The Cardigan Observer and General Advertiser for the Counties of Cardigan Carmarthen and Pembroke

LONDON CORRESPONDENCE. -0- THE holding of Cabinet Councils at Downing;- street forms almost a daily item of news in the metropolitan papers. An occurrence so unusual as this, and only experiencad when the country is pasain? through a grave crisis, keep3 the political world in a state ot constant excite- inont. Ru aours, pacific -or alarming in their tendency, crop up by turn3, though there ¡ h generally a preponderance of the latter in the evening papers. The reassuring effect of Lord Cicnavvoa's statement, mide to the deput ation o? South African merchants who waited upon him at the Colouial Office, could hardly b3 said to have lasted twenty-four hours. The strength of language he used when he spoke abou" the insanity of going to war on behalf of Turkey conveved an i:nprtssion at first that there must hi more unanimity in the Cabinet than was com- monly supposed; but this feeling soon died away when rumour followed rumour of serious Minis-j terial differences, and of a probable appeal by the Premier to the country immediately after he had felt the pulse of Parliament, which will now soon be in session. In f ic> the political prognosticatora, who have pome means of knowing what is on the cards, talk about the great probability or a reconstruc- tion of the Cabinet as well as of an early general election. Indeed it is difficult to see, ir the Prime Minister still adheres to the war polioy which found expression in his speeches, how Lord Carnarvon and Mr. CroiS, who hold quite oppo- site views, can much longer remain members of the Cabinet. Lord Derby might also be included, as he has made statements quite agreeing in spirit with those of the Colonial and Home Secretaries. In his speech at Bradford on Saturday evening Mr. Forster gave it as his deliberate opinion that if differences still existed in the Cabinet, the Premier should appeal to the nation between himself and the Foreign and Colonial Secretaries. This, indeed, would be the proper coarse, con- sidering the seriousness of the situation, and the awful responsibilities conneoted with involving the country in a war, which might likely become European in its magnitude. If there be division in the Cabinet, there is also divi- sion of opinion in the country, and a general elec- tion would be the fairest way of letting the views of the majority of the nation prevail. On the last occasion, at the beginning of 1874, when Parliament was suddenly dissolved, the great bulk of the elections were over in about a fort- night, and this example of promptitude might well serve for an occasion like the present when an appeal to the country is again upon the otrds. The institution of the new Imperial Order of the Crown of India-whiah is to be worn by the Princesses of the reigning house, by the wives and other female relatives of Indian Princes, and by the wives of Indian officials — has brought together a very curious agglomeration or conglomeration of names in the list of the first reoipients of the decoration. The name of the Maharanee Dhuleep Singh does not look so strange imme- diately following that of the Princess Mary of Cambridge, as it must be familiar to the readers of Court news; but it was rather startling at first, from the Dovelty of the thing, to see such names as those of her Highness Maharanee Seta Velass Dawajee Ammanee Anaro of Mysore and her Highness Maharanee Jumna Bai Sahib Gaekwar of Baroda mingled with the simpler and more pro- nounceible names of members of the Royal Family and the nobility of England. Before this new Oriental splendour the Order of the Star of India must perforce pale its ineffectual fires." What wouid be done with these Orders if Mr. Bright's expectation of the English letting go their hold of India were some day, however far remote, to be fulfilled? Mr. Fitzjames Stephens seems to believe as well as hope that England will have dominion over India for ages to come, and there- fore the question just put is one with which he at least will give himself little concern. The demolition of Temple Bar is attracting greater attention from passers-by than the building of the new Law Courts in its imme- diate neighbourhood has ever done. It is just as well that the fiat which at last went forth against the old arch is being put into execution, as it would have been looked down upon contemptuously by the stately structure which is rising near it3 site. The City authori- ties, while acknowledgiag the necessity of removing the Bar, were anxious that it should be reconstructed somewhere else but they felt as much difficulty in fixing uoon a suitable place as the patrons of Cleopatra's Needle did when the controversy about that obeli ik was at its height a short time ago. However, the Bethnal- green Vestry have come opportunely to the rescue by deciding to ask for its removal to an eligible site in Victoria-park. There is every likelihood that the City authorities will *;raut this request, and there ia thus good proapeot of an old street obstruction, possessing some interest from historic associations, becoming the ornament of an East-end park. Walter Thornbury wrote a fine poem on Temple Bar, but the London poets of the future will not be able to say with him: How often, like a furnace mouth, I've seen in days of summer drouth The archway flamiug red With sunset crimsons, fold on fold, That turned the Strand to burning gold, Then darkened overhead. And on how many a fairy night I've seen the sprinkling silver light Transmute thy royalty; Invest thy kings with saintly gleams Crowning with halo of moonbeams Thy transient majesty." Never again shall burly Johnsons or gossipy Boswells, genial Goldsmiths or luokless Chatter- tons pass through the arches of Temple Bar. Attempts have been made of late in some parts of London to convert glove fights"- which are associated with quite as large an amount of ruffianism as prize fights-into legiti- mate amusements. A little while ago some dis- reputable "entertainments" of the kind took place in Sadler's Wells Theatre, and last week the proprietor of a skating-rink in the violnity of Bethnal-green let out his premises for the same sort of thing, describing it in the advertisements as an assault of arms. The actors in the sparring match, which lasted about an hour and a-half, belonged apparently to the class out of whom prize-fighters used to be grown, and the spec- tators, judging from the display of ruffianism they made, were kith and kin to the bull-necked type of blackguards who always struggled for the foremost places behind the P.R. ropes. Mr. Bushbv inflicted the full penalty of £5 and costs upon the offending proprietor of the skating- rink, and has thus done something to give an effectual check to an attempted revival of prize pugilism. The fisticuff business that goes on openly on the streets of London is quite large enough already; it stands in need of no encou- ragement. D. G.

CoAOiaiNE. -The best cement for Broken Articles, 6d., Is. 2s. Postage 2d. Kay Bros., Stoekport. Sold everywhere. SHOCKING ACCIDENT.—A shocking accident occurred at Wickersley, near Rotherham. Mr. William Osborne, a quarryman, accompanied by his child, a boy 7 years of age, went to his quarry, where, in a thaughtlesa mood, he jerked off his shoulder a long pole that he had brought with him from home. On turning round he was horror-stricken to find that he had injured his child. Its skull was fractured, and it died a few hours afterwards. A/.MPLOCGH'S PYKETJC fcuurrE.—" Hava it in your houses, and use no other," for it is the only safe anti- dote in Fevers, Eruptive Affections, Sea or Bilious Sickness, and Headache, having peculiar and exclu- sive merits. The Master of the Rolls has granted a perpetual injunction against other, usinq the name and trade movk. Sold hy all Chemists. CONVICTION OF A SCHOOLMASTER.-At the Essex Quarter Sessions John Augustus Gordon Campbell, a schoolmaster, pleaded guilty to obtain- ing X6 by false pretences from Thomas Cawthorn, at Walthamstow. The prisoner bad represented himself to be a clergyman and preached as such. He induced Mr. Cawthorn, a Waltharrsstow tradesman, to cash a fictitious cbeque for S6, The prisoner was sentenced ') seven yeara peEal sdyitude and three years'police ">ervision, jro S FKCIT SAT.T.—A lady writes Everything l<a,ieine or tood-ca.sed to act. properly for at litr}r*e months be'ore I commenced taking it; the turnm I could take generally punished me or re- must 93r lIfe was one of great suffering, so that I family Succumbed before long. To me and our all chem\been » great earthly blessing." Sold bv Nrice 28. 9d. and 4s. 6d.

ArSm £ ST8TW0A1, SoAP Carbouis Detergmi), aSe^U »^ most healthful, ToUet SoaP in the world. By the rvimrJw; ^6^OIa from infections diseases is secured • pimples, blotches and roughness VP™ »■ • S^hwark-street. London. IHE JStrmtngham Post understands that large orders hj»ve been given out at Birmingham by the War Departmeat for mess tins. As many as 30,000 have been ordered from a single house. THE only black crapes which really will not spot with rain are stamped rain-proof, and a guarantee is attached to every piece. The black does not come off when wet. THE MANSION HOUSE FUNDS.-In addition to the half-million raised at the Mansion House for the relief of the sufferers by the famine in India, £54,21.6 was also received there during the mayoralty of Sir Thomas White for the purposes of charity—viz., Hospital Sunday Fund, £26,082 19s. Id.; the Inun- dations Relief Fund, Y,8904 14s. 3d.; tbe Welsh Miners' Fund. £4674 123. 5d.; the St. John, New Brunswick, Fire Relief Fund, £7062 5s. lOd. and the North Sea Fishing Disasters Fund, L7491 169.3d. Thus the years receipts in that one channel amounted to the magnificent sum of £ 554000 DOMESTIC Ecomomy-Judsoes Dyes are most X™ tlv i 8/T'Vable^oth'or anysma11 of dress .may be dyed in ten minutes without soiling the bands—18 coleurs. Sold by chemists and staffers Judsons Dyes, price 6d. per bottle. THE LONG-EXPECTED VISIT of Mr Cross to Sbtffiald has been indefinitely postponed. A letter has been received from him, stating that. in conse- quence of the early assembling of Parliament, he will not be able to go for come time. He has, however not withdrawn his promise te visit the town as soon as he finds it convenient to do so. KAT-BTIC PILLS,Jtor Neuralgia,Faceache, Ac., did., Is. lid Postage Id. Sold by all Chemists. Kay Bios., Stoekport,

A NEW TRADE BETWEEN AMERICA AND EUROPE. A new trade has lately grown up between Europe and America which must, sooner or later, be felt in an important branch of native industry. It is not gene- rally known, but such is the fact, that American up holaterers are now exporting to Great Britain and the Continent large quantities of ready-made furniture, from kitchen chairs and tables to the most elegant accessories of the drawing-roon.. The facility with which these objects are turned out is almost mar- vellous. The native woods of America are easy to work, and susceptible of a fine polish. The wooc^ applicable to the better class furniture is so abun- dant that it is wholly superfluous to use veneers. The consequence is, that the objects are manufactured i solid, and bear much more wear and tear than articles of a similar class made in England. The prices are also much more reasonable, because skilled labour is to a great extent dispensed with, and cheap machi- nery is substituted for manual dexterity. But it is nery is substituted for manual dexterity. But it is I not only in tha matter of household furni- ture that competition is to be dreaded. The Americans are now sending us window sashes, doors, skirting boards, panel work, wainscots, and all descriptions of joinery. With this assistance the builder may regard with more composure the threat- ened strike among the carpenters. But our transat- lantic friends do not limit their interest to the living only. Tneir far-seeing benevolence takes notice of us even in death, for American coffins (vastly superior to the home made article) are to be bad in the London market at prices little more than half of those charged by native undertakers.

AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS" STRIKE.—Sixty labourers are now on strike at Witham, in North Essex, against a proposed reduction of wages from 13s. to lis. per week. The men are being sup- ported by theNatienal Agricultural Labourers'Union. BEER AND Buss.—A general impression (says the Medical Examiner) prevails that ignorance is bliss." This maaifestly depends on the nature of the ignorance and the nature of the bliss for example, it surely cannot be a blissful state to be acquainted with the following preparations that are advertised, and, we presume, used by town and country brewers: Bavarian bitter, lib. equals 64lb. of hops. For adding to copper, or when racked." "Bisulphite of lime, for the prevention of acetous fermentation of beer." "Double Humulin (aroma), for flavouring mild like pale ales, lib. equal to 321 b. of hops." Burton water crystals, especially recommended to brewers for rendering ales more preservative, im- proving attenuation, dropping clearer, paler in colour, more sparkling." The quotations we have given are from the advertisement sheet of a well-known and officially published class journal, and clearly show that ignorance produces, at any rate in the beer- drinker, headache and stomach-ache, rather than the bliss that poets write of. Now, if we could but restore the brewers of England to that condition of ignorance when they could only brew beer with malt and hops, we might fairly regard it as a case of ignorance being bliss. As it is, however, this age of science has pro- duced brewers that are chemists and wine merchants that are perfect masters in that mysterious depart- ment of knowledge which is euphemistically called blending." We can scarcely complain of the danger that has arisen from a little knowledge; our trouble has clearly come from our drink makers knowing too much. MR. C. S. READ, M.P., replying to a com- munication from the Thetford Working Men's Liberal Association, observes: I am glad that the past and present action of her Majesty's Government in pre- serving a strict neutrality in the Eastern war meets with your approval, and I believe that policy will con- tinue to guide the Crown unless the honour and inte- rests of Great Britain are assailed by either belli- gerent." EMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND.—The follow- ing vessels despatched by Sir Julius Vogel, the Agent- General for New Zealand, are reported to have arrived safely at their destination The Canterbury, which sailed from Glasgow on the 28th of September, arrived at Port Chalmers; the Opawa, which sailed frem Plymouth on the 27th of September, arrived at Lyttelton; the Renfrewshire, which sailed from Plymouth on the 29th of September, arrived at Napier.. = RITUALISTIC PRACTICES.—A monition issued by the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol has been served upon the Rev. A. H. Ward, the warden of St. Raphael's, Bristol. It requires Mr. Ward at once to desist from the use of vestments, the use of lighted candles at the Holy Communion, unless when needed to give light; the ceremonial mixing of water with wine; and the administration of it when so mixed at the Holv Communion, the use of incense before Divine Service or during the Holy Communion, so as to be in any way subsidiary thereto, and from various other specified practices. SUCCESS CAUSES IMITATION. — When purchasing ask plainly for and see that every cake is stamped Spratt's Patent," or a spurious and highly dangerous imitation, same size and shape, may be served to vou. DESTRUCTION OP A VESSEL BY FIRE AT SEA. -Information received at Lloyd's by telegram from their agent at Valparaiso reports the destruction by fire at sea of the British barque Hampshire, bound from Swansea for Valparaiso the crew were saved. The Hampshire was the property of E. H. Castle and Co., of Swansea. She was an A I ship, twenty-five years old, having been built at Southampton in 1852. She left Swansea on the 20th of September last under the command of Oaptain Jones, and bad on board 677 tons of coal and sixty tons of bricks, shipped by Messrs. Joseph Ford and Co. A PREDICTED EARLY GENERAL ELECTION. -Speaking at a United Kingdom Alliance meeting at Burslem the other night, Mr. Sullivan, M.P. for Louth, said that the time had gone by when a class could legislate for the masses. In all probability the country would, during the ensuing summer, be called upon at a general election to express itself as to whether England should engage in a bloody war. If the people were appealed to in such a matter they ought also to have the power to say whether or not they should have public-houses in their districts. K..t.T's COMPOUND ESSENCE OF LINSEED, ademulcant expec torant, for Coughs k Colds. Sold everywhere, !}td.. Is. lid. DOG LICENSES.—The Commissioners of Inland Revenue have just issued a general order to every collector in England, Scotland, and Wales, calling upon them to recommend for each district a respect- able person whose veracity and character can be relied upon to ascertain and report on all cases in which persons are keeping dogs without licenses. Preference is to be given to superannuated police officers. They are to receive no salary, but in lieu thereof one-half of the amount of the fines recovered. The statement recently made that dogs under six months of age are liable for a license is incorrect; they are still exempt. THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.—We are in a position to state that the Queen will open Parliament in person, and that their Royal Bignesses the Prince 80M Princess of Wales will come to town for the occa- sion.—White tall fteview. KEATING's COUGH LOZENGES contain no Opium, Morphia, nor any violent drug. It is the most effective remedy known to the Medical Pro- fession in the cure of COUGHS, AaTHMA, BRONCHITIS -one Lozenge alone relieves. Sold by all Chemis in Boxes, Is. lid and 2s. 9d. each. SUICIDE OF A PRIVATE OF THE SCOTS GUARDS.—Mr. Bedford held an inquest at the Sessions House, Broad Sanctuary, on the body of Thomas Thompson, 21, a private in the 2nd Battalion of Scots Guards, who committed suicide on Tuesday last in his cell at Wellington Barracks. Sergeant W. Hoy stated that the deceased had a violent temper, and bore a bad character in the regiment. On the 29th ult. he absented himself from parade, for which he was sentenced to a certain amount of shot drill and twenty-four heurs' confinement in a cell. Before the deceased was arrested as a prisoner he was heard to say that he would not only do for himself, but also for some one else. After completing his shot drill he was placed in a dark cell, and there he sang, whistled, and danced for three hours. At seven o'clock on the following day Corporal Payne found the deceased suspended in the cell by means of some straps which were fastened te the ventilator. He was quite dead. The witness thought that the deceased must have stood on a stool and then kicked it away. The jury returned a verdict of Suicide while of unsound mind," and expressed their surprise that the straps should have been left in the cell. IKDIQESTIOK.—Ginger, in combination with Brandy, is ever an invaluable Stotuachic. Messrs. Henry Brett and Co.'s celt, brated I Negro's Head' Liqueur Ginger Brandy is most agree- able, and adapted alike to Invalid, Sportsman or Traveller. THE JAPANESE NAVY.—-The three Japanese ironclads which have been built under the superin- tendence of Mr. E. J. Reed, M.P., C.B., are about to proceed to Japan, where they will form a very power- ful squadron. The ships are net only beautifully fitted, but perfect in construction. Speed, economy of fuel, a very heavy armament, and the fact of their being safe ocean cruisers hive been fully realised. The two corvettes are about 231ft. long, 41ft. beam, and 1760 tons, with a displacement .of 2216 tons. They draw very little water, and require with their heavy armament but some 220 men. The quantity of coal supplied is sufficient for many days' steam- ing, and they have great sail power. The larger vessel, now lying at Milwall, is well worthy of a visit. She is fitted with twin screws, is 220ft. long, 48ft, beam, and is about 2340 tons. Her draught of water loaded is scarcely 18ft.-Army and Navy Gazette. BERLIN WOOLS and GERMAN NEEDLEWORK.- The above are imported direct by M. LEADER, 9, NEW IIW-VABD, SHOREDITCH, LONDON, E.G., from whoE: price lists are sent, on application, of every descrip lion of fancy wools, CMTM, alcteUe, te.

RUSSIA, TURKEY, AND ENGLAND. STATEMENT BY LORD CARNARVON. Lord Carnarvon, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, took occasion, when a deputation waited f upon him in reference to affairs in South Africa, to [ speak of the Eastern Question. He declared that he did not think circumstances bad materially changed i since Lord Derby's- reassnring statement in November, ( wholly dissented from the view that there was any insult or affront conveyed by the refusal of Russia to accept England's conveyance of overtures of peace, Warned the country against lashing itself into a nervous apprehension of so-called British honour and British interests, and concluded by observing that while we must have a voice in the settlement of the Eastern Question, he Was confident :hat there was nobody in this country insane enough to desire a re- petition of the Crimean war. The following is the portion in cxtenso of Lord Carnarvon's important statement respecting the Eastern Question, and of the position of England towards Turkey and Russia: I can hardly feel -surprised that a body of gentle- men representing, as you do, such large commercial interests should touch upon a question which is so much in the minds of every one at this moment, and should desire with respect to it any assurance that I can give. Of course, as one of the speakers said, or hinted, such a question would be more properly addressed to and answered by my noble friend Lord Derby, just over the way. At the same time, the question is so serious a one that any Minister, I think, might fairly have an inquiry addressed to him on such a subject, and any Minister, I am satisfied, will be very glad, if it is in his power, to give a re- assuring answer. Of course. Circumstances have changed, as they always do in time of war; but materially I do not think there is any great alteration since the time when Lord Derby gave an answer at the Foreign Office in the last days of Novem. if- u° a ^ePutation that waited upon him, which answer, I think, was generally re- ceived with satisfaction as being reassuring. (Hear, hear.) Although Plevna has since fallen, as every well-informed person must have expected it would rail before long, I do not see that there has been any material change in the situation, and therefore our attitude remains much the same-watchful of all real British interests, friendly as regards other nations, neutral as regards the belligerents. (Hear, hear.) 1 hough we are not prepared to bolster up Turkish interests as such, on the other hand, we are resolved now, as we have been from the very beginning, to have a voice in the settlement ef this question whenever it comes on for settlement. (Hear, hear.) One of the speaker alluded to a step that has been taken within the last week, and an important step it « 8 have n°t. as has been supposed, offered to mediate, still less to intervene in the ordi- nary sense of intervention, but we have conveyed over- tures of peace from one belligerent to the other. (Hear, hear.) I have heard from some of my friends K r7 with great dissatisfaction on the answer which the communication of these overtures has pro- duced. Well, whatever may be the view taken by persons of different opinions as to the fruit which they have borne, I wholly dissent from the idea that there is any affront or insult conveyed to England by it. (Hear, hear.) It seems to me unreasonable and without founda- tion to suppose such a thing; and I venture, as I have gone so far and as we are now talking on this subject, fo say further that which is very much in my own mind, that I think there is at this moment a serIOUS risk on each side. On the one hand, I hope that we shall not in this country lash ourselves up into a nervous apprehension of so-called British honour and British interests. (Hear, hear.) I have never heard throughout these transactions tTvu °ae e*8e eTer heard a whisper against British honour; and as regards British interests we must be very sareful always as men of the world, in dealing with undoubtedly very large interests, to discriminate between those that are real and those ^bat a^e secondary. (Hear, hear.) On the other nand, I hope sincerely that the Russian Government and people will remember that many of the questions arising at this moment are questions not for the set- tlement of the two belligerents alone. They involve European interests; they are European questions; and we, as a member of the European family, have net only a right to be heard upon them, but it is very important that we should have a distinct voice in the final decision of them. (Hear, hear.) I do not feel myself any difficulty in reconciling these two views p-ovided only there is reasonable manage- ment and moderation on each side. (Hear, hear.) Most of us in this room are old enough to remember the outbreak of the Crimean war. We can remember T ?-U88^a' on the one hand, through self-deception, and this country, on the other hand, in a great measure through an extreme excitement, drifted—to use an ex- pression which became historical-into a war. I apprehend that there are very few people now who look back upon that war with satisfaction (hear, hear), and I am confident that there is nobody insane enough in this country to desire a repetition of it. hear), and I am confident that there is nobody insane enough in this country to desire a repetition of it. (Rea:, hear,) One safeguard I think we have, and that is that the experience of that time has not been who,,J thrown away either in England or in Russia, ™at there is, especially in the commercial world, which you represent, a cooler and a more sober feel- JPS: disposed to look at things as they are, and not desirous to rush to hasty conclusions. (Hear, hear.) When you, gentlemen, ask me for an assurance on su^j«ct, my answer is rather that no section of the community is more able to hold the balance of J"eaBOn at such a time than the commercial world, because none is more capable of appreciating the issues of peace and war; none ia more sensitive of its evils; none would suffer more grievously from a breach of the peace if it ensued. And while Cape interests, no doubt, are very large, it is always to be remembered that they represent a mere fraction of the aggregate interests of this country and of the whole iSmpire. Of course it is the duty of the Government to keep always in view and to remember, as I have said, that there are not only such interests in the East, numberless points of this enormous Empire. W hue, of course, we shall uphold, as we always ihave desired to uphold, the honour and self-respect of this country, I hope we shall never do anything o encourage alarm, or shall allow that diplomacy as> in these difficult and critical times, become so exhausted and barren as to be incapable of afford- a Peaceable solution. I trust, gentlemen, that in words I have said in answer to the questions wll,ch so many of the deputation have addressed to me on thIs important subject, I have conveyed a true, I but at the same time not wholly unsatisfactory im- I Pr^flo°" (Hear, hear.) j 6 deputation thanked his lordship for his courtesy and retired.

MR. FORSTER, M.P., AT BRADFORD. JJP* ^or8ter, in addressing his constituents at Brad- | ore on Saturday evening, rejoiced at the early call of Parharnent, as it was right for the Government to F VL. .COuntry into their confidence. He had no aim in the alleged intention of the Ministry to in- volve Great Britain in the war between Russia and Turkey. In alluding to the rnmoured dissensions in the Cabinet, he approved of the line taken by the Foreign and Colonial Secretaries; and, in discussing the present position of affairs, expressed his conviction that it had not really changed since the middle of year- In referring to the British interests alleged to be at stake, and which if threatened he would earnestly defend, Mr. Forster said he had come to the I conclusion, even more now than he did during the debate on Mr. Gladstone's resolutions, that not only was there no reason why we should take part in the war, but he saw no possibility that any would arise. He was satisfied with the way in which Lord Derby had treated the question as to the opening of the Dardanelles; and, in closing his observations upon the Eastern Question, the right non. gentleman said he did not believe that when Jrarhament met any efforts would be made by the Administration to plunge us into war. Parliamentary reform and Church disestablishment formed the other principal topics of the speech Mr. Forster, who received a vote of confidence at the close of the meeting.

THE VILLA FABNESINA ART TREASURES.— The news that the Spanish proprietor of the Villa xarnesina has felt it his duty to shut out the public in future from a view of his art treasures has created at once surprise and regret. The reason given is that T'K W(-r^8 now executed in connection with the liber improvement scheme have endangered the sta- bility of the building and that of the walls which bear the priceless frescoes of Raphael. While the palace, with its contents, is familiar to all students of art, the manner in which the property passed into the hands of the present holder does not seem to be gene- rally known. The facts are simply these. The origi- nal owner was the ex-King of Naples, and the present proprietor is a gentleman who happened to be Minister of Spain to the Court of Francis II. at the Lj|me of the Sicilian revolution, and who accom- panied the King to Gaeta. On the approach of the Italian troops to Rome his Majesty, being afraid of ihe confiscation of his property, made it over for- mally to his friend the Minister. Presently, on find- ing that Victor Emmanuel was not going to annex his private estates, the ex-King was anxious to recover oessession. The Spanish gentleman, however, pre- ferred to hold to his bargain, asserting teat the trans- .er was a real, and not merely & pro Jormd one. WORNIMAN'S TEA, guaranteed Pure. HOMOUB'S TEA, best value for money, H,P"DUWN TIA. tola only is Packet*

THE WAR. \i1 m a THE CAPTURE OF THE TURKISH TRANSPORT. J A correspondent of the Daily News has the following a TRANSPORT. ¡r fuller account of the capture by the Russians of a o Turkish transport with troops on board. It is dated T 29th Dec.: The Russia left Odessa on the 22nd inst I v and the following day, when off Penderekli, she en- r countered the Mercene, carrying 793 soldiers and 1 Bashi-Bazouks, 20 officers, including a lieutenant of the il t Sultan s yacht Izzedm, and a few women and children, making a total with the crew of 897. It appears that the Mercene mistook the character of the Russia and; thinking she would prove an easy capture for the ( troops, allowed her to approach and get between I them and the coast, which was about five miles off 1 When too late she discovered that she had made a ( mistake, and at the third shot she hauled down her ] flig. Captain Baranoff, having put an officer and twenty-six men on board, and removed the Turkish 1 officers to the Russia, at once made for Sevastopol, 1 where she arrived with the prize as I have described. To return to the movements of the Russia. The captain purposed leaving at once for Odessa with the prisoners, but in the afternoom a storm that had been gradually brewing all day burst on us, ) and by midnight, even ia this landlocked harbour I (Sebastopol), the motion of the steamer might have deranged the digestion of landsmen. At davbreak yesterday, the gale having abated, we put to sea, but I bad not got a dozen m-les from shore when the captain told me he shenld put back, as the roll further on was too heavy for him to risk. Accordingly we returned to our moorings and landed the prisoners here. The colonel of the troops and his two servants were dispatched by rail to Sympheropol. The colonel, who dined, &c., with the captain, had a mel- ancholy expression of countenance, but I observed his appetite was healthy and his religious scruples con- cerning liquids by no means severe. His officers, who messed in the wardroom, were also not bigoted in this respect. To judge from the empty bottles on the table, I think most of them approved of the sherbet of the infidel. About one o'clock yesterday the commander-in- chief, his Highness the Prince Woronsow, paid us a visit, and after lunch we all proceeded to visit the prize, which is lying at the Ouatom House wharf. The Mercene was formerly the Sheriff, and was a passenger and cargo steamer between Con- stantinople and Batoum, taken for this occa- sion by the Government as a transport. She .is a strongly-built and handsomely-fitted screw steamer of 1400 tons, worth, I should say, from twenty to twenty-five thousand pounds sterling. I cannot say ehe was clean; but 793 Turkish soldiers and Bashi-Bazouks are not the most cleanly cargo, and from what I saw of the prisoners I think if I was forced to take a trip either with them or with a cargo of slaves from the African coast, I should cast my lot in with my black brethren. CAPTURE OF SOFIA. Sofia has been abandoned by the Turks and cap- tured by General Gourko. Thus the Russians have gained a valuable base of operations on the southern side of the Etropol Balkans, as well as an important strategical point; while the Servians, advancing from Firot, can effect their junction with the Muscovite columns pushing forward from Orkhanie. But this advantage has not been lightly won. It appears from the official Russian telegrams from Bogot that a serious action was fought on the 2nd of January. The corps of General Weliaminoff, consisting of five battalions of infantry and a brigade of cavalry, with six guns, was attacked and severely handled by twelve Ottoman battalions from Sofia, which were supported by cavalry and eight guns. It is said that after a sanguinary hand-to-hand encounter, in which the Turks lost 1000 killed, they took to flight, and thus left the road to Sofia open to General Gourko. The Russian treops engaged in the movements required to turn the last Turkish positions on the southern spurs of the Etropol Balkans appear to have suffered much from the severity of the weather, since it is acknowledged that out of the detachment 0, General Dandeville ten officers and 810 men are on the sick list, having been frostbitten, while fifty three men were frozen to death. There is no reason to doubt the accuracy of these reports, which emanate from the victorious side. Sofia has been won, but at a terrible cost. Its captors must have suffered fearfully in their advance, and it is doubtful whether for some time they will be able to push thAir progress further. The Ottoman troops which held the Kamarli positions, gallantly and effectually covered during their retreat by the rearguard under the command of Baker Pasha, have retired upon the position of Ichtiman, and have thus closed the road to Tatar Bazardjik against General Gourko. OPERATIONS AT ERZEROUM. The special correspondent of the Daily News at Erzeroum has the following, under date 20th ult.: We have nearly 7000 sick here. Four thousand have been sent to Erzingan and Sivas. The Russians still face Deve-Boyun, within cannon-shot of the advanced forts. Some firing occasionally takes place. The main bulk of the Russians are at Hassan Kale and the villages between the Deve-Boyun defile. There are two columns, one coming slowly down the Olti Valley, which his already arrived within six hours of Erzeroum. The second column is camped in the village of Hms, behind the Palantoken Mountain, south-west of Erzeroum, and also within six hours. The object seems to be to turn t e town north and south, uniting on the Trebizond road between us and the Top Dagh, while the troops at the Deve-Boyun Pass keep the army here in check. The Christian population has been called out, armed, and drilled for the defence of the ramparts. The most extraordinary precautions continue along the north-western ramparts. There is one line of sentinels on the ramparts, three outside, rifle-pits not fifty yards from the edge of the ditch, even in broad daylight. The Turkish soldiers have commenced burning the villages at the mouth of the Olti Valley, to prevent the Russian advanced guard having shelter and forage. The inhabitants are with- drawing to the villages under cover o the town. Apart from these few matters, everything is com- pletely tranquil. No one in Erzeroum would imagine himself in a city all but besieged, and certainly menaced. There is a lack of wood, owing to supplies from the Soghanh Dagh forests being cut off. We are now burning dry dung for fuel, and get a little wood I in the direction of Erzingan. Deserted houses are demolished to supply the troops with wood for fuel. Bread and meat are plentiful. In case the Trebizond road be cut the latter articles will be entirely wanting, and there will be an enormous rise in prices. RADETSKY ACROSS THE BALKANS. A correspondent, dating from Bucharest on the 6th inst., says: An officer who arrived here the other day from the head-quarters of the Army of the Lom in- forms me that General Radetsky crossed the Balkans at the Shipka four or five days aaro, the Turkt having, owing to the severe cold, abandoned their positions previously. The difficulty of obtaining supplies and munitions, which had to be carried up the steep mountain sides by the Bulgarians to the storm-swept peaks where the Turkish positions were, may have been the principal cause of the Turkish retreat. General Radetsky, who attacked. these same positions last August, and was repulsed, has had a severe task since then in clinging with teeth and nails to the rocky mountain summit, scarcely daring to look over it, in momentary danger of being hurtled down by a furious onslaught of Suleiman. Bull-dog tenacity, combined with winter weather, has done far more than all the bravery of the Russian troops. Nothing was (mown at the head-quarters of the Lorn arwY of General Radetsky s further movements, which would seem to indicate that he had gone no further than Kezanlik. The interruption of communications on the Danube, which occurred about the time he started, would arrest his onward march. It is moreover pro- bable that he never intended to go further than Kezanlik, where he could put his troops into com- fortable quartere, instead of snow huts on the bleak mountain top. GOURKO'S STRUGGLE ACROSS THE ETROPOL BALKANS. A Russian despatch from Bogot shows that the ex- traordinary operations in which General Gourko's force has been engaged in the Etropol Balkans have gained him an important success. After a struggle of eight days against frost, snow, and storm, and the difficulties of a mountainous country, General Gourko has crossed the Balkans and descended into the plain of Sofia It was previously reported that the Russians had advanced tø Baba Konak, and thence against the positions at Arab Konak and Schandcrnik, which were still held by the Turks. On December 29th the Ottoman troops evacuated Lubtilcom, which the Russians immediately occupied. The weather in the mountains was stiJl unfavourable, but the Russian troops worked their way onward. We now learn that on the last day of the year a severely contested engagement was fought at Tashkesen, which lasted until six in the evening. General Gourko succeeded in occupying the Turkish entrenchments at Tash- occu d bt kesen. with the exception of one redoubt near the Guard House. During the night the Turks abandoned ail their positions, and early on the follow- ing morning the Russians commenced pursuing the enemy and occupied Arab Konak, Schandernik, and Dolny Comarzi. A portion of the infantry pursued the enemy in the direction of Petri Koi, and the cavalry of the Guard also cook part in the pursuit in the same direction by way of Bolowo and Tscherkess- kioi. Thus the retreating Turks did not fall back upon Sofia, but made for the eouth eaft, attempt. ng to gain the valley of the Topolnitza md the town of Tatar-Bazardjik, leaving the ikhtiman defile on their right. General Gourko afterwards ordered a halt to allow the troops to -ecover from their fatigue. On the 2nd inst. he was advancing upon Sofia. The Etropol detachment was ordered to join the detachment commanded by General Brock in order to cut off the Turkish communications with Petri Koi as far as possible. The Russian loss m the 31st ult. waa 700 men killed and wounded. rashkesen, where this engagement was fought, is within Ewenty-five miles of Sofia. NEUTRAL POWER3 AND MEDIATION. The semi-official Agence liusie publishes an article discussing the comments of the Russian and foreign press upon the character to be attributed to the posi- tion of intermediary between Turkey and Russia ac- cepted by the British Government. The article com- mences by declaring that mediation on the part of England would be neither desirable nor practicable for the four following reasons: "1. In principle and by the rules of international law, mediation is impracticable so long as there is one of the belligerents which doas not solicit it at all. 2. Both principle and international law rpquire the im- partiality of the State acting as mediator to be assured by the absence of any interest in the questions at issue, but England, by the declaration of her O;vn Government, does not posses that quality. Her interests render the transition from mediation to intervention all the more easy for herself, and dangerous to all. 3. In principle and ia law wars are Qiade for belligerents, and not for neutrals. If war i8 made by two parties, peace will also be made by t»0 parties. The indivi- dual right of belligerents is only superseded by the superior right of all when the former prejudices the latter. Now, the attitude of the Pow, rs proves the impossibility of applyin8 this argument to the present war, carried on by Russia with scrupulous respect for her duties towards third parties. 4. Mediation without benefiting Turkey or the intervening Power would only encourage the resistance of the Porte, still further prejudice its position, and pro- long or even complicate the WII.1'. Thus, on grounds of justice, as well as from regard for peace and the localisation of the war, mfiduition is neither de- sirable ner acceptable." The article concludes by stating that the above considerations are no doubt those which influence most stamen of eminence, and says These views are shared also by the laborious English public, who do not favour certain tendencies, and ask themselves why two powerful nations like England and Russia should not study mutually to benefit each other and the whele world as much as they might, instead of Persisting in suspicion and jealousy, and in striving to heltm each other. The same question is asked in RUBSW by all statesmen and the majority of the public." THE RUSSIAN BRIDGES OVER THE DANUBE- A Bucharest correspondent, Ullder date Jan. 2nd, says: Since the Sistova bridges wfte carried away it has been, and still remains, ""POteible to cross the river anywhere by any means, Owing to the great quantities of floating ice. The Russian steam ferry boats, intended expressly for this WOtk, seem incapable of performing it, and the Danube is now an im- passable barrier. This will last U-til the river com- pletely freezes over, or until th« floating ice stops coming down. The river may not fre«je at all, in which case the ice will probably keep coming jovvn for another month, perhaps longer. The lotion of supplies now becomes an important one. j\e Russians say they have six months' supplies in -Bulgaria. This is evidently an exaggeration; but thej have probably for a month, which together with !he provisions in the country will enable them to tide jver the break in the communications without too rou41 difficulty. As to forage, Prince Tcherkassky has collected great quantities in Tirnova, which will sun^ for the cavalry and artillery, and can be transported where wanted. There is no hay in the country, and ktle straw. The weather to-day is slightly warmer, sk though a thaw might be expected. PRINCE GORTSCHAKOFFS REPY TO LORD DERBY. The reply of Prince Gortschakoff tt Lord Derby's despatch is understood to be to tj0 effect that Russia is desirous for peace, but tat if Turkey wishes for an armistice a suspensio; of hostilities must be brought about by direct negations with the Russian Commander-in-Chief. Tlere is a belief that the terms on which Russia WOM consent to an armistice would include the surrencir of at least two of the Turkish fortresses in the Qu^ril»teral, and to this Turkey is not likely to assent, The British Government, it is understood, has app^-hed Russia in such a way that this refusal to treij with Turkey through a mediatory Power will not reyer it incum- bent upon her Majesty's Ministers to abandon their freedom of action, though it will not btwithout effee upon the relations existing between England and Russia.

WAR ITEMS. According to a telegram in the PresK from Tiflis of the 30th of December, Mukhtar P^ha escaped from Erzeroum in disguise as one of th suite of a European Consul there. A troop of 9osafcks stopped the party, but on the Consul producing lis creden- tials they were allowed to pass. The refugees from Bosnia and Herz«$v;na who have arrived in Servia now number ^000 600 families have been counted from Nova *yog alone They come in the most miserable plight, "stitute of everything. They have been directed to he south- western districts, which are sterile and m(tntainous. Their distress is great. Fifteen thousand rqblei, have been promised from Russia for their suppm but this is quite inadequate to meet the case. H<p is also promised from England. The special correspondent of the 'Pi' dating Bucharest, January 2nd, says: All the ^?ish pri- soners have not yet crossed the Danu e. £ ose that have passed the river are arriving in det-N-ents at Bucharest. The preportion of prisoners detined to remain in the hands of the Routnamanswill be quartered in Tirgovisht and Kimpolung. T\i others will be sent on by rail to Russia. General Oertat, the commander of the Romanian army in Bulgaria, has arrived in Bucharest. Several other Roumanian generals are also in th town. Their presence here argues a cessation, for aime at least, of active operations by the Roumaniaitroops on the other side of the Danube. Captain Coope, who was taken prisoner at 9]js> is at present under arrest in Novgorod. His e-% is a somewhat difficult one, for though he wore th$adge of the Red Orescent Society, he admitted that I, held a commission in the Turkish Gendarmerie. Lord Augustus Loftus is making strenuous efforts his behalf. Mr. Egerton, Secretary of the Embassy has gone to Novgorod, with the consent of the RUgian authorities, to have a personal interview with OataiD Ooope and make inquiries. Two branches of the Red Cross Society have een established at Shabatz for the purpose of organ^„g and distributing ambulances, which are much neem, and they emmestly solicit money and stores. )le appeal has been heartily responded to by people ofjl -classes-merchants, fishmongers, chandlers, groct8) and tailors; but help is also needed from abroad. The Bosnian newspapers report that the insure. tion there is reviving and gaining ground, the insy. gents even attacking fortifications, as at Rakovita and Blatana. At Orlovatz a detachment of the Frontier Guaq has had an engagement with a large body of insui gents. At Potok 300 insurgents have been defeate by a force of Turkish regulars, Mulazim Salil Effendi being wounded in the fight. The losses of tbt insurgents in the latter engagement were twenty-five killed and fifty wounded. At Serajevo the Turks have organised eight new third-class Redif Tabors, the outfit of each costing about 400 piastres (caiin6). It is now officially announced that the Turks at Pirot lost 800 killed, while the losses on the Servian side were 700 killed and wounded. The Grand Duke Nicholas has congratulated the Prince en this victory, and sent 150 St. George decorations to be distributed among those who displayed the greatest courage, asking also for the names of the officers who specially distinguished themselves in the engagements. According to the latest news, the Servians had not yet passed the Zaribrod defile, the snow having pre- vented their advance. The bombardment of Nish had been suspended for several days, while negotia- tions were going on for the surrender of the place. The garrison asked for a free retreat, which could not be granted, and the bombardment has been again resumed. Forage for horses is very scarce in 1 Bulgaria, according to a contractor who has just arrived from Brestovatz, the head-quarters. This gentleman is one of the firm who have the contract of the Bul- garian railways, and he says that M. Poliakoff, the contractor of the Fratesti-Simnitza railway, will have a ferry line established across the Danube within a short time. This ferry will carry horses and supplies, a large quantity of the latter being on the banks of the river awaiting the restoration of communica- tions. The occupation ef the olain of Sofia is at this moment of great advantage to the Russians, as it gives them a base of operations in Roumelia, while opening out the resources of all the country round about, and thus makes them to a certain extent independent of supplies from Roumania and Russia. General Kataley, formerly Chef des Oommunications Militaires Russes at Bucharest, was killed in the action immediately preceding the Russian occupation of Sofia.

k KAY'S COMPOOTDESBBKCE o* LUTSKBD,for Colds ^Coughs j ouxeo 9 own out of 10, Sold WTMywhw. pill 11. lid.

WILLS AND BEQUESTS. (From the Illustrated London iV«tca.") The will and four codicils (dated May 26, 1875 J June 16, 1876; and March 8 and 13 and April 2, 1867) or Mrs. Frances Harriet Miles, late of Firbeck Hall, Yorkshire, and of No. 11, Onslow crescent, Brompton, who died on October 20 last, were proved on the 20th ult. by John Joshua Jebb (the nephew), Charles Spencer Perceval, and John Hasaard, the acting exe-utors, the personal estate being swerr, under £ 350,000. The testatrix devises Firbeck ) all her other estates in Yorkshire, and all her estate, in Nottinghamshire, to the use of her nephew, the Rev. Henry Gladwyn Jebb, for life, with remainder to Sydney Gladwyn Jebb (the eldest son of her nephew, Joshua Gladwyn Jebb) for life, with re- mainder to his sons in strict settlement; the pictures, plate, works of art, furniture, &c., at Fir- beck Hall, are to go with the property. A sum of £ 225,000 is to beset aside, and thereout an annuity of £ 2500 is to be paid to the said Joshua Gladwyn Jebb for life, and at his decease S1000 per annum to any widow he may leave for her life or widow- hood a like sum of .£1000 per annum is to be paid thereout on the death of the Rev. Henry Gladwyn Jebb to any widow he may leave, and for the same term. Subject to these annuities the said capital sum of £225,000 is to be held upon trusts similar to the uses declared of the settled estates. There are some other devises and numerous bequests in favour of relatives, friends, and servants, the testatrix also bequeaths £ 200 each to the Society for Promoting Obristian Knowledge and Curates' Augmentation Fund, the Doncaster Infirmary, and the Sheffield Infirmary, and X100 to the Worksop Dispensary. The residue of the personalty is divided between the Rev. Henry Gladwyn Jebb and Joshua Gladwyn Jebb, in the proportion of two- thirds upon trust for the former and one-third to the latter. The will (dated December 12,1867) of Mrs. Anne Denison, late of Fairlawn, Fulham, who died on Oct. 8 last, was proved on the 17th ult. by Mrs. Emma. Pender (wife of John Pender), the personal estate being sworn under £ 50,000. Subject to a legacy of X1000 to Thomas Avisoc, the testatrix gives all her property to her daughter, Mrs. Pender. The will (dated Oct. 14, 1870) of Lieutenant- Colonel Claud Thomas Bourchier, of the Rifle Brigade, who died on Nov. 19 last, at Brighton, was proved on the 22nd ult. by Charles John Bourchier and James Johnes Bourchier, the brothers, the executors, the personal estate being sworn under £ 40,000. The testator leaves to his nephew and godson, Claud Edward Stracey, £ 5000, and the rest of his property to his said brothers. The will and t NO codicils (dated March 9, 1868, Jan. 18, 1870, and April 25, 1877) of Mrs. Elizabeth England, formerly of Ellesborough, Bucks, and late of No. 7, Hyde-park-square, who died on the 1st ult., were proved on the 15th ult. by William Walford and the Rev. John Henry Cancellor, the executors, the personal estate being sworn under £ 35,000. The tes- tatrix gives legacies to her executors and god- daughter the remaining dispositions of the will are restricted to testatrix's children. The will (dated Nov. 4, 1873) of Mrs. Mary Anne Virginia March (Virginia Gabriel), late of No. 58, Cadogan-place, who died on Aug. 7 last, at St. George's Hospital, has been proved by her husband, George Edward March, the sole executor, the per- sonal estate being sworn under £ 12,COO. The testa- trix bequeaths legacies of £ 500 to several of her cousins and friends, and the residue of her property to her said husband. (Front the Ctty Press.") The will of Mr. Edmund Martin Beeton, late of 24, Coleman street, wool warehousekeeper, and of Walton-on-Thames, who died on November 18th last, at Cannes, in France, was proved on the 24th ult. by Mrs. Julia Beeten, the widow, and Mr. James Johnstone, jun., the acting executor, the personal estate being sworn under £ 40,000. The testator, besides a pecuniary legacy, leaves to bis wife all his household furniture and effects; to Mr. Johnstone and his brother, Mr. H. O. Beeton, legacies of S100 each: and the residue of his property upon trust for his wife for life, and at her death for all his children in equal shares. The will and codicil of Mr. Richard Davis, late of St. Helen's place, Bishopsgate-street, who died on November 13th last at Roselle, Tunbridge Wells, was proved on the 31st ult. by Mrs. Margaret Davis, the widow and surviving executrix, the personal estate being sworn under £ 35.000. The testator bequeaths to his wife his furniture, plate, pictures, and house- hold effects, and £1000, and legacies to his sisters and other relatives, to friends, to each of his clerks, and to some of his servants. All his real estate and the residue of the personalty is given upon trust for his wife for life, and then for his children. The will of Mr. William Oatley, late of 28, Alder- manbury, plumber and house decorator, who died cu» the 15th of November last, at the Finsbury-pffc*n b Station of the Great Northern Railway, was proved e on the 24th ult., by Mr. W. Oatley, the son, and Mr. E. Sellers, the executors, the personal estate being sworn under £2000. The only person interested under the will are the members of the testator's family. The will and codicil of Mr. Francis Rivaz, lr 1 Lloyd's, and of 19, Cowley-street, Westminster metho died on the 12th ult., were proved on the 22ad UIWr of by Mr. J. V. C. Rivaz, the son, the acting executor, the personal estate being sworn under £ 10,000. The testator leaves his property to each of his daughters as shall be unmarried at the time of his decease.

WHICH IS THE BEST PAVEMENT? The judges of the group containing exhibits of materials used in paving, at the late Philadelphia Ex- hibition, have made an interesting and important report on the subject, and, as the latter is one that closely concerns the public, the conclusions of the juages are given at length, as follows Wooden pave- ments have had a fair and patient trial in the United States, and are now very generally con- demned as to streets subjected to heavy traffic. They are slippery in wet weather, and are very perishable from their inability to resist either the wear of the street traffic or the causes of ordinary decay. As to durability, assuming each of the pavements to be excellent of its kind, and the foundation to be solid, so that no ruts and depressions, except those produced by actual wear, can be formed, tough stone blocks will possess the longest life of the three, and wooden blocks the shortest, ssphal te lying between the two, and very near the stone. As to first coat, the order of cheapness is given thus: First, wooden blocks in America; second, asphalte, and third, stone blocks, and as to cost of maintenance and repair the order is thus placed: Economy of yearly maintenance, inclu- sive of first cost, good stone stands first, asphalte second, and wood third. In facility of cleaning the order is first, asphalte, second stone, and third wood, whether the cleaning be done by sweeping or washing. Stone is, of course, the noisiest pavement, and the dif- ference between the slipperiness of the wooden, asphalte, and stone pavements is not very great, supposing the street to be kept reasonably clean. The deductions of the jury are as follows: In respect, therefore, to the comfort and convenience of persons using the street as well as those residing upon it, the order of merit would seem to be asphalte first, wood second, and stone third, for all streets except such as are habitually crowded with heavy and busy traffic, in which case stone must be placed first and asphalte third. The hygienic objec- tions to a pavement of granite blocks are, first, its constant noise and din, which exert an in- jurious effect upon persons suffering with nervous diseases, and especially upon i nfants and all classes of invalids; and, second, its open joints, which collect and retain the surface liquids, and throw off noxious vapours and filthy and unwholesome dust. Exceptions to wood may be made upon the same grounds, and, in addition to ■;hi8, the material itself is subject to inevitable and •ften to early decay and decomposition, in the process f which poisonous gases and noxious miasma are lit free. M. Fonssagrives, professor of hygiene i the medical school at Montpellier, France, epresses the deliberate opinion that a city wth a damp climate, paved entirely with wood, would b<tome a city of marsh fevers. He also says, in spaking of asphalte pavements, that the absence of dut, the abatement of noise, the omission of joints- peinitting a complete impermeability, and thus pre- vening the putrid infection of the sub-soil—are among theprecious benefits realised by asphalte streets." CoEidered, therefore, with respect to the health of the peo]le, asphalte stands conspicuously first, stoiwi^ secod, and wood third in the order of value meri.—Philadelphia Enquirer.

CHRISTMAS AT BESIKA BAY.—A letter from Besila Bay, dated December 26, says: "We have passid a merry Christmas, everything was provided with lavish hospitality, so as to enable our blue- jackto, as far as circumstances would permit, to realiie the idea of happiness and plenty associated with the festival. The admiral and officers of the Ales$odra went through the ship during dinner hour on O^istmus Day, and seemed to take a great interest in th* ingenuity" and artistic skill d splayed by the cre.V' in the ornate devices which decorated every available part of the vessel. After dinner a quart of ale w's supplied to each man and a pint to each of the bOls. Music and dancing were indulged in with unflagging spirit for some hours. "W o were enveloped in a (lense fog during the three days preceding Christo^g Day, accompanied by a heavy fall of snow, which Covered spar and deck, and bitter cold. The Swiftsur^ arrived here on Christmas Eve. The fleet leaves tc.morrow for Vourlah Bay, and, after a few days' there, goee to Malta."