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

DEATH OF MIDHAT PASHA. News of the death of Midhat Pasha has been received at Constantinople. The Times in an obituary notice says Some three years ago Midhat was exiled for complicity in the murder of the Sultan Abdul Aziz, and since then the world has heard little or nothing of him, and his rather sudden death will cause regret in England, where he was not unfavourably known. Midhat, who was the son of a civil judge, was born at Constantinople in 1822. Early in his career he was connected with at least the theory of reform in the Turkish provinces, for in 1845 he was appointed secretary to a commission sanctioned bv the then Sultan for the amelioration of the districts about Konieh. He gave much satisfaction, and suddenly found himself promoted to the office of Chief Director of Confidential Reports. He was then despatched to the Asiatic provinces to inquire into the collection of taxes and their appropriation. An outbreak of brigand- age in Rouinelia occurring he was despatched to put it down, and this work he accomplished with almost Cromwellian vigour. Hundreds of gibbets gave ghastly warning to the lawbreakers, and those who were left alive by Midhat's soldiery lost no time in making their escape. Returning to receive the con- gratulations of the Sultan and an appointment to the Supreme Council, he soon once more went into the provinces, this time as Governor of Bulgaria. Here he found even then, some time after the close of the Crimean War, symptoms of rebellion, which he Crushed out. Midhat was now ambitious, and he visited several European capitals, apparently with some idea of studying Constitutional reforms. His excursion was not fruitless, for on his return home various improvements were made in particular dis- tricts, and ultimately Midhat Pasha-for lie had in 1860 attained that dignity—induced the Sultan to extend the reforms to the Empire at large. This ^ras the beginning of Midhat's public career, for he ?now became known to Europe as a Turkish states- man above the common order. He had a marked 'influence in the framing of the Law of the Vilayets. He was appomted to the Governorship of the ^Vilayet of the Danube, and in 1864 he began the u'v-'ost hopeless task of reconciling the Bulgarians to Ottoman supremacy. He constructed many great public works, which remain, under altered circum- stances, to testify to the vigour and spirit of Midhat's enterprise. In 1866, however, he was recalled and appointed to preside over the Council of State. Here he also showed reforming zeal, but a fresh outbreak in Bulgaria arising he had to return there to suppress the revolt, which he did, as usual, with much resolu- tion. Bagdad next rebelling, Midhat was forthwith despatched to quell the disturbance, and in the end, though not without much effort, he again succeeded. Coming once more to the capital, he took the liberty to warn Abdul Aziz of the danger of an attempt, then being made, to change the succession to the throne. He denounced the Grand Vizier and his colleagues as traitors, and after a spirited court scandal Midhat himself was appointed to succeed Mahmoud Nedim, whom he had denounced. His triumph, however, was short-lived. Palace intrigue soon mastered the daring reformer, and in a short time his enemies had the pleasure of seeing him vanish to Salonica. From 1875 his career was a series of strange, almost romantic, adventures. The story of the de- posing of the Sultan Abdul Aziz, his forcible removal across the Golden Horn to the old Seraglio, where he met his death shortly afterwards, the succession of Murad and his fall, are all fresh in general recollec- tion. When the present Sultan came to the throne, Midhat was still high in favour. He was once more Grand Vizier, and the Ottoman Parliament was duly inaugurated with a great flourish. Midhat at once fell under suspicion, and he was not only dismissed, but banished. He then paid a visit to England, soon after the Berlin Treaty was concluded, and was a fre- e quent visitor to the House of Commons, where he carefully studied the procedure of that assembly. His agile form was frequently to be seen in the lobby and elsewhere, and he cherished the ambition that he was learning something which he might usefully apply to his native land. A dark cloud, however, was even then hanging over him but he gave those with whom he came in contact in English society the decided impression that he was a man incapable of bearing any part in the odious crime for which he was condemed.

FUNERAL OF THE LATE EMPRESS OF AUSTRIA. At Vienna on Saturday the Empress Maria Anna was buried in the vaults of the Capuchin Church with all the pomp customary with the House of Hapsburs. ? Many thousands crowded the streets of the central city, but only a few could be admitted where the procession passed. The distance being short from the Palace to the church, two files of soldiers formed the line, the police keeping back the public at the cross- ings. The church was draped in black. All the priests wore violet robes. To the right the Emperor and the arendukes knelt on black cushions. Opposite Lptood the Archbishops of Vienna, Prague, and Pestli. The Ministers, the members of Parliament, the public functionaries, and officers filled the church, the bright military uniforms contrasting strangely with the dresses of the Court ladies. The Archdukes wore Field-Marshals' uniforms scarlet trousers, white coat, cocked hat, with bright green feathers. There -were eighteen Grand Dukes and six Archduchesses, besides the Crown Princess. At live o clock the pro- cession moved slowly out of the Burg Place, and it consisted of the inmates of the almshouses, about five hundred orphan boys, two squadrons of dragoons of the late Empress, and the Court officials in five car- riages, three of them drawn by six horses. The hearse was drawn by eight black steeds, and was preceded by -eigantic soldiers in black and gold. On either side of the hearse walked noblemen's sons as Court pages and Palace Guards, the Austrian to the right, the Hungarian to the left. Mounted Palace Guards followed, the Austrian in scarlet resembling the English Horse Guards, the Hungarian certainly with the most picturesque dress exis,inlg-- yellow boots, green laced coats, leopardskins across left shoulder, and kelpacs with herons' plumes. They were all mounted on splendid snow white horses. The dragoons brought up the rear. When the hoarse reached the church the drums were first heard. Then the priests, of whom 250 were in the procession, chanted. The Master of the Ceremonies, Count Ilunyady, waved his staff, and the coffin was taken off the hearse and carried to the catafalque. After the funeral service, during which the Emperor knelt, the coffin was Carried to the vaults, where the Capuchin Monks, with torches, formed line. When it was out of sight the Emperor left the church.

The people of a place in America took a thief out the other night to tar and feather him, but couldn't find their tar-bucket. They failed in their enterprise just as a vocalist fails in singing—because they couldn't get the piteli.

FRANCE AND MADAGASCAR. The conespondent of the Daily News, writing under date Antananarivo, March 28, says: You have probably heard that the French and Malagasy have again commenced negotiations with regard to the dispute existing between them. Last time it was the Malagasy who made the first advances; this time it is the French, the latter having invited the Malagasy representatives to meet them in the fort at Tainatave. Up to the present date no settlement has been arrived at, and it is still doubtful what the result of the conference will be, though hopes are entertained of a pacific ter- mination. The French officials at Tamatave communicated to the Malagasy Government, through its representatives at the conference, the desire of the French Government that the war might be brought to a close, and urged them to accede to the demand of France for the territory north of latitude 16 degrees. The Malagasy, anxious 'to be again on friendly terms with France, and eagerly desirous of bringing the war to a speedy end, were ready to make a compromise to the following effect: They were willing to pay an indemnity to the French Government, and even to cede to them certain islands on the coast of Madagascar; but with regard to the cession of territory on the mainland they again pointed out that the French had by treaty and practice acknowledged the sovereignty of the Queen over the entire island, and that not many years ago they had abandoned their claim to the territory in question on payment by the Malagasy Government of 1,000,000 francs. Upon this the representatives of the Republic proposed that for the 16th degree of latitude another, further north, should be substituted, thus reducing the territory asked for. The Malagasy, however, gave it to be understood, in as polite a manner as possible, that they cannot give up any part of the country, but that they are willing, as before stated, to accept as a basis of negotiations the payment of an indemnity and the cession of certain islands. This is how matters stand at the present moment. Whether the French will bo willing to carry on the negotiations on these terms remains to be seen. On Tuesday last, March 25tli, the British flag was hoisted at the newly-established vice-consulate in the capital. A salute by the Malagasy of twenty-seven guns announced the event to the inhabitants of the city and its surroundings. Most of the English resi- dents and a few Norwegians and Americans witnessed the ceremony, which owing to the tact and good management of Mr. Pickersgill, her Britannic Majesty's representative, and the kindly hospitality of Mrs. Pickersgill, passed off successfully. Towards the close of the proceedings the Prime Minister appeared on the scene, accompanied by Ravonina- hitriniarivo, 15 honours, and Ramaniraka, 13 honours (the recent ambassadors to Europe and America), and other chief officers. I cannot express the pleasure it gave us to see the Union Jack flying in this large city of Antananarivo, especially when we remembered that it signified that British interests in Central Mada- gascar, hitherto neglected, would in future be properly attended to.

GIRL-IDLENESS. Much lias been said and written about idleness. The copy-books of our childhood were full of warn- ings of the dangers of idleness. We were told that idleness was the father of crime and the mother of mischief. Such statements could not but seem to our minds greatly exaggerated, for our conception of evil was something active and positive. It might be wrong not to work, or profitably occupy one's time, but it could not be wicked. How could an idle man be criminal when he absolutely did nothing, good or bad ? Such was the logic of youth. Now we know that a man slothful in business is not necessarily pas- sive in other ways. The man who is too lazy to work is not too lazy to be actively wicked. The idle woman is generally a gossip and a. mischief maker. The time which ought to be usefully employed must be taken up with something, and so the reputa- tions of neighbours and acquaintances are torn to shreds in many instances, and the conscientious and useful members of the same household are continually aggravated by the idleness which affords leisure for such disagreeable and contemptible employment—that is. if they are not themselves sooner or later demo- ralised by it. An idle person cannot bear to see others; employed. A woman who has no home duties, or who does not attend to such duties, is a pest in any neigh- bourhood. It may take her a long time to make her breakfast toilet, but her outside garments go on like magic when she has once decided to make a morning or afternoon call. She will not work, and she will not let her neighbours work. Her acquaintances are kept in a state of chronic discomfort in the expectation of a visit, and a door-bell in her vicinity cannot ring without striking terror to the heart of the lady of the house. A call from this idle person means simply loss of time without the slightest compensation. The work in the kitchen or the nursery must be aban- doned, and this means, with practical, conscientious housekeepers, not only a giving up of the work for this time, but for some time to come. The work planned for that day, and omitted for that day, means overwork at another time, confusion and anxiety. The plan of selecting one day, or a part of a day, each week for a general reception occasion, doubtless had its origin with some bored housekeeper who could not bear to have her valuable time constantly broken in upon and frittered away. There is nothing in the world more aggravating, more nerve-rasping than to be compelled to entertain an idle person with a duty in the kitchen or the next room incessantly clamour- ing to be attended to. It occasionally arouses all the antagonism and latent ugliness in one's nature. Hands and brain are all ready for the work which has been laid out for this time. When will she go ?'" the spirit keeps asking. If she will only go now 1 can rush through the work, and the morning will not be a lost one." But she does "not go. In fact, it is a rare thing for this particular kind of caller to take her leave until the utmost limit of time is reached, as well as the utmost limit of her hostess' patience. So, sensible ladies protect themselves by feeling at liberty to report themselves engaged, with the exception of the time set apart for the reception of guests. One of the greatest difficulties that mothers have to contend with in the education of their girls is the idle Miss, who, having unlimited time at her disposal, drops in at study hours, at practising time, in the moments devoted to culinary and housekeeping employment; in fact, at any and all times which she takes a notion to select. It is a fact that two idle girls can more or less demoralise a whole set. There are only so many hours in each twenty-four that can be safely utilised, and so the careful mother, anxious to prepare her daughters for the responsibilities which, if she lives, she will be called upon to take up, fits the special occupation or lesson to the special hour. Everything is going on not only smoothly but enthusi- astically when the door-bell rings, and one of the idle girls appears. That precious hour is broken in upon, every moment hopelessly wasted, for no one ever learns anything that is good to learn, from an idle girl. Having no occupation in life but to visit, or be visited, it is inevitable that she should be impressed and influenced in such a manner as to make her a dangerous companion. It may be that the idle girl is a relative, or so connected socially as to make it impossible to refuse to admit her, or there may be various other reasons for bearing with her; such as a natural reluctance to inflict pain, or lack of moral courage to protect one's time. And so it comes to pass that girls who would be industrious if they were let alone, are constantly inter- rupted by this at present very common pest. This is not the worst of it. The unlimited leisure at the disposal of these young ladies is frequently the cause of much discontent. So-,Liid-so is not obliged to take care of her room." So-and-so does not have to study after sc-iiool." So-and-so is not compelled to make bread and pies, and jelly, and darn stockings." "She can go out every evening if she pleases, while I have to be poked up at. home all the time." So- and-so's mother lets so-and-so go to the theatre, and she never has to do anything about her clothes except to select what pleases her." 0 mamma, I wish you were like so-ancl-so's mother!" This is the most dis- couraging feature of the whole unhappy business. It is bad enough to have precious time wasted through the instrumentality of an idle empty-headed, un- disciplined girl, but it is much worse to find that the daughter, who was once happy and pliable to the will°and instruction of a loving, conscientious mother, is no longer contented, but is constantly comparing her lot with that of one whom the mother knows to be not only without promise of future usefulness, but in some cases absolutely unprincipled. Much precious freight has been dashed against this rock, and the trouble that has been caused by the influence of the idle girl in families cannot be exaggerated. There seems no remedy for this evil save by the persistent refusal of mothers to allow their daughters to be in- terrupted in their studies, or domestic duties. The difficulties are almost insuperable, and after a certain age entirely so. It is only those parents who decide early and hold to their decisions through entreaty, tears, and temporary discontent, who can expect to keep their girls free from the pernicious influence of idle companions.Threnoloyiral Journal.

THE SALVATION ARMY IN SWITZER LAND. The Geneva correspondent of the Daily SewS writes: For some time past the members of the Salvation Army in various parts of the Cantons of Berne aud Neuchatel have been subjected to what can only be described as brutal violence on the part of organised gangs of roughs. The spirit of intoler- ance that displayed itself when the army first invaded Switzerland seems to have revived with increased vigour, and the followers of the Blood and Fire banner have been the victims of dastardly outrages that have spared neither sex nor age, women nor children. In one instance a fine young woman was so severely beaten that she has since spat blood, and a young man was injured to such an extent that his life is despaired of. These, however, are only samples of the extent to which the fanatical hatred has been carried. On several occasions the Salvationists have been disturbed at their private meetings, and ruffians armed with bludgeons and stones have created havoc and bloodshed among them. It is almost incredible that such outrages as these should have been allowed to go on so long unchecked in a country that boasts of its entire freedom in all things- It is true that the Federal Government has at last bestirred itse If, and the cantons are now showing signs of a desire to put an end to what has become nothing more nor less than a disgraceful public' scandal. But one is naturally led to inquire why it was considered necessary that several people, in- cluding for the most part women and children, should be seriously injured and much property destroyed before the authorities deemed it their duty to move ? In fact, it is probable that the roughs might still have gone on amusing themselves by beating the Salvationists, if they had not out-lleroded Herod at Neuenville. At this place they attacked with revolting barbarity a little body of worship- pers consisting mainly of women and young- girls, and absolutely drenched them with the Colltentg- of a cesspool, the filth being handed along in buckets, by a chain of the cowardly aggressors, who half- choked and asphyxiated the unfortunate people. This last outrage was too much for public feeling to, tolerate, and a demand was made that something should be done, and it is satisfactory to learn that nearly 100 of the brutal mob have been summoned to appear at the end of the month before the magis- trates. At Neuchatel also the authorities evidently think the time has arrived when they must do some- thing, and so they have announced their intention of rigorously prosecuting any one who may be guilty of further outrage. The Director of Police in Berne has, however, gone a step further than this, and has distinguished himself by prohibiting for the present all meetings of the army, as "a precautionary measure."

<0ur Toulon (Lcm^pcaiknt. | [We eieem it right to -t;-te that we do not at all times .Mi ntifv ouischts w:tl; I'nii- <n i tt;;ur.Jei)i. s n.inious. j When the Duke of Albany died, on the 28th of Marc'.i, it wa.; felt that a calamity of considerable ex- tent had fallen upon the Queen, and to a lesser decree upon the capital. On the :jOth a supplement to the London Gazette was issued, ordering three weeks of general mourning, and six weeks of mourn- ing for the Court. These six weeks have now ex- pired; and those who have to live by trade as carried on at the West-end of the metropolis hope that the forty days of sorrow having terminated, they may be enabled to see the dawn of a brighter and more cheerful time. They have had many bad seasons in recent years but nothing worse than the one through which they are now passing. Winter did not come at its proper time; the spring was cold and ungenial, so that the garments which had done very well for the dark months, were made to do service also for a time of bleak east winds and gloomy skies. The forty days of mourning also told against the success of general business in the way of tasteful spring attire. But these are now over the days are nearly at their longest, and will soon be at their hottest; the season is slowlv gliding away, and tradesmen who have y I heavy expeuses to meet, whether they sell their goods or not, are asking what are the prospects of the two months which the London season has yet to run. It is not more than that, for the middle of July will certainly see the end of it. The pedestrian who makes his way through St. James's-park m y see upon any day of the week the white blinds of Buckingham Palace closely drawn, just as they have been ever since the death of the Prince Consort nearly three-and-twenty years ago. The hospitalities of the Prince and Princess of Wales, who have been the leaders of life and fashion in London during the past two decades, must for some time, in consequence of the Duke of Albany's death be on a very restricted scale. There are no Drawing-rooms or levees, State balls or State concerts. The Duke and Duchess of Connaught are in India the Duke of Edinburgh is sailing over the placid surface of the Mediterranean Sea; the Duchess takes no part in active social life nor can the Duchess of Albany do so now that her husband is dead. Princess Christian lives at Frog- more and although Princess Louise is now living at home, the health of her Royal Highness does not enable her to take part as often as she could wish in the benevolent and philanthropic movements of the day. London, therefore, this year, must perforce be content with a quieter time than the metropolis has known for some years past. Even the military spectacle described as trooping the colours, which we have always been accustomed to associate with the Queen's birthday celebration on the 24th May, is on this occa- sion to be dispensed with. Meanwhile the published letters of the Princess Alice to the Queen, written in the years of her warm sunny life, have been read with deep interest by all classes. There is no member of the Royal Family whose name is more beloved by the people of this country. They think of her as the dutiful daughter in attendance on her dying father, and seventeen years later as the devoted mother whose life fell a sacrifice to the inroads upon her constitution which had been made by the anxiety caused though the illness of her husband and children. The pictures which these letters present of the Princess's life in Darmstadt will be a new one to many. We are accustomed to associate the exist- ence of dwellers in palaces with riches and luxury, and to suppose that if they cared to pass through the world in a condition of careless indolence they could do so. But here we find that the husband of the Queen's daughter had to borrow money to build his house, the Princess writing to her mother that they would have to live very economically for years to come, and that she herself had made all the summer dresses for her girls, and kept her own house- hold accounts. We also find the Queen helping her daughter with gifts of money. One wonders what the income of Prince Louis of Hesse could have been. The marriage dowry of the Princess Alice was S30,000, with an annuity of £6000. Why should the beloved Princess have had to make her own children's dresses ? Although the Health Exhibition was opened by the Duke of Cambridge before it was ready, and in the days of Court mourning, there seems no reason why its success should not equal that of the Fisheries of last year. People do not go there so much for business as for pleasure, and the evening fetes at South Kensington last year, with the military bands and the electric lights, contributed very materially to the prosperity of the enterprise. The management is in the same hands as last years, which for months was not only the talk of the town, but the object of attainment by every country visitor to London. Sir Philip Cunliffe Owen is an excellent organiser, and in arranging the multitudinous details of these vast shows, his capabilities have been taxed to the utter- most. Some people imagine that they have done these exhibitions by a single visit and a cursory glance, but this is not so. It is like going to the British 11 71 Museum or the National Gallery you may do it in a day or in a month, just as taste suits. As the new Speaker of the House of Commons settles down to his duties, it is seen that he possesses a firm grasp of the rules of procedure, and is ready with decision on points of order, which crop up at the most unexpected times. There is one thing which he has clearly set his face against, and that is a member wandering from the question at issue in such a way as to suggest the idea that there was an intentional waste of time. The right hon. gentleman is evidently under the impression that Parliamentary obstruction should be grappled with in a much more drastic form than any which has yet been applied to it; and although his powers are limited in this direction he intends to use them. The arrival of the Australian cricketers in this country has been watched with a great deal of interest in the spcrting world. They have a very long list of matches arranged, and taken altogether the coming season promises to be more than usually interesting. The team that has honoured our shores this year is slightly different in its make-up from that which visited us previously. But still it is a very strong eleven, and the important fact remains that the men are always practising together. This y el is no doubt one of the main parts of their successes, for it has been noticed before how well they field, and this is one of the chief features of the pastime. Our defeat in the great match between the Colonists and All England last time they visited us, was partly attributed to the English players not having practised together before the match. Besides the attraction just mentioned, we shall have a team of Philadelphian cricketers here next month, They are amateurs, so of course will not play against professionals. They will, it is expected, come to learn something of the game, as they are not likely to be able to stand against our best gentlemen cricketers. Two of the greatest events of the season are the Eton and Harrow and Oxford and Cambridge contests. In the struggle between the Unive-sities, the Light Blues have been the victors for the last three or four years. The Oxonians are likely to have a better chance this year, as there are plenty of good fresh men to come for- ward. It was stated this week that Mr. C. T. Studd was going to retire from the captaincy of the Cam- bridge eleven. If he does, this will be a great loss to the Light Blues, as he is undoubtedly one of the best all-round cricketers we can boast of. He is not only a good batsman, but a very fine bowler to boot, which is a combination seldom attained in the cricket field. His two brothers. G. B. and J. E. K. Studd, are both in the Cambridge team, and, although good players, they do not come near the one just mentioned. The splendid weather that has just set in is all in favour of cricket, and we may hope to see some sensational scorirg. Last year was rather heavy in this department of the game, the highest aggregate score in a county match being (;10, compiled by Surrey against Hampshire at the Oval, May 24th.

THE AGRICULTURAL OUTLOOK. The Daily Telegraph of Monday had an article under the above heading, from which we make the following extract: A large number of farmers will to-day turn out cattle from their winter quarters to grass, it being held to be a common observance, almost as fixed and unalterable as the laws of the Medes and Persians, that this must always be done on or about Old May Day. Arthur Young, at the commencement of the century, wrote: "About the 12th of this month (May) the farmer may calculate that he will have a sufficient bite of grasses to leave off foddering entirely, and before that he should not think of it; for if cattle are turned into grass not sufficiently advanced in growth they would require such a number of acres that his mowing ground would be greatly curtailed." It might reasonably be thought that the right time to turn stock to their pastures is when the grass has grown to a sufficient maturity to receive them, whether it be April or May; besides which, experience and good judgment combine to show the utility of a mixed system of feeding, not only for bOtti these months, but very generally throughout the year. Thus, there should be a provision of either mangold wurzel, rye, or kale, for cattle partly to subsist on up to the very end of May, when vetches, or trifolium incarnatun; might afford sufficient cuttings for them to live, not wholly on green crops, but to some moderate extent on them, throughout summer. These they should devour in their stalls, which they ought to inhabit up to the end of May at night, and afterwards throughout summer for three or four hours in the middle of the day. The advantage of this improved system, when explained, will be manifest to everyone. Pastures are extremely variable in their produce, not only in spring, but throughout summer and autumn, and if there are arable crops to fall back upon, greater uniformity in the supply of dietary can be preserved. Grass being short, the beasts would have a larger pro- portion of forage from the arable lands, or roots from the mangel heap, while, if plentiful, a much less quantity would suffice. Next, cattle suffer fewer privations by this alternate system of housing and turning out. They must be much more comfortable in stalls and yards during such nights of April and May as are commonly experienced; and when the sun waxed hot in summer they are sure to seek the shade of the nearest tree. They are also tolerably sure to be pestered by flies, and have their blood raised to a state of fever if allowed to remain in the open air. And there is still another reason for this improved system of feeding cattle founded on the indisputable principle that a varied dietary is always far more salutary than when it consists of only one single kind. This alternation of soiling and pasturing has been found to be of special utility to dairy cows. They observe a more equable contentment, without which, a steadily sus- tained full supply of milk can seldom be depended upon and when they have daily a little artificial food such as cotton cake, bean meal, or maize meal, they can be made far more remunerative than under any other management. The alternation of foddering and pasturing might be pursued without any artificial feeding, but the most experienced dairy farmers have formed conclusions by direct experi- ment, that the deepest milkers among dairy cows absolutely require it to be sustained in the full vigour of yielding capacity. Grass fields at the present period are far better furnished than they were a year since, when cattle were turned into them, however great the complaints have been of late that the bitter April winds turned pastures rusty and stopped their growth. Last weekaffordedalmost every kindof weather to be foundin the calendar,including thunder,lightning, snow, and hail; but there was a copious rainfall, with sufficient heat to cause the grass to start afresh, And, now that we have warm nights as well as days, active growth may be ex- pected to proceed with great rapidity. The situation is altogether a better one compared with that of 1883. The early part of May was then so cold, and vegetation so backward, that in the bill districts of the North of England and Scotland, thousands of lambs died for lack of sustenance, and the change to genial warmth has come a week earlier this year as it did not take place then until May 15. Those who were lamenting the unusual backwardness of the season last week and the probability of a late harvest should remember this. If only the gratifying change experienced since Friday should continue, the full plant of corn in the ground will so rapidly develope itself, that with sufficient summer heat we might reasonably anticipate an early harvest.

"THE MONARCH OF THE GLEN." This famous picture, by Landseer, which is familiar to every one by the splendid engraving by the brother of the painter, the late Thomas Landseer, after having been exhibited during the week with the late Lord Londesborough's other pictures and works of art, was sold in London on Saturday by Messrs. Christie, Manson, and Woods, before a very crowded audience, for the large sum of £6510, to Mr. Eaton, M.P. for Coventry, whose gallery is now enriched by the acquisition of this masterpiece of our great animal painter. The picture is square in form, and not very large, just allowing of the life-size figure of a noble stag seen standing in the heather on some rocky height of his native forest, with nothing but the cloudy sky around, against which his royal antlers stand out in strong relief. The picture was painted, we have heard, for a compartment in the walls of the House of Lords, and was sent by Landseer as a specimen of his work so long ago as 1851. It was, however, declined by the art authorities of the Commission, and sent back to the painter, who was indignant at this, and at once accepted the offer of 350 guineas made to him for it by Lord Londesborough. It was afterwards placed with other works of Landseer's in the exhibi- tion of the year at the old rooms of the Academy, now the National Gallery. The price is not quite the highest ever paid for a work of Landseer's, as it will be remembered E6615 was paid in the same room for the celebrated picture of the Bears, Man proposes, God disposes," which was purchased by the late Mr. Holloway for his college gallery at Egham.

THE HAMILTON PALACE LIBRARIES. The great sale of the Beckford and Hamilton libraries was brought to a conclusion by Messrs. Sotheby, Wilkinson, and Hodge on Friday in last week after 48 days of sale, spread over the past two years, during which prices quite beyond all previous experience were paid for the precious books and manuscripts. The latter, as is well known, were sold to the German Government, who despatched Herr Lippmann and two other experts to examine them and treat with Messrs. Sotheby, who had pre- pared an elaborate catalogue and were about to offer them in public auction. What was the sum paid by agreement with the auctioneers and approved of the Duke of Hamilton is a secret not to be divulged, neither was it permitted that any catalogue should be published, but it is pretty well understood that it amounted to something under £ 100,000. At any rate, we are enabled to arrive near the exact sum by finding that the gross amount realised by the sales of library of books and the manuscripts is admitted to be between X160,000 and £ 170,000. The Hamilton books have now brought S12,893 12s. 6d. and the Beckford books £ 73,551 18s., thus giving S86,445 10s. 6d. the remainder would be due to the manu- scripts now in the Berlin Museum. The sale will, of course, be recorded as the most remarkable for money value of our time, and it will be coupled with the Sunderland library sale, which it exceeded in value by about XIOO,000, though it did not approach it in literary interest.

THE DYNAMITE PLOTS. At the Birmingham Police-court on Saturday, before Messrs. Ivynnersley (stipendiary), Jatfrav, Avery, Hill, Manton, and Holliday (magistrates), John Daley, alias Denman, James Francis Egan, and William M'Donnell were again brought up, charged with treason-felony. The court was crowded at an early hour, among those accommodated near the bench and the barristers' seats being many ladies. Extra- ordinary precautions had been taken to convey the prisoners from the gaol to the police-court. At ten o'clock the prison van containing the prisoners, each handcuffed and placed as far as possible in the van, the compartments intervening and the passage being filled with policemen, armed with revolvers, left the gaol at Windsor Green, where the prisoners had been detained during the week. Half a dozen mounted policemen, also armed, surrounded the van, and the driver and another policeman on the box were armed. Daley, shortly after he was placed in the dock, examined his wrists in an ostentatious manner, holding them up to the dock-keeper (frspeetcr Hall), to show the marks of the handcuffs, and then he took out a silk handkerchief and chafed the wrists. When in the dock Egan and M'Donnell looked much depressed, but Daley maintained a jaunty air. Mr. Poland, accompanied by Mr. Pollard, again appeared for the prosecution, Mr. Corbett (Malland and Corbett, Wednesbury) for M'Donnell, and Mr. O'Connor for Egan. Mr. Quelch, the solicitor who defended Daley at Liverpool and Birkenhead, was now present on his behalf. Mr. Poland said since last Saturday a number of documents had been found, of which five had been selected to be put in evidence. These were put in and read, and a good deal of evidence of a similar character to that already given was taken. Scnjumiii OrCj Qcicutinj oaici 1*1/^ had beep I employed watching Daley since the 28tb 1\.T ) last year. The people attending Foster's Irish. On the 25th of February wit- Foster's, when Egan and Daley were there, and fol-"| lowed them from Foster's to Musto's licensed house j in Dale-end. Afterwards they returned to Foster's/ —about half-past ten o'clock at night; they went into I the smoke room behind the bar. Other people were there. Egan stood up in the room with his hat off. Daley, with Foster, and other men were also present. Egan, whose face was turned towards witness, made a speech. Mr. Poland What did you hear him say ? As the door opened I heard him say This night we shall be avenged. This night we shall be free "-and they all hooted "hear, hear." Did you hear any noise ? The door opened and I heard the words Parnell," and then the door closed"' They left the house afterwards, Daley and Egan to- gether, and Daley said to Egan, Wre'll run you next." There were about six people in the room altogether I when Egan was making the speech. After leaving the house Daley and Egan went home. I didn't write the words down when I heard them, but next day I saw the news in the Mail of the explosion ia Victoria Station and that took my attention. Mr. Poland: You heard next day of the explosion at the Victoria Station? Witness: Yes, sir. Mr. Poland: On this night at Foster's were some of the Irish constabulary there ? Yes, there was one with me, Flaherty. Cross-examined by Mr. O'Connor The room where Egan and Daley were was at the back of the front bar. It was the smoke-room, I suppose. The bar faced Moat-lane. Mr. O'Connor: When you heard him say, We will run you next," you don't know what he refer- red to ? Witness: No. Mr. O'Connor: It may have been in competition with Lord Randolph Churchill for Birmingham, For all you know. < Witness: Yes. (Laughter.) John Humphreys, head constable Irish Con- stabulary, stationed at Liverpool, testified to arresting Daley at Birmingham on Good Friday morning. He was taken into the luggage office and searched. They found a railway ticket upon him—Birkenhead to Wolverhampton (produced); a heavy brown parcel from his trousers' pocket, a similar parcel from his undercoat pocket, and a third parcel from the outside breast pocket of his undercoat, and a fourth parcel breast pocket of his undercoat, and a fourth parcel from another pocket. Witness took the first three parcels out of his pockets, and Canning took tl e ( fourth out. The four parcels were at once sent by Sergeant Robb to the Home Office in London., I Sergeant Ashby, of the Birmingham police, and other officers deposed to digging in Egan's garden and finding a bottle, which was handed to Colonel Majendie and Dr. Dupré. Colonel Majendie, chief inspector of explosives J under the Explosives Act, said that on the morning of the 12th of April he received from the witness Robb the 12th of April he received from the witness Robb four parcels-three heavy and one light. No. 1 he found to contain a paper parcel of yellowish colour, markecT Glass; don't break," in writing, imitating print. This parcel contained two small boxes, one marked "R. Esterbrook and Co., Falcon Pen, Philadelphia." It was an ordinary steel-pen box, and contained six small glass bottles of very thin glass (produced-they were about two inches long) which contained a brownish-green fluid, found to be sulphuric acid, The bottles were corked with indiarubber corks. In the other box in the same parcel, marked Leads and spare corks," were five indiarubber corks similar to those in the bottles, two common corks, and three small cylinders of lead about an inch long and ^in. in diameter. There was also a paper on which was written in writing imitating print, In case the corks written in writing imitating print, In case the corks in the vials are spoiled by V [partly erased], or the acid becomes black by the time you receive it, refil the vials from the one with the glass stopper." The box was slightly burnt, as if by acid. In the same parcel, No. 1, was also a roll of paper enclosing three smaller rolls. In one of these was a small glass bottle con- taining a red powder, and corked .vith an indiarubber cork. In another roll was a brass cylinder, about three inches long and half an inch in diameter, having projecting from it a detonator. From the other end projected an indiarubber cork, which was flecked or marked here and there with some red powdery substance similar to that in the bottle just mentioned. On drawing this cork out he withdrew with it a bottle the same as those in the first, box, but empty. Below the bottle, in the tube, was some of the red powder. Witness tested the powder by dropping upon it a little of the acid from one of the small bottles, and it instantly ignited briskly, almost ex- plosively. The remaining roll contained a bottle larger than the other, and containing sulphuric acid of a lighter colour. In parcel No. 2 he found an article liko the one produced-a brass cylinder 3-tin. long and 2 in diameter. Both top and bottom unscrewed. The cylinder was filled with a white substance, which he had since ascertained was dynamite. The top of the cylinder had fitted into it a brass tube or detonator similar to that already described. The tube contained some of the same red powder but no bottle. It was closed with a cork, and the top of the cylinder had a disc hinged on to it by which the hole in which the cork appeared could be closed. One of the glass bottles of parcel No. 1 could be fixed in the tube in the cylinder through the hole and secured by the disc. No. 8 and No. 4 were the same as No. 2 in their contents. The brass cylinders found in parcel No. 2 were in the ordinary sense bombs or shells, which were properly charged with the materials found in parcel No. 1, all screwed up and fitted, and would explode by concussion on being thrown. They would explode even by dropping on the floor. The effect would be to break the glass of the little bottle by means of the lead cylinder inside it, thus liberating the sulphuric acid, the contact of which with the red powder would ignite it, explode the detonator, and thus fire the dynamite. The shells, as received by him, required only the bottle to be inserted to effect this. It would be very unsafe indeed to carry them with the bottles in. Have you any doubt that if one of these bottles were thrown amongst a number of people in a room, or even in the open air, the effect would cause destruction of human life?- Yes, certainly the effect would be very disastrous. There is no doubt the explosion would destroy life and have very serious conse- quences. They are obviously made to destroy life. They would do little injury to property ?—It would do very little injury to property; it is obviously made to destroy life. How much dynamite was there in each cylinder?-- About lb., or rather less. 2 The prisoners were committed for trial at Warwick Assizes, each reserving his defence, bail being re- fused. Subsequently the prisoners were all conveyed back to Winson-green Gaol under a strong escort of police armed with loaded revolvers.

THE GREELY EXPEDITION. The following proclamation has been received at the Foreign Office from the United States Minister in London, with a request that its contents may be made known as widely as possible Proclamation. —25,000 dols. Reward. United States of America, Navy Department, Washington, District of Columbia, April 17, 1884.—Notice is hereby given, that the Government of the United States of America will pay a reward of 25,000 dols., to be equitably paid or distributed to such ship or ships, person or persons, not in the military or naval service of the United States, as shall discover and rescue, or satisfactorily ascertain the fate of the expe- dition of Lieut. A. W. Greely, an officer of the United States' army, and his command, consisting of about 24 persons, which in the month of August, in the year 1881, landed from the steamer Proteus at Dis- covery Harbour, in Lady Franklin Sound, in latitude 81 deg. 44 min. north, and longitude 64 deg. 45 min. west. Unprepared vessels are warned not to incur extraordinary peril or risk in the effort to secure the reward hereby offered; the United States will in no event be involved in any future liability or responsi- bility beyond said reward and the determination of the Secretary of the Navy as to the right of any man to said reward, or a share thereof, shall be conclusive upon all persons.—Witness my hand, at the Navy Department in Washington, on said 17th day of April, iA.D. 1884, William E. Chandler, Secretary of the JNavy. i The steamer Alert, one of the vessels to be engaged in the Greely Relief Expedition, sailed from New York on Saturday. She tiew the British flag, and Fort Columbus, at the harbour entrance, fired a special salute of 21 guns while the vessel was pass- ing, by order of the Secretary for War, as a recogni- tion of the British Government's generosity in giving the ship. The Alert received a general salute from cannon, steam whistles, &c., throughout her passage from the Navy yard to the sea.

THE SOURCES OF THE JORDAN. On the confines of the Holy Land, below the lower spurs of Mount Hermon and the Anti-Lebanon, two villages, only a little more than four miles apart, standing on the crests of two small hills, and each, peopled only by a few hundred inhabitants, have, since the earliest days of Palestine exploration attracted the attention of travellers. Situated in the midst of the grandest scenery to be found in Pales- tine, these insignificant hamlets have claims upon the interest of the civilised world on other and wider grounds. Here we must seek for the two main sources of the Jordan, the most sacred stream on the face of the earth, unique alike in its history and its geography, whilst its valley presents geological problems that have yet to be solved. In Tel-el" Kady and Banias are satisfied in a remarkable degree all the conditions required to identify them respectively with the Dan of the Old Testament and the Caisarea Philippi of the New, and there is no doubt remaining as to their coincidence with those ancient cities. Situated in the midst of the Huleh plain, about a mile soutii of the slopes of Hermon, is Tell-el-Kady, a rounded mound, six hundred and fifty-seven feet above the level of the sea, broad and low on the northern side, and rather steeper on the south. On the western side of the mound is an impenetrable thicket of oaks, oleanders, and reeds, and beneath them bursts forth the River Jordan, full-grown at birth, a wonderful fountain, like a bubbling basin, the largest spring in Syria, and said to be the largest single spring in the world, where the drain- age of the southern side of Hermon seems to have found a collective exit." The basin is nearly a hun- dred yards wide, and the water is singularly limpid. Another spring, rising in the centre of the mound, escapes over the south-western ridge. where, when Dr. Robinson saw it in 1852, it drove two mills, and possessed power to drive any number. It then joins the first, and larger stream. The river, now known as the Nahr Leddan, descends rapidly through a luxuriant grove of oleanders, briars, wild figs, poplars, pistacia, and mul- berry trees, to the plain below, and, rushing on, passes Khurbet Daniah, another mound, and running side by side with the Nahr Hasbany, a smaller stream which drains the western slope of Hermon, it is, four miles to the southward, joined by the Nahr Banias, and becomes the Jordan, which receives the Hasbany as an affluent stream half a mile further south, and then flows into the dense jungle of papyrus of the Huleh marshes. There is no question that the city of Dan, the ancient Lesem or Laish, was a Phcenician colony, an offshoot of Sidon, and the story of the surprise and conquest of its careless inhabitants by the warlike Danites, who came up this rich plain from their tribal territory in the south-west of Palestine, is told in the Books of Joshua and Judges. It was here that the Danites built their city, and called it Dan, "after the name of Dan their father." From Tell-el- Kady to Banias, which lies due east, the road passes through beautiful park-like scenery, thickly studded with trees, principally oak, not very large, but very refreshing after the bare plain to the west of the Tell. The village of Banias, which is now inhabited by about 350 Moslems, lies in the corner of a recess in the plain, and, except on the west, is surrounded on all sides by hills. The vegetation is most luxuriant, and the stone-built houses are almost completely secluded by trees of all sorts. Behind them, to the north-east, on the summit of a narrow rocky ridge, with deep valleys on the northern and southern sides, rises the crusading castle of Subeibeh, one of the finest, and best preserved of the ruined castles of Galilee. From a cave at the foot of the cliff an immense spring gushes out, and, bursting in a multitude of streamlets, through masses of rock and debris, which are conjectured to be the records of an earthquake, it forms a strong stream below them. This, the Nahr Banias, is the other source of the Jordan, and in ancient times it was by far the larger spring, but now the quantity of water in both the Nahr Banias and the Nahr Leddan is about the same. In the face of the rock, immedi- ately above the stream, but rendered accessible by the pile of debris, are cut three niches, and here too is a large grotto. The tablets on the niches bear Greek inscriptions, which have been partially deciphered, and leave no doubt that here we have the remnants of a pagan shrine, of no vast antiquity, but of surpassing interest in its bearmg upon history. Here the Greeks of the Macedonian kingdom of Antioch probably raised a temple to Pan, calling the colony Paneas, an appellation which has come down to us in the modern form Banias.— Quiver.

U- NEW SLATE MINES. An important discovery of slate was made a short time ago at a spot about one mile from L'Anse, Michigan, which report now says is proving of immense magnitude. The following is given in a press despatch: A depth of twenty-five feet has been reached, which shows a deposit of excellent billiard and roofing slate. The vein dips toward the south-east to a distance of 300 feet in width as far as the test pits have been made, then runs west, cross- ing the Marquette, Houghton, and Ontonagon Railroad to an indefinite distance. The out-croppings on the sections show the slate to be with in three feet from the surface. The facilities for shipping are excellent. With the railroad to the left of it 200 feet, and the Keewenaw Bay one mile in front of it, the markets of Chicago, Buffalo, and other leading ports can be reached with a cost of fifty to sixty cents, a square. The discovery is looked upon with great interest, and will be one of the leading industries of the Upper Peninsula. Stripping and test pitting, and other work to improve the property, is under progress. The slate is equal to that which has been selected for covering the new Board of Trade building in Chicago.