Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
20 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
Our Janktt Cflmspnient.j
Our Janktt Cflmspnient. j (We deem ft right to state that we do not at all time? Joatiiy ou-setres with our Correspondent's opinions, j The Rnnouncement on Saturday that Russia had acoepted the terms of the English Govern- ment with regard to the Afghan frontier was a most welcome one after the prolonged suspense which had been experienced upon this very serious .matter. Indeed, some impa-tii-ence wns beginning to be manifested at the long delay in receiving the reply of the Cabinet of St. Peters- burg to the despatch which had been forwarded to Sir Edward Thornton. An excellent test oi the value of a piece of news is the effect which it produces on the Money Market, and on Saturday Consols, although already above par, closed -21 better than they opened. Lord Beaconsfield was fond of using the word "happy" as applied to the termination of a difficulty, and it is hoped this is equally applicable to the close of negotia- tions which must have been a cause of over- whelming anxiety to the Premier and the Foreign Secretary. Earl Granville has spent the recess between Walmer Castle and Carlton House-terrace, coming up from Kent to read the despatches which had been received at the Foreign Office, and then returning to the residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. Mr. Gladstone has passed his vacation quietly at Hawarden, and for once has steadily resisted the appeals ot bodies of excursionists to make speeches. When it is remembered that the veteran statesman entered the public service more than fifty years ago, that at seventy-five he has the burden of a mighty empire upon his shoulders, and that the work of leading the House of Commons is now most trying and exhaustive, it will be admitted that he requires all the rest he can get. But he would not have had much peace if he had grati- fied every wish of the delighted tourists who in Whitsun week admired the beauty of Hawardcn- park and the position of the Castle. Another indication of the long-delayed approach of summer was given on Saturday by the first meet of the Coaching Club at the Magazine in Hyde-park. The meets of the Coaching Club and the Four- in-Hand Club are about the most popular sights of the London season. There is always a vast crowd at the Magazine, and Saturday is not a busy day with a large proportion of the popula- tion of London. The spectacle of five-and- twenty or thirty coaches, each with four horses of the best breed, and driven by representatives of the best families in the land, is one un- doubtedly worth seeing, and no surprise can be experienced at the multitude which assembles to witness it. At the Lyceum, "Olivia," by Mr. Wills, founded on an incident in the Vicar of Wake- field," is drawing crowded houses. Mr. Irving, who takes the part of Dr. Primrose, has scored another great success. Miss Ellen Terry, as Olivia, acts with considerable grace, and it would be impossible to find a more suitable Squire Thornhill than Mr. Terriss. The minor parts are also well filled. The Promenade Concerts at Her Majesty's are now discontinued, and a grand spectacular Italian ballet, entitled Excel- sior "has been produced. Mr. and Mrs. Ban- croft are giving their farewell performances at the Haymarket, prior to their retirement from the management of that house. The Silver King at the Princess's has been* discarded for Mr. G. R. Sims's pathetic play The Lights o' London," one of his best productions. Mr. Sims has also another piece running at a London theatre, "The Last Chance" at the Adelphi. il Peril still occupies the boards at the Prince's, with Mrs Langtry in the chief part, and the "Private Secretary" continues its career at the Globe. Those who wish to enjoy a good laugh should see the comedy Mr. Toole has produced at his theatre, "The Shuttlecock." This was commenced by the late Mr. H. J. Byron, but the author died before its completion, and it was finished by Mr. J. Ashby Sterry. The Can- didate at the Criterion, in which Mr. Charles Wyndham appears as Lord Oldacre, has lost none of its popularity. Drury-lane is at present closed, but on June 23rd Sir Julius Benedict gives Jiis grand dramatic and musical benefit. \) The damage to the pictures at the Royal Academy is still a subject of controversy, which is divided between the contention whether the injury has been done by accident or design. On this point there is thus far no agreement, nor does one seem likely to be arrived at. The authors of the accident theory suggest nume- rous causes, some of these being of an amusing character. For instance two animals so totally dissimilar as cats and bats have been named as the authors of the mischief, but how a colony of either could enter Burlington House in sufficient force to scratch the splendid pictures of the artists is not clear. The supposition of malice does not agree with the fact that the paint is only abraded, and the canvas is not broken. This is held to be a strong point in favour of the accident theory. When, some time ago, the committee of the Gordon National Memorial proposed to devote a large sum of money to the erection of a hospital at Port Said, on the banks of the Suez Canal, the suggestion was very coldly received by the public. Inquiries have since been made by a sub-committee, and at a meeting held at Marl- borough House on Saturday, it was unanimously resolved to abandon the scheme.. This course was supported by the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, General Sir John Cowell, Sir Henry Acland, Cardinal Manning, and Lord Napier of Magdala. The committee will now have to decide what to do with the money which they have in hand, amounting to about JE16,000. The task is not an easy one, and there is certain to be much criticism on whatever way the money is spent. But it is satisfactory to know that it is not to be taken to Port Said. The Horse Show at the Agricultural Hall, Islington, is always held in the week following the Derby, and it is one of the most popular institutions of the whole year. The leaping and jumping exercises attract vast numbers to the great building in the north of London. There is an element of excitement in them; hence the attendance. This exhibition is invariably a favourite with the members of the Royal Family. The Prince and Princess of Wales are generally there on the opening day, and such of the representatives of the reigning House as are in town go at other times and seasons. The familiar truth laid down in the old spelling book that the horse is a noble animal is perhaps better exemplified at a collection like this than under any other circumstances which can be suggested. J G. R.
THE VOLUNTEER FORCE.
THE VOLUNTEER FORCE. It appears from some returns prepared by order of the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief for the in- formation of the Secretary of State for War, that out of the 215,015 officers and menof all arms comprising the volunteer force, the^ number with service amounts to 47,699, and » v years' service, 38,003. The number <rf men who have served from two to three years l » from three to four years, 21,371; under five L9.. service there are 14,748; under six years, 1 under seven years, 9214; under eight years, '5 under nine years, 6030; and under ten years, The volunteers who have served from 10 to ^15 years amount to 13,131; from 15 to 20 years, 6954; and over 20 years, 5679. The ages are thus given; Under 17 years of age, 655; 17 to 18, 9103; 18 to 19 17 962 19 to 20, 20,755 20 to 21, 20,178 21 to'°° 18 034; 22 to 23, 15,021; 23 to 24, 12,974; 24 to 25, 11,338; 25 to 26, 9853; 26 to 27, 9031; 27 to 28, 8000 28 to 29, 7217 29 to 30, 7313; 30 to 35,19,209 35 to 40, 12,354; 40 to 45, 8617 45 to 50, 4846; and upwards of 50 years, 2555.
ENGLAND, RUSSIA, AND AFGHANISTAN.
ENGLAND, RUSSIA, AND AFGHANISTAN. A SETTLEMENT EFFECTED. T!x news at the close of last week conveyed the Welcome intimation that practically the differences upon the Afghanistan question were settled between Russia and England, and that subsequently the tennis of the settlement would be made public. The following are Sunday's telegrams from the correspon- dent* of the Standard :-St. Petersburg.—I am in- formed that the last frontier proposals of the English Government have, in substance, been accepted, and that, except as to details—some of which, however, are important, whilst others can only be decidc d on the spot—the boundary between Russia and Afghan- istan may be considered settled. In spite of contra- dictions of my previous statements, I repeat that in the last phase of the negotiations the chief difficulty arose from the Russian claim to Meruchak as part and parcel of the Penjdeh basis. Another point in dispute was whether the Pass of Zulficar should be partially or wholly in Afghan hands. The above- mentioned English proposals maintained the rights of the Ameer in both cases, and the new frontier, therefore, if definitely accepted, will proceed from a point on tho Heri Rud, just north of the Pass, to the Murghab, north of Meruchak. It will be, in fact, very nearly the line claimed in the Russian Note of the 23th of January, except in respect to a small, but not unimportant, difference as to the starting point on the Heri Rud. Berlin.-The probability of a friendly settlement of the Afghan delimitation question between England anJ Russia is cordially welcomed by most of the German papers, although some of them cannot refrain from the usual depreciation of England. The semi- official Xorddeutscke says that the information will be highly welcomed in every quarter where the con- tinued tension of Anglo-Russian relations was re- garded with anxiety. The work of statesmen and diplomatists," it says in conclusion," has on this occa- sion resulted in a real blessing, firstly, to the two Powers most interested, and then to the whole of Europe, which has been longing for peace. The normal character of the International situation is now re-established." The Bcirsen Courier says Europe will welcome the settlement of the Anglo-Russian conflict with all the greater satisfaction in pro- portion as she has suffered frem the pressure of war anxieties. Europe can now apply herself to the solution of urgent economical and other questions." Journals like the Frankfurter Zeitung, which always sided with England against Russia, re- luctantly admit that their satisfaction is damped by the gloomy conclusion that the proposed solution is only possible because the Gladstone Cabinet has yielded to Russia all she claimed, and that Russia will be encouraged to further increase her demands. The Frankfurter Zeitung, therefore, doubts whether Russia will recognise by formal Treaty the inviola- bility of the new frontier, and holds that she will make a further advance on Herat at the first oppor- tunity. In order to give a full picture of the German press views I must add that several papers like the National Zeitung consider that Russia's concession anent Zulficar is merelv intended to secure for Mr. Gladstone a Parliamentary success and help him to tide over the general elections, the preservation of the present Cabinet being essential to the success of Russian plans. The Vossiche Zeitung publishes a London telegram stating that some Liberals think that the Czar himself ordered M. de Giers to give way on the point in order not to discredit the present Eaglish Government, and so facilitate to return to power of the Conservative party. The following appeared as a leading article in the Times: There is now a pretty general belief tint the questions in dispute between England and Russia, are practically settled, although the length ot the negotia- tions and the frequent disappointments inflicted upon sanguine people ought to teach caution in drawing favourable conclusions. We have bad arrangements which settled nothing, agreements in which no one agreed, and replies involving all kinds of comfortable inferences which subsequent events showed to be unfounded. It is now assumed, however, that at, last there is really nothing to be done but settle som.9 trifling details, and the buoyancy of the money market shows that the Stock Exchange, at all events, regards all danger as past. The sanguine disposition of the British speculator has been promptly u/ilized by foreigners, who are "unloading" a quantitv of international stocks upon the London market. They must be greatly delighted to find us in so happy a frame of mind tbrt their sales do not prevent prices from steadily rising. Ingenious efforts are natural) v made to represent this confidently expected sottlen. :!It as a remarkable triumph for British diplomacy, but, un- happily, the natives of India, whose opinion is of infinitely more consequence to this country than the conventional jubilation of partisans at home, do not regard the matter in that rosy light. That British counter proposals have been accepted by Russia does not seem to hide from them the fact that these counter-proposals practically assign to Russia the frontier laid down by M. Lessar. Zulficar and Marucliak are said to be left to the Ameer, but we shall probably have to wait some time to leam pre- cisely what these names indicate. IS was Penjdeh, if we recollect aright, which Lord Granville claimed with such persistent valour, and it was the seizure of Ponjdeh which Mr. Gladstone' described as un- provoked aggression." Reparation for that agres- sion has been a prominent demand of British diplomacy, and the last batch of Central Asia papers closed with a complaint from Lord Gran- ville that Russia interpreted inquiry to mean unconditional acceptances of her conclusions. None, however, of the current rumours about a happy settlement appear to make any men- tion of reparation, or of arbitration upon the "solemn covenant." There are, no doubt, sound reasons for being glad that we are not going to war about Penjdeh, but there is none that we know of for adding to the malicious amusement with which Europe rpgitrds our present plight by pretending that to keep Zulficar and Maruchak after claiming Pul-i- Kbatun and Sara-yazi is a diplomatic triumph. If any compensation can be found for the loss of repu- tation which we have bad to endure, it can be obtained only by refusing to hoodwink ourselves, by recognizing the nature of the blunder we have made, and by taking care not to repeat it. The Government took up a position which they were not prepared to maintain, and put forth claims which they were not prepared to make good. All that can be said for them is that they found out their mistake before irre- vocably plunging the country into war in disadvan- tageous conditions, that is to say without adequate preparation, without assured alliances, and without a clear and well-defined policy. If the country wishes to make the best of the situation, it must very clearly understand that it has been worsted, and must take measures to make such mismanagement of its affairs impossible in the future. It has been loo much our habit to neglect all precautions, both diplomatic and military. We have had no plan either fcr dealing with nations beyond our Indian frontiers or for making these frontiers safe against attack. We have gone on with a policy consisting only of a few vague, undefined notions about a neutral zone, without settling either where that zone is to end or how it is to be maintained in case Russia thinks fits to overrun it. We have made ourselve3 ridiculous by asking for engagements which sho cannot keep, and offensive by taking high moral ground when she set them at defiance. We have uow got to learn that this course of policy has failed, that we have no business to intrust any of our interests to a self- denying ordinance entered into by cur rival, and that we only prepare mortifications for ourselves if we put forth claims which we are not ready and determined to maintain by force of arms. While a new spirit must thus be breathed into our diplomacy, it is not less necessary that the military defence of the Indian frontier should be carried out with a thoroughness hitherto unknown. Russia is now in contact with Afghanistan, and is consequently in a very real sense in contact with India. The Ameer is a useful ally so long as he stands loyally by us, but however loyal and however determined he may be, he cannot dispense us from the necessity of preparing in earnest for the defence of India on Indian soil. It may even be said that the only way to retain Afghanistan as our ally is to put ourselves In a position to do altogether without her aid. When the Indian frontier is strong enough to bid defiance to any foe, the Afghans and their rulers alike wiU have a guarantee for the continuity of our policy and the seriousness of our purpose which nothing else can give. Believing us strong and determined, they will be on our side; sus- pecting us to be weak or vacillating, they will certainlv be detached some day. From Lord Kimberley's speech in the House of Lords on the 12th of lqst month, and from Mr. Cross's speech nine days later in introducing the East India Loan Bill, we may conclude that the necessity for creating a strong strategical frontier is at present fully admitted by our rulers. But it will cost money and effort, which ex- perienco shows to be easily obtained for any passing occasion when a profound impression has to be re- sponded to, but which are less readily forthcoming for great purposes demanding continuous exertion and sustained thought. As soon as the present difficulty is fairly settled the first thought of every Englishman will be that a troublesome business is doue with, and few weeks hence it will be difficult to get anybody to pay the least attention to the Indian frontier. But the abiding thought of every Russian concerned in any way in administration will be that an advan- tage has been gained, that a step has been taken in advance, and that no opportunity must be missed of securing greater advantages still. It is not thought in India that war can be postponed for very long by the arrangements now being made. But be the time long or short before the next overt act on the part of Russia, her steady sap will not be intermitted for a single day. A new chapter has been opened in the historv of India, which is now in effective contact with an aggressive Power. We have at most a short breathing time in which to make preparations far too long neglected. They must be carried on steadily, continuously, and systematically, and must be seconded by foresight and practical sagacity in our foreign policy. Otherwise we shall find ourselves at no distant day confronted by dangers which the most lavish concession will fail to avert. INTERVIEW WITH SIR P. LUMSDEN. A correspondent writing from Constantinople on Monday night saya*—Sir Peter Lumsden arrived off the Kavak entrance of the Btsphorus in a French 6teamer troui Batoura at ten o'cloctc this morning; He was met there by Major Trotter, Military Attache to the English Ambassador, who took him on board his steam launch and conducted him to Therapial where he is now staying at the Embassy as the guest of Sir William White. I have just re- turned from Therapia, where I had the pleasure of an interview with this distinguished officer. I found him looking remarkably well and strong after his trying work on the Afghan frontier, and his long and fatiguing journey to Europe. Sir Peter Lums- den started on the 9th of last month, and pro- ceeded for ten days on horseback, sometimes riding in one day as much as seventy miles, until he reached Ashurada, on the Caspian, whence he pro- ceeded by steamer to Baku and by railway to Batoum. Although naturally very guarded in his remarks, it is easy to see that the General is in no way satisfied with the present arrangements for the settlement of the Frontier Question, which he fears will be of any- thing but a lasting character. It may be weeks or it may be months, says Sir Peter, but matters are sure to become embroiled again before very long. The only frontier presenting the necessary elements of security, he holds, was the old one, which embraced eighty miles of desert. Once this ground is over- stepped, complications must arise. Sir Peter Lumsden leaves to-morrow morning by the Varna mail packet, travelling straight through to London, which he hopes to reach on Saturday morning.
,The BURIALTPEaCE of VICTOR…
The BURIALTPEaCE of VICTOR H U ltU. The Pantheon, as the church dedicated to St. Genevieve has for some time been called, in which Victor Hugo's remains have been interred, has gone through so many vicissitudes and has been the scene of so many stirring events that a brief review of them will not be without interest at the present time. The idea of building this church suggested itself to Louis XV. after his recovery from the fever which overtook him while he was at Metz, Le Bien-Aime," as he was then called, attributing his recovery to the intercession of St. Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris, who, according to early tradition, saved the city from famine, and afterwards from being sacked by King Clovis. Tradition also tells how the con- stancy and fervour of St. Genevieve and her sisters in religion averted the march of Attila and his Huns upon the city, and this legend has ever since the fifth century of the Christian era been firmly established in France. For centuries St. Genevieve had been I worshipped in an abbey which occupied the site of what is now the Pantheon, and it was here that Louis XV. determined to build his church. Many designs were submitted to the King, who eventually selected that of Soufllot, whose idea was to reproduce, but, of course, upon a smaller scale, St. Peter's of Rome. The King laid the foundation-stone amid great pomp on the 6th of September, 1764, but he did not live to see his work completed, as the grief which he felt at the report put in circulation to the effect that the columns which support the cupola were sinking was so great that he died in 1781. Although com- pleted soon afterwards, it had not been consecrated for public worship at the time of the Revolution, the parish church then, as now, being St. Etienne du Mont, and the National Assembly determined, upon the death of Mirabeau' to make it a receptacle of the ashes of illustrious Frenchmen..The proposal that Mirabeau should be the first to receive the honours of burial there, that, with the exception of a few men like Descartes, Voltaire, and Rousseau, none who had lived before the Revolution should be received within its walls, and that over the main entrance should be engraved the words Aux Grands Hommes, la Patrie Reconnaissante," was sup- ported by Barnave and Robespierre and voted by acclamation, and though the denominations of Mausoleum, Cenotaph, and Portico of Great Men were also suggested as alternatives for that of the Pantheon, this latter was adopted, and has ever since been used, even when the building has reverted to its original destination as a church dedicated to St. Genevieve. The decoration of the building was altered, the bas-reliefs of the peristyle which repre- sented the life of St. Genevicve being replaced by other bas-reliefs representing contemporary subjects, such as the institution of the jury, public education, the empire of the law, &c., while Moitte, the sculptor, carved over the main door an allegorical design in which the Country, accompanied by Virtue and Reason, was represented kneeling before an altar covered with wreaths. While these alterations'were in progress, Mirabeau's body was deposited in the old church of St. Etienne du Mont, beside that of Descartes, and soon after it had been conveyed in pomp to the Pantheon the re- mains of Voltaire and Rousseau were also moved there. But Mirabeau was not destined to rest there long, for three years afterwards the Convention de- cided, upon the proposal of Marie-Joseph Chenier, speaking on behalf of the Committee of Public In- struction, that his body should be expelled, upon the ground that he had carried on intrigues with Louis XVI. and the Court. In the inflated language of the day, Marie-Joseph Chenier said it was resolved to "inspire mercenary men whose conscience is to be bought with a price with salutary terror," and ac» cordingly Mirabeau'a body was removed, and that of Marat substituted for it. What became of the great orator's remains has never been clearly ascertained, though at one time it was thought that they had been discovered at Clamart, a village in the outskirts of Paris. Marat's tenancy of the Pantheon was still briefer than that of Mirabeau, for four months after be had been interred there the populace came and threw his remains into the sewer; and, curiously enough, Victor Hugo himself relates in Les Miserables how the shroud in which Marat was buried came to be discovered in the main sewer in the year 1805. It was of very fine linen, and in one corner were a marquis's coronet and the name Laubespine. This shroud was, as a matter of fact, a sheet belonging to a lady who was very attached to Marat when he was veterinary surgeon to the Comte d'Artois. After Charlotte Corday had killed him, this was the only piece of fine linen found in his rooms, so it was used as a winding-sheet. Voltaire-for whose funeral car Marie Antoinette had lent two of her horses—Rous- seau, and one or two others, were more fortunate than Marat, and when Bonaparte determined to con- vert the building into a church, 'as he did in 1806, reserving to himself the right of burying any of his great dignitaries there, he did not interfere with the coffins which had already been placed in the crypt. But the Borbons were less tolerant, and one of the first acts of Louis XVIII., when he returned to France, was to allow the most bigoted of his supporters to violate the tombs of Voltaire and Rousseau. The crypt was invaded by night, the bones collected in a bag, and buried secretly in some unknown spot outside Paris. The Legitimists seemed to have been rather ashamed of this afterwards, for they placed both coffins under the staircase of the peristyle, so as to induce the belief that they were still intact. This was an illusion favoured or shared in by Louis Philippe's Government, and the truth did not come out till 20 years ago, and then in a very curious way. Voltaire's heart was in the possession, as it always had been, of the Villette family the last heir to whom bequeathed it to the present Bishop of Moulins. He, not caring to retain such a profane object, offered it to the French Academy, which also refused it, and it was then made over to a member of the Villette family, who was on' the point of selling it to an Eng- lish collector of curiosities. But he thought better of it and gave it to the late Emperor to be placed in the coffin with the rest of the body. The coffin was accordingly opened by Monsignor Darboy, Archbishop of Paris, in 1864, and then the murder was out. Rousseau's coffin was also opened, and that, too, was found to be empty, but the guardian of the crypt still informs visitors that they have before them the remains of these two illustrious men, and when M. Jules Clariete, the well-known writer pointed out to him during an inspection of the crypt that this was a mistake, he took him on one side and whispered, Do not say a word; if this was known the English would not come and see the place." After having been a church for 25 years, a third change took place in 1831, for King Louis Philippe, at the suggestion of M. Guizot, once more converted it into a Pantheon, replacing the inscription over the main entrance which Louis XVIII. had had re- moved. and engraving upon the inner walls the names of all the men killed during the Revolution of July. A grand ceremony was held upon the occasion, and, in the presence of the King and of all the great officers of State, Nourret sang an ode composed ex- pressly for the occasion by Victor Hugo: These inscriptions have shared the fatality which seems to attach to nearly everything connected with the Pantheon, and they were removed by order of Napoleon III., who, in 1850, when only President of the Republic, had the church consecrated once more and restored it to the clergy. But he did not remove the inscription over the main entrance, though the frescoes on the walls representing battle-pieces were painted out. A few notabilities were buried in the crypt, but it may be said that the only person of great celebrity interred there at the present time is Marshal Lannes. The French Government, however, talk of placing the bodies of Thiers and Gambetta besides those of the illustrious poet. It would be presumptuous to offer an opinion as to whether the building which commands so magnificent a prospect of the whole capital, and the dome of which is even more conspicuous from a distance than that of the Invalides or than the Arc de Triomphe, has attained its definite destination, seeing that in the space of less than than a century it has undergone no fewer than six changes.
[No title]
AN American lecturer, who is destined to achieve in England the fame he has gained across the Atlantic, not only in that capacity, but as a jour- nalist, has recently appeared before an invited audience of the ttite, on which occasion he displayed his abundant talent at the St. Andrew's Hall, New- man-street, London. The soiree d'invitation was given mainly with the object of obtaining the critical opinion of the press upon the visitor's chance of | success among British audiences, and it is no exag- geration to say that that opinion is unanimously in his favour. Mr. French possesses a natural and pleasing presence. His language enchains the mind, while the eye is delighted with most ingenious camera effects, superior to previous displays of dissolving views shown in this country. Travellers who were present declared the views the most perfect present- ments of nature imaginable, and there seemed a general consensus of opinkyi that Mr. French need experience no misgivings in facing a mixed Londoq ( audience, which is ait intention at no distant date.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SUNDAY…
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SUNDAY SOCIETY. On Saturday afternoon in the Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen-street, London, under the presidency first of the Duke of Westminster, and subsequently of Mr. George Howard, M.P., the tenth public annual meeting of the Sunday Society was held, and was well attended by lady and gentlemen supporters of the opening of museums on Sundays. The Duke of Westminster (the retiring president), expressed great regret at the fact that they had not been able during the year to do as much as they had hoped to have done, and that their progress had not been so rapid as they could have wished. (Hear, hear.) But still there had been progress, as they bad with them the feeling of some of the ruling bodies, for the trustees of the British Museum and of the National Gallery were in favour of the society's movement. (Hoar, hear.) That of course was of great importance in itself. Still, it would have been very satisfactory to the meeting if he or the future president could have announced the opening of the doors of the museums and other in- stitutions to those who, he believed, were most anxious to enter in, and for whom Sunday was the only r i- portunity for that purpose and to whom practically those great national collections were now altogether closed. (Hear, hear.) One of the great objections which had been taken to the opening of those places of innocent recreation was that it would entail a great amount of Sunday labour. He would not allude further than to say that the statistics in his presidential address had effectually disposed of that objection; for he had therein showed by how little extra labour they could secure a great amount of gratification and pleasure by the opening of public institutions on Sunday afternoons. (Hear, hear.) His Grace then introduced the new president, Mr. George Howard, M.P., who took the chair. Mr. Mark H. Judge (the hon secretary) read a satisfactory report, stating that during the past year there had been open on Sundays seven separate art exhibitions, and the statistics as to the numbers at- tending showed how highly the particular object of the society was appreciated, and the small amount of Sunday labour that was entailed to secure this rational enjoyment. As evidence of the growth of public opinion, the committee pointed to four im- portant events during the year. First, the art de- partment of the Social Science Congress had, after discussion, voted, by 86 to 4, in favour of the society's objects; secondly, the trustees of the British Museum, by a great majority, had resolved in favour of opening the natural history department of the Museum on Sundays thirdly, a majority of the trustees of the National Gallery bad come to a similar decision with regard to the institution under their care; and, fourthly, that the recent national con- ference of the society proved that actual experience was on the side of Sunday opening. Mr. Howard then delivered the presidential address. He urged that it seemed preposterous to suppose that the opening of a few galleries would not only stop, but reverse, the stream of progress which had given the improvement in favour of rest for the workers in the past. His efforts in Parliament had been opposed by Mr. Broadhurst, whose opposition decided the votes of a large number of members who came to the House on that evening considerably embarrased in mind. In that state of dilemma Mr. Broadhurst came to their rescue, and they were able to say, After all, the working men are against you, or at all events they are divided." Mr. Broadhurst's action on this occasion had occasioned much discussion among them, and the attempts which had been made to obtain a definite answer to the question as to the opinions of the artisans on the subject had given rise to a voluminous controversy, which had produced the usual result of darkening counsel, and a good deal confusing the minds of persons who did not care to go to the root of the matter themselves. Numbers had been arrayed against numbers. Hundreds of societies, tens of thousands of members of societies, and thou- sands of petitions, were quoted, and the ordinary listener was impressed with vast totals of figures, and did not inquire into the facts which alone would make all these figures of value-whether all these men bad really expressed their opinion on the question at issue, and how and by whom these petitions had been got up and signed. Mr. Howard contended that he was confident in his belief that the opinion of mechanics and artisans was in favour of obtaining for themselves and their families those facilities for increased enjoyment and educational development which the society offored; but, even if the trade societies were to object to this proposal, he should still consider that they had no right to prevent the numbers of their fellow citizens, educated men, who I worked every day of the week, though they were not classed in ordinary parlance as working men, from enjoying the use of their museums on their one holiday. Their progress might be slow, their success might be delayed, but their final victory was certain. They knew that their object was not only to give pleasure to many who had but little of it, but also to give to others the chance of knowing and enjoying those works of God's spirit, as Kingsley called them, in their galleries and museums, which they now could hardly hope to see, and no clerical opposition, however well organised and however active, would, in the long run, prevail against such an endeavour. (Cheers.) Mr. Hopwood, M.P., then proposed the following resolution: That this meeting accepts the report of the Sunday Society for the year during which it has besn presided over by his Grace the Duke of Westminster as satisfactory; approves of the society's endeavour to obtain for all classes of the community increased opportunities for visiting museums, galleries, and libraries on Sundays; and is of opinion that the society should be supported in its efforts to obtain from all Parliamentarv candidates a definite statement of their views on the question of opening the national museums and galleries on Sun- days." Mr. Charles Freake (Secretary of the Metro- politan Branch of the National Boot and Shoe Riveters and Finishers) seconded the motion, and emphatically protested against the opinion that the action of Mr. Broadhurst in any way represented the wishes of artisans. The resolution was carried, at was the following: "That the president and other officers of the society be authorised to send a memorial on behalf of this meeting to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, K.G., and the Executive Council of the International Inventions Exhibition, requesting them, in the interest of a large section of the com- munity to open the exhibition on one or two Sundays."
[No title]
A young lawyer, who had long paid his court to a lady without much advancing his suit, accused her one day of being insensible to the power of love." It does not follow," she archly replied, that I am so, because I am not to be won by the power of 1, attorney." Forgive me," said the suitor, but you should remember that all the votaries of Cupid are solicitors."
TORPEDO WARFARE.
TORPEDO WARFARE. A series of experiments have been carried out during the past twelve months to test the extra- ordinary powers claimed for a new torpedo invented by Mr. Brennan, a young Australian, and offered by him to the British Government. The Admiralty granted to the inventor the use of a casemate on the upper tier of Garrison Point Fort, Sheerness, and a torpedo factory was erected outside the fort with a tramway running down to the sea beach. With these advantages and ample sea room in front, the preliminary trials have taken place, and the mechanism has been so far perfected as to admit of official in- spection. This has proved so satisfactory that the Admiralty have already agreed to adopt the torpedo as a part of the national armament. According to report the inventor is to have a very handsome reward, and various sums, ranging from £40,000 to £100,000, are mentioned, while it is positively asserted that he has been paid £10,000 on account. The new torpedo, which is of the aggressive class, is altogether distinct in principle from the Whitehead, the Harvey, or any other system known in the service. In the many trials which have taken place in public a machine something like the section of a boat has been seen to descend to the waters edge by means of a carriage on the tramwav, and plunge into the sea, through which it has shot at a marvellous speed, estimated by some observers at fifty miles an hour. Its principles have now, however, been explained without reserve to many officials and others, and will shortly be taught generally throughout the navy. There will consequently be no longer any attempt to keep the secret, and it may be explained that the torpedo is impelled by a steam engine, which is stationed within the fort, and acts upon it by winding in very rapidly two wires coiled round reels within the machine. As the wires are independent of each other and actuate different pro- pellers the torpedo can be steered from the engine with great accuracy. It is even practicable to stop the messenger in full flight and send it on again, but this is thought to try severely the endurance of the wires, which are as thin as those of a birdcage. Jets of light are produced by some chemical agency, and are simply to indicate the position of the torpedo at night, but being screened in front they are visible only to the observers in the rear. Travelling with very little of its body above water it would scarcely be seen by an enemy until too close for resistance or escape and as its speed increases the harder it is pulled, the last part of the journey can always be the fastest. ========= j
"THE PALACE OF ENCHANTMENT.''
"THE PALACE OF ENCHANTMENT. Albert Leister, alias Professor Lisle, has been charged on a warrant at Bow-street Police-court, with having obtained X50 by means Qf false pretences. Mr. Abrahams, who appeared for the prosecution, said that he should be inclined, if Mr. Flowers were of opinion thaoa prima, facie case were made out, to apply for the assistance of the Public Prosecutor, as there would, no doubt, be other cases against the prisoner. The prisoner had represented himself to be a conjuror. Mr. Abrahams thought he had cer- tainly succeeded in conjuring his client's money into his own pocket. The prisoner had represented to the prosecutor that he was a manufacturer of conjuring tricks and that he got from £3 to S7 a week from Messrs. Hamley and Co., of High Holborn, and from Messrs. Biand, of New Oxford-street. He also led the prosecutor to understand that he had a fortune coming to him from Australia, which had been left by his uncle. Owing to these representations his client went into partnership with the prisoner, and paid him £50. The place of entertainment was to be called, among other names, "The Arabian Palace of Mystery and Enchantment." The following was one of the programmes which had been drawn up The Royal Combination Burlesque and Variety Company. Under the direction of Messrs. Leister and Squires. Change of programme each evening. Part I.: Songs, solos, glees, dances, and musical marvels. Part II. Mirth, Magic, and Mystery, or how to become a Wizard. Part III. The Royal Continental Musical Wonders. The great Daniels Family, in their nevel musical act. Part IV.: Miss Alice Merriloes, in her marvellous second-sight stance. American Tambourine solo by Mr. A. Leister. The performance to conclude each evening with burlesque, operetta, or musical sketch." Then came the names of the manager and stage-manager, Mr. F. Squires and Mr. A. Leister. The prices of admission were 2s., Is., 6d., and 3d. Half-price for children. The intimation that "carriages may be ordered at ten o'clock p.m." was marked out of the manuscript programme. The prisoner also bad transactions with a young lady. This yoang lady was to be taught to give clairvoyant performances. She was induced to give the prisoner £10 in order to be taught. Mr. Squires, a gilder, of Marylebone, said in January last he read an advertisement in a news- paper asking for a partner to bring out a few inven- tions before the publio. In consequence of that advertisement he wrote, answering it. He was told to call at Savoy House in the Strand. The house was kept by Mr. Grayle, a theatrical agent. He saw the prisoner, who said he was the maker of tricks for Messrs. Hamley, Messrs. Bland, and others, and also an inventor. He said he earned from those two firms from £ 3 to £ 7 per week. The prisoner gave him catalogues of Messrs. Hamley and Messrs. Bland. The prisoner said he should bring out his greatest invention before the public, and that was why he wanted a partner. He also stated that he had an uncle who had died in Australia, and he should have his money in a month. He refused the namo of his solicitor. He said he had been left several hundreds of pounds. The prisoner offered as a security a Mr. Gold smith. The prisoner represented himself to be a con- juror.' He gave the prisoner altogether £ 50 in order to become his partner. There was an agreement drawn up. He wrote it at the prisoner's dictation. There was no such place as the Arabian Palace of Enchantment. Up to the present time the prosecutor had got something under a sovereign profit. Mr. Goldsmith became a surety for the prisoner in S50. The prisoner also had S5 to further the business. Witness was present when the young lady paid £10 to be taught the clair- voyant business. He parted with his money believing that he had business with Messrs. Hamley and Messrs. Bland. He went to Messrs. Hamley's with the prisoner, who laid out about sixpence or seven- pence. Mr. Hamley, of High Holborn, said he carried on business with his brother in High Holborn. The house was called the Noah's Ark, and he sold toys and conjuring apparatus. The prisoner never sold him conjuring tricks. Mr. Abrahams hoped Mr. Flowers would ask for the assistance of the Public Prosecutor. The case was a very hard one for his client, as he had already lost a lot of money. Mr. Joseph Bland, a manufacturer of conjuring tricks, of New Oxford- street, said he never saw the prisoner before in his life. The prisoner had never supplied him with conjuring tricks Kate Leslie Grayle, a married woman, carry- ing on the business of a theatrical agent in Savoy House, Strand, said that the prisoner was introduced to her about the end of last November. She inserted an advertisement in a newspaper at the prisoners request. People used to see the prisoner at her house. Among others she saw Mr. Squires there. Mr. Abrahams said there were several other charges to be brought against the prisoner. One of the persons who had a charge to prefer against him was a lady who resided in the country. The prosecutor had no money to spare to bring the lady up to town. For this reason he again urged that perhaps Mr. Flowers would exercise his influence to induce the Public Prosecutor to take the case up. Mr. Flowers thought there was quite sufficient evi- dence to deal with the case. The prisoner was com- mitted for trial.
THE NATIONAL GALLERY.
THE NATIONAL GALLERY. The working of the National Gallery Loan Act of 1883 is illustrated in the latest report of the Director of the National Gallery. It appears that pictures to the number of 125 have been lent during the past year to various institutions in London and the provinces. Of these fifteen were portraits by Reynolds and others, now 011 loan to the National Portrait Gallery, South Kensington, and nine pictures are temporarily located in the National Gallery of Ireland. Of the three sets of Turner's drawings available for tempo- rary loan to provincial institutions, No. 2 is lent at present to the Corporation of Manchester, to the Art Gallery of which eleven other pictures are also en- trusted; twelve pictures have been lent to the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool; and other loans of pictures varying in number have been made to the Corporations of-Oldham nine, to Warrington eight, to Stockport seven, to Nottingham nine, to Leicester, Stoke-upon-Trent, and Sheffield seven each, to Dundee five, and to Glasgow eleven pictures. Plymouth, with three pictures, Bradford with one picture, and Coventry with four, one of which is G. Jones's Lady Godiva Preparing to Ride Through Coventry, have within the past year been added to the list of towns to which loans have been made. .°_
FUNERAL OF VICTOR HUGO.
FUNERAL OF VICTOR HUGO. GREAT DEMONSTRATION IN PARIS. Writing from Paris the special correspondent of the Morning Post thus describes the obsequies to Victor Hugo on Monday: The weather to-day has continued to be warm and fine, while the heat has been less oppressive than might have been feared, being somewhat moderated by light clouds which have veiled the sun. Numbers of people slept in the open air last night, and in the early morning numerous groups of persons forming deputations might be observed going towards the Arc de Triomphe, bearing colossal wreaths to be deposited beside the catafalque of the great poet. Meanwhile the troops weie being massed together in response to the loud beating of drums, and B.t nine a.m. the scene around the arch was most animated. The arch was surrounded by a deep cordon of troops, while outside these an enormous crowd had already formed and continued still to increase. Before the procession formed 20 cars, each drawn by four horses, and loaded with memorial wreaths, started for the Pantheon. At the same time an ordi- nary hearse drawn by only two horses, driven by a coachman wearing a cocked hat, took its place at the top of the Avenue des Elys6es. President Grevy was not present, but was represented by General Pittie, who was attended by the military and civil members of the President's household. The members of the institute assembled rapidly, each in his full dress em- broidered costume of green and gold. The whole of the members of the diplomatic body were present, as were the various officials, the deputies, judges in their scarlet robes lined with ermine; the judges of the Supreme Court, in their picturesque black robes also furred with ermine; lawyers, in their black gowns; judges of the Tribunal of Commerce, as well as every literary and artistic celebrity in Paris. Theatrical deputations from Porte St. Martin, Theatre Françals, &c., arrived bearing splendid wreaths which were much admired, as was also a small and most tasteful wieath brought by Madame Sarah Bernhardt. The family of Victor Hugo, in- cluding the ladies, children, and several of his inti- mate friends, also arrived, and were conducted to places close to the coffin. To add to the animation of the scene, deputation after deputation still con- tinued to arrive each bearing a wreath. Many of the judges also continued to come up in their carriages escorted by troops on horseback. At half-past ten the band of the Garde Ropublique played Chopin's Marche Funebre" in magnificent style, while its solemnity was enhanced by the whole crowd reverently uncovering. Every window and roof commanding a view of the scene was crowded. At a quarter to eleven M. Le Rover delivered a brief address lasting for about five minutes, which was loudly applauded, but which was not audible save to those who stood very near him. M. Floquet fol- lowed him, and was succeeded by M. Emile Augier- whose speech was very much admired for its fine and temperate eulogium of the great poet—M. Goblet, and lastly, M. Michelin. After this the procession began to move, headed by the literary societies. The hearse containing the body succeeded them, and was followed closely by the family and intimate friends of the poet. A flock of pigeons was then freed, the birds rising rapidly in air, and scattering in all directions, rejoicing in their new-found liberty. A salvo of artillery was fired, and the band striking up the Marseillaise," the whole proces- sion moved on slowly, escorted by the troops. The police arrangements were excellent, and order was observed, though the crowds in the Champs Elysées were enormous. Even the trees were filled with gazers, and the tops of the kicsks as well as every available spot imaginable were occupied. The sun burst out brilliantly, and swords and helmets glistened along the line, while the bright wreaths and flowers borne along suggested the idea of a moving garden, and the plain, simple hearse stood cut in marked and touching contrast with its splendid surroundings. The attitude of the crowd was quiet and dignified, and hats were reverently doffed as tho hearse passed along. At the same time, they applauded with their hands the more noteworthy af the wreaths. On reaching the Place de la Concorde the scene presented was indescribable. Not fewer than 150,000 persons were there assembled. The roofs, the trees, the basins of the fountains, and the statues were all for the time converted into pyramids of human beings. The bridge was guarded by troops, and the quay might be seen below, present- ing a complete sea of upturned human faces, on which the sunshine and shadow played with marvellous effect. The crowd consisted for the most part of men in blouses and women in white caps, but they main- tained perfect order and made up by this for the scandal of the previous night. The steps of the Corps Legislatif were thronged, and in turning up into the Boulevard St. Germain the rougher element appeared, but, nevertheless, there was perfect order and calm, save for a hum of voices like the murmur of the ocean. No pen can describe the crowd. Every spot from which a glimpse of the procession could be had was thronged, and it moved on between living walls of faces. The tops of the churches, steeples, balconies, edges of buildings and roofs, all were swarming with gazers. In one place a man sat in a hammock sus- pended from the two sides of the street. No sight equal to that of this day has ever before been seen in Paris. It is estimated that 1,000,000 of people lined the six miles of road. It is an almost incredible popular demonstration as a tribute to genius. At the Luxembourg they stopped before the statue of Victor Hugo to salute it, and here again were to be seen pyramids of people grouped round the lamp-posts, while between them marched the procession like a military and floral triumph. On reaching the Pantheon the steps were found to be covered with wreaths, among which I noticed some from Guatemala, Edinburgh, Lisbon, Rome, and Yokohama. In fact, no part of the world was unrepre- sented. The troops surrounded the square, and the mumed drums beat as the body was formally received and placed upon a bier under the portico, which was all hung with black velvet. I saw not a sign of dis- order. The scene was brilliant, rather of the cha- racter of an apothesis than of a funeral. It was, however, more majestic than words can express, and the effect was indescribably grand of the large number of bands playing the Marseillaise," the" Chopin March," and Mourir pour la patrie," the flocks of white pigeons liberated along the route, &c. The deputies, senators, gens de lettres, and authorities grouped themselves along the front of the Temple, and the family then entered. No allusion was made to God, and the rites were perfectly Pagan. Ad- dresses were delivered by the Maire of Beaancon, MM. Claretie, Henri de Bornier, Louis Ullach, Marswiani, Italian Senator, Colonel M. Washington, and Emmanuel Edmuni, negro deputy from Hayti. I walked all the way about four yards in front of the hearse, and followed the wreath of the Deaf and Dumb Institute. No private marks of mourning were observable, and only two balconies were draped with black cloth. On these lamps veiled with crape were burning. On the hearse were laid only two simple white wreaths. Every town in France sent a huge wreath. The Hugo family were represented by M. Lockroy, with Leopold Hugo and Georges Hugo. The foreign as well as the Parisian press was fully represented. At the time of tho funeral starting from the Arc de Triomphe some black and red flags were displayed near the Bois de Boulogne and were seized by the police. A red banner was also seized from the Society of Atheists and from the Society of Freethinkers. I have heard officially that 17 red flags were seized during the passage of the procession. Opposite a hotel in the Champs Elysees a scaffolding fell, and nine persons were killed and some others wounded.
A CHURCH DESTROYED BY FIRE.
A CHURCH DESTROYED BY FIRE. St. Paul's Church, an ivv-clad structure, situated on a hill, in the picturesque neighbourhood of Woodford Bridge, Essex, was totally destroyed by fire on Mon- day, nothing now remaining intact but the spire of the sacred edifice. The church was entered at about a quarter-past nine o'clock on Monday morning, and as soon as the door leading to the gallery was opened dense volumes of smoke poured out of the building, and soon a burst of flame was observed. Information was at once despatched by a mounted messenger to the Woodford Fire Brigade, whose station is about two miles from Woodford Bridge. The Brigade expeditiously set out to the scene of the fire but by the time they arrived, notwith- standing all that had been done by volunteers in the meantime, St. Paul's Church was fully alight, and it was at once seen that it was doomed to destruction. The Superintendent of the Woodford Brigade had sent for assistance to Buckhurst-hill, and a Brigade from that place and two engines of the Ley ton and Leytonstone Volunteer Fire Brigade under Captain Miller, rendered good service; but in a very short time the roof of the church fell in, about a couple of hours' hard work being gone through before the fire was subdued. Throughout there was an excellent supply of water. An in- spection of the ruins showed how thoroughly the fire got hold of the building. Presumably originating in the gallery, the fire seems to have passed along the aisle, burning each side as it went, and up to the chancel, which is totally des- troyed. The flooring and seats in the church are now nothing more than a mass of charred wood; only the joists of the floor of the gallery remains, while not a trace of the organ can be found amongfct the dibris. On the north side of the church there are two stout columns, and these have suffered from the heat so much that flakes of stone have fallen off, leaving the columns but skeletons of what they were. The whole of the windows of the church have also been destroyed, four of them being stained glass, of great value one being placed in the church by the late Mr. King, in memory of his wife, at a cost of 160 guineas. The walls and the spire of the sacred edifice now stand, but both have been damaged, the former so seriously that they will have to be replaced. St. Paul's was opened on July 18, 1854, the Rev. 0. B. Waller being the first incumbent. The living, which is in the gift of the rector, is of the annual value of £250. The building is insured for about £3000, but it is not expected that it can be re-erected for this amount.
[No title]
How do you sell the strawberries, missis ? asked an impecunious-looking urcAin of a female fruiterer, at a season when" fruit was up." Though disposed to cuff him out, she told him; whereupon he said, Oh, well; give us a 'apenny turnip, missis I'm a beggar for fruit."
PAINFUL DEATH of an INDEPENDENT…
PAINFUL DEATH of an INDEPENDENT LADY. On Saturday afternoon Mr. A. Braxton Hicks held an inquiry at the St. George's Hospital, London, re- garding the death of Elizabeth Birch, aged 81 years, lately residing at 39, Scarsdale-villas, Kensington who had died in that institution. Mr. WilhalJ1 Morse, principal clerk at the War Office, Pall 31a said he had known the deceased for the last thirty years. She was never married, and was quite inde* pendent. Mary Ann Cyster, domestic servant to deceased, stated that she saw her mistress go into the drawing-room, and witness went to the top of the house to attend to her duties. In a few moments she heard Miss Birch give two loud screams, and on rushing downstairs found her standing on the landing in flames. All her clothes were alight- Witness endeavoured to extinguish the fire with mat, but not succeeding, she opened the street dooj and called for assistance. Two painters came in apd threw rugs round the deceased, who was then sitting on a chair in a small room. The flames were even- tually put out by a doctor, who ordered the lady to be taksn to the hospital. Engineer John Douglas, of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, stationed at High-street, Kensington, said the fire in the drawing- room was nearly out when he got there with an engine. The blinds and curtains had been consumed. At this point the coroner was informed that the deceased made a statement to Eliza Whitmore, the head nurse of the Wellington Ward, and she was accordingly sent for. Ralph, the officer, returned, however, say- ing that nurse would rather not come down," and & second attempt to secure her attendance resulted in » message to the effect that she should not attend, at she had not been served with a notice. Eventually she was brought down by the officer, and in reply to the corotar she said she thought she need not attend without a notice, and another reason why she did not come down was that she did not think her evidence necessary. The coroner advised her not to mistake her position. That was not the way to treat II coroner and jury, and if she had not attended she might have been taken into custody by the officer- The witness was then sworn, and deposed that thtt deceased told her that she was smoking plants to kill the insects when the curtains caught lire." She, asked her why she did not run away, and she replied that she did as soon as she could. The jury returned a verdict cf "Accidental death."
EPITOME OF NEWS.
EPITOME OF NEWS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN. The Empress Eugenia visited the tombs of the Emperor Napoleon and Prince Louis Napoleon at Chislehurst on Saturday, and returned to London in the afternoon. Monday was the anniversary of the death of Prince Louis Napoleon. In view of the early introduction by the Archbishop of Canterbury of a bill dealing with Church patronage, a large number of advowsons will be submitted to public auction during the next fortnight. Among the better known may be mentioned the advowsone- of Walkington, Marchwood, Ryarsh, Addington, and- Cransley. At the inquest on the body of Mr. Foss-Smitb, • solicitor, who shot himself in a caJb, it was shown that he had been suffering from mental depression for some time. The bullet he had fired passed right through the head, notwithstanding which he lived for two hours after inflicting the:wound. The jury returned a verdict of Temporary insanity." A boy belonging to a barge lying off Whitstable rowed ashore on Saturday to the Coastguard station, and re- ported that the captain, William Usher, had attempted to throw him overboard, and, failing in this, jumped overboard himself, but got back again. An officer ot the Coastguard put off to the barge, and on boarding is ound the captain pacing the deck as though raving mad. With assistance the poor fellow was secured and brought ashore, and upon the certificate of county magistrate he has been removed to a lunatic asylum. A souvenir of Victor Hugo is about to be issued IP Paris, with the consent of his family, in the shape of a selection of striking passages illustrative of all hit, principal works, including his odes and ballads. The profits of the work will be devoted to the fund for erecting a national monument of the poet in Paris. Arrangements are being made for the simultaneous issue of the volume in this country. Mr. Gladstone was on Saturday presented with an address from the Littleborough Reform Club on the lawn in front of Hawarden Castle. The Premier, who has been interdicted by his physician from speaking in public, assured the deputation that he would address them if he could, but he was totally unable to do so. The right hon. gentleman, nevertheless, read the lessons in Hawarden Church on Sunday morning, but his voice was weak. A meeting of the General Committee of the Gordon Memorial was held at Marlborough House on Saturday, the Lord Mayor presiding. The report of the sub- committee recommended that the Port Said Hospital scheme should be no longer entertained, and a motion approving of the report was carried, moved by Sir JonO Cowell and seconded by Sir Henry Acland. The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge spoke in favour of the resolution. The fund now amounts to about £ 16,000.. The first meet of the Coaching Club took place in Hyde-park on Saturday, when twenty-two coacheS assembled. Sixty cases of cholera occurred on Friday in a village near Valencia, and several in that city, the increase Of the disease being attributed to the unusual heat which has prevailed in that part of Spain during the past fort- night. The Government Commission has arrived is the district and commenced its investigations, and pro Feran has been authorised to conduct his inoculation experiments in the presence of the Commissioners. The American Secretary of War has ordered the release of the two lieutenants of Riel, who has been apprehended by General Terry.. Lord Brabourne presided at the Criterion on satur- day evening at a dinner given to Mr. Edmund and in proposing his health said he would refrain frotO casting any slight upon the majesty of the law, the soi» object of those now assembled being to express sy pathy and undiminished friendship for Mr. Yatesic the misfortune which, without a shadow of moral tor pitude on his part, had fallen upon him. In responding* Mr. Yates characterised all thecircumstanccs connected with his sojourn in northern latitudes as a series o* regrettable incidents," and expressed the pride which he felt in retaining the regard and esteem of hif. friends. As a rule popular hymn tunes have not been :awySB" fully introduced into plays. The public has set its face against tliem, and Lottalast year got into hot w»w» with her patrons for unwittingly offending them in tm respect by the introduction of a nigger melody had before been appropriated by Moody and Sankey. Mr. Irving has dared, however, to introduce a very well- known hymn tune into Olivia," and, apparently, with favour. When Dr. Primrose gathers his family together to tell them of the trouble that has overtaken him, bells of the church chime out the melody that is su»» to the words "Sun of my soul," the orchestra pianissimo the harmonies. The effect is very 8°. though by the straightlaced will possibly by voted in* ^Eaxly on Sunday morning a fire broke out at Wlf- Spencer's (carver and gilder) shop, Castle-hill, Windso • opposite Henry VIII.'s Gateway. The local Brigade, the Castle Brigade, the Eton Brigade, Seaforth Highlanders from Victoria Barracks weresoo>> on the spot, but befope the flames could be subdued tn shop and the station where the tickets for the StOt' Apartments are issued were gutted, and several ad]Oi ing houses seriously damaged. The Castle j- turned out and did good service. The property insured. The origin of the fire is not known. On Saturday the directorate of the Agricultural Ha* > London, received the completed returns as to entries for the forthcoming horse show. They excee" 400, as nearly as possible the same number as last and every available stall and space which the hall c*r provide will be occupied. It has been intimated tba > if in town, the Prince and Princess of Wales will visi the show, probably on the opening day, Saturday June 6th.. The results of the Society of Arts' txaminatiouB just been published. There was a satisfactory in the number of candidates, 1208 having presen themselves at 44 centres whereas last year there vv8t6 991 candidates and 38 centres. Of these 1208 caouv dates, 953 passed and 255 failed. The number 0 papers worked was 1321; of these 145 took fbrst-c certificates, 410 second class, and 474 third-cia^ while to 292 papers no certificate was awarded. Elev« of the 13 subjects set down for examination were up. In two no examination was held, as the re<luJ8|,j, number of candidates (25) did not present themselv. The largest number of papers worked (336) was in boo.1'1 keeping. Other favourite subjects were-ArithmetIC, 171; English (including composition and eorrespon ence and precis writing), 118 shorthand, 253; theoff of music, 243. In French there were 96 candidates, io German only 28. — Under the presidency of the Duke of Norfolk, (who for a second time has accepted that office for, society), the forty-second annual congress of the Archaeological Association has been fixed to take p^Z at Brighton on the 17th of August next and followiw days to the 24th, inclusive. By the kindness ot Mayor and Corporation of Brighton, some of the principal municipal rooms of the Pavilion have W placed at the disposal of the association during week's proceedings, and excursions will be made Arundel, Chichester, Goodwood, Cowdray, Bogn« Boxgrove, Worthing, Bosham, Wiston, Steyn_ Bramber Castle, Amberley Castle, Hollingbury OoF^ and other places of interest in South Sussex. 1 will be the usual extra days arranged for the follow^ week, and which will probably include excursions Lewes (which the association visited during the ings congress in 1866), Seaford, Eastbourne, for » monceaux Castle, Pevensey Castle, and Hasting,- visit, it is also expected, will be made from Newb to Dieppfe, under the auspices of the Leland Club, forming the second excursion to France of that ne«" formed antiquarian body. The last report of the Director of Public Reliet Paris states that the total number of persons io ceipt of public charity at the end of last year 123,324, and that, though the figures do not show increase over those of the last triennial census, number of persons in receipt of relief was only 20 years ago, and that the subsequent increase has greater in proportion than that of the popul* itself. These 123,324 paupers compiled families (menages), of whom only 10, <96 wer,e0Y^cto& by birth, 33,644 coming from the country and 318V abroad. The number of foreigners reheved W portionately very large, especially among the BelgJ^ and the Germans. The Germans, though not fo^ 20 per cent, of the total foreign population, g more than 40 per cent, of the foreign one of the districts of Pans out of 1425 GermftO^J dents, 569 were in receipt of pubhc relief, hveryj fession contributed its contingent to the paupers, the majority of whom, however, labourers, shoemakers, carpenters, concierges, YffiP sterers, masons, and tailors upon the male charwomen, dressmakers, seamstresses, washerw concierges, and ragpickers on the female side.
A POPULAR MANAGER'S PROGRAMME.
A POPULAR MANAGER'S PROGRAMME. There probably is no more universally popular actor and manager than Wilson Barrett. His name is a household word in all the provincial towns -in fact, his name and fame are inseparably connected with the dramatic art of the present genera- tion. It is in consequence of this that whatever he does is of general public interest. At present the Lights o' London is revived by him at his beautiful London theatre, the Princess's, and on the first night of the revival Mr. Barrett, in thanking his audience for the kindly manner in which it had received the plav, took occasion to note that since its previous production the Princess's programme had been changed less than that of any other theatre-a state- ment0 instantly verified by the applause of the audience. Referring to the future, Mr. Barrett said that his next production would be a now drama of modern English life by Mr. Henry A. Jones and another gentleman. (Load applause, and calls of His name.") This would probably be succeeded by a new poetical play, and after that he intended to give another Shakesperian revival. This last assur- ance was received with loud cheers, and numerous calls for" Othello."
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A fond father told his little boy that if he was good his mamma would bring him a baby brother or sister, and asked him which he would like best. He said, if it made no difference to mamma, he should prefer a large rocking-horse! LAW AGAINST TAKING S!nnT.—A Parisian robber, who was arrested for stealing snuff out of a tobac- conist's shop, by way of excusing himself, exclaimed, That he was not aware of any law that forbade a in an to take snuff."
IGOLD AND SILVER PRODUCTION…
GOLD AND SILVER PRODUCTION OF THE UNITED STATES. The Director of the American Mint in his annual report on the production of gold and silver in the United States for the year 1884 estimates the value to have been as follows: Gold, 30,800,000 dols.; silver, computed at the silver dollar coinage rate, 48,800,000 dols.; total, 79,600,000 dols. This shows an increase over the yield of the previous year of about 800,000 dols. gold and 2,400,000 dols. silver. The total deposits of gold at the mints during the year amounted to 50,518,179 dols., of which 30,807,200 dols. was reported as domestic. The exports of gold bullion exclusive of United States bars, amounted to only 115,000 dols. To the amount deposited at the mints and the small amount ex- ported may be added some 600,000 dols. worth of gold contained in silver bullion exported, and also possibly 700,000 dols. of undeposited gold in the form of nuggets, grains, &c., used in ornamentation, and 200,000 dols. worth in bars in private refineries used for similar purposes, which would make in all an addition of about 1,500,000 dols.
KENTISH AGRICULTURISTS AND…
KENTISH AGRICULTURISTS AND THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE. The low price of stock as well as of corn is causing great anxiety to Kentish flock owners, who attribute it to a great extent to the large and increasing im- portation of frozen meat from the colonies. Mr. Basil Hodges, a representative Kentish agriculturist and a prominent member of the Central Chamber of Agriculture, has just returned from a visit to Australia and New Zealand, which he made with the special object of inquiring into the prospects of the frozen meat trade, and he gives the following inte- resting particulars as the result of his inquiries. He reports, "The New Zealanders told me that they can sell their mutton at 2d. per lb. They like 2|d. better, but they can do with 2d. I asked,' Will you be able to continue this output ? Is it not a surplus which must cease when the accumulation of animals has been cleared away?' They replied, 'Given that price we shall be able not only to continue but to increase our exports, because the average price we have obtained from this new method of sending frozen sheep has given us on the average nearly double what we were able to obtain before at the boiling establishments.' There certainly is no place in the world where the animals thrive better. They have all the breeds with which we are familiar having imported the very bestanimals which could be bought in England. They maintain them in the highest state of excellence, and they will undoubtedly be great competitors in the supply of meat to this country. They are likely to m^intaana class of rapid steamers. In view of allthisl think the English farmers ought to consider their position careru ly and make all their contracts and arrangements with an expecta. tion-if not realised so much the better-that they are to meet with great competition in the way of the supply of meat to the consuming population. The frozen meat trade is not confined to New Zealand. They are getting actively to work in New South Wales. One of my fellow-passengers was a Sydney man, who bad 2800 sheep on board the Iberia, the vessel which took the New South Wales contingent to the Soudan. These sheep were intended to come to London, but they were taken out for soldiers, and I have no doubt the troops were yer7 much delighted to get a supply of fresh mutton in that torrid region. My fellow-passenger is a butcher, and he intends on his return to send not whole sheep, but only the hind- quarters. The forequarters can be sold to advantage to the tinned-meat establishments, and the hind- quarters can be so packed in the freezing chambers as to greatly economise space."
INJURY TO THE BLENHEIM RAPHAEL.I
INJURY TO THE BLENHEIM RAPHAEL. I The desiccated atmosphere of the National Gallery has already produced the effect on the Ansidei Raphael, lately bought from the Blenheim Gallery, which everybody who knew its dangerous nature had reason to fear. Similar results, in a much exaggerated form, have become grievously apparent at South Ken- sington, which has been more recklessly heated, and the warnings of experts have been most disastrously justified by experience in both the galleries. In the magazine at Trafalgar-square are now several removed freir South Kensington %ad the upper rooms of Wilkins's building or account of their condition. It seems that before long the magnificent Raphael, which less than twelve months since we saw at Blenheim in a nearly perfect condition, flawless, with a trivial ex- ception, and absolutely brilliant in its colouring and surface, must be sent below for repairs. When this masterpiece was deposited in the National Gallery it was intact. At present every plank of the panel on which it is painted has, in a greater or less degree, parted from its neighbour-a long crack, which has of late developed in a deplorable manner in the upper portion of the panel, extends from top to bottom on our left, all through the figure of St. John; another crack, over the Virgin's left shoulder, seems to be extending downwards; while yet another crack is distinct over the figure of St. Nicholas of Bari. Nor is this cracking all the mischief which has lately befallen this picture; a few inches above the mitre of the prelate there is rather a large blister.— Athcmeum.