Flintshire Observer Mining Journal and General Advertiser for the Counties of Flint Denbigh

GREAT BRITAIN AND DELAGOA BAY. It is reported that the Portuguese Government have ceded Inyack Island, at the entrance of Delagoa Bay, to Great Britain. The Cape Squadron is said to have leceived orders to leave on Tuesday to take pos- session. The Press Association has made inquiry respecting a telegram to the effect that the Cape Argus learns from Pretoria that England has secured Inyack Island at the mouth of Delagoa Bay, and that. the Cape Squadron proceeds to take pos- session of the island as British territory. Like the larger ) scheme recently attributed to Ertglhnd of having purchased the Portuguese Deldgoa Bay terri- tories, the present reported cession appears to have no foundation in fact. The Press Association has the authority of the Foreign Office to state that "there is not a word of truth in the story."

A LITTLE GIRL'S THEOLOGY. An incident which took place'before Chief Justice Sedgwick, of the Superior Court of the United States, has been attracting some attention. A witness, called to give evidence in an accident case, was such a little child that she was questioned as to her understanding of the nature of an oath in order to ascertain whether she should be allowed to testify. The examination ran thus: Q. Do you understand the nature of an oath ? A. Yes, sir. Q. What is it ? A. It is a swear. Q. What do yott mean when you say it is a swear ? A. Well, it is that I have to tell the truth. Q. If you don't tell the truth, what then ? A. That would be a sin. Q. What fl a sin ? A. A bad mark from God. The venerableVChief Justice was visibly touched at this answer of the child, and she was at once allowed to give her testimopv

A YOUNG married woman ot U. named Josepnme Capdeville, murdered Mme. Marten, an elderly widow, at Marseilles, on Saturday, leaving the knife •ticking in ber victim's chest until the police arrived. To test the efficiency of the fortress of Gibraltar an unexpected alarnr) signal was fired on Saturday, and within half an hour 4000 gunners and infatitry were at their assigned posts, ready to repel any attack. 'V I

v TfiE QUEEN'S REIGN. SOME OF THE GRAND STANDS—OFFICIAL AND PllrATB. The call for seats by the members of tbB Jouses of Parliament, the War and Admiralty aithrities, and the different branches of the Civil Sericefroul which to watch the Queen's great procecio, has been of late increasing. The Government his, here- fore, determined to erect some good stanza on the sites that are available along the route in filE West- end of London. It must be stated that thmstands will in no wise trespass on any place thathxs been free to the public heretofore, and the Officeof ^Vorks has had to fall back upon those scattered Bitot' vhich are enclosed and are under the jurisdiction0- Mr. Akers Douglas's department. The foKotilfigi it is understood, are the sites selected: A large stand inside the railings in the cuadrangle at the private garden entrance to BvjJtiWtham Palace. A long low stand all along the lilt side of Constitution-hill, reaching from Buckingbtm Palace to Burton's Arch, Hyde-park-corner; this enclosed ground covered with trees, and having at ¡t8 the high wall of Buckingham Palace-gardens. Two stands from the street up to the wall in front o the National Gallery on either side of the entrflces and facing Trafalgar-square a small eretion along the front of Somerset House; a (fan £ stand in the front of the Law Courts anotbarlarge stand on the river fide of the Clock Tower atWest- minster, known as the Speaker's Green and jairs another large stand in Palace-yard and contpuOUI platforms all along the frontage of the Govtne.nt offices in Whitehall, inside the balustrade.. Tir War Office may erect a separate stand of their o .wnin the open space of the Secretary of State's entrance in Pall-mall, and the Admiralty have a splendid site for a large stand on the green in front of the new Admiralty offices on the Horse Guards Parade. It will be seen from this that the Office of is not going to be stinsv »« pmrb-ot t .6* and it may De stated that only a smah*f3&*ge will be made for each seat. Every care will b^P^n that, the tickets obtained do not fall into thebfft^of dealers or the wrong people, and to this end ev £ iy're- quisition for seats must be made by officials throigh the permanent heads of their respective offices. Of the many private stands in the West-enkthat contemplated by the Duke of Devonshire in front of I Devonshire House, Piccadilly, facing the Green-park, will be second to none. The old front wall of the house is being demolished, and in its place will be reared a stand tier over tier. Next to this in size and importance will come, probably, a huge stasd on the site of the old Opera House in the ilayrmiket, which now only has the arcade pillars erected upon it. Further on, in St. Martin's-in-the-Fields Church- yard, will be another splendid position faced almost by the great stand the South-Eastern Railway will put up inside their huge frontage in the Strand. The ruling prices now in the West-end for window feats, with champagne lunch included, is from Elo to 1:15 and up to E- 25 per seat. j THE AMERICAN VISITORS. Will the celebrations attract an increased number of American visitors to London this season? That question has been frequently asked, and (writes a Chronicle reporter) I put it to the manager of an American Exchange. He was able to speak with some information as to advance passage bookings on the other side. He expressed the view that the American visitors this summer will be unusually numerous. "Do you think," he was asked, "th&t the number will come up to that of two years ago, which was a record ?" So far as one can judge beforehand," -he replied, the returns for that summer are pretty certain to be equalled, if not notably exceeded." He added that it was difticn.to quote figures in such a matter, but on the general question emphasised his opinion that the celebrations were sure to enhance the American season. THE SERVICE AT ST. PAUL'S. It is understood that the final arrangements as to the service at St. Paul's will not be made until the Prince of Wales returns to London. That was the answer to special inquiries made, and, as can be understood, there are many details which have to be settled. The one broad fact which is definite is that the service will take place outside St. Paul's, and all I. the arrangements are proceeding on that basis. ADDRESS FROM QUARTER SESSIONS. Northamptonshire Court of Quarter Sessions, on the motion of Mr. S. G. Stopford Sackville, chairman, seconded by Lord Henley, adopted j an address of congratulation to the Queen. "We would gratefully acknowledge," said the address, "tbeConstitutiomal character of your rule, and we feel that the sense of security and well-being enjoyed by the inhabitants of the Empire is largely ,due to the reciprocal sympathy whicb., has during more than half a century closely bound together the Crown and the People. Your Majesty has ever shown the most affectionate concern in the welfare of your eubjects, and we in return feel a deep interest in all that affects your Majesty or the happiness of your Royal House." WOMEN ASK FOR SYMPATHY. /An address to the Queen is being prepared by the women of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Colonies. After congratulating her Majesty, the address refers to the growing sense in women of their responsibility in public affairs, and continues: ".Altough much has been done, much still remains undone, and we present our earnest appeal to your Majesty on this unparalleled occasion still further to encourage the good work of extending to your women subjects the Jegal protec- tion, the educational opportunities, and the equality of civil rights for which they have so long and ardently striven. One royal word of sympathy with the progress which women have achieved during your Majesty's illustrious reign, one expression of gracious confidenca and hope in the happy results which may be expected to follow from still further enlarging, the area brought under the in- fluence of women, would greatly promote and con- solidate throughout your Majesty's realms those principles of justice and equity which will sustain in permanence the vust Empire over which rour Majesty reigns. We pray that jour Majesty may see fit to grant ttlfs Otlf petition." The Portsmouth naval authorities bave been directed to send 1200 bluejackets and marines to London, under the command of Captain W. H. May, of the Victory, to take part in the proceedings of June 22. The men will return to Ports- mouth in time to join their ships prior to the review on the 26th. For that occasion the Ranger, torpedo-boat destroyer, has beep told off to be at the service of Royal guests, and the vessel is being suitably embellished. On the night of the 26th the entire fleet will be brilliantly illumi- nated, but the Lords of the Admiralty will not officially entertain their guests until the 29th, for which date they have applied for the use of the Portsmouth Town Hall. The naval, military, and other festivities at Portsmouth are expected to last, about a week. The burgesses of Bournemouth at a public meeting have decided to raise a fund for entertaining the aged Door and children of the district on June 22, and to help the Royal Victoria Hospital, the Boscombe Hospital, and the Hahnemann Dispensary. A com- mittee has also been appointed to organise a popular demonstration. A second fund has been started in the town for the erection of a new drill-hall for the artillery volunteers, and nearly A:1000 has already been promised for this purpose. The sub-committee appointed to promote the ex- tended nursing scheme in Liverpool to commemorate the 60 years' reign of the Queen calculate that £ 30,000 will be required to carry it into effect. Should the subscriptions sufficiently exceed that sum, the sub-committee will take up the scheme of a people's hall in addition. The special committee appointed to assist the Lord Mayor of Liverpool in making arrangements for the celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee have decided that one feature shall be a grand marine display in the Mersey, all the important vessels in port at the time taking part in the review. The Admiralty will be asked to send some warships to supplement the great mercantile fleet. In the city there are to be decorations, and in the parks old English sports and fireworks, with a procession of the trade societies. At a meeting of the directors of the London and North-Western Railway Company held at Euston Station, on Friday, it was decided to grant to all the servants engaged upon that line a day's holiday with- out deduction of pay on June 22, except such M must necessarily be on duty to keep the traffic moving. In the latters' case an extra day's pay will be allowed, or a day's holiday with pay at some other time. Mr. LI. Hugh-Jones writes from Bodhyjfryd, Wrexham: Every county, city, town, and village, every hospital, every society, religious, charitable, and scientific, is collecting subscriptions to establish some permanent memorial of the completion of the longest and most beneficent reign in the history of 7, this country, if pot of the worJd. The aggregate sum I of these collections bitt. fair to be one of the mosf remarkable features of this most remarkable reign. I write to suggest that the Government should be asked to make provision for the collection of accurate statistics of the collections for this purpose through- out the United Kingdom and the colonies.7

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—APRIL 9. CRETS. Mr. Hedderwick asked the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether the Sultan of Turkey had taken any steps to effect the withdrawal of the Turkish troops from Crete, in obedience to the recent demand of the Great Powers and, if so, whether the right hon. gentleman would state what steps the Sultan had taken to accomplish that object. Mr. Curzon replied that, although the Powers bad made representations at Constantinople as to the withdrawal of the Turkish troops, no such demand as was spoken of in the ques- tion had been made by them, nor could he say what steps the Sultan had so far taken in the matter. Sir E. Gourley inquired whether the allied Powers had arranged that, in the event of the Grecian Government declining to withdraw their armed forces from Crete, the Piraeus and other harbours of Greece were to be blockaded; and, if so, whether the blockade would be belligerent or pacific. The At- torney-General said he was unable to answer the first part of the question. The intentions of the Powers could not be announced until a definite de- cision had been taken, nor could it be an- nounced whether the blockade would be a pacific blockade or a blockade jure gentium, which would imply the existence of a state of war between the Powers and Greece If such a blockade should be decided on, anci if, as was probable, it should be a pacific blockade, it would be applicable to Greek vessels only. In the event of a belligerent blockade no doubt the usual practice would be followed of allowing the vessels of neutral Powers already in the blockaded ports to complete their cargoes within a reasonable time and sail at once. Neutral vesseJ arriving with cargoes for the blockaded ports would be liable to be turned back from the date of the com- menceinfnt of the blockade. SPPPLY. The House went into Committee of Supply and proceeded to consider the Civil Service Estimates. Votes to complete the following sums were after some desultory discussion agreed to: E399,455 for Revenue Department buildings in Great Britain; £ 213,788 for public buildings in Great Britain P.108,000 for Royal parks and pleasure gardens 934,825 for the Houses of Parliament buildings V.25,000 for an extension of the Admiralty buildings E60,011 for miscellaneous legal buildings in Great Britain E28,010 for Science and Art Departments in Great Britain; and £ 23,525 for diplomatic and consular buildings. A vote to complete the sum of E219,210 for sur- veys of the United Kingdom was under discussion at midnight, when The Committee stood adjourned and the House re- sumed. Some other business having been disposed of, the House adjourned.

INDIA'S TROUBLES. THE FAMINE FUND. V' The Lord Mayor of London's fund Mounted on April 9 to £ 486,300. Among the donations received on the date mentioned were: St. Helen's, per the mayor (second instalment), jElOOO; Staffordshire County Fuud, per the Lord Lieutenant (third in- stalment), £ 500; per the Surrey County Council 16th remittance), B181 10s.: Hendon and dis- trict, 9109 3s. 3d.; Darlaston, per the Urban District Council, E156 12s. 7d.; Brighouse, per the mayor, E276 16s. 4d. Church of Ireland (fourth in- stalment, C2411 10s. 6d.; Ely, per the dean antd dis- trict council, E22 7s. 6d.; Haddington (third instal- ment), £ 28; Fairfield Lodge of Freemasons, £ 25; Sir Edward S. Hill, M.P., £ 20; Olney Church, £ 23 4s.; St. Stephen's, Avenue-road, £33 16s. 4d.' Rye, per the mayor, £ 36 10s.; Zoar Baptist Chapel, Hounslovr, EIO; Admiral Randolph, EIO; Miss E. J. Everard £ 20: and the Hon. Edith Johnstone, zio. FUND STILL SWELLING. The Indian Fainine Fund at the London Mansion House in London on the evening of April 10 amounted to £ 488,100. Among the sums received during the day were—from Birkenhead, per the Mayor (addi- tional), £ 884 12s. 8d.; Brighton, per the Mayor (fourth instalment), £500; Trowbridge and district (second instalment). £ 30; Stafford, per the Mayor, E25 3.. 4d.; Wenlock (additional), £ 51 15s. 9d.; Shetland Islands (first instalment), £ 85. TnB PRAGUE. PT- The Secretary of state for India has received the following telegram from the Governor of Bombay on the subject of the plague Deaths from all causes in Bombay city for the week ended April 9, 983; reported plague deaths, 3G8. For the week ended April 1, 88 dwellings condemned, 42 for alterations, 385 untiled, 245 up, 321 lime-washed, 109 vacated, 64 demolished.' I

WANTON MURDER AT CARMSF. A shocking murder was committed at C«diff on the night of April 10, the victim beimf a Maltese fireman named Philip Pace, 21, and his assailant another Maltese fireman named Josef Farugi, 38. The latter had been in Cardiff about three weeks:, and lodged in Bute-street, at the house occupied almost exclusively by Maltese seamen. The murdered man was discharged from a steamer; upon its arrival at Barry on the day preceding the tragedy, and be took lodgings in the house where Farugi lived. About seven o'clock in the evening, attracted by a brass band in the street, the lodgers, including Farugi and Pace, went to the doorway, and a few minutes afterwards Farugi suddenly made a most ferocious attack upon Pace with a razor, cutting his throat in a dreadful manner. Pace died almost imme- diately, and fell at his assailant's feet. There bad been no quarrel between the men. The murderer, who completed his terrible work by throwing the razor at his victim, was at once arrested. He said, in reply to the charge of having caused Pace s death, This man did nothing to me, but something told me to kill him."

PARLIAMENTARY BARS. A Although Lord Stanley has expressed his i-ontion to continue his breaches of the licensingwa in the House of Commons for the present, it is understood, says a correspondent, that next session will see the abolition of the public bar at the foot of the grand staircase, so that the noble caterer will at all events, be relieved of that much responsibility if Sir Wilfred Lawson should persist in blocking the indemnifying bill. Also the bar in the committee corridor, which is supplied by the House of Commons' superintendent of refreshments, will be removed, and in the place of the two will be substituted a refreshment department in the vestibule midway between the Lords and Commons committee-rooms, which now does duty as a cloak-room. Visitors to the Houses of Parliament will not be permitted te use the new bar, but there will be no interference with the privileges of persons who frequent the corridors on private bill business.

FATAL WRESTLING. A gardener named Bates, living at Coopeia-lane, Leyton, met a man with whom he had a discussion about wrestling. They tried a fall with one another, the result being that Bates fell and struck his temple on the kerbstone. The following day his wife on entering the bedroom found him apparently in a fit on the floor. A doctor was promptly in attendance, and pronounced him dead. The coroner has been in- formed of the occurrence.

VRESIDIM JJICKINWSV is reported to intend sending an envoy to Hawaii to prepare a report concerning the annexation of the islands by the United States. TIIB Grand Duchess of Saxe-Weimar is said to pos- sess the finest set of rubies, and the Empress of Austria the best emeralds and opals, in Europe. YOUNG LADY: How much does it cost to have a tooth taken out ?" Dentist: One florin, miss, but by the dozen it comes cheaper." I DON'T alias give up when a woman says no, said the first tramp. Not much," returned the second tramp. "I have knowed cases where a woman's' no meant corn' beef and cabbage." "I WISH," said the prig at dinner, that the host had placed a gentleman opposite me." II Why," answered his disappointed neighbour, "you could hardly be more opposite to a gentleman than you •M." < c. '1\' i .t

EITiCME OF NEWS. T TUF Home Office has decided that the cemetery which it was proposed should be established in close proximity to Hampstead-heath is not to be ahowed. TIIK erection of a cathedral at Liverpool as a memo- rial of the Queen's long reign is being strongly advo- cated locally, and is receiving considerable support. LORD ROSEBERY, who will be 50 on May 7, has arranged to go to Dalmeny about May 10, when he will give an entertainment in honour of his birthday. TUB most dangerous waters in the world for the passage of ships lie off the East Coast of England, Cape Ushant, in France, and Cape Finisterre, in Spain. Tun Rev. J. H. Ellison, "Vicar of Windsor, and Reader to the Queen, and his churchwardens have resolved, in commemoration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, to raise a fund of E300 to erect a chancel- screen in Windsor Parish Church. ALL the circuits in Hull, Leeds, and Sheffield having signified their willingness to receive the Primitive Methodist Conference in 1898, it has been decided to submit these towns to the next conference, wii h whom the decision rests. IT i stated that the income of the Wesleyan Mis- sionary Society for the past year will prove to be decidedly in advance of that for 1895. The exact amount cannot be stated yet, for the district state- ments are not all to hand. A QUEENSLAND squatter is trying to acclimatise quails and pheasants in that colony. lIe has brought out. a number of both birds from England, and proposoa to let them loose -on the Darling Downs. TUB Bishop of London has issued a formal com- mission to Bishop Barry, authorising him to perform episcopal functions in the diocese. Dr. Creighton will thus have three assistant bishops. A STATUE of Lord Roberts is to be erected in Cal- cutta in acknowledgment of his services on the Indian frontier. It will be placed to the west of the Red-road, a name well known to Anglo-Indians. THE Queen has placed the name of Mr. George Herbert Murray, C.B., upon the Royal Commission on Local Taxation, in lieu of that of Sir Alfred Milner, K.C.B., who has resigned. Mns. BESANT declares that Mdme. Blavatsky's soul has re-appeared in India, having been transmitted to a youug Brahmin only 19 years old. His occult powers, she says, will not be shown for several years to come. THE wife of the new Lord Plunket is a daughter of Lord and Lady Dufferin. Young as she is, Lad- Ilermiona has spent slices of life in Canada, Russia, Constantinople, Rome, Paris, and India. ONE of the Princes of the Orient has commissioned a well-known dealer in precious stones in London to sell for him a diamond trinket, the reserve price of which is fixed at 10,000 guineas. TUB fourth annual report of the Executive Com- mittee of the Liberator Relief Fund shows that during last year the subscriptions to the fund amounted to £ 5348. sum of P-7691 was paid away in 2581 grants. Altogether 10,029 gmpts have now been made. GARIBALDI'S widow, who is still living at Caprera, where the patriot was buried in 1882, has been granted a pension by the Italian Government, the Corte dei Conti at Rome having, after much discus- sion, fixed the amount at 300 lire ( £ 12) a year. THE Russian Red Cross Mission, which returned to Odessa the other day from Abyssinia, was (a cor- respondent says) accompanied by five native youths, sent by the Negus to be trained for doctors at St. Petersburg. A<1 the officers of the mission have been decorated by Menelik. COLONEL H. JKKYLL, commanding Royal Engi- neer in the Cork District, has been permitted by the War Office to accept the appointment of Secretary of the British Section of the Paris Exhibi- tion of 1900; and will be succeedod at Cork by Lieut.-Colonel Maycock, Royal Engineers. MRS. BENSON and Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone have expressed their intention to support a movement at Eawarden for erecting in Hawarden Church a memorial of Archbishop Benson, whose sudden death took place while worshipping there on Sunday, October 11. THE revenue of Queensland for the past quarter amounted to £ 727,200, being a decrease of C-)0,600 as compared with the corresponding period of last year. The revenue for the past nine months amounted to F-2,758,600, an increase of £ 1900. TJIE British A gent at Pretoria, Mr. Conyngham Greene, has lost his private secretary, Mr. Vincent, who has bad to leave owing to illness. The Hon. Mrs. Conyngham Greene is doing the private secre- tary's work until Mr. Vincent's place is filled. A BATTALION of infantry carries 150 picks, 150 shovels, 10 spades, 25 axes, 50 bill-hooks, and four crowbars. An engineer company has 130 picks, 130 shovels, six spades, 81 axes, 13 hand-saws, four cross- cut saws, 40 bill-hooks, 13 crowbars, and two heavy hammers. TilE London and North-Western Railway Com- pany, replying to a memorial from the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce on the subject of railway fares and acceleration of trains between Liverpool and London, have intimated that the afternoon express each way will be accelerated. SKBIOUS floods are reported from Gippsland. Early in February there was a continuous heavy rainfall for several days, and all the rivers were in high flood. Bridges were carried away, crops destroyed, and many sheep drowned, while the railway traffic had to be suspended. Tm; Rev. William Mottram has been seeking careful returns of the number of ministers in the Congrega- tional ministry of England and Wales who are total abstainers. It appears that last year 115 students and others accepted their first pastorate. Of these more than 90 per cent. report that they are total abstainers. THE Mr. Matthew Gray in whose memory a church is to be erected by his widow at West Hartlepool was a son of the late Sir William Gray, the well-known shipbuilder of Hartlepool. The church, which will co3t EIO,000, will also stand as a memorial of the Diamond Jubilee. COLONEL H. B. MACCALL, late of the King's Royal Rifles, who takes command of the 31st Regi- mental District at Cardiff, in succession to Colonel A. E. Goldsrnid, has been a soldier 34 years, and has the Ohitral medal and the title of C.B. for his achieve- ments in the Chitral campaign. ONE of the paving professions of Paris is said to be that of a trunk-packer. In many of the little trunk-shops you can hire a man who will pack your trunk artistically, folding expensive gowns and other garments in tissue-paper, and stowing away delicate ,bl'ic-à-brac in the safest way. TOE Bank of England employs about 1100 men, and has a salary list, including pensions, of about £ 300,000 per annum. The governors and directors of the Bank divide between them E14,000 per annum. Of this the governors receive £1000 each, and the directors E500 each. THE Office of Works has sent out invitations to all the Civil servants in the Government employ, to put down their names for seats on special stands to be erected for their benefit on Diamond Jubilee Day, and the price is fixed at 10s. per head. It is believed that some 10,000 Civil servants will want seats, and it is at present proposed that an erection should be made outside Buckingham Palace on the side of Con- stitution-hill, and also prpbably at the National Gallery. IT is suggested in official circles that the heads of such organisations as the Authors' Society and the Folklore Society should be offered the honour of knighthood in connection with the Diamond Jubilee. In that event Mr. Rider Haggard may rise to knightly dignity, for the author of" She is chairman of the Society of Authors TIIE largest legacy ever given Jto the Queen by a private person was 9200,000 left her under the will of a Mr. Neale. Upon the arrival at Balmoral of the telegram from the executoi announcing the splendid bequest, her Majesty immediately said she would not accept it if there were any relatives living, but it transpired that there were none. THE Johann Maria Farini family, of Cologne, the makers of the well-known eau-de-Cologne, are said to possess more male relatives bearing the same Christian names than any other family in Europe. The boys are almost always baptised Johann Maria," so that they may be able to go into the famous Cologn water business when thev prow np. INDEPENDENT testimony affords ground for the belief that the Spanish have recently buffered severely in skirmishes in Havana and Pinar del Rio. THE Home Secretary has ordered an inquiry into the recent police scandals at Manchester. Tjin Office of Works have refused to adlow- COD- tingent of cyclists to enter Hyde-par w Labour demonstrations on May T n A. LABOURER carrying » truss of ^7" attacked by a bull, knocked down, and so senousW injured that h, died in a few hours t HERE is » romantic little story of the courting day# of the Duke? of Portland. The duke first met the future duchess M1 a Scottish railway station, and was so struck by her appearance and manner that he at once determined too win her for his wife. To their surprise they discovered that they were bound for the same country house, aad it was during their stay under its roof that the engagement was definitely arranged. That is years ago, but the home life of the ducal pair is said to be of the happiest. THE present Bishop of Oxford, Bishop Stubbs, is alf noted for his neat, laconic repl es as for his aversion to bores of all kinds. It is told of him that recently one of the clergy of his diocese, who had pestered him a good deal, wrote him an unusually long letter describing a picture which he proposed to put up in the chancel of his church, and asking the bishop's permission to do so. By the time his lordehip reached the end of the epistle, his patience was ex- hausted, and he replied, on a post-card Ie Hang the I)ictll!.e.-W. oxolq. Mus. RAYMOND MAUDE daughter of Jenny Lind. has now a pretty daughter of her own growipg up. It was said some time ago that Jenny Linds grand- daughter had been found to possess a voice which was likely to rival that of her illustrious ancestress. A writer in the Ladies Home Journal who has inter- viewed Mrs. Maude does not think there is any truth in the rumour. My daughter has a small, pretty voice,' Af re. Maude told me, in answer to my eager inquiries, 'but not of sufficient body or strength to suggest the likelihood of her ever entering the pro- fession. Indeed, there has never been a question of ber doing so. THE highest bridge of any kind in the world is said to be the Leo River Viaduct on the Antofagasta Railway, in Bolivia, South America. The place where this highest railway structure has been erected if ever the Molo rapids in the Upper Andes, and is Detween the two sides of a canyon which is situated 10,000ft. from the level of the Pacific. From the surface of the stream to the level of the rails this celebrated bridge is exactly 63(>^ft. in height, the length of the principal span is 80ft. and the distance between the abutments is 802ft. The gauge of the road is 2ft. 6in and the trains cross the bridge at a speed of 30 miles an hour. THE King of Sweden enjoye.the enviable distinction of being the tallest and handsomest monarch in Europe. His Majesty is simply adored by the Swedes, who frequently find themselves brought into closer and more familiar relations with him than is usual between subjects and their Sovereign, As an instance of the Kmg s determination to be a good father to his people, His Majesty is at home," in his palace at Stockholm, every other Tuesday afternoon to such of his subjects as care to come and see him. The only formality consists in the visitor sending up his card, whereupon he is immediately ushered into the Royal presence and received with a simplicity and frendli- ness which entirely do away with nervousness. Vt HEN Mr. M'Kinley, the new President of the United States, is in Washington he attends the Foundry Methodist Church, being a member of the Methodist Episcopal body. The building has an in- teresting history, it having derived its name of the Foundry Church from the fact that it was built by Henry Foxhall as a thank-offering on his foundry being saved from destruction by the British. In the deed one of the conditions is that a pew shall always be set aside for the use of the President of the United States, and, on the next occasion when Mr. M'Kinley visits the Foundry Church he will occupy this conspicuous position. No fewer than seven other Presidents have, during the past 80 years. worshipped in the pew set apart for them in this building, which at one time was specially labelled with a silver plate. W,n TUB following passage is from an advertisement of a Wellington (New Zealand) butcher "Having now secured the services of a University man for our small goods department, we can supply the real Cambridge and Oxford sausages at 51b. for Is." THE Now Sugar Bounties Bill has been voted by the French Senate. THE consecration of the new Bishop of St. David's by the Primate is to take place on Saturday, May 1, probably at Westminster Abbey. SIGNOR ZANARDELLI has been elected President of the Italian Chamber. THE Duchess of Albany has given £ 200 towards the erection of a new rectory at Esher. NEGOTIATIONS are about to be opened for the con- clusion of a commercial treaty between Russia and Bulgaria. TIIE London County Council intends to spend 92500 on the opening ceremony of the Blackwall tunnel on May 22nd. The undertaking itself baa cost close upon £ 1,250,000. CAITAIN and Honorary Major C. F. Lindsell, one of Dr. Jameson's colleagues, has resigned his commission in the 4th Durham Light Infantry (Militia). THE Hapsburgs, it is said, are by far the richest among the reigning families of Europe. The private fortune of the Emperor of Austria may be reckoned at £ 2,000,000. Lorm and Lady Cardross have presented a beautiful challenge shield to the Buchan Curling Club, Bros. burn. It is of silver and is mounted on an oa" stand. At the top are the Buchan arms in relief, while immediately below is engraved a representation of Aim on dell-bridge, and there are also shown^ in relief the various emblems of the roaring game. THE Duke and Duchess of Bedford, who have gone to Scotland from Woborn Abbey for salmon fishing, have been obtaining abundant sport on the Marquis of Lansdowne's celebrated Meikleour water in the Tav. COUNT BADINI'S Austrian Cabinet will retain office, the Emperor having refused to accept its resigna- tion. THE International Hygienic Congress will not meet gie this year, the date of its assembling at Madrid having been postponed to April, 1898. THE distinguished French sculptor, M. Alfied Lanson, has broken down under stress of work, and r been obliged to seek refuge in a private asylum. He had not long since returned from Russia, where he executed an equestrian statue of the present Czar. THE authorities at the Zoological Gardens have decided to erect a new home for the accommodation of the land tortoises, which are at present located near the insect house. The site of the building is between the reptile house and the park. THIN largest standing army is that of Russia, 800,000 men the next in size that of Germany, 592,000; the third that of France, 555,000; the fourth, Austria, 323,000; after which come Italy, with 255,000 Britain, with 210,000; Turkey, with 160,000; and Spain, with 145,000. THE Queen has only signed a death-warrant once, and that was for an execution in the Isle of Man. The Act for relieving her Majesty of this painful duty by some oTersignt did not include the Isle of Man in her dominions. PRESIDENT MCKINLBY has nominated Mr. Alfred E. Buck, of Georgia, to be United States Minister to Japan; Mr. James Boyle, of Ohio, as Consul at Liverpool; and Mr. E. S. Day, of Connecticut, aa Consul at Bradford. A WAR which has been waged for three years past between the news agencies of America has finally resulted in a complete victory for the Associated Press, all the leading newspapers having joined that THE British South Africa Company announces that the medal is now ready for distribution to tne afficers, non-com missioned officers and men of the jompany's forces who took part in the operations in Matabeleland in 1893. Forms of claim for the medal can be obtained from the secretary. ■ THE following are the Colonial Premiers up to the present accepted the Queen 8'OVi|* ri<urner present at the Diamond Jubilee :■ Sir g j0hn Victoria; Sir Hugh Nelson Queensland, Forrest, Western Australia Sir Edwa j. Tasmania the Hon. Henry_Escom, Qo'rdon William NVhiteway, Newfoundland; Sir J. Gordon Sprigg, the Cape Hon.G. t fc finall ,or th* Dominion of Canada, strong committee J)00 for the make a special t Fund, so as to enable the Royal Military Be France which has been made committee to the resources of the fund i? such rposit'ion as to render the recurrence of such and the sister of the German Emperor's only friend. Lord Lonsdale. Like all the Lowthers, she has braiDS, and the outdoor tastes of the sportsman, and although without the devotion to the arts of her sister-in-law, Lady de Grey, is not by any naeans indifferent to them. Both Lord and Lady Chu-hill are frequent figures in the hunting fields in LeMeeter- shire, for Lord Churchill's duties as Whip to the Conservative party in the House of Lords are more nominal than real.

THE EASTERN CRISIS. GllEEK RAID INTO TURKEY. FIGHTING ON THE FRONTIER. TURKISH TROOPS BEHAVE WELL. At five o'clock, on the morni.Dg of April 9 1500 Tn W 8 grossed the frontier between Metsovo !tnaViij5,l,ia' lhe^enco»ntered the Turkish troops •tatwntd there, and a fight ensued which lasted ill casualties.61"6 l0 £ 8 °f life' beside3 niiaor What is regarded at Elassona as verv serious news was received on April 9 from the frontier. The re- port is to the effect that several bands of Greek Drigands have pasfed the frontier and invaded Turkish territory. The point at which this is reported to have occurred is Krania on the route to Grevena. Th. Turkish troops, it is stated, fired npon the brigands, whb.'replied. The engagement, which began at five o'clock in the morning; was still pro- ceeding when the news left. It is not yet known here (wrote a correspondent at Elassona on April 9 at noon) whether any soldiers belonging to the regular Greek army are among the invaders, but Marshal Edhem Pas-ha has issued orders to the troops to prepare for every eventuality. Having regard to the temper of the troops on both sides, the incident, it is feared, maylodto serious complications. Confirmation has just been received (the corre- spondent last quoted, wiring at four o'clock the same afternoon, said) of the outbreak of hostilities between a force of Greek irregulars and the Turkish troops. The telegram, which comes from Grevena, states that the fighting still continues. The Turks, acting under the orders issued by Edhem Pasha, have surrounded the enemy, and the greater part of the division stationed at Grevena under Hakki Pasha are advancing against the invaders. It has not yet been possible to distinguish whether the in- vaders are supported by troops of the Greek regular army, as the battle is proceeding in the middle of a forest; but the moment Greek uniforms are perceived among the ranks of the aggressors Edhem Pasha, will order the Turkish army to advance. The situation is considered extremely grave. Meanwhile Edhem Pasha remains at tho general headquarters awaiting further news. He has already ordered the Generals of division to hold themselves in readiness for instant action, and the reserves have left their encampment heie in order to move up closer to t lie first line of defence. Grevena is about 18 hours' distant from this place. Krania is situated 10 miles to the south-west of Grevena. During the past two days I have (the Elassona correspondent continues) made extensive visits along the line- of the Turkish defence. Everything appeared to be in an excellent state of preparedness. The staff is at Skumpa, with a division commanded by Nechat Pasha, who is about 50 years of age, Vigorous, and active. He distinguished himself in the Russo-Turkish war. The Skumpa route is ad- mirably defended, but in view of the possibility of war I mustjopt enter into details which might reveal the plans of Edhem Pasha. It is impossible not to admire the physical endur- ance of the Turkish soldiers. Many of. the.troops are posted an the heights of the. ruouptainsat when the cold is intense, the wind violent, and the rain frequent; but the" men never complain, pnd bear every vprivaiton wth the utmost cheerfulness. Sentip&ls-are stationed everywhere, not only on the frontier, for the enormous mass of war material is guarded by a double line of sentries in order to prevent possible incursions by small bands of Greek brigands, who might attempt "to destroy the stores. In the transport. service, which is excellent, over 4000 small pack-horses are employed. ijhjs service is divided into two departments, one of which collects here the provisions brought from ICaraferia and Katerina, while the other serves the troop3 stationed on the frontier. The amount of material stored at Elassona is remarkable, and includes pontoons, cannon, saddle?, baggage, medical necessaries, tents, apparatus for borinjr artesian wells, ammunition, and, in fact, everythin which a large army is likely to need. The Times correspondent at Larissa visited. Yolo on April 9. He reports: "The last supplies, mainly heavy ammunition, are being hurried to the front. All the preparations which can be made at the moment are now practically finished' Eeeerves con- tinue to arrive. Some 160 travelled in the eatne train -with me, and were greeted at every station with great enthusiasm. "In Volo I folin4 part of a special corps which Was landed last night. They are called the Mavromichalides from the name of their leader, a member of a family famous in the war of 1821. This body is entirely composed -cif picked men of good position. They draw no pay, are self-support- ing, and are distinguished by the motto on their caps Union or Death." They are certainly a very fine body, but their number only just exeeeck 100. Tkey will probably act as There are 200 J Volunteers equipped by the National Society, drawing nominal pay and being practically self-supporting. These are Greek citizeps of foreign States, many of them Turkish subjects. The presence of such bodies as these may well hurry the country into war. "I have been constantly told during last Iwo days with quite new emphasis that war is inevitable but I cannot help suspecting that the Speakers' reiteration was jjefsigjied to. still the doubts raised by the absence of a movement on Tuesday and Wednesday. Besides the difficulty of recalling the troops, I gather that there has been recently apprehension lest the Reserves may refuse to answer the call on a future occasion. A large number of really responsible men have left their businesses and farms to join the ranks, whose families, I am told, are in many cases now left in very straitened conditions. These men are already impatient with diplomacy and will consider them- selves aggrieved if the sacriflee which they have made appears to be merely for the sake of political display, and are sure to clamour for a scapegoat." ANOTHER BOMBARDMENT. The Sebenico has arrived at Canea from Kisamo Ifasteli and landed some 30 Mahomedan refugees and two wounded soldiers. The insurgents having -attempted to prevent the embarkation of the refugees, the warfbips began shelling and fired about 30sbots, when tbe insurgents retreated- Four days ago the insurgents bad placed a dynamite cartridge against the blockhouse on the hill overlooking Kisamo Kasteli. An explosion followed, killing four Turkish soldiers and causing damage to the building. The pillaging round Canea and the destruction of olive plantations continue, being mostly carried on by Mahomedan refugees from Candano and Selino. It is rumoured that arrangements are being made, for the emigration of these refugees to Asia Minor. As they are without means of existence their removal is a necessary measure, the more so that the Govern- ment resources are becotring greatly reduced, and it is doubtful whether the small relief now doled out to them in daily rations of bread can be continued much longer. "I have obtained tbg. f-Rllowiag details. (tbe Canea Correspondent of the Times, writing late on April 9, said) from the AifStrian Consul, who accompanied the Austrian admiral this morning to Kisamo Kas- teli, and who has just returned in a torpedo-boat destroyer: "On his arrival at Kisamo Kastoli the admiral went boats from the British and Austrian ships to take off the Mahomedan refugees. The insurgents fired volleys on the boats as they approached the shore, whereupon the warships began a bombard- ment, firing over 80 shells. About 30 Mahomedan woman and children ran down to the beach, from the fort and were promptly embarked, the insurgents continuing to fire on the boats as they pulled back to he ships. It is believed that there has been some of among the insurgents." iw10 CONQUER OR TO DIE." torv ar''S °' •t*ie Greek incursion into Turkish terri- •urvev in slowly, and up to the moment of tain, however X™1 °f fi £ btinS- Ifc 860,1,8 cer* Tnrkish- bUv't 4 *"a'^ers have burnt four Baltiino, where th^ attacked the village of I The number of the 86Teral hondred, Turks, to be 1000, 2600. and« variously stated Hetaim, or Oreek National Society, and before r,,e m— :nde[he nTdo«b?r ot Frontier firing taken place between Greek# and Turks, and it isalleged several casualties h«ve9ccorred. As yet war has not by either Power, though Ttirkev dSiri" ttíât sfce has now a legitimate nv.'fi t £ "u'- right for freedom of action. Should it prove true Greek regulars are with the guerilla band, Turkey would certainly have a casus belli, and in all pro- bability would invade Theesaly." FIGHTING STILL GOING, ON. Reports have reached headquarters at EUssona from Krania that fighting is still going on, and it ap- pears that the invaders have cannon with them. Edhem Pasha has gone out towards the frontier to see how matters stand, and to take what disppsi- tions may be necessary. Here the belief pre- vails that the invasion by irregulars is simply the precursor of action by the Greek army. A telegram from Larissa announces that the Greek insurgents have occupied Baltino, and are blockading the barracks, in which are 800 Turkish troops. The insurgents have sent nine soldiers as prisoners to Kalambaka. According to a telegram from Larissa, the Macedonian insurgents have fought an engagement with the Turks at the posts of Phoenicia, Perlientza, and Zafosbibassi. The Turks abandoned their posts, which were burned by the in- surgents. The fighting continues. From the direc- tion of Velamisti, on the frontier, the sound of heavy firing has been heard all day. According to a despatch from Trikhala the Turks began to attack the invading bands equipped by the National League just as the last band, of 200 men, had grossed the frontier, The Turks asked for rein- forcements from Kipario, and at the same time vigorous reinonstrancts against the incursion were addressed to the Greek frontier stations. It is confirmed that, as the result of an alter- cation, shots were exchanged between the Greek and Turkish outposts. On the Greek side one sergeant was wounded. The Greek troops had orders to preserve neutrality, and did not open fire until they were themselves attacked. Thd fighting between the Tuiks and the Leaguers occurred at a place about an hour's march from the frontier. The outcome is not-yet known. The report that hC- vaders had spiked three guils and had seized 60 tents is regarded as improbable. Intense excitement pre- vails in Athens. The Minister of War is in constant communication with the Crown Prince and the mili- tary commanders in Thessaly. Stringent orders have been despatched to prevent any further conflict between the regular troops. PANIC AT VALONA. The Ambassadors have intimated to the Porte that their declaration in regard to aggression only concerns the two fides of the Greco-Turkish frontier, and not Crete. In a communication addressed by the Porte to the Ambassadors reference is made to Greek troops having crossed the frontier, whereas, according to the general belief, irregular bands alone have left Thessaly. In any case, the incursion is re- garded as the beginning of war between Greece and Turkey. Panic has been canned at Yalgija by, a re- port that an attack would be made on the town by Greek warships. Two thousand Bashi-Dazou.s have assembled in the neighbouring valley, and are ready to advance in the eveut of such an attack. ENGLISH AND ITALIAN VOLUNTEERS. > Volunteers for Crete or Greece have been arriving at Corfu in small numbers by every steamef. The last Italian boat which arrived brought 1Q Englishmen and 10 Italian volunteers. On landing, the volunteers were escorted through all the principal thoroughfares, preceded by the Philharmonic Band and with banners flying the British, Greek, and Italian flags. The band played first "God Save the Queen," then the Garibaldian Hymn, and finally the Greek National Anthem. Flowers were strewn on the beads of the volunteers by ladies on the balconies, and hundreds of boats, filled with people, accompanied them to the steamer in which they took their departure for Athens. An address, in eulogistic terms, was pre- sented to the Englishmen.