The North Wales Express

RESULTS OF THE WELSH ELECTIONS. No of Popula- Retiring Liberal Conservative Elected Members. Districts. tion. 1877-78. Members. Politics. Candidates. Politics. Votes. Votes. Members. Politics. 1. ANGLESEY 37,368 3,110 Richard Davies L (Richard Davies, M.P. L 1394 Mr Richard Davies L Capt. Pritchard Rayner.. C 1085 1. BEAUMARIS DISTRICT 13,672 2,548 Morgan Lloyd L F Morgan Lloyd, M.P L NO contest. Mr Morgan Lloyd L Amlwch, Beaumaris, j Holyhead, Llangefni. 1. BRBCON 6,308 837 J. P. W. Gwynne Hoi- Cyril Flower L 438 Mr Cyril Flowers L ford C ( J. Gwynne Holford, M.P. 0 379 I.BRECKNOCKSHIRE 51,335 4,424 W. Fuller Maitland L W. Fuller Maitland, M.P. L 1810 Mr W. Fuller Maitland L ( Hon Arthur J. Morgan C 1550 CARDIFF DISTRICT 60,084 8,081 Lieut.-Col. J. F. D. C. f E. J; Reed, M.P L 3831 Mr E. J. Reed, O.B. L Cardiff, Cowbridge, Stuart L < Arthur Guest C •. 3483 Llantrissant. 1. CARDIGAN DISTRICT. 14,485 2,159 David Davies L ( David Davies, M.P. L No contest. Mr D. Davies. L Aberystwyth, Adpar, j Cardigan, Lampeter. 1. CARDIGANSHIRE 62,167 4,726 T.E.Lloyd C Lewis Pugh Pugh L 2406 Mr L. P. Pugh L { T. E. Lloyd, M.P O 1605 1- CARMARTHKN DISTRICT 25,769 4,515 B. T. Williams L ( B.T.Williams, Q, C.,M.P. L 1935 Mr B. T. Williams. L Carmarthen, Llanelly. ( John Jones Jenkins L 1825 2. CARMARTHENSHIRE 89,036 8,192 Lord Emlyn C ( W. H, Powell L 4101 W. H. Powell .t« L John Jones C { Lord Emlyn, M.P O • 3030 Lord Emlyn C ( John Jones, M.P C •• 2712 1. CARNARVON DISTRICT. 27,540 4,056 W.B.Hughes L W. B. Hughes, M.P L No contest. W.B.Hughes L Bangor, Carnarvon, Con- J way, Criccieth, Nevin, ) Pwllheli. I 1* CARNARVONSHIRE 78,581 6,361 Hon. G. S. Douglas (Watkin Williams, M.P. L 3303 Watkin Williams, Q,.C. L Pennant C i Hon. G. S. Douglas Pen- ( nant, M.P C • • 2206 DENBIGH DISTRICT 20,224 2,944 Watkin Williams L ( Sir R. Cunliffe L 1424 Sir Robert Cunliffe L Denbigh, Holt, Ruthin, < Hon. G. T. Kenyon C •• 1409 Denbigh, Holt, Ruthin, < Hon. G. T. Kenyon C 1409 Wrexham. 2- DENBIGHSHIRE 84,878 7,363 Sir Watkin W. Wynn.. C ( Sir Watkin Wynn, M.P.. 0 No contest. Sir Watkin W. Wynn C G. Osborne Morgan L j G. Osborne Morgan, M.P. L •• •• G. O. Morgan, Q.C. L FLINT DISTRICT 22,989 3,707 John Roberts L /John Roberts, M.P. L 2039 John Roberts L Caergxcrle, Caerwys, I P. P. Pennant C • • 1468 Flint, Holywell, Mold, j Caergxcrle, Caerwys, I P. P. Pennant C • • 1468 Flint, Holywell, Mold, j Overton, Bhuddlan, St Asaph. FLINTSHIRE 52,347 3,876 Lord Richard Grosvenor L Lord R. Gi osvenor, M.P. L No contest. Lord R. Grosvenor. L 2. GLAMORGANSHIRE 162,241 12,350 C. R. M. Talbot L ( C. R. M. Talbot, M.P. L No contest. C. R. M. Talbot L H. Hussey Vivian L ( H. Hussey Vivian, M.P.. L • • H. Hussey Vivian L HAVERFORDWEST 9,469 1,601 Lord Kensington L ? Lord Kensington, M.P.. L 686. Lord Kensington L Haverfordwest, Fish- < C. J. Cropper C • • 522 guard, Narberth. ( 1. MERIONETHSHIRE 46,598 3,346 S.Holland L (S. Holland, M.P. L 1866 S. Holland. L ( A. M. Dunlop C 1074 2. MERTHVR TYDVIL 97,020 14,918 Richard Fothergill. L ( Henry Richard, M.P L 8035 Henry Richard L Henry Richard L < Charles Herbert James L 7526 C.H.James L ( W. Thomas Lewis.. Indpt. • • 4445 I- MONTGOMERY DISTRICT 18,677 3,036 Hon. F. S. Hanbury- [Ron. F. S. Hanbury 1572 Hon F. S. Hanbury- Llanfyllin, Llanidloes, 7. icy L Tracy, M. P. L Tracy L Machynlleth, Mont- j Pryce Jones C •• 1211 qomery, Newtown, I Welshpool. ^•MONTGOMERYSHIRE 48,946 5,114 C. W. W. Wynn C Stuart Rendel L 2272 Stuart Rendel L C.W. W. Wynn, M.P. C •• 2004 PBMBROKE DISTRICT 22,787 3,473 Edward J. Reed L(H. G.Allen L 1462 .H.G.Allen L Milford, Pembroke, Ten- < T. C. Meyrick C •• 1429 by Wiston. *• PEMBROKESHIRE 57,436 5,019 J. B. Bowen C W. Davies L 2185 W. Davies L t C. E. G. Phillips O .1737.. RADNOR DISTRICT 6,935 932 Right Hon. Marquis of } Lord Hartington L No contest. Lord Hartington L Cefn Llys, Knighton, Hartington L| Knuclclas, Presteign, ) Cefn Llys, Knighton, Hartington L Knuclclas, Presteign, ) Radnor, Rhayader. L- RADNORSHIRE 18,495 2,391 Hon. Arthur Walsh C ( Sir Rd. Green Price L 1137 Sir R. Green Price L Rt. Baskerville Mynors C • 800 SWANSEA DISTRICT 80,772 14,634 L. L. Dillwyn L J L. L. Dillwyn, M.P L No contest. L. L. Dillwyn L Aberavon, Kenfig, • Aberavon, Kenfig, Louo)" Voath, Swansea.

DEATH OF THE REV DR. RALEIGH. The Congregational body has suffered a severe toss by the death of the eminent minister, Dr A. ■Sleigh, which took place on Monday last, at his Residence, Ladbroke-grove, Notting-hill. Dr Raleigh, who was born at Castle Douglas, on Jan- uary 3. 1817, received his education at the Black- burn Theological Academy, which, while he was yet a student, was removed to Manchester, and "ecame the Lancashire Independent College. On leaving that Institution, in 1844, he became minis- ter of a congregation at Greenock. After an Interval of retirement, occasioned by illness, he laboured from 1850 until 1855 at Rotherham. In ihe latter year Tie succeeded the Rev Dr Wardlaw, minister of Elgin-place Chapel, Glasgow. In 1859 he was induced to accept the oversight of the Jtttportant congregation assembling in Hare-court, ,;yhapel, Canonbury, which had just been built. A here his success was rendered conspicuous by the l'apid increase of the church members, numbering Nearly a thousand, the multiplication of churches and mission stations, and the necessity of providing enlarged accommodation at Hare Court. In 1875 Dr Raleigh accepted the pastorate of Allen-street ^hapel, Kensington, succeeding Dr Stoughton. At ^he annual meeting of t-ha church and congregation ^uere held early in the present year, the report read showed that the chapel accommodation was fully Occupied, and that its numerous institutions and ^Kencies were in a most flourishing condition, some ;cs,000 being raise1 for religious and philanthropic Purposes every year. Dr Raleigh, who presided, spoke very feelingly of the happiness he felt in his work, and warmly acknowledged the affection of a suited people. In a very few weeks he was laid side, at first partially, and then entirely, by an literal malady. Dr Risdon Bennett and Sir ames Paget attended him, but the vit?l organs were too deeply implicated for medical aid to be of avaIl. Tue Rev Dr Allon was with him in his last ihurs.. Dr Raleigh, who received his degree from fi Hnjversity of Glasgow, was one of the most j"' e? as most popular preachers of his » n°I?11'latic'ri. His clear calm judgment, ample -and h ^ran^aessi a*d simplicity of charaater, ■whichreR-u symPat.hy, gave him an influence ■todv of muc^ raided in the councils of the which he was an ornament.

SUPPOSED LOSS OF THE "ATA- LANTA." The following n^+- "Was posted outside tht=>%J^rr"ra^iy» port on Wednesday ev^° yar?<&ates at Devou* fusion of names, it JavK8 prevent con- steamship Atalanta, beW? that the Lundies, and Co., i8 Messrs ?mith, channel within the next twentv^fo £ mve,Jn the The Press Association i hours. tnouth telegraphs: YeSterday^^ iw" the flag of the commander-in.^i1^ 8»lute to •Spithead, and immediately numbers of npnnlp ^Without staying to reason, ran to the H t gates. None of them could have believed that the «alute was likely to come from a man-of-war "-fh *ny intelligence of the Atalanta, but they that it was a ship returning to Portsmouth harbour and therefore they went to make the inquiries which they have so often repeated. It cannot be said that they were very much surprised to learn that the salute came merely from the motor yhich had come from Southampton for repairs' It is thought that by to-day (Thursday) at the lat- somethi&ff may be heard of the Wye or the ^alamis, and the anxiety of the friends and rela- tives is growing intense. Naval people, however, ?tiU adhere to the opinion that the ship is safe in the remote regions of North America, and probably Salem, where the steam frigate Racoon, m which *he Duke of Edinburgh served for three y^ars ana a half as a lieutenant, was driven in 1865, ana ^nere she was delayed for two months. Indeed those who know the Atalanta best are staunchest *n their faith in her stability, and not a few say they would be prepared, if the ship were now at ^pithead, to sail round the world in her. The idea that she has been smashed by icebergs they con- aider is negatived by the fact that no traces of her Wreckage have been found. Her capsizing they legard as an impossibility, &o that, should nothing *>6 heard of her for some weeks to come, they will ::not abandon hope. This confidence, so freely ex- pressed, has had a beneficial influence, and has re- vived the hopes of many who a fortnight ago felt Assured that the ship was lost, but who now feel bo less certain that she will yet return.

RESULTS OF THE GENERAL ELECTION. Up to Thursday night last, 649 members had been returned to serve in the new Parliament. Of these, 237 are Conservatives, 351 Liberals, and 61 Home Rulers. The Conservatives have gained 23 seats, and the Liberals 135 seats; net Liberal gain, 112 seats, which includes seats won by Home Rulers from Conservatives. These figures include the double return of Mr Gladstone and Lord Hartington, and the tripla return of Mr C. S. Parnell. The Liberal majority, including Home Rulers, is 175. The Liberal majority over Con- servatives and Home Rulers combined is 53. The comparative number of votes given at the present general election, and at the general election of 1874, in the constituencies where contests occurred on both occasions, are as follows :-Conservative vote in 1880, 1,198,913 in 1874, 1,079,835 Con- ie £ ^tive gain, 119,078. Liberal vote in 1880, i,59° 727; in i874) 1,173,443; Liberal gain, 417,284; net Liberal gain, 294,206 votes. There were 65 uncontested elections in 1880, as against 115 uncontested elections in 1874. The total number of voters on the registers in 1874 was 2,648,962. The total number of voters on the registers in 1880 is 3,038,726. As distinguished from votes given, the actual number of voters who polled in 1880 were 1,246,669 Liberals, and 871,346 Con- servatives. In the Liberal total the Home Rule voters, numbering 49,980, are included. The number of voters who polled in 1874 were 830,552 Liberals, and 701,797 Conservatives.

IPASTORS' COLLEGE ANNUAL CONFERENCE. PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS BY MR SPURGEON. At the Pastors' College, adjoining the Metro- politan Tabernacle, the present and former students, to the number of nearly 500, the majority being at present in charge of Baptist churches throughout the world, are, by the invitation of Mr Spurgeon and his church, during this week, hold- ing their annual conference. On Tuesday morn- ing Mr Spurgeon delivered the presidential address, selecting as his subject—" A new depar- I ture." After dwelling upon the process of run- ning down in power, which he said prevailed in the Christian Ministry, and pointing out the causes contributing thereto, he mentioned specula- tion in the pulpit as a fruitful source of mischief. Like the incident in Sinbad the Sailor," he had known preachers eat, drink, and enjoy themselves on some pet theory, when suddenly, the facts of history had gone, and the whole thing disappeared much like a whale. Some men again had no par- ticular principles, their only view being—" To the Pastorate." They were prepared to be like the showman, to whom "you pay your money and take your choice," and reminded him of a French school which advertised that it was prepared to teach any religion which the parents of the children might select. German theologists had diligently made vast nets, with which they had encased the sea of truth; and yet, after all the noise and sensation and trembling and fainting amongst the old ladies of Christendom, and every- thing was going wrong, when brought ashore their mighty catch had not been the tenth part of a sardine. Speaking of the necessity of restora- tion where there had been a decline in the ministry, he remarked that the present was a specially fit time, if they looked only at our own nation politically. He believed we were come back to a condition in which there will be a re- spect for righteousness and truth (applause). He cared for nothing else-a condition in which we shall no longer ba steered by our interests and the policy which comes of it, but by—"Is this right, or is it wrong ?" That was all he wanted to see, whether it was Mr This or Mr That who was con- cerned. If that were the principle, he was satis- fied, and he believed they had come to that, and now instead of lying still year after year, and no progress, with no injustice mended, no home legislation effected, all our time being taken up with the glitter of some foreign adventures—some- thing would now be done. Besides that, they would have the advantage of spreading education, and with all this, and other prospective advantages, they might, as ministers, go on encouraged, go on to certain victory. In the evening a soiree was held at the Stock- well Orphanage, Clapham.

Under the heading" Theological Dis- abilities," "A Scotchwoman" writes to the Daily Post of Thursday as follows :—" The Tories are now reduced to taunting the Liberals with sending Atheists, &c., to Parliament. Do they forget, or conveniently ignore the fact that Lord Lytton, under the pseudonym of Owen Meredith, wrote a book to prove that our Saviour was an impostor, and yet he is now the representative of Christian England in India. Let Mr Cross and his friends study Matt. vii—3. What can we expect from men who have so largely assailed the character of One who towers as far above the best of them as did Saul among the people." According to the Society for the Propaga- tion of the Jewish Faith, the headquarters of which are at Berlin, there are at the present moment scattered over the face of the earth from 6,000,000 to 7,000,000 Jews—that is to say, the same number of Israelites, or nearly so, as it is alleged existed in I the time of King David. Of these, 5,000,000 live in Europe, 200,000 in Asia, 800,000 in Africa, and 1,000,000 or more in America. In Europe, Russia reckons the highest number of Jews, 2,621,000 be- ing established in that country. Second on the list comes Austria-Hungary, which possesses 1,375,000 Israelites, of which 575,000 reside in Galicia. Germany gives hospitality to 512,000 Jews, Holland to 70,000, England to 50,0000, France to 49,000, Italy to 35,000, Spain and Portugal together have but from 3000 to 4000 Jews in their territory, Sweden 1800, and Norway only 25 Israelites in the whole kingdom. In Berlin alone there are 45,000 Jews, nearly as many as in the whole of France. There are 25,000 Jews in Palestine, the majority being at Jerusalem.

MR J. H. PULESTON, M.P. Few of the sons of Wales have attained to a higher dtgree of eminence through perseverance and energy than the gentleman named above who has just been returned for the third time at the head of the poll for the dockyard constituency of Devon port. Subjoined is a biographical sketch of Mr Puleston, taken from the Western Morn- ing News:— Mr Puleston, who was born in 1830, at Plas- mynydd, in Denbighshire, and he comes of a family which has been seated in North Wales for many generations. Educated at Ruthin Grammar School and King's College, London, in his early manheod he passed some time in travel. Of his business life, many years were spent in America, with the result, as has been lately shewn, of winning for him a remarkable degree the affection and esteem of the people among whom he lived. His home was in the State of Pennsylvania, and among his undertakings was the proprietorship of a newspaper to which a very prominent American journalist recently referred very complimentarily. The Hon. A. K. McKay, one of Puleston's entertainers in Philadelphia, spoke thus humorously of his old associations with him:—"We are both country editors; he pub ishing the most beautiful paper in the State, I publishing what I thought was the best." When the war of Secession broke out in 1861, dis- locating all commercial relations as it did, Mr Puleston did not hesitate to set his hand to work, which was then all important. Many English- men of various ranks joined the opposing forces, as did the Orleans Princes Mr Puleston's part in the struggle was purely that of a friend. The State of Pennsylvania put 100,000 men in the field, and his duties were to make proper provision for the soldiers in the field, to minister to them in the hospitals, and to return the dust of the fallen to their homes for burial." During his recent visit to the States some of the most kindly and most natural words uttered were the acknowledg- ments of these services of "Colonel John Henry Puleston," of the Army Staff. A Philadelphia journal, indeed, reported one enthusiastic soldier to have declared at a reception that the name of Colonel Puleston ought always to be borne on the muster-roll of the State. No doubt the special medical training which he received in early life stood him at this time in good stead. The wide range-of friendships these efforts produced was proved by the diversified assemblies which greeted him on his return to the States. An American journal spoke of them as testimonials such as have been rarely given to our most distinguished men." Equally marked was the cordiality with which England was honoured. "The American people were glad, it is said," of the opportunity Mr Puleston's visit offered to testify their sincere regard for the Governnjent and people of the par- ent country, but there were few even of England's most distinguished men whose presence would have called out the unreserved expression of this sentiment as he did." Mr Blaine, the leading candidate for the Presidency of the States, in the course of a letter in which he invited Mr Puleston to visit him at Washington, referred thus to Lord Beaconsfield "Say to him we want him to visit America; he will get a reception such as was never given before to mortal man." Senator Cameron, Judge Kelley, the father of the American Congress, and many of the generals of the war, were also among these friends. And, as he was received with an address of welcome, so he was taken leave of with a weighty testimonial. Mr Puleston returned to England eleven years since, but not for the first time, as in 1857 he had taken to himself from North Wales a wife. His position in the commercial world on his return was that of active partner in the firm of Jay Cooke, McCuIloch, and Co., who were the London cor- respondents of the celebrated American house. Jay Cooke and Co. The firm were the bankers of the American Government, whose financial agent Jay Cooke was. It was in this capacity that Mr Puleston introduced on the London Exchange the first loan of the American Government, known as Five per Cent. Funded Loan, which was up to that time the largest foreign loan ever negotiated in this country at one time. His firm was not, like many other concerns, destroyed by the calamity which in 1873 overtook the American firm but On Mr McCulloch's subsequent return to America the present house of Puleston, Brown, and Co. was established. Mr Puleston, after his return to England, in- terested himself to some extent in politics, but less in England than in Wales, with which he re- tains the close connection natural to one who was shewn himself somewhat proud of his nationality. He had no connection with Devonport, and, in 1873, when the request to offer himself as a candi- date was first put before him, he promptly declined. Representations were made which in- duced him to reconsider this decision, and at the close of 1873 he became the accepted Conservative candidate, at that time as the colleague of Lord Graves. Before Mr Gladstone dissolved Parlia- ment he had many opportunities of meeting the electors. He was also, in the meantime, repeatedly invited to come forward for Denbighshire, and no doubt with a good deal of force, it being his native county. At the general election, however, he iitood as the senior Conservative candidate for Devonport, and scored the largest number of votes Devenport had yet given to any candidate—six more, in fact, than Mr Montague Chambers obtained in 1868. As a member of Parliament Mr Puleston has at- tended regularly, and supported the claims of his constituents. The responsibilities attaching to the representation of a dockyard constituency are, of course, very numerous, and there seems to be no complaint in this respect of Mr Puleston's exer- tions. His interest in Welsh subjects has made him at various times the spokesman of his com- patriots on subjects in which it has been necessary at times to oppose the Government. In larger matters also, where the interests of this country and America were both concerned, his experience on both sides has frequently proved useful. Mr Puleston's Welsh sympathies have been re- ferred to. He has fluent use of the Welsh tongue, and, indeed, is said to be an eloquent speaker of Cymiu. It may be due to this that at various times he has played a conspicuous part in Parliamentary contests in the principality—not- ably in Montgomery and the Flint Boroughs. His residence in North Wales is Brynogion, near Ruthin, and he has also a seat in Surrey-Marden Park, near Caterham; and the hospitality ex- tended here and at this town residence to American and other visitors has often been publicly acknow- ledged. Out of thirteen Wesleyan candidates, nine

SPEECH BY MR HERBERT GLAD- STONE. Mr Herbert Gladstone, the youngest son of the eminent statesman, who has so signally distin- guished himself during the recent elections, deli- vered a speech at the opening of a Liberal Club at Reading on Wednesday night, in the course of which he said he felt he owed them an apology, for everybody near London must have heard enough of him during the last three weeks-(no) -and he could assure them that if there was any- body who was tired of his speech, that person was himself (laughter). When he was asked to come there he felt that perhaps some of them would say "we had heard enough of you, ana perhaps we are to hear more about you in a short time— (laughter And cheers) -and in the interval it would be best for you to be silent." Well that was good and sound advice, and he was sure he could not have occupied that interval better than in racking his brains for something new to say next week. He had a few words to say to them upon the subject of the evening-the institution of a Junior Liberal Club (applause). He thought it opened most auspiciously, and with every prospect of success in the future. He rejoiced to see so many ladies present (hear). In Middlesex he owed a debt of gratitude to the ladies (laughter). They did splendid work for him; they asked no questions (laughter and cheers). He remembered being told at Eton a story about Dr Keat, who was a very famous head master there. He used to say that he governed England; and he proved it in this way—he ruled the boys, who ruled their mothers, who ruled their fathers, who ruled Eng- land—(laughter)—and therefore Dr Keat ruled England (laughter). That being a perfectly social gathering, he was sure they did not expect him to make a great political speech. It was a relief to turn away from politics for a time, but he felt when he was asked to visit Reading that he ought to accede to the request for t NO reasons. One was that he knew his father-(" Three cheers for Mr Gladstone ")-took a very great interest in the formation of the club, and knowing he could not possibly come, he felt that perhaps he might do some little service by acting as his deputy, even without his leave (cheers). Secondly, he felt that being a junior, and having been, as it were pitchforked into the Middlesex contest, anything he could do to help on juniors elsewhere he ought to do to the best of his ability (cheers). It was most important that young men should turn their attention to politics as early in life as they could, as at any time they might be called upon to take some part in public work, apd they ought to know something about it. They ought to study history, and follow closely the questions of the day. Unless they did that, they would run great danger of bringing about an interregnum in the progress of the nation (cheers). There were always men who strove to keep up the standard of political morality, and who were at all times stout advocates of progress but unless they were backed by the people they could not ac- complish this great task. In particular he thought they ought to study foreign politics (hear, hear). Sir Stafford Northcote ouse told them that the English working man knew nothing about foreign politics (laughter). That was true up to a certain point no doubt. Foreign politics were exceedingly complicated, and it was impos- sible for the man who worked all day to be able to go into all the technical details which were in- separable from foreign politics. A!l the more reason, then, that those who were not engaged in fatiguing labour all day should make themselves acquainted with history and foreign politics, in order to instruct the working man. But it was altogether wrong to say that they must leave foreign politics entirely to a certain number of men who were at the head of affairs-(hear, hear) -because it frequently happened that those men had no sympathy with the people of other countries. Further, they were perhaps cut off from sympathy with their own fellow-countrymen, and therefore it was impossible that they should have sympathy with people who were oppressed abroad. We had had an instance of that of late- (hear)-and in his opinion they ought to make themselves acquainted with all these questions. Some men, it was said, got on in politics without knowing much about history; but, as a rule, it was impossible to understand the great questions of the day, and all that was going on on the Con- tinent, unless they new the history of their own country and of other countries (cheers). Russia, by a great many people, was held up to aversion. He did not say that she was faultless, and he thought Russian diplomacy might very well be im- proved but he did say, Do not let us imitate Russian diplomacy (cheers). He considered that secret agreements like that which was made between England and Russia was worthy of Russia, and not of England (cheers). He thought they might leave the question of the leadership and of the Cabinet to the Liberal leaders, for they might be pretty sure they would not fight about it; but they had a great work before them, beth in home and foreign politics. We owed much to Ireland, to India, and in particular to Afghanis- tan (cheers). We had, he feared, a great deal to do in the East, and they must endeavour to do it in a way worthy of England. The Treaty of Berlin was merely a stepping stone. It was com- pletely insufficient, and before they could get into a good position in the East they must win baok again the goodwill and affection of all those free nationalities in the East of Europe (cheers). We had for good or evil alienated Russia, we had uei^e(^ nationalities, and at last even c ur^s" n°t think they could put much confidence in Austria. That remained to be seen, but he trusted that Austria would come to re- cognise that she had duties the same as England, had in furthering the cause of liberty in the East, and if she did that England under any Govern- ment would get on well with Austria. He con- cluded by thanking the meeting for their hearty reception.

The Warrington Guardian announces that Mr W. o. Jones, of the Elms, near Warrington, has forwarded a cheque for £500 to Mr Joseph Davies, secretary to the Warrington Infirmary, in. aid of the funds of that institution.

PRUDENTIAL ASSURANCE COMPANY. The Prudential Assuraace Company has issued another report. The premiums received in the industrial department (which is what most interests us) amounted to £ 1,407,143. The expenses were £681,727, and the death claims £509,934. There is a paragraph in the report which seems to us to be so worded as not to show the full expenditure. It is stated that the expense of conducting the existing business of this [industrial] branch is now 32 37 per cent. upon the premium income." The Times made the following comment upon that in its issue of the 6th of March A correspondent points out that if comparison be made upon the basis of the premium income alone, the expenses of the past year, instead of being but little more than 32 per cent. of such income, are over 48 per cent. Hence, as was pointed out by us a year ago, those who join this or, indeed any such burial club, cannot at best hope to get back more than a halfpenny for every penny spent, and if the invested funds are to be treated as the property of the share- holders in the concern, the actual return to the insurer cannot, on the average, reach one-third of the amounts paid in. There is surely room for great reform here." As the premium income was, as we have stated, J61,407,143, and the total expenses X681,727, it is apparent that the proportion of expenses to in- come is 48 per cent., as mentioned by the corres- pondent in question. We imagine that the Prudential" managers leave out of question the expense of obtaining the business when they speak of 32 37 as being the expense of conducting the business. In that case we repeat that the paragraph is framed in such a manner as not to show the full expenditure of the Company. The Chairman at the annual meeting spoke, according to a report before us, of the expenses, without any qualification, as being 32*37. His statement is more surprising than the one in the report. Under any circumstances the expenses are so large that, with the Times, we regret that the Post Office insurance system should have proved so great a failure, and that nothing better is put before the poor in the way of insurance, than the means of providing themselves with coffins and graves. True industrial insurance might go further with safety and advantage to all concerned. The average amount of each assurance in the Prudential" is according to their last valuation returns under £10, and, therefore, we have the sad picture of one society spending more than two-thirds of a million pounds in inducing the working-classes to provide, as the Times points outs for mere coffins and graves. Such figures are a sad reflection upon a great portion of the working-classes, and one which the operation of the School Board Act will, we hope, render impossible in years to come.

CARNARVONSHIRE ELECTION- The following letter appeared in Saturday's Liverpool Mercury Gentlemen,-As Mr Watki-i Williams litis thought fit to assume indi¡jll ition at any impi,tz, tion upon the truthfulness of some electors ot Carnarvonshire, I am induced to make these ob- servations for the benefit of those who are not blinded by prejudice. That, with the fervour of an advocate, Mr Watkin Williams should have been betrayed into using discourteous language towards a political opponent, will excite less sur- prise than regret; but his assertion that the charge of deception by electors of this county is ab- solutely unfounded" requires some notice. That there were exhortations from persons of influence is too well known, as well as suggestions from the agents of Mr Watkin Williams, to the effect that it was the duty of voters to break the promises of support which had been made to me, and that in so doing they "would meet with the approbation of all moralists," is notorious. Mr Watkin Williams states that "I have not been deceived by the electors, but by the army of hirelings, whose interest it was to mislead me." My agents in the various districts were men of ability and integrity my canvassers (who, with few exceptions, were volunteers, and not" hire- lings ") received orders from my agents not to regard anyone as favourable to my cause who did not distinctly promise his vote, and from inquiries I have made I have ascertained that those orders were faithfully carried out. On the polling day, the system of deception was so far elaborated that in some districts (where the voters took cards from my committee rooms, and by so doing professed themselves to be my friends) the numbers applying for the cards exceeded the promises made to me. Carnarvonshire unhappily does not stand alone in this matter; elections in other parts of Wales have elicited the fact that the same tactics as those which placed Mr Watkin Williams at the head of the poll have elsewhere been adopted. It is not in anger but in sorrow that I have spoken and if my words should awaken a feeling of regret that the good name of the people of Wales should be endangered by the teaching of those who should have known better," I shall have earned my re- ward. G. DOUGLAS PENNANT. Penrhyn Castle, Bangor, April 15, 1880. The following letter appeared in another local contemporary this week :— "SIR,-My attention has been called to the statements contained in a letter purporting to be written by Mr Watkin Williams on the subject of the Carnarvonshire election, which should not, I think, be allowed to pass unchallenged. It is there stated that Mr Pennant has been deceived by the army of hirelings (meaning thereby presumably the professional gentlemen retained by Mr Pennant), whose interest it was to mislead him and keep him in the dark." It is an unjust as well as an ungenerous attempt on the part of Mr Williams, by vilifying the supporters of his honourable opponent, to divert attention from the odium of duplicity attaching to his own supporters. It is a maxim I believe with some legal practi- tioners when they have a bad case to abuse their opponent, which occurs to me as the probable solution of the unwarrantable aspersions Mr Wil- liams has seen tit to make. Were it merely a personal matter, I should pass Mr Williams's tirade by in silence, but as it may, if allowed to pass unchallenged, be taken by those of your readers who are unacquainted with the facts to be the true explanation of the surprise created by the result of the polling, I venture to ask you in the interest of justice to give publicity to this letter. Let me premise that of the gentlemen retained by Mr Pennant, of whom I was one, the greater number were professional men of standing in the county, which I think sufficiently answers the sweeping charge Mr Williams has seen fit to make with regard to their conduct generally. Mr Wil- liams adduces as an argument to prove the groundlessness of Mr Pennant's "accusation" the statement that he polled almost the exact number of promises returned by his volunteer canvassers. Does Mr Williams mean to deny that his party were surprised at the majority he obtained ? Does he mean to deny that his party expected the con- test to be very close ? It is notorious that such was the case, and the unexpected majority was undoubtedly obtained through the duplicity of the voters who promised Mr Pennant, but voted for Mr Williams, trusting to the secrecy of the ballot to screen their conduct from detection. It may be said that the Welsh are a religious race, and would not wilfully perpetrate a false- hood before heaven; but if they are taught by those whom they have been educated to regard as authorities in religious matters that there is no sin in breaking a promise, their judgment may have been distorted, and the fault is not entirely theirs. I shall not fall into the error of supporting by mere hearsay evidence my conviction that such has been the case, but shall confine myself to what has come under my personal observation. A mem- ber of the legal profession who was retained by, or on behalf of, Mr Williams, and who is a deacon of the Calvinistic Methodist denomination, openly asserted his views on the question in my presence, and maintained that any one who had promised to vote for Mr Pennant was justified, regardless of his promise to the contrary, in going to the poll and recording his vote for Mr Williams, it he felt that by voting to Mr Pennant, he might be violating his political convictions. This doc- trine has admittedly been utilised in canvassing for Mr Watkin Williams, but whether it met with his approval or not I cannot say. From his social position and professional attainments the gentleman referred to cannot fail to be regardedjas an authority by the religious body of whieh he is an eminent member, and the expression of his views would doubtless have the greatest weight with his co-religionists. That similar views are entertained and disseminated by others there can be no doubt, and the inference to be drawn is irre- sistible. The double dealing thus inculcated must be admitted by all unbiassed p ex sons to be the true solution of the surprise occasioned to the Conserva- tive party by the result of the polling. Mr Williams,however,asserts that the explana- tion of Mr Pennant's disappointment must be looked for in the misconduct of his paid agents. As one of those agents I wish to state that in the district assigned to me there was upwards of four hundred voters, that more than three hundred of these voters were seen by me personally, and that the remaiuder was seen by gentlemen who volunteered to canvass them, not by members of the army of hirelings, and these gentlemen re- ported to me the result of the canvass. I should say in further explanation that in many cases I called four or five times without being able to see the voter, and that I might have personally can- vassed a larger number within the time had it not been for the fact that the men work at various quarries, and are only to be found at home as a rule one evening in the week. If Mr Williams thinks that this is "making a joke of the whole affair," I can only say that his notions of humour and mine do not coincide. My district consisted of Llanrug and a part of Llanbeblig, including Waenfawr and Bettws Gar- mon. In respect ef qualifications in Llanrug there are two hundred and fifty-six names of voters on the register. Of these sixteen have other qualifications, and elected to vote else- where five are dead, two are in America, and (as appears by the register kept at the Conserva- tive committee-room) four did not vote. There were therefore two hundred and twenty-nine votes recorded in respect of qualifications in Llanrug. The whole of these, with the exception, of about twenty, I canvassed personally, and one hundred and, ten definitely promised to support Mr Pennant. The polling booth for Llanrug was at. Cwm-y-glo, where the Llanberis voters also polled, and there were 266 votes in all recorded at this station. Of the Llanberis voters a large number had promised to support Mr Pennant, but as I have not the statistics by me I am unable to givel the precise number. We I have it on the authority of the leading Liberal publication of North Wales that of these 266 votes only 66 were recorded in favour of Mr 'Vunant, and it cannot be supposed that the publisher ot this periodical has allowed this bt -tement to go forth without having satisfied iiiinself of its truth. Allowing, then, for the r; eke of argument that the Llanberis voters polled' to a man for Mr Williams, and that the whole of the sixty-six supporters of Mr Pennant were Llanrug voters, there still remain of the Llanrug voters 44 who promised to vote iox ilr Pennant and voted against him. In the 110 I have not included those who merely expressed their approval of Mr Pennant's candiduture without pledging themselves to support him, though cards were in some instances sent to them in the hope of securing them. Further, I say without fear of conrtadiction that so far from spending my time in 'smoking and drinking and singing at roadside public- houses, and returning at night with my book made up of promises from persons I had never seen,' as is so sweepingly asserted by Mr Wil- liams as his daily expereince of bodies of Mr Pennant's canvassers, on no single occasion while engaged in canvassing the Llanrug voters and obtaining the 110 promises I have mentioned did I or anyone who accompanied me enter a public- house in the parish and the result, as each voter was seen, was there and then recorded in a book whieh I always carried with me for the purpose. In conclusion, I will add that I believe that the other districts in the county were as faith- fully and diligently canvassed as I know my own to have been.—Yours, &c., HUGH ROHIRTS. Llwyn-y-brain, Carnarvon, 19th April, 1880.