The North Wales Express

THE ,1VELSH MEMORIAL TO THE H QUEEN. The folioYving is a copy of a letter received by the Secretary Mr \V. J. Williams, High-street, Carnarvon, from the Right Hon. W. E. Glad- stone: June 26th, 1878. IDE, Sir.,—I have the honour to enclose the letter which I h ive received from the Home Sec- retary, in answer to one from myself announcing and iJ.cc0mpanying the address to the Queen by abovt 111,000 persons, that bad been entrusted by v' "L to my oharge. I doubt not you will pub- ]iq;) toe reply which will suffice to show that I duly forwarded the address to its destination.—I am d a Sir, Your faithful and obedient. W. E. GLADSTONE. 4 W. J. WILLIAMS, ESQ., 21, JTigh-street, Carnarvon. WHITEHALL, 25th June, 1378. j?M.—With reference to your letter of the 18th instant, I am directed by Mr Secretary Cross to inform you that he has had the honour to lay before the Queen the Petition addressed to Her Majesty by certain persons, inhabitants of Wales, in favour" of the maintenance of Peace at the present crisis.—I am, f-ir, Your obedient servant. A. F. O. LIDOELL. The Ilight Honble. W. E. GLAUS I'ON P. M.P.. 72, Harley-street.

THE CONGRESS. B;Rf.is. THUK<t>A v He- Britannic Majesty was year, .day informed that the Congress will probably end in ten days. The Congress has virtually disposed of the BlIl- garian and Eastern Eonmelian question. The ad- ministration of those provinces, the tribute to be paid by Bulgaria, and ether points have not yet been considered, but will be settled either by the second plenipotentiaries or by international com- mission. The Congress would willingly have con- sider < them, but at the opening of Tuesday's sit- ting i> is mark declare i its labours had been pro- longed by the slowness of its deliberations, and by the introduction of details which exhausted its energies and that he should be forced to absent himself for a long time unless it were resolved to come to an agreement privately to the main ques- tions which might bo then promptly settled by the Congress, matters of less importance being left to Ulterior Commissions. No reply was at first made to which "reared a feeling of uneasi- ness. Signor Corti, after a pause, replied that the s I I Congress had given proofs of its desire for speedy and pacific solution. At yesterday's sitting, "I Bismark had recovered Iris usual vigour but the incident shows there is tendency only to discuss broad features leading it to the Ulterior Com- missions to deal with minor matters. B!è1.LIS, THURSDAY NIGHT. An important change has been introduced into I the settlement of the Koumelian province. The intention of appointing a Commissiary General for its administration has been abandoned and no such official will be nominated. Another point on winch an agreement has 1.kc:11 arrived at, is, that Varna. shall be a froe port commercially, and that the transit duea hitherto paid to the Turkish Authorities on imported goods will be suppressed. VIENNA, THURSDAY. The amendment of Austria concerning equali- zation of different religious confessions in Bulgaria, as well as that relative to settlement of question of railways, has been accepted by Congress. j Seeing that according to the last decision eli will be placed under a Christian governor, whom the Porte cannot depose, and that this province will have a perfectly autonomous administration, it remains to be seen how the western part of the peninsula will be amr .god. It L evident the Congress will soon have to determine the fate of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Seeing that the Porte has not sufficient troops to prevent collisions between the populations it is Jiottsible Austria may likely to be backed by Eng- ano. so that Austrian troops may perhaps very shortly proceed to occupy the two provinces, opinion recently opposed to the scheme i j r ^vhat turned round on learning the ar- ufcntS as to Bulgaria, the Sovereignty of the IV In Roumelia being" impossible for people to fHi t necessity of counterprise sufficient to m; in peace in the West of the Balkan penin- sulo, -A,here the effectual influfnee of Turkey is reduced to nothing. THERASIA, Wednesday.' J cr twenty obscure persons supposed to be • ted with Murad 1st Conspiracy have boon arrested. The Murad party, or rather the pa:-t/ .gainst the Sultan, appears to be gaining strength. A report from the minister of police to this effact has increased the Sultan's agitation and impaired his health in his ever-growing alarm he has summoned fifteen thousand fresh troops to Constantinople, and has ordered coasting steamers to keep off from the palace. The removal of Fuad Pacha from the command of the army of Constan- tinople is not yet officially confirmed, but there is WJ doubt of it, or that Baker Pasha will be appointed in his ptace.

-Jin J uus' S.i.Ei:r^' Aj 'ii^ss.—The Ocmdl aa) s: —A s to the question of reform, Mr Roberts ii per- fectly sound in the faith. Ho oays that the tillers ii, of tao soil as iJ, class are denied any share cf political power;, and that about one-half of the liafoon—much more than onD-half in Wales—are pai.illy reminded of relig-ious disabilities when they enter the national graveyards and on that account he would support the reduction of the franchise in counties, and Mr Osborne Morgan's |"(U. ;s Bill. We congratulate Mr Roberts on his fhr-r real appearance as a candidate. His address i the electors cannot be misunderstood, and there is ii-- the least doubt regarding neither the sincerity of his Liberal loyalty, nor his ability and quantisations, as a politician and a senator, to take a to -.re public part than ever in the struggle b .o-r, Toryism and Liberalism, and between pric- t!y arrogance and religious equality. We can im.. '.oonly one danger as regards this contest bet-w-Jen Mr Roberts and Mr Pennant, and that is, the r*anger of trusting too much to the certainty. .17,- of return of the Liberal representative, which mig'-t lead to neglect and carelessness. And even CTV'oing that the seat is secure for Mr Roberts, grc .il r efrorts than ever ought to be made to return Eim •■••ith such a majority as to convince the whole kingdom that the burgesses of Flint continue to j be worthy successors of their Liberal fathers."

The Liverpool Courier, which has for some time been handling Mr Watkin Williams, has betaken itself of late to vilify Mr John Roberts, of Bryngwenallt, the chosen candidate of the Flint Liberals. It attempts to show that that gentleman has thrust himself upon the electors, and that he is merely, the champion of a small sect.. Mr Roberts should, it says, have had sufficient good manners to offer the honour to Mr Muspratt, who was more qualified than himself (Mr R.) for Parliamentary life. The Courier forgets that Capt Pennant is brought forward by his own ambition for the honour, and in this it is said Capt Conwy, who contested in the Tory interest at the last election, feels anything but pleased at the action of Mr Pennant. The latter gentleman has for some time made it known that he would thrust himself upon the Tories. Evidently, the editor of the Courier must either be writing at random, or he is deliberately writing what he knows to be a gross untruth. In the first place it will be perhaps well to enlighten the Courier that Mr Roberts was selected by a very large majority of delegates appointed by the electors in each borough. Had he said of Mr Pennant that he was thrusting himself, he would not have been very far Avrong. Then who is this Daniel that he can decide between the personal merits of the candidates, one of whom the chances are he has never known. It is not our wish in any way to depreciate the name of Capt. Pennant, for whom we have the greatest respect, but it cannot be said of him that he has acquired such a high position as has Mr Roberts, who is looked upon in Liverpool as one of the leading members of the Liberal party. He is a gentleman who has figured prominently before the public for many years, and his good offices assuredly have been as numerous and as important as Capt. Pennants'.

THE FLINT ELECTION: The proverbial quietude of the Flint Boroughs has been broken in the height of electioneering enthusiasm. Roth parties are straining every nerve, flul no stone is left unturned that may conduce to the polling strength of each section. The Liberals happily have been most successful in preserving unity, and furthermore in organ- ising their shattered sections, so that they are not so badly prepared for the emergency as might have been expected. The Blues were already, and had been for some time in good form, and had decided upon their candidate, Capt Pennant, while the Liberal party in all of the nine boroughs were literally dismembered. But thanks to those gentlemen who met at Rhyl on Thursday last week, a uniform and simultaneous action was suggested to the lead- ing men of each contributory borough, and this culminated in the meeting of delegates which met in Flint on Monday morning, to decide as to the candidate. Meanwhile several gentle- men had been named, and each locality was more or less disposed to favour the candidates most particularly associated with them. How- ever, the delegates were commissioned to use their discretion in the final choice, and Mr John Roberts was selected as the candidate by 39 votes to Mr Muspratt's nine. It was most commendable on the part of Mr Muspratt to acquiesce in the decisicfh of the meeting, and to volunteer his generous assistance to the can- didature of Mr Roberts. Meetings have been held in several polling districts, and the warmest reception given to Mr John Roberts. There are several points upon which the return of the Liberal candidate will be a geater victory than was ever before won in Flintshire. The battle is fought on purely independent grounds, the publican interest being entirely disregarded. Almost every public-house is a committee-room for Mr Pennant, so that the rabble of the electors are on that side. This only tends to cement more closely the united efforts of the Liberals, who are, despite the idle rumours of sectarian jealousy invented by the Tories, ready for ths polling, and court not the favours of any faction whatever. Mr John Roberts' address to the electors, as are also his speeches, display a clearness and a firm grasp of the leading questions of the day. He does not mince matters and evade direct answers, but fearlessly utters what are his own convictions. Mr Roberts reviews in his speeches the Eastern policy of the Government, and dwells upon the extension of the franchise, the Dis?;itablishment, the Game Laws, the Bur- ials Bill, and other measures which engraft the public mind and his views on all these. are set out so that they cannot be misunder- stood. The meetings held have been most en- thusiastic, and orderly, and characterised assuredly by less of the empty nonsense of the meetings of Capt. Pennant's friends. At Bagillt last night, Lord Richard Grosvenor was expected to have been present, and the hon. member has volunteered any assistance he can render in canvassing for Mr Roberts. Several other well-known gentlemen have taken an active part of the work, and there can be little doubt of the triumphani return of Mr John Roberts.

WORK FOR THE CONGRESS. Since the Congress of Vienna no European diplomatic council has had anything like the amount of work before it which the Congress of Berlin has still to perform. Those who anticipate a speedy settlement of all matters in controversy, and, consequently, only a short session of the Plenipotentiaries, can hardly have taken due cognisance of the many distinct subjects to be dealt with. True, we have been told for some time past that the Coi gress would only settle a few main questions in principle, and that the details of these matters, as well as many minor independent questions, would be left for a diplomatic commission to arrange and now it is stated by many persons that the concession made by the Russian Emperor to Great Britain and Austria on the leading subject of Bulgaria will immensely facilitate a prompt settlement. But it seems to be quite overlooked that the general agree- ment arrived at on this one most important subject leaves various matters of great im- portance in the solution of the Eastern Question still to be settled, while an additional element of discord has lately been brought in. What does the whole Russo-British agreement amount to ? Let Bulgaria be separated into two provinces by the Balkans, says the British Government; let the Northern province be practically in- dependent, as Roumania or Servia was before the war let the Southern have only adminis- trative autonomy, and be so circumscribed as not to absorb the littoral of the iEgean Sea (points now settled in principle): let the Porte retain territory enough to give i4 secure pos- session of Constantinople, effective command of the Straits, and convenient communication with its Western provinces let the regulations for navigating the Straits be unaltered let it be understood that Great Britain will constitute herself guardian of what is left of Turkish territory, and will assume the same position of protector towards the Greeks as Russia occupies towards the Sclavs; then Great Britain, while re- gretting the cession of Kars and Batoum and the retrocession of Bessarabia, will not actually oppose those territorial rearrangements nor will she interfere with Russia's exaction of a money indemnity, provided that revenues on which there are British claims be not ap- propriated. When we come to look into all this, we find that scarcely anything but matters directly in dispute between Russia and Great Britain was touched upon. As regards these particular matters, the path is no doubt made easier for a general settlement, and war has in all probability been avoided. But there are other points of the Eastern Question of equal or greater importance to some European Powers, if not to this ccmntry. The status of Roumania, of Servia, and of Montenegro under the new order of things is of special interest to Austria, and cannot be ignored by any Power; the freedom of the navigation of the Danube concern both Austria and Germany. With Roumania in the occupation of a Russian army, and the Roumanian army drawn up in a defen- sive attitude on the Austrian frontier, with Montenegro renewing hostilities against Turkey, and with these two countries and Servia claim- ing not only virtual but nominal independence and territorial aggrandisement, who can say that the Russo-British Agreement has settled the Eastern Question ? Then, we have Epirus, Thessaly, and Crete only temporarily pacified in the midst of determined insurrection because the British Government has promised to take care of their interests, and Greece held in check from similar considerations. That the Greeks both within and without the kingdom are fully alive to -the situation is shown by the Greek Plenipotentiaries at Berlin confidently awaiting admission to the Conference which, it seems, is to be granted to them; while we had intel- ligence last week that the Cretan Assembly had voted an address to the Berlin Congress setting forth the grievance of the island and praying for union with Greece. There are also many subsidiary matters connected with the Eastern Question. The Mahommedahs of Bulgaria, I the Armenians, the Roman Catholics, and the Protestants demand to be secured against op- pression, and to be guaranteed equal rights and privileges of citisenship a claim has been put forward on behalf of various Christian communities in Asia Minor the British Anti- Slavery Society some time ago received a favourable reply to a memorial praying the Emperor of Russia to insist on the abolition of slavery in the Ottoman dominions; and last week the newspapers published a letter from Baron Lionel de Rothschild to Lord Beacons- field. urging his Lordship to put the grievances of the Jews in Servia and Roumania before the Congress, while Germany has shown her feeling in this matter by refusing to conclude a com- mercial convention with Roumania from the benefits of which Roumanian Jews would be excluded. So Ave might go on with one point after another, almost ad infinitum. We grant that the matters in dispute between Russia and Great Britain were most important, as they alone were likely to produce war; and that is no doubt why the Congress has gone cut of its way to deal with them first; but beyond these there are many things to be settled which must occupy considerable time and cannot well be left to any lower tribunal than the Congress. '1

THE GOVERNMENT AM) THE PRINCIPALITY. (Translated from Y Genedl Gymreig, June 27.) In a meeting of the Council of the University Col- lege uf Wales, held in Aberystwith last week, Mr Hugh OWtn stared that he had received a note from the Duke of Richmond to the effect that the Govern- ment could not assent to the appeal for aid to the institution. This information will cause bitter dis- eit, to thousands of Welshmen in every part ot i he globe. The deputation that represented the ea.^e to the Duke of Richmond last year was the noLK'-t and most influential gathering that ever met to advocate any Welsh subject. Conservatives and Liberals had joined together for once to ask a small favour to a portion of the kingdom which is eminent for its fidelity to the Crown and respect for the laws. It was confidently believed that the Government would have listened, if not to the Marquis of Harrington and Lord Aberdare, at least to Sir Watkin, Mr Puleston. Mr T. E. Lloyd, and other Conservative senators who had patriotic- ally come forward to testify that the Welsh people, of every grade and station, were solicitous for the success of the college at Aberystwith. Town Councils and Local Boards forgot sect and party and petitioned in favour of an institution that know < neither sect nor party in fact, the voice of the uoie country, excepting the clergv, was ob- tain d, and the opposition of the clerical order is, alas! the best proof of the popularity of any Welsh movement and of the patriotism of its promoters. Unfortunately, however, our English rulers know but little of the history of Wales; they are not aware that the favourite work of the priesthood in olden time s was to excommunicate the bards, and that their delight is to strangle every patriotism they deem the clergy in Wales as enlightened and as industrious as are their brethern in England, and that they should be listened to on account of their efforts in the cause of education. The laity in Wales know tetter. The priests failed to influence such Conservative noblemen as Lord Penrhyn and Sir Watkin against coming forward in favour of the efforts of the Welsh community They know that the body of the Welsh priesthood is made up of the bankrupt preachers of the denom- inations—of softheaded youths who have neither -eloquence nor piety, brain nor character, to earn a livelihood in an open field where the race is given to the swift and the battle to the strong. We know of members of this abandoned tribe who have been forcing their venom into the ears of high councillors, and who never hesitate to sacrifice truth and patriotism on the altar of their sectarian prejudices. The country also knows them, and either despises them or enjeys the fun of hooting them off the Eisteddvodic platforms but yet, they have their influence, viz., the influence of the backbitcr, for they love to fatten at the boards of the wealthy and smack their lips over the wines in the palaces. There they propagate the tales with which they intend to exlialt a wee Church college at the expense of depreciating an institution which has its roots in the affections of an ancient nation, its branches spreading over the twelve counties of Wales. We believe that the malicious misrepresentations of this fraternity has had much to do with this last failure of obtaining justice to Wales, and it is right to expose the real offenders, although they hide themselves under the cloak of some kind of a religion, and not hold responsible any political party. It cannot ;be denied that Wales has failed to obtain a hearing from a Liberal as well as from a Conservative Government. There is nothing whatever of a party character in the question — the composition of the last deputation was enough to dispel that misleading dream. We hope that no political use will be made of the present, refusal. Our nation has cause to complain of the English Government as a Government, rather than of whether it happens to be aft the time made up of Tories or Radicals. We are aware that an en- deavour will be made to prove that it was Con- servative illiberality that rejected the reasonable request of the College Council, but we believe that such a charge is unjust, for the truth is that the English, as a people, quite indepen lcntly of every party distinction, have not yet understood the real necessit'es of Wales, and that they lack sympathy with our national aspirations. No justice will be done to Wales until Wales has done justice to herself. We must prove that we consider national rights more sacred in our sight than the claims of a party. It would be I folly to deny that Welsh electors, when a Parliamentary contest takes place, are ready to sacrifice na- tional traditions for the sake of the shibboleth of a p trty,—making their party the end, instead of means to attain ends. A general election is at the door, and it should not be allowed to pass away without proving that Wales has made up her mind on one question, viz., to claim imperial re- cognition of her incomparable efforts in favour of high-class education, and to decline to be depre- cated as a cipher in the British family. Let the Flint electors show the way. Let the Liberals there demand a word on this question in the elec- toral speeches of their candidate, and let the Con- servatives also see that their representative has a heart beating in harmony with the heart of the nation. While we are writing, there is no cer- tainty as regards who will be elected, but as Mr John Roberts and Mr Pennant are the selected rival candidates, we may rejoice that both of them are supporters of the Aberystwith College, and sub- scribers to its funds: but let not that suffice; let them be pressed upon to give speciality in their speeches to the endowment of this institution, and, indeed, to every other question that appertains to the rights of Wales. The Council only asked for an endowment of two thousands and a half per annum and one capital grant of five thousands, but the Government refuses even that little crumb from off their table, while they expend half a million on a warship, and many thousands on the escort of the Premier during the few days he may sojourn in Berlin. But Wales, no more than Ire- land, will never get justice until she shows that she is in earnest, and the Englishman's test point of earnestness is the election. Consequently, let the demands of Wales be made an electioneering question, or else let an eternal period be given to the wide-mouthed patriots" of our Eisteddvodau, lest we become the laughing stock of all the nations. I

NOTES OF THE WEEK. The Liberal electors of Flint have not much to deplore by the secession from their midst of one Peter Suthard, a IlolyAveil cloggeiy who graced the proceedings of the Tory meeting at Greenfield on Tuesday with a specimen of his oratory. Suthard is a kind of itinerant preacher with some obscure and primitive denomination, and he is one of that class that the conscious- ness of his extraordinary abilities is more real- ised in his own mind than by any of his neigh bours. Nevertheles, he was always known to bo a Liberal, and even lately was on the stump on that side. But by some strange disappoint- ment this week he became suddenly transformed into a Conservative, and was received with open arms, and made a lion of at first Tory meeting. Suthard opened his mouth and spoke, and the substance of his eloquence will be seen in another column. The audience were appealed to to decide the problem of his nationality. His parents were English, but as he wasborninthemurkryatmosphere of Battery- row, a few yards "lower up" than the place where he spoke, it was a question whether he was Welsh or English. They (his hearers) could call him whatever they liked. Mr John Roberts is a Calvinistic Methodist, and not a man of miscellaneous creeds, as is Mr Suthard, who therefore goes against Mr Roberts on "prin- ciple." The Liberal candidate happens to reside two or three miles further from Holywell than does Mr Pennant, and this ought to dis- qualify him I Another fanatic named Wilson, bugler-in-chief to the renowned Fourth Flint- shire, was also one of the speakers, at the meet- ing whosp adhesion to Pennant is based upon an old association. Wilson cares not if the whole world knows that his grandmother got many a piece of beef from the larders of the charitable Pennants of yore. The Liberals need not envy their opponents the help of such mongrels, whose solitary vote generally go to the highest bidder.

The Flintshire Volunteers, together with a section of the Carnarvonshire regiment, as- sembled at Rhyl yesterday for six days' camp- ing.

ö 4 The writ for the Flint boroughs election has been issued, and the returning-officer has fixed Tuesday for the nomination and Friday for the poll.

» — The Hon. T. J. Wynn has apparently become very indignant at the letter sent him by Mr Bulkeley Hughes, asking him to receive the deputation of Carnarvon Liberals, who were to ask him to become a candidate on their side at the next election. It would appear that Mr Wynn is not of so modified a turn of mind as might have been expected, for he states his name has been unjustly handled, and he is not prepared to offer himself as a candidate upon what Mr Bulkeley Hughes is pleased to call Liberal principles."

The arrival of Count Minister in Berlin at first sent a flutter into certain sensitive minds, as if there were some hitch there in the Congress for which the presence of the German Ambassador was required. But it is now understood that it was-not so much his presence in Berlin as his ab- sence ffom Loudon that was desirable. During the funeral of the late King of Hanover, it would never have done for Count Minister, who is a Han- overian and a turncoat, as the German particu- larists describe him, to appear in London. He would not have received an invitation to the funeral, and yet, on the other hand, as the repre- sentative of the German Empu-or could not be passed over; so that, on all accounts, he did the wisest thing in accepting a hint that hispret-encs was called for ad referendum on some matters in connection with the present political dispute, which is now in a fair way to be reconciled. The success of Lord Beaconsteld isno v admittod, and the only question is whether it is not so strik- ing that it may carry in it the germs of a future defeat of his party. Some of the more unwise and demonstrative members of the Conservative party are saying that he has made Lord Salisbury seem small, and has actually nullified his memorandum of agreement with Count Schouvaloff. This may be so, but it is a dangerous precedent thus to praise one member of a Cabinet at the expense of the other. To do the Daily Telegraph justice, it has not committed this indiscretion on the contrary, now that it has attained the essential point of its contention, it does not care to stand out for de- tails. It leaves to Lord Robert Montagu and the Ultramontane clique to do the part of an anti- Russian fear 'em. Like a sensible man, the organ of Peterborough Court does not keep a dog and bark. Another attempt has been made to form a Tory Cave but it has signally failed, as we might have expeoted it would do. The cave bear is a type of existence known to palaontologists at least, its bones have been dug up in abundance everywhere. But the ursus speluncalis of modern political life came in with Mr Lowe, and with him went out. As for poor Lord Robert Montagu attempting to play such a part, it is too ridiculous even to be thought of. His attempt on Friday last to put on the cast-off mantle of Pollard Urquhart, and to [)o?e as a Rnssophobist pure and simple, was ridi- culous in the extreme. If Lord Beaconsficld i" lot able to look after Turkish interests, and to naintain the integrity of, Turkey, whatever that nefins at this time of day, then Heaven save the murk I do not expect that Lord Robert Mon- tagu to tae rescue wui prove much of a battle- cry. It ib a new way to pay old debts and to show 1US for the Pope and theTemporal Power, by a thick-and-thin partisanship of Turkey. I have! heard of ^the Crescent and the Crowll before, but sucii a singulat conj unction as this is beyond any experience. The seasou is not inviting for town festivities. To grill slowly at a late and heavy Londen dinner is a fate which we could not wish to intiict on our Mtterest foe. It may suit the young King of Bonny, who is over here, and who might think himself back.at one of his African lagoons as he lav sweltering the other morning with a November fog and a tropical heat. Conic hut, come cold, Father Thames is equal to (he oeea-iion. and throws up a fog which might 1), ladled out with a soup spoon. The Orleans Club is wise as it goes up the river to divert itself, since if there is a cool spot about London, it is Twickenham. Already the rush to Paris has set in for the fete on Sunday next, which is to be the event of the year, and on a scale of magnificence which will make even Parisians admit that for once the Re- public can outlive the Empire in its own line of Sardanapalus splendour. I should like to know what the Shah will think of it. If Berlin is as warm as London—and it is gener- ally a good deal hotter when it is summer weather —the Conference must have had some sultry meetings during the last few days. However, dip- lomatists know ho\t- to keep their temper, and generally smile when they mean to be most vi ?ions. As for poor Prince Gortscliakoff, he is too ill to do more than, sit at his hotel window and direct the Russian diplomatists by short memo- randa in pencil, which pass to and fro continually. Then, there is a bevy of fair dames who are grac- ing Berlin with their presence. Lady Salisbury is there, and other diplomatists have also brought their wives. From a royal Funeral to a wedding: such is life. We have laid the ex-king of Hanover in the royal vaults of Windsor, and now the Duke of Connaught is bringing his fiancee over with her father. The breeding of race-horses, if it be a less lucra- tive pursuit than it was in the plunging days of the Marquis of Hastings and his school, is by no means an ill-rewarded vocation. On Saturday, the Cobham yearling sale took place, when sixty-four lots were disposed of, and, although there were several very low-priced lots—in two instances the young things fetched no more than 25 guineas each—an average little short of 3tH guineas was reached. A brown colt, a son of Carnival and Curacoa, realized the enormous price of 2500 guineas. Capt. Machell was the buyer. If at the end of his three-year-old career he were sold for 50 guineas, I should not be surprised. Such things have happened. Mr Robert Peck, the trainer (who sold Lord Roseberry, Bonnie Scotland, on the morning of the Derby, and made 7000 guineas by the transaction), was the purchaser, for 1300 guineas of a Daughter of Wild Oats and Eva and Mr R. C. Nay) or gave 1050 for a son of Blair Athol and Armada. Sir Bowler," purchasing for Mr Bush, a boockmaker,went as far as 1150 for a son of Carnival and Iuauita. It is a curious,—perhaps a significant fact that not a single nobleman's name appears in the list of purchasers. Now that the newspaper gushers have said their say about the Australian cricketers, one may ex- pect to see a truer exemplification of the skill which those athletes poss ss than was afforded those persons who were present when Marylebone Ciub and Ground received such a remarkable thrashing at the hands of the strangers. I saw the Australians play their first match, at Notting- ham, and since then have "assisted" at the matches against Surrey and the ijentlemen of En- gland at the Oval and Prince's. I think, therefore, I can form a pretty shrewd estimate of their form." Well, in my opinion, they are, as they stand, about equal to a second class English county eleven. Middlesex was weaker than usual in bowling, and so Middlesex was beaten. Surrey had had luck. I am strongly of opinion, how- ever, that Gloucestershire will repeat the Notting- hamshire feat and overthrow the Australians. As for their prospects against an eleven of England, why to talk about it even is to betray an ignorance of the national game uncommon to a properly educated muscular Englishman. It will interest my cricket loving readers to know that the most puzzling bowler which the Australians have met with in this country is the slow-twister Barratt. This is their own admission. Miss Virginia Blackwood, the lessee of Sanger's Amphitheatre (which people will persist in calling Asthiy's), intends to keep the theatre open during the period when most of the other London play houses are closed, and she will produce that ever attractive equestrian drama "Mazeppa." I mention the fact to express a hope that she will not com- mit the serious mistake that has twice before been made at this theatre; having the character of Mazeppa supported by a woman. No one who knows the part needs to be reminded how utterly unfit it is, on the ground of common decency, for a woman. That the theatre was nightly crowded when a woman sustained this character, ? perhaps the strongest argument that could be adduced against such a scandalous perversion of Byron's original idea.

HOLYHEAD. SAD CASE OF DROWNING. — On Monday last, owing to a signal been exhibited on the Skerries Island, the Trinity steamer stationed here, under the command of Capt Pascoe, went in that direction to ascertain what had occurred, and during her absence much anxiety was felt as to the probable cause for hoisting the signal. Upon the vessel's return in the evening the sad news was spread about with wonderful quickness that a young man of very respectable connections, who was a light- keeper on the island,had got drowned. He appears to have got drowned on the previous day, but the circumstances attending his death have not tran- spired. This may be accounted for by the fact that only three men (light-keepers) inhgbit the Skerries Island, and he may have fallen into the water unseen by any of the other two men. Up to this Ms body has not been recovered, and doubts are entertained as to its being found at the Skerries as there are very strong tides at that part. The deceased was, we believe, a native of Pem- broke Dock, his name being Francis Grono. He leaves a widow and two orphans to mourn his loss, with whom much sympathy is felt in their sad bereavement.

It is terrible this spelling mania (confesses an American contemporary). You are stopped upon the street and invited to spell 'peddler,' 'pedlar,' pedler,' or some other word. Your wife wakes you up in the middle of the night to spell sar- cophagus your children hasten to ask you to spell corymb,' and devote all their spare time to the dictionary; your eldest boy comes home late at night in weeping mood, and explains his sorrow thus—"I went to see Mary"—his sweetheirt- "this evening; she met me at the door with Spell erysipelas, Tom I speltit with two i's and no y, and she said, Sir, our engagement is at an end I cannot love a bad speller anymore." Her father, on being appealed to, says, 'Give Tom one more trial. Spell consanguineous," sir.' I spelled it with fourn's and two i's, and he bade me leave the house and never hope to be his son-in-law." An American lady correspondent writes :—"We have all got neuralgia in our shoulders from wear- ing spring clothes, and many new dresses are sup- plemented across the backs by porons plasters, and next to a vest front a mustard poultice is generally most worn. Young ladies alternate between a necklace for street wear and a flannel rag for the house. Diamonds are worn in the ears with much effect abroad, but a piece of cotton and a little roast onion is the usual adornment at home. Pearl powder is applied to the shoulders for full dress, but camphorated oil and hartshorn liniment are considered very pret'y also by the sufferers. I notice silk stockings, with coloured clockings, are the things for low-slashed shoes, but pails of hot mustard-water and warm bricks are also much worn on the feet."

VAORANCA. Joseph Radiord, a confirmed vagrant, was last week brought up before the borough magistrates, and sentenced to two months' imprisonment for sleeping out. BEFORE THE COUNTY MAGISTRATES, on Saturday, James Slaughter, Llanberis, was fined 10s. and costs for driving furiously, and Owen Jones, Llan- rug, was found guilty of being on licen sed pre- mises, viz., the Cross Keys, Efail Bach, during illegal hours, and was ordered to pay a fine of 2s. 6d. and costs. ANNIVERSARY PREACHING SERVICES were held at Siloh chapel on Sunday and Mouda y. The officiat- ing ministers were the Revs. T. C. Edwards. M.A.. Aberystwith: J. Ogwen Jones, B.A., Rhyl: J. Ffonlkes Jones, B.A.,Machynlleth; and E. Griffiths, Meifod. The services were numerously attended! NARROW ESCAPE FIIOM DROAVNING. — HEROIC CONDUCT OF A YoLxo MAX.—On Friday afternoon as a youth named Edwards, aged twelve years, was fishing for crabs on the unfinished wall of the new harbour, he overbalanced himself and fell into the water. The tide ebbing at the time, the un- fortunate youth was carried away some distance from the wall. His cries, together with those of j his youthful companions, attracted the attention of a nun-ber of ship-carpenters, who were engaged in repairing a ship in the duck, and thev immediately proceeded to the scene of the accident just in time to find the poor boy in a sinking condition, some distance from the Avail. Griffith Edwards, a young carpenter residing in Balaclava-road, without even divesting himself of his shoes, courageously jumped from the high wall into the sea, s.vam towards the sinking youth, whose hands only were visible at the time, and succeeded in bringing him to the surface, and returning with him to the harbour wall, where both were picked up in an exhausted condition. Having treated him in the usual manner, the poor boy was conveyed to the care of his widowed mother, who resides in Mountain- street, and we understand that he is now restored to perfect health. This is Mr Griffith Edwards's second successful attempt in saving persons from drowning, and we hope that his present heroic- conduct will be notifiecl to the authorities of the Royal Humane Society, in order that a recognition of his noble conduct might stimulate others to follow his example when needed. As crab-fishing is being carried on by children in very dangerous localities in the harbour, we trust that the proper officials will do their utmost to put a stop to this dangerous practice, so as to avert accidents of the nature above referred to. ENTERTAINMENT.—A very amusing and interest- ing entertainment was given f.t the Guild Hall, Carnarvon, oil Friday evening, June 21st, by the pupils of the Grammar School, Uxbridge-square, assisted by other amateurs, on the occasion of their breaking up for the Midsummer holidays. The mayor (Mr Pugh), who presided, having, made a few brief remarks, called upon the head master (Mr Siddons) to explain the object of the meeting. Mr Siddons complied, and said that having laboured among the young and rising generation of Carnarvon for two years, he did not feel quite a stranger to many then present. His chief obiect for inviting the parents and friends there that evening was to enable them to see how those boys, who were about to receive prizes, had acquitted thtoselvej in their virious studies during the past half year, and he thought the present mode of pro- cedure would have a great influence upon the boys, and would encourage them to make more strenuous efforts in future as well as stimulate others to per- severe in their studies. He was using all the means in his power to train those youths up in habtts of industry, and to make them feel that they each had important duties to fulfil while at school in preparing themselves for the various pursuits in life which they would soon be called upon to perform, and his great desire was that they should become good citizens and .useful members of society. The proceedings then commenced, during which several pieces, consisting of songs, readings, and recitations, were admirably rendered b. the pupils, and listened to by the audience with the deepest attention, especia1ly those of Masters Jeffrey, Evans, and Williams, who each received an encore. The songs, piano, and vocal duets by the Misses Martin and Miss Sinley, were executed in an excellent manner, and added much to the enjoyment of the evening. Mr Dewhurst, of Warrington, sung the song entitled "Jack's Yarn" in a style which elicited a loud applause. Mr J. Williams accompanied several pieces with his usual ability. The "Village School" by the pupils caused much merriment to our young friends. A vote of thanks to the Chairman, and to the ladies who had kindly distributed the prizes, brought a most enjoyable evening to a close. BOARD OF GUARDIANS, SATURDAY.—Present; Messrs. Robert Jones (chairman), Hugh Thomas and J. Thomas (vice-chairman), William Jones, John Griffith, John Jones (Carnarvon), Evan Hugh Owen, William Owen (Llanfaglan), Darnel Thomas, John Jones (Llanwnda), Robert Wil- liams, William Owen (Prysgol), John Thomas, Edward Williams, Rowland Humphreys, Robert Thomas, Hugh Williams, John Roberts, Thomas Jones, and Mr J. H. Thomas (clerk). Financial, #c.—1Tbtal amount of out-door relief granted during the fortnight, £ 329 10s ditto to non-settled poor, 19s 10s. Number in the house, 78; vagrants during the fortnight, 41. The Workhome Hospital.-The Clerk informed ttu- board that Mr Murray Brows, the Local Govern- ment Board Inspector, had called the attention of the guardians to the offensive smell in the hospital, and had requested the house medical offic-r to report upon the building. Dr. Williams, in hi. report, stated that the atmosphere and condition of the hospital had engaged his attention ever since his appointment to his present office; and he had failed to remedy the evil. He was glad to find that the hospital was kept very clean. The offensive smell did not arise from the absence of cleanliness, but because there was no other accom- modation for the sick inmates, many of whom were suffering from sore legs. The report also re- ferred to the low head of the wards, and recom- mended the erection of a new room in which the sick paupers could be kept during the day time, so as to allow the hospital to be thoroughly sweetened and ventilated.—The report was referred to the house committee and the Chairman. l'he School Attendance Co>nmiftee.—The minutes of a meeting of the above committee, held at the Guild Hall on the 15th inst., were read by the Clerk. The proceedings were convened to consider the duties of the guardians and union officers under the Education Act. It was found that the clauses of the Act, as it affected the guardians, were effectually carried out in the union, and the relieving officers had satisfactorily performed the duties of enquiry officers. The meeting recom- mended their re-appointment as enquiry officers for the ensuing year, at a salary of t2 each.—The tender of Mr D. W. Davies, Bridge-street, for printing the list of paupers, &c., was accepted._ The board confirmed the resolutions passed at the meeting. Afitcellaneous.—A request by the Sunday School Committee to take the youthful inmates of the house with an excursion to Aber was granted.—A letter was read from the Local Government Board confirming the increase of salary granted to the master and matron, granting a second-class certi- ficate to Miss Jones, the schoolmistress, and in- creasing the grant to zCl8 8s. BOROUGH MAGISTRATES' COURT, MONDAY. -Before the Mayor (Mr Pugh) and Mr G. R. Rees. A Refractory Apprentice.— Mr Hugh Jones, Slate and Marble Works, summoned Richard Davies, of 22, Caeathro, for refusing to perform his duties under a deed of apprenticeship, signed by him in June, 1877, by which he was bound to the com- plainant for three years, at a weekly salary of 8a Gd. The defendant, who was apprenticed to the stone-cutting trade, left his work on Thursday week, and had refused to return.—In defence, the defendant said. that the complainant