The Aberdare Times

0F ^0KD8) June 16, Lord Hampton oalled Was «n?„Ca?e.°' Canon Fleming, of York Cathedral, fU\j of ■> bad been deprived of certain rights and S?*d and th« °' the Chapter. The Earl of Beacons- *>oble lord ^°P 01 York replied at some length to whether Her Majesty's Government jjOBUaitt^ to^ i Jooined to appoint an exclusively military organl»atlon ^nt0 tlle defects of our present mill- ■ Qjij OwikY said that four months ago the Secretary | £ ol COIIBDM J ^act that the British Army was in a *"HUlry. y e« and yet all that could be suggested was an lord Ba»_ ¥?r,e*y that It was Intended to appoint a Gov/ to a certain point Her ntiir'41? oreaniadmitted that the present system of ISS^'tancR* iw was not satisfactory, and in that state of rSVwerj ? Tha~„ °ould they do but apply to their military »>.„ » Was the t^tee would report to the Government Ion of military men and of the Army. He UpoBrfreVi!1*'V"bat the names of the committee had been rn?,8f cretary for War and the Field-Marshall 2*?! It Wonia tS t '.8?d ,they wouldbe madeknownln afew *v. fe unfair to the committee and would not given to UK? 8ervlce to make known the Instructions Lo 'the commltteeTuelf10'8 ln,tructiona had been laid fcs out LoSbc^rt Yl^vlcaled the Part he had taken in carry- Ji^eveiope 'cbemo, which he had done hl» best full consideration be<m adopted by Parliament "aveney. lew temarks from Lord Dorchester and Lord ttUterulr6!1 said he had no apprehension In respect of *ts Chairm which the committee was to be composed. & 'be ChJ?*11 would never forget the absence of a Reserve J^Serve TK1 and nev«r would be for an Army without a big fe marks made by Lord Cranbrook that even- to be a «n»2f Id the impression that the Inquiry was not A nn r**rI*0lal, but a complete and substantial one. 'ordshltM orders having been advanced a stage, their 1 aojourned at twenty minutes to eight o'clock. J1*- OTWAV.»I»EJOP COMMONS, Mr. Bourke, in answer to recalled ^at Mr. Consul General Vivia^had not Jbort leave of 8ypt> but bad merely come home for a returns on Private affairs; and, until fjaicelles, with ..be discharged by Mr. .Qovernment had^ v the Pr°duction of papers, £ oh>t and had come ca!efuUy consideredV the toy addu«°nsUUnt vrtth^he Dubi1oUl°? that U would Mkfirt lonal D8De?« 'nterest to publish Dlkd tw £ migbttS ejected LW?4- Mr. Otway Sow o^a15e could not *ay, a^ lt deDendld M,r- Bourke re- occurring which were under the control/1 answer to Air. Pell, the Chancellor of the Exchequer to on Thursday week whunH? v. statement of Loc»l 5t £ £ \the Public Works L«rn. 2 ne h°Ped also to be able !» £ *• ^'d Sandon said ^t? ?lU; aud. in answer to Mr. |. «ent state of business tn <T '^Possible for him, in the j^way Commission BUL1 a 8y lor the ^troduction of to asked whether there was any ob- *ccordance im! of the Army to wear their beards S^^Laighness th. vl examPle by Field Marshal his Prince of S*! ?rlnce oI Wales, his Serene Highness kity*! Colon«i y elmar, and the officers and men of the he wonld „ »n y ga'd that, looking at the faces around • K,,?I?O Pfesume to give a general opinion on the «?*.Queen-, p no reason at present to depart from U.^onie ..JfWUttons, which forbid the wearing of beards Mr. Stacpoole gave notice that he would At fl ''° the subject of beards" in Supply. ?b *^ock the House went into Committee of Supply than *tlmates, and at one had agreed to six votes. Solitary Law11 ^onr and a balf was spent on the vote for XT1*10* ta «»L¥ld a motion, which was not pressed to a iXbetal, iJ ,'8 out the salary of the Judge-Advocate- official a "vely discussion on the duties of ^The next» the expediency of suppressing the office. *ot« that of £ 266,200 for the Medical Establlsh- than tben came on, and was under debate for StS^ y critlM.^0^5 and a bail—it being subjected to a having y *everal hon. members. Colonel »,e<Ucal officii? ,8 „ n explanations as to the provision of S: °'dbans?m n South Africa, Mr. ParneU, Mr. Sullivan, ^v*fment Ti^ y■ and other members inquired as to the hij^an u1 wounded Zulus ln the hospitals. Alter the fc **• the rem'Dded the hon. members that the question S?11*. Wa> the vote for the Army Medical Dspart- TOWd Nnd k< an'ey sa'd that if any member of the House atttll lid im a. Y statement which they believed to be J/* Order th Ji F?8ard to these cases, he would forward them l~Porv *"at they might be made the subject of Inquiry and movT,. some lurther observations from Mr. Farnell, ^*•000 J an amendment that the vote be reduced by Jr'^ber, °?8 discussion ensued, ln which several hon. Uave i??' Part. Eventually, thei _i sment having been On ^thdrawn, the vote was agreed to. vote, of £495,260 for the Militia, Mr. Par- CU""lo oVed to reduce the vote by £25,000, which, on a On .7" *as negatived by 190 to 8. n^xt ol £ 47,900 for the Yeomanry, Major to strike off £ 5,000v The amendment was Otj' and the vote agreed to. Ivote of £ 512,400 pay and allowaneei for Volunteer k^Sutm W. Barttelot urged how necessary It was that m *b»oint battalions, when brought iiito camp, should tft o l_y under the command of one man. He ^'bd th»» vrhether It was the intention of his right hon. tftdi and ?, administrative battalions should be consoll- Ktpo^manrilnot' wbether greater powers, should be given •to caian oi 8 officers. He thought when men came out Si. shonid v" Rt their own expenie that larger allow- that o made to them than at present. He un- U,*tlire0 1 «. aday was to be given to men encamped e*tra haw dayg- If the 2s. were given in addition to that 0,r wh6t.i?^0?n, would be afalr allowance. He wished twr'the clotM t was the intention of the Government that th tbe Volunteers should be altered. He the sarnie volunteer adjutants when retiring should pal ^Uitia. v ?y and allowances as adjutants retiring from 1Mid allow! 0lluiteer ad j utants could not now receive such for jg years' un^eM tbey were incapacitated and had ^eMTou^blvr^„hoped that the case ol the adjutants would thai* *°as of ?118 jdered- He thought some of the recom- otho. Bury's Committee very valuable, but ^tr. s 8 Quite Impracticable. hlthit? 'Bnor*^?fh°Ped that the Artillery Volunteers would bu>»J*o been n °n from the Government than bad was !L them. In the south of England Shoe- had *bch Dlao^ i 3ient camp of instruction, but there e*tahii.u north, except Irvine, where a camp •fctteti^Was a fn!rt ? within the last two years. What was *bi(5r?,° He ai. sustain the efforts made for their In- .o^nteer .p?inted out the disadvantages under the Miiu^tants laboured as compared with ad- tbat ?k Govem^la and o'her branches of the service, and 'bese anomaii en w°uld be able to give some assurance r>lor o-Be^68 W°Uld "Stifled. > 8 aUowaneR Government would increase the iV^cho s°1(f ?* Volanteer ad j utants. 'qjtjj S'Jinteers th.tr^ wa* a strong feeling on the part of !P«Ut *as rf.1 desirable to retain the gray unl- Jbdia* (Moreover durable than red and less liable to be servii>A a7 waB the colour which was used ln T.^olseley 'a.^v wblch had been selected by Sir ln ».,Va» no dr^;hlmo,t serviceable for the Ashantee "Ulty n. be field j f the better colour of the two for Ber- 2J w«» LwPpljinff tv,' it ,boen suggested that the main diffi- ?d«Hn u'd be an Vt0lunteers with gray uniforms ln time the1V difflcultv^l i"tratlve one: but* h# thought, con- *be G j 0lUnteem i„y 'hat was experienced in times of peace ttPon K ?rtuient Pr°curing cloth of any description from F5iV4'e con^r?*' 't would be better for them to rely ^aftev. ?r* at all times. Unless the Govern- "fee. of the „» complete uniformity between all °°>ou» *°Uld hi in the matter of belts, buttons, lace, *fit if the clnd, ?" to enforce It with regard to the d^llu ^tter, ho»r»°n y- (Hear, hear.) A far more import- 0 be tp„„;er> was the question of the number ol thirty H»u,e 'rom the Volunteer recruits. At but it their were required ol them during the *both! was n0» Ilce and only nine ln subsequent yearB; Jr»g 30 drill, i Jr.?P08ed to require them to go through **• ». a thin» second year of their service. There ^°Ulrt v afraid fvaf drlring a willing horse too fast, and to 1R.. the only effect of this requisition 78 Its f the numbers of the force without °l oa* 00 much and 14 was hazardous to in- *8*nirn ^'Harv the only decently sound portion would ffl" He hoped, therefore, that the Go- the qT* °f drill. this proposal for Increasing the Sen w, 'buient »quKed- (Hear, hear.) He also hoped that JV|tv. »*de of iic,.T?u'd not adopt the suggestion that had vi5e8ard to numbers of the Volunteers. (Hear.) liin1.n said of ii? adJQtants he heartily endorsed all that With ii08e officers, to whom the Volunteers Owed the R°bld not oht^Pect to another class, he asswted that .n good "ergeants without gupplementiog Peia,! °b had hM!l .oTanc0' As to sergeant majors, the hot uig rt n raised whether they were entitled to *bsio» « bever hari v friend had stated that there was Jn the Voinlt 8ucb a rank as that of tergeant- force. although commanding officers I&77 *• That »«. appoint men to do the duty of sergeant- Valn-T^Uld show »a jn'st&ke, as the Warrants of 1863 and Qtatei?' So alan w SJ services of the adjutants had been ^•bt-major* S5. !>een those of the sergeants and The latter had bond fide rank in the Volunteers under the Warrants to which he had referred, and they wer fairly entitled to pension. Mr. J. Brown urged the claims of the adjutants to in- creased retiring allowances. The sum now offered them- namely, 6s. a day, or about L110 per annum after thirty years service-was not sufficient for a body of men who had proved themselves so valuable and had done so much for the country and for the Volunteer force. Sir H. Wllmot wished to say a word In favour of scarlet uniforms for Volunteers. 11 the men knew how to clean their scarlet coats they could keep them in just as good con- dition as green or gray uniforms. Sir U. Kay-Shuttleworth said the Artillery Volunteers of the borough he represented had no objection to the recom- mendation that there should be thirty drills every year, but they thought one week at Shoeburyness would be more im- portant to them than a whole year of drill. They therefore hoped that the Government would give greater facilities for Artillery Volunteers to go to Shoeburyness. Mr. Stacpoole thought the Volunteers ought to be clad In red coats like the Line and the Militia. He hoped that adjutants of Volunteers would be placed in the same posi- tion as adjutants of the Militia. Sir A. Hayter said the proposed amalgamation of regi- ments was very much disliked by the officers of Volunteer regiments ip London. He hoped the increased camp allow- ance would be paid to the men wha had. already gone into camp this year. Colonel Loyd Lindsay said the committee referred to by hon. gentlemen went into the enquiry with a desire if they saw their way, to Increase the allowance of that magnificent force, the Volunteers. With regard to the staff sergeants, the regulations laid down that a certain sum should be given to them; but if the Volunteers wished as it were, to bribe those sergeants away to themselves, they should do so at their own expense and not at the expense of the State. (Hear ) As for the dress of the Volunteers the Government thought that red was the best colour, and they would do their best reasonably, but not forcibly, to induce the men to adopt It. Those who were willing to adopt it would have certain advantages by being able to draw their clothing from the Government clothing depôt, paying for it out of the capl- tation grant. It was proposed to give 2s. a day to Volunteers who went into camp, and that he thought would be a liberal allowance. With regard to adjutants of Volunteers they had borne a very heavy and arduous task, and had borne it remarkably well. They were deserving of every considera- tion that could be given to them. It was proposed, therefore, with the sanction of the Treasury, to give them an Increased retiring allowance, which would be a sub- stantial improvement on what they had hitherto received. Something had been said of the additional drills. He thought when they were going to spend so much more money on the force It was quite reasonable to require greater efficiency. The more discipline and exercise they imposed on the Volunteers, the more popular the force would become. He was a strong advocate for consolidation. Not only economy, but efficiency would be promoted. After some conversation, Colonel Stanley stated that already 91 regiments of Volunteers had adopted red, against 66 regiments In green and 67 in gray. Where any change was made it should be to red, but he would deal with the matter in a spirit of consideration. He hoped that after the discussion that had taken place the Committee would pass the vote, and then they should report progress. (Hear, he,The motion was agreed to, and the Chairman was ordered to report progress. Several Bills were forwarded a stage, and the House ad- journed at 20 minutes past two o'clock.

LORD DERBY ON AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION. Lord Derby presided at the annual meeting of the Lancashire Farmers' Club and Chamber of Agricul- ture, held at the Liverpool Town-hall, on Saturday (14th). The report of the Council expressed anxious concern at the present and prospective position of agriculture, and stated that the foreign competition in animal and vegetable produce had so increased quantities and reduced prices that the future was regarded with apprehension by home producers. The continually adverse weather added to the farmer's perplexity, while high rents, tithes, and local taxes pressed heavily upon his energy. Though labour was lower, it was still dearer than in the last cycle of de- pression, and so also was the cost of all farming requi- sites. Often, too, farmers had to contend with restric- trictions as to cropping and with uncertainty of occu. pation, some living in constant fear that they would not be compensated for unexhausted improvements if served with six months' notice to quit. On the latter point the Council considered that such compensation should either be provided by special agreement between landlord and tenant or legally secured by the Legislature. Lord Derby, who was cordially received, said he had attended at the request of the club, many mem. bers of which thought it desirable they should confer on the present unsatisfactory condition of the agri- cultural interest, and to consider whether anything could be done for its advantage, a point upon which there was much diversity of opinion. His lordship proceeded- Were we to consider that the distress which prevailed among farmers was likely to be permanent or was it temporary in its character ? That was a question on which a good deal depended, and it was not easy to answer with certainty. He inclined to the more hopeful view. We had had in the last two or three years a combination of circumstances which were not likely to recur altogether. We had had, generally speaking, bad harvests at home. We had had during the same time abundant supplies from abroad, which, to thegeneral public, was of course a gain, but which had robbed the farmer of his usual compensation for short crops-a high price for his produce. He had sold little, and he had sold that little cheap. We had had great industrial depression, the effect of which on the demand for agricultural produce had been very per- ceptible. Further, we had lived for a long time in constant apprehension of a war on a large scale, and we had actually been engaged in two wars on a small scale. Now, any one of these troubles might occur c again, and probably would. But it was very long odds J that we did not have them all, one on the back of the i other. No doubt there was plausibility in the argu. ment of those who contended that we were only now 1 experiencing the full effect of the free trade measures ( of 30 years ago. It took time, they told us, to develope < a new industry and to organize the means of transit; but that was now done, and the British farmer could never again compete against the corn of Cali- ( fornia and the western prairies, to say nothing of coun- tries still more distant. Poesibly those who spoke in that sense might be right-at least so far as corn was com- cerned, for corn was easily transported, was easily t stored and would keep. But he did not think we need be discouraged 88 yet by anything that we had seen t as the import of foreign cattle. In meat, and milk, and vegetables, and some other articles of produce, we ought to be able to hold our own. If we had against us cheapness and abundance of l&nd in other quarters of the globe, we had in our favour nearness to the market; and even ocean steamers would not reduce the Atlantic to a mere ferry. Generally, he should put it in this way :—In regard of whatever would not bear keeping we had a natural protection against the foreigner; and in regard to whatever cultivation re- quired minute care and personal oversight, the small highly cultivated farm at home and cheap labour- he meant in comparison with that of the colouies -possessed advantages which they were not likely to lose. Looking to the present only, it was impossible to deny that in some parts of England farmers had great reason to complain. Allowing for some natural exaggeration, there was no doubt that the distress about which so much was said was severe in some counties, real in most, and felt to some extent, thought it might be but slightly, in all. There were some suggested remedies which it was only necessary to mention in order to put them out of the way. Nobody in Lancashire was likely to ask for a return to protection; and even those who talked about reciprocity and the protection of British industry as regarded other branches of production admitted that imported food could not again be taxed. So they might pass on to something more practical. One of the subjects most frequently discussed by Chambers of Agriculture and farmers' meetings was the incidence of local taxation. Local taxes, it was said, fell more heavily on land than on other kinds of property. (Hear, hear.) He did not undertake to prove that their incidence was in all respects per- fectly just; but he was compelled, against his own interest, to point out that the farmer, though certainly he was concerned, was not the person primarily concerned in the matter. If all rates what. soever were taken off, he would not be a gainer in the long run. What was taken off from rates would fairly enough be added on in rent. And the same argument applied to the various proposals which we heard of from time to time for putting rates on to the owner instead of the occupier. In regard to the malt-tax, no doubt it was a heavy charge upon a certain class of lands, and had the inconvenience of falling unequally on different parts of the country. But it was not a charge on the farmer, except in the same sense as rent was so. Take away the tax and the land- lord pocketed the differences. Lord Derby said he would not do more than touch upon the question, deeply interesting as it was, whether we should make matters better by establishing (if we could do it) a class of cultivators who ehoula be also freeholders. He repeated what he had said more than once before, that he should like to see that experi- mentfairly tried. There was land enough in the market, and if a few capitalists chose to join, buy an estate, and divide it into small lots, they might practically test the question by selling these off, letting the pur- chasers pay by instalmenta spread over a long term of years. The obvious advantage gained, if the experi- ment succeeded, was that they would work on their own ground more zealously than they would on anybody else's. The equally obvious drawback was that pur- chasers would not only have no spare capital to ex- pend on the soil, but, until they had paid off the pur- chase money, would be in the position of very heavily encumbered owners. Between these opposite con- siderations only an actual trial could decide. But even if that solution were a practical one, it was one which would take generations to work out, and for tenant farmers who did not want to buy their farms, and for the most part had not the capital to buy them, it was no solution at all. For the same reason we might ignore the vexed question of large or small estates. The farm, not the estate, was the unit to be dealt with For example, the farms in a given district were each on an average about 100 acres in extent. It made absolutely no difference to the way in which they were worked, whether one, or ten, or 50 were under the same landlord. One exception only to that rule he would make-there were landowners who were owners only in name, whose estates really belonged to their creditors, and who were driven to press hard upon their tenants because they were hard pressed themselves. If the present depression con- tinued, matters would become worse and worse for such persons, and the question might arise whether some such summary remedy as was applied by the Encumbered Estates Act in Ireland might not become necessary here. That was for Parliament and for the country to decide in the meanwhile he would strongly warn landowners against that common delusion that it was always better to hold on to an estate, however encumbered, rather than to sell, because the price of land was continually rising. (Applause.) No doubt that had been the experience of the last 50 years, but it did not follow that the experience of the next 50 years might not be, on the whole, in an opposite direction. Passing to the relations between landlord and tenant, a great deal of mischief was done by both parties to the discussion preferring to shelter themselves under the discussion preferring to shelter themselves under general terms which each side interpreted in its own favour. The English tenant recognised the fact that bis relation to his landlord was one of contract; and, if he understood the subject rightly, the difficulties which from time to time arose related almost exclusively to matters for which the contract had not sufficiently provided. That view of the case suggested the remedy which would usually be effective—don't leave these t points unprovided for when you enter on a farm. We sometimes heard it said, Freedom to contract is all nonsense the parties are on too unequal terms the law must step in to protect the weaker side." Now, he did not meet that argument by a denial of the right of the State to interfere. # The practical objec- tions to legislative interference with contracts were ex- ceedingly strong. If the incoming tenant was strong enough to make his own terms, he wanted no protec- tion if he was not, he would agree to any evasion of the legal conditions which the owner might propose. It should be recollected that every owner had the choice of various expedients to escape from an obliga- tion to which he objected. He might keep his lands in his own hands, and rich men, whose fortune was mostly in money and who owned estates rather for pleasure than profit, were likely to do so if they found the alternative was to lose all control over them. He might, again, let it only to tenants who he knew were not able or not likely to insist on legal rights against him, and, of course, these would not be of the improving or independent class. Or, thirdly, he might fix a rent higher than he intended actually to receive, and keep the difference in re- serve to be collected only in the event of a dispute between himself and his tenant. This showed the importance of keeping to the plain rule of life, that of letting the two parties to a bargain settle the terms between them. But he would go further. There never was a time when it was less necessary for tenant-farmers to ask the State to make contracts for them. In the present state of things they were masters of the situation. With farms lying unoccupied all over the country, it was the farmer's own fault if he accepted a lease with provisions in it which he thought objectionable. These remarks as to leaving contracts free applied in principle to all of the three main subjects of agricultural discussion—restrictions on cultivation, game, and unexhausted improvements. But there were differences of detail, and a word on each might not be out of place. One of the demands often made by Chambers of Agriculture was for what they called" free cultivation." He did not think the phrase a happy one. Everybody was free to cultivate his own land as he pleased, and freedom by law to cultivate somebody else's land as the cultivator pleased meant a transfer of ownership if it meant anything. The question was hardly one for Parliament to deal with. So long as an owner .was left free not to let his land at all or to let it to whomsoever he pleased, it was on the face of it inconsistent to forbid him to impose such re- strictions on the cultivation as the tenant was willing to accept. But he did not doubt that there was a great deal of truth and force ia the complaintthatleases were often clogged with conditions not applicable to the wants of modern farming.probablynotintendedto been- forced, but kept up merely by the force of routine. The grievance, he thought, might be settled without any serious difficulty. He should have no objection to such a change in the law as would give the game to the tenant, in the absence of any agreement to the con- trary but, as it would always be a subject of agree- ment, the change so made would be one rather of form than fact. Some people contended that the landlord should have no power of reserving the game. But that would not only be an arbitrary restriction-it would be altogether useless. The tenant having the game might let it, and he would naturally let it back again to the owner. To prohibit that would involve the absurdity that every owner would be able to shoot on his neighbour's land, but not on his own; to allow it would leave things virtually aa they were. A tenant had a right to protection from all damage by game greater than what he bargained for when he took his farm. Some- thing was said in the report as to the shortness of the present notice to quit—six months wherever the new Act had not been brought into operation. He thought, considering the character of modern farming, the complaint was a reasonable one. Some owners gave twelve months; that was not an inconveniently long delay for the landlord re-enteiing into possession, and he thought it might fairly be made the rule in all cases. As to unexhausted improvements, that was not a question which could be treated in a few sen- tences. No one wished that the landlord should con- fiscate the result of the tenant's outlay; on the other hand, the landlord had a right to protect him- self against having to pay for so-called improve- ments made by the tenant, which might be of no use to him and might not add to the letting value of the farm. These were the two rocks between which we had to steer. (Hear. hear.) He believed the last Act on the subject embodied as fair a solution of the points in dispute as we were likely to arrive at. Most of the trouble on this question arose from want of care in the first instance. He had more than once asked farmers why they had laid out their money without security, knowing, per- haps, that their farms were likely to go into the market. Generally the answer was that they supposed they would be fairly dealt with. Well, if men would not exercise ordinary prudence, the fault was their own when they suffered. (Hear,) The farmers had always been in a stronger position than they knew of, and if they only made up their own minds as to what terms they thought fair in regard to this question of improvements they required no help from the outside. Landlords did not, as far as he could ever see, want to claim what was not their own. They had a strong feeling in favour of settling such claims amicably and quietly and, apart from personal feeling and from a sense of justice, they were too much afraid of injuring their party and their class to be willing to quarrel with those who had the electoral command of the counties in their hands. (Hear, hear.) Farmers would spoil their own and each other's chances by being too thick on the ground. Let those who had IIODS whom they were bringing up to their business look outside this island. In America and Australia there would be room for centuries to come, and in those countries, as long as a man was on good terms with himself, he could not quarrel with his landlord. (Laughter and cheers,) The report was adopted.

rHE EMPEROR OF GERMANY'S GOLDEN WEDDING. The Golden Wedding festivities have received a natural iermlnation by the following letter (says the Berlin Corre- ipondent of The l'imes) signed by the Emperor and Empress tod addressed to the Imperial Chancellor Thanks to the governing care of Divine Providence, we were permitted on the 11th of June to celebrate the ifty years jubilee of our wedded life, and to observe ;hen how this, the day of our own personal re- miniscences, took the form of a festival of general significance all over the German Fatherland and far beyond its borders wherever Germans dwell together, It has thus become more clear to us than ever with what love and loyalty the German people are animated towards their Emperor and his House. Congratulations and expressions of allegiance in the form of letters, telegrams, joyful gala per- formances, poetic and artistic dedications, fragrant flower offerings, &c., grew into a popular movement, which did not fail to make a deep impression on us. But we wefe not permitted to end our satisfaction here; other highly noble acts have come to light, showing a very gratify ing apprehension of our most in ward feelings. Mindful of the ever-increasing necessity of holding out a helping hand in times of need, our subjects con- ceived the notion of making our jubilee the occa- sion for adding to the network of charitable institu- tions all over the Empire, and founding lasting bless. ings to humanity. We therefore feel ourselves impelled here also to convey our assurance that the wishes cherished by us with especial warmth have thus re- ceived their fulfilment. We desire to thank all, both far and near, for the way in which they have helped to celebrate our jubilee day, and commission you, therefore, forthwith to bring this announcement to public notice." On the occasion of his Golden Wedding the Emperor sent 3,000 marks for distribution among the poor of Coblentz. The King of Bavaria conveyed his con- gratulations to the Emperor by autograph letter. The German Princes presented the Empress with 27,000 marks for application to the Augusta Institution at Berlin and providing for the board and education of the children of soldiers killed in battle. In all parish churches on Sunday special prayers were offered up for their Majesties.

AN INTERESTING STEAM ENGINE. A venerable relic of the past engineering skill has been presented by the Earl of Lonsdale to the Patent Office Museum, South Kensington, where it may be seen by the public. This is a specimen of Heslop's winding and pumping engine, a patent for which, numbered 1,760, was Jtaken out in the year 1790. Healop's engine, one of the immediate predecessors of James Watt's invention, was considered in the days of our great grandfathers to be an almost perfect machine, being superior to the atmospheric engine of Newcomen, even as improved by Smeaton. The present engine has been at work in the neighbourhood of Whitehaven for 73 years, having been erected at Kell's pit for raising coal about 1795, afterwards removed to Castlerigg pit, and thence to Wreath pit in 1828. At the latter place it not only lifted coal out of the mine but worked a pump till last summer, when it was brought to London. The engine possesses two single acting cylinders. On being admitted into the first or hot cylinder the steam raises the piston by pressure underneath, the return stroke being caused by the weight of the connecting rod of the momentum of the fly-wheel. The eduction valve being then open, the steam passes to the second or cold cylinder by way of a connecting pipe, which being immersed in cold water sufficiently con- denses the steam. On the arrival of the cold piston at the top of its stroke the vacuum is produced in the cold cylinder by the admission of a jet through an in- jection valve. Thus Heslop obtained advantages which were only eclipsed by those of the separate con- denser, and individually he was perhaps to be pitied, inasmuch as the invention of Watts seems to have been the only thing which prevented his machine from becoming universally useful. If anything more were needed to excite interest in the engine now at South Kensington, it would be found in the fact that it is the only survivor of its race.

THE ROTHSCHILDS. The Economist, referring to the late Baron Roths- child, remarks :—" There is a fact about the hoase of Rothschild under his control which we have never seen mentioned, and which deserves to be recorded. It has done no mischief; and when we remember the enormous powers it wields, the deadly blows it could, if so in- clined, deliver to great banks, the temptation it must sometimes feel to form alliances with particular States or parties—to aid Vienna, say, against Berlin, or the Second Empire against the Republic, to have abstained from mischief, and to have acted on cold, even if selfish, reasonableness, is a very great merit. It in- dicates the possession of the judicial mind. The baron has never been accused of waging war with rivals, like the great American capitalists, or of I making a re- volution,' like a great French banker, or of entering into vast speculations outside his business, like so many of the contractor capitalist of the great war, and indeed, of our own time. He has been loanmonger and banker, and not fighting financier and to that moderation in the use of his great power some of his success and not a little of his popularity must be ascribed. In four great capitals, the classes which possess nothing wish well to a firm which, of all others, most distinctly represents capital. That is a very great proof of consummate ability in manage- ment.

MR. G. A SALA CN ART. Mr. George Augustus Sala presided at the anniversary festival of the Artists, Benevolent Fand, held in London, at the Freemason a Tavern, on Saturday evening. In giving the loyal toasts, the Chairman made ap- propriate and graceful allusion to the encouragement ani support to art always given by the Queen and the Royal t amily. Afterwards, in giving the u Army and Navy and the Reserve Forces," he remarked that there had always been a close association between arts and arms. Many celebrated English artists were renowned as painters of battle scenes by land and sea. He would not go so far back as the days of the Anglo-American Benjamin West, the painter of the ever-memorable scene of the death of General Wolfe; or to the Anglo German Philip Loutherabourg, or to the I Anglo-American John Singleton Copley, who painted the noble death of Major Pierson but he would re- mind his hearers that they had still among them Mr. Edward Armitage, the painter of the Battle of Meanee, and that they had among them an artist whose name must awaken enthusiastic sympathy not only among the sterner sex, but among the ladies present-he alluded to Mrs. Elizabeth Butler, better known to fame as Miss Thompson. (Cheers ) After Lord Mark Ker had responded on behalf of the Army, Mr. Sala proposed "Prosperity to the Artists' Benevolent Fund," and delivered an interest- ing address, in the courBe of which he expressed his satisfaction at the extended appreciation of the fine arts evinced in the present day, and his pleasure in knowing that artists now received thousands of pounds where they formerly received hundreds—nay, fifties, and even tens and fives. Adverting to the honours conferred on the great artists of the past, Mr. Sala said :—I am not unaware that in times 'gone by the career of the great painters, of the princes of the pencil, has been splendid. Leonardo expires in the arms of Francis I. On the dying brow of Rafaelle Sanzio is laid the benison of the Supreme Pontiff, and when the painter has breathed his lajt his immortal picture of the transfiguration is placed at the head of the bed of death, and his ashes are laid in the sepulchre worthy of them—in the Pantheon of Agrippa. Charles V. of Spain, Emperor and King, picks up the pencil from the hand of Titian before ever he had seen the great Venetian, he had in Flanders gazed on some of his pictures, and, bearing a noble tribute to the genius that produced them, he turned to his Latin secretary, and said, Comes et eques Tizianus sit"— Let Titian be made an earl and knight "-and he made him so forthwith. Even the ferocious Henry VIII. loved art and rendered it worthy homage when he said that out of seven ploughmen he could make seven lords, but that out of seven lords he could not make one Hans Holbein. Sir Peter Paul Rubens, painter and ambassador, rides with twenty gentlemen in his train; Sir Anthony Van Dyck immortalises on canvas all that is gallant, reverent, and wise among Englishmen-all that is graceful and beautiful among Englishwomen; in the Royal Hall at Whitehall the King embraces him, and hangs the badge of knight- hood around his neck; the Royal barge conveys him to his lodging at Blackfriars, where, alas! he dies too soon for friendship, but not for fame, and his body is entombed in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, in the vaults of which recently renovated basilica new slumber all that is mortal of Joshua Reynolds, of Joseph William Mallard Turner, Edwin Landseer, and of many more famous painters and sculptors. These are the princes of the pencil who have passed through the great archway, who have made their stately progress to the temple of fame. But, ah me! there is a Via Dolorosa as well as a Via Triumphalis. There is a heavy hill to be passed, and fainting by the wayside, dejected, weary, and worn, are those who have been worsted in the great struggle, the destitute, despairing, and poverty-stricken professors of art. In youth their capacity may have entitled them to hope for competence and to aspire to celebrity; but there is no armour against fate. Long years have been passed in trying and trying, but the mournful result has been failure. Or, perchance, when they were in the very midst of regular and remunerative employment, and when increased prosperity seemed to be assured, un- avoidable misfortune has paralysed their powers. "The painful family of death, more hideous than their queen," the diseases that rack the joints and fire the veins, and in the deeper vitals rage," may have afflicted them; or failing eyesight may have been their lot, or the crippled or paralysed hand may have re- fused to obey the inspirations of the still unclouded mind. Let none of us think we are so happy, let none of us think ourselves so prosperous that misfortune will not overtake us, and that the night may not be imminent when no man can watch. But we who are yet valid man," we who are yet enjoying the blessings of health and competence, we can do some- thing to assist the poor widows and orphans of those who have fallen in the fight. Be it Phitos, with his abounding money-bags, or the working artist, or the working journalist, all by the practice of a little self. denial, can do something for the good cause of charity. We grumble sorely at the income-tax, but the money we give in charity is an income-tax on happiness at which we never grumble. (Cheers.) I say upon hap. piness, for it seems to me that there is no surer way of securing future happiness here below than doing our best to make poor folks comfortable,

AN INTERESTING REMINISCENCE. 8 8 Fifty-four years ago the lady who is now Empress 1; )f Germany was present at a ceremony exactly like s ;hat in which she herself was one of the principal c parties on Wednesday. It was the celebration of the è golden wedding of Karl August, Grand Duke of Weimar, her grandfather, whose name has been made famous by his friendship with Goethe. She and her < alder sister, the Princess Marie, had been living with i their mother for about a year at the Russian Court; i but they returned in time for the great event, and it I was they who crowned their grandparents with myrtle. In the same year 1725, the Weimar Court celebrated ) the fiftieth anniversary of the day on which Gcethe entered the little town and on this occasion also the young princesses were among the most prominent of those who offered their congratulations. The aged poet, deeply moved by their kindness, could not utter a word, but taking the hand of each placed it on his heart. He had a considerable share in their educa- tion, and it is well kno wn that the Empress still re- calls with pleasure the days when she associated with him. He was commissioned by their mother to buy a garden for her in Jena, and in its beautiful grounds he would often spend hours with them, showing them pictures, writing Arabic and Chinese characters for their amusement, and telling them stories. On one of her birthdays the Princess Augusta received from the old Grand Duke a silver medal on which was his own portrait. At the same time Goethe sent her an en- graving, accompanying which were some graceful verses that he had written in their favourite garden.— Pall Mall Gazette.

THE SICK AND WOUNDED IN SOUTH AFRICA. (From Monday's Times.) As might be expected, there exists in England a deep interest in the welfare of those of our soldiers in South Africa who, either through sickness or wounds, may be incapacitated from service in the field, and who may require to be received into the hospitals provided at the seat of war. This anxiety has shown itself by various letters which have ap- peared in the papers, and effect has been given to these benevolent feelings by means ofea committee formed at Stafford-house for receiving subscriptions to be devoted to providing surgeons, women-nurses, and medical comforts, to be sent to the seat of war. Since the departure of the troops more than one society have offered to the War Office such assistance as they have been able to afford. Among these was the National Aid Society, which, as might be expected from the fact of its being the possessor of a consider- able fund, was the first to offer to provide necessaries and comforts beyond those officially sent out from England. On examination, however, it was found that a most careful and complete selection of every possible requisite for the use of the hospitals had already been despatched, and in such quantities as precluded the possibility of there being any deficiency in the hos. pitals, even supposing the sick and wounded should exceed the numbers ordinarily estimated for. A sufficient number of medical officers is also in the field, and the Director-General of the Army Medical Department at Whitehall has in his possession a list of civil surgeons willing to take service under Govern. ment amply sufficient for any emergency, several of whom served under the National Aid Society in the Franco-German, Servian, and Turco-Russian wars, Some of these gentlemen have already engaged them- selves to the Government and have started for South Africa, In these circumstances only a very small part remains for voluntary societies to undertake, and this fact has been pointed out by the Government, who have, however, duly expressed their gratitude, and have cordially accepted assistance to be devoted to objects which it is not customary to provide for out of Government funds. The National Aid Society has had from the first an agent in South Africa, who is also an officer of the Commissariat Department, and whose experience in the Franco-German War and Russo-Turkish War gives him a full knowledge of those things which are necessary for the supply of hospitals in the field. Reports sent home by this officer confirm the statements that the supplies which have been- forwarded from England are amply sufficient for all the requirements. From a consider- able amount placed at this officer's disposal he has only thought it desirable to expend a sum of money under JE200 in luxuries not issued from the medical stores. From the commencement of the year a supply of English newspapers and periodicals has been de- spatched by each mail, and these, together with local newspapers, have been distributed among the princi- pal hospitals throughout the expeditionary force. Four sisters supplied by the Bishop of Bloemfontein have been engaged by the principal medical officer to nurse in the Military Hospital at Ladysmith, and the Government are now sending out the Lady Superin. tendent from Netley with six nurses from that estab- lishment.

LEO XIII. PRESIDING AT A PHILO- SOPHICAL DISPUTATION. We extract the Times of Monday, descriptive of a disputation by students in the presence of the Pope A noteworthy scene was enacted in the Vatican a few days ago, w^ich still more fully reveai8 tbe means by which Leo. XIli. to restore, not only the ecclesiastical, Out, it he can, also the temporal glories of the Papacy, It is evident that from the very beginning of his reign he formed the determination of doing all in his elevate the Roman hierarchy and priesthood to the highest practicable standard of morality and learning, and to surround the Pontifical throne with emment men. In his first Encyclical he told the Episcopate how much it behoved the clergy to show themselves shining examples of piety and learning before all men, and he has repeated the same charge more than once. In creating his first batch of cardinals he has chosen from among the men most noted for the qualities and attainment he had com- mended, and a day or two ago he gathered about him in the Vatican a number of the most distinguished students in the various colleges, and, sitting in the library, presided at a disputation on philosophy, and rewarded the disputants with gold and silver medals- not the mere objects of devotion generally bestowed by Popes, but medals having for their meaning the reward of merit only. No such scene has been wit- nessed in the Vatican for many long years, and, as described to me by one who was present, it somewhat recalls the days when a former Leo was the oentre of the talent and genius of his day. The Grand Hall of the Vatican Librazy, where the greater treasures are kept, is, as most people know, divided along the length by massive pilasters, which support the vaulted ceiling. Between these crimson silk curtains were drawn, and ethers hung across at about two-thirds the length, forming a room in size like the Hall of the Consistory. At one end the Pope, wearing his white dress, sat on the throne, which was raised on its dais; around him stood the personages and officials of the Pontifical Court. At right angles from the throne, on the right and the left, two rows of arm-chairs were occupied by the car- dinals. Behind them sat the bishops and other dignitaries, the rectors, vice-rectors, and professors of the different colleges, and other learned men while at the further end, facing the Pope, a series of benches had been arranged, on which sat a number of students. There were four from each college, and, of course, those four who had most distinguished themselves in their studies. In the space within, at each of the further corners from the throne, tables were diagonally placed for the upholder and impugner of the theses pro- posed. The students chosen for this honourable task and who have thus placed their feet on the first rung of the ladder to ecclesiastical distinction were Giuseppe Baroni and Giovanni Genocchi, of the Pontifical Pian Seminary; Francesco Brambilla, of the Cesaroli College; and Omero Monteeperelli, of the Pamphily Col!er»- in the Roman Seminary. Lots were drawn as to W ich, should develope the theses given and which should combat the arguments used, the subjects being two in metaphysics: Idece innatce non sunt admittendce and Dantur idece universalis et habent fundamentum in re and two in ethics Philosophica ratione demonstratur objectum humance felicitatis in Deo esse collocandum," and Existet lex ceterna ordinem naturalem servari jubens, perturbari vetans, per lumen rationis hominibw participata." Much ability was, I am told, displayed by the young disputants, and after each had silenced his antagonist, he had to combat further against such objections and subtleties as any of the prelates or professors present were inclined to raise and among those who put the students to this further and more crucial test were Don Ermete Binzecher, professor of canon law; Don Francesco Segna, professor of dogmatic theology; Monsignor Patacci, Bishop of Troade in partibus; and Monsignor Gabriele Boccali, recently of Perugia, but now newly attached to the Pontifical household. The Pope himself took no direct part in the discus- sion, but at its conclusion—it lasted three hours-he rose and made a short discourse. He expressed his satisfaction with what he had heard, and hoped that the theological disputation to be held in the same manner at the end of the month might be equally praiseworthy. It was his intention, he said, to hold these trials of ability each year, in order to encourage the students in their studies and stimulate them to greater exertions for the glory of the Church and the gqod of mankind; and he further purposed to have similar competitions in canon law and in Greek, Latin, and Italian literature; and with that he gave the medals I have mentioned and his benediction.

THE LATE WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON. The following resolution, written by Mr. Bright, was on Saturday adopted by the committee of the Cobden Club. It will be engrossad on vellum and presented to the late Mr. Lloyd Garrison's family The committee of the Cobden Club have heard with deep regret of the death of William Lloyd Garrison, the friend of the negro. His life has been devoted to the service of justice and freedom. The black man owes him lasting gratitude, for he mainly created the conditions which made negro slavery in the United States of America impossible and negro freedom certain. The white man owes him thanks for the lesson he has taught him that the persistent labours of humble men in a righteous cause have promise of suc- cess. A great nation will reckon him amongst the noblest of her sons, for he led the way to that freedom which by her Constitution was intended to be and which is now the possession of all her children. The committee of the Cobden Club wish by this resolution to place on record the expression of their reverence for the life, and their sorrow for the death of one of the most eminent among the honorary members of the club."

[Mr. Garrison's death was a release from long-con- tinued and grievous pain. For many years he was the victim of a savage neuralgia that made him old before his time.]

THE TELEGRAPH DELEGATES AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE. On Saturday the members of the International Tele- graph Conference visited the Crystal Palace, and had a most enjoyable afternoon and evening. The weather was bright and sunny; the grounds of the Palace— with their shady nooks in verdure clad, their sparkling lakes, their rippling fountains, their flowers, and their statues—looked their loveliest; and the magnificent stretch of scenery which is to be witnessed from the heights of the stately edifice of glass at Sydenham was seen to the utmost advantage, and was gazed upon by our foreign visitors with evident appreciation and delight. In the evening the delegates and their friends were entertained to dinner in the Palace by the joint Re- ception Committee. Mr. Thomas Hughes presided, and in proposing the toast of the evening, said :—I have to ask you with me to drink a very hearty welcome to the members of the International Telegraph Conference, who are gathered in London from all quarters of the globe, and have come to day to visit the National Palace of our English people (cheers). I venture to think that no place coald be so suitable as this to re- ceive the honoured representatives of that most power- ful of all the great material agencies, which, in our marvellous time, are binding the nations of the earth together in spite of themselves. Amongst present signs there are few more hopeful than this, of the gather- ing together, year after year, in friendly conference of those whose work it is to spee i and develop the inter- course of nations. It has been our pride hitherto to gird the whole earth with our speakin g gear. Already there is scarcely a corner which we have not reached. We have already grounds for the proud motto, "Qua regio in terris nostvi non plena laborts 1 Let us then go on hopefully in faith that, as intercourse grows and men know more and more of each other, a sounder and better mind will grow also, which will inform and inspire that intercourse and make it a sure, and no longer a doubtful blessing to mankind. Signor D'Amico (from Italy) on rising to respond, was received with hearty cheers. Speaking in French, he said :-My colleagues and myself are very grate- ful for the welcome, at once so splendid and se oordial, which has been accorded to us in this country; and we are happy to take advantage of any opportunity which preBentsitself of thanking the Government of England, the municipality of the capital, and the telegraph com- panies for the testimonies of sympathy which they have been so good as to exhibit (cheers), and of ex- pressing our admiration of the General Post Office of the City of London, and of the various private tele- graphic enterprises which are carried on after the manner of the English. (Hear, hear.) I may say to you, ladies and gentlemen, that we deserve to be loved a little by England, since we love her so much (cheers). We have learned from our youth upwards to consider this country as that in which the most intimate alliance exists between order and liberty, between tradition and progress, between moral work and material work, between all classes of society, between the dynasty and the nation (cheers). The spectacle which has unrolled itself before our eyes since we have been here, whilst confirming and strengthen- ing the lessons we have learned, gives U8 an explanation of the marvellous destiny to which the English people have been called by Divine Providence. The Palace in which we are offered so noble and touching a hospitality transports us, in thought, to the first International Inhibition which was opened by England to all the nations, in order that they might know and esteem one another, that they might profit by mutual instruction, aad that influences might be all brought to bear which would be to the advantage of without wounding any. The example of England has borne its fruiie and it is to her that the glory of the benefits which have been obtained in this direction, for humanity in general, is due. (Cheers.) This Palace has gathered together an exposition of the conquests and achieve- ments of men in the domain of science, art, and literature-proofs of the astonishing discoveries and great works which have done honour to the century, and of the immense development of industry and of commerce. Here, too, we have united the triumphs of science not only the charms of the fine, arte, but the harmonies of music, and the splendour and perfume of flowers. (Cheers.) Still more is it meet that we should express our gratitude when we find ourselves the elité-the chosen guests-of the noble daughters of old England. (Cheers.) The fact of our being here surrounded by many English ladies brings home to our minds the idea of how it is that an Englishwoman is on the throne, who, whether it be in the world or at the domestic hearth, deserves to be quoted as a model of wisdom and of grace. (Cheers.) I thank you all, to whom we owe this happy day, which we shall never forget. Honour to the country and to her children. (Cheers),

THE DUTCH SUCCESSION. The Arrihemtche Courant, referring to the death of the Prince of Orange, opens the question of succession to the throne of Holland. Prince Alexander of the Netherlands, the present heir-apparent, geems likely to remain unmarried. Failing direct male issue, the Crown, by the Netherlands Constitution, passes to the "nearest kinswoman of the Sovereign and her descend- ants." This would be, in present circumstances, the Grand Duchess of Saxony, the sister of King William III. The Dutch journal asks whether it is expedient to maintain this statute (which is 60 years old), and it points to Article 23 of the Constitution, which enacts that circumstances may arise which render it desirable to make certain alterations in the mode of succession to the throne. In that case it is for the King himself to make the proposal for change, but the final decision is assigned to the States-General,

DESTRUCTION OF FORESTS. Countries fortunate enough to be rich in forests seem to have strange propensity for destroying them. This has been eminently the case in Finland, a country, nevertheless, which is still rich in forests, notwith- standing the enormous waste of timber that has been carried on there for more than half a century. It is estimated that 64 per cent, of the total superficial area of Finland, or, in other words, about 213,722 square kilometres are covered with timber. Unfortu- nately, says Consul Campbell, in his trade report on Helsingfors, these enormous resources have much deteriorated during the last fifty years. The gross system of setting fire to the trees in order to clear the ground is still practised in many districts of the country on a great scale, and the conflagrations thus originating sometimes assume large proportions new laws and regulations, however, lately put in force, have contributed in some measure to modify the evil. Another cause of ruin to the forest is the system of burning the pine trees to obtain tar, and a third cause is the annual felling of millions of young trees for the purpose of making palisades round the build- ings and fields. The question is at present engaging public attention in Finland as well as that of the Government, and measures, it is hoped, will be taken to put a stop to this wholesale destruction.-Pall Mall Gazette.

THREATENED STRIKE OF SPINNERS IN MASSACHUSETTS. The American Correspondent of The Times says :— The spinners at Fall River (Massachusetts) cotton mills resolved on Saturday to strike on June 28. The manufacturers in April, 1878, reduced wages 15 per cent., promising a restoration when prosperity returned. The spinners recently, being convinced that the manu. factures could pay, asked for the restoration; the manu- facturers refused, and the spinners then asked for arbi- tration. The manufacturers refused this, and then the spinners called a general trade meeting for Saturday. 788 delegates attending the meeting unanimously adopted resolutions describing the situation, declaring that sufficient prosperity had returned to advance wages, and quoting statistics proving this. They decided to strike for a 15 per cent. advance, each spinner giving ten days' notice on Monday. The spinners also pledged themselves not to ask for aid from the unions for three weeks. Both sides show dogged determination so long as the strike lasts 30 cotton-mills, with 15,000 hands and a monthly pay- roll of 310,000 dols. will be closed. The signs of returning prosperity throughout the United States are so general that uneasiness is beginning to be shown in most trades at the present low wages, but this Is the only large strike yet threatened.

EPITOME OF NEWS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN. On Monday Mr. Brocklehurst, M.P.. opened the new school of art and science erected la Macclesfield at a cost of £ 5,500. "Government-house, Simla, has been laid with gas made from mineral oil. The system has also bean tried at the Lahore railway station with every success."—Times of frxdia. In the first week of June the Berlin Mint coined 30,068 gold pieces of 20 marks. The Empire now possesses 1,698,320,096 marks In gold. There are, it is reported, to be field manoeuvres on & large scale in Busila this summer, in which no less than 260,000 men, with 8S0 guns, will take part. At the Primitive Methodist Conference at Leeds on Monday, a letter was read from the Right lion. John Bright, in which he expressed his willingness to present a petition, now In course of signature amongst the connexion, for the Sunday closing of public-houses. His Royal Highness Prince Leopold paid a visit on Monday to the Westminster Industrial Exhibition, Victoria- street, London. Oa his arrival, the Prince was met by the Right Hon. the Speaker, the Rev. Canon Farrar, the Rev. Mr. Northcote, Mr. Fox (the chairman), and several members of the exhibition committee, by whom he was escorted around the tent. His Royal Highness was struck with several of the exhibits, and asked many questions about them, one particularly, viz., the model ol a full-rigged ship, by Quarter- master Owell, attraetlng his lively attention. On leaving, the Prince expressed the satisfaction It had afforded him to lnspeot the exhibits. Returns issued by the American Department of Agriculture Indicate an increase in the area planted with cotton to be somewhat over 2 per cent., as compared with that of 1878 The average condition of the crop is ninety- six, while last year it was ninety-nine. There was a severe shock of earthquake in Costa Rica on the night of the 29th of May. The cathedral and many of the principal buildings of San Jos6 were shattered, and much damage was done in other parts of the Republic. The 1st Hants Artillery Volunteers attended a special service at Trinity Church, Southampton, en Sunday morning by way of thanksgiving for the preservation of the members of the corps from fatal Injury during the bursting of a 24-pounder when at shot practice the other day. The London Gazette states that the Queen has been pleased to confer the decoration of the Imperial Order of the Crown of India on Mary, Baroness Napier of Magdgla; Frances Elizibeth, Lady Cunynghame (commonly called the Honourable Lady Cunynghame); and Susanna Maria, Dowager Lady Pottinger. The total exports from Melbourne, Adelaide, and Sydney for the past month to Great Britain have been :— Wool, 4,000 bales; tallow, 1,790 casks: copper, 800 tons; ditto, ore, 1,300 tons; wheat, 40,000 quarters; flour, 6,000 tons; tin, 9,000 ingots. Mr. Joseph Cowen, the hon. member for Newcastle, will move In the House of Commons at an early date the following resolution That the law respecting the taxes on railway travelling is ill defined, incapable of being equally enforced, and requires the Immediate attention of Parliament." The marble statue of Burns, intended to form the central feature of the Kilmarnock monument to the poet, has been finished by Mr. Stevenson, of Edinburgh. The in- auguration, with full masonic honours, will take place on the 9th of August, Colonel Alexander, M.P.. taking the leading part in the proceedings. The entire work will cost £ 3,000, of which the statue will cost ZWO. According to M. Tresca, speaking at the recent conference at La Sorbonne, 1,100,000 horse-power is utilised in France alone. This power represents that of 14,000,000 of men-that Is to say, of a population much greater than the number of working men In the country. The manual labour accomplished by machinery must have the effect, said the speaker, of enabling men to devote themselves to Intelligent I work."— Electrician. g By an Imperial Order, issued on Saturday last at ] St. Petersburg, all authorised District Commandants are per- mitted, should they consider it necessary, to Instruct their ( sentinels to carry rifles, and in some cases repeaters, which 1 are to be loaded and kept half-cocked, in order that they may have more certain means of defence and protection at their posts. Sentinels thus armed are enjoined to be cautious with their weapons, and not to present arms, but to stand at attention, when saluting. The Governor of Moscow has in- stituted watchmen In all villages of the Moscow District. The promenade in the Broad Walk, which always forms an important part of the proceedings of "Show Sun- day" at Oxford Commemoration, was well attended on Sunday evening, despite the threatening state of the weather. The University sermons at St. Mary's were preached by Canon Ince and Canon Liddon, the church being crowded on each occasion. The piercing of the St. Gothard Tunnel will pro- bably be completed about the end of November. On the Atrolo side the workmen have reached a point 1,281 mfetres from the centre of the mountain, while the works on the j Gttschenen side are only 649 mfetres from the centre. The junction of the two galleries will, therefore, probably be i made some 300 mfetres from the centre on the southern ] side. Charitable ladies in New Orleans give amateur i entertainments every spring to provide funds for the main- i tenance of the poor of the city during the coming winter, and this year they intend to get up a pantomime, a loan 1 exhibition, tableaux vivants by children, and a children's minstrel show, for this laudable purpose. English ladies with nothing to do might take the hint, and, by the way, might also copy the recent fashion of children's parties in New York, where the little ones have been entertained at simple calico parties, and the dresses worn have afterwards been given to childish waifs and strays.—Graphic. The last vestige of Temple-bar has now been taken away by the contractors. Not a stone of the Old historical structure now remains, and In a few days the southern foot- way which joins the Strand and Fleet-street will be perfectly cleared 01 obstruction. At the concluding sitting of the International Literary Congress, held In London on Saturday afternoon at the Sooiety of Arts, under the presidency of the Comte Ferdinand de Lesseps, the chairman announced that he had just received a letter from his son stating that the whole of the 2,000,000 francs required for the preliminary expenses of the canal through the Isthmus of Panama had been already obtained, and that, consequently, the works might be com- menced immediately. He trusted that general support would be given to this great enterprise. The Hudson's Bay Company reports that the de- creasing supply of buffalo in the plains during the past year or two has unfortunately caused a great amount of distress among the native tribes depending on the chase, and latterly has prevented many of them from following their usual avocations. The Government of the Dominion have directed their attention to this impot tant matter, and steps are being taken with the view of Inducing the Indiana to follow agri- cultural pursuits, and thereby improving their condition, In case, as there is some reason to fear, the supply of buffalo in the plains cannot be depended upon in future as in former years. Mr. P. H. Carpenter writes to The Times from Eton College, June 16 Tbe yellow dust which has fallen so abundantly In the neighbourhood of Windsor and Eton during the recent heavy rains, and is supposed by your Windsor correspondent to be fine particles of {sulphur, has a much more simple origin than the supernatural one attri- buted to it by the country people. It is merely the pollen grains of a pine tree, probably of the cluster pine (Pinus Pinaster). There Is an exoellent representation of it in Sach's Text-book of Botany,' fourth edition (figure 351 B). The very abundant pollen grains of all the pines are provided with two small hollow bags, which act as floats, and thus favour the distribution of the pollen by the wind, even to great distances. The pollen which has fallen here has pro- bably come from the neighbourhood of'Ascot and Sunnlng- hill, or possibly even from Bournemouth and other parts of the South Coast, where pine trees are abundant." A telegram from Stetton announces that the boiler of the steamer Orpheus exploded on Sunday morning shortly before the hour fixed for the departure of the vessel for Konigsberg. Several persons were killed by the explosion. Ten bodies are reported to have been recovered. Mr. Fisher, the arbitrator in the trade dispute at Bristol between the master builders and the painters as to a reduction of wages, having given his decision in favour of the men, tbe employers, at a meeting on Saturday night accepted the decision, and unanimously resolved to offer arbitration to the stonemasons and carpenters. The telephone is rapidly coming into extensive use in the United States. In factories and offices It is employed to put the Inmates In communication with each other, and they now talk from their desks Instead of interrupting the business to seek each other out. It Is suggested, in addition, that friends residing at a suitable distance should use the telephone for social intercourse, and there seems to be no serious obstacles in its employment lor that purpose.— Iron. The number of militia regiments called out for train Ing this .year is 167-viz, 97 in England and Wales, 16 in Scotland, and 44 in Ireland. Of this number, 74 have already completed, or nearly completed, their training in England and Wales 25 in Ireland, and seven In Scotland. The re- mainder will complete their training between now and the 20th of September. The establishment, according to the recent order issued from the War Office, is 137,562 of all ranks. Subsidies to the following amounts are granted by the principal cities of Europe to their lyric theatres Berlin, 700,0001.; Btuttgard, 625.0001.; Dresden, 400,000f.; Naples, San Carlos, 300,000f. Vienna, Imperial Theatre, 300,000f. Rome, Apollo, 290,000f.; Copenhagen, 250,0001.; Carlsruhe and Weimar Theatres, 250,000f. Munich,, 195,0001. Milan, La Scala, 175,000f.; Stockholm, 150,0001., Palermo, Bellini, 120,0001. Turin, 60,0001.; Florence, Pergola, 40,009f. Genoa, Carlo Felice, 10,ooof. The Vienna Correspondent of the Daily News tele- graphs as follows Fresh inundations have taken place in Moravia, Galicia, Silesia, and Hungary. Haif Troppan^s under water. The whole of the hay harvest has been de- stroyed. The railway from Granica to Warsaw ii inter- rupted. Seven Iron bridges have been demolished. The Danube Is rising." A State concert was given by command of the Queen on Monday evening at Buckingham Palace. The Prince and Princess of Wales, accompanied by the Crown Prince of Sweden and Norway, the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelltz, and the members of the Roval familv entered the saloon at twenty minutes before eleven o'clock' when the concert Immediately commenced. The Princess of Wales wore a dress ol antique crCme satin brocade, trimmed point d Alec (jon, with tablier ol variegated pansies, and pansy-caloured velvet; corsage to correspond headdress, a tiara of diamonds, ornaments, diamonds, pearls, and sapphires. Orders, Victoria and Albert, the Star of India, St. Catherine ol Russia, and the Danish Family Order The vocalists Included Madame Pattl, Madame Trebelli, Mdlle. Kellogg, Mdlle. Hohenschild, Herr Herschel, and Mr. W. H. Cummings. The band and chorus, consisting of upwards of 160 performers, were selected from Her Majesty's Theatre, the Royal Italian Opera, the Philharmonic and Sacred Harmonic Societies, together with her Majesty's pri- vate band. ) A dramatic poem, 800 lines long, believed to have been written by the unfortunate poet Chatterton, has been found among a lot of old newspapers sold as waste in London. A doctor in New York proposes a new field of usefulness to the medical profession. He thinks doctors have too much leisure, and proposes that they extend their studies and include the diseases of the lower animals. Seven bridges on the Warsaw and Vienna Railway bstween the Myszaow and Zawercy stations, have been carried away by violent rains, and the traffic is in conse- quence interrupted for about a mile along the line. A cairn to commemorate the marriage of the Duke of Connaught is in course of erection, by the Queen a com- mand, on Craig Gorman, near Balmoral Castle. Mr. Donald Mackenzie, the African explorer, Bailed on Monday in the steamer Corsair, bound for Cape Juby, on the north-west coast of Africa, where he is about to establish a trading station. On Sunday morning an awfully sudden death occurred in St. George's-road Congregational Church, Bolton. Mr. Henry Webster, aged sixty-four, and who had been for sixteen years a deacon of the church, entered his pew with his wife five minutes before the service commenced. He fell back in his pew, was carried to the vestry, and died almost immediately. Her Majesty has approved of the Victoria Cross being conferred upon Lieutenant W. K. P. Hamilton, Bengal Staff Corps, in recognition of his gallantry whilat employed on active service la Afghanistan. This makes the third cross which has been given for the Afghan campaign. The seventeenth weekly balance-sheets of the Central Executive Committee of the London Engineers on strike, issued last Saturday, exhibits a diminution in num- bers, and consequent reduction in expenditure. It refers to the payment of only 580 men and 950 children, which Is a near approach to one-half the number of engineers and their children who had to be paid when the men first struck work over four months ago. g^There are some complaints as to the discolouration of wheat, and the continuance of wet cloudy weather is still causing apprehension as to the fate of the cereals, but grass and clover have made wonderful growth, especially in Scot- land, where good hay crops are urgently needed. Rumour credits the late Baron Lionel Rothschild with having amassed a fortune of £13,000,000. seven millions more than the personalty of Baron Meyer Rothschild, and seven millions less than that of Baron James, who died worth £ 20,000,000.—Court Journal. The Metropolitan Railway Company contemplate introducing the eleotrlc light In all their underground rail- way stations. A medal struck by order of the Czar, displaying a red eross surrounded by a silver wreath, has just been pre- sented to 18 members of the German central committee of the societies for tending the wounded in the field, in recogni- tion of special services rendered during the Russo-Turkish war. A Times' telegram says that a waterspout on Thurs- day night in last week, engulfed an emigrant camp at Buffalo Gap, Dakota territory, going to the Black Hills. Eleven persons were drowned. A gigantic fall of rocks between St. Gingolph and Melllerle Is so remarkable and unique as a spectacle that excursion trains are started from Geneva on Sundays to give the townsfolk an opportunity of viewing the marvellous scene. It is said that the clearing of the way, which Is now hemmed up by the enormous dibrit, cannot be effected in much lessQthan a year. One of the largest of the blocks which have fallen from the mountain wall has a circum- ference of 6,000 cubic teet, and is estimated to weigh nothing lighter than 350,000 kilogrammes. At Chelsworth, in Suffolk, on Monday, a man named Brown was gored to death by a bull. He had gone to fetch some cows with which the bull was grazing, when he was savagely attacked, and when found several of his ribs were broken, and scarcely a vestige of clothing was left on his body. After some difficulty the animal was shot. Dutch bulbs, exported within the last sixteen years, have brought Holland an income of over 51,600,000. The demand for bulbs Is yearly Increasing, and in 1876 alone the Dutch exported bulbs to the value of £ 140,000. Sir Charles Rowley has announced his intention to remit 10 per cent. of his rents —Lord Rendlesham, M.P., has determined, in consequence of the low prices of farm pro- duce, to remit 10 per cent. of the half year's rent payable by his tenants In Hertfordshire. The steam tramway between Rome and Tivoli wa-- inaugurated on June 15. The whole population of Tivoli turned out to witness the arrival of the first train, saluting It with unbounded enthusiasm. The town was gaily decora- ted with flags throughout. The guests, some 200 in number, Invited to make the trial trip, were entertained by the Syndic and the communal authorities at Tivoli at a splendid déjeáner alfresco In the wood overlooking the Campagna. The comedy of Our Boys has been played 1,350 times consecutively at a London theatre, and will soon be followed by Our Girls. It is different in our country, says the Norristown Herald. Here our girls are followed by our boys. But perhaps it is leap year in England. A deputation consisting of about thirty delegates, representing the various temperance societies of the metropolis, headed by Cardinal Manning, presented to the Home Secretary on Saturday a memorial requesting him to use his influence in obtaining a pure and plentiful supply of water for London. An Indian paper mentions that bamboo poles for use as telegraph posts are being sent to*Natal from Madras. An accident occurred early on Tuesday morning at the Longford Station of the London and North-Western Railway. Excursion trains from London and Liverpool were entering the station simultaneously from opposite directions when Police-constable Capors, of the Warwick- shire Constabulary, was knocked down by the Liverpool train and frightfully Injured, a leg and a finger being cut off. Hewaseemovedto the Coventry Hospital in a most pre- carious condition. The Prince and Princess of Wales and their daughters returned to London on Monday from Cowarth Park. In the evening the Prince of Wales went to the Gaiety Theatre, to witness the performance of cc L' Ami Fritz by the members of the Comedie Fraccaise. The Timet' Correspondent writes The lament- accident which occnrrad in NA.1"8 rinrlnfr tha np" Ion of the Corpus Domini has resulted In the death of sabella dei Medici, Duchess di Sangro (not Sancrl, as tele- ;raphed). The party, consisting of the Duke dl Martina, the )uchess dl Sangro, her four daughters, the eldest of whom Is narried to the Duke di Bagnoli, and a little boy, were matching the procession from a balcony of the piano nobile, )f their palace, when the fastenings gave way, and, the Dalcony falling on that of the piano beneath, the people In both were precipitated among the crowd below. For- tunately, all escaped worse injury than that of severe con- tusions excepting the Duchess, who, striking first on the railing of the lower balcony and thence rebounding Into the street, fractured her spine and only survived two hours." Colonel J. T. Smith, in presiding at the annual meeting of the Madras Railway Company, In referring to the causes of increased expenditure and diminution of profit, mentioned that the company bad suffered consider- ably by heavy robberies during the famine, brought about by the poor famished creatures during the night breaking Into the company's stations, cutting open the bags, and stealing the contents, notwithstanding the employment of additional police. The ship La Hogue, 1,331 tons, chartered by the Agent-General for New South Wales, sailed from Plymouth tor Sydney, on tbe 12th Inst, with 476 emigrants. The agent-General has been Informed by telegram of the arrival °,Lthe ,'hiP Samuel Plimsoll, whleh sailed from Plymouth with emigrants ln March last. The Emperor of Austria has just been presented with a suit of clothes. The wool from which the garments were made was upon the sheeps' backs eleven hoi £ « before the suit was completed. At 6 08 in the morning the sheep were sheared; at 6 11 the wool was washed at 6 87 dyed; st 6 50 picked at 7.34 the last carding process was finished nt 8 it was spun at 8.15 spooled; at 8.37 the warp was in the loom; at 8 43 the shuttles were ready at 1110 seven and three-quarters elis of cloth were completed at 12 08 the cloth was fulled: at 12 14 washed at 12 17 sprinkled at 1231 dried; at 12 45 sheared; at 1.07 napped; at 1.10 brushed and at 1.15 pressed and ready for the shears and needle. At five o'clock the suit, consisting of a hunting jacket, waistcoat, and pantaloons, was finished.—[The same thing was done at Newbury, in Berks, last century.] The Registrar General's return for the eight prin- cipal towns of Scotland shows that the 2,451 deaths registered in May were 401 below the May average for the last ten years, allowing for increase of population. The 474 marriages were above the number in May, 1878, but were 68 below the month's average for the last ten years. The 3,873 births were fewer than ia May In any of the last three years. The deaths Include that of a widow, which was registered as occurring at the age of 104 years. The Daily News publishes a letter from its special correspondent who is accompanying the Russian Expedition Into Central Asia. The Russian commander had formerly notified to the Turcomans that he was about to annex their territory, but they had made no reply. They are evidently concentrating their forces, and the correspondent believes the Russians will meet with a vigorous resistance. The troops may have to winter in the heart of Turkestan. Every preparation was being made lor a lengthened stay. The entire column Is about 30,000 strong of all arms. Should the possession of Merv be thought necessary for the safety of the army, It would be occupied. The workmen employed by the engineering firms of Ashton under-Lyne and neighbourhood have received notice that after the 20th inst. the skilled workmen will each be reduced 2s., and the unskilled workmen Be. per week. The skilled workmen include the engineers, machinists, and blacksmiths, while the unskilled workmen include the labourers, drillers, and strikers. Some 16 or 18 firms have signed the notice, which is general throughout the district. A short time since the men aceepted a similar reduction without opposition, but there is a disposition to resist this further curtailment of wages.

THE MARKETS. MARK-LANE.—MONDAY. At Mark-lane business has ruled quiet. There was a thin attendance, and transactions were restricted. English wheat was in short supply. Fine samples were held with steadi- ness, and they experienced a fair inquiry, but other sorts were dull. Foreign wheat was in fair supply; fine qualities ruled against the buyer, other sorts were unaltered. Barley has been scarce, and both malting and grinding samples were quite as dear. Malt changed hands on former terms. Oats were dull, and rather lower on the week. Maize was quiet, and about the same in value. Beans were firm, but peas flat. The flour market was inactive, but tolerably firm. METROPOLITAN CATTLE M ARK ET.—MONDAY. Without being animated, the cattle trade was, on the whole, firm, -notwithstanding the unfavourable weather. However, as in the case of the dead meat market, the In- quiry was mainly for beasts. The show of home-fed beasts was short, and there was reom for improvement in quality and condition. Business was not active, but the trade was decidedly firm. Occasionally the best Scots realised 6s and 6s. lOd. per 8lb. may be accepted as the general top quota- tion. From Norfolk and Suffolk we received about 1,200; from the Midland and home counties about 500; and from Scotland 146 head. On the foreign side of the market the supply fell short of Monday last, but comprised receipts from America, Denmark, Spain, and Sweden. The trade was firm, and full prices were realised. About an average supply of sheep was in the pens. ine market was quieter, and quotations were barely so firm as last week. The best Downs and hlÙl-breds sold at 6s 8d. to 6s. 10d. per 81b. Limbs were quiet, at 7s. to 8s. per 81b. Calves were steady, but not active. Pigs sold at previous currencies. At Deptford there were about /0 beasts and about 1,000 sheep and lambs. ?'lZeiLi ?eas 41 t0 4s- 6d. second quality, 4s. 61. o', la,rge ?xen> 5s- 6d. to 5s. Sd prime Scots, '• nr?m F to 5 second quality, 5s. & Si joarwwoolled, 6s. 6d. to 6s. 8d prime south- £ „10J- lar8e coarse calves, 5s. 61. to 6s. rl t V0' 6,J- to 6s- 6d- lar»e bogs, 3s. 8d. to4s. 4d. the offal t0 5s-' lamb8» 7*-t0 8s- Per 81b- to the offal. METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET.-MONDAY. Tirade here to-day was heavy, especially as regards mutton. was moderate. Inferior beef, 2s. 8d. to 3s. 4d.; middling ditto, 3s. 6d. to 4s. 4d., prime large dltte, 4s. 6d. to 4s. 10d.; prime small ditto, 4s 8d. to 5J. 2d.; veal, 5s. to 5s, 8d. lnferfor mutton, 3s. 4d. to 3s. 10d.; middling ditto, 4s. 4d. to 5s. 4d. prime ditto, 5s. 6d. to 6s. 4d.; large pork, 3s. 4d. to 4s.; small ditto, 4s. 2d. to 4s. 8d.; lamb, 7s. to 8s. per 81b. by the carcass. POTATO, There havefbeen moderate importations of potatoes during the week, and the trade has remained steady. Kent Regents, 90s. to 120s. Essex ditto, 75s. to 100s.; Scotch ditto, 75s. to 120s. champions, 90s to 110s Victorias, 80s- to 170s. flukes, 130s. to 180s. per ton. German reds, 60s. to 120s.; Belgian kidneys, 90s. to 110s. round ware, 240s. to 260s. kidneys, 280s. to 300s. per 20 bags. HOP. The market has been firm, and, compared with a month since, ordinary qualities show an Improvement of about 5s. per cwt. Fine hops, which are expected to be very scarce, are without material change. There has been a better In- quiry for most grades, owing to the backward state of the weather, but the few fine warm days of last week tended rather to restrict busioess. East Kent GolUings, 1878, £215s. toJM: Mid Kent, £ 15s. to Zb 5s. Weal of Kent, £ 2 8». to £4 4s. Sussex, jE2 6s. to £ 3 10s Worcester, jEt 16s. to A5 15s Farnham and country, dM 10s to £ 516s. Bava- rians, iC2 5s. to £5 12s.; Belgian, £ 118s. to 93; Alsace, £2 7s. to £ 1; American, L2 10s. to j64 4s. per cwt.