Weekly Mail

MORIEN" IN LONDON. The death of Lord Mayor Nottage at the Mansion House on Saturday morning produced a most painful feeling in London. His lordship, more strikingly than any of his immediate predecessors, had succeeded in surrounding the civic chair with something like the halo which feudalism had in former ages invested it. People now remember with pathetic interest the" Merrie Show through the streets of London which this Lord Mayor offered Cockney- dom on the occasion of his installation in November last. It is well known that Alderman Nottage regarded himself as having descended from an old Glamorganshire family. Indeed, he styled himself as of Nottage, Glamorganshire; but, as was shown in your columns some months ago, it is clear that no family of the name of Nottage has been known in the locality of Newton Nottage, which place was visited by the Lord Mayor, then Alderman Nottage, with a view to glean information about his ancestors. There were well-informed people in the locality who smilingly stated that his lordship during a visit to Ponty- pridd heard of Newton Nottage from the Rev. D. W. Williams, and instantly jumped to the con- clusion that his family must have come originally from that pleasant region. Alderman Nottage came from the neighbourhood of Nottage Abbey, Essex, in which county there is still a wealthy old family of that name. It is curious that a sister of Gilbert de Clare owned the lordship of Newton Nottage in Glamorgan, and also most extensive estates in Essex. The probability, therefore, is that a branch of the De Clares, who had become closely asso- ciated with Newton Nottage, continued to cherish the name of the Glamorgan petty lordship after they had disposed of the pro- perty and become finally settled in Essex. In this sense it appears the departed Lord Mayor had very remotely descended from a Glamorganshire family—that is, if a Norman one is entitled to the distinction. Most of the descen- dants of the illustrious aborigitial Silurians will, doubtless, deny that any Norman is entitled to it, for the noble race of Shenkyn is still pretty proud of the old pedigree. London Welshmen are preparing to hold a meeting about the 27th of the present month with a view to forcing on the attention of the Govern- ment the necessity of introducing the promised measure giving Wales intermediate education. The Government is, however, so overwhelmed with business of all sorts that there is little hope that Mr. Mundella will be able to do nllything in the matter at present. I am told the Bill is ready, and that it is in one of the pigeon-holes of the Minister of Education. I was really amused on Friday night to witness the eagerness with which, first Mr. Herbert Glad- stone. and afterwards Mr. Mundella, who stepped forward to the aid of "the infant Hercules." answered questions put to the Government by Mr. Parnell respecting the geological survey of Ireland. In fact, throe Ministers of the Crown were kept long engaged in parrying the thrusts of the glittering rapier of the Uncrowned King of Ilibernia." Occasionally jeering cries emanated from the Irish benches, which seemed to disturb the occupants of the Treasury Bench. Before a question had been fairly put one or the other of the three Ministers might have been seen rising from his seat ready to attempt to answer it. LONDON, MONDAY NIGHT. For the first time in my life 1 was introduced to- night into the Press Gallery úf the House of Com- mons. This was done by the authority of the Speaker, the first. Commoner of tho Empire. I can asure the reader that it was witll some degree of trepidation I entered a gallery in which are en- gaged the first journalists in the world. Here are gentlemen who attained the highest University Honours, men who claim Oxford 01' Cilmbridgp as their alma mater. Here, too, in this gallery they have nightly heard speaking below them the tinet, orators and brightest intellects assembled in tho Great Council of the nation. This must have added to their mental culture. Was it sLrauge, then, that while passing alone up the magnificent stairs and along the gilded corridors in the direction of the Press Gallery I thought of the Agora and Marg Hill ? I question whether any genuine Cymro ever before. passed into where I am to-night. I say genuine Cymro—I mean one able to speak and write Cymraeg as well as Saesonaeg, for unless he be ahle to do that no man is entitled to bo con- sidered a genuine Cymro. I have just retired from the gallery to one of the rooms provided by the Government for the use of the members of the press. Doubtless, Charles Dickens once wrote in this room probably here hi soul drellmerl lofty" I\!lpiJ.lltions," which afterwards proved to be prophecies." But I must restrain a tendency I feel, prompted by the associations of the place, to speculate about other days. Other writers with swift pens are busily at work near me, but, with one exception, they are all London journalists engaged in preparing to- morrow's Parliamentary news. One of them has just whispered in my ear, asking whethor I could tell if telegraphic communications were general during the Crimean War. If he had only asked me something about the Druids I could have enlight- ened him. Mr. Gladstone, in his statement to-night, said the telegraph wire had been broken this side of Meshed. One of the shorthand writers having indistinctly heard what the Prime Minister said wrote down Asia instead of Meshed, and got puzzled when writing out his notes. He has just been sot right by a gentleman near me. The master of winged words is in the midst of com- plaining of the manner in which Mr. Gladstone suddenly dropped his voice when he came to say Meshed. The House of Commons is to-night well attended, most of the members, as it appears, having re- turned from the country ntterthe Easter holidays. Deep interest was evinced in all parts of the House, including the gallery, to hear the Prime Minister's answer in reference to the strained relations of this country with Russia. As usual, there was a prelude of questions from the Irish quarter in re- ference to Ireland. Mr. Catian distinguished him- self by peremptorily requesting the Secretary for Ireland to answer him Yes'' or No." The way the request was made roused the House, and for n second or two it became electrically charged, but instead of indignant thunder rippling laughter passed over the Assembly, and Mr. Callan subsided. After some time had been thus spent the momentous ques- tions put down on the paper by Mr. Ashmead- Bartlett and Mr. O'Kelly were reached, but Mr. Gladstone was not in the House. When everybody was eager to see him he came in hurriedly and took his usual seat among the other Ministers on the Treasury Bench. When it. came his turn to answer he rose and stood at the table. The House became instantly as still as the grave, betokening, no doubt, the deep anxiety of the whole nation in the present crisis. A man would be callous indeed not to have felt deep sympathy with the aged Minister at that moment. His low tonps, measured word, and white face betokened that the responsibility weigh- ing heavily upon him was deeply felt. He was almost inaudible in the gallery and all the reporters eagerly bent forward to catch his pregnant, words. A written sheet lay in the box tiefore him. containing, as it seemed, the lead- ing points of his answers, which will bo found repot ted in another column. Sir Stafford North- cote followed with a few questions, put in a manner which indicated that, Great Britain and Ireland were foremost in the minds of her Majesty's Opposition. Mr. Gray, a young Irish member, rushed in where angels might fear to tread, and asked a question relating to the same subject. He got an answer from Mr. Gladstone which seemed to be regarded by the Irish membet's as a rebuke, and Mr. Healy called out jeeringly "He is not an Knglishman." The Prime Minister instantly got u! and stated that he had not blamed the hon. member for putting the question. These important questions having been disposed of. the House proceeded to the consideration of the gracious Message of her Majesty in reference to the calling out of the Army and Militia Reserve forces. Mr. Labouchere's amendment was supported in a speech which was a repet ition of an old-told tale condemnatory of the Govern- ment, for having gone to the Soudan at all. The motion was simply interesting as having given Lord R. Churchill an opportunity to deliver his first speech since his return from India. While Mr. Labouchere was peaking Lord H- Churchill was observed taking notes very quietly. When he stood up to speak he received a cheer trom all parts of the House. For tho benefit of those who have never seen the noblo lord, permit. me to state that he is youthful in- appearance, is of medium height, is barefaced—according to Radicals in more senses than one—but cultivates a boyish moustache. He parts his hair, which, by the way, is becoming thin at the top, in the middle. He spoke to-nnht with cdm dignity. His lucidity and clear powers of utterance were ad- mirable. 1 can SfLfdy say that, with the exception of some of the veterans of the Conservative party, he is the best speaker I have yet heard on the Opposition side of the House. 1 am not at all sur- prised that a large port ion of the public should regard him as a future leader of the party. lie I supported Mr. Labouchere's motion. Sir Stafford Northcote opposed it, but, took the opportunity to j thiink the noble loril for his speech. He, however, more than hinted that the noble lord had been so long absent from the House as to be somewhat oblivious as to what, had taken place there in the interval respecting this ery question. The House divided, when the amendment, was lost by a very large majority. The House then went into Com- mittee on the Redistribution Bill, and considerable progress was made. LONDON, TUISDAY NIUHT. To-night Sir Hussey Vivian's amendments 10 the naming of the Glamorganshire Divisions were reached in Committee on the Redistribution Bill. Mr. It likes, member for the University of Cam- bridge, seemed tll have sludied Glamorganshire pretty closely, and had placed on the paper amendments identical with some of Sir Hussev's. Sir Hussey Vivian has always h Id since the redis- tribution was first mooted that four out ot the five new divisions of Glamorganshire should be named in accordance with their positions in rela- tion to the cardinal points of the compaes. It seemed as if Sir Hussey was extremely anxious to avoid the obliteration of the name Glamorgan- shire in the statute books for electoral pur- poses. He succeeded to-night, in carrying his point, and in all future time the name of the county will be mentioned in Parliament in con- nection with each of its divisions, excepting the Rhondda Division. Sir Hussey Vivian seemed to concede that- timt division was large and important enough to stand without having the name Glamorganshire associated with it. In the Bill one of the divisions was named the Caerphilly Division. Sir Hussey was particularly hard upon this old baronial town with its gigantic ruins. He actually designated it, a small place on the borders of Monmouthshire. He did not say that its close proximity to the Anglicised county of ancient Gwent, celebrated once for its Welsh archers, contributed to make it unworthy being named as a division of the great Welsh county. But lie did say that Caerphilly possessed no right to give a name to the division. He submitted that the title Eastern Division of Glamorganshire was a far better title to it, and he stated that it was the wish of the inhabitants of the division that it should be so designated. Sir Charles Dilke gave way, but expressed a hope that this concession would not induce the hon. baronet to seek to alter the name Gower Division to Western Glamorgan. This, however, did not prevent the hon. baronet from proposing the change. Sir Charles clung tenaciously to the name Gower," on the ground that it was a name associated with ancient events of the deepest interest. The parties to the discussion did not enter into the Welsh significance of the name, which is, I think, an iu- teresting study. I believe the Welsh people name it Bro Gwyr." This would mean the vote of men." At the same time oue should uot, in studying the name philologically, forget that one of the ancient Welsh names of blood is "gwyar." The discussion in the House of Commons to-night respecting the name invests it with considerable interest. On the suggestion of Mr. Raikes, the name was altered to Western, or Gower, Division of Glamorganshire." On the motion of Sir Hussey, the Vale of Neath Division was altered to Mid Division of Glamorganshire." As regnrds the Llandaff Division, it was true the ancient city of that name was in this district, ^ut it was in a remote corner of it. The divi- sion extended along the sea coast, and was really the essence of the southern portion of Glamorganshire. Sir Hussey won his point again, and it was agreed to name it the Southern Divi- sion of Glamorganshire. Thus the junior member for Glamorganshire succeeded in preserving the memory of Morgan the Amiable, or Morgan Mwynfawr," after whom the county is called, on the Statute Book. I'he old Welsh King ought to he thankful to the Knight, of the Shire, who re- sembles him so much in kindheartedness. LONDON, WEDNESDAY. The excitement in London in reference to the relations of this country with Russia is decidedly subsiding. In the precincts of tho House of Commons also there seems to be a growing con- viction that war will be averted. The London evening journals have been for a long time past feeding on thunderbolts, so that when there is hardly anything by way of news but peaceful pap to feed upon their efforts to make the public believe pap is electrical in its ejects is amusing, to say the lells about it,. Mr, Charles Williams, your war correspondent, whose graphic descrip- tions of the battles during the march through the desert, under the command of the lamented General Stewart, will live in history, is now in London, This afternoon the fact was discussed with much interest among the members of the Fourth 'Estate in the House of Commons, amonst whom he is well known and respected. The papers state that the authorities in the neighbour- hood of Suakitn intend opening communication with Osman Digna through the air. Letters will be sent up in a balloon and dropped from the clouds in localities where the Arab chieftain is supposed to lurk. There is to be a cclestial post- master. It is hoped Osman Digna will mistake him for Mahomed, the Prophet of Allah, Let the military authorities borrow a few notions from the act of Mr. Toole and dress their celestial MacMurrie in green turban and white bournouse cloak, so us to resemble as much as possible the traditional dress of the Avatar of Arabia. 1 must here compliment the postal authorities of the electric telegraph in London. They send correctly by wire Welsh words which must be pretty new to the telegraphists. They make electricity speak Cymraeg. Last night they Stmt Bra Gwyr correctly, but the English translation was in- correctly rendered Vote of Men instead of Vale of Men. I shoul!] liKe to aùd that G-wyr (Gower) may be Gwy-ar Gwy is Archaic Welsh for water, and ar means up. The word, therefore, may mean a locality iu close proximity to water. 11"lvf no book of reference near me, and, there- fore, like an ancient Druid, I depend entirely to- night upon memory. The House of Commons met t,)-day, as is usual on \V0l1ne;;da,Y!l, at noon, It sat in Committee until a quarter to six o'clock in- cessantly discussing the new names of divisions in the Redistribution Bill. I may here say that the public are little aware of the difficulties that reporters labour under to catch the words of various members. Some members speak as if they had a potato sticking in their throats; others cannot speak without a provincial accent peculiar to the district they come from, but passing strange to otlllir districts, and perfecUy exasperating to reporters. Let me give a hint to coming Senators :—" If you wish to be reported cultivate a clear utterance." It is strikingly manifest in the House of Commons that those who have attained any eminence in the Legislature are clear and distinct speakers. It is whispered in the gallery that Mr. Gladstone, when he does not wish to be reported, has a knack of dropping his voice. When he does this it is a sight to see the reporters struggling to catch his words. One hand is placed over the ear as a sub- stitute for an ear trumpet, while the other holds pen or pencil to jot his utterances down in shorthand. At other times, Bottom the Weaver, when he imitated the lion's roar. did not do so more effectively than does the Prime Minister. The Marquess of Salisbury is the idol of the reporters. Like t he h1te ord Belconst1.>\d, he has been "a gentleman of the Press." and pro- bably, knows by experience how trying to re- porters as well as militating against the suc- cess of a public man is a low, mumbled tone of voice. Ho spsaks as if he meant what he says and does not care who hears him. Of CIUr5\e, Iw is bltJOlscd with a ljemarkably robust constitution as well as a wonderful wealth of creations of the mind. Those who differ from him in polities must admit he is one of Great llritain's graudest mOil. I well re- member the late Ear! Russell, on the occasion of a great, debate in the House of Lords, being so enchanted by Lord Salisbury's eloquence and great nbilities that, on standing up to speak after him, he remarked that while the noble mar- quess was speakiug he almost imagined the shadow of Lord Burleigh, Queen Elizabeth's great Minister, from whom the Marquess of Salisbury is a descendant, was in the gallery listening to his speech. Nothing of particular interest occurred in the House of Commons to-day. There was a sharp discussion on the rival claims of Wellington in Shropshire, and Wellington, in Somersetshire, to be designated by that name in the Redistribu- tion Bill. There were references to the late Duke of Wellington and the pride with which the inha- bitants of the respective divisions regarded the name. One speaker proudly pointed out the im- portance of the Salopian Districts, and endea- voured to show that the Somerset town was unworthy of so great a name. In the first place it. W,1.:i governed by a portreeve, and, asked the hon. member triumphantly," Who ever hears of a portreeve?" Again, the Somerset Wellington had no town-hall of its own the one it had was the property of the Duke of Wellington. Thus the debate wlIg-g-ed, when an hon. member got up and said the ques- tion was one of sentiment rather than one of statistics. A compromise was effected, so that Salop will retain its Wellington, and will be further designated by its geographical position. This result seemed to satisfy Mr. Warton, who took a pinch of snutf and shrilly cried out, Hear, hear." When it was proposed to substitute another name for Kinst.one Mr. Warton jumped to the rescue. There was a stone there, he said, since Saxon times which had given a name to the place, and it ought to ue retained as possessing interesting asso- ciations. The Saxons seem to most people to have been more prone to knock stones down, judging by the ruins of Stonehenge and Avebury, than erecting buildings. Probably the so-called '•King's Stone" is a Druidic relic and not a Saxon olle. Mr, Warton was unsuccess- ful, and Kingstone will be no more heard of in Parliamentary returns. It was proposed to substitute a new nil me for the rlivision ill which Tamworth is situated. Tamworth is associated with the memory of the late Sir Robert Peel, and tile present right 11011, haronfJt now sought to re- tain it on the Statute Book, and told the House he was authorised to say that also was the desire of the right hon. the Speaker, his brother. The House divided on the question, when a large majority decided in favour of retaining the name Tamworth. The House adjourned at ten minutes to six o'clock.

THE BALFOUR LHCTUUES AT EOIN BUlWH UNIVERSITY. PROFKSSOR ANDREW SETH ON SCOTTISH PHILOSOPHY. In the Logic Class-room of Edinburgh University Professor Andrew Sath,of the University College of South Wales has recently delivered the first of a course of, x .eclures on "Scottish Philosophy; a comparison of the Scotch and German Answers to David Hume, as the A.J. Balfour lectures for this session. Professor Campbell Fraser presided. There was a good attendants of students. Pro- fessor Seth said that in beginning tho hrst course of these lectures, which the University owed to Mr. Arthur Balfour's generosity, he wished to say '1 single word upon tile valuable principle whicll they bcemed to him to embody. The University should be more than merely the highest platform of an educational machine. It was generally- l'tcognised that it should be the horne of research and, if so, it should also b the natuml place for communicating the research. There was something in the Mediaeval idea which made the Univer- sity the centre of intellectual life. This, of course, was impossible where teaching powers Wert1 restricted to one 01' tw" hard-worked professors in each department. They might hope, perhaps, in the changes wllieh wcre going on, for aa enlarge- ment, of the scope of the University in this respect. Meanwhile the munificence of individuals been mainly turned to other, and for the time perhaps more necessary, channels. For this first course of philosophical lectures in a Scottish University no subject appeared more appropriate than Scottish philosophy. lIe did no' mean by that a merely historical or national account of the positions held by various teachers of philosophy in Scotland. The intention of the founder of the lect.urership was to keep touch with the present, and to encourage the critical discussion of views which were even now contending for mastery in those islands and elsewhere. In the first two of the lectures they would examine the problems which Reid had before him, and the philosophical principles which shaped them dealing, prooably, with Locke and Hume. In the tlllr,1 lecture he hoped to take up the main dritt of iieid's answers the fourth might be called some points of compa- rison between Reid and Kant; the fifth would deal with the Kantian-Hatniltonian doctrine of the relativity of knowledge, and they wouid examine the general bearings 01 this subtle and widoreach- ing branch of philosophical superstition. In the sixth lecture they would endenvour to gather up the threads of the lectures and indicate the con- clusion to which a candid survey of Scottish and German theories would seem to point. Professor Seth then entered upon the more immediate sub- ject of the first lecture-namely, the examination of Reid's problems and tho philosophical prin- ciples which shaped them.

MJtUE ABKMNA PATTI writes:—"I have found Pears' Koap matchless for the hands and complexion. (Signed) ADILLTS. l'ATTL" Pears' Soap, lor the Toilet Bond Nursery, specially prepared for the delicate skin ef ladies anil children and others sensitive to the weather, winter Or summer. Prercfits redness, routhcesa, aiideliapping. Sold everywhere. Large Scen.e-i TuWuts, is., Smaller (Uu- eoented) ud

Public Analysts have submitted OADBURY'S COCOA. to close testa, and the result lias always proved its great value as a sustaining and nourishing beverage Beware of Imitations. ° 6978c FOR Roumi HARD WEAR FOR BOYs there is nothing like Parry and Roc -e'sl Swansea) make of real Welsh stockings. They look wtll, u:ear welt, and icaxh wlt. Each pair has Parry and ¡{oeke Ii name and Trade murk attached. None genuine without this. 7:Jü6e PATENT steel springs n. hard pads. Paiuptilat, with testi 8¡8¡¡lala, past-free.—IteeviU, Chemist, Chiton, Jirldtal.

'j; 11 fCttRRENT AGRICULTURAL f TOPICS. [BI «AGRICOLA." OF THE "FIELD. M th°Dff recent events Mr. Henry Wood's Qje ^yland Hal], Watton, in connection with Agricultural Association, should be onjlne<* worthy of considerable attention, not y because the lecturer went over the entire ,und of agricultural depression and the serious of the present crisis, but proposed a remedy w lcb, if only practical in being carried out, Uld strike at the root of the evil chiefly affect- do the agricultural position. It can scarcely be led that if every farmer could only have suf- Ient capital to make the land he occupies yield e lXIaxÍlnum amount ot produce of which it is jj the majority would be able to earn fair t, ehhoods, even in such times as the present; and lIt 18 wholly from thi3 idea that the British Agri- j ra' Association's loan scheme, introduced House of Lords by the Marquess of Salis- jjJT' excited so much attention. Mr. Wood's oth 9 a^ta'n^n £ sa'd object differs from the jf^er *n that he would have the loans to be made the National Exchequer to whatever the landlord and tenant might conjointly t 11Iclined to place the crops, stock, &c., in pawn the repayment, and it also has the provision not more than 3 per cent, interest shall be thereon. cannot be the slightest doubt that British ^ture is just now, not only in great distress, lQ danger of starvation for lack of the sinews to ar. Mr. Gilbert Murray, in his recent letter ii 'J6 ^mes'1 pointed out very truly that the worst ^ins might be made to pay if they could flit"* ta^en out their present dilapidated con- for'011' an^ ^e, t0°, demands special legislation °^ec^ ^iat s'la'l enable capitalists to lend y at a rate of interest not exceeding 4 per 11 lit" for which he thinks the lender should have a I erential claim on the security of the landlord °t a Period extending to five years. This pro- l is very similar to the one lately brought r ip Parliament, only the latter was for the eclal benefit of an association of capitalists, d there ought to be no monopoly in such a lI.t G ter as this. Of course, Mr. Wood's plan for t o.ernment loans would be better still for tcrs if it could only be carried out, but the to tre army of political economists would be sure as one man against it on the plea that it 0j 'd be decidedly unjust to provide capital out the National Exchequer for the exclusive of an individual section of manufacturers graders. f Problem how to bring more capital to the tio 18 raPidly coming to the front, and its solu- ^*s 800n ^Ie 9uest,i°a °f the hour. Mr. of r ^ore made a proposal at the last meeting 6 Central Chamber of Agriculture that the ^heme, which has gained the approval of of Marquess of Salisbury, should form the subject d' ^cussion, as soon as convenient, at a future mg of their body, and this was agreed to *°itt>ousIy. Moreover, it is reported that nearly tio ^ol0 of the agricultural members of the 8 ^ommons> from both sides of the House, *^ree(i on the utility of passing speedily a re on the lines of the British Agricultural *• tK lion's scheme; only it is to be húped that, 6 Produced is to be a public ono, Hj ^P'talist or body of capitalists will be ti"ed to lend the money on the security pro- d. Chamber of Agriculture meets once a quarter, and consequently it seems rfectly reasonable that it should not follow in Same rut with other chambers as to the sub- fliv discussed. Last week there was an excellent \1s tQ son on the working of the Elementary tea,< tlon Act in the rural districts. A paper was >e y Mr. H. Venn, the chairman, who dwelt o^Buch on the evil of farmers being unable to ln kig boys for field labour, consequently he w children over twelve years of age should In impelled to attend school, provided that individual case a farmer could bo fcw, give a written undertaking to °y the ehild regularly. Mr. Acland, M.P., a somewhat different suggestion, which tw 11 consider far more practical—that over ele years of age the half-time system should to ]^°rce^' which would permit boys and girls bour half the day in farm service and spend tO* half in school. Under such a system he ht they would be likely to get far better edu- th:a.n by spending their whole time in school that age. He pointed to the danger that by j Strict confinement to book learning the chil- ,11 of agricultural labourers would be useless to ln technical knowledge in the department of in- by which they are to live. Earl Fortescue still further in his suggestions. He would the third standard the limit, as well as the ge of twelve years, for the education of the chil- of agricultural labourers. This would be a re- ^^Sfessive policy. The child of the peasant as *fln aS t^lat l^e ^eer s'10u^ receive whatever ^tion he or she has capacity for. On the con- the proposals of Mr. Acland and Mr. to Would be likely under certain circumstances .& an improvement on the system now enforced. it PParently, all English landlords do not regard misfortune to have farms thrown on their ^°r ^'e Preliminary annouccement of ^alsingham's sale of Soutlidowns, to take Co^^0n the 9th of July next, it is said: In ^■OOo Uence ^,or(^ Walsingham having about itiCre acres in hand, and his desire to still further 1ø.!I"se the holding by taking up the lighter arnas on the estate, and developing them to Ho^°st advantage, the sale will include the luu,. °* the flock, excepting the ewe and ram Xj^8' ^hich will be sold next year." No doubt, bll. the aid of Mr. Henry Woods Lord Walsing- ^n<^3 he can make more out of the poor, hi «>*andy lands of Norfolk by farming them e than lie will by letting them. This fact iP^haps, be commended to the attention of ai'les Read, M,P., who, at the last meeting of V0ps^ arnier8' Club, said he would not wish his ligj^ enerciy the fate of having to farm in the sand district of Norfolk. He also ¡lit occasion expressed the opinion that nature them for waste lands, and the sooner they "bl turned to that condition the better. Pro- ? Walsingham's poor farms are some of Th district. annual report of the Agricultural Depart- flis6 the Privy Council on the contagious U^ecj68' inspection, and transit of animals was at the close of last week, and will probably if '6SS a"enti°n than would have been the (¡l1t l foot.and-moutb disease were still raging in l.dtXIldst. Still, a document coming direct from h« on so important a subject ought to 8it ^araniount interest at any time, as some ID- lQ,ti may he gained thereby into the policy regu- ill the course of action—and likely to regulate It¡l1ture ewergencies. The Agricultural Depart- tl1l1d Professes to have derived no less than five '11 ental lessons; but, possibly, if they only | UP to the last two enumerated, should' all Ufe out':)reaks unfortunately occur, it will Efficient—one of these embodying the h\\ othe Perfect isolation and disinfection, and '^st 6r COmPu|sory slaughter under certain cir- tlf « bces. The latter would, however, only be I* i *Shr« nS'y rare occurrence, according to the v Of fi ("est Agricultural Department, as it would ^ricted to fresh outbreaks after the disease etl extinct throughout the kingdom for a It length of time. A system of isolation, "11 <> "blll1 effed, would be sufficient for outbreaks 'IIQ the disease is in a manageable condition, ^'Aetft-Pe°la"y towards the dying out of the JWafter a series of spreadings and ragings. *^sUbUtl1 ^a"er conclusion has, no doubt, ^focCj s'an'iated by recent events, for by rigidly XC* Perfect isolation and disinfection the the h Of the outbreaks which have occurred during t'llst SIX months have been prevented from lel1 be g. However, a great many will most !ileel of OPIOJon that the same measures would If it" V to Prove effectual at any time, and that o?^ 8"upuloualy carried out, in utter t},0^ boundaries of this local authority ^'fe ]jv 6re w°uld never again be the need of the tNeeaebt0Ck trac^e lhe three kingdoms being t'he general stoppage of markets and the nUmer°us conflicting local orders as re- ^eale^1°Veinent animals, placing farmers W at their wits' end, through o^^ing of stirring an inch without {J* °f the »6 aW" his wisdom does not form any ha Va*Uahle lessons the department pro- D Earned, but the sooner it is added fct,*16*8 aQ(}0 "ie better will it be for stock dealers. In reference to pleuro- ), heiQw Q report attributes the cause of the h*y°U of not Vet stamped out to the disincli- IV 6 beftri °Cal authorities to slaughter all that gQt to infection. These, it is Jt to be always fattened.

D BOCKE'S Welsh Yarns are the I 700

GARDENING NOTES. (BY MR. J. MUIR, MARGAM.] RUNNER KIDNEY BEANS.—These are amongst the most tender of all vegetables. If the seed is sown in the open ground during March or the fore part of April the greater part of it will not grow, but perish in the cold soil, and it is only from the middle of April onwards that seed can besown with success. But even now the main crop should not be put in, only sowing a short row to secure a few early dishes, and deferring sowing the bulk until the beginning of May. Runner beans delight in a rich deep soil and an open, sunny situation. Saxton s Crirtford Giant is the finest runner bean extant. It is a heavy bearer of immense pods, and these are of the finest quality for the table or exhibition. PROPAGATING WINDOW PLANTS.—Old scraggy plants are never so satisfactory as young healthy ones. The former should all be thrown away, and the latter alone grown. Fuchsias and geraniums are the most common window plants, and both of these, as well as any other ordinary plant which may be grown, may be propagated at this season of the year without any professional skill. Young pieces of growth about three inches or four inches in length make the best cuttings or slips," as they are often termed. They should be cut clean off with a sharp knife; the two bottom leaves cut away, and then pot them in to root. A small flowerpot, tin, or anything of this kind will do for rooting them in. A little rough stuff should be placed at the bottom, and then fill up with a light sandy mixture of soil. Dibble in the cuttings with their ends two inches deep in the soil, water thoroughly, and then place them in a frame under a hand-light or on the window. Do not let the soil become too dry, and if the cuttings can be covored over with some kind of glass shade they will root all the quicker and better for it. We have seen many little plants rooted under a tumbler turned upside down. POTTING WINbow PLANTS.—All large plants growing in small pots, or others growing in very poor soil, would be greatly benefited by being re- potted, and just now is the time to do this kind of work. A general mixture of turf. garden soil, decayed leaves, and sandy road scrapings will suit the majority of window plants, and this should be got ready before beginning to pot. Young, healthy plants should always bo put into pots one size or two larger than those they have occupied but old plants in large pots need not always be put into larger ones, as it often answers just as well to take them out, reduce the soil about the roots, and re-pot into the same size. In all cases the new pots should he clean and dry. Place some rough stuff as drainage at the bottom, put a little soil over this, then put in the plant and put morr soil round, beating it down firmly and finishing ort" about one inch below the rim of the pot, as this space should be left to hold water. Water once after potting, but do not give much more until after the young roots are beginning to run into the new sAil. If the plants can be kept in rather a close place for a time after potting it is an advantage. GENERAL CULTURE OF WINDOW PLANTS.—Cotta- gers in and near towns, as well as those in the country, who have no garden to take up their attention, and no sweet-smelling and beautiful flowering plants to delight them, should take to window plants, and grow them in every window in the house, when they would soon find them an endless source of delight. A few of the hardiest geraniums, fuchsias, myrtles, ferns, musk, &c., will grow everywhere, and their culture is really most simple. If rooted and potted as in- dicated above they will grow well for twelve months without any other attention than watering at the root, turning them round to prevent them from becoming one-sided, and standing them out- side now and when it is raining to have the dust washed off them. SALSAFY.—Where a vnriety of vegetables are enjoyed in winter this miniature parsnip-rooting- like subject should be grown in small quantity, as it is excellent from November until April. It likes a tolerably good soil, rather light in its nature. The ground should be prepared in winter, and the manure put in nine or ten inches below the sur- face of the soil, which must be lightly forked over again previous to sowing for the first crop in March. For the main crop sow early in April, in rows about fourteen inches apart, and one inch and a half in depth. Thin out, when ready, to the width of four or five inches. The roots may re- main in the ground until required for use, or be taken up in the autumn and stored in the same way as carrots. PANSIKS FOR FLOWER BEDS.—These free-flowering and attractive plants are easily raised from seed, and bloom most profusely during the summer and autumn months. For early flowering sow in February and March in a slight heat, and again in April in the open. Immediately the young plants are large enough, prick out into good free soil in a frame sufficient distance apart to obviate crowding; they will then come up with masses of fibrous roots, and will grow away without check. Gradually harden off, and they will be ready to plant out in May with the summer bedders, and will be in full beauty during July and August. They delight in rich and rather moist soil, but never use any other than thoroughly decayed manure. Where the ground is of a heavy, stiff nature, dig in some well-burnt ballast or road scrapings. They are not, however, at all fastidious, but make themselves at homo in almost any kind of ordinary garden soil. During very hot weather, they should be treated to a thorough soaking of water occa- sionally. A GOOD "YANKEE IDEA."—Mr. Charles Rees, in the Albany Cultivator, describes a new method for growing and forcing hyacinths in rooms. Pro- curing one of the large coarse, sponges used by coachmen, he made several incisions in it and placed the bulbs in them. The whole was then placed in a vase filled with water, and a thimbleful of rape seed was scattered over the surface, which covered it entirely with a fine moss-like mantle, adding greatly to its beauty and attractiveness. By using warm water, they force readily and succeed admirably. A modification of this idea'' could be easily carried out with sphagnum and any common vessel or little tank, in which, by its aid, very extensive bedding'' arrangements might safely be adventured upon. CARROT CULTURE.—James's Intermediate is one of the best varieties for the main crop. It is of medium size and excellent quality. To insure the best results deep trenching and rich soils are essen- tials, but. manure should not be added at the time of seed-sowing, or the roots will be forked and not so large. This is a crop wonderfully benefited by autumn preparation of the soil, as well as by deeply burying the manure. Sow Early Horn in a sheltered spot in February; and the main crop in April or very early in May. Mix a little dry sand or soil with the seeds before sowing, to separate them. Sow in very shallow drills, one foot apart, and cover lightly with fine soil. Sow thinly, and thin the plants early to six inches apart; keep the surface loose by frequent hoeings. SEED TELEGRAMS.—Mr. Martin J. Sutton, of the well-known garden and farm seed firm, of Reading, recently contributed a letter to the Times upon sixpenny telegrams, in which he refers as fol-1 lows to the remark of Mr. Shaw-Lefevre, that the name and address of the sender are, except in the most abbreviated form, mere surplusage." A very considerable portion of our business transactions is carried on by wire, not with other houses of business, but with agriculturists throughout the length and breadth of the country. I have to-day had our books examined and find we have 1,060 customers of the name of 'Smith,' of which number no less than 323 are John Smith 465 96 of whom are John Jones 450 4 Browns,' 87 John B'own other surnames such as Williams and Robinson,' joined to other Chris- tian names such as Richard or Robert,' show- ing a similar relative proportion of identical appellations. Under such circumstances I thmk you will not be surprised that we should be of a different opinion to the Postmaster-General as to the address of the sender, except in the most abbreviated form, being more surplusage. The name in such cases being of little use alone, the address of the sender is practically the only means by which he can be identified."

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS. The Farmer of Monday saysSupplies are quiet and moderate; quotations from a fortnight ago are generally advanced — English wheat, 4s.; foreign sorts, 3s. to 5s.; Russian wheat most affected, and next Australian and red winter. Flour, 2s. 6d. to 3s. dearer, and demand steady maize, about 2s. advance; oats, Is. 6d. to 2s. feeding barley, Is. to 2s.; malting barley irregu- larly dearer; beans, peas, and lentils, ls. dearer. Trade firm, at Friday's full advance.

SUDDEN DE-VTH OF MR. WM. LLOYD OF LLANTWIT-MAJOR. Information was received at Bridgend on Monday of the death of Mr. Wm. Lloyd, of Great Frampton Farm, Llantwit-Major, which took place earlv on Sunday morning. It appears that Mr. Lloyd had got into some financial difficulties, which on Thursday last rendered it necessary for him to go to Cardiff. He returned home the same day and went to bed, apparently in his usual health. Early on Friday morning he told his wife that his brain seemed to be in a blaze, and she left the rwin to get him a cup of tea. When she re- turned she found the deceased in a fit, and sent for Dr. Davies, of Cowbridge, who attended until the death, which took place about five on Sunday morning. There were rumours in the neighbour- hood to the effect that deceased had taken poison, but Dr. Davies denies this, and states that he is prepared to give a certificate of the cause of death. The police have considered it necessary, in consequence of rumours which have reached them, to give notice of the death to the coroner. Mr. Lloyd was well known throughout the vale, and for several years past he was one of the guar- dians of the poor for Llantwit-Major, but was de- feated at the election last week.

THE "REST," PORTHCAWL. The committee of the above institution met on Monday at the "Rest for the purpose of taking over the extension from the builder. The new building was inspected carefully, and found to be satisfactory. It was taken over, and will at once be furnished, or at least as soon as funds are forth- coming. The additions consist of matron's rooms, store rooms, bath rooms, lavatories, and other con- veniences, all of which were much needed. It is intended to procure a lady matron, who shall have the management of the internal arrangements of the whole institution; but it will be impossible to ask any lady to take up her abode at the Rest" until rooms are furnished for her reception. In their report for the year the committee mention this want of furniture, and hope it may be sup- plied in the same way as the women's sitting-room furniture was supplied last year, viz., by the gift of some charitably-disposed person. As may have been noticed in our advertising columns, the Rest" is now ready to receive patients for the ensuing season, and will be opened as soon as six have applied:

THE SPIRIT OF THE WELSH PRESS. [BY c, GWTLIEDTDD. The Welsh papers are almost entirely devoid of political matter this week except the usual translations from the English press of the current topics of the day. Egypt and the Soudan are become stale; there is nothing new to be said about Disestablishment; and the Russian attack on the Afghans was too fresh to be dealt with. The subjects of the leading articles are various, and, on the whole, uninteresting. The chief attraction of the Welsh newspapers does not always consist of what the editors say the letters and correspon- dence often prove more attractive than the leading articles. The personality of the editors is very little known or thought of; and the importance of the leading articles is measured by the character of the proprietors and the denominations to which they belong. The spread of the English language in the Principality is causing the leaders of the Calvinistic Methodist body a good deal of anxiety. The sect, or denomination, is of purely Welsh origin and character, and cannot accommodate itself to English habits and practices. I am reminded of David putting on the armour of Saul whenever I hear of the English Welsh Methodists." The Corph is a hothouse plant, and can live only in the atmosphere of the Welsh language. Hence the instinctive dread of the old members that the English language is unsuitable to the preservation of their sacred traditions. The more educated of the body go in strongly for making provision for English worship in places where the old language is disappearing. The represents this section, and the itaner holds fast to the old dispensation. A correspondent of the Baner writes as follows:- "I know of many monoglot Welshmen who are getting tired of religious worship who are obliged to listen for half an hour to a sermon in a language they do not understand and where the number of English present is out of all proportion to the bulk of the congregation. I wish to give a word of advice to our English friends to be a little more economical. It is a sin to ask the Welsh farmers to contribute towards the English chapels. Where a chapel worth S,500 will satisfy the Welsh, the English will spend £ 1,200. They are becoming a tax upon the Churches." The Goleuad, on the other hand, says:—" When we consider the con- dition of the denomination in the present critical period of its history, particularly with reference to the spread of the Knglish language in the towns and the manufacturing and min- ing districts, the treatment of the ques- tion at the Cardiff meeting teaches us some very serious lessons. We had hoped that after what had appeared in our columns from time to time, and our bitter experience in the counties of Radnor, Monmouth, and Brecon, our people in South Wales would have risen to a sense of their duty. In the whole of the Rhondda Valley, from Pontypridd to Trelierbert and Ferndale, we have only one English Chapel—that of Gellywastad- and that was not formed by the Monthly Meeting, but at the special request of the Rev. D. LI. Jones, Llandinam- What of St. Fagan's, Wenvoe, New Mills, and other places, where our young people go to the Parish Churches because the denomination has made no English provision for them ?" Several of the papers contain leaders on the Easter Holidays," indicative ot the revival of the religious sense in which they were kept in former times. The Gtoyliedydd makes the following re- marks:—"The respect shown for sacred days and sacred things is an indication of a religious spirit, and the want of it is a proof of religious declension. Whilst we have grounds for rejoicing over the moral and religious condition of our country as compared with the olden times, we are not without anxiety that religion does not exercise that influence over our young people which it ought to possess. The matter is serious, and ought to be investigated." The Tyst says:—"Good Friday and Easter Sunday are devoted to religious and literary purposes by large numbers of the inhabitants of the Principality. It is surprising what a number of services are held on Good Friday in North Wales. They were held in at least 70 chapels, belonging to the four denominations. Instead of spending Good Friday and Easter in games, plays, and the tavern, as in former times, our people endeavour to cultivate their minds, elevate their taste, and improve their moral and religious character." The Amseroedd says: In the midst of the rumours of new doctrines' we are sure there has not been an uncertain sound heard in the majority of the pulpits of the Princi- pality. The Old Truths were preiched with power, and with a consciousness of their divine origin. These meetings give much spiritual life to the nation; indeed, it is during these holidays we receive the sweetest morsels." The Llan condemns the practice of holding literary and musical meetings in chapels on Christmas Day and Good Friday, and says that it cannot fail to have an injurious influence on religion and religious worship. The Home Rule manifesto of the Rev. Michael D. Jones, of Bala, appears in most of the papers, but I cannot discover that any of them have taken the slightest notice of it. He wants a Welsh Parnell" to lead a Welsh party in the House of Commons, and suggests that there shall be a national subscription to support him. Mr. Jones has been a kind of Esau all his life, and may be aiming at the leadership; but the failure of his attempt 20 years ago to establish a Welsh colony in Patagonia will stand in his way. With his College, newspaper, and the many quarrels with his reverend brethren, I think his hands are full enough without undertaking, in addition, the leadership of the Welsh Home Rulers. Whilst referring to the Rev. Michael Jones, I would commend to our countrymen who may be disposed to follow his advice and leadership the following extract from the correspondent of the American Drych in Patagonia:—" 1 wrote to my friends at Festiniog last May about the state of things here. The letter appeared in the Celt of August 8, which the editor adversely criticised. I am surprised that the Rev. D. L. Davies and the Rev. M. D. Jones should write what they do. The truth is, Patagonia is not a Welsh colony at all. According to present appearances we are to have 10 an abortion (eithyl) of a local government. We must take a native born of the Argentine Republic as our governor instead of one of our own choice. The last news is that the locusts are eating up everything. It is surprising how people manage to live here in the face of so much poverty and inconvenience. The truth is that most of us can- not leave. We must remain and patiently wait for better times. Many thanks to friends in the United States who express their sympathy with us in our misfortunes." Dr. John Thomas, of Liverpool, the" Lladmerydd" of the Tyst, has gone in largely for politics lately. Whether he proposes to cross swords with the Rev. V* Michael D. Jones-as he did before over the Inde- pendent College at Bala—about the Welsh Home Rule leadership or not, I am not in the secret; but he has some object in view. He has taken an active and leading part in the Disestablishment cam- paign in North Wales, and prominence was given to his speeches in the Radical newspapers. The Baner of this week contains a closely printed address of his on "Our Senate and Senators," in which he roundly lectures Mr. Whitley, one of the members for Liverpool, for having voted in the House of Commons in favour of reducing the number of Welsh members from 30 to 25. The Doctor, in addition to his many other duties, has taken the National Eisteddfod in hand. After quoting an article on the subject which appeared in the Genedl of the previous week, he says :—" I have often been surprised to see the names of per- sons as adjudicators on subjects of wtpicli they know next to nothing and more often to find the names of persons, whatever their fitness and abili- ties may be, who would not take the necessary trouble to read carefully the heap of lengthy com- positions and give a just adjudication." Sup- pose the Doctor were to lend a hand, for the first time in his life, in the attempt to clean the Augean stable. The Seren has an interesting and sensible article on Cold Chapels." The writer says:—" The handsome chapels that have been erected during the last few years are not altogether what they should be. They are bitterly cold, and utterly un- comfortable in the winter. We have noticed on a cold Sunday morning before the service com- menced a brother in the big seat rubbing his hands and giving a hint to the minister to cut it short'—for what saint could preach when he knew that everybody was as cold as ice and anxiously waiting for the 'Amen.' I remember a brother once preaching in his overcoat, and the con- gregation in the same condition. He pro- nounced the Amen' before he half finished his sermon, and then gave out a single verse of a hymn, which was sung without the usual repetition, and everybody praised the preacher for his good temper and common sensy. These things ought not to be. The winter is now over, and we look forward to a warm summer. Let the chapels be warmed against the next winter." The Tiacan is afraid of the popularity of Mr. Dillwyn Llewelyn, the Conservative candidate for the Llandaff Division of the county of Glamorgan, and depreciates, in anticipation of the defeat of the Radical candidate,whose great qualifications are his relationship to a defunct uncle and father-in-law, the character of the constituency. Mr. Llewelyn, the Conservative candidate, is a nice gentleman and very popular,"says the editor, "and many of the electors will vote for him on that account. This division is made up of petty squires (crach foneddiyion), merchants, farmers, artisans, and colliers. There is more anxiety about this than any of the other divisions of the county, because there are in it so many who wish to be considered gentlemen and there are more farmers than any other class. The interest of the farmers consists in the reform of the Land Laws, and yet they are Tories as a rule. We believe that the reason for it is that they are snobs, and wish to ape the gentry. Snobisrn is strong in the Vale of Glamorgan. The farmers look down with con- tempt upon the workmen and shopkeepers, who are their superiors in intelligence, and act as if they belonged to a superior rnce of animals. Their delight is, not in the improvement of their minds and reading useful books, but in killing birds and hares, hunting the fox with the hounds in red coats, and afterwards supping and drinking until the short hours of the morning." The Gweitfiivrr has an article on The Miners Provident Society the Gwalia on Free Trade the Baner on" The New Code"; the Genedl on "Disestablishment," and the Llan on "The Closing of Public-houses on Sunday."

APRIL PUBLICATIONS'. T H1 Messrs. Cassell and Co. come out this month wiui a new serial publication called "The Family Physician, which aims at being a manual of domestic medicine. The contributors include a number of physicians and surgeons of the principal London hospitals. We do not know whether a similar hard saying applies to the man who is his own doctor as to the man who is his own lawyer—possibly not-but it may be safely asserted that a little knowledge of the common ailments of life and their remedies, so far from being out of pi lice, especially in the heads of households, is eminently useful, whether as preliminary to the calling in of the physician or as auxiliary to his prescriptions and treatment. The part before us deals with the diseases of children—convulsions, croup, measles, whooping- cough, &c. These seem to us to be clearly and methodically described, the directions for treat- ing them being some of the most sen- sible it is possible in the present state of knowledge to provide. We were pleased to find the editor putting down a vigorous foot upon the horrible practice of dosing children which even now prevails in a great many families, and in contemplation of which so many people must have been led to exclaim with the humorous lecturer lately deceased that it is a wonder they are alive at all seeing that themselves were children once. The work wil £ ? completed in 33 parts, issued at the low rare o. sixpence each. From the same firm we received their April issues of tha "Encyciopmdic Dictionary," Life and Works of Christ," "Universal History," Library of English Literature," Familiar Gar- den Flowers," Popular Gardening," The Peoples of the World," Popular Educator," Practical Dictionary of Mechanics," and Picturesque Europe." Their Saturday Journal for April is a." full of admirably readable matter as ever. The April number of the Magazine of Art, issued by this house, is all excellent one. We note with pleasure among the pictures the tell-tflc" Peti- tion''of Josselyn de Jong, and those in illustra- tion of Mr. Hamerton's Landscape." Among the papers our choice would lie with Mr. Austin Dob- son's "Peg Wofiington," who had a leg for Rosalind which would have been Mrs. Langtry'n despair could she have seen it; and Air. Edmund Gosse's verses, which we shall most impudently steal," together with their title of— APRiL OCE MOHE. The sorrel lifts her snow-white bloom From green leave sott aud our, The wry-neck bids the cuckoo come, The all In flower; That tweet! tweet! tweet! that dusty dew, That white star at my feet, They speak of Aprils pasl,-aud you, My sweet! Our wood still curves against the sky. And still, all stark and dim. Our hornbeam's tinted urallches Along the shining rim But ah! within its bas" of moss The rabbits leap awl peer. No footsteps fright them l they crOS3- This year. When winter shared my hapless plight, 1 bound illY heart, ill t'rost; There was no wel111,h to vex my sight With treasure i t had lost; But, oh tlm burls, the scent, the song, l'ile agollisillg b1116- They teach my hopeless heart, to long f or you! The Messrs. Ward, Lock, and Co. send us their current issues of Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Library of Mational Information, Dictionary of Domestic Medicine, Scientific Re- creations, Universal Instructor, Amateur Work, and Technical Journal and Industrial Self-In- structor. Ward and Lock's Family Journal and Sylvia's Home Journal are, aR usual, full of fa"hio!1 plates, dress patterns, designs for braiding and em- broidery, &c. Bracketed with the foregoing may be another excellent fashion monthly, the Season, of which the April number is an unusually good one, the costumes, dresses, &c., being not only gracefully designed, but neat in the make-up—devoid of that detestable incubus of trimming and fal-lal which sinks the best cut, best effort or the modiste, into mountebankery. The Shipping World contains an article on Sir Edward Reed and the Government which may interest our readers, in the course of which the writer, referring to the member for Cardiff's reso- lution, says that However well-deserved the censure may be, it is certain to lose much of its force from the circumstances which preceded the notice of motion. To the general public the pro- ceeding savours strongly of personal pique at having one's advice disregarded. Ws are much mistaken, however, if Sir Edward Reed will not so frame his motion, when it comes on, as to avoid this pitfall, and he will have no difficulty in showing many examples of possible improvement in Admiralty administration. Having been behind the scenes he knows the most vulnerable points. But the fact remains that the notice followed upon a refusal by the Board of Admiralty to adopt the advice pressed upon them by Sir Edward Reed." The Nautical Magazine, since the advent of Mr, J. C. Manning to the editorship, appears to us to have become mnre distinctly readable. The pre- sent number has a vigorous paper on the Royal Commission on Loss of Life at Sea and a number of well-timed items, of which possibly the most attractive is the one entitled" Swift Cruisers." For practical seafaring men it is about the best magazine that's afloat. The AtlaMic Monthly (Ward, Lock, and Co.) con- tinues its serials, "rhe Prophet of the Great Smoky Mountains," by C, E.Craddock; A Marsh Island," by Sarah Orne Jewett; and A Country Gentleman," by M. O. W. Oliphaut. A good natural history sketch is Olive Thorne Miller's "A Ruffian in Feathers," and two weli-written papers, of which the natures are sufficiently indicated by their titles, are Kathleen O'Meara's Madame Mold, her Salon and her Friends," and J. S. Dwight's George Frederick Handel." Possibly the best thing in the whole number, however, is Dr. Wendell Holmes's New Portfolio, winding up with an Old Song," in which there are some charmingly true lines. The most noticeable items in Good Words (Isbis- ter and Co.) are Mr. James Payn's serial, "The Luck of the Darrells," the editor's General Gordon," and Miss Muloch's "Genius, of which latter we may remark that, if the description be true, then we must look for genius wherever we like save in the writer qf the paper. The Illustrated English Magazine (Macmillan and Co.) is strong in stories, of which the contribu- tors are Bret Harte and Hugh Conway. "Inter- viewed by an Emperor is a re-hash by Mr. Archi- bald Forbes cf one of his" War'' lectures, some of the old phaseology being used again without attempt at alteration, Mr. Walter Crane's Sirens Three is pretty, more especially so from the point of view of the illustiator. In the Argosy Mr. Charles W. Wood has a paper of peculiar interest to the Principality," Among the Welsh," which is prettily enough descriptive of a tour the writer made a short time since through North Wale- There are several good stories in the magazine as usual. There are two capital papers in Temple Bar on two of the foremost women of the century, "George Eliot" and "George Sand;" both un- conventional, each a genius, with faults that, if anything, made her all the more lovable and great. The Sandian nature well expressed itself in the sentiment, Ah, ma foi, vive la vie cl'artiste! notre devise est liberty," and the pre- sent biographer has shaped his pen in accordance with it. The paper on George Eliot is severe the writer going for, not only Mr. Cross's biography, but for its subject. Without the encouragement given her by Mr. Lewes," savs this writer (from personal knowledge, too, we fancy), "she would, probably, never have found the genius that had lain so long dormant within her." The second paper, although the severer, is, we are bound to say, the abler also. Blackxcood for April is exceptionally bright. It begins what promises to be a very good serial, en- titled Fortune's Wheel." This is followed by a graceful art paper, The Pictures of Richard Doyle." Some interesting Reminiscences of Sir Herbert Stewart" are told by a brother officer. The Musings Without Method are sensible jot- tings while the two papers, Russia in Search of a Frontier" and "The Fall of Khartoum and its Consequences," are admirable contributions to current political questions. From the former we extract the opinion that the acquisition of Zulticar, or even Penjdeh, would in reality add little to the mcnaco which the Russian possession of Sarakhs alreadv throws out against Herat. If that city is to continue Afghan terri- tory, it is obvious that it will have to be fortified and garrisoned in a way that no other city in Afghanistan—we may almost say no other city in the East—is garrisoned and fortified. And to accomplish this the unaided resources of Afghan- istan are quite inadequate. She has not the money or the engineering skill requisite to convert Herat into a fortress that could withstand, if needed. months of a regular siege and the assaults of Russian artillery. Moreover, she has no troops that could be sufficiently depended upon for the defence of so important a fortress. In other words, since by our carelessness we have allowed the Russians to creep up to its gMes, the safety of Herat must entail a new charge on the British Government, unless it has made up its mind to tolerate the presence of the Russians, first at C tbut and Canda.har, and shortly after at the mouths of the Khyber and Bolan Passes. No agreement" 01' arrangement," or even the most solemn treaty that can be concocted, will now suffice to relieve us from this responsibility. And, after all, we can scarcely be said to be paying more than a fair price for the neglect with which for twenty years we have regarded the Rus.bn pn- croachments, and for the consummate folly which induced the Gladstone Government, in a fit of pique with the policy of its predecessors, to abandon the position which we held at Candahar at the close of the last Afghan War. It is to the abandonment of Candahar that the whole of the present difficulty is directly due; for it was not until it was positively announced that Vl'f-\ were to "scuttle" out of Afghanistan that, the Russians began to press in the direction of Merv and Sarakhs. Had a British garrison been in Candahar at the present moment we would have had no more anxiety about Herat than we have about Peshawur.

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CARDIFF TOWN COUNCIL. THE REGULATION OF TRAMCARS AND OMNIBUSSES. SCHOOL BOARD EXPENDITURE. LETTER FROM SIR E. J. REED. A special meeting of the Cardiff Town Council was held on Monday, the mayor (Mr. A. Fulton) presiding, and there being also present Aldermen Lewis, D. Jones, R. Cory, and Elliott, and Coun- cillors T.V. Yorath, Bird,D. E. Jones, David Jones, T. Rees, Lougber, Sanders, Jacobs, A. Thomas, Proger, Trounce, Carey, Vaughan, Beavan, Evan Jones, Trayes, Jacksoti, Gunn, James, Hurley, Ramsdale, R. E. Jones, and J. I';vans. FINANCE COMJIITTKK. The minutes of this committee recommended that in cases where private improvements were not paid for. when due interest should be charged at the mte of 5 per cent. per annum. Mr. CAREY asked how it was no mention was made in the report to the visit of the deputation to the London and Westminster Bank with regard to the corporation loan. The MAYOR replied that the negotiations were going on satisfactorily. The bank was quite pre- pared whe:1 called upon to advance aDY mot 80, the corporation required. The minutes were then adopted. PKOPKBTY AND MAHKETS COMMITTKE. The report of this committee, which was adopted, contained a resolution of the trustees of the Savings' Bank to the effect that the plans submitted by Mr. J. P. Jones for the erection of a new savings' bank should be accepted subject to certain modifications, and also subject to the work being carried out by a contractor of stability for a sum not to exceed £2,000; and that the corporation be requested to convey to the trustees of the Savings' Bank the site agreed upon in the Hayns, and also to give the trustees the sum of £ 2,U00, such site and sum to be taken in exchange fur the present Savings' Bank site. The committee had decided that its previous resolution should be adhered to, and that the sum of £2,200 should be offered, with the site in the Hayes, for the present Savings' Bank, sub- ject to the corporation obtaining the sanction of her Majesty's Treasury to the exchange. The re- port also contained a letter from the Board of Trade, stating that they had no power under which they could assist the corporation in com- pelling the Great Western Railway Company to make a down entrance to its station at Cardiff. PLAXS OF THE FREE 1.1 BRAKY BUILDING. On the motion for the adoption of the report of the Public Works Committee, Mr, SANDKKS called attention to a clause in the report which stu.tetl that the Free Library Com- mittee had asked the corporation for a copy of the plans of the Free Library Buddings, for the purpose of repairing certain drains, hut that the corporation were not in possession of the plans. He inquired how it came about that the surveyor had not a copy of the plans, and asked what means could be taken to get a copy of them. The Surveyor stated that the plans were not submitted to the Public Works Committee. After the buildings were finished they were supplied with rough tracings, and those were all they possessed. On the motion of Mr. DAViD JONKS, seconded by Mr. BIRD, it was decided that the architects should be requested to furnish the corporation wiLh copies of the plans of the Library Buildings free of cost. MISCONDUCT BY POLICE CONSTABLES. The minutes ot the Watch Committee, which were adopted, stated that Police-Constable Carter had been lined three days' pay for being under the influence of drink when on night duty 011 the 1st inst., and that Police-Constabio Friend, who was a fireman, Imd been tined a week's pay for absenting himself from the borough without permission, and remaining away a, whole night. STRICTURES ON FIRE BRIUADB AUKANHKMENTS. Mr. SANDERS said he had that morning learnt of a matter that caused him considerable surprise. A fire had broken out in Mark-street on Good Friday evening, and some person went to tile ollice of th fire brigade to report it and to ask: that the reel should be sent at once. lIe (Mr. Sanders) had been informed, on good authority, that the person had been told they could not. send the reel from Car- diff and that, he must go to Canton. For that pur- pose a penny was given him for his car tarc, If the fire brigade was to be managed in that way he was afraid he would h<1ve to URe some strong lan- guage about it. He had always understood that, a person who reported a fire received 2s. 6d., but in this case only a solitary penny was p"id,and after all the reel never arrived. Mr. CARKY said that although Mark-street was in the West Ward it was under the protection of the Canton police. But at the same time he con- sidered that an ofl1ei,.J who would refuse to send a reel to put a fire out merited instant dismissa.1. The MAYOR concurred, remarking that it might have been a very serious case. He thought it should be inquired into and steps taken to prevent a repetition. On the motion of Mr. VAUGHAN, seconded by Mr. R. E. JONF.S, tho matter was roferred to the Watch Committee. THE TRAMS AND 'BUSSES. Aldermrtn ELLIOTT, in moving the adoption of the minutes of the Cabs Committee, said it was his opinion. and aiso that of the Head Constable, that the intervals appointed for the starting of the tramcars and omnibusses had proved a failure. The three and a half minutes' system entailed the services of four extm policemen, but if they adopted an interval or five minutes he thought it would be better for the public and proprietors, and then they could manage with two constables. Mr. VAUGHAN considered the present arrange- ment to be very satisfactory. Mr. TRAYES thought the police at the Docks did not do their duty. He had repeatedly seen the 'busses waiting about for the tramcars to start- After some discussion the matter dropped, and the minutes were adopted. SCHOOL BOARD EXPENDITURE. A precept wa." recü¡ved from the Cardiff School Board for £7,500, being the amount required for the expenses of the board for the half-year beg-i nn i ng- on the 1st inst. Mr. JACKSON remarked that this showed lin increase of about £1,000 on the precept for the previous half-year, and inquired if they were to expect an increasl in the same ratio in the future. Mr. THOMAS HEES replied that the amount was not Jjkely to be reduced for some tillie to come, If Cardiff continued to grow at the rate it had been growingthe expenditure must increase. The expen- diture of the Cardiff School Board had increased from circumstances it could not control. In the first place, they had to overdraw their account by some thousands and pay interest on the overdraft, because the precept was never paid for some months after it was due. Then they had to deal with incorrigible children, who had to be sent to the Havannair School and other places, not only for their education but also for their feeding, and he had always maintained that they should have nothing to do with the feeding of these children. The funds in this connection ought to come from the Poor-law guardians. In addition to this there were at present some 22 blind children, which it had been decided should be educated by the board, and that would mean a material increase in the expen- diture. In the Act of 18S1 they had also palmed upon the Scl1001 Board w hat. he considered another "fad"—a thing with which they ought to have nothing to ùo, They had not moved in the matter yet, but directly they beiian to do that work efficiently it would cost an extra £300 or i;400 a year. Mr. SANDKRS remarked that the corporation were not to blame for the deLIY in the payment of precepts, but the overseers of the poor, by whom the money was collected. The prëccpt was t hen passed. CAllS COMMITTKE. Alderman Cory and Councillor Trayes were appointed on the Cabs Committee in the phce of Councillors D. K Jones and Jacobs, who had resigned. REGULATION OF VELOCIPEDES, On the motion that the common seal should be affixed to a spt of by-laws reguhting the use of velocipedes in the borough, Mr. n, E. JONKS !1Ioved an amendment that th3 maximum line should be reduced from £5 to £2, He considered the fine excessive for any of the offences enumerated in the by-laws. The amendment not, being seconded, the motion was adopted. LETTER FKO.II sm KDWAUD RKKD. The appended letter had been received by the town-clerk from Sir Edwtird Rue 1 with reference to the movement, for a second member for Car- diff :— Broadway Chambers, Westminster, "boiiiton, S.W., March, 1885. Dear Mr. Wheat-ley,—I have received with very great satisfaction your letier eonveyin^ tv me the resolution so generously passed by the council thanking me for the manner in whieii [ brought, before Parliament the claims of Cardiff for a second member. 1 should esteem it a great favour if you would kindly mention to the council that 1 did IH1t make those ruisLaktS as to t-he nresent population which somc of th" n..port3 tii.it, I ii.ive .seen imply. I did not, for exauiple, btaie thai the present population was S2.00J, as some, of the reports state, but i carefully pni ni e»l out I ht h it was the population in IS 1 (usasubsesjuent part of my speech which was correctly icported showed), and that, tile present population WhS estimated to reach the high figure of iCW.000 in Cardiff alone, or 112,000in the. United District. Parliamentary Horough. I further pointed out that, if the additions which the corporation proposed were lIIade to rhe 1'ariianientarv borough the present popula- tion would ;,ppn)1\e!J to 120,000 inhabitants, even "it.lwut the contributory boroughs oi Cowbridge and Llanirisant. The fact that I was somewhat incorrectly reported on several po.nts has not, however, debarred the council from appreciating in the kindest manner the effort which I mad** to stale our case Ltidy, and t cordially agree with the mayor in thinking—as 1 observe he stated in the council on Tuesday—that we may hope that, iu the event of any other borough being disfran- chised, an additional memoer would be more easily ob ained for Ca.viff than if no action had been taken iu this matter." Certainly L did what 1 could, and all that. I could, ill favour of our obtaining what was, in tU ÛI¡iuiol1, a mere lle:3nl'e of common justice; hut l s1\()üld he 1UO.il wiong iI accepting the thanks of the eonneii wiclw"t, recog- nising that i owe to them and to their exertions and admirable array of facts and considerations which the documents upon the subject prepared by them and pitced III ll1V hal1d embodied. I also owe very much to the personal exertions c( the mayor ands. verul members of the corpùl ¡¡t¡un, who on several OCCildons went !{0od enough to see lIIe in London and render me all the a&sisi auoe jo their p- wer. Of your onn exer- tions you would, perhaps, rather thai: X did not speak. Nothing could better illustrate the uphill character ot the tight which had to be made in the House than the fact that, not a single member for Will es voted with lI1e, although I did ah I possibly could to persuade many of them to do Sù. ] believe the ruling Calise of their abstention simply was their participation ill the general de ermina; ion of thc Mouse to make 110 substantial changes in Ihe Kill. Unfortunately for us, all such changes had resist.eu up to Monday last. Since that time, and subsequent Lo tiie division I1pon Iny <llIlendment,. several considerable chanKes have loeen sanctioned by the Gov,rHmellt. and I cannot uut feel tlut, if sonw of these had pre- ceded my amendment I shonkl have had a very fair chance pf getting the support, of a good many Welsh and 01 ht"r members who would not, vote wH,)1 rue 011 Monday. We were also unfortunate ill the fact that the adjournment of the House was moved 011 Monday, and this drove my amendment, which otherwise, would have cume on quite early iu the evening, onward into the dinner hour. I" view 01 all these facts I care- fully considering whether any good would result, or be at all likely to result, from my again moving my amendment on the report. 1 confess that 1 do not at present ee any advantage jJl this, buL 1 111ll care- fully watching the further progress of the Bill, and if after it has passed through Committee any possi- ble good could result from my urging a reconsideration of the matter I shall not fail to do so. Again thanking the council for the handsome manner in which they have so promptly acknowledged my attempt to secure a second seat for our important and most prosperoul town,—I remain, dear Mr. Wheatley. vours very truly. E, J, HEED, J, L, Wheatley. Esq.. Town-Clerk. Cardiff. • Mr. CAREY moved that the letter be placed on the minutes of the council, and also that a special vote of thanks should be sent to Mr. Puleston for his exertions in the matter. This was seconded by Mr. LOUGHER and carried. The common seal was affixed to a contract with Messrs. Jepson Bros., for trial shafts for the Roath sewer; contracts with Mr. Francis Osmond, the Machen Stone and Lime Company, Mr. J. Runnalls, Mr. H. Osmond, and Air. J. Thomas respectively, for annual stona supply; two contracts with Messrs. Rich and Uarries, for private improvement works in Penarth-road. Tressillian-terrace, Minnie- street. Mav-stmet,, Fanny-street, Gwladys-street, and Whitchurch-lane; a contract with Messrs. Jepson Bros., for street works and house drainago for twelve months. This was all the business.

NEWPORT TOWN COUNCIL. The monthly meeting was held on Tuesday. Present—The Mayor (in the chair)-; Aldermen H. J. Davis and J. Murphy Councillors J. Gibbs, T. Pugsley, T. Jones, F. Phillips, H. Faulkner, E. J. Grice, H. J. Parnall, J. R. Jacob, J. Moses, A. C. Jonos, A. Blake, A. R. Bear,J. C. Sanders, O. Goss, J. W. Jones, and G. Hoskins. A REMINISCENCE. The minutes were read and confirmed. Thesf contained a record of the presentation by Mr Octavius Morgan of the original charters granted to Newport, together with translations of the same, The MAYOR said he had just been reminded by the surveyor that it was 500 years that day since the first charter was granted. What would their ancestors think if they could see Newport now II Mr. J. W. JONES: And our new Town-hall. PRESKNTATION FOR SAVING LIFE AT SEA. The Hoard of Trade had sent a communication to the mayor, asking him to make a presentatioc to Mr. P. J. Denis of a silver watch from the Canadian Government, for preserving the lives ot three of a crew under the circumstances detailed in the letter. It appeared that a vessel sailed from St. John's, New Brunswick, laden with a wood cargo. The vessel 'net with very heavy weather, and became water-logged. The caplain and sèveml of the crew wore swept off the decks and were drowned. Only three of the crew remained, when the vessel was sighted by the steamship Parklands, of Hartlepool. Mr. Denis was mate of the steamer, and he, with four of the crew, went. in a boat, at great risk, and rescued the three men. Mr. Denis, who lives at Capel-street, Newport, was accompanied by Mr. T. Porteous, superintendent of the Mercantile Marine department at Newport. The MAYOR said he had taken the earliest opportunity of presenting the watch, and he thought he couid not do it, more tit,tingly than in the presence of the corporation. He congratulated Mr. Denis on the gallantry he had displayed. It was but a sample of what they had from the mer- cantile marine and Royal Navy in times of peril. He hoped Mr. Denis's life would long be spared to wear the watch, and that it would be highly prized by the members of his family who came after him. (Applause.) Mr. DENIS said he was very pleased with thii mark of the honour conferred upon him by tht Canadian Government, and he should value it very much. He felt he had only done his duty, and would be ready to do it again if occasion required (Applause.) Mr. POKTEOITS thanked the mayor for the kind words he had spoken to Mr. Denis, and for th, manner in which the presentation had been made. The parties then withdrew. WATCH COMMITTBE. The report stilted that Police-Constable Joht. Davies, having been reported for being drunk, was called upon to resign. Police-Constables Wheeler and Porter were promoted to a higher class. A reward of £1 by the guardians for the apprehen- sion of a man nnmed Hopkins was ordered to bo paid to the Superannuation Fund. The committee rocommended that £50 be paid to the widow of Police-Constable Pullinger. The report was adopted. PUBLIC WORKS COMIRITTEE. Mr. J. MOSES presented the reports of two meetings held on the 17th of March and the 7tt of April. The committee recommended payment of .£139 10s. to Messrs. Francis and Son fo private improvements in Rodney-road. The sur veyor was instructed to report upon the propose- new road from Clarence-place to east side o river. A number of building plans were approve( including those of the glass works at Crindau, fo the Sout.11 Wales Glass Manufacturing Company and a gas meter manufactory for Messr. Foxall and Company in Charlotte-street. Tlu arbitrator's award had been given in favour of the corporation, with costs, in respect of the Junction- road private improvements. The Local Govern ment Board had given its sanction for borrowing £2,170 for the Barrack-hill and Bassalleg-road widening, and tenders are to be obtained, together with possession of the Handpost cottages, without delay. Tenders to be obtained for paving in the new road from Pentonville to Devon-place, Dock street, and Austin-friars. Recommended that the letting of the ground on which the circus stands to Mr. Fossett, at £125 a year, be confirmed. The gas examiner's report showed that the light was equal to 15 07 sperm candles, and the purity satis- factory. Several leases for houses on Marshes- road were recommended to be carried out. PARLIAMENTARY AND IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE. With regard to the Alexandra Docks and Railwaj Bill an agreement had been proposed, and, subject to its being executed, the committee recommended that the corporation petition in favour of the Bill. It was also recommended that a petition in favour of the East Usk Railway Bill be presented Notice to treat to be served on Mr. Sach, trustee to Mr. T. LI. Brewer, with regard to Skinner-street widening. This report was adopted. PROPOSED PURCHASE OF THE WATERWORKS. Mr, Goss asked the mayor to call together the committee appointed to consider tho above subject. The MAYOR assented. FURNISHING THE NEW TOWN-HALL. A meeting of the council, in committee, was helc on the 13th ult., when tenders were received for furnishing the new Town-hall. They came from different parts "f the country, and varied in amount from £2,025 to £1,361 18s. 5d. The latter by Messrs. Trapnell and Gane, Bristol, was recom- mended for adoption, sample chairs to be sub- mitted. Mr. Linton's tender for fittings and furni- ture, according to a schedule of prices, amounting to £669, was also recommended. This report was also adopted, Mr. JACOB remark that the estimate for furnishing and these two sums brought it very nearly within the mark. It was also stated that the cost of furnishing would be included in the borrowed money. POLIT SANITARY COMMITTEli. Hospital accommodation for cholera patients on the Flat Holm wa" considered desirable, and the town-clerk had written to the Cardiff authority on tho subject. A sub-committee had been appointed to confer with the Cardiff authority. Adopted. Several other reports were presented. A sum of to be paid to the contractor for the Town-hall, and after some formal matters had been disposed of the business terminated.

BY SCHOOL CHILDREN AT CARDIFF. On Monday evening a musical and dramatic entertainment, of a very high order of excellenct was given by the children of St. Patrick's School- ill the Schoolroom, Gratigetown. Tho remetn brance of the great success of a similar entertain ment some years past attracted an unusually largt audience for so remote a district, amongst whoc were nearly all the Catholic clergy of the towr The children, to t he number of about fifty, varyin, ill ago from the infant, room to the sevent standard, were "got up "with admirable tast and as some of them came from very poor homes i was really astonishing to see what a transformatio starch and ribbons could effect. The programm opened with a duet entitled "Grangetowi far away," the composition of Mrs. Kearne* head mistress of this school. The music < this was not much, hut the allusions to tUa recent epidemic of measles ond to the awfii state of the streets of Grangetovvn, where tht cilrts find scavengers Ire" far II way," werc realI, witty. The" See-Saw Y'aise next came off, th. little ones giving ample proof of the knowledge cr the poetry of motion. On the conclusion of tho valse the curtain fell, when Miss Gribble cairn forward and took up her position as drill mistress in front of the stage. Under her direction musical calisthenics were gone through (the piano giving the time) in manner that would have given delight to the heart of a drill-sergeant. Five minutes' interval now followed, after which the curtain rose on what looked a genuine gipsy camp, in which tho would-be" children of nature were engaged in their usual pastimes, some cooking, others smoking, and another persuading a simple youth to cross the gipsy's pahn with sil- ver. The Gipsies' Song and Dance was capitally rendered by Master Williams and Miss Hutchings all the inmates of the camp j.lining in the chorus the iiccomp iniinent not being played on musical instruments, but on kitchen utensils. The Farewell to his Steed came on next, being re- cited alternately by t'trec young gentlemen and two young ladies, any of whom did not appear to have seen nine summers, yet their action anc delivery were such that the audience insisted ot an encore, Master llrown and Miss Grovej in particular attracting notice. II Camomilt Tea" (in character) produced immense laughter. The Misses Ilanlou and Hutchings arrayed in fantastic costumes, and nrmed with teapot and teacup, dilated at great length on the wonderful effects of their favourite beverage Uniortunately, however, for the cause of tempe- rance it was found by the pood ladies that a sligln addition of gin was necessary to produce thE required strength and favour. The trial scent in The Merchant of Venice followed, with which tho audience at, first seemed somewhat disappointed owing to the actors not being in "dress," but the ease, grace, and natural fitness with which tho juvenile performers adapted themselves to their parts soon won them the approval of the house. The principal parts were as follow :— Slti/foeh, M.b:3 Hutchings Port in. Miss Hanlon The Duke, Miss Davit's JUtssanio, Master Williams and Antonio, Miss Crowley. Shy lock's part was ad- mirably rendered. Portia somewhat lacked earnest- ness; but for children so young the performance, on the whole, was simply wonderful.