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DJftapolitan (Sossip.

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DJftapolitan (Sossip. BY OUR OWN COKBWCPOTDKNT. [The remarks under this head are to be regarded as the 8%. pression of independent opinion, from the pen of a gentleman in whom we have the greatest confidence, but for which WO nevertheless do not hold ourselves responsible.] In the political world the chief topic appears still to be the Irish Church question, apropos ol Mr. Glad- stone's bill. Immediately on the measure being brought in there were conflicting rumours as to the line of action which the C. nservative party would take, but there is now no doubt as to their course. Last Thursday there was a meeting at the town residence of Lord Derby, and it is said the feeling was unanimous in favour—to put it in familiar English—of war to the knife, and hence the notice of amendment on the second reading, given by Mr. Gathorne Hardy on behalf of Mr. Disraeli. The second reading of the bill stands for Thursday, the 18th, and on that evening we may expect one of Mr. Disraeli's elaborate and caustic speeches. The debate on the bill is looked forward to with much interest, as it is believed that both parties will put forward their best speakers. As to the divi- sion, the whips on either side will be hard at work, for it is felt that the result will be of immense political importance. People are actively speculating on that result, but the dominant opinion undoubtedly is that Mr. Gladstone will have a majority. Meanwhile the House of Commons is bard at work on other matters. The new Parliament, in fact, seems to have a vigor- ous appetite for work. No less than forty notices of motion were given on one evening, and the amount of business already commenced, or which is indicated by preliminary notice, is enough in itself for the remainder of the session, at least. The attendance in the House, too, is good, and the business of Parliament, so far, at all events, as the Lower House is concerned, is carried on with spirit. The visit of her Majesty to London, the welcome royal standard flying from the flagstaff on Bucking- ham Palace, the holding of a court and levée, and the announcement of further court assemblies have naturally produced a cheering effect in our quiet re- tired little village. The Queen's visits to London are short and far between," but they are valued all the more highly for that reason. On the whole, the London RaBOn this year promises to be more lively than any we have had for several years. The nation was heartily congratulating itself on the prospect of decreased taxation, consequent on the army and nary estimates showing a reduction of £2,385,000, when all of a sudden the Chancellor of the Exchequer makes one of the most unpleasant announcements we could have had. That wretched Abyssinian war is very far from being paid for yet. People were congratulating themselves that five millions sterling *v uiild pay for it, but now Mr. Lowe has asked for a supplemental estimate of making altogether the enormous sum of £8,600,000 for rsleaeing a few prisocers; and there is reason to fear that this amount, large as it is, will not pay the entire bill. Well may one of the members speak of monstrous discrepancy of the original estimate and the total sum asked for—and granted. After all this, he must be a very sanguine man who would look forward to a very favourable budget. Whether it would or would not be desirable to have the ballot, I will not argue, but it is very remarkable that a. prominent member of the present Government has avowed himself in favour of it. The Home Secre- tary, in moving for a select committee to inquire into the mode of conducting parliamentary and municipal elections, stated that his experience at the last election had converted him to the ballot, and avowed that the object of this committee is to see whether some system of secret voting cannot be devised. When Mr. Bruce avowed himself a convert to the ballot there were loud cheers from the ministerial benches. The matter as it stands is remarkable, for such an avowal and such cheers must be regarded as very significant; but of course it remains to be seen whether the committee will recommend the ballot, and whether Parliament will adopt it if it be recommended. At all events the advocates of the ballot are in high spirits at this partial triumph of their principles. Sir Rowland Hill in his most sanguine moments pro- bably never thought that the gross income of the Post Office would reach in any one year such an enormous sum as £4,590,000, but the return just issued shows that this amount has been earned during the last year. ,Now that the Post Office has thus achieved so glorious a success, the question may well be asked whether it is not high time that we had a much-needed reform. Ocean penny postage would be a glorious thing, but this is not what I refer to. More desirable than this is the reduction of postage on printed matter, and Mr. Graves, the representative of a large commercial con- stituency, does well to call the attention of the House of Commons to the subject. We are behind America and the Continent in this matter. What is wanted is a halfpenny stamp for newspapers, circulars, and printed matter generally, say under two ounces, or some would say under four ounces. Now the former would be a great boon to the commercial community, newspaper proprietors, and newspaper purchasers, and in lirectly it would greatly promote trade by the issue and delivery of circulars by post. Perhaps a half- penny stamp for printed matter under four ounces would be too great a change to make at once, but the minor reform would largely benefit the country and, instead of injuring the Post Office revenue, would, in a short time, largely increase it. Miss Rye is again going out to Canada, in May, with a party of young women as emigrants. She has found that, when once in our colonies, women can obtain immediate and satisfactory employment. How is it then that this lady receives so little patron- age and aid ? Very quietly and unostentatiously, but also very persistently, she has now for several years been helping women to emigrate. Cannot our noble and wealthy assist her ? Great good would be' done in this way, not only by relieving our overstocked female labour-market here, but the indirect nflianc.3 In the cause of morality would be very great. Whil Miss Rye is helping her poorer sisters, a numbe of city gentlemen, with the Lord Mayor at their head, ar trying to help poor workmen and their families to emigrate from the wretched eastern districts of Lon- don, and the Queen has come forward with a contribu- tion of JE150 towards the fund. Another important fact must be mentioned. The colony of Victoria is arranging the preliminaries for a line of large steamers which are to carry emigrants from England to Mel- bourne in large numbers. And then there are emi- gration clubs in various parts of the country, so that altogether unusual attention is being devoted to the subject of emigration. History repeats itself, and some of the saddest episodes in history, too A month ago there was a double murder at Poplar," and now the body of the murderer has just been found. He had committed suicide. And simultaneously with this discovery the town is ringing with the news of "another double murder at Poplar and suicide of the murderer." These two triple crimes have features of horror peculiar to themselves, but, alas! they will probably ere long be forgotten amid the details of some other horrid crime for in each case the suicide of the murderer, though it adds to the fearful character of the offence against God and man, prevents public excitement being kept alive as it would be were the trial of the murderers ending. Another victim to working men's burial societies. A workman applies to a magistrate to compel a burial society to pay £7 to which the man is entitled. He had paid 2d. a week for twelve years, and his wife had belonged to the society for twenty years, and yet, when the poor fellow's wife lies dead and he applies to the society he is told that there are no funds, and that the society is dissolved! Well may the magistrate speak of such societies as miserable swindles. "Com- plaints of this kind, he was sorry to say, were too fre, quent to be looked over; and enry week øome fresh complaint of publicans and secretaries came under his Dotice, people paying for a number of years and being defrauded of their hard earnings. He heartily wished the Legislature would put a stop to such rascally pro- ceedings." Too much publicity cannot be given to such a case as this. Benefit societies, burial societies, clc., are excellent things in their way, always pro. vided they are honourably conducted and are secure but if neither, they are little less than curses to the working classes. The Legislature has an immense amount of work on hand and before it, but really so important a matter ought not to be neglected 1 For years a remedy has been talked of. but that is all. I cannot help thinking that Mr. Tidd Pratt uninten- tionally and unavoidably does a good deal of harm. He is merely the revising barrister appointed to certify that the rules of the benefit societies are in •-ocerdance with the Act of Parliament, and this duty uo doubt he performs honourably enough but his name is advertised in connection with these societies a a though he guaranteed their respectability anc soivence. He does nothing of the kind, and the sooner "working men fully realise the fact the better. Slowly but steadily the ground is being cleared for the new Pe of Justice, though, I believe, at the present moment it iIa not absolutely decided that the new law courts are to be built upon this site. In due time the bouses adjoining Temple Bar will be pulled down, they having just been sold for that purpose, and the Bgly oKLcity gate will soon follow. Great progress is making with Holborn Viaduct and the adjacent streets, and it is hoped that in June or July this new road will be publicly opened—perhaps by the Prince of Wales. When the viaduct and the streets in the neighbourhood .are completed, this part of London will have undergone the greatest ^hanr e* of any, aud the improreaaent wiil be immense. Among other im- iwovements its the Tower Subway, and the work is gradually7progressing! The excavation has been par- tially effected, and the greater portion of the cast-iron shaft cylinders have arrived. A railway through this subway will greatly relieve the traffic on either side of the riTer, and will go far to supply the want of a bridge but the necesity of at least two or three new bridges onr the river is all great as ever. Enry one who has passed through Leicester-square must haTe noticed the horribly dilapidated state of the railings of the inclosure, and the wretched condi. tion of the inclosure itself. It is neither a public square, a garden, an open space, a recreation ground, nor anything but a miserable receptacle for refuse, and occasionally it presents the aspect of a cemetery for dogs and cats. The high and mighty Court of Chancery however, has just decided that it can do nothing in the matter, and the owners of this pitiable place are now legally allowed-to let it alone. More's the pity

A LONDON MYSTERY.

[No title]

[No title]

A NARROW ESCAPE:

MR. GLADSTONE'S FIGURES ON…

THE REASON WHY?

PRISONERS' FRIENDS.

---------THE QUEEN'S LEVEE.

DEATH OF SIR JAMES EMERSON…

-----._-----BREACH OF PROMISE…

A MAN OF EEACE WITH IMPLEMENTS…

---- -----------LATEST NEWS…

AN ELECTION IN HUNGARY.

----------PROHIBITION OF MARRIAGE…

llltstcIIimtoMS nttIligtnttt"