The North Wales Chronicle and Advertiser for the Principality

THE SOLYHEAD LITERARY A" I MUSICAL FESTIVAL. n" u- "IT_" n.-   '10??? ,u, V ™fV™ were Mi8*sU CtorisLtma i>ay y- J?? ?,, 'w?ham; Gweirydd *???" Lr Pritcbard (Gaerwenydd), E?yr.. < n b\ • Mr John?n. R.K? MrJ. W«&SwBSs^s*r8»SSSjiSsIs 1'be wer?t?ries M, J. W. \i alla H. will"ag,.Al d they did thf?c dllty e".oeedlnly ?1). The first Meet il? coraia"^ tlo 0 dock, there bem? a h?ge tmdMUce. -r? cn?,? t?kou by Mr E. G. RObelti, solicitor. nlK5m I am Mr RGHMTS MM- Mr Ellis, t'Po' "(,ni •Iraid must rest the responsiw" y )itt)(j (.l(C0Uiage- ?r*id must re&t the respon"iM."y itÎ'1;,),ou'al4e. me here to day, did ?'?? ? ?.M?d that ment in Mk)CX Ot' ton*- for ,d I l Kl'ooted to tinder DO CIRCUM*T»M-«F OOH ?? now. m -m.ke !o? ?'T'.?ot h?p?.-k'? th' ?kin? ??''?',? J ?hhou? no d??t t.  friend, Mr -K > aJthou¡,:b no doubt to a ;oertam JLot be acted ^> ,0 ijne must iuI»o have tion for your- been prompted by 'o"" coø¡;ltlon for our. _Ives, for I cannot COBcetVe an'thl11¡( more map- pronriate -I wa8j,onif,t u^ardOTmbla_ Frop"<'?-I???'"?? espace.).nnted. &.n t''??'?'?'???competition this M ,t 19, whlcAl"s t^ ne 1)llke Albany said in that ? .t is. ?'"?As ??° ') 1.?? A. ?any ?, Manchester afternoon. .peech wh.chjio Manchester it cwmot be lDuaic clIon ?.cite thoughts and Q[ou"e ixittpir&tions  eloquent speech, an hour lonfi, that could be Ue t«ed on the subiect-oould ««* • £ (hear, hear) There is no ?strum?t so ?atn?Me for quickening and ?rpenine the ?nt. faculties as the keen edge of healthy competition (cheers), Emulation, as has been well stud, is the ealt of the <neDt? faculties, because it pcents that natural ?y to which human thin? ?M prone, and I ??'t help believing or hoping that there is not a nan or ?. who takes part m the programme 4>f to-elay, whether he win or whether he lose, which will Lot be better for the process. Nor is it only in the imprdvement of the mind that we re- cognise the fruits of meeting like these Itey oofte. and refino the tuste, and they etrengthenaiid di?ptinc the mind. I cannot ?'P  that the greatest philosopher that ever lived, old H?a o was uot far wrong when he asserted that in Ins model state all his youth should learn music (hear, tetr) The truest recreation is that recreation ?h e.erci.es the mind. No ? knew that better than the late Den Stanley. It is said that it was Ins delight to take a group of warkmg men or working women over Westminster Abbey and to try and store their minds with thoee treasures of learnino and culture with which his own mind was .nriclled Icheersl, He had indeed, to use the beau- tiful words of Mr Matthew Arnold, in a poani in the Nineteenth Century — The goodness warm and true, without "tiny.. And jov in life, and power to spread the ji.y That is the spirit which ought to animate kil ébeøe meetings—  '"? '°'J? in lik alld power to I,r??d the joy." Uta.L, .11 be if we c, by tl,?t i,irit; kt us ,d o.r all to take part ill this meeting to •spread the joy, to lend a helping hand to 8pres.-d he jov, and endeavour if we can so manage it that every p<r?n who enters <M. hall "hall go away the better, the wiser, and the happier, for thiu after- noon's meeting (cheers). Miss Maggie hor Jo:.eA was first heard in the old •ona "The land of my fathers," in which her ple&eing style wall adlllirLJ.hlydis¡,layed. In making litr adjudication on the handwriting, MUS._I.EI> <s*id In examining the papers I have divided them into three groups, according to merit. In Croup 1. the handwriting is either weak ercareless-. The looping, joining, itild Letieral formation of the letters are not good. The punctuation and spelling are not bad, but the papers on tho whole might have been neater and more carefully done. In Group II. the writing on the whole i, fairly good, being neat and legible, but the arrangement and at) le are not BO good asGroup III. Those classed in Gronp III. deserve praise fur the beauty, legibility, Eiiici iieat- mss of execution. The papers of Rose, Gwen, Jomia, Maud, Cynthia, lIonn, Corwen, A. B. 1\1., aid Daisy, are exceedingly well done, but I con- sider that of Kfcturah to be the best and the one to merit the prize. Remarks.—Beauty of penman- ship caniu.t be expected of ill. Some do not pos- MSS the ihvsical qualities neccssary a good eye and firmness of nerve others are deficient in con- ception, and are v.eak in taste and beauty but all arc capable of neatness-all may write legioly-all niHV avoid scribble, Fine writing is in the power -01 few, neat, readable writing is in the power of all -Mr Gaorwi-nvdd l'ritcharel awarded the prize for the best stanza to the "Doctor" to Gwylvm Pennant, of London. The pme for singing the 6010," Meet me by the fountain," was given to Miss Kate Williams, Church-terrace. The successful competitor for the prize offered for the nest essay on "The future education of the V. e lsli was the Rev. Wiliiam Williams, Tryddyn, near Mold. Miss Thomas, Newryfawrstreet, was awarded the laize for the best pencil sketch of the I- Holyhead Twr Mill." In the soprano solo, Tros y garreg," Miss Jones, College lane, carded off the highest honours. The prize for translation from Lnglish to Welsh was awarfttd to 11 TE-.id, who was III). liouiiced to be Mr J. I'arrv Jones, Jianer office, lJt-nbigh. The adjudicator on the singing of the crng.-ecaiional tune Moab" awarded the prize to tltt Ebene;:r Chond Union. 'i he Towu Hull was crowded at the evening meet- in! which was I t-d over by Dr. W. J. Dinnen. The following is the programme Part I.Piano- forte solo, Mr T. P. Parry; address by the Presi- dent-, song, Morwr Vwr," by MrW. Hughes; competition on the pianoforte solo, best, Master Owen. London-road song, I- Honour and arms <Handeli, Mr .J. A. Thomas; song, Y tair priodas," Miss M. Ivor Jones; choral competition, "0 dcuwch tm,r ål)lt1t1." best, Edeyrn Glee Party; competition in sinking any solo, limited to the onicers and crew of H.M.S. Defence," best. Cor. poral Baxter, was invested by Mrs Kdwards, l'o-amount song, The two chords" (F. Cowen), Misi M. J. Jmes. Part II.-Iltrp solo, Telynor ('v)i; "Tl:e Message" (Blumenthal), b; Mr W. Hughe?.; competition in singing baritone solo, "Bauer Itliydiiid," best, Mr John Jones, Cybi- street so-?? Hiraeth" (D. Jenkins). '\Ii?s f. Iloneft. IL\)I.; choral competition, Ar d?,? o mfM n y twvntoedd (Dr. Parry;, best, H?-moMC ?'(?.r!tt?t<i(;ts". M)nK. Uwybr y Wyddfa (?. Davies), bv Mr W. H?hes; soug, by Miss A. J. mtnnes. -A vote of thanks to the President, Miss ??) Mr O?eu. R N.; Mr .Johnson, R.X.; and Mr ?tni;h<:s. North II So nth Wa?a Bank Llaurwst as carried .,nid acclamation.

THE REVENUE RETURNS. An abstract of the yross produce of the revenue if tbf I'nited Kingdom for the year ended Decun- er 31st. 1883, compared with the preceding year, ins been issued from the Treasury. The receipts ire Customs £ 19.810,000, showing an incease the preceding year of £ 352 000; excise n land tax £ 1 OS'1,000, shnw- n"v<as» .rtv «nd income tax ?'I 7;1111")1. increase C2 838.000; pqst-?ft.ce 74?Wn. increase B79?.0CO; te)eH)aph service 1.750.0)), increase £6().000; Crown lands £ 380,000, if u' a\ hel 'J!! nlS 8allV as that of the prewdin" ear. interest-on advance CI,209.720, increase £ 8719 i'«e-"lViooin (inel I'ling fee, &e" ntlimpq) 4 874 802, showing a decrease of t:230 843. The >tal revenue for the year 1883 was £ 90,035.522. lowing a net increase won the total rcnmne of t y?. r E3 600,664. The re ntie for ( ;r;:r £I166i)pe1;1e:c1183lll;: f: i How Cniitnm?. ?5.477.000. showin" .1? increase £13700f) nnon the coirespondina nuarter of ptiw, eg,300,000 in E145.000; t,.Ynp, sl'ding few. Ac.. £2930.080. increase .€80,000; id tax, f5000. The house tax shows an increase n the corresponoing quarter of ir the nine months ended 3'st December. 1883. ) total revenue, as compared with that of the [responding period of 1882 thows an increase of .031.066.

Intclli^etice just received from Constantinople ates tint the Rritish Government has not up to ie present us*d itg good offices with the Porte for despatch of Turkish troops to the Soudan, nei. ler lias the Porto offered to send any military roe. but only to despatch some !:lIlJbo:,tq to Sti.v III Lord J)"Gerín h ■» declared that no objection mid IJé offered by the British Government, pro- ded the Turkish gnnbo»t» acted in concert with J r-A,Itniral Hewitt. F'RIUIUT JKRITATION A\O Ooroir.—8oreiif*s ai:d dn' u'. Lr' !i v "ad irr.tation. hd¡\('in cough ;\H1 aflcctisg \'U;' For tliege iviu]itoms n.e Glu-' rine !t?'. h'co?"?twitht))«e'M?'*t?6 moment "X i'pd hv the H"t of eu-king, the O[)reri"" bio eo.-fectioae becomes actiwtv ?M. In htM.7)d:?t?.t<.U?.!tMM"'?:i')? Co., HimcBipathii* OlicmUts, London. A lb'trr ••«(<nt p iion.—If may, perhaps, interest vou to 1W tiist after ijn ex (sided trisl, ha»e found your "r -T'i ji:hig or eonsidtnilile lienefit (with or wit'ioat Jil'al Lteøtnu itt) in "luI." e4,, forms of throat disease s and olaar tlie yoiee,- (Tours faithfully, GORDON IN, X I).. Seiuor PbyiioUn to Aba llaulnipal Throat I far Infirmary. 811-iM

LIFEBOAT SERVIOES IN 1883. j iA-L- The following 1W forn'?B m. -? invaluabie services of the lifeboats of the Royal? National Lifeboat Institution during the past year, resultiDg in the ?? of 726 lives, which must cer. tainly have been lost had it not been for the tiraely aid of these friends in need," and the gap lautry of the 11 brave hearts which manned them: -Steamer Libelle, of Hamburg, 29 lives saved; fishing-boat Margaret Gunu, of Wick, 7; smack Freus, of Beaumaris, 3; s.s. Congo, of Car- diff, rendered assistance; schooner Nanteos, of Aberystwith, 4; barque Admiral Prinz Adalbert, 2; brig Victor, of Neustadt, remained by vessel-, cutter Spring, of Guernsey, 3; schooner Mary Jose. phine, 3; dandy Young Alice, of Scarborough, 5 barque LoreVey, of Memel, 11; smack Ins, Lass, of Newquay, saved vessel and 4; brig Eaphemia Ful- larton, Londonderry, 6; brig Marnhull, of Wey- mouth, 54 brigantiue Dare, of Sunderland, assisted to save vessel and 6; steamer Isis, of Newcastle, rendered assistance; schooner Teresa, of Wey- mouth, 4; letch Thomas and John, of Fowey, 3 schooner Rosebud, of Goole, 4; s.s. Eden, of West Hartlepool, Tendered assistance; ketch Mary Tw,,e,ilie, df Berwick, 2; barquentine Vienna, of Hull, 9: harque Brothers, of Yarmouth, N.S., assis- ted to save vessel and 12; schooner HephTibah, of Carnarvon, 5; smack Annie, of Port Dinorwic, 3; Bella of "Vv'ick, 6; schooner Loudon, of Hast- ings, 5; eeiiooner Nellie, of Bridgewater, and brig Lewis, of Carnarvon, remained by vessels; Wil- liam and Martha, 3; brig Tagus, of Aberdeen, re- maitie(i by vessel; Governor Loch, of Inverness, 4 schooner Enigma, of Port St. Mary, 5 brigantine Estafette, of Faversham, assisted to save vessel and 9; trawler Emerald Isle, of Whitehaven, 4; s.s. Lynx, -of Cardiff, assisted to save vessel and 7 schooner Atlas, of Drammen, 5 steamer Annie Hope, of Leith, 6; barque Georgia, of Fiume, 13; vawl Daring, of Ballycotton, saved vessel and 6 barque Argo, of Sunderland, rendered assistance; brig Eleoncwe, of Ton-iber?. 7; yawl William Clowes, of Filey, 6; barque Duchess, of North ShieHs amistea to save vessel and 10-, barque Nor- Imail Court, of Gre,?nok, 20; dandy Pioneer, of Lowestoft, rendered assistance; barque Hening, of Harlington, 10; brig Spring, of Guernsey, 9; flat Evelena, of Runcorn, saved veesel and 4 the lugcers. Columbia, and Willie, Bell, and flharies and John, saved vessels and 7 schooner Mary, of Haugesund. 6; schooner Inter- national, of Ixindon, assisted to save vessel; Port Isaac fishing-boat* rendered assistance; fishing lugger Favourite, of Wexford, 5: brig Clara, of Dublin, assisted to Rave vessel and 7 fishing-boat Charity, of Newbiggin, 6; brig J.B.S., of London, rendered assistance; fiebitig-boat Samaritan, of Newbiooin, 5; Kho(m)er Swift, of ny." rendered assistance fishing-boat Janet Thompson, of New. hi>rin, 7; schooner Hope, of Ryde, 4; brigantine Fiora, of Salcombe, 6; schooner Don. of Aberdeen, assisted to save vessel and 5; ship Henry, of St. John, N.H. 5; ketch Minnie Flossie, of Milford, 3; barque William Miles, of London, 12; smack Bacchus, of Nantes, 3; B.B. Bamsley, of Grimsby, remained by vossel; yawl Thalia,5; barqueTranmere, of Liverpool, 13 brigantine Wonder, of Swansea, saved vessel.and 6; schooner Mary Coad, of Port Isaac, rendered assistance Norwegian barquo Elise, 9; Norwegian barque Rome, 14; barque Margaret, of Christiania, remained near vessel; schooner Marie.of Granville, 2 schooner Fides, of Nybore, rendered assistance; barque China, of Porsgrund, 10; schooner John Rovle, of Chester, 4; ketch London, of Jersey, rendered assistance; schooner Baviugton, of Marvport, 5; ketch Annie, of Goole. assisted to sa ve vessel and 3 schooner Slaney, of Wexford, 3; ketch Orange Blossom, of Jersey, ren. dered assistance steamer Enuismore, of Peterhead, assisted to save vessel and 10; schooner Miss Pritchard, of Carnarvon, 6; barque Zelos, of Grin- stad, assisted to save vessel and 10; schooner Wil. liam Henry, of Carnarvon, 3; barque Epsilon, of Swansea, rendered assistance; ship Nuncio, of Yarmouth, N. S., 21; schooner Emma, of Jersey, 5 schooner Tony Krowmann, of Portmadoc, rendered assistance schooner Marquis, of Anglesea, saved vessel and 4; barque Isabella, of Drammen, 8; Whitby fishing. boats rendered assistance; barque Cuvuni. of Glasgow, 14 schooner Eclipse, of Dundee, 4; flat Flora, of Runcorn, saved vossel and 3; schooner Magdalina, of Inverness, 4; barque Galera, of Glasgow, rendered assistance; barque Garson, of Wisbeach, 4 ship Wilhelmina, of Htmburg, assisted to save vessel and 39; smack Wellesley, of Scarborough, rendered assistance; barque New Brunswick, of Brevig, 11; two fisliing-boats of Kingstown, 6; schooner Baroness Strathspey, of I Portsov, 2; sloop Good Intent, of K!ne'o Lynn, rendered assistance; smick alcon, of Great YfLr. mouth, saved vessel and 7; sleamer Castle CraiV, of Liverpool, 31; Aldborongli fishing-boats, 6; barque Khedive, of Hartlepool, assisted to save vessel and 12; barque New Brunswick, assisted to save vessel and crew; schooner Margaret, of Car. narvon, 4; barque Danmark, of Dragor, assisted to save vessel and 12; Montrose fishing-boate, rendered assistance; trawler Magic, of Hull, assisted to save vessel and 5; schooner Lady Stuart, cf Chestër, 2; briganUio Milo, of Brisham. remained by vessel; schooner Dorothy and Mary, of Carnarvon, 4; barqre Arab, of Apen- rade, assisted to save vessel and 15 s.s. Isis, ren- dered assistance; Filey fisliing-yawlB, rendered assistance boat Nancy, of Holy Island, saved boat and 5: s.s. Victoria, of Goole, 4; a steam launch of Cadgwith, rendered assistance S.8 Skelligs, of Glasgow, assisted to save vessel and crew, 16; and barque Mermaid, of Cardiff, 24. The services of the lifeboats did not end here, however, for in 1883, 28 vessels were, through their instrumentality, saved from becoming total wrecks and were brought into havens of safety. Besides this the lifeboats were launched no less than 149 times in reply to signals of distress, but eit'ier from the signals having been made in error or other cause the lifeboats returned to the shore, the various crews having risked their lives to no purpose. During the year the Institution granted rewards for rescuing 230 lives by means of shore-boats and fUhing-boats, so that :t total of 956 lives have been saved tbrouab its operations in the last twelve months. Sincn its formation it has con- t ricate(I to the saving of 29,624 lives. To carry on this good work the committee earnestly appeals to tho public for increased and sustained support. The Institution has a fleet of 274 lifeboats under its management, the maintenance of which in a thoroughly efficient state necessitates a large annual expenditure. Contributions are received bv all the London and cumtry bankers, and by the secretary, Mr Charles Dibdin, 14, .J, h'l-street, Adelphi.W.C.

LITERARY NOTICES. Part Nine of Catteil's Dorf Gallery gives the ordiuary number of engravings, and we can only repeat that this will be a most handsome volume when completed. The Penny l'ost (London Parker and Co., 6, Southampton atteel) This favourite illustrated magazine eomuienoes the year with a good number. The first instalment of a paper on the Diooeses of England is given; E. B. L. has something to say about the old year and the new, whilst three new 6toriee are furnished. The Arabian Nights is now completed. It is pro- fusely illustrated throughout, and will make a very handsome gift book, tlie more so as all that could offend in point of taste and propriety has been carefully expunged or altered, without injur- ing the literary merits of thebe ancient tales, so that they are now published in a form more suitable for family reading than has been the case hereto- fore. Part Eight of Heroes of BritaiN. deals in its usual geuial and flowing style with men and women whose names have become household words. It contains the stirring story of Grace Darling, together with a most interesting fac-simile letter of the heroine's own handwriting and composition; an account of the Eddystone lighthouses, and the bravo men who erected them; a chapter on Sir Henry Havelook and concludes with a portion of Miss Nightingale's self-denying and heroic life amougst the wounded in the Crimea. The num- ber may be fairly said to be of more than usual interest to the generality of readers. St. Asaph Diocesan Calendar.k Dioeesan'Calendar for St. Asaph is being prepared for the press, by Canon ThAas, M.A., F.S.A., vicar of Meifod, and will be issued early in the year. In addition to 64 pages of ecclewtstical information about the Anglican communion, it will contain a large amount of diocesan, cathedral, and parochial information. Under the JaBt head will be given for each parish the population, area, income, church dedication, clergy, chul'ohw.U'deu5, bead teachers, listi of ordinations and promotions, and an obituary, scholars on the books, and patronage, a tabular summary of endowed schools, and tables of ecclesiastical fees, and other matters of importance to the clergy and laity ef the diocese. Tnii SWIMONS or THE LATE REV. JOHN PARRY, D.D., BALA. Denbigh; Thomas Gee. We need not inform our readers that the above. named minister was the editor and compiler of the "Gwyddoniadur Cvmreig," which is acknow- ledgec to be the best standard work in the Welsh language. This alone is a sufficient proof of the merit of the sermons that we have before us. We understand that a great number of Dr. Parry's friends were desirous of having a volume of his sermons in remembrance of the plea- sure that they enjoyed under his able and refined ministry; and we feel confident that they, will give them perfect satisfaction, and that they will also leave all impression of the author upon those who had not the opportunity of listening to the reverend gentleman himself. The ability and clearness which characterised Dr. Parry are plainly perceived in his sermons; and those who read them thoughtfully will be greatly benefited by them. They can be read many times, and still some new ideas will manifest themselves continually. We are quite confident that they will receive the atten- tion to which they are entitled from the Welsh nation.

TTOW TO USE NEWSPAPERS. Most children are, or will become, newspaper readers. But they need to be taught how to become discriminating readers. No one, or at least very few, can spare the time to read the tenth part of what is accessible. By means of newspaper lessons, teach pupils how to distinguish the valu- able and permanent in their reading from the sen- sational and the ephemeral and how to obtain a kn )wledge of current history, as it is being made. Take ten minutes every aay, after the opening ex- ercises, for this work let the pupils bring in items, which explain and discuss with them, with a gene- ral review on Friday. Or reserve until Friday afternoon the week's items, and devote an hour to their discussion. Or appoint one pupil each week, who shall bo the school editor, and whoso duty it shall be to place on the blackboard each morning the headings of the chief events of the previous day. If none are competent, perform this duty yourself for a while, and you can educate sotno one up to it. Another method, whose success in awakening interest has been tested by trial, is the use of a daily bulletin-board in some one of the halls acces- sible to all the pupils. Be critically careful of the character of all items; never allow the mention or discussion of crimes, petty accidents, sensational or local items. Do not allow a parrot-like repetition of ittms; be sure all are thoroughly understood; consult maps, dictionaries, cyclopedias, freely dur- ing the lesse 11 Keep in a convenient place in your schoolroom seven or eight small boxes, a mucilRgo.botde, and A pair of scissors. Label your boxes, "History," Science, Poetry, Geo"raphy "Bits about Authors," Curious Facts," and whatever elso your needs may suggest. Iu these the newspaper shall do a second service. Let all your newspaper rell(1Îng be done with pencil in hand, and bracket whatever will fall under any one of the above heads; this will save time in hunting them af ter the paper has served other purposes- then cut out these articlos, and lay them away in their proper box. These boxes I have foufid de- cidedly preferable to scrap-books, and do not invole half the labour. It is surprising how rapidly they will fill up with articles containing informa- tion you may hunt in vain for anywhere else. I find myself unable to get along without a school and a home I- scrap ery." Foi the home one, a small cabinet, divided into drawers with compartments, presents a more elegant appcarance, but the boxes are jast as convenient. The papers are full of articles on all subjects. In your geography lesson, turn over the contents of your geography-box till youtind an article fresh, attractive, practical, on the very country you are studying. In the paper I read this evening I lounil two very readab'e articles,-one on Washing- ton Territory, and one on Sweden; also an article oil Mastication which goes into the Science box, for the class in physiology. When in our reading- lessons, we talk of the author of the selection, it is pleasant to have some personal item or anecdote, —a bit about their homes, their present literary work, if now li viiig-to turn to, and these go far towards making authors real and attractive to children. And then the f,reat demand for selec- tions to memorise, either short, or longer and more pretentious in style. For years I have been mak- ing such a collection from newspaper waifs; and I know by experience how valuable and comfortable it is to draw upon in time of need. For science-lessons of practical value, you cannot find a better reserve of topics and suggestions than the newspapers—topics such as are being discussed by the men and women of to-day. An article (n "How to Meet Sudden Emergencies, in the Way of Accidents," together with the reasons for the treatment prescribed, has formed the foundation for a series of science-lessons in a grade studying physiology, and proved so instructive that it was taken up in other grades. The children were in- vited to inquire of parents and physicians other ways of meeting similar emergencies and became incipient nurses and surgeons, and very interested ones. Again, the light-reading box will prove almost invaluable. Select stories, anecdotes, articles, poems, suitable to all grades. Make this ono of the great pleasures of the day. Either have the slip pasted on strong manilla-paper, and passed from pupil to pupil, or out into small sections and dis- tributed. In>ist upon clear enunciation, so that all t?ay understand and you will find this exorcise bpcome a real treat to both reader and audience. Often yon mav introduce in this way just the lesson in moralitv yon have been loncing to tencii, yet dared not preach. If the article is divided into small sections, it often creates amusement, and cultivates close attention, not to number them, but to let pupils determine the proper succession them selves, using their own judgment to fit them for it at the ripht time. These are but hints; new ways will constantly suggest themselves to anyone who in any measure enters into the spirit of making all thiugs aid in the daily workJournal of Education.

DDITVILLK'S OLD IRISH WUlIKY is recommended by the medical profession in preference to French Brnndv. 1'IHT hold the lamest slock of Whi.ky in the world. Supply in casks and cases for hoirie use and exportation. Quota tions on applicati on to llcsviixK AM; Co., LiMireD, ROVAJ IRISH DISTII-I-K^- Uf., FAST. 15 Kf?TtK?'s POWM.H, M. celebrated and perfectly un ri:"ff:tN.t:I'G: F:rï;. ],Ya all insect*, whilst qmte h.-le. to dome,tic annuals, i. ?d everywliere in and 1.. It i. clean in use A1 (n?M?'ootte; ?ho.ld be well powered ?t.KH pntti?n)'! H»HV. Jiewnre of im.Sstioos. ,S-1—1A) T. FOSTKB AM- Co., Wine, Spirit, and Tea Mer chants, w satisfy the growing local demand, now send, carriage free, to any Country Railway Station 10100. and upw>\J'll¡¡ of their noted Teas at Is. 6d., 2« 2s 6d.. and oW. per lb or one dozen of Wines or Spirit*. For full details of samplos and terms see new prize lists, wat free. T. Foster and Co., 45 Cheaf<ude, London. 1187-333-168

RANDOM READINGS. We all know that the lait man in the world to go to for a helping hand in any new undertaking is one who has plenty of time on biB hands. (Time on one's hands is a heavy load so heavy that one with that load cannot very well use his hands for anything else). It ia the man or woman doing most now who can easiest do one thing more. FAOMt'<! ?0 'rK LITTLE FIDDLER.—It is rented of the famous violinist, Pagaaini that, while walkin" in a street in Vienna one day, he came across a little boy playing the tiddle. Learning that the lad was thns enabled to support his mother, he gave him all the money he had. Besides this, the great master took the boy's violin and began to play. Speedily a large audience gathered around him, and after the performance he went round with the hat and obtained a goodly sum for the little fiddler. From Little Folks Magazine for January. A CiiiNrsz NFWSPAiRB.-Memorials from the pro- vinces are constantly printed. A minister asks for retirement on the grounds of ill-health, begging that His Majesty's slllove" be given rest, so that he may though useless and wasted, continue his exis- tence on the face of the earth. The Governor of Kian»-su, on being appointed Governor-Geueral at Nanking, declares that he sent up a memorial last year, begging leave to retire on account of his infirmities,but as the courier rode to l'ekin he was so drenched by rain and snow that the wet penetrated the despatch-box and the many folds of oiled paper, and reduced the letter of entreaty to pulp by the jolting of the horse. And thereupon does not the Governor of Kiang-su exultingly state that the courier has been repaid with the bamboo, and brings now another despatch, which will inform His "Majesty that lie, the injnied Governor, will take command atnittikiiig, although his rheumatism is hard to bear?—From CasselVs Family Mayaune for January. TITTIES.-E' Veil tithes could not now be claimed, WiclitTe held, on a Divine authority. The tenth of all that the soil yielded was, by God's command, set apart for the support of the Church under the economy of Moso., But that enactment, the Re. former taught, was no longer binding. The ritual and the "polity" of that dispensation had passed away, and only the moral remained. And that moral" Wicliffe summed up in the words of the Apostle, Let him that is taught in the Word minister to him that teacheth in all good things." And while strenuously insisting on the d'Jty of the instructed to provide for their ppiritual teachers, ho did not hesitate to avow that where the priest notoriously failed in his office the people were under no obligation to support him; and if he should seek by the promise of Paradise, or the threat of anathema, to extort a livelihood, for work which he did not do and from men whom he never taught, they were to hold the promise and the threat as alike empty and futile. "True men say," wrote Wicliffe, that prelates are more bound to preach tiuly the Gospel than their subjects are to pay them dymes tithes] for God chargeth that more, and it is more profitable to both parties. Prelates, therefore, are more accursed who cease ftclm their preaching than are their subjects who cea,se to pay tithes, even while their prelates do their office well."—From Cassell's Illustrated History of Protestantism for January. THE INSTINCT OF THK ANT.-EXaMinillg the seeds collected in the nest of the ants on the top of the hill at Mice more particularly with my magnifying glass, I found to my astonishment that each seed had its end oarefully bitten off. And the reason of this was perfectly plain. You know each seed con- tains two parts the young plant or germ lying in its cradle, as it were, and the supply of food for its nourishment, when it begins to grow, wrapped round it. Now the ants had bitten off the young plant or germ; and. they left only the part which was full of nourishment. And they did this to prevent the seeds from growing and exhausting all the nourishment contained in them. If they di-I not do this, the seed stored under the ground when the ritiii came would shoot, and so they would lose all their trouble and be left to starve. I could not tind in the heap a aal tht had not been treated in this way. Of course, none of the seeds that had their ends bitten off would grow and you might as well sow grains of sand as the seed found in an ant's nest .—The llcv. Hugh Macmillan, O.D., LL.D., in The Quiver," for January. SLUKP.—From what has been said some practical conclusions may be drawn. Whatever tends to quicken the circulation of blood in the brain will prevent sleep. Whatever withdraws blood from the brain will tend to produce sleep. When the drowsy student tneB to keep himself awake by wrapping wet towels round his brow, he is striving by chilling the surface of the head to drive the blood inwards. When the sleepless man procures a night's rest, as the result of violent bodily exertion, it is because muscular effort attracts to the muscular system an extra supply of blood, and reduces the quantity cmrsing through the brain. After a full meal the organs of digestion drain the body of blood to enable them to carry on their work. The brain after a full meal is thus depleted, and sound sleep not only waits upon, but helps digestion. It may be asked, How is sleep produced artificially by the agency of drugs? That is a question on which physicians alone are properly qualifierl to speak. One may say that any drug that will stimu- late the ganglionic nervous system, and causEd the blood-vessels to contract, would produce sleep. The ordinary opiates, however, do not act in this manner. The genoral belief is that they produce a groat engorgcmont of the veins on the surface of the brain, which in turn produces unwonted compres. sion of the organ, and that to this compression may be traced the advent of narcotic slumbers. Be- sides the facts and phenomena already mentioned in connection with sleep, there are many others into the consideration of which if space permitted, it might be interesting to go. Let us briefly allude to one of the most impor ant-namely, the duration of sleep--how in some cases a few hours will suffice, and in others a longer period is needed. Dr Reid, the metaphysician, could work for two days with- out a break if he got one sound sleep after a full meal. If the stories about Lord Brougham could be believed, he jould work on less sleep than most people require. Frederick the Great and John Hunter required only five hours' sleep but it must not be supposed that bocause men with exceptionally powerful nervous organisations can dispense with the normal quantity of sleep, it would be safe for everybody to follow their example. The sleep of the heart, which we have seen to amount to eight hours out of the twenty-four, is a fair indication of the quantity of sleep which on an average ought to be allowed to the brain. As Sir Thomas Browne, the learned Knight of Norwich, hath it, "Half our clays we pass in the shadow of the earth, and the brother of death extracteth a third part of their lives."—From Science for All for January.

NEW YEAR'S WISHES. R. H. Bush, writing to Notes and Queries on the subject of Christmas and New Year's Wishes says;At the time when the custom of sending Christmas cards has taKen a strong hold on the English society, it is worth while to note some remarks in Brady's Clavis Caleiularin. showing how all things move in circle: "The ancient, friendly, and benevolent custom of wishing a happy new year is so generallv exploded, that a person must either be blessed with favour of fortune or well known as a nian of talent to venture his consequence by now offering so familiar an address. Few above the lowest class of society attempt to intrude anv good wishes for the happiness or success of iiis neighbour, less if they escape the imputation of unlicensed freedom, they be deemed vulvar and ignorant of what is oalled fashionable life. Even the modern expression of the I co rn plinients of tho season,' which for many yearB was substituted for the former more expressive and better understood mode of salutation, has given way before universal refinement, real or affected it is now sanctioned only in family circles among intimate friends. Now Yearns gifts have fallen in such disuse tliftt the v are so-trely Itilowti." And in another volume ho says.-— A merry Christmas' is still used by Rornq p',i,, honestlpeople, as a salutation in testimonv of their t-cod fellowship and good wishes; but like the other old-fashioned practice of Wishing ?t b?T)Iiv N?w Y?.?r,' lifl? given way with the altered manners of the times."

FPPS'S COCOA. GRATEFUL AND CO:>œoIlTIXG, ny a thorough knowledge of the natural laws which govern the operations of deflation and nutrition, and by ft cnn-h.i UDolication of the fine properties of Cocoa. \ir Epps has pr vided our breakfast tables with a delicately fl ivoured beverage wbicli may save n* many heavy doctor*. hill.. It i. by the judicious use of such articles of diet thatn constitution mav be "fuinaUy built up until strong enonght fci resist everv tendency to disease. Hundreds of subtle maladies are floating around us read to attack wherever there is a we?k point. '? may escape many a <.t.t?.{tby keeping ourselves well fortifle with P;IrC blood and a rroprlv nourished frame. -Oml Su ;re Oaztttp —Made simply with boiling water .r?m.)k Sold .nlYinP?)<et.,?be)M-"J.?? 'FP? & o H_ nmn-o. ?t?c 'tmhts. ondon." -Also -ke. n?f ?Epn?s 'h?') ate HfleHre '? '??' KxtTt?ns COWH LnxKKSM cmes Co'?ha. A<'hu).i. Brnnehit? Medc? tstimony tRlC8 that I'? ntlwr medicine is »o effectual in the cure of these d,n»erons m<M?. On? Loze?eatMef;.? .?. OM or two at bed-time e?M?" 'eet. For rohcvmK d.th?'tv of breathy thev are invaluable &ld by all Chemists, in Wii, Is !?, and 21911 each.

CHURCHES & CHURCHMEN. Archbishop Perche, the Roman Catholic Arch- bishop of New Orleans, has died at an advanced age. The Earl of Warwick has presented the Rev. Thurston Rivington, Senior Curate of Tewkesbury Abbey, to the living of St. Nicholas, Warwick. In Westminster Abbey, on Tuesday, the Rev. Alfred Barry, D.D., was consecrated Bishop of Sydney and Primate of Australia. The Archbishop of York has appointed the Rev. Canon Philips, M.A., vicar of Brod8worth, to the living of Bolton Percy, York, vacant by the death of the rector, the Ven. Archdeacon Croyke. PROSPECTS OF DISKSTABMSHMENT.—Speaking of the probable downfall of the Establishment, The Liberator says" That result id as likely to be brought about by action from within the Church itself as by assault from without. The position of affairs within the Establishment has, indeed, become so complicated and perplexing that its friends are beginnii g to despair of it. Bishop Ryle, as we saw last month, believes that' unless the God of mercy interposes in some marvellous way, our dear old Church cannot live much longer, and must go to pieces and perish.' On the other hand, the Rock says that it is only Mr Wood who keeps the English Church Union from pronouncing in favour of disestablishment. The Royal Commission on Church Courts, which was to have found a way out of the trouble, has only made matters worse. Its recommendations, as they stand, are acceptible to nobody, The Church Association and the English Church Union equally condemn them, although on widely dififerentgrounds. Hardly a single diocesan confereace has accepted them bodily and while a section of the Evangelical party, led by the Dean of Canterbury, express a general approval of the recommendations, it is only to take exception to two of the most material of them one of the two having reference to a point which the commissioners themselves have practically suid is unalterable. It can hardly be doubted that, what with attacks from without and divisions within, and the disintegrating influence of current opinion, the Establishment is now literally breaking to pieces. The end may not be yet; but it is scarcely possible that it should be long delayed. The year now opening will, to all appearance, be an especially critical one; and by persistent and well-directed efforts at this important conjuncture, the friends of religious equality may greatly expedite the con- summation they sa ardently desire. PREFERMENTS AND AFPOISTMEKTS.—Rev. Clifford Aston, curate of Holy Trinity, Chelsea vicar of St. George's, Brighton. Rev. William Rolfe Tindal Atkinson, M.A., enrate of Windsor vicar of Belchamp St. Paul, Sudbury. Rev. Canon W- Boyd Carpenter, M.A., vicar of Christ Church, Lancaster-gate, honorary chaplain; Chaplain in Ordinary to her Majesty. Rev. Thomas Chalk vicar of Holy Trinity, Barnstaple. Rev. J. Rose Makers, incumbent of St. Andrew's Church, Cum- brae canon of Cathedral of Argyll and the Isles patrons, the Bishop and the Earl of Glasgow. Rev. James Thomas Fowler, M.A., vicar of Whittle-le- Woods and Lovland, Lancashire; rector of East Hanninglield. Rev. J. Francis, II. A.; vicar of Dunham oil-Trent. Rev. T. W. Fussell; chaplain of the Royal Albert Hospital, Devouport. Rev. Robert Gandell, M. A..precentor of Weils Cathedral. P,ev. N. T. Garry, vicar of St. Mary's, Reading; lion, canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford patron, the Bishop. Rev. Edward Gibson, vicar of St. Mary's, Tyndall Park, Clifton; rector of Cliarl- wood. Rev. James Giddens, B.A.; rector of Hor- ringer-cum-hkworth, near Bmy St. Edmund's; patron, the Manjuis of Bristol. Rev. T. O. Hall, B.A., formerly ".ctor of Ashley, Northants rcc- tor of Stretton, Rutland patron, Lord Aveland. Hev. Cecil R. Hogdns, II.M.S. Achil?es; rector of Killehenny and R-tttoo patron, the Bishop of Limerick. Rev. Edmund J. F. Johnson, M.A., curate of Bishop's Teignton, South Devon vicar of Elmore; patron, Sir W. V. Guise, Bart. Rev. Harry Jones, M.A., vicar of Great Barton, Suffolk; honorary chaplain to Her Majesty. Rev. Charles Ja'Arthur, M.A.; minister of St. Stephen's, Chel- tenham. Rev. Xavier Peel Massy, B.A.; vicar of Stockland, Bristol. Rev. David Morgan (St. Bees), curate of Dearnley, near Rochdale; vicar of St. Mary's, High Crompton, near Oldham; patron, the Bishop of Manchester. Rev. Gilbert H.' Phil- lips, vicar of Brodsworth and canon of York; rector of Dolton Percy; patron, the Archbishop of York. Rev. Franklin R. Preston, M.A.; perpetual curate of St. Mary the Virgin, Ellel Grange, near Lan- caster; patron, Mr G. T. H. Preston, of Kllel Grange. Rev. Leigh Thomas Rendell, M.A.; vicar of Tunsbury. Hev. Thurston Rivington, precentor and senior curate of Tewkesbury Abbey; vicar of St. Nicholas, Warwick patron, the Earl of War- wick. Rev. Canon Scarth, vicar of IIolv Trinity, Gravesend; vicar of Bearstead, Kent: patrons, the dean and chapter of Rochester. TIIR CHURCH ASSOCIATION AD Tm; NEW ECCLESI- ASTICAL CooiiTa.—A memorial has been addressed to the Queen from various members of the Church of England, praying her Majesty to li-ten to pleas they offer for objecting to certain proceedings and recommendations cf the Royal Commissioners appointed to inquire into the constitution and working of the Ecclesiastical Courts. Thy object that the inquiry was not confined within the terms of the commission, to the Reformation Statutes of 24 and 25 Henry VIII. and subsequent Acts of Parliament that though it was generally under- stood, in accordance with the term of the commis- sion, as stated by the late Archbishop of Canterbury, "that the inquiry should not go behind the Refor- mation, the understanding has not been observed and the inquiry has gone far beliiii(I it that no sufficient notice had been taken of the fact that the reformation of doctrine was the all-pervading principle of the Reformation; tliat nc reference is made to the constitutional settlement which ushered in her Majesty's dynasty, but that the re- port discloses a desire to preserve the continuity of the pre-Reformation Church with its inherent and subsequently discarded sacerdotal caste assumptions and recommends a virtual re-assertion of the "benefit of the clergy by claims on behalf of the "spirituality," to the suppression of lav rights; that in the o.rrllngement anel selection of the body of historical material, the commission has rejected ovidencewhether oral or documentary,acompanierl with features of omission and bias, Ktipprcssious and suggestions, which demand further inquiry; that the very important reservations of the most eminent clerical and judicial members of the com- mission invalidate its report. The memorialists re- cognise the intention of the commission to vindicate the Royal supremacy by the proposed constitution rf the Court of Final Appeal; but they maintain that it should really preserve the Queen's supre- macy as chief ordinary, and its decision be iiual. The claim that the rights of every layman in the Church of England should bo proeced-that the supremacy of the law should be clear 1 estab ished —that the course of justice at the outset should not be checked nor impeded by the judgment or opinion of any one person,be he clerical or )fty. With regard to the suagestion in the report of the com- missio iers that it is desirable that any scheme of ecclesirlstical courts and discipline should make provision for the trial of offences alleged to have been committed by bishops or archbishops, and for compelling on their part obedience to the law," the memorialists consider that the matter is beyond their province. No suggestion is made as to the mode in which the episcopate is to he rendered amenable to the supremacy of the law, as in the days of lier Majesty's predecessors, and tho memorialists object that tilis omi^siwii wholly invalidates the proposed scheme. They moreover object that the proposed episcopal veto" is con- trary to the principles of justice and is unconstitu- tional, because the exercise of such a privilege is tantamount to a dispensing power," which ii con- trary to the principle of the Bill of Rights; lie causeit will nullify the Acts of Uniformity," and all settled order, discipline, and doctrine in the Church and because, in the words of the Lord Chief Justice, "the active interference of the bishops to prevent the lawof the land being enforced against those who have deliberately broken it is as indefen- sible in theory as it is fast becoming intolerable in practice.

A MoST AGREEABLE AND WHOLESOME BBVRKAOE for the cold season is supplied in Kiwc' Lime Juice '.lor- dial. As a fbvourillr: ill hot drinks, it supersedes the lemon. It is lion alcoholic, delicious in water, 8inJ\1]¡\I,in: ,mel Ilsi"ti, rli!p.tion. No table should be without it. Suitable for Ball-Room or Supper Party. Sold everywhere. Pureha-ers should order Co)ylial only, all others being imitations. Wholesale Rtorcs-ll, Curtain-road, Loudon, and Leith, N.B. 1867 GKUMANV AD T[{I, ('no[.1- K v Dr Ko,"h, 'f"d!her of tlu- Cholera1 ominission ill Kgvpt, lifts reported t) the German Government U thnt he fmd-tliat h'.lera isilne loalivin; ()rlni::l!1l of 1\ thread-like character. rcs(UI}lh¡: :!at seen ill phthiÎ! (consumption!. Tllo !'lo'('r;1i (w -teria were fullV ruvsaled by thro micro.rope. I;1 the iic; -i M H whole colonies were discovered in every sbe of det'rn. iive and fatal activity." Brasg's VcgetiMo 1'\1: ".1 al.ro! In ..11 impurities in the stmnadl and !wve!g, rend- i- the evs- tence of disea80 germs llllP09Sil, It, jj.ves H JH.a:thy tone to the whole sJstem "flélu"lIy w:ir.Uu;; choler,. tvphoid, yellow and marsh ??:c)n.<rn"h[))..?.So?] 17.1 luCheuiists6 ?j.,4& aiid 6s. a Lottle, 1701- 495—'2M

JOKES AND JOKERS. j STEAL PENEi-Prisons. A GREAT COMPOSER.—Opium. Why is a nun's life disappointit,g ?—Becanser it's no end of a cell. What is the greatest want of the age ?-Want of funds. Why is a prudent like a pin ?--Because his head prevents his going too far. Why ought a gardener to be a crack shot'!— Because he has a great deal of experience with little, shoots. Farmer F. has engaged a very red-haired man as coachman. He finds that he can do now without carriage lamps. The only danger is that his turn- out has been taken for a light-house more than once. Railway passengers duty to keep one's seat till the train stops. Question for histrionic circles-Does an actor always act in a friendly spirit when lie takes an actor's part ? A dentist has devoted himself to active politics, probably on the ground that his calling had fitted him for taking the stump." Is anyone waiting on you ?1" said a polite sales- man to a young lady from the country. 11 Yes, sir," replied the blushing damsel, that's my young man outside; he wouldn't come into the shop." They say Charlie has married. Do vou know his wife ? Is she a woman of intelligence ? Is she well informed?" "Well informed! Well, I should say so. She has belouged to the village sewing circle for ten years, and never missed a meetil1/ BASS RELIEF.—A pint of ale after a hard day's work.—Judy. "De-'greese' of Comparison:" A sperm candle. — Fun. Very small yet intently observant nephaw Do you think, auntie, after all, there was any good in putting up such a. lot of mistletoe ?" (She was silent for a ""hile.)-.T.tdy. PUTTING HIS FOOT IN IT THIS TIM".— Flippant Younjj Haitdresser to fearfully irascible old gentle- man sir, the life of a barber is very like that of a mill-horse—always going round and round the same old stump." [Alarming results, J -,Jud! CVISINE."—Mistress; Susan, we're thinking of having a pig's head boiled for dinner. You under- otand it, I uppose?" -Cook:" Oh,no.m'um. I told you before I came I didn't understand game !"— Punch. CHRISTMAS TIME.—Crossing-sweeper (to Swell): "Merry Chtis'mas Captin'I Pitch usja brown!" (No answer. Insinuatingly.) Ila' yer such a thing as a bit o' cold puddin' about yer, captin' ?"- Punch. The following may be found useful; To save coal get very warm, stand between the front-door for twenty minutes. Ten to one your head will ache ti such an extent that you can do without fire for that day the experiment may be repeated next day. A correspondent aski us for the best means of getting along in this world. We could mention several, but be will find a larce field with a savage bull in it a fairly good reiiiedy those who have tried it can certainly recommend it. Should this fail we shall be glad to advise again in our next.

ITEMS FOR F ARMTIJRS. At the Cheshire Quarter Sessions on Monday, the Chief-constable reported that 187 animals remained under treatment for foot-and-mouth disease at the last quarter sessions, since which the disease had appeared in 20 places; 321 animals had been attacked, of which 3 died, 416 recovered, and 89 re- mained under treatment. The Mark-lane E.rpre*s says—" Open weather has continued to the end of the year, closing one of the most remarkable seasons on record. Notwiihstand- ing its extremes of temperature and abnormal conditions, exceptionally good seed times were obtained in spring and autumn, and the young wheat crop, together with all autumn-sown crops, stand exceedingly well on the last day of the year. With regard to trade, it has been apparent since the commencement of the cereal year that native crops have no chance against foreign grain, and at tho present time English wheats, and as a rule English barleys, are cheaper ad raiiii-e)it-tliati any corresponding descriptions of imported grain. During the past week foggy weather has caused a material loss in the condition of grain marketed, and a corresponding drop in prices has ocoiivred: although there has been no actual change in values, from the previous week. Scarcity of good malting barleys has caused more firmness in their values, but grinding descriptions are quite a drug upon the market. The oat crop is turning out light in weight. The trade for foreign wheat off stands ill London has not shown any fresh feature during the past week, and in Liverpool trade has been dull and about Id. cheaper. Muize is cheaper, but barley, oats. beans, and peas are l1uclHtI1ged." The Fanner says—" Cold and clear weather has succeeded the foggy Christmas week. Mark-lane has its usual Monday's attendance on this last market of the year. Trade is slow. English i wheat quotations are unchanged; foreign rather lower, sometimes la. per quarter. Flour heavy supply and heavy trade. Mailing barley firm secondary quiet, Oats selling only in retail. Peas and maize 6d. cheaper. Beans unaltered. The tone of business remains discouraging. i PERTH AUCTION' MARKET.—li'eelly Fale of Fat Stock, Monday, December 31st.— Messrs Macdonald, Fraser, and Co.'s weekly sale of fat ttock comprised ] 274 sheep, 81 cattle, and 1 pis. There was the usual large attendance of buyers forward. local a-id from a distance. Sheep, a small show, were makieg prices fully as high as on thc p!evious week; while cattle sold at a st?de less money. Sherp-Croos hogg, best class, sold from 55s to 63s, 1 and from 44s to 53s 6d; blackface wethers, 44s 6(1 to 51s; Leicester ewes, 47s 6d to 62s 6d; Cheviot, ditto. 38s to 47s 6d blackface, ditto, 30s to 36s, and from 21s to 27s 6d 50s to 60s 6d. Cattle u cood show; bet class of bullocks selling up to £3¡;, and from iC25 to 932; smaller sortw, £ 18 to .£23 10s; heifers, £ 16 5s to £ 23 7s 6d cows, £ 12 l?s 6d to t23 2s 6d. Mutton, top, lid, and from lOd to lOJd per lb. Beef, top, 10s 9d current, 10s to 10s 6d per stone. Clasoaic Lire Stock Sales, Wednesday. Decemh, r :!fith,— At Messrs Macdonald, Fraser and Co.'s weekly sale of fat stock to day the numbers were 60 cattle, 574 sheep, and 1 calf. The show of stock was under the average both in regard to numbers and quality. Cattle met dearer trade than even the extreme rates of last week; whilst slicep were selling a slipde easier. There was the usual attendance of btiyers-tlie bidding being very spirited. Cattle oold, the best class of bullocks from B24 5s to Z28 15s; smaller weights, from JEI8 10s to £ 22 10s; queys, from £20 5s to £2.3 15s bulls, from £ 14 5s to E30 5s; cows, £ 12 5s to £1710s calf, 27s 6d. Sheep-Cross and half-bred hoggs, 51s to 55s 6d; cross ewes, 27s 6d; blackface wethers, of which there was a large show. sold, best class, 45s to 52s smaller sorts, 32s to 40s black- face ewes, 27s 6d to 33s 3d. Reef, ton. 87s; current, 83s to 85" per cwt. Mutton, top, lOjd current, 9d to 9.1,1 per lb.

j MASSACRE IN ASHANTEE. A despatch from Cape Coast Castle, dated De- cember 1. savs-:lfr Goelfrey Layden returned from Coomassie to day. This gentleman, as already announced, went up to Coomassie on a purely un. official visit, but the King (Quacoa Duab) and his chiefs being unable to believe that he was not an envoy of tlio Government, instructed to obtain information as to the state of affairs in Ashantee, confined him to hi house for five anys, during which time there wero constant meetings of the council, and the King frequent'y visited the pri- soner. On the fifth day, fin ling .Mr Layden was suffering from fever, the king gave him permis- sion to walk about in the neighbourhood of the bouse in company of tho Chief B lss imburru, in whose charge h • had b tn phce.1. H theu was per- mitted to continue his exploration. but two guides were given him by the king, whu thwarted every effort to penetrate into the interior. Mr Layden nevertheless succeeded in collecting much valuable information as to the state of affairs in Coomxssie and the general feeling throughout Ashantee. The people are quiet, being overawed by the slawhtT of King Koffee K,-ileum's family find the daily massacre of his adherents. Hundreds have already fallen at the executioners' hands, and each day more victims are seized. Sixty-eiaht out of King Koffee Kalcalli's seventy children have been killed. One boy and one girl are left alive. The former is now a torch bearer to the new kii' one of the Kalcalli's !\dherel1tR. The chief of Kikofoo, henr- intr tbo ex-kind's life was in danger, sent a party of ninety persons to auard him. These remained several days with Kalcalli. with the consent of the present kin", and WNe then suddenly attacked at r.i _'ht and the whole party killed save rue hoy. who was placed i 1 a loo, and kept without food. Owing to this treatment hI) became so) thiu that lie was able to slio his arm ont of the log and escape. The great tributary States are very restless, and aie inclined to declare their ÍlHlependel,ce or to put themselves under the protection of the Colonial Government.

From St. Petersburg it is reported that tho chief of the secret police has been assassinated. The crime is believed to be the work of Nihilists,

GENERAL NEWS. The health of the Czar has improved. There were no fewer than ;>82 deacons and 292 priests ordained on Sunday week. Sir Thomas and Lady Brassev have arrived in England after a three mouths' cruise in the West Indies and other places, en board the" Sunbeam." A special supplement of the London Gazette was issued on Saturday, giving a table of fees to be paid audcr the new Bankruptcy Act. M. D. O'Kounteff, Russian Minister Plenipo- tentiary to Sweden and Norway, died at Stock- holm on Monday. At Southampton, on Monday, two men named Wisliart and Doherty were remanded on the charge of murdering a seamsn named Ldh at Rio. The elder of Sir Stafford Northcote's two sons now at Oxford has just taken a first-class in Classical 11 Mods." Sir Stafford Northcote will deliver his icangural address as rector of Edinburgh University on January 30th. The rateable value of the several parishes in the City of London amounts to a total of £ 3,582,102. The house of Mr Lowev. near Castleblaney, County Monaghan, was fired into on Tuesday even- ing, and Mrs Lowey was seriously wounded. The High Sheriff of Monmouthshire, Mr William George Cartwright, died at his residence, on Wed. nesday. While a servant girl in Thurso was cleaning a cod recently, she found in its stomach 80 complete set of false teeth. The compromise which has been arrived at with regard to the Ilbert Bill is said to be unwelcome to the natives of India. At Waudsworth, Frank WeHs was sent to prison for two months for having violently assaulted Julia Threadgill, a married woman. The first "house dinner" at the National Liberal Club, London, will be held on the 9th of January. The Earl of i*aiho:e will thke the chair. Mr George Augustus Sala and Mr Edmt'nd Yates arc said to be writing their autobiographies. This year's literature has been rich in bioi'raphy next year's is likely to be rich in autobiography.— John Bull. Colonel Fred BLirraby is proceeding, in his usual spirit of adventure, to Egypt, with the view of joining Baker Pasha at Soaakim, and witnessing any military operations tliut may be undertaken. The British Government has communicated to the French Government the Oneen's Order in Council decreeing the abolition a" British c jusular jurisdiction in Tunis. The Pall Mall Gazette states that the title by which Mr Tennyson is to be raised to the peerage, and which has been approved by her Majesty, is Baron Tennyson of Aldworth, in the county of Sussex, and of Freshwater in the ls'6 of Wight. From the observations tak;n at the Royal Ob- servatory, Greenwich, the week ending last Satur- day (December 29), the 11 registered sUllshine" is stated to have been nil." A verdict of wilful murder his i.)e;,¡ returned by tlie coroners jury against t lumptou. now under remand at Sojtlnvark, accused of causing the death of his wife by stabbing ;:cr in the neck. For maliciously breaking a window at the Privy Council Office, Whitehall, Charles Wool, who admitted his guilt, saying he had done i; for tho purpese of procuring food, was sentenced ut Bow- street to fourteen days' imnris0ument. The Dean and students of Christ Church, Oxford, have commissioned Mr Millais to paint a new portrait of Mr Gladstone, to hang in the college dining hall, the finest portrait gallery in Oxford. Christ Church is Mr Gladstone's own college. In accordance with instructions received frcm the Home Omce, the convict Lewis X'&rry has been re- moved from her Majesty's prison, Kirkdale, to Pentonville, where he will be employed on the work usually assigned to prisoners uuder sentence of penal servitude for life. The white elephant recently purchased by Mr Bamum in British Burmah, for which £ 40,030 was paid, left Rangoon on the steamer 1, Tenaserean" oil the 8th of December, for London. It v.-iil pro- bably be exhibited in England previous to its ship- ment to New York. At Cork Assizes, on Wednesday, John Einns, a bailiff, was indicted for the wilful murder of Jamei Macquillau, at Ennis, county Care, on the 29tU September. The accused, who stabbed Mao juillati during a quarrel, was found guilty of manslaughter, and sentenced to ten years' penal servitude. Griffith Davies, a native of Cardiganshire, and Alfred Cornish, hailing from Frame, were instanta- neously crushed to death oil Tuesday morning by the fall of an archway prop underground at the Great Western Colliery at Pontypridd. It is stated that Lord Derby has appointed Colonel Marshall Clarke, R.A., C.M.G., Resident Commissioner in Basutoland, and that Culonel Clarke will take up the position in about two months' time. He is at present in Egypt. Both Orangemen and Nationalists had demon- strations at Droniore, county Tyrone, on Tuesday, the former numbering about 20,003, aud the latter 2000. At the conclusion of the moeting the mili- tary had to protect the Nationalists Irora the attacks of the Orangemen. Fines were inflicted at Greenwich' en several dealers who had sold milk adulterated with from 25 to 35 per cent, of added water, the defence being that the milk was disposed of in the condition in which it was purchased wholesale. Mr JJalguy suggested that the authorities should try to bring the offence home to thoso in a larger way of business. A banquet will take place at St. Stephen's Clnbon February 13th, when a bust of the 'ae Karl o £ BC.COD.fi,?ld, which has been executed by Signor Raggi and pnrclmsed by the club, will be unveiled by the Marquis of Salisbury. Sir Stafford North- cote, Viscount Cranbrook, Mr Gibson, )1. 11., and the leading members of he Conservative party have signified their intention of attending au the occasion. At Munster Winter Assizes, on Monday, Thomas Quinlan, charged with ninruer, was íûnntl gt1ilty of manslaughter. Quinlan formed one of the 13 men who after mass oil the 14th of October beat Spence, an old man about 60 years of age, to death whilst he was minding his cattle on a boycotted fa. iii, the grazing of which he had taken. Another cf the party has already been convicted, and four others await trial. At Munfter Assizes, at Cork, on Saturday, three young men, named Patrick Driscoil, .John M'Mahon, and Patrick Collins, were indicted for having waylaid Mr Francis Crosbie, brother of Colonel Crosbie, at Ballvseedy, near Traiee. on the 13th inst., with the object )f obttâning his gun. The prisoners were convicted and sentenced, Dris' coll to five years' and the two others to two years' imprisonment. For tome time John Kniht. an o«t!er of very eccentric habits, has been accustomed to sleep in a public-liousc hayloft, at Coty Hill. HI1.!ceoweu. [t being well known t hat he p05sesSE:<t a consider- able sum of money, thieves broke into the ioft on Sunday night and cut- pocket from his trousers, containing upwards of zC35, wrapped up in hE ragp, the savings of many years. The colliery explosions reported during the year number 21, and of these twelve were fatal, causing 113 deaths. Compared with tl,e 32 years 1850-82, the explosions are 37 and the deaths 128 below the average. The year 1879 was the only c'e with fewer explosions (16), but the ùeH:s reached 154. Since the middle of October there l-.ave b cu ten explosions, involving a loss of 101 lives. Thirty warnings were issued, and 101 lives were lost within three days of the is>-ue. Of (Lv 21 explosions, 17 occurred" with a high or rising taroir.e'.er. Addressing a Mountain Asdi (South Wales) audience on temperance on Tuesday, Lord Aberdaie said he was sorry to find that the poiice cou-t pre- secutions for drunkenness snowed but little decrease. At the same time he nv.aht s;y that intcuoation had very much decreased in the upper circles of society. He was positive ù;1 that point, for he had instituted iuquiries oil it amongst In- friend J, and they had informed him th:.t wine bills w ::c con- siderably curtailed. lIe was a moderate man. and did not approve of extreme measures to put down drunkenness, but he deprecated the ev.'l effects of intemperance. A Dublin correspondent says A curious scene was witnessod in Chancery-lane, Dublin, 8t mid- night, December 31st. 'Vhen the belU were ringing in the New Year, following a custom for some years in vogue, all tlieorgayi-grirderf in the city assembled, and welcomed the New Year by a combined per- formance. Over a dozen organs wero wheeled into the thoroughfare, and as twelve o'clock struck the men began to grind as mmy different airs. Other performers joined in a score of concertinas, an equal number of fiddles, and a variety of other instru- ments being used. A most hideous concert was kept up for over an hour, the street being blocked with people, but beyond ,,¡r.eL laughter and a nuse- ment there was no disorder."