The Aberystwith Observer

DRINKING FOUNTAINS AND CATTLE TROUGHS. In London, on Monday, the Lord Mayor presided at the twenty-second annual meeting of the Metro- politan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Asso- ciation, held at the Mansion House. In the report of the committee it was stated that during the past year thirty-one new fountains and forty-four new troughs had been erected, and six fountains and 23 troughs had been removed in conse- quence of alterations in streets and other causes. There are now 459 troughs for animals and 462 foun- tains for human beings erected and at work in the 800 square miles forming the area covered by the opera- tions of the association. Statistics showed that more than 2,400 horses fre- quently drink at a single trough in one day, and at all troughs, on the lowest computation, more than 200,000 horses, besides oxen, sheep, and dogs, drink daily throughout the year; whilst at the fountains it is estimated that more than 500,000 men, women, and children drink every day, so that the aggregate num- ber of drinkers during the year at both fountains and troughs probably exceeded 250,000,000.

ABSTRACT of the CENSUS RETURNS. The Preliminary Abstract or Report of the Census of 1881 was laid before Parliament on Tuesday night.—The Standard of Wednesday published a summary of the Abstract, from which we extract the following England and Wales have been divided, according to locality, for the convenience of enumeration, into twelve divisions, the metropolis being one of them the divisions are divided into counties,. the counties into districts, and these again into sub-districts; and we have before us all that could be desired with regard to the actual numerical position cf the country in 1871 and 1881, the numbers for both years being given. The total population of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, including the islands in British waters—that is to say, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands-together with the Army, Navy, and Merchant Seamen abroad, Was on the night of 4th April 35,246,562, consisting of 17,253,947 males, and 17,992,615 females; the corresponding total in 1871 was 31,845,379 giving an increase of 4,147,236. With England and Wales, being nearer home, we shall deal more particularly. To this vast number Scotland contributes 3,734,370, and Ireland 5,159,839, the former having increased by 374,352, and the latter decreased by 252,538 since 1871. The Isle of Man contributes 53,492, and the Channel Islands 87,731. The Army, Navy, and Merchant Seamen abroad, including 2,330 foreigners, contribute 99,637, 22,507, and 120,700 res- pectively, and these together amount to 242,844. If this whole mass of human beings were represented by 100, its constituent parts would be given by 69*8 for England, 3*8 for Wales, 10*6 for Scotland, 14'6 for Ireland, '2 for the Isle of Man, '3 for the Channel Islands, and '7 for the Army &c. The population of England and Wales collectively on the night of Sunday, April 4, wa'3 25,968,286, in- cluding 12,624,754 males and 13,343,532 females, show- ing a net increase on the numbers for 1871 of 3,256,020 -or, in other words, approximately what the total population of London was in 1871. England alone has a population of 24,608,391, consisting of 11,947,726 males and 12,660,665 females, with an increase of 3,113,260. The density of the population of England and Wales is now '625 to the statute acre, or about 440 persons to the square mile. At the end of the reign of Elizabeth it was in England alone 83 to the square mile, and this was the exact number accorded to two counties—Westmorland in England, and Brecknock in Wales-at the Census of 1871. This sparsity of population is, no doubt, owing to the mountainous character of those counties. At the last Census England and Wales together numbered 390 persons to the square mile this gives a rise of 50 to the square mile, or 12'83 per cent. The areality of the population of England and Wales, that is, the mean area to each person, which in 1801 was 19,934 square yards and in 1871 was 7,928 square yards-we find to be now 1,437 acres, or 6,955 square yards to each person. Of the English counties eight have fallen off in num- bers—viz., Cambridge, by a little more than a thou- sand Cornwall, by so much as 32,859. Dorset, Here- ford, and Huntington show a decrease of about four thousand each Rutland and Westmorelana of a little short of a thousand while Shropshire remains almost stationary, having 118 inhabitants less than it sup- ported ten years ago. Of the progressive counties, Lancashire stands first with an increase of 634,730 Yorkshire, as a whole, takes the second place with an increase of 449,954 Middlesex has increased by 379,049, and Surrey by 344,207, or very nearly as much as the West Biding of Yorkshire. With an increase of over one hundred thousand there are five counties, viz., Durham, Kent, Stafford, Essex, and Warwick, in the order named, the first claiming over one hundred and eighty thou- sand, and the last one hundred and two thousand. Of the remaining (counties, Buckingham, Devon, IS or- folk, Oxford, Suffolk, Somerset, and Wilts, have an increase of less than ten thousand Buckingham being the most stationary, with scarcely four hundred in- crease. Of the Welsh Counties, six render a satisfactory account, and the remaining six show a decrease. Car- marthen, Carnarvon, Denbigh, Flint, Glamorgan, and Merioneth, have an aggregate increase of 152,123, of which Glamorgan claims 113,813. The aggregate decrease of the rest is 9,363. Wales, therefore, has a net increase of 142,760, with a population of 1,359,895, of which 677,028 are males, and 682,867 females. Thus we see that in both England and Wales the female element predominates. The density of the population of the counties gives a probable estimate of the industries of each. A density of, say, over 200 persons to the square mile is tolerably fair evidence of the existence of manufac- tures, or large mines or both. Those counties which fall below that point "have, in general, but compara- tively small manufactures, or small mining works alone, or are entirely agricultural and pastural. Two counties have a density of over 1,000—Lancashire, with nearly 1,707, and extra-metropolitan Mid- dlesex, with 1,364 souls to the square mile. Six counties in England and one in Wales number over 500 to the square mile, in the following order:—Durham with 714, extra-Metropolitan Surrey, Cheshire, Staf- fordshire, Glamorganshire, and Yorkshire, as a whole, with a little over 500, though the West Riding alone stands before Durham with 794. Staffordshire is the only one of these which has fallen off; its density in 1871 was 745, whilst according to the present Returns it can only reckon 566 persons to the square mile. Of the thinly populated counties we may mention Cum- berland, which has some manufactures; the density of its population in 1871 was 149, and this has now dwindled down to 124. Northumberland has risen to over 200. Westmoreland has remained nearly sta- tionary. Herefordshire, which is purely agricul- cultural, stands at 149 and Radnor has a density of but 51. The population of London in 1871 was 3,254,260 it has now risen to 3,814,571, including 1,794,106 males and 2,020,465 females, thus giving a net increase of 560,311. This is a little less than the total population of Hampshire, or about the same as that of extra-metro- politan Middlesex and Hertfordshire taken together or more than half as much as that of Staffordshire or more than four times as much as that of Hereford and Radnor taken together; or, to descend to towns, more than the whole population of Liverpool; or, to put it in other words, the increase in the population of the Metropolis during the lastten years is more than the aggregate increase of the thirteen largest towns in England during the same period. There are in London 486,286 houses, so that roughly there aie eight persons to each house, and there still remain nearly 37,000 uninhabited, and 8,000 are in course of construction. The three portions of Lohdon situate in Middlesex, Surrey, and Kent have popula- tions of (Middlesex) 2,548,993, (Surrey) 980,218, and (Kent) 285,360, with respective increases of 262,425, 238,063, and 59,823 or 10'99, 43'91, 26'51 per cent. on the Returns for 1871 According to the last Census, there were in London 27,571 persons to the square mile of area. The density of the population at present is 50,654 to the statute acre, or 32,326 to the square mile. The three portions in the counties of Middlesex, Surrey, and Kent have respective densities of 80, 44, and 13 per- sons to the acre. The areality of the population of London is '0197 acres, or 95'3480 square yards to each person, while that of its component parts is respectively 60, 111, 532 square yards that is to say, each person has in the Surrey part of London nearly twice as much, and in the Kent portion nearly nine times as much, room (if we may so put it) as in that part situate in Middlesex. Putting the Metropolis out of the question, Liver- pool is the largest town in England, and has a popu- lation of over 550,000, or an increase in ten years of nearly 60,000. Of the other Municipal Boroughs, Birmingham has over 400,000 inhabitants, or an in- crease almost equal to that of Liverpool. Two Munici- palities overstep the 300,000—viz., Manchester and Lesds—though their development has been very un- equal, Manchester having fallen off nearly 10,000, while Leeds has gained some 50,000. Again, with a population of over 200,000 there are two municipal boroughs, Sheffield and Bristol, with an aggregate increase of about 70,000, Of the remaining boroughs given in the Report of the 1871 Census as numbering over 100,000 inhabitants—viz. Portsmouth, Salford, Bradford, Hull, Newcastle, and Oldham-all, have increased considerably, with the exception of that last-named, and Salford stands pre-eminent with an addi- tion of about 50,000. To this list must now be added the Municipal Boroughs of Sunderland, Brighton, and Nottingham, the last with the enormous increase of over 100,000, or 115 per cent. on the population recorded in 1871. This, however, is to a great extent accounted for by an extension of the borough boundaries.

A despatch from Minnesota shows that the wheat crop there is in excellent condition. It is estimated that the crop this year will be 3,000,000 bushels more than that of last year. The yield and quality are unusually good. A serious accident occurred at Dundee on Wednes- day. The Police Commissioners had given orders to demolish several old buildings, with a view to public improvements. While the operations were proceeding a number of men were on the walls and others were on the upper floor. Suddenly the walls gave way, the floors were broken up, and three of the workmen were buried in the ruins. Two were killed instantaneously, and another was so seriously injured that he is not expected to survive. The Pall Mall Gazette says that a movement is on foot to raise a fund by which Herr Most may be compen- sated for his imprisonment. The testimonial is to be pre- sented at a banquet on the day the prisoner! eaves gaol. The Standard is about to make a raid for news in a new direction. Considering the vast interest involved in affairs in America the London newspapers give very meagre telegrams. The Standard, looking out for fresh fields for enterprise, has determined to make a splash in America, and there is being organized in its behalf in New York a special bureau, whence it will be daily telegraphed the leading items of the day's news, and upon occasion we shall have whole columns by cable.—Court journal.1immiM^

THE STORM ON TUESDAY NIGHT. The thunderstorm on Tuesday night appears to have been generally experienced throughout the country, but more particularly in the West and in the Mid- lands, from which reports of serious floods and fatal accidents have come to hand. It is estimated that within a radius of 12 miles of Accrington the damage is not less than £ 200,000. Several persons lost their lives, and many thousands will be thrown out of employment for several weeks. In Rossendale Valley the destruction of property was enormous. The water from the hills rushed down the valley in torrents overflowing the river. Near Darwen the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway was destroyed for about two miles. The last train from Bolton to Blackburn had a narrow escape of disaster. The rock on the sides of Sough tunnel fell on the line just after the train had passed, and was washed into the tunnel. At Huncoat, near Accrington, the force of the water was so t great as to throw a waggon off the line. Accrington was literally flooded for many hours, and the damage to mill property was consider- able. Some half dozen factories were flooded, the machinery in four of them being entirely covered with water. By the falling of a bridge at Baxenden a portion of a large factory gave way, and the torrent was so strong as to sweep some of the heavy machinery into another district. The flooring of other mills fell in. The factories at Haslingden had a similar fate. Blackburn was more fortunate than the rest of the adjoining towns, the demolition of property there being but slight. At Baxenden a young married woman was killed while attempting to escape by the back door of her house. In Rosendale Valley a woman and two children were killed in the open air. At Claton-Ie-Moors an old woman died from shock. A large number of houses and public buildings were struck by the lightning, many persons being injured. At Eagley an iron bridge over the river was swept away and hurled against a new croft just erected by Messrs. James Chadwick and Brother. It made a huge breach in the building, and the flood rushed through, carrying with it a great quantity of machin- ery. Scores of houses were flooded to such an extent that the inmates had to take refuge in the bedrooms. At Bury the heavy downpour of rain caused the sudden overflow of the river Irwell, and several mills on its banks were inundated. Top Wood Mill, a building 60 yards long by six yards wide, and two storeys in height, was struck by lightning, and fell bodily into the reservoir adjoining. The streets in Bury were flooded, water flowing into the houses almost to the top of the rooms on the ground floor. A house belonging to a farmer was washed down the river at Tollington, and other extensive damage was caused. At Croston a man was killed and another blinded. The two militia regiments in camp at Lytham were drenched, and the tall flagstaff adjoining the officers' mess was shattered by the lightning. In East Lan- cashire bridges have been washed away. Many buHdings in the lowest part of Halifax were flooded. Berry-lane was for a time impassable, and two publichouses there were flooded a depth of 6ft. The thunderstorm caused much damage in the neighbourhood of Bangor. At Gaerwen a farmhouse was wrecked, a cow, horse, and a sheep killed, and two of the occupants severely injured. At Bangor the mast of a vessel lying in the port was split in two, and the steersman on board the Menai passenger boat. which plies between Beaumaris and Bangor, lost the use of one hand, At Whitby hundreds of houses were flooded. An ex- tensive pile of flour mills at Ruswarp, near Whitby, was struck by the lightning and took fire, but the flames were subdued before much damage wae done. Several cattle were killed, and one or two small houses in the country were utterly destroyed. At Bacup many of the inhabitants had to escape from their houses, and three persons are known to have been drowned in attempting to escape. The River Irwell overflowed its banks, and many of the streets in the town were inundated to the depth of two or three yards. Various articles of furniture floated about the dwelling houses. Two bridges have been entirely swept away. Many mills are flooded, and work cannot be resumed for some time to come. The total amount of damage cannot be less than £50,000.. The streets and roads about Clitheroe were flooded. Hundreds of houses were inundated to the extent of three feet. A man named Oldfield, aged 62, was carried off his feet by the flood, and next morning his dead body was found two miles distant. Considerable damage was also done at Rimmington Lead Mines. The dead body of a woman was observed floating down the Ribble, but nothing was heard respecting her. Huge trees and a large quantity of boundary walls were also levelled to the ground. A dwelling-house at Sennen, Land's End, was struck by lightning, the chimney being knocked down and the house set on fire. Fortunately neighbours were near at hand, and they succeeded in extinguishing the flames. Mr. George, the occupier, and his son, who were in the house at the time, were knocked down by the lightning, but not injured.

THE POPE ON THE ASSASSINATION OF SOVEREIGNS. The Pope has issued an Encyclical Letter, dated the 29th ult., dealing with the recent attempts upon the lives of Sovereigns. His Holiness declares that the precepts of Christ are eminently fitted to comprise both those who ohey and these who command, and to pro- duce between the two-sections of the community that unity of purpose which engenders public tranquility. The Encyclical peints out that political authority comes from God, but that no form of Govern- ment is repugnant to the Catholic Church. After developing this idea and quoting many texts from Scripture in support of it, the Pope proceeds to explain the duties of governing and governed accord- ing to the doctrine of the Church, to which the world owes the best interpretatien of those duties. In con- elusion, the Holy Father exhorts the Bishops to incul- cate their flocks with a full understanding of their duties in this respect, and commends modern society to the prayers of the faithful.

THE RUSSIAN HARVEST. The present harvest prospects throughout Southern Russia are so brilliant that, if they should be realized" the farmets think they will be able to dispense with any harvest during the next four years. This unprecedented abundance will be due to the abnormal quantity of rain which fell during the last two months; nor has it entirely ceased yet,, so that in some places people begin to fear they may have too much it. In the Govern- ments of Kharkoff and Kherson, the corn beetle has appeared, and in such numbers in the former, that the Imperial Government is said to intend lending 100,000 roubles to the Zemstvo, or Provincial Land Assembly, towards the cost of exterminating that insect.

DEATH OF PRESIDENT GARFIELD'S UNCLE. The death, under very melaneholy circumstances, of Mr. Thomas Garfield, uncle of the President of the TJnited States, is announced in a despatch from Cleve- land, Ohio, dated the 22nd ult. Mr. Garfield it appears, on the afternoon of the day in question, was returning to his home in Randall, in a carriage, accompanied by a friend, Mrs. Alonzo Arnold. Mr. Garfield was driv- ing, and just before arriving at the Warrensville crossing of the New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio Railway, he saw a train approaching. Thinking, however, that he could cross the line in safety before the train came up he whipped his horses and proceeded. But he had miscalculated the distance. Before he gained the other side of the rail- road the train dashed into his carriage and broke it to pieces, throwing both the occupants to the ground. They were picked up immediately after- wards and conveyed to their homes, but Mr. Garfield died an hour afterwards, not having uttered a word. Mrs. Arnold received a fracture of the skull, but was expected to recover. Soon after the sad occurrence President Garfield was informed of his uncle's death.

DEATH OF DR. CUMMING. Dr. John Cumming, formerly minister of the Scotch National Church, in Crown-court, Covent- garden, London, died on Tuesday, at Chiswick, in his 73rd year, after a lengthened illness. He was a native of Aberdeenshire, and was ordained to the charge of the Scotch church in Crown-court so far back as 1833. Dr. Cumming was a voluminous writer, his works numbering considerably over a hundred. Among them are his "Apocalyptic Sketches," his "Great Tribulation Coming on the Earth," a volume in which he treated of the prophetic descriptions of the coming of Christ and the end of the present dispensa- tion. He retired from the charge of Crown-court Church last year, when his admirers raised a sub- stantial testimonial in recognition of his long ser- vices. Dr. Cummins had on more than one occasion preached before Her Majesty. Once, at Balmoral, he delivered a sermon which was afterwards published under the^itle of "Salvation;" and in the autumn of 1872 he preached before Her Majesty at Dunrobin. The subject of his sermon was Communion between Heaven and Earth." Thi3 sermon has also since been published.

PROPOSED UNDERGROUND RAILWAY IN NAPLES. The Naples Correspondent of the Daily News writes:- A project for an underground railway in this city, made by Mr. Lamont, a young English engineer resi- dent in Naples, has been just submitted to the muni- cipality. The projected lines will not only connect the east and west end with the centre of the city, but present the novelty of reaching the villages on the heights by lifts carrying the passengers to stations above. These lifts worked by steam are most ingen- iously contrived to preclude accidents. The lines will have an extent of 14 miles, and will be worked by compressed air. There will be 14 stations, and the works can be finished in three years, our volcanic sandstone offering great facilities for tunnelling.

Pisallraams fiMigem HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL. EVERY MAN HAS His MISSION. Miss Lorne Tennys (whose partner has lost the match for her): Well, Captain Batter, I hope you'll be a little more useful in the next game."—Captain B.: "Haw—aw -yaas. Useful? Fact is, in our wegiment-fellaws -aw-wather pwide—themselves—haw—on—er — being—haw—aw—ornamental!"—Fun. RIGHTs.-Every woman has a right to be any age she pleases, for if she were to state her real age, no one would believe her. Every woman who makes puddings has a perfect right to believe that she can make a better pudding than any other woman in the world. Every man who carves has a decided right to think of himself, by putting a few of the best bits aside. Every woman has a right to think her child the "prettiest little baby in the world," and it would the "prettiest little baby in the world," and it would be the greatest folly to deny her this right, for she would be sure to take it. Every young lady has a right to faint when she pleases, if her lover is by her side to catch her. A HINT TO CYPRUS,—A novel mode for destroying locusts has been discovered by the proprietor of a tchiflik at Kapakli, near Ghemlek. It had been observed that the storks and various kinds of small birds showed great partiality for pursuing and eating the locusts who were infecting the whole district. Accordingly, the owner of the tchiflik in question, who possesses an immense number of fowls, bethought him of sending them on the hunt after the pestiferous insect. Dividing them into four distinct groups under the guidance of some of his labourers, the chase com- menced, and was so highly successful that before long not a locust could be seen in the whole neighbour' hood, TELEPHONES AT THEATRES.-The two telephonic halls which are to form part of the International Exposition of Electricity in the Palais de l'lndustrie, Paris, will be great points of attraction. According to La Semaine des Constructeurs, the telephonic arrange- ments in these apartments will enable visitors to hear the performances at the ComédieFrancaise and at the Opera House. Not only will they hear the voices of the singers and actors and the music of the orchestra, -but the minutest details will be audible, even to the footsteps of the dancers. Ten visitors are to be admit- ted at a time, and while they are listening for say, a quarter of an hour, ten others will take their places in the neighbouring chamber, to whom the current of sound will be turned on at the expiration of the stipu- lated time; and this is to go on all the evening. A PAPER DOME.—A paper dome, thirty feet in diameter and weighing about two tons, is being made for the new observatory at West Point. It will weigh only one-tenth as much as a copper dome of equal size. PRINCE BismAReiK,s DOG. -Prince Bismarck's famous dog has again got his master in trouble, according to the Brussels National. Recently the Chancellor, when going out and not able to take his dog with him, stuck his cane into the ground of his garden, and bade the animal stay there. Soon after up came one of the private detectives who watch over the Prince's resi- dence, and wishing to pass he tried to persuade the dog to go indoors. The creature growled and showed his teeth, and was immoveable. Presently the Prince returned, and the dog, freed from its watch, sprang upon the detective, and tore his clothes almost to atoms. Prince Bismarck could only make his fierce protector lose hold by thrashing him soundly, and had to pay the detective P,2 for damages. HARD LINES.—Cooking classes are very good in their way, but it isn't pleasant to come home, hungry and tired, and hear that your enthusiastic wife has gone out, taking the cook with her, to have a cookery lesson, and that there is no dinner.-Fun. Hop PROSPECTS.—The Canterbury Correspondent of the Daily Telegraph writesHop plantations, which are very numerous in this district, afford evi- dence that the prospect of planters is a very hopeful one. Almost ever since the bine commenced grow- ing it has done well, and in many cases it has run up the full length of the poles, and looks clean and healthy. The mid-summer shoot has made its appearance, and is growing very fast. It is seldom that the grounds have been so free from insects as at present. SMOKE ABATEMENT.—The Board of Trade has officially declared the exhibition of smoke-consuming apparatus, fuel, &c., to be held at South Kensington, October 20, till November 26, to be calculated to pro* mote British industry, and prove beneficial to the in- dustrial classes, thus conferring protection on all in- ventions exhibited during the time of exhibition and for six months afterwards (in virtue of the Protection of Inventions Act. 1870). The Secretary of the Admiralty, Mr, Treveiyan, has also forwarded a com- munication promising that the Admiralty will favour- ably consider application for trials of apparatus, at one or other of the dockyards, in case the size and cha- racter of the appliances should in particular cases exceed the capabilities of the testing places already provided. These communications were read at » special meeting of the committee. THE WORK OF THE SESSION.—The number of public Bills, including Local Government provisional orders, introduced in the House of Commons in the course of the present Session up to Monday was 187. Of these 37 have already received the Royal assent, 19 have been withdrawn, 3 have been "dropped," 13 have passed all their stages and only await the Royal assent to become law, 2 have been put. off for six months, and 133 remain to be dealt with. BURNT AT SEA.—Intelligence from Ceara, of June 9th gives the following further particulars of the bum- ing of the Glenlogan steamer. The (rlenlogan, British steamer, Captain Rains, from New York for Pernam- buco. &c., calling at Para, Maranhain, and Natal, left Maranha,m on the 31st of May, with a cargo of kerosene, resin, spirits, boards, &c. On the 3rd June at 10 a.m., she was found to be on tire. The fire gained so rapidly that the steamer had to be aban- doned the same afternoon. She was left about 100 miles to the east of Ceara, and on the morning of the 5th, still a mass of flames, she drifted past Ceara, at a distance of three leagues from the coast. The boat in which the captain and passengers were was cap- sized while beaching, and all the ship's papers, &c., were washed out of her an d lost. THE WOODEN HEADS OF OLD ENGLAND.—The Old Women of England will have enough to occupy their attention for the next ten years in the tunnel being constructed to unite England and France. All the good old Bogie arguments will be trotted out from day to day, and the French and Italians will be pitied for allowing the existence of the Mont Oenis subway and Europe for cultivating a through system of rail- ways.-Punch. A HALE OLD MAN.—One evening last week (writes a correspondent of Notes and Queries) I met an old man and a boy returning irotn their day's work; the man, aged 86, is great-grandfather to the boy aged fourteen. I could not let them, pass without remind- ing the old man that few people live to see their great grandchildren—fewer still live to see them old enough to go to work for their living-but rarely indeed are they spared in strength to go to work beside them. In further conversation my old friend told me that he well remembered his great-grandmother, who waa buried in 1802 at the age of 93, when he followed her to the grave, the funeral being impressed on his recollec- tion by the fact that the service was read by the light of a lantern on a dark winter's afternoon. This hale old workman has thus seen seven generations. SAVINGS BANKS IN SCHOOLS. — The Lords of the Education Department have issued an appeal to members of School Committees and boards and those interested in elementary schools to aid in the formation of savings banks in connection with these -schools. The returns for the past year show that savings banks have been established in 1,087 schools in England and Wales, and in 62 schools in Scotland. FALSE PREDICTIONS.—Prophecies of the end of the world in 1881 are certainly not confined to our own Mother Shipton (says the Graphic). An Italian Fourteenth Century writer, Leonard Aretino, in his Aquila Volante," according to some Italian journals, fixes the beginning of the end for November 35th next. The destruction of the world will occupy fifteen days. Transatlantic predictions of the same character are equally plentiful, and have been so generally credited that in Carleton County, Canada, many farmers have neglected to sow seeds, or to work at a,il, believing that the end of the world would come on June 19. A DUKE'S AMBITION EXCITED.-The Duke of Man- chester told the following story against himself at a banquet recently held in his honour in Queensland (says the Court Journal). He admired the country to such an extent that he had determined, if possible, to become one of themselves—(great applause)—in fact, to be a squatter. By the bye, talking of squatters reminded him of an incident that occurred whilst he was riding between Jimbour and Cumkillenbah. He stopped for a drink of water at the house of a man named M'Fie, who asked if the duke was not coming by with Bell. On being assured that he was the duke, M'Fie shook his head dubiously and said, "Go on, you're only joking and despite all his (the duke's) protestations, M'Fie would not be convinced until Mr. Bell arrived and certified to his identity; whereupon M'Fie walked round him, and said in despair, "Blest if you couldn't go all the way to Barcoo and they would take you for nothing else but a darned bushman." This excited hia ambition, and he felt that though he could not hope to be a bushman, he would like to be a squatter. (Great laughter and cheers.) THE MORGUE.-The Municipal Council of Paris has recently made a great improvement in the arrange- ments of the Morgue by adopting the refrigerating apparatus of M. Mignon and Rouart at a cost of 53,000f. The bodies on view will thus be enabled to be preserved for any length of time within reason, and the sanitary conditions of the Morgue will be altered for the better, while the long period of exposure will frequently further the ends of justice and give more frequent opportunities to identification. How IT CAME ABOUT.—She.—And so, Mr. Jeffer- son, you go back to your own country next week. And pray, now, what would you like to take with you ?- (Upon which he plucked up courage, and told her right off and now she's Mrs. Jefferson, and has gone with him).—Judy. AMERICAN FINANCES.—It is estimated at the Wash. ing Treasury department that the receipts for June are sufficient to make a reduction in the public debt for that month of eleven million dollars. That makes the reduction of the public debt for the fiscal year ending with June one hundred millions of dollars. The revenue from Customs for the fiscal year exceeds that of any year in tt. history of the country except those ending June, 11 I,H and 1872. The amount of the internal revenue ex ds that of any year since 1871, after which the redu<3. on in the internal revenue taxes began. The interest charge on the public debt has Koin ™4uced to 84^ 'millions, or an annual saving of 59J millions as compared vl -h the maximum charge reached in 1867. H' A NEW VARIETY OF GAMI^-ANIMAL.—Squirrels are game in America, and althit would seem but tame sport in England to f. t for a day's squirrel shooting, it is a recognised pORN in America, where a "game dinner," which is riable accompani- ment at the meetings of the # -rless sportsmen's associations which flourish enqttie" United States, is considered incomplete witho ellsquirrel served in some form or other. What will 1 englishmen, however, say to frogs as game? We learn, nevertheless, that in certain parts of New Je -sey the shooting of frogs for market is practised with considerable profit, The frogs are shipped to Qotham and other large cities, as delicacies for epicure^,—iontf and Water,

IJYfPERIAL PARLIAMENT. In ihe Hwrrsx > K LoRDS, July 4, the Marquis of Salisbury said t t > a the noble earl the Seeretary of State for ToTfci ,r> ,I,ether he has any information that he can can >r f )ur lordships respecting the dastardly at- tempt on the life of the President of the United States. Eail Graiw%rl!e in reply said—I am anxious to convey to your v.'sl i;v the intelligence in my power with regard to this ti' r; ca which the sympathy of this country witn W" jw: t the United States is hourly increasing in Interisjt v -C.-e.t-.) I have been in communication with the Amerie, tÏster here, who does not appear to have any later informtion than that dated Sunday midnight, to the effect t'.at the President is a little better, and resting quietly." There is a later private telegram, not of quite so .atisfacfcory a character, but I cannot, of course, vouch for its accuracy. Lord De La Warr asked for information as to whether there would be any interference on the part of this country In respect of the proceedings against Midhat Pasha. Lord Granville said he had been in communication with Lord Dufferin on the subject. He had not received any report of the proceedings at the trial, and he could not give any official opinion on it. He was not at the present moment prepared to afford the noble earl any further in- formation. Lord Harlech called attention to the fact that the practice now followed in most of the Irish counties of substituting other modes of service for personal service of processes was not adopted in Leitram and Oavan. Lord Carlingford said Her Majesty's Government haa already communicated with the Lord Chancellor of Ireland with the view of bringing about a uniformity of practice in the matter. Lord Carlingford, in reply to an inquiry by Lord Emly, said it would be his duty before long to introduce a short Bill to charge on the Irish Church Fund such a sum as would enable the Royal University of Ireland to commence its work. Lord Galloway, again returning to the subject of desertion, called attention to the statement reported to have been made by the Secretary for War on the 24th of June-" that desertion in the Army has been greatly reduced within the last ten years." He asked how that statement could be reconciled with the figures given in the War Office returns, which showed an average increase of over 60 per cent. in desertions during the years referred to by the right hon. gentleman over previous years. Lord Morley contended that the net waste of the Army had been diminishing, while the number of desertions had been about constant. Lord Hertford thought that fraudulent enlistment would go on till they tattooed each deserterwith a "D." Lord Chelmsford said that, whatever might be the gross or the net waste of the Army, desertions had increased during the last ten years. -Lord Fortescue supported some petitions praying that the limit of age for compulsory education might be lowered below 14, and that passing the third standard only, instead of the fourth, might be required of children as a condition of their being allowed to work for their. i ving. The noble lord criticized adversely the plan of carrying out the national education of the country under the Committee of Council on Education. The Duke of Richmond aud Gordon defended the Educa- tion Department against the strictures of the noble lord. Lord Spencer concurred with the noble duke, and said that, as Lord President, he had received a large number of petitions as those which Lord Fortescue had supported. Standard 4 was not a difficult one. Last year thousands of children aged only ten passed it, and he thought no case was made out for the change prayed for by the petitioners. A number of Bills having been advanced a stage, their lordships adjourned at ten minutes past seven o'clock. In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, Sir S. Northcote, in inquiring whether the Government had any later information as to the attempted assassination of President Garfield, took the opportunity oi expressing the general feeling of anxiety with which the President's condition was watched and the horror and indignation excited by the event. Mr. Gladstone, who fully concurred in these sentiments, replied that the Government had nothing substantial to add to the information supplied by the Press, the latest indica- tions of which, he said, were of a nature to damp the hope- ful expectations of Sunday. Subsequently he said that a telesram had jtTjt been received, dated 8.15 a.m., from which it appeared that there had been no material change in the President's condition. Mr. Pugh asked the Postmaster-General whether it was the fact that the Post Office Department used foreign timber only for telegraph posts, whereas many railway companies used home-grown timber for that purpose; and, if so, whether he would cause inquiry to be made as to the rela- tive price and value of home-grown and foreign timber in different portions of the United Kingdom, with a view to directing the use of home-grown timber where such a course could be adopted with advantage or without prejudice to the public service. Mr. Fawcett said that it was the case, as stated by his hon friend, that the telegraph poles used by the Post Office were made of foreign timber. He had ascertained that foreign timber was also used for the same purpose by all the leading railway companies in consequence of its superior durability, owing to the ease with which it was treated with the creosote process. Mr. Gorst asked the First Lori of the Treasury whether the erms of peace with the Transvaal Boers were published "by authority" in -Natal, and confirmed a statement that the Royal Commissioners" would take into consideration measures for the protection of native interests whether the terms of peace were also published for general informa- tion in the Transvaal Gazette Extraordinary of March 29, 1881, but this latter version was wholly silent as to native inte- rests, which were not even mentioned; and what was the reason for this discrepancy between the two versions of the terms of peace so published, and which of the two was correct. Mt. Gladstone said that was the first time his notice had been called to the subject. There was, no doubt, a variance between the statements, but the whole statements were only imperfect summaries. He would remind the hon. member that there was on the table of the House a letter from Sir E. Wood which contained a distinct setting forth of the heads at the terms of peace offered to the Boers. Another despatch an the same subject would be shortly in the hands of hon. members. In pursuance of the promise given last week, Mr. Glad- stone now stated in detail the intentions of the Govern- ment with regard to the remainder of the Session. In the first place, the Corrupt Practices Bill and the Ballot Act Amendment Bill would be abandoned, the Ballot Act being put into a Continuance Bill, and he went on to state, amid loud cheers from the Opposition, that the Government- had no intention to proceed further with the Parliamentary Oaths Bill. Though the point was still undetermined, he still clung to the hope of proceeding with the Bankruptcy Bill if sufficient margin were left by the Irish Land Bill. The Alkali Works Bill, the Conser- vancy of Rivers Bill, and the Educational Endowments (Scotland) Bill he hoped would be passed, and it would be Becessary to pass the Naval Discipline Bill and the Regula- tion of Forces Bill, as well as a, provisional measure suspend- ing the writs of the corrupt boroughs, and a Judicature Act Amendment Bill, disposing of the patronage of the two Chief Judges recently abolished. There would also be an Irish University Bill and a Local Loans Bill, but the County Government (Ireland) Bill would not be pressed, and the Thames Conservancy Bill and the Merchant Ship- ping Bill would be withdrawn. In the brief conversation Which followed, Sir S. North cote expressed the opinion that, looking to the large amount of Supply which remained to be voted, it would be wiser to abandon the Bankruptcy Bill at once, and Mr. Gladstone repeated that the present decision was open to reconsideration. In answer to Mr. J. G. Talbot, hb said the Corn Returns Bill would also be withdrawn, and the Attorney-General for Ireland said the Local Courts of Bank- ruptcy Bill would also be withdrawn. Mr. Labouchere urged that the Bankruptcy Bill should be laid aside for the Oaths Bill, and was proceeding to dilate on this theme when he was stopped by the Speaker, and Mr. Rathbone was also cut short in some remarks which he endeavoured to make on the subject of the Bankruptcy Bill. The House again went into Committee on the Land Bill, and spent the evening in discussing the sub-sections of Clause 7 and Amendments thereto, and the House adjourned at one o'clock. j

In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, July 6, Mr. Stevenson pre- sented a huge petition, signed by more than 80,000 persons, in favour of the Welsh Sunday Closing Bill. Lord Sandon's motion for the presentation of an English translation of the French Tariff return was agreed to. The House was engaged throughout the afternoon in further discussion upon the Irish Land Bill in Committee. Clause 12 was postponed, Clause IS was added to the Bill, and progress was reported on Clause 14. The House adjourned shortly before six o'clock. The House adjourned shortly before six o'clock.

SUNDAY CLOSING. A town's meeting, called by the Mayor of Man- chester, in compliance with a requisition, was held on Tuesday forenoon in the Town Hall, to consider the subject of the closing of public-houses on Sunday. Mr. W. T. Windsor moved the first resolution, which expressed satisfaction at the great moral and social advantages that had accrued to the people of Scot- land and Ireland from the law that prohibits the sale of intoxicants on Sunday, affirmed that an overwhelming and rapidly increasing majority had for years demanded a like measure for England, and called upon the Government to grant early and suffi- cient facilities to Mr. J. C. Stevenson that he may get the English Sunday Closing Bill passed this Session. The resolution was passed-unanimously. A resolution was also passed thanking the members of Parliament who secured a triumphant majority for the Bill on its second reading last Session. It was afterwards re- solved to send copies of the resolution to the Premier, and the members for Manchester, and to forward a petition in favour of the Bill for presentation to Par- liament.

THE LITTLE WESTERN.—A correspondent writes to the Daily Telegraph .-—" Captain Petterson, of the ship Laugen, of Havanger, who arrived in the Thames on July 4 from Charleston, S.C., reports having spoken the Little Western OR Thursday last, eighty miles W.S.W. of Scilly. All well on board.

MR. GLADSTONE and MR. BRADLAUGH. A correspondence which has recently passed between Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Bradlaugh relative to the exclusion of the latter from the House of Commons has been made public. On June 20 Mr. Gladstone, replying to a letter from Mr. Bradlaugh, declines to grant him an interview, thinking it better that their communications should be "carried on by writing on this particular subject." In answer to a further letter from Mr. Bradlaugh, Mr. Gladstone wrote as follows 10, Downing-street, Whitehall, June 24. Dear Sir,—I have received your letter of the 22nd, and can express no surprise and make no complaints at the urgency of your inquiry whether the Government intend this year to pass the Parliamentary Oaths Bills. I must also acknowledge the very considerate manner in which you have endeavoured to adapt your measures to the exigencies of public business. Before answering your question, however, I have much to consider; and this especially-that a question of paramount importance to the empire at present absorbs all the available time of the Government in the House of Commons; that it is likely to occupy a number of days, still very undefined, but sure to be large and that we are not as yet able to take any definite resolution as to our eventual course of action with respect to measures of much public moment now before Parliament, even in cases where they were announced in the Speech from the Throne at the opening of the session. So soon as we are able to approach the question of our future course with reference to these measures, I shall also call the attention of my colleagues to your inquiry, and shall be prepared in due course to give you a reply.—I have the honour to be, dear Sir, your faithful servant, C. Bradlaugh, Esq., M.P." W. E. GLADSTONE." In another letter, dated July 2, Mr. Gladstone in- timated that the Cabinet on that day had concluded not to proceed further with the motion for leave to bring in a Bill dealing with Parliamentary oaths. The correspondence closed with a letter from Mr. Brad- laugh, in which he said that the last letter of Mr. Gladstone showed by its silence that the Government were unable or unwilling to enforce the law in his case.

A public meeting was held in the Town-hall, North- ampton. on Tuesday evening, on the requisition of the mayor, who presided, to obtain the concurrence of the constituency in the steps Mr. Bradlaugh intends to take with reference to his seat before the close of the Session. Mr. Bradlaugh reviewed what he bad done since the last election, and at the close of his speech asked the electors whether they still had confidence in him. There was an unanimous shout of "Yes" from a densely-packed mass. Mr. Bradlaugh said he should be strong in their strength, and brave with their bravery, and he would not give way, Mr. Manfield moved,—" That this meeting, having read the letter of Mr. Bradlaugh to the Speaker of the House of Commons, expresses its undiminished confi- dence in Mr. Bradlaugh, and its readiness to support him in any legal measures he may deem it expedient to take to secure to Northampton its full consiitutional rights." Mr. Cleaver seconded. Councillor Pugis moved that a deputation from Northampton and other parts of the country should wait upon Mr. Gladstone to urge him to take measures to insure the passage of the Oaths Bill as early as possible. Both resolutions were carried unanimously. Mr. Labouchere heartily approved Mr. Bradlaugh's con- duct, and said no blame was attached to the Govern- ment for dropping the Oaths Bill.

SIR S. NORTHCOTE AND MB. BRADLAUGH.-Mr. Bradlaugh, M.P., has written a long letter to Sir Stafford Northcote upon the course which the latter has taken in opposing his admission to the House of Commons. The following is the reply:—"Sir,—I regret I must confine myself to a simple acknowledg- ment of your letter of this day's date. I cannot admit that there is any foundation for the charge of illegality which you make against the House of Commons but I must decline to enter into con- troversy with you upon the general subject of your case. I can only say that I have acted from a sense of public duty and from no personal motive, and that I can see no reason for doubting the propriety of the course which I have pursued. I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant, Stafford H. Northcote, C. Bradlaugh, Esq, M.P."

An inquest was held at Saltney, Chester on Tues- day, on the body of John JTinchett, aged 71, a horse driver in the employment of the Great Western Jtailway at Saltney. The deceased was engaged with two horses in shunting wagons, when the pointsman at the box cried Look out. John, the down train s coming.' The deceased ran to the horses' heads and got the animals off the metals, but was run over and killed. A verdict of "Accidental death" was returned.

SIR S. WATERLOW ON TECHNICAL EDUCATION. In London, on Tuesday night, Sir Sydney Water low* Bart., M.P., supported by Mr. Samuel Morley, M.P., Professor Ayrton, and others, presided at the annual meeting and distribution of prizes in connection with the Artisans' Institute, Castle-street. The annual report, which gave a satisfactory account of the institute's work, was read by Mr. Hodgson Pratt, after which the prizes were presented to the successful competitors. The chairman, addresing the assemblage, remarked that the fact of his having served a seven years' apprenticeship to a technical trade near to the place where they had met was ample warrant for his say- ing that he sympathised with the numbers of young people who were now undergoing their apprenticeship. Nowadays in institutions such as this advantages were to be derived which could not be gained some fifty years ago, and it was to be hoped that these advantages would, in some measure, compensate for the difficulties which beset young people learning trades. Fifty years ago the apprentice was brought up in the master's family. He lived under the same roof with his master, who took every interest in teaching him the details of the trade or craft which he had espoused. In those days the workshops were not so large as now, and the work was commenced and completed within such an area that the apprentice could see the entire manipulation. In latter times, however, division of labour had changed all this, so much so that the young man apprenticed to a certain trade saw only a portion of the working of that handicraft, and thus failed to comprehend the various relations of the parts of the whole to one another. Herein this institute, and such of its class, did good service, by filling up a gap, and imparting that knowledge which never could have been acquired in the workshop. He (the chairman) had a distinct recollection of the Exhibition of 1851, at which time an impression seized him that the working people of this country wanted some teaching with regard to their various trades. Technical education he believed to be but in its infancy in this country. Inasmuch as they had a great deal to do to keep up with the foreigner, and give to their youth the same advantages as the people of other lands possessed, he hoped the national Government would some day give a grant towards this purpose. He held the question to be a national one and, being such, institutes similar to this were needed in every large town throughout the kingdom, so that the artisan classes should be educated up to the position which they ought to occupy.