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- LONDON CORRESPONDENCE.
LONDON CORRESPONDENCE. fWe deem it right to state that we do not at all time* Identify aarselvett with oar Correspondent's opinioIll,) The Mansion House witnessed last Saturday evening a spectacle unprecedented in the history of the English press, and, therefore, one which cannot fail to be of considerable interest to the public generally, whom that press so faithfully serves. For on that date the Lord Mayor re- ceived the members of the Institute of Journalists, with their lady friends, to the number of nearly two thousand and thus was recognised for the first time the working press- man in his corporate capacity by the chief civic authority in the City of London. It may be doubted whether in these days any- one could be found to deny that such e. recognition was well-deserved. English newspapers have long outlived the pre- judice which at one time assailed them, and yet many now living can remember the prognosti- cations of evil which were freely uttered even by men in prominent positions when the cheap press first came into existence as a tangible entity in our civil life. How these prognos- tications have been falsified it would be wasted labour at this time of day to point out. Saffice it to say that there is now a recognition upon all hands of the value and the importance of these never sleeping watch-dogs of the public weal, and the action of the Lord Mayor of London simply endorsed what all men will now agree is the fair opinion to be taken of newspapers gene- rally and of those who work upon them. Last Saturday also witnessed the recommence- ment in London of a system which is of just as much interest to visitors from the country as it is to dwellers in town. Ever since the dynamite explosion of January, 1885, Westminster Hall has been closed to the public, even such trusted and loyal subjects as the volunteers who had been accustomed to drill therein have been ex- cluded from its limits, and only members of Par- liament going to and from their duties were allowed to enter. It has now, however, been admitted by the authorities that the necessity for such an extreme course no longer exists, and visitors on Saturday afternoon to the two chambers of the legislature will be permitted to pass in and out of Westminster Hall. This regulation will at least for the present apply only to the Satur- day visitors, and on every other day of the week the great Hall of Rufus will remain closed to all except members. This, by the way, is not so much due to the necessity for continuing special precautions against possible dynamiters as to the desirability of preventing the re- currence of political demonstrations within the hall. It was the custom a few years ago for partisans to assemble there upon the occasion of great debates and cheer their respective cham- pions as they went in and out; and this ulti- mately rose to the proportions of a nuisance which is not likely to be again suffered to grow up. At a very short distance from the historic hall to which reference has been made stands that great H temple of silence and reconciliation." which ia even dearer to the hearts of the English people, and anything affecting which is always of the utmost interest. Extensive repairs are just now going on at Westminster Abbey, and for the purpose of their execution an extensive scaffolding has been erected. This, of course, is a necessity, but what is certainly not a necessity is that close to this mass of timber are to be found wooden huts, with fires in them, which under conceivable circumstances might lead to a serious accident. The Abbey is far too precious a possession, far too sublime a legacy of the piety and patriotism of the past to allow the slightest avoidable risk affecting its safety. From of old we have had caution as to how great a flame a little spark kindles, and it is a caution which we cannot afford to neglect. When the Royal Palace of Justice—or, as it is more commonly called, the Law Courts-was opened in the Strand by the Queen six years ago, we had not long to wait for a number of complaints alleging defects in the structure. Such of these as could be remedied with no great difficulty, as, for instance, draughts in the corri- dors, and defects in the system of artificial lighting, were speedily attended to, and for a long time complaints seemed practieally to have died away. But they have recently been revived upon a more serious and far more extensive scale. Some months ago it was discovered that certain beams in the ceil- ings of the courts were loose and dan- gerous, and more recent investigation has shown that in other parts of the pile defects of some magnitude palpably exist. It is not, of course, to be thought that these discoveries por- tend the collapse of the structure, but they are sufficient to justify a thorough investigation of the whole. After the immense sum which these courts cost the country only so short a time ago, it would, from every point of view, be lament- able if they were found already to be in a state of incipient and dangerous decay. The terrible floods which have occurred within the past few days in the West of England have been of a nature to arouse widespread at- tention and equally widespread sympathy. There is something in the very circum- stance of an unexpected rush of water coming down into the streets of peacefully sleep- ing towns, threatening the destruction of the houses and even the drowning of the inhabitants, which appeals to the feelings of all when one reads of the whole of the Exe valley being a raging torrent, of the Clyst valley being a huge lake, of Taunton. Bristol, and other towns being largely under water, and of trains on the main line of the Great Western system being suddenly stopped on their night journeys by the rapidly • rising floods and of the passengers having to sleep in the carriages, it is difficult to believe that so many striking occurences could have been the result of one single fall of rain however heavy. As a matter of fact, it was this abnormal fall acting upon the snows of winter, which remained un- melted upon the hillsides, which caused the mis- chief, and the whole series of incidents only furnishes another proof of the inability of man to cope with the immense strength of nature. Among the measures which the Government intends to introduce during the present Session are two important bills dealing with the public health, which may fairly be considered to rank among non-contentious questions. One of these is to be a consolidating statute bringing within the compass of one Act of Parliament all the existing public Acts relating to sanitation and the housing of the working classes. The bill will provide among other things that a medical officer of health must re- side in the district to which he is ap- pointed, and that sanitary inspectors must be duly qualified persons, two regulations which will commend themselves to the common sense of most people who consider the question. The other measure is to be a bill securing the notifi- cation of infectious diseases to the authorities for the purpose of isolation, and, according to this, a doctor, as soon as he attends a case of the kind, will be bound to immediately notify the fact to the local sanitary authority, which will take steps, if it deemed them necessary, to isolate the patient. There is nodoubt among those who are entitled to speak upon the subject of sanitation, that such a provision is highly desirable in the interests of the public health but the question is a remarkably difficult one to deal with, and any attempt to enforce such a rule as is contemplated, is certain to provoke opposi- tion in some quarters. When one who is near and dear lies seriously ill, it is only natural that those who love the patient best should desire to be as close as possible in the hour of need, and this is despite the fact that they may clearly recognise that, theoretically, a public hospital is the most fitting place in which the patient can be treated. On Monday will be opened in London the first of the greafpicture exhibitions of the spring, but it win Jlof; be for another five or six weeks that the annual shows of the Royal Academy, the Grovernpr Gallery, and the new gallery are in- augurated. March is certainly an unusually early month for such a purpose as this, seeing that our artists have not yet put aU the dark days behind them, and that during those dark days very little pictorial work is able to be done. The past winter, it is true, has not been as prolific of dense fogs as the previous one, and thus artists have had a somewhat better chance of covering their canvases. But it is not much wonder that they sigh for longer and brighter days. It is only for a few hours in the morning that just now they can do any real work, and they long for the summer with an enger longing when they can go far from tho smoky town and seek inspiration in the country. A. F. R.
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LEGACY Duty—Paying great attention to a rich old aunt. AT THE THEATBE.—An old country worthy visiting his son in Glasgow was taken by him to the theatre one night when a comedy was to be played. The scene opened upon a domestic squabble. From high words the actors came eventually to blowe, and con- fusion for the time being rioted on the stage. The old man eyed the proceedings for some timo with curiosity, but at length, turning to his son, he whispered: Weel, Jamie, I think we'll gang hame, for I lee naething 'ill be dune here the nicht as they hae evidently cuistin oot am an? the real's."
THE EASTER MANOEUVRES.
THE EASTER MANOEUVRES. Inquiries amongst the volunteer corps of the metropolis show that the preparations for this year are in a very backward condition, and that unless action be speedily taken, and the official programme be modified, the Easter work of the volunteers will, in numbers at all events, be below that of previous years. Since the end of January the Brigadier- Generals have been in consultation with the colonels of volunteer corps as to the practicability of carrying out the proposal with the assistance of the special grants allowed by the War Office, for the formation of the brigade camps: ONLY THREE METROPOLITAN BRIGADES TO TURN OUT. The result reached is that out of the five metro- politan brigades, only three have found it possible to turn out as brigades at Easter. Of these three brigades which will thus go out with greatly reduced battalions, it haa been decided (subject to the approval of the Commander-in-Chief) that two shall go to Portsmouth —the North London, composed of the Victorias, St. George's, London Irish, 18th, 19th, 21st, and 22nd Middlesex, occupying the Portsdown Hill Forts, under Colsoel Wigram, of the Coldstream Guards; and the West London, composed of the two volunteer battalions of the Royal Fusiliprs, the North Middlesex, tbe2nd Volunteer Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment, and the 3rd and 11th Middlesex Rifles, being allotted accommodation in the forts and barracks on the Gosport side of Portsmouth Harbour, under Lieut.- General Lord Abinger, The other brigade which has accepted the War Office proposals is that composed of the eight. Surrey battalions commanded by Brigadier-General Hamilton, R.E., and which proposes to adopt a system of billeting at Eastbourne, as the equivalent of forming a camp but as many of the men will not be able to sleep four nights in their billets, which is necessary to earn the grant of 10s. for three clear days, it is understood that the allow- ance will be reduced to the former 2s. a day. THE MONEY DIFFICULTY. The money difficulty thus presented, and the ina- bility of the men to undertake to remain with their corps from the Thursday to the Monday evening, has compelled Colonel Stracey, of the Scots Guards, to abandon his intention of occupying with his South London Brigade the lines between Dorking and Caterham, which had been assigned to him in the scheme for the defence of London, and already the Queen's Westminster Rifles and the Artists, belonging to this brigade, have applied for Easter quarters inde- pendently at Portsmouth and Canterbury, while the London Scottish, South Middlesex, West London, West Middlesex, Civil Service, and Inns of Court, are without any settled purpose. THE EAST LONDON AND CITY BRIGADES. The East London Brigade (commanded by Colonel Home, of the Grenadiers) has never entertained the project of mustering at Easter; but the three City Regiments are asking for quarters separately, and the two Tower Hamlets Corps and the Customs Battalion remain to be provided for in some way. It is under- stood that the East London Brigade will be allowed to form a Camp at Aldershot for four days during the summer, and the South London Brigade will endeavour to form one at Richmond at Whitsuntide but as the Whitsun holiday is of shorter duration than the Easter, it is felt that the prospects of success then are small. There is an increasing desire amongst officers and men generally for a repetition of the Good Friday Marching Columns, with field days en Easter Monday, and for a continuance of the yearly Aldershot week," which has been abolished under the new arrangement.
THE UPPER YANGTSZE.
THE UPPER YANGTSZE. The deputies appointed to act in the matter of drawing up regulations for the better avoidance of collision between steamers and junks on the Upper Yangtsze have at last started for Ichang. Four deputies have been despatched from Cheng-tu by the Szechuen Viceroy and two by the Hukuang Viceroy from Wuchang. All are expected to reach their destination before the end of the Chinese year, shortly after which it is expected that negotiations will com- mence. Her Majesty's Minister, in allowing the matter to be referred to Ichang, would seem to have anticipated simply a local arrangement to be agreed upon by the Consul on the spot, acting with and on behalf of the owners of the Kuling, and the local authorities at Ichang. It was hoped that they would hasten to give effect to the proclamations, already placarded throughout the whole route, and as instructed by the central Govern- ment hand over the permit for the vessel to proceed on her pioneer voyage. This being successfully accomplished, a standing list of rules could be drawn up at pleasure subsequently for the permanent guidance of future navigators. As matters now stand, however, no one concerned can foresee the conclusion of the negotiations. The officials deputed are high class, come from a distance, can hardly be expected to be familiar with details of navigation, are instructed to report upon the progress of the negotiations from time to time to their prin- cipals, and can apparently conclude nothing without their ratification. Indeed, observes the London and China Telegraph, the Killing's negotiators may reckon themselves fortunate If they are able to proceed without further back references to Peking, and it is clear that on the whole, instead of anything being gained by having acted under the plausible suggestion "Leave these details to be settled by the people on the spot and the parties more immediately concerned," the whole affair has, so to say, to be discussed over again, and the Peking authorities have simply succeeded in temporarily shelving a troublesome job which all concerned were doubtless heartily tired of discussing and only too glad to be rid of. The deputies are all officials of rank, and the two leading men on each side have a high reputation in business capacity in Chinese eyes. Those from Szechuen comprise two district magistrates (one of whom is the well-known Kwo Tsz-ta), one Taoutai and one Che-fu; from Wuchang come a district magistrate and a Che-fu, the former a Manchu named Yu Keng.
THE QUEEN ON THE CONTINENT.
THE QUEEN ON THE CONTINENT. The Queen's present residence at Biarritz, the Villa La Rochefoucauld, has (observes the Graphic) been fitted up most carefully under the personal direction of the owner, Count Gaston de La Rochefoucald. Her Majesty's private apartments are on the first floor. Her bedroom looks to the north-east, over a mass of pine-woods, with the Biarritz lighthouse twinkling in the distance. It is fitted up with pale blue and grey, and a carpet with cream ground—a special Royal fancy. The plain mahogany bed and a small favourite armchair came from Windsor. The decoration of the adjoining dressiag-room exactly matches that of the bedroom. Then comes the Queen's boudoir, facing the west, with a large balcony com- manding the sea in the distance, the Villa Eugenie to the left, and on the right the Villa Bon-Air, where the Princess Frederica of Hanover is now staying. This room is furnished in Louis XVI. style, with cream, pink, and pale-blue silk damask, the ornaments bsing valuable bronzes and Japanese vases. The Royal dining-room adjoins, and is all brown, with Persian carpet and carved Lalt furniture. It looks over the sea, and the chief picture is a portrait of the ex-Empress Eugenie, given to the Countess Gaston by the Empress herself. Princess Beatrice and her husband also have rooms on this floor, deco- rated in pink and white, with a charming little boudoir. The handsomest rooms are on the ground floor, including the great drawing-room, the dining- room, and the square drawing-room. This last leads out of the hall and contains some beautiful Flemish carving and numerous art treasures in cabinets, with two splendid Venetian candelabra representing fauns supporting cupids. A portrait of the famous Roche- foucauld ancestor, the author of the Maxims," hangs over the mantelpiece, and amongst the furniture the Queen will find an old acquaintance, the Dutch marqueterie table on which she used to work when staying at Count Gaston's Baden villa in 1871. The chief dining-room is in the Renaissance style, with large panels representing the Rape of the Sabines. The great drawing room is decorated in white and gold, the furniture being covered in green damask, with pale red and gold flowers. It teems with artistic treasures— a Floren- tine cabinet, mirrors in exquisite carved frames. Gothic screens, and so forth. A smoking-room and winter garden open out on one side, while on the I other is a small boudoir with glass-covered verandah I looking over the sea. The British and French flags hang together above the chiff entrance of the villa, facing west; Spanish red and white chalets are dotted over the park, and accommodate several of the Royal suite who cannot find room in the Villa Evers while the Queen's special telegraphic office occupics the largest of these buildings.
PRINCE BISMARCK'S REMINISCENCES.
PRINCE BISMARCK'S REMINISCENCES. Prince Bismarck at his recent Parliamentary dinner (says a Berlin correspondent) mentioned in- cidentally that on the 19th of March. 1848, Herr von Bodelschwingh, the Minister of the day, induced General von Prittwitz, at that time in command of the Berlin garrison, to withdraw the military from the capital. A son of the Minister has written to several papers declaring the statement to be utterly untrue. The Norddeutsche the other evening re- plied that the contradiction disputes what is proved beyond the possibility of doubt. It adds:— "General von Prittwitz, soon after the event in question, declared that Herr von Bodelschwing showed him the King's Proclamation, and formally desired him to evacuate the Schloss Platz. On the General declaring such a course impracticable from the mili- tarypomt of view, Herr von Bodelschwingh read him the Proclamation, and demanded the retirement of the troops, which the King had publicly promised." The Norddeutsche concludes from the Proclamation that the evacuation of the public pi ices was made con- ditional on the removal of the barricades, which was not complete when the Minister required Prittwitz to withdraw the military.
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LANDED '—Tommy (Bride's little brother after the ceremony): Did it hurt—the hook ?" Bride- groom (Never did like that boy): Hurt—the hook ? What do you mean, dear?' Tommy: "Cause Ma said Lizzy'd fished for ver a long time, but she'd hooked ver at last!
GOVERNMENT'S CANDID CRITICS.
GOVERNMENT'S CANDID CRITICS. LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL ON THE DEFENCE SCHEMA, Lord Randolph Churchill writes to the Times to say that the object of his criticism of the naval pro- gramme was not to attack the Government or to proclaim my hostility to their programme, but to elucidate its real nature, which, when Lord George Hamilton sat down, was extremely obscure. At the close of the First Lord's speech no one of his hearers knew what was to be the abnormal as dis- tinguished from the normal expenditure on the navy. Even now this question is not entirely elucidated. MY INTERPRETATION, subject to correction, is that the ordinary naval estimates are increased by £ 200,000—i.e., £600,000 added to vote 8, minus £ 400,000 reduced on the vote for ordinance, in addition to which j61,400,000 is to be expended on ships built by contract. If this rate of increase to the ordinary naval estimates is adhered to for four years, and of expenditure on contract work for seven years, the abnormal expenditure requisite in the opinion of the Government for bringing up the navy to its proper strength will. I apprehend, amount to £ 10,800,000—a very different figure to J621,500,000, which many supposed at one moment to be the amount of abnormal expenditure put foward." Lord Randolph proceeds to point out that it is to a con- demned and unreformed administration that we are asked to confide an extraordinary expenditure of public money, to go the way, so far as we know, of the almost countless millions which THAT SPENDTHRIFT CONCERN has misappropriated in the past. Almost universal agreement prevails as to the existence of a serious deficiency in our naval strength. This agreement has been arrived at in spite of Lord George Hamilton, Mr. Forwood, and Sir Arthur Hood, whose speeches and actions ranging over a period of more than two years have obstinately resisted this conclusion. These speeches and actions will, must, and ought to be used against them in the coming debate, with, I should imagine, crushing effect. Not only so, but they will also be invited, I may say compelled, to explain the very considerable reductions on naval expenditure in the years 1887 and 1888. They cannot possibly repose any responsibility for these reductions on me, for they freed themselves from my vexatious interference, though I suspect they were not unwil- ling to neutralise any influence I might have by them- selves appearing IN THE GUISE OF ECONOMISTS. Yet these gentlemen, having been in office for the best part of three years, and having, for the purposes of strengthening the navy, wasted that invaluable period, now come forward without one word of apology, without the slightest expression which might hint at a confession of error, and demand from the House of Commons what amounts to an un- limited vote of confidence. Surely, sir, this is a strong order, calculated to make even the most devoted partisan hesitate and reflect." Lord Randolph further urges that information as to the nature and direction of our foreign policy is indissolubly connected with a grant by Parliament of what amounts to a vote of credit. The Government, he predicts, must be prepared for A LONG AND HEAVY FIGHT in the House of Commons over the proposed expendi- ture, since the taxpayer has some rights to considera- tion which cannot be sacrificed to Ministerial conve- nience. His lordship concludes with a word as to the Parliamentary procedure of the Government. This appears to him to offer a premium on obstruc- tion. To say nothing of two long speeches from the Minister when one would have been amply sufficient, the proposals of the Government are to be elaborately embodied in a bill, thus offering no less than five stages for prolonged debate, and almost inviting dis- cussion not, perhaps, altogether of a bond fide cha- racter. This, however, 'S mainly the concern of the Government. But they should remember that, if they persist in their present intentions, it may be difficult for them at the end of the session to complain if other subjects in which they profess to be interested have failed to receive Parliamentary attention. WHAT LORD CHARLES BERESFORD THINKS. On the same subject Lord Charles Beresford writes There has been, and is, much uneasiness in the public mind as to whether the fleet could possibly undertake those duties which would be thrown upon it in time of war. Those of us who have worked out and thoroughly studied the question, have endea- voured to place before the public the necessity for an increase to the fleet, and we have produced facts, figures, and practical proposals how it was to be done. For my own part I have invariably included in my statements the remark that any addition should be proposed on definite stated reasons signed by responsible experts. Every nation but ourselves does adopt this business-like plan with reference to the strength of its army and navy. I have lately had an opportunity of ascertaining the system em- ployed in France, Germany, and Italy, and found that they all adopt the plan I have advocated again and again for my own country. In these countries, before a ship is laid down, or a regiment added to the military forces, a committee of officers assemble, and take a considerable time in drafting different plans of campaign, so as to make out clearly what the necessities are for defence and for offence, and it is upon their signed report, which contains clear reasons for their proposals, that the strength of the fleet and of the army is decided. The proposal is almost identical with the one I submitted to the House on December 13 last (though better as including more formidable battleships), but I then made it perfectly clear that the 74 ships I asked for were necessary for defence of our commerce and to insure the delivery of our food supply and raw material in case of a war with France alone, if we are to adopt the only right principle, viz., to watch and, if possible, destroy every war ship of an enemy.' This programme of mine was distinctly an addition to the ordinary ship- building vote, which only covers the usual wastage of fleet, and which vote can in no way bring us up to the standard required. WANTS MORE EXPLANATION. "What I meant by the First Lord giving definite reasons for his proposal was that a paper should have been presented to Parliament, similar to the useful and businesslike paper presented entitled Designs for Battleships.' This paper bears the names of some of our most distinguished experts, which make them directly and entirely responsible for the typi of ships there approved of. Through their decision I have (and I believe the public will have) absolute con- fidence that vessels built on their lines will be, as nearly as possible, perfection, with our present know- ledge, and with regard to such a compromise as a battleship must always be. Again, the report on the naval'manoeuvres—upon which the new decision must largely have depended-was signed by three most distinguished experts (naval officers). My con- tention is that the basis and foundation upon which the strength of the navy ought to depend -namely, the requirements of the country for defence-should be made out clearly on similar lines, and signed by those experts who are supposed to give the advice which fathers the speeches of the First Lord of the Admiralty in the House of Commons, and for which advice there is no real responsibility, as has been from time to time so terribly exposed. Because certain facts, figures, and arguments have induced the Government to do a wise, proper, and judicious act, I wish to know why I am to desert the line I have taken up all through-that of getting things done in a common-sense way, instead of by the methods which must be pursued under our present system of administration, which has again and again proved so expensive and so bad whenever a crisis appears imminent, and for which system (or want of system) the Government, of course, is not responsible. I shall have plenty of opportunity of supporting the Government in their intentions, which I will naturally do to the very best of my ability, but I fear the great difficulty they will have to encounter will be continual demands for the reasons leading to their newest decision."
FRAUDULENT CONSPIRACY CASE.
FRAUDULENT CONSPIRACY CASE. James Hamoaze Cogblan, 38, clerk in holy orders William Henry Manning, 38, clerk James Rimell, 38, beer retailer John Terry, 40, no occupation Charles Frederick Jolliffe, 33. porter, who had been convicted at the previous sessions of conspiracy and fraud, were brought before the Recorder, at the Central Criminal Court on Saturday, to receive judg- ment. The trial occupied seven days before the Re- corder and a jury. Coghlan, Manning, liimell, and Terry were found guilty of forgery and fraud in a conspiracy to obtain the lease of a house from Mr. F. G. Bennett, while Manning, Jolliffe, and Terry were convicted for conspiracy in obtaining sums of money from various persons by forgery and fraud. Manning was also convicted for forging and ottering a deed of assignment, by which he swindled a young man out of a large sum of money. Coghlan was further convicted for stealing upwards of 70 shares in two brewery companies, and for obtaining by false pretences a cheque for JE500 from a Mrs. Buckle; and further Coghlan and Manning were convicted for forging and uttering transfers of shares in the two brewery companies, and by forged deeds obtaining JE400 from Mr. Harry Hocumbe. Counsel appeared and addressed an earnest appeal to the Court on behalf of Terry, Rimell, and Joliffe, on the ground that they were the dupes of the other prisoners, and a number of testimonials as to Terry's previous good character were produced from influential persons in Bucking- hamshire, where Terry lived for many years. The Recorder sentenced Manning and Coghlan to seven years' penal servitude each and Jolliffe to 15 months', and Rimell and Terry to 12 months', hard labour.
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You see," said a maudlin toper, I drink simply to drown my cares, but it's no use, for every care can swim like a duck." BEFORB MARRIAGE.— She: If I really vexed you, and you were downright cross with me, I should break my heart! I could not bear to see a frown on your dear face!" He: "My own darling angel As if I could ever be really cross with you I know your sweet, sensitive nature too well, my own dear love After marriage. She You needn't sit there looking as black as a thunder-cloud! Your ugly face doesn't frighten me! I don't care for your bad temper!" He: "I ana quite aware of that. You are as thick-skinned as an elephant' You can- tankerous. provoking, wretched old monker 1"
! THE DISASTROUS FLOODS.I
THE DISASTROUS FLOODS. I The following details of the havoc wrought by the I storms and heavy floods over a large portion of the Midlands and the West aro interesting to all those who have in any way been affected thereby, and also to those dwellers in districts which have escaped the miniature deluge. The Thames between Maidenhead and Staines has risen considerably after the heavy j rain, and has been much above its ordinary level. In the Windsor district the water was very high, the stream running over a great portion of the Cobbler." The tributaries of the river were full, and flooded some of the low-lying land in the vicinity. The heavy rainfall during the latter part of last week has resulted in floods in West Berks and Oxfordshire. La-ge tracts of land in the Kennet Valley between Reading and Devizes were submerged. The floods which prevailed in North Warwickshire on Saturday were the greatest experienced for many years, and created no little alarm among the inhabi- tants, particularly those residing in low-lying dis- tricts, where the effects of the heavy and continuous downpour were most severely felt. At Nuneaton, Tamworth, and other places the water found its way into houses, the occupants of which had to take refuge in upper rooms. Many mills and factories on the river banks had to cease working on Saturday, tll(1 lower rooms being inundated and the engine fires extinguished. Many principal roads and thorough- fares were impassable to pedestrians, who had to he conveyed in vehicles. Several commercial travellers at Nuneaton found themselves hemmed in on Satur- day by floods to the depth of two feet, and they availed themselves of a coal cart to get to the railway station. The floods in some of the country districts on Saturday were from three to four feet deep, and labourers were in many instances unable to get to their work. Disastrous floods prevailed at Leicester, on Satur- day, doing great damage to property, and several miles of streets were under water to the depth of from one to five feet, a public house was wrecked, and hundreds of houses and several factories were invaded. The flood waters rose rapidly at the Bow Bridge, and about three a m. an alarm was raised that the river had burst its banks. The inhabitants were soon busy removing their furniture upstairs; but, in less than half an hour, five or six long streets were several feet under water, and the furniture floating about in the houses. Boats and carts were used to convey people from their houses to their work, and one cart got upset in the darkness. All the occupants were rescued, but they had a very narrow escape, owing to the strong current. Work had to be suspended at several large factories owing to their being inundated. In the Aylestone-road district hundreds of houses were inundated to the depth of two feet. The floods burst into the Great Northern Railway goods and passenger stations, which were soon under water to the extent of four feet, the water reaching the level of the passenger platforms. A large number of horses belonging to the company were rescued with difficulty, there being over five feet of water in the stables. The Belgrave-road was four feet under water, and over JE2000 damage was done to the stock and machinery in the factory of Messrs. Knight and Co., boot and shoe manufacturers, Belgrave-gate, some of the work-rooms being 14 feet under water. Great damage was done at the Floods Prevention Works, and over E2000 worth of materials were carried away. The Midland Railway was sub- merged at Desford, on the Burton branch, and at Loughborough on the main line. The traffic had to be conducted with the utmost caution. The streets of Loughborough were flooded and many houses in- undated, and great damage done. Many fields were BO deep under water that the hedges could not be discerned. Extensive flooding also prevailed at Melton Mowbray, near Humberstone, Asbby, and Hinckley, causing great destruction of property. A young man named Warburton was drowned in the floods on Saturday. The water considerably abated on Sunday, and on the Midland main line receded to the level of the rails. The floods have been very destructive in Bristol and the district. Many acres of land and miles of streets in the low-lying districts were on Sunday flooded to the depth of from four to seven feet. Baptist Mills, at the eastern part of the city, were entirely under water. Hundreds of houses were filled with water to the second storey. Bedminster, Ashley, Stapleton, and other out districts had numbers of streets flooded, while in those where the principal warehouses and hundreds of shops are situated the scene was that of a huge lake. None of the houses could be entered except by means of carts and boats, and then access could only be gained to the upper rooms, the lower parts being four feet deep in water. Messrs. Fry, chocolate manufacturers, have been great sufferers by the inundation. Their extensive cellars, where thousands of tons of sugar are stored, are completely destroyed. Messrs. Budgett, Nelson- street, provision merchants, have sustained enormous damage. Other merchants have similarly suffered. The police-station was flooded, and the officials had to take to boats. The River Trent rose very rapidly at Nottingham, and on Saturday great tracts of land were inundated. As the immense volume of water from the upper reaches of the river swept downwards, the area of submerged land was greatly extended, and on Sun- day the flood had attained the height of the memorable inundation of 1877. The valley of the Trent to the south of the town presented the appearance of a vast lake. Hundreds of houses in the lower portion of the borough had their rcoms flooded. The wharves on the canal banks were inundated, and serious damage was done. On Saturday afternoon a young man, named Moss, in stepping into a boat from a steam launch anchored below the Trent Bridge, upset the boat and was drowned. In some of the riverside villages great inconvenience was caused, the roads being rendered impassable. Many of the inhabitants were imprisoned in their houses, owing to the rapid rise of the water. Cattle were in many instances rescued with difficulty, and at Tithby 40 sheep were drowned. In the Chester district; on Saturday rain descended in torrents for some hours. Telegraphic communica- tion was partially suspended. On the hills the snow on Saturday was lying a foot in depth, and hunting and all outdoor work was suspended. Much damage has been done in Worcestershire by the excessive rainfall. Manufactories have been flooded, cattle drowned, and thousands of acres of land inundated. Taunton and its neighbourhood have suffered per- haps more heavily than any other district from the devastating waters, the streets being flooded at one time to the depth of fully five feet, causing inde- scribable havoc. Whilst half the town of Taunton was flooded, a fire broke out early on Saturday morning in Mr. Pollard's timber yard. The firemen were prevented by the current from getting near the conflagration, and the fire burned itself out. During the flood the people in adjoining houses were in a fearful plight, but were rescued. There has been considerable destruction of property, though the statement that bridges have been washed away is found to he incorrect, and it has been ascertained that no lives have been lost. Some of the poorer inhabitants are in a destitute con- dition, and a relief fund has been started, to which Mr. Percy Allsopp, M.P., and Dr. Liddon have contri- buted JE100 each. A man named John Wakely, a road contractor, was returning home alone near Yeovil on Saturday night, when he fell into a flooded ditch bv the roadside. He was drowned, his body being found the following morning. Thousands of acres of moorland between Langport and Bridgewater are now under water, I and a large number of sheep and cattle have been drowned.
JOURNALISTS IN COUNCIL.
JOURNALISTS IN COUNCIL. At the annual meeting of the National Association of Journalists, held on Saturday, at the London Mansion House, resolutions were proposed by the President, and carried unanimously, for the conver- sion of the Association into an Institute, for the pre- sentation to her Majesty in Council of a petition for a charter of incorporation, and for the raising of a "necessary special fund," Ths-Lord-Mayor subse- quently expresged his sympathy with the objects of the Institute, which he said should give to British journalists a rank in all probability corresponding with that conferred upon distinguished artists by the Royal Academy. Twelve hundred members have already joined the association, and the Lord Mayor himself was elected the first honorary member. The chairman and vice-chairman of the London district for the ensuing year aro Mr. Edward Lawson and Mr. E. E. Peacock. Saturday's proceedings closed with a conversazione, at which four phonographs proved a great attraction. The company present, who were received by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress and Mr. H. G. Reid (president of the insti- tute), included Mrs. Gladstone,. Lord and Lady Sandhurst, Sir Algernon Rorthwick, M.P Mr. Hen- nikerHeaton, M.P., Mr. James Maclean, M.P., Mr. Clayden, and many others. —
A SPINSTERS' CLUB.
A SPINSTERS' CLUB. In 1880 some young ladies in Berlin founded a club, the members of which pledged themselves not to marry, under pain of a fine of 1000 marks. At first the club was a great success; it started with 23 members, and soon increased its number to 31. Sud- denly, however, an epidemic of marrying brok" out in the club; and this year. at the general meeting. there was only one solitary member left, who found herself called upon to dispose of 28,000 marks, the amount, remaining of the fines that had been paid. This, by the official advice of the perjured ex-members, the general meeting resolved to divide into equal portions, one to be given to the Berlin hospitals, the other to be settled on the last member. It seems a pity that the following advertisement, which has lust appeared in a Frankfurt paper, cannot be brought before this member's notice. It reads as follows '• A poor imp wishes to make the acquaintance of a rich angel, with a view to matrimony, in the hope of making for him- self a little heaven on eaith."
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"PRAY, my good man," said a judge to an Irishman who was a witness on a trial, what did pass between ycu and the prisoner ?" Och, thin, piase your worship," says Pit, sure I sees Phalim on the top of a wall. Paddy,' says he. What ?' says I. 'Here,' says be. 'Wiere?' says I. 'Whist!' says he. 'Hush!' says I; md this is all I know about it, plase your worshiD. laddy was dismissecl
IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. --
IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. DISQUALIFYING PEERS. In the Hotrsu OF LORDS on March 11th the Earl of Carnarvon presented a bill, which was read a first time, for disqualifying In particular cases members from sit- ting in their lordships' House. NEW ADJlIRALTY AND WAR OFFICES. Lord Lamington called attention to the state of the public buildings in the metropolis, and complained that although successive committees bad inquired into the subject of the new War and Admiralty offices nothing practical had been done. Lord Henniker replied that after the plans for the Admiralty were agreed upon, those for the War Office would be considered. The de- mands made upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer would not permit of much expenditure upon new build- iogs this year, but a small sum had been iucluded in the estimates with which to begin the works at the Ad- miralty. Lord Elphiustone informed Viscount Sid- mouth that the Admiralty were fully alive to the necessity of increased dock accommodation at Bombay, but that it would not be possible to commence the work this year. Their lordships rose at half-past five o'clock. SUPPLY.—ARMY ESTIMATKS. The HOUSE OF COMMONS went into Committee on the Army Estimates, and on the vote for 152,282 men of all ranks, Mr. Stanhope explained the existing state of preparation to meet any grave emergency. The militia, reserves, volunteers, and yeomanry could be called out and disposed ns the emergency required. The land forces would protect our military ports and coaling stations. The former were now all provided with the necessary buildings and stores, and the coal- ing stations and commercial ports were already furnished with a large proportion of submarine mines, and the general result would be that almost every port selected to be defended throughout the Empire could be pro- vided with a substantial mine defence in ten days, while an amount of defence, sufficient to deter the enemy's cruisers, could be laid down in three days. The whole of the garrisons for our foi tresses and commercial ports at home were told-off, and would consist, in the latter case, entirely of auxiliary forces to the number of 124,000 men. Every case of a garrison abroad had been dealt with upon its merits, the garrison being supplemented by native auxiliaries. To facili- tate rapid mobilisation, a system of registra- tion of horses had been established, seven thousand having been asked for last year and 14,000 this year. The places where stores should be placed had been selected, and the work of decentralisation largely carried out. The Reserve being called up, we could put into the field at short notice, for home defence. 80,000 regular troops, with a proper proportion of all arms of the service. Lists of officers to fill all the commands and staff posts in case of mobilisation had been prepared. There were more than suffi- cient stores in hand for the requirements of this force operating at home, and the field army would be concentrated at railway junctions or other points, which had been carefully chosen, for the most convenient transport of the troops. Speaking of the plan of home defence, he said that the idea of building permanent fortifications for the defence of London was quite visionary; but there were certain strategical positions around London which were essen- tial to its defence, where entrenched camps would be formed, and he hoped the security of the metropolis would be assured at a very moderate outlay. On the question of armament, he stated that a contract for big guns had been given to a Sheffield firm, and that four large firms were engaged in producing steel forgings for big guns, and three firms engaged in building np and completing them. The Govern- ment were confident that all the guns in their pro- gramme would be delivered within the prescribed time. Good progress also had been made with the prepara- tions for the manufacture of the new magazine rifle. He concluded by forehadowing a scheme for the im- provement of the barrack accommodation on a great scale, which would be embodied in a separate proposal to be shortly laid before Parliament. Viscount Wolmer criticised the condition of the militia, Lord R. Churchill thought the statement the most satisfactory and interesting he had ever listened to, and Sir G. Trevelyan urged the reduction of the officers' list. Mr. Stanhope said that the Government thought the list was excessive, and he hoped in a week to lay before the House what the Government proposed to do. But he might say that they contemplated the principle of pure selection, and the abolition of seniority in the case of general officers. The discussion occupied the remainder of the sitting, Mr. Picton moving the reduction of the vote by 2615 men, in order to bring it to the level of last year. A motion by Mr. Cremer for the adjournment of the debate was under discussion when midnight arrived, and the debate, by the rules, stood adjourned till next day.
EIGHTY CLUB DINNER.
EIGHTY CLUB DINNER. LORD SPENCER AND MR. PA11NELL ATTACK THE GOVERNMENT. Earl Spencer—who was the guest of the evening —Mr. Parnell, and Lord Rosebery all spoke at the Eighty" Club dinner in London on Friday night of last week, the other diners including Mr. John Morley, Sir W. Harcourt, and Sir C. Russell. Lord Rosebery described it as an historical occasion." Mr. Parnell's speech attracted considerable interest. In it he declared there were only two ways of govern- ing Ireland—by pure despotism or by reason- able CDUcession of full powers over her own domestic interests and future." And then the policy of pure despotism could only succeed for a season. Lord Spencer, in his speech, congratulated Mr. Parnell, who, to use the speaker's words, for so long and so publicly had been subject to bitter calumnies and accusations." The hon. member now stood before the country clear and vindi- cated of the bitter attacks which had been made against him-attacks which surpassed in vehe- mence and bitterness and wickedness any charges which had ever been made against anyman. (Cheers.) No condemnation could be too strong for those who had brought these charges lightly. It was for them to see that those concerned in this attack should be brought to book, and it would be the duty of the Liberal Party to discover how far the Government had been concerned. (Cheers.) How was it that they heard of crowds of the Royal Irish Constabulary filling the Law Courts, and of Resident Magistrates coming over to rehearse the witnesses. (Hear, hear.) These men were paid to give their whole time to the Government. Again, how was it that the limes had got hold of most confidential documents wbieh ought to be seen by and known only by one or two members of the Government. The name of Le Caron was un- known to Sir William Harcourt, as it was to himself, and yet that witness was brought forward on behalf of the Times. Had he not been subpoenaed with the connivance of the Times ? (Cheers.) He held that the Government would have a difficult task in clear- ing themselves of complicity with these transactions. Mr. Parnell's reception was the signal for tre- mendous cheering and waving of handkerchiefs, the whole company simultaneously springing to their feet. The cheering lasted for some seconds, and was unabated in its warmth and vigour. The Irish leader's speech was brief. His allusion to Lord Spencer was very complimentary. I value the opinion of such a man"—alluding to Lord Spencer's declaration that Ireland is capable of self-government—" far more than I value the judgment of a hundred mushrooms such as Balfour—(cheers)—men who are here to-day and gone to-morrow—who have not brought to the government of Ireland one SILLIIO characteristic of statesmanship or of genius, who live only for them- selves and their party, only foiUihe purpose of remain- ing in office for a few month<ror a few years longer than would be otherwise possible. "I have said" (he proceeded) "there is only one way within the Constitution. I admit there is another way, and it is a way which has not been tried yet, and which will probablv never be tried. I trust as one who has some instinct of humanity, some wish for the welfare not only of my own country, hut of the greater country with whose fortunes we are in- dissolubly linked, that that other way may never be tried, and that the better way which ha.s been pointed out to his countrymen by the great genius of Mr. Gladstone may obtain that recognition which common sense and justice recommend. The other way is not Mr. Balfour's bastard plan of a semi constitutional, semi-coercive method. It would he a method of pure despotism, and it would be a method outside the Con- stitution. In that way you inilht govern Ireland for a season. That, from the first time I entered political life, appeared to me to be tha only alternative to the concession to Ireland of full power over her own domestic interests and future. In that way only could be met the power and in. fluence of a constitutional party banded together within the limits of the law, acting upon those prin- ciples laid down by Lucas and Gavan Duffy in 1S.V2, that they should hold themselves aloof from all Kng- lish political parties and comhina'i' ns; that they should refuse place and office for themselves or for their friends or their relations; that the Irish con- stituencies should refuse to return any member who was a traitor to those pledges. All the measures of Mr. Gladstone (said Mr. Parnell, in concluding) have been preparing the way for the great triumph of constitutional principles in Ireland, for the bringing of all Irishmen, wherever they may be, on to the constitutional platform, and for the vindication of those great principles of free- dom which we believe are possible for us to-day within the law and the Constitution, and which we trust in the near future will secure for us from the great people of England the recognition of our small claims, our small interests, our small right to live in our own country, to manage it, to develope it, to build up our strength, to stop the wasting away of our resources, of our national life, which surely you can spare to us and afford to us, poor Ireland, without any loss or harm to yourselves." (Loud cheers.)
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The death. If announced, in his SUth year, of Vice- Admiial J. C. Soady, which took place in London. He entered the navy in 1842: served in the Magicienne in the Baltic Expedition of 1854-55, was present at the bombardment of Sveaborg. being specially promoted for his services. He became Commander in 1858, Captain in 1863, Rear-Admiral in 1879. and Vice- Admiral in 1885, in which year he was olaced on the retired list. Major-General W. Nassau Lees died on Saturday, at his residence in London, at the age of 64. He was born in 1825, and was the son of the late Sir Harcourt Lees, second baronet. He served in the Indian Army for nearly 40 years, and was for some time an Examiner in Mahometan Law and Persian Translator to the Go- vernment of India. Bishop Wilkinson has presented to the Church Society for Providing Homas for Waifs and Strays 37 acres of freehold land at North Walsham, as a site for a Boys' Farm House.
AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.
AGRICULTURAL ITEMS. AMONG THE PROPERTIES OF ENSILAGE which have yet to be authoritatively determined, the question (observes the Agricultural Economist) as to whether j it can be safely kept over from season to season in the same way as hay, is of considerable importance. On this point the evidence, although not coofncting, is scanty at present, and it is very desirable that the matter should be set at rest by some series of con- clusive experiments. Some little incidental light has lately been thrown on it by a correspondent of one of the papers, who, having had the bottom of a stack of ensilage left unconsumed at the end of the season, allowed it to remain undisturbed until the time came to build a new one, when it was carted into an adjoining pas- ture, and thrown into a heap to rot. The cows and young stock in the pasture, however, quickly found it out, and ate the main of it, although having an abundance of grass before them at the time. This clearly shows that up to that date, at any rate, it was not only eatable but palatable, and although by no means conclusive testimony, affords considerable en- couragement to proceed further, and leave a few whole stacks standing well on into the second winter, when, if found arable, the matter would be practicall- set at rest. A CORRESPONDENT in our contemporary, the Ftch\ puts a question with reference to the law of fences which almost seems to show that this subject is but imperfectly understood even by men of presumably superior intelligence down to the present day. He asks if a case has been known in wtiich the owner of land fenced against by the adjoiniug owner has taken over his fair proportion of the fence, and what would be his position with regard to the land on which the fence taken over stood. What private arrangements of this kind may have been made between owners of adjoining estates of course it is impossible to say. and if the drift of the question was to elicit infor- mation on this head, its purpose may perhaps have been answered by this time but with re- ference to the status of the proprietor taking over the fences in relation to the land on which they grow there can be no room for doubt. ITe would have to become the owner of it, and for this purpose it, would be necessary that a regular conveyance should be made to him, or in the case of life tenants under trustees an exchange would probably have to be made necessitating a double conveyance and a very con- siderable number of other formalities. There are not many owners we should imagine who would be at the trouble of doing all this fur the purpose of having a never-ending worry in the Fhape of a broken fence thrown upon their hand. and it would probably be far better for the correspondent in ques- tion and all others to take the l-tw as it stands and make the best of it. No man is obliged to fence against his neighbour's cattle, and if they trespass upon his domain the remedy open to him is of such a nature that if put in force once or twice it will gene- rally have the effect of disposing that neighbour to take measures on his own part to keep them within bounds. This may lead to a little temporary ill-feel- ing, but there is no doubt that the present law is on the whole very equitable and reasonable. Everyone must fence for himself or not fence at all, just as he prefers taking the consequences of any trespasses his cattle may make, and having the same right to enforce care and attention on the part of his neighbour. A NEw AND MOST IMTORTANT DISCOVERY IS announced in the direction of preserving milk for an indefinite length of time, in a perfectly natural state, without either taking from or adding to it any appro- ciable substance, or the use of any process diminish- ing its bulk or altering its quality. The raf/atiaJ/' of the new process, as we understood it, is thoroughly and completely to destroy the bacteria, which are the active agents in bringing about fermentative and putrefactive changes. When these organisations and their germs are completely destroyed the milk will keep in good condition if protected from the air for a very considerable perod. The means by which it is proposed to effectually and completely rid the milk of these minute organisms is by a succession of heatings, one following the other after a brief but necessary interval, until it is thoroughly sterilised, and every living thing or germ of future life wholly deprived of vitality. This can only be done by a succession of heatings, as after a first raising of the temperature, to however high a degree, some of the organisms or their germs, more especially the latter, are certain to retain life or fructifying power. The milk after being heated to 160 deg. is therefore allowed to partially cool so as to give these germs time to develop, which they do very rapidly. Then it is heated again, re-cooled, again heated and cooled, and finally raised to a tempera- ture of 212 degs., after which it is free from all life, whether in the shape of germ or full development. When put into tins or other air-tight vessels, subse- quently to this process it may be kept for many months, and when opened will bo found exactly in the condition of milk fresh from the cow, giving off its cream quite as freely and in equal quantity and quality, as well as standing exposure to the atmo- sphere for at least an equal length of time. A MEANS OF GETTING RID of the bean and pea beetle has been made public, which from its simplicity and effectiveness is well worthy of attention. It consists in dressing the seed with, or rather steeping it in, a solution of paraffin and water, in the proportion of 10 gallons of the latter to one of the former. The modus operandi suggested is to fit up two paraffin casks, each with a large wooden tap at the bottom then to put the solution mixture into one cask, and pour the seed to be treated into it, and allow it to soak an hour; then draw off the mixture by the tap and put it into the other barrel, there to receive a fresh lot of the seed. In this way the latter passes through the oil, which floats on the surface twire- once on being poured in, and secondly when the m;x- ture is drawn off, when of course the oil drains slowly and completely through the whole of it. This his been found very effective in thoroughly destroying the pest, and the resulting crops from seed so treated have been found greatly improved both in bulk and quality. BARLBY SEEDING is the subject of some eminently practical notes in Farm and Rotes. Says the writer It is not generally considered worth while to pickle barley, or prepare the seeds in any way for sowing; it is true that barley does not suffer from such a number of diseases as wheat is liable to, hut smut in some.seasons is very prevalent. Moreover, it is a more delicate grain than wheat, consequently the treatment to which the latter may be safely exposed would prove destructive to the germinating power of the weaker barley. The following process, as a pre- vention of smut, is used to some extent in Germany, and was first introduced to our notice early last year; the process is rather troublesome, but will no doubt, when more widely known, he largely adopted. Mix lilb. of the strongest oil of vitriol with 22 gallons of water in a wooden vessel, taking care to pour the oil of vitriol into the water, not the water into the oil, or an explosion may occur. Into this mixture put the barley, but no more than will allow of there being at least two inches of liquid to spare above the grain, which must be allowed to soak for ten or twelve hours, being frequently stirred in the meantime. After this, spread the grain thinly on the ground, and when dry enough sow at once, to prevent premature sprouting. When the mass is stirred the light seeds of weeds, dirt, &c., will rise to the surface, and may be skimmed off. Do not bring out the grain through the liquid, or the smut spores on the surface will adhere to the grain, but decant the liquid off from the top by handbowls. THE QUANTITY OF SEED sown is different m different cases, according to the quality of the soil and other circumstances; on very ri. h lands, eight pecks per acre are sometimes sown; twelve are very common, and upon poor land more is often sown. Whether the custom of giving so small a quantity of seed to the best land is advantageous or the reverse seems a disputed point among the best farmers. The practice is well commented on in the Treatise of Rural Affairs." That there is a saving of grain there can be no doubt, and that the bulk may be as great as if more seed had been sown t' ere en be as as little question. Little argument, howev/r. is necessary to prove that thin sowing of barley must be attended with considerable disadvantage, for if the early part of the season be dry, the plants will not only be stunted in their growth, but will not send cut off-sets; and if rain afterwards fall, an occuirence that must take place some time during the summer, often at a later period of it, the plants begin to stool, and send out a number of young shoots. These young shoots, unless under very favourable circum- stances. cannot be expected to arrive at maturity or, if their ripening be waited for. there will be a. great risk of losing the early part of the crop, a circum- stance that frequently happens. In almost evpry instance, an unequal sample is produced, and the grain is for the most part of an inferior quality. By good judges it is thought preferable to sow a quantity of seed sufficient to ensure a full crop without de- pending on its sending out offsets indeed, where that is done, few off-sets are produced, the crop grows and ripens equally, and the grain is uni- formly good." In choosing a sort of barley for cultivation, regard must be had to the soil and climate. We will not enter into a discussion as to the merits and demerits of particular varieties, as in. formation on that bead can be obtained from the various seedsmen s catalogues. The best grain for sowing is that which is free from blackness aDd dis- colouration at the tail, and is of a pale lively yellow colour, intermixed with a bright whitish cast; and if the rind be a little shrivelled it is so much the better, as it shows that it has sweated in the mow. and is a sure indication that its coat is thin. The husk of a thick-rinded barley, being too stiff to shrink, will be smooth and hollow, even when the flour has shiunfc from it within. The necessity of a chance of seed from time to time, by sowing that of the growth of a different soil, is in no instance more evident, than in the culture of this grain, which otherwise becomes coarser and coarser everv vear. But in thi=. fa well as in all other grains, the utmost care should betaken that the seed is full-bodied.
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CON. FOR THIC MUCH MARRIED.—When is the dear little wife of your bosom like-now don't be offended! -very bad weather ? Well, when-If you insist on knowing—she both reims and worms, j
EPITOME OF NEWS,
EPITOME OF NEWS, Four basket women were on Saturday night drinking in a house in Liverpool, a low neighbourhood, when two, named Langan and Gaffrey, quarrelled and fought. Langan threw a tumbler at Gaffrey, cutting the main artery of her wrist, and she bled to death. Annie Conroy was charged, at Preston on Saturday, with cruelty to Lydia Armstrong, aged 16 months. The child was the daughter of Joseph and Annie Arm- strong, both of whom go out to work in a mill, leaving the child in care of the defendant, to whom they paid 4s. per week. On the 19th of February the child was found crying, as if in intense pain, and was holding up its leg. On an examination the leg was found to be seriously injured, and there were bruises, ulcers, and blisters on other parts of the body. The defendant was asked what she had been doing, and she said she had put the child on some red hot coals on the hearth, but it was done by mistake. The father replied, "Why, you are drunk," and the woman said that if she was he had not paid for the drink. The child was burned in five or six placeR in a horrible manner. De- fendant said that she was out at the time of the occur- rence, and that her little daughter was in charge of the child. The Bench fined the defendant 20s. and costs, or 14 days' hard labour. Two meetings of agriculturists were held on Satur- day—one at Canterbury the other at Norwich—to consider the new rates and charges which have been submitted by the Railway Companies to the Board of Trade. It was urged that further time should be allowed for the preparation of objections, and that traders should combine in opposition to the proposed increases. Mr. Grenfell, Governor of the Bank of England, addressed a meeting of Berkshire agriculturists at Reading on Saturday, on the subject of Bi-metallism. He urged that the question demanded the attention of the Government, and a resolution in support of his views.was passed. Sunday being the anniversary of the death of the Emperor William, his coffin, which is deposited in the Royal mausoleum at Charlottenburg, was covered with flowers and wreaths sent by members of the Royal family and officers of various regiments. The revocation of the Decree of Exile against the Due d'Aumale was the subject of a debate in the French Chamber on Saturday. The Government declared that the measure was not political, and they obtained the approval of the House by 316 votes against 147. The legal documents relating to the affairs of the Patriotic League have been submitted to the French Minister, of Justice. It is stated that proceedings will be taken against a large number of persons. At the Chester Assizes on Saturday, before Mr. Justice Cave, Henry Mence Rackham, clerk, was charged with embezzling various sums of money, the property of the Macclesfield Savings Bank, and with forging the names of James Potts and John Motters- head to certain receipts for moneys paid out of the bank. The prisoner pleaded guilty. It was stated that he had perpetrated a great number of frauds on the bank in a daring and skilful manner. The total defalcations amounted to between two and three thou- sand pounds. When apprehended at Malvern, JE800 was found in the prisoner's possession. He was sen- tenced to six years' penal servitude. The judge said there seemed to have been great carelessness in the manner in which the affairs of the bank had been con- ducted. It was almost incredible that the prisoner should have been permitted for seven years to rob the bank of depositors' money, and that during all that time he should not have been detected. A-field day of the Cadet Corps of the Public Schools of Harrow, Haileybury, and Cambridge, took place on Saturday, on the football fields of the School at Harrow. The attacking force, represented by the Haileybury Cadets, under the command of Captain Hoare, and the Cambridge University Cadets, under Captain Wyndham, were supposed to represent the rear guard of an army marching on Harrow, which was strongly defended by the Harrow Cadets, under Captain Busbejl. The attacking force detrained at Sunbury, and took up its position on the main road. The fight commenced at half-past three, when both forces opened fire—volley and independent—at 500 yards. The defenders retired on a strong position, which they held on Harrow-hill, where a stubborn re- sistance was made, and with the aid of a couple of field guns they kept the attacking force at a distance. The cease-fire" sounded at a quarter to five, when it was found that the defending force had kept their ground. Major Bridgewater was uqapire in chief. The dispute at the Millom Iron Works, Cumberland, arising out of the employing of non-union men, culmi- nated, on Saturday, in a strike. A fortnight ago the non-union men were served with notice to join th-i Union, the Unionists intimating that if they refused they would strike. The Millom Iron Company issued a notice that no Union men would be employed, either at Millom or at Askam, where the men are already on strike for the same reason. Last week the managing director refused to see a delegate from the Union, and said before he would submit to dictation from the Union as to whom he must employ, he would close the works, and leave the place desolate. Eight furnaces are damped down at Millom and Askam. The strike will affect 7000 men. The Caledonian mail train from Aberdeen to London was partly wrecked on Saturday afternoon, five miles north of Stonehaven. A horse-box first left the metals, and it was followed by the entire train. Three vans were smashed to pieces, but. fortunately, thepaasenger cars kept on their wheels. The passengers, who num- bered about 20, had a narrow escape. Seven hundred yards of the permanent way were destroyed. The fund being raised by the Mayor of Windsor in connection with the Agricultural Show, which is to be held under the presidency of the Queen, on the Royal demesne, at midsummer, has now reached £3150, and will shortly be closed. A special prize fund of £200 is also being raised for the improvement of horse-breeding in the Windsor district. The strike at Morriston Tin Works, Cardiff, con- tinues. Special police precautions were taken on Satur- day in case of disturbances by the strikers, but beyond some hostile demonstrations nothing serious occurred. The bill for the transfer of powers to the County Councils, which Mr. Ritchie has in preparation, con- tains no very novel provisions. The powers dealt with are exclusively Departmental, and the bill practically does no more than give effect to the Schedules of the Act of last year, which had to be dropped for want of time. It is possible that the Government may propose, by Order in Council, to transfer to the County Councils, from time to time, additional powers to those which are set forth in the bill itself. A Cabinet Council was held on Saturday at the f oreign Office. The Ministers present were the Mar- quis of Salisbury, the Right Hon. A. Balfour. Earl Cadogan, the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Viscount Cmnbrook, Viscount Cross, Lord George Hamilton, Sir M. Hicks-Beach, Lord Knutsford, the Right Hon. H. Matthews. theCight Hon. C. T. Ritchie, the Duke of Rutland, the Right Hon W. H. Smith, and the Right Hon. E. Stanhope.
THE MARKETS.
THE MARKETS. MARK LANE. At Mark-lane business has been quiet, without any special feature. The fresh arrivals were moderate. The eales-of home-grown wheat i* the leading markets of England and Wales in the past 28 weeks of the season were..1.426f48Clqrs., against 1,723,720 qrs* last year, the average being 31s 7d, against 30s 2d per qr.; barley, 2,045,666 qrs., against 2,170,053 qrs., average 278 7d, against 29s 3d per qr. and oats. 197,618 qrs., against 206,995 qrs., at an average of 16s 9d, against 15s 7d per qr. Etoglish wheat quiet request, at late prices. In foreign wheat, dealings were limited, and quotations unaltered. The flour market was inactive, without change. Not much was done in barley, malting produce was about the same in value. Grinding was steady, on former terms. Oats changed hands quietly, at full prices. For maize there was a quiet demand, but at quite late currencies. Beans and peas were firm, and fuUy as dear. METROPOLITAN CATTLE. The cattle trade has been wanting in activity. Supplies were not large, but were aiiiple lor thedemand. and it is very doubtful whether prices would have been maintained had supplies been at all heavy. Beasts experienced a dragging sale throughout, prices re- mainiog about the same as on Monday last. The best Scots and crosses sold at 4s 6d to 4s 8d per lb. Foreign beasts were in short supply and quiet request, at about the rates last week. The sheep pens were thinly supplied. There was a slow inquiry at previous quota- tions. The excessive numbers would, no doubt, have caused weakness. The best Downs and half-breds sold at 6s to 6s 2d per 81b. Calves met a quiet sale, at previous currencies. Pigs were dull. Quotations as follows Coarse and inferior beasts, 2s 4d to 38 Od; second quality ditto, 3s Od to 4s Od prime large oxen, 4s 2d to 4s 6d; ditto Scots, &c., 48 6d to 4s 8d; coarse and inferior sheep, 2s 4d to 38 4d; second quality ditto, 38 6d to 4s 4d prime coarse-woolled ditto, 5s 6d to 58 lOd; prime Southdown, ditto, 5s lOd to 6s 2d large coarse calves, 4s Od to 6s Od; prime small ditto, 5s Od to 6s 2d; large hogs, 28 6d to 3s 6d; neat Small porkers. 3s 8d to 4s 4d per 61b. to sink the offal. Total supply—English: Beasts, 1980: sheep and lambs, 8480; calves, 100; pigs. 10: milch cows, 50. Foreign Beasts, 340 calves, 20. From the Midland, Home, and Western counttes were received 430 bensts from Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex, 1000; from Ireland, 60; and from Scotland, 150 beasts. METROPOLITAN MEAT. The supply being shorter, some improvement was anticipated but the demand proved very limited, and top quotations were not general. The following were the quotations: Inferior beef, 2s Oil to 2s 8d middling ditto. 3s to 3s 6d prime ditto, 3s eel to -Is Scotch ditto, 3s 8d to 4s Od American Liver- pool killed, 3s 7d to 38 8d; ditto killed, hind-quarters. 3s 2d to 3s 6d ditto killed, forequarters, 2s 8d to 3s Od English veal, 58 4d to 5s 6d Dutch ditto, 4s to 5s 4d inferior mutton. 2s 0d to 2s 8d middling ditto, 3s 4d to 4s 4d prime ditto, 4s 8d to 5s 2d; Scotch ditto, 4s lOd to 5s 2d New Zealand ditto, 2s 4d to 2s 6d large pork, 3s 2d to 3s 6d and small ditto, 3s 8d to 48 Od per 81b. by the carcase. FISH. Good supply trade fair.^v Prices — Wholesale Brill, 6s to 88 per stone; <W»bot, 10s to 12s per etone; cod, 2s to 4s each; aoles, 120s to 13(\, per box haddocks, 12a ;'14s per box: plaice, 16s to 2Js per box; whiting, 7s = per box; live eels, 20s per draft;* dead eels, l's per draft; smelts 2s per basket: lobsters, 20s to 40s per per score; crabs, 20s per basket; smoked haddocks. Is 6d to 6s per dozen bloaters, 2s to 3s per box kip- pers, Is 6d to 3s per box oysters, 6s to 148 per 100. Retail: Salmon. 2s to 2s 6d per lb. soles, Is to 1" Fel per lb.; turbot, Is to Is 2d per lb, brill, 9c per lb. cod, 4d to 6d per lb. tiveeeta, Is 2d per lb. dead ..do. 9d perlb. fresh haddocks, 4d per IK plaice. 5rl per lb red mullets, 6d to Is 6d each: whiting. 3d and each lobsters, Is to 3s each crabs. Is to 211 6rl each smoked haddocks, 3d to 9d each smelts. 6d and ed per dozen oysters, 3d to 2s 6d per dozen whitebait, Is 6d per quart. POTATO. There was a moderate supply of potatoes on lIa.e. The trade. steady, for best sorts, at the annexe.! prices: — Magnum bonums, 60s to 115s regents, i eo. to 120i; ETebrOnS, 90s to 100s; and champions, 101 to 90s per ten.