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C °xFEKE\CK with welsh 5 MEMBEKS. f 1JNITED APPEAL TO LORD SALISBURY. j Cl i ri/ehef from At, e elshmen in Patagonia "bl1i a ConsideredgTtine opPression were on ^st ^nd Po5- ,y _a j°lnt meeting of an t le £ ates m t, Welsh members. The thP *an> attf.'n,-i„^ fJenbovv Phillips and Llwyd ssso^^ose anrf House of Commons for Aif^bly, n-y. i at 6°me length, addressed the Nomas' presided over by Mr. iji],°berts \r V- Grs Present -were Mr. Her- Jfp "tT" aug'han Davies, Sir Powlett ch ^el Thnrv, °y<i~Geoige, Mr. Tudor Howell, Mors,^a3'Mr- Charles Morley, Mr. Prit- Ali,^e- Mr vii'- Herbert Levds, General Ck 8Picer iSrGiiffiths- Mr- T- E- Ellis, Mr-. a and v., Brynmor Jones, Mr. Samuel ryce-Joneo. eQ, pr tement of the grievances of the PhiT to tie .Pafed ^y Mr- Phillips, was also f°1lS-^Pect oTlhS' ThiB gave the geo?rua" So™ of +i, case and a history of the Jt >,„■e, settlement in Pata- iJf0tlS?h. a, f mt*d cut that Sir John Nar- h fla? ar"-rPack as 1670- had hoisted the fat.1*6, and >i j San Julian and at Port tils 0llia in fiT taken formal possession of fQ* S5aQi,ji Xrae name of Charles II. In 1780 Hiiw colon .• \'ernment had attempted to iw then » ut had failed. The state- ce«j Ian,} j ?n to narrate how the Welsh- from t> in ^'ew Hay in 1865, and pro- f »ea J S1lfferin °rt ^Iadryn to the Chubat Valley. °f n>S privations, chiefly by of ti, water and the arid they Cn 8o^. by making irrigation s|0h arable nn^erted a considerable tract into iru? they Pasture land. On two occa- s«v»18^ VfarsnCeiVe'^ °ffGrs of assistance from 5yitre- The ^ut they determined to per- tly of twe] Und€d a Government, a com- 8ent IJeaCe. Je members. and some justices of SUh officers u1880 Argentine Republic C6[, jtuted put down the Government, s6ani°i^er' aad. Practically com- trov 0lH thft rs to receive certificates of 00, eraiaent o?presentatives of the Argentine Since that time, the report goes g>>g have v Sreat oppression and harsh- the y imna'6en committed, which have Progress of the Colony. arsJj^enta evances which have induced the Mth 'B CoQir)c!llPPeal to t^le Hritish Government tin" the Xa+- ng young Welshmen to serve hea7V10na^ ^Uard> to drill on Sundays ^Penalties, and the threat that <Uer D^blic ced to serve in other parts of B Wlt,h the ordinary Argentine BOI- the11?'?1' having read the etate- l'eQn x3JQin^Sates were submitted to some *ati to °.n' after which they were V v?s ^ch^116- a result of the delibe- ^7^. Albert^followed, a resolution, proposed "ijShap(j jj Spicer, and seconded by Mr. the ^gan> was unanimously pa-ssed: — f<jffcQw Phifratement presented to us by Mr. +„ 1?s an(l Mr. Llwyd ap Iwan be °hn g the Foreign Office, and that Mr. R Ù!Ck be asked to receive a small 0ov ^ir best may urge the Government to Soaf^^ent + i11 inducing the Argentine W1 Qaopg r the Welsh Colony in Pata- 'Tjj. der)!1+ nd'y and considerate treatment." lir8, ^tr ^°n wiH consist of Mr. Alfred o J rr ^dor Howell, Mr. Brynmor Jones, el¡n. b.ea.l'in erbert Lewis- I'hiii resolution read later on, Mr. >0^tiDe hps emphatically stated that the aot „°Vernment would promise, but they arry it out. The mildness of the <lirj ^efin» P^eared to surprise him, but, after o°t r'he Welshmen's case, the meeting ^R ^tttat; °W they could strengthen it. Had Stj0fi he^n J331 heen sent over in 1880 it would Di^jlin6 vS^le to have taken up a very th6 from that time until the ^ith ^niA ^Lmen appear to have accepted W >,of the Argentine Government iitw^lt, gj.p s^. and this pacific attitude, it th ^y handicapped any attempt to "ti tb.ev e¡r Present status. Every effort r' ^ade to bring about a more Cr0^ient w;3tate of afFairs. Copies of the forwarded to Ministers of the IJOM' has consented to place them tl:te 7*1 (h Rosebery and Kimberley and Sir t!\ (\, and- if necessary, the services of Roister will be asked for to pro- ———— liT SUGGESTION FROM to t, ^BGEirrirrA. to aPpoim fact that members of the depu- bef to wait upon Mr. Brodrick ^hejj -0,'e Mm the grievances of tho ]1if eDts Patagonia important en- 4t *i the country this week, tire meet- Jf Foreigrn OHlce will be postponed hjjjj ^Qnday or .Tuesday next, Mr, Benbow 18 and Mr. Llwyd ap Iw'an have received ^r°m the Argentine from which it that the colonists have been advised Wj^hdraw their representatives from Eng- rely upon the good offices of General the President, for the redressing of their ances. If General Boca were the only a. "ith whom they had to treat, the dele- have little doubt about accepting "!1o. Advice. Unfortunately, the Welshmen 11.1),(\, it he existence of a clique against them. p ^ant. :s this clique-influential and all-im- lD Buenos Ayres-which they have to

°%IEXTS OF THE XATITE PRESS), "r —— tj^les^yf been supplied with translations of ei!? "ArJ fc. ^ave recently been appearing in a va.no ,Q^ne Press" with reference to the v*<i not s °f the Welsh colonists in Patagonia, a?11 intS Upon the different points raised have vM LlwevrH3Cersed hy Messrs. Benbow Phillips •^in* ap Iwan, who are in this country tg, Va 6 cause of their fellow-colonists: — Th« n°1011'" Buenos Aires, December 9, 1898. ^vefn0 e^s from Chupat speaKs of the new th ^est 'i ^°^01?€1 O'Donnell, as animated with reB. entions to Savour the inhabitants of totv?11"' w^°h is the more noteworthy Shf^ bami J1resent time the authorities have y shown signs of life. We are U? t^ad «.at the governor has re-organised, th territ e c^ive> the different departments of th administration, and has taken i'6 Proc,» Ve' which, if carried out, will tend to A ^rovpv^68s °f Chupat, as, for example, the W a °f the bar of the Eiver Chupat. i a P°rt is almost closed, and the "'ve diSa flags which marked the entrance the river trade has become Cojjs ly Paralysed, and the inhabitants have rticles quence been in want of the commonest b deDe of consumption, as they are obliged <4 its h on the Port Madryn Eailway, which, a^Ses management and burdensome b local On articles of prime necessity, as well cent Eroduce. entails a freight loss of 24 over what would really be the cost n taif r^Ver open. The same governor has is n Up a topic which, although an old t Ha olet of great interest. It refers to the h* th6 edUcation in that territory, which up *^tiQ Present time has failed to imprint the 4o character on the colonists as it ought j^hofu- ^herefore, it is now time that the to n 3 should adopt energetic measures so flirsDllt a top to such an irregular state of 5^8 ge" In the note which Colonel O'Donnell ih ^8 i\}° National Education Council, he m ^he r4* °f the seventeen primary schools cat terl"ltory. and which are destined to form the future men of this part h Public, sixteen of them are presided Welsh schoolmasters. He also adds 6 has met here (Chupat) Argentine born in the place who are ignorant of *116 Spanish word, owing to their having jho ,ail&ht exclusively by Welsh teachers, and to rOm childhood learn and practice the j 1§ljs,3 °f their homes. The children of the 0t- French, German, and Italians located Parts are obliged, although much a v.^heir will, to learn the language in tik 3°°l3- Undoubtedly, terminates the these men grow as Welshmen — they as Welshmen, they act as c» and their families will i t6en> an exotic plant in the midst of the t^ota ?e family. These Argentines are » 6 tn as he their Argentine sons, of Mit St e'ementary notions of our glorious and in the day when the country them in its defence they will be ^capable of understanding the word of r^Ve Q.d" To the end, therefore, that this V inconvenience may disappear, the n.terntnent is asked, independent of the pre- Jtlcg easures which are being adopted, to at Substitute Argentine schoolmasters in ^ot,°f the present Welsh ones." Os.-The Rivr Chupat is practically jjte j, *esfiels have been 6ix months inside pVer unable to go out. The strictures of °vernor as to the management of the °vernor as to the management of the ^s.y is without any foundation. The rail- 'hai-t ^^tish, hence his hatred of it. His n- on °n the colonial education is worthy 6 who has been sent down especially to every vestige of the nationality of 2^at their constancy and heroic deter- .^try11 ^aTe made a desert into a habitable tlrib^a Popular," Monte Video, January ^r:Telegranis.—'Buenos Ayres, January the newspapers make commentaries ^nsational news of yesterday that the .c°l°nists of Patagonia have sent dele- the English Government to ask for .j Protection or independence. The Vice- ^»j^eriti Quirno Costa intended yesterday to ^nicate the news immedia'oly to General Qt from the absolute failure of the ,Vyf °f communication with Port Madryn v habie to do so." Orreo EsPan°l" says that this ridiculous cannot be taken seriously or oven ed to by the English Government, not from want of desire to plant its banner in this part of South America, but because its position is not such as to allow it to venture on such a dangerous enterprise. But, although there is no present danger from the attitude which the colonists have now taken, yet neither can the Government afford to laugh at it without taking measures to secure itself against the tendencies of those people in the future. The "Standard," commenting on the same, says that it has caused a general sensation of surprise and hilarity, because the said petition cannot be taken seriously, and wonders at the readiness of the "Times" in publishing it, and thus showing its tremendous ignorance of the political spirit of the Argentines. "The cause of this movement," it continues, "is due to the want of Spanish schools in that Welsh colony, as in no college is taught any other language except English, and that another cause is the neglect of the Argentine Government in leaving the colony isolated from civilisation, as there is no telegraph to Chubat. In the meantime, Roca has gone to the south, and will (werhaps) study how to manage these difficulties, especially as he has an idea of naming a colonist as governor of the territory." "The Standard" concludes by recommending the colonists to recall their delegates, and to have faith in the experience of Roca to smooth their difficulties." Neither does La Nacion," in its leading article, take the matter seriously. It says the colonists did not read the National Constitu- tion when they came to the country. jSTote.—As will be seen, "La Tribuna Popular," a Monte Videan paper, simply gives a resume of the commentaries of the Buenos Airean press on the mission of the Chupat delegates, and, naturally, they are on the side of their own Government. or of the country where they live; but the very fact that they have com- mented is an admission that the governing of the colonists has not been the proper thing, or that the Argentine claim to Patagonia rests on a, weak foundation. The promise of General Roca to appoint a colonist as governor of the Chupat territory was made to the delegates in the early part of last November, and it was followed the next day by a proposition to establish a garrison in Chupat to terrorise the colonists.

ALLEGED FORGERY BY A CARDIFF BUILDER, A REMARKABLE CAaE. At Cardiff Police court on Tuesday afternoon (before the Stipendiary, Mr. T. W. Lewis) Joseph Roberts, 45, car- penter and builder, was charged under a warrant with obtaining from Mr. Tom Coddrington Clarke, of Elliott's Hotel, St. Mary- street, the sum of 6s. by means of a forged bill of exchange for £12 on February 14. Mr. Lloyd Meyrick defended.—Mr. Clarke gave evidence that on the day named the prisoner called upon him. and produced the bill of exchange for JB12, dated February 14, and one dated March 14. It was drawn on Mr. John Pritchard, of the Grange Hotel, and he asked prosecutor to advance him JE5 on the bill, as he did not want to go to Mr. Pritchard that night. Wit- ness refused to advance £5, and then prisoner asked for JE1, which also was refused. Then prisoner asked for enough money to take him home, and, after some further conversation, witness advanced 6s., prisoner leaving the bill as security, and saying he would return the money the next day. On the following even* ing prisoner called again, and wanted to ex- change an I O U for the bill, but witness declined to allow him. Prisoner then asked for the loan of another sovereign on the bill, but this was refused. On Saturday last the prisoner called, and offered the 6s., saying that he under. stood the detectives were on his track, but wit- ness declined to accept the money, as on the previous day, he had placed the matter in the hands of the police, having that day consulted with Mr. Pritchard. On Monday a warrant was taken out. He issued the loan on Mr. Pritchard's name, thinking the bill was genuine. -Cross-examined by Mr. Meyrick: Prisoner spent most of the six shillings in the hotel, and witness participated in it. He declined to advance a sovereign because he had a doubt concerning the genuineness of the bill.—Mr. J. M. Pritchard, of the Grange Hotel, said the bill was not accepted by him. and the signature was not his, ror authorised by him.—By Mr. Meyrick: He did not know the prisoner at all. He had some land at Llantarnam, and a man had been negotiating for building upon it, but he did not know whether the prisoner was the man.—Detective Scott proved arresting the prisoner at the Tivoli Hotel, Queen-street, on Monday morning. Prisoner said, "I did have 6s. off him, and I gave him a bill." On the way to the station prisoner said, "I was just going down to see Mr. Pritchard. 1 have taken a piece of land off him at Llantarnam." When charged at the police-station prisoner said, "I signed the bill."—Prisoner, who reserved his defence, was committed for trial to the next assizes, bail being refused.

WELSHMEN AS SCHOOLMASTERS IN WALES. I The following candidates for the post of 1 head master to the central classes, under the auspices of the local Pupil Teachers' Assooia- tion, appeared before the Ruabon Board at its monthly meeting1:—Messrs. David Morris I (Blaenau Festiniog), Luke Bradley (Llanelly), J. R. Thomas (Colwyn Bay), and A. E. Wykea (Wrexham).-The Chairman (Alderman E. Hooson) proposed that the selection be con- fined to the two Welsh candidates, Messrs. Morris and Thomas.—The Rev. J. Davies (vicar of Penycae) said that after interviews with the candidates he could not see his way to sup- port the motion. He was a Welshman to the backbone, but would not agree to Welsh being a stumbling block to the progress of the country. They were making Welsh a scapegoat to suit their own purposes. He would like to know how many 01 the schools in their district had availed themselves of the privileges granted for teaching Welsh.—The Clerk: Welsh as a specific subject was taken up by some of the schools, but fell through.—The Rev. J. Davies: Those very teachers who recommended the appoint- ment of a Welsh master are the very persons who failed to take up the subject when they were given the opportunity. I propose as an .amendment the selection of Mr. A. E. Wykes, a gentleman fully qualified for the post.—The Chairman said a Welshman should be selected. —The Rev. J. Davies said it was only a matter of sentiment at present.—The Rev. W. B. Jones (Baptist) said that, having raised the question of appointing a Welshman at the last meeting, he felt bound to support the motion. He had spoken to several ratepayers on the matter, and all of them insist on the selection of a Welshman.—On being put to the meeting, three voted for the amendment and four against, the motion being declared carried.—The board having discovered that Mr. Morris was not a graduate, and Mr. Thomas not certificated, it was resolved to re-advertise, and that "only Welsh need apply."

CRUELTY ALLEGED AGAINST A CARDIFF HUSBAND. U At Cardiff First Police-court on Tuesday Evan Parry, coaltrimmer, was summoned for per. sistent cruelty to his wife, Mary Ann Parry. Mr. D. W. Evans prosecuted; Mr. Joseph Henry Jones defended.—Mrs. Parry said that on the night of February 4 the defendant returned home drunk and turned her sister, her daughter (aged six), and herself out of the house. It was snowing at the time, and they were only partly dressed. Before turning them out he threatened to throw a lighted lamp at the bed, and struck her (prosecutrix) as she was going out. They had been married thirteen years, and she had to leave him before because she was afraid of him. She was away seven years, and only returned about a couple of months ago. Since then his conduct had been worse than before, and he continually came home drunk and used bad language and threatened to turn her out.—The Stipendiary said that hardly showed persistent cruelty.— Mr. Evans said he could not carry the case any further.—The Stipendiary observed that, although there was an assault on February 4, persistent cruelty had not been shown.—Mr. J. H. Jones said it was all the fault of the sister, and if Mrs. Parry let her go they could live happily together.—The Stipendiary sa:d he had nothing to do with that. The summons would be dismissed.

PONTYPRIDD BANKRUPTCY COURT. ANOTHER FAILURE THROUGH THE COAL STRIKE. TUESDAY.—(Before Mr. Registrar E. C. SPICKETT.) Thomas Abraham Jones, ale and spirit mer- chant, Penygraig, attended for public exami- nation. His statement of affairs showed a deficiency of £294 10s. lid. He attributed his failure to the coal strike. Debtor opened busi- ness in 1892, and the liabilities exceeded the assets twelve months ago by £ 246.—Mr. Lewis Morgan, solicitor, Cardiff, appeared for the bankrupt, ar" his examination was declared closed. John Richard Davies, labourer, Treorky, was the next debtor who appeared for examination. The deficiency in this case was £88 6s. Id., and debtor attributed insolvency to protracted domestic troubles, &c. He had never been in business, and he kept no books of account.— The examination was closed.

CARDIFF LAD'S CRUELTY. When Sidney Simpson, 20, went to tie his father's mare up in the stable in Portman- moor-road, Cardiff, on Monday evening he found a small dog sheltering in one of the stalls. According to his own story, the dog attempted to bite him in the leg, and accord- ingly he proceeded to give it a severe thrash- ing. A police-constable on duty, some distance away, heard the cries of the poor animal, and upon entering the stable saw the dog securely tied up, and Simpson beating it with a heavy brush handle. Before the Cardiff magistrates on Tuesday morning Simpson denied that he had used the brush handle. "I beat it with my belt," he said, "and I broke the buckle off it."—The Magistrates told the young man that his conduct had en dastardly, and as a lesson for the future ordered him to pay a fine of £1 and costs, or go to prison for one month.

BISHOPS IN THE HOUSE) OF LORDS, WELSH M.P.'S MOTION FOR THEIR EVICTION. In the House of Commons on Tuesday, on the conclusion of the debate on the Address, Mr. HERBERT LEWIS (R., Flint Boroughs), who had precedence, it being a private members' night, was received with Opposition cheers on rising to call attention to the posi- tion of the bishops in the House of Lords, and to move "that the legislative power of bishops in the House of Peers in Parliament is a great hindrance to the discharge of their spiritual functions, prejudicial to the Commonwealth, and ought to be taken away by Bill. presence of the bishops in Parliament was, he believed, an anomaly and an injustice-preju- dicial to the interests of religion, and inimical to those of the community. He dealt with the history of the movement for the removal of the bishops from their seats with the temporal peers from its beginning in Commonwealth times, and, after remarking that he had received communications in support of his motion from many Conservatives and Church- men, said the reasons which he assigned for the motion that day were the same as were advanced by the House of Commons in 1641. Their attendance in the Lords was now, as was stated 200 years ago, a very great hin- drance to thei rministerial functions, a though the facilities of travel had. of course, greatly increased, yet the population of the dioceses had also greatly grown. It was also urged by the House of Commons in 1641 that the bishops' expectation of translation to places of greater profit rendered them in some degree- unfitted to sit in the Lords. He was afraid that that reason was connected in many minds with the attitude of the bishops towards some of the most beneficial legislation that had ever been carried through. Why had the bishops so seldom raised their voices against unjust wars? He specially re-called a case in which, in Lord Beaoonsfield's time, six bishops came down to Westminster to vote for the Afghan War. It was then rather unkindly suggested that a great see was vacant. (Laughter.) He did not attribute any motive except that of loyalty to the existing Government. (Renewed laugh- ter.) But he asked whether it was wise that the heads of the English Church should be in a position where their votes gave rise to strong it undeserved, suspicion. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the record of the votes of the bishops, he declared that for the most part they had voted when they should not have voted, and held aloof when they should have voted. They had voted, for instance, against the removal of the disabilities of Roman Catholics and of Jews, and against the pro- posals to admit Nonconformists to the univer- sities and to other rights of citizenship. Even now there were coming before Parliament year, by year questions which seriously affected the interests of Nonconformists, and he asked whether it was right or fair that a House which did not contain a single Protestant Dis- senter for England or Wales should be the ultimate judge in matters of that sort. (Hear, hear.) With reference to purely political questions, he reminded the House of the part the bishops took in the early days of the anti- slavery struggle and in reference to the great Reform Bill, and he mentioned, as an instance of their views as to the rights of property, that seven bishops voted for and none against a Bill for the abrogation of the death penalty for the theft of goods worth 5s. He denied that the motion was one for Disestablishment, declaring that it was only directed against a specific anomaly and grievance, which was felt by a large number of persons—Churchmen and Nonconformists alike—and which might, he believed, be removed with the best results both to the Church and the State. (Opposi- tion cheers.) Mr. STEVENSON (R., Suffolk, Eye), in seconding, said the bishops might have held a reasonable and even useful position in ihe House of Lords at a time when schism was practically unknown in Great Britain, and when ihere were scarcely any differences of religious opinion throughout the kingdom, bat in the state of affaire which now prevailed their presence in the Upper House was logically quite untenable. He laid stress on the manner, in which the bishops had to absent themselves from their dioceses, sometimes for no other pur- pose than that of taking their turn at reading prayers in the House of Lords, even though the subjects under discussion at the time might be quite unconnected with Church matters. He regarded it ao on several grounds undesirable that the bishops should te identified with party politics, and he insisted that, instead of the bishops having beea the leaven to spiritualise the House of Lords the House had rather tended to materialise the bishops. (Cheers.) Mr. GEDGE (U., Walsall) agreed that neither the Church Establishment nor the existence of the Church as a spiritual body depended in the least degree on the presence of its bishops in the House of Lords, but yet there were decided advantages in their presence there. For -nstance, the bishops in their own dioceses exercised tremendous influence, and it was, perhaps, desirable that they should come into contact in Parliament with those who were socially their equals, and in some cases intel- lectually their superiors. (Laughter.) Mr. S. MACNEILL (N., Donegal, S.), speaking as an Irish Protestant, said the bishops became a useful force in politics at the time of the Reformation. The bishop of the thirteenth century founded churches and cathedrals, and the bishop of to-day only founded families. (Hear, hear.) The difference between them was enormous. When Mr. MACNEILL was speaking the Bishops of Chester and St. AsapH entered the peers' gallery, and the hon. member turned in that direction and appeared to be addressing his remarks to their lordships. He remarked he did not wish to say anything about gentlemen who were present. The SPEAKER: Order, order. The hon. mem- ber mist address himself to the Chair. Mr. MACNEILL said it would benefit the Eng- lish clergy and the English Church if bishops were removed from their present position, and allowed to be the chief pastors of their flock, and not mere politicians. Sir E. CLARKE (U., Plymouth) remarked that it was a pity the subject should not be dealt with more seriously, and he regretted that no member of the Cabinet thought it worth while to be present. (Opposition cheers.) The Church was as essential a part of the State as Parlia- ment itself, and unless it was represented in the House of Lords it would not be repre- sented at all. He challenged both the proposi- tions of the resolution, and he asserted that the bishops spoke with at least as much autho- rity as any elected member of the Lower House. He did not agree with all that the bishops had done in the House of Lords. On more than one question he thought their action had not been in accordance with the dictates of sound reason. But that was a very insufficient reason for suggesting that their presence there was prejudicial to the common- wealth. The resolution raised the constitu- tional question whether the various elements of thought and influence were to be represented by the Church in the greatest and most prominent of all our institutions. It was urged that the Church should speak, at all events, in one of our great deliberative Assemblies, and for that reason he resisted the amendment. Mr. CARVELL WILLIAMS (R., Notts, Mans- field) said the removal of the bishops from the House of Lords would do no injury to the bishops or the Church, and it would be a gain to religion and to the country at large. Lord HUGH CECIL (U., Greenwich) said he did not think the Church as a Church ought to have anything in the way of a privilege. The idea that the Church was to be singled out from all other denominations and to be given special advantages and privileges was, he thought, a vicious idea-(hear, har)-and ho saw no reason why other religiodf denomi- nations should not be represented. This might be made the first step in a radical change in the constitution of the House of Lords, so ad to make it more completely representative of all the better educated classes of the community He moved an amendment expressing the desirability of adding other peers to the House, and especially those who represented the greater religious denominations other than the Church of England. Mr. SHARPE (U., Kensington, W.) seconded. Sir R. REID (E., Dumfries Burghs) said the noble lord who moved the amendment dis- sented from the high Tory doctrines of Sir E. Clarke, who seemed to imagine that there belonged to the Church of England the exclu- sive privilege of exceptional representation. That was the only argument brought forward from the other side in favour of the presence of bishops in the House of Lords, and it had been satisfactorily demolished by the noble lord. Any attempt to strengthen the House of Lords by leaving its powers unimpaired, and simply adding a few more persons owing their position to selection by the Crown, would meet with very vigorous opposition from those who wished something better in the way of reform. But he did not think the divines would be any better than the bishops. There had as yet been no attempt to show that the bishops were a useful factor in the House of Lords. They had in former times been against the abolition of slavery, and at the present time they had done nothjng to prevent slavery as it existed in Zanzibar. They had not protested against the rule of the Sultan and the Turks in Armenia. (Hear, hear.) The amendment was one that none of them could support, and he did not think Nonconformist divines wished to be represented in the House of Lords. Sir R. WEBSTER (Attorney-General) said the hon. member had adduced very unfortunate instances of the work of the bishops. It was wholly unfair to assume, after the information that had been given to the House, that there was any slavery in Zanzibar which the Govern- ment could put down. Then, with regard to Turkish rule in Armenia, the hon. gentleman had no right to charge the bishops with enter- ing the political arena. Sir ROBERT REID, interrupting, said he had made no reference to the political arena. All he said was that they were members of a political Assembly, and that if they had used their influence in the direction of showing their abhorrence of the oppression of the Christians under Turkish rule, that oppression would by now have been rendered impossible. (Hear, hear.) Sir RICHARD WEBSTER said that if that was not entering the political arena, he did not know what was(Ministerial clieers)—and he thought the bishops could not have dis- cussed even the outline of the questions which had been suggested without practically com- mitting themselves to a side in party politics He deprecated the suggestion of the mover of the resolution that the votes of the bishops might be influenced by the hope of preferment, and he thought that suggestion was not made any better by the apparent disclaimer of the hon. gentleman that he "imputed no motives." (Ministerial cheers.) Mr. HERBERT LEWIS: I did not impute motives. I only said it was unfortunate that the bishops should be placed in a position motives. I only said it was unfortunate that the bishops should be placed in a position which rendered their motives liable to miscon- ception, and even suspicion. (Opposition cheers.) Sir R. WEBSTER, proceeding, characterised as a slander the contention that the bishops neglected the duties of their dioceses for the attractions of London society, or even for attendance at the House of Lords. He ventured to say, indeed, that ninety out of every hun- dred hours of a bishop's time was given up to the duties of his diocese. (Ministerial cheers.) He went on to inquire whether there were not matters in which the presence of the bishops in the Legislature was not of value? For his own part, he regarded their attitude on the great questions of education and temperance as almost justifying their presence there, even if there had been no other ground for it. (Ministerial cheers.) Mr. A. BALFOUR pointed out that the amend- ment raised a point which, though interesting in itself, would tend to confuse the Govern- ment. Personally, he would not object to the raising of certain Nonconformists to another place—(laughter)—but, under the circumstances, he trusted the amendment would be with- drawn. Lord HUGH CECIL thereupon asked leave to withdraw his amendment, but this was refused, and the amendment was formally negatived. Mr. Lewis's motion was then put, when the numbers were:- For the motion 129 Against 200 Government majority 71 j

r SAILORS AND EMPLOYERS LIABILITY, DEBATE IN THE COMMONS. In the House of Commons on Tuesday, The debate on the Address was resumed by Mr. J. H. WILSON (R., Middlesborough), who moved an amendment calling on the Govern- ment to extend the provisions of the Em- ployers' Liability Bill to British seamen. Ship- owners, he said, had always been fortunate in intimidating Governments who had endea- voured to deal with the question, though they blithely voted for legislation to impose upon employers a share of the responsibility for the safety of their employes. It was, however, a mistake to suppose that respectable shipowners were opposed to seamen having an Employers' Liability Act. The present Government was very much afraid of the shipowning influence, but they had no need to be. The leader of the House had stated it was the intention of the Government to bring in a Bill for seamen at a very early date, but they had not fulfilled their pledges. If the Government left this amendment to the decision of the House he was sure there would be a majority of ten to one in favour of it, and all the shipowning members, with two or three exceptions, would vote for it. Mr.. S. WOODS (R., Essex, Walthamstow) seconded. Admiral FIELD (U., Sussex, Eastbourne) said he was utterly opposed to this kind of legisla- tion, and it was the worst thing the Govern- ment could do to bring the seamen, as.-a class, under the Liability Act. He did not think the seamen wanted this legislation. They would much rather have legislation dealing with un- seaworthy ships, undermanning, and overload. ing. Colonel DENNY (U.. Kilmarnock Burghs) argued that, from the point of view of the sea- men, the proposal of the amendment would be absolutely infufracient-that nothing short of a well-considered scheme of compensation would ever satisfy the men. Sir M. WHITE RIDLEY (Home Secretary) did not think the seamen would be so much benefited by being brought within the Employers' Liability Act as within the Workmen's Compensation Act. He was not to be blamed for regarding the latter as better than the Employers' Liability Act or than the Bill introduced by the late Home Secretary. The Act of 1880 was in- complete and unsatisfactory, and by their own action the Government had done their best to render it obsolete. But they were certainly not prepared in the present session of Parlia- ment to propose tp amend or extend the Act of 1897. They had never taken up the posi- tion that seamen ought not to be included within the provision of the Act. On the con- trary, they recognised the dangerous character of the industry, and believed that the time would come-and he hoped before long-when the provisions of the Act would be extended to them. But it had only been in operation seven or eight months, and could not be ex- tended until there had been more experience of its working. Mr. ASQUITH (R., Fife, E.) !-aid the case brought forward by the mover of the amend- ment was irresistible, and no serious attempt was made to answer it. Seamen of all classes of workers in the country meet needed protec- tion, and least got it, and if that did not con- stitute a. case of urgent need he did not know by what scale of priority they were to discrimi- nate between the different items of their pro- gramme of social reform. Sir EDWARD HILL (U., Bristol) said he did not know of any class of labour more hedged round by Government legislation than that of the sailor. A ship could not leave the port unless the officers of the Board of Trade were satisfied. The amount of cargo was regulated, thlB engines carefully examined, and before her registry a certificate had to be produced by the Government officer showing that the accommodation for the seamen, both as re- garded ventilation and sanitary regulations, were in accordance with the Act of Parlia- ment. The provisions were also subject to examination. Transfer from sail to steam had conduced very much to decrease the annual loss of life at sea, but, however careful they might be, there were a certain number of accidents which could not be prevented, and he failed to see that they would decrease the numbers even if tBey included sailors in the present Bill. He reminded the hon. member for Middlesborough that shipowners were not infallible, and that, at least, they had self- interest, and that this alone would prompt them to see that their ships were well cared for. He would also point out that the amend- ment did not meet the case of ships going to sea 4nd never more being heard of. As far as he was personally concerned, he desired to see our sailors properly and suitably provided for, and he was glad to hear that the Home Secretary proposed in duie time to introduce a Bill suited to the industry, and to give a certain amount of compensation to sailors. The shipowners did not consider money when the lives of their sailors were concerned, and it was desirable that our sailors should not be debarred from receiving the same considerar tion as their brethren on shore. Sir F. Evans, Mr. Gibson Bowles, and Sir J. Joicey having spoken, Mæ. T. P. O'CONNOR (R., Liverpool, Scotland) moved an amendment to the amendment, declaring that seamen ought to come within the provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Act, not the Employers' Liability Act. This, having been seconded by Mr. GALLO- WAY (U., Manchester, S.W.), was accepted by Mr. Havelock Wilson. Mr. HAVELOCK WILSON said that if he could get an undertaking that the Government would deal with the matter next year, he would not press the amendment to a division, but no answer was returned from the front Bench, and the House divided. There voted:- For the amendment 125 Against 206 Government majority gi

FAILURE OF A PONTYPRIDD GROCER. A meeting of the creditors of Gwilym Williams, grocer, Wain House, Tonypandy, was held on Tuesday at the offices of the Official Receiver at Merthyr. The statement of affairs showed that there were 62 unsecured creditors for EI,244 19s. 8d., one creditor fully secured for £56, three creditors for C4,097 Os. Bd. partly secured, the value of the securities being esti- mated at £ 2,766, and preferential creditors for £ 10 7s. 2d., making a gross total of liabilities of £ 5,408 7s. 6d. The liabilities to rank for divi- dend were returned at £2.576 Os. 4d., and the net assets available for distribution at £ 110 8s. 7d., which, deducted from the E2 576 Os. 4d., left a deficiency of L2,465 11s. 9d. The debtor ascribed his failure to the following causes:- Taking over an overdraft of his mother for £ 1,300; the five months' strike of colliers; loss of E600 on the Stock Exchange; advertising a parcel post tea connection; loss of zE30 through damage to a horse; heavy interest on the over- draft at the bank; loss of t230 through entrusting a sale of shares to a person who was not a member of the Stock Exchange, and loss on tea through dampness.

SUICIDE OF A LAMPETER PUBLICAN. On Monday night, about twelve o'clock, the body of Mr. William Thomas, of the Plough Inn, Lampeter, was found suspended to a beam in his workshop, which is situated near Peter- well-terrace. The deceased, in addition to his public-house, carried on a business of a car- penter and wheelwright at the Plough Carriage Works. Mr. Thomas, who was 36 years of age on the day of his death, left home about five o'clock for his work. and not returning at eleven o'clock inquiries were made, and the police communicated with. Police-sergeant Thoin? and Police-constable Edward Thomas forced open the workshop door, and there found the deceased, as already described. He leaves a widow and two children. No reason can be uriven for the deed.

CARDIFF P0ST3IAX IN THE DOCK, CHARGED WITH STEALING MONEY AND JEWELLEY. At Cardiff First Police-oourt on Tuesday morning (before the Stipsndiary, Mr. T. W. Lewis) Henry Ward, 35, a postman, employed at the Roath Post-office, was charged on remand with stealing two letters containing postal orders on June 8 and June 27, 1858; and, further, with stealing one letter containing a gold brooch on July 17. Mr. Gilling prosecuted; Mr. Lloyd Meyrick appeared for the prisoner.— At the first hearing a quantity of evidence was called to show that, in consequence of com- plaints of letters being missed in the Roath area, a clerk, Mr. W. T. Edwards, was sent down from London to investigate, with the result that the prisoner admitted to him that he had taken letters belonging to the Hearts of Oak Benefit Society, the excuse being that he was in financial difficulties. He was arretted by Detective Frye, of the Metropolitan Police, and afterwards handed over to the Cardiff police. The postal orders forming the subject of the charges were cashed at Newport and Pontypridd.—Mr. Griffith John Evans, student, 114, Mackintosh-place, deposed that on the 8th of June, 1898, he posted a letter, containing a postal order for 10s. 6d., and addressed to the Hearts of Oak Society, at the box in Mackin- tosh-place. He subsequently learned that the letter had not reached its destination, and he gave information, with the number of the order, to the Post Office. He posted the letter at four o'clock in the afternoon.—Mr. Frederick William Charley, inspector of postmen, said the prisoner had been employed in the Post Office since May, 1393. Witness produced a book, showing that prisoner was on duty on June 8, and that he cleared the box in Mackintosh- Piaoe at 4.10 in the afternoon. After finishing his collection it would be prisoner's duty to assist in sorting the letters at the Eoath Office. In the second case — the charge of stealing the postal order on June 27— the evidence showed that the letter was posted at Carlisle-street Post-office on the day in question by a Mrs. Sarah Gooding', 175, Railway-street. It. would have reached the Roath Post-office at 1.40, and the duty-book showed that prisoner was on sorting duty at the office from 1.10 to two o'clock. Prisoner had admitted to Mr. Edwards that he stole three letters, and said he took them because they were addressed to the Hearts of Oak Society, and he suspected they contained money. In the third case—the charge of stealing a brooch—Detective Frye, of the Metropolitan Police, said he had searched the prisoner's house at 101, Keppoch-street, and in a teapot on a kitchen shelf he found a pawn-ticket in respect of a gold brooch, and hearing the date of the 19:h of July.—John Smith, a pawn- broker's assistant at Merthyr, said that on the 19th of July he was employed in a pawn- broker's shop in Caroline-street, Cardiff. On that date he remembered taking in pledge a gold brooch, in respect of which he gave the ticket produced. It was pledged in the name of "Sarah Ward, 101, Craddock-street."—Sarah Jane Lewis, Hengoed House, Hengoed, recog- nised the gold brooch ptoduced as one which she had posted to her sister in Cardiff on July 16. Mr. Charley said that a letter or package posted at Maesycwmmer on the evening of the 16th inst. ought to arrive at the Roath Post- office at 5.45 on the following morning. The book showed that on the morning of July 17 the prisoner was on duty from five to seven, and in the ordinary course the package would have passed through his hands. There were only two sorters on duty at the time. Detective Gretton said that when charged with stealing the brooch the prisoner said:T—"I think that is the brooch I found in Albany-road without a pin, and I-had it repaired with Mr. Seise, jeweller, in Castle-road. I know I found one, but I wouldn't be certain now." This concluded the evidence, and prisoner was committed for trial on all three charges. Mr. Lloyd Meyrick applied for bail, and said prisoner had a good character in the Army. He had not been dissipated, and if he got money it went to relieve temporary difficulties. He did not think the prosecution Objected. The Stipendiary said, in view of the number of charges, and the short interval before the assizes, he did not think he could grant bail. Mr. Meyrick said several respectable trades- men were willing to become sureties, and Mr. Grilling- said he would leave the .matter to his worship. The Mvendizry upon this said he would allow bail in £10Q, with one surety in £100, or two in £50 each. —

MILK AND DIPHTHERIA. PROSECUTION AT CAERPHILL A milk "case affecting the public health was heard before Mr. C. H. James and other magis- trates at Caerphilly Police-court on Tuesday. Lock John Parknewydd Farm, Senghenydd, was summoned, at the instance of the Caer- philly District Council, "for being the person in possession of milk who exposed it for sale, it being unwholesome." Mr. William Spickett, solicitor, and clerk to the council, prosecuted, and Mr. George David, solicitor, Cardiff, defended.—In opening the case Mr. Spickett pointed out that there had been 39 cases of diphtheria at Senghenydd, and in 31 of these cases the milk had been supplied by the defen- dant.—Mr. Thomas Powell, L.C.V.S., county bacteriologist, said he found germs in the sample of the milk submitted to him which were morphologically undistinguishable from diphtheria germs.—Mr. David: Did you find diphtheria germs?—No; but I found germs which were morphologically undistinguishable from diphtheria germs. (Laughter.)—Mr. David, in addressing the Bench for the defence, raised a point of law. He said that the prosecution, in order to obtain a conviction, should prove that the defendant acknowledged that the milk was unwholesome, or that he had not exercised reasonable precaution in carry- ing on his business. He thought that they could not prove that the diphtheria was caused by the milk the defen- dant sold. Instead of the thirty-one cases sug- gested, and which had not been proved, there were only four cases in the houses served by the defendant, and there the drains had been condemned. The probability was, that the diphtheria had been caused by "bad drains."— The defendant then gave evidence, and said he had no knowledge that there was anything wrong with the milk. There were five other persons selling milk at Senghenydd, and there were cases of sickness at houses which he was not supplying with his milk. Replying Co Mr. Spickett, he said he supplied milk to thirteen houses where diphtheria existed. Four of these cases had proved fatal.—After a long retire- ment, the magistrates fined the defendant £2 and costs, and warned him that if a similar thing occurred the fine would be heavier.

SWANSE A CO UN TT-OOUE T. A LECTURE TO ADVOCATES. On resuming the hearing at Swansea County- court on Tuesday of a case in which a cyclist named Rees claimed damages for being run down on the Mumbles-road, his Honour Judge Gwilym Williams, who had adjourned his court suddenly on the previous evening after listening for some hours to the case, addressed Mr. G. Hawkes, solicitor for the plaintiff, and said he ought to be able to apprehend when the bench was against him, and not go on beating the air and wasting a couple of hours of valuable time. which he (the judge) could have devoted to other cases. Advocates could go a little too far. He hoped the younger advocates would take note of this. His honour gave judg- ment in the case for the defendants, with costs. Davies v. Payne.—In thi3 case the plaintiffs, George Davies and Mary Ann Davies his wife. claimed the sum of -680 upon an IO U from Hy Payne. formerly tenant of the Old Duke Hotel. Mr. Meager appeared for plaintiffs, and Mr. Brynmor Jones, M.P., for the defendant.— Judgment was given for defendants, with costs. Owners of the Ch-de v. Owners of the Lvthe. more.—The plaintiffs, owners of a Liverpool steamer, claimed, from the owners of a Llanelly brigantine .£250 damages for a collision which occurred outside Llanelly Harbour on January 24 last. Mr. Sankey represented plaintiffs, and Mr. Batten (London) the defendants.—Judgment was given for the defendants.

WELSH IN THE! LAW COURTS SCENES AT CARNARVON ASSIZES.' During the hearing of several cases at Car- narvon Assizes on Monday (before Mr. Justice Darling) several instances of the bilingual diffi- culty presented themselves. The judge in several cases insisted upon witnesses giving their evidence in English, although it was evi- dent they only imperfectly understood the lan- guage, and there were at times unmistakable signs of disapprobation in a crowded court, so much so that on one occasion his lordship threatened to turn out. The judge's conduce was severely criticised during the day by the legal fraternity in the town. who agree that this continual lingual difficulty must somehow be overcome.

FLOGGING IN SWANSEA GAOL It has leaked out that the prisoner George Attewell, sentenced to two floggings in Swansea Prison, received his second punishment on Thursday last. The details of the last punish. ment published in the press have been denied by the Home Secretary, but it may be stated on the authority of the Swansea "Leader" that the prisoner's back bore no traces of his last punishment, yet in view, probably, of the public feeling aroused by the seventy of the former dose, the prisoner was dealt with leniently, though our reporter was informed that he "yelped like a cur." The flogging was carried out in the presence of Dr. Howel Thomas, the nodical officer of the prison."

CENTRAL WELSH BOARD. CHARITY COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY SCHOOLS. A meeting of tha executive committee of the Central Welsh Board was held at Shrewsbury last week, Mr. A. C. Humphreys Owen, M.P., in the chair, and Principal J. Yiriamu Jones, F.R.S., in the vice-chair.—A letter was read from the Charity Commission stating that in the case of each of the county schools inspected and examined by the board, with the exception of Haverfordwest Grammar School, the Commis- sioners had felt able to report to the Treasury that the conditions required to be fulfilled -n order to obtain a grant under the Act had been fulfilled, and that in the case of Haverfordwest Gram.nar Sch.i>! they had recommended a reduction of two- tenths in the amount of the grant.—The com- mittee authorised the chairman and vice- chairman to represent personally to the heads of the Education Department the views of the committee as to recognition of the board's certificates in lieu of pupil teachers' examina- tions under Articles 40 and 51, and also as tc the establishment of new pupil teachers' centres in Wales where county schools already exist. —In reply to an inquiry from the Wrexham County School governors as to which of the board's examinations corresponded to the pupil teacher examinations under Article 40 of the code, the clerk was directed to reply stating (1) That the junior certificate examination of the board corresponded to the examina- tions specified under Article 40; (2) that at present the board was already in com- munication with the department with a view to obtaining the recognition of its certi- ficates; and (3) that the executive committee was of opinion that its negotiations would be materially facilitated if the school boards and other managers of elementary schools in Vales pursuing the policy of sending their pupil teachers to county schools for their education would, as soon as practi- cable, communicate their plans to the Educa- tion Department, and point out that the suc- cessful working of their proposals raw, largely depend upon the recognition of the certificates of the Central Welsh Board. It was reported that, with the excep- tion of the examiner in Frencli (Dr. Spencer), all the examiners who acted in that capacity last year had consented to act again in 1899, in accordance with the revised terms of remuneration.—It was decided to advertise for a successor to Dr. Spencer, and also to advertise for oral and practical examiners.— The next meeting of the Central Welsh Board will be held at Welshpool on the 28th of April. The five retiring members are Mr. Tom John Mr. J. Herbert Lewis, M.P., Principal H. R. Reichel. Principal T. F. Roberts, and Dr. George S. Turpin.

RI93IAN CATHOLIC OR PROTESTANT? At a meeting of the visiting committee of the Cardiff Guardians, held at the workhouse on Tuesday, under the presidency of Mr. F. J. Beavan, an application was read from Dr. Davies, the resident medical officer for an increase of salary. He has been at the work- house three years, and at present receives £ 125 per annum.—It was decided to recommend an increase of £ 25 per annum.—A long rambling letter was read from Mrs. Boddington, an in- mate, complaining of the conduct of Father Sumner. She stated that Father Sumner had charged her with having entered herself as a Protestant, whereas she was a Roman Catholic. This she denied. She was formerly a Roman Catholic, but had now left that religion. She did not join the Church of England because she could not subscribe to the Thirty- nine Articles. (Laughter.) She had writ- ten to Bishop Hedley saying that she had come out of the Roman Catholic Church, and she had sent a copy of the letter to the Bishop of Llandaff. (Laugh- ter.) She wished the guardians to know that she was not now a Roman Catholic.—Father Brady said the woman was a Catho- lic some years ago, and Father Sumner knew her as one, and asked her why she had entered herself as a Protestant. He did not believe there was any other construction to be placed upon it. The w"man was certainly a little erratic. (Laughter.)—Mr. Greenhalgh, the master, said Father Sumner was asked to speak to Mrs. Boddington by one of the nurses, and saw the description of her religion on the card as "Protestant." He then told her that if she wanted him as a Catholic she must have the card altered—The Chairman: Have you heard enough, gentlemen?—Several mem- bers: Plenty.—Father Brady said the woman had since written an apology to Father Sumner. —It was agreed that the letter should lie on the table, "nd a resolution was passed exone- rating Father Sumner from blame. They con- sidered he had only done his duty as a Christian gentleman.

LICENSING COMMISSION REPORT. The Press Association understands that at Tuesday's sitting of the Royal Commission on Licensing it was decided to meet in future three days per week, in the hope of expediting the issue of the report. It is understood that those members of the Commission who repre- sent the temperance view are disposed in the main to accept and support the recommenda- tions contained in the draft report submitted by Viscount Peel, as chairman of the Commis- sion. They would have been clad, however, had these recommendations one hi. "cr, ani they may present a minority report upon two or three special points. The Commissioners who are, on the other hand, more especially identified with the liquor trade interests are stated to be less disposed to accept Lord Peel's conclusions, and the; may be expected, in any case. to present a minority report. The draft report of the Licensing Committee in so far as it affects England, Scotland, and Wales is now practically complete, but the actual report will not be issued for a conside- rable time. It is likely, says the Central News, to contain a strong recommendation in favour of the reduction of licences, and, with regard to compensation, it will probably be suggested that this should take the form of a five years' notice of the withdrawal of the licence, with the possibility of an extension of the time to seven years where adequate cause can be shown. With regard to London, the rumour which has already leaked out as to the restriction of the hours on Sundays during which public- houses may keep open from seven to three may be taken as well founded. There is a strong and influential minority of the Commissioners which will be found in opposition to the pro- posals, and, as there is something like 996,000,000 capital invested in the trade in Great Britain, any legislation on the lines recom- mended by the Commission is likely to meet with determined and powerful opposition.

WILL OF THE LATE BARON ROTHSCHILD. The will of Baron Ferdinand J. A. de Roths- child, M.P., who died on December 17 last, is proved by Baron Solomon A. de Rothschild, of Vienna,, and Miss Alice C. de Rothschild, the brother and sister of the testator, whose estate is sworn at £ 1,488,128 14s. 8d. Baron Roths- child left his cousin, Alfred Charles de Rothschild, £ 150,000; the Evelina Hospital, Southwark Bridge-road, £ 100,000; Lord Rose- bery, the Murillo picture given to the testator by Lady Rosebery; and to Lord Rosebery's sons, Lord Dalmeny and the Hon. Neal Prim- rose, E5,000 sach. He leaves to the British Museum works of art and vertu as cata- logued under date October 20, 1897. He leaves the proceeds of the sale of his yacht, the Rona, between the National Lifeboat institution and numerous marine benevolent societies and orphanages. The testator makes many specific bequests and legacies to friends, servants, &c.. and constitutes his afore- named brother residuary legatee to his estate, subject to the payment of an annuity of £ 24.000 to Miss Alice C. de Rothschild.

SUICIDE OF A BARMAN, ENOUGH POISON TO KILL A THOUSAND PEOPLE. In connection with the death of William James Phillips, barman, 9, Richmond-street. Plymouth, Mr. R. B. Johns held an inquiry on Monday evening at the London Mail, Mr. W. J. Carling being the foreman.—The evidence of Jacob Henry Phillips, plumber, brother of deceased, showed that for some months deceased had been depressed. Witness had occasion to meet his brother about eleven a.m. on Sunday, and on asking the servant if she knew whether he had gone out, the girl replied that he was upstairs. Witness went upstairs to find his spectacles some time, later, and on knocking at deceased'^ door got no answer. He then attempted to open the door, but could not. It was eventually forced, and deceased was found lying upon the floor to all appearances dead. On a chest of drawers he found a bottle, half full of cyanide of potas- sium. Some years ago witness and his brother used to go in for photography, and that was the reason of the poison being in the house.—Police-constable Luggar gave evi- dence of receiving the poison—enough ,o kill half the inhabitants of Ply- mouth—whilst Dr. Parsloe attributed death to loisoning through cyanide of potassium. He stated that when he first saw deceased he was dead, lying on the floor, with his feet under- neath a couch. Deceased had not been dead very long—probably about two hours-the body being warm, and there were no marks of. vlo- ence. When he opened the body he imme- diately detected signs of prussic acid, and he found that deceased had taken enough to Ifill quite a thousand peopie. Death, was probably 'nstantaneous.—A verdict of "Suicide whilst temporarily insane" was returned.

PRIMATE ON DIVORCE. The late Archbishop Magee and Earl Beau- champ always-held that if a separation between Church and State came about it would be through differences on the law of marriage. Father Black is certainly doing his- best to accentuate those differences. He has just addressed a letter to the Primate informing him that a well-known public man is about to marry Miss having divorced his canoni- cal wife, who is still living. "Your grace," say* ?6.Vs Father Black, "has hitherto purposely avoided publicly upholding the Prayer Book and canon which declare marriage indissoluble; but I am not without hope that a sense of fitness may lead you to stand by these now when you and the Archbishop of York have issued an invita- tion to us to regard you as their guardian. I would ask you, then, to let it be publicly known beforehand that you forbid any clergyman in your province to perform this marriage. There is no ritual here, no mere extra service, mo dis- puted or ritual observance but what is clear and vital-the religious foundation according to the Church of England of our social life." The Archbishop* renlied: "Reverend Sir,—The Book of Common Pra,yer does not pronounce marriage indissoluble. It declares those whom God hath joined together no man may put asunder. Our Lord's direc- tion in the case of adultery shows that a divorce in such a case is not man-# doing bot the Lord's.—Yours faithfully, F. CANTTJAR. "Rev. W. Black." Father Black re-joins:— "Your Grace,—Let me thank you for your letter, and beg to be allowed to point out that the Church of England (as witness her canons on marriage, the unbroken practice of her courts down to 1857, and with all respect to your grace, I must again say the Marriage Ser- vice in the Prayer Book), has not believed our blessed Lord's teaching to be what your grace supposes. Otherwise, she would have directly contravened His law by her own. And, secondly, that your assertion about the Prayer Book is, as it seems to me, contrary to the facts as brought out in the recent discussion in. Convo- cation. You will accordingly, I trust, Per piit me to re-new my appeal to you to uphold in this urgent and vital matter the law of the Church of England."

LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY. A special general meeting of the London and North Western Railway Company was held at Euston Station on Tuesday for the ""■»rpose of submitting certain Parliamentary Bills for. the consideration of the proprietors. The first Bill is for additional powers to widen the Trent Valley Railway between Rllby and Nuneaton, to widen the bridge carrying their Grand Junction Railway over the River Mersey, to execute other works and acquire lands in the counties of Warwick. Leicester, Stafford, Chester, Lancaster, and Westmoreland, and to empower the company to increase their capital by thp issue of shares and stocks not exceeding £ 750,000. and to borrow a sum not exceeding £ 250.000. The second Bill is to empower the company to make a railwav in the city of Birmingham, t) be called "The Nechells Junction," to con- struct a Wolverhampton and Cannock line, a Wilmslow and Levenshultne l'n Wharf Bay line, and to increase the capital by £ 600,000. The directors also asked the approval of the comnanv of the Sre-it Wes- tern Railway Bill, which proposes to vest the undertaking of the Golden Vallev Railway Company in the Great Western Railway Com- pany. to widen a bridge on the Shrewsbury and Hereford line, and for other purposes, and other Bills.—Resolutions approving of each Bill were adopted.

THE ARMY ESTIMATES. The Army Estimates, which were published on Tuesday, show that the net sum required for the service for the year 1899-1900 is £ 20,617 000. or an increase of EI,396,706 upon the estimates for the current year. This is not reckoning, however, the supplementary estimate of L885,000 of last February, which would reduce the annual increase to £ 511.700. The numbers provided shnw an increase of 4.340. from 180 513 to 184 853. The automatic increases include £ 293.000 for warlike stores, EISO,000 for clothinsr, £ 60 000 for forage, and R314,000 for pay, provisions, &c,; and the in- creases due to policy, £ 169.000 for pay, pro- visions, &c.. under the programme of 18 1900. for the increased number of Ineu £ 299.000 for armaments and stores, £ 117,000 for clothing services, and £ 145.000 for works. There are decreases of ;Eloo.ooo on account of manoeuvres, Eloo,ooo in clothing and stores. LC16,500 in the non-effective votes, and £ 42,303 in miscellaneous items.

A FAMILY OF VESTRY CLERKS. A brass tablet has been placed in the parish church of St. Marv, Harrow-on-the-Hill, to the memory of the late Mr, William Winckley, F.S.A., who held many public offices in that town, and whose personal knowledge of Har- row, past and present, was probably un- equalled by that of any other inhabitant. The inscription, which is in raised letters, and wrought by hand, is as follows- "In Memory of William Winckley, last Vestry Clerk of the ancient Parish of. Harrow. While fulfilling many duties with honour and ability, he was vestry clerk for fifty-three years, and, together with three suc- cessive members of his family, held that office for nearly 130 years. Born Feb. 23. A.D. 1821. Fell asleep Nov. 16. A.D. 1897. Laid to rest in the New Churchyard in hope of a joyful resurrection."

SMALL POX AT SWANSEA. The steamship James Speir, belonging to Messrs. Lancaster and Speir, Cardiff. arrived in Swansea Roads on Monday afternoon flying the quarantine flag. When boarded by the Customs authorities, communications were made to the Swansea. Sanitary Authorities, and Dr. Ebenezer Davies, medical officer of health, on boarding the vessel in the South Dock, found the steward. Allan Ferri, aged 37, a native of South Shields, to be suffering from a mild attack of small-pox. Ferri was at once sent to the isolation hospital, and steps were taken to at once disinfect the vessel, every precaution being, of coarse, taken to prevent cont^niop..