The Aberdare Times

3X188 OF LORDS, May 19, Lord Cranbrook, amid •unoed the Intelligence that bases of peace had to with Yakoob Khan. of Morley, the Marquis of Salisbury il. no objection to produce the full text of e«sued by M. Waddington In reference to the theden and Campbell called attention to Article "'Lty of Berlin as It relates to the period during pupation of Bulgaria and East Roumella was moved for correspondence on the subject Government and other Powers. lUla 01 Salisbury admitted that the article was 1111 al11 bigUity, but an army of occupation could a KI0 Provlhces as speedily as a tenant could re- n°u»e. Until he had further considered the 69 on the subject he hoped It would not be £ en considered that the evacuation might have Mm!!? that the Government were in a better m whether a too precipitate withdrawal of 'er districts might have been attended iral IS n°t inclined to blame them for put- construction on the article referred to. attention to a return showing the con- efficiency and strength of the infantry menH m £ nBland to South Africa In February tad *i°?ed .that the state of things as regarded ex- oii? 'ue of the non-commissioned officers and |erT »>ot satisfactory, it appearing that, of er i«' 85 under 21 years of age, while 261 e not'f?Dd 87 were under 18. The regiments at I u .K ,on8 enough nor was British Ajrmy generally t •* snouid be. incurred in the observations "as to °f niaay of the men sent to South Africa, are v17 contended that although many of the SoldifUng» the remainder might be regarded as t alin* suggested that the Government ■t to accept the services ot those who, ike # *• wUhed to rejoin them. io v^u. Cwnbrldge thought the Reserve might be j-OMinteer to fill up the strength of short regi- ed ■Ai5?rt",6rvlce system would never give such ■waters as had been obtained under the longer 'th&t't?*ther discussion, In which Lord Cranbrook j return showed that men between the age WeU „enty-flve years eDjoyed as good health and men Ave years older, the subject dropped. >Urn«l?*^??** having been disposed of, their Lord- ea at ten minutes to eight o'clock. OF COMMOHS, the Chancellor the Exchequer that01^ much cheering from the Ministerial ngth* te'egr*m had been received from the Vlce- « that a basis of peace with the Ameer had been I ry*J° 101,1 E- Fltzmaurice, the O'Conor Don said rt V/.jeason to believe that his Irish University teUiir* order on Wednesday, and if so he oa y move the second reading. Mr. M'Laren Jl, ta*t he will then move a Resolution condemn- LIMA UDJUlt and impolitic, because it proposes to educational institutions of one particular "PProprlate the Irish Church surplus which Vo by Parliament to other purposes, and de- er, that the subject ought not to be dealt with notice. I** to Sir c. Mills, Mr. E. Stanhope said that the ^ns offered in India for the Four-and-a-Half per to six crores and 70 lacs of rupees, and U0? £ f WM four crores and five lacs, at the rs £ A. Mills, Mr. Bourke stated that her Pem ^pent had offered its good offices both to a view to the adjustment of the dif- •ween them. f^n^er business the House went into Committee Class t?t SI711 Service Estimates, and the first 16 ~}1' (Law and Justice) were agreed to. 8wd of the Budget Bill being moved, 111 J^te moved a resolution declaring that the binding any treaty engagement Untll fi.il control of Parliament over the tig jjjT'JInformatloti has been laid before It and set v. ,,an opportunity of dlsousilng it. Wisdom *"?> WM to secure for the cera- ity 0j <^d experience of the country the ent P'essure to bear on the •WedL tbe Commercial Treaty with France M^rfewing the history ot the ori- ginal Treaty, he showed how Parliament was almost sur- prised into a policy which had ever since fettered our fisoal system. At that time, moreover, there was an expeetatlon that other nations would reciprocate the changes we then made In our tariff, but now the tendency was all In the direction of a protective policy. Sir W. Lawson made some observations on the general foreign policy of the Government, and seconded the resolu- tlod because he thought it would tend to strengthen the control of Parliament. After some further discussion, in which Mr. McIver, Mr. Pease, and Mr. Hubbard took part, Mr. Bourke, replying to Mr. Newdegate, said the Govern- ment would be happy to receive Information from members of Parliament and from all commercial bodies which could assist them in negotiating the new Treaty. But about the value of the Treaty they had ne doubt, and to illustrate its advantages he quoted the Trade Returns, showing that the exports had increased from £ 180,000,000 In 1869 to £ 199,600,000 in 1877. Moreover; the great increase had occurred In our trade with the countries with which we had treaties, while It had stood still in the non-treaty countries. If the French Treaty were abolished to-morrow, our goods would fall under the general tariff, and 20 per cent. additional duty would immediately be levied on them. The negotiations were now going on, ana It had been agreed that the present Treaty shall continue In force for six months after the promulgation of the new general French tariff; but the Government, though ready to receive any information or advice, could not assent to this resolution, which would destroy all Ministerial responsibility. The resolution was then withdrawn, and the Bill was read a second time. Some other Bills were forwarded a stage, and the House adjourned at five minutes to two o'clock.

WILD FIRING. Ignoramus writes to The Times Sir,—I am surprised that so little notice has been taken of the comparatively small results obtained by our much vaunted arms of precision. At Ginghilova the Iobs of the enemy has been esti- mated at from 500 to 1,000. Taking the higher num- ber, and reckoning our own troops at 5,000, it took five men fixing away for an hour and a half to kill one Zulu. Even at Rorke's Drift, in a twelve hours' combat, most of it at close quarters, 130 Englishmen slew 500 of the enemy, or about four a-piece What an amount of wild firing and enormous waste of ammunition does this suggest t The British soldier is a costly and valuable machine, and no pains should be spared to make him a cool and skilful marksman.

THE SUNDAY SOCIETY. A meeting of the above society, the object of which is to obtain the opening of musewns, art galleries, libraries, and gardens on Sundays, was hew in London last Saturday, at the Freemasons' Tavern," Sir Henry Thompson, the pre- sident, in the chair. All the seats in the great hall appeared to be filled. Among those on the platform were the Earl of Dunraven, K.P., Lord Dorchester, the Hon, J. C. Dundas, M.P., Sir Arthur Hobhouse, K.C.8.I., Mr. George Godwin, Mr. James Heywood, and the Rev. H. R. Hawels. A short statement of the work accomplished by the society since the last general meeting was read by the bon. secretary, Mr. Mark H. Judge. The chairman, in his address, said that although for nearly twenty years past he had been a silent supporter of the society,this was the first occasion on which he had ventured to advocate their views of Sunday observance in a public manner. He claimed for the views put for- ward by this society that they were not only religious, but essentially Christian; and he would go further and assert, at all events for himself, that if he believed the freedom of action which they desired to enjoy on Sunday was prejudicial to the religious and moral progress of the people, and conduced only to their physical well-being, he should not have been pre- sent on that occasion. In the first place, then, they desired that Sunday in this country should preserve its grand and distinguishing characteristic as a day of rest; and they sought to preserve this national institu- tion, to establish it on a surer basis, by increasing its utility and adapting it more fully to the wants of a changing society. Proceeding to define what he understood by rest, he said that for workers of every kind the rest needed was in no single instance to be obtained by devoting an entire day in seven to attempts to concentrate the mental faculties on reli- gious subjects, or to arouse the religious senti- ments by special exercises. To the majority he did not hesitate to affirm, whatever they might dare either to say to others or confess to themselves, that it was a tedious and wearisome day, the close of which was welcomed as a relief. Secondly, they desired that the people of this country should on Sunday possess the means of increasing their intel- ligence and obtaining topics of interest and thought at present beyond their reach. He next adduced arguments to reassure the minds of those who feared the introduction of the Continental Sunday," point- ing out that there had been a great change within the last thirty-five years in the mode of passing Sunday in France, Belgium, and Italy, although museums and art galleries were opened in those countries on that day. The first resolution, among other things, expressed satisfaction with the large amount of support given in the House of Lords on the 5th inst. to a proposal for opening certain museums, &c., on Sunday. In supporting the resolution, Lord Dunraven said that of the majority of eight who voted against Lord Thurlow's motion four were bishops, who might possibly be somewhat prejudiced on the question. It was said that some of the working class did not wish to go to the British Museum on Sunday but that was surely no reason why those who did wish to enter should be kept out. The society wished to see a day of rest, not a day of absolute idleness and drunken- ness. With regard to another argument brought against them, he would remark that there did not seem to be the least danger that the British working man would want to work on Sun- day, for there seemed to be great difficulty to get him to work on week days. With reference to the labour that would be caused by the opening of the galleries he would only say that there were more persons employed on Sunday in bringing out one newspaper for Monday morning than would be required to attend all the gal- leries in the metropolis. The Rev. H. R. Haweis and others spoke in favour of the resolution, which was oarried without dissent, as was another proposed by the Hon. J. C. Dundas, M.P., in the following words :— That this meeting maintains that the Prime Minister Is not justified in assuming that it would be in opposition to the wishes of the people to extend to the metropolis those opportunities for instruction and recreation which can now be enjoyed in the suburbs; this meeting, therefore, calls upon the members of mechanics' institutes, workmen's clubs, trade societies, and other organizations to appoint delegates to represent them on the National Council now in course of formation by the Sunday Society, in order that it may be demonstrated beyond all question that public opinion demands the opening of the national collections in the metropolis on Sundays; and this meeting calls upon the electors throughout the country to give due prominence to the question in selecting candidates for the coming general election."

CHOLERA IN INDIA. The Calcutta Correspondent of The Times writes :— Cholera has been making fearful havoc among the pilgrims returning from the Hurdwar fair and is being spread by them through Northern India. It is asserted that between 20,000 and 30.000 hill- men from the Himalayan districts near Nynee Tal died on their homeward journey. Several cases, most of them fatal, appeared among the 15th Hussars almost immediately after their arrival at Meerut from Candahar, and it is supposed that the outbreak is due to some men having travelled from Mooltan in railway carriages which had been used by infected pilgrims. The disease has appeared in most cities ef the Punjab, and the fear of the spread of the epidemic to Peshawur has induced the authorities to remove the greater portion of the garrison there. The Government might well consider whether it is not time to put an entire stop to those great religious fairs, seeing that they almost invariably form centres whence pestilence spreads throughout the country, and that the effective sanitary control of the masses of pilgrims assembled is almost impossible.

TELEGRAPHY. In London, on Monday evening, at the Society of Arts, Mr. W. H. Preece gave the concluding lecture of the course of Cantor lectures on telegraphy. It was devoted to an explanation of the automatic system of fast-speed telegraphy, which is so largely adopted by the Postal Telegraph Department. There are 250 Wheatstone transmitters and 370 receivers in use. The beautiful mechanical construction of the ap. paratus is due to Mr. Stroh. The average rate of working in 1876 was 70 words per minute, but owing to the improvements made by the officers of the department in the electrical parts of the apparatus, the average rate has been increased to 130 words per minute. There is no town in the United Kingdom publishing a daily paper that is not in dirtlot communi- cation with London and that has not its news sent principally by this system. Mr. Preece dwelt especi- ally on the fact that England is not behind any other country in telegraphic development, and is not depend- ent on other countries for inventions and improve- ments. A vote of thanks to the lecturer was proposed by Mr. F. Bramwell, F.R.S., a member of the council, and carried with applause.

WOMEN IN MALE ATTIBE.-Many instances are related of women having passed themselves off as men, and amongst the most remarkable cases on record is perhaps the case of Hannah Snell, who appears to have been one of the most determined of these mas- queraders. She was born at Worcester in the year 1723, her father being a hosier, who brought up a family of nine children, three sons and six daughters -all of whom (except one daughter) became either sailors or soldiers, or intermarried with them. Hannah married a sailor, but was deserted by him; and she then conceived the idea of dressing herself in a man's attire, and following the man who had so ill-used her. Having gained the necessary costume, she enlisted in one of the line regiments, but subsequently deserted and joined the marines. She was ordered with the rest of the regiment to embark in the Swallow sloop for the East Indies, and during the voyage there was no duty, however dangerous, that Hannah Snell shrank from performing. She also took an active part, on her arrival, in the warthen going on, and soon gained a reputation for courage and intrepidity. She received a wound which she feared would compel her to disclose her sex, but with wonderful fortitude she extracted the ball herself, and with the aid of a black woman who had access to lint, salve, and other necessaries, she managed to cure herself. After encountering a variety of dangers and adventures that would fill a volume, Hannah returned to Europe but the ship putting in at Lisbon, Hannah by chance fell into the company of some sailors, from whom she accidentally learnt that they had known her husband, and gave her the parti. culars of his death-which had been an ignominious one. In due time Hannah arrived at Portsmouth, where she threw off her male attire, and resumed the petticoats she had so long abandoned. Her story got noised about, and a petition being presented to the king, a pension of one shilling a day was settled on her for life. She was invited to make her appearance at a theatre in London; and ultimately she set up a public- house at Wapping, by which she realised a large profit. She died in me year VTI9,

EXECUTION IN MANCHESTER. On Tuesday morning, at eight o'clock, William Cooper, who was condemned to death at the last Manchester assizes for the murder of Ellen Mather, a barmaid, at Bolton, was executed in the Salford Hundred Prison. Since his condemnation, Cooper has repeatedly confessed his guilt and acknowledged the justice of his sentence. He has been attended by the Rev. J. Draper, the chaplain of the prison. Owing to the decision of the high Bhenff the execution was strictly private, the press not being ad- mitted. Marwood was the executioner, and the con- demned man, who was Btated to have passed a quiet night, died instantaneously. He was Blim built, and a very long drop was given to him. A small crowd assembled outside the prison and witnessed the raising of the black flag.

ThE BISHOP OF PETERBOROUGH ON ART. The 64th anniversary dinner of the Artists' General Benevolent Institution was held in London at Willis's Rooms on Saturday. The Bishop of Peterborough presided. There was a large oompany of noblemen and gentlemen, the num- ber present being about 370. The Right Rev. Chairman gave the usual loyal toasts. In proposing the next toast he said,—I am not sure what will be said of me, a man of peace and a member of a peaceful profession, and by birth and nationality, as you will please to remember, averse from all contention (laughter), if I venture to propose The Army, the Navy, and the Reserve Forces. Still, will you allow me to say that it is seally in my capacity as a man of peace that I offer this toast, be. cause, being, as I have said, naturally averse from fighting, I have a very great respect and admiration for those who do my fighting for me? (Laughter.) While human nature is what it is there must be some fighting done in this world, and I am humbly of opinion that it is as lawful for a nation to de- fend itself, its rights and its property, as it is for an individual to do so. (Cheers.) And I venture to think that those very peaceful gentlemen who are very anxious for the disbanding of our army and the dis- mantling of our navy, and who will doubtless to- morrow or the next day-for Sunday is a day of rest- denounce me as a Bishop who has been advocating bloodshed (laughter), might well try a little disband. ing and dismantling on their own account. They might carry out their own principles to the extent of taking the loek off their area gate and re- 2nesting the policeman on his beat to ignore leir house. (Renewed laughter.) I think the re- sult would be that having got rid Vf the armed protector of property and life, which, after all, is what our army and our navy are, the next thing you would hear would be that there would be an invasion of that particular house in the shape of the burglars; and next that the owner of the house, a late convert to the principle of fighting in defence of life, had bought a revolver; and the next thing would be that, not being very skilled in the use of deadly weapons, he had grievously hurt himself or seme innocent member of his family in consequence of the revolver going off by accident. (Laughter.) I think if we did disband our army and dismantle our navy, the next thing would be a burglarious invasion of the country, and then we should all turn soldiers in the last resort, bishops and clergy included, and some of us not being very skilful soldiers, we might hurt ourselves or somebody else. (Renewed laughter.) Gentleman, I prefer the army and the navy. (Cheers.) I believe that war has its virtues as well as peace. (Cheers.) Within the last few weeks in places where our forces are engaged in defending the honour and the possessions of Great Britain, we have seen instances of the virtues of war-of its heroism, its discipline, and its sacrifice of life for the sake of others-that are very noble, and that demand the admiration of all of us. (Cheers.) When I read of the heroism of those two youths, Bromhead and Chard (loud cheers); when I heard of a gallant officer compelled to flee for his life from an overwhelming horde of savages stopping to help a poor wounded bandsman of his regi- ment, or of a military surgeon stopping to bind up the wounds of a dying man and sacrificing his life in so doing, I was disposed to take off my hat to my brother preachers who had preached a lesson of heroism Britain, we have seen instances of the virtues of war—of its heroism, its discipline, and its sacrifice of life for the sake of others—that are very noble, and that demand the admiration of all of us. (Cheers.) When I read of the heroism of those two youths, Bromhead and Chard (loud cheers); when I heard of a gallant officer compelled to flee for his life from an overwhelming horde of savages stopping to help a poor wounded bandsman of his regi- ment, or of a military surgeon stopping to bind up the woundB of a dying man and sacrificing his life in so doing, I was disposed to take off my hat to my brother preachers who had preached a lesson of heroism and courage and self-denial I should not be ashamed to preach from my pulpit. (Cheers,) w The Right Rev. Chairman also proposed "Prosperity to the Artists' Genera Benevolent Institution." In the course of his speech he said :—"I imagine that the great aim of art in the first place is to please, and to make those who contemplate your works for the moment happy. I am very far from saying it may not have higher aims, and that you may not desire to instruct and elevate. But, after all, unless you please in the first instance, you will not instruct and elevate. (Hear, hear,) Therefore, in order to in- struct you begin with pleasing, and it is your very great privilege that you very largely increase the happiness of the age in which you live. (Hear, hear.) And let me say that all those who do so purely and nobly confer a real benefit upon the age; Whatever takes us out of our- selves and throws us back into the past or forward into the future, or gives us nobler or more graceful or more beautiful ideas of the age in which we live and the nature by which we are surrounded, does us good, if it makes us pass a few happier hours and relieves us from the weary monotony and the heavy pressure and the drudgery of life. In that respect I do think yeu confer a very great and a very deep benefit upon the world at large. I am sure that yofti do this in all the branches of art-painting, sculpture, and architecture—which I see represented here to- day. I am quite sure when you gentlemen who are painters give us upon our walls a bit of imprisoned sunshine that lasts all the year round, through the gloomy winter season of ours, we feel the satisfaction of that, and when you give us the grass that is always green and the foliage that is always quivering in its beauty in the breeze, and that we can find there at all times; and when you gentlemen, sculptors, give us those enduring forms of beauty that always command our attention and breathe repose into our life; and when you gentlemen, architects, in the midst of the great dreary highways of our great cities, give ub the beauty of external form and of internal harmony and proportion, you make our lives pleasanter, happier, more gracious, more refined." The Bishop then proceeded to refer to the Influence of art, and the enjoyment he personally derived therefrom, in allu- sion to which he observed that he had himself purchased some years since a painting from the Academy, which, although portraying but a few trees, a glimpse of a stream, and a bit of sunset, taken on,the Thames, yet fully conveyed the Idea of exquisite repose and peace and rest. His lord- ship continued :— "I assure you that sometimes when I am wearied with work, vexed, perhaps, by a correspondence with some clergyman who is not blessed with a sense of im- plicit obedience to his bishop (laughter), or perhaps, by a question of the colour of some vestment worn by one who has an artistic eye (a laugh), I come out and look at this picture, which seems to me to mirror the stream of life as it draws peacefully towards its evening. There is something in it that rests and suits me, and, if you will believe me, at that moment a curate might play with me with safety. (Loud laughter.) Let me thank you, in the name of the outer world, not merely on behalf of those who may be able to indulge in the luxury of a beautiful painting, but on behalf of those whose homes are not unfamiliar to me as one bound especially to care for the poor; let me thank you for the beauty, for the grace, for the enjoyment that art pours into the home of the poor man in our English life. I do not suppose there is any nation that feels more the charm, the grace, the repose, the enjoyment that art brings into domestic life than does the poor man, the artisan in this Eng- land of ours, with the gray weary monotony, with the hard toil, with something, as it may be, of the dull Philistinism which some are wont to discover in the nature of the uncultured Englishman. I believe that you do an immense kindness when your works, by the skill of the engraver or the humbler art of the photo- grapher, find their place on the walls of the poor man and give a grace and beauty to his life of toil. (Hear, hear.) We are always glad and think it a hopeful sign when we come to a poor man's home and see flowers in the garden and pictures or engravings on the walL It seems to us there is something there that raises the poor man above his daily toil and has elevated him one step in civilization, refinement, and happiness. Then on behalf, gentlemen, of the public, whose happiness you so largely augment, I am here to-night to thank you and requite, as far as my poor words can do so, the debt of gratitude we owe you. Though I have spoken of the gratitude of the public, I am afraid the public is not always mindtul of the gratitude it owes. I do not think the English people are naturally an ungrateful people, but they are a very hurried and busy people and are apt to enjoy the results presented to them, and not to give much serious thought or consideration to the pains, the care, the efforts of those who produoe these results. I am afraid that is true in other matters than the world of art. Those who enjoy a book are not always mindful of the anxieties in the mind of the unhappy author, or of the proof sheets and the settling of the account with the publisher. (Laughter.) I am afraid an ungrateful and irreverent public does not sufficiently appreciate the care and the labour and the effort that produce a bishop's charge. (Renewed laughter.) I think it is quite possible there may be some here to-night who are not sufficiently grateful for the pains and the anxieties of the hanging committee of the Academy. There are unrequited and forgotten labours in the world, and I fear that as we enjoy some masterpiece of art, or some work which is not a masterpiece, but which is, nevertheless, beautiful and pleasing, the artist is too often forgotten in the work." The right rev. prelate then referred to the Ideal artist as described in works of fiction, and went on to say :— The real artist is one who is engaged in a laborious, in an anxious, in a painstaking profession, which, like all other professions, must have not only its successes, but sometimes its failures, and always its struggles. The struggles of the artist rising to eminence, the harder and more painful struggle it may be, of the artist who has failed to attain the eminence that rose before his youthful vision, and finds himself in mature years slowly but gradually descending the hill of life, content to take a humbler position than he once pictured to himself as his own future-we should remember that for such men there must be trying, anxious, distressful momenta in life, whether they are on the high road to success or whether they are upon the descending road to failure, or even walking along that middle road of moderate success, for successful progress in which at least, the artist gives his health, his strength, and an unclouded and unanxious mind. I remember reading in one of the charming stories of one who once presided here, but who has now passed away-the great artist of words, Dickens-the story of a poor man who describes him- self as living in an uncomfortable and dilapidated house, which, he said, the artists like to sketch, he supposed because there was always fine weather in their pictures. I believe there is often glowing sun- shine and a cloudless sky in the picture of many an artist on whose life clouds have gathered and the storms of adversity are beating." The Bishop in conclu- sion, made an earnest appeal on behalf of the needy brethren of the chisel, brush, and pencil, to whose artistic labours the public are indebted for so much innocent and elevating pleasure. I

The Italians proposed to celebrate, next November, the 1,800th anniversary of the destruction of Pompeii and Herqntantnm. The most eminent arch»ologi«t* have been Invited to attend.—A

THE CYCLE OF THE SEASONS. Upon the above subject, The Times publishes the foUow- ing letter :— Sir,-There can be no reasonable doubt that a cycle of the seasons exists, though its precise period has yet to be ascertained. A lengthened investigation has, however, satisfied me that the cycle is about 11 years. Thus every 11 years drought and heat are experienced, usually of three years' duration-that is to say. the drought recurring in three consecutive summers. Such a period of drought is now apparently at hand, and the summer ot 1879 may be expected to be very similar to that of 1868. Although the calculated period may be assumed to be 11 years (from the commencement of one drought to that of the next) certain disturbing influences operate from time to time, and occasionally accelerate or retard the return of these droughts by one or two years. One striking fact to be specially observed is that the periods of extreme heat and cold are grouped together. The records of remarkable droughts and frosts, which have been handed down to us by the chroniclers, show that great droughts have usually been preceded by severe frosts and as frequently fol- lowed by frosts of greater or less severity-that is to say, in the maj ority of instances, se far back as we may trace, all the extremes of temperature are in groups of some- where about five years, followed by a like period in which the heat and cold are not excessive. In this series of years,% midway between these periods of ex- cessive heat and cold, when the weather is more or less free from frosts in winter, and from droughts and heat in summer, we have, for example, from 1469 to the present time scarcely any drought recorded in the fourth, fifth, and sixth years after the computed com- mencement of what may be termed the drought period. In many instances the severe winter has preceded the first year's drought by a period of less than six months, and this is therefore a further proof that the summer of 1879 will, in all probability, be one of heat and drought. In former days a famine was the natural conse- quence of a time of drought, so that a record of famine is almost a sure indication of a drought. Indeed it will be obvious that a time of scarcity would be re- garded as a far more important oecurrencethan a mere meteorological phenomenon, and hence famines are frequently recorded in chronicles when droughts are ignored. In the absence of any long continued series of exact meteorological observations, it is obviously difficult to discover the precise number of days constituting.. cycle of the seasons, and to do this it is likewise requisite to ascertain what may supply the disturbing element, whether planetary or otherwise, affecting any particu- lar period and resulting in altering the duration or modifying the extremes of temperature. If we assume that the drought of 1868 came at its appointed time, then the droughts of 1857, 1791, 1714, 1635,1626,1538,1516,1406,1285, and 1021 likewise came at the appointed time and upon the same hypthesis we may conclude that the droughts of 1845, 1834,1779, 1757, 1746, 1724, 1691, 1669, 1614, 1361, 1350, 1251, 1130, 1086, and 987 were accelerated one year; and that the droughts of 1825, 1704, 1583, 1528, 1473, 1429, 1341, 1242, and 1121 were retarded by one year. And again the droughts of 1800 1635, 1503, 1393, 1228, and 1151 were accelerated two years, while those of 1573, 1375. 1276, and 1177 were retarded a like period. Thus between the years 1230 and 1868 in 54 periods we have 46 droughts re- corded as Commencing within two years of the ap- pointed time. But if we take the year 1862 (midway between the assumed years of recurring droughts) in 43 periods we have as many aa 35 instances where the drought does not occur within from three to five years of this epoch, and of this number there are 18 in- stances, when there are no droughts nearer than five years to this starting point; while if we take 1868 as the assumed year, we havescarcely an instance of the drought commencing as much as five years from the appointed time. The following are instances of great frost ocourr- ng immediately before a great draught :-1811, 1799, 1779, 1758, 1746, 1691, 1680, 1678, 1669, 1658,164S, 1635, 1625, 1614, 1598, 1572, 1537, 1515, 1250, 1241, 1221, 1176, 1151, 1142, 1121, 1096. 1086, 1035, 1020, 987, 774, and 757-i.e., there are 32 frosts in 58 periods occurring immediately before a drought. There are 27 instances of the drought continuing at least for three consecutive years, and of this number 16 occur in the last 27 epochs. A further proof that the cycle of the seasons is 11 years is shown if the periods are arranged so that 100 years intervene-(i.e, by taking every ninth period). We then find that for several years the droughts repeat themselves every 100 years, thus :-1800, 1700, 1600 1815, 1715, 1615; 1826, 1726,1626; 1836, 1736, 1636 1857, 1757, 1657; 1777, 1679, 1479; 1791, 1691, 1591, 1492, 1393, 1293, 1103. These droughts and frosts extend over a considerable area, and there is evidence that the maximum intensity is not necessarily repeated over the same tract of land. Droughts occur in India at about the same time as they are experienced here, for we have recorded that they were felt in India in 1877, 1866, 1860, and 1861, 1837 and 1838, 1824 and 1825, 1812, 1813, and J 814, 1802, 1803, and 1804, 1790 and 1791, 1781, 1782, 1783, 1784, and 1769 and 1770. At the present epoch in 1879 we have recorded a great drought in 1877 and 1878 in Australia and China, and in 1878 in Cape Colony, Barbary, and Morocco.— I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant, E. J. LoWE. Hlghfleld House Observatory, Nottingham.

The Times has a leader on Mr. Lowe's letter, from which we quote the following extracts At a time when there Is no startling discovery to pre- occupy the mind, and when the electric light has recoiled for a more vigorous advance, the public will be the less indis- posed for an important and promising path of inquiry which requires the careful study of our weather tables for a good many centuries back. Like a sound philosopher and a true man of business, Mr. E. J. Lowe is for one thing at once. He addresses liimsell to the simple question whether there be or be not a cycle of the seasons. Even te ascer- tain that much, and to establish either that there is a cycle sufficiently definite to be depended on, or that there is not, would be of great use to those who care to look ahead In husbandry or in trade. The fact of a cycle once placed beyond doubt, and its general character ascertained, we might then proceed te the lntereetlng and curious questions of causes and conse. quences. Some of our correspondents have felt so sure that certain regular vicissitudes of drought and frost have to do with the spots on the sun and our commercial distresses, that they have hardly been content to try the atmospheric question on Its own grounds. Calling all the witnesses into court, they have invited sun spots, drought, and commercial failnres to corroborate one another and prove matters not always clear on the evidence of any one. Mr. Lowe confines himself to the weather. There Is nothing unphllosophlcal In the idea of a cycle, If it be only supported by observa- tion. Time enters very largely into the constitution of man and the universe he lives in., for there is nothing that hus not its bounds of time. There may then fairly be supposed a general product of these times, with Its regular periods and its exceptions. Such a belief would at least be agreeable to what Is known beyond doubt. If we have months and years, and physical vicissitudes in man as well as nature arising out of them, why may there not be terms of years or cyolestl Mr. Lowe sees good reason for assuming eleven years to be the cycle of the seasons. It happens to be the third of a generation, as a generation is the third of a century; and if Mr. Lowe is right, we shall find ourselves very pleasantly on the way to a calendar of appointed seasons and times. If there be a cycle of seasons lasting eleven years, then it will be the fairest term of a lease. The tenant will be lure of six ordinary years, and of three years liable to drought, one of them certainly a very bad year. He will know when he is approaching the five years of uncertainty. If one passes over without anything remarkable, he will know that worse may be coming. If the next year, too, proves an agree- able disappointment, he must gird his loins and set his house in order, for the drought will come at last with interest. It will not be a disaster, for, like night or the flow of the tide, it will be periodical. With the proviso that droughts may be accelerated or retarded by quickening or obstructing in. fluences that we know or are ignorant of, Mr. Lowe conceives that he has made out his cycle of eleven years. We could wish that he had found it possible to agree with the bolder inquirers who have established, quite as much to their own satisfaction, cycles of 10466, 1046, and 11-11 years- but It is to be considered that the periodical recurrence Is not that of one drought, or obo bad year, but of five years specially liable to contain within them three consecu- tive years of drought more or less. We are promised the periodical return of six years in which we need not trouble ourselves much about the weather. If not good they will not be ruinous. But then there will be five consecutive years in which we may expeet the worst, and still more 11 year after year passes without the worst coming. It will come at last, but in the five years which henceforth it will be proper to mark dangerous" In the almanack. Mr. Lowe has sufficient confidence in the virtual uni- formity of his cycle to warn us of a drought, and conse. quently bad harvest and subsequent distress, this present year. He does not stake everything on this prediction, for be admits irregularities, but he plainly says we are very likely to have a drought this year. It would not very materially affect the hay crop, but it would the pasturage after the hay crop has been got in, and it would seriously injure the wheat and other grain crops. especially on the light soils. Farmers are now in a bad way, and they would be In a far worse way by next September should Mr. Lowe's forecast prove unhappily true. Going back eleven years, he comes to the terrible drought of 1868, which was computed to be a loss of fifty millions to this country. Going eleven years further he lands us In the drought of 1867. The next undecimal epochs are 1846 and 1836, but the droughts actually occurred in 1845 and 1834, accelerated by some unknown cause, as winds and currents may bring a ship to port some time before due. On the other hand, the drought of 1825 came a year overdue, retarded by some unknown cause. Mr. Lowe goes back more thau a thousand years, and finds, not always droughts by name, but their terrible consequences in famine, recurring with a sufficient approximation to the cycle to encourage him to claim them as proofs of his theory. By taking several great droughts and passing on to the ninth next recurring, he finds drought repeating Itself at the regular interval of a century. Thus 1800. 1700, 1600, he says, were years of drought; so also 1816, 1716, and 1616: 1826, 1726 1626; 1836, 1736, 1636, which would make the disturbing' causes themselves reeur with a regularity admitting of calculation. The drought, he observes, may be regular as regards its general incidence, but may hit our part of the world a year earlier and another later. Indeed, that now due has already done Its work in India, Australia, China; and still earlier in Cape Colony, Barbary, and Morocco. As in a well known grammar the exceptions are more prominent than the rule. and while they are duly accounted for the rule almost disappears. Mr Lowe deserves our admiration for his courage. He has thrown down his challenge. A drought is due, he says such a drought, indeed the same^rought^, as that of which we have heard such fearful accounts in the East and In Australia, where it has cost the deaths of ten million sheep and the great ^^oratlon of 1the remaining thirty millions. Let our agriculturists look to it, and provide against the want of a What they are to do is not easy to say. They have gone on wasting the water which heaven has been lavishing on them to the last moment, and when the windowS 01 beaven are closed against them they will only look up to Mr. Lo we's prophecy now prove correct, it may 1?8 £ e °f water on a scale worthy of the Immense capital In agriculture, and the still larger interest of the British people in its prdsperity.

Bouqobt or Compliments.—Here is a bouquet of compliments?— Jl here are but two fine things in the world," says Malherbes, women and roses.' Lessing exclaims, a18 masterpiece of the uni- verse,' Burdon says, The pearl is the image of parity, but woman is purer than the pearl." Thackeray writes, A good woman is the loveliest flower tH&t blooms under heaven. Balzac says, "Even the errors of woman spring from their faith in the good." Voltaire # reasonings of men are not worth one sentiment of woman." Lamartine asserts that "women have more heart and imagination than Men." Otway exclaims, "0 woman I lovely woman! Nature made Abee to temper man; we had been t f^r^n i/vf' ^T°wbich Muk Twain adds, ^hwe" Wftsbould 1)9 nothing, for we should not

MB. GLADSTONE AND THE LATE DR. DUFF. In London, on Friday evening in last week, a compli- mentary dinner was given at the Westminster Palace Hotel to Dr. George Smith, the biographer of Dr. Alexander Duff, who was well known in connection with the Scottish missions to India. Mr. Pirie Duff presided; and amongst those present were Mr. Gladstone, Sir George Campbell, M.P., General Colin Mackenzie, C.B., Sir J. Fayrer, Sir W. Muir, Colonel Yule, Dr. Chevers, M. J. F. Leith, M.P., and Dr. Mouat. On the removal of the cloth, Mr. Gladstone rose to propose "The Memery of Dr. Duff." He said that he felt it would be impertinent to endeavour to do justice to the sentiment, as it opened a number of con- siderations of the profoundest interest and of very wide range. Dr. Smith had already supplied them with most valuable materials towards forming an esti- mate of the distinguished and admirable man whom he had named, but his work was not yet completed, and even if it were completed, he (Mr. Gladstone) felt it would be wrong on his part to endeavour to convey even a faint idea of it to those who were there assembled. They were gathered there that night not as members of a particular church, or of particular religious communities, but at the same time he believed they felt their sympathies could not be, and ought not to be, altogether confined within the limits of those denominations or societies to which they might respectively belong. He for one should be very slow indeed to claim credit for depreciating the importance of what were called denominational dis. tinctions, "and he confessed that in viewing the present state of the Christian world he thought it best they should all adhere freely, openly, and boldly to that which they believed and held, not exaggerating things of secondary importanoe as if they were primary, but not at the same time being ashamed of the colours of the particular regiment in which they served. (Hear, hear.) Remarking that he wished to bear testimony to the noble character and the noble work of the man whose memory he proposed that they should honour, Mr. Gladstone said that Dr. Duff was one who not only stood in the first rank among distinguished missionary labourers, but who likewise laboured so intensely in the cause that he reaped his reward in the world at an earlier date than those whose earthly careers were pro- longed. Let no man, he said, envy him the crown he had gained, but let every man on the contrary, know- ing that they then stood in the presence and under the judgment of Him before whom they must all appear, rejoice that those missionary labourers had fought a good fight and had run their race manfully and nobly. Whatever account others might render, they at least had devoted all their eneqgies to diminish the lamentable sum total of sins and sorrows in the world, and done something for their race and for eternity. It was an honour to the chairman to bear the name of a man who held so foremost a place in such a company as Carey and Marshall and Dr. Moffatt. He could not wish him a greater blessing, nor a nobler succession, and he expressed the hope that no descendant of his family might ever give cause to say that he was unworthy of Dr. Duff. In conclu- sion Mr. Gladstone invited the company to reverence along with him the memory of Dr. Duff. fhe toast having been drunk in silence the Chair- man replied, and read letters from distinguished per- sonages whe were unable to attend. The Chairman then proposed the health of Dr. Smith, who briefly acknowledged the compliment, after which the com- pany rose.

DEAN STANLEY ON WORKMEN'S LIBRARIES. At the ninth annual meeting in connection with the Work- men's Library, at Messrs. F. Brady and Company's Iron- works, Deptford, on Saturday, presided over by Mr. Brady, Dean Stanley remarked that it was impossible to imagine any institution which did so much good with the chance of doing so little harm as a good library. When he thought of Deptford he always thought of Peter the Great, the Great Em- peror of Russia, a who had worked as a common workman in the docks at Deptford. On one occasion he was taken to the Palace of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and on seeing the library there he remarked with surprise that he did net know there were so many books in the whole world; but there were over a thousand volumes, or quite as many, in the Deptford Library. Peter the Great wished to be progressive in his own character. He had a great horror and terror of going into the water, but he so overcame it that he afterwards almost lived on the water. The drunkenness of the Russian people at that time was great, and he also overcame that, showing how each one could improve if they only cared to put their shoulders to the wheel, and leave the world better than they found it. After tea the company were shown over the ex- tensive works, the committee presenting a magnificent illuminated address to Mrs. and the Misses Brady. A special feature of the institution, it may be re- marked, is the organising of Saturday afternoon visits to the museums and picture galleries.

THE AMERICAN FOOD SUPPLY. Notwithstanding the restrictions to which live cattle and pigs arriving at Liverpool from the United States and Canada are subject, they have been coming to hand recently in increased numbers, and last week tke supply of live cattle, sheep, and pigs was far in ex- cess of any week for some time past. The conveying steamers were the Mississippi, with 245 cattle and 211 sheep the Linhope, with 240 sheep and 1,266 pigs the Glamorgan, with 154 cattle and 497 pigs; the Minnesota, with 334 cattle, 200 sheep, and 477 pigs the Bavarian, with 200 cattle and 1,589 sheep; the Lake Champlain, with 155 cattle; the Naples, with 16 i cattle and the Athens, with 152 cattle and 105 sheep-the totals for the week being 1,403 cattle, 2,353 sheep, and 2,240 pigs. The steamers which arrived with fresh meat on board were the City of Richmond, with 500 quarters of beef, 400 carcases of mutton, and 451 dead pigs; the Adriatic, with 600 quarters of beef and 200 carcases of mutton; the Wyoming, with 1,080 quarters of beef, and 308 carcases of mutton the Ohio, with 1,192 quarters of beef, and 130 carcases of mutton the Naples, with 1,087 quarters of beef and 176 carcases of mutton; and the Athens, with 934 quarters of beef, being 5,393 quarters of beef, 1,206 carcases of mutton, and 451 dead pigs.

REVIVAL OF TRADE IN AMERICA. The Correspondent of The Times, writing from PhUa- delphla, says;- For several months past there have been growing evidences of the revival of trade in the United States, and I have occasionally sent you intelligence to this effect. As the spring has progressed the revival has become more and more pronounced. Almost every one is cheerful and confident of the future. The de- pression and forebodings of a year ago have passed away. There is an enormous movement of goods in manufacturing, transporting, and selling, but dealings are very close. Prices are low and profits small, but the volume of trade is heavier than has been known for many years. The public, who seemed to have been waiting for prices to fall to the lowest point, appear to have become convinced that during the pre- sent spring that point has been reached, and they are now buying all they want, but bargaining for it as closely as possible. It takes less money to buy the goods than formerly, so that the heavy trade move. ment does not produce a correspondingly heavy money movement. There is also observable a strong tendency to concentrate our trade in large establishments, so that the smaller shops are crushed out, and the producer and consumer brought closer together without the intervention of so many middlemen who have to get a profit. There is much more employment for the working classes than was the case a year ago, and, though wages are low, the really industrious class can readily find work on full time. This has produced a feeling of almost universal content, while there never has been known a period when there was less clashing between employers and employed. We are almost without a strike or lock-out any- where, and the few which have occurred recently have been speedily settled by compromise. The employers seem, for the present at least, to have convinced the employed that wages, though low, are as high as can be paid. The railroads are as a general rule doing better than they have for several years, carrying more goods though at low freights, but with such reduced expenses that there is still a margin for pront. The great evidence we have of a genuine revival of business is the constant testimony given that there is more money than here- tofore in the hands of the middle and lower classes. They are buying not only < necessaries, but also luxuries, and the proof of this is the fact that the theatrical and amusement business in the United States is now about cioBing the most profitable season it has ever known.

PROPOSED MONUMENTS TO MAJOR ANDRE AND CAPTAIN HALE. The American correspondent of The Times writes :— Various Americans having proposed to erect a monu- ment in New York to Major André, the English residents of this country in a kindred spirit are pro. posing a monument to Captain Nathan Hale. At the anniversary banquet on St. George's Day, April 23, of the Society of the Sons of St. George at Bridge- port, Connecticut, the following was unanimously adopted "Whereas Cyrus W. Field, a distinguished American citizen proposes to erect a monument to Major Audr6, who was executed as a British spy in the war of the Revolution, and whereas, being native Englishmen, we desire to show our appreciation of this liberal and magnanimous act, and whereas Captain Nathan Hale, of Connecticut, the American Andr4, was executed as an American spy by the British in the same war; therefore resolve, that the St. George Society at Bridgeport, Connecticut, hereby offer to contri- bute the sum of 50 dols towards the erection in New York city of such a monument to Nathan Hale as shall be worthy of him as a martyr to the cause he espoused, and we respect- fully would suggest to our sister societies throughout the Union a like contribution on their part to the same object, to the end that justice be done to the memory of a gallant officer, and the amicable relations between this and the mother country be thus formally recognized and more fully established." [Major Andr6, as many of our readers are doubt- lessly aware, was aide-de-camp to the British general, Sir Henry Clinton, during the campaign of 1780, in the war with America; and, having been made the medium of some delicate negotiations with General Arnold, of the American army, was captured by the enemy, and condemned and hung as a spy, on October 2, 1780, to the grief and indignation of his fellow countrymen.]

LEAP YEAR PBIVILEGE.-In a book called Court- ship, Love, and Matrimony, published in 1660, there is this clause concerning the privileges of women in leap year Albeit it is nowe become a part of the com- mon lawe in regard to social relations of life, that as every bissextile year doth return, the laydes have the sole priviledge during the time it continueth of making love unto the men, which they doe, either by words or lookes, as to them it seemeth prefer and moreover, no man will be entitled to the benefit of clergy who doth in any wise treat her proposal with slight or con- tamely."

THE BATTLE OF ZLOBANE DESCRIBED. The Standard of Tuesday gives a long letter from their Special Correspondent with General Wood (under date Kambula Camp, Zululand, April 2). We make the following extracts from the letter, which graphically describes the battle of the Zlobane Mountain-the mountain itself being described by the correspondent as "a remarkable place even in this land of table-topped mountains ":— The mountain itself runs nearly east and west, and It con- sists of two plateaus-one, the larger or western, being about three miles long by a mile and a half wide, and con- siderably higher, and connected with the smaller plateau by an almost precipitous descent called a krantz and a narrow neokof more level ground, commanded, however, by rocks and caves on either side. The summit of those two plateaus can only be attained by most difficult paths, one at the east and the other at the west end of the mountain. The edges of both plateaus are precipitous, with caves at the base of the vertical descents, or krantzes," as they are here called, and then occur almost precipitous slopes strewn with boulders that make ascending or descending where even It is practi- cable a work of the most severe labour. The caves are peopled with Kaffirs, who herd their cattle on the summit, confining them safely by a waU which has been erected over the neck between the two plateaus. The movement which took place was one intended by Colonel Wood to create a diversion in favour of the relieving column which was to enter the Zulu country at the Tugela mouth, to open up com- munications with the belesgured column of Colonel Pearson at Ekowe. It was intended also to serve the further purpose of capturing the large numbers of cattle which were thought by the Zulus to be safe on the plateaus of this formidable mountain. In addi- tion to the mounted troops were two battalions of Wood s Irregulars (natives on foot) and some two hundred of Oham s warriors, under Major W. Knox Leet, of the 13th Regiment. Colonel Wood, V.C., commanding the column, and his Staff, consisting of Captain the Hon. A. Campbell, Mr. Lloyd, Political Agent and interpreter, Lieutenant Lysons, of the 90th Regiment, orderly officer, and an escort composed half of mounted men of the 90th and half of natives. All the force, though proceeding separately, rounded the west end of the Zlobane mountain, Colonel Buller's force going to the east end by a detour which took him five or six miles to the south. Though the march was by night, It does not seem to have escaped the quick eyes of the Zulus, for two reports of a gun were heard and fires were made at the krantzes under the southern summit of the higher plateau, evidently as signals giving warning of the hostile approach. One batta- lion of Wood's irregulars, under Major Leet, accompanied Colonel Buller, while the other, with Oham's men, remained at a place called Patter's Stone, a few miles from camp, to join Colonel Russell's force. Colonel Buller's force bivouacked about seven miles from the east end of the mountain and then rode on again in the dark close to the path, where, after. a rest of half an hour, they commenced the asceat. The way up lay in a sort of indent of the mountain, and for eight hun- dred yards the ground, though dimcult, was passable on horseback. Then came a small plateau, and then a second steep ascent. fWhile struggling up this a cross fire was opened on the column from both sides of tbe Indented summitr-volleys first saluting them, and a rapid Indepen- dent fire, which soon began to tell on the mounted men, who were led by Buller himself. The assailants were hidden in caves and rocks, and peppered the horsemen with impunity, as they had to lead their horses. It was here that Lieutenant Williams was shot, one horse also being killed and several wounded. The Irregulars brought up the rear, and all climbed the ascent with the most praiseworthy courage and rapidity. On gaining the summit Buller's horsemen rode to the south side of the mountain, clearing away Kaffirs who had climbed over the edge and were firing. Major Leet also threw out his natives across the plateau, sending two companies over the edge to drive off the Zulus who had so hampered the ascent. There was not much difficulty in clearing the upper plateau, and only very few cattle were found there, but from the top, about an hour after the summit was gained, a large number of the irregulars of Russell's force were seen In the valley far below gathering numerous herds ot cattle, and Indulging occasionally In a chase of some of the Zulus who had been hunted out of the rocks. The irregulars got together all the cattle on the- upper plateau, and proceeded to drive them down, when Major Leet saw Zulus appearing along the edges, and the mounted men making for the descent to the lower plateau, followed by numbers of the enemy. Colonel Bullen had engaged them with the different mounted corps, including the Burgher force under Piet Uys, but they came over the edges of the plateau at points Inaccessible to any but a Zulu in such numbers that he was obliged to retire towards the neck, and order that every one should try and descend the krantz to the lower mountain. It is almost perpendicular, three hundred feet in height, composed of loose angular boulders, and very narrow. To descend is exceedingly difficult, at the best of times, but witb so many men to go under fire of a mercllees, pursuing enemy, it became Impossible. Some idea of the character of the place may be obtained from the fact that earlier in the day, when It was proposed to tend down some spare horses that way, those who suggested it came to the conclusion that it was impracticable. The moment the descent began, the Zulus, who were tying perdu in the rocks and caves on either side the neck, opened a heavy fire, which began to tell directly. Some few who were leading did get down safely, but the inevitable rush ensued, and the Pass was soon choked by struggling men and horses, while a hall of bullets poured in from all directions. Men and horses felftapidly, and it was apparent that a catastrophe must occur. Major Leet's horse and a led horse were shot almost simultaneously, but he was lucky enough to come acrois a pack horse of the Artillery, which he secured, and having cleared the saddle as far as possible managed to mount. Some of those who got safely on to the lower plateau, and amongst them a Commandant Raaf of a light horse cerps, rallied a few men, and tried to cover the retreat of the men still struggling down the pass, and did excellent work in keeping down the fire of the Zulus. Colonel Buller, like the gallant soldier that he Is, remained on the higher plateau doing his best to lessen the panic, and was amongst the last to come down. A few of the rear detachment were overwhelmed by the advancing Zulus and assegaid, and amongst them I believe was Piet Uys, the gallant Dutch leader, who returned, It Is said, to try and save his son, who was one of those In the rear. Once on the lower plateau, the wounded and those who had lost their horses were, by Colonel Buller's orders, mounted behind the men who had been rallied, with orders to descend the west end of the lower mountain, while the others covered their retreat. The order was carried out in fine style, Colonel Bailer seeming to infuse his own coolness and self-possession into those about him. When the covering party, however, fell back, they were followed by a ruth of Zulus, who surged after them like an angry wave that had just broken through a feeble barrier. There was only a steep, difficult descent, at the west end, and for which all were making; and, fear- ing that the scene at the krantz would be re-enacted, and remembering that the north side of the mountain was not quite impracticable, Major Leet suggested that an escape should be attempted that way. Colonel BuUer at once acquiesced, and shouted to the flying covering party, but they either did not hear or did not heed, and went on to what proved the death of many amongst them. A similar scene must have ensued here, the Zulus above driving and slaying the retreating mass before them, the survivors hav- ing to run the gauntlet of a difficult descent under fire, and oniy escaping by twos and threes in an utterly broken and disorganised condition. What follows Is only a tale of marvellous escapes. Major Leet, who had suggested a descent to the north, of course adopted this mode, and was followed by Lieutenant Duncombe, of Wood's Irregulars, and Lieutenant Smith, of the Frontier Light Horse, who was on foot, his horse having been killed. They had only got a short way down when a large body of Zulus descried them and gave chase. The way was steep and encumbered by boulders, amongst which they had to climb, while the Zulus sprang from one to the other like apes. When half way down the fugitives found themselves on the edge of a precipice, and they had to turn in face of their pursuers, and seek a practicable path. They luckily succeeded, at the expense, however, of greatly diminishing the distance between them and the enemy, who were now able to throw assegais as well as fire at them. Lieutenant Duncombe, who was, I believe, an officer of the West York Militia, now found his horte give out dead beaten, and dismounted running along by the side of Major Leet's horse, and turning now and then to fire, and kilting three of his foes as they came within assegai cast of him. Smith, who had been on foot, now gave out exhausted, and sat down, and a moment's delay would have been fatal. Msjor Leet made him lay hold of his saddle and keep on, but the ground was too rocky, and he could not go far. His preserver then, with Immense labour, managed to haul him up behind on to the horse, neither having stirrups, and they struggled painfully on, poor Dancomb being finally overtaken and assegaied, in spite of his gallant defence. The two fugitives had several narrow escapes, but finally got down the mountain and evaded a party of Zulus who tried to cut them off, joining the portion of Buller's command who managed to get down the west end of the mountain. Major Leet now pushtd on to try and find Colonel Russell to fetch him to cover the retreat; but after proceeding two miles in the direction that officer was presumed to be, and seeing no sign of him, while the sorely tried horse broke down, unable to proceed beyond a slow walk, he returned to report his want of success to Colonel Buller, who was drawing off the force which remained with him, the retreat being conducted in an orderly manner, a rear guard of the pluckiest shooting the enemy down as they charged up often to within a hundred yards of the little column.- Colonel Wood and his staff, consisting of Mr. Lloyd, the political agent, Captain the Hon. A. Campbell, of the Cold- streams, and Lieut. Lysons, of the 96th Light Infantry, a very young soldier, but an excellent specimen of the modern type of highly and specially trained officers, took a part In the transaction which deserves record in an account which, however incomplete, is not likely to be much expanded. They went out after the column had started on the evening of the 27th, joining Colonel Russell's force at their bivouac south of the mountain to be attacked. Buller started in advance, and Colonel Wood and his Staff did not reach the scene of the light to force the passage up at the eastern end of the mountain until after Buller had attained the summit. The hidden foe which had so annoyed Buller's and Lee's force was still lying In ambush, and the moment the group of omcers and their escort came within range they reopened fire, bullets patter- ing about them with a correctness of aim that boded no good. Colonel Wood, however, who has taken part in as many desperate ventures as any man in the British army, was not the man to be daunted by the fire, and he and his Staff pressed on steadily up the steep ascent. Poor Mr. Lloyd, whose knowledge of the Zulus was invaluable to his chief, was the first to fall mortally wounded. Immediately before Colonel Wood had seen a Z Jln rite from a rock and apparently cover him with his rifle. When the trigger was pulled, however, Lloyd said, Oh, I am hit." Colonel Wood asked "Where are you hit?" and the reply was, "In the small of my back." Colonel Wood himself took the dying man in his arms, but Captain Campbell ran up and said, "I will take him down, Sir." One of the escort came to assist, and the two bore the poor fellow behind the shelter of a ledge of rock. Within four seconds Colonel Wood's horse was shot. He then directed some of Weatherley's men who weie following to advance and dislodge the few Zulus who were doing all the damage. They did not much relish the task, and Cap- tain Campbell at once asked permission to perform the duty. It was absolutely necessary to drive the enemy out, and Colonel Wood gave permission. In a moment Campbell, followed by Lysons and three of the mounted escort—all men, I believe, of the 90th Light Infantry—charged at the cave. Young Lysons, who is hfieotlonately called "the boy by his Chief and his comrades of the Headquarters Staff, raced for the honour of being first in, and being young, slight, and active, would probably have beaten the gallant Guardsman, who was a large, powerful man. His foot clipped, however, when the final ledge was almost r ached, and before he could recover himself Campbell jumped on to the rock from behind which the shots had oome. It was the front of a cave black as midnight to those first looking in from the outside. Poor Campbell had not time to look in before a shot was fired upwards from the in- side of the cave, which struck him In the temple and abat. tered the rear of the skull, so that his death must have been instantaneous. Young Lysons reached his side asheleu, and shot with his revolver the Zulu who had fired a fine young fellow of the esoort, named Peter Mm- given repeated proofs of cool courage since tbecanjP* oom menced,fired at another who was dimly vl«^le Inthe deep shade, it was thought by them that there™ttM* £ ulm in the cave, and if their Idea is correct Peter Fowler s snot may ha^e killed a second; but the third was seen^by Cokmel Wood t0. °,rawl oiV £ onlTpossible to a'Zulu ascend the mountain by » »*c^yapflre which never «»!««< to LMB humane work after reaohing the valley that Umtonga, a brother of Cety«rayo, who has been gained over by Wood's judicious diplomacy, pointed out to him a large Zulu army approaching across a plain below. This force he estimated as at least twenty thousand strong. There is no doubt that it was tnis large force which cut off and destroyed many of the men who got safely down from the mountain, but who bave failed to reappear in camp The fate of the troop of Border Horse, under Colonel Weatherley, explains what must have happened. This smart and most effective little body, consisting ot about sixty-olght of all ranks, oommand by Colonel Weatherley, who was accompanied by one of his sons, followed Colonel Wood up the east end of the. mountain, and engaged the numerous Zulus, whs were tenant- ing the caver They were fighting an bidden enemy, but there Is good reason to suppose that their search- ing fire from Martini-Henry rifles was not without good effect. Be that as it may, they kept the Zulus In check until it became necessary to retire, when they returned by the same difficult eastern pass that they had ascended In the morning. At the end of the Zlobane mountain there rises another, running In the same east and west direction, with a narrow gap only between them of some eighty yards wide, over which it' s possible to pass to the north. As Colonel Weatherley and his men descended they were followed by Captain Burton, another gallant Guardsman on special service, who had been sent with a few mounted men to bury the body of Lieutenant Smith, shot in the morning. As the little force descended the pass they seem-to have been followed by the large force of Zulus who had been In the krantzes and caves all day, not only of the Zlobane mountain, but of its neighbouring mountain to the eastward. The men behaved in the most gallant manner, obeying their officers and keeping their pursuers in check, and all went well until they got down, when to their horror they saw the Zulu army drawn up in a semi-circle, entirely closing them in, and cutting off all hope of escape. The black warriors were in solid phalanx, which forbade aU hope of cutting through them, and Colonel Weatherley and his officers promptly decided to face their pursuers, and try to escape northward, across the gap between the two mountains. Even this was desperate, for the Zulus bad swarmed down like bees from both mountain tops, and now stood to the number of between kwo thousand and three thousand between them and their only line of retreat. There was nothing for it but a desperate charge, and this was made, the little band instantly becoming engulphed in the surging mass of their enemies,: who plied guns, assegaies, and stone*. The horses were feeble from twenty-four hours' work under the saddle, and they were soon stopped, a scene of slaughter ensuing which may be better Imagined than it is possible for the few survivors to describe. To the last the men and officers stuck together, showing a pluck and discipline that was admirable. Young Weatherley was soon stabbed In the back, after cutting down several of his assailants. His father, who fought like a Paladin, was last seen slashing right and left, with a circle of ten or twelve dead Zulus round, supporting his mortally-stricken son with his left arm while he still dealt death to the circle of yelling savages around him. At last there was a rush, the circle forced In from the rear narrowed, and all was over, a forest of atsegai handles rising and falling In the midst as the prostrate bodies were stabbed. This was the fate of nearly every man of the unfortunate troop, for only one officer and five men survived to return to camp, after biding in the rocks when their horses were shot, and owing their safety to nightfall and rare good luck.

CUTTINGS FROM AMERICAN PAPERS. They are, it appears, as little contented with spring In America as we are. This is the latest eutflow of thought on that subjeot: Come, gentle spring," sang the poet. And she came gentle oh, yes, awful gentle; thundering gentle, so to speak. She came as gentle as a brlndle mule with a jimson bar under its crupper. Oh, yes, she come gentle." If the comes just as gentle for one or two seasons more, there won't be enough of this country left to raise a half-crep of dog fennel in. Parties sending summer poetry to (this office will please enclose their full names and addresses, not far publi- cation, but as an evidence of their insanity in case they are never arrested for murder. The generous young fellow was somewhat surprised when he asked his heart's idol if she would have something In gold to put her jewellery on. She said, yes, give me a gold five barred gate, life size. Oh, yes," said a feminine lecturer, "you may talk as you please about the gallantry of men in the street cars, but how common it is to see a seemingly respectable man dodge behind his newspaper when he sees a lady enter a orowded car I tell you, my hearers, that the man who does that, is the man who piously hates a hireling ministry, and refutes to pay his pew rent' on principle A cashier of a rural bank, transmitting a lot of bonds to be exchanged for registered bonds, wrote thus "I may not have expressed myself properly, not knowing much about the business of swapping bonds; but my inten- tions are pure and innocent. I wish to have these bonds in such a condition that when a burglar comes to my room at midnight, puts a pistol to my head, twists my nose, and takes me by each ear and leads me to my bank and compels me to unlock my safe, I can contemplate the removal of my bonds with a smile that Is child-like and bland."

THE ARUNDEL CHURCH CASE. In the High Court of Justice (Common Pleas Division), before Lord Coleridge, the case of the Duke of Norfolk P. Arbuthnot," which was heard some time age, was decided last Saturday. The action was in form for trespass in removing a brick from a wall built by the Duke of Norfolk to divide the Fitzalan Chapel from the parish church of Arundel; but the real question was whether the chapel which had been the burial place of the Howards for centuries was the private chapel of the Dukes of Norfolk or was part of the parish church. The case was heard without having the assistance of a jury, so that his lordship had to decide ques- tions both of law and of fact should it be necessary. Lord Coleridge said that the defendant was the vicar of Arundel, and he claimed not only the chapel as part of the parish church, but in the alternative he claimed tr e right of light and air to be derived through the place where the wall had been built up. He had re- served his judgment rather from the interest and im- portancethan from the difficulty of the case. The prin- ciples of decision were simple and familiar, and whether he decided rightly or wrongly could be of no great im- portance, except to the parties to the sait. His lordship having gone through the numerous ecclesiastical docu- ments submitted to him during the hearing of the case, came to the conclusion that they showed not so much that the college of Arundel had the building now claimed for their chapel, as that they had certain rights in connection with the old paiish church, at the same time that the parishioners had other rights. Then, as to another part of the case, it was clear that the Dukes of Norfolk and Earls of Arundel had exercised the most absolute rights of ownership over the build- ing now claimed for centuries. The building was one of the date of late in the fourteenth or the beginning of the fifteenth century, and across the openitg between the church and the chapel there was an iron screen, which was coeval with the building, with a lock and key to the screen, and on the chapel Bide of it, which were of the same date. There had been exclusion from the chapel ever since the Reformation, and the way in which the Dukes of Norfolk had treated this beautiful building shewed equally rights of ownership. One hun- dred years ago there was a beautiful arched carved roof, which had now disappeared and the chapel con- tained noble monuments of the Fitzalans which were left in a state of dirt, neglect, and mutilation that families which were far less illustrious than the Howards and the Fitzalans would by no means allow. That admission which was denied for three centuries to the vicars and parishioners had been freely allowed to the owls and the bats. The Dukes of Norfolk had in the chapel interred bodies, constructed vaults, disinterred bodies, and reinterred bodies at their own mere will, and without any faculty or permission from any authority whatever. Every time that they did this, they were, unless the chapel belonged to them, breaking the law and defying the ecclesiastical authorities. No doubt it might be said that they were powerful and great noblemen, but still they had for centuries belonged to a religious belief which had been persecuted from the time of Elizabeth till that of George III. in a way that was disgraceful to a civilised country. The vioars and the parishioners had also absolutely acquiesced in what had been done. He was of opinion that the proof of this chapel having been always private property was as strong as the nature of the case allowed of and besides which there was a good deal of evidence that the building now in dispute never waa the chancel of the parish church as was now claimed. Under all the circumstances, upon the first and most important question he gave judgment for the plaintiff. Upon the second question he was of opinion that the parishioners were entitled to light and air through the space occupied by the wall, but the space had been for long blocked up by a wooden partition put up by the parish, in which a door was only sometimes opened. The litigation had been conducted with courtesy on both sides, and he had no doubt that an arrangement might be come to to meet this part of the case. Upon the great question he, therefore, gave judgment for the plaintiff, with 40s. damages and costs, and he also granted the injunction which the plaintiff claimed. He also gave judgment against the defendant in re- spect of his Counter claim, and refused the injunction which he asked.

THE MARKETS. MARK-LANE.—MONDAY. Quietness generally prevailed at Mark-lane. There was a thin attendance, and business progressed quietly, English wheat was rather scarce. The demand was not active. Fine samples were, however, fully as dear as on Monday last. Foreign wheat sold slowly, but at extreme prioes for choice parcels. The supply was moderate. The barley trade was less active, both malting and grinding produce selling sparingly, at about late rates. Malt was quiet at previous quotations. For oats a ialr demand prevailed, at 3d. per qr. advance on the week. Maize remained dull, with a tendency towards weakness. Beans and peas were quiet and without change. The flour market was Inactive on former terms. METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET.—MONDAY. The cattle trade was, on the whole, firm. Supplies were tolerably good. The number of beasts received from our own grazing districts was about the average, and the quality and condition were satisfactory. Business was not active. The really best Scots occasionally made be. 2d., but this was an exceptional quotation, 5s. per 8ib. being the more general top price. From Norfolk and Suffolk were received about 1,700, from the Midland and Home Counties about 500, from Scotland 320. On the foreign side of the market there was a fair show from Denmark, Spain, and Sweden. The demand was great, at about the same rates as were previously current. The sheep pens Were moderately well filled. The market was de- cidedly firm, and the prices realised showed an advance on the week of 4d. per 81b. The best Downs and half-breds made 6s. to 6s. 2d. per Sib. Lambs were firm, at 7s. te 8s. per Bib. Calves were steady, though quiet. Pigs sold on former terms. At Deptford there were about 1,200 Dews and 12,000 sheep and lambs. Inferior beasts, 4S. to 4s. 6d. second quality, 4s. 6d to 4s 8d. «.e^' *»• f< to 4s. lod. prime Soots, 4s. lOd. to 6s. 2d. Inferior sheep, 4s. to 5j. second quality, 6s. to 51. 611.; prime coarse- woolled, 6s. 8d. to 5s. lOd prime Southdowns lOil to 6s. 2d.; large coarse calves, 5j. M. to 6s.. prime small ditto As to 6j 6d. large hogs, Ss. 8d. to 4s. 4d. small porkers, 4s. 6d. to 5J. lambs, 7s. to 8s. per 81b. to sink the offaL METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET.—MONDAY. The aupply of beef on sale to day was larger, and the trade was exceedingly heavy. Inferior beef, 2s. 6!i. to 8s.; middling ditto, 3s. 4d. to 4.. prime large ditto, 4s. to 4s. 4d.; nrime Scotch, 48. 4<1. to 4». 6d. veal is to 5s. 4d. inferior mutton, 3s. to 3». 8d.; middling ditto, 4s. to 5s. prime ditto, 6s. 4d. to 6s. 2d. large pork, 3s. 8d. to 4s. 4d small ditto, 4s. 4d. to 5s. and lamb, 7s. 4d. to 8s. per 81b. by the carcase. F13H. Whiting, 12s. 6d. to 14s. per basket; lobsters, 10s. 9d. to 80s. per dozen; mullet, 4s. to 6s. 9d. per score: rimped salmon, 2s. 9d. to 3s. per lb.; turbot, 9s. to 20s. each crabs, 25s. to 451. per kit; mackerel, Is. 9d. to Sa. per dozen; cod, £ 116s. 6d. to £ 9 per score grilse, Is. 7d. to Is. 10J. per lb. bloaters, 4s. 6a. to 7s. 6d. per box smelts, 8s. to 6». 6d. per basket; brill, 2s. 3d. to 51. each; trout, Is. 4d. to Is. 8d. per lb. POTATO. The supplies of potatoes have been upon a moderate scale, trade for all sorts continuing steady. New Lisbon potatoes have changed hands at from £ 7s 10s. to £ 9 10s. per ton. Flukes, 150s. to 180s.; rocks, 100s. to 120s. champions, 100s. to 120s.; and Victorias, 120s. to 150s. per ton. HOP. F:ne hops, which remain searce, are commanding some attention, and the market altogether Is firmer. The im- provement in tone is due chiefly to the backward state of the plantations, but although it may be judicious to buy at the prevailing low prices, it is perhaps too early to calculate the result of the cropl.. Prices are as follows Kent, 1878, 41 10s. to L5 15s.; Sussex, iei 10s. to ics 10s. Farnham and country, AS 10s. to 46 10s.; Worcester, £4 4s. to £ 612s.; American, iC2 10s. to jM 158.; Belgian, BZ to £11 16s. per owt. GAME AND POULTRY. Capons, 64. to 10s. 6d.; pullets, 4s 6d. to 7s. jcbiokens, Ss Sd. to 4s live fowls, Is. 6d. to 3\ pigeons, 6d. to Is. Bordeaux ditto, is, 9d. to 2s. 3d.; ptarmigan, lOd. to Is. 2d.; capercailzie, 4s. 6d. to il. prairie hens, 2s. to 3s.; Italian quails, la. to Is. 6d.; leverets, 8s. to 4s.; wild rabbits, 9d. to Is.; datikUngv, 8s. to 6s, ea«h,