Weekly Mail

TIDE TABLE. FOR THE WEEK ENDIVE FFBRCARY 17. 1S22. I í I c. —23 a -E "3 1 CJ "3 J 1 CJ DAYS OF TTTK WEEK. « 5 j "2 S I 5 i|*I| I O i Moi'is:02 ll 40 f ll 26 l(T 42 ll -36 T 12 12 JATURDY Evening 12 0 11 52 11 7 12 0 12 33 JjiTL I Height 24 9 27 10 25 11 27 10 19 3 i Morning [12 6 12 0 It 38 12 1 j 12 59 •,1-NDAY .3 Evening 12 34 12 21 12 0 12 32 1 23 I Height 23 3 126 2 24 4 23 4 1? 2 Tilling I 1 12 I 12 "9 I 12 12 11 61 2 6 MONDAY Evening 1 54 1 42 12 51 1 45 2 49 I Height 21 8 25 11 23 10 25 8 16 10 Tjlorning 2 42 2 32 1 33 2 27 3 39 TVESDAY Evening 3 31 3 20 2 15 3 9 4 27 I Height 22 5 27 4 24 II 27 0 IS 7 i Morning 4 12 4 6 2 o5 S 49 5 13 WUSDT. Evening t 4 53 4 41 3 34 4 28 ii 43 Height 25 3 1 30 1 27 3 3.02 21 11 -ii,rning 5 23 5 14 4 95 3 THL'RSDY -J Evening 6 5 5 41 4 42 5 36 6 18 Height 23 11 33 5 29 11 33 9 25 9 i Morning I 6 27 j 6 9 5 11 6 6 7 IS FRIDAY. Evening 6 59 6 35 5 38 6 32 7 42 I Height 32 4 134 11132 1 35 6 27 6

ætiWhlU ai1 SATURDAr, FEBRKARY 11, 1 ODD ROCRS WITH ODD PEOPLE. Under the above heading Wp shall Publish Ke-xt Week the First of a Series of Special Articles containing rnvih amusing, interesting, and instructive informati<m. These papers, u hich are descriptive ,-f the Oddities of many jKn jtrn and UnJcnoim People, wiU be dirided under the heads of Odditie, in Love Oddities in Retirement: Oddities in the Pulpit; Oddities yf Genius The Poets of Oddity; Oddities yf Speech Odd Jfrnr-i in the Law Courts Testament or if Oddities Oddities in the Grave- yard i Oddities of Legislation and Oddities of Phgsir.

THE first division in the House or Commons "has resulted in the defeat of the Government by a majority or fifty-eight. Parliament has re-affirmed its former decision by again refus- ing to allow Mr. BRADLAOXH to take the oath tfter having asserted that such an adjuration is jiot binding upon his conscience. It is im- possible to see how the House could have acted otherwise. As Sir STAFFORD NoRTH- COTE pointed out in moving his resolution. Mr. BRADLAUGH is in precisely the same position as last April, and the decision of the House,' therefore, could only be the same as it was then. Any other vote would have implied that the House had changed the opinion it formed upon the report of the Committee that considered the question last Session, that for a gentleman to claim to repeat the words of the oath with such qualifications as were necessarily implied in the proceedings which had taken place in Mr. BRADLAUGH'S instance WAS not to take the oath according to the law." The British House of Commons, unless it was pre- pared to announce to the world that it no longer considered the Bible as more sacred than one of Mr. BRADLACGH'S own indecent publica- tions, was bound to again emphatically declare that the junior member for North- ampton should not take his seat until the law had been altered to allow of his doing so without committing an act of revolting pro- fanation. Even Mr. GLADSTONE' most ardent admirers must regret that he should have condescended to have made use of so specious and equivocal an argument as that "the oath had already been taken by a known Atheist. We have no doubt that the oath has been taken again and again by many Atheists. But they never insulted the House by insisting that to them such a declaration was absolutely without meaning. The argument of the PRIME MINISTER, therefore, in addition to being Jesuitical, is a mere petitio principii. The House is too accus- tomed to Mr GLADSTONES quibbling and subterfuge to be caught in the meshes >f sophistry in which the PREMIER sought to entangle it in order to enable Mr. BRAV- I LATOH co take his seat And in direct defiance of the Government, it declared that the oath shall not be tafe?n by a person who I has repeatedly stated that h» cannot take it 1 in the ordinary and obvious sense of its words. The question, at issue between the House of ICommons and Mr. BuADLArGH is not whether an A.Vaeist, is disqualified, as 18t»ch, from sitting in Parliament, but whether he is capable of taking his seat in Parlia- ment under cover of an oath which he j declares is to him a mere form or words and nothing more. It is quite certain that an oath. whether promissory or otherwise, was nevr intended to be treated as an empty form. For an Atheist to take an oath is to make a solemn appeal ;0 the DIVINE BEING whose existence h. deniss and the autho rity which k; jv/inglv permits an oath to be administered to such a person becomes party to an impious farce. It is absurd to argue that. the House of Com- r>iorks has no right to prevent such an act of profanation an act which would compromise its own dignity, and tarnish its unsullied honour. The authority which imposes the Oath of Allegiance on a member as a prelimi- nary condition of his taking his seat in Par- liament has as much right to debar a person from taking it who declares that it has no meaning in his eyes n-i it would have to refuse to allow it to be administered to a person in a state of intoxication or mental derangement. If the House of Commons is to be no judge of such matters, then the sooner it relegates the administration of the oath to some legal official outside its walls the better. If the House think fit to allow members to take xheir seat by simply affirming we should consider that it acted in the best manner possible under the circum- stances but so long as the oath exists we contend that it should be respected, and not be made ridiculous. After the declaration Mr. BRADLACGH made in the House on Tuesday, the most I liberal-minded person will find it impossible to feel any sympathy for him. The only ground upon which he could claim legitimate commiseration was that of conscience. This ambitious egotist, in order to work upon the sensibilities of his audiences, has repeatedly made use of the plea that he could not take the oath without doing violence to his conscience. e fear however, that Mr. BRADLAUGH'S conscience represents a fearful minus quantity! On Tuesday he declared solemnly that he was pre- pared to take the oath according to the law, and that if he took it it would undoubtedly be binding on his conscience." Even those who have hitherto supported the claims of this MORAL chameleon will shrink from de- fending him after this shameless and dis- honest recantation of his written and opinions. Will any one believe that Mr. BRADLAFGH holds the oath one whit more sacred than he did a year ago ? We should doubt' the sanity of the person who would answer this question in the afifrmative. Mr. BRADLAVGH'S most recent, speeches conclusively prove that be does not. The House of Commons has refused to believe in his conversion, and consequently that gentleman was once more obliged to withdraw from Parliament without having taken his seat. Unfortunately, however, we have not heard the last of this malodorous affair. Mr. GLADTOXE endeavoured on Tues- day to extricate hiuiself from a grave diffi- culty without incurring any responsibility or prejudicing himself in the eyes of the electors. His tactics proved a most lamentable failure. The country will unanimously condemn his attempt to deal by a side wind with the trou- blesome matter in which he has become involved. The nation will not now permit the PREMIER to shirk the responsibility he assumed a year ago. of introduc- ing special legislation in order that Mr. BRADLAFGH may take his seat. The introduction of an Oaths Bill would be an intelligible attempt to solve the problem onceandforallby legislation. But itmightovei' strain the allegiance of several of Mr. GLAD- j STONE'S supporters and stir up dangerous latent feelings of discontent throughout the country. For these reasons it was abandoned, and the PREMIER, not having the courage of bis opinions, and fearing a revulsion of fpel-, ing in the constituencies, thought to extri- | cate himself from the bog into which he has fallen by forcing the House into allowing Mr. BRADLAUGH to take his seat. A statesman of more diffidence and greater foresight would have foreseen the result. As it is, the Government has met with a severe defeat, which will materially weaken its position and shake the faith of its supporters. Already the Ministry must feel that its reputation is seriously impaired The fact that it has bees, defeated in the very first division taken in the House will discourage its followers on the one hand, while it will stimulate its opponents to renewed efforts. —

IT cannot be ^aid that the mountain has brought forth a mouse The new Rules of Procedure which Mr. GLADSTONE placed on the notice paper of the House of Commons on Tuesday night will rot be objected to on the ground that they contain no momentous reforms. At one fell swoop the PREMIER proposes to annihilate freedom of discussion by providing that the Cloture shall be voted by an absolute majority, if the motion for its adoption be supported by more than two hundred members, or opposed by less than forty. This clause, the wording of which is sufficiently obscure and involved, states that if a motion be made' That the question be now put,' Mr. SPEAKER, or the CHAIRMAN, shall forthwith put such question; and, if the same be decided in the affirmative, the question ( under discussion shall be put forthwith; pro- vided that the question shall not be decided in the affirmative, if a division be taken, "unles3 it shall appear to have been supported by more than two hundred members, or to have been opposed by less than forty mem- bera." If this Rule were adopted the Go- vernment would be able at any time to close a debate, providing they could obtain a majority numbering not less than two hundred and one members. If even two hundred members wished to carry on the discussion a bare majority of one Ministerialist would suffice to arm the PREMIER with the power of the gag." It would only be in cases where the Government was unable to whip up the requisite two hundred and one supporters that the minority would have any voice in the prolongation of a debate, and then only upon the supposition that the protesting minority numbered at least forty members. The anomaly and incongruity of this arrangement are apparent from the fact that, whereas by these New Rules in a House of seventy-nine members a majority of forty could imperatively silence a minority of thirty-nine, in a House of two hundred and forty members a minority of forty could protract a debate at their own sweet will and pleasure, despite the adverse sentiment of the majority of two hundred, Thi3 appears to us the very weakest point in Mr. GLADSTONE'S proposed new rules. It shows at onoe that the PREMIER does not aim so much at the extinction of persistent obstruction as at the stifling of legitimate debate. And we feal confident that a large number of the Liberal and Radical, as wr-11 as the whole of the Conservative mem- bers of Parliament will resist it ontrance this attempt to crush liberty of speech. Mr. GLADSTONE justly supposes that in cases of pure obstruction, such as those which occurred last session, he may lways count upon the aid and assistance of the Con- iservative party to enable him to t carry on public business. He is confident, therefore, of always securing a majority of over two hundred should the Irish members resume their hostile tactics. Yet, while pre- tending to do away with the danger of minorities being tyrannised over by providing that forty dissentients could prevent the closing of debate in a House of two hundred and forty members, or less, in reality the PRIME MINISTER purposes enforcing the Cloture in its most objectionable and despotic form. It is true that the initiative step of proposing the Cloture to the House must be taken by the SPEAKER or by the CHAIRMAN or COMMITTEES but this does not in any way guarantee that legitimate discussion will not be stifled. Had Mr. GLADSTONE'S proposed Rules been in force last session, it would have been possible for the Government to have rushed the Land HilI through the House of Commons without allowing the Opposition an opportunity of calmly anddeliberately debating that measure. If the PREMIER obtained such unlimited powers of dictatorship his ardent supporters would not find great difficulty in persuading him to use them. The proposal to adopt the Cloture by a bare majority if that majority consist of more than two hundred is dangerous in the sxtreme. The Government would find little difficulty in crushing debate at any time, either upon subjects likely to prejudice them in the eyes of the country, or upon measures of a revolutionary character which they desired to force through the House. In addi- tion to the tyranny attaching to this proposed Reform in the Procedure of the House of Commons, Mr.GLADSTONE'S arrogance comes out in the evident impression he is under that the Liberals will never again be in a minority, and, therefore, have nothing to fear from the monster their chief has created for the discomfiture of his I opponents. The first di vision taken in the House of Commons on Tuesday night points, we venture to think, to a different conclusion. Even the strongest and best Government in the world is liable to find itself in the minority. We wonder in what light Mr. GLADSTONE in Opposition would view the first of the new rules he has brought forward for the Reform of Parliamentary Procedure '■! The next important clause in the New Riiies is that which provides for the appoint- ment of two standing Committees to perform the functions of Committees of the whole House, in the case of Bills relating-first, •f to law and courts of justice," and, secondly, to shipping, and manufactures." Each of these bodies is to consist of not less than sixty nor more than eighty members, to be nominated by the Committee of Selection, who shall have regard to the classes of Bills committed to such Committees, to the composition of the House, and to the qualifications of the members selected." Bills reported to the House by these Committees" shall be proceeded with as if they had been reported from a Committee of the whole House." It appears to us that the formation of thesa standing Committees would not only be of great prac- tical service to the country, but would immensely facilitate the despatch of public business. Every session there are a large i number of Bills which Parliament could delegate to them for minute examination, and thus free itself from a weari- some and, too often, unprofitable task. Obviously it would never consent to allow separate Committees to consider in detail measures affecting any fundamental change in our social laws and institutions. But Mr. GLADSTONE'S proposal to relegate to such bodies Bills relating to law, justice, trade, shipping, and manufactures appears most reasonable, and likely to prove of great practical benefit to Parliament. The Puna: MINISTER has also incorporated with his j Rules various proposals preventing malicious or stupid members wasting the time of the House. The adjournment of the House is not to lie moved without leave until the various questions on the | notice papers have been disposed of, and the orders of the day reached. Members moving the adjournment of a debate or of the House will be compelled by the SPKAKER to strictly confine their remarks" to the matter of such motion," and no member having spoken to any such motion shall be entitled to move or second any similar motion during the same debate, or during the same, sitting of the Committee." Several proposals are taken with some modification from the Urgency Rules of last session. The SPEAKER is empowered to call upon members who challenge his verdict that the Ayes" or the "Noes" have it, to rise in then- place, and if they do not exceed twenty the process of walking through the lobbies may be dispensed with. When we remember the inordinate number of divisions which took place during the earlier part of last' Session, and the fact that each division occupied at least a quarter of an hour, the full importance of this reform will be realised. It is not necessary to belong to the House of Commons to know that many of its members are, like SHELLEY'S Peter BeTl," dull, so very dull." And it is somewhat amusing to tind that Mr. GLAD- STONE proposes to allow the SPEAKER to direct any member who is irrele- vant, or indulges in tedious repetition, to discontinue his speech. We fear that Mr. PARELL and many other Home*Rulers will oppose very strongly the amendments Mr. GLADSTONE makes in the order of debate," as the disciplinary authority which the SPEAKER was given over members guilty of breaches of order in debate by the Standing Order of February, 1850, is to be enlarged and strengthened, and the suspension of recalci- trant members for one week on a first offence, for one month on a second, and for the re- mainder of the Session on a third is to ife made absolute, not permissive. The only other reform of importance is that concerning the half-past twelve Rule, which forbids opposed business to be taken after that time. In future this Rule is not to apply to the motion for leave to bring in a Bill, or to the report, or to the third reading. It is impossible for those not intimately acquainted with the procedure of the House of Commons to form an accurate opinion as to the precise merits or demerits of the Rules which Mr. GLADSTONE is to propose on Monday next. They will have to be con- sidered very seriously and carefully by Parlia- ment before any judgment can be pronounced as to the advisability of adopting them. The proceedings of last Session prove that a reform in our 1 arliamentary Procedure is absolutely essential. That Mr. GLADSTONE'S rules are of a character to meet the exigencies of the case we are not prepared at the present moment to assert. With the exception of the first, however, which we feel confident will never in its present form be accepted by the House, the New Rules appear to us to be both unobjectionable and likely to prove of great practical benefit.

♦ The public will learn with regret that Sir CHARLES RUSSELL, Bart., who, in conjunc- tion with Mr. W. H. SMITH, has repre- sented Westminster since 1874, has been compelled, owing to ill-health, to vacate his seat in the House of Commons. Without being a politician of high authority, or an orator of exceptional ability, the junior member for Westminster was always listened to in the House with marked attention, and his special knowledge of military affairs # I rendered his practical remarks upon all ques-I ■ tions affectingthearmy of great value, pavticu- larly as his long service in the army, and the talent he possessed to a remarkable degree of making himself beloved by his men, enabled him to gauge with accuracy the opinions and feelings of" the ranks." Though he has given his party much valuable assistance since his return to the House in 18G5, Sir CHARLES RUSSELL is more distin- guished as a brave and intrepid soldier than as a politician. He served throughout the Crimean War, during which he won for himself honourable promotion and a high repu- tation as a skilful and daring officer. He was present at the landing at the Old Fort, and took part in the ever-memorable battles of Alma, Balaclava, and Tnkerman, and in the Siege of Sebastopol. For his gallant conduct at Inkerman he received the Victoria Cross, the Crimean medal and four clasps, the Order of the Legion of Honour, and other marks of distinction. His services in Par- liament. if of a less brilliant character, are equally creditable to him and to the con- stituency he has represented for nearly eight years. It is not to be supposed that the seat rendered vacant by the prema- ture retirement of Sir CHARLES RUSSELL will be filled without a severe contest. At the last general election the Liberal party made strenuous efforts to wrest the two seats for Westminster from th"ir opponents, and no less distinguished Radicals than Mr. JOHN MORLEV and Sir A. HOBHOUSF, opposed the return of Mr. W. H. SMITH and Sir CHARLES RUSSELL. The constituency has been fiercely contested at almost every election since 1832, and for the Liberal party to shrink from a trial of strength in the present instance could only be considered as an acknow- ledgment that the Ministry no longer possesses the confidence of the coun- try, especially as Westminster has gene- rally been represented by Radical politicians. Lord ALGERNON PERCY, second son of the Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND, who has been chosen as the Conservative candidate, though not a tried politician, is a young man of un- doubted ability and considerable promise, and we believe that the Liberal party will find in him a formidable antagonist. The opinion of the provinces has recently been tested at numerous by-elections. In almost every instance the results have been of an unmistakable character. It is im- possible for even the supporters of the Government to deny that the Lincoln, Durham. Stafford, Cambridge, North Riding of Yorkshire, and Preston elections show that the country emphatically condemns the policy of Mr. GLADSTONE. An oppor- tunity has now arisen for testing the opinion I of the Metropolis. The defeat of a Govern- ment candidate for Westminster would admit of only one interpretation.

ALTHOUGH the return of Mr. RAIKES for Preston cannot strictly be called a Conservative victory, the large majority obtained by the Chairman of Committees under the late Government shows that the electors of the constituency in question have formed a definite opinion as to the benefits they have to expect from the present Ministry. Mr. GLADSTONE and his colleagues have been tried and found wanting. And it is certainly no matter for wonder that con- stituencies, after surveying the melancholy and disheartening history of the past year and a half, turn with disgust from the record, convinced that a Radical Administration is synonymous with disaster and shame. Apart, however, from political reasons, the return of Mr. RAIKES for Preston is at the present time of special importance. Few politicians possess a more accurate knowledge of Parliamentary Procedure, and his services will indisputably be of great value to the House in criticising the new rules which Mr. GLADSTONE will propose on Monday. It would have been impossible for the Conservatives of Preston to have chosen a representative better able to render valu- able assistance to his party in the coming struggle, or more competent to refute the sophistical arguments of Mr. GLADSTONE upon the question of the Cloture.

THE time is rapidly approaching when the question as to where the proposed College for South Wales is to be situated will have to be definitely decided by the Government. Seeing the repeated efforts already made by the inhabitants of Cardiff to secure the esta- blishment of the new educational institution in that town, we cannot but think that the people of Swansea have been somewhat back- ward in having put off till last week the holding of any public meeting for the purpose of bringing the claims of that locality prominently for- ward. Perhaps it was the consciousness of this that brought together so large and enthusiastic an audience as that which on the rd inst. Filled the Swansea Music-hall. And although no public subscriptions with the exception of the promise of £1,000 from the High Sheriff of Glamorganshire, were announced, it was evident, both from 'the influential position occupied by the speakers, and the earnest enthusiasm of the audience,' that Swansea is fully alive to the viral importance of laying before the Government evidence of a character calculated to aid the Committee of Council on Education to arrive at a just conclusion as to what site for the new College would be most accessible and convenient from all parts of South Wales. Public men do not often agree, but when they do their unanimity is wonderful. And unquestionably the speakers yesterday were of one accord on the point that the claims of Swansea are in every way superior to those of Cardiff. This was only natural; and though we cannot agree with the asser- tion made by the Rev. A. G. EDWARDS, that the placing of the College at Cardiff would close its doors to the mass of South Wales," it cannot be denied that Swansea possesses many advan- tages over her sister port.* Indisputably the founding of a University there would render that institution far more convenient to Pem- broke, Cardigan, and Carmarthenshire. We cannot but think, however, that undue stress was laid by the Wrarden of Llandovery and other gentlemen upon the possession by Swansea of extensive copper works and numerous other industries. Mr. VIVIAN, in the course of his able remarks, urged with great force that the chief objects of the new College would be to afford its students facilities for pursuing those branches of knowledge most likely to be of practical service to them in after life, and that science and modern languages were the studies which would prove most useful to the majority of the young men of the Principality. The truth of I this statement is unimpeachable. But we think that too great prominence was given to the argument that Swansea affords special advantages to students of technical chemistry and mining engineer- j ing. Granting that Swansea is the "metal- lurgical capital of Great Britain," and that an extraordinary number of industries exist in the immediate. vicinity, it by no means follows that a student can-not study chemistry as thoroughly in Cardiff as there. How many of our great chemists ever visited copper, or silver, or tin- plate works during the time they were students ? A small piece of copper ore, which can be procured anywhere for a few pence, affords a man far greater facility for studying mineralogical chemistry than all the copper works in the world Unauestionably a man would gain much valuable practical know- ledge by repeatedly visiting such manu- factories, but not sufficient to warrant the assumption that simply because there are in Swansea copper and other works the new College should be established there. The question is of too great importance to allow of our jumping at such a conclusion. In the rivalry at present existing between the two great ports, the champions of the cause of each town are liable to be carried away by plausible argu- ments. As we have repeatedly endeavoured to impress upon our readers, the question is, not in which town shall the Uni- versity be established, but what is the most central, the most convenient, the most suit- able site for the college? Mr. DIDLWYN evidently forgot, when he asserted with facetious pleasantry that Cardiff has no claim on the College, and that she no longer forms part of the Principality, that the Departmental Committee did not recom- mend the establishment of a University for Swansea, nor for Glamorganshire, but for the whole of South Wales and Monmouthshire. It is to be regretted that in the de- bates which have taken place upon this subject so much local animus has been exhibited. The claims of South Wales as a whole have been too often overlooked in th." attempts to prove con- clusively that the College must be established at some 'particular town. As Earl JERSEY pointed out, we ought to consider only the national requirements of i the Principality. Judging on this ground, we may be pardoned if we state that, in our opinion, it has not as yet "been conclusively proved "that the College must be established in Swansea if the whole of South Wales is to participate in its benefits. Weacknowledgethat the more westerly portion of the Principality would suffer if the University were placed in Cardiff. We cannot agree with Mr. VIVIAN when-reterring: to the £18,000 promised towards the erection and endowment of the new College if it be placed in Cardiff—he implied that this" fitful aid given when the mind is excited" will have no effect in deter- ■ mining the Government as to which is the most suitable sire. The idea of levying rates on the inhabitants of Swansea, so that "each man will have to subscribe" towards thefounding of the Univer- sity, may be an exceedingly "biroad" one, but we should have been glad to have heard that or even a larger sum, had been promised to Swansea. The educational requirenwnts of the Principality are so great that we should like to see that every Welsh- man is earnestlydesirouR of doing everything in his power to provide our young men with the means of preparing themselves for fighting the battle of life upon an equal footing with Englishmen and- Scotch- men. If the same spirit of munificence were exhibited at Swansea as at Cardiff it would be possible to estab- lish a College in each town without endangering the ultimate success of either institution. No one can doubt but that the requirements of the Principality would best be met by the founding of two colleges instead of one.

By a majority of sixteen to six, the Cow- bridge Farmers' Club ou Tuesday decided to request the Glamorganshiie county members to support the principle of the Farmers' Alliance during the forthcoming session of Parliament. Inasmuch as both Mr TALBOT and Mr. VIVIAN have already empha- tically repudiated IKVWARD S proposed measure, we do not suppose that they will allow their legislative action to be influenced by the resolution of the sixteen gentlemen who voted in favour of this unmitigated scheme of landlord plunder. It might have been sum- cient if these iconoclasts of the Cowbridge Farmers' Club had been able to give any intelligible reason for" the faith that is in them." But it is perfectly clear from the speeches of the supporters of the Alliance Bill at Cowbridge that they do not under- stand the measure that they are discussing, nor has a single one of them grasped its underlying principles. Thpre is not one of the belligerent and clamorous tenant fanners who has spoken in the long room of the Bear Hotel at Cowbridge who has been able to show in what respect he is unfairly treated under the Glamorganshire Custom of Tenant Right, or to formulate any reasonable demand for the improvement or extension of that custom. Let any- one read the speech delivered by Mr. D. J. JENKINS, of Llancadle. This gen- tleman is certainly the most voluble, and by no means the Jeast intelli- gent, representa-tn e oi the farmers in the Vale of Glamorgan. Yet when examined what does his speech amount to ? In one breath he says he tninks that' some- thing in the nature of the I'armers Alliance Bili is wanted, \VN.DST in the next, he admits that he can trace that in that measure which would BE productive of hardship to the landlord." But we need not pursue the subject. Argument is entirely wasted upon gentlemen who. having heard the discussion at Tuesday's and lormer meetings of the Cowbridge Club, could yet give such a vote as that cast by the sixteen advocates of taking from the landlords that which belongs to them, and putting it into their own pockets. IF these gentlemen will not hear Mr. TALBOT and Mr. VIVIA. whose Liberalism has been staunch and steadfast through so many years—if they will not hear the influential Radicals, from Mr. GLADSTONE downwards, all of whom have demonstrated the glaring interference with contract and unmitigated Communistic prin- ciples involved in Mr. HOWARD S Bill, neither will they hear "though one rise from the dead."

THE PROGRESS OF THE BUTE DOCK BILL. Tt is with great pleasure we are enabled to announce the fact that most satisfactory progress is being made with THE arrangements for getting the 15iil for constructing new clocks at Cardiff into, as favourable A position as possible for passing the Parliamentary ordeal to which all such measures must be sub- iected. First, as regards the Cardiff Town Council. The Parliamentary Committee of this body met on Tuesday, and subsequently a confe- rence took place between its members and the agents of Lord Bute, at which explanations of the Bill were given bv the latter, which were consi- dered so satisfactory that the committee decided, subject to the confirmation of the Town Council, to support the Bill by every means in their power- Yesterday a meeting was held between Mr. William Thomas Lewis and Mr. Shideyon behalf of Lord Bute and a very influential and representative body of the ship- owners. timber merchants, importers, and freighters of the port, together with the officials of the Glamorganshire Canal Company. The general result of this conference appeared to be most satisfactory, for, on Mr. Lawi promising to give a. favourable considera tion to the recommendation that certain slight modifications should HE introduced into the various clauses of the Bill, an unanimous opinion seemed to prevail that one and all of those present would assist the promo- ters in getting the Bill passed into law as rapidiy as possible. On Saturday a. meeting is to be held between the Marquess of Eute's representatives and the shippers of the port, and it is sincerely to be hoped that the conciliatory policy which has prevailed on all sides in the conduct of the delicate negotia- tions which arise in connecticfc with the promotion of this Bill may be crowned with success. For Lord Bute to abandon the proposed scheme at this the eleventh hour would be a serious blow to the commerce of the port. and would greatly retard the prosperity and develop- ment of the town.

The Earl of Shadbrook has remitted 20 per cent. of the rents falling due on his arable lands. The Earl of Wilton is lying, at his residence, at Melton Mowbray, near Leicester, dangerously ill. The executive of the Taunton Conservative Association met last night, and selected Mr. S. C. Alsopp as the candidate for the seat vacated by the death of Sir William Palliser. Mr. Eykyn has, by medical advice, declined to stand in the Liberal interest.

I IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. TUESDAY. In the House of Lords to-day the Address in reply to the Queen's Speech was moved by the Earl of Fiugal, and seconded by the Earl of Wrenlock. The Marquess of Salis- bury afterwards addressed the House, criticis- ing the various matters dealt with in the Speech, and severely condemned the action of the Government in relation to Irish Affairs. Earl Granville, replying, defended the Ministry, and endeavoured to show that order was being restored, and that there was a marked diminution in crime. After further discussion, the Address was agreed to, and the House adjourned. In the House of Commons, at the commencement of business. Mr. Brad- laugh presented himself at the table for the purpose of taking the oath. Sir Stafford Northcote, however, interposed, contending that the conditions under which Mr. Brad- laugh was in the last Parliament objected to still remained in force. He. therefore, pro- posed that the resolution then passed be re-affirmed. Sir W. Harcourt. replied in favour of permitting the administration of the oath, and moved the previous question. Mr. Newdegate supported the resolution, and was followed by Ni r. Bradlaugh, who, from below the Bar, delivered a ncrfervid oration against the injustice of debarring him from fulfilling his duty to his constituents. Air. CHadstone then addressed the House, pleading that as other members holding opinions as pro- nounced as Mr. Bradlaugh had been permitted to take the oath, a similar indulgence should be extended to the elected of Northamp- ton. After a further debate the House divided, when 2-;(; members supported tae resolution, and 22S went into the lobby with Sir W. Harcourt. The Government consequently sustained a severe defeat. Mr. Bradlaugh again advanced to the table, but, on a resolution moved by Sir S. orthcote, that he be requested to with- draw, being carried, he quietly retired behind the Bar of the House, and thisincidentof which a full account will be found in another column t rminated for the present. The Speaker then read a communication to the House informing it of the arrest of four of its members under the provisions of the Coercion Act. Mr. Gray thereupon moved for the appointment of a Royal Commission to consider the letter, but after a long discussion the motion was negatived. The House then proceeded to the consideration of the Queen's Speech. Sir Stafford Northcote moved the adjournment of the debate, and the House scon afterwards rose. WEDNESDAY. In the House of Commons this after- noon, after several preliminary matters had been dealt with, Mr. Cailan asked the Secre- tary of State for Ireland whether the report of an attempt upon his life was accurate. Mr. Forster, in reply, stated that the account which appeared in the newspapers was official, and that the explosive contained in the letter was of the most dangerous nature. The adjourned debate 011 the Address was resumed by Sir S. Northcote, who com- nienccd by referring to the Duke of Albany's marriage, and expressed his gratification at an event so likely to add to the happiness of. all concerned. Passing to the foreign topics in the Speech, he remarked that at present it would be premature to pronounce a formal opinion on the Eastern and Indian policy of the Government; but with regard to the Egyptian question he spoke at greater length. Vindicating the action of the late Government in establishing the Joint Control, he pointed out, inci- dentally, that Lord Derby and not Lord Salisbury was the Foreign Minister who had conducted the transaction, add enumerated in detail the benefits which had been con- ferred on the people of Egypt by its practical results. While not pressing for information which it would be inconvenient to produce, he earnestly exhorted the Government not to allow matters to drift. In regard to the French Commercial Treaty, he thought that the Government ought to give the House further information and especially to say whether they had reason to hope that a new treaty would be more effectual than its predecessor in leading other countries to follow in onr stops. In regard to the condition of Ireland, he insisted that the House had a right to more definite informa- tion than the optimist and jaunty assurance of the Queen's Speech that things were a little better than when they were at the worst. In 'any comparison of this kind it must be taken into consideration that the remedial legislation had been tried, that the Government now enjoyed exceptional powers, and that they had a largely increased force of military and police at their disposal. Alluding to a much quoted, observation of Mr. Chamber- lain, he complained that the Government had not administered coercion on a "policy," and had, therefore, converted it more into a "hateful incident." Pointing out the great uneasiness and alarm excited in Ireland by the working of the Land Act, he called on the Government to say whether they had ex- pected the action of the Commissioners, or whether, having foreseen it, they had con- cealed it from the House. Mr. Gladstone commenced by informing the House that the Government had requested from the Land 1 Commissioners an explanation of the circum- stances under which the extraordinary pam- phlet had been published by their Secretary. Referring to the Duke of Albany's marriage, be. expressed his confident belief that it would be followed by the same happy results as had at- tended previous Royal marriages. As to Egypt, he thought that Sir S. Northcote's exhortation against" rlrifting" might be neutralised by Lord Salisbury's apprehension that the Government had committed itself to military intervention, and while admitting that the policy of the late Government had borne beneficial fruit, he pointed to the language of the Speech as exactly defining the objects aimed at by the present Government. He could not add anything to the irsformationcontained in the Speech as to the Commercial Treaty with France, although he admitted that there had been recently a revival of Protectionist doctrines abroad, which he thought was hardly to be wondered at, considering- the in- cidents of the North Lincoln election. He maintained that an undoubted con- sequence of the past French Treaty had been a considerable improvement in foreign tariffs generally. Passing to the Irish ques- tion, he disposed of the charge that coercion had been tried too late by twitting the late Government with so arranging thedissolution that it was impossible to renew the Peace Preservation A cts; and with regard to the Land Act he asserted that there had been nothing, approaching to that full experience of it which could enable anyone to form an opinion as to its operation. Repudiating with scornful indignation the imputation that the Government had given instructions to the Commissioners and Sub-Commissioners, he asserted that they had chosen the most competent, best-informed men, that they I had seen no reason to repent of their choice, and that their decisions had been strictly judicial and impartial. armlv defending Mr. Forster's philan- thropic* administration of the Coercion Acts —at which there was much laughter and sarcastic cries from the Irish members—he expatiated in an animated and eloquent strain on the operation of the Act in dealing with the Irish crisis, and especially in strangling the conspiracy against rent. The payment of rent, he said, was now going on exten- sively and never resisted with violence. The circle of intimidation was narrowed, though its character had grown darker. The efficacy of the judicial system had revived, and though it might be open to criticism, the Act was full of promise and hope. Mr. Justin McCarthy afterwards moved his amendment; declaring the necessity for a re-consideration of the terms of the Union. This was sup- ported by several of the Home Rule mem- bers, who were speaking to it when the hour for adjournment arrived. Several Bills were introduced and notices given, and the House soon afterwards adjourned.

LORDW^r^orZsGOW lfNIVERSrry. The Marquess of Bute presided at a conversa- zione of the Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts held on Monday night, and was accompanied on the platform by Professor Ramsav, of Glasgow Univer- sity, several members of the institute, and somo of the city magistrates. In opening the proceedings The noble MARQUKSS said that he need not say anything more than express on behalf of the council the great pleasure which the ladies and gentlemen present afforded them in attending on the present occasion. His lordship also remarked that the pleasure was very greatly enhanced hy the consciousness which the council were able to feel that the exhibition, owing to the kindness of the many persons who had contributed pictures which were on exhibition, was excepttonally satis- factory to all concerned. In conclusion his lord- ship introduced Professor RAMSAY, who proposed a vote of thanks to the contributors in an eloquent speech, and referred in appropriate terms to the liberality of the noble marquess in regard to the University Buildings of Glasgow, which were now receiving their crowning point, their last linisliing adorn- ment, through his lordship's princely generosity. The Marquess of BUTE, at the conclusion of "the conversazione, declared the exhibition opened.

OUR LONDON LETTER. (FROM OUR OWN COP.RESPONDFVT.). Liberals of the best stamp, as well as Con- servatives, will, I am sure, learn with sincere regret that Sir Charles Russell's health neces- sitates his retirement from the representation of Westminster. In an era when there is so much tall: about the decadence of the tone of the House of Commons, the withdrawal from public life of one of the most perfect gentle- men who ever sat on the green benches of 1St. Stephen's is a real misfortune. Sir Charles Russell never set himself up as a profound politician, ready at a moment's notice to instruct the House on any topic from Irish agriculture to the law of hypothec, but he possessed sound common sense, and whenever be.spoke he spoke to the point. Lord Algernon Percy, upon whom the choice of the Westminster Conservatives has fallen, has not been anjcious hitherto to secure a seax, in Parliament. Since he retired from the > Guards, on bis marriage, about eighteen months ago, he has been content to live the quiet life of a country gentleman, hrom what I know of him, how- ever, he is not the kind of man to shrink from any duty which he feels he ought to under- take and if he has an assurance that his candidature will serve to bind Westminster Tories closely together and make the seat safe for the party, I think we may take it that be will stand. The Percies for hundreds of years have been more at home in military pursuits than on the troubled sea of politics, but they are a long-headed, shrewd, sensible family, with well-formed opinions on any subject they take up. Lord Algernon's elder brother, Earl Percy, is marked out for office when the Conservatives return to power, and, as yon will recollect, their father, the Duke of Northumberland, was Lord Privy Seal in the late Beaconsfield Administration. The nominee for W escminster, though he has seen no active service, is far from being a feather -bed soldier. He was adjutant of his battalion of Grenadier Guards, and is known throughout the army as one of the smartest young officers in the service. Now that Sir Charles Russell goes, I believe Colonel Loyd-Lindsay is the only Victoria man in the House of Commons. There is a Victoria Cross in the Percy family, however. The present Duke's younger brother, Lord Henry Percy, who died two or three years since, earned that coveted distinction for gallantry in the Crimea. Ever since the time of Harry Hotspur—and before then, for all I know to the contrary—the Percies have been a fighting family." x- For many months gossip has been busy with the proposed Falstaff Club, having for its premises the building formerly so well- known as Evans's" in Covent Garden. The prospectus is now issued, and I notice that the chairman is Sir Edward J. Reed,M.P. for Cardiff. Tue raison d'etre of the Falsiaff is to afford club facilities for gentlemen of, artistic, literary, scientific, musical, and dramatic tastes, to the better furtherance of which end the c-lub committee is strong in colonels, majors, army captains, and officers in the navy. -'1 Both Mr. Bradlaugh and the Government must have been thoroughly taken aback by the largeness of the majority against them on Tuesday night. There can be no doubt that the member for Northampton fancied he had made a great impression on the country by the vigorous agitation he kept up during the recess, and he certainly underrated the force of the religious sentiment which has made all earnest Christians unite in urging their representatives in Parliament not to permit the profanation of the oath. Mr. Brad- laugh's theory is that the peopll1" are on his side,' and that the majority of the Douse of Commons only represent the prejudices of a class against him but Tues- day's division ought to have undeceived him, for the majority in favour of Sir S. North- cote's motion was far greater than that which voted for a similar resolution last year, and the very small muster of Liberals who rallied to the Ministerial whip afforded still stronger evidence of the growing antipathy to the claims of the member for Northampton even in constituencies regarded as distinctly Liberal. Mr. Bradlaugh and his friends anticipated that the division would be at all events a close one and the crowd that came to Westminster to cheer him as he entered the House seemed to he in high good humour, and showed none of the angry feel- ing that prevailed last year. Having been so fortunate as to secure a good place in the special gallery, I went down to the House about four o'clock, and the police were then, by way of precaution, clearing the crowd out oï Fil]¿CP ") anI, and closing most of the gates. Westminster-hall was densely thronged with curious sight-seers, and the lobby of the House was the scene or great animation ana excitement. The House settled down to business without a moment's delay. Before I could get to my place •! heard the roar of cheers that greeted Mr. James Lowther, and I was just in time to see Mr. Guy Dawnay walk up to the table and take theoath, amid sinnlaV greetings from the Con- servative benches. j, The Opposition were evidently in a very jubilant frame of mind, and seemed eager for the fray. In a moment or two the well- known figure of Bradlaugh was seen standing at the tahlp; and Syr S. Northcote rose, and, in that studiously quiet and impartial manner which befits him so well, moved his resolution that Mr. Brad- laugh be not allowed "to go through the form of taking the oath." Mr. Bradlaugh stood erect at the table with his gaze fixed on the leader of the Opposition till the latter had finished his short speechand the Speaker then called on :the Claimant, as I suppose, we mav call him, to retire below the bar till the question was disposed of. In his most deferential tone, Mr. Bradlaugh said he would obey, but asked leave to speak before the House divided, and, bowing lowly to the Speaker, he left the table. An odd little incident then happened. Mr. Gladstone, not expecting that he would have to speak before half-past four was not in the Honse, and Sir W. Harcourt had to take his place and apologise for his absence. The Opposition greedily seized on, this chance of suggesting that the Prime Minister did not relish tbe work of supporting Mr. Bradlaugh; and thev greeted the Home Secretary with such a shoot of ironical laughter as seemed quite to disconcert him, for he made a very lame statement, of the Ministerial case 111 moving the previous question, the object of which was, he said, to leave Mr. Bradlaugh free to take the oath at his peril, as he took the affir- mation in 1880. Mr. Newdegate followed with a speech about which, perhaps, the less said the better. If Mr. Newdegate were not per- sonally so highly respected, he would never get a hearing at all. He is one of the most awkward speakers I ever had the misfortune to listen to. His gestures are absolutely grotesque; and. his idea of emphasis is to shout, and of pathos to drop his voice till no one can make out what he says. His digres- sions yesterday about the French Revolution and the history of Russia might well have been spared. Then came Mr. Bracllaugh's turn. The House was now quite full in every part. The Prince of W ales sat. in the front of the special gallery, watching the proceedings with the utmost intentness; and amongst other peers present were Lord Lytton and Lord Sherbrooke, whispering to one another satirical comments on the debate. Standing at. the bar, Mr. Bradlaugh began to speak in a low tdne, but, his YOlce tremulous with passion, showed how difficult he felt it to keep his self-command. It was impossible not to iee, a certain degree of pity for him, a man of the people, with nothing to recom- mend him but. his own abilities, standingalone to plead his cause before an assembly of judges who were also, for the most part, hostile critics. He spoke with great manliness and power. He has a grand voice, not fit, I should say, for expressing any tender emotion, but of splendid capacity for the declamation of invective. Now and then, when he lost con- trol over himself, as in his impassioned denunciations of Mr. Newdegate and the noble lord who had jeered at him for having been H kicked ont" last year, there was an angry snarl in his voice, as of a wild beast at bay. His self-possession, however, on the whole, was wonderful. He only made one serious slip when he used the phrase, Members of the House who are ignorant of honour and conscience but., when this provoked cries of "Withdraw." he recovered himself quickly, and modified it by saying, Members who are ignorant of the honour and conscience of the man who stands before you, He refrained, too, from using I threats, merely saying that the people would j come to his rescue—" at the ballot box." These last words being added after the slightest perceptible pause. His speech was, perhaps, somewhat too long; but on the whole it was a remark- able effort, and the speaker did something at the end to improve his position by offering, if the Opposition would promise not to obstruct a Government Bill for allow- ing him to affirm, to make no further attempt to take the oath. He even promised, if such a Bill were passed, to resign his seat, and take his chance of being elected again for Northampton. Perhaps the most effective hit in all his speech was when, refuting the objections that he might take advantage of the passing of such a Bill to keep his seat, without going through the ordeal of re-election-, he exclaimed, '•'Bradlaugh is prouder than you." There is no doubt, indeed, that he has, or had up to the time when the division was taken, implicit confidence in himself and his own popularity. Mr. Labouchere followed on the same side in a very adroit, and insinuating address, which was really an appeal to the generosity of the House. But if there is one man who is more disliked in the House than Mr. Brad- laugh it is his colleague in the representa- tion of Northampton, and the championship of such a colleague has, probably, done Mr. Bradlaugh as much harm as even his own maladroit proclamation of disbelief in the Deity whose name is invoked in the Parliamentary oath. Sir S. Northcote then rose again, and, with much dignity, rejected the proposal that the House should make a bargain with Mr. Bradlaugh. The compro- mise proposed by the latter has a plausible look about it; but it should evidently have been made in a different manner. It came too late after he had again asserted at the table his right to take the oath. If he had made it privately to the Prime Minister before the meeting of Parliament, and the latter had accepted it, there would have been much to be said for it. But Mr. Gladstone, who followed Sir S. Northcote, and who looked careworn and ill at ease, and spoke without animation, showed no anxiety to legislate in the sense desired by Mr. Bradlaugh, for the very good reason that he knows perfectly well the present House of Commons will not pass a Bill for the relief of Atheists. He took refuge in the evasion of the previous ques- tion, which lost him more votes than if he had frankly espoused Mr. Bradlaugh's cause..Mr. E. Clarke made a spirited and effective reply to the Prime Minis- ter, and the debate lingered a little longer. Then came the division, and it was quickly seen from the gleeful countenances of the Conservatives below the gangway, that the majority was unexpectedly large. When the numbers were announced, and it was known how inauspiciously the session had opened for the Ministry, the cheering was almost frantic. Mr. Bradlaugh behaved very well on being ordered to withdraw, and hp must lie puzzled what to do next in face of the evidence that the feeling against him has grown stronger. ■Mr. Labouchere got leave to introduce his Relief Bill, but he has no chance of carry- ing it.

THE COAL RICHES OF SOUTH WALES. AN OCCASIONAL ( OT{ RKSPOXDF.NT.) At the shipowners' meeting held in Cardiff, as reported in the U'eel.I11 Mail of last, week, Mr. Riches spoke" out of book," and I am only too happy 4n being enabled to correct him. In the lower end of the parish of Merthyr, and the upper end of the parish of Gelligaer, there is a virgin tract which 1 have carefully walked over, in com- pany with one of the ablest colliery managers of south Wales, Mr. E. D. Howell, Pentvrch, who will corroborate my statement. This tract amounts to twenty square miles. It contains 60 feet of work- able coal under each foot, and taking the rule of one square yard of coal to bo equal to one ton you have two thousand six hundred million tons which have not even been nibbled at! The present quantity of coal worked yearly in the two parishes is two million tons, so that not only can the present respectable quantity be increased in ratio far beyond anything we can imagine as likely to take place, but the present generation, and a long train of successors, may rub on in perfect security as to the future. Then, again, not long ago some writer pictured the coming possibility of a deserted Rhondda, and the imagination was allowed to revel on the dire picture of deserted dwellings and extinct industries Why, the top of the Rhondda Vach, which is only just, coming into work, contains in an extent of five miles six hundred million tons of workable coal, and putting the gettable coal at 40 feet only, we have enough at the present rate of output for 278 years. It. is idle to talk of exhausted coal in out- time. The next generation will find it early- enough to think about it. Our mission is the de- velopment of the coal seams, the building of towns, the enlargement of docks, the erection of free libraries, the providing of social and mental requirements, the plodding on with stout. heartS and hopeful minds. It is early to flag yet in the race. TO THE EDITOR. SITS—The speech of Mr. Riches at the ship, owners' banquet is unintelligible to me. If, as he says, the coal supply of the district will cease in twenty-five years, why complain of the want of dock accommodation V Does Mr. Riches suppose that anyone would expend hundreds of thousands of pounds with the certainty that there would not be any return for his capital after a quarter of a century? Mr. Riches has the reputation of being a. clever man, but this speech of his does not support that theory. if he wished to ruin the trade of Cardiff and prevent fresh capital from being invested in the town he could not take a more successful way of doing it. NO capitalist after reading that speech would think of investing his money at Cardiff. The president of the Chamber of Trade has pronounced the doom of the port. A gentleman holding such a position is supposed to know what he is talking about, but I question the accuracy of his facts. I remember reading a speech of Mr. Hussev Vivian in the House of Commons a few YEWS ago on the extent and resources of the South Wales Coal Basin. I have not a report of the ipeech by me, but if my memory dees not fail mo, the honourable gentleman stated that the coal at the then rate of consumption would last years. Mr. \iviAn was supposed at the time to be an authority on the subiect of the coal supply, but he must hide his face, and bow to the new oracL of the Chamber of Trade. But, in sober earnsstncss, arc the Cardiff people going to submit to thIs MDOF dictation? What does Mr. Lewis Williams think of it ? The committee for promot- ing the establishment of the University College at Cardiff may as well be dissolved, for if Cardiff has reached its climax, and the coal supply is to cease in 25 years, the erection of a. college would be a waste of pioney. The Swansea people will find Mr. Riches a valuable ally, and his speech will be made use of as an argument against Cardiff and in favour of Swansea as the seat of the college.—I am, &c., A COMMERCIAL MAX.

THE VACANCY IN THE CARDIFF TOWN COUNCIL. We understand that Mr. James Andrew Corbett. of Pontcanna Farm, Canton, son of Mr. John Stuart Corbett, and junior member of the firm of Messrs. Griffith and Corbett, solicitors, Cardiff, has consented to stand as a. candidate for the vacancy which has been created in the representation of the Canton Ward in the Cardiff Town Council, by the resignation of Mr. W. J- Newbery, conse- quent upon that gentleman's recent failure- An influential deputation waited upon Mr. James Andrew Corbett, and listened to an explanation of his views respecting municipal affairs in the borough of Cardiff. Mr. Corbett stated that he was in favour of every possible assistance being rendered by the corporation to the new dock scheme, with which the future development of the port is so intimately associated, that he would support the retention and improvement of the Canton Market, that, he would use his influence to secure closer [connec- tion and more complete inter-communication between Canton and Grangetown, that he would do his utmost to remedy any grievances from which the ward may suffer in regard to rating, and, finally, that he would advocate the selection of Cardiff as the site for the proposed University College for South Wales. As the result of the interview, Mr. Corbett was cordially and unani- mously selected as a candidate, and his address will be issued on Monday, after the formal recep-1 tion by the town council of Mr. Newbery's resig- nation. Mr. Corbett is well-known in Cardiff from the high social position he occupies, and from the part he has taken in various movements which have had for their object, the general advancement of the inhabitants of the town.

GENERAL. Mr. Jonathan Peckover, banker, of WisbecI died on Wednesday night. ¡' A "Central News" telegram, dated yesterday; savs:— Eu-lWiiton passed a restless. night, and ha4. not improved since Wednesday.

FOREIGN. M The Paris correspondent of the Scan-lard says r— M. de Marcere is mentioned as likely to go tq ■ London in lieu of M. Challemel Lacour. A telegram from Bonny announces the abdica/! tion of King George, owing to the native chiefs haying declined to pay tribute to him or recognise his authori ty. A Reuter's" telegram states that an explosiof. of dynamite occurred at the works for tunnelling í the Ariberg on Wednesday. 'Several workmet were killed. The Daily 4Y"i(,, correspondent at Wie. states that the Rhine has now reached the HXVPEFTFL ,II level of the present century, and that navigation j is greatly impeded. 'J; A telegram from Alexandria states that con, 1 siderable uneasiness is felt at Cairo. A French ironclad has been stationed at Port Saicbeversinca the 1st of February. A Lagos telegram states that a report is current  that. the King of Porto Novo threatens an attack on Orevdan, and that the King of Dahomey is pre- paring to invade the Yomba country. The projected pilgrimage to Rome is creating considerable excitement, in Madrid. The Carlist party is actively promoting it, but. the prelates loyal to the present. King offer opposition. The Constantinople correspondent of' tfyf Standard telegraphs that the insurrection of the Arab tribes in Yemen has, owing to the prompt* action of the Turkish Commander, been suppressed for the time being. Sir II. Bulwer, Governor of Natol, sailed for South Africa by the last mail steamer. It is believed that no final decision as to the time at which Cete- wayo will visit England will be arrived at until after Sir H. Bulwer has reached Cape Town. The Berlin correspondent of the Standard says —The Duchess Anna of Meckienburg-Schwerin, v the only daughter of the Grand Duke by his second marriage, and who had not yet attained her seven- teenth ycar, uied yesterday morning of intlamma" tion of the lungs. M. Gambetta is said to be greatly annoyed at the indiscreet zeal of his friends, who, in their efforts to attenuate his defeat, are doing their best to make him not, only unpopular, but somewhat ridiculous. It is even added that his irritation is so great that he has determined to cut short his holiday, and return to Paris forthwith.

SUPPOSED MURDER OP BRITISH SUBJECTS IN AFRICA. The West, Africnn Mail, which reached Liverpool on Thursday, brings intelligence of the burning of Fonricarial, West Africa, by the natives, who after- wards plundered some British factories. Some proprietors and their employes are missing.

FRESH OUTRAGES OX THE IJEWS The SUnufirrt correspondent at St. Petersburg says:—A correspondent of the paper A rya recounts a. sad case of robbery and violation which occurred on the 19th of January (old style), in the district of Zaslavsky. The victims were Jewesses, mother and daughter. The latter, a girl of remarkable beauty, after suffering the most terrible outrage, was carried off, and has not, since been heard of. It is said that the perpetrators of the crime hava beenarre.sted. A Central News telegram from Moscow, via Tilsit, dated February :—Professor Guerrier, director of the high female school here, having complained to the authorities of the police order prohibiting Jewish female students residing in Moscow, has been informed that it is unnecessary for Jewesses to attend the schools. A telegram from Helsingfors, dated February 8, says:—Deputy Meermain has laid propositions before the Finland Diet to prohibit Jews from re- siding in Finland. Up to last Wednesday evening the Lord Mayor's Fund for the distressed Jews in Russia amounted to .£39,800, which has been collected within a week. The house of Rothschild has contributed £15,000 to the various funds for the relief of the stlffenr.1' Jews in Southern Austria— £ 5,000 to the '"MansioS House Fund, an equal sum to the fund previously opened by the Angio-Jewish community, and another ±5,000 to the Paris Fund. Sir Moses Montefiore has written to the Lord Mayor of London, expressing his heartfelt grati- tude to those friends of humanity who have come forward to the assistance of the oppressed Jews ia Russia.

THE CHARGE AGAINST THE MARQUESS OF HUNTLY. The Lord Mayor on Thursday granted a warrant against the Marquess of Iluntly, in order that proceedings might be taken for extradition.

THE FRENCH PRESS ON THE QUEEN'S SPEECH. The Paris correspondent of the Timts says: — Papers of ail shades comment on the vagueness of the Queen's Speech as regards Egypt. The Tempi reservos its criticisms on the chance of the full report of Lord Granville's speech being lesg obscure than the telegraphic summary. The Franrain Rat iricaHy observeR that Ministerial insta- bility has its advantages, for while. L Gambetta's overthrow leaves his successor unfettered, the Gladstone Government has to reconcile the Joint Note with the new tone dictated bv the counter. Note of the three Empires.

HEAVY FAILURE IN LONDON. The failure was announced at the London Bankruptcy Court, on Thursday, of Louis Achard and George Buckert, of Mincing-lane, London, and Akyab, British Burmah, rice merchants and com- mission agents, with liabilities estimated a.t £200,000.

MURDER OF TWTCTILDREN IN MANCHESTER. Benjamin Bouch was charged at THE Manchester city police-court on Thursday with murdering two of hie; children, agrd seven and ten respcc- tively, whom he threw into the canal on Wednes- day night. Prisoner was remanded.

THE CHILD MURDER IN NORFOLK. At, the Norfolk Assizes on Thursday, before Mr. Justice Grove, Henry Stebbings, lately a convict, was charged with the murder of Hannah Brett, aged eleven, by cutting her throat; at the village of aham Tuney, in October. Prisoner was found guilty and sentenced to death.

DARING BANK ROBBERY AT LIVERPOOL. A da ring robbery ata Liverpool Bank is reported A youth in the employ of a leading firrn in the provision trade was sent to the bank with CI 000 iu uotes and £ 375 in cash. Notes AND sold were separated, the latter being in a bag. Th; tie was shortly b.»tore the close of the ban^ when customers were waiting to be served! The youth 1' la <jonTClS?tl^ with a stranger, and soon w'6 i- stranger was charged with thtt robbery which lie indignantly denied, but in the confusion he escaped, and no clue has been discovered to the thief or the money.

THE YALDING MYSTERY. Mrs, Pay wasfurmined at the West- minster police-court on Wednesday, on the charge of murdering the child Georgina Moore at Yalding. The evidence of the police described what took place when the prisoner was apprehended at her father's house at. Yalding. Mrs. Moore identified the clothes found on the body taken out of the Medway, and related how her acquaintance with the prisoner originated. A policeman and a little boy identified the prisoner as the person who was walking with the deceased child on the day the latter disappeared. The prisoner was again remanded.

DARING ESCAPE OF A PRISONER FROM USK PRISON. On Thursday morning a prisoner named Michael Fielding escaped in a daring manner from the cus- tody the omcials of Lsk Prison. Fielding was in some painting work with one of the warders, and during the temporary absence of tha latter lie succeeded in scaling the high boundary wall on the south side, and jumped into the meadow below, a distance of about twenty feet. A reward of £ o was immediately offered for his recovery. Fielding, who is twenty years of age, and about uft. 6in. high, was committed from Caerleon police-court tolake his trial at the recent assizes at, Gloucester for burglary at Llantarnam. He bad been summarily convicted previously, and at Gloucester he was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour. His term would expire in April.

The Paris correspondent of the Times writes The deal lis are announced of M.HippolyteCogniard, the playwright, and M. Prosper Seligmann, th* composer.