South Wales Daily News

1 LONDON LETTER, j [FROI OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.] [SPECIALLY WIRED.] ¡ LONDON, Tuesday Night. PAROCHIALISM IN THE COMMONS. The tornado which burst over the heads rt, *^e ^overnment this afternoon was all *> the fiercer because it was long pent up. As 80 often appears whenever any subject of P pressing interest is afoot, a comparatively trivial obstruction blocked the way, and I toen grew irritated at the hindrance offered by Parochialism to Imperial business. To- day it was Mr Alpheus Morton's praise- worthy but untimely fight against the bad habit tramway managers have of raising their fares on special days that clogged the wheels of the Parliamentary I machine, Liverpool and Croydon Tram- | way Bills being on the paper. i Mr Morton moved to insert clauses which he quaintly described as enacting that there shall always be charged, especially on public holidays, the fares charged on other days. Liverpool members were very much In evidence, Mr Walter Long, Mr Neville, and Mr Willox insisting that the amendment would cause the withdrawal of the Liver- pool Corporation Bill, while Mr Snape backed up Mr Morton, Ultimately Mr I Morton changed his tactics, withdrawing his I amendment in order to move what I he called "a few additional verbal I I words to the clause. These were to the I f effect that higher rates shall not be charged I I on special occasions without the consent of I ihe local authority. This led to more talk- I [ ing, and the rejection of the motion by 69, I Messrs Willox and Neville telling for the I majority, Mr Snape and Mr Morton for the I minority. Then a similar question as affect- I mg Croydon had to be fought out, I i ind here the business was much com- I | plicated by what had taken place in I } "ommittees of both Houses. The affair got I I into such a tangle that members quite glee- I £ rully hailed a happy suggestion for the I f idjournment of the whole business. I J CLOSURING OBSTRUCTION. I [ Consequent upon all this, question time I f was delayed by a full hour, so that it was I f ?ast five o'clock when Sir Wm. Harcourt I rose to propose his motion specifying fixed I [ oeriods to which the various stages of the I | fevicted Tenants Bill must be confined. I [ The Chancellor's manner certainly justified I Mr Balfour's subsequent charge of per- I ilitictoriness, for the sincere regret he ex- I [ pressed in words at having to propose excep- I j tional measures was emphasised by the ill- I concealed dislike for the task written large I on his method of delivering his five minutes' I speech. I :1IIlt BALFOUR'S STAGE ATTITUDE. I Mr Balfour seized eagerly upon this when, I Raising his voice from Ins first words in a I Way most unusual with him, he actually H shouted his fierce denunciations, and almost ■ screamed his exaggerated epithets. The ■ assumption of indignant virtue was just a ■ little overdone, for imitations of Mr T. W. ■ Russell's manner do not sit well on Mr ■ Balfour, who is worthy of better things, and ■ while it delighted his own militant followers ■ md flung them into rhapsodies of cheering, ■ it compelled sober hearers to the ■ inquiry whether this speaker, trembling ■ with histrionic horror at assaults on the honour, dignity, self-respect, and ■ traditions of the House of Commons could ■ actually be the man who was a chief actor in far more arbitrary gagging.s of the voice ■ of Parliament when lie was carrying Crimes Acts and stifling discussion on a Parnell Commission. However, lie made it quite ■ olear that in loftily declining to play any part in what lie called a farce, or to inter- pose under conditions which did not permit Jiim to discharge the duties entrusted ■ to him by his constituents, he re- ■ aed on the House of Lords to make ■ this procedure an excuse for rejecting the H Rill "You can't expect the House ■ Df Lords," said this excited protester M igainst the abasement of the House of ■ Commons, to correct your error or to make great efforts towards the end of August^to turn your Bills into sense," and he "wound up with a fierce amendment irhich was enthusiastically welcomed by the ■ Tories and Unionists. HONEST JOHN'S RETORT. ■ Mr Balfour's denunciatory style had the ■ effect of working up Mr John Morley to a state of great animation, and the Chamber H rang with the delighted cheers and shouts H of the Liberals and Nationalists as he H met railing with crushing argument, and threats with a firm and contemptuous scorn. Mr Chamberlain, while not lacking in vigour of expression, mingled with liis strong H phrases, crocodile tears, and lamentations H over the manner in which the prospects of H Settlement developed with the last hours of Friday night, were relentlessly dashed to H the vrouiid by this monstrous proposal. Then a settlement seemed&welllwithin reach now the accommodating Opposition had its ■ friendliness met with a blow in the face ■ -vhich made any further amicable negotia- ■ iions utterly impossible. Like Mr Balfour, ■ be, too, should enwrap himsel in a mantle ■ Df outraged digmty, and should hold severely ■ >loof from any further intervention. A SENSIBLE UNIONIST. ■ Mr Courtney, in the most statesmanlike ■ .peech of the H iwo wings of the Opposition m this po cy oi abdication, or secession B is Sir Wm. Harcourt subsequently called it. The absolute necessity for Iprevent* ■ reasonable landlords from keepnigtena^ ^ut. of their holdings was, he sai < he had learnt from Mr Balfour m > he could not but hope that even at thi eleventh hour counsels of moderaaoi < 5°ncession would prevail, bringing pea relief to Ireland, and saving Parliament -rom the degradation in which the maiiutac- iurers of amendments, unchecked by their waders, threatened to land it. PEACE REFUSED. Sir William Harcourt met this in the most s°nciliatory spirit. He would be on } oo £ lad to withdraw the amendment if he ftaci assurance of fair dealing with the Bi 0n the part of the Opposition but although *We was much talk of conciliation, rather .on the part of Mr Whitbread and Mr Russell than of Mr Goschen aad Colone Reaching of peace. The division was taken Ilr Russell sat down, and Mr ^four's amendment was ieJ nceiior>s H majority of 43. Then the; ^ancel^ ^0t'on was carfed ^o'clock, members teing nearly eight ocl pro. ■ SSfo Settee of Supply. ■ The dinner to° S "3 wut ^orrow night at the "VS hitehal H the point of view lecidea success, over 180 L f-heir in- Parliament having s,gn,B,d the.r^ -e>ition to be present. Ther oliLic;U Yfear.on the Part of S°me fVfficultV, and direction there may be some i tQ tjie ^?yfcl"ng like a 46Tn I, which could ^hancellor of the Exchequei bery is regarded as a snub to -orifcy 0f the strongly deprecated byf nains that the ^embers. Still, the fact reuiains eading organisers of the fco a llose- £ °nS shown themselves press may Partnership, and tli thfl worst of e trusted to make the hes in to the ]ny references not strictly i the Success of the Budget Bill) gay reason of the dinner. first c>at the National Liberal t-iu h0 gace of meeting, and the» c gtrong **°tel Metropole has called the Protests from the leading official club. I-Sxed on by the Harcourt com tjie gace of meeting, and the» c gtrong **°tel Metropole has called the Protests from the leading official club. THE INDEPENDENT LABOUR PAR^'tv is That the Independent Labour p lining ground, for the m<?tne rp. is not ^an no longer be denied. M„fropolis to so great a degree in t»e „rsonally in the provinces, but I know P • njsts chat quite a number of Trades }iaVe leaders of labour thought w ]jjed Recently given up Radic»liBm »|W themselves with the irreconcilaW t],e iveirHardieites are seriously consiae luestion of organisation, which mUch ^reat drawback, but they are 0. tampered by lack of funds. A P d which is practical in „ rtwh would make 'heir plan of and give more chance of sucee^ frain from hfci seat, Tfcry, which has more than 600 or 700 ot a majority. An enthusiastic member of the Independent Labour party informs me that this has been seriously discussed. Atter- clifle would, however, form an exception, and Labour men boast that the money has I been promised to fight Mr Batty Langley. THE ',PEILKFlt AND MR J. H. WILSON. The Speaker has been greatly blamed for its attack on Mr J. H. Wilson, the member for Middlesbrough, and most people are agreed that it was unwise, if not a trifle ill- natured, to refer to a phase in the Labour member's career as an "eating-house keeper." It has, however, been only slightly considered that Mr Wilson in going to South Shields and actively interfering in the con- test is guilty of equally bad taste, and I have heard even some of his own friends declare that in strict decency he had no business there. Mr Robson, the Liberal candidate, was his opponent at Middles- brough at the general election, and although he polled a large vote and came very near the Labour member's record, yet he has retired, and the local Liberals had no intention of troubling Mr Wilson when the next fight comes. A different course may, however, now be pursued. CHINA AND JAPAN. I have reason to believe that Lord Kim- berley has sent a strong remonstrance to Japan for firing upon a Chinese troopship without declaring war and while negotiations for peace were in progress. China does not get off without blame, in that she is condemned for sending a very large reinforcement to Corea while entering peaceably into overtures with Japan. This feeling expressed by Lord Kimberley, is shared in by other powers, and it would bo a splendid coup for peace if it should lead to a joint note from all the powers condemn- ing this mode of making war. JABEZ. There is auother piece of good news also from the Foreign Office. It is quite true that a secret engagement exists between England and Argentina for the giving up of Jabez Balfour. The whole of the laws of the land are to be first tried, and then if they fail, the Argentine Republic will turn Mr Balfour over to the hands of Chief Inspector Tonbndge, who has been patiently waiting at Buenos Ayres the last six months for his quarry.

THE CILFYNYDD VERDICT. MABON ON THE SLIDING-SCALE RUPTURE. [BY OUR LONDON WELSH CORRESPONDENT.] LONDON, Tuesday. Mr Wm. Abraham, M.P., who attended ihe House this evening in response to an urgent Government whip, after attending, at the request of the workmen, an impor- tant meeting of the colliers at Cilfynydd, held for the discussion of the serious and, to them, vital question whether they would be justified in resuming work under the present management, was asked his opinion as to the attitude taken up by the workmen with regard to the proposed special enquiry into the causes of the Cilfynydd explosion. Mr Abraham said that such an enquiry appeared to him the only satisfactory means of solving the difficulties left undetermined by the recent inquest, namely, those connected with the locality and origin of the explosion. He had reason to believe that even from the employers' point of view such a course would be satisfactory. From hat of the workmen so much depended upon it that it became an absolute necessity. If it originated where some of the expert witnesses located it, viz., under the pit, it invested working underground with new and unknown terrors. If, on the other hand, it had its origin wb#re the inspectors suggested, viz., in Grover's heading, it was undoubtedly the result, of preventible causes. In either case it was most essential I to find out the truth. Mr Abraham, there- I fore, intended to ask the Welsh and Labour members to support him in asking the Home Secretary to use the power he possesses under the Mines Act to appoint a properly qualified commissioner with scientific and practical assessors to conduct such an inquiry. Mr Burt is, I understand, in thorough sympathy with the member for the Rhondda in this matter, and has promised h m his support. With regard to the rupture on the sliding- scale committee, Mr Abraham was of opinion that it was even more serious than it appeared, for if the employers insist on the course they have adopted, it cannot help but undermine all previous arrange- ments. In his judgment the course is not only uncalled for, but is most unjust to the checkweighers, who have rendered most valuable services to the Sliding-scale Committee. Mr Albert Spicer, M.P., is far from satisfied with the answer given last night by the Postmaster-General to his enquiry concerning post-office appointments in North and South Wales. The facts are much too strong for the theory of mere eoincidence and the hon. member, failing a satisfactory solution from Mr Arnold Morley (with whom he had a personal inter- view this afternoon), is determined to bring the matter again before the House of Commons. Mabon has been invited as a special guest to the complimentary dinner to be given to Sir William Harcourt at the Hotel Metropole to-morrow evening.

WORKING MEN AND HOUSE OWNERSHIP. BISHOP OF CHESTER'S VIEWS. The Central News Jearns that Mr Stanley Boulter has received the following additional expressions of opinion on his proposal that I municipalities should be empowered to advance to the working classes the necessary money to purchase their houses, to be repaid with interest by weekly payments. The Bishop of London writes I h:we very hearty sympathy with the prospect to aid artizans and labourers to purchase their houses by loans to them for that purpose." TheBishop of Chester writes With the objects your plan has in view I am, and long have been in full sympathy, and I see no reason w y plan itself should not be brought into a thorough y workable shape. I hope to follow the movemeut with much interest." The Right. Hon. Sir John Mowbray, M.P., writes 1 heart',y ^"believe with the objects you have m view, and believe that much good would result from facilities being given to working men to become the owners of their own houses." I TO-DAY'S WEATHER 4.30 A.M. I

TO-DAY 'VFJATHE!J:.30_ TO-DAYtS FORECAST FOR ENGLAND, S.W., AND SOUTH WALES. South-westerly to wffitevly winds, moderate or settled some ram possibly thunder. G ENE R A L.-Unsettled rainy weather is probable in most places, with local thunder storms.

FOUR PERSONS HANGED. BERLIN, Tuesday.—A family drama, resemb- ling the terrible domestic tragedy which caused such a sensation at the beginning of June, has just been enacted here. At eleven o'clock this morning a locksmith named. Patschowski, his wife, and two sons, aged ten and seven, were found hanged at their lodgings in the Surne- muende Strasse. All four were dead when cut down. No cause is assigned for the tragedy, but it appears the man Patschowski was suffering from consumption, and it is supposed that this preyed upon his mind.-Reuter,

JABEZ TO BE BROUGHT A HOME." HIS ARRIVAL WILL BE WELCOMED The Press Association is informed that it is correct that a private understanding exists between Great Britain and the Argentine Re- public by which Mr Jabez Balfour will eventually be handed over to Inspector Tonbridge, who it ipmnining in Argentine for that purpose.

THE ANARCHIST MEUNIER, PARIS, Tuesday.—The Anarchist Meunier, who was last week convicted at the assizes of the outrages at the Lobau Barracks and the Cafe Very, and was sentenced to penal servitude for life, has refused to sign an appeal. Renter,

GENERAL FORECASTS.. Tl,fi Allowing forecasts were prepared last iaSrofogio.1 Office at «,Wotook DISTRICTS Easterly winds, light; cloudy; § Scotland, N. i somerain, possibly thunder. Easterly and south-easter!} 1. Scotland, E. I winds, light; cloudy; some ? England,IN. j rain thunder locally. x, 1 V 1 Southerly and south-westerly 3. England, k>-— j moderate close 4. Mid. Counties 1 ™ed some ram 5. Eng. | Sunder locally, pud Chan' £ ■ „mp ag Nos. 1 and 2. HCOt!ana^vV^ South-westerly to westerly 7" winds, moderate or fresh x i 5 N < unsettled some ram

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THE UNITED STATES TARIFF QUESTION. Telegraphing on Monday, the American cor- respondent of the Times says :—The Tariff Con- ference managers resumed their meetings to-day, The Democratic managers in the course of preli- minary consultations formed the opinion that the oniy adjustment possible to save the Bill is the acceptance of the Senate Bill, including the duties on coal, iron ores, and sugar, there being con. ceded to the House Democrats, the addition of a reciprocity clause on coal and iron ores, with the same rate of duty on all sugars, thus abandoning the differential duties on refined sugar. The Tariff Conference managers adjourned till Tuesday without accomplishing anything. Any adjustment will be difficult to accomplish, each side becoming more stubborn, and the President more opposed to the Senate Bill.

THE GREAT FOREST FIRES. DESTRUCTION OF A WISCONSIN TOWN. FORTY LIVES LOST. NEW YORK, Tuesday Morning.-The latest despatches from Wisconsin estimate that over forty persons have lost their lives in the town of Phillips in the destruction of that town by fire. The fires are still spreading over a vast area.— Central News.

ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION. FORTUNATE ESCAPE OF A TURKISH GOVERNOR. ROME, Tuesday. Advices received from Canea, in Crete, announce that an attempt was made to assassinate Mahnsoud Djelaleddin Pasha, the Turkish Governor-General of the island, at midnight yesterday, by some unknown individual, who shot at the Governor from the street while he was in a room on the ground floor of the Ministry of Finance. The Pasha fortunately only sustained a slight wound in the head. It is not known whether the outrage is due to private vengeance or is of a political character.

THE VICTORIAN BUDGET. MELBOURNE, Tuesday.—In the Legislative Assembly, to-day, the Hon. G. D. Carter, the treasurer, delivered his Budget statement. The actual revenue for the past year amounted to B6,719,000, and expenditure to 27,384,000, the year's deficiency being £ 665.000, including a deficit on railways of £ 417,000. The estimated revenue for the coming year is 27,138,000, in- cluding B167,000 to be derived from readjustment of tarifl.

FRANCE AND THE DISMEM- BERMENT" OF EGYPT. PARIS, Tuesday.—The Matin, in an article on the Itahan occupation of Kassala, says it is time to consider the encroachments which are being made on the territory of the Ottoman Empire, and to see that Egypt is not to be dismembered and her remains abandoned to the greed of her self-styled protectors and friends.

50,000 DOLLARS STOLEN. PARIS, Tuesday.—The sum of 50,000 dollars in gold coin sent to Paris by a New York banking firm has been stolen from Saint Lazare Railway- station. The money wa3 contained in a small cask, which has disappeared. An investigation into the affair has been opened.-Reuter.

FIGHTING IN THE PHILIPPINES. 250 KILLED. A despatch from Calagaran. Philippine Island of Miadmas, announces that Spanish troops attacked the Malay Mussulmans on the 24th inst., and completely routed them with a loss of 250 killed.-Reuter.

CHOLERA AT MARSEILLES. MADRID, Tuesday Morning.—The Government last night received a despatch from the Spanish Consul at Marseilles stating that a large number of cases of cholera existed in that town. The epidemic, he adds, is daily increasing, and some deaths have oc- curred. The local authorities are taking every measure to conceal the effect of the epidemic. In consequence of this report the Spanish Govern- ment has ordered immediate precautions to be taken at the Spanish forts as well as upon the Franco-Spanish frontier. Two doctors will be sent from Madrid to MarseiHes to report. officially to the Government. -Central News.

A RACING LOTTERY. POLICE RAID AT LIVERPOOL. £ 1,000 WEEKLY IN PRIZES. At Liverpool on Tuesday, Henry Sharp and Ed. Butterworth were charged with keeping a racing lottery, and Daniel Seaward was charged with aiding them. The police raided the premises last night where the tickets were printed, and smzed machinery, printed lists, and tickets with winning numbers. A machine for numbering tickets was seized at Sharp's residence. It was stated that an extensive business was done, about 21,000weekly being paid in prizes. The prisoners were remanded in custody for a week.

TIRED OF LIFE. MURDER AND SUICIDE. On Monday night Jane Hill (or Woods), 19 years of age, after remarking to her brother that she was tired of her life, went and drowned herself and child in the Clyde at Glasgow. The child was her first baby, and her mind had been affected since its birth. The unfortunate woman's husband, being without employment, left Glasgow for London a fortnight since in search of work.

ATTACK ON A WIFE WITH A RAZOR. VIOLENT STRUGGLE WITH A PRISONER. John Desmond, engine tenter, was found guilty at Liverpool Assizes on Monday of attempting to murder his wife at Oldham. The parties had quarrelled and separated, but the man subse- t quently met the woman and induced her to go with him to the house of a relative, where be cut her throat with a razor. He was sentenced to seven years' penal servitude. When sentence was pronounced he fell on the floor of the dock screaming, and had to be forcibly removed by warders. „

In a lecture on Saturday in London Professor Crookshank said 400,000 bacteria would be re- quired to cover a postage stamp.

ANOTHER NAVAL BATTLE. SINKING OF A CHINESE IRON- CLAD. ABLE-BODIED CHINESE DETAINED AT HOME. CHINA PLAYING A WAITING GAME. SHANGHAI, Tuesday.—Private despatches re- ceived here from Tientsin announce that another naval engagement between the Chinese and Jananese squadons took place yesterday. The ironclad Chen Yuen, the largest and most modern vessel in the Chinese navy, was sunk by the Japanese after a hotly- contested fight. It is further reported that two large Chinese cruisers, supposed to be two of the three protected cruisers constructed by Messrs Armstrong at Elswick, have been captured or destroyed. -Beuter. The Chen Yuen, the ironclad stated above to have been sunk, was a steel vessel of 7,280 tons, built at Stettin in 1882. She car- ried six guns four 38 ton and two 4-ton breech-loaders, and had a speed of 14'5, knots per hour, with indicated horse power of 6,200. She had two torpedo boats and two torpedo tubes. The cruisers alluded to above were twin-screw deck-protected vessels of the first-class, two of 2,300 and one of 2,500 tons. The twosmaller, named ChihYnen and Ching Yuen carried three 12-ton guns,two4-ton, and six quick- firing six-pounders. The third vessel, the Foo Tshing, which was only launched in 1890, carried two 12-ton gansand seven 4%-inch breech-loading guns.—Renter. EXPLANATORY STATEMENT. YOKOHAMA, Monday.—The following explaha- ti. ry statement has been communicated to Reuter's i.gency in reference to the action between the Japanese and Chinese 'fleets, in which the Kow Shing was sunk. The negotiations, which were conducted at Pekin through the good offices of the friendly great Powers, were on the point of a satisfactory conclusion when China suddenly informed the Japanese Government through the mediating Powers that Japan must forthwith withdraw her ships from Chinese ports, and that if Japan did not formally express her compliance with all the Chinese propositions by July 20th the Chinese naval and military forces would advance. This was regarded as an ultimatum in optimae forma. The Japanese Government, however, acting upon the advice of mediating powers, accepted the Chinese, proposals in principle, making some amendments. These Japan submitted, with the declaration that any advance of the Chinese naval and military forces would be considered a hostile menace. In view of this fact it is evident that orders must have been given tothe Japanese naval and mlli tlUY commanders to be on the qui vire af ter the 28th July for a Chinese attack. It is believed that the small Japanese squadron which came in collision with the Chinese fleet was merely re- connoitring. RIFLES FOR CHINA. MONTREAL, Tuesday.-Four truck loads of rifles were despatched from here for China on Sunday. Central News. DECREASE IN CHINESE PASSENGERS. SAN FnANOlSCO, Tuesday.—The steamer Gaelic which has arrived here from Hong Kong, has brought fewer Chinese passengers than any steamer since the establishment of regular steam, ship communication between China and this port. The Gaelic's officers explain that all able-bodied Chinese are detained pending the result of the negotiations with Japan.-Reuter. NO OFFICIAL INFORMATION. The Press Association says :-It was stated in reply to inquiriesattheJapaneseLearationon Tues- day, that so far no official information had been received of a declaration of war between China and Japan. The Chinese Minister and the secre- tary of the legation to-day had a prolonged con- ference, after which the latter proceeded to the Foreign Office., CHINA PLAYS A WAITING GAME. Details are slowly coming to hand with respect to the naval battle off the ooast of Corea the other day. A telegram despatched from Shanghai at 12.30 on Tuesday says the total survivors from the sunken transport Kow Shing number 41. They were picked up by boats from the French gunboat Lion, and have been landed at Chefoo. They state that when the Japanese attacked the Chinese fleet, the Kow Shing bore away for safety. She was overtaken, however, and driven into a shallow bay. There she hove to, and a Japanese officer from one of the attacking iron- clads boarded her. He stated that his instruc- tions were to sink the ship, and he offered to take off the captain and crew. The captain of the transport declined to accept, and though the offer was twice repeated he persisted in his refusal. The officer returned to his ship, fire was opened upon the doomed transport, and torpedoes were discharged at her, She sank in a few minutes. Not a single officer on board her was saved. The survivors are nearly all coolies. On the day following the naval fight a Japanese cruiser encountered a Chinese ironclad in Jerome Gulf, near Yachan. The Chinese claim that their vessel had the best of it. and that the Japanese cruiser was severely mauled. She was taken off by a consort, in a crippled condition. It is ex- plained to-day that China will not declare war until the ships and armaments ordered abroad are safely cleared. Nothing further has been re- ceived regarding the Japanese attack upon Asan. A later telegram through the same source adds: The Chinese transports Meifoo and Toonan are safe. It was feared they had been captured. Many of the transports failed to make the Yaloo river. They have arrived at Chefoo, bringing their troops back with them. They will not for the present venture to sea again. Vessels arriv- ing at Corean ports are searched by the Japanese for arms and warlike stores. The Japanese are ruling with a firm hand at all points where tbey are in possession. The Japanese general, Oshirna, has under his command a combined brigade, infantry, artillery, and cavalry, all composed of picked troops. Besides laying torpedoes at the mouth of the Yang-tse-Kiang aud along the North Channel, sixty torpedoes have bec-n sent up the river to Kian-gym. WAR NOT YET DECLARED. It was stated in reply to inquiries at the Japanese Legation on Tuesday that so far no official information had been received of a declara- tion of war between China and Japan. The Chinese Minister and Secretary of Legation on Tuesday had a prolonged conference, after which the latter proceeded to the Forbign Office. MISGIVINGS IN SPAIN. MADRID, Tuesday.—Owing to the proximity of the Philippine Islands to Japan, misgivings are expressed both by the newspapers and in official circles here regarding the possible consequences of Japan becoming a dominant power in the far East. Apprehension is also felt that the Japanese Government may take advantage of the present campaign in the island of Mindanao to carry out the ambitious designs attributed to i.Reitter. RECEPTION OF NEWS IN LONDON. The Press Association says :-Thefirst intimation received at the Japanese Legation in London of the reported naval engagement alleged to have resulted in the destruction of a Chinese ironclad and the capture of two Chinese cruisers, was conveyed through the medium of a Press tele- gram. Upon the contents of the telegraphic com- munication supplying the above information being conveyed on Tuesday afternoon to the Secretary of the Japanese Legation by representatives of the Press Association. It was intimated that no confirmation had arrived from Tokio, but that there was every reason to regard the telegram as trustworthy. The Secretary of Legation was evidently highly gratified, and carrying the telegram with him at once repaired to the private apartment of the.Minister, Viscount Kawaae, to whom the purport of the momentous message was made known. Later on, the Naval Attache sent specially to the Secretary for the telegram, and the latter official again borrowed the message in order to show it to this gentleman and to other members of the Legation, amongst whom it appeared to create considerable pleasurable excite- ment. At the same time, the representative of the Press Association was informed that a telegram in cypher from Tokio, which had just arrived, made no mention of tllo reported battle. The officials at the Japanese Legation reported the destruction of the Chinese ironclad and the loss of two cruisers, as well as the transport ship a few days ago, as a very disastrous blow at China's naval strength. Ic is pointed out that the Chen Yul was the finest warship that the Chinese possessed. As to the absence of any official information on the subject, this is not regarded at the Legation under present circumstances as of any great importance. At the Chinese Legation in Portland-place, they appeared to be equally uninformed as to what was reported to have taken place. The oontents of the telegram reporting the Chinese defeat were duly communi- cated, and, as may be easily understood, the news met with a very different recep- tion to that which had been accorded it but half an hour previously at the Japanese Legation. Sir Haliday Macartney, councillor of the Legation, said that no information had been received from China during the whole of the day and previous night, and he thought it highly improbable that such an occurrence could have happened without the London Legation being informed of it. He pointed out that in the case of the loss of the transport vessel the news was wired from the Government offices at Pekin to the Legation in London, and added that there was no reason why the same course should not have been adopted in the present case. PROTECTION OF BRITISH TRADE. The Central News saysMuch indignation prevails in Japanese circles at the charges of cruelty made against the officers of their fleet on the occasion of the sinking of the Kow Chang transport. It is em- phaticaUy declared that the vessel would not have been fired upon unless resistance was being offered. Tiis Japanese were the first of the Eastern nations to join the Geneva Con- vention from motives of humanity, and such bar- barity as has been charged against them would be entirely at variance with their native training and discipline. It is expected that the explanations from the Japanese naval authorities which have been tele. graphed for will put an entirely different com plexion upon the incident. Meantime, the Central News is informed, an influential body of shipowners in the city are making most urgent representations to her Majesty's Government in the matter, asking that immediate action may be taken. It is pointed out that the Kow Shung was a British ship, and as war had not been declared her owners were entirely within their right in chartering her to China for the conveyance of troops. China will doubtless make compensa- tion for the loss of the vessel, but the shippers hold firmly that they must look to her Majesty's Government to demand reparation for the outrage upon the British flag, aud ample compensation for the families of the Englishmen who perished on the trooper. These views have been pressed not only upon Lord Kimberley, but upon Lord Rosebery himself. The Central News learns that her Majesty's Government telegraphed on Tuesday morning to the British representative at Tientsin asking a detailed description of the circumstances attending the sinking of the Kow Shung. An early reply is expected. A suggestion has been made that her Majesty's Government should request the French Government to obtain from the commander of their gunboat Lione a report upon tke sinking of the transport. It will be remembered the survivors were picked up by the Lione's crew, and presumably the officers of the ship were spectators of what occurred. Such a report would have the advantage of impartiality. The Central News understands that the British squadron still remains on the northern coast of Japan. FIGHTING PROCEEDING AT ALL POINTS. The Central News says: — The illogical position of affairs between China and Japan at the present moment is causing some concern to the leading European Powers. Nominally there is no war between China and Japan, but in reality fighting is proceeding at all points where the rival forces come into contact. There is nothing in the code existing amongst nations to prevent the two belligerent Powers at the present moment from being supplied with arms and ammunition, war- ships, and warlike stores, by the subjects of any neutral Power. More than that, under present conditions both belligerents are free to engage skilled European officers to serve either with their armies or navies, and such officers are free to give their services, both nations being nominally at peace. in fact, the advantages to be gained by both by the present state of affairs are so great that it is quite possible that neither Power will consider it worth while to declare war until the end of the campaign is within view. The anomoly, how- ever, is such that some combined action on the part of the Powers is believed certain, and the Central News understands that overtures have been made with this object. NO CONFIRMATION AT THE CHINESE | LEGATION. The Central News is officinlly informed that the Chinese Minister has received no confirma- tion of the reported sinking of the ironclad Chen Yuen. The Chinese officials entirely discredit the report. Had ib emanated from Tientsin, as alleged, the Chinese Ambassador would have been the first to receive the information, but as telegraphic communication from Tientsin is interrupted, the officials are disposed to regard the announcement as an unfounded rumour. The Japanese Legation had not up to a late" hour received an official explanation regarding Japanese action at the sinking of the Kow Shung.

eHOLERA ON THE CONTINENT. SOFIA, Tuesday.—An order has jut been issued by the Sanitary Board of Trade imposing five days' quarantine on travellers arriving from Turkey, and also ordering the disinfection of their luggage. Through passengers by the Orient express will merely undergo a medical examina- tion. but passengers alighting at any Bulgarian station will be subjected to five days' quarantine. The Bulgaro-Turkish frontier in the departments of Slievno and Haskovo is closed by a military cordon, and travellers are only allowed to cross the frontier at Hebitelievo.-Peuter. MADRID, Tuesday.—Quarantine has been ordered on all arrivals from Marseilles.—Renter. COPENHAGEN, Tuesday.—The Chamber of Commerce here has received a telegram from the Danish Minister at Stockholm announcing that cholera has disappeared from the Finnish dis- tricts of Abo, Bjorneborg, Nyland, Lehn, and Aland.—Renter.

TORY OBSTRUCTION TO BE CHECKED. GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS. DETERMINED TO GET THEIR MEASURES THROUGH. HOUSE OF LORDS—TUESDAY. The House met at three o'clock, when the Commons having been summoned, the Royal assent was given, with the customary formalities, to 33 public and private Acts. The Lords Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor. Lord Kensington, and Lord Carrington. At the conclusion of the ceremony, which occupied a quarter of an hour, the sitting was suspended. The Lord Chancellor took his seat on the wool- sack at half-past five. Lord CHELMSFOHD moved the second reading of the Uniforms Bill, which lie said was a very simple measure and had passed'through the ordeal of the House of Commons. It was intended to put a stop to the practice of sandwich men and other unauthorised persons walking about the streets in the uniforms of her Majesty's military and naval forces. Lord SANDHURST stated that the Government had no objection to the Bill, and it was read a second time. The British Museum (Purchase of Land) Bill was also read a second time. The Prevention of Cruelty to Children Bill was read a third time and passed. The House adjourned at 20 minutes to 6 o'clock. a

SUPPLY. I The House then went into Committee ot Supply. H The House adjourned at 12.25.

THE PRINCESS OF WALES The Princess of Wales, with Princessef Victona and Maud of Wales, attended by Col. Stanley Clarke, left Charing Cross Olf Tuesday evening for Dover, embarking there for Brussels, and travelling thenco to Russia. The Royal party will be absent from England foi 1 about six weeks, and will be joined by the PrinCtf of Wales after the yacht racing at Cowes.

1 I GREAT FIRE IN AMERICA, MINNEAPOLIS, Tuesday Morning.—A great fire broke out here last night in the yards of the Shevlin Carpenter Lumber Company. Altogether 25 million feet of lumber were burned up to mid- night, as well as the round-house and gas-house belonging to the firm. The damage is estimated at 400,000 dollars.- Centr(tl Nezos.

EXECUTION AT MANCHESTER THE MURDER OF A PARAMOUR. DESPERATE ATTACK ON THE I LANDLADY'S DAUGHTER. Wm. Crossley wa executed at Manchester on Tuesday morning for the wilful murder of Mary I Ann Allen, his paramour. Mrs Allen, who lived apart from her husband, kept a small lodging- house in Burnley, where Crossley lodged. Crossley became jealous of the other lodgers and caused numerous quarrels, the disturbances becoming so frequent that Mrs Allen on June 11th told him he would have to leave the house. 011 that date, while the lodgers were at dinner, Crossiey ob- tained an axe and dealt Mrs Allen a svvincring blow on the side of the head and also attacked Mrs Allen's daughter and two lodgers who inter- vened. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. Wm. Crossiey, a labourer, 43 years of age, was privately executed at Strangsways Prison, Man- chester, on Tuesday morning, for the murder of Mary Aun Allen, a lodging-house keeper, ten years his senior, with whom hehad cohabited at Bromley. Billington was the executioner.

SHOCKING LAMP ACCIDENT IN WALES. About eight o'clock on Tuesday morning Mrs Phillips, of Vron Isa, Upper Bangor, 25 years of age, blew down the chimney of a paraffin lamp to estinguish it. The lamp exploded, and in an instant the poor woman, who was only partially dressed, was in flames. Her screams were not, heard for some time, but eventually some men working on a new building near by rushed in and extinguished the flames. Mrs Phillips was dread- fully burnt about the body, arms, and face, the latter being quite unrecognisable. The eyes, however, escaped, and neither of the children were touched. The husband is a brakesman employed by the London and North-Western Railway Company, and was away at the time of the accident, but returned at noon, and was, of course, much affected. Mrs Phillips, who was attended first by Dr. Lloyd, and afterwards by Dr. Thomas, is in a critical condition.

SUICIDE OF A GRAMMAR- SCHOOL MASTER. Rev. F. H. Brown, late headmaster of Ipswich Grammar School, committed suicide on Tuesday by cutting his throat. Mr Brown's relations with the governors had been somewhat strained, and he had-been asked to resign his appointment. He was forty-five years of age, and leaves a wife and four children.

THE POLAR EXPEDITION. Lloyd's agent at Archangel telegraphed on Tuesday as follows :—Windward arrived to-day all well

THE CLOSURE. THE GOVERNMENT'S MOTION. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was received with cheers when be rose to move the closure resolution, of which notice had been given. He was extremely desirous to avoid any language which might provoke irritation or give offt-nce to any persons or party. He would rather rely on what he believed to be the sense of the great majority of the House- he could almost say the unanimous feeling of the House as to the necessity of such a motion. (Hear, hear.) The Front Bench regarded the Evicted Tenants' Bill as of urgent necessity —(cheers and laughter)—as an administrative measure conducing to peace and goodwill in Ireland—(hear, hear, oh, oh)—and the time proposed in the resolution for discussion was, if fairly employed, adequate and ample for disposing of the debatable questions the measure certainly involved. (Hear, hear.) He confessed he was not enamoured of these exceptional measures, and resorted to them with siucere regret, but if asked for a justification of the motion lie would refer to the order book, and slightly altering the celebrated inscription, say "Si argumentum requiris inspice." (Laughter.) Looking at the 23 pages of amendments to this Bill, he relied on these as suffiaient argument in the case. Without going into an analysis of these amendments, he referred to what had taken place —two full days of debate, and two lines of the Bill accomplished. (Hear, hear.) What prospect did this offer for the future ? If there were any reasonable expectation that fair limits would be placed on discussion, he would not make the motion. He was sincerely desirous to avoid giving more offence than neces- sary, and, therefore, without using any words calculated to cause irritation, he submitted his motion to the judgment of the House. (Cheers.) The right hon. gentleman moved a resolution declaring that the proceedings in commitoee and on the report upon the Evicted Tenants' (Ireland) Arbitration Bill should close as follows Clause 1, by 11 p.m. on August 2 2 and 3, by the same hoar on August 3 clauses 4 and 5, on August 6 and the remainder of the Bill by August 7 the report stage to be taken by 11 P. in., August 9. Mr BALFOUR was received with loud Opposi- tion cheers. He said the right hon. gentleman had expressed a feeling of reluctance at moving the resolution, and nobody hearing what possibly might be called the defence of the motion could doubt the sincerity of the avowal. Never in the history of Parliament had such a proposal been made after two days' discussion in committee, and the Minister making it thought it enough to express his regret in a few perfunctory words. (Cheers.) Not an argument did heoffor in defence of tl)e course he was pursuing. A semblance to an argument there was in the reference to the large number of amendments on the notice paper, but because the order book should keep interest in a Bill was that a reason why di scussion should be prevented ? (Cheers, and oh, oh.) Because members in the exercise of their undoubted right suggested alterations in the Government proposal was the gag to be kpplied ? (Cheers.) The argument advanced to the right hon. gentleman, if it had any force, condemned the course the Government were taking. There might be a grave crisis in the history of the country, and necessity might justify or compel the House in the suspen- sion of rules which for centuries had guarded the liberty of debate, but no such necessity overhung the nation now. If any necessity existed for the Bill that necessity had iexisted for two years, but not v.ntil the last week in July did the Government make an endeavour to proceed with the Bdi. There had been abortive discussions on the Registration Bill, the Welsh Church Bill, and other Bills, never intended by their authors to get through the House in the Session--(cheers)—and how, then, could necessity and urgency be claimed for the Bill now beyond such as existed during 1893 ? This Irish Bill was to be hurried through committee in seven days, and sent to the Lords unconsidered, undiscussed, and undealt with. (Hear, hear.) After 18 months' attention to the legislative work of the Government, anything in the shape of a promise of release would be welcome to the weakness of the flesh, but what they were asked to sacrifice was more important than personal ease and convenience—the tradi- ¡ tions of the House of Commons. (Cheers.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER We were told that some days ago. Mr BALFOUR said his hon. and gallant friend (Mr Saunderson) had expressed an opinion which he was entitled to do, but his opinion was that proceedings of the kind made the fate of the Bill certain in another place. The Government had been endeavouring to make it plain that they would accept no amendment of Bills from the other side, and had dropped a Bill to which they attached importance because of such amendments, but the Government could not expect the House of Lords to correct the errors of the Government. (Hear, hear, and oh, oh.) That House could not be expected at the end of August to make any great effort to turn Government Bills into sense. (Hear, hear.) Send up a Bill undiscussed and unamended in the way proposed, saying amendment was waste of time, and what fate could be expected for such a measure ? Did the Government desire the Bill should be rejected in order to get up a cry against the Lords ? (Hear, hear.) He could not congratulate them on the method they had adopted to secure their object, but if not that then what did they expect? To get the votes of Irish members ? (Cheers.) But indulge in what petty sordid trafficking in votes as the Government might, the I Opposition would not assist and make the honour alld dignity of the House of Commons counters in the sorry game of plying for Irish support. l (Cheers.) In such a game he refused to take a I hand, and not being permitted to perform the duty entrusted him by his constituents he would not trouble the harmony I that would reign between the Government and the Irish Benches. He felt no natural aptitude and no inclination to play a part in the farce- {hear, hear)-and his duty would be fulfilled when he solemnly warned, and with the deepest feeling of responsibility, the House that the end of these proceedings must inevitably end in the abasement of this great legislative assembly in the eyes of the world. (Hear, hear.) In order that his opinion might remain on record, he concluded with an amendment embodymg regrets and condemnation of the motion as follows This House regrets that her Majesty's Govern- ment should have thought fit to urge on the attention of Parliament, exhausted by 18 months continuous Session, a measure violent and novel in character, based on no adequate inquiry, in- volving the most controverted problems connected with the agrarian question in Ireland, and should endeavour to pass it through its various stages by depriving the minority of its past rights, and making fair discussion impossible, and calculated to bring the proceedings of the House into deserved contempt. Mr J. MORLBY said those eloquent allusions to the dignity and traditions of the House came from an ex-Minister who, not so many years ago, was a party to a proposal similar to the one now before the House. (Cheers.) On what ground and on what occasion-an occasion, as he said, that menaced the security of the empire. (Cheers, and Mr Balfour What is the right hon. gentle- man referring to -Laughter.) He was referring to the Bill constituting the Parnell Commission. (Loud Ministerial cheers.) Mr BALFOUR A Bill to the second reading of which you assented. (Opposition cheers.) The CHANCELLOR of the ExczEQuER You assented to the second reading of this Biil. (Ministerial cheers.) Mr MORLEY: Did the Opposition not assent to the second reading of this Bill ? (Renewed cheers.) They could not get over this—that in respect to the Bill constituting the Parnell Commission a similar measure of closure was resorted to. He asked again, was that an occa- sion menacing the security of the Empire or mak- ing pardonable the abandonment of the sacred traditions and the dignity and honour of the House? The right hon. gentleman took the Scotch Local Government Bill. There never was a more absurd or preposterous parallel. (Ministerial cheers.) That Bill occupied seventeen days in the Grand Committee, but altogether only about sixty hours, or something less than eight Parlia- mentary d^ys. It was proposed to give seven days for the committee stage of this Bill; and what a difference between the Bills (Cheers and counter-cheers.) This was a Bill of five opera- tive clauses, eight clauses in all, whilst the Scotch Local Government Bill consisted of 55 clauses. It was said this Bill contained a multitude of clauses. What was the real base of the right hon. gentleman's argument ? It was that, do what they might in the House, their eyes ought really to be directed to what would be done in another place. (Loud Ministerial cheers.) What an argument it was. They must frame all their measures in that House to snib gentlemen in another place. The right hon. gentleman indicated that the attitude of another place must be their governing consideration. (" No, no," and Yes, yes.") If it was not, why was the reference introduced at all ? He said they needed another place to correct their errors they needed the wisdom of another place to turn their Bill into sense. (Laughter and cheers.) And this was said, he supposed, on behalf of the dignity and honour of the House of Commons. (Loud cheers.) Mr BALFOUR Such dignity as you leave to the House of Commons. Mr lVIORLEY said the mere mention in another place tested their dignity. In the way in which it was now threatened they would menace it, the more would he, for one, rejoice. (Loud Minis- terial cheers.) It was said that it was notorious the Government followed Irish leaders. There were Kuglish followers of Irish leaders—those who had most imprudently surrendered them- I selves fast bound to what he must again call the irreconcilable section of the Irish landlords. (Loud National cheers.) The right hon. gentle- man talked of hurrying this Bill through. He submitted that 22 days for a Bill of that character were ample. (Cheers.) There was no other legis- lative assembly in the world that would not think that 12 days wits more than a decant amount of time for it. (Cheers.) The right hon. gentleman said he (Mr Morley) had not taken the trouble to make out any case for the Bill, and had never shown the necessity of the case. The necessity had been admitted in every quarter of the House, by Mr Carson,Mr Jackson, Mr T. W. Russell, Mr Wyndham, and Mr Courtney. The right hon. gentleman (the member for West Birmingham) had not denied the difficulty or the necessity, and had not concealed his desire that some means should be found to meet that; difficulty. Ample time was given for criticism of the Bill, and whatever might happen to it in another place, they at least—and he particularly, as the Minister responsible for the peace and order of Ireland—would have done their duty in bringing this Bill in. and would know that they had done their very best to pass it through Parliament. (Loud Ministerial cheers.) Mr J. CHAMBERLAIN, who rose amidst Opposi- tion cheers, said he could not congratulate the Chief Secretary for Ireland on his interference in defence of the proposal which had been intro- duced in a magnificent oration by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. (Laughter.) When you pro- posed to knock a man down with a poker there was no necessity for a lengthened description of what you were about to do. He (Mr Chamber- lain) did not say a resolution of this kind might not be a necessity. As was well known, he had advocated such a change in the regula- tions of the House as would give it greater power over its proceedings, but he had never advocated that power should be put into the hands of the Government of the day representing only a small minority, which would make them the absolute masters of its business. (Opposition cheers.) The leader of the Opposition (Mr Balfour) had said that it would not be consistent with his dignity or that of his friends to continue the discussion either upon the committee stage or the report stage of the Bill. He (Mr Chamberlain) entirely agreed with him—(Opposition cheers)— and as far as he was concerned, he should leave the discussion during those stages entirely to the Government and the Irish members. But there were many amendments of great importance down in the names of Irishinembers. Would the Government accept or reject these ? If they rejected them, then legislation would be futile, and be a source of further agitation. If, on the other hand, they were going under pressure to accept these amendments, then it would not be the Bill of the Government. Mr LABOUCHKRE said he was certain every member of the Opposition rejoiced at the pro- posal of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. They all wanted to get away. (Laughter, and hear, hear.) It was usual to have a certain amount of fireworks on the part of the Opposition— (laughter)—and they were ready to re-main for ever, but thoy would very soon be in despair if taken at their word. When we were told the House of Lords would throw out this Bill it was an utter waste of time to discus" it. What did Mr Chamberlain think about the action of the House of Lords ? (Mr Chamber- lain I do not know what they arc going to do). Then there was a split^betiveen the two leaders. (Loud laughter.) It would be very much better if they appealed to the country at once-(Iotid Ministerial cheers) to ascertain whether the majority of representatives of this House were to be the masters of the situation or become subservient to the p^ers and bishops in another place who rendered it absolutely impos- sible for any Liberal Government whatever to give effect to the wishes of the people. He I hopad they would have none of this nonsense, but go to the country as speedily as possible and endeavour to abolish the House of Lords. (Cheers.) Mr COURTNEY regretted the deplorable position in which the House had been landed. He re- gretted it because of Ireland, because of the urgent necessity of deahng in some way with the cloud of evicted tenants in that oouutry. Iu his mind he had an abiding conviction that they cloud of evicted tenants in that oouutry. Iu his mind he had an abiding conviction that they should be dealt with, and lie had learned that conviction from Mr Balfour. (Hear, hear.) It was not necessary to minee words. The step they were taking destroyed the chance of the Bill being treated in an adequate fashion in another rt)oft. It would have been a difficult matter in I" any case. There would have been some obstacles, but they would not have been unsurmountable. After what had happened who was responsible for this ? Look at the condition of public business in that House, and how precedent followed precedent. The originating of the offence lay with those members who disregarded its true functions and high purposes, and abused their powers as members of that House. (Ministerial cheers.) They were now in this situation. The' true conduct ot business had passed from those who knew to those with less information and less responsibility (Ministerial cheers) — whereas previously they had the evidence and testimony of the people who had had the Government of Ireland in their hands. They had now got a junta of irresponsible layidlords-(Iotid Ministerial cheers)—putting their power above those who ought to resist them. (Renewed cheers.) Was it too lata for the Government to withdraw the Closure motion a.nd come to an agreement as tn when particular stages of the Bill should end ? Then they might rescue themselves out of the difficulty, and save, not only the House of COlll- mons, but the Bill, for then it would be sent to the other place with some chance of receiving good treatment. The leader of the Opposition had said that if the motion were carried the Opposition would take no further part in the (leb.Ates. They were not furthering their own dignity nor slowing themselves true members of the House of Commons if they refused to consider and discuss the measure. He feared his appeal would be of no use. He was as the voice of one crying in tha wilderness, and yet he would fain repeat it so that some solution might be possible even at the eleventh hour in regard to a Bill intended to give relief to, the tenants in some of the most disturbed portions of Ireland. (Cheers.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said his right hon. friend the member for Bodmin had made a speech worthy ot hiuiseit and the House of Commons. (Cheers.) In the few remarks with which he commenced the debate he (Sir Wm. Harcourt) stated that he made the motion with very great reluctance, and that he only proposed it convinced of its necessity. He further said that if any reasonable expectation were held out that fair limits would be placed upon the discus- sion he should not make the motion. (Hear hear ) If even now there was any cliaiice of the Biil being f«rlj'dealt with and fuirly discussed he was still ready now to act upon any assurance of rf^the ?iffhtKhfn reSieJ,tec* ^le tone of the speech the Bill. (Mini:terial elleel-s.) rf^the ?iffhtKhfn reSieJ,tec* ^le tone of the speech il inrwil £ ,entleman> for at the end of it he indulged in tnat hostility of the usual ?hlv f ~i U0' -and hear' hear)—with which «^ITi •amii'tr m that House. He differed from the view taken bv the rierht hon. member for Bodmin, and in this Bill he had not been in accord with his political friends on both sides ot the House. Mr RATHBONE hoped that after the speech of the right hou. member for Bodmin, the two parties would give up their mutual aspersion of each other, and see if they could not pass a Bill that was intended to remedy the present state of a wretched class of the tenantry in Ireland. (Hear, hear.) This case ought to be settled easily enough if the extremists on the Opposition sida were left unheeded for the present. If this were not done, the country would feel that the House was not doing its duty .{-{(Hear, hear.) Colonel SAUNDERSON said that the evicted tenants were placed in their present unhappy position not by the Irish landlords, but by the authors of the Plan of Campaign. After some remarks by Mr WHITBREAD, Mr BALFOUR said he had not heard an offer to withdraw the resolution on any conditions, and under the circumstances he did not think it necessary to say another word. Mr T. W. RUSSELL was unable to say that there had been anything like obstructive proceed- ings tn the committee. Then, at half-past 7 o'clock, the Hoast divided, and the numbers were For Mr Balfour's amendment 174 Against 217 Majority 43 The announcement of the numDers was rer ceived with Ministerial cheers. The Chancellor of the Exchequers resolution was agreed to without a division.

COMMITTEE ON IRISH LAND I ACTS. ■ FRICTION AMONGST THE MEMBERS. I MR MORLEY DECLINES TO PUT A I RESOLUTION. I The Press Association learns that in the Select H Committee on Irish Land Acts on Tuesday there was more emphatic controversy between the H Ministerial and Unionist sections than has been apparent from that portion of the proceedings I which have been open to the Press and public. I Seven Unionist members having written to Mi I Morley as chairman, complaining that certaic I witnesses were not called, and nothaving received I a reply, a resolution was moved on Tuesday I expressing regret that by a majority of one such. I evidence had been excluded. Some exception to I the terms of the motion was taken by thfr I Nationalist members, and Mr Morley declined to I put it to the vote, whereupon the meeting broke I up amidst confusion. The committee will meet I again about the middle of August to consider Mr I Morley's draft report. I

EVICTED IRISH TENANTS BILL. TORIES WILL ABANDON OBSTRUC- TION. THEY DO NOT CARE TO BE CRUSHED, The Central News says :-In accordance with Mr Balfour's speech, the two divisions of the Unionist party will abstain from further action in committee on the Evicted Tenants' Bill. The amendments in the names of members following Mr Balfour and Mr Chamberlain will not b& moved, nor will the movers of those amendments take any part in the divisions arising upon other amendments, of which a considerable number stand in the names of Irish Nationalist members. It is expected that thus the Bill will practically be disposed of by the end of the present week.

DEATH OF MR WALTER PATER. We announce with the greatest regret the death of Mr Walter Pater, which took place at Brasenose College, Oxford, on Monday last, in the 55th year of his age. Mr Pater was one of the greatest modern masters of English, and hi? famous "Studies in the History of the Renaissance," Marius, the Epicurean," and Imaginary Portraits have exercised a very real and lasting influence on the best thought of the age. The picturesqueness of his English style, and even his mannerisms, reflected the breadth of his own general cultivation. He looked to literature, to quote his own words, for a refuge, a sort of cloistral refuge, from a certain vulgarity in the actual world." Since 1867 be has been s connected with Brasenose College as Fellow and | Tutor, and latterly as Dean. His lectures have f been described as full of golden wisdom and of a I golden humour, and no man has left behind him so deep au impression on the minds of those with whom he was brought into contact. |

THE NAVAL MANOEUVRES. I QUEKNSTOWN, Tuesday Morning. The Rali Mall Gazette correspondent says Admiral B Seymour's fleet arrived yesterday afternoon. The town received such of the invaders as came ashore with open arms. The invaders term themselves "Froggies." I bear that the war may not be declared before Friday, at 6 o'clock. The fleet wiil be ready for the fray by to-morrow at the furthest.

CIIUIICHING" THE DUCHESS An official announcement from St. James's Palace states that the Duchess of York was churched on Saturday morning in tht Chapel Royal, St. James's. The rev, sub-dean performed the service. The Duke of York accom. panied her Royal Highness.

DEPRESSION IN TRADE. CLOSING OF A LARGE WORKS. The Central News' Dudley correspondent tele- graphs :—Owing to serious depression in trade- the new British Iron Co.'ripany's works at Cradley Heath were closed on Tuesday evening. Upwardt > of 1,500 workmen are thrown out of employment. ? } Two thousand pounds were paid weekly in wages, j —— 1

CLAIM TO THE TOWNLEY i ESTATES. THE CHARGE AGAINST COLONEL JACQUESS. At Bow-street on Tuesday—before Sir John Bridge-Colonel James Frazier Jacquess, latft U.S. Army, and Howell Thomas, late a solicitor, • and now a convict, were charged on remand with J conspiracy and fraud in obtaining large. sums of 1j money subscribed by an American syndicate tc support the claim of a Mr Lawrence to the a Towniey estates.—Mr Gny Stephenson prosecuted for the Treasury; Mr Holland defended.-Tht | official shorthand writer at the Old Bailey pro- duced his notes of the evidence of Colonel Jacquess, which were put in after objection bad been taken. Sergeant Nolan produced letters j found at Colonel Jacquess's lodgings, but was not allowed to read them until the handwriting wat proved by persons from America.-Mr Stephen.. son said the case was completed on the charge d .j conspiracy, but he should not now close the ctge, ashe was in correspondence with the persons defrauded it, America as to their giving evidence here.- i The prisoners were remanded for a fortnight. i — i

TEMPERANCE IN THE ARMY. j LORD ROBERTS AND THE CANTEENS The Marchioness of Salisbury on Tuesday opened at Hendon a Church-house, intended tc 1 provide in the parish a reading and reception- rooms. Lord Roberts, shaking at a subsequent meeting, said in the old days the soldiers had nc refuge save the canteen. In India regimental institutes were established, and had no parallei in respect to benefits conferred on the Army, When he first inspected them reading-rooms were j empty and the canteen crowded, but before leav- j mg India he found canteens empty and reading- rooms overcrowded.

SETTLEMENT IN THE COAL TRADE. 1 The joint secretaries of the Conciliation Boari met in Manchester on Tuesday, and, in accord. ance with the arrangement made at the meeting of the Conciliation Board on July 19tb, the listl 1 of the collieries in the various districts consenting to accept the arrangement were handed over. They include the larger and more important collieries in the whole of the districts covered by the Federation, and there are very few, if any, exceptions in the case of collieries associated with the Coalowners' Federation. There are many non-associatioe collieries assenting, ■si