The Cambrian

drotresponibtttct. Ow columns are open to the intelligent discussion of all questions of an important public nature; but, of course, it is understood that we do not necessarily endorse the views of our Correspondents. All letters to the Editor must be authenticated with the name and address of the writer, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.. We cannot insert letters which have appeared elsewhere nor ao tee undertake to return rejected manuscripts.

4. j STREET SINGING. TO THE EDITOR OF THE CAMBRIAN." SIR,-Why is there allowed, at the present time, so much street singing (?) by children in our streets? No Blatter what s'reet you happen to go through you will hear boys and girls, barefooted and in rags, singing (or rather howling) at the top of their voices, and soliciting alms of every passer-by. On week-days these urchins line comic songs, while on Sundays (having a little respect for the Sabbath and also to suit their own ends), they sing hymns. This sort of thing should not be allowed in our streets and the sooner the matter is taken up by the authorities and an end put to it, the better. This street singing is daily increasing, and the great proba- bility is, that these children are sent out simply FOR the purpose of maintaining drunken and lazy parents. TMB practice also tends to bring up the children in a low, mean, and degraded life, making gaol and workhouse birds of them. I have often walked through our public thoroughfares of an evening and have come to a stand- itill, being unable to proceed any further "NTD thecrowd Shad dispersed and the singers taken their flightito some other spot, there again to cause as great a nuisa the place they had ju«t left; so that these little^urchins hot only make a noise in the streets, bu Obstruction, which is against the law of our land. I noticed the other day that an officer of the Salvation Army was charged at our Police Court with causing tn obstruction. Why should not those boys and girls be Mso charged ? It they are too young to come under the jurisdiction of the law, then stop them from singing altogether; and if not, then when they cause an ob- struction let them be brought before oui justices and (dealt with accordingly. I would also recommend the public not to encourage this sort of thing by pecuniarily 'assisting the children. Thanking yon, Sir, for allowing line taking up your valuable space,—Yours, &c., Swansea, Aug. 18, 1887. J, H.

TUB HOT WEATHER AND LUNACY.—The Paris cor- Spondent of the Daily News telegraphs as follows:- *HE excessive heat lately is believed to be the cause of jhe sudden and remarkable increase of lunacy in Paril. taeb of the eighty commissaries report that they have Neeived applications regarding people of unsound mind j^ithin the last week. The most unfortunate is a Lorn. J^TSAARY whose office near the Rue de Richelieu is in the Nsiest part of the city. He was asked for advice by a LUTING servant who wished to marry her employer, but ISS prevented, she gravely said, by his dog. After a gort time a man was led in by a couple of policemen. turned out to be a clerk in a savings bank, named ipfcauvet, whose mania was in thinking himself to be IS greatest actor alive. He left his parents' house five IWS ago, and has been giving recitals at street corners. Igenerally explained to his listeners that he would Imitate the style of the actors Coquelin and Worms, and FT the end of the performance entered into an account of II scheme he had in mind for erecting an academy of |TASIC on novel lines. It was on the Place de l'Opera Iwfct he was taken up as he was delivering a speech from RCSKIN ON KiNGSLBY.-Mr. Ruskiu has written the Slowing letter in reply to a village librarian who bed his attention to the curious fact that he and Ktngsley, so widely different, were the chief favourites local readers:That two such opposite authors jould take hold of the same minds is entirely probable. I! opposite., they are both part of the world and its sky. %o £ Sey liked the eas t wind, I liked the west. K.ngsby jspped westward in the Yankee way, I step eastward I Jinking the old star stands where it ?sedto. LVs much in Kingsley that was delightful to raw linkers, aud men generally remain raw in this c»™»te- Pe was always extremely civil to me and Carlyle, but ne Sited in a most cowardly way when we had the ay re httle to fight. He was a flamed, partly rotten, partly Sorted person, but he may be read with advantage numbers who could not understand a word of ause I speak things they never saw or never ;nded to. I extremely dislike Kingsley's tragedy self, but if other people like hearing of girls being oured or torn to pieces, that is their affair." IUROPKAN PEACE.—The Novoe Vremya, comment- on the Mansion House Speech of the Marquis of isbury, in which he spoke of the satisfactory solu- l of th'e Afghan frontier question and his conviction t European peace was fully secured, considers that h regard to the Afghan frontier the Premier is Sited in a most cowardly way when we had the Eyre httle to fight. He was a flamed, partly rotten, partly Sorted person, but he may be read with advantage numbers who could not understand a word of me, ause I speak ef things they never saw or never tended to. I extremely dislike Kingsley's tragedy self, but if other people like hearing of girls being roared or torn to pieces, that is their affair." IUROPKAN PEACE.—The Novoe Vremya, oomment- on the Mansion House Speech of the Marquis of isbury, in which he spoke of the satisfactory solu- l of the Afghan frontier question and his conviction t European peace was fully secured, considers that th regard to the Afghan frontier the Premier is iently satisfied with very small results, and that ia optimist views respecting a profound European jice, although very edifying, are not well founded. toe article concludes with the following remarks:— In reality European peace is at the present pie only secured by the simple fact of the dis- fclination of the venerable German Emperor to Wamemorate the end of his reign by a new war. This rougnance on the part of the .moijareh is well Nown to all the diplomatists who direct the foreign icy of the European Powers, and they respect it; St this circumstance does not ^der several of them fcm engaging in very active preparation of the ground J? a war which in all probability vr out^sosoon I the restraining cause ?ball no long ?ne Ibetter aware of the inevitable app ? Mouemmt than Prince Bismarck. It J^hout Lon that the German ChanceUor so frequen.ly and Insistently maintains the necessity of German Empire. Created by military conquesta, S Empire can only be consolidated by ^insuring the Xtive weakness of those Powers f?r ■ finance of Germany in Europe in th» ^rtdfltn- Xital; whereas late events proved that the Powers in Nation are far from being reconciled to such a Npect. Russia and France are the flies in^the oin^ Plit of the German Chancellor. All his plans J'fre 0ed on the supposed readiness of R^Sia to aid tjhnany and on the duration of French military tfbetintence. Both these calcnlationsliave proved false, ao soon as Prince Bismarck finds himself free to kjhe will not exert himself to justify the optimist eviction of the Marquess of Salisbury, who hasfaued (jiistinguish between an armed truce and a bona fiat ^tcod peace."

The late Mrs Evans, widow of the late Admiral Georgi Evans, has by her will, which has just been proved, bequeathed JS350 to the Royal National Lifeboat Institu- tion for a lifeboat to be called the George Evans," to be stationed at Liverpool or some other part of the river Mersey. Admiral Evans, whose name will thus be commemorated on the river, was f. r thirty-four years conservator of the Mersey. EFFECT OF OIL ON THE SEA.—Captain Kuhlmann, of the North German Lloyd steamer Main, reports some successful experiments in the use of oil during the prevalence of heavy seas on the voyage between Bremen and New York. He secured a success great beyond conception." Captain Kuhlmann's own words are as follows :—" \Ve were in 50 degrees N. and 23 degrees W., in stormy weather, with a high sea from the wtst. We steered west, and thus had the sea right in front of ul, so that the vessel pitched and rolled badly, taking the heavy seas at the bows. The passengers could not remain on deck for the seas which rolled from the fore part and flooded the deck, and, moreover, the boats hang- ing in the devits threatened to be washed away in the shifting of the vessel. I resolved in this emergency to experiment with oil, and two pipes opening on the sides of the ship were stopped with tow and then filled with oil, which flowed slowly thiough the tow. I soon observed the effect, for from the fore-shrouds to the stirn no water csme over. The sea had lo>t its power by reason of the oiling. We opened the doors and npproiiches, and the lassengtrs could stay on deck at will. The oiling was continued for seven hours, and the small quantity of 51b. was used." Captain Kuhlm .nn is so elated with his experience that he advises other navigators to adopt the plan. THE "TIMKS" AND MR. GLADSTONE. -The Rev. John Bramston, forineily Dean of Wiuchtgter, writes to the Spectator as follows :-For the last fifty years I have been, and still am, an admirer of Mr Glxdstoue; and though I diff,r from his present policy on many import mc points, I still believe him to be not only au eloquent statesman, but an honest man. I therefore notice with intense dissatisfaction the unceasing and unjust imputations which the editor of the Times is in the habit of bringing against the high character of this great man. I will mention only two instances. When- ever the editor argues against Mr Gladstone's policy on the question of Home Rule, although myself strongly opposed to the details of that policy, I feel indignant at the constantly recurring charge that Mr Gladstone is actuated y the overwhelming and passionate desire to return to power and office-a motive which is contra- dicted by every step and change in his life's history. A^ain, in last week's Times, Mr Gladstone expressed him- self "wicked enough to agree with" Sir Edward Watkiu in his views of the Channel Tunnel. I am sorry he so expressed his concurrence, and I trust the work will never be completed. But the editor of the Times is not ashamed to ascribe as a motive for such expressed con- currence the desire to obtain a few votes in Parliament from Sir E. Watkin's followers. To attribute motives for any action is often a dangerous operation; but to attribute mean and disgraceful motives where a person may act from the highest and most patriotic con- siderations. is no part of political principle, but can only be acciunted for by the influence of party or personal spit". THE COSTS OF PRITATE ARRANGEMENTS. — A corres- pondent who signs himself "Bitten" thus writes to the Birmingham Daily Post, under date, August 23rd:- Sir, -It may be of value to some of your readers to hear of my experience. Two years ago, finding' myself going to the bad. and trade still declining, I determined to seek relief at the court. With that object, knowing nt-thingas to whut preliminary steps should be taken, I went to a solicitor, who strongly advised me not to go to court, but to leave the matter to him to make a private arrangement with my creditors. He Set forth a glowing account of the publicity and expenses avoided, &c., and I took the bait and allowed him to proceed, so the whole debt amounted to 4:400. I offered 6s. 8d. in the pound, which was accepted by the majority of the largest creditois. Now comes the rub. One large firm sent in their statement at about JS10 more than was due to them -a firm I had paid hundreds to—and they absolutely re- fused to accept any dividend except upon the amount they claimed. That was rub the first. Then several small creditors refused anything in the nature of a com- promise, and, to show they meant it, they put me in the court, and I had that expense added to their amounts to pay. That was rub the second. When those were settled the lawyer sent in a bill of jMO for his work, and the accountant and valuer JE10 for his work. After suffer- ing the anxiety and badgering for weeks I lost my credit, and came through it all 280 in debt, and the solicitor said I had got through it well. That was rub the third. This, sir, is a private arrangement; but I would be hanged before I would be party to one again no matter how my creditors might suffer by bankruDtcv." THE STORY OF A HAT.-The London Correspondent of the Irish Times, writing on :Monday night, says:—A curious story regarding a bat is current in the Lobby of the House of Commons. It appears that on Friday night an elderly member, who is said to be of a jealous disposition, and, moreover, is possessed of a young, and, of course, good-looking wife, took from the cloak-room another member's hat. On the followfng morning, after breakfast, he discovered a strange hat on his hat-stand, and, on closer inspection, found that the strange tile was garnished inside with initials, above which was a strange crest. The green-eyed monster was instantly at work, especially as his wife had returued from the South of France during his absence at the House on the previous evening. His favourite chapeau, of course, being missing, he immediately interrogated his wife as to who was her escort. The innocent dame was highly indignant, and hotly denied the impeachment. Seizing his Debrett, the hon. member traced the offending hat to its lawful owner, and journeying to his solicitor, indited a very strong epistle to the eldest son of a Peer who sits on the opposite side of the House, threatening him with all sorts of penalties for the insults offered to his honour. The young scion of nobility immediately grasped the situa- tion, having himself had to travel home in a strange hat, and kept up the joke by sending the enraged husband a solicitor's letter, charging him in flagrante delicto with stealing the initialled hat from the cloak-room of the House of Commons. On receipt of this epistle, it immediately dawned on the elder M.P. that he had made a mistake, aud he forthwith tendered a personal apology. Since two o'clock yesterday afternoon he has been strenuously trying to effect a pair for the rest of the Session." A SINGULAR DISCOVERY.—A San Francisco Correspond- ent writes on the 14th June :—" There is here a collection of newly-found mummies, forming one of the most remarkable discoveries ever made in America. The mummies differ from Egyptian ones in that they are generally quite naked, only a few having a loose covering, and they have evidently undergone no process of embalming. The flesh is so thoroughly dried that it resembles parchment, and the corpses are very light. The mummies were found by a party of American goldseekers in one of numerous branches of the Sierra Madre Mountains, near the Gila, in Arizona. One day the goldseekers discovered a cave, the entrance to which was closed with a kind of cement very hard to break. Forcing an entrance, the men found themselves in a kind of ante-chamber, 30 feet long, hewn out of the living rock. « J 'ec* a large hall, in which were lying a number of dried-up corpses. The discoverers at once set to work to transport the mummies to the nearest railway station, in spite of the opposition of the Apache Indians, who soon heard of the discovery, and considered the remains to be those of their gods. All the mummies were safely removed to San Francisco, where they excite great interest in f clrcles- The most remarkable among them is ? ot a mother with her child, which lie together in a oose covering. Another is the corpse of a woman with !i! « arcrhed insteps, long shapely hands, and the whole figure of a different type to that of the modern Indians. The hair of this mummy is long, black, ard not in the least spoiled. The remains of its covering is of a blue colour, and quite different in material from the cloth that covers other mummies. Very interesting is the mummy of a man in a sitting posture. It is of gigantic proportions, with broad and powerful chest. The gristly parts ef the ears and nose are quite recognisable, and the head is covered with bushy black hair. The eyebrows are sharply defined, and the dry and hard tongue protrudes between the teeth. The members of the Scientific Society of San Francisco unanimously believe these mummies to be those of the ancient Aztecs. The corpses of the women and of a young man show all the physical peculiarities said to have distinguished that once numerous race. The high cheek bones and slanting eyes, thick skin, and black hair, and general size (about 5 feet 3 inches) all agree. The mummies will shortly be forwarded to the eastern States."

LOCAL PATENTS. This list of Local Patents is. specially compiled for The Cambrian, and supplied by Messrs. Popple well, Colton and Co-, Patent Agents and Con- sulting Engineers, of 17 and 18, Southampton Buildings. London, W.C.: 10,83Q,-James Zearll Docton" 2.4. High-street, Mer- Tydfil, for combined hot and cold water waste and lead fittings for baths. 6th August, 1887. AH ii "—osePh Lendon Berry, 43, Cardiff-street, + GhmOTganshire, for a combined clamp and tripod head for carrying photographic cameras or other like purposes. 8th August, 1881. 11,023. Sydney Robert Gold,. Glyn-y-Coed, Newton, Uyatermouth, Swansea: "A pin and needle case. 12th August, 1887. Frederick William Jones, 210, Bute road, nn? i •' ^iamorganshire: Fixing all kinds of framings. The climax frame and dado holder." 15th Aug., 1887. 40-

GAS COMPANIES AND THE PEOPLE. A correspondent thus writes in Tne Echo oeeiug thb t the Gas Light and Coke Company proposts to deciare a dividend on its Ordiuarv Stock at the rate of 12. per cent, per annum, I sought a lawyer who is also an authority upoa gas law, and asked him how such an amount Of interest could be declared. He replied:— Gas C, mpanies are the most powerful monopolies in the world; they can do what tbey like. There is really n°fi k upon their charges, for there is no competition; ana tne l»w you allude to has no effect whatever upon t m. instance under the law a Gas Company can aeciire a dividend of 10 per cent, on all Stock from the tif3 'B°l?ent of their exist nee; that is to say,if, during tne brst few years of its work it only paid 5 per cent., it « 9r\ e Pay 10 per cent., or 15 per cent., or even zu per cent., so as to make up for the time when it only fn half the amount allowed by law. The idea is, that 10 per cent. shall be guaranteed to all owners of Gas Stock, and if they did not get it at oue time it can be given to them at another and later period. Then the balance which is over after the percentage has been paid n9} 8° lnto the consumer's pocket in the shape of f.as charges. It is carried forward, and may be P e to the next half-year's account, or it may /?IfSn ln re8erve fund. Practically, the law for Gas Oompanies amounts to this You may get all wi eeP a'l you get,' and it's a remarkably Imn? !» aw to work under too." T awn* IT V ^"s candid expression of legal opinion, • '° a "cientific gentleman, who has made gas a proiessional study. He remarked, in answer to my inquiries:— finn—ondon, taking every expense into considera- t coals, manufacture, keeping up of plant, workmen, &c.—could be made aud supplied R. y Is. 6d. per 1,000 feet, Anything above fair rii»i^UnJ 13 c'ear profit. The Is. 6d. would give a ft iv*8- 9d. would pay the legal 10 per cent, much n<> <0mpanies in and about London charge as in Qd t. S*'j?°me as little as 2s. 6d.; but more than ment and* .lre9t infringement of the Acts of Pailia- But h l8' 8^e8> a needlessly extortionate charge." Companie^?" tlieD ^ou exP'ain tlie accouuts of the v«rv*fo?ilUk attempt to explain them, and he would be a vntihav Wan who endeavoured to do so. Wait till rou hue seen how they are kept, and then ask yourself « vl^u inten<*ed to be explained." n -y «y Publish balance-sheets?" do, and so do the Government publish Wayy accounts; but just as Mr. Koox said ♦iiof tha were n°t intended to be understood, so I say mjstery" account# of most Gas Companies are a .oem balances carried over, though large, scarcely iu price >»airan'i J°nr opinion as to possible reductions n0* yoa know bow that balance is ^ou as to the amounts which are a-9 ,n<:cessary to be written off for depreciation, t man ^Ul81^10n of land, for plant, for cost of working, o agecQent, for retiring allowances, and last, but ^jf. a n}eai)s. l.ea8t, for material used? Have 3*ou aay aillv*ng at any thing like a proper estimate of what these sums should be? I make my estimate of the value of gas from careful computation the fact that the 1 f nces carried over after the declaration of a 'I i138 been made being inadequate to the reaucHonimentiou has nothing whatever to do with the MA I T 1, REGARD to the Gas Light and Coke Com- f s °LT not,hir,g beyond their published figures, V 'ast half-year, on a charge of 3". per IMOI to ''ie private consumer, show a balance of i4yx,6S0 lis. id. t °ut of which the Directors declare a 7of ]2i per cent., carrying over after that zL '8' ^d. to the credit of this half-year's account. h Seettl8, however, that even on this showing they ta^en off sixpence, or even ninepeoce, a i i, from their charges, and yet paid the dividend, ftU «i4,niC^.re8erve balance. But I do not thiuk they, a, „■» Cr will ever lower their prices till they are Compelled. and the only agent that can affect them at all is electricity." "Let us hope that it will soon enter the lists practically," I ejaculated, as we parted.

onmed' iiwi*0 large fishing-boats are now actively Whitbv TU Prosecution of the herring fishery off Yarmouth r8e hail principally from Penzance, manvfmm<a ^estoft» Hartlepool, South Shields, and witnessed "W during the past week has TNrnMw 'r I8°harge of large quantities of herrings. Ta* CLFIRIRC> COLLECTION.—A deputation from the Association wajted on Mr Goschen on a, T?0V,p„? with reference fcD the Inland Revenue Bill, nr<red tbnf ;4. w^er» who introduced the deputation, officers as nliw contrary to equity to appoint revenue Wv fa J He-ctora of Income Tax. Mr Goschen, in Sohedukvs A Portion of the BiU did not apply to V TTn jn^ > hut was limited to Schedules D and nurnosfi ^.at the measure was introduced for the ?n JLi. enabling the Inland Revenue Department change conS^w sorew uPon the taxpayers. The left unaltered^ th P W&S and TiVinKTi» ;A tlie power of the local Commissioners. JL re^ts, both in the case of assessors and anxious to vigorously protected. He was were to be 11 Bil1 passed if possible, but if there that this inof the innocents, he was aware survival. ent Bill would stand very little chance of M FBANCE.—The hurricane was not ?n from deauxandits accounts just n_pr i._J?er Parts of the South describe its ravages the shane ntxteat °' country. In the Aude it resumed shattered h! pei^ecfc cyclone. Several honses were Srsous wpr!Tung tha inhabitant* in the ruins, and 8 Lclone ma? .kllled* The trifle power of the thp Midi i lHlaSiued from the fact that a barge in niriinir „ .an^ a truck ten tons of coal standing on f „„ear\ y were hurled a distance of nearly 160 «*,»w0jU ytnan working in a vineyard clung to a ° order not to be carried off his feet, but the vortex caugbt up stake and man and carried them over the direction followed by the cyclone could i the space, 150 yards wide and 2$miles in nain a,d absolutely bare of trees and vines, and the P furrowed as with the plough. A Spanish frnm and his wife were driving to Biarritz nartv Vk i? de ^uz, when the lightning struck the hia kA» e "orse fell, and the coachman was knocked off it am a t When he recovered from the shock, hia that his shiny leather hat was in tatters. <w»nr/«h«ri ^,Fent behind, and the skin of his back was ^he horses were rather severely burnt. The injurecl the carnage felt the shock, but were not EMPKROR OF CHINA'S MARRIAGE.—The ex- nf .i«o forthcoming marriage of the Emperor y~ a .are estimated at nearly two millions sterling, fmJn* raised by special contributions from the dii- tlia f^iProvmces* The Empress Dowager has issued tfcifRowing decree on the subject:—"It is proper oTOrt f^tions should now be made for the great TO. ? the marriage of his Majesty the Emperor, r^oi rr therefore ordered the controller of the Im- 0usehold to take all the steps prescribed or this occasion in the Imperial statutes. The and is strictly limited by fixed rules, work f expenses are being incurred for the Military reorganisation. More than one# been general throughout the provinces, and + iu lon f°r the sufferings of the people accen- tuaros the importance of economy. The Court ought to set an example of thrift to the nation, and the sacrea auty of all high functionaries is. according to our aesire, to encourage simplicity of living ana to discourage extravagance. Let them therefore enjoin t^?ir subordinates to pursue honest courses. With tms object we have commanded Prince Chun to examine from time to time all the accounts opened nnder this head. As for the duties and preparations which devolve in consequence of this event on the different public departments, let eaoh of them, after complete and respectful examination of the established usages, address us memorials on the subject, and Await our further orders."

BURNING OF AN INMAN LINE STEAMER. The Furmss Line steamer York City, 1553 tons, on her home ward, voyage from Baltimore, with a cargaof grain, has biougiit intelligence of the overdue Inman Liner City of Montreal. She was burned at sea, and the York City had rescued the 25 intermediate and 110 steerage passengers, together with a large crew of 110 hands, from the burning steamship in the Atlantic Ocean. The City of Montreal, was recently purchased by the American Line Company, and sailed under the name of the Inman and International Line. She was an immense cargo- carrying vessel of 2941 tons register, and at;&e time of the disaster, was on a voyage from Kcw York, from which poit she sailed on the 6th inst. for Liverpool, via, Queenstown. A Falmouth telegram on Wednesday last a-tates that the German vessel Matbilde has arrived at that porf, having on board the missing seven passengers and six members of the crew of the lumau steamer City of Montreal, which was burnt at sea on the ll&h inst. The boat was picked up on the 15th inst., in latitude 42 54 N., longitude 40-20 W., having been four days at sea. The occupants took on board plenty of provisions, such I as fresh and salt meat, jam, biscuits, &e., but only half a ketolwater. They had no sails, mor a single rozket with which to make a signal of diitress. They drifted with the wind and tide to the south and east. The weather at the time was rough, and on two occasions the boat was swamped. It was with great difficulty tibat she was kept adoar, and bad another sea been shipped they must all have been thrown into the water. They were drifting about on Friday, the 12th, when they saw in the dis- tance a. three-masted steamer with a black funnel. They pulled towards her as best they could, and got within three or four cable lengths of her, when one of the crew hoisted his jacket and white pockethandker- chief as a signal of distress. They said one to the other, "We shall soon be on board of her," when suddenly, to their intense dismay. the vessel steamed right away from them. On the, same day they saw another steamer, but she was at too great a distance from them. On Saturday they thought they saw another steamer, and pulled towards it. After two or three hours' hard work they found themselves close by the burning steamer City of Montreal. They stayed by her the whole of Saturday night and the following day and night, and early on Monday morning the Mathiide bore down and took them on board. The City of Montreal was stilI burning when they were rescued. All the woodwork in her had been entirely consumed, and her plates were so hot that they couldnot board her, although they attempted to do so, for they were short of water, and had it not been that great care was exercised in dealing out their supply their position would have been very serious. As it was some of them occasionally rinsed their mouths with salt water. The passengers and crew all speak in high terms of the kindness shown towards them by Captain Baltzen, master of the Mathilde-

FATAL CANOE ACCIDENT AT PADSTOW.—On Tuesday evening a number of exc >rsi mists went on a pleasure trip from Wadebridge to Padstow, on the north coast of Cornwall, in canoe?, burges, snd other craft. The party were leaving Padstow Harbour on their return trip about six o'clock, at which time there was a strong breeze blowing and the tide was running rapidly. Shortly aft r they had left the harbour a canoe containing two young men. named Bonney and Docking, was seen to capsize and her occupants were thrown into the sea. Their cries for help were distinct'y he r l from the shore, and several boats put off to their assistat.ee. Bonney, who is a good swimmer, caught hold of Docking and succeeded in holding him up for some time but before the rescuing boats came up he was so exhausted that he was compelled to relinquish his bold, and Docking sank out of sight and was drowned within a few yards of his would-be rescuers. Bonney was rescued in a very exhau-ted state, and was on the point of sinking when he was seized and diagged into one of the barges. SOUDAN CLAIMS.—A batch of correspondence has been published as a parliamentary paper relating to the claims of the Egyptian Government and the counttr claims of the British Government arising out of the operations in the Soudan. In December, 1885, the English Govern- ment authoristd the raising of two native battalions to increase the fotcent Suakim, and in the following year the garrison was further augumented, at an estimated expenditure of je70,000 per annum, subst quently increased to £ 106,000. Eventually the Secret ry of State for War admitted claims to the amount of jE232,926, which were partly incurred by the Gordon relief expedition, in addition to which there were claims for railway services amounting to nearly £ 300,000. Counter claims against the Egyptian Government were put in amounting to B380,000, besides sundry payments on account. The protracted negotiations were closed early this year by a despatch from the Marquess of Salisbury to Sir E. Baring, in which the decision of her Majesty's Government was thus stated Her Majesty's Government on their side are ready to forego payment in the current ytar of the Egyptian contribution of j3200,000 towards the expenses of the British army of occupation, they will contribute the sum of j658,000 already provided in the Army Estimates for the garrison at Suakim, and they will further hand back a sum of £33,000, which has been held in suspense pending the settlement of accounts with Egypt. There will only remain for adjustment a sum of less than £100,000. This balance should be provided either out of the share of the surplus revenue, which will in April be applicable to administrative purposes, or out of the unexpended poit ou of the guaranteed loau of S900,000." A FAMILY MUBDEBED. — A report from Macon, Georgia, dated August 6th, states:—There was a whole- sale murder last night at the home of Captain Richard F. Woolfolk, a well-to-do farmer, 12 miles from this city. It was discovered this morning, when nine persons were found dead in the house, with their heads crushed in and their throats cut. The victims were Captain and Mrs. Woolfolk, their six children, ranging in age from 16 months to 20 years, and Mrs. West, an aunt of Mrs. Woolfolk, aged 80 years. The coroner's jury found a verdict of wilful murder against Thomas G. Woolfolk, a son of the captain by a former marriage, who was sleeping in the bouse. His statement was that some time before daybieak he was aroused by grlans and the sound of blows proceeding from his parents' room. His half-brother Richard ran into the room, which adjoined bis, and thinking that murder was being committed,, he (Thomas) jumped from a window in his night clothes aad bare feet, and ran to the house of a negro family, 300 or 400 yards distant, to get them to arouse the neighbourhood. He saya that he was afiaid to return at first, fearing that he himself would be murdered, but he went back after half-an-hour. No help had arrived, and he went in to see if the family had been murdered. He found them all dead. He stepped in a pool of blood in passing and left footprints on the floor. He found his stepmother lying so that her head was on the floor and her bedy on the bed. He raised her up and placed her on the bed. He then changed his clothes. By this time a crowd had arrived, and soon after he was taken into custody. The evidence before the jury was circum- stantial throughout. The crowd continued to grow in size, and the indications pointed strongly to lynching. Sheriff Westcott told the jury to withhold their verdict until he could get the prisoner away, and then, making all arrangements, slipped Woolfolk out of the house in a hurry and drove away so rapidly that the crowd had hardly time to realise his departure. The prisoner was brought to Macon and safely lodged in gaol, where he talked of the crime coolly, but made no admissions. His motive is said to be a desire to gain possession of his father's property for himself and two sisters, children of the nrst.wife. FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE THAMES.—A sad fatality, whereby it is feared that no fewer than fourteen lives are lost, occurred on the River Thames early on Monday evening off Ray's Wharf, Bermondsey. It is the custom for the watermen and waterside labourers of this locality to hold every year what is known as the St. Johns (Horselydown) Regatta, and it was in connection with this annual sport on Monday that the accident took place. The publicans and shopkeepers throughout the neighbourhood subscribe for the purchase of a boat to be competed for in four heats by selected oarsmen, the winner of the final heat becoming the owner of the craft. This competition is dignified with the title of a regatta. With fine weather prevailing it is not surprising that a large crowd of sightseers assembled on the banks to witness the racing, every advantageous position, whether ashore or afloat, being eagerly taken up. The first three heats were rowed without mishap, and as the fourth was nearly finished a good deal of excitement was roused. Just opposite the winning buoy was moored the barge Maria, laden heavily with hay, and belonging to Mr. Thomas Scott, of Fobbing, near Stanford-le-Hope, Essex. It occurred to a number of young men to mount this barge in order to get a good view, and witness the contest from the top of the cargo. As the contest was at its height the barge, released by the outgoing tide, and probably overweighted by the crowd as well, canted over on her side. Immediately upwards of a hundred trusses of hay were precipitated into the water, carrying with them about a score of the spectators, all of whom were men. Strenuous efforts were at once made to rescue the young fellows as they struggled desperately in the wa'er, and with some difficulty several were saved. It is feared, however, that at least 14 were drowned. Of these the body of one was recovered on Monday night. The corpse was identified as that of a labourer, named Jeremiah O'Brien, aged 31, living at 131, Wolseley-buildmgs, Dockhead. Dr. Fitz-Rayne, of 10, Tooley-street, who was in attendance, examined the body as soon as it was recovered, and pronounced life extinct. It was tnen removed to St. Olave's mortuary, awaiting an inquest. Throughout the evening, up to a late hour, a urge number of Thames police, assisted by local were engaged in dragging the river. Martin, 276, who witnessed the occurrence, states that the master of the barge warned the men as they clambered on to the hay of the danger they were incurring but no heed was paid to the caution. The barge was loaded with hay three trusses high, which was covered with tarpaulin. It now transpires that the strings by which the tarpaulin was secured suddenly snapped, causing such a swerving of the barge that its occupants, with one exception, fell into the water. At the time the water was only three feet deep, but the unfortunate victims had to contend with about eight feet of soft mud, so that even when the tide was quite down the draggers encountered almost insuperable difficulties. Another body was taken from the mud early on Tuesday morning, and the two corpses are now lying at the neighbouring mortuary, awaiting an inquest. Dragging is still being proceeded with, but it is considered likely that some of the bodies may remain in the mud for weeks, even if they are recovered at all. Four more bodies of the men drowned at Horlzelydown on Monday were picked up on Tuesday morning by the Thames police and the watermen of the district. The bodies were removed to St. Saviour's Mortuary, where they remain awaiting identification. This makes a total of six bodies recovered.

HARBOUR MATTERS. — TO THE EDITOR OF "THE CAMBITIAN." SIR,-In your last impression'' Semper Idem" suggests, parenthetically, that I have written the letters signed Low Water," which have recently appeared in your iCardiff contemporaries. Permit me to put him right lupon that matter by informing him that such is not the jc&Be, as I only write to The Cambrian upon Swansea grievances. Without wishing to enter into any contro- versy as to Harbour matters, my impression is that Low Water" speaks the truth and hits the right nail on the head and if I may be permitted I should like to ask "Semper Idem" why people who call at the Harbour Office to see the official who ought to be found there at all reasonable hours, should be expected to write for in- formation. They could do that, if they wished, through the Post Office, when they are unable to attend personally; but if they take the trouble to attend individually, they have the right to expect that the Harbour Superinten- dent is to he seen there.—Yours truly, MUD LARK.

+ THE GAELIC AND THE WELSH, (26). TO THE ETIITon OF "THE CAMBRIAN." SIB, The words given in the previous letters as examples of the AFFINITY of the above two languages, by Ho means exhaust the subject, and many other examples Of similarity of construction, such at, dda.ddeug air ftchead, in which dda-ddeug means two and teu, and ftchead, twenty,-the whole meaning thirty-two. The Welsh is similarly constructed, deuddeg ar hugain. Again an naoiddeaf salm thar an flichead (the ninth fcsalm after the twentieth, i.e, the 29rh Psalm), in Welsh it may be, y nawfed sahn ar ol yr ugeinfed, or, y nawfed Octim ai- hugain. Many borrowed words are formed on the same dialectical times,-Daifydd (David), Dafydd; tain (John), loan peacadd (sin), pechod eaglais (a church), eglwys. The word eaylais takes the form eccles IN proper names, such as Ecclescraig. in Welsh, Eglwys (Jurig (the church of Cyrus). In the c, Gazetteer of Scot- land" these words (under Eccles) may be seen:— Eccles* would, at first sight, be viewed by most persons as certainly derived from the Greek Ecclesia, a church; while, with far more likelihood, it was really derived from the British Eglys, or the Gaelic Eaglis, both of *hich mean church.' The authority for Eglys 10, Probably, Dr Owen Pughe, who analyses it into egglwys, ^ud explains it as "that is hallowed or sanctified j ft church ;99 but, Robert John Price, the editor of the third edition does not support the Dr'S view, but prefers the derivation from ecclesia, and Price's view is generally the Accepted one NOW. IU his "Thomas Carlyle," Moncure 'T), Couway writes:—"It is said that the name of this ♦illage (Ecclefechan, where Carlyle was buried.) means I the EreUsia of St. Fechan, and that the aacient church stood near the spot where Hoddam kirk now stands." JLO the Gazetteer,' the name is given as Ecclesfechan,' Hot 'Ecclefechan.' We have Eglwysfach (the little thurch), in Wales, bach meaning 'little.' From bach we 'orm the masculine diminutive bychait, and the feminine timinutive bechan, and as eglwys is constructively '•minine, we do not say Eglwysfychan, but Eglwysfechan !*HE little church). No such name as" Mechan" appears JN the list of Welsh saints. In concluding these letters, it is well to mention that |tfce Gaelic has many words not found in Welsh. There innsgin or inntinn (the mind), which is meddwl in Velsh; o'c (mischief), drygioni; tudann (a face), gwyneb !«OMA (barley), haidd, &c. IN Neil M'Alpine's Gaelic jdictionary, is seeu the word ffridijf, which is explained tO mean the USE of another man's house, for a limited as your own,' and it is asserted that the English |*ord'' freedom' is derived from ffridiof. Dr Macleod's dictionary gives coilinn, (a candle, Welsh, canwyll), as DERIVED from coilletheine, and meaniog the flame of a WOODEN torch. HH ALSO derives Addaf (Adam), from Add ttoess«), and says that the literal meaning is the blessed tarson;' Geanatr (January), is derived from gean (birth), ,4ciir (an hour), and its meaning is given as birth of the )ear.' Dr O. Pughe is somewhat similar in his Explanation of the Welsh Ionawr (January). In keep. ING with these doubtful explanations, a writer of an Article in Y Geuineu says, that teml (a temple), is a Iorroption of ty mawl (a house of praise). Similar Agarics have been written by authors of other natiouali- ses. [This letter ends this part of the subject. A series of 'trther letters will follow on The Welsh and the W"] _—=—=== "•

COMMERCIAL FAILURES. number Stubbs' Weekly Gazette," the J+>.« iures England and Wales gazetted frZgoo^ Ieek,e.ndin^Auff 20th> waa 106. The number ° ;nPraQo ^0^dlno week of last year was 103, showing tmnnfrst tho /*ii The failures were distributed 6 following trades, and for comparison we 1886 and 1885 eae^ *n corresponding weeks of -r 1887. 1886. 1885. rhemists Aerials 12 10 8 Chemists and Drysalters 2 — 1 £ Earthenware 2 — 2 Corn, Coals, Mineral* d ii Sffi' { i 1 I SCy' ™ § Metals ° » I J ,| i » 106 103 85 Kom'qtornrl ?°5, ^Uls of sale in England and Wales, ^>ntV, Queen's Bench for the week ending «roSr nf l' 1as ^39. The number in the corresponding fn* ii. year was 249, and the corresponding jg0 the three previous years 218, 205, and

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. THE BULGARIAN QUESTION. PRINCE FERDINAND AT SOFIA. SOFIA, Monday, 9.30 p.m.—Prince Ferdinand, accom* panied by a brilliant suite, .arrived here at six.o* clock thia evening from Philippopolis, having travelled by special train as far as Vacarel, on the new railway. A guard of honour, furnished by the 1st. Infantry Regiment, was drawn up at the entrance to the town,' where a triumphal ar oi8 en erected, and on the Prince's arrival a salute *T i- was 'he band playing the Bulgaria* National Hymn. The Mayor then presented bread and salt, and read an address, of welcome to his Highness, who replied in a few well-ahosen words. A tremendous crowd had gathered along the whole line of route, and heartuy chet red the Piince. Various corporations sent deputations to welcome his Highness, and troops belonging to a number of regiments formed a line as far as the palace, where all the officers had assembled. Prince Ferdinand subsequently repaired to the cathedrat where the customary senvice was celebrated, and then returned to the palace,. being received on entering with another salute of 21 guns. The city is en, fete and at night there were illuminations and a display of fire- works. M. Tontcbeff consented on Tuesday afternoon to form a new Cabinet. A very unfavourable impression has been created here by a rumour that Artiu Effendi, on coming here, will be accompanied by a Russian Commissioner. The Metropolitan of Sofia stated 00 Monday in the Cathedral that he was happy to learn that Prince Ferdinand would use his best efforts to effect a reconciliation with Russia. These words caused some dissatisfaction among the officeiiof the army. I have ob ained the following information on good authority. A few days ago the Russian Ambassador at Constantinople proposed to the Porte that a Turkish Commissioner and a Russian General should be appointed, and that they should intimate to Prince Ferdinand that his presence in Bulgaria was no longer required, and that after his expulsion from the country the Commissioner and the General should govern Bulgaria until a new Sobranje was elected. The Ambassadors of England, Austria, and Italy have strongly advised the Porte to reject this proposition. The British Ambassador has also declared to the Porte that it cannot treat with Russia alone on the Bulgarian Question, but must have the co-operation of the other Powers who signed the Berlin Treaty. On the other hand, my informant adds that the German Ambassador continues to urge upon the Porte the necessity of accepting Russia's proposition. If my information be correct, we shall have Europe divided into two camps on the Bulgarian Questior, France will undoubtedly side with Russia. Thus England, Austria, and Italy will form ore camp; Russia, Germany, and France the other.—Daily News Athens correspondent. It is stated that the arms manufactories at Suhl, in Thuringia, are executing large contracts for rifles given by the Russian Government. The contracts are said to be so extensive that it will be five years before they are carried out. CANADIAN RAILWAYS. TORONTO, Monday. — The Evening News to-day publishes an account of an interview between Sir John Macdonald, the Dominion Premier, and a leading Manitoban Conservative, in which the former is repre> seuted to have declared th,t Federal supremacy must remain intact; that the C arter passed by the Mauitoban Legislature for the establishment of railway communica- tiun between Winnipeg and the United S'atos frontier had been disallowed; that such disallowance must take effect, and that the construction of the railway must certainly be stopped. On being asked what force he would employ, Sir John Macdonald replied that the Government would apply for the services of British lesulais for the purpose. In conclusion, the Premier tiaid I am determined to stop the work of the construction of the Mauitoban line at all hazards. The appearance of British regulars at Winnipeg w:ll bring tbe unruly province into submission, and these troops wiS be ready for '.he service of the Empire iu the event ol war with India. SERIOUS FISHERY AFFRAY AT OSTEND. Considerable agitation has prevailed for several days past among the local fishermen at Ostend, who are pro- testing against the sale of fish brought in by foreign slacks. An English fishing boat arrived to-day, and was about to land her cargo, when the Belgian fishermen assembled to prevent it from being brought ashore, and destroyed a portion of the fish. The gendarmery then intervened, and an affray ensued between them and the men, in which the former were beaten off. The gendarmery thereupon charged the rioters with their bayonets, wit') the result that several of the fishermen were injured, two seriously. Fresh disturbances are apprehended on the return of the other smack?, which are still at sea, and a portion of the Civic Guard has been called out to be readiness should its services be re- quired. At the present time fish is being landed from three English smacks under the surveillance of the police. The windows of the owner of the English fishing boat which was attacked have been smashed by the rioters. It is hoped that the agitation will soon be allayed. RENEWED RIOTING AT OSTEND. TWO PERSONS KILLED AND FOUR INJURBD. OSTEND, August 24.-The fishery riots assumed larger dimensions to-day, notwithstanding the departure of the English steam-trawler Lamberton. The IOMI fishermen with the aid of boats, made a rush upon two small English smacks, with the object of preventing the sale of the cargo, and, in spite of the formal summons of the Ostend Civic Guard, refused to leave the English smacks, whereupon the artillery fired upon the rioters, two of whom were killed and four seriously wounded. The wives of the fishermeu are inciting their husbands to acts of violence, and the fish porters have been attacked by a menacing crowd with stones and other missiles. The English fishing vessels are on the point of leaving the port. It is asserted that one of the English masters fired upon a Belgian fisherman this morning, but this statement has not been substantiated. The duties of the Civic Guard are being taken over by the military. The quaya are already guarded by troops, and crowds are forbidden to assemble.

LONGEVITY. Mr. T. R Allison, L.R.C.P., thus writes to the London Echo on the above subject:—The question of man's age is one simply of calculation based on certain lines. Most animals live six times the period they are coming to puberty: some say on coming to maturity. Mankind attains puberty about the age of fifteen if we multiply this by six we get the age of ninety years as being man's proper age at the time of death. If we reckon by maturity then we get a longer period. Man comes to maturity from twenty-two to twenty-five years; if we take the lower number as our base for calculating In and multiply as before, we get over one hundred and twenty years as the age at which man should die. Having obtained an idea of man's natural dying period, let us next see how he shortens this and dies many years before he ought to. For example's sake we will take a person with an average stocft 01 vitality, not an extra strong man, nor yet a feeble one, but an average one. and it can be positively asserted that, if this person will live a plain, regular, and hygienic life, that he will not die before eighty, leaving aside accidents. If a person is regular in his habits, temperate in his food and drink has regular exercise or work, breathes pure air, and has a philosophic calmness to take the world as he finds it then he will live out his eighty years, and suffer very little from sickness of any kind. If we take a strong man and one who comes from a healthy and lone-lived race, there is no reason why he should not attain a century on condition that he obeys the rule of health. On the contrary, a man who does not act up to the laws of health, or who does unhygienic things as well, will very greatly lessen his vitality, and may die any time from puberty to sixty. It has been said that anyone who attains to puberty, and then dies under seventy, is morally guilty of suicide. The reason is this our organs, if properly treated, will last us seventy or eighty years, but if we overwork some, or not use others, then the balance of the system is upset and we die before the proper age for death. The most powerful shortener of life is the food eaten we eat too much, too often, and wrong kinds of food, and thus wear out rapidly our excretory organs. Next we drink too much, and improper fluids. Alcoholic stimulants of all kinds, from the mildest lager beer to the strongest liqueur, all shorten life. The more taken the sooner we die, and if taken even in moderation, but regularly, they do harm and shorten existence. Tobacco plays another sad part in shortening life; it weakens the heart's action, paralyses many of the nerve centres, and hastens disorganisation of the body. Even tea and coffee, mild drinks aa no doubt many people take them to be, lessen the vital powers and bring on premature decay. Drugs and medicines also play an important part in cutting short life. There are thousands wh ave ]°inedthe majority who would har# T ha.<i they been left to themselves and not interfered with and poisoned by the well • QS of °'her persons shorten their lives by not obeying natural laws they breathe impure f'r'°nr PO}8°n themselves by rebreathing their own breath; 7 ^°^n8E they start off all tho chest diseases from pleurisy to consumption. Others never attain proper development, because they do not use their muscles much; their organs are feeble, they exist but do not live, and a slight accident or upset carries them off, as they have not the vitality necessary to resist disease. Others again never wash or bathe themselves, their skin pores are clogged up, waste matter is contained in the system, disease sets in and death occurs. Thus life is shortened and man is carried off. To live long we must cease to dO evil and learn to do well. We must abstain from intoxicating drinks, either as medicines or because we like them, or because we think they will do us good. Next we must smash our pipes and throw the tobacee behind the fire; strong tea and coffee must be avoided— the weaker these beverages are taken the better-better still, drink cocoa. If illness does come, adopt simple diet and baths, remain at home, call in your doctor, and if he sends you drags; pour them down the sink and then they won't harm yen. Eat three simple meals a day at stated hours, avoid suppers. Take daily exercise of from one to two hours or more. Breathe all the puiv air you can get, keep your windows open night and day in ail weathers and at all seasons, and chest diseases wul never trouble you. Keep the skin pores open by a dailj sponge all over, and a fortnightly warm bath, or by A weekly warm bath alone. Take life as you find it, da your work honestly and well and hope for the best. Good work makes the workmen contented, and this frame of mind is an aid to longevity. These aretbe rules to follow If we wish to have a long life and a merry ene.