County Observer and Monmouthshire Central Advertiser Abergavenny and Raglan Herald Usk and Pontypool Messenger and Chepstow Argus

ELECTRIC TRAMCAR ACCIDENT. ELEVEN PERSONS INJURED. Another electric tramcar accident occurred at Glasgow on Saturday. It resulted in eleven persons being injured. The tramcar, while proceeding along a decline near Possil-bridge, ran into the back of a, lorry, and knocked the latter vehicle against a wall, kill- ing the horse instantaneously. The force of the collision caused the tramcar to run off the rails, and, dashing into a barricade on the opposite side of the street, it eventually landed into a field beyond. Both vehicles were completely wrecked. The road at that part is extremely narrow, and the moment the tramcar driver saw the danger of a collision he applied the brake. There was not sufficient space, however, between the two vehicles to pull up. Both the drivers of the car and lorry were injured, the former. John Bryan, being removed to the Royal Infirmary in an unconscious oondi- tion. A man named White, who was crossing the street at the time, was knocked down, and severely cut on the side of the face.

THE KING AT MARIENBAD. The King, accompanied by the Duke of Teck, lunched on Saturday at the Waldmuehle Hotel. Vivien Chatres, the ten-year-old English -iio- linist, played during the meal. In the evening his Majesty dined at the Hotel Ruebezahl. Ths weather was cold and rainy, and King Edward did not take his usual walk. On Sunday the weather was again miserably wet and cold, but King Edward nevertheless went for his early morning walk. At noon his Majesty attended service at the English church. The Rev. Mr. Sharpe, vicar of Newport (Isle of Wight), preached the sermon, and the Eng- lish child-violinist, Vivien Chatres, played a solo from Bach. King Edward lunched at the Kursaal Restau- rant, and was afterwards present at a Wagner concera. in the Kursaal. In the evening his Majesty dined with Princess Murat at the Cafe Egerlaender. The King went shooting on Monday afternoon at Tepl, accompanied by the Hon. Edward Stonor, Sir Schomberg McDonnell, Major Fortescue, and Captain Ponsonby. His Majesty dined in his apartments at the Hotel Weimar and afterwards witnessed a performance at the Marienbad Theatre.

THE SIMPLE LIFE. A case showing that even the simple life can be carried to extremes was heard in the Rhondda Valley Police-court on Monday. A wife summoned her husband for desertion since February last after a married life extending over six years. The solicitor for the defence alleged that a com- plaint had been made that the husband had been practically starved. Under cross-examination the wife admitted that during their married life she and her husband had saved £ 240, but she questioned the accuracy of the statement that her husband had earned an average of only El 58. 6d. a week for the whole period. b The husband's solicitor, however, said he had a return supplied by the man's employers showing that the amount earned was rather under than over the amount stated. A maintenance order of 6s. a week was made, and an agreement was entered into under which E128 is to be invested in the joint names of the parties, the husband to be handed £ 100 now in the bank.

WOMAN'S WILD LEAP. A hysterical woman's cry of Fire nearly caused a panic among the passenger,4 of a crowded excursion train returning from Whitby to Scarborough early on Saturday. The rails were made slippery by ram, and at a steep gradient the engine could not haul the heavy load. The train had to be divided and hauled up in two sections, and many of the passengers were puzzled and uneasy as to what was the matter. Suddenly a cloud of sparks was thrown out by Vie puffing and snorting engine, and a nervous woman, shrieking Fire! opened the carriage door and leaped down a steep embankment. This created great alarm among the, other passengers, which the officials had difficulty in dispelling. The woman's head and arm were injured as the result of her wild leap.

Police-constable Join s, an invalid member 01 the Leeds City force, ha's, in his leisure hours, painted a number of pictures of such great merit that in September, they are to. be exhibited HIt Harrogate, in the Northern Police Convalescent Home. Iceland which has hitherto been denied tele- graphic communication with the rest of the world, is to lay a cable connecting the island with the Shet1anda. Eight compositors were surprised by the police the act of fighting a duel with rapiers in the Rue Viroflay, Paris. The homeric combat arose out frf rivalry for the favours of a fair milliner.

I TREATY OF PORTSMOUTH. I I CZAR'S MESSAGE TO THE ARMY. I The task of drafting the peace treaty at Portsmouth if. Ibeingteadily proceeded with. In a telegram of a somewhat strange character to General Linieviteh, the Czar speaks of the tried bravery of the Russian army in Manchuria, and expresses himself as having no desire to inflict upon his troops nor upon the enemy the horrors of further war. His Majesty refers to the conditions of peace as having .been accepted by the Japanese, and commands General Linievitch to "tell my dear army" that Russia. appreciates the sacrifices that it has made in this arduous war. The Emperor of Japan, in a telegram to Mr. Roocevelt. assures him of grateful appreciation. I EXCEEDED THEIR INSTRUCTIONS. I It is related that the Japanese Envoys extoeeded their instructions with regard to Sakhalin. They were only Bmpow-eredto wai-ve the indemnity for the retention of the whole island, not to concur in its division.

FATHER KIDNAPPED FROM HIS SECOND WIFE. "Kidnapping a father" is something new. It happened in Scotland. The possession of the gentleman has been the subject of a quarrel 'between his family and his second wife, who belongs to Dundee. The old gentleman, who is wealthy, was taken bask to England Iby hilS sons after the honey- moon, but recently the bride has managed to regain possession of him. On .Sunday, however, the mansion occupied by the pair on the fringe of Dundee was invaded by a party of four. The lady was locked into the dining-room and the husband was bundled into a two-horse carriage. The horses were put to their utmost speed and the Icruptiveand aprtorswho were only the gentleman's family—reached Tay ferry in time to get the boat for Fife. When (the steamer had gone some distance from the shore, a caib containing the wife dashed on to the pier; but, ala.s' a watery gulf separated her from her husband.

I THE LAW OF DISTRESS. I Harold Dowse, house agenlt, of Whanton-road, Shepherd's-bush, was summoned at West London Police-court on Saturday for levying an irregular and excessive distress on the goods of Mrs. Ellen Billers, of Westwick-gardens. At the last hearing Mr. Oswald Haneon, who represented the complainant, raisied the point that the. distress was irregular because the rent was payable in advance, and the defendant distrained two days after,it was due. Mr. Denman, who now gave a considered de- cision, said ithe point had (been much disputed formerly, hut all doubt was set at rest by the de- cision in the case of the London and Westmineter Loan Discount Company and the London and North Western Railway Company, in which the judges held that distress could be made for rent payable in advance as soon as it ibecamo pay- able. The summons was accordingly dismissed.

I SOMNAMBULIST DEAD. I Mr. Richard Heath, a member of the Sussex Archaeological Society, who lived alone at Crawley, was found dead on Saturday lying at the foot of some stairs.. His neck was broken, and it is supposed that he feU downstairs while walking in his sleep, as he was given to somnambulism.

Thomas Henry Baxter, a colonial broker, cf Hampstead, who had been married only three weeks, committed suicide by hanging himself, as a result of his inability to conquer insomnia. Mr. Henry L. Winch, prospective Unionist candidate for South Norfolk, died as the result of a motor-car accident. Esther Crack, two years old, was burned to death at Deptford by the flames from a fire which some boys had built in Radford-road blowing against her. Colliding with a bridge at the bottom of a hill near Bexin^, a. cyclist nam.ed George; Harmer fell into the stream below, and when picked up was found to be dead. After being run over at Three Bridges, a railwayman was eo mangled that hie body had to be removed in two Backs.

I JAPANESE NAVAL VISIT. I Now that peace between Russia and Japan has been arrived a;t, says a Portsmouth correspon- dent, the rumour lis revived that a naval squad- ron of Far Eastern Power will visit England at the fall of next summer. Such a visit has been talked of as likely to (take place when opportu- nity presented itself, and with the 'cessation of hostilities between the two Powers it is thought that next year may see it accomplished. ——

I YOUTHFUL ASSASSIN. I From Draguiguan come particulars of a murder b n committed by a child of twelve. A couple, named Vincent, went to work in the fields, leaving their two children, Ba.ptistin, twelve years of age, and his little sister Marie, aged four. In a epirilt c&,fun the little girl took a piece of ibread from her brother. A quarrel arose in the course of which the li-ttle girl kicked him. Furious, Baptistin took down a loaded rifle, and discharged it at arm's length at his little sister, the shot smashing her head. The young murderer, seized with fright, con- cealed his sister's body ina trunk. Little Marie was sought everywhere. Finally, driven by hunger, Baptistin went to his parents and told them what he had done. The youthful assassin -is under atreist.

I MURDERED IN SLEEP. I A frightful crime has been committed at cl Kamenz, in the district of Bautzen. A fire broke out at t-he house of a glassimaker, in Elstraer- straase, and before it could be extinguished the roof of the building and a neighbouring shed were destroyed. While the fire was being got under no one had noticed the glass maker's family, and thinking thaifc an accident had occurred, a fireman broke open the locked door of a room on the ground floor. On four beds in the room lay toe dead bodies of the wife, the mother-in-law and the four children of the glaesmaker. Their heads had been smashed in while they slept. The fire had been started so as to remove all traces of the murders. The man has been arrested.

I PROFESSOR MACFARREN DEAD. I The death occurred on Saturday, at the age of seventy-nine, of Mr. Walter Cecil Macfarren, the well-known musician, who was Professor of the Pianoforte at the Royal Academy of Music, and whose "Memories" were recently published. Professor Macfarren's whole life was devoted to music. At the age of ten he became a chorister at Westminster Abbey, and five years later entered the Royal Academy of Music as a student. He remained closely associated with the academy up to the time of his death. From 1842 to 1846 he was conductor of the choir and orchestra of the academy, and in 1878 he was elected a director. He was also for many years director and hon. treasurer of the Philharmonic Society. „ It is not too much to say that there are few households in which Professor Macfarren s music is unknown. His publications included sonatas, tarantelles, church services, madrigals, and innumerable songs and pieces.

I M. CRONIER'S DEATH. I The immediate cause of M. Cromer's suicide is now known. A draft for £ 40,000, accepted by the Egyptian Refinery, and payable at the Anglo-Egyptian Bank, Paris, fell due. The bank pressed Cronier for funds where- with to meet the draft, and he was unable to procure them. The heirs of Henri Say's vast, fortune are com- pletely ruined, as a result of their boundless confidence in Cronier, who only escaped the legal consequences of his breach of trust by suicide.

Judge Lumley Smith, in the course of a case heard in the City of London Court, said: "I always, find thalfi when gentlemen give exidience in this court, in stating their names they put great emphasis on their Christian names, but they drop their surnames. J wish they would speak up."

I FERRY-BOAT DISASTER. I SIX LIVES LOST. I A terrible disaster was on Saturday associated with the close of the holiday sojourn of a numner of Oldham people in the neighbourhood of Sandside, a pleasant village on the banks of the estuary of the Rivers Bela and Kent, near Arneide, at the head of Morecambe Bay. A ,party of sixteen people from Hollinwood, Old- ham, had been staying at Mrs. Ormrodfe, Lower Foulshaw Farm, on Foulshaw-marshes, which face Sandside, and on Saturday at about noon they were preparing to return home from the farm. To reach Sandside Station from the marshes it is necessary to cross the channel by a ferry- boat, which is controlled by John Pearson, the landlord of the Ship Inn, Sandside, a man of very considerable experience. On Saturday he was engaged for this purpose. Of the sixteen prospective passengers he decided, to carry ten on the first journey and return for the remainder. The ferry-boat was an ordinary rowing-boat, 15ft. 8in. over all, with a 4ft. beam, a depth of about 18in., and three seats. The boatman waited until the head of the tidal wave of the Bela, which swept along with groat force, backed by a. stiff breeze, had passed before setting out with his passengers, and as they started they shouted Joyous adieus to their friends on the shore. Polly Gower, a girl of sixteen, was in the stern, and en placing her hand on the boat's gunwhale she was startled to find that the water was almost up to the top. She drew Pearson's attention to this, and he told her to sit still, as all would be right. Suddenly, however, the boat filled with water and turned over, the bow going into the air, and all the occupants were struggling in the water. Pearson tried to save those nearest to him, but only Samuel Littlewood, John Taylor, Polly Gower, and John Littlewood succeeded in clinging to the boat, the other six being drawn down by the tide, which was running at a very rapid rate. A boat was put off from Sandside iby- two youths, named Westbury and Taylor, who brought ashore the survivors and boatman, all of whom were in an exhausted condition. They were attended to by the villagers, and a look-out was kept for the bodies of the victims. Those of the elder Littlewoodl and his wife were first recovered, and artificial respiration was tried, but without avail. The bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Schofield Oldroyd were next taken up, and that of Dora Gower was found later, but the sixth victim, Elsie Littlewood, had not up to Sunday evening been recovered.

FOUND DEAD IN HIS STUDY. I Signor Bianchi, one of Italy's foremost criminal lawyers, was found dead in his study at Perugia. The window shutters were tightly closed, and the furniture was in great disorder. The event was first attributed to suicide, though the head of the cerpse was so gashed by a knife as to be almost severed from the trunk, also because BianChi was known to be mightily depressed lately on account of domestic" sor- rows. The evidence since has proved that Bianchi was the victim of a ferocious assassina- tion at the hands of a veterinary student named Guido Casale, formerly a cavalry lieutenant.

SUSPENDED FOR SIX MONTHS. I The desperate deeds of Alexander Campbell, the third mate of the steamer Argo, at Novo- rossisk, in. July, resulted in his certificate being suspended for six months by the marine board at Cardiff. Campbell, who was constantly under the in- fluence of drink, threatened to beach the ship, and used vile language to the captain. He was put in irons on one occasion, and on another handcuffed to the rail, where a tent was raised round him and a, watch placed over him. In spite of this, he escaped to the shore, and was recaptured by the Russian police. =====================

WAS HE KIDNAPPED? I In spite of the exhaustive searches which have been made all over the surrounding country- side, where every clump of bracken and every pond or culvert has been examined, no trace of the missing child, Edwin Pincott, can be dis- covered. The fruitless efforts of the blood- hound have cast an air of melancholy over the district. Though it is the prevailing belief that the little lad has been kidnapped, visits to the gipsy encampments have revealed nothing, and the active search has been abandoned. The broken-hearted parentsi live in hope, being con- vinced that their child is still alive.

IN THE PARKS ON SUNDAY. r Some vigorous remarks about people who go into the parks on Sunday to listen to the bands are made by the Rev. J. Mills, of Gorlon, Man- chester, in his parish magazine. Bands in the parks on Sunday, he Bays, are splendid attractions for empty-headed, giddy tC spooners and flighty hare-brained dolls and fellows to show off and lark," and there is no scarcity of them in this age of flabby sham and sensuousness. Further People who do not worship God ar.d have no regard for Him, go to parks "0 please their animal sense—"music hath charm.3 to soothe the savage-"

SINGULAR GIFT FROM A LOVER. I An incident of a sensational character is ex- citing much comment in Glasgow. A young lady-of that city has been the object of the affections of an ardent admirer for whom she has no liking. After repeated refusals on her part the young man, who is said to have heard that the lady was dying, sent a. coffin and a wreath to her house. Greatly astonished, the young lady promptly refused the "gifts," with the result that they were not taken back to the undertaker. They were hung on a tree in front of her house, the unusual sight of a coffin dangling in the breeze bringing crowds to the vicinity.

FAILURE OF A BANK. I Under the failure of the Economic Bank the Official Receiver reports that a statement of affaire has been lodged, and that it discloses total liabilities £ 62,148, of which E47,014 are expected to rank, and assets £14,809, with a deficiency as regards shareholders amounting to £ 82,178. The affairs of the bank are being strictly investigated, and the Official Receiver will report the facts to the Court with the view to an order being made for a public examination. b ma

IN RUSSIAN POLICE CELLS. J Some idea, of the crowded state of the district bridewells in the city of Odessa-may be gathered from the fact that in three out of five "detention" rooms in the Central District Prison the political suspects with which they are exclusively filled are compelled to sleep in batches, a-s th-e floor-spaces do not admit of more than one-third of their numbers lying down at the same time. The rest have to stand. No pillows or bedclothes are furnished or allowed to be supplied by the prisoners' friends, and the floors are of stone slabs.

An exhibition of butterflies, numbering 10,000. the property of the Rev. Dr. Lang, Vicar of All Saints', Southend, was on view at Southend. The body of Mr. Charles Arundel, a Leeds solicitor, was found on Woodhouse Moor neai Leeds, with a bullet wound in, his head. The magistrate at the Thames Police-couri refused to sanction the transfer of a public house licence to a deaf man on the ground that he might be cheated.

GIRL'S TRAGIC DIARY, I SEEKING DEATH IN ORDER TO GAIN LOVE. A diary kept by a, young woman who com- mitted suicide was produced at a coroner's in- quest at Ramsgate on Saturday, and pathetic entries were read to show the state of her mind. The young woman, Hannah Cohen, a domestic servant, threw herself from the cliff promenade on to the railway, a distance of 60 feet. Cohen's mother said her daughter, who had been un- happy in her situations, had been the cause of great trouble to her. The following extracts from the diarv were made public — I' August 13.—I feel so queer, and I am losing my memory. I trust the Almighty will make me keep here as long as they are going to stay. I do so want to get a good character. August 14.—I believe I am going mad. I feel as though I must commit suicide. I am contemplating the prospect of getting run over when I go out to-morrow. I hope I have got pluck enough. I wish I was dead, then, per- haps, mamma would love me. I don't deserve her love, I know. Oh, my God it is breaking my heart. I have not one person in this world to whom I can turn when in trouble—no one at all. I am an outcast, and, as such, not taken a bit of notice of. Oh, God, let me get run over to-morrow. It is wicked to pray for such a thing, but I cannot help it. August 27.—Hope I shall hear from F.: Don't know what to do if otherwise." Letters written to Mrs. Cohen were also read. and fhe coroner observed that they showed that the woman had tried to help her daughter. The jury, in returning a verdict of suicide during temporary insanity, expressed sympathy with the mother.

KILLED ON THE CLIFFS. I HUSBAND'S TERRIBLE FATE. While exploring the famous white cliff's near Dunluce Castle, Co. Antrim, on Monday, Mr. Charles J. Lanyon, a well-known Belfast manu- facturer, lost his life, under tragic circumstances. The cliffs, which abut on the Atlantic Ocean, are situated between the Giant's Causeway and the fashionable watering-place Portrueh, and Mr. Lauyon was accompanied on his excursion by his wife and a lady friend. He had just explored the caves under the Castle ruins, when in starting to return he slipped, and, falling backwards, fractured his skull. The agonised wife and her friend promptly did all that was possible. Two doctors were summoned from Bushmills, close by, and a specialist was telegraphed for from Belfast. Mr. Lanyon was removed to a house in the vicinity of the castle, but his injuries were beyond re- dress, aad he died in the course of about ao hour. SLIP OVER A CLIFF. I While gathering wild flowers, for which he had a passion, Mr. George Edward Wilson, aged twenty-three, slipped over the cliff at Penarth on Monday, and fell upon his head upon the rocks 50ft. below. The accident was witnessed by a mushroom gatherer named James Buckley, who raised an alarm, and Mr. Charles Birch put out in a boat from the Penarth Yacht Club, and picked up the unfortunate gentleman from the edge of the incoming tide. Mr. Wilson, however, was in an unconscious condition, and had sustained such terrible injuries to the head that he died within an hour. The victim was the son of Mr. Thomas Wilson, of Penarth, of the firm of Adems and Wilson, coal .agents, Cardiff, and had attended the School of Minesi at Birmingham.

TRADE UNION CONGRESS. I THE SESSION*AT EANLEY. The Trade Union Congress was opened on Monday at Hanley. Mr. James Sexton, of Liverpool, pre6ided, and there were present 457 delegates, representing about a million and a half of organised workers. The Mayor gave the delegates a hearty welcome on behalf of the borough, and after transacting some routine business tlie congress adjourned until the next day. The report of the Parliamentary com- mittee refers to the past year as a memorable one, and declares that the time is now ripe for great efforts on the part of organised labour, which should, in the first pla.ce, be directed to obtaining increased labour representation.

ANGLO-JAPANESE TREATY. RUSSIAN COMMENT. The St. Petersburg "Rus," in an article eym- pathetic to Great Britain, recognises that the Anglo-Japanese treaty is a considerable factor of peace. The journal warns the Russians against nourishing the idea of revenge, for they would be opposed not only by Japan but also by Great Britain. The treaty guarantees to Great Britain the possession of India, and any Russian pressure in the direction of Tibet or Afghanistan would have to be supported by a great and costly concen.tra- tion of military forces. The threatening of India, the journal declares, must cease. The effect of the Anglo-Japanese treaty on Russia, the "Rue" continues, will be to put a stop to Asiatic enterprise and adventures, "a, la Bezobrazoff," which will become less tempting owing to the vast responsibilities involved. The "Rus," referring pointedly to Germany, im,ys that c-ertaiii of Russia's enemies will now not succeed in urging her to emibark on doubt- ful undertakings. SIGNING POSTPONED. The peace treaty was to have been signed by the Japa,nese and Russian plenipe-tentiairies on Monday, but it was decided to postpone the matter until Tuesday.

BIGAMY AS A PROFESSION. 50,000 WRONGED WOMEN. The case of Witzhoff and his gang of proles- eional Bluebeards has led to an investigation of a nefarious practice prevalent throughout the United States. The president of the Women's International Rescue League makes the astonishing assertion that there are 50,000 women in the United Start who have been married for the sake of their money by professional big aim it, is, robbed, aiut then deserted. There are 3000 such vioti: u; New York alone. The league is urging the s rities to make a vigorous effort to crush th wicked traffic. The ecoundrels who engage in it are aided greatly by the marriage brokers who trade anion;] the foreign immigrants. These girls hoard their, earnings until they have accumulated a "dot. They seek a broker, a,nd in many cases the broker calls in one of ms regular clients and a bogus rabbi. An alleged marriage is solemnised, the girl's money is obtained and divided, and the victim is deserted within a week. Mrs. Ferrest, the woman who is charged with marrying sixteen husbands, is a bigamist of a different character. She declares, that she ia in gaol merely for trying to make herself happy.

ART AND LITERATURE- A good many critics have commented on the Balzacien influence discernible in Mr. Swin- burne's no-vel-which, by the way it is extremely interesting to learn from the "Athenaeum"—an authoritative quarter of information where Mr. Swinburne is concerned -was written when the author was only twenty- four years of age. Nobody, so far as we have observed:, has traced the influence of Mr. Meredith. Yet that influence surely is tolerably manifest, especially in the boys and Lady Mid- hurst. "Reggie," indeed, would appear to be an "Algy" seen through self-inspecting Meredithian spectacles. The "Academy" considers how far it is per- missible for authors to do their own advertising. We are reminded that the elder Dumas announced his intention of writing the final chapter of one of his romances in a shop window. Another and bolder bid for notoriety is recalled. M. Maurice Barres was the hero. He was then editing a review called "Lee Taches d'Encre." It happened that a crime cf passion shook Paris; a man named Morin was shot by Mdme. Clovis-Hughes. Whereupon the editor sent out eandwichmen with the legendl on their boards: "Morin ne lira plus Les Taches d'Encre. Mr. Eneas Mackay, of Stirling, is about to publish a monthly Gaelic magazine at three- pence, "An Deo-Ghreine" (The Sunbeam). The fimt number is to appear about the time of the Annual Mod, whieh is to be held in Ding- wall in September next. The Gaelic body which is responsible for the magazine has been, in existence for fourteen years, and during' that time the want of an organ through which to report its doings has been much felt. It has now resolved to overcome this want by the publication of a bilingual magazine-—Gaelic and English-in which subjects of interest to the Gaelic people and others friendly to their caasa Will find a place. The management and editing of the magazine have been entrusted to Mr. Malcolm MacFarlane, 1, Macfarlane-place, Elderslie, by Johnstone. Mr. Edward Hutton's book "The Cities cf Umbria," which will be published in a few days, should prove welcome to the many lovers of Italy who wish for a- more detailed knowledge of her saints, painters, and cities than any guide-book offers. This volume is divided into three parts, one of which deals with Umbria as Italia Mystics, the second with the Painters cf the Umbrian School, and the third part with the various cities. There are twenty reproduc- tions in colour of some water-colour drawings by Mr. A. Pisa., and there are also twelve repro- ductions of famous pictures in monotone. Professor W. J. Hussey, having been appointed Professor of Astronomy at the Univer- sity of Michigan and Director of the Detrcit Observatory, will take up his residence there. on October 1, resigning his position at the Lick Observatory, where he has especially distin- guished himself in the department of double- star work and discovery. A volume which may be expected to give an impetus to the growing interest in that early Victorian fashionable instrument, the harp, will be issued this week. The "Story of the Harp," from the pen of Mr. W. H. Grattan Flood, organist of Enniscorthy Cathedral, will form, the sixth volume of "The Music Story Series," edited by Mr. Frederick J. Croweet, author of "The Great Tone Poets," etc. The Scott Company are the publishers. Mr. Fisher Unwin will pubiMh this month a novel by Mrs. Dorothy Summers, entitled "Re- nunciaÜün." It is a love story of the present day. Mr. Moriey's life of Mr. Gladstone is to be published in sixpenny parts. There will be fifteen of them, and no abridgment. "A History of Abberley Manor, Worcester- shire," is being written by the Rev. J. Lewis Moillet, and will be published by Mr. Elliot Stock during the coming autumn. It will contain interesting notes on the history of the parish, and the families connected with it, from early times to the present day. There will also be many illustrations of local buildings and ob- jects. The placing of a tablet on Holly Lodge Wandsworth, to mark it as one of the homes of George Eliot, is a satisfactory piece of com- memoration- It was a "deliciously fresh bright day" in February 1850, when George Eliot ard Lewes took possession of this home, and ehe accented the weather as an omen. But two years later came the removal to Blandford- square. Messrs. Routledge and Company are about to publish, as a volume of their "New Universal Library," James Thomson's translation's of the prose works of Leopardi. Their publication has long been desdned byi all iihoee who were aware ot Itiheir existence. Some of them were printed as long ago as 1867-70 in Mr. Bradiaugh's "National Reformer, but the greater part of them have re- mained in manuscript up to the present time. The volume is edited by Mr. Bertram Dobell; it is more complete than any previous Englfeli translation of Leopardi. It comprises a. memoir of the author, the Whole of the "Operette> Morali," a complete rendering of the "Pen- sieri" (of which only some selections have bitherfto appeared), and several minor pieces, of whicih there are no other translations. The "Book Monthly" is always well in- formed, but in its August number it goes far to seal an old Diekensian error. It informs us that "most people spell the name of 'Bill Sviiee' wrongly--that is to say, with an 'i' in- stead of a 'y.' In 'Oliver Twist' it is 'Sykes,' but elsewhere it mostly becomes 'Bikes. Of course the very reverse is the case. There is no dou'b/t that William Laidlaw. the friend, factor, and amanuensis of Sir Walter Scott, had great opportunities for journalising and note-taking in connection with the actual writing of some of the Waverley Novels, Cv also in connection with the guests at Abbotsford when it went like an hotel. A delicate sense of what wa's due to his friend and patron and his own sensitive feelings prevented him from mak- ing copy out of distinguished visitors, who did not in turn show the same regard for the feel- ings of their host. Laidlaw. however, kept a journal of the visit which Scott and Levden. paid to his home at Blaekhouse in Yarrow in search of material for the ".Minstrelsy," as also the. visit to James Hogg in Ettrick. Robert Carruthers made partial use of Laidlaw's journal in two magazine articles whieii he wrote about him after his death, as also in his "Abboisfcrd Nofbaiida." The manuscript of the journal, which lies in Edinburgh University Library, has been copied and edited by Mr. Janaes Sinton, and will be printed entire in the. "Trans- actions" of the Hawick Archaeological Society. M. Paul Bourget's new book, "Les Deux Soeurg le Coeur et le Metier," is announced for immediate publication bv MM. Plon-Nouritt et Cie. At the "seance solenneHe" of the five French Academies, fixed for October 35, M. Senart wiji read an important essay on recent discoveries in Chinese Turkestan. At a da!te not yet fixed M. Leger, the well-known historian of the Slavs, will read at the Academie des Inscriptions a paper on the "Invasion des Tar tares, based en Russian literature of the Middle Ages. Another paper which promises to be cf considerable in- terest, by M. Seymour de. Ricci,t wall deal wirh, some important papyrus discoveries in Egypt. -P The Special Committee appointed by the Bom- b-ty Government to consider question of a public museum a,n4 library for the city of Bom- bay hais reported in favour of rsehenie. 'life m stated that the initial cost of the mutseuiff for the buildings only, exclusive 0f furniture a.J. fittings, will be about ten k-fche. Xh.is sum is proposed to ^^bute as follows lour lakhs for the centM ^mg for art and arch^ol-ogv, and three iafchis each for the science museum arid public library, which will form the wings cf (die building. 6 •i thie standard autho- rity about the political relatione of the G overn- saent of^lnaia, viz., Airaobison's "Treaties and Sanads, m course of preparation at Simla. if?16 T? w TT -I e WOTk has been entruted to 5r; f- ^;e5]h B.C.S., at present first aasis- Wnl5,eS':rEt ludore^ Dr. WilheiTn Storr-k, whose death, at the ace is was Professor of Ger- man Philology at Munster, and published a num- ber of valuable works and translations.