The Cambrian

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE CAMBRIAN." SIR,-In consequence of my evenings having been fully engaged the last week, I am a little out of date in replying to the letter of vour correspondent Nous" in your publication of the 23rd ult. Nous" says I accuse him of misrepresentation. I did, and it was misrepre- sentation of the most specious and transparent kind. He charges me of accusing him to be a proletaire I did no such thing. I said, his argument looks fearfully like the arguments of the proletariat and the nihilist." could not have called him a proletaire, for if he will look into the French dictionarv he will find the word to mean in the sense I used it, • the non-possessing class." And conventionally it means those who have nothing to lose, and therefore have recourse to incendiaryism and a scramble. By no possibility or plausibility could it be contorted into the verv ingenious suppositious meaning Nous" gives it, One « ho advocates the cause of those who subsist by labour." It suited the purpose to adopt this false meaning as it enabled him to make a profession of beina the workiug man's friend. Nous" will again say I am impurin? motives. What else can I do when he stoops to such attempted deceptions. I give this one example from many other false meanings given to my statements in his letters. Nous" dislikes the epithet I employed to characterise his peculiar style of argumentation as rhapsodical, and tries to twist the word into some other meaning than the proper one to show its inapplicability and inip- propriat.nness. I refer him again to the dictionaries In the London Encyclopce lia" he will find the defini- tion to be given as ""ny number of pirts joined together without necessary or due connection a writer in this unconnected wa In Wa'ker's Die lonary, "a rhap- sody was originally the title of Homer's Poems. & but is now applied to any wild or unconnected effusion of imagination. Nous''draws strongly on his imagi- nation when he accuses me of saying so many things I never said or meant to say, and is moreover so very desultory in his argumentation, that I thought the term very appropriate and expressive of the metninit I wished it to convey. If Nous" prefers he can substi tute for it rodomontade or rigmarole. But as he ..nl resorts to those perveriont and twistings of the mean- ings of my words and statements to confuse, obfusticate and bewilder the minds of those who subsist by labour" into a belief that his theory of political economy is the only true panacea for the evils resulting from bad legis- lation to their class, I am willing also to defer to their judgment. Since our letters threaten to become so lengthy, I ex- pect the Editor of The Cambrixtfn will resort to the cloture and put a stop to them. If he will kindly admit this, my last reply to incognito Nous," I submit to the cloture against my letters. But returning to the terms of the original argument, Nous said Free food im- portRtion is a necessity for us, free importation of manu factured articles is not so much a necessity for America." I denied the propositions, and attempted to shew that a protective duty on imports would be more conducive to the interests and welfare of the landholder, the farmer, the manufacturer, and their employees. Nous in proof of his proposition, produces the abortive results of forty years'tri il of free trade, (so called). I am willing that, those who subsist by labour, agricultural or manu- facturing, shall judge between us, after giving one more example of the mode of suppressive detail and partial facts used by many free traders. In a text book of the free traders, entitled The Reciprocity Craze," published by the Cobden Club, will be found an article intended to prove that when imports exceed exports it exhibits a healthy state of trade. Reeiprocists also admit that to a certain extent. The writer of the article, it will be seen, limits the transaction to an exportation, and the return importation in repay- ment. The reciprocist looks a little beyond, and com- plains that the imports so far exceed the exports that they must be paid for in cash, or by foreign investments or securities all taking capital out of this country, be- cause the means of profitable investment at home is lost to this country by unequ.l and unfair competition with the foreign producer. The writer of the article referred to says, How can it he otherwise than that our imports should exceed in value our exports ? If a merchant ex- port JE100 worth of goods, and in exchange for them imports goods worth only £100, he must make a dead loss under the heads of freight, insurance, interest, and profits. How can it be otherwise? Let us suppose the goods cost him £100 at Liverpool. He exports them to some foreign country, and, of course, has to pay freight and insurance. Let us say this comes to 10 per cent. On arrival at the foreign market the goods must, there- fore, be worth £110. They must be sold, of course, and let us suppose the proceeds re-invested in goods for im- portation here. Again comes in the charge for freight, another 10 per cent., which, added to the £110 makes the goods worth X121 on arrival at our ports, independently of interest on the money used, and what the merchant, may lay on as profit. And so the JE100 of exports comes back as E121 at least, of imports, and must do so as long as trade is carried on. And on this shewing what be- comes of complaints founded on the bare fact of our imports exceeding our exports." It will be seen that the writer ingeniously, but very disingenuously omits the duty chargeable on the goods. He should have put the value of the return goods, or cash, at j6121, less the import duty, say 20 per cent., or it may be 50 per cent. But for the purpose of the argument we will say 25 per cent. How can free traders expect such a shewing of the business to pass unquestioned, unless they think the transparent veil thrown over their statements makes them inscrutably mysteries beyond the power of ordinary minds to penetrate. The exporter from Liverpool buys free on board, or on equivalent terms, save some small local charges and insurance, making the £ 100 worth of £ 106 value on reaching the port of delivery. The con- signee pays the freight, say 10 per cent. agency and local import charges, 3^ per cent. duty, 25 per cent. The total being 39 per cent. He sells the goods for £ 150, and, after deducting these payments, equal to JE29, remits as the balance the sum of jBlll. The jEll being the profits, less, of course, the shipping charges and insurance paid him, amounting to 6 per cent., shewing the net gain to be 5 per cent. If, instead of cash, the return is made in goods, it will come back to this country to the shipper as JE111 worth, less the shipping charges, insurance, and agencv, say B5; or an import value of about £105, and must do so as long as trade is carried on. The freight, to the extent of about two-thirds, will be returned to another channel, if the ship be a Btitisb one. But freight is not an import, it only represents a modicum of the capital employed in the profit and loss of the shipowner. It will be seen that I have included a new element of charges a duty of 25 per cent. I have shewn that the goods were sold in the market in competition with other importers and home producers. The writer on "The Reciprocity Craze" must admit that the deduction of the freight is a legitimate charge against the British ex- nnrfer Is not the charge of the duty another legiti- mate charge to be deducted also ? Who then pays the duty? The exporter of the goods from Liverpool clearly. And the foreign exporter would pay the duty levied on imports into this country. In both cases the Governments receive the duties into their exchequers and should relieve the tax-payer equivalently. But "Nous" says, "it is a fallacy to suppose that the populations of Foreign States are relieved of taxation by the imposition of a tax upon the commodities they consume." Then the Governments must be very dishonest and misappropriating Governments. I admit that the impost of a duty on imports would, to some extent, diminish imports, but the commodities would be replaced by home productions to the advantage of the community generally, but especially so to the agricultural and manufacturing part of it. Cannot "Nous" distinguish a y difference between commercial and manufacturing interests? If he c m why will he elevate the one to the ruin of the other when the agricultural and manufacturing interest employ so many more labourers than the commercial ? T At- so hand in hand together with equal chances Struggle for exfatmoj.-I .m, m, sour, in tne HENRY J. MADGE. obediently, December 5, 1882.

If •fTumni 4 T TO THE MIDLAND RAILWAY A MEMORIAL TO I^OTORS TO THE EDITOR OP "THE CAMBRIAN." SIR.—Considering the large number of the The Cambrtan who are deeply interested pnnceraed with which the following correspondnce is c to many hundreds who so willingly attached their "the petition"—and the many thousands moie would have done so had they had the chance, I trust, nay I am sure, you will give the correspondence a place in The Cambrian, principally, so far as I am concerned, in order that the memorialists may at once have an answer, including full particulars, to the question now being constantly asked— How is our Petition to the Midland getting on?" Many of the memorialists having taken great pains and spent much time in the matter, and the correspondence having been entrusted to me, I on my own account also beg your kind compliance.-I am, Sir, yours very respectfully, WM. SAMUEL. Tanyrallt House Pontardawe, Dec. 4. 1882. March 1st, 1882. m a. Honourable the Board of Directors of the Midland Lomeav Eailway. „ xup inhabitants of the Swansea Valley hereby We, being t &g w{;]1 as T0ry earnestly, the beg very respectiui^-of Honourable Board to the considerate d inthe following statements, viz. circumstancesdeta greatly, to our own That it would add greatiy_,f ^y Board comfort and c^veni g ea at the High-street would arrange to land" t gt Thomas. We Station (G.W.R.), insteaod °!' anTngst others the fol- urge this for many re^0^ town from St, Thomas is lowing :-The approach to the the state of the very frequently much obstructe y the heavy bridges over the river and over the a necessity of our railway traffic on level crossings by.^e f th Harbour b.,tagt. P«» through the turh'tde the Harbour Trustees, which, on market days causes a serious delay and is otherwise a oreat > particularly in wet weather, when the filthy state of the road from the station to Wind-street, adds much t discomfort. On dark nights all these circumstances cau this part of the road to be at least not without danger life and limb. At High-street we could go at once from a very commodious station to a street well paved and well lighted at night-one of the principal streets of the town Persons having to travel by rail eastward or west, ward' are ready at High-street to do so at once without having to incur the expense, annoyance, and loss of time which are necessary now in getting themselves and lug- gage from St. Thomas to High-street. At present it is not uncommon with us to leave the Midland Railway at Morriston and get to Swansea (High-street) by Great Western Railway or by Tram Car. No doubt this course would be pursued to a greater extent if the Great Western were so far to alter their time-table to and from Mor. riston, that passengers with their luggage might catch suitable trains between Morriston and Swansea. Now that the Great Western line joins Cwm-Clydach with Swansea and has done so for some twelve months, we anxiously hope that your Honourable Board will, with a view to this great public convenience, grant our Petition. We, your memorialists and inhabitants of Cwm-Clydach, Glais, Pontardawe, Ystalyfera, Ystradgunlais, Abercrave and Brynamman have the honour to be, your very res- pectful and obedient servants. [Here follow 600 names, including the most] important personages of the Swansea Valley.] Tanyrallt House, Pontardawe, Swansea, June 9th, 1882. To the Board of Directors of the Midland Railway Company. Gentlemen,—I have the honour to enclose a very numerously signed petition to your honourable Board on a subject of considerable importance to all the inhabitants of these districts. I beg very respectfully to add that a copy of the peti. tion is being sent also to the Board of Directors of the Great Western Railway Company.-I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your obedient servant, WILLIAM SAMUEL, B.A., Cantab. Midland Railway, General Manager's Office, Derby, June 4th, 1882. Dear Sir,-I am in receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, addressed to the Directors, enclosing memorial suggesting that our trains should use the High-street Station, Swausea, and will have the matter looked into. —Yours faithfully, JOHW NOBLE, General Manager. The Rev. W. Samuel, Pontardawe. Tanyrallt House, Pontardawe, Swansea, June 17th, 1882. Dear Sir,-Since the despatch of our memorial to you last week, the accompanying two sheets of further signa- tures have come to hand. I enclose also a cutting from a newspaper of this day referring to a fatal accident which happened on that part of the road which we are so anxious you would enable us to avoid.-I am, sir, yours respectfully, WILLIAM SAMUEL. To J. Noble, Esq. August 21st, 1882. SIR -Between two and three months ago a memorial from the district was sent to the Board of Directors of the Midland Railway Company, very numeriously and very influentially signed. Its receipt was duly acknow- ledged by Mr. Noble, who then stated that be would have the matter looked to." As Mr. Noble did not state that the memorial had been laid or would be laid before your Board, Mr. Noble was very respectfully asked on the 17th June to state whether his communication to me (above quoted) was to be considered as the answer of the Board to the memorialists; but so far Mr. Noble has been silent on the subject. The memorialists, for special reasons, are very anxious to have some due authorised declaration from the Board in answer to their petition, and trust you will kindly assist them in obtaining one as soon as circumstances will permit you doing so conveniently.—I am, sir yours very faithfully, W. SAMUBL — Williams, Esq., Secretary Midland Railway, Derby Midland Railway, General Manager's Office Derby, August 22nd 1882 Dear Sir,—My attention has to-day been directed to the fact that you have received no reply to a letter wV l, you addressed to me on the 23rd June last. Alcn Will you please accept my apologies for this delav ? A reply should have been sent to you that the m tr to which reference is made in the memorial, has not* VIA' submitted to my Directors, but that it will be bro ht brought under their consideration at their next after which I will write to you further.-I a5g' faithfully, JoHV ^'Jours W.Samuel, Esq., B. A., Pontardawe. LB' Midland Railway, General Manager's Office, Derby, September 6th, 1882 DEAR SIR,— I have had an opportunity of submitting the memorial from the inhabitants of Pontardawe & to my Directors, and I am instructed to inform you' that they have no running powers over the Great Western Railway into the High-street station, Swansea, and that therefore, it is not possible for them to run their pas- sengers into that station, instead of into the St. Thomas station, as at present.—I am, yours faithfully, JOHN NOBLE W. Samuel, Esq., B.A., Pontardawe. Tanyrallt House, Pontardawe, Swansea September 11th, 1882 SIR,—In reference to my letter to you, of August 21st an explanation was received by me from Mr. Noble by return of post; and. further, Mr. Noble writes on the 6th instant, that he is instructed to inform us that inas- much as you have no running powers over the Great Western Railway into High-street station, Swansea it is not possible for you to run your passengers into that station. Very many of the memorialists were aware that you had not running powers in this case, and henoe we did that which I state in my letter, of June 9th to Mr. Noble namely submit a copy of our memorial to the Directors of the Great Western Railway Company, together with a letter requesting their kind co-operation in furtherance of the object in view. [The letters appear below.t I beg to enclose copies of that correspondence wherein it appears evident to your memorialists, that yon Wn„i i not meet with much difficulty in obtaining fai.7 from the Great Western in any reasonable endp you may be pleased to make in order to comply with request so very important to the inhabitants of Swansea Valley and its surrounding districts. Any attempt to exaggerate the condition of thintr set forth in our petition, is needless; their actual » require no painting The prospect of their continn through another winter, now fast approaching j„ alarming to contemplate inasmuch as it is dan'i? very depressing; aud, seeing that it is removable but evoke our execration as well as rouse a • tion to obtain relief by any and all legitimata possible. Nevertheless, it is hoped that your boa^DS-ii be able to grant our request with as little delm, sible.—Yours very respectfully, as Pos" WILLIAM SAMURL. Midland Railway, Secretary's Office, Derby, September 25th isso SIR,—I beg to acknowledge the receipt of VOUPL; the 16th inst., with its enclosures, which I havo t J °i to the General Manager, from whom you will „ shortly hear.—Yours faithfully, 1 no doubt William Samuel, Esq., Tanyrallt House^M8' Pontardawe, Swansea. Tanyrallt House, Pontardawe SIR—Since the receipt of your letter°of fW* which you say that you had no doubt that I «h shortly hear from the general manager, we have r j no kind of communication respecting our m eceiY, We trust that you will very shortly kindly causa10*' be honoured with a final answer. It may be as Ti* +° state now as a further reason in favour of the that on occasion wheu the bridges are open abn t T' time of starting the up trains, the detention cau« f course, the assemblage of people more or les waiting for a passage over the water, especially3 market days. As soon as the bridges are closed °a v? takes place for the train—the last bell perhaps having The fares, in many cases loaded with parcels and H* nearly exhausted by the pace when they reach th'h ment of the station, find themselves faced by a fT 25 steps, set at an angle of considerable acutenegs h" h must be scaled to get on the platform. These s W r hurry scurry—panting and gasping struggle8 mav^8 tn some lookers on amusing, but, to others, sad and sv A few days ago a robust working women who had "n^"8 gone one of these forced performances, and, who •* at last got her seat almost in a breathless* state she had somewhat recovered her power of a,.«„„i x- er said, with a very genuine sigh, "I shall not r,Z' this for a fortnight; it always serves me so." Now this kind of thing is a very serious matter in its consequences, for which the St. Thomas station of the Midland Railway Company is responsible. It i8 dangerous not only to people already suffering from affection* of the heart, but is conducive to the development of those affections in people whose constitutions have a tendency in that direction. A similar remark applies to neoole suffering from bronchial and lung derangements A» a medical man 1 feel fully justified in making this state- ment. It is certain, I venture to say, that with the Railway Commissioners this consideration would have no inconsiderable weight, in any adjudication they may be called upon to pronounce between the pecuniary interests of railway companies and the convenience and more especially the safety of the public. I trust that the freedom with which I have written will not appear to be wanting in respect towards your honourable Board. I believe I have only given expression to the sentiments on the subject with which the memo- rialists are imbued.—I have the honour to be, Sir, yours very respectfully, 0 J. Samtthl. — Williams, Esq., General Secretary of the Midland Railway Company. Midland Railway, General Manager's Office, Derby, November 24th, 1882. DBAR SIR,-I received your letter of the 15th inst., suggesting that the passengers desiring to go to and from Swansea should be conveyed by the Great Western Com- pany to and from Morriston. I am obliged for your having taken the trouble to write me, but I do not see any present prospect of altering the mode of working our trnffic.—I am, yours faithfully, JOHN NOBLI. W. Samuel,^Esq., Pontardawe. Tanyrallt House, Pontardawe, Swansea, June 9th, 1882. To the Chairman and Board of Directors of the Great Western Railway Company. GENTLEMEN,—I have the honour to forward to your I. Honourable Board a copy of a petition, very numerously and very extensively signed, to the Board of Directors of the Midland Railway Company. It is trusted that the Great Western Company will, as far as they may be able, aid, or, at all events, not thwart, the efforts which, I may say, all the dwellers in the Swansea Va'ley are now making to obtain a very great railway accommoda- tion, and to avoid an enormons inconvenience and nuisanc«.—I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, your obedient servant, WM. SAMUEL, B.A, Cantab. Great Western Railway, London Terminus, Paddington, 13th June, 1882. SlH,—I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, addressed to the Chairman and Direc- tors of this Company, enclosing oopy of a petition for- warded to the Midland Company from inhabitants of Pontardawe and the surrounding district, requesting that Company to arrange to land their passengers in Swansea, at the High-street station of the Great Western Company, instead of at St. Thomas as now. The views to which you give expression will not fail to reoeive the best consideration of the directors whenever the matter is brought before them. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, FRED G. SAUNDEBS. Wm. Samuel, Esq., Tanyrallt House, Pontardawe, Swansea. The first of the two following paragraphs appeared in The Cambrian of the 24th ult., the second in the last issue. Their remarkable appropriateness to our case, justifies me in attaching them here, and in submitting them to the serious study of Mr. Noble.—W. S. It is said that the newly opened small passenger line from Swansea to Morriston, &c.. has been made a subject of special inquiry by the Great Western Railway Company, and that there is a prospect of its early extension further up the Swansea Valley, so as to meet the requirements of the increasing populations on the western and north-western side of the Tawe, and to provide for the mineral traffic of the district." "THE BOARD OF TRADE AND LEVEL CROBSINGs.-On account of the numerous accidents terminating fatally at level crossings on railways, the Board of Trade have decided to make an inquiry into one of these accidents, which occurred recently at Coalville, Leicestershire. Colonel Yolland, C.B.. has been appointed to make the necessary investigation. The inhabitants allege that two level crossings in the centre of the town are exceedingly dangerous, and although there is a great deal of shunting and other traffic, they have to be crossed by over 1,000 school children every day, no foot bridge being pro- vided." In conclusion, I may say that if Colonel Yolland be sent down to Swansea, as he possibly will be one of those days, it would be well that he should run up to Pontardawe by the 3.40 or 8.30 p.m. train on a Saturday. Landing at Pontardawe, he can- not but be much interested by the crowded scene of bustle and tussle about him, more especially so if the weather be of the usual kind—that is, either a drizzle or a down-pour, and umbrellas hoisted, and overlapping each other-like a Roman legion, when assaulting a citadel. The gallant Colonel must not expect to be carried in one direction by the crowd- that would be at least uniform but in consequence of the Ystalyfera and Brynaman fares, led by their better taste to prefer the Brecon carriages to the old and ricketty Swansea Vale ones, have to turn out at Pontar- dawe and push against and through the throng of the Pontardawe people, making or striving to make their exit from the platform. Colonel YoHand will, no doubt, admire the dimensions of the platform upon which this exciting bustle is carried on—it is fully between five and nine feet in width, so that the chance of any man, woman, or child being pushed off inadvertently, whilst the train is in motion, is so remote as to be altogether out of the question. The ocular testimony afforded by the mass of umbrellas will fully convince Colonel Yolland of the care and consideration with which the Railway Company have provided for the over-head comfort of their fares. Ultimately, no doubt, Colonel Yolland will perceive that Taffy is a more patient animal and one more easily satisfied than his English equivalent-John Bull. Two or three years ago the Board of Directors were made acquainted with what some of the Pontardawe people thought of these thing- Mr. Noble then said that the alteration suggested would not be met by any additional traffic. But one of the complaints then was that the accomrr.odation was insuf- ficient for the traffic. Possibly Mr. Noble was right, financially but the Board of Trade do not confine their view to the profit and loss aspect of these questions, but rather care for the convenience and safety of the public. In taking leave of this matter it may not be superfluous that I should take the opportunity of tendering my thanks to my correspondents for the courtesy which they have been pleased to treat my communication, not- withstanding the want of success which has attended my efforts.-W. S.

THE TEMPLE OF TRUTH. [LETTER 20] TO THE EDITOR OF THE "CAMBRIAN." SIR,-The human mind in all its faculties is consti- tuted by God. Those faculties which are appropriate for the acquisition of knowledge are appointed by Him, and are valid to the end for which they were appointed. There are faculties appropriate to the knowledge of the senses; there are others appropriate to more abstract knowledge, and at the summit there are faculties whose sole and special function it is to apprehend moral and religious truth. The truth which comes to man through the exercise of these faculties, comes just as much from God as if a voice spoke from the heavens, or a finger wrote on the sky. When a man using his own mind per- ceives that two and two make four, he apprehends that truth by the method which God appointed. All the re- sults of mathematics being reached by the right use of the proper mental faculties are reached in accordance with Divine law. Go now to a higher realm-the realm of conscience—that faculty too is implanted by God. It admits of education, and the best educated conscience apprehends the most truth in morals just as the best edu- cated mathematician reaches the most truth in his field. Conscience, then the sense of right and wrong, is truly a Divine voice in the soul. When a man is sincere, con- viction tells him in regard to his conduct, This is right," or This is wrong;" he is as much bound by it as he can be bound by anything. That is the most trust- worthy indication he has of what God would have him do. Still, further, the senseof right and wrong must guide us only as to our own conduct but as to our thought of God whatever our highest conception of goodness is, that'to us must be the conception of God. There are not two kinds of goodness-one for God and another for men. Our highest thought of purity, of justice, of love, that must be our thought of God. Not mine to look where cherubim, And seraphs may not see; But nothing can be good in Him, Which evil is in me. This is the loftiest and most blessed experience of human nature. Those who have felt it know that it is not imaginary or delusive, but deeper and surer than any- thing besides. In such moments the soul sees God face to face it knows Him thereafter, not by report of another but by its own highest consciousness. To en- courage and enforce this duty and strengthen its moral and spiritual bearings upon the conscience of men, is one of the chief objects of the Christian church. For I say that human nature will never be satisfied with a system which does not awaken sentiment and emotion. Man has a thirst for excitement; he delights in the exercise of bis affections, and his Creator can hardly be supposed to give him a religion which contradicts this essential part of his nature. For when reason has once made itself certain of the evidence of a Divine Revelation it then appropriates the truths which this reveals by its assent, and exercises its powers on them. For although the mysteries of religion are beyond our nowers of explanation, yet they each present more or less an intelligible side to our natural reasons and, so far as they are intelligible, reason may exercise itself most profitably in tracing out their harmony with its dictates their influence on the minds and hearts of men, and on society, and by devoutly meditating on them it mfty penetrate further into their meaning, bring out thoir hidden analogy with other truths, and clothe itself with transcendent beauty. It was this research of the relations of nature and the truths of reason to revealed truths that occupied the master minds of sacred science. And this research of reason the Holy Catholicism of the Christianity of Christ always has encouraged and sanctioned. To the opening mind-at least (says Mr. W. R. Greg in his Enigmas of Life) when so placed as to be exempt from the sordid cares and necessities of a mere material existence—it seems like a delicious feast, the most magnificent banquet ever spread by a kind Creator for a favoured creature, the amplest conceivable pro- vision for a Being of the most capacious and various desires The surface of the earth is strewed with flowers the path of years is paved and planted with enjoyments. Every sort of beauty has been lavished on our allotted home beauties to enrapture every sense beauties to satisfy every taste. Forms the noblest and the loveliest, colours the most gorgeous, and the most delicate odours, the sweetest and the subtlest harmonies, the most soothing and the most stirring, the sunny glories of the day the pale Elysian grace of moonlight, the lake, the mountain, the primeval forest, and the boundless ocean, silent pinnacles of aged snow" in one hemisphere, the marvels of tropical luxuriance in another, the serenity of sunsets, the sublimity of storms, every thing is bestowed in boundless profusion on the scene of our existence we can conceive or desire nothing more exquisite or perfect than what is round us every hour, and our per- ceptions are so framed as to be consciously alive to all. The provision made for our sensuous enjoyment is in overflowing abundance; so is that for the other elements of our complex nature. Who that has revelled in the opening extacies of a young imagination, or the rich marvels of the world of thought, does not confess that the intelligence has been dowered at least with as pro- fuse a beneficence as the senses. Who that has truly tasted and fathomed human love in its dawning and crowning joys has not thanked God for a felicity which, indeed, passeth understanding." If we had set our fancy to picture a Creator occupied solely in devising delight for ohildren whom he loved, we could not con- ceive one single element of bliss which is not here. We might retrenoh casualties; we might superadd dura- tion and extension we might make that which is partial occasional and transient, universial and enduring, but we need not and we could not introduce one new ingredient of joy. So varied and so lavish is the provision made for the happiness of man upon this earth, that we feell intuitively and (irresistibly that Earth was designed to be a scene of enjoyment to him; that it was created and arranged expressly for this end; nor can either sophistry or sad experience in any sound and really sincere mind impair this conviction. We feel at once that there is something crumbling in the premise and rotten in the logic that can ever attempt to persuade us of the contrary. It is true that we see around us much suffering, that the mass of men are happy only partially, fitfully, imperfectly that no man is as happy as the provision made for him indicates that he ought to be. But this neither does shake our convic'i,n, nor should it, for the more we stud) Nature the more do we attain the certainty that nearly all this positive suffering and scanty joy is traceable to our neglect or transgression of her laws-not to the inadequate provision made for human happiness, but to our unskilful use of that provi- sion, that the misery now prevalent is not a consequence of Nature's original or ultimate design, but a contraven- tion or postponement of that design. And once more I cried, Ye stars, ye waters, On my heart your mighty charm renew Still, still let me, as I gaze upon you, Feel my soul becoming vast like you.' From the intense clear star-sown vault of heaven, Over the lit sea's unquiet way, Through the rustling night air came the answer Wouldst thou be as these are-live as they ? Unaffrighted by the silence round them, Undistracted by the sights they see. These demand not that the things without them Yield them love, amusement, sympathy. But with joy the stars perform their shining, And the 9ea its long moon-silvered roll; For alone they live nor pine with noting All the fever of some differing soul. Bounded by themselves and unobservant In what state God's other works m 'y be In their own task all their powers pouring, These attain the mighty life you see." Yes, "Man," as Mr. Faure says, "is more than an intellectual machine." The intellect by itself does not constitute the man, sentiment is as much an at'ribute of man as reason is. The heart asserts its claims as much as the intellect. Where then is the sense or the wisdom of relying upon the one and not upon the other- of allowing ourselves to be guided by the one and not by the other ? Are our emotional faculties craving for God, communing with God, find rest in God, to count as nothing? Is it the intellect only which declares that it cannot comprehend God to be our sole infallible autho- rity ? Does our intellect impel us to love our children? Does our intellect urge us to do what is right, even when we know that loss and personal suffering must be the result? Does not this prove that in our very highest concerns intellect is not paramount? It is by yielding to the impulses of the heart; it is by loyal obedience to conscience it is by satisfying the longings of the soul, that we can learn to know and find God. The higher we aspire, and the more we live up to these aspirations, the more our God-consciousness will be developed. We can have more or less of God, as we will. In proportion as we cultivate our moral sense, we come in closer commu nion with the Divine as we give ever freer scope to our affections, we feel our affinity to God. The more we grow in soul, the more of a reality the universal soul will become to us. And, as we have our religious advance- ment in a great measure in our power, so our religious degeneration depends in the main upon ourselves. In fact, the more we reflect the more we shall perceive that man possesses nothing that is great and beautiful which belongs to him. or which proceeds from his strength or will, but that everything which he has that is superla- tively beautiful proceeds immediately from Nature and God. Christianity, which knows everything, has from the very first day comprised it within itself. The first Apostles experienced in themselves that immediate action of the divinity and exclaimed from the very first hour, Every perfect gift comes from God I feel thankful that the holy and beautiful con- ception of God is continually growing upon the thoughts of humanity through large and larger symbols. Old statements of faith in superstitious dogmas are losing their hold because they no longer respond to a concep- tion of God, the Almighty Father, which has outgrown them, and is searching for some truer expression. The tabernacle gives way to the temple, and the temple in turn to a glorious building not made with hands. There is no rest or pause, there never has been, there never will be. Those who build on the outward form will sooner or later be dislodged and go about as so many do to-day, blindly bewailing the decay of old habitations grown dear through use. Those who live in the spirit of Christ, and are borne onward with serene faith, will rej 'ice with every order to advance. For the first the light of superstition is always fading for the last the light of truth is always breaking in more and more to the perfect day. There is nothing that can so guard the purity of the Christian faith as spiritual vitality in the Church. Alas, for us (says the celebrated Neander) when the holy fire ceases to burn upon the altars of our spiritual Israel. We may then have our costly and magnificent edifices of worship graceful in their proportions, beauti- ful and imposing in their architecture, their seats may be thronged with refined and wealthy congregations, their vaulted arches may reverberate with the choicest strains of music, the school of human learning may contribute eloquent and refined thought to feast the intellect and tickle the fancy of the gathered multitude and the ceremonies of religion be performed with in- creasing pomp and splendour. But, alas the whole would want vitality, and under its Lethean influ- ence souls would be lulled to sleep and slumber on till roused by the angry surge rolling up on the dark shores of perdition, the mighty stream of death would leave the very threshold of the sanctuary, and on its bosom multitudes would be borne from the Church of God to the gates of Darkness. May God avert so fearful a calamity from our spiritual Israel." In like manner as regards philosophic and mental acquirements (says Dr. John Henry Newman) we some- times fall in with persons who have seen much of the world, and of the men who in their day have played a con- spicuous part in it, but who generalize nothing and have no observation in the true sense of the word. They abound in information in detail curious and entertaining about men and things, and having lived under the influ- ence of no very clear or settled principles, religious or political, they speak of every one and everything only as so many phenomena which are complete in themselves and lead to nothing, not discussing them or teaching any truth or instructing the hearing, but simply talking. No one would say that these persons, well informed as they are, had attained to any great culture of intellect or to philosophy. The case is the same still more strikingly where the persons in question are beyond dispute men of inferior powers and deficient education. Perhaps they have been much in foreign countries, and they receive in a passive unfruitful way the various facts which are forced upon them there. Seafaring men, for example, range from one end of the earth to the other, but the multi- plicity of external objects which they have encountered forms no symmetrical and cocsistfnt picture upon their imagination. They see the tapestry of human life as it were on the wrong side and it tells no story. They sleep and they rise up, and they find themselves now in Europe now in Asia they see visions of great cities and wild regions, they are in the marts of commerce or amid the islands of the South, they gaze on Pompey's Pillar, or on the Andes, and nothing which meets them carries them forward or backward to any idea beyond itself. Nothing has a drift or relation, nothing has a history or a promise. Every thing stands by itself and comes and goes in its turn like the shifting scenes of a show which leave the spectator where he was. That only is true enlargement of mind which is the power of viewing many things at once as one whole, of referring them severally to their true place in the universal system, of I understanding their respective values and determining their mutual dependence. Possessed of this real illumination the mind never views any part of the extended subject-matter of knowledge—without recol- lecting that it is but a part or without the associations which springs from this recollection. It makes every thing in some sort lead to every thing else. It would communicate the image of the whole to every separate portion till the whole becomes in imagination like a spirit, every where pervading and penetrating its com- ponent parts and giving them one definite meaning.' Mr. Editor, there never was such a time for honest preaching as now. I have infinite faith in a true brave out-spoken pulpit-faith that it will win men's hearts and move their sympathies and exalt their lives. Let the true man speak, and true men and women will hear The life of the pulpit will quicken the life of the people' The minister who unfolds and sets forth the broad principles of absolute religion and universal morality will call forth a deep response from his hearers and build up noble lives and exalted trust. Such a pulpit must he a power ever growing more potent for good. Thus fulfilling its function it will rise to a powerful instru- ment in the service of humanity. True to its trust a living and speaking conscience in the community, rising out of the region of meanness, falsehood, and compromise, into the broad world of nobleness, truth, and principle, it will—passing through misrepresentation and contumely -win its way to honoured reverence and be looked upon as the power of God for the ennoblement of men. Gentle reader, this has been my object and aim through- out in writing the series of letters or essays on the Beautiful Gate to the Temple of Truth," to raise the spiritual and intellectual tone of Christian society, by cultivating the public mind and purifying the national taste; by so doing supplying true Christian principles and reverence to popular enthusiasm and fixed aims to popular aspirations, so that humanity may have rational views concerning God, Christ, and the plan of salvation, with all true reverence and Godly fear." As I sit by my window day by day, And watch all the passers by, I think how many look down on the earth- How few to the bright blue sky How many there are who go plodding along, With their faces sad and worn, As if they never were lit with the glow, From the new and gladsome morn. And I see how some as they pass along, Will hastily glance above, And smile, if there at a window they see The face of one that they love And yet if we only would look beyond Might we not see all the while- In the spreading sky so sunny and blue- Our Heavenly Father's smile. Sometimes all the trees are wreathed with snow, And oft with the bloom of May; But yet the passers go plodding along, Looking down from day to day. Then how pleaant it is to see a face, With happy and eager eyes, Look up as if in the fullness of joy, To the bright o'erarching skies. God knows that some lives are barren enough- Yet the sky shines blue for all; And an upward glance may lighten the load, Or cause the burden to fall. Though we ne'er may pluck a road-side flower, Or tread on the springing sod; Yet the stars are our beacon-light overhead,- The sunshine-the smile of God. I grieve to see," says the Rev. Edward Husband, a fast growing spirit of irreverence in the religious world which seems to me to be also gaining ground every day; a spirit as shocking as it is unreasonable, considering who and what we are, and what God is. I know there are people who turn round on us and say, Yes, but outward acts of reverence may mean nothing; it is the heart's worship that God requires.' Quite true, but as a rule I have always found this, that where the heart is right with God, outward reverence will follow as a matter of course. The one seems as much a consequence of the other as fruit upon a tree. It is said of the saintly John Keble that he wore no vestments, and celebrated Holy Communion very simply, yet that anyone seeing him celebrate once would never, never forget it—it was so impressive in all that was reverent and becoming. It was his faith and belief in God that inspired his outward acts, bearing out what I said just now, that inward reverence of heart goes hand in hand with exterior acts of reverence. So natural is the connection between a reverential spirit in worshipping God, and faith in God, that the wonder only is how anyone can for a moment imagine he has faith in God and yet allow himself to be irreverent towards Him." To believe in God is to believe the being and presence of One who is All-holy and All- powerful and All-gracious and All-glorious, full of love, for He is a God of Love, and Jesus Christ is the Revela- tion of His grace and truth. "0 thou Eternal One, whose presence bright, All space doth occupy, all motion guide, Unchanged through Time's all-devastating flight. Thou only God, there is no god beside. Being above all beings—Mighty One— Whom none can comprehend and none explore j Who fill'st existence with Thyself alone; Embracing all. supporting, ruling o'er Being whom we call God and no more.' In its sublime research, philosophy May measure out the ocean deep-may count The sands or the sun's rays but God for Thee There is no weight nor measure none can mount Up to Thy mysteries Reason's brightest Qp"rk Though kindled by Thy light, in vain would try To trace Thv counsels infinite and dark And thought is lost ere thought can mount so high, E'en like past moments in eternity. Thou from primeval nothingness did call First chaos, then existence. Lord on Thee Eternity h id its foundation. All Spring forth from Thee; of light, joy, harmony. Sole origin-all life, all beauty Thine Thy word created all. and doth create. Thy splendour fills all space with rays divine; Thou art, and wert, and shall be glorious great. Life-giving life-sustaining potentate. Thy chains the unmeasured universe surround; Upheld by Thee. by Thee inspired with breath; Th iu the beginning with the end hast bound, And beautifully ming'ed life and death; As sparks mount upwaids trum the fiery blaze; So suns are born so worlds spring forth from Thee And as the spangles in the sunny rays Shine round the silver snow, the pageantry Of heaven's bright army glitters in Thy praise. A million torches lighted by Thy hand Wander unwearied through the blue abyss. They own Thy power, accomplish Thy command, All gay with life, all eloquent with bliss. What shall we call them. piles of crystal light, A glorious company of golden streams Lamps of celestial ether burning bright, Suns lighting systems with rheir joyous beams, B it Thou to those art as the noon to night. Yes, as a drop of water in the sea, All this magnificence in Thee is lost,- What are a thousand worlds compared to Thee? And what am I when heaven s unnumber'd host, Though multiplied by myriads and array'd In all the glory of sublimest thought, Is but an atom in the balance weigh'd Against Thy greatness—is a cypher brought Against infinity ? What am I then—nought ? Thou art directing, guiding all. Thou art Direct my understanding, then, to Thee Control my spirit—guide my wandering heart, Though but an atom 'midst immensity. Still I am something, fashio .[ by Thy hand, I hold a middle rank 'twixt heaven and earth, On the last verge of mortal being stand, Close to the realm where angels have their birth,- Just on the boundary of thf spirit land. The chain of being is complete in me, In me is matter's last gradation lost And the next step is Spirit-Deity. I can command the lightning, and am dust. A monarch and a slave, a worm, a god, Whence came I here, and how so marvellously Constructed and conceived -unknown this clod Lives surely through some higher energy, From out iiself alone it could not be. Creator yes, Thy wisdom and Thy word Created me. Thou source of life and good Thou Spirit of my spirit, and my Lord Thy light, Thy love, in their bright plenitude, Fill'd me with an immortal soul to spring Over the abyss of death, and bade it wear The garments of eternal day, and wing Its heavenly flight beyond the little sphere, Even to its source, to Thee, its Author, Thee- 0 thought ineffable, 0 vision blest (Though woithless our conception all of Thee), Yet shall Thy shadow'd irnge fill our breast, And waft its homage to Thy Deity. God thus alone my lowly thoughts can soar, Thus serk Thy presence, Being wise and good; 'Midst Thy vast works admire, obey, adore. And when the tongue is eloquent no more, The soul shall speak in tears its gratitude." I am, Sir, yours respectfully, JOHN WILLIAMS. 11, Hewson-terrace, Mount Pleasant, Swansea, Dec. 2,1882. (This correspondence must now cease.-Ed. C.)

The Procedure Rules, which were finally disposed of on Friday night, have occupied the House, from begin- ning to last, thirty-four days. THE SOUTH WALES COAL FIELD AND THE ENSUING PARLIAMENTARY CAMPAIGN.— Large and rapidly in- creasing as is the output of coal from the various dis- tricts of South Wales, if we may judge of the number and importance of the notices to Parliament during the next Parliamentary session, the aggregate will be very largely increased within a few years, and 'exports of coal from several of the ports sensibly augmented. It will be remembered that the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Com- pany obtained their Parliamentary powers last year, and in a few weeks tie works will be in vigorous prose- cution, making a new line from the Rhondda coal val- ley to the ports of Neatb, Port Talbot, Britonferry, and Swansea, breaking up the monopoly which the Taff Vale Railway Company at present possesses of the extensive mineral district of the Rhondda and Afan valleys. It would be idle, however, to attempt to disguise the fact that this scheme, important as it unquestionably is, will not be complete until direct and unbroken access with the port of Swansea is obtained. Last year the deter- mined opposition of the Neath, Port Talbot, and other shippers succeeded in preventing the promoters of the Rhondda Bill from getting the necessary Parliamentary sanction for crossing the Neath river, and the line, therefore, stops short some eight or ten miles of its in- tended terminus. The directors have, however, now given the necessary notices for obtaining Parliamentary sanction for the completion of the scheme, either by crossing the Neath river by less objectionable means, or possibly by a tunnel. At the last Parliamentary session Sir Hussey Vivian, M.P., expressed his regret that the committee had thrown out the bill for the crossing of the Neath river, stating that. had he been called as a witness be believed he would have convinced them that no impediment whatever would be occasioned to the trade, whilst it would be a great advantage to the im- mense mineral trains coming down from the Rhondda district. It is to be earnestly hoped that Sir Hussey will give the bill his support when it again comes before the Parliamentary committee next session. The Great Western Railway Company also, during the last session, obtained powers for the making of one or two short con- necting links between various sections of their main lines, which, when completed will largely develope several important mineral districts, and rapidly expedite the transit of coal to the various shipping ports. The West of England and South Wales Company give notice of application to Parliament next session for power to connect a competitive line between London and South Wales and the West of England. This is a revival of the scheme known as the South Wales and Severn Bridge Railway which was withdrawn last session, but now comes forward with very considerable local influence and support, and, which, if sanctioned, will not only les- sen the distance between South Wales and the Metro- polis by between 50 and 60 miles, but will open up many important coal fields, and accommodate many extensive manufacturing works. The Great Western Company propose one or two important lines in Glamorganshire, which will run through large mineral tracks and open up important district*. They propose constructing a line commencing at Briton- ferry by a junction with the Company's South Wales Railway, and terminating by a junction with the com- pany's Swansea and Neath Railway in Cadoxton, jaxta Neatb also a new line commencing in Neath by a junc- tion with the company's Swansea and Neath Railway. The Great Western Railway Company also propose to construct a dock at the mouth of the Ogmore, which could be easily placed in direct communication with the collieries to the west of Cardiff, and which now have no direct port of shipment. The Cardiff freighters are ap- plying for powers to construct a dock at Barry, which will occupy the whole of the water area between Barry Island and the main land, and will have a graving dock, gridiron, &c., attached. A railway passing from Barry to the west of the Garth to Treforest, and thence up th* Rhondda Valley, would connect the whole of that exten- sive coal field with the proposed new docks. Branches will connect it with the old Rhymney Railway at Barry, and one connecting it with the Great Western line. In the eastern part of the South Wales district, the mono- poly which Newport has hitherto enjoyed of shipping the coals from the Monmouthshire district is threatened by a proposed line from Risca, and from other parts of the Monmouthshire coal field to Cardiff, connecting it with Lord Bute's proposed new dock. It will thus be seen that several railway companies propose fighting hard for access to the practically inexhaustible coal fields of South Wales, well knowing that the mineral traffic from an important district is often the back- bone of a railway, earning dividends far in excess of the most favoured passenger lines. Several of these pro- jected lines are urgently required to open up important maiden districts and afford the necessary sea acoess, whilst others would act as feeders of bituminous coals increasingly demanded in the various metal works of the district. The prospects of South Wales, therefore, ap- pear once more bright and cheery, and vfe hope and be- lieve that the district is now recovering from the severe depression which has so long characterized its great staple induitries.-The Mining Journa I

-i EXCFJEANGE V. FREE INIPORTS. TO THE EDITOR OF "THE CAMBRIAN." SiB,—Your correspondent, Mr. John Hopkins, cannot expect me to enter into controversy upon other points, until those at present under discussion are disposed of. Does he forget that he has made gross charges of wilful perversion, &c. against me; and to which, having before called his attention, I can only suppose that he is as unable to substantiate as he is unwilling to withdraw ? I will add that I cannot understand the insensate nature of that man, who would willingly give occasion to an opponent in a controversy, to make a similar demand a second time, without experiencing a deep sense of hu- miliation. In your last letter your correspondent charges me with dishonesty, and he bases the charge upon an as- sertion, which, even if true, would afford BO justification for the charge whatever but which, on the contrary, is not only false in itself, but one that be ought to have known to be so—the facts being briefly these: — In the Cambrian of the 10th of November he declares my statement as to the amount of Food Imports in 1879, to be false. I reply-when he, finding himself (at least so I have a right to presume) unable to substantiate his assertion, charges me with dishonesty, because I reminded him that fish, though decidedly an articles of food, niis»ht still not be an agricultural commodity. And he then bases his charge upon the unfonnded statement that we had been discussing a question of British Agricnlture. I now therefore call upon him -1st. To substantiate (as- sumed the last named statement to be true) his charge of dishonesty, or to withdraw it; and 2ndly, to substantiate the truth of the assertion on which he has based the charge and failing this, 3rdly, to shew upon what grounds he ventured to make so false and unfounded a statement. I leave this matter for the present. His notions on logic are simply amusing. He writes- If the predicate is affirmative must it not include the whole proposition, for the conclusion to follow." A proposition, I suppose, cannot consist of only its predicate; but I should certainly presume that the predicate, whether in an affirmative, or 9 negative pro- position, must be understood to include all that it pre- dicates. It should also presume that it must not be considered to comprise more than it includes. A new system known as the quantification of the predicate was introduced by Sir William Hamilton but, as I said before, your correspondent had better consult some primer, as he evidently does not know what he is talking about, or he would hardly venture to write such unin- telligible trash. But this can hardly present any occasion for surprise, coming as it does from one who expects me to recognise that 7 added to 5 make only 10. Your correspondent says that the Exports of British produce to the United States amounted to 21J millions sterling in 1867, and only 16! millions sterling in 1877. while the Imports from the United States were only 41 millions sterling in 1867, and 91$millions sterling in 1879. Why does he select 1877 as the year of comparison with 1867 as regards the exports, and 1879 as regards the imports ? I abstain from imputing motives, but simply state the fact that it serves his argument better to make this distinction, that is, presuming its deceptive- ness to have escaped detection. It may, however, be simply a coincidence, but if so, it is a very extraordinary one, considering the fact that the imports from the United States in 1879 reached a higher amount than in any previous year; whereas the exports of British and other produce to the United States have in no year since 1855 (when they were 18 millions sterling) been probably so small as in 1877 (when they stood at 19i millions), except in 1878, when they were a little less but in 1879 they stood at upwards of 2521 millions sterling. It will be seen that these export figures refer not only to British produce but that they include the produce of other countries, colonial or foreign, or both, as the case may be and re-exported. I would willingly give the particu- lars of British produce exported exclusively, but I am not in possession of them that is, not to each country respectively. My belief is, that instead of justifying your correspondent's senseless accusations, it would im- prove my argument. But now, I will take his figures, and say that exports of British produce to the United States in 1877 amounted to 21J millions and will sup- pose the amount of re-exportation to have been 3! mil- lions-which is the same as it appears to have been in 1877 because in that year your correspondent quotes 16i millions as the amount of British produce onlv, 4 whereas my figures represent the exports, which include not only British but other produce as well, to have been 192 millions in that year; and therefore the difference of 3A millions I assume to be the amount of the re-expor- tation. Tbis, then, gives 25t millions sterling as the amount of the exports of all sorts to the United States in 1867 I have not the returns for this year myself, hut in 1860 they amounted to 23 millions, and in 1865 to 25 millions sterling. In 1870, 1871, and 1872—years of un- paralleled brisk trade, and probably more especially American trade, the exportation rose rapidly, until in the last of these years, viz., 1872, it had reached the amount of 46 millions sterling,—not so very short of double its amount in 1867 (only five years previously), and then it declined, until in 1878, it reached its lowest figure, and stood at only 172,1 millions sterling. This was a period of great depression, arising from natural causes, and from the "Jingoism" of the Beaconsfield Govern- ment. In 1879, the amount rose to 251 millions sterling, or a little over what it was in 1867. Perhaps when your correspondent informs your readers why he made the distinction I have referred to, be will also state what the exports to the United States, either of British produce only, or of all sorts, amounted to in 1880 and in 1881. I do not happen to possess the returns. The larger our imports the better, and the more do our exports increase, although the imports may increase in a greater ratio than the exports. Why does not your correspondent either acknowledge the accuracy of my statement referred to in the P.S. of my letter in The Cambrian of 17th November, or sub- stantiate his assertion of its falsity ? I note that he now admits an increase in our exports to Europe of three millions sterling, and to the United States of two millions sterling in the last 10 months- Derhans he will explain how he reconciles this with his statement in The Cambrian of the 20th October. And your Free Trade is but with our own dependencies, some of our colonies, and semi-civilized and savage peoples. I was not aware that your correspondent has answered my argument respecting the altered relation, between American and British shipping, nor can I find that he has done so but I will assume for argument s sake that we can build ships at half or even one third of their cost in the United States but I fail to see how that would affect my argument in the slighteswuvfortob Jr to my letter in The Cambrian of the 20th October. What does your correspondent mean by saying that I fiTArf nnnn 1840 as the date of the commencement of Free ImportatToi I do not think it possible that I would have done so; but he is wrong in £ upP^sl7f been 1850 The Corn Laws were repea ed in 1846, but several duties bad been wholly or part!ah7 remo^ m 1844, while in 1842 duties were abolished _or redneed <m 750 out of 1,200 articles, previously subject to custom imports, and the affect was immediately apparent in the improved condition of the country. Then in 1845-6-7 came the famine years; but not before experience had proved the legislative measures of 1842 in the direction of Free Trade to have been fraught with advantage and in which the industrial classes more especially par- 4l tTV«:u geven or eight years after the repeal of the n f J and five years after that of the Navi- Corn LaWS> exports of British produce only, Wl°n- on in Value from 51 millions sterling iu 1840, to had risen m value irom lg56 t16 year8 after 97 millions sterlm. |hey amounted to 115| millions, 32 vS*in which yew th. and in 1872. or 3_ y before or since), amount exceeded that ot any onie j millions the value of British produce exported was 25b4 mil.io,as sterling, I invite your readers to note that in WU it stood at 199J millions sterling, then rp„chine its years of unparalleled commercial n„_ ue_ culminating point in 1872 and 1873, the di tween these two years being a trifle over one minion. In 1876 and 1877 it descended to the level of 1870 in 1878 it fell six millions, and another million in 13/3, When it stood at 191* millions; but in 1880 it had in- 1878 it fell six millions, and another million in 1879. When it stood at 191* millions; but in 1880 it had in- creased again to 223 millions, and again m 1881 to 234 millions sterling; and this with the exception of the years 1872-73-74, is the highest amount that it has ever reached in any one year; while in th0 ^st of these it Was only 54 miliions in excess of 1881. If these state- ments are inaccurate, let your correspondent shew them to be so by some other mode than in taking advantage of his own indiscretion in instituting fa se comparisons t\o^your"orre0pon^leBt'has been^us- tTfied'in^hargiiig Die with ™'s^?res^tb'at^tlw!WSare Md falsehood. I inoUned to t his chickens rather than m-ne^ gaid .q my »ot remain with me, but as A g.nce last letter they will go home t • Writing the foregoing I have been able to p Dorts 0f Upon returns which show the amount o P British and other produce to the United States ia be £ 37,954,102—a higher amount than they have reached in any previous year with the exception of 1872, when it stood at £45,907,998, or only eight millions in excess and 1872 was a year of inflated trade. I wish to observe, however that I cannot say what it was in 1871, and therefore this may possibly present a second exception. What right therefore, has your correspondent to charge me with dishonestly putting your readers on a false scent, &c., &c. „ That be has himself taken a course well calculated to do so, (I do not say wilfully for I have no right to impute motives, I simply deal with his statements) is apparent if the statements I have now made are accurate. I call, then, upon your correspondent either to dis- prove them or to withdraw entirely his think it he should neither do the one nor the other, 11 thinlyit will be the general opinion, as it will certainly y own, that his arguments, and I fear I should in such case have to include himself, are beneath contempt, a Position so humiliating, that I am far from that he will select to occupy it. I would therefore mvite him to seriously review the matter, and if he should find, as I think he will, that he has been led into error, to boldly acknowledge it. There is no humiliation in that, seeing that we are all fallible. I can assure your correspondent that I do not seek to obtain apersonal triumph over him, though I confess I should be glad if this correspondence had the effect of inducing him to re- the question, with the ultimatVhe^I aftemaS him a worthy adherent of the cause I have attempted, bowevei unworthily, to advocate. Upon a subsequent glance ovsr the returns lt me that had he selected 1870 ^he year of compamon imports from, and exports to, the United Stateswit JfA it would have better suited bis argument thanthe Section of 1867, the imports in 18/0 being 49J millions, and the export of British aud other produce 311 millions in round numbers. I think it is only fair to your cor- respondent to state this-but even had he selected 1870, the fact still remains that in 1880 the exports to the United States exceeded those of 1870 by nearly seven millions sterling. I am so wealthy in facts than I can afford to be generous as well as just.-I remain, your obedient servant, Nous. Swansea, 4th December, 1882.