Weekly Mail

The Coal Mines Regulation Bill. Meeting of South Wales Representa- tives of the Mining Association. An important meeting of the South Willes coal- ownfta' representative on tiie Executive Council of the Miulug Association of Great Britain was hfld at the Angel Hotel, Cardiff, on Saturday. Mr. Archi- bald Hood presided, and the other meaibdrs pre- sent. were :—Me».*r*. J. Oolqulioun, U. liirklmuse, R. Bedlinsrton.T. Korst«r Brown, Eo M. Ilann. H.W. Martin, Woo. Thom-ts, R. Jordan, W. Sitnon. solicitor, and W. Oascoyne Diiiziel, secretary. —The meeting was called to consider the Bill introduced into Parliament by the Home Secretary and Mr. Stuart Wort ley, entitled "The Coal Mines Regulation Bill, 1887." and which was read a second time on Wednesday last. The object of the Hillis to consolidate, with amendments, i li,, Coal Mine* Acts. 1872 and 1876, and the Stratified Ironstone Mines Act of loSl. The most important of the proposed altera lions iu the existing Iiw relate to subjects recently investigated bv the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into "çcident in mines. Aftel- a prolonged Hitting, the South Wales representatives, in the interest of the coalowners of tbe district, resolved to recommend certain impor- tant alterations io the Bill. Ihese amendments will be forwarded to the Mining Association of Great Britain, which body will at the proper time bring them prominently under the nottce of the Parliamentary Commi't*

A CARD.—To all will) suffering fi-aln the offers and indiscretions af yeutli, nerveus weakues., early decay, exhausted vitality, loss of vigeur. aervous 11 our* debility, Aa., I witimefid a prescription that will eure you free of charge. Thisgreat remody was discovered by a Missionary in Old Moxieo. Bend an addressed stamped envelope t* the Bar. Jwirx T. Houta. Bloomsbury Measion. jBleemfeury-square, LtD. W.O.

Proposed Local Board at I Barry. I Important Local Board Govern- ment Inquiry. On Tuesday Mr. Thomas Codrington, C.E., held an inquiry, by order of the Local Governmeul Board, at the VVenvoe Arms Hotel, Cadoxton, into the subject matter of two petitions which had been presented for the form*- tion of a Local Board District at Cadoxton. One petition was presented on behalf of Mr. T. A. Walker, the contractor of the dock and railways, which would form a «m*ll district, including about 200 houses elected ny Mr Walirer, embracir? the whole of the dock basin, timber pond, harry Island, portions of the parishes nt Merthyr Dovan and Cadoxton, and the parish of Kirrv. The second petition, supported by the inhabitants at large,and by the Barry Dock and Railways Com- pany, was presented for a much larger area. which would include the whole of the parish of Cadox- ton-juxta-Barry, the whole of the parishes of Merthyr Dovan and Barry and Barry island, and portions of the parishes ot Sully and St. Andrew's Miijor. Mr. Hopkinson, solicitor, of London, appKared on bflialf uf tho petitioners for the e:maU..r dis- trict; Mr Downing on behalf of the Barry Duck Company and thu petitioners for the largrr dis- trict; Mr. Kicitard Williams repre&euted l^ord j Wimhoruv; Mr. G, P. Hill the paiish ht St. Andrew's; Mr. Spi-ncer *«-veral landowner* Mr. John Morrii the Dynaa Powis Hignwav trict Botrd; Mr Maitliewa Komilly and Mr Harris, the clt-sk of Ihtj Hignway There were present Messrs. 0 H Jones, Charles Wuik^r, Lewit Williams. K. Forrest, W. Grainger, — UHS- tow. G Thomas (of Messrs. Suward and Tii"iifi«), l, gi". A Jenkins, — (Iluifipell, a.nd Je\v.-i j Williams; General L-e the Kev. lib-nezer Morris Alderman June*; Councillor Solomon Andrews, aud a streat nuinlter of other inhabitants. Thtl Commissioner decided to take first the ctse of ttie smallest proposed di->u Set.—Mr. Hopki >son I hereuJtOlI opened on belialf of the petitioners of tiie small district, and c .!lel} Mr, Walker, civil engineer, of London, wtm htid prepared the plans, and who !>ave evidnnre in support of it. Ttie chief reason assigned why ihe smaller scltetne ahoold be preferred was that the drainage of the smaller «i'heme would be more economical tlian the .1,-ain"gt! of the larger scheme embraced in Cadoxton. Evidence was j given as to sewers already formed and pio- jected. The ero-s-exatnination of tlti ..it lIe8"¡ tended in the direction of showing that it w«j a | most unfair propositi to include in t-uch a t-n..ill (scheme the whole of the docks and works and j nion-polise the rating of these to the exclusion of i Cadoxton district, where the greater niimtwr of houses were. Mr. Evans, groOer, of Cardiff, who has a branch establishment at East Bari gave evidence in favour nf tbe smallrr scheme also Mr. Allen, tiie rector of Barry, and Mr. Chas. Walker, the resident engin-er of the works.—At this ,1 Hg"(! of the inquiry the Commissioner in!Ín181et.1 Ihat. he could not report favourably "8 to the títlon of the smaller district and asked the promoters of the larger sclieme \.0 open their case.—Mr. Downing complied forthwilb, and called Mr. G. Thomas.— Mr. Thomas stated that he had prepared the scheme for the larger district and had gone over carefully the estimate of the permanent population which would be established at Barry after the completion of the docks. The promoters and directors of the Dock and Railways Company were in a position to command an output of over 6,000.000 tons of coal per annum; 3,000,000 tons of shipments had been secured for the Barry Dock; and there were 37 staiths for the shipment of coal in the ductis. The docks would contain 70 acres of water, and the timber pond 30 acres. Be estimated that at least 2.000 men would be required for the permanent working of the docks and railway terminus. This, calculating five persons to each workman employed, would give a population of 10,000 people In addition to this there would be the floating population, with its attendant requirements, and there wouid be also men employed on any future works which would possibly be started in the neighbourhood. In Cadoxton alone, up to the present time, 520 new houses had been erected. He consi- dered that Cadoxton would form the chief centre of the town, as it stood 150 feet above sea level as against 50 feet for Bast Barry that 60 acres of common ground which were cpen to the public would be attractive as recreation grounds; that the soil was more healthy, being of moun- tain limestone and red marl at Cadoxton. as against blue clay and the Lias limestone formation at East Barry that it would be the junction of the lines from Cogan to Cadoxton, the coast line from Cadoxton to Penarth. and the main line of the Barry Dock and Railways Company. An important central railway station, he further added, would be established there, and it would be much nearer to Cardiff than Kast Barry, and, consequently, more readiiv accessible by road and rail. He considered it would be very detrimental to the of the wihJe district to liave it divided between two local boards, and there would be little difficulty in draining the hill and flat land below. Mr. Thomas was cross-examined by Mr. Hopkinson on the question of drainage by Mr. R. W, Williams, who objected to Sully moors being included, and by Mr. G. F. Hill, who objected to any portion of St. Andrew's being included.—Mr Daniel Jones and Mr. Solomon Andrews gave general support to the larger scheme. The latter, who has undertaken the omnibus traffic from Cardiff to Cadoxton, said that out of the 600 horses he worked there were more accidents occurring on the Cadoxton branch than on the whole of the other districts which he worked on account of the bad state of the roads.—Mr. Ebenezer Morris gave evidence as I to the urgency of a branch scheme being started, and also as to Cadoxton possessing properly quali- fied men who could act on the Local Board.—Mr. A. Jenkins, clerk to the School Board, and Dr. Mill- ward also supported ttie scheme.—Mr. R. Forrest, chairman of tbe Rural Sanitary Authority, spoke in favour of the larger sclieme, and also pointed out the desirability of including the whole of the parishes of Sully, St. Andrew's, and Lavernock in this new district, or annexing them to the Penarth district.—Mr. O. H Jones, on behalf of the Cardiff Rural Sanitary Autimrity, stated that the authority were in favour of a Local Board being established,as the Rural Authority had such a laige area under itscontroJ that it was very difficult for it to give the necessary attention required for such a growing place.—Mr. Richard Williams made a few remarks objecting to any portion of the parish of Sully, and Mr. G. F. Hill to any part of St. Andrew's Major, being included. — Mr. Downing replied as to I tho whole scheme.—The Commissioner then inti- mated that he would inspect the boundaries on the following day, and it was arranged that he should be accompanied by Mr. Walker and Mr. George Thomas.—The proceedings, which com- menced at eleven, terminated at 6.30. (

Housebreaking at Llan- caiach. I Some burglars visited the village of Kelson, Llancaiach, on Sunday night and effected an en- trance to the shop of Mr, Jones (late Evans), draper and clothier, by cutting a hole through the plate- glass of the shop window large enough to enable a man to enter. The glass was fully on»fourtb of an Inch thick From the shop they a quan- tity of clothing. The back premised of the house and a butcher's shop belonging to Mrs. L. Thomas I were also entered, and the burglars here feasted themselves. On Sunday night an attempt was made to break into (he shop of Mr. Fine. furniture aler, &c„ by trying to cut the pane of glass, the marks made being visible. They, however, failed in their attempt. It is also stated that one or two other places bore signs of having been visited by the burglars. Several robberies have been committed I' in the neighbourhood recently, and no clue to the perpetrators has been obtained.

The Rhymney Burglars. I At Tredegar Police-court on Tuesday Mary Wil- liams (motlier), Kliaabeth Williams (daughter), and Thomas Williams (son-in-law) were charged with being concerned in stealing, bet ween Nov„ 1888. and January, 1887, certain articles, valued at £3.1 the pronerty of John Jones, Pochin-cresoent, Tre- • degar. 1 hese three prisoners are connected with the two men named Williams,who have been committed ¡' for trial to Glamorganshire Assizes on several charges of burglary from Pontypridd. Mr. T. S. Edwards defended. Other charges of a similar I nature were preferred against the defendants. The articles stolen were produced in court and identified. Among the stolen property was a brooch, which Mrs. Jones described as silver, but could not slate ttie value, because it was given her —Mr. Edwards: A silver brooch worth twopence. —John Williams, son of the prisoner Mary Williams, who was brought from Cardiff Gaol to give evidence, said in reply to Mr. Edwards, that be had takeu certain articles (produced) tt. hi3 mother, and gave her to UlltierBllmd t 1111.1 be had come by them lioneetly.—The bench oommitud I them to take their trial at Gloucester Assizes next week.

Loss of a Llanelly Vessel. I Captain Gronow and the crew, eight in number, of the barqiientine Gladstone, ot Llanelly, were tended on Sunday a' Plymouth The vessel waa over tu ken by a hurricane after leaving Kermud* j for Falmouth. She was Stripped of bet aaiU and "prang a te-tk. For several daya. however, the! crew knpt her ail»iit. hut they were finally taken off. as-he wa« "D the of foundering, by the Hamburg-American Company's ship Bavaria, i Hnortly after a teriifio soul li-wesleric "I sprang up, and tliere is no doubt that tiie Gladstone then i went down. J

Theft of a Cash-box at Swansea, II At Swansea Police-court on Saturday (before Mesers. J. frev. Jenkin and J, G. GaU) William budge and Mary Brsyniori were charged with stealing £2. 10s. in money and a number of articles of wearing apparel, belonging to George Cooper. The prisoners, according to the evidence, h"d lodged ut Cooper's house, near lite Velindra Waterworks Mrs. Cooper, rising on at 7.30, found the prisoners had decamped, and she tJlHI uiissed the articles of clothing and a trash- box, which contained £18 in money, from her toed- roow. Luter in the any sue discovered the cush- box in tile pantry broken open and containing only £15 10s. Information was given to the police, aud Police-Constable Markham aud Sergeant Protheioe went to Port Talbot, when. liit-y saw tiie female prisoner get into a railway carnage, and appre- hended her, with the articles of clothing and some money in liar possession. The mtti was shortly afterwards arrested at A be ra von.—Tiie Bench dis- charged the male prisoner, and committed the female for trial at the assizes. 1

I Swansea Town Council. I At the monthly meeting of the Swansea Town Council on Wednesday Mr. W J. Rees (ex-mavor) presided, in the absence of Mr Yeo, M P, mayor. There were aiso present:—Aldermen E. R. Daniel, James Jones, John Lewis, and Freeman, and Coun- cillors R D. Burnie, H A. Chapman, C. James, A. Mason, H. Maiiphant, R. Martin, William Pike. W. h'icliards, F. Rocke, W. Thomas, W. Williams, M. Tutron, E Monger, W. Tuomas, J. A. Rawlings,and A. Francis. j BIGHT or WAY. The minutes of rhe Watcti C>mmittee having heeD pass"d, Alderman DAA"IEL £!10V,J tllp adop": tion of the minutes of tinj Propert.v «nd General Purpose? Committee. The chief item in these was an from the manager of rlir Midland K-imvay Company to construct a bridge over 'he railway at fwllmawr, where the corporation «»er9 claiming a right of way, oc the corporation p.ly.rg one-'hird of the cost The committee recom- mended that the ba.,it< of this offer be edops-ed if at any time such a bridge should be erec'ed, and to vijthdraw their appeal case. The minutes were passed THE OECHASD-STBKET IMPROVEMENT. Mr. FKKEMAN moved the adoptiofc of the minutes of the Works and Sanitary lliitLee, which contained a recommendation «0 the important quesiion ot the proposed | Orcluia street improvement. Mr. Hopkins and t.)* of the prupertv were jnwtllinf to acvepi the otter of the corporation of £7500 foi property nn &ddi w., paic. for ceitain work had been carried on there Tiie committee recommended that this should b< agreed t". M r. Koct K sec jncie i. Mr,, K D. i'cknik moved an amendment, that the ofter lie not accepted, urging that the corpora- lion were offering a very high price for the pro- i perty, ilrHl n..t a penny more should be paid desirable though ihe improvement would bl". Mr. 1 of on seconded, and the amendment wa.' Supported by Alderin in Daniel and others. Mr. Chapman, 1\1r F.eem.ii;, and the Chairman spoke in favour of the recommendation of the Committee, declaring that t.he property would not tie sold for any lesser price than that stated, and that it was absolutely necessary for the acc"mmo- d^i ion ot dIP. trnfhr. i lie amendmen;, on being put to the vote was j lost by sixteen votes u, eight, and the minutes were then put and carried, CWMDOVKIN PtSKRTOTE. Tne Chairman moved the adoption of the inMuites of the Water snd Sewers Committee. Tht public analyst submitted an anahsis of the Wltle; in Ii". Cwiiidoiikin R8ervOIr.a.nd, 1 tie same haTin, been found satisiacuiry, the committee reconv mended to tiie Hewlth Committee the immediat« Utilisation of the reservoir, whi.") haó been disuse the outbreak IIf lever.—Toe matter of th tenders was. (¡II the motion at Mr, Pike. referret back to the committee.—The other minutes wer carried. FINANCE—TRK BUDGET. The adoption of the minutes of the Financ Commit'ee was moved by Mr. Eurnie who presented the hu.iget f or the yeai which had been explained by Mr. Burni a: the last meeting. Tne committees ha been led into excessive expenditure, necessitatis a rate for the en-uing year of 4-s. in the £ M: Burnie moved, and Mr.Joiies seconded, the lnvririj in the £ —of this rate which was carried.—A 01 Id. in the £ for Fret Library purposes was also decided upon. THE BIUDGK TOLL COiSTiuK. Mr. BuRNIE moved the adopt,lon of a recommen dation of the Special Town Dues and Bridge Tolk Committee. The committee recommended that B proposal be made to the Harbour Trustees to th effect that if the trust would abolish the tolls levied at the bridges leading to St. Thomas the corpora- tion woula be prepared to abolish the town dues. Mr. Burnie dilated upou the inequality and un- fairness ot the lawn dues. They were not ail profit, to the corporation, and they prevented coasting vessels from coming to the town. He did not consider that any rate would be necessary to make up the sum lost, but if such were necessarv it would only be paying the sum in a different form, and not adding to their burdens, which fell hardly upon the poorer classes. The com- mittee were unanimously in favour of the pro- posal. Mr. MARTIN seconded. Mr. W. RICHARDS opposed the proposal to throw away £2.500 of the corporation income. Alderman TCLIXJCH said the town dues wert. a great hardship and should be immediately abolished or revised. Mr ROCK supported the proposal of the com- mittee as being fair and reasonable and likely to promote the trade and prosperity of the town. Mr. Freeman, Mr. Mason, Mr. Tut ton, AidermaD Da nieL, and others spoke and Mr. Burnie replied stlllJtising the bride toll 8.S money taken out o' the poefcess of poor working men to subsidise t body which was well off and salaried its servant, most extravagantly. The CHAIRMAN, in putting the motion, remarket that he certainly thought that a body which couli pay their officials so handsomely ought to be read' to give something to the poor. The resolution was carried almost immediately THE PROPOSED ALTERATIONS TO THE TnTH-llII The recommendations of Mr. Barry as to th alteration of the courts so as to render them noise proof (published by us on Tuesday) were nex brought up in committee, and it was resolved t. postpone their consideration to a special meetin; to be called hereatter. On the motion of Alderman DANIEL, secondei by Mr. RICHABDS, the estate superintenden was authorised to expend sum not exceedinj £ 100 in double glazing the windows of the Crown court and in fixing a deck light under the dome with improved ventilation, and such other wor) as he may think will best prevent noise. This it intended merely as a temporary measure for tlii next assizes. TRAVELLING ALLOWANCES. Mr. F. Rocu. called attention to a report pre pared by the town-clerk on travelling allowance. made by various corporations to their member and officials, and moved a resolution that only out of-pccket expenses should be allowed, not to exceed in any case one guinea per day and first class railway fare, except when heavy cab fares were cliarged. Mr. CHAPMAN seconded. M", W. WILLIAMS moved an amendment fixing the allowance at two guineas per day. Mr. ROCKE consented to adopt this suggestion, and it was carried. The meeting then terminated.

Merthyr Local Board of I Health. The annual mee:ing of the Merthyr Local Board j of Health was held on tVeanesday afternoon, Mr. William Jones, J.P., being voted to the chair tern. The members returned at the recent election —u 11 of whom, with the exception of Mr. Davi(? Williams, were the outgoing representatives-having Isign",d the usual declaration, Mr. John Jenkins proposed the re election of Mr. G-eorge Martin as chairman of u:e board for I' the ensuing year. — Mr. Henry Evans seconded and the proposition was carried with acclamation. —Mr. Martin, upon resuming his accustomed seat, briefly expressed his thanks for the honour again conferred upon him.—The various committees were afterwards constituted.— Whilst the appoint- I ment of members of the Joint Farme Management Commit,lee was under consideration Mr. Wm. Jones, J.P., said there was no doubt alJout it that some very unpleasant circumstances had come to light in connection with the management of the sewage farm. If it were the pleasure of the board to re- elect the old members ot the committee, he could assure them that, so far as he was concerned, he should leave no stone unturned to get to the very bottom of everything that had transpired. They I had already taken some action, lor the moment they received a knowledge of what was going on they took steps to do away with the services of the farm manager. They were now preparing a I statement of accounts up to the 25th of March, anc that dny fortnight they hoped to be able to present to the board, not only this statement of accounts, but a full report.—The committee were then r#-appoirited.—At a later 8t¡te of the meeting Mr. David Davies, reveri ing to this subject, said chat for some time rumours liad beer, abroad witt respect to alleged irregularities. He had bearr that men employed on the farm had beer working for weeks and m»nths on the lane I' of a certain gentleman who should be nameless and he had also been told that turnips and swedef had been carried away whole^ile. It wasthedutv of the board, lie thought, to have these matter* thoroughly ¡nVestIgat6..1, He imped tlley woulf not make a scipegoat of the manager, but wouli see w ho the real culprit was. Mr. Davies bande in a letter wiiicii had been addressed to him by Mr. J, W. Richards, at Aberdare. in which tin I writer made various insinuations; and at hit request, ;.r.d by permission of the board, the Communication was openly read by I h cierk. -After a lew remarks from Mr John Jenkins M.d Dr. Jones it arranged that further d^cu-sion should be reserved ui t.i! the committee's report I had been received. — A letter was read trom ilia Dowlais Iras Company intimating that he roilld make no reduction at present in the price charged I for public lighting —It was mentioned by Mr J. Jenkins that a reduction of 2d. PCI 1,000 had tieen allowed to private con8Ulllers.-Tjlt' tollowiug tenders for scavei'gini; were acot.pted :—Dowlais, William Knt¡¿i",6. 9d. per day; Penyiinrren, Divi 1 Lewis, 58. 4.1.; û-"uff{eWwn, Phœhe R. ¡ 5- 2J,; Merthyr town district, Thomas levies, 5 ,3 I. Troedyrhiw and Tn-harris, Thos. Jenkins, 4. 9d. per day for each place.

I Cardiff Chamber of Commerce. j The monthly meeting of the Cardiff Chamber ol j Commerce, was held on Wednesday mom- in<T at the Exchange. Mount Stuart-square ing- at the Exchange. Mount Stuart-square ,1.1.. John Gunn presiding. There were I also present Mrs. Col. Martin, S. Rees, Col. Guthrie, A. T. Lucovitch, F. B. Ferrier. C. E. iStallybrass, Captain Tliourson, T. Morel, and W. H. Hawkins, hon. sec. The trade and navigation accounts for the United Kiug- coin from January to March of this year compared with the correspondiug months of -la.t year showed an increase in the exports of tiie United Kingdom of 941,981 tons, or 14 per Cardiff, an increase of 324,974 tons, or 20$per cent.; Newport, an increase of 148,879 tons, or 35 per cent. and Swansea, a decreaRf ot :342 tons, or decrease oi a per cent. A letter was read from a Mr. E. Gladstone, of the Tempic, L ncion. apply- ing to the chamber for the appointment of the Cardiff stipendiarvship. It was decided to let the application remain on the tabl* An acknow- ledgment was received from rhe Home Secretary respecting the resolution passed by the chamber relative to the appointment of a Cardifl stipendiary, which had been forwarded to him. The Honw Secretarv stated that the matter should be oaretuliy considered by him.—There was no < ather business of interest.

hE INDllSTRIES OF WALES ¡ AND THEE HOTABLE MEN. <» By Charles WilMns. ITKB EISHT OF TRANSLATION IS RBIBKTSS. No. xvrn. DAVID DAVIES, SEN., OF BLAENGWAWR, AND THE FERNDALE COLLIERIES. In point of time we step back wards a little from the annals of John Nixon, and touch once to ore upon the series of early Welsh coal musters in giving the narrative of David D.ivies, of Blaen- CWawr. Our early coalowners were from the People. reared amongst the peop!e, and in thorough sympathy with the people. One is reminded by the career of our coalowner the good apprentice of the Hogarthian series, who, stmilly breasting the waves of social tempta- tion, sits at length in judgment over the brother apprentice wlio lacked his moral grit. David Dalies, the founder of-the Ferndale Collieries, was Only an apprentice, and as such began in the London Warehouse at Merthyr, kept by one Mr. Lewis. Ending his term he opened for himself at Birwain, when the century was young, and, being industrious and shrewd, he prospered. Btt ""as one of the sons, so to state, of Benjamin never too proud to work or to do him- lelf what he directed others to do, the class of an who is in the shop before his assistants and lweeps it out or cleans the windows even when be j** a good balance at bis bankers, without think- 6 that fie is doing anything degrading. O ye -en with hair parted in front, and purity of ^hite collar, and amplitude of white cuffs, how "'finitely behind art thou to the sturdy worthies "110 are gone! David, in the beginning of his trading life, bought most of his goods at Merthyr, b<1 many a bundle be carried upon his back over the mountain. Kven when he married the 8aughter of William Lewis, a brother of his old his wife proved a good helpmate, and journeyed over the mountains, and shared his hardens like the true woman she was. ^The small shop at Hirwain—the home after- ^rds of a worthy family who succeeded him, the ll)iamses-paved the way to a large shop, which, J** the innocent ambition of the day, was, like the poster's, dignified by the name of the London f Rehouse. London to the mountaineers was the r0000 of all perfection and greatness. 1 Here drapery became blended with grocery and diary, and the small trade was increased to Peculations of an important character. As an -8tnce of his sagacity we may give an anecdote. lie Was dealing extensively in tallow at the time and heard of certain political movements affect- Russia which were likely to advance the price Of tallow considerably. Forthwith, along with other traders, he journeyed to London, an expedi- tion even then, and early in the morning he was tip, and before breakfast made large purchases. IAt breakfast with his friends there was a good Ideal of conversation as to the plans to be Opt.ed and the purchases to be made. David leaid little, but kept his face bravely, and they 18000 knew that his early rising virtues had done Ihhn good service, and that he had cleared the Market. Their only course was to deal with him, and he made a thousand pounds sterling by that Morning's transaction. David opened another op at Mill-street and one in Aberdare, and "I prospered; and now came the eventful turn of his life. He be- an working a small level in the anthracite ^higos, and succeeded next a shallow pit fcu *our 'eet coa' Blaengwawr, and QCceeded again, his shops giving him the wecessary money supplies until the coal was won I hile steadily working on in the coal trade his David, in apprenticeship like the father, but 4 another shop, the Post-office shop at Merthyr, u that employment and went to the North of r^gland, where he passed through the curriculum l fh coming back found his I er at)d hia brother Lewis in colliery operations, for h °eXt step wa9 ^ernl^A'e> where they sank fcnd mi nous coal, but it did not prove well, 'or a tjme fortunes of the family were ed, but they persevered and struck the steam »and the cloud passed away. previously tried for the steam coal Marked* 80 the gratification was tefu a'M nuiD^ a knowing authority on coal a 38 believe in the existence of steam coal of the Aberdare Valley. Ferndale a grand IUccess, everything hopeful! The corner of the ad turned, the top of the mountain gained, what 6m now for the future p g Lmge that it is w,le" In the fulness of wealth aad happing that the Urk cloud," small as aman's hand," comeg upon the Mty, and the storm is not afar off. it WM only a ^den fall of the barometer just as the autumn ending, and the hill sides were covered with yellowing fern. Only a sudden fall, but it Reeded disaster, and 178 men and boys, who had Be down into the pit in the morning, were Af IK e° C*6ad' ^et us break in upon the course r the biography with t ^COLLECTIONS OF FERNDALE. *5^ °n the 9th of November, 1867, that the Xjg ent occurred, nearly 20 years ago, and yet, to he scene comes as vividly back as do the yesterday, A day or two after the ^lon we were on the spot, long before all the ioja<^ heen taken up, and when amongst some the mourners hopes yet remained of the possible iNt ival of their kindred, husbands and eons, j^lOw. !0 were one or two scenes that will never be gotten: A poor woman from the apple orchards !bu^ £ ord- with i a0ek9 M rUji«ly as the fruit, t»ob Wnnkled Witb °gC'841 nCar th* PU ^itmg, fcll Uer son waa below> and 8he had travelled the wuy from the distant county as soon as 6 IltjWIiS of the explosion had reached her. Her fcri °US f8ce» wondarng and grieving, the coloured drej-s nhj> wore, so different to the dress of the tù$h about her, and the sleepy Doric of her ^«ch, heard now and then amidst the quick im- 10UOU8 VVe!sh» "vetted one's attention, and many t-lir«c»ity aud sympathy was cast upon hoe Jor troubled woman, who, never this side the to <Wy of human life, and aim, and grettd, was 6 See her son agxm. Looking around us, it tta "10 °'tl manho'id of the little c«m- had been brushed *way, and only women Ute eltildren left. Into that penceful valley, where -lb,nd.ee of ftrna had given its name to the .0 ,ere had gr ivitated from all parts of Wales 1b q frlHn English shires a crowd of industrious 1 11 for them the BUengwawr family had t Illy provided; the houses were well built, trim tro in fi-out, schools and the indispen- which always follow in the wafte of e^h collier, were to be seen, and the isolation gi^fat world seemed complete; the comfort t)* wamlerers all that could be wished. kilig down from the mountain top the old er*» Unused for half a century or more to any hf6 in the vallay other than the sheep and 'li4d *atched the sinkiug of the great shaft ^rising of the little town. o^tu. have we in our mountain rambles *>Oti 11 ^°n 8uch a scene, so far removed from the loj^ top that sanitary inperfections, perhaps UtJsightly arrangements, untrimmed gardens, l0^ thorn and thistle luxuriant therein, could |j„ 8e°n» and from whence, mellowed by c*' ^une tlie hum of the life below, the shrill call to a recreant child, and the song or woman at1 her household labour. On some such scene with staff in hand the farmers would look in wonderment and plod home to talk to the marvels in the valley, little thinking of the thunderstorm at hand. Azarael's dark wing bad fluttered over tbe Azarael's dark wing bad fluttered over the picture of seclusion and the ruin seemed complete. Talk of the rumed cities of the East, those that glare out upon us like ghouis from the sand I What Bowery description and poetic sentiment have been used in bringing them before our mental eye, aud yet in stern reality they are not to be men- tioned with such as Ferndale. For this was not tlw home of the Arab, but of our own people, pro- gresaing happily in their own quiet way, tho little I streak of civilisation growing alowly bigger, and then frcm none of the causes which led to the 'destruction of Cities of the Plains, or on the mountains, came seemingly irretrievable ruin. Associated in our mind to the end of the chapter will be Ferndale and Arthur Morris." He was one of the most genial of men, truest of friends, all too suddenly swept away. Good and noble hearted as be was in bis young manhood, what would he not have been if he had lived out the ordinary J span ? The picture which age mellows, the vintage which time matures. Morris was detailed by Mr. Fothergill to visit I Ferndale the day after tho explosion, and to take two French gentlemen down into the workings to Aee wliat an explosion was capable of doing' Their visit to England was to see some of the deepest collieries, and become acquainted with our mining life, and this incident was not to be overlooked. They reached Ferndale in the midst of a great throng from Aberdare, a literal mob of pedestrians and of others, oddly mounted on or in every con- ceivable kind of vehicle. But when they came to the opening of the colliery, not then cleared of its dead, they stepped back, for as out of a huge charnel-house came the suffocating fumes of decay, and of burnt flesh, human and horse. Valiant men, agile, keen-eyed, both would have charged a line, or dashed up a breach where there was glory to be won; but down into this sickening rat -hole! And for what ? But pride came to the aid of their guide. He stepped on to the cage, and tliey followed. Just previous to the descent fit told them to hold him firmly by the arm, and for a mouth afterwards the blue marks showed how cautiously they had clutched him, holding on for dear life. As the earth seems to spring back and send the balloouist off into space, so the cage, spurning, so to state, its environment, launched them into the inky blackness of the awful void, only relieved by the glimmer of a lamp carried by the guide. Downward, ever downward, gliding into the un- fathomable, seeking not only the haunt of the fire demon, who had wrought such destruction, but a closer proximity to the mysterious earth's centre whence come the subterranean fires that whelm cities, and blot out a country, and earthquakes which convulse mother earth, and bring home, even to the highest intellectual conviction, the littleness, the puny character of man. Some such thoughts passed through the mind of the guide, and then a perceptible slackening of the speed and they were at the bottom. Close by, waiting the carriage to ascend, were two men black as night, each with a handkerchief bound around mouth and nostril to save them from the evil smell that abounded, and by them in a sack were the remains of a brother collier, who the morning before had descended to work, full of life and health, his mind bent upon the little surroundings of his life, his wife, children, home, the small garden plot, friends, or, if devotional, like so many of the old Welsh colliers, his chapeL And now his body bad been so mutilated that the sack con- tained only fragments, and the only clue to his name was by his boots. There was a stoppage of the ordinary work at the bottom of the pit on account of the accident, and re-lay parties were constantly going up or coming down. There was no whirl of work-laden trams going up incessantly, varied by empty ones coming down, and all the haste necessitated by an output of a thousand tons per day. In this condition of things, when half the workings were obstructed by falls, and the business of restoring ventilation was nothing like complete, the little party only proceeded a little way in, and then made again for the bottom of the pit and reached the surface. Ferndale, always a pleasant spot for the eye to rest upon, never looked so green, the sky never so blue and delightful, as when the panorama of earth and heaven burst upon them on reaching the top. The Frenchmen strode like the brave men they really were, with something to tell kith and friends on the other side of the Channel, of the great coal grave, where in peaceful labour fell almost the total slain of a battle field. We have often to minister of Church and Dissent propounded the problem-the reconcilement of these explosions with the Providence that watches over the sparrow, but have invariably been met with the reply that "The ways of the Deity are mysterious and past finding out." We would rather take the solution that the laws of nature are unalterable, and that in the carrying out deacon and evil doer share the same fate. It is in the next chapter the account is squared! (To b coiOtmud.)

New Steamboat Service to Weston and other Channel Ports. Penarth Enterprise. Interview with the Promoter. A real live man is the Captain Campbell who called upon one of our staff the other day in order to ventilate through the columns of the Western Mail a steamboat service from Penarth which he is now engaged in promoting. In appearance every inch a sailnr-a sori of man who, whilst capable of con-imandirig from the quarter deck the roughest orew amidst the most dangerous eircumsitances of tide and weather, would, at the same time, oe able to do the amenities of the saloon with a heai'iines* and an inherent politeness which could not fail to gratify the most, fastidious passenger. We intend," he said, "that our boats shall ply at stated intervals every day in future, instead of depending, as has hitherto been the case, upon the state of the tide." Between what porta do you intend to ply Captain Cnwpbell" 41 Well, we shall include in our list all the ports in the Bristol Channel, but no doubt our most frequent runs will be to Weston." What trips do yuu propose to make there P" As at present arranged, we shall ply to Weston three times a day. Oar first trip will be at eleven o'clock in the morning, which will suit passengers leaving the Taff Vale Railway Station, Crock- herbtown, at 10.25, or the Great Western Railway Station at 1028. Our uecond trip will he in the afternoon at three o'clock, suiting the 2.35 train from Crockherbtown and the 2.38 Great Western Railway. And our third trip will be at five. for which passengers would have to leave Cardiff at four o'clock." What fares do yoa propose to charge ?" We shall have two classes—first and second, the return trip from Penarth to Weston being charged 2!f. in the former case, and Is. 6d. in the latter. We hope to make arrangements with the Taff Vale and Great Western Railway Companies by which, at a slightly increased rate, we shall be able to issue through tickets from Cardiff." And what about the other ports?" Well, wesit-ill run to Hfraoombe from Saturday to Monday, onalhliao those who desire it to spend the Sunday at that charming -watering place." Now, Captain Campbell, tell me how you pro- pose to embark and disembark your passengers at Penarth at all states of tne "Look at this sketch. I think this will explain our modus operandi better than any words of mine." And with that Captain Campbell produced a drawing, of which the following is a reproduc- tion In explanation of this drawing, Captuin Camp- bell stated that his movable pier would be sta- tioned upon the sloping part of the beach lying between the Baths and the Boathouse. The pi-r will be 65ft. in length, 4ft. wide for the greater portion of the way, but having a gangway or landing platform 12ft. wide. The extreme end of the pier will be 12ft. high, and is so arranged that when the pier is let down to the requisite point there will be from 7ft. to 8ft. of water at the fore end of the platform. In the drawing there is an indication of a chain, which will work upon a small steam winch placed amidship of the landing stage. This chain is connected at the shore end with a ring affixed to the beach, and shorewards to immovable moorings about 1,000 feet from high- water mark. At this point the ebb and flow of the tide is about 900 feet, and the principle of Captain Campbell's movable stage consists in drawing in shorewards or seawards, according as the exigencies of the tide requires. In very rough weather arrangements are made for another system of moorings which is not shown upon our plan, but which Captain I Campbell believes will ha perfectly efficient. Well, now, captain, how and when are you I going to get to work ?" Thereupon Captain Campbell explained that he was supported in his enterprise by a number of local gentlemen, who had formed a syndicate with the object of providing the capital necessary for constructing the stage and chartering a suitable steamer. Amongst these gentlemen are Mr. R Forrest, agent of Lord Windsor; Mr. James Edwards, chairman of the Penarth Local Board; Major Gaskel!, -ini otiker infliientiairt--Pidentq. These gentlemen have ordered, or are about to order, the immediate construction of the movable pier, and have made aiTangementa for chartering a boat which will steam thirteen knots—equal to four- teen statute miles-per hour. She is a very beautifully-modelled and equipped paddle-boat, expressly designed for the particular work in which she will be now engaged, and is certificated to carry 700 passengers to Weston or 500 to Ilfra combe. It is expected that the whole arrange- ments will be completed and tho sailings com- mence towards the latter end of May. We need hardly say how great an advantage this service will be to Penarth. It is obvious that if Captain Campbell's scheme prove successful it will inevitably lead the way to a permanent pier and an extended steamboat service at that delightful watering-place, which, through the wise enterprise of Lord Windsor, directed by the practical knowledge and experience of Mr. R. Forrest, has grown up so rapidly at the mouth of the Taff and EI1 Rivers.

THE QUEEN'S JUBILEE. I Handsome Contribution by the I Mayor of Swansea. Mr. F. A. Yeo, M.P., mayor of Swansea, has announced his intention of contributing the hand- some sum of £ 200 towards the local celebration of the Queen's Jubilee. Haverfordwest. At a meeting In connection with the Women's Jubilee Offering to the Queen at the Savings' Bank, Flavertordwest- present: Mrs. C. E. G. Philipps. Picton Castle (treasurer), Mrs. James, Castle-square (secretary), Mrs. Hilbers, Hill-street; Mrs. Henry Stokes, Hill-lane; Mrs. James Thomas, Rock House; Mrs. John James, Crescent; Miss Mathias, Miss Evans, Miss Meyler, and Miss Green —the following sums were announced:—Parish of St. Mary, f.8 19a. 9d.; Prendergast, L3 Os. 7d.; Uzmaston, 91 16s. 2d.; St. Thomas, 94 lis. 6d.;and St. Martin's, 98 6s., making a total of L31 14s. Swansea. At the monthly meeting of the Swansea Corpora- tion on Wednesday one of the items of business will be to consider a resolution passed at a meeting of the Local Queen's Jubilee Committee:—"That, in order to provide for a suitable local celebration of the Queen's Jubilee, this committee respectfully sug- gests to the Town Council the desirability of in- creasing the mayor's salary." Ladies' Meeting at Pontypridd. Afewuaysago Alrs. Williams, M'skm Manor held a ladies' meeting in connection with her MM jesty's Jubilee at the Library, Pontypridd. Nrll. Williams there met the local committee of ladies who had undertaken to assist her to canvass the district. It was aunuuuced that the result of the canvass for subscriptions was that JB41 Is. had been collected. The ladies were Mrs. Williams, Fairfield; the Misses Kosser (2), Gelly- wastad; Mis. Hopkins, Glenview; Mrs. Hopkins, Ashgrove; Mrs. Merchant, Mrs. Spickett, Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. Jenkins, Mrs. Jones, Vicarage; Mrs. Stephens, Miss Morris, Tymabellis; Miss Rees, Mrs. Christopher, Mrs. Prichard Hughes, Mrs. Tissing- ton, Mrs. Dunn, and Mrs. Jones-Powell. The ladies were entertained at tea by Mrs. Williams, and at the close all expressed themaelv-s delighted with the task they had accomplished, and also with their reception by the lady of Miskin Manor. A Sensible Memorial Sir George Stephen and Sir Donald Smith have offered to the Montreal Corporation the sum of 50,000 dois. each for the erection of a hospital for the sick, to be named the Royal Victoria Hospital. The corporaf 'n is to give the site for the building, and the Governor-(xeueral has been named aa patron and visitor. Meeting of Sunday School Teachers at Cardiff. On Tuesday evening a largely-attended meeting of the managers and superintendents of Sunday Schools was held in the Mayor's Court at the Town-hall, Cardiff, for the purpose of deciding whether the scholars of thu various Sun- day Schools of the town should take part in the festivities on the occasion of the Queen's Juhilee,- Mr. Ivunsdale presided, and amongst those present were the He vs. U. A. Jones, W. H. Coe, Ward, Nugee, Norman M'lu-od. Arthur C. Brooks, Dr. Git)osti,s, and Willium*; Messrs. W. Price, Lewis Hupklns, H. J. Lewis, Hall, J. Padfield, D. Jones, Webber, ztlolowbe. F. Beavan. and F. W. Lock.—The Chairman*, in his opening remarks, having explained the object for which the meeting had been convened, trusted th-tt the proposal to hold a monst.re pro- cession and tea meat ing of Sunday School children as a part of the Juoilea festivities would be discussed that evening in a purely un- sectarian spirit.—Mr. Tudor Evans, the secre- tary of tiie Jubilee Festivities Committee, then said that IH had communicated with the various superintendents of Sunday Schools in the town, and that, all had expressed their willingness to takb part in the proposed monstre procession of children aud tea meettug on tho Jubilee day. They would be able to have the use of the Cathays Park for the occasion, itnd the estiiiiatf-d cokt of the treat would be bil. pur head. He, however, impressed on tii(j" prouut that the Jubilee Committee were unablo to twar the lOW ct of the tl*t;at.Tite Liev. G. A. Jones, vicar of t. Mary's, said he failed to why there should tw a procession of Sunday Schools or that the children should take part in the teslivititfl. lie pointed out lhal. a procession of 25,000 children lour dftp would take hours to any given point.—I'ue meeiing, however. was of a contrary oijiniou.-The question was then taised whether the usual Whitsuntide treat oiiould be postponed in favour of Jubilee day, but this proposal was negatived by a large majority. A prolonged discussion followed us tu whether the Jubilee Cou.uiiLtee should bi-ar a poitiou or nil vf tne exponas, and finally Mr. K. J. JJ'a.v.n m>»ved, and Mr. J P-u!field seconded, the toilowing resolution:—" That in the opinion of this meeting it is inexpedient to have an united demonstration unless the Festivi- ties Committee can guarantee threepence a head."—This was Carried uoanimouilly.- Mr. Shepherd then proposed, and Mr. Pad field aeconded. that a deputation, consisting of Mrisar8. J. Kauisdale, F" J. Beavan, W. P. Puce, C Hughes. D. Shepherd, E. Slocombe, and the Rev. F. E. Nugee, wait upon the mayor and exolaiu the views of that meeting prior to meeting tne General Festivities Committee.—This was also carried.—A vote of thanks to the chairman for presiding terminated the proceedings. Pontardawe. The Guardians of the Poor and the ratepayers of the Ponturdawe Union and the surrounding district have determined, with the approval of the donee, to celebrate the Jubilee year of her Majesty by placing an oil painting of Mr. Herbert Lloyd, J.P., oi Plas Cilyhebill, the chairman of the Board 01 Guardians in the board-room of the Unioa Workhouse. Mr D. 13avart Turberville, the clerk to the guardians, is the acting secretary to the committee, and he will be glad if Intending i subscribers will intimate what amount they pro- peso to subscribe, as tbe lists will shortly be closed, j

The Crimes Bill. The Division on the Second Heading The House divided at half-past one on Tuesday morning on the amendment of Sir B. Samuelson, and the numbers were:- For the amendment 269 Against. 370 Majority for Government 101 The amendment having been negatived, the Bill was read a second time amidst loud Ministerial cheers. In the division on the second readingof the Crimes Bill, early on Tuesday morning, the majority of 372 (including tellers) in favour of the measure was made up of 303 Conservatives (including Mr. Evelyn, Mr. Han bury, and Captain Selwyn) and 64 Unionist Liberals. The minority of 271 (also including tellers) against the measure was composed of 187 Gladstonian Liberals (including Mr. M'lnnes and Mr, C. S. Parker), one Liberal Unionist (Mr. Winterbotham), and 83 Nationalist*. Aa the House consists of 669 members (there being a vacancy at Taunton, and as neither the Speaker nor Mr. T. M. Healy, who is suspended for a week.can vote), the absentees numbered 24. Of these, four are known to have paired, namely, Mr. Lionel Cohen and Mr. Lambert in favour of the Bill, and Sir John Simon and ir Wilfrid Lawwon against. The remaining absentees were as follow; Conservatives (four)—Sir Michael Hicks-Beach (abroad), Mr. Gibson (domestic bereave- ment), Mr. Burdett-Coutts and Mr. Beivaforc Hope (both ill). Gladstonian Libetals (four)—Mr. Craven, Mr. M'Lagan, Mr. H. Riuliard, and Mr. Slagg (ill). Liberal Unionists tten)—Mr. Cham- beriotin and Mr. Jesse Collings (in Scotland), Mr. Courtney. Sir Donald Currie and Lord E l ward Cavendish (both abroad), Mr. J. VV. Barclay, Mr. Buchanan, Mr; Mackintosh, Mr. Vernon, and Mr. Villiers (ill); and two Nationalists- Mr. Leatny .,(.wbo baa applied for the Chiltera Hundreds) and Mr. Quinn. Votes ot Local Members. The following table shows the votes of the mem- hers representing constituencies in Wales and Mon- mouthshire in the division upon Sir Bernhard Samuelson's amendment to the second reading of the Irish Crimes Hill Against (371). Tat (269). I A O-Elllot. 8ir G. 1 G-Abraham. W. I G-Blobud, H 1 O-Kenyou G. T.. 1 O-Darlra, W. C.. 1 O—Morgan,Ool.P. I ^—Dillwjn. L. LI C— Mayne, Adml. IO—Bill*. T. E. 1 O—WalsU.Hon.A. 1 Jam* IJ. H.. I 0-8 wetenham 1 1 U—West, 0 1 G—Morgan, O. O. I G-Powell. W. M. 1 *-P-ic,e, T. P. 1 Cr—Pu*h, 1> » G—Ruthbone. W. 1 G-lCftd. Sir K. J. I G S. I Roberta. J.B.. 1 G-Itohert. J 1 G—Rowlands. WJI G—S ."tu. S 1 G-Stel),toy. Sir O. 1 3—Thorn • A, I 1 r>—Traey-U..HM.Pl G—Vivian, Q. H. 1 (I-Ww-tninxton I ij-Williwaa. A.J. 1 CJ -Yeo, t.A. i 7 26 Meeting at Swansea. A demonstration," got up by the Swansea Liberal Club, io express the aversion of the popu- lation of Swansea to a policy of coercion was held on Saturday at the Dyfutty Field, Swansea. As fur as giving expression to this seittiiiientwna concerned, however, the demonstration was a palpable failure. The few hundreds who assembled at the field in response to the summons of large placards and a noisy brass band which prome- nrcied the town beforehand, with an ndverti-wment board, seemed to have little feriing in the matter one way or the other, and tho Irish element was apparently absent altogether. Ttielitrgoatnuinber the band was able to collect. in its progress through the streets was a couple of hundred, "including women and children," the latter of whom formed tho preponderating element. The speeches were delivered from a couple of wagons placed in the lower part of the field. Mr. Thomas Phillips, sen., waa called upon to preside, and amongst those supporting the movement by ensconcing themselves on the wagons were Messrs. It. D. Burnie, F. Corv Yeo, James Livingstone, P. Murray, T. Manning, the Kevs. J. E, Manning, Kdffecumbe, Canon Kiohards, and Junes Owen Dr. Morgan, Messrs. W. HOWHIIM, W. F. Kicliards, A. Francis, Daniel j nes. w. Howells, T Phillips, A. W. HaldeD, and J hn Robert*. The speeches delivered were «>f tiie usual kind. Socialistic in their toodeney and con- taining nothing new. Llanelly. A meeting of Liberals was held at Llanelly on Saturday last to consider the desirability of fram- in a resolution condemnatory of the Crimes Bill of the Government. A Mr. Henry VVilkins wa.* voted to the chair. It appeared that a meeting uf the South Wales Liberal Felleration would be held on the 26th inst., and a letter had been received urging Llanelly Liberals to ubmit a resolution to that meeting. An attempt had been madato secure the services of Mr. Ellis, M-P, and Mr. T. P. O'Connor, M.P., to address a public meeting at Llanelly before the second reading;, but had proved unsatisfactory, and as the resolution was to he forwarded ten days before the federation, Saturday's meeting bad been arranged.—'The Chairman st rongly urged the pass- ing of a resolution that evening end the considera- tion of the holding of a public meeting could be deferred.—1The Rev. p, Johns, In a Welsh speech, proposed the Hyd., Park meeting resolution ag»inst, the Crimes Bill.—The resolution was supported by Messrs. U. J unes, John Davie8tand D. R. Kdraunds, and when put to tiie meeting was passed.—It was decided that. arrangements be made for the hold- ing of a public meeting, to be addressed by Mr. Ellis, M.P., and an Irish M.P.

TeeTskerm Weei. ba. fasUat sure 4ettreys the MM. Of Chowlau. PeetfreeMve* IUSM. Sele rregritter, K. KeerilUMamlrt. XwfrfctiMlec*, tUftem. BritfL TMfa

SIM-KIT U £ TUtt WiJiLibii [BY GWTI.I KDTDB.] TUB CRJXU BILL. The Government measure for putting down crime in Ireland occupies a good deal of tbe atten- tion of the Welsh prest this week, but it is merely t a repetition of what appeared last week. The description of the indignation of the "Grand Old I Man when the closure was invoked in support of the first readingof the Bill is repeated ad: nauseam. All the RxMcal P.)TTRS take for granted that there is no necessity for exceptional legislation for Ireland, and that the Bill is promoted b, Toriea and Unionists for the sola gratification of seeing their fellow-countrymen deprived of their liberties and punished for asking to be allowed te govern f themselves. Not a line has appeared in any of them about the barbarous cruelties perpetrated upon those who refuse to carry out the behests of the Land League and the Plan of Campaign. The readers of these papers seem to be ignorant of the existence iu Ireland of a system of deli- berate and wide-spread brutality which is a di-grace to civilisation. Old men are shot in the legs for paying rent; young girls liave their hair cut off and tar poured on their heads because they dare to speak to a policeman; parents are obliged to dig the graves of their deceased rela- tives, because they are under the ban of the League delicate and sickly women are deprived of the help and sympathy which their condition requires—in short, all the social cruelties which the fiendishness of Feninniam could inveut are daily piactised in the sister island. FEW Welsh- men know, and fewer believe, that one- half of the Irish members are supported by American dollars, and that if they do not keep (relxnd in perpetual turmoil their pay- masters would stop the supplier The simple PEASANTRY of Wales are led to believe that the Irish people are treated by the Government as worse than slaves, whereas they have privileges and advantiig-S to which the inhabitants of Great Britain are strangers. But for Gtcaha and the Limn the mun- gtot Welshman would know nothing of the STATE of Ireland or the true character of those who profess to be its friends. The former oaper in re-printing the powerful articles which appeared in the Times a few weeks ago on Parneilisui and Crime," which disclose, with vivid and crushing plainness, the infamous actions of the woulil-be friends of Ireland. Home Rule is sustained by ignorance and self-interest, and is opposed by the bulk of the talent, culture, and worth of England. Gwalia says:— Wheu the H aM of Commons was officially informed of th" uevilish and revengeful act.lolls of the Pnrn.-lllte» the Irish members laughed. When the nnnatural brutality practised upon young girl* and little children waa inejitL'neil, the cruel nu unprincipled Ptriiellite* j -< RET AMI KIGK'ED. D hese Parnellites Imagine that j -< RET AMI KIGK'ED. D • hese Parnellites Imagine that the Hiitisli peopie are s" illy as to befrightened by such tu-liisli ¡lIllI1f11allltv? BUI woise Ihltn lh" eitchiftalions of the Irisli members was Lhe attempt of Air. GUdstone to whitewash We", foul deeds. He bas done more to tarnish bis political fame during the hut fortnight than throughout the half century of his public life. THK SPKEAD OF UNIONISM, Notwithstanding the rabid violence and one- sidedness of the offielal and editorial effusions of the Radical press, a ray of light comee now and then across the scene. The following extract from the letter of the South Wales correspondent, of the Bnner shows that there are a few men even in Wales who refuse to bow the knee to Baal:— In the course of my travels 1 Oome in oentaet with many people—some Gladstontans, some Unionists, and a few Tories. I have listened to many a warm discus- sion on Irish politics. The Tories, as a rule, are indis- posed to argue, considering that Lord Salisbury is doing th best thing under the circumstances. The Glad- stonians are wild and hot-headed, asserting the couutry is fast. coming to a determina- tion to turu out the Government. Th v slander the Liberals who oppose Mr. GLADSTONE as the worst kind of traitors that ever wore flesh. The Unionists do not easily get over the difficulties that are placed in their WilY by their excited opponents: but. they acquit themselves with dignity, s men who believe more than they om satisfactorily explain, namely, that the integrity of the Hmpire depends on their firmness in the present crisis. Irrespective of party or of PERSON. The G-ladstoniaus are doing all in their power to rouse the country against the Crimes SIU, but I do not Ihlnk that they are as successful as they would have us believe. The liberal Unionists areas determined as the 6-ladst onlans, and. in my opinion, more able and conscientious. THIS BTDE PARK DEMONSTRATION. Most of the Welsh papers go to press early in the week. and, as they do not use the telegraph wire. they could not notice tha meeting, but they will make up for it next week, and they will be further primed by the Daily Neva and the Irish special correspondents. The Baner is delighted, and enumerates several places where similar gatlter- ings are to be held. The Golettai is of the same opinion, but COMPLAINS that Wales does not take sufficient inteieni IN the question. WELSH DISESTABLISHMENT. The Tyst and Genedl have discovered that Mr. Gladstone is prepared to go in for the Disestablish- ment of the Welsh Church. It is a peculiarity of Mr. Gladstone that be can write in such a way as to enable persons of opposite views to claim him as a supporter; and it is amusing to observe how eagerly excited partisans endeavour to prove that he is at one with them. The TSJTT says:— Welsh Nonconformists, who have been so 1..ya1 to Mr. Gladstone, are a little disappointed that he does not speak out more plainly ahoot Disestablishment. Many efforta bave been made to draw him nut. but be has been very cautious in his replies, although it oould be seen, bv reading between the Hues, which way he leaned. H. has said that thf question of Disestablishment in BeOt- land must be settled by the Sootoh people. When they SPEAK Parliament will give force to their decision. We need not lieaitate further. The same principle most be applied to Wales. We take tilm at his word. THK CHUiiCH >JsTlT10NS AOAINST KB. Mi,LWTH'S MOTION. Several of the papers are alarmed at the number of petitions against. Disestablishment that have been sent to the House of Commons from Wales. The Genedl has n informed that a considerable number of Nonconformists have signed the petition, and is indignant with the clergy for having dared to ask them. The Herald prints a violent article on the subject, and in its excitement I ftya a poor compliment to the intelligence of Welsh Nonconformists, who are represented as having put their names to a document which they did not understand. The TaricnT insinuates that the signatures of Nonconformists were obtained under false pretences. FROPOSKD NEW WELSa PAPE" The Gateuad suggests the establishment of a national Welsh newspaper, to be published in Londou, and to be a thoroughly Welsh organ• It should be edited by an EDUCATED man, able to write In Welsh as well as in English, and be in touch with the Welsh members. It should also be partly Welsh and uartly Kngliah, and contain able reviews of the pro- duct tons of the Welsh press. Why should not the matter be taken up and discussed at tbe next Eisteddfod? XL TALBOT AND UR. WEST. The Tyst has the following:— Mr. Talbot voted with tha QOGMMMNT and against his party when the closure WM put in force. I is time Illr West Glamorgau to turn him adrift. He has ridden the Father of the House hobby long enough. He haa betrayed his party. Mr. West has possibly up his I mind that be "Ill not be returned fur Denbighshire again, and he does as much mischief as he can while he bas the power. It. is a shame tbJ&t a Tory should be RETURNED for a constituency so thoroughly Liberal as Weat. Denbighshire. Mr. Gklslorle is gaining ground every <1 ay. It is IIJpecUd that. his speech 011 the second reading of the Onercion Bill will be a manifesto to hb party. Tbe tide is in hir FAVOUR. SHORT NOTES. The Gweithivir embodies in a leader the expe- riences of an American who has travelled through- out Europe and mixed with working men in different countries. "Argue" contributes an inte- resting paper to GW alia on "Treveoca." "G' LIITRWU" has a most readable sketch of Ynysybwl in the olden time in the Taricut. Dr. Pan Jones gives, in the same paper, an account of his travels in Cardiganshire, where he has been S'irring up mischief between landlords and tenants. The Llan has an article on tite 44 Waste of Time in the House of Commons," and another on "CHURCH Holy-days and the young. This paper is much improved in appHarance and the matter of its coutents. The Seren, unlike the other papers, contains a good deal of theo- logical and religious matter, with an ex- treme article on the Crimes Bill. The Goleuad gives a lengthy report of the association meeting at Pembroke, and a leader upon it. The London correspondent of the same pxpcr gives an account of a Welsh wedding at New Jewin— that of Miss Annie Williams, the well-known song- stress. LUilmerydd," of the Tyst. gives his im. pressions of Cardiganshire, after a short visit to that county. He finds N considerable amount of sympathy with the Church among professed Non. conformists, and thinks that DTS<*sf«bli!«hipent in delayed in CONSEQUENCE. TH* London correspon- dent of the Doner is very bitter against Mr. Chamberlain and the Liberal Onioniats, and would have tht'm severely punished if he had the power. BKV. JOHN KVANS (KGLWYSTB&Ctf). The Hertt/d contains a critical review of the third volume of sermons by the Rev. John Kvans, the eminent Welsh preacher. The reviewer says Tne volume is a handsome one, and a credit to the pub'I.-hers. w. mention ih » t'et beeause I bent are many valuable Welsh bouks badly printed and tiadly bound. The sermons read well. Tbe am hnr has suc- ceeded in Imparting to his work a large of li'erary power and skill. Mr. Evans Is a master of moil-making. Hi* t. aatmerit "f the subject LI happy aud new. and perfei-tiv n turat. It EVIDENT that the author livus IN present. There b 110 od'Mir of or Itf about tho work. It Can be inferred from ttie chir.eier of the sermons when tuev we", written, and they may "lth propriety be DEFINED as "Sermons the Times." Tltev are liurary than theological, and contain nway homely allll apt c..m"rl<t01Is. The author uses many English worls and phrases, which are possibly under- stood by LONDON VVnlsli'Ueo, but scarcely intelligible to tnonoglot Welsh erI. flUe UARQUKSS OF BUTJt. The Tarian has the following just and appro- priate remarks on Lord Bute The liberality of the liarquess of Bute is deserving of notice and worthy the emulation of the wealthy. His lordship tins aot had R'airptay until recently. He was surrounded by advher* who had no sympathy with Wules, but now matters are changed. He Is a truly able man, a deep and Independent thinker, a good speaker, and 01\6 who Co.n rttad and the Welsh language with ease. Without hit aid Cardiff would not have had the College and other valuable Institutions, and the last intellleenoe that lias reached us is that he has given 90 acre* nf land for a public park. We nulht to be PROP of him, and should show him every t. But, notwithstanding h s cenerosity, there are some people wbo throw din.t him whenever they have a chance. There is a news- paper at Cardiff, calling Itself Libera!, that lias takrn AILVAIITAI- of every occasion to speak III "f T"rd Bute, alld It. Is a wonder that 101. 10000"hi¡) bu awt ceased to interest himself In C-tr-it and Us IlItlablb nts, The paller II) qUlI4tlon not. only ml.und.stalld. the people oi Wales, but writes contemptuously uf everything Welsh. Aocordlug to the articles of iis editor, we only live by sufferance, and It I. not • >rprising. therefore, that there is a 11:00<1 d..al of complaining "mIQC the LIH-rals of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire, and that there Is a deeiie fot a new oqpui more LA accord with Welsh feeling and sentiment. I

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS. MONDAY. When public business commenced at half-past four this afternoon there were all tbe usual indica- tions of a big night. Not only was the decision of the House to be taken—yea or nay—upon the principle of the Irish Crimes Bill. but the crowds which assembled within its walla were promised speeches from brilliant and eloquent speakers, warmed by the atmosphere in which they spoke, and deeply stirred by the past position oi parties in the State. Every seat in the far from luxurious Peers' Gallery was occupied, piouiiiieiii amougst the occupants being Lord Spencer, who never misses an important debate ou the Irish question. Close to him were Lord Chelmsford, Lord Brabourne, Lord Melson, ana Lord Cros*. The Strangers' anil Ladies' Galleries were also crowded, and the floor was mure ani- mated lhan it lus been since llio division on the Ciesura Rules. All the Kaater laxity and lassitude bad disappeared, and every seat was occupied or bore on tho back the card of the 1,00. or right lion, gentleman who bad early secured the right, to it. The two front benches were filled to overflowing, but there was one absentee on the Opposition side. Sir Heury James was pieaeni. Lord Hartington was present, but Mr Chamberlain's placa kuew him not. The late comers hotook them*elv«>s to the side galleries. Question* were few, and, in view of the impor- tance of the later proceeding*, did not excite any great interest. Mr. Arthur Balfour was not pre- aetil, and his new deputy, the heavy-bearded Colonel King-Haruwtu, who aiuswered the ques- tions touching the trish Office, was received with a perfect whoup by the Parnellites. AA everyone conjectured, immediately questions had been diepo-nd of the Irishmen brought the subject ot Mr. Healy's suspension before the House, it noon appeared that Mr. Head's prospects of recording his vole agaiost the Coercion Bill rented solely upon his aubmissiveneas. Tiie Speaker ex- plained that, as the queatien was not one of privilege, Mr. Sex ion's motion to rescind the resolu- tion suspending the member for Longlord would, eveu if it had Oeen handt-d in to the clerk (which it waa nut), have had to take its chance with the ot.ner motions relating to the orders of tiie day. On the part of the Government Mr. Smith said that, as Mr. Healy had committed an offence against the order and decency of the House and had not apologised, he unahle to any facilities for restoring the lion, member to his seat. Mr. Sexton, on the other hand, said he had no autlioriiy trom the member for Longford to apologise on his behalf urileas Colonel Saunoer- con acted towards him as he had done towards Mr. Sexton, and withdrew all imputation of complicity in crime. Col. Saundersoo, although appe tied to by Mr.Gladstone, refused tu say more than that he had not in the expressions he had used referred directly or indirectly to Mr. Healy. Mr. Sexton replied that under those circumstances his instruc- tions would not permit him to apologise on behalf of the member for Longford, aud contumacious Mr. Healy consequently remains "Suspended from the service of the House." When Mr. Sexton rose to continue the debate en the Criminal Law Amendment Bill the House knew it W31< in tor a two hours' speech. Indeed, for an hour the hon. member for Belfast never referred to the measure under discussion, but con- fined himaelt to an ingenious defence of himself and his colleagues against the charges by Colonel Saunderson which gave birth to the rumpus ou Friday night. Mr. Sexton only referred by innuendo to the letter in the Times alleged to have been written by Mr. Parnell, expressing approval ef tbe Phcenix Park murders. He characterised it as a delioerate lie, founded on a base and malig- nant libel, but excused himself and his colleagues from prosecuting the Times on the ground that in the present position of political feeling they could not repose confidence in an Knglish jury. Lord Hartington followed, and members who had dropped out during the latter part of the Irish story flocked in agaia vhen the Cavendish took his 1&ce at the dispatch box. Tbe noble lord placed a maas of notes on the box and a pile of books by the side of it, and was evidently prepared with a very long charge. All went smoothiy until the noble lord referred to the indictment made in the ïmu against Mr. Parnell and his allies of complicity in crime, charges which, he said, proved conclusively that there were means of communication between the member for the City of Cork and his friends and the leaders of the Fenian organisation. He then mentioned the names of several of those leaders, and, in reply to an invitation from Mr. Parnell to give reasons for his belief that they were leaders of the Fenian body, said he formed his conclusions from knowledge he gaiued when he was last in office and from what had been state in the newspapers perpetually without contradiction. Lord Hartington was very severe upon Sir William Harcourt, Rho. be said, had told the Irish people that they were morally justified in defying tbe law—laws which the member for Derby ana those who acted with him had themselves placed upon the Statute Book. Mr. Asher, the late Solicitor-General for Scot- land, continued the debate until the Speaker went out for his" snack." and Captain Colomb, who brings into the House the voice of an artillery officer in the lield, took up the tale. Captain Colomb is an Irish landlord and spoke with some authority, and the Parnellites, who have lapsed into a reckless and irritable mood, cheered when they ought to have been cast down, and laughed when they ought to have been sad. Mr. Gladstone. who rose at exactly hall-past ten, spoke to a splendid House, and characterised the contributions •f the Irish in America to their fellow-countrymen at home as honourable and glorious," and said that that assistance had now become of a national character. He contrasted the Crimes Bill and the Trades' Unions Act as incompatible and Irrecon- cilable measures, and it created some amusement when Mr. Ritchie ran across the floor to point out the place in the Act which Mr. Gladstone wished to quote. Legislation against a nation, he con- tinued, is vain and futile. The combination can- not be put down, and if it be driven beneath the surface it will work through secret societies. Mr. A. J. Balfour followed on behalf of the Govern- ment. Mr. Parnell wound up the debate, and com- plained bitterly of what be termed the "villainous and barefaced forgery" which appeared in the Times tor the purpose of influencing the division that evening. The Speaker put the question at half-past one. When the tellers took their place at the table tre was a slight cheer, and when the Government teller said that the second reading of the Crimes Bill bad beeu carried by 370 to 269 the result was received with loud Ministerial cheers and in glum silence by the Opposition. In the central lobby there was much cheering and an attempt te sing Rule, Britannia," which waa quickly frustrated by the watchful policemen. TUESDAY. There was a delightful atmosphere of indolence pervading the Mouse of Commons this afternoon compared witb the fever of last night. No longer did members cmpete for seats. The Strangers' Gallery was oniy barelv filled, and not a single peer shed the beneficent light of his noble counte- nance upon the doings of the commoners on tiie 11-or below. A large number of Conservaiive mem- bers paid tribute to the memory of the late Karl of Beaconsfield by wearing the pale yellow flower of his lordship's choice in their button-holes. Ttie members of the Government especially were punc- tilious in following the custom, tbe only Ministers who did not diaptoy the badge of Conservatism being Mr. Goschen, Mr. Smith, Mr. Raikes, and the Hon. H. So Nortbcote. To-night was the first private members' night for the session, and Mr. Yeo led off with our old friend, the harbours of refuge question. Mr. Yeo, in his motion, very disingenuously referred to the recent appalling loss of life in the Bristol Channel —he sits for South Glamorgan on the one side, and is a native of Bideford on the other side of the great wlLterway-and then called attention to the recurring sacrifice of life and properly round the coasts of Great Britain generally, and urged the Government to take action to diminish these losses by the construction of harbours of refuje. Colonel Hill, one of the repre- sentatives of Bristol, who has mastered the House of Commons style of debate with unusual rapidity, seconded the motion, and made another plea on behalf of the Bristol Channel, hut Admiral Mayne looking at the question from a tactical point of view, declared that Milford Haven fulfilled all the requirements on the North Coast, that Lundy Island was impracticable, be- cause it would require a garrison to protect, it. and that the coast upon which a harbour would be most useful was the North of Cornwall, perhaps at St. Ives. Baron de Worms, on behalf of the Board of Trade, and Mr. Jackson, as lioe represen- tative of the Treasury, made it clear to the that the Government would be prepared to lend to local authorities the money necessary for the construction of harbours of refuge at 31 per cent. WEDNESDAY. When politicians do agree upon the stAge their unanimity is wonderful. On Monday night metn- bftr", in undisguised hoaiility, poured out the vials of thai wrath upon hon. gentlemen 00 the other .id. of tlx- floor, and invoked the bolt* of Jupiter and the exneration 01 man upon those who held view. opd to their own orl the subject of coercion. Last night, whan talking of the dangers of our sailors and the hardships of our postmen, the same members, with courteous bows and polite phrases, expressed their unspeak- able delight at having for once found subjects upon which they could agree with their political adversaries. This afternoon Mr. Burd..tt-C.>utta moved the second reading of the Police Enfranchirietuent Bill, and here again we had a topic upon which there was a refreshing display of brotherly love. The Conservative sponsors of the measure promised to resist all attempts, should any be made, to include the Royal Irish Constabulary within the scope of its provisions, and forthwith the Parneliite opposi- tion melted away, and members vied with each Other in their aoliwtude to invest these capable citizens with the full privilege of citisea^hip. Here were such divergent elements as Mr. Pules- ion, looking at the Uiaise over a colossal bunco of primroses, and Mr. (jossham, primroeeies1*, but happy, pleading in perfect concord for tilt amelio- ration of the" policeman's lot" by the coucession nf a vote. And, wlmi was still belter, the Government approved it and the House allowed it. Mr. lloiue secretary Matthews, oblivious of wtiat Mr. Puleston afterw irds informed him, that soldier*, sailors, and marines already possess and exrrcise ttie franchise, welcomed the Bill as conferring upon the police I another indication of their existence as a purely civil arm, and he seized the opportunity to express his earnest desire that the authorities would restrain as much as was consistent with efficiency the natural tendency to transform our constabulary into a military torce. The House cheered, and the Bit! passed the second reading without the division. The second reading of a Scotch Land Tenure Bill was then moved, and I talked out at a quarter to six.

Lord Randolph Churchill and the Cardiff Primrose League. Postponement of his Lordship's Visit to Cardiff. The Western Mail of Wednesday says :— 1 tumours were current in Cardiff yeaier-I day to tbe effeot that, in oonsequenoe of' | serious diffuiences bavioll ocour.-ed between j the officials of tbe Primrose League aud the leaders of the Conservative party, Lord II. Churchill bad determined not to visit Card iff, as origmaliv proposed, on the 27th inst. We at once telegraphed to Mr. J. Al. Maclean, M.P. one of the proprietors of the Western MaUf requesting him to seek an interview with his lordship and asoertain if there was any foundation for these state- ments, and last evening we reoeived the following telegram in reply from the hon. member for Oldham Churchill cannot come. Thinks constant, member for Oldham :— I Churchill cannot come. Thinks constant, regular attendance in Committee on Crimes Bill imperative on all Conservative members, of far more importance than public meetings in country. Although this telegram curiously avoids any reference to the rumoured dispute amongst the local Conservatives, we have reason to tielieve that their ill-timed oon- tentions were brought to the knowledge of Lord Uauilolph Churobill, and praoticaOy were the cause of tbe postponement of bit lordship's visit to the tovrn. A party, tike a city, divided against itself cauaot stand. We do not propose on this occasiou to enter into the merits, or rather demerits, of the unfortunate misunderstanding, nor do we wish more particularly to indicate the gen- tlemen whose want of tact and temper has led to this disastrous result except they may think it desirable themselves to make a diffe- rent explanation. Sinoe writing the above the Messrs. Horder and K 1'. Lee have handed us for publi- cation the followiag letter just received from his lordship:— Dear Sir,—1 regret to find that it will not be possible for me to go to Cardiff nn the 27th inst.. as I had hoped. The Bill for the amendment of the Criminal Litw in Ireland will at that time be under discussion by the House of Commons in Committee, and the Government will require the constant and regular attendance of all their sup- p.)rtet At a later date, and when this great Irish ques- tion has been disposed of in Parliament, I hope I m iy be fortunate enough to bo able to s^ddresa a meeting of our party in Cardiff, and to render what assistance I may to the Primrose League in that town.—Believe me to be, yours very faith- fullv, RANDOLPH S. CHUBCHILL. Edwin P. Lee, Esq. We are requested to announce that par- chasers of baloony tickets for the above demonstration will have their money returued to them upon the reoeipt of the tickets by post by Dr. Horder, ( harles-street, Cardiff.

Foul-Mouthed Sir Edward. Coarse Reference to Mr. W. H. Smith In a leading article in the Times on Monday the following sentence occurredSir E. Reed has just described the Leader of the House of Com- mons in language which we are bound to report elsewhere, but with which we do not choose a second time to sully our pages." The speech • which has called forth this castigation waa as follows, and made at an anti-coercion meeting in London on Saturday :— Sir E. J, RKKD, M P., said that at midnight the previous night he was talking to one of her Majesty's Ministers, and asked him the question, Do you think you are going to triumph on this line for long ?" He replied that he believed so. b# (the speaker) then asked, u Do you think you aVe going to add to the coercion of Ireland the eoercion ef Parliament you have begun?" The reply was, I think so." He then asked," What will vou do if to the 86 Irish members there are added 88 Scotch and Welsh, who wiiea the question is put refuse to go out and vote, and stand upon their right to represent the people who sent them there?' His answer was "Turn them all out." He (the speaker) told that Minister that to think of such a thing was to be a Revolu- tionist of a bad type, because if a majority of Parliament attempted to turn out a large minority under the closure they would have up- rising such a storm as would drive the Torr Ministry and the Tory party over the world's ledge to limbo. Referring to the scene" with Mr. Gladstone, be spoke of Mr. W. H. Smith as tbe member for the polluted district of the Strand," and compared Mr. Gladstone to the pyramids rising over the sands of Egypt, and Mr. Smith to the Sphinx which nobody would care to exca- vate; and vet this man, commissioned with a mandate from the strumpets of the Strand, dared to put the gag upon the man who had stood up for tbe people of this country, and who, please God, would again be Prime Minister, commissioned to perform a greater and nobler work than he had ever performed in tha past." fhe London Echo (ILl commenting upon Sir E. J. Reed's speech. says:—"According to Sir E. J. Reed, Mr. W. H. Smith has beeD corn m ilsionet.1 with a mandate from the etrumpeta of the Strand to put the gag upon Mr. Gladstone.' The state- ment is as comrary to the fact as it is a violation of good taste. The expression was not only untrue, but it was as offensive as it was false, and, consequently, the outcome of a coarse mind The siruinpets of the Strand had no more to do with sending Mr. Smith to Parliament than they assisted to win a knighthood for Sir E. J. Reed. And what does tie mmti by putting the on AIr Gladstone r Mr. Gladstone, having spoken an the first reading of tha Crimes Bill, was not entitled* and did not ask or expect, to Bpeak again. As Sir E. J. Reed prides himsslf on being a Scientific man, he might have been exact in his facts, if be is incapable of being polite in stating them." A Complete Apology. Writing to the Times of Tuesday Sir Edward Reed says:—"Sir.—If the fragment of my speech delivered at Sheffield on Saturday, which is re- ported in the Times of to-tiav, is corrocfcly re-pro- duced—-ami 1 at once admit that it may be—it would appear that in my andiglldt ion at the recent application of the closure I employed a sentence or two which! cannot defend as either fair or proper, and which I am sorry to have spoken. The Strand is certainly not free from serious reproach in a certain particular, but one would not, on re- flection, visit that lact upon the whole Parliamentary district, still legs upon its Parliamentary representative, whose per- sonal c l la racier I gladly acknowledge is entirely abuve criticism or doubt. I should like to add a few words by way of justification of the strong feeling which, as a member of thirteen standing, I entertain as to the unseemliness of the recent application of the closure; but I refrain, in order that 1 may take nothing away from this expression of regret.—I am, sir, yours obediently, E. J. RBRD," Commenting upon the above letter, the Times says:—It will be seen that Sir E. Reed expresses in our columns to-day his regret for having used, with reference to Mr. W. H. Smith, theexpreationa upon which we commented yesterday. We under- stand that Sir Edward has also written in the aauie sense to Mr. Smith, adding that he will gladly take any other step which Mr. Smith may think desirable. The London Echo, referring to Sir E. J. Reed's apology, says;—Sir E. J having apologised to Mr. Smith, the reptesem uive of the Strand Division, should now apologise to the electors of that division. We know the Strand Division, and we know Cardiff, and we say that, man for man and voter for voter, the electors of the Strand are equal in moral respectability to the electors of Cardiff. The Strand cannot help being one of the chief thoroughfares of London, into which rail- ways pour streams of passengers. Besides, ll>e inhabitants of the district have again and again made attempts to clear the Strand of the serious reproach" referred to; and they are no more deserving of censure than ir K. J. Reed, who, as far as we know, his never united with others in any effort toward West End purification. A correspondent in the London Keho says Perhaps in the modern history of the House of Commons a more ungenerous, a more uncalled for, a more vulgar and more offcnoive remark has not been made m purilic on one member by another than UI" one yuu singled out tor rebuke. Of course, Mr. w. H Smith, because he is the Leader ot the House, will tnke no not ice of it, as tie or any otlier leader can afford to smile at such coarse comments, which would discredit a coster- monger." Toe CHole, referring to this latest utterance of the member for Cardiff, says:— Sir E. J Reed, lute member of the Gladstonite Government, may be COltgrat U lit ted-if he is Correctly reported—on having ejepreaeed an un. truth in the very coame^t language ever attributed to any English politician. If the London prees knew as much about the worthy kmghi as we do. and had the same oppor- tunities of judging him as we have had, they might have passed an even stronger condemnation on him than they have done.

Petitions Against the Disesta.blish- ment of the Church. Petitions, very numerously signed, have been sent up I his week againet the disestablishment and disendowment of the Church in Walea "rum the parishes of Llanwgwad, Llanarthney, Linn- pump-aint, Newchureli, Mvdru1\, Llanddowror, Egl wys-Cumtiiin,LlH.n fihangel-Abercowin.Lltiiybri. and Ab»rnenu Over 1.000 signature* were obtained in the first four of tit" atM>ve-u»>ned Ishel, Llaorgwad heading the list wittfe437 signatures.

Lord Randolph Churchill, speaking on Tuesday afternoon at a mass meeting at the Albert-hall, Nottingham, said tiie connection between the Irish Parliamentary party and assassins had been asserted in great detail by the Timts new«(/aper. He did not know whether the accusation was well founded or not The Irish members affected to treat the accusation with contempt, but the libel was mo gross that it demanded explanation. If the charges were true, how immensely was the case of the Government strengthened ?