The North Wales Express

CATTLE LONDON, Thursday.—There were in to-day's uvirket 400 English, and 90 foreign beasts. Trade quiet, prices from 6s to 6s 2d. 2070 sheep, all English, got 5 s 6d to 7s 6d. 60 calves, 5s to 6s 4d per 8 lb. 6o English cows were offered at JE26 to j634 per head. LONDON, MoNDAY.Heavy trade in beast market, and last week's rates have not been supported. Prime Scotch cattle bought on rather easier terms prime Norfolks close sale at 6s per stone large and coarse 3xcn de -iiedly lower than last Monday. On the other hand, Irish were more in request, better classes ranging from 5s lod to 6s. British arrivals comprised 220 Scotch, 100 Irish, 800 Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex, 1930 mid- land and home counties. Sheep market dull; large coaise lower. Better demand for veal. Beef, 4s 6d to 6s 2d mutton, 5s 6d to 7s 2d veal, 5s 6d to 6s 6d; pork, 3s 6d to 4s 8d. Numbers at market-Beasts, 2480; sheep, 10,330; calves, 7:); pigs, 30--including foreign beasts, 430, sheep, 170.

BUTTER. CORX, WEDNESDAY.—Ordinary: Firsts, 132s; seconds, 125s thirds, 99s fourths, 67s fifths; 87a; sixths, 52s. Mild cured: Superfine, 148s, firsts, 148s seconds, 131s; thirds, 101s. Number of firkins in market, 212.

POTATOES. LONDON, Monday.—Good supplies at market, and trade slow at the following prices: Kent regents, 160s to 200s; victorias, 120s to 200s; rocks, 80s to 123s French, 80s to 90s Dutch, 60s to 90s per ton. Foreign kidneys, 5s to 5s 6d; reds, 4a to 6s per bag.

DEAD MEAT. LONDON, MONDAY.—Good supplies on offer, and trade moderately active at about previous rates. Beef, 2s 8d to 5s 2d; mutton, 3s ud to 6s Od; Teal, 5s to 5s 8d; large pork, 3s Od to 3s 6d; small ditto, 4, Od to 4s 4d per stone.

WOOL. LONDON, Monday.—In the wool market transac- tions are much restricted. For Colonial produce there is hardly any demand, and buying on Continental account has about ceased. Prices are nominal. English wool is dull and without change.

DISTRICT MARKETS. CARNARVON, SATURDAY. The following is a list of to-day's prices :—Beef, •7d to 9d per lb; mutton, 9d to lOd; veal, 8d to lOd; pork, 8d to 9d bacon, 7d to 9d. Cheese, 7d 1;0 9d per lb. Fresh butter. 2nd to 22d per lb pot ditto, 14d. Fowls (dead), ls6d to 2s ;de>»ch; ditto alive, 14d to 15d; ducks, 2s to 2s 6d; geese, 58 6d to 7s. Eggs, 9 for Is. Pota- toes, 6s to 7spercwt. Wheat, 44s0dto 16s0dperqr; barley, 30s to 33s Od; oats, 21s Od to 22s 6d; •auneal, 35s Od to 36s Od per 240 lbs. DENBIGH, WEDNESDAY. The quotations at to-day's market were as fol- lowsWheat, 16s Od to IGs G1 per hobbet.; bar- ley, 118 Od to 14s 0d; oats, 7s Od to 8s Od. Fresh tmttei, 20d to 22d per lb ditto pot, 16d to 17d. BANGOR, FRIDAY. Prices: Wheat, 45s Od to 46s Od per quarter barley, 29s Od to 34- Od oats, 21s 6c to 23s; oat- meal, 36s Od to 38s Od per 210 lb. Potatoes, 3s 6d to 4s 0 per cwt. Fresh butter, IGll to 181 per lb. Beef, 9d to lid per lb; mutton, 10d to lid veal, 7dto Sd b icon, 7d to 9d best home-cured hams, lid to 1 :\l ("ONWAV, SATCKDAY. Wheat, 15s (ld to Its Od per hobbet; barley, 10s Od to 13s Od per hobbet; oats, 8s Od to 9s Od per hobbet 1)ea11rJ. 13s 6d to l is 6d per hobbet; oatmeal, 36s Od to 38s Od per 2 b) lbs. OSWESTRV, WEDNKSDAY. The following were the quotations: Wheat, 7s I Od to 7s 8d per bushel; barley f malting, 5s 9d to Ga Od; oats, 3s 6d to 4s 6d; butter. Is 8d to Is 9d per Ib; eggs, 7 to 8 for a shilling; fowls, 4s Od to 5h Od per couple; ducks, 5s Od to 6s 6d per couple geese. 4s Odto 9s Od each turkeys, 6s lOd to 128 Od each potatoes, 00 lbs to 12 lbs for a shilling. LLANERCIIYMEDD, WEDNESDAY. Wheat, no i Od to 008 0 per quarter; barley, 29 to 32s Od; oats, 20s Od to 2Is Ud; oU),tUt:U,l, A" Od to 34s 6d per 210 Ibs. Potatoes. 6s 6d to 0s 01 per -owt. Fresh butter, OOd to OOd per lb; pot ditto, to Os Od. Beef, 8d to 10d per lb; mutton, lOd to Od; veal, OdtoOd; home-cured hams, lid to 12d per lb. RTIYL, THURSDAY. Very few farmers attended the market, to-dav. All sorts of supplies sold slowly. Wheat, 15s 6d to 168; barley, 10s to 13s beans, 13-s 6c to 14s; «ats, 8s to Us. WREXHAM, THURSDAY. The prices at this market were as follows — White wheat, nsto 0s 3d per measure red do, Os per bushel of 75 Potatoes, 5s Od to 6s Od per 90 Ibs. Fresh butter, 20d to 22.1 per lb; pot do., OOd to OOd. Beef, 9d to lOd per lb mut'on, 9d to lid; veal, 7d to 8d. Fowls, 3s 6d to 4s 6d per couple.

The four men—Hawkins, Higgs, Buckle, and Howse—who have been remanded several times on the "charge of stealing a quantity of ba k notes from William Bartlett, cattle dealer, of Banburrv, in a public house kept by tn > prisoner Hawkins in Oxford, were on Wednesday committed for trial without bail. Some of the stolen notes w-re changed at. the Kingsburv races by two of the prisoners who were betting. A very powerful shock of an earthquake was felt in the island of Jersey on Wednesda The shock was so strong as to shake houses And ring bells. Its course appeared to be from east to west. The Sandwich my Lord B. would have made for Britannia.—The British fleet on one (?r>c of Con- stantinople, the Russian armv on the other, and a thin slice of Turkey between them.-Punch.

TAKING A RAVEN'S NEST. It was four years ago last April when I lived among the wild hills of North Wales. Whilst one day fishing in a high mountain tarn, I observed a pair of ravens flying to and fro from one particular spot in the precipice, which rose some two hundred yards over my head. I watched them attentively, and concluded by their motions, together with the whiteness of the rock where they pitched (caused by the droppings of the birds) that they had a brood up there, which I determined to take if possible. My fishing did not prove satisfactory, so I gave it up, and made an examination of the cliff. The nest was some thirty-five yards from the top, as near as I could j udge, and could with great care be approached on foot within fifteen yards or so, but with a large, projection over it, which would cause anyone being let down by a rope to be sus- pended in mid-air. I started for home, which was seven miles off, aud with some persuasion engaged a Welsh boy, about twelve years of age, to allow a man and myself to let him down to the nest on a rope. We started next day with a strong rope and a crowbar, and having duly arrived at the spot, we drove the bar into the ground, aud tied one end of the rope round the boy's chest, immediately under his armpits, with the knot in front, then giving the rope a turn round the bar, we told the boy we were ready, but it was evident by his glances over the rock that he was not. By means, however, of a stimulant very effectual with Welshmen—i.e. the promise of half-a-crown directly he returned to the top—1 persuaded him to descend. Before, however, he had time to reach the nest, he com- menced screaming his unintelligible Welsh in the most agonising tones. "Good God," said the man, "he is hanging with his head down- war-r-r-rdi. Pull up pull up!" We pulled up with all our might, and the boy appeared clinging to the rope with all his might, the friction against the rock tearing his skin off the backs of his hands. We pulled him to the top, when down he dropped, and it was several minutes before he could either speak or take the half-crown I eagerly tendered. When he did speak, he told us that aftCl lie passed the overhanging part of the rock he commenced spinning helplessly round like a joint of meat on a roasting jack, which caused him to keep scream- ing, "Mae fy mhen yn troi "-i.e., My head is turning "-which the man, of course, imagined to be "downwar-r-rds." After a rest, I tried to persuade him to go down again; but RO such thing, nothing would induce him to do so. lIe was thoroughly cowed, aud the man began to get nervous—more so, all we were standing on a mere ledge of rock; and he begged of me to ascend out of danger, and leave the birds alone, for he was sure we should "all be killed, yes, indeed." I did not choose, however, to leave the birds, but I could see it was evident that if they were got I should have to take them, and alone; so I made no more to do, but fastened one end of the rope round my body, and calculating the length that would enable me to hang directly opposite the nest, fastened the rope to the top of the rock, and let myself down hand over hand. I found that I had guessed the distance exactly, and with some difficulty I got hold of the edge of the slab on which the nest stood, and pulled myself to it. I found the ravens, five in number, nearly fledged, and placed them in a bag by my side, drew myself up again, rather to the astonishment of the man and boy, who had no idea that I was going to accomplish my task. The ravens I only kept for a short while, the enormity of their appetices being sufficient to alarm anyone who has not previously kept young ravens; they eat the entire flesh of a colt, a calf, several sheep and lambs, besides a large quantity of moistened oatmeal and worms, and I ultimately sold them to go abroad.-Land and fFater.

A MILITARY DIVORCE CASE. The case of Sandeman v. Sandeman and Vernon" was before the Divotce Court on Satur- day last. This was the petition of Colonel David George Sandeman for a divorce, on the ground of the adultery of his wife with the co-respondent, Col. Vincy Douglas Vernon. There were answers filed, and the cause was put down to be tried by a special jury, but there was no attempt at a defence. It appeared that the petitioner was formerly an officer in the 16th Lancers, and subsequently in the West Norfolk Militia, and the co-respondent was also in the armv. The parties were married in October, 1865, at St. Pr.ul's Church, Knights- bridge, and the co-respondent was stated to be a colonel in the Hertfordshire Militia, and about fifty years of age -3 married man, and a personal friend of the petitioner. They were in the habit of going to fishing grounds near Norway together. In 1875, Colonel Sandeman was with his wife in Norway, fishing, and Colonel Vernon resided near them. In the autumn of 1877 the petitioner had been fishing, and after his return home his wife was taken unwell, and for change of air went to Margate for ten days. After her return one even- ing her husband went to his club, and on his return was surprised to find that his wife had gone away. Some time afterwards he received a letter explaining her misconduct; while Colonel Vernon informed the petitioner that he could call him out if he liked, and he should be ready to accept the challenge. The petitioner was called, and spoke to these facts, and it was proved by a chambermaid at an hotel in the Lake district that the respondent and fi-respondent staved there as man and wife. —The case did not last five minutes, and the jury at once returned a verdict for the petitioner.-Sir James Hannen granted a decree nisi for a divorce, with costs against the co-respondent.

Cleopatra's Needle is to bo brought up the Thames on Saturday afternoon, and an applica- tion is to be made to the Board of Works for per- mission to erect it 011 the Adephi steps, between Charing-cross and Waterloo Bridges.

THE SONGS OF MYNYDDOG. Llywarch Hen" writes to the Oswestry Adver- tiser as follows: —Mynyddog is a name for ever dear to every patriotic Welshman, even though he may be little acquainted with the prose works and poetry of his native country. It is frequently re- marked that scenery has a great influence over the fervid imagination of the poet, and that the poet- ical productions of an author who resides amongst the wild mountains and green sidelands are sweeter than the lyrics of the bard who spends his time in the bustle and tumult of a large town. We all know that the songs of Mynyddog are as natural as the day, and as pathetic as the quiet breeze be- fore the terrific storm breaks forth in the atmos- phere above. There is no smell of oil on his verses. They are like the overflowing outbursts of a generous heart and mind. Few persons since the days of Hugh Morris could compose songs equal to his, although there are a few of his productions which it would have been better for his reputation had they not been let to see the light of day. Mvnyddog had his weeknesses, as well as popular authors in general, in thinking that every song bearing his authorship would take with a generous public. Moreover, he knew when and how to com- pose. lyrics perhaps as well as any living author. He could sweep the strings of his lyre, and breathe passion into his poetry, so as to cause the cant and hypocrisy of the agc to wither under his wit and sarcasm. Few Welsh authors could breathe such a va--t a:nount of pathos and humour into so small a space as Mynyddog could. He could often by singing or reciting one of his humourous ditties cause the tears t,4 flow in abundance down the cheeks of his numerous hearers, or at the same time make them writhe in convulsions of laughter by describing living oddities or rustic characters of the past generation. His songs, with those of the late Talhaiarn, and Ceiriog Hughes, have been the means of creating a new era in the poetry of Wild Cambria, different from the school of Twm y Nant, Jack Glanygors, and others. The songs of the old authors as models were much too long and tedious, although they contained much that was considered curious in the way of art and melody. Although Mynyddog was so popular amongst his countrymen that his presence was almost inevitable at every social gathering in the way of concerts and local Eisteddfodau, yet like many others, he had, perhaps, a few enemies, who basely endeavoured to slander his character by circulating rumours without any foundation. His reputation was too genuine for flies and moths ever to have damage it, and the consequence was that he soon shook them off. Poor Mynyddog was cut down in the morning of his days like a flower, and banished away like a shadow from amongst us. The cold hand of death seized him in the midst of his fervour and useful- ness. The silent grave closed upon him when his fame shone brilliantly, and when thousands of his countrymen were captivated by his wit and songs. His memory will remain for ever green in the heart of every generous and patriotic Cymro, and his songs will be cherished and sung amongst the valleys and wild mountains of Wales as long as the Welsh language is heard amongst the glens of Trawsfynydd, or the craggy mountains ef Arfon Fawr. We subjoin the following, copied from the last volume of his works, being the only English song in the book :— You'll find amonar your neighbours, You'll see among the throng, The man with words of honey, That's gmilinrz all along", But as you sro together. And watch the man awhile, You'll fin,l the traitor's dajrs'er Conoealed beneath his smile. That's not the man for me, Say what you may to praise him, That's not the man for mo. You've seen the trossip monger. That aroes from place to place, With self-invented scandal, To set the world ahlaze; He weigheth all his neighbours, Each character alone. But after all the welching. He never weighs his own. That's not the man for me. I saw a pray yolinl- lady Paradinar in the fair. Her dressing wa.s perfection Of cleanliness and care But on the f «llowin<? morning, I crave the lass a call. To see her home kitchen- It was'nt nice at all! That's not the girl for me. Give me the honest, features. Give me the beamincr smile, Givo me the friendly bosom Without the traitor's smile Give me the unricrht.neiehhour. With tonsme of truth and srrace. That always sneaks behind me The same as in my face. That's the man for me. Hltv what vou may acrainst him, That's the man for me.

WATBR.—A clear fluid, once used as a drink. Why is a ring given as a pledge of matrimony? —Because there is no end to it but destruction. Practical definition of a dentist—A person who 8ndf; work for his own teeth by taking out those of other people. DISTANT RELATIONS.—People who imacine thev have a right to rob you if you are rich, and to insult you if von arc poor. In olden times the officers in the army not only "carried the enemies' posts." but their own mail." What a hard case theirs was Every man can make himself useful in this world, if onlv bv holding a sunshade over a young lady who 13 playing croquet. They went fishiner. She looked languidly at him and said, "I wish the fish would bite at your hook. If I were a fish I would." DEFINITION OF ALOVEK. — A lover has been pithily described as a man who, in his anxiety to obtain possession of another, has lost possession of him- self. TWIT.TOTIT.-The evening1 grew more dull every moment, and a melancholy wind sounded through the deserted fields like a distant giant whistling for his house-do?. An Essex farmer is obliged to chalk his nose every time he take a walk round his farm, to save himself from an old bull which has a strong anti- pathv to red. HEART.—A rare arficle, sometimes found in human beings. It is soon, however, destroyed by commerce with the world, or else becomes fatal to its possessor. Mister, T say. I don't suppose you don't know of nobodv that don't want to hire nobodv to do nothing, don't you?" The answer was, "Ye", I don't. Do vou think I'll sret insHce done me ?" said a culprit to his counsel.—" I don't think you will," replied the other, "for T see two men on the jury who are opnoscd to hanging." TAKINO SNUFF.—A person observed to his friend, who was learning to take snuff, that it was wrong to teach one's nose a bad habit, as a man generally followed his nose. "The little darling, he didn't strike Mrs Smith's baby a-pnrpose, did he? It was a mere accident, wasn't, it dear ?"—"Yes, ma. to be sure it was; and if he don't behave himself, I'll crack him again." Some malicious old bachelor in Virginia savs that there is a musical society in the next village to his residence which is fiftv vears old, and that. several yonnq Indies have belonged to it ever since its organisation." A Yankee being awakened by the captain of a passage-boat with the announcement that he must not occupv his berth with his boots on, very con- siderately replied, Oh, the bugs won't hurt 'em, I guess they're an old pair." There is a gentleman residing in New York who is unusually scrupulous in regard to having his door-plate polished every morning, being deter- mined to "leave an untarnished name behind him "-when he goes to his office down town.

PROPOSED JOINT OCCUPATION OF CONSTANTINOPLE. The North German Gazette says the Daily News correspondent has a significant article welcoming the new French Ambassanor to Berlin, and pro- ) phesying the best results fram the Minister of a peaceful Republican Government. In view of certain rumours which are whispered about, the article attracts considerable attention. To the Eastern Question this same journal makes two imporiant contributions. First, that Sir Stafford Northcote's statement of the conditions of peace was inexact, and together with his argument showed the influence of Count Beust; second, that the Powers are now negotiating for a joint occupation of Constantinople from land, by Russia by sea, through the combined fleets of the neutral States. The Gaulois (Paris) prominently publishes the following as the latest news:—" We receive from Berlin the most precise and authentic information that the understanding of the three Emperors is completely re-established with a view to the definit- ive settlement of the Eastern Question. The Russian conditions have been modified in two essential points at the request of Germany; the transaction is fully agreed to by Austria, and since Tuesday, as a result of this accord, England is I absolutely reduced to impotence, no matter what her own views may be. Turkey, it is said, has been informed, if not officially at least formally, of the resolutions of the three Emperors, and has decided to submit to them." THE RUSSIAN ADVANCE. The Nord Deutsche Allqemcine Zeitung admits that the operations at all points of the seat of war in- dicate that the Russians and their allies are about to derive the utmost consequences of their suc- cesses. The paper adds:—"The question about the occupation of Constantinople cuts a greater figure in the negotiations of the Powers than is realised abroad. The Russian army is to occupy Constantinople on the land side, while the European squadrons are to be stationed on the sea side." BELGRADE, Wednesday. The Turks are concentrating all their forces near Pristina, and defending the position desperately against the Servian Army Corps. Continuous fighting has been going on for eight days. As the Turks have retired on Kossovo a decisive battle is expected at that place. The snow lies deep on the ground. An official despatch received at St Petersburg, January 3iJ, from Zimmermann, dated Medjidie, January 28, gives details of his engagements with 9 the garrison of Bazardjik, and states that the Russians advanced right up to the fortifications of that town. On account of the thaw the roads were impassable, and the transport of supplies was rendered very difficult. The Russians had no pro- visions, and also suffered from want of water. General Skobeloff, junior, announces that the fortifications of Adrianople are excellent, all being substantially faced with stone, and provided with escarpments and counter scarps. The number of guns found in Adrianople was not 26, as at first announced, but considerably more. The exact number, however, has not yet been ascertained. According to the latest despatch from General Gourko, the cavalry detachment under General Skobeloff captured, on the 19th instant, 13 guns in addition to the 40 guns taken by General Grekoff's Cossacks, thus making a total of 53. DESTRUCTION OF A TURKISH VESSEL BY TORPEDOES. Adjutant General Ankas telegraphs that the Russian steamer Constantine left Sebastopol on the 22nd inst. to cruise along the Caucasian coast, in the neighbourhood of Batoum, and arrived on the 24th inst. at Suchoum Kale, after having expe- rienced a severe storm. On the night of the 26th she approached Batoum, where the Turkish squad- ron, consisting of seven large vessels, was stationed. Captain Marakoff, the commander of the Constant- ine, despatched two torpedo boats armed with Whitehead torpedoes under the command of Lieu- tenants Sagarennv and Steschinsky to attack the Turkish ships. They sent two Whitehead tor- pedoes against the crew steamer which was keep- ingwatch; and Captain Marakoff announces that these torpedoes shattered the veseel. causing her to sink almost immediately. The broken spars and debris were seen floating about on the surface of the water. The cutters were unable to save the Turkish crew, and returned to the Constantine, which then proceeded along the coast towards Samsun, and afterwards returned, V.8 instructed, to Sebastopol on the 28th inst. GREECE AND THE WAR. In the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday M. Coumoundourous, the Prime Minister, poiuted out the grave circumstances in which the country was placed, and moved that the House should deliberate with closed doors. The Minister's motion was adopted, and the Chamber accordingly held a secret sitting. There has been an engagement between the Turks and the Greek insurgents, near the village of Surpi, on the Grecian frontier. The Turks were defeated, and took refuge in a monas- tery, where they shut themselves up. Manifesta- tions in favour of war with Turkey are being held in all the towns. The Italian ironclad San Martino has arrived in the Piraeus, and others are expected shortly. THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. The following additional correspondence respect- ing the affairs of Turkey was issued on Wednesday from Mr Layard to the Earl of Derby :—"I have been categorically and distinctly informed by the Grand Vizier that the Porte sent by telegraph to the Turkish Plenipotentiaries at about 2 p.m. on the 23rd instant, or >rs and full powers to accept the bases of peace as submitted to them in writing by the Grand Duke Nicholas. The Porte has telegraphed to the Plenipotentiaries three times since the despatch of these orders to report the result, but no answer whatever has been received from them. The Grand Vizier cannot admit that any delay or procrastination in the matter on the part of the Turkish Plenipotentiaries is possible. Telegraphic communication with Kyzanlik is still open, as is proved by the fact that a mcmberof the mission has telegraphed to his family here, and that messages from Kyzanlik have been received in twelve hours from the time of their being des- patched." THE MARCH TO PHILIPPOPOLIS. The special correspondent of the Daily News writes :—The march of the entire army of General Gourko from Sofia to Phitippopolis in the short space of six days—crossing the Great Balkan range in severe winter weather, driving the scattered forces of Suleiman Pasha before it in every direc- tion, occupying the city after a series of brief but blody engagements—is one of the most brilliant feats of the war. Although the dispositions of the troops were known at, the late of my despatch from Sophia, it was evidently impmdent to speak of them, because we expected a stout resistance at four points in the mountains, namely, north of SamakoIT, at Trajan's Gate beyond Ichtiman, in the valley of the river Topolnica below Petricovo, and at Otlukoi. General Gourko divided his force into four detachments. The column on the ri^ht, which started from Sofia the 7th of the month, was under command of General Williaminoff. and was instructed to advance rapidly upon Samakoff, in order to cut off the retreat ot the Turks, who left Sofia via Radomoir. The main column, com manded by Count Sehouvaloff, marched from Sofia on the morning of the 9th by tne Ichtiman road, and was espected to advance upon Tartar Bazardjik only after the Turkish position in Trajan's Gate has been rendered unten- able by the forward movement of the flanking columns east of the Ichtiman road. The success of this complex movement depended entirely on the timely arrival of the separate columns at t.hffir destinations, as the weafher gave Bigns of breaking up, and the communications were at the best extremely difficult. Six days' rations of hard bread were distributed to the sol- diers. Every piece of artillery had a double quota of horses. The limbers and caissons were piled up with extra ammunition, and the columns went away as merrily as if they were on the homeward trip. General Gourko and staff accompanied the main column, but did not leave Sofia until the 9th. The sun was shining warm and bright, the road was flooded with water, and there was every pro- spect of a complete thaw, as we rode along that afternoon past hundreds of pack horses and ox carts that toiled in the train of the marching in- fantry. Before we reached the mountains the thermometer suddenly fell below freezing point, a driving snowstorm burst upon us, and at sunset we could scarcely see the road before us. While we were fighting our way along, a courier came up, bringing the news that a parlementaire had come into the lines of General Williaminoff, bring- ing a telegram from the Minister of War at Con- stantinople that an armistice had been accepted by the Russians, and that peace was imminent. Ge- neral Gourko sent a telegram to the Grand Duke announcing the fact, and we pushed on, forgetting the snow and the cold in the exhilaration of the moment, discussing the probabilities of peace, and congratulating ourselves on the approa-,h of the end which we all felt sure was close at hand. The proposition of an armistice was additional proof that the enemy had lost heart. The situation of the Turks was now comprehensible. The plan of retreat arranged by Suleiman Pasha was to with- draw the farces from Samakoff and Ichtiman in sufficient time to concentrate them at Tatar Bazard- jik, and follow the army of Chakir Pasha at Ad- rianople. The plan evidently counted on a delay of some days on account of the reported armistice, for the Samakoff detachment under Fuad Pasha had a longer and more difficult road than the Russians to Tatar Bazardjik, and not a day the start of them. Thus, when this stratagem failed the Samakoff force found itself obliged to march day and night in order to debouch into the plain before its pursuers. Fuad Pasha had per- haps 25,000 men in all, and he manoeuvred with no little skill. It was indeed an uncomfortable position to be in, retreating shoulder to shoulder with the ad vane J of the pursuers, threatened con- stantly in the rear, in battle array from sunrise till dark, and marching all night. It would have tried the pluck and endurance of any army. Fuad, by placing the Maritza between him and the Russians, which he did at the first opportunity, protected his line of march to some extent, and although there was no road on the south side of the river so good as the high road, he moved with great rapidity, especially after lie lost the bulk of his waggon train. Of course the detachment that occupied Trajan's Gate had plenty of time to get away, and the array of Chakir Pasha had passed through Otlukoi a week ago, so that the Samakoff force was menaced with complete isolation from the rest of the army, and they re- treated with the celerity that their situation de- manded. Trajau's Gate, a pass of great height, and difficult even in summer, was a solid sheet of ice when we crossed. The smoothshod horses fell at every second step, the infantry moved only with the greatest difficulty, and was obliged to bivouac in the mountains because the road was blocked by cannon which were slid down the steep places with great xisk and toil, and we had the doubtful satisfaction of watching from Vreitrenova the rearguard of the Turkish army disappear on its way towards Tatar-Bazardjik, unable to pursue it, because the infantry did not get over the pass. Nevertheless, during the night the Moscow regi- ment captured a train of nearly three hundred waggons, and dispersed nearly three battalions of the enemy. Next day, New dear's day, old style, the four columns joined in the vicinity of Tatar- Bazardjik. the detaenment Williaminoff being somewhat behind its assigned position, having delayed one day on account of tne rumoured ar- mistice. Tatar-Bazardjik was already on fire in several places as we came in sight of it from tiie Pass, and as we reached the summit of the last hill bordering the great plain of Pmllippopolis early in the morning, nine disii;.ct coluuius^af smoie .vere rising from the town. Half a dozen battalions of the enemy, Baker Pasha's division, was drawn up across the road a mile in front of the town with two lines of skirmishers and a sttong rearguard of cavalry posted on the road, and a large detachment on the right and let. Evidently nothing was to be gained by attacking them, for they were manceveriug to cover the.r retreat, which we hoped to block the next day, so there was only a little artillery practice and slight skirmisn between the outposts. The next morning we rode through Tatar- Bazardjik completely pillaged and hall burned, with scarcely an inhabitant left, and pushed on until sunset. We were then opposite tHe rear of the Turkish column, separateu from it by the River Maritza, fordable only at long distances. The line of march of both armies was parallel, the one hurrying along the railway to reach Pnilippo- polis, the other pushing forward on the road to nead off the retreat. At sunrise on the day of the battle General Gourko and his staff were on the road at the point where it is nearest the river. The road was crowded with artillery, infantry, and pack horses, when suddenly the right of the i urkish lorce appeared witninrilie range on the other side the stream. Three battalions were immediately sent across the river, part wading, part earned on the horses of the staff officers aud escoit, and soon the firing which had already begun on the right spread along to our neighbourhood. Batteries un- bmbered right and left of us, and went to work. Turkish shell began to burst near the road, and bullets dropped on all sides, wounding men and s horses. Fortunately we were sheltered somewhat by a small mound of earth, and there we stood all day, the battle raging without intermission. For hours we watched for the advance guard of Scliildner Schuldner's column, which had long been ordered up, but it did not come along until late in the afternoon, having halted in a village while the General rode slowly up to consult with General Gourko. Thus the turning movement, failed, for the men did not get across the ford until sunset, and during the night the enemy quietly slipped past Scliildner Schuldner between him and the mountains, and took new positions between Stanimaka and Derbendere. Krudener's detach- ment during the day occupied that part of Phillip- popolis north of the Maritza, but the bridge was burned, and no attempt was made to tord the stream. A couple of cannon in p sition on tin* rocky height in the centre of the town shelled Krudener's force the whole day, inflicting o'dy trifling loss. Early in the forenoon of the 10th, we rode out upon the left bank of the Maritza, opposite the city, a whole army corps was waiting there by the burned br dge, wnile an im- mense crowd of Bulgarians W;iS gathered on the further shore, shouting and gesticulating that the river was too deep to ford at that place. The bridge was completely destroyed, and no one seemed to have been master enough of the situa- tion to look for a fording-place or arrange a ferry. Prince Tzeretelcff crossed in a small boat imme- diately after the arrival of General Gourko, ai d in a few moments a rope ferry was rigged. Good' order was the rule, and although the cannon were still roaring on the mountain sides south of the city, we forgot everything in the enjoyment- of the first hours of comfort since Sofia. All ihe night of the 16th and the whole of the following day the battle went on in the mountain. When Fuad had withdrawn his force through the nar- row gap left between Schouvalofi and the moun tains he took up position a few miles south of P iilippo :>o is in the v n yards, obliged to defehd jumseif from Wnuaiuoff, who began to hammer away at the rear guard, and also compelled to face Sehouvaloff and Schildner Schuldner, who threat- ened his advance. How many thousands of the Turkish force had been placed h,rf dc rombit, cap- tured, dispersed, or had escaped to Suleiman Pacha, it is difficult to sav, but when they made their stand in the mountains with their backs to- ward the snow-covered slopes they counted not more than 15,000 men. General Do;idev<lle, with the third division of the Guard, forded the Maritza below Philippopolis, marched up the Stanimaka road, that by which Suleiman with a reported force of 30,000 to 40,000 men had escaped, occupiod the town, and thus completed the scmi-circlc of 30,000 Russians around half the number of Turks. The latter had lost all their baggage, had open to them no way of retreat, for their artillery were without food and probably short of ammunition, and had been marching and fighting for the last week, day and night; but once at bay they fought like lions. On the morning of the 17th they charged down the slopes with the bayonet in a mad endeavour to recapture the eighteen cannon left in Donde- ville's hands the day before. One of the com- manders, generally believed to be Fuad himself rushed into the thick of the fight with Dondevilte-s troops, was surrounded, and is reported to have killed and wounded seventeen Russians with his own sword before he was finally cut down. After nine days' marching, with three successive days' fighting in severe weathej, all this on six days' rations of hard bread, the Russian troops were unable to continue the pursuit, and mn-t now rest for some days. The total loss is ebout 1,000. The prisoners amount to over that number. Fifty- six cannons have been taken, and a great army completely broken up, smashed entirely to pieces. It is possible that the majority of the routed f'^rce will try and find its way to Adrianople, following the river Aula, but the road may be cutloug before they come out into the valley of the Maritza. Philippopolis has suffered both from five and the yataghan, and although the order in the town is to all appearances perfect, there are still occa- sional murders. The Bulgarians are all armed, tlie majority with improved rifles, which they seek occasion to use, for there are men enough of the Bashi-Bazouk order among them. Although no special cases have come under my notice, I do not doubt that soldiers have plundered to some extent and that unarmed Turks have been killed, and also I must make the same ob-ervation that I did at Sofia, that there is very little system in the regulation of affairs in Philippopolis but as the gallows which ornamented many stred. corners have been taken down only within a day or two, having been in use since last summer, it is no wonder that the Bulgarians are tempted to easy revenge. We entered the city when the bazaar was already burned, and all the shops in its vkinity gutted, and the goods scattered in the streets or carried away. That portion of the city near the bridge on both banks of the river has been partially burned. The Turkish quarter is entirely deserted, but the rest of the city wears very much its usual aspect. To-day several shops have been opened. Prices have quadrupled at once, as they did in Sofia, and the, few merchants who have been so fortunate as to save their stock are in a fair way to become millionaires. The great fear of the inha- bitants now is, not that the Turkish army will return, but that the Moslem population in the mountains between here and the sea, which is noto- riously vindictive, will take advantage of the absence of the Russians to revenge themselves for the capture of the city. < A strong force of occupa- tion will be left, however, and little danger from unorganized depredation is to be anticipated.

A NOVEL PIECE OF ORDNANCE.—A gun whiclfc will take to pieces for handy conveyance has been constructed at the Royal Gun Factories. The idea. has been suggested by Colonel Le Mesurier, Royal Artillery, to meet the demand for a more powerful mountain gun than the 7-powder of the service, which, from its extreme lightness—200 lbs—given an inconvenient recoil, and is too short in the barrel to be thoroughly effective. Two guns have been made on Colonel le Mesurier's system one, which is called the light gun, weighing in the aggregate 320 lbs, and the other, the heavy gun, weighing 570 lbs. Each gun consists ot three parts, neither part being more than 20(1 lbs in weight, that being reckoned a mule's burthen. The barrel and breech are made in separate parte, screwing together when required, and a t unnion ring screws over the joint, locking the whole together. In the experiments which have been made at Woolwich the gun has been put together very quickly—in less than a minute-and appears to be a sound and reliable as well as powerful weapon; but the trials hitherto have been chiefly directed to testing its ballistic power, and the system will be further tried at Shoeburyness to ascertain how it would operate under adverse cir- cumstances, such as might arise from grit or rust in the joints. ALLEGED MURDER OF A RIVAL.—John Chidlow, a young soldier, was charged before Justice Lush at the Stafford Assizes, on Wednesday, with the wilful murder of George Holmes, in December, at Market Drayton. Prisoner was in the house of Esther Beech, his sweetheart, when Holmes, a rival for her affections, came in. Holmes quar- relled with Beech, and struck her, whereupon Chidlow stabbed Holmes fatally with a knife and rushed from the house. The jury returned a ver- dict of manslaughter, in consideration of provoca- tion, and Chidlow was sentenced to penal servi- tude for life. SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A CLERGYMAN.—The Rochester county magistrates on Wednea lay morning issued a warrant against the Rev. Fred- erick Davis, of Manor House, Northtieet, on a charge of assaulting a young girl in a carriage on the North Kent Railway. Mr Davis did not appear to a summons which had been issued against him, and has, it was stated, gone abroad. DuSPEKATE AVERAY WITH BUKOLARS.—Late on Monday night a leck-keeper on the canal at Selly Oak, Birmingham, was attacked in his house by three burglars. A desparate struggle ensued, tho lock-keeper, a man named Parish, using a heavy bludgeon upon his assailants. They overpowered however, and took £ 6 from a drawer. On a signal from a confederate outside two ran awav. Tho third had been so beaten bv Parish that he coukl not follow, and the men then returned and making Parish insensible with a fearful blow, they took away their injured companion. The floor of tho room was covered with blood. The earthquake on Monday last was distinctly felt at Osborne, by several persons in different rooms, at a few minutes before twelve o'clock. A number of Whitehead, or "fish" torpedoes, were on Wednesday shipped from Woolwich Ar- senal, for Portsmouth en route for the fl et in the Mef iterranean. PLAYING THE WRONG CARD. — A commercial traveller in a Yankee city handed a merchant, upon whom he had called, a portrait of his betrothed instead of his business-card, saying that h'e repre- sented that establishment. The merchant exam- ined it carefully, remarked that it was a fine establishment, and returned it to the astonished and blushing traveller, with a hope that he would soon be admitted into partnership. THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR. — There is a family moving in the house next door; we can hear through our blinds the carriers of the furniture move along the walk. All the talking we hear is done by one voice-it is the man of the house, and he has got a little son. We need not look out of window for confirmation of this expression; his words establish it as clearly as the eve couid wit- ness, and we know just what is being done out there as well as if we stood in the very midst of it. Every time he speaks we dot it down on a- extra sheet of paper, and so far he has made the follow- ing utterances :—" Put that whip down." "Get out of the way." Don't climb up there." "Take your shoes off that bedstead." "Shall 1 speak to you again F" "Do you want to break those things ?" "Come out of that." Go away from that horse do you want to get your head kicked off?" "Do you hear me or shall I speak; to you again ?*' Hey, there what did I tell you about that horse?" "Now, you sit still there, and don't you dare to move an inch, or I'll break: every bone in your body." A MILD WINTER IN NORTH WALES.—A gentle- man, a resident of Southport, writes from Beau- maris, that, as a proof of the extraordinary mild- ness of the climate at that favourite watering place, he had that day (Saturday LqL), cdiuctud roses, snowdrops, violets, primroses, convolvulus, and other flowers from the open air.

COAL. LONDON, MONDAY.—The large supply of house coals at market to-day was readily taken off at last quotations. Original Hartlepool, liettons, 17s; Haswell, East Hartlepool, Caradoc, 17s Od; Tees, lGs 3d; Southoc, 18s; Kell South Hartlcpool, Tanes, Lyons, 17s 6d; East Wylara, 16s; Bebside, Hartlepool, 17s; Caris, Hartley, 16s. Ships at market, 39 sold, 29; at sea, 5.

ROMANCE AT TEMPLE BAR. Though some writers would endeavour to per- suade us otherwise, there is very little—if any— real romance connected with the last of the city gates, which is now slowly but surely coming to the ground. Hard by, however, if we linger, we may find something to suit the palate of the lover of the romantic. The exact date of the establishment of M3ssrs. Child & Company's bank is not known, but it is on record that NeU Gwynn did business there previous to her death in 1687, and that the bank knew as customers Oliver Crom- well and William III. and his queen, Mary. In 1689, owing to a rumour getting abroad that a run was about to be made on the bank, its position for a time, it is said, was critical. This rumour, how- ever, reached the ears of Lady Churchill, who collected all the gold she could get among her friends, and carried it in her coach to the bank, thus enabling it to meet whatever demands were made upon it. Hogarth considered this eyent a worthy object for his pencil. There is a sketch of his showing her ladyship's coach stopping at Temple Bar, and another sketch, pourtraying her ladyship superintending porters carrying bags of gold into the bank. Lady Churchill, as the reader will know, afterwards became Duchess of Marl- borough. Another event which may be said to come under the head of romance is connected with the celebrated banking establishment of Messrs. Child & Co. Lord Westmoreland, it is reported, was dining one day with Mr Child, when he asked him to suppose himself in love with a girl, and her father refusing his consent to the union. Yes," said Mr Child. Well, what would you do?" queried the lord. Why run away with her, of course," promptly replied Mr Child. The same night Lord Westmoreland ran away with Mr Child's daughter. Mr Child pursued the couple, and came up with them in Northumberland, when the gallant lord, in order to get ahead, stood up in his carriage and shot the leading horse in Mr Child's chaise, "which," according to Mr Hilton Price, "caused the whole vehicle to capsize." Lord Westmoreland then got across the border, the blacksmith was in readiness, and "the pair were married at Gretna Green before Mr Child could interfere with the cercm;my." The Echo.