately supplied. Transactions have not been large, hut prices have been well maintained. Malt has been firm, and quite as dear: A moderate supply of oats has been on offer. There has been a good demand, and prices have ruled firm. Maiz, has been rather steadier in tone; but the demand has not been active, aud supplies hrfve been larger. Beans have ruled at late rates. For peas a moderate inquiry has been experienced at steady currencies. Flour has sold on former terms. METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET—MONDAY. Owing to the warm weather and to the increased supplies offering, the cattle trade has been in a depressed state to-day, and prices have given way. The foreign supply of beasts has been chit fly composed of Spanish and Portuguese .took, there being about 1 0 Corunna and 278 Oporto stock on sale. Some of th<- se animals have been of excellent quality, and have been disposed of at remunerative prices. Amongst the other foreign imports have been 166 Dutch. From our own grazing districts a moderate supply has come to hand. From Scotland the receipts have been insignificant, but the quality has been gooa. Throughout the demand has bosa inactive and the tendency of prices has b;,en In favour of buyers. The best Soots and crosses sold at 6s td. to 6s 64, per 81b. From Norfolk, Suffolk, Eisex, and Cambridgeshire we received at-out 1,760 from Ui-colu about íO; and from other parts of England about 2..0 Scotland, 7 and Ireland. about 200 head. In the sheny market English breeds have not been freely offered, but there has been a fair show of foreign. With a dull trade, prices have declined 2d to 41., the best Downs and half-breds selling at 6s. 2d. to Ch, 44. per elba. Lambs have been dull at 7s. 6d. to 8s. 6d. per 8lbs C lives have changed hands quietly at about late rates. Pigs have bten nominally unaltered. At D pt- ford there have been about 200 beasts from Hamburg. Per 81b. to sink the ofial. s. <L s. d. s. d. s. d. Coarse and inf. beaste 5 4 5 8 Prime Southdown* 6 21 1 Second qualisy ditto 6 10 6 0 Large coarse calves 6 0 6 8 Prime large oxen 6 26 4 Prime tmall ditto 6 0 6 6 Prime Scots, cfec 6 2 6 6 Large hogs 4 4 4 10 Coarse and Inf. sheep 5 0 6 6 Small porkers. 6 0 6 8 Second quality ditto 5 8 6 0 Lambs .'7 6 8 ft. coarse wooilea 6 0 6 2. METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET. — MONDAY. The euppl es of meat un offer were short, but under the influ-nce of warmer weather, the trade was lew active, and prices in most instances favoured buyers :— Per 81b. by the carcase. s. d. s. a. i. d. s. d. Interior beef. S 8 4 4 Inferior mutton.. 4 0 6 0 Middling ditto 4 6 6 0 | Middling ditto 6 4 # t Prime large ditto & 4 6 10 Prime ditto. 6 19 6 4 Prime small ditto 6 10 6 2 Large pork 4 0 4 4 Vaal 6 0 5 8 Sno*ll pork 6 0 b 8 Lamb 6s 8d. to 7a 4d. Pickled herrings, 26s. Od. to83s! ditto, lMo 19JU 6d roused, ditto, 19b. to J0r. iresh 'ed haddock, 21s. to 30s. barrel; t^wl ditto^ trawl plaice, 18s. to 2»s. traT?.°fJ, ?; 5. to Ss 91 • cod 2s to 6a lobaoers, 9s. to 2s. 6d. crabs, 64. London, Monday, June 16 —The arrivals last week from Ireland were 286 ail(* M98 bales Bacon, and from foreign porta 31,0^4 packages butter, and 814 bales B-icon. With the exception of a tew small orders foi Carks, nothing doing i«i i™*1 Butter supplies of foreign are gooa and self steadily without any particular change In value. In Bacon there is not much change to notice. Some choioe f-hippers of Limerick are about is. to 2s. dearer best Water- ford maintains its price, second rate qualities can be had on easier terms. SEED. JONDON, Mocday, June 16 -Nothing passing In agricul- tural seeos to alt*r the value of a;>y sort. There are buyers of fine white Cloverseed, but business is checked by the prices demanded. WWe Mustardseed was sold in small lots at quite as much money, and there was some inquiry for flue bruwn samples, but none offering. The few inferior t arcel" on sale wer^ beld beyond the views of buyers, and no transactions consequently occurred Good Canarysted sold steadily at very full prices. Large Hrmpseed was quite as dear, with a fair demand. Ft reign Tares were un-tltered in value, with a limitt d sale. Fiue English Rapeseed was sale- able at fully as high rates. TALLOW. I CNDON, Monday, June 16 —There Is no material change to notice In ttie -fallow market. P. Y. C. f. quoted at ds. 8d. per cwt. on the spot, and. Town Tallow at 41s. net eaan. Rough Fat worth 2a. per 81bs.