The Aberystwith Observer

MR. GLADSTONE'S SAFETY. The Premier, who had been staying at Dollishill House, Willesden, since Saturday, left there for Downing-street on Monday morning, having again been the guest cf the Earl of Aberdeen. As usual upon such visits the premises both to the public high- way and to the fields in the rear, were watched by the police, and men in plain clothes were about the neighbourhood to keep observation on any sus- picious persons who might go near the house. Mr. Gladstone, who upon such visits usually attends ser- vice atWillesden church, is always preceded along the lanes by a police inspector and followed by another officer, i

THE FIRST SHOT. The correspondent of The Times gives an account of the Bombardment, from which we make the follow- ing extracts Of Alexandria, July 11. The first shot was fired at Pharos Fort this morning at seven o clock, by the Alexandria. About tour minutes after- wards a general signal was hoisted by the Invincible to 11 Attack the enemy's batteries." The signal was no sooner made than the Invincible, Monarch, and Penelope immedi- ately opened flre on the Mexs batteries; followed, two second* afterwards, by the Sultan, Alexendria, Superb, and Ir; fl.xible, which directed their flre on the forts at Pharos Point and Ras-el-tin. The enpmy appeared to have been waiting in readiness, for they replied atwnoe. Our gunboats at the beginning of the action were supposed to be out of range; but the Cygnet very soon crept in close enough to use her guns. The Condor went away to westward to engage the Marabout fort. This 'w she had all to herself for over an hour, when the Bittern and Beacon were signalled by the flagship to go to her aid. Although only these two gunboats were signalled to go, the Decoy seemed to think she should join them. The Cygnet also came shortly after to assist. The Condor had from the first taken .up her position on the side of the fort nearest the harbour, and thus escaped the flre from about 12 guns on the north front, which could not be brought to bear on her before the other gunboats had been ordered to her assistance. The Invincible signalled, Well done. Condor," and immediately afterwards, Well done, Inflexible." It was no unmerited praise. The manner in which the little Condor steamed out to a large fort, and pounded away, unsupported, elicited general admiration. It is in- vidious to particularize, but the Inflexible's firing to-day was certainly second to none. The Bittern did good service, and materially assisted in silencing the Marabout fort. She steamed up, with her crew comparatively fresh, and fired britkly, with good effect. I could plainly see several guns dismounted on the south-east corner, and the parapet was badly breached. Several shot and shell came unpleasantly close to some of the merchant steamers lying near to the line of tire, and they, therefore, soon found it advisable to move further out to sea. The Htficou cruised about between the in-shore squadron, eff Mexs, and the Ras-el-Tin Fort; but, although supposed to be out of range, several shots passed across our bews. We had the satisfaction of trying a 20-pounder at Ras- el-Tin three times. At eight o'clock the electric broadsides from the four ships attacking Pharos and Ras. el Tin were beginning to tell with deadly effect. The In- flexible, being considerably further to the westward, was enabled to shell the Mexs forts with one of her turrets, while the pounded Rat-el-Tin with the other. The accurate practice which she was making with her four monster guns at this time called forth repeated bursts of applause from every one on board of this vessel. Every shell seemed either to burst right over the Ras-el-Tin fort or to pitch on the very parapet of the Mexs fort up on the hilL The lighthouse has not escaped unscathed. One shell I saw burst half-way up the tower, and two large holes are now visible to the naked eye at two miles' distance. The ranges at which the Inflexible was firing varied from 5,000 yards to 3,000, This is the first time she has been in action, and there can be no doubt about her strength as a fighting ship At one o'clock the gunboats engaging the Marabout fort were signalled to cease firing, an order which they may have been excused for not seeing on the instant. They had by this time pretty well silenced the guns. On obeying the signal they proceeded tewards the Mexs fort, where the Invincible, Monarch, and Penelope had hitbarto been en- gaged in battering the long line of fort?, mm were soon actively employed, in-shore of the bigger ships, shelling the fort which commands the Boghaz Pass. When the action first began the Téméraire was posted at the entrance of the Boghaz channel, and continued firing her barbette 25-ton guns, with good effect, at a range of 4,000 yar js, until shevwas signalled, at twenty minutes past ten to cease firing. She then lay idle till a quarter-past twelve, when she steamed over to join the Inflexible, which had now taken htr position opposite the Pharos Fort, the Bas el-Tin being already silenced; The Alexandra, Sultan, and Superb had been hammering away steadily at Pharos Fort all the morning, but had not yet succeeded in silencing the guns there, although latterly they had approached within 800 yards of it. The flagship now signalled Can destroy Pharos It where- upon tue Temeraire joined the weight of her armament to that of the other four ships and ultimately succeeded in blowing up the powder magazine in the fort and silencing the gnus. For about half-an-hour the enemy continued to flre at intervals but by four o'clock every gun was silenced. Our ships still went on shelling the fortifications and used seme sharpnel, probably at some retreating soldiery. By half-past five all firing had oeased. The action had thus lasted ten hours and a half from the time the first shot was fired. The damage which has been Inflicted on the forts Is tremendous. In some places nothing but a heap of ruins is to he seen. The obstinacy and pluck with which the enemy's forts kept up their flre surprised everybody. Had their gunners been equal to our own, the action would have been certain to have caused us considerable loss. There were several large guns which would have done much execution had the aiming been less wild. The casualties are tiye killed and 28 wounded. On beard Her Majesty'/ Ship Condw, July 11, Noon. At four minutes, past seven this morning the Alexandra fired the first shell. Ten minutes afterwards the Invincible, Monarch, and Penelope opened fire on the Mex forts, to the south-east of the town. The Alexandra, Superb, Inflexible, aud Snltan attacked Fort Adda, north-east of the town. The Temeraire got on shore, but nevertheless did excellent work against the Gabarl or Windmill forts. The gunboats were ordered to keep out of fire until an opportunity offered. The Cygnet very early found an opportunity. The Condor was told off to assist the Témé- raira out of her difficulty. Bus at eight o'clock the Témé- raire trot afloat, and Condor made straight at the second strongest fort—that is, the Marabout. The Condor only carries three guns-two 64-pounders and one 7-inch Woolwieh rifled gun. The fort had at least four heavy pieces of artillery, which were annoying the Penelope, Monarch, and Invincible. Running in within 1,200 yards of these guns, a single shot from which would i have sunk her, the Condor maneged, before the signal was given to cease firing, fit eleven o'clock, to silence twe, if not three, of these^great guns. The Admiral ran up the signal, Well done, Condor," and later on sent the Bittern and Beacon to assist in the work. The fire from the Marabout fort was by no means contemptible. Our vessel was a small object on the water, and wts only hit once by a round shot; but heavy missiles fell thick and close all around us. The Correspondent then gives the hourly progress of the bombardment from 6 a.m. until 1 p.m., when he proceeds— •AP-?3'—A iandiDg party his been sent off from tha Invin- C1 to spike the guns of the Mexs forts. The force consists of Lieutenant Barton Bradford, in command, Flag-Lieutenant the Hon. Mr. Lambton, Lieutenant Poore (of the Invincible), Major Tulloch, Mr. Haidy, midshipman, and two sailors. Their landing is to be covered by the fire of the Condor. 2 p m.—The party has landed, and has burst two and spiked six guns without encountering any opyosUldh. The fire from the forts seems to be completely silenced. The Invincible has suflered from twosheiis. The Condor has no casualty. These two ship* seem to have received the hottest fire. The Condor fired 200 rounds. The attack has apparently been quite as succeesful as was expected. The casualties on board the Invincible are six men wounded, none danger- ously the most serious case being that of a boy, whose toot was shot off. I have omitted to mention among the incidents which I witnessed the blowing up of the Mexs powder magazines—I believe by a shell from the Monarch. It is difficult to describe the excitement of the sailors. Eich shot was watched with an anxiety that reminds one of thff displayed at the Eton and Harrow match, on a larger scale. Every shot that told was greeted with clapping, which occasionally was aided by a cheer, while the un- happy gunner who fired short or wide was the victim of good- humoured chaff. Lord Charles Beresford has received the thanks of the Admiral, who was much harassed by the fire from the Marabout forts, 4 3J) p.m.—I have come outside to despatch my telegram, TU& Inflexible has moved here to the extreme no)-th-east, and is finishing off Fort Pharos, which has ceased replying. Some of the shot from">the 81-ton ;;¡uns are flying high, and they may not improbably be dolnsr darmigs in that quarter of the town situated near the British Consulate, which is in the direct line of fire. At this hour, exactly one month ago, the outrage on the British Consul was committed. The Heclahas arrived, with torpedoes and supplies for the fleet. The Achilles is expected immediately. The Superb seems to have suffered by the fire, if one may judge by the two holes in her side. 6 p.m.—The following are the casualties reported:- Killed, five-the Sultan two, the Superb, Inflexible, and Alexandra one each. Wounded, 27—the Penelope, eight, the Sultan, seven, the Invincible, six, the Alexandra three, the Inflexible two, the Superb one. It is believed that no officers are included in either list.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT. The following is an extract from the account given by the Correspondent of the Standar on board Her Majesty's ship Invincible:— At half-past six a quiet order was passed round the deck, "Load with common shell," and a gleam of satisfaction shone on the men's faces. At seven o'clock the signal was made to the Alexandra to open the ball by firing one gun. The heavy boon came across the water, and then there was a anxious pause. Would the Egyptians answer it, or would they evacuate the forts ? No sound came to ns from Fort Ada, but ia the bat- teries opposite us we could see the men loading their guns. They would fight then. The order was given to commence independent firing, and the signal was run up to the fleet to begin a general engagement. A deafening salvo from five nine-inch guns went from the side of the Invincible, while overhead the ten Nordenfelt guns in the tops swelled the din which burst forth from all the ships with a succession of drumlis-s tappings. The bank of smoke which at once rose like a wall from our side prevented us from seeing the results of our flre, but from the tops it was seen that the siwlis had struck rather low, and the sights were raised from 1,350 to 1,500 yards. The Monarch and the Penelope had both set to work close at hand, and the roar of their heavy stuns, tiie ceaseless rattle of their Gatlings and Nordenfelt machines, and the rush of the rockets which the-Monarch was discharging, added to the jound of our own guns, made up a deep and continuous dm impossible to describe, hut which was almost bewildering. In any momentary interval the sound of the guns of the other division of the Fleet told us that they also were hard at work. The smoke from the very commencement of the engage- ment was so dense that we could sea nothing of the effects which our fire was producing, ner of what, the enemy were doing but soon after we began a sharp scream overhead, followed by the upleaping of a column of spray to seaward as the shot struck the water, made it clear that the enemy were replying to our iron salute. Saon orders were passed to esase firing until the smoke cleared away. The wind and sun were both in the enemy's favour, and it was some time before the veil lifted sufficiently for even a glimpse of the shore, and this was lost the instaut the guns again opened, and before it was possible to see where the shots struck. As nothing could be seen from the deck, Mr. Hardy, a midshipman posted in the maintop, signalled the'direction of the stroke of the shells, and then the accuracy of the lire was improved. In the meantime, the enemy's shots were coming thick and fast, their aim being directed chiefly against the Penelope and Inflexible. They were firing principally round shot. Twenty minutes after the first gun was fired our foreroyal bfaces were shot away, and immetfkite'y after a second shot penetrated the forehead, a splinter wounding a stoker severely. At this time they appeared to have got our range pretty accurately, and round and conical shot whistled thickly between the masts. I went round the ship and found the men fighting the main deck guns all*stripped to the waist..Bictween eacii shot they bad to sit down and wait until the smoke eieared a little. They were very anxious to know the result of their fire, and asked eager questions of me as to that which could be seen above, but I could tell them little, for the smoke hung like a veil between us and the shore. The enemy certainly were sticking to their guns manfully, although, amid the hail of heavy shell and (x ttling ard Nor- denfelt bullets, it must have been hot indeed i< side the forts but, luckily for us, their tire, although good in direction, was bad in elevation, and we were seldom hit. By eight o'clock the Monarch had silanced a small fort opposed to her, set fire to the buildings, and dismounted the guns, and she now joined us against the formidable works of Fort Meks. The Egyptians in that battery still replied briskly, but, although several times struck, Done of the shots penetrated our battery or water-line bait. Where no armour protected her the shot scattered showers of splinters through the ship. One shot struck the quarterdeck close to Lieutenant Lambton, who happened at the moment to be speaking to me; but although numerous splinters new about no one was c injured. By nine o'clock: our fire had silenced all the guns in Fort Meks with the exception of four. Two of these were heavy rifled pieces, the sound of whose conical shot was easily distinguished even in the din of the combat from that of the round shot of the smooth-bores. These four guns gave us great trouble. They were all placed under cover, and the gunners stuck well to their work. The Temeraire was therefore signalled to come in to assist the three ships before engaged. It was difticult to hit upon the exact locality of the guns, seen, as they were, dimiy and occasionally through the smoke, but by 10.30 only three maintained their flre. These guns were concentrated on the Invincible, and must have been worked by some of their btsi gunner-, fi r they struck us every time, often quite on the waterliae, before they were silenced we had six men wounded, one with his toot taken off by a round shot, the others by splinters. By eleven the fort was in ruins and its guns all silenced, and the Monarch was signalled to go close in shore and dis- mantle the fort thoroughly at close carters. The Egyptian officers set a capital example to their men' often jumping upon the parapets to see the effects of their fire. Fort Pharos early showed signs of the heavy battering it was exposed to; one of the towers was knocked down, and it soon ceased firing altogether, while the fire from the other forts had also greatly slackened. At half-past ten the Khedive's Palace, called the Ras-el- tin, or the Harem Palace, lying behind the forts, took flre, and at the time I write is still burning. The fight was nearly over all along the line by twelve o'clock, although the ships all continued their fire in order to complete the dismantlement of the forts, and several small magazines were, in the course of the afternoon, ex- ploded by our shell-a large one in Fort Ada beir-g blown up by a lucky shot from the Inflexible. At one o'clock volunteers were called for on board the Invincible to go ashore and spike tha guns in Fort Meks which the fire of the shipi had failed to dismount. The work was a dangerous one, for troops might have been lymg behind the fort. However, there were plenty of volunteers, and twelve men were chosen for the adventure. Lieutenant Bradford was in command, aud Major Tulloch and Lieutenant Lambton accompanied him. This duty was skilfully and rapidly carried out. To effect a landing they had to swim through the surf, but no opposi- tion met them as they lauded. Tne guna were burst with charges of gun-cotton, and tte party returned on board ShIP without a casualty.. Of the ships engaged with Fort Meks the Penelope was struck five times, and had eight men wouoded and one gun disabled. The Invincible was struck many times, but omy six shots penetrated; her foreyurd was struck, and the foreroyal braces cut away. We had six wounded. Ihe Monarch was not hit once, probably owing to her ability to shift her ground. Upon the other hand, being in move- ment, the practice of her guns was inferior to that of the Invincible. I have only been able to write fully of the doings of the portion of the Fleet with which I was present, and until I have communicated with the ships of th« other Squadron I cannot give the details of their action with the forts opposed to them. By signal, however, we know that their casualties are as followa The Superb was struck several times, and from where we now lie I can see that her armour was penetrated she had one man killed and one wounded. The Alexandra had one killed and three wounded the Sultan two killed and seven wounded; the Inflexible one killed and two wounded. Thus the grand total of casualties of both squadrons is five killed and twenty-seven wounded. This evening the whole Fleet drew oil the shore and ap- proached each other. Their first day's work is complete, and the whole of the batteries outside the harbour of Alexandria are destroyed. Over Alexandria lies the cloud of battle, partly caused, no doubt, by the smoke of tttfe guns which the wind has not yet blown clear of the town, partly from that arising from the burning Palace. The events of to-day show that the determination ex- pressed by Arabi aad his party to oppose the Fleet to the death has not so far been a vain boast Tbey fought their puns to the last, but the fire of the Pk et was crushing, and the weight of our metal so superior, that their resistance, although very creditable, was yet ineffective. They appeared to possess no sheila, which was well for us, for had they used them instead of round shot our casualties would have been very much larjser. As it is, our success, although not bloodless, has been achieved at a much smaller cost than could have been expected seeing the for- midable nature of the works we had to attack.

THE KILLED AND WOUNDED. The following official despatches have been received at the Admiralty:— Telegram from Sir Beauchamp Seymour, dated Alexandria, July 12,12.40 a.m. Attacked batteries this morning, silenced forts, landed party from Invincible, burst three guns, and spiked six in Meks Fort. Casualties in the Fleet. It Inflexible. -Killed, Wm. Shannon, carpenter: wounded severely, Lieut. Jackson; wounded slightly, Wm. Houghton, private R.M. Alexandra. — Killed, Walter Fisher, A.B.; wounded severely, John Myers, A,B.; wounded slightly, Thomas Palmer, captain of forecastle, George Talbot, private R.M. "Sultan.—Killed, Chas. Collins, A.B. iiobt. Marshall, A.B. wounded Eeverely, James Dexter, boy wounded slightly, Albert Jutson, A.B., Jas. McCarthy, A.B., Rooert Paeey, A.B., Jas. Tussell, A.B., Thos. Poigndestre, A.B., Joseph Gomes, boatswain's mate; Samuel Fuller, leading seaman. Superb.—Killed, George McCJaine, gunner. B.M.A,; wounded slightly, George Webb, ship's corporal. Invincible.—Wounded severely, Redmond McGuire, boy: wounded slightly, Mr. Wm. Lumsden,, midshipman, — Chaseira, stoker, John Yolland, A.B., John Gill, ordinary seaman, J. W. Moore, private R.M. "Penelope.—Wounded severely, John Wheadon, leading seaman, Wm. Woon, captain of the mast; wounded dan- gerously, Henry Dawson, leading seaman, Levi Holley, boy, Alfred Jacksao, boy; wounded slightly, Lieutenant Davies, Wm. Lee, A, B., Wm. M'Analley, A.B."

RECEPTION OF THE NEWS. The Queen received at Windsor Castle on Tuesday morning telegraphic despatches announcing the bom- bardment and the progress of the hostilities. The in- telligence was communicated to her Majesty's guests at the Palace. # The greatest eagerness was evinced in all circles in London at the news of the bombardment, manv politicians remaining at the clubs throughout Monday night to receive the first information. The Prince of Wales sent to the Admiralty at 2.30 on Tuesday morning, asking if any information had been re- ceived, and left instructions that any official messages should be forwarded to him. The first intimation of the bombardment was received at the Admiralty at six o'clock on Tuesday morning, and was immediately communicated to her Majesty the Queen, the Prince of Wales, Earl Northbrook, and the leading members of the Government.

PROTEST OF THE FOKEKUY CONSULS, A Reuter's telegram said :—The foreign Consuls have pro- tested against the bombardment of the forts. All the foreign war vessels are outside the harbour, and the French squadron, with the exception of the Alma and Ilirendelle. put to sea at sunset.

The Rome Correspondent of the-Daily News has reason to believe that the Italian Government does not consider the action of the British Government justified by the plea of vis major, and consequently in accordance with the Protocol signed by the Powers previous to the Conference. It is not intended, however, so far, to give any effect to this view in the way of protest.

REWARDS FOR BRAVERY. The Committee of the Royal Humane Society hat just had under investigation a large number of cases of saving or attempting to save life from drowning in various parts of the world, and has made the follow* ing awards, six of the recipients being boys ranging is age from 16 down to 12 years:- On the recommendation of the Lords of the Ad- miralty, the silver medallion was unanimously voted to Arthui Swaine, a private in the Royal Marines. serving on board her Majesty's ship Sheldrake, for en., deavouring to save William Venney, who, while attempting to get on board from a native boat at Shanghai, fell into the river. Swaine, although heavily clothed, jumped overboard from the taif-rail without staying to divest himself of any of his cloth* ing, and swam to Venney's assistance, but was un- able to save him, as he was tenaciously grasped by the drowning man and twice dragged under water. Tha silver medallion was also voted to a native policeman of the Madras Presidency, named RaIna. samy, for rescuing an old woman at Wallaja, Madras, who fell into a well 12 yards deep. The bronze clasp, the recipient being already in pos* session of the bronze medallion, was awarded to Henry Douglas for Raving Louis Sholl, who fell into the Thames at Westminster. The medallion was also awarded to Henry Wise for assisting Douglas in the rescue; to Private William Noon, of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, for saving a comrade named Manion, who sank while bathing at Fleetwood: to Thomas Webby, a boy of twelve, for saving A. Johns, who fell off the quay in'to deep water at Plymouth to E. A. Gayhird for rescuing Kate Davidson and Anne Canvin in the Avon at Totterdown, Bristol; te F. J. Davies for saving a Lascar named Abdullti in the Roval Albert Dock; to Robert Weeks for saving Eilen Brown in a pond at West Wood- hay, Berkshire; to William Norman for saving Elizabeth Day in the river Tone, Taunton; to Forbes Knapton, a boy of thirteen, for saving A. Mitchell in the rivar Tone; to Mathew Fidler for saving Leonard Barglun in Lake Wenern, Switzer- land; to David Dryburgh, a lad of eighteen, foE saving William Lyle in the sea at Newhaven, neat Edinburgh, it being incidentally mentioned that Dryburgh had been instrumental in saving persons on six previous occasions; to William H. Gayton, for saving David Rees in the Alexandra Dock, Newport; to Thomas Hughes, for saving three men named Left Leary, and Keshane, who were capsized from a boat at Courtinarsherry, Cork; and to Lewis Culliton, of the Royal Irish Oonstabularly for saving a child ? Wexford Quay. Testimonials recording the services rendered and the acknowledgments of the society were also givemtc Henry Harper, a lad of 14, for saving D. Vi. Volkwyn in the sea at Table Bay to Ernest Ao Garrett, aged 16, for saving a man in the Floating Bath, Charing-cross to George Hill, aged 14, saving Minnie Harding in the River Wan die; to Gr. E' Wilson, for saving G. Surege in the Thames At Millwall; to Frederick Blanchard, forsaviIlg Williapl Mead in the canal at Bath to James Wise, aged 14, for saving Lewis Norris in the Surrey Canal at ham; to William Wenham, for saving Edward SaxbJ in a pond at Benenden, Kent; to James Hunter, tot saving Earnest Corden in the canal at Stoke-CD* Trent, it being stated that Hunter had previous effected seven other rescues from drowning; and 0 Herbert Powell, for rescuing R. J. Kendle !n a. pea*' at Kempton-houae, Weasenham.

I A PERILOUS POSITION. The Geneva Correspondent of The Timts A few days since two schoolmasters from MorJÎØ'j a Savoyard village near the Swiss frontier, made 00 excursion to the Col de Coux, not far from Champét)', in the Valais. As they were descending the tain, late in the afternoon, they thought they he9*^ cries of distress. After a long search they percei*^ a man holding on to a bush, or small tree, had struck its roots into the face of the precip"" As the precipice was nearly perpendicular and man was some 1,200ft. feet below them, and the '°i of the precipice quite as far below him, they fo^nj it impossible to give the poor fallow any help. jrf they could do was to tqjl him to stop where ha he could—until they came back, and hurry ofi Morzine for help. ^Though it was night when arrived thither, a dozen bold mountaineers, equipPf9 with ropes, started forthwith for the rescue. Af6^ walk of twelve miles' they reached the Col M Golfe^e, but it being impossible to scale the the dark they remained there until the sun rose, soon as there was sufficient light they climbed ML roundabout p&tli to the top of the precipice. Ay man was stiil holding on to the bush. Three 0.ugt rescue party, fastened together with cords, were lowered to a ledge about 600ft. below. FroiB coign of vantage two of the three lowered the tbi* > the bush. He found the man, who had been astride his precarious perch a day and anight, bet* life and death. It was a wonder how he had been able to hold long, for besides suffering from hunger and cold been hurt in the fall from the height above. a reserve man belonging to Sameons, on thither from Lausanne, where he had been wor to be present at a muster. Losing his way,0 jjiP( mountains between Thonon and Samoens, jft' missed ilia footing and rolled over the precipic0' ^3 had the presence of mind to cling to the husbij? jjd» broke his fall, but if the two schoolmasters heard his cries he must have perished Hoisting him to the top of the precipice was a d'vijj and perilous undertaking, but it waa safely plished. yttfj None of the man's hurts were dangerous, and so a long rest and a hearty meal or two he W nounced fit to continue his journey and report at the muster." ================

DEATH OF A SWISS GUIDE. > Mr. Felix O. Schuster, of the Alpine Club, to The l'imes:— »#1 "All mountaineers will hear with deep regrilfo. the sudden death of one of the very best oi M guides, and one who, perhaps, more '„han an? contributed to the successful exploration of The circumstances of Peter Bohren's death to me in a letter just received from Peter one of the few guides of the old schot,} now tf in the Oberlaud. I cannot do better than Pji'1 r verbal translation of his simple and touch count:— t •Tuesday (4th inst.) was a fine day, noon Peter Bohren aud I started with atr#Yh0j>? the Gleckstein hut, to ascend the Wetterhorn day. About a quarter of an hour's walk hut, old Peter remained behind, being very told us to go on while he would follow later. ing at the hut, I saw him coming on, but t cat down and seemed to fall. I called to received no answer; then ran down to him. too late; he was dead, his face was already was a sad sight. I carried him up to the htt!jjj £ j| was a long night for me. Early in the rv&'L W started downwards, and five guides went J him down.' "Peter Bohren's name Is so well-kno^'eeri^t| reputation as one of the pioneers of mounts^ ,t firmly established, that it is almost ■peak of his many excellent qualities. -^■0Z.re superficially acquainted with Alpine litera that its pages are fall of tributes of Pra,l3jIj tion for him from our foremoBt climbers. ^0** W the Alps he was one of the first e*PgC0pt a his own native Oberland hardly a aDir^'Jf been made of which he was not the leaiing r 10 J has done more, perhaps, than any other gu bUt V the profession to its present standard, in spite of hi» undoubted courage has to reckless, ess been made against him. Jk knew hira well and have been out witu ^ia fslly appreciate his strength and energy>g0pgt$ •ompauionship, and cheerful word ftn^nt of 9.t i, above ail, his thorough and keen enjoy.01 m twneering for its own sake, and his 6enjjg the peaks ani glaciers he knew so well. as no doubt he would have wished 5 hie native meuotMua .aad at hit work.

Our ^otikit Cnrasgoubent. 1 JJfkS" deem it right to state that we do fl0t a| yj times Identity ourselves vrith our Correspon<^n^8 cpinioas. The holding of th6 teiSttai exhibition of the Royal Agricultural Society is always an event of much interest to the great industry which it represents. The adoption cf the peripatetic syatem in connection with these mam- moth shows has proved a great and marked suocess, Somotimesthe giant collection of cattle, roots, and agri- cultural implements is gathered together in one of the great hires of capita in Nojtb$f Engiiu^, -Lnon it seeks out the wealth of the Midlands, then again it goes into a district purely devoted to farming, and attracts the practical and scientific agriculturist from many a neighbouring ehire, This year's exhibition is held under circumstances of solicitude to the farmer, inasmuch as the broken weather of July has thus far retarded the growth, or rather the ripening of the wheat. The icelees winter has been succeeded by a comparatively sunless summer thus far one, more- over, with a temperature much Lower than that to which we are accustomed, and, indeed, than that which is absolutely required if the work of Nature is to be done in its proper time and in the ordinary way, The contrast between the weather of July, 1881, and that of July, 1882, is very remarkable. Last year we had a higher temperature than any ever before re- corded in this Country. Of course there might have been hotter daya, but the meteorological instruments for the registration of the heat were not so perfect as they are now. On the 5th of July, last year, the thermometer in London stood at 92 degrees in the shade on the 15th it rose to the extraordinary height of 97. This was higher than the average run of tem. perature at the tropics but when it is remembered that the residents near the equator are not only used to hot weather but accommodate themselves to it by both dress and habitation, it is seen at once how totally unprepared we are in these latitudes for such a sodden wave of heat. This year the thermometer marks 25 or 30 degrees lower than it did this time twslve months—a difference which affords ample scope for the study and research of the meteorologist. The Rifle competition at Wimbledon is to the volun- teers what the Royal Agricultural Exhibition is to the farmers, the difference being that the meeting is fixed instead of movable. But it is the one great point of attraction for those who are interested in the engage. ments of the gathering, and draws marksman to Wim- oledon not only from all parts of England and Scot- land, but from the colonies as weB-the Canadians often showing what they can do in the way of defend- ing their homes if necessity arose for them to do so. Very varied have been the experiences of the com- petitors on the well-known Surrey common so far as weather is concerned. In 1868 the camp seemed to have been pitched in the torrid zone; and during the fortnight's shooting there was a cloudless sky with a fierce sun. In 1875 the floods were well-nigh Aus- tralian in their persistency and severity. Again, in 1879 the volunteers faced one of the most humid of recent years; while in 1881, the equa- torial heat was most trying in its character. That was when the movement attained its majority by the completion of its twonty-urat year; an age which many did not expect it to reach at the time of ita institution. The London season has now arrived at a time when it may be said to have seen the best of its days. It has not been a long nor a brilliant one; and the only occasion on which a foreign sovereign had arranged to pay a visit to the City of London had to be abandoned. It will be remembered that the King of the Netherlands was to have been entertained at Guildhall, but was summoned to Holland before the day fixed for the banquet in consequence of a family bereavement. The Levies began very early in the middle of February, and the Drawing Rooms within a fortnight afterwards, and closed at a corre- sponding early period. The proceedings in Parliament have been almost uniformly dull and devoid of interest to the general public. Nowhere is the evidence of the revolution wrought in the world of journalism more perceptible than in the length at which the cheap press of London now give the Parliamentary debates. Before the establish- ment of penny newspapers, the debates were given very fully by the high-priced journals; column after column, and page after page were devoted to the speeches of public men. The man who could afford 5d. a day for a paper was supposed to take an interest in high Imperial polifcitics, and to read the utterances of states- men and politicians, reported at full length. Not much more than twenty years ago Mr. Gladstone observed that Parliamentary speeches were given to the public by the yard-he might almost say by the mile. This is so no longer, and for it there is more than one reason. In the first place Parliament has ceased to transact the business of the empire, and confines itself almost exclusively to the affairs of one corner of the Queen's dominions. In the next, the extension of telegraphy both at home and abroad has increased the extent and variety of news a hundred- fold, and this, appealing to a wider constituency of readers, now occupies a considerable part of the space formerly appropriated to the debates. The penny reader is a very different class of person from the five- penny be wants to read the proceedings in the police- courts, inquests, and accidents. Thus it comes to pass that the art of condensation has had to be applied to the doings of the Legislature so much so that five or six hours of debate now often represent liitle more than half a column. The other event more looked forward to as an op- portunity for an outing than as commanding any special and intrinsic interest in itself is the gathering in the Duke of Richmond's richly-wooded park at Goodwood. So delightful is the scenery that the meeting has well bsencilled glorious." As at Ascot and at Epsom, so at Goodwood, a very large propor- tion of those who are in attendance care little or nothing about the racing, which has no special or intrinsic interest for them. But they certainly do enjoy the excursion, as the poet Gray would put it, "far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife." The shire of Sussex is rich in health-giving sea breezes, as visitors to such popular watering places as Brighton and Hastings can abundantly testify it is also, in its interior, rich in splendid pictures painted by Nature herself, and which are appreciateo highly by those who albeit caring but little for sporting, Bet great store upon a lovely panorama and pure air. A day in the country is again asked for in the columns of the London papers on behalf of a large number of poor children who pass the springtime of their lives in London, without much change or relief of scene. In connection with this subject it may be mentioned that with the advance of time there is more and more a disposition to remove from London into the country such public schools as it is possible to apply the process of such migration. For years the question has bean discussed as to the policy of shifting such important institutions as Christ's Hospital and St. Paul's School from their present sites in the very heart of the city, to spots far away from town. The value of the ground which they occupy is now enormous, and it would be much better for the health of the boys to be out of the smoke and close atmosphere of the City of London. "There is another Inssitution in the City which all would be glad to see disestablished, and that is the Gaol of Newgate. The idea of building a gloomy fortress ia such a place would not now be entertained for a moment, and the sooner the forbidding structure ifdemolished the better will it be for the architectural pretensions of the City.

THE BOMBARDMENT OF ALEXANDRIA. The following official report was given by the Ad- miralty on Tuesday :— Admiral Sir Beauchamp Seymour telegraphs that the ships opened fire at seven o'clock this morning, and the return fire from the forts is weak and ineffec- tive. At eight o'clock the bombardment was con- tinuing, and an explosion in Fort Marsa-el-Kanafc had occurred. The ships engaged are the ir^exiMe, Temeraire, Penelope, Superb, Su.jfap:, Invincible, Alexandra, Monarch, The FrencB. Squadron sailed last evening from Alex- andria, leaving two vessels off the port.

PREPARING FOR ACTION. The correspondent of the Standard gives a graphic ac- count of the proceedings at Alexandria immediately prior to the commencement of the bombardment. The following is an extract therefrom On board H.M.S. Invincible. Monday morning. Early this morning the remaining British subjects em- barked on board ship, and save a somewhat numerous colony of Italians ahd Greeks, the European portion of the population of Alexandria have entirely deserted it. Those who remain prefer to run any risk rather than abandon their property to the mercy of the mob. They have barricaded their houses, and will resist to the last any attempt on the part of the mob to break in when the bombardment begins, Two p.m. At eleven, the Invincible, Monarch, and Ptmlope, moved out and anchored in the outside harbour. The scene was now impressive to a high degfts. Slowly all the foreign steamers moved from their berths and steamed out of harbour. The merchant steamers followed no regular order, but the war ships of the various nations steamed out in squadrons, saluting in passing the Admiral's flag, while the bands played the national airs. Scarce a breath of wind was blowing, and the various ensigns drooped against the masts. The bright Eastern sky overhead, the deep blue of the sea, the white-clothed crews clustering on the rigging, and the knowledge of the change which would soon take place, rendered the stately procession of war ships extremely impressive. The merchant steamers were all crowded with refugees- those who had held on to the last iu hopes that matters would not come to an extremity. The British steamer Lianishen took ground ia a critical position, but was eventually got off, By half-past twelve the American Squadron of three ships, two Russian vessels, one Austrian, and one German alone remained. At one o'clock a steam launch, towing a large boat fall of Egyptian officials, was seen approaching the tlag ship. It contained Ragheb Pacha and other members of the past and Present Ministry. They were received by the Admiral and the Hon. Mr. Lamban, Flag Lieutenant, and a guard of marines, the band playing, and a general salute, as they came as a deputation from the rulers of Egypt, It at once appeared that they had not received the Admiral's letter, and they had come oS to inquire the reason of the hostile preparations. The interview was conducted with great courtesy on both sides, but the Egyptian officials looked blank indeed upon the Admiral informing them that he had sent in a demand that the forts commanding the harbour should be imme- diately dismantled. The members of the deputation talked somewhat excitedly among themselves in Turkish, discussing, apparently, what Arabi would say to the demand. They inquired who would be deputed to dismantle the forts. They then returned on shore to consider the matter in a Council of Ministers. In several instances Europeans had great diffisulty in getting away. The two English engineers on board the tug Champion were seized by the Arab crew, and were being I carried off, when the gunboat Bittern started in pursuit, and rescued them. The last two Englishmen to come onip Td were Mr. Cornish, the manager of the waterworks, 4 Mr. South, secretary of the Porte trusts. The Khedive has sent his family away to a country palace, but he himself remains at Alexandria. He declined with thanks the invitation of the British Consul General to embark in one of our ships, saying that he oould not afford to give his enemies the opportunity of say- ing that he deserted his post to take refuge with a foreign foe. As I write, at two o,clock, the American Squadron are steaming past. Formal salutes are being exchanged, our bauds playing Hail, Columbia," thelr's God Save the Queen." Their departure leaves the British Fleet alone face to face with the Egyptian batteries, except where far inside the harbour, the German and Austrian steamers lie still hesitating whether to obey the Admiral's warning.

A FLAG OF TRUCE. (Evening Standard Telegram.) On board H.M.S. Invincible, Wednesday, Eight cun. This morning the Harem Palace is sill burning, and its smoke hangs heavy over Alexandria. There was also another great fire in the town last night. The Captains are at present in council on board this ship as to the operations for to-day. The wind is rising and is bio whig on to the shore, and when the sea gets up it will be difficult for the ships lying outside to make good practice. Had it been calm the Admiral had intended to finish the forts around MarabQut, When tho.16 were silenced, parties will be landed to spike iu t a^. ^ie °oast batteries. The Invincible will probably go m and engage the forts and batteries inside the narbour, aided by the Monarch and Penelope. The last named vessels went inside late last evening, and fired a few shots at the forts. The enemy only replied by field artillery, and it seemed as if the batteries were altogether deserted. NINE a.m. • The weather is thick and hazy, and a heavy swell is rolling in. The 1 emeraire and Inflexible are cruising off the Light- house and the Pharos and Ada Forts, which are silent and appear deserted. All the forts and also the Lighthouse are greatly damaged. No effort has been made by the enemy to effect any repairs on their batteries. The operations will recommence as soon as the weather clears. It is considered probable that the Egyptians will offer no opposition. Our killed in yesterday's action will be buried this morn- ing. All flags are flying half-mast high. The Admiral with the Invincible, Monarch, and Penelope are all inside the Breakwater. 9,30. The ships have Just opened fire upon the enemy s bat- Tories* 1.45 p.m. The TemiSralre and the Inflexible have fired three shots each at the new battery, which gave some trouble yester- day, and which was worked with heavy guns on the Moncrieff principle, east of Lighthouse Battery. At twenty minutes past eleven o'clock a white flag was noticed on a building supposed to be the official divan of the Minister of War at the Marine Arsenal. A British gunboat soon after entered the port with a flag of truce, and the firing was suspended. We further events. The fleet has anchored. The Achilles has arrived, and has joined the fleet. The weather is clearing up. The gunboat is still in port. FIVE p.m. The Helicon left the Chiltern at four o'clock with despatches for the Admiral. A Turkish yacht is cruising close to the Khedive's suburban palace. The flag of truce still remains on the Lighthouse Fort. The Fleet is under weigh. There is a heavy swell. The British gunboat has returned to the Admiral, but the result has not been made known. The Queen has telegraphed her anxious inquiries as to how the wounded have been getting on. A large fire has just broken out in the town. The Standard of Thursday published a continuation of the narrative of its Correspondent, from which we extract the following — SIX O'CLOCK. A few minutes after the shot was fired at Fort Meks a white flag was again hoisted. An officer will probably be sent off to the flag ship. Dense smoke is rising over Alexandria from two quarters, and another fire has just broken out. There are fears that the mob has begun to pillage and destroy. Much irritation Is expressed at the enemy's hoisting flags of truce which they know to be useless when they will not comply with our demands. We can see a few people moving on shore. They are hurrying to a village close by the ruins of Fort Meks. No military are visible. The Admiral is again sending ashore to inform the autho- rities that he accepts the flag of truce, but that it will be the last truce to which he will agree, and that henceforth he shail consider that the hoisting of a white flag signifies unconditional surrender, and will act accordingly. The Helicon is on the point of steaming away with this message. NINE p.m. The conflagration In the town is still extending. Flames are rising in various quarters. The spectacle is a grand one, but much anxiety is ftIt on board the Fleet lest a general destruction of the town should take place. The weather is moderating, the wind has abated, and the sea is going down. The Chiltern is endeavouring to obtain replies to the Queen's message about the wounded, by signalling with the electric light to the various vessels of the Fleet. The signals can be read with perfect ease, and could be so were the Chiltern lying at several times her present dis- tance. The Turkish yacht is still lying near the Khedive's Palace at liamleli close in shore. It is supposed that her object is to save the Khedive and his family in case of need.

ADMIRALTY TELEGRA M. 1telegram was received on Wednesday after- noon at the Admiralty from the Secretary to the Com- mander-in-Chief at Alexandria, dated July 12, 2.30 p.m.:— This morning at 10. SO, Inflexible and Téméraire each fired three shells into Moncrieff Battery Ras-el-tin. No other ships engaged. No response from shore. Further operations suspended at noon on flag of truce being hoisted at Arsenal. Gunboat under flag of truce proceeded at once to communi- cate and remains. Achilles arrived."

THE SHIPS IN ACTION. The following are some particulars respecting the armament and power of the ships taking part in the actionThe Inflexible is a turret ship, carries four 81-ton guns, which are worked in the turret, and has armour varying from 16 to 24 inches. Captain John Fisher in command. The Sultan carries 12 guns, eight of 18 tons and four of 12 tons each, and is armed with plates of from six to nine inches thick. Captain W. J, Hunt Grubbe ia in command. The Alexandra, has armour varying from eight inches to twelve inches. She is commanded by Charles F. Hotham, and carries ten 18-ton guns, and two guns of more powerful calibre, viz., 25-ton guns. The Superb has armour of from 10 to 12 inches, and carries four 25-ton guns. Thoaiaa Le H. Ward is her J captain. The Temeraire has four 25-ton guns, and four j 18-ton guns, and fights a most formidable ship. She I has armour of from 8 inches to 10 inches. Captain I Nicliolssn is in command. I The Monarch haa the same thickness of armour as the Temeraire, but carries four 25-ton guns. and two 6i.ton guns, and is not of such fighting strength as the Temeraire, Captain Henry Fairfax is in com- mand. The Invincible carries ten 12-ton guns, and has plates of from 6 to 8 inches. Captain Robert Moly- neux is in command. The Penelope has iron plates of six Inches thickness, and carries eight 9-ton guns. She is a double-screw corvette, and is the weakest of the vessels engaged in the bombardment.

THE PORTE TRYING TO STOP THE BOMBARDMENT, On Monday Lord Dufiprin communicated to the Porte a verbal Note stating that in consequence of the arming of the forts at Alexandria by the Egyptian authorities, Admiral Seymour intended to announce that morning that unless the forts were temporarily surrendered for the purpose of being disarmed, he would open fire within 24 hours. The Porte, in its reply, stated that according to information from Dervisch Pacha and the Khedive, no resistance would be offered in the event of. a bombardment. It hoped, therefore, that orders would be given to Admiral Seymour to abstain from all acts of hostility. On Tuesday the Porte, having learned that Admiral Seymour bad opened fire in the morning on the Alexandria forts, sent a telegram to the Ottoman Ambassador in London (Musurus Pasha), instructing him without a moment's loss of time to make pressing representations to Lord Granville to issue orders to cease firing immediately, in order to avert still greater misfortunes, H I hold it superfluous," says Said Pasha (the Turkish Minister), "to dwell on the extreme gravity of this fact; and I confine myself, considering the urgency of the case, to requesting that you will, without a moment's delay, make pressing representa- tions to Lord Granville, with the view of procuring immediately an order stopping the bombardment,"

The Berlin correspondent of the Daily News says that the bombardment of the Alexandrian forts produced great ex- citement among the public. Although the necessity of Gdmiral Seymour's action is recognised on all sides, still fears are entertained that general European troubles are not far off. The German Press is of opinion that Europe ought to be thankful for England's decisive action in the matter, One paper says, Old England now demonstrates in a practical manner that, she will not allow Europeans to be massacred by ruthless barbarians, and the trade and commerce of civilised countries to be interrupted." The hope is universally expressed that Admiral Seymour will be satisfied with the total destruction of the Egyptian forts, and not deem it necessary to land troops.

A despatch from Vienna published, by the Temps says that in Government circles in that city it is admitted that Great Britain has a perfect right to take vigorous action against Arabi Pachi's attitude of provocation. The despatch adds that so long as England pursues this line of coaduct she will meet with no opposition from the Powers.

The fear at St. Petersburg appears that England will gain a permament footing in Egypt. The Moscow Gazette points out that since the possession by the Russians of cotton plantations in Egypt, the former stands next to England as regards the export trade with Egypt. It would be most detrimental, the Moscow Gazette declares, if the land of the Pharaohs should come under an English protectorate. The Suez Canal is England's route to India, and Russia's route to China, Japan, and the Russian ports in the Pacific. The Golos considers that the sooner an English occupation is effected the better. The other Powers will then know what tt ey have to deal with, and be able to take the necessary measures to ensure their respective interests. The Golos remarks that England will probably have to face the more or less direct opposition of the other Powers, besides France.

New York-telegrams state that opinions are strong that the United States should hold entirely aloof, such being the tenour of the instructions sent to American officials in the East. In popular discussion there is a general wish ex- pressed that England may be able to keep the Suez Canal open, and an opinion that Arabi Pasha must not make a hostile demonstration against that common channel of inter- national commerce.

It has (The Times says) been known for some time that Arabi has had in his possession some torpedoes and other explosive implements, and a few weeks ago he sent for some electrical machines and some wire. It became known that the first named had arrived at Alexandria, and means were taken to prevent the electrical machines from reaching their destination. The wire was sent on, but the machines are on board the English ships.

The Evening Standard says:—"The English public has much reason to be indebted to the Eastern Telegraph Com- pany for the admirable manner in which, under circum- stances of the greatest difficulty, the telegraphic service be- tween Alexandria and Louden has been maintained. It deserves to be mentioned that the telegram which we published in our Second Edition on Tuesday morning, announcing the commencement of the bombardment, was despatched from her Majesty's ship Invincible at forty minutes past seven a.m., and was received In London at five minutes past six a.m. (the difference in the time between Alexandria and London being as nearly as may be two hours), so that the message reached this office within about thirty-five minutes from the time it was despatched from Alexandria. The verbal accuracy, too, with which the messages are transmitted deserves the highest praise. At present the Eastern Telegraph Company's ship is moored about four miles from Alexandria, and has on board the cables by which she can communicate with Malta and Cyprus. The land lines in Egypt are HOW cut, and the Company has moored a large lighter, with their staff on board, three miles from the shore at Suez, from where they can telegraph to Aden and Bombay. Telegrams are coming from Suez round by Bombay and the Indo-European line through Persia, and going round back to the Company's floating station at Alexandria.

DESTRUCTION AND ABANDONMENT OF ALEXANDRIA. In its Second War Edition on Thursday the Evening Standard published the following from its Correspondent On Board H.M.S. Jnvintiile, Thursday, 8 a.m. Alexandria Is abandoned by the Egyptians, the whole population, military and civil, having withdrawn. The entire European quarter, including the Grand Square, has been burnt. Last evening the Helicon, which had gone in to inquire the meaning of the flag of truce, found no one on board the Mahroussa, or hI the Arsenal. Unable to open communica- tion with the enemy the Helicon returned with the news to the Admiral. The great fires In the city continued to extend, and the Admiral determined to discover what was passing there. First Lieutenant Forsyth took the steam pinnace on shore. I received permission to accompany the reconnoitring party. Upon reaching the shore, Mr. Ross, purveyor to the Meet who was well acquainted with the town, landed, and with great courage proceeded for a considerable distance. He found that all was perfectly silent, save for the rear and crackle of the flames, and the sound of falling beams and walls, and that Alexandria was wholly deserted. It is clear that Arabi withdrew his .troops under cover of the flag of truce, and is, no doubt concentrated in the neigh- bourhood to oppose our advance, with the troops and the entire male population of Alexandria. The Invincible is now going inside the harbomr to make a complete reconnaissance. The work of the ships is over, and any further action and be on shore. The whole of the forts are found to be alMui- doned. At daylight the Admiral telegraphed to the fleet met to open fire, as the place was evacuated by the enemy. Half the town is wrapped In flames, and a dense «lo«d. •! smoke hangs over it. The fate .of the Europeans and Cteis- tians who had remained in the city Is unknown. A landing in force will take place to investigate the general condition, and render aid if possible. The Chiltern has received orders to prepare to ehaoge her position, and to come in nearer. Telegraphic eommmuica- tioa will therefore probably be suspended for three or four hours. 9.86 A it. The conflagration is tremendous, the whole of the Baro- pean quartor being in flames. The Grand Square is entirely destroyed, also the Exchange and telegraph offices. The flre is still spreading. The Egyptian army is in full retreat towards the interior, and is said to be wholly demoralised. Nothing is known of the Khedive; but as the yaeht still lies off his Palace at ftamleb, it is hoped that he is still there, and that h& will come off when the But moderates and allows him to embark. The scene in the town Is frightful. The oity was fired Is a great many places by the prisoners released from gael and the mob. Terrible atrocities have been committed. A body of 100 Europeau fought .their way,down to the beach this morning, and have been taken off by armed boats rom the Fleet. They report that they have had a terrible night, bavins defended themselves desperately in the Ottoman Bank aire the adjoining offices and buildings. They report that hundreds of Europeans and Christians have, to their knowledge, been massacred with circum. stances of horrible barbarity, and it is probable that the whole of the Europeans wi' h the exception of those who ha". reached the beach have been slain. The Helicon, with the survivors, is now alongside the Chiltern. A part of the Fleet is ordered to Port Said. The Chiltern is now engaged in splicing the cables to Cyprus and Malta. When this is done she will pay them out together and run In nearer to the shore and fleet. Com- munications will be maintained throughout the operations

The following was sent to the Press by the Admiralty on Thursday morning :— Telegram f rom Sit Beauchamp Seymour, dated Alexandria July 13, 9.25 a in. No. 113, THURSDAY. Immense conflagration in Alexandria last night. Fortiir apparently abandoned and entire garrison withdrawn under flag of truce, leaving Bedouins to pillage and fire the town. Invincible, Monarch, Penelope, and gunboats inside harbour. Other ironclads under weigh off New Port. De<0? gone to Port daid for information. Weather bad; communication difficult.