Flintshire Observer Mining Journal and General Advertiser for the Counties of Flint Denbigh

CAVALRY MARCHING IN RUSSIA. The Grand Duke Nicholas reports, as General of the Russian cavalry, a remarkable trial in forced inarching made by the Second Orenburg Regiment of Cossacks. The men rode in four days from Nishni-Novgorod to Moscow, and after three'davs' rest they rode in eight days to St. Petersburg. The trial was undertaken to prove the staying powers of the Kcrgish horses and the effects of a forced march. The trial was highly successful, the horses proving in very good condition at the finish. The distance was 1025 versts, and the time sixteen days. ON the USE OF ENGLISH.—Lord Coleridge, speak- ing recently in America, says that every educated speaker of English uses at least three different lan- guages. When he talks he uses colloquial English; when he writes he uses literary English; and when he reads his Bible he uses an antiquated form of English, which, from its relation to modern culture, may almost be called sacred English. So, within the one language there are at least three languages, blending with and overlapping each other, yet each independent of the other, having its own forms, its own vocabulary, and its own rules of use.

PROFESSOR TYNDALL ON THE OLDER ELECTRICITY. Professor Tyndall is delivering at the Royal Insti- tution, in London, a course of lectures on "The Older Electricity its Phenomena and Investigators." The lectures are illustrated by a number of experiments. Historic memoranda formed the staple of the intro- ductory discourse. The audience were reminded that all the ancients knew of electricity was the one fact of the action of amber, which the Greeks called electron, when rubbed, upon light bodies. It had this property in common with jet, and in a far fainter degree with heated tourmaline. Thales (B.C. 580) thought a kind of soul dwelt in amber, and three centuries afterwards Theophrastus wrote on the subject. Dove cited also the remarkable saying of a Chinese philosopher, named Kuopho, in the beginning of the fourth Christian century, The magnet attracts iron as amber attracts small bodies." But it was first at the hands of Dr. Gilbert, Queen Elizabeth's physician, that the subject was expanded. "The power," said that father of modern electrical science, when rubbed, to attract light bodies of all kinds, such as metal, wood, leaves, even water and oil, is not peculiar to apiber." "It belongs to a whole class of very different sub- stances, such as glass, sulphur, sealing-wax, and all resins, rock crystal, and all precious stones, alum, and rock salt, as may be proved when the air in winter is cold and clear." The essential point, the lecturer said, before verifying experimentally Gilbert's new list of attracting substances, was the dryness of the air. Boyle (1070) showed the reciprocity of attrac- tion observed the new flash of a rubbed diamond obtained attraction in vacuo and made other experi- ments. On his mind first dawned a kind of electric theory, in his idea that the light bodies were drawn by a glutinous effluvium towards the amber, &c. Otto von Guericko mounted a globe of sulphur, and turning t by means of a handle, his hand acting as a rubber, struck out in a dark place the first spark of electric light from this primitive electric machine. He, too, was the first to notice that a light body, after touching his ball of sulphur, was sometimes repelled. Dr. Wall (1706-9), whose chief aim was to get light andfire, most suggestively compared the electric flash and crackle with thunder and lightning. Newton covered a metallic ring with a plate of glass, and rubbing the lid with his gown, the imprisoned particles "leaped nimbly about as if carried by a whirlwind." His experiment was repeated in the course of the lecture by Professor Tyndall, amid loud plaudits, with perfect success. Hauksbee (1705) greatly improved the electric machine, and experimented most successfully on the production of light in rarefied air. The luminous barometer, however, had already been dis- covered in 1675 by Picard. During a dark night he had a barometer carried a long distance, and observed how, as the mercurial column oscillated, light flashed forth in the vacuum above it. But lie mis- took its nature when he ascribed the phenomenon to mercurial phosphorus." His experiment was one of the dozen illustrative of the lecture. Gray's most fruitful researches (from 1728) were next re- counted. He reached the important discovery of con- duction and insulation, and made many experiments on nduction, considerably advancing the knowledge of his point. By bringing a rubbed glass tube near one end of a wooden pole 27ft. long, he produced attraction at the other end. He suspended boys by silk strings, and electrified them as he had electrified his pole. He showed also that the electric attraction extends to liquids. The day before his death Gray communi- cated his latest discoveries to Dr. Mortimer, the sec- retary of the Royal Society, in whose Transactions they were printed. The passage in which Priestley styles him this great electrician was quoted by the lecturer. Among the French philosophers who took up the subject at this time, Du Fay (1733) and Dr. Desaguliers (1739) were singled out for their many important experiments and their significant results. About the same epoch (1742) the Germans entered the field. Boze, or, according to others, Hansen, re- verted to the use of Hauksbee's glass globe. To this he added a prime conductor," held at first by a man standing upon cakes of resin. He afterwards sus- pended the conductor by silk. In Boze's experiments threads played the part of the oomb of points in modern machines. Winckler also used a glass globe, substituting a cushion, instead of the hand, for a rubber. Gordon of Erfurth, a Scotch Benedictine monk, displaced the glass globe by a glass cylinder. like that still used from time to time in the Royal In- stitution.

LUNATICS AT ROYAL PALACES. A man named John Sullivan is detained in the custody of Mr. Superintendent Hayes, of the Windsor police, under somewhat singular circumstances. The prisoner accosted Police-constable Laney in the street, and told him that he wanted to see the Queen. He was taken to the borough police station, where he made a statement to the superintendent. Sullivan in this declared "I am Sir John Franklin, who was lost on the high sea. I wrote from London this morn- ing before I started. The Queen is my grandmother. I came this morning from Harvey's-buildings, in the Strand, London. I have been convicted ever since I was a child." A ticket-of-leave, dated the 29th of February, 1884, was found in his possession. This document showed that it had been granted to John Sullivan, who was convicted of burglary at Lewes in 1877, and sentenced to seven years' penal servitude. The man, who is alleged to be insane, has only just been released from Portland Convict Prison at the oxpiration of his punishment.

GOOD.—A paper out West has for its motto, "Good will to all men who pay promptly. Devoted to news, fun, and making money. AN ART TREASURE.—The New Missis." I hope you will avoid breakages, as my house is full of objects of art. The New Housemaid. "Jest su;t me, mum. My last master said he never see such a hobject as me in 'is life, nor yet such a hartful one.' [Engagement reconsidered.]—Fun

SAD CASE OF CHILD MURDER. In London, on Tuesday, Dr. Diplock, coroner for West Middlesex, held an inquiry at the Swakeley Hotel, S'aephcrd's-bush, as to the death of Maud Levesley, aged three years, whose mother is under remand at the police-court on the charge of murdering the child. Mr. James Levesley, artificial ^jnanure manufacturer, said deceased was his daughter. Witness left, home on Saturday morning at a quarter to eight o'clock. He received a telegram later in tte day. He went to Hammersmith Police-court, and was then told that the child had been killed. The mother of the child had been in the country in consequence of mental derangement. She returned to Ham- mersmith about three weeks ago, when she appeared to be much better. She had suffered from delusions. In January witness was cautioned by a medical man to watch the mother. Mrs. Levesley had then made an attempt on her own life. She had taken chloral for years past, but witness had tried to prevent her, and had even gone to the chemist' who who supplied her and said, "Make her weak doses." Police-sergeant Shaddock said he was on duty at Hammersmith Police-station on Saturday morning, when Mrs. Rose Levesley, the mother, came in and stated that she had strangled the deceased. Witness went back with Mrs. Levesley to 61, Godolphin- road, and there saw the child dead on a bed. A bandage was tied round the head and neck, and this had evidently strangled it. The jury rehired a verdict of Wilful murder against Rose Levesley," the coroner remarking ibat, there was no doubt she was of unsound mind at the time she committed the act.

SUSPECTED DYNAMITARDS AT" BRADFORD. The Bradford police are investigating the rij. ments of a man who is suspected of being concern xid with the dynamite party. On the 6th of Febrtfjey lodgings were taken in a quiet part of the town f* a strange woman for an Irish-American, whose name was variously given as Tom Cuddy, Burns, and Baron, described as an American detective. His luggage comprised two black trunks. He insisted upon his apartments being well secured, and allowed no perion of the house to enter them. At midnight on the 12th of February the lodger was accompanied home by a strange man and woman. Shortly afterwards an alarming hissing noise was heard, followed by an ex- plosion. The American immediately opened the door and called out, There's nothing wrong." In the morning he was unable to give a satisfactory account of the occurrence, and he suddenly disappeared on the 21st of February and was not again seen in Brad- ford. An unknown woman called for his luggage, and said he was returning to New York. Inquiries re- specting the man's statements and his antecedents have proved futile.

MURDERS IN SPAIN. A Reuter's telegram, dated Madrid, March 3, says s Murders were perpetrated in Tarragona -on Saturday last by a shoemaker named Jose Perez, 19 years of age. The victims were four woiiien-Foren- tina Matlien, 80 years of age Josefa Mallol, Ijf r daughter; the step-daughter of the latter, aged 17 and a servant. Josefa Mallol kept a tobacco shop, her mother and stepdaughter residing with her. Early on Saturday morning Perez entered the shop arnied with a dagger, and savagely attacked and stabbed the four women, one after the other. Florentina Mathen and the girl were killed on the spot, and the other two are not expected to survive. The murderer suc- ceeded in escaping, but was subsequently arrested, and brought before the authorities, when lie denied the crime. Is is supposed that Perez was aware that Josefa Mallol intended to lay in a stock of tobacco on Saturday, and that his object was to obtain pos- session of the money collected in the shop for that purpose.

RELEASE OF A CONVICT. A remarkable scene was witnessed at New-street. Station, Birmingham, on Wednesday evening. George Hall, who had been released from Penton- ville Prison after twenty years' penal servitude fo: wife murder, was met by thousands of people amongst whom intense excitement prevailed. Hall was received with remarkable demonstrations of welcome, the crowd thronging the station and its precincts, a detachment of police having to be called m to preserve order. When Hall alighted from the train vociferous cheers were given, and were con- tinued until lie had driven off in a cab with his rela- tives. Hall was sentenced to death in March, 1864, for the murder of his wife, whom he shot because he discovered that she had been unfaithful to him on the night of their wedding, but he was respited on the eve of execution and the sentence commuted to penal servitude foaife. Owing to efforts which have recently been renewed, Hall was released on Wednes- day morning.

ROBBERY BY A BUTLER. At the Middlesex Sessions on Wednesday, Alfred Comyns, 41, was indicted for stealing a silver teapot and other articles, value 140, the goods of Katherine, Lady Iluntingtower, his mistress, in her dwelling- house. Mr. Purcell, with whom was Mr. Besley, pro- secuted. It appeared that on May 9 last the prisoner called upon the prosecutrix, who lives at 17a, Great Cumberland-place, and offered his services as butler. He said that he had lived with Mr. Lyell Grant, Mount Vernon, Hampstead, for three years. A letter was sent to Mr. Grant and a reply was received pur- porting to come from that gentleman, giving the prisoner a good character. That reply was now shown to be a forgery, but in consequence of it the prisoner was engaged by the prosecutrix as butler. He con- tinued in her service until September 3, but in the meanwhile the prosecutrix left town on Aug. 16, leaving him in charge of the house. There were also a housemaid, named Annie Black, and other servants left in the house, and, according to'the evidence of Black, on the 1st of September a friend of the prisoner's called to see him, and was admitted to the prisoner's room. The witness was unwell and went to bed. The next morning, it was found the prisoner had disappeared and the witness was told by Mr. Killeen, the brother of the housemaid of Lady Huntingtower, who had been stopping in the house in Cumberland-place, that he had seen a four-wheeled cab at the door of the house with a box on the top of it and two men carrying another box coming from the house. One of these men was, to the best of his belief, the prisoner. He was not certain, as the light was very dim. The witness went, to the prisoner's room, and noticed that it was on the latch, and that there were some straws, as from the cellar, in the passage leadingto it. The cellar door itself was left unlocked. The prisoner had been seen to take away from the house all his personal luggage it was clearly shown that his bed had not been slept in; and the gas in his room was still burning. The articles mentioned in the indict- ment were missed on Lady Huntingtower's return to town, and the police were communicated with. Nothing was left in the plate chest but an urn. A quantity of wine had also been taken from the cellar, but this could not be absolutely checked. When arrested at Seaham, the prisoner said he was guilty of obtaining a situation by means of a false character, but denied the robbery. In his possession was found a key that would open several locks. The jury found the prisoner guilty. The assistant judge sentenced him to five years' penal servitude.

ENGLAND AND GERMANY.—The tone of the German pra: J is becoming, generally speaking, more and more aggressive towards England every day. The late dis- coveries of infernal machines furnish the occasion for satirical remarks against England, who now reaps the fruits of her hospitality to revolutionists ana cut- throats from all parts of the world. MISPLACED CONFIDENCE."—Nervous Lady 'Visitor. Who is that nice civil man to whom 1'1'8 been speaking, and whom I've lately met here and talked with so often?" Pauper Gateman (jealous of his monopoly of "Tips"). "'E, mum? Why 'e's the nfimary man, m'um !as 'tend o the patients with the small p Lady Visitor (widi a shriek). "Oh, s, good gracious! Let me out! Let me out! [Tableau.] --Pumh. THE SUNDAY QUESTION.—When Lord Thurlow brings forward his Resolution on the 24st inst., in favour of the Sunday opening of museums and galleries, the Earl of Shaftesbury will again meet it with an amendment similar to that adopted last Session, to the effect that such institutions as the British Museum and the National Gallery should be opened on weekday evenings to the public between fhe hours of seven and ten at least three days in the week.

THE FRANCHISE BILL. Mr. Gladstone's Franchise Bill has been issued, and is entitled A Bill to Amend the Law Relating to the Representation of the people of the United Kingdom. The following are the principal clauses PRELIMINARY. 1. This Act may be cited as the Representation of the People Act, 1884. EXTENSION OF THE HOUSEHOLD AND LODGER FRANCHISE. 2. A uniform household and lodger franchise at elections shall be established in all counties and boroughs throughout the United Kingdom, and after the passing of this Act every man possessed of a household qualification or a lodger qualification shall, if the qualifying premises be situate in a county in England or Scotland, be entitled to be registered as a voter, and, when registered, to vote at an election for such county, and if the qualifying premises be situate in a county or borough in Ireland, be entitled to be registered as a voter, and to vote at an election for such county or borough. 3. Where a man himself inhabits any dwelling- house by virtus of any office, service, or employment, and the dwelling-house is not inhabited by any person under whom such man serves in such office, service, or employment, he shall be deemed, for the purposes of this Act and of the Representation of the People Acts, to be an inhabitant occupier of such dwelling- house as a tenant. PROHIBITION OF MULTIPLICATION OF VOTES. 4. Subject to the saving in this Act for existing voters, the following provisions shall, after the passing of this Act, have effect with reference to elections (1) A man shall not be entitled to be registered as a voter in respect of the ownership of any rent-charge except the owner of the whole of the tithe rent-charge of a rectory or vicarage. (2) Wlien two or more men are owners either as joint tenants or as tenants in common of an estate in any land or tenement, one of such men, but not more than one, shall, if his interest is sufficient to confer on him a qualification as a voter in respect of the ownership of such estate, be entitled (in the like cases and subjectto the like conditions as if he were the sole owner) to be registered as a voter, and, when registered, to vote at an election. Provided that, where such owners have derived their interest by descent, succession, marriage, marriage settlement, or will, or where they occupy the land or tenement, and are bond fide engaged as partners carrying on trade or business thereon, each of such owners whose interest is sufficient to confer on him a qualification as a voter shall be entitled (in the like cases and subject to the like conditions as if he were sole owner) to be regis- tered as a voter in respect of such ownership and when registered to vote at an election. And the value of the interest of each such owner where not otherwise legally defined shall be ascertained by the division of the total value of the land or tenement equally among the whole of such owners. ASSIMILATION OF OCCUPATION QUALIFICATION. 5. Every man occupying any land or tenement in a county or borough in the United Kingdom of a clear yearly value of not less than ten pounds shall be en- titled, after the passing of this Act, to be registered as a voter, and, when registered, to vote at an election for such county or borough in respect of such occu- pation, subject to the like conditions respectively as a man is, at the passing of this Act, entitled to be regis- tered as a voter and to vote at an election for such county in respect of the county occupation franchise, and at an election for such borough in respect of the borough occupation franchise. SUPPLEMENTAL PROVISIONS. G. A man shall not by virtue of this Act be entitled to be registered as a voter or to vote at any election for a county in respect of the occupation of any dwel- ling-house, lodgings, land, or tenement, situate in a borough. 7. In this Act the expression "a household qualifi- cation" means, as respects England and Ireland, the qualification enacted by the third section of the Repre- sentation of the People Act, 1867, and the enactments amending or affecting the same, and the said section and enactments, so far as they are consistent with this Act, shall extend to counties in England and to counties and boroughs in Ireland. In the construction of the said enactments, as amended and applied to Ireland, the following dates shall be substituted for the dates therein mentioned- that is to say, the 20th day of July for the 15th day of July, the 1st day of July for the 20th day of July, and the 1st day of January for the 5th day of January. The expression a lodger qualification means the qualification enacted, as respects England, by the fourth section of the Representation of the People Act, 1867, and the enactments amending or affecting the same, and, as respects Ireland, ky the fourth section of the Representation of the People (Ireland) Act, 1868, and the enactments amending or affecting the same, and the said section of the English Act of 1867 and the enactments amending or affecting the same, shall, so far as they are consistent with this Act, extend to counties in England, and the said section of the Irish Act of 1868 and the enactments amending or affecting the same shall, so far as they are consistent with mis Act, extend to counties in Ireland, and Sections 5 and 6 and 22 of the Parlia- mentary and Municipal Registration Act, 1878, so far as they relate to lodgings, shall apply to Ireland, and for the purpose of such application the reference in in the said Section 6 to the Representation of the People Act, 1867, shall be deemed to be made to the Representation of the People (Ireland) Act, 1868. The expression a household qualification means, as respects Scotland, the qualification enacted by the third section of the Representation of the People (Scotland) Act, 1868, and the enactments amending or affecting the same, and the said section and enact- ments shall, so far as they are consistent with this Act, extend to counties in Scotland, and for the pur- pose of the said section and enactments the expression dwelling-house" in Scotland means any house or part of a house occupied as a separate dwelling, and this definition of a dwelling-house shall be substituted for the definition contained in section 59 of the Re- presentation of the People (Scotland) Act, 1868. The expression a lodger qualification means, as respects Scotland, the qualification enacted by the fourth section of the Representation of the People (Scotland) Act, 1868, and the enactments amending or affecting the same, and the said section and enact- ments, so far as they are consistent with this Act, shall extend to counties in Scotland. The expression "county occupation franchise means, as respects England, the franchise enacted by the sixth section of the Representation of the People Act, 1867 and as respects Scotland, the franchise enacted by the sixth section of the Repre- sentation of the People (Scotland) Act, 1868; and as respects Ireland, the franchise enacted by the first section of the Act of the session of the 13th and 14th years of the reign of her present Majesty, chapter 69. The expression borough occupation franchise" means, as respects England, the franchise enacted by the 27th section of the Act of the session of the second and third years of the reign of King Wil- liam IV., chapter 45; and, as respects Scotland, the franchise enacted by the 11th section of the Act of the session of the second and third years of the reign of King William IV., chapter 65 and, as respects Ire- land, the franchise enacted by Section 5 of the Act of the session of the 13th and 14th years of the reign of her present Majesty, chapter 69 and the third section of the Representation of the People (Ireland) Act, 1868. Any enactments amending or relating to the county occupation franchise or borough occupation franchise other than the sections in this Act in that behalf mentioned shall be deemed to be referred to in the definition of the county occupation franchise and the borough occupation franchise in this Act men- tioned. [Section 8 defines various expressions, and enacts that the existing Registration Acts shall apply to this Act, with the necessary alterations.] 9. In this Act the expression the Rating Acts" means the enactments for the time being in force in England, Scotland, and Ireland respectively relating to the placing of the names of occupiers on the rate- book, or other enactments relating to rating in so far as they are auxiliary to or deal with the registration of persons entitled to vote at elections; and the ex- pression the Rating Acts where used in this Act shall be read distributively in reference to the three parts of the United Kingdom as meaning in the case of each part the Acts for the time being in force in that part. In Scotland section 15 of the Representation of the People (Scotland) Act, 1868, shall apply to coun- ties as well as to burghs, and in the application thereof the word tenant" shall include any inhabi- tant occupier within the meaning of this Aet, and it shall be the duty of every person rated in respect of any lands and heritages which comprise any dwelling- house when applied to by the assessor to give an accurate written list of the names and designations I of all men other than himself being inhabitant occupiers of any dwelling-house forming part of such lands and heritages, and if he fail to do so be shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding £ o, and the proviso in Section 2 of the Act for the Valuation of Lands and Heritages in Scotland, passed in the session of the 17th and 18th years of the reign of Her present Majesty, chapter 91, shall be repealed. In Ireland, where the owner of a dwelling-house is rated instead of the occupier, the occupier shall never- theless be entitled to be registered as a voter, and to vote under the same conditions under which an occu- pier of a dwelling-house in England is entitled in pursuance of the Poor Rate Assessment and Collec- tion AQt, 1869, and the Acts amending the same, to be registered as a voter, and to vote where the owner is rated, and the enactments referred to in the first schedule to this Act shall apply to Ireland-accordingly. with the modification in that schedule mentioned. Both in England and Ireland where a man inliabito any dwelling-house by virtue of any office, service, or employment, and is deemed for the purposes of this Act and of the Representation of the People Acts to be an inhabitant occupier of such dwelling-house as a tenant, and another person is rated or liable to be rated for such dwelling-house, the rating of such other person shall for the purposes of this Act and of the Representation of the People Acts be deemed to be that of the inhabitant occupier; and the several enactments of the Poor Rate Assessment and Collec- tion Act, and 1869, and other Acts amending the same referred to in the first schedule to this Act shall for those purposes apply to such inhabitant occupier, and in the construction of those enactments the word owner shall be deemed to include a person actually ated or liable to be rated as aforesaid. Both in England and in Ireland where a house is let out or occupied in separate parts, and any of such parts constitutes a separate dwelling-house within the meaning of the Representation of the People Acts, the overseers shall within twenty-one days after the 1st of March in every year give notice in writing to the person rated or rateable in respect of such house requiring him within fourteen days after the service of such notice to furnish in a form to be supplied by the overseers an accurate list containing the name of the occupier of every such part which constitutes a separate dwelling-house, and the person applied to shall furnish such list accordingly and if any over- seer makes default in giving such notice as last afore- said, or any person rated or rateable as aforesaid makes default in furnishing the list so required to be furnished by him, such overseer or person shall on summary conviction be liable to a penalty not exceed- ing 40s. In any part of the United Kingdom where a man inhabits a dwelling-house in respect of which no person is rated by reason of such dwelling-house belonging to or being occupied on behalf of the Crown, or by reason of any other ground of exemp- tion, such person shall not be disentitled to be registered as a voter, and to vote by reason only that no one is rated in respect of such dwelling-house. and that no rates are paid in respect of the same, and it shall be the duty of the persons making out the rate-book or valuation roll to enter any such dwell- ing-house as last aforesaid in the rate-book or valua- tion roll, together with the name of the inhabitant occupier thereof. 10. Nothing in this Act shall deprive any person (who at the date of the passing of this Act i« regis- tered in respect of any qualification to vote for any county or borough) of his right to be from time to time registered and to vote for such county or borough in respect of such qualification in like manner as if this Act had not passed. Provided that where a man is so registered in re- spect of the county or borough occupation franchise by virtue of a qualification which also qualifies him for the franchise under this Act, he shall be entitled to be registered in respect of such latter franchise only. Nothing in this Act shall confer on any man who is subject to any legal incapacity to be registered as a voter or to vote any right to be registered as a voter or to vote. [Section 11 is a definition clause.] 12. Whereas the franchises conferred by this Act are in substitution for the franchises conferred by the enactments mentioned in the first and second parts of the second schedule hereto, be it enacted that the Acts mentioned in the first part of the second schedule shall be repealed to the extent in the third column of that part of the said schedule mentioned, except in so far as relates to the rights of persons saved by this Act; and the Acts mentioned in the second part of the said second schedule shall be repealed to the extent in the third column of that part of the said schedule mentioned, except in so far as relates to the rights of persons saved by this Act, and except in so far as the enactments so repealed contain con- ditions made applicable by this Act to any franchise enacted by this Act. [Then follow the Schedules.] The Bill is prepared and brought in by the Prime Minister, the Attorney-General, Mr. Trevelyan, and the Lord Advocate. Thursday, the 20th inst., is the day fixed by the Government for the second reading. The price is three half-pence, and it bears the some- what unusual endorsement that it is to be had through any bookseller, as well as the usual authorised agents for the sale of parliamentary papers.

LOCAL TAXATION.—A deputation to represent the increasing burdens of local taxation waite on i Charles Dilke, M.P., and Mr. Frith, M,P, at Sir Charles Dilke's residence on Saturday. Sir U JJiike said he concurred in the desire that pubhc opinion should be called to local expenditure. Local debt m- creased rapidly, and too much attention could not be paid to it. The Government were prepared to deal with local taxes if public business were allowed to pro- ceed. Mr. Firth thought it unfair that the incidesce of rates should rest wholly on the occupier.

THE IMPORTATION OF FOREIGN CATTLE. In London, on Wednesday, a meeting of gentlemen interested in the foreign cattle trade was held at the W estminsler Palace Hotel to consider the Contagious Diseases (Animals; Bill, as amended in the House of Lords. Mr. Alfred Lyon presided, and among those present were Mr. W. E. Forster, M.P., Baron de W orms, M.P., Professor Rogers, M.P., Professor Bryce, M.P., Mr. Broadhurst, M.P.. Mr. Henry Lee, M.P., Mr. Arthur Arnold. M.P., Mr. Barran, M.P., and Mr. C. Wilson, M.P. Mr. W. E. Forster, in moving the first resolution, said he had had some experience in this subject, having been vice-president of the Council, and had brought in the first bill dealing with the question of the importation of cattle. With regard to the bill which was under the notice of the meeting, he did not think its motive was protection, but a very ex- aggerated fear on the part of the farmers of the kingdom. The total importation of meat was };")O.U(HI,OOOlb., the proportion coming into the London markets being 56 per cent., of the cattle. 63 per cent. of the sheep, and 97 per cent. of the pigs consumed. If this bill as amended were passed, the result would be that 40 per cent. of the cattle..58 per cent. of the sheep, and nearly all the pigs would be prohibited from this country. Had Mr. Chaplin's proposal been in force in 1882. instead of 1,670.000 animals brought into the London market, only 750,000 would have come III of 330,000 cattle little more than 200.000 would have been brought into the market, and the number of sheep would have been less than 630,000. This matter affected the whole country, but more particularly did it affect the London market, and he considered it a most serious thing to interfere with the meat supply of four millions of people, and lie hoped that Parliament would not give its sanction to the bill as amended. He moyed-" That this meeting is of opinion that the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill, as amended by the Lords, is an undue interference with most im- portant interests, and if passed in its present form would seriously restrict the supply to the metropolis and other great centres of population, and largely increase the cost of animal food to the people and this meeting therefore earnestly entreats her Ma- jesty's Government, in the interests of the people, to reject the Lord's amendments or abandon the bill." Mr. Shipton seconded the motion. Mr. Arthur Arnold. M.P., said this bill would cut off one-half of the live animals supplied for the food of the people of London, one-fifth of the leather and a very large amount of good tallow. Mr. Bryce. M.P.. considered the bill would operate most harshly upon the poor, who would pro- bably have to pay 3d. per lb. more than at present for their meat. Mr. Thorold Rogers. M.P.. also supported the resolution, and. several other gentlemen having ad- dressed the meeting, the resolution was carried with acclamation, as was also n resolution in favour of copies being forwarded to the Prime Minister. The proceedings shortly afterwards terminated.

SACRILEGE AND INCENDIARISM. In a telegram un Monday evening the Paris Corre- spondent of the Daily Tekgraph says The church of Joinville Le Pont. an important village on the borders of the Park of Vincennes, close to Paris, was discovered to be on fire about five o'clock yesterday morning. On the alarm being given four fire-engines from the village and 1 -1 those adjoining arrived on the spot. and, thanks to their exertions, the flames were subdued, but not until the chancel and nave had been par- tially destroyed. Upon the origin of the fire being investigated it was ascertained to be due to incendiarism, and that the vestry had been pillaged beforehand. The malefactors, who are believed to have been five in number, at first attempted to force a side door, which bears the marks of their instru- ments. Finding it would not yield to their efforts, they tried the principal door, which is in front of the main street, and succeeded in forcing the lock. Once inside the church, the thieves broke open the poor- boxes and made an ineffectual attempt to find the sacramental plate. The priest had. however, fortu- nately taken the latter home. as he was accustomed to do every evening. Infuriated at obtaining nothing, the miscreants next broke into the vestry, and forcing open the presses in which the rich vest- ments were kept, made a pile of them and of the candelabra, lustres, desks, pictures, and all the orna- ments they could wrench from their places, and set fire to them and to the building. The vestry being in the rear of the church they were enabled to effect their escape unobserved. From the fact of numerous robberies having been recently committed at Joinville, Nogent, Cliampigny, &c., there is little doubt that the thieves are part of an organised band. The police are said to have obtained a clue to the perpetrators of the outrages. The damage which was occasioned is esti- mated at 30,000f.

THE COUNTESS AND HER CATS. At the Hammersmith Police-court, on Tuesday, the Countess de la Torre, of Pembroke-square, Ken- sington, appeared to answer a summons at the instance of Mr. G. C. Harding, clerk of the vestry, for causing a nuisance by reason of keeping a number of cats and dogs upon her premises. James Whiteman. one of the inspectors of nuisances for Kensington, said he went to the defendant's house, 38, Pembroke-square, on the 22nd ult, in consequence of complaints from Eersons residing in the next house. In the kitchen e counted eleven cats and six in the first floor front room. He also saw six dogs in the back yard and one in the house. The animals were so kept as to be a nuisance to the next-door neighbour. The count esswas the only person who occupied the house. He did not see any lodgers or servants in the house. Mr. Paget: Does the defendant live there by herself with the dogs and cats? Witness: Yes. In cross-examination, the witness added that the odour from the cats in the kitchen was disgusting, and he had to place a hand- kerchief to his nose and mouth before he could count them. Mr. Paget then called for the medical officer of health, and, on being informed by the inspector that he was not present, said he ought to have been in attendance. The occupier of the house next to that in which the defendant resided was called, and said he was obliged to shut the front windows on account of the smells, and also the back door to prevent the animals running in and out of his premises. Mr. Paget said that unless the inspector produced the evidence of the medical officer lie could not proceed. If the parish officers did not know how to conduct their cases they must pay the costs. He dismissed the summons, and ordered the vestry to pay one guinea costs to the countess.

SUICIDE OF A VESTRYMAN. In London on Tuesday, Dr. Danford Thomas, Coroner for Central Middlesex, held an inquiry at the Buffalo's Head, Marylebone-road, upon the body of Mr. James Wellstead, aged 51. of No. 90, Camden- road, bootmaker. The deceased, who had been a vestryman of St. Pancras for some fourteen or fifteen years, was not only himself a total abstainer, but a prominent member of the teetotal party of the dis- trict. and was remarkable as the most silent member of the St. Pancras Vestry, never having been known to make an observation upon any subject during the many years he had held a seat in ?■ assembly. Mr. Thomas Wellstead, of Ryde, s e of Wight, identified the body as that 0 brother. On Thursday last he receive a from him in which he complained o. ^[inab] low and nervous condition on ^eoU^dav he rec.eived to obtain any sleep at mght. ^curred/ Mrs. Mary information of what J^asccl, said he had been Welstead, widow of .d.ece, t:.n„ nj,,t much depressed in spirlt* t ( \fft home Saturday ^ut t.n minutes achop cooked for him by the time he returned. She did so, expecting him back in about half an hour, but had not seen him again alive. Walter Loveridge, bargeman, deposed that on Satur- day afternoon, at a quarter-past two, whilst on the towing-path of the Regent's Canal, his boatma* called to him and pointed to deceased in the water, and they succeeded in getting him out. A constable and docter were procured, but the latter on arrival pronounced him to be dead. His hat and coat were against the fence as if his getting into the wste- WM intentional. The Jury returned a verdict of ouici e whilst in an unsound state of mind."

WHAT HE THOUGHT HIM.—A gentleman at am eating-house asked the person nexttohmM maD) please to pass the mustard. Sir, „ do you mistake me for a waiter P > c » was the reply, I mistook you for a gentleman.

THE MANAGEMENT OF THE APIARY. Warmth is essential to obtaining early broods, the value of which can hardly be over-estimated, and this may in some degree be promoted by liberal supplies of food; therefore hives should be again examined without undue exposure of the occupants, and if there is a short supply of honey the feeding bottle must be at once brought into requisition, and with reference to this matter it should be distinctly understood that the bees will not allow the population of the hive to increase out of proportion to the food supply, and in consequence, should there be a scarcity, or a spell of bad weather put a stop to the ingathering of honey, the workers will expel an immense number of the helpless young, to the great injury of the colony. Early feeding is not in a general way productive of good, but in the ordinary run of years it is perfectly safe to begin in the first week in March. The steady supply of food stimulates breeding to a great extent, and by careful attention to this matter the apiarian may generally secure early swarms, and even from hives not numerically strong of sufficient strength to make rapid progress for the first should the weather prove at all favourable. Bees that are well fed are in much better condition for undertaking foraging expeditions than those in a half-starved state, and con- sequently are well able to take advantage of the supplies derivable from the early spring flowers. From com- mencing to feed until the outdoor supplies are abun- dant there must be no intermission in the supply, and should the weather be unfavourable to the gathering of honey for a week or so the bees must have such assistance as will enable them to tide over it without suffering to an appreciable extent, but feeding must not be persevered with for the purpose of enabling the bees to lay up stores more quickly than they would be able to do without assistance, for be it known sugar, no matter what process it may be subjected to by the bees, is not converted into honey worthy of the name. The most suitable artificial food for bees in spring is the best loaf sugar, dissolved in water at the rate of one pound and a-half of sugar to a pint of water, and then boiled for ten minntes and during the boiling a teaspoonful of good vinegar should be added. The most simple, and in fact the best, way of feeding now is to put the syrup in a wide-mouthed bottle, tie a piece of muslin or leno doubled over the neck, and then turn the bottle bottom upwards and insert the neck in the hole provided for the purpose in the top of the hive. When the bottles are inverted in the manner here described, there is no risk of the syrup flowing faster than it can be taken by the bees. -Gardeners' Magazine.

THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES. In celebration of the anniversary of the Prince and Princess of Wales's wedding day, their Royal Highnesses gave a children's ball at Marlborough House on Monday evening. The Princess Louise and the Marquis of Lorne, the Princess Beatrice, and the Princesses Victoria and Franciska of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Alfred of Edinburgh, the Duke of Cambridge, and Princesses Louise, Victoria, and Maud of Wales were present. The Princess Frede- rica of Hanover and the Prince of Leiningen were prevented from being present. The company num- bered several hundred. The anniversary of the marriage was celebrated in the customary manner in London and elsewhere earlier in the day. The bells of several of the West- end churches were rung. The drum-major doing duty with the detachment of the 1st Battalion Cold- stream Guards, which mounted the Queen's Guard in London in the morning, wore his State uniform, while the band of the Scots Guards played a selection of music in the courtyard of St. James's Palace.

AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS. The Morning Post says: Just now, work is being done that leads us to hope for a fair harvest, for up to the present the seasons have been all that could be desired. But hanging like a cloud over all our hopes are the markets. There is now no reasonable expec- tation that in the future even an average of £1 a sack will be obtained for English wheat for a whole harvest year. For the harvest year of 1883-4 prices have varied but from 37s. to 39s., while the average as yet is certainly under 38s. per qr. And during the past week, even with a better demand for seed, all prices were miserably low. It is such prices as these that are intensifying agricul- tural distress, and the prospect opened up is not encouraging. But that these prices must have an influence on our farm economy is certain, and it they should eause a much greater use of corn m .e|0<^ feeding than ever before we should not be astonished. But to do this our land must be freed from disease, and the rearing of far more calves and lambs than at present encouraged by all means. This raises up a large question, and one also on which various Tiews might prevail. But no one can doubt but that the long-continued low prices for all kind of corn is a moat serious matter at the present moment.

BOYS SHOULD LEARN TO USE TOOLS. Encourage the boys in the use of carpenters' tools (says a correspondent of an American journal). I never was more impressed with the necessity for this than when, a short time ago, a young farmer pur- chased a neglected piece of property where the house was sadly out of repair. He was obliged to take his family into it just as it was, and two or three weeks passed before he could set anyone to make a few repairs, during which time they all became ill from exposure. This could have been prevented, had the purchaser been skilful in the use of two or three of the commonest carpenters' tools. Of course, boys will dull and sometimes break them, but if carefully taught their use, and if acts of carelessness are followed by a season of depriva- tion, they soon learn that it pays to be thoughtful. Encourago them in making their own kites, in putting new boxes on their express waggons, and in building their coops for their own biddie and her broods. These will be crude and rough, but praise the work, and the next time they attempt it, offer a few sug- gestions, that every effort may exceed all previous ones. One who has some knowledge of carpenters' tools is more fitted to direct workmen and give plans when he wishes a building put up or repairs are made. Then how often a mere novice whose hands are accustomed to use saw and chisel can, with a few directions, put up a shop or hennery, at a time when farm work is slack Then the convenience of being able to fashion a door or ladder, to mend a broken gate, or replace a few shingles blown from the roof, and do it all in a workmanlike manner that brings no shame at the result! Then there are a thousand and one little things about the house which would save much weariness and many steps—little things for which one hardly likes to call the carpenter, and that the father or one of the boys might do if he could saw off a board straight or drive a nail without pounding his thumb and losing his temper. Then there is real pleasure in accepting a token of love fashioned by the hands that give it. I have in my mind now a pretty centre table and a bookcase, made by a young farmer during the stormy days of a cold winter. It was not the money value alone that gave them worth, for my husband made these was often said by the recipient of these favours. Provide a warm workshop, as nice as can be afforded, but at least with a stove, a chimney and a whole roof, and give the boys permission to saw and plane as they like. It is not necessary to allow them free use of the choicest tools, neither is it wise to re- strict them entirely to old and broken ones. People do not condemn their children to the use of trenchers, because they occasionally break a plate, nor would it be kind to forbid their touching the tools, because they sometimes break an awl or lose the pincers.

Mr. Chaplin has been the first to give notice of an amendment to the County Franchise Bill. The hon. member intends to move as an amendment to the second reading—" That this House is of opinion that to largely increase the electoral franchise in Ireland at a time when vast numbers of the Irish people are bitterly opposed to the English connection when the aim and purpose, openly avowed, of their leaders and representatives inParliament isto sever tbatcDnnection and establish the national independence of Ireland, and when her Maj esty's Government dare not trust the Irish people with the full enjoyment of th ir ordinary civil rights, is inexpedient, unwise, and fraught with danger to the State." Lord Randolph Churchill also intends to move the previous question." Lord J. Manners has likewise given notice of an amendment to the effect that the House declines to add two millions to the electoral roll until the whole scheme of the Govern- ment for the amendment of the representation of the people is before it.

INCIDENTS OF EL TEB. The Time* correspondent, in describing the recent fighting in the Soudan, says:— General Buller has recommended Captain Wilson, R.N., of the Hecla, for an action which he describes as one of the most courageous he has ever witnessed. There was a gap in the square, and five or six of the enemy seeing it rushed forward, attempt- ing to pierce the ranks. Then Captain Wilson ad- vanced to meet them alone, and breaking his sword in his effort to cut one of them down, he would not retire a step, but held his ground, knocking them down with his fists. Either by a miracle or the sur- prising nature of his attack, he escaped with a few wounds, and the square closing up rescued him. Two sergeants and a trooper of the 19th Hussars saved Colonel Barrow with great courage, which might be inferred from this fact alone that no other officer or man severely wounded escaped to live. One trumpeter, terribly cut about by spears, was carried out only to die. When Colonel Barrow was wounded, Sergeant Marshall caught him as he fell from his horse, and, seizing a loose horse, tried to place his colonel on it. Then came up Trooper Boseley, to whom belonged the loose horse, which had fallen. Boseley on foot, under a heavy fire, through masses of the enemy, supported the wounded officer into our infantry lines, aided by Sergeant Fenton; Sergeant Marshall, knowing that his troop would be feeling the loss of officers, rejoining it. A corporal of the 19th Hussars had four horses killed under him, three by rifle bullets and one by spears. In the last case, at the moment his horse was killed, a trooper near him was killed also, and he leapt into the empty saddle. The daring of the scouting up to Tokar may be illustrated by the fact that Sergeant James Fatt, of the 19th Hussars, being ordered to push forward on scouting duty, and finding himself close to Tokar and alone, entered the town, not knowing whether it were friendly or hostile. He was the first man in Tokar and brought out the inhabitant who ran up to General Stewart. The 10th Hussars record equally bold actions, which have not yet been reported in detail.