The Aberystwith Observer

Our Tonbon Corresjjaitbenf. (We deem it right to state that we do not at all times Identity ourselves with our Correspondent's opinions.] The London daily papers have lately contained one or two paragraphs, prominently printed in their leading pages, descriptive of the weather In Scotland and of the scenery in Aberdeenshire, which have excited attention as being after the style of Her Majesty's Diary, published some years ago. As a matter of fact, these paragraphs formed a part of the ordinary Court circular, which is sent round to the me- tropolitan journals every evening in what is called "flimsy," that is to say the whole of the copies are written ,at one impression upon thin paper, and every journal gets precisely the Bame matter. There are then- Band ? of readers who turn to the Court circular almost the first thing when thsy open the papers, for the infor- mation there ia both varied and interesting. It ia not always confined to such announcements as that the Qlleen walked out, or that Princess Beatrice rods on horseback, or that Prince Leopold drove to the Glassalt Shiel. But the niceties of des- cription are really a study in themselves and the die. tinction drawn between those who accompany and those who "attend" her Majesty, are always worth noting. There is nothing which appears in the Court Circnlar that has not been previously submitted to the Queen's private secretary, General Sir Henry Pouaonby, and the paragraph above alluded to, des. crib:ng some of the beauties of Scottish scenery, was 10 much like the Qaeen's style that there is little doubt of its having been written by the Sovereign herself. When the Court is at Balmoral, the matter which the circular contains is telegraphed to London every night; but when her Majesty is at Windsor or at Osborne, it is sent to the capital by train. In the fine autumnal days which we have lately had, days that seem to have been thoroughly appreciated In the neighbourhood of Balmoral Castle, frequent drives are taken by the Queen and the Empress Eugenie, who is staying at Abergeldie Castle, placed at her Imperial Majesty's disposal by Queen Victoria. The bereavements and misfortunes of the Empress have of late secured to her a considerable share of public notice, and the sternest Republican would not grudge to her Imperial Majesty that amount of sympathy which she has received. Strange how one single decade alters the fortunes of the most illustrious dwellers upon earth I In 1818 the late Emperor Napoleon was a special constable in the streets of London, when the British capital was threatened with insurrection; in 1863 he was the most powerful sovereign in Continental Eu- rope, and had joined his armies with those of Great Britain, Tarkey, and Sardinia, in beating back the Russian Czar from the banks of the Danube. In November, 1869, the Empress Eugenie set out from Paris to open the Suez Canal, a gigantic work connecting the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, and owing its inception to the genius of a French engineer. Her progress from Europe to Africa re- sembled that of a conquering heroine; and her recep- tion wherever ahe went was in every way befitting her exalted rank and station. In 1879 she is a widow and childless, an exile from the land which she assisted to rule, but commanding the sympathies of those who knew her in the greatness of her days, and who remember her charities in those times of calamity which so often fell upon France. The Princess Louise, by the advice of her phyei- cianp, ia about to pay a visit to this country, with the object of avoiding the rigours of the Canadian winter. Her Royal Highness, with the Marquis of Lome, left this country for the great British dominion in the West, on the 16th November last, in the splendid steamer Sarmatian; and after a very tempestuous voyage arrived in Halifax Harbour on the 25th. When the new Governor-General and the Princess arrived there, a telegram was waiting for them, conveying the intelligence of the death of Princess Alice's youngest child, to be followed within three weeks by the Bad news of the death of the beloved Grand Duchess of Hesse herself. The last winter, one of the severest known in these islands for many years, was exceptionally mild In Canada indeed it was colder by a great deal in Lon- don than in Ottawa. Bat this cannot again be hcped for so far as Ottawa is concerned; and the Princess, who had intended to postpone her visit to England until the spring, has been recommended to come before, the chances being that our winter wiH not be 80 cold as that of last year, while that of Canada is likely to be colder. A temperature which freezes the broad rolling waters of the mighty St. Lawrence is na'urally one that would be avoided by any one not in the strongest of health and we all hope that the Princess will be benefitted by the change of air and ICene. The fact that the Cabinet separated without naming a day for the reaesembling of Parliament seems to have been taken for granted that the recess will be allowed to run its usual course, and that there will be no meeting of the Legislature until February next. At present the two Houses stand prorogued until the 1st of November, so that a royal proclamation may Boon be expected further proroguing them to a more distant date. A prorogation of Parliament cannot extend beyond three months at one time; bat the utmost of that limit is never reached. Last year the period ran from the 16th of August to the 31st October, this year from the 15th of August to the 1st November, thus showing only a couple of days' difference. Twelve months ago, Parliament was summoned for a December session to provide for the cost of the Afghan war, which was done by lending India two millions sterling, without interest, In order to pay for it. That war, it was hoped, had been brought to a close by the Treaty of Gundamak but its unfortwoate re-opening on the 3rd September by the massacre of our Embassy at Cabul, was the basis of the expectation that the expenses of the second campaign would now have to be provided for. It may be added that Parliament, whenever it meets, whether in November, December, or February, will do so for the last time. It will have run its seven sessions—an age which no Parliament has attained since that dis- solved by Lord Palmerston in July. 1865, and which had lasted six years, one month, and six days. The military operations before Cabul have once more attracted public attention to the wild and singular country of which that historic city is the capital. The experience of Afghanistan supplies an instance of a land which makes ne advance towards civilization, although the civilizing influences repre- sented by the presence of British territory are situated not far beyond its boundaries. As large as France, as mountainous as Switzerland, and in the winter as cold as Greenland, in the summer the scorching heats of the tropics pass over it, and their effects are felt in the enervated character of the people. The hill tribes are fierce and untameable, and they answer to the descrip. tion given of Ishmael of old. It is nearly a thousand years since Afghanistan, having formerly been a part of the Persian and Greek empires, was conquered by the Tartars, a race which has never had the reputation of being a humanizing agency. To this day the wosd II Tartar is synonymous with barbarism and ferocity; and the settlement of the country by the Mussulmans did not nil contribute to the development of its re- sources or the onward progress of its people. Never at rest, and in a chronic state of anarchy, the inci. dents of a thousand years have been repeated in our own times; its rulers are either tyrants or puppets, oppressors of their subjects, or too weak to keep those subjects from overthrowing them. True to the creed of Mahomet, they hate the infidel foreigner, and as we have seen, take every opportunity of exterminating him. Amid the anxiety caused by the renewed outbreak in Afghanistan there is one satisfaction and that is found in the termination of the war upon the adjoin. ing Continent. It is barely twelve months since dis- tant rumours of troubles in Soath Africa reached this country but little more notice was taken of disputes with the Znlu" than there had been of quarrels with the Bisuto?, the Boerf, and the Kf ffirs, of which there h",d b-en imcy within the past half century. Very few evi n knew the aame of the Zulu King; those who bad beard it found it unpronounceable; some had been hr. uht acquainted with the presence of the Zulus in South Africa through the writings of the Bishop of Natal; while, as there was a Bishop of Zululand in the colonial church, many would not have been surprised to learn that the country was a British possession, one of those vast and indefinite territories which make up the wide-spreading continent of Africa. We have since been made aware of the fact that Zaluland was an independent kingdom with a powerful army, which her Majesty's High Commissioner in South Africa de- clared it to be imperative, in the inteiests of Natal, to break up. This has now been done, and the mystic king of that wild region is now a State prisoner at Capetown, not in the primitive costume of his race, but wearing a Tweed suit and a high hat, settling down for the re- mainder of his days in the centre of African civiliza- tion, and himself possessing many of the attributes of a civilized being. As the First of November approaches, there is a flutter of active political life amid the municipalities of England and Wales, in connection with the annual choice of Town Councillors. This is one respect in which England stands out prominently as compared with her continental neighbours. In France, for example, the Mayor or Prefect is appointed by the central authority In Paris, not so much to preside over the interests of the locality as to subserve these of the government in the capital. He is in fact a servant of the dominant party in the State, and can be dismissed at the pleasure of the Minister of the Interior if that functionary fails in his duty towards his party. When, in the time of the Emperor Napoleon, Baron Haussman was Prefect of the Seine, Paris had what was called a Municipal Council, but this body had no control whatever over the lavish expenditure upon the reconstruction of the City, which was all ordered by the central government for the City to pay for. It is only to imagine this principle being applied to London -the Home Secretary, on his own responsibility, ordering an expenditure of several millions in public improvements, and the taxpaying public having no voice whatever in the matter-to show the great difference between the modes of local government. Fortunately, in England the mayors of our boroughs are not officials appointed by the State, but gentlemen selected by their townsmen to represent the dignity of their own municipalities, and to protect the interests and promote the welfare of their own communities. The Electric Light seems to be still making its way. In London it has been extended from end to end of the Thames Embankment, and a few night3 ago was first displayed on Waterloo Bridge. Its brilliancy stood wayfarers in good stead on one or two nights when a dense fog, driving up from the Essex marches, Bettled down upon the giant city, and well nigh blotted out the light of the ordinary gas lamps. So thick was the fog at times that cabdrivers, being unable to see two lamps ahead of them, were obliged to use the greatest caution in making their way through the shrouded streets. In the regions illuminated by the electric light, a strange unearthly glamour was thrown over the spectral scene. The form and substance of Waterloo Bridge were totally blotted out; and as with a sorrowful deep sound the river rolled between the two densely- peopled banks, silent as the night itself, the line of white lights seemed like so many lamps suspended in the air, the only signs of life amid a vast opaque space, black, cheerless, and impenetrable to human vision.

The Evening Standard of Monday publishes the fol- lowing from their Special Correspondent:— BEFORE CABUL, Oct. 10. On the morning of the 8th the whole Cavalry Brigade, consisting of a squadron of the 9th Lancers, the 5th Punjab Cavalry, 12th Bengal Cavalry, and the 14th Bengal Lancers, were ordered to mount suddenly, and trotted along the roads towards Bala Hissar. On nearing the fort the brigade turned to the right, skirting the hills. It then trotted on to Shahpore, where the enemy were reported the day before A large body of the enemy were discovered upon a high hill to the front swarming along the ridge. It seemed difficult to turn their position. The brigade, however, advanced, and halted close to a !arge tort. It was found deserted. Through an open gate a squadron of the 6th Punjab Cavalry entered and discovered seventy-two guns, Arm- strongs, mountain battery, and howitzers. The magazine was still smouldering, having been blown up the night before when the enemy abandoned the f >rt. This accounts for the tremendous shock felt In the camp. The cavalry now took up a position In reserve, and were placed on all the roads guarding the retreat. The artillery advanced from the camp and shelled the heights, the enemy returning the fire. Running along the entire crest of the enemy's hill was a high walL Their camp was pitched with lta base facing the cavalry holding the rear of the hill. The Artillery fired until sunset, the enemy maintaining the position, from which it was impossible to dislodge them without Infantry. Baker's Brigade did not come up until It was too dark to make an attack. The Cavalry bivouacked at night Inside some walled enclosures. Just before dark the 14th Bengal Lancers made a daah and killed some men firing at our water parties. Early In the morning the 9th Cavalry observed that the enemy's position was abandoned. The line of retreat was ascertained to be towards Ghuzni, and they had been fifing all night. A very harassing pursuit took place. It was carried on tor fifteen miles. Some of the horses fell out and died. The enemy were scattered on the hills in all directions in small parties. Some troops of the 6th Punjab Cavalry pursued them over the hills; another party cut off the retreat, and 17 were killed. There were no more signs of the enemy, who were completely routed. The 12 th Bengal Cavalry reconnoitred some miles further, and twenty-one miles off captured six field guns, six mountain gun., some eleghants, camels, horses, &o., and a few prisoners. The remainder of the force returned to camp, doing nearly forty miles that day. On returning they rode through the city of Cabul, now entered for the nrti time. The Bazaar was immense and picturesque. Some shops were open, and people sitting about. The merchants are returning dally. We found the camp pitched on a new site, close to the Bala Hissar. The Artillery and the Cavalry are In the plain; the Infantry on a small hill In the rear. All was quiet last night. The date of the final entry is unknown. There are some doubts as to the Bala Hissar being mined. No more fighting here is expected, though there may be a little In the country later on. The expedition has been en- tirely successful. The troops have worked splendidly, ad. vancing without tents, and cawylnn their ratlona. Roberts deserves well for his energy In successfully com- batting grave transport difficulties.

The following has been sent to the papers from the India Office (From Viceroy, October 13.) Roberts telegraphs all accounts agree, troops completely routed, and tribes who were assembling to fight us returned to their homes. He requests heavy battery coming up with Khyber column may go back to India, as the heavy guns and howitzers originally presented by British Govern. ment to Ameer are in our possession complete. Roberts visited Bala Hissar 11th; was to make public entry into Cabal 12th. Most of the influential men of city have paid their respects. The following were killed on the 6th 72nd Highlanders -651, Sergeant George Mat; 205, Private Henry Cracknell; 1,614, Piper James Macpherson; 2,066, Private James Walker; 2,054, Private James Hogg. 92nd HlghlaBders- 59, Private Barnes; 404, Gellately; 918, James Meek. Jemadar Khanemula and four men, 6th Punjub Infantry; Are men 6th Goorkhas; one, 23rd Pioneers, and five doolie bearers-total, 24. Wounded.—Captain R. G. Kennedy, slightly, on 4th; Surgeon Andrew Daucan, 23rd Pioneers, and Captain C. Yeung, 6th Purj*b Infantry, both seriously, on 6,h; and Lieutenant C A. Ferguson, 72nl Highlanders, slightly; 31 of 7 tnd Highlanders, 6 of 9!nd Highlanders, 3 of 5th Punjab Infantry, 10 of 6ih Goorkhas, and 3 doolie bearers—total, 67.

The following has been sent from the India Office to the papers for publication :— (From Viceroy, October 14th.) Brigadier-General, All Kbeyl, telegraphabia camp attacked daybreak by large number of Mangals, Shinwaris, Hassan and Ahmed Kh-Is, very botdty well met by 29th and 8th; counter attack by Cavalry detail and Infantry, with complete success; enemy left many dead, 23 bodies brought in, more expected. Oar casualties, five slightly wounded; our at- tacking parties returning unmolested.

(From the second edition of Tuesday's Daily News.) ALLAHABAD, Oct. 14, 7.61 a.m. General Roberts and his staff, on visiting the Bala Hissar, found that the Residency was still standing, but that it had been completely looted, even to the hangings At the northern end of the court-yard stood a high building from the roof of which the Embtssy fire had been directed Here the outer walls are still standing. Beneath the debris in front is a pile of charred logs, where the bodies bad been buried. The bodies of Major Cavagnari and Dr. Kelly are said to be beheath the debris. Excavations are to be made. Major Cavagnarl's visiting diary has been found at the Ameer's palace. The following proclamation, issued by General Roberts, will be read with interest:— Proclamation to the People of Cabul. "-Be It known to all that the British army is advancing on Cabul to take possession of the city. If it he allowed to do so peacefully, well and good; if not, the city will be seized by force. Therefore, all well-disposed persons who have taken no part in the dastardly murder of the British Embassy or in the plunder of the Residency are warned that if unable to prevent resistance being offered to the entrance of the British army and to the authority of His Highness the Ameer, they should make immediate arrangements for their own safety, either by coming into the British camp or by such other measures as may seem fit to them and, as the British Government does not make war on women and children, warning is given that all women and children should be removed from the city beyond the reach of harm. The British Government desires to treat all classes with justice and to respect their religious feelings and customs, while it will extct full retribution from the offenders. Every effort will, therefore, be made to pre- vent the Innocent suffering with the guilty but it Is necessary that the utmost precaution should be be taken against useless opposition. Therefore, alter the receipt of this proclamation, all persons found armed in or about Cabul will be treated as er.emies of the British Government. Further it must be clearly understood that if the entry of the British force is resisted, I cannot hold myself responsible for any accidental mischief which may be done to persons and property, even of well-disposed people who may have neglectel1 this warning."

CABUL DESCRIBED. The Evening Standard of Monday gives the following interesting particulars respecting Cabul Cabul is situated at the western extremity of the great plain which lies between the Paropamisan range and the mountains of the Indian frontier. It lies for the most part on the southern side of the Cabul river, near its junction with the Logar, and is surrounded on three aides by two low ridges of hills. The city, which lies at the btae of these hills, is surrounded by a wall which, although lofty, is very weak. There is no ditch, and the rampart is made of mud alone. The hills which partly sur- round the town, and to which reference has been made, are crowned with a Ion" line of walle, having round towers at certain intervals. These fortifications were constructed for the purpose of protecting the city against the marauding G-hilzies, but since the final effort of these at the beginning of the century for the recovery of their former power, tbey have been per- mitted to fall into disuse. To the eaxt of the town and divided from it by a ditch, stands the citadel, or Bala Hissar. This building is situated on the crest and sides of a rocky eminence. In fact the whole of the rock is a fortification, although the citadal, with the fort and palace known as the Koolah i-Feringheie-or the European hat—stands on another eminence overlook- ing the fortress. The main Bala Hiasar includes the palace and garden of the king, and also an extensive bazaar. The Government offices, such as the treasury, the arsenal, the barracks, &a., are algo situated here. Whereas, Cabul is the residence of the merchant, the trader, and the traveller, the Bala Hi4slir is the place where the official world dwells. The founding of this building has been attributed to the Emperor Baber who, it will be remembered, conquered Cabul before he invaded India but it owes most of its importance to Ali Murdan Khan, the Vizier of AuruDgzsbe, who did so much towards making Cabul an important city. But although the Bala Hissar was constructed for the purpose of being a defence to the city which lies at its foot, it has never been able to fulfil the part which was intended for it, and it is now in so dilapidated a condition that it is quite incapable of withstanding a siege.. Nor oven when something of its original strength existed, was the Bala Hissar ever able to hold out for long against those who besieged it. That may have been the fault of the defenders, but the fact remains. In the annals of history we can only find one occasion when it has undergone what may be honoured with the title of a siege, and that was when Dost Mahomed captured it by blowing up one of the towers during the progress of one of the numerous civil wars of half a century ago. In fact, the Bala Hissar has only been tufficiently etrong to resist any sudden attack on the part of the townspeople, and that was really all that the Afghan monarchs required of ic. It has also served a useful purpose as a State prison-house. We may feel quite clear on the point that the B..la Hissar is no more capable of offering a protracted resistance to the onset of our troops than it was in 1.8; 9 and 1842; nor can we suppose that when a skilled soldier like Dost Mahomed gave up the design of defending the citadel as unfeasible, the didorgauised army which stands to oppose us now will deem that they might fare better. The history of the city of Cabul is of too interesting a character to be passed by in silence, although a brief description of its past will here suffice for all practical purposes. The founding of Cabul is traced back to a mythological period. The Oabulis claim for it the age of 6,000 years, and the common repute is that it was formerly named Zabool, from the name of a Kafar or infidel king. As this monarch is said to have founded it at the remote epoch indicated, it would be interest- ing to know who was infidel and who was not in those days. Other authorities have affirmed that Cain was Cabul, and that the remains of his tomb were to be Been in the city; but Barnes assures us that there was no remembrance of this tradition. Be these stories of whatever value that they are, it is at the least probable that the admirable position on the main trade road from Bokhara and Turkestan to India pointed Cabul out at any early age in the world's history as the site for a city. Notwithstanding this fact it was many centuries before Cabul played the foremost part in the history of the surrounding country. The little-known magnates of Bamain—that mysterious and lonely city in the mountains, whose gigantic idols alone t'emair to furnish proof of its ancient magnifi- cence-lorded it over Cabul, as did the Princes of Ghizni and Ghor at a later day. It was not indeed, until the time of Baber that Cabul rose into any repute. That monarch counted it among one of the earliest of his triumphs, and on account of its admirable climate it became his most favoured place of residence. In his commentaries, the great pleasure which the Mogul Emperor took in it finds expression in the following words:—"The climate is extremely delightful, and there is no such place in the known world, for its verdure and flowers render Cabul, in spring, a heaven;" and again, in another passage, Drink wine in the citadel of Cabul, and send round the cup with- out stopping, for there are at once mountains and streams, town and desert." From the time of Baber until the invasion of Nadir Shah, Cabul remained the chief town in Afghanistan. It was the seat of residence of the Governor of the Mogul, and long after Candahar had become pzrt of the Persian dominions, Cabul was a city dependent upon Delhi. Nadir Shah captured it shortly after his con- quest of Candahar, and it became his chief base in his subsequent operations against India. Upon his death it passed into the hands of Ahmed, the Abdali chief, who founded the Durani monarchy; but although always held to be a place of the greatest importance, it was not until the time of Ahmed's son, Timour Shah, that it became the capital of the State. That event took place in 1776, and when the Sudosye dynasty was overthrown in 1819, the Barucksyes made no change in this respect. It was probably reserved for a later generation to show the wisdom which was so strikingly lacking when it was decided to transfer the capital from Candahar to Cabul. The more recent history of Cabul is of less interest. It has been visited by numerous English or other foreign travellers since Timour Shah constituted it his capital, and many of them, such as Forster, Burnes, Harlan, &c., have left us their opinion of the city and its inhabitants. That Cabul owes much of its prosperity to the fact of its being the capital cannot he denied, but that its situation and climate also entitle it to consideration is evident. It is quite possible that if the capital were transferred to Candahar Cabul would sink into respect- able mediocrity; but there can be no doubt that this fate would not be wholly deserved, for Cabul should always enjoy a considerable trade. We know of no passage from the writings of any visitor which will give the reader a more vivid picture of the interior of Cabul than the following, which is taken from the late Sir Henry Darand's recently published account of the first Afghan war :—The Bala Hissar, particularly the citadel, completely commands the city; but the streets are so narrow and winding that from the sum- mit of the fort an expanse of fiat-roofed houses is alone seen, and the thoroughfares of the city are seldom to be traced. The houses, of unburnt brick walls and mQd roof", have as little tim- ber as possible in their construction, this material b "ing coetly at Cabul; it follows, therefore, that they are not easiiy set on fire. From the irregularity of height and structure, and from the jealousy which guards each flat roof from the gaze of the curious by surrounding walls, communication from housetop to housetop would be very difficult, ex- cept in a few portions of the more regular parts of the city. The lice of hias between which and the river the city li s, is steep and difficult, but accessible, and its domineering aspect formerly led to its being include within the defences of Cabul, for a stone wail, with a crenelated parapet, runs along its summit, and dips down to the gorge by which the Cabul river, breaking through the chain, waters the city. The ends of some of the streets which cross the main thoroughfares are almost upon the foot of the hill, which thus looks into them; but as the minor streets are still more tortuous than the main ones, such views along them are very partial."

ft Hltstc(hrirc0us Intelligent, HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL. A BOOK ALL PEDESTRIANS OUGHT TO BUT. — Walker's Dictionary. -Judi/. THE AUSTRALIAN WOOL CLIP. — Advices from Melbourne represent the prospects of the Australian wool clip as highly cheering. All the principal Bheep stations have finished shearing, and Bome of the wool to hand is reported fully up to the best descriptions of last seasons. The fleeces, if anything, are somewhat lighter, which is attributable to the dryness of the season. The greater portion of the finer class of wools is arriving from Riverina, and the northern and eastern districts of the Colony.- Wool Trade Beview. AMERICAN AND CANADIAN FOOD. — There was a great decrease in the number of live stock landed at Liverpool last week from Canada and the United States when contrasted with the preceding week. Only two consignment arrived, amounting to 378 head of cattle, 209 sheep, and 194 pigs, against 1,938 cattle and 2,984 sheep in the previous week. Fresh meat was also in smaller supply. The conveying steamers were four in number, and brought collectively 3,014 quarters of beef, 725 carcases of mutton, and 100 pigs, being a decrease of over 1,400 quarters of beef and 250 carcases of mutton. As regards live stock the numbers were about the lowest that have yet occurred since the trade was introduced. CHESS PROBLEM SOLVED AT CAPE TOWN,—Zulu- King Castled. -Puitch. THE LONG VACATION. -Next session attention will be called in Parliament to the inconvenience and pecu. niary loss occasioned to the public by what is known in legal circles as the long vacation. One of the bene- fits contemplated under the Judicature Act was the adoption of a system by which the law's delays would be reduced to a minimum. Instead of the entire staff of judges suspending their labours, a new arrangement would it was understood, be made by which a certain number of judges would act whilst the others sought the rest of which they were in neei. But this ar- rangement has never been followed. The result is that a strong movement is on foot, its object being to shorten the long vacation by bringing the judicial staff within the spirit of the Judicature Act. Our present system of law holidays is felt to be quite at variance with the requirements of the time. A SERIOUS BUSINESS. In a leading article on the occupations and employments of Women the other day, The Times observed that" A man and woman, when they marry, constitute a firm," which we may add, too often turns out a partnership of unlimited iability. —Punch. AN INTRICATE PROBLRM.-The Daily Telegraph says A curious point in natural history is receiving the attention it deserves at the hands of such men as Professor Mivart and Mr. Pringle. The subject which thus agitates the scientific mind, as stated in the 'Davia Lecture,' is 'whether kangaroos use their tails to a certain extent in their long jumps,' and it will at once be perceived that the difficulty attending its re- solution ia by no means imaginative. Eye observation is useless, for after the tail has actually been seen acting as a third hind leg, the question still re- mains whether the animal at that moment was making a long or a short jump. So great is the obstacle in the way of absolute determination that one gentleman has made a long mathema- tical calculation, ending in the decision that, 'supposing the speed of the kangaroo to be fifteen miles an hour, or seven and a half yards a second, only length of bones and mobility of joints would permit the feet to rest on the same spot for even the fraction of a moment, while the tail would only touch the earth while traversing its Burfate to the distance of two feet for the tenth part of an instant.' Thus we are as far from a solution of this great problem as ever. In all probability it will join the more ancient and ethereal question, How many angels could stand on the point of a needle ?' and. like it, remain un- answered satisfactorily to the end of time." CURIOUS FREAK OF RATS.—The following happened Tait week at the residence of relatives of mine, in Morayshire:—About three dozen pears ware shaken off a tree in the garden on to the grass. They were picked up and deposited for the night on a table in the kitchen. This table stood about three or four feet from the floor. Next morning they were all gone, and no one could imagine what had become of them. Suspicion at length rested on rats, although none had been seen about the premises for some considerable time. Search was made, and a hole discovered near the pump in the scullery adjoining the kitchen, and distant from the kitchen table on which the fruit was deposited about five yards. A workman was sent for to fill up this hole with cement, but in doing so he bad to open up the wooden framework round the base of the pump, and there were found all the misaisg pears carefully stored away.-R. A. r. GRANT, in Land and Water. EMIGRATION OF FARMERS.-The steamer Teutonia, of the Dominion Line, left Liverpool on Thursday in last week with 267 farmers and their families, bound for Texas. The party have been collected from the principal counties of England by Dr. Kingsbury, emi- gration agent for Texas, and have either purchased or rented land on the lines of the Galveston, Harris- burg, and San Antonio Railway. They consist for the most part of well-to-do farmers having sufficient capital to buy and carry on farms, and some members of the party had previously been out to Texas upon a tour of inspection, and hall returned home to report to their friends upon prospects in that country. Amongst the emigrants were several women whose husbands had preceded them some months before. The majority of the farmers have been drawn from Durham and Yorkshire, the rest being made up from Lancashire, Cumberland, Lincolnshire, Gloucestershire, and other plaoes. THE CHINCHONA TBEB ON THE ISLAND OF ST. HELBNA -Those who are curious as to the probable confirmation of the predicted beneficial effect on the climate the planting of trees in Cyprus will have, will read with curiosity a recent official report to our Government on the island of St. Helena which had been similarly denuded of trees, indeed, seems to afford a somewhat striking example of the effects of forest denudation upon climate. It is stated, however, that since the forest lands were replanted the island has ceased to suffer from droughts to anything like the same extent The area of St. Helena is forty-seven square miles, and the population in 1871, 6,241. The prin- cipal timber tree of the island is the pinaster. There are other exotic trees, but they are grown merely for ornament. The chinchona has been recently intro- duced into the island and has been found to thrive. About one-half of the timbered land in the island belongs to the Government. There are in all about 500 acres planted with trees, but not more than one- third of this area would yield timber. The self-sown trees are sufficient to counterbalance the annual con- sumption. It is estimated that the growth of three or four acres may be cut each year without injury to the woodlands. FROM GRAVE TO GAT.—Turning churchyards into gardenll.-Fun. EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN IN FRANCE.—A recent order has been passed, containing a supplementary list of occupations in which the employment of children is forbidden, the reasons alleged being principally from the danger of explosions, burning, or deleterious vapours. The industries thus vetoed are the manu- facture of aniliine, benzine, collodien. nitrate of methyle, sulphuret of arsenic, sulphuret of sodium, and of blister leaves.; in the textiles, of rag sorting, and the scouring of skins and woollen waste with petroleum or other hydro-carburretted oils in the metal trades, the galvanising of iron. Children are also not allowed to be employed in plaoes where chemical aUumettes are stored, nor in those processes of their manufacture where the mixture is prepared or the matches put up into packets. A partial employment only, under cer- tain conditions, is allowed in industries where sul- phuric acid is disengaged, such as in wool and Bilk bleaching, as well as in those where unwholesome dusts are given off, as in the preparation of tow for rope and in the manufacture and cleaning of bladders for toy balloons. EXPORTATIONS OF POTATOES AND TuRNIM.— Orders are being filled in Montreal for considerable quantities of potatoes, chiefly Early Rose, for ship- ment to Liverpool and Glasgow. They cost about 40c. to 45c. per bag delivered in Montreal, and are packed in sugar barrele, both erida being perforated to prevent them from he,ting. The freight by steamer will cost 3s per barrel. The potatoes so far delivered have been tine, very even ia size, and re- marksthly clean. A shipment of turnips will also be made thii week from the same port to Liverpool. THE LATE LIEUT. HAMILTON.-Lord Cranbrook has addressed the following letter to Mr. Alexander Hamilton, of Ibstiage, Balbriggan, Ireland, father of Lieutenant Hamilton, who was killed in the massacre at Cabul"India Office, Oct. 3, 1879 —Sir,—Before leaving Balmoral yesterday I was desired by the Queen to inform you that she had had the gratification of signing the warrant for Lieutenant Hamilton's Victoria Cross, and regrets much that she cannot bestow it on him with her own band. As that is im- possible she wishes me to express to you her strong sense of his heroic gallantry, both in the action by which he won the honour and in the undaunted courage with which he faced inevitable death. Allow me to add my sympathy with every word and mark of honour to the memory of your eon,—Believe me, yours very faithfully, CRANBROOK." CANADA AND .PROTECTION.—A Quebec correspon- dent of rTie Times says :— To add to our other troubles, the Government have placed on instruments the enormous duty of 30 per cent, (in place of the 174 per cent. formerly paid, which was bad enough), with the humbugging cry of Protection to Canadian manu. facturers, when it is well known that, excepting pianos 611 j °'^ail8« no' a single instrument of any kind is made from one end of the Dominion to the other." GIFT OF A LIFEBOAT.—-A lady residing at Brighton has given to the National Life boat Institution C750 for the purpose of placing a lifeboat on the coast. It appears that a mutual promise was made by the hus- band and wife that the survivor should give, during lifetime or by will, a lifeboat to the institution. The husband having died, the widow has now carried out their mutual agreement, and the lifeboat is to be named the Margaret and Edward. JOHN HUNTER'S CHAIR.-At the annual dinner on Wednesday, October 1, at Willis's Rooms, of the authorities and medical staff of St. George's Hospital, London, the chair, taken by Dr. Wadham, the pre- sident, on this special occasion, attracted considerable notice, on account of its quaintness and apparent antiquity (says Land and Water). On reading the brass plate affixed to the chair, we ascertained that it had been made- out of the four-post bedstead upon which the celebrated surgeon and anatomist, John Hunter, was placed when he was carried from St. George's Hospital, in the boardroom of which he died suddenly, to his house in Leicester-square, in October, 1793. The bedstead was given to Mr. Frank Back- land by Professor Owen. WHEAT FROM RussrA —In the last nine months the declared value of wheat imported from Russia was .£2.725,135, against 23,053,395 in the previous year. A NEW TANNING MATEBIAL-A trade is springing up between France and the A'gentine Confederation, in the employment for tanning purposes of the bark of a tree called Qudracho colorado, of which 25.000 tons have been recently ordered by a French firm. It is said to be far superior to oak tan, inasmuch as it considerably shortens the length of time (nearly one- half) which the hides have to remain in the tan-pita. THE FRENCH OYSTEB FISHERIES -Some interesting details have been furnished regarding the oyster fisheries in the report for last year just issued by the Marine Department. The number of oysters sold during 1878 was 640,884.674, of the value of 22,212,159f. The greater portion of these was the result of oyster cultivation in the various oyster parka, the number obtained from the fisheries buns* only 169,397,046, which, however, was over 65 000,00 > in excess of the yield of 1877. There has been a decided increase in the production from the beds of Caneale, Loiient, Auray, and Vannes, as also in the Fortune oyster beds at Royan. Oyster farming, too, is steadily on the in- crease, and there has been a large quantity of spat at Arcachon and Auray, together with a very satisfac- tnry condition at the depots of the growing oyster at Marennes, the island of Olrrou, and at Sables d'Olonne. At the end of ln«t year there were in France 36,933 oyster cultivating establishments, with an average of nearly 23,000 acres, and owned by 40,686 pesons. AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN.The follow- ing are the average prices of British corn for the week ending Oct. 11, as received from the inspectors and officers of Excise Wheat, 48s 8 I. barley, 46s. 9 oats, 22s. 2d. per imperial qr. Corresponding week last year Wheat, 39i. 9J.; barley, 403. Id.; oats 21s. lOd. PULLMAN'S DINING CAR.-To the directors of the Great Northern Railway Company the public will shortly be indebted for the introduction of a veritable Transatlantic novelty in railway travelling. It has been arranged that Within a f-w weeks the first Pullman's car fitted up with a diuing and smoking room complete shall be placed upon the Great Northern system between London and Leeds. This will indeed be an innovation in the right direction, travellers leaving either London or Leeds after break- fast, being thus enabled to reach their respective desti- nations before two o'clock, complete their business during the afternoon, and pattake of an elegant dinner while on their return journey by trains leaving either end about five p.m. Should this novel idea be appre. ciated by the public of which there seems to be no doubt, if carried out with the usual zeal and public spirit exhibited by this company, similar dining cars will hereafter be attached to all the Great Northern express trains, and a real benefit in economy of time and increased comfort of travellers will be insured. "READY CRACKED!"—The Mark Lane Express says :—"Judging from the quantity of walnuts which we see in the streets of London, and the price, it seems that one of the fruits of the earth, at least, has not failed badly. Eight a penny, reaay cracked,' is not a very high price, but, I suppose, about an average one. When I saw one of the street-vendors biting the pieces of broken shell off walnuts which were to be sold 'ready cracked' the other day, I was reminded of the old countryman who presented his landlord with a quantity of nuts extracted from their shells, with the remark—as a proof of devotion—* There, Sir, me and my wife have broken nearly all our old teeth out a crackin' o' these nuts for you.' DISASTERS AT SEA.-There were 35 British and foreign wrecks reported during the past week, making a total of 1,243 for the present year, or an increase of 137 as compared with the corresponding period of last year. The approximate value of property lost was £740,000, including British jE 440,000. THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE BURMESE MISSION.— The Special Correspondent of the Standard at Thyetma telegraphs the particulars of the withdrawal of the British Mission from Mandalay. It seems that early on the morning of his leaving the Resident sent round a circular to the English settlers, stating that he was about to proceed at once on board the steamer, which would be detained a sufficient time for them to let him know their intentions. The Burmese imme- diately took possession of the place thus quitted, and only allowed the baggage to be removed after having received the King's orders. Nearly all the European subjects hurriedly followed the English representative, and commercial matters were completely upset. THE LATB BISHOP WILBEBFORCE.—Mr. Murray has in the press the first volume of Canon Ashwell's Life of the late Bishop Wilberforce. It will carry the narrative down to the year 1848. The book begins with an account of Wilberforce's early education, and contains some of his father's letters to him. It then describes his school and college life, his ordination, his work as a parish priest, his introduction into' Court, his marriage and the loss of his wife, and the effects that loss had upon him. Hie attitude to the Oxford movement is dealt with at length, and corres- pondence printed with the Prince Consort, Dr. Hook, Bun sen, Mr. Carlyle, and Dr. Pusey. Letters to and from Mr. Gladstone on Dr. Newman's "Theory of Development," are also given. Wjl berf oroe's accep- tance of the see of Oxford, his organization of the diooese, and his entrance into the House of Lords, oocupy the later chapters of the va\waie.—Athewxu.m. THE NEW POST-OFFICE CHEQUES.—In speaking of the Post-Office cheques, whi h, it is said, will shortly make their appearance, May fair says The cheque is printed in the form of an order, but the names of the payee and of the paying Postmaster are left blank. Thus any person desiring to send asmall sum, say five shillings, to another person living at a distance, can purchase at any post-office for a small fee a a order for the amount already printed, and leaving the spaces above-named blank, can forward this cheque or order to his friend without further trouble. The recipient of the order can then fill in the name of some Post-office, and cash the order at once, when it would of course be cancelled, or he can still leave it blank and use the order as negotiable paper. These orders or cheques will be of immense servioe to persons who are continually sending small sums of money abeut the country. They have the advantages of money orders without the trouble, and of course the department saves the cost and labour of preparing an advice in each case. The new post-office cheque may, in fact, be compared to a miniature Bank of England note, with this advantage, that when the name of the payee and of some particular office has been inserted in the body of the form, there will be an almost certain guarantee that the cheque is cashed by the right person." A DIFFICULT PROBLEM TO DECIDE.—The Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says An amusing incident has jast occurred an the Boulevards, which are always crowded on Sunday afternoon. A young man and a middle-aged woman, coming from opposite directions, entered an open fiacre at tbe same moment. Each gave an address to the driver, w°?t much perplexed, did not know what to do, for his fares" began disputiag each other's rights o the vehicle. An immense crowd quickly collectea, ana manifested the greatest interest in the dispute, io add to the general mirth, a couple of agents de mile arrived, duly armed with the police and cab regulations; but extraordinary to relate, the case was unforeseen by the code," hence each policeman took a different view- one championed the Iadyi the other the gentleman; while at intervals both abused the driver. The latter. being of a facetious turn of mind, kept the company in roars of laughter by hIS comments on the event. Finally the gentleman declared that, though he was on an errant of importance and much pressed for time, he would yield to the fair sex. So saying, he j umped out of the vehicle; bat the lady, content, no doubt, with having Btrikingly asserted women's rights, quickly followed him, exclaiming that she was only on pleasure bent, and bad she known. Her words were lost in the laughter that ensued, and, as both occupants of the cab had disappeared in the crowd, nothing was left for the cabby, whose humour somewhat suddenly turned from gay to grave, but to vent hia displeasure by imprecations on the conduct of the policemen. The latter, however, retired in good order, in spite of the provoking jeers of the multitude, THE LANDED INTBMSTS.—Landed in difficulties, Punch. GOOD NEWS !—Lord Skelmersdale, speaking at the opening of a bazaar in aid of the fund for the erection of the new church of St. Luke's, Southport, said he had very high authority for saying that the heavy cloud of depression under which we had been for a long time was disappearing. There was a rift in the cloud, which he hoped and trusted would open until we saw the blue sky ef prosperity above us once more. THE EFFEcr OF HARD TIMES. — Mayfair Bays :— II The notion that education is a luxury, and in hard times must be cut down to the smallest proportions, is not confined to the parents of School Board children. Governesses are making their grievances known in part just at this moment; and with the usual futility. Nothing but a scarcity of governesses will bring the salaries of well educated ladies up to the level of house- maids' wages. But what becomes of teachers of languages in these times ? One of them-a most ac- complished liDgu'si, who had within a few years an excellent connection amongst English families—said to me the other day, No, I have hardly any English pupils now. When money is scarce English people do not want to learn French, German, or Italian. Most ot my P'ipils now are foreigners, who wish to learn iiiagitsn. 1 here is a moral in that contrast for those who care to read it," CONSCIENCE MONET.—The Commissioners of Inland Revenue acknowledge the receipt of the second halves of bank-notes for jS140, forwarded as unpaid Income-tax and 3 per cent. interest. CEYLON. — A correspondent writes (says The Times) i—" According to the 'Ceylon Directory and Handbook,' Ceyl m, with its population of 2J millions, covers 24,000 square miles of area. Its revenue is a million and a half, and it has a trade of 11 to 12 millions. There are large Crown reserves of valuable land. Th", public debt last year was less than £800,000. of which £ 250,000 was lately paid off and £ 100,000 funded, so that only half a million remains. Sir John Cooie, it is understood, has now fully matured his plans for the breakwater (already far ad- vanced in construction), jetties, and warehouses at Colombo, which are calculated to make the com- mercial capital of Ceyl jn the great steamer and calling port of the E t&t; and this authority is, I understand, sanguine that the local estimates of receipts from port dues, & after the harbour is complete are much too low, although they show interest and debt sinking fund fully provided for, so that this great work will be altogeth,r reproductive. But, so far as the island trade is concerned, there can be no doubt that without the completion of an united railway system to feed the harbour works from the interior the latter will not be so great a success as they otherwise would be.' CONSOLATION FOR BEREAVED MOURNERS. -Conso- lation of bereaved mourners in Katiristan takes a somewhat, peculiar form, according to a lecture re- cently delivered at Simla by Dr. Bellew, now Political Officer with General Roberts' Kuram force. When a friend p,iye a v'si1: "f condolence, he removes his cap and throws it violtntiy on tb3 floor at the door of the room in which the chief mourner is seated. He then draws his dagt. tr, aud stepping up to the mourner raises hi in to hi* fer.t, kicks bim all round the room, set* him in his foimer place, sheathes his dagger, and, picking up his cap, departs. At Kafir christenings a feast is giveE, and the mother holds the child in her arws whilst the names of its ancestors are repeated. The child hf'Il'8 itself to what it wants, and the name mentioned at that moment becomes its own. NEW VARIETIES OF WHEAT.—Nine entries have been made in competition for the prizes offered by the Royal Agricultural Society of England for distinctly new varieties of wheat, combining the largest yield of grain and straw per acre, with approved form and size, smooth and thin skin, full and white kernel. and high spwific gravity in the seed, and with bright, firm, and stiff straw, Each competitor is required to send one sack of corn, a oortion of which will be retained for purposes cf comparison and arrangements have been made for the cultivation of the remainder (divided into equal portions) by skilled agriculturists in four localities aiffnring in respect of soil and climate. The prizes are two in number, viz., j325 and £10, and will be awarded for the best varieties of the crop of 1880, thus cultivated under the Society's auspices. Thd S .iaty have also determined to offer similar prizes in 1882, in order that the newer and im- proved Bpecirxiens then submitted may be tested by them during the ensuing season. A COSTLY DISH.—Oving to recent feasts carpesala Chambord ht.ve frequently been mentioned (says the Court Journal). It is a very costly dish, and one that the imperial gluttons of ancient Rome would never despise. It ia tb,, most expensive plat in modern cookery, and shows how far we are from the fowl in the pot, which Henri IV. hoped every Frenchman would be able to have weekly. Much depends upon the nsh those were most in request that were formerly fattened in the flat-bottom**? boats on the Ill, near the Rhine. They coat aa much as 800 francs a-piece, and one was brought from Strasborgto Paris and back again, un- able to fild a purchaser at the price fixed. The carp was kept alive in the boot of the mail coach by means of bread dipped in wine, Among the fifty good things that enter into the garniture of the dish are truffles, mushrooms, hearts of artichokes, cray fish, anchovy butcer, champagne, cocks' combs, &c. OVERLOOKING THE DRAWBACKS -Speaking at the annual dinUl r of the Long Sutton Agricultural Asso- ciation, Sir W. E. Welby Gregory, M.P., said there was a general revival of prosperity in the United States, and there were signs of its reaching our own shores. This meant an increased consumption of our own produce but would farmers ever be able to make head against the foreign competition to which they were expoff i ? He did not despair of their being able to do so. lId thought there were elements in the cal- culation of their chances which were often overlooked by those who took a desponding view of the matter. In the United States, in Canada, and in other parts of the world there were vast tracts of country which could produce corn and cattle at wonderfully cheap rates, and the cost of conveying their produce to our shores was also very small. But we were apt to over- look the drawbacks to which those who dwelt in those countries were exposed, such as the severity of the winter, the droughts of summer, and the ravages of insects, which, he was told, resulted frequently in the osi of two and sometimes three crops out of five.

THE MARKETS. MARK-LANE.—MONDAT. At Mark-lane the wheat trade was again firm. The nmrket was not excited, but the tendency continued against the buyer. The receipts of home-grown produce were, as utuaj, short. The demand was steady, and the prices realised were fully as high as on Monday last. Foreign wheat was In fair supply. The trade was firm, and prices tended against the buyer. Barley was in short supply and strong request, at fully late rates. Malt was disposed of at fall currencies, there was an improved demand for oats, and prices were tending against the buyer. Maize was in request at rather more money. Beans and peas were firm, and about is, per qr dearer. The flour market was steady, with a fair business doing. METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET.—MONDAT. With colder weather and less extensive supplies the cattle trade has øhè"D greater firmness. From our own grazing distrlets the receipts of beasts were tolerably good, but the quality and condition were again Indifferent. Rather moro lite was apparent in the demand, more espe- cially as regards choice beasts. Prices showed greater firmness, still the best torts were offered at fit. 2d. to 6S. 4d. per 81b. As usual, a large number ol Deasts would not make more than 6». per 81b. FROM the Juaiand and Some counties we received abeut 1,860, of England about 200, from Scotland 37, »N<* JJSLAND about SOU head. On the foreign side the supplies were less, especially ftom Spa L)e:Qmark; trade was quiet but firm. The moder- ately well filled. The demand 411 _advance ot 21. per 81b. The best Downs and half-bredi sold at 6s. 6<L to 6s. 84. per 8 b. Calves an<» PU«were quiet but firm. At Depiford there were about 1,900 beasts and 7,000 sheep. Coarse and inferior beasts, 4s. to 4I. 6d.; second quality, 4t 6d. to 5s. • crime large oxen, 5s. to 5S. 21; prime Scots, &c., 5a 2D' to 5A 4D. I coarse and inferior sheep, 4s. 6d. to 5s. 6d.; second quality ditto, 5s. 6d. to 6s. prime coarse woolled, 6s. 2d. to 6*. 4d. ptime Southdowns, 6s. id. to 6s. 6d. large coarse oalves, 4s. 6J. to 5s. prime amall ditto, 5s. Od. CO 5s. 6.1. larne pork, 4s. to 4t. 6..1.; small ditto. 4S. 6d. to 4J. lOd. per 81. SLAKING the offal. METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET.— MOHDAY. With a more moderate supply of meat on sale, trade to- DAY YAS rather more active, at firmer prloes Inferior beef, 2s. 8a. to 3s. 4d.; middling ditto, 3s. 6d. to 4s.; prime ditto, 4s. 4d. to 5s. Inferior mutton, 3s. 4d. to 4s.; middling ditto, 4S. 4d. to 4s. 8d. prime ditto, 6s. to 5s. 8<L veal, 5a. to 5A. 4d.: prime large ditto, is. to is. id.; small ditto, 45- 6d. to 6s. per 81b. by the carcase. GAME AND POULTRY. Capons, 3S 6d. to 6s. 6d. pullets, 2s. 9d. to 0.; chickens, la. 6d. to 2a. 6d live hens, 11. 9d. to Sa. pigeons, 6d. to 9d. plovers, 4d. to Sd. pintail, It. to is. 6d. partridges, 2S. to 3s. 3d. pheasants, 3S. to ba. grouie, 2.. 9d. to 4iL; capercailzie, 4s. to 6S. 6d. wild ducks, II. 64, to 2s. ad.; hares, 3s. to 4s. 3d. each. HOP. The trade for hops Is rather less active, but cholcs qualities being very scarce, their value Is well supported^ The price of Inferior hops have somewhat ot a downward tendency. Abroad the markets are reported to be very firm, especially for good bops. The prices were as follow • —East Kent, cr.olce, £ 14 10s. to £ 18 18S Mid Kent, cholc* £ 12 10s. to £ 16 16».; ditto second qualities, £ 3 8s. to £ L"» Weald of Kent, £ 9 9«. to £ 14 Sussex, £ 9 5s. to £ 12; DL«* £ inferior and diseaned, £ 3 10s. to £ 7 7s. Bavarian, £ 9 1W- » £ 12; Bohemian, £ 9 16S. to £ 12 Poperinge, £ 5 10s. to £ O Alost, iC5 5s. to iC5 1ó5. American, 411 to £ 1 £ 10S. FfSIL ditto, Trawl haddock, 12s. 6d. to 15s. per ballket, r Bib.; black 20s. to 33s. per barrel; fresh eels, 8d. T° °»I'*»<> 16s. eaoh; soles, 2S 6I to 4S 3d. per pair; turhot, • per score; mackerel, 2s. to 3S. per dozen CO<,v „«kve oysters, 18I. to crimped ditto, 8a. 6D to 17s. 6J- each; D0, per BUSHEL, 20s. per hundre common 20A. GD. to 1-J .S6- lobsters, 3*. SW. to 30s. per DOZ I HASK^V;,bloaters, 8S. to 6s.