The Aberdare Times

GRESHAM COLLEGE. Sir Thomas Gresham, whose name has an honoured place in the history of the City of London, left funds for the establishment of an epitome of a University in London." And had the Corporation and the Mercer' Company, his trustees, acted intelligently, London might have owed to his beneficence a really great educational institution. Unfortunately, these authorities have been content to obey merely the letter of his instructions, and the result is that Gresham College is now, and has been for a long time, of little or no use to the community. Lectures are still delivered, as Sir Thomas directed, on Geometry, Astronomy, Music, Rhetoric, Physic, Law, and Divinity; but they are delivered almost to empty benches, nor is any attempt made to attract students who might be benefited by them. Attention has been rather prominently drawn to the subject in the Times, and it may be hoped that the Corporation and the Mercers' Company-will at once begin to consider seriously whether the institution entrusted to their care cannot be placed on a more satisfactory basis. It can be of no real service-unless regular classes are formed, each with its own professor; and the pro- fessors ought to do something more than read lectures. The range of subjects, too, should be widened, for the subjects selected by the founder no longer represent the work which is to be expected from an epitome of a University." There is a considerable demand in some parts of the East End for the higher educa- tion, and the lecturers appointed by the University Extension Society say that they have nowhere mere intelligent audiences than in Whitechapel. All the conditions, therefore, are favourable for a fresh start, and we may be sure that if the opportunity is not promptly taken advantage of, Parliament will soon be called upon to interfere.- Tke Graphic,

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. THE SEATS BILL. In the HOUSE OF LORDS, June 8th. cn the motion to go into Committee on the Redistribution of Seats Bill, the claim of the Royal University of Ireland to separate representation was urged by several peers, but the Earl of Kimberley declined to accede to the request, alleging that there was a strong and growing feeling against the special representation of universities. The Marquis of Salisbury also pointed out that the change suggested would necessitate a series of impor- tant alterations in the bill.. The House having gone into Committee, sin amend- ment was adopted at the instance of the Marquis of Salisbury, with the assent of the Government, reversing the course taken by the Commons with regard to the borough of Westminster. A provision, indentical with one which the Marquis of Salisbury had placed upon the paper, empowering the Queen in Council, upon peti- tion from the inhabitants of a county division, to alter the name of the division, was moved by the Earl of Kimberley, but, being objected to by the Duke of Rich- mond and Gordon" and Viscount Cranbrook, was withdrawn. A proposal by the Marquis of Lothian to take Jed- burgh out of the county of Roxburgh and group it with the boroughs was carried against the Government by 66 to 53. Several divisions were taken with regard to the nomenclature of new constituencies, and eventually the bill was passed through committee and ordered to be reported. ZULULAND. In answer to the Earl of Jersey, the Earl of Derby paid a proclamation had been issued by the Boers in Zululand protesting against the action of Lieutenant Moore in taking possession of St. Lucia Bay, and declaring the rights of the new Republic over the bay and the entire country. Sir Henry Bulwer had re- pudiated the Boer pretensions without loss of time, and his action had been approved by her Majesty's^Govern- ment. The claims of Germany with regard to the bay had been disposed of by diplomatic action, and were not likely to be revived. Their lordships rose at a quarter to nine o'clock. NEW MEMBERS. In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, Mr. Sinclair and Sir Watkin Wynn took the oath and their seats for county Antrim and Denbighshire respectively. THE PRINCESS TSEATRTCE'S MARRIAGE PORTION. j Mr. Laboucbere gave notice that he should oppose the vote of £30,000 for a marriage portion to the Princess Beat ice. SIR PETER LTTMSDES S OPINIONS." In reply to Mr. Arnold, Mr. J. K. Cross said the attention of the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for India had been directed to statements reported to have been made by Sir Peter Lumsden to a -news- paper correspondent at Vienna. Sir Peter Lumsden's commission had not been annulled. He had always held and asserted, regardless of all party questions, the opinion that the evacuation of Candahar was an error. He did not consider himself responsible for alleged utterances incorrectly reported by newspaper corre- spondents, and he disavowed any intention of making an attack upon the Government which he served. THE SOUDAN SURPRISE." The Marquis of Hartington informed Sir G. Campbell that Lord Wolseley, who had been instructed to make personal inquiries into the conduct of operations in the Soudan by Generals Graham and McNeill, strongly deprecated any further inquiry. Up to the present time Lord Wolseley had not reported further, and the Field-Marshal Commanding in-Chief held the opinion, in which the noble marquis expressed his concurrence, that it would be advisable to await Lord Wolseley's return before coming to any final decision. DEFEAT OF THE GOVNRX-HENT ON THE BUDGET PRO- POSAXS.—GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE HOUSE. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in moving the second reading of the Budget Bill, made some brief re- marks -first in reference to the suggested repayment of Is. to those who had paid the 2s. increased duty on spirits. This, he maintained, was contrary to prece- dent, as the increased duty had been sanctioned by the House, and in all probability it had been paid by the consumer immediately. He went also at length into S the effect cf the increased duty on spirits, showing that in England the revenue was 5§ times larger than in Scotland, and 4h times larger than in Ireland. Sir M. Hicks-Beach moved an amendment con- demning the proposed increase of the beer and spirit duties in the absence.of any corresponding increase of the wine duties, and declining to increase the duty on real property while the resolutions in regard to local taxation passed in 1883 and 1884 remain unfulfilled. Dealing with the first branch of the amendment, he preferred some article of more general consumption, and dissented altogether from the suggestion that wine could be substituted for beer as a popular beverage. If a reduction of the wine duties were to be proposed as part of a bargain, he complained that the Go- vernment had taken altogether the wrong course, for both Spain and France knew they had nothing to fear, and the best course to compel Spain to grant us commercial facilities would have been to make a change disadvantageous to her wines.. He pointed also to the danger of adulteration. As to the second branch of the resolution, he argued that the proposal to increase the succession duties did not take into account the capacity of real property to bear them, and that if the taxation of real property was to be dealt with at all, it should be by way of a complete equilisa- tion. A time of agricultural depression was not oppor- tune for increasing the burdens on land, and as the .1 new duties were .estimated to produce 30 small a sum this year, he urged the Chancellor of the Exchequer [ to postpone the matter until he could deal com- prehensively with the duties oa real and personal pro- perty. Sir O. Dilke animadverted in a sarcastic vein on the predilection shown by Sir M. Hicks-Beach for an in- creased duty on tea, remarking that, however un- popular the present Budget might be, the Opposition Budget would be more disliked. As to an increase in the wine duties adverse to Spain, he pointed out that it would interfere with a growing colonial trade, and he characterised as claptrap the argument founded on a comparison of the beer duties with the duty on wine regarded as a beverage of the rich. As to the succes- sion duty, it was an act of justice as between landed and personal property, and there was no reason why it should be delayed. The Government, he. said in con- clusion, regarded the Budget as a whole as a matter of life and death, and if the amendment were carried its supporters would have to form a Government of their own to carry out their own financial policy. Lord G. Hamilton, referring to a preference expressed by Sir 0. Dilke for Radical teetotallers as against "pothouse politicians," twitted him with having attended more pothouse meetings than any other metropolitan member, and commented at length on the proposals in the Budget to suspend the> repayment of the Debt. Mr. O'Sullivan, in an animated speech, maintained that the proposed increase of the spirit duty would have the effect of relieving taxation in England at the expense of taxpayers in Scotland and Ireland. Mr. O'Beirne, Mr. 0. S. Read, and Mr. Coope joined in the discussion, and Dr. Cameron, who strongly objected to an increase in the duty on whisky, contended that taxation should fall equally upon the different sec- tions of the community, which, as regards the duty on alcohol, might be attained by imposing a duty of 4d. or 6d. on every gallon of proof spirit in either beer, wine, or whisky. Mr. Arnold contended that there was a decided un- reality in the amendment, which, he maintained, was in effect playing the working-man argument for the ad- vantage of the wealthier classes. Mr. Orr Ewing dwelt on the injustice to the agricul- tural interest which would l»o caused by the increase in the spirit duties, and on its demoralising effect in stimulating adulteration. Mr. Whitbread criticised the proposed increase of the beer duties, especially if they were to be per- manent. Mr. A. O'Connor referred to the returns illustrating the falling off in various British industries and the in- crease in foreign trade, contending that the Budget would strike a blow at home industry while benefiting the foreign producer. The Chancellor of the Exchequer declared that the right hon. baronet opposite had set up the proposition on behalf of the party to which he belonged that tea was a proper article on which duty should be increased instead of duty on spirits. The Government were dis. tinctly of opinion that duties on liquor, such as beer and spirits, were preferable to increased duties on tea, sugar, or any of the articles of necessary consumption. i' He contended that it was better to adopt his gradual plan of dealing with the death duties than to postpone it to a time when the more drastic plan of at once putting real property on the same footing as personalty would have been adopted. In having recourse to taxa- tion on liquor for partial payment of expenditure necessitated by warlike preparations, the Government had followed the sound principle of making articles of consumption share with property the burdens which had to be borne upon an emergency, and had followed a precedent set upon a previous occasion, when brandy was taxed. Sir S. Northcote expressed the hope that the decision on this subject would be taken on purely fiscal grounds. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had given as a reason for taxing spirits and beer that the revenue from those articles had decreased. But he thought it was a financial maxim not to tax a falling revenue, because the expectation of further revenue was not likely to be fulfilled. Instead of apologising for such a financial solecism, the Chancellor of the Exchequer took credit for it. If, however, the reason given by the right hon. gentleman for putting a further tax on beer and spirits was a good one, it would apply equally to wine. (Hear, hear.) If the matter were to be dealt with on purely fiscal principles, beer and spirits would not be selected for further taxation. His right hon. friend gave tea as an illustration of articles to which resort might have been had, and did not make the proposition which the President of the Local Government Board seized upon so fiercely and flung at him. (Opposition cheers and counter cheers.) That was altogether a mis- representation. If the object were to punish those who were thought to support war and what was called Jingoism, there was a fallacy in the proceed- ing. Who was it who had the power to bring about all the evil things which were referred to as Jingo- ism ?" Why, the Government of the day. And who supported them ? The hypothesis was that it was those who were to be punished by this legislation; whereas, it was the Government who had brought about this state of things, and they were supported by what the President of the Board of Trade called Radical tee- totalers." (Opposition cheers and laughter.) This was a year when they had a right to expect a very carefully arranged Budget. The conditions of trade and agriculture, and of the country generally, made it necessary to have a careful diagnosis of the causes of those conditions. He believed that, taking house tax and land tax into account, houses and lands bore their share of burdens equally with personal property, with- out going into matters of local charges at all. (Oppo- sition cheers.) The Government were not fortunate in their commercial treaties-he did not indeed know that they were fortnnate in any of their undertakings. (Hear, hear.) The financial failures of the Govern- ment had arisen from their fidgeting, and not dealing with questions on broad principles, so tlat there was an uncertainty as to what the Government intended, and as to what they would do. In the present case nothing could be more unsatisfactory and injunouu than their action. If the beer and spirit taxes were to be educa- tional, to educate the people to temperance, why did the Government forget their morality as sooo as they had a few millions to spare ? (Opposition cheers.) The real point of the Government was to get over a difficulty-to carry over the beer duty to the next Parliament, just as it had been suggested to carry the Crimes Act over and let the next Parliament deal with it. (Opposition cheers and laughter.) He did not think that would redound to the credit of the Government. His own view was that they ought to raise the money they required in the form that would be least for the disadvantage of the country as a whole, and that as far as possible they should keep their taxation steady, though, of course, he admitted that it was not possible to do so absolutely. With respect te the two modes of paying off debt, the Prime Minister was contemptuous of his (Sir S. Northcote's) plan, and said that the real way was to establish terminable annuities. (Mr. Gladstone: I never said so.) Well, he had a recollec- tion of having something like a fight across the table over it, and of the right hon. gentleman treating his proposal with some amount of contempt. But the course taken by the Government destroyed entirely the effect of their terminable annuities. He hoped the House would accept the amendment of his right hon. friend, and he was sure that there would be no difficulty in readjusting the Budget to meet the contention which he had raised. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Gladstone, who was loudly cheered on rising, said there was but a moderate connection between the speech they had listened to and the motion on which the judgment of the House was invited. (Ministerial cheers.) The motion of his right hon. friend only appeared in the speech by fits and starts. The speech of his right hon. friend (Sir Stafford Northcote) con- sisted of a criticism of the Government, and a highly laulatcry review of the finance he himself conducted — (Ministerial cheers) -an exposition of general principles which some might call truisms and others platitudes — (laughter) — with only an occasional reference to the subject before the House. The right hon. gentleman said he found nothing in the finance of the Government but a series ot the most miserable failures—(Opposition cheers)— and he thought the present year was eminently favourable to a general review and exposition of all matters connected with the financial state and prospects of the country, with a view to preparing the way for the new Parliament. The right hon. gentlemen said there had been nothing but a series of failures on the part of the present Government in regard to finance. He dre w a comparison between those who came into office in the year 1874 and the present Government. Then the right hon. gentleman (Sir S. Northcote), with a surplus of £ 6,000,000 presented six Budgets to the House, and out of those four were deficient. (Ministerial cheers.) What had been the case of the present Government ? For four years, although they had had to meet great emergencies, they had presented a surplus of revenue over expenditure. (Cheers.) The right hon. gentleman who moved the amendment made a most candid speech. He found fault with him (Mr. Gladstone) for describing his amendment as a vote of censure. It was not a vote of censure—it was simply a Government question of life and death. (Laughter.) That it was an error, he admitted, but it was more in form than in substance. (Hear.) While he agreed with the right hon. gentleman opposite (Sir S. Northcote) that it was a very bad thing to have unsteady and fluctuating taxation, he was very glad his right hon. friend proposed to make the beer duty terminable next year, because it could not fail to have the effect of inducing the new Parlia- ment to consider seriously what he hoped it would be inclined to consider on many other grounds-namely, the general scale of the expenditure of the country. A certain amount of charge had been sanctioned by the House, and that amount of charge presented a sum of £13,000,000 to be provided for. The first question was as to whether that sum ought to be provided by taxa- L tion, by borrowing money, or by arresting payment of payment, or in what proportion those different methods ought to be applied to meet the exigencies of the case. Well, had the Government submitted to the House an extreme or an unreasonable place in that respect? When his right hon. friend first produced his Budget he pro- posed to take one moiety by taxation and to make no provision for the others, but to allow it to be taken out of the sums which were applied to the reduction of debt. He did not think that that was an unfair proposal. It certainly was net an extra- vagant amount to be asKed in the shape of taxa- tion-at least, if the House did consider it an extrava- gant amount, it was very desirable that that should be plainly and unequivocally examined. The next ques- tion was the apportionment of taxation between direct and indirect taxation. The right hon. gentleman oppo. site had been good enough to say he recognised that the entire burden should not be laid on property, and that a portion should be raised from articles of con- sumption. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, then, had been so far fortunate in attracting the approval of the right hon. gentleman. But he (Mr. Gladstone) could not compliment the Opposition upon the prude. ce of the course they were now pursuing. The motion would be a severe blow to Chancellors of the Exchequer who should attempt to act upon the prin- ciple that part of this increased taxation should be levied indirectly. (Hear, hear.) The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in proposing a budget which affirmed the principle that taxation ought to be divided between direct and indirect taxation, was met by the party opposite not with a motion re- fusing some of the proposed taxes, but by the most obstructive of all methods of proceeding -by an adverse motion to the second reading of the Customs Bill. He believed that when the time came for an Administration to be formed out of the ranks of the party opposite they would repent of the step they were taking to-night, and as well as of many other steps they had taken. (Cheers.) Sir M. Hicks Beach offered a counter budget to-night, but the leader of the Opposition did not seem altogether to support it, for he described the proposal for a tax upon tea as a mere illustration. (Laughter.) One illustration was as good as another. (Laughter and cheers.) What was the cause of all this tremendous opposition to the budget of his right hon. friend, and what was the reason the Opposition did not raise their point in committee ? He believed the secret of this adverse motion to the second reading was not to omit the beer and spirit taxes, was not through any compassion for the beer-drinker— (laughter)—the reason was to be found in the death duties. (Loud Ministerial cheers.^ The Chan- cellor of the Exchequer bad invaded the sanctuary of landed property. (Cheers.) Although the reference to the death duties modestly retired to a second place in the motion of the right hon. baronet (Sir M. Hicks-Beach), it constituted the ground and basis of the whole of the opposition. The proposal of the Chancellor of the Exchequer was a mild one. It was not the fact that the whole of the revenue on this head would be drawn from realty; a considerable por- tion would be drawn from personalty. But the duty undoubtedly tended to the removal of a distinct anomaly as regarded the incidence of the death duties upon real property. Besides that, five years was allowed for the payment of the succession duties, and supposing another death occurred in the five years, then the duty fell back, and a new life commenced to run. It was therefore a total mistake to suppose that the very modified proposal ot his hon. friend came anywhere near the point of equalising the death duties between real and personal property. AVith respect to the non-taxation of wine, he did not deny that upon the surface of the case that was a very tempting object of criticism. The real question was whether it would have been prudent to tax wine. Hon. members said this was an attempt to favour the foreigner. (Hear, hear.) There was no article in our tariff which had done so much to promote the interests, not of the foreigner but of trade and industry at home, as the article of wine. The reduction of the wine duties in 1860 had not only had the effect of enormously cheapening wine at home and putting an end to all the worst kinds of adulteration, but it had had the effect of securing an opening for British industry to the extent of millions of pounds per annum. It was a delicate machinery upon which these results depended, and it was a serious matter to touch. He did not say it never ought to be touched, but the question was whether it would be wite to do so now, especially considering the small amount, say £ 200,000 or £ 300,000, which it would bring in. The tax upon wine was already heavier than upon beer. Then the House was asked to refuse a tax of Is. a gallon on spirits, and Is. a barrel on beer of little more than one year. He did not think it had been well considered how very strong, he might say how very mild, certainly how very unusual, such a request was. A great necessity had come upon the country, and, apart from the question of who was responsible, they had had a great danger impend- ing over the country. Although they now hoped that the danger might pass away they were not at that moment in a position to say it had passed away-and it would be premature to do so. The preparations to meet that necessity had been sanctioned, the charge had received the unani- mous support ot the House, and now the House was asked to provide a moiety of it by taxation and the regular Opposition, the loyal Opposition, the national Opposition, the patriotic Opposition—(loud Ministerial cheers)—and the Constitutional Opposition—(renewed cheers)—refuse the Government the money. (Loud Ministerial cheers.) This was an unprecedented pro. ceeding, as the Opposition on both sides usually shrank from and abhorred the idea of withholding money for military preparations wirch had been recognised as required for the honour of the country. (Cheers.) The right hon. gentleman the leader of the Opposition not only refused the money, but suggested no other means of raising it. The leader of the Opposition now proposed to deny to the Government the means *o meet the charge, and proposes no substitute for those means, but said that the Budget might easily be readjusted, j Was that a course worthy of the position held by that right hen. gentleman—(cheers)—who claimed still to perform the functions whi^h in other times were per- formed by Sir Robert Peel and by the late Lord Pe-bj? (Cheers.) He wished to appeal. to the people of the country and to have judgment passed. (Opposition cheers.) All the Sncient and approved modes of Parliament were to be abandoned, and that by a party sometimes calling Itself Conservative and sometimes a Tory democracy. (Laughter and cheers.) He meant the right hon. gent* man who had just sat down, for the mover of the amendment was per- fectly intelligible; he said, "You should cast your ret wider and cover. a broader surface," and he showed his meaning when he said, You should lay a tax upon tea. tie said that the tax upon tea was moderate. The tax now of 20 per cent. upon beer was not moderate, and the tax upon tea was not less, he believed it wfcs more than 48 per cent. at that moment. (Hear, heM.) To obtain the requisite sum from tea you must put OD an additional tax of not less than 3d., thus raising the tax to 75 per cent.—(cheers)—because they wosld not add 3 per cent. upon the back of A 20 per cent. tax on beer. (Cheers.) Mr. O'Sullivan: 400 per cent, upon whisky. Mr. Gladftrtne: He spoke of beey. (Laughter.) Mr. O'Sullivan: I spoke of whisky. Mr. Gladstone His speaking was orderly, and the hon. gentleman's was not. (Laughter.) As long as he could recollect it had been uniformly held that it VIM desirable to lay upon splnt9 as much tax as it would bear. In conclusion, he would say that a fundamental objection lay to a tax upon tea. The right hon. gentleman sa.d that it would be easy to readjust the Budget but why did he not tell them how ? (Cheers.) Were they going to tax the raw materials of industry, or were they going to reimpose protectee duties? (Cheers). If not, what was open to them. \> as it to be alcoholic liouors, or tea or sugar? And tnat was the issue-upon which they were attacked upon a question of life and death. As such the Government accepted ic and he did not envy those who, if they gained the victory, would have to bear the consequences. (Loud cheering). The House divided— For Sir M. Hicks-Beach's amendment 264 Against. 252 Majority against the Government —12 The result was received with loud and long continue1 Opposition cheers. Lord R. Churchill and several other Conservative members stood on the benches and waved their hats. Amid the cheering, which lasted for two or three minutes, some cries of Buckshot and Coer- cion were heard from the Irish members. After the excitement had subsided, Mr. Gladstone, who was received with loud Minis- terial cheers, said: In going through the remainder of the orders of the day the proceedings in most of them will be merely nominal. No real business would be taken to-night, though I will not absolutely pledge my- self with respect to every description of business with- out taking an opportunity of looking over the list, but I think as nothing would be gained by that, the best thing would be for me to move the adjournment of the House. (Cheers.) The motion was at once agreed to, and the House adjourned at ten minutes to two.

GOSSIP ON DRESS. AMONG the alterations observable in this season's fashions. as ccmpared with last, the height of bonnets is, perhaps, the moat striking. Lasi year tby could not bo small enough, or fit too closely to the head now they tower above the face, and are loaded with flowers, fruit, leaves, grasses, feathers, lace, ribbons, and gold, silver, pearl, and steel embroideries. Some cynical individual defined a woman's bonnet as a mass of irrelevancy," but that was years ago—how far more applicable such a description is now ? Raised many inches above the head, they have massed on them every conceivable kind of artificial- adornment, N EXT to height of bonnet may be noticed length of waist; and this will be still more apparent as weeks go on, for the French modistes and man-milliners are making their newest models with even longer waists than thoso seen at present, except in the case of young girls, when round bodies and sashes are the rule. There is a marked difference, too, in the cut of skirts, which now invariably have the appearance of being morning and afternoon dresses-that is, shorter in front than behind—the difference being caused by the new-shaped pad or cushion, which raises the back drapery at the waist. Crinolettes are an abomina- tion, and happily, as such, banished; even steeh are no longer used, neither are the best made dresses sent out tied back with strings, the bouffante appear- ance of the skirt being dependent on the superior cut, and the novel shape of the support, which raises it at the back. THE immense amount of gold, silver, jet, steel, and many-coloured bead embroidery used in trimming dresses and all kinds of mantles is another distinctive feature of the year. For several seasons the employ- ment of bead-work has been on the increase, and lately has reached what we may term a crisis, not to be passed, however, just yet, if one may judge from the new creations in bead-embroidered costumes and confections, which as yet have not left the ateliers of the rulers of fashion, the autocrats of the dress world. TIIE newest French ball dresses are very pretty and graceful looking, chiefly made of lace, or very pale coloured tulle, with tiny spots embroidered in gold or silver-so delicately and finely that they look like gold lace; others are covered with minute glass beads, which have the effect of dew drops. A dress much remarked at a fashionable ball in Paris was made of gold coloured tulle, with an excessively full and airy looking skirt, ornamented with trails of cowslips, which hung from the shoulders to the edge of the skirt; the bodice was of gold-coloured moire, and the sash of the same material; little bouquets of cowslips were arranged in the hair. AMONG the last new trimmings for ball dresses ar. separate rose petals; all colours are used. White tulle composes the dress itself, and the petals are only gummed on at one corner, so that they float, as it were, with each movement of the dance. A good many of them are shed in the course of the evening but the first appearance of such a costume is almost poetic. A very pale yellow tulle dress was gummed over in this manner with petals of the Gloire de Dijon, somewhat darker in shade, but of the same colour as the tulle the bodice and underneath skirt were of yellow silk, the edge of the former finished off with half-opened rosebuds, the same flowers being worn in the hair and arranged on the left side of the skirt, with a wide soft silk sash falling in grace- fully unstudied loops. For quite young girls ball dresses are very simply made those of white striped Bilk gauze, with a plain skirt, or rather skirts-for there are usually three or five- set in very full, are much worn. A Raphael bodice generally accompanies such skirts, with a wide sash of either moire or soft silk, tied loosely at the back. LACE is more used than ever, both across the Channel and here, for morning and afternoon, as well as evening wear. Fine lace and coarse, silk and woollen, real and imitation, in black, white, and all colours, dyed to suit any dress, is seen on every side young girls wear it 'as well as elderly matrons, and use it either for entire dresses, when piece-lace is re- quired, or else for elaborate trimmings. That..there is a wonderfully softening effect about this fabric is unquestionable, and for that reason it is perhaps better suited to age than youth. Old ladies who know how to grow old gracefully invariably employ it largely, and wisely too, for it blends admirably with silvered locks, frames an aged face in suitable surroundings, and drapes necks, shoulders, and arms which have lost the beautiful roundness of youth as nothing else can. ,TIIEKE is perhaps but little novelty in the combina- tion of old lace and rich velvet as materials for the adornment of age, but no other two materials are better suited to the purpose. A petticoat of antique lace with a velvet train falling over it—the newest trains, it may be remarked en passant, are now cut with what are called butterfly wings," instead of the square shape which prevailed in the winter-is a toilet which fits an old lady for wear on any occasion. A handsome dress recently sent out from a well-known London house had a plastron of magnificent old lace -an heirloom of a noble family--mounted on a cream- coloured satin petticoat; the lace, narrow at the waist, widened out to the full front of the skirt; the train, cut in the new style and lined with cream satin, was gathered in small pleats at the back boneath the velvet bodice, which was pointed before, behind, and at the sides. An old-fashioned square double-collated lace cape was worn over it, the smallest collar secured at the throat with a diamond star; the fichu ends of the cape Icosely knotted in front, fell below the point of the bodice, which was buttoned with small dia- mond buttons the elbuw sleeves were deeply frilled with lace, a cap of this costly fabric, with black velvet butterfly-bows secured with diamond stars, completing the costume. A LATE-AFTERNOON dress from a Paris firm is of black Chantilly and black moire; it is made with an Empire waist and a broad very pale lilac moire sash, the unequal ends and loops forming the pouf behind, and half shrouded in the deep Chantilly lace trimming of the stylish mantle prepared to wear with it. This is of silk grenadine, beaded in an elaborate design, the collar, revers, and sleeves being adorned in a similar manner. The well-cut back of this mantle is of velou- tine silk, and the lace with which it is lavishly orna- mented matches the dress flounces. The bonnet, com- posed of the same lace, is very high and pointed in front, still further heightened by an artistically- arranged and well-poised bunch of pale lilac blossoms, with the slightest admixture of foliage. The short wide strings are of lace fastened with an amethyst pansy. ONE of the newest and handsomest dress matei-ials just introduced is brocatelle, which is an admixture of satin and flax, the latter stiffening it and making it as firm as the brocades our grandmothers rejoiced over. It is used chiefly for trains and panels of dresses, the other portions being of plain silk. Con- sidering its extreme effectiveness, it is not expensive, and being a novelty is sure to become fashionable. In water-colour" one of the newest of the new shades—it is excessively pretty, the only difficulty with regard to this particular colour being the trotible of matching it in the plain material; this accom- plished, the result is admirable. Another beautiful dress material recently brought out by a Lyons manu- factory is, in design, an imitation of the old Gobelins brocade, a wonderfullv soft as well as rich eff?ct bging atfiuned ijy liny cross bars, which give all the effect of a tapestry stitch. A bronze-green brocade, with large velvety brown flowers all over it, is very lovely, as is one of a pale salmon ground colour, on which are scattered rich red brown leaves. Epingle is another of the rich dull materials just now so much employed by French modistes. This stuff has a raised pattern all over it, but is of the same dull tone as the ground. It is to be had in all shades. ALL the above-mentioned new fabrics are suitable for middle-aged and elderly ladies' wear, whom it seems somewhat the rule to ignore when writing on the subject of dress. A striking evening toilet of brocatelle, designed for a matron of ripe years, was thus made. The petticoat was of plain water- colour silk, and the train, of reasonable length, of brocatelle of the same shade. It was turned back in revers from the front of the. dress, these revers being of fine old lace, mounted on the plain silk. A scarf of brocatelle crossed the front of the petticoat from right to left, with a deep fringe of steel beads and chenille, the colour of the dress being well carried out in this mixture. The square-cut brocatelle bodice had a plastron of lace, the deep edging to which hung below the points of the bodice, which was laced with a silk cord to a few inches above the waist in front, the lace of the plastron just showing through the lacing soft frills of lace fell below the elbow sleeves and also shrouded the throat and bust, the hard outline of the material of the dress against the skin being thus wisely avoided, a lace cap, intended to be worn over hair'rolled up on'a cushion, with diamond spray and steel grey ostrich tips, making an elegant finish to a tasteful dress,

CIVIL ENGINEERS at the INVENTIONS EXHIBITION. Sir Frederick Bramwell, President of the Institu- tion of Civil Engineers, and Lady Leonora Bramwell gave a conversazione in the Inventions Exhibition on Friday night, which was attended by a large and dis- tinguished assembly, including representatives of both Houses of the Legislature, the Diplomatic corps, and the leading professions. With the sanction of the Executive Committee, every part of the Exhibition was thrown open to the guests, but as the air was delightfully mild and clear, most of them preferred to promenade the terraces and gardens. These formed a scene of variety and splendour not easily surpassable. The great conservatory and the buildings on either side were outlined by myriads of electric lamps, the water from the fountains sparkled with the same light, and even the foliage of the trees dazzled the eye with ever varying hues lent them by innumerable dots of o, incandescent globes hid high up in the branches, and I discovered every instant by the winds, which gently moved the leaves. It was, on a different scale, such a spectacle as Moscow presented at the Coronation of Alexander III., Czar of All the Russias, when the ancient capital was illuminated in some fashion but any one who witnessed that national celebration would without much hesitation give the preference to South Kensington. Sickly tallow lamps cannot copaps»ra with electricity in effecti and more artistic display becomes possible with appliances like those available at the Inventions. On Friday tho lamps were remarkably steady, and showed to great advan- j tage. The fountains were a centre of attraction to°all—the changes their jets underwent both in form and hue, at one time divided into hundreds of tiny sprays, and then thrown high into the air in columns of water, now red, now green, and sometimes a combination of all the colours in the rainbow and out of it, forming a picture more easily imagined as belonging to fairyland than to the fickle climate of England, even in June. Close to these were the music kiosks, each occupied by a band, while; beyond all, the conservatory, also a blaze of light, was laid out in lavish hospitality for the refreshment of visitors. Along the walks and terraces ladies and gentlemen promenaded for hours, the air so mild that not a cloak or wrap was required for protection, listening to the music of the Coldstream Guards and Strauss's orchestra. Much interest was mani- fested in the performance of the visitors from Vienna, and their playing, especially of dance music, commanded loud applause. Here, for two or three hours, legislators, released from St. Stephens by a happy count-out, members of the bench and bar, engineers, men of distiguished position in all the great professions, passed a most enjoyable time, which midnight made all too short. The band of the Royal Irish Constabulary played in the reception hall, and was also the centre of a good deal of attention, its performance often calling .forth. applause. In addition, there were organ recitals by Mr. J. Jeffreys and Mr. H. L. Balfour, and in the music- room Mr. E. Terry, Mr. F. Laughlin, Mr. Howard Reynolds, and Mr. J. Hamilton also conducted a select performance to the entertainment of the guests. From beginning to end the conversazione was cf the most successful description.

LORD HARRIS AND UNFAIR BOWLING. The following letter has been forwarded to Lord Harris by the Hon. Sec. of the Lancashire County Cricket Club in reply to his lordship's communica- tion on the subject of unfair bowling :— June 8, 1885. My Lord,—I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 1st inst. My committee instruct me to say that unless your suggestions are adopted by the Kent executive they decline to answer your letter in detail. Should, however, such executive consent to your proposed course of procedure, my committee are prepared to consider the whole question, and decide in the interests of Lancashire and cricket generally.-I am, my Lord, yours truly, S. H. SWIRE, Hon. Sec. The Right Hon. Lord Harris.

Illtsalkiicfltts Intelligent. HOME. FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL. PISCICULTURE.—The Berlin Aquarium has at last accomplished the difficult feat of showing a school of live herring in its sea-water basin. These fish are so delicate that when caught in their native element even a moment's exposure to the air will kill them. They had, therefore, to be caught under water, and to be carefully transported from the seaboard. Ten out of the nineteen which were taken in the Baltic, near the Island of Ragen, reached Berlin alive. DISCOVERY OF A RELIC.—An interesting arcbreo- logical relic was brought to light a few days since at Traismauer, in Lower Austria, some miles south-west of Vienna. A large portion of a votive shield of bronze was found among a great quantity of fragments of glass and earthenware. On the obverse is an eagle, and below it Jupiter in Roman war dress, with an axe in his raised right hand. On the reverse is a full moon, and below it a young Mars. It is conjectured that the shield belongs to the third century of our era. THE SUNDAY SOCIETY.—The forty-fifth Sunday Art Exhibition, opened under the auspices of the Sunday Society, was open for two and a half hours last Sunday. The exhibition consisted of the collection of 763 paint- ings and 14 pieces of sculpture in the galleries of the Society of British Artists. The admission was by ticket in the usual way with the society's Sunday exhi- bitions in London, the tickets being freely given to those who make application in writing for them. The number of visitors was 632. LAST WEEK'S WRECKS.—The actual shipwrecks re- ported last week were mostly British vessels, namely, sixteen, the total being twenty, making for the year 494 wrecks. Off the British Isles six (all British) sank, four of which went down through collision. Three British sailers were reported with all hands. Steamers numbered four, of which two, laden with wheat, tobacco, &c., of an aggregate tonnage of 2699, were lost off Ushant. A colonial sailer was lost in the ice, and two (British and German) were abandoned at sea. Corre- sponding week of last year: Wrecks, 20; total for year, 936; collision, 2; lives lost, 48. VIVISECTION. — A parliamentary return has been issued containing a copy of a report from inspectors, showing the number of experiments performed on living animals during 1884, by licenses. The total number of experiments of all kinds performed in the year was about 441. Of these 140 were done under the restric- tions of the:license alone; 78 under the same restric- tions, for lectuie illustration; 145 under certificates for experiments without anesthetics 76 under certificates dispensing with the obligation to kill the animal before recovering from amesthesia; and 2 on large animals. Fifteen persons have held certificates in England, Wales, and Scotland. and two in Ireland. IMPORTANT SURVEY.—The Mexican Government has fit length determined to undertake a geological survey of the whole country as far as practicable. Ten thou- sand dollars have been assigned for preliminary expenses. DOG LICENSES.— By a return just published, it appears that £ 33,957 4s. was received in Ireland alone during 1884 for the licenses of dogs. The number of dogs represented by this sum is 339,572. CORN AVERAGES.—The following are the average prices of British corn for last week, as received from the inspectors and officers of Excise: Wheat, 34s. 6d.; barley, 27s. 6d.; oats, 22s. 3d. per imperial qr. Corre- sponding week last year: Wheat, 37s. Od.; barley, 27s. Id.; cats, 21s. 4d. THE ECCENTRIC BAVARIAN MONARCH.— King Louis II. of Bavaria has, it is stated, ordered the manager of the Hoyal Theatre at Munich to produce Sardou's "Theodora at a cost of 200,000f. His Majesty will be the sole spectator of the performance, which is to be continued during his pleasure. THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE'S TENANTS.—Additional to rent remissions already announced on the part of the Duke of Devonshire his Grace will allow his tenants in East Derbyshire 10 per cent. off last half year's rents. The Marquis of Hartington's Derbyshire tenantry will be favoured similarly. JEWISH ART.—There are 60 Jewish exhibitors at this year's Paris Saion, divided as follows: Painters 23, sculptors 9, engravers 5, and 14 whose signatures are appended to drawings and cartoons. Of pictures on Jewish or Biblical subjects there are but 25 among a total of 5034 exhibits.—" Jewish Chronicle." COPPER.-At present copper is sold as low as jE43 and jE44 a ton. Forty-eight pennies weigh as nearly as possible lib., and 107,520 go to the ton, which, being circulated as pence and halfpence, is of the value of £ 440. The cost of coining a ton is computed at E4, so that there is a net profit of JE400 on every ton of copper dealt with. A V ALUABLII DIAMOND.—The largest diamond in the world is shortly to be cut at Amsterdam, where a special workshop is being constructed. This gem is South African, and weighs 475 carats, thus being 19o carats heavier than the Grand Mogul" belonging the Shah of Persia, and hitherto the biggest diamond KT VALUABLE WEDBING PRESENT -The MEMTOS of the Royal Institute of Painters in w»terfJoi^r:npp preparing an appropriate wedding f, + i Sricef who is not only a member of the society but a frequent exhibitor at their annual exhibitions Tina testimony of their regard and respect consists of an album of drawings to which every artist belonging to the institute will contribute. The works will be placed in each page, and the binding will be of white morocco. This valuable gIft will be presented a day or two previous to the weddings LIGHTNING ACCIDENTs.-Lightning has killed 4609 persons in France since 1835. An equal number have been seriously, though not fatally, wounded, and five times as many struck. The .hot years were the most fatal, and these are remarkable as having been the best wine seasons. There has not been a single death from lightning in Paris or the Department of the Seine since 1864, though there have been many violent storms there duriug that time. HEINE ON ART AND NATURE.—Twenty-four letters from Heine to his friend Detmold have recently been published in Germany. In one of them, which is dated from Ramsgate, he describes himself as sitting on a high balcony, "looking down on the beautiful wide ocean, whose waves climb up the rock and regale my heart with their musical roar." In another, which was written at a place where there was no theatre, he says: The theatre I am no longer obliged to visit, but in place of it I have to walk about in spring weather. Green trees produce < ennui' quite as much as vaude- villes. Next to art there is nothing more dreadful than nature." STATISTICS OF UNEMPLOYED.—According to a Ger- man illustrated paper there are 76,000 persons in Nev? York without means of earning their daily bread. Divided according to the various branches of trade, there are out of work, persons engaged in manufac- turing industries, 10,000; cigar makers, 6000; smiths, 5000; bricklayers, 4500; cabinet-makers, 3000; iron- workers, 3000; stonemasons, 2000; carpenters, 1400; bookbinders, 1500; makers ot artificial flowers, 1500; joiners, 1500; plumbers, 1250; printers, 1000; waiters, 1000; bakers, 800 shoemakers, 500; plasterers, 400; various other branches, 2500. The statement further says that beside 30,000 women, 3000 dock labourers and 6000 Italians are unable to find employment. FOREIGN LIVE STOCK AND FRESH MEAT The ai rivals of live stock and fresh meat at Liverpool during the past week from American and Canadian ports amounted to 3402 cattle, 166 sheep, 10,122 qrs. of beef, and 750 carcases of mutton; whilst the imports of the preceding week amounted to 2026 cattle, 9644 qrs. of beef, and 1350 carcases of mutton, showing an increase in the importations of live stock and fresh beef, but a decrease in mutton. The conveying steamers last week were as follows Virginian, 620 cattle, and 1310 qrs. of beef; St. Ronans, 620 cattle; Lake Wianepeg, 462 cattle and 92S qrs. of beef; Lake Huron, 583 cattle and 919 qrs. of beef; Missouri, 464 cattle and 996 qrs. of beef; England, 432 cattle, 2520 qrs. of beef and 400 carcases of mutton; Polynesian, 221 cattle and 166 sheep; British Princess, 1020 qrs. of beef; Scj thia, S09 qrs. of beef; City of Richmond, 900 qrs. of beef and carcases of mutton; and Adriatic, 720 qrs. of beef and 150 car- cases of mutton. THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—The additions to the Zoological Gardens during the past week include two Javan cats, a marbled cat, from Malacca, presented by Mr. Frank Swettenham; a common marmoset from Brazil, presented by Dr. L. Morgan; a slender-billed cockatoo from Australia, presented by Mrs. E. H. Watson; two Tuatera lizards from New Zealand, pre- sented by Professor T. J. Parker a smooth snake, a common viper, British, presented by Mr. W. 11. B. Pain; a slender-billed cockatoo from Australia, 13 Tuatera lizards from New Zealand, deposited; an osprey, caught in theNorth Sea, purchased; a Darwin's Rhea from Patagonia, received in exchange; a Log deer, two four-horned antelopes, two prairie marmots, and two long-fronted gerbilles, born in the gardens. WORKMEN'S WAGES.—A report on the wages paid to workmen in various trades throughout Europe, com- piled by order of their Government, by the United States Consuls, has just been published. From it we find that the Germans are the worst paid workmen in Europe, while the American artisan earns monetarily nearly double that of the Englishman. For instance, a German stonemason works for 19s. 3d. per week, an Englishman for £1 12s. 6d., and an American for £ 5. Again, in the plumbing trade, a German's weekly average is 17s. 9d., an Englishman £ 1 12s. 6d., and an American 94 13s, 9d. In the bookbinding trade a German's weekly wage is JB1 Is. 9d., an Englishman's £ 1 12s. 4d., and an American's P,3 4s. 9d. These three trades are selected as being representative, but a similar ratio exists in all others. WORKS OF ART IN P ARIs.-An inventory has recently been taken of all the works of art belonging to the city of Paris, and their total value has been appraised'at £490,266, the civil buildings being estimated at one- third, and the religious edifices at two-thirds of this sum, the two churches of St. Eustache and St. Germain des Pres containing works of art val led at £52,000. The depository in the Boulevard Morland contains 69 statues valued at £15,560, while the sculpture upon the Hotel de Ville is valued at £ 55,360. The works of art placed in the parks, public gardens, and highways are valued at £40,000, about a third of this sum being the estimated value of the monument upon the Place de la Republique. The collection of plans and diagrams, the library, and museum are estimated as worth about £ 120,000, and the contents of the 22 municipal libraries £ 25,000. MR. GLADSTONE AND DISESTABLISHMENT.—In reply to a letter by the Rev. W. Graham, Trinity, Edinburgh, on the question of Disestablishment, in which he made certain suggestions respecting Liberal unity at the general election along the linea of a reconstructed National Ohurch, the following reply has been received: 10, Downing-street, Whitehall, June 2. Rev. Sir,— Mr. Gladstone desires ma to acknowledge the receipt of the letter with which you have favoured him on the subject of Church Disestablishment in Scotland. He can, in reply, only say he sees no possibility of dealing with a question of this nature in the present Parlia- ment, nor would Parliament be likely to entertain it except upon the declaration of some strong national feeling in its favour in Scotland.-I am, Rev. Sir, your obedient servant, E. W. HAMILTON.—The Rev. W. Graham." METROPOLITANS PAUPERISE.—Census of metropolitan paupers, exclusive of lunatics in asylums and vagrants, taken on the last day of the weeks named hereunder (enumerated inhabitants in 1881, 3,815,000): Third week of May, 1885, indoor, 52,305; outdoor, 34,249; total, 86,554 (excluding the patients in the fever and smallpox hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board; the number of these patients on the last day of the week was returned as 1593). Third week of May, 1884, indoor, 52,903; outdoor, 34,188; total, 87,091. Third I week of May, 1883, indoor, 51,020; outdoor, 36,816; total, 87,836. Third week of May, 1882, indoor, 49,080; outdoor, 38,795; total, 87,875. Vagrants relieved in the metropolis on the last day of the third week of May, 1885: Men, 454; women, 182; children under 16,26—total, 662. fA" SALYATION LAss's ROMAWCE.-ON Saturday, at the Guildford County Bench, a Salvation Army lass, Emily Sutcliffe,was charged with attempting to commit suicide by drowning. The lass, who was only 18 years of age, jumped into a deep pond at Chilworth, near Albany, and was with difficulty rescued by a young man named Clarke, who was nearly drowned in the attempt. The lass had been associated with the Salva- tion Army at Guildford, and regularly attended Bible- class meetings. It appears that the diminishing affec- tions of her lover, and troubles with his relatives, preyed upon her mind, and that these were the cause of her attempting the rash act. She told the police that she had jumped into the water because she had been turned out of her lodgings. The Bench handed her over to the care of her father. The place where the girl jumped into the water was opposite where her sweet- heart was employed. The Bench commended the con- duct of Clarke, and presented him with half a sovereign. During the hearing of the case defendant fell from the dock in a fainting fit; her sweetheart was in the court at the time. AUSTRALASIAN DERTs.-The Australasian debts are in total jEl 10,000,000; but, with the exception of a small sum spent by New Zealand in quelling the re- bellion of the native tribes, this has been expended almost entirely in railways, telegraphs, and other works almost entirely in railways, telegraphs, and other works of a reproductive character. In the ten years from 1872 to 1882 the united debt of the Australasian Colonieshad increased from E42,000,000 to E99,000,000; the length of railways opened had increased from 1362 miles to 6207 miles. Thus, greatly as the debts have grown, the increase being no less that 112 per cent., the mileage of railways opened for traffic has increased by no less than 356 per cent. 1

THE MARKETS. I MARK LANE. A quiet business has been passing at Mark-lane. Crop accounts have improved of late, and have weakened the trade, in spite of diminished American requirements and a strong market at New York. Short supplies of home- grown grain were offering, and moderate of foreign. English wbeat was in quiet request, and was about the same in value. For foreign wheat the demand was in- active, at barely previous prices. Flour sold slowly; country sorts may be written 6d to Is easier. The barley trade was dull. Grinding produce was only saleable at re- duced, say 3d to 6d per qr. The oat trade was dull, and prices were 6d lower on the week. Maize met a slow sale at 6d decline. Beans and lentils were dull and without change. White p-as fell Is per qr. I METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET. The total imports of foreign stock into London last week amounted to 22,173 head. In the corresponding period last year we received 22,140; in 1883, 22,633 in 1832, 28,012; in 1851,15,514 in 1880, 24,355 in 1879, 18,666; in 1878, 13,684 in 1§77,15,133. At f/ivcrpool there were received 1084 bessts from Uostoii; 1103 beasts and 166 slieep from Montreal, and 999 beasts from New York; and at South- ampton 25 beasts from Jersey and Guernsey. The cattle trade is dull and weak Supplies are about the average, and are equal to the demand. 'I he receipts of beasts from our own grazing districts were about the same as usual. A flat market prevailed throughout and values were not maintained without difficulty. The choicest Scots and crosses were disposed of at 4s 10d to 5s per 81b, but many good useful animals went at a lower fignre. The total number of foreign beasts offered was not large, but there was a rather slow inquiry at drooping prices. A fair show of sheep was witnessed in the pens there was a drooping inquiry The best Downs and half-breds realised 5s 10d to 6s and heavy sheep 5s to 5s 4d per 81bs. Lambs were dull at 6s 2d to 7s per 81bs: calves and pigs quiet. Coarse and inferior beasts, 4s to 4s 6d; second quality ditto, 4s 6d to 4s 8d; prime large oxen, 4s 8d to 4s lOd Scots, 4s lOd to 5s coai-se and inferior sheep, 4s lOd to 5s 2d seconds, 5s 2d to Ss- Cd prime coarse-wool'ed ditto, 5s 6d to 5s 8d prime Southdown ditto, 5s Sd to 6s Od lambs, 65 2d to 7s; large coarse calves, 4s 6d to 5s Od; prime small ditto, 5s to 5s 8d large hogs, 3s 6d to 4s and neat email porkers, 4s to 4is 6d per 81b to sink the ottai. Total supply.—English Beasts, 2880; sheep 11,180; calves, 280; pigs, 10 milch cows, 30..Foreign ( Beasts, 1240; calves, 60. From the Midland and Homo Counties we received 790 beasts; from Norfol Essex, 700 beast*; from Scotland, 150 beasts and from Canada, 10C0 beasts. I METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET. snnnlv on eale. The trade was There was a mo b t there was a fa;r demand bad for beef, W and^po^^ and lamb especially light at firm rates formut^ferior be#f> 2S '4d to 3s Od; W°rV)lim» ditto 3s 4d to 3s 8d; prime large ditto, S1 Od to 4s 4d'; prime small ditto 4s Od to 4s 4d veal, 3s 4d to 4s Od; inferior mutton, 3s id to 4s middling ditto 4s to 4s 8d; prune ditto, 5s Od to 6s Od; largS pork, 3s Od to 3s 4d small ditto, 3s 6d to 49 Od lamb, 68 to 6s 8d per 81b by the carcase. FISH. A moderate supply on offer, with a fair demand for same Prices: Poles, 9d to Is; slips, 6d to Sd; turbot, 7d to lOd; baliluit, 6d to 8d; cod, 3d to Sd dried ling, 4d salmon, Is cd to Is lOd; brill, fd to Sd lemon soles, 6d; crimped skate, 4d to Cd roker, 3d; hake, 3d to 4d; plaice, 5.1 to 4d; and fresh haddock, 2d to 3d per Ib, mackerel, 1-Jd to 3d; crabs, 3d to 2s; lobsters, 6d to 2s 6d and smoked haddocks, Id to Is each bloaters, 6d to 2s; oysters, Sd to 2s 6d; prawns, 9d per dozen; kippers, 9d to 3s per dozen pairs; Digby chicks, 6d per bundle. POTATO. A moderate supply of potatoes were offered. The trade was dull, as fonows :-Old-Scotch regents, 80s to 110s Kent ditto. SOs to 100s Victorias, 80s to 100s; magnum bonums, 80s to 100s per ton. New-Malta round to 10s i Jersey kidneys, 16s to 20s per cwt.

BURNT TO DEATH IN A WORKHOUSE. 1 On Saturday a sad burning fatality, at the Salford I Union Workhouse, Manchester, was reported to the police. The deceased, whose name is Thomas Leech, 66 years of age, had been an inmate of the sick and infirm ward since the 27th April last, and had been in the house for a long period. On Friday evening he complained of being cold, and asked an attendant tolightan-e in the grate. This the man did, and remained in the room until he fire had burned up brightly. He then left the deceased for the purpose of attending to some other duties, and cn his return in about ten minutes he was startled to find the poor old man lying on the hearth-stone immediately in front of the lire with his back resting against the hot bars of the grate. It is supposed he had a fainting- fit and fell-into the fire. The attendant pulled the man out, and found that he was severely burned in his arms and legs. Mr. Holyoak, master of the work- house, was informed of the matter, and everything was done for the poor fellow, but without success. The attendant had some difficulty in extinguishing the flames by throwing water over the deceased. He* was removed to the landing, and Dr. Stocks, the medical officer at the workhouse, was promptly in attendance, and did all he could to relieve Leech, who died in great agony.