South Wales Echo

TOPICS OF THE DAY. A morning paper "doubts if the Princess Beatrice would listen to any suitor for her hand if, in surrendering it, she must neces- sarily abandon regular nraa^-oWa'nn witL her mother. So far as Prince Henry of Batten- burs is concerned, there is happily no ob- stacle of the kind in existence. He can make his home where he pleases." In faot, to use a homely English phrase, he is of no fixed residence. The Prince of Wales got a good deal of credit a few weeks ago for declining to appeal to Parliament just yet for an allowance for his eldest son. It was not known then that Parliament will be asked next session to give Princess Beatrice an annuity of E6,000 a year. Two applications of that sort in a single session might have led to some very plain speaking, and a division list that would not have been a pleasant study for royalty. In the January number of To-day there is a manifesto to the working classes, issued by the Social Democratic Federation, and signed by Edward Aveling, Eleanor Aveling, Robert Banner, E. Belfort Bax, John Burns, Herbert Burrows, H. H. Champion, R. P. B. Frost, Amie Hicks, H. M. Hyndman, J. Lane, J. L. Mahon, S. Mainwaring, William Morris, J. F. Murray, H. Quelch, and J. E. Williams. The policy of the Federa- tion is thus stated:—"The business of such organisations as the Social Democratic Federation is not to create re- volution, for that is impossible, but to help to regulate and thereby hasten it; and this has to be accomplished by a threefold method. First, by showing sympathy with all popular revolutionary movements, fey spreading and deepening the vague discon- tent which is now simmering all through civilised countries. Secondly, by turning that discontent into an assured hope by teaching the people what are the real causes of their misery. Thirdly, by organising the workers into bodies with the definite single aim of realising Socialism or the freedom of labour." In one of the phrases here used lies the whole explanation of the strength of the socialist movement. The Federation advo- cates (. spreadin and deepening the vague discontent which is now simmering through civilised countries." The Socialist leaders, hy the vastness and the vagueness of their hopes and promises, appeal to the misery of the world, and there is much misery. The quack who prescribes a universal specific for every disorder is certainly not a sound prac- titioner but he may gather around him crowd of patients by the comprehensiveness of his appeal. ^According to the Pall Mall Gazette, Lord ^>y formally declared some time ago that, land "&e annsxec* ^ie -^ewr Hebrides, Eng- R ild regard it as "an unfriendly act.' ',aS matter of fact, Lord Derby was a' m° S'uw Guinea, and to New Guinea only, when. used these words. At present an agreement, .i „ ">etween the two countries prevents either 3 fi. >T TT Alice or England annexing he iNew Hebrides agreement can be cancelled by mutu, congeut Whether it would be wise to do so, "Illess France binds herself not to use these lands as convict settlements, is another tter. It is rumoured that the Samoan IS"ds will soon become German territory. Wei why not ? -There is already a considerable Gennan settlement in these islands. England ould 1. On nave a nnexed rb«m long ago if there been half in them. 2iv t'sfii, to yeorv has b oil t'ie one ies "n the < to be t iiiw: new of a word rcibly 11bc who eb if-i active part in tlv Reform movement of l$67. More recently ue acted as hon. sec. of tits association, which sucaded in throwing open to the public several icrc; of enclosed ground ill Regent's-park, audi fo' the par b ht took in this movement he was not very Ion? ago presented with a testimonial. The Publishers' CimiUv gives an analytical iuoic of published 1 n 1334, which shows that 4,832 new books were published' last year, and 1,541 new editions. Theology ■ stands at the he.,d with 724 volumes, more than one-sixth juvenile works and tales stand second vith 603, about one-eighth and educatiorul, classical, and philological books take che third place with 543, or about one.nnth of the total number. Of novels, &c. 408 were published. There ias been a new version of the "Corsic.n Brothers" in Paris. M. Georges Lefevrf said something nasty about Corsi- cans. Several Corsieans waited upon him, but h gave satisfactory explanations. The Corscan Deputy, M. Arène, however, Lefevre said he would kick. Arene with Bmparte, a friend, called upon Lefevre, and foxed his ears. Lefevre bit Arene, and av him into custody. Bonparte dis- clnrged a revolver in his own pocket and was also arrested. Grand finale-Arène fned 200f., and Bonparte lOOf. There is a rrea.t deal of quiet dignity in all this. "There is no need, "says the Times yes- terday, in a really modest review of itself, that we should now attempt in any way to recall the nature of the long relations of the limes with the public and its persistent influence upon public affairs. Perhaps, how-ever, at this present juncture there is a shrewd discretion in saying nothing about the influence of the Times upon public affairs." It is not a year since the Times, doubtful upon many matters, was at least cock-sure that Ireland would not be included in the Franchise Bill. 1n another matter the Times is distinctly too modest. <' We have always," it claims, acted upon the pru,e of keeping our- selves thoroughly inclepen of Govern- ment favour and party influence, anu .1,It11 continue to maintain that principle to the last." The Times is more-it is independent of itself, independent of consistency, inde- pendent of its own words and policies; and the only principle it has to maintain is the principle which regulates the turning of a weather-cock as the wind blows. The function of the Times to reflect the opinion of the hour may be a creditable one, but there should be no virtuous boasting about such a work.

Tory stump orators are prone to have a fling at any prominent Liberal who may have a connection with trade. Thus, for instance, Mr CHA.MBERLAIN has been charged with ruin- ing the screw manufacture at Birmingham, and now this has been shown to be false, another great Liberal who has made himself particularl y obnoxious to the Tories is violently assailed. Mr JAMES SOMERVILLE, a tory candidate for Glasgow, in addressing the Bothwell Con- servative Association, alluded to the connection of Mr Bright with the Corn Law agitation, and v, said Mr Bright was enabled to put a considerable quantity of size into his goods, but he did not reduce their price for all that, and those goods were sent to India and Africa, among the coloured races there, but who were unjustly talked about as belonging to the "Great Unwashed." They, however, objected to size, and washed their clothing until it al- most altogether disappeared. So much, added Mr Somerville for Mr Bright's philan- thropy. He has done his best to ruin the British farmer, and he has also done his best to wheedle the very niggers who practised habits of cleanliness. Mr BRIGHT replied to the gentleman who had called his atten- tion to this speech, and severely castigated Mr Somerville, remarking that to indulge in such language was a proof of the low opinion he must have had of those who listened to him. Thereupon the irrepressible Tory candidate for Glasgow wrote to Mr BRIGHT complaining of this reply. He little knew Mr Bright. The right hon. gentle- man is not easily cajoled into making apologies. In a final reply to Mr Somer- VILLE lie hits that indiscreet gentleman very hard indeed, and unless his object all through hae been to bring himself before the public, and thus gain notoriety, which is quite probable, Mr Somerville will let Mr BRIGHT alone for the future.

THE Ystrad Gas and Water Company are apparently determined to set at defiance the agitation which has for some time been on foot in the Rhondda Valley for a reduction in the price of gas. When last we wrote upon this question, there seemed some probability of a compromise being arranged, but now a settlement seems as far off as ever. At the meeting of the Rhondda Valley Chamber of Trade last night —In consequence of a satisfactory reply not having been received from the directors of the gas company, numerous petitions were submitted to the meeting, containing the ilamesof hundreds of consumers, all of whom, it was alleged, were determined to discontinue the use of gas unless a reduction were made. It was proposed that the chamber finally fix the \5th of January as the date for the dis- continuance of the use of gas. This was seconded anet duly carried. One of the members propo-d that should they come to a decision to discontinue the use of gas, the consumers, aftbs turning it off, should act unanimously in declining to re- -Illie its use unless the company compensate tilani foi the incurred in buying tainne. Tne "V stvad Corn "I'y vrill probably bo -(se j m time. ucty find that the gas consumers In their district nre tuiiy determined lo carry a reduction in the pn of gas, thoywiii probably concede it: bt -fc I they may wait until the oh lamps are ■> t general u,e. Then they will no doubt bo glad n-it. or.Iy to reduce the prion of gas, o;.„ tv compensate the consumers of the *xpeis»'* incurred in buying those lamps.

———, ioT Bfckea Articles, fed, i fflKk a ~otti Kay Bre?, J

OUR OOAL. TRADE, The Export of Coal and increase of Steamers, i_B\" CiUVIOT.] The cclianto which h3 taken place in 1834- in the production of steam rtssab il,, teen sudden, and heavily feit by both capitalists and than' workmen. In the Clyde: district, aud op the Tyne and Wear—the three largest shipbuilding sites in the -tht- distress has U.t;J. Jibu,3- trous. A moral may be derived, and ttjafc is, put not your trust in (princes, I was going to aay) single trades for towns and districts. The "cotton famine years ago, in Lancashire, told a fearful tale. It canrfot be said that the shipbuilding enterprise is the one interest on the Clyde and Tyne. There are, happily, many other branches of business on the banks of those classic streams. But the building of ships is extensive enough to make the breakdown sufficiently felt to a very large population. Unhappily, Sunderland feels it more than the others, for her staple manufacturing trade is that of shipbuilding. I have often trembled to think of the consequences that might ensue to Cardiff and the populations on the basks of the Taff, right and left, up to Merthyr, yere a serious collapse in the c(,&! trade to ensue. Hence the force of the sermon that has been so often preached by prominent public men to exteid the boundaries of general trade as much as possble. As the coal trade—especially the stean-coal trade—is so intimately bound uq with theextent of our steam fleet, I thought it worth vhile ot inquire as to the proportion of developmat be- tween both. In doing so, I hope I shallnot be led away into any doctrinaire ideas or enpirical conclusions. I will endeavour to state a fev facts plainly, and perhaps some practical men dealing with both classes of property may be indiced to think out" some solid lesions thereupon. Take first the total production of our coal mines. Ac. cording to that valuable publication, The :Mine. ral Statistics of the United Kingdom," prpared for so many years by Mr Robert Hunt, FR.S., and now by the Home Office, the amount vas as follows in three decades :— Increase percent. 1860 80,042,698 tons 1870 110,431,19,, tons 38 1880 146,818,622 tons 32 Mr Hunt roughly distributes the consumption as under:— Shipped to foreign countries Carried by railways and canals; Consumed in blast furnaces Consumed in other branches of iron manufacture. Used by foreign-going steamers. In tho latter year there were :— Exported. 18,719,971 tons. Carried coastwise 11,495,896 tons. Use in pig-iron manufacture 16,682,629 tons. Other purposes—railways, factories, home consump- tion, &c 99,920,126 tons. Total as above 146,818,622 tons. Turn iiu„ tjje export of coal since 1840. The figures are Ton?. Unease 1840 1,606,313 percent. 1850 3,351,880 I860 7,321,832 ,?S 1870 11,495,092 iA§ 1880 18,719,971 62 1883 22,775,634 21 The latter, of course, is for three yetrs as against ten in the previous periods. The tonnage per register of British and foreign vessels cleared outwards from ports in tbe United Kingdom were British. Foreign. Total. ^lrc^e 1840 341,397 66,881.. 408,278 1850 876,186 202,133.. 1,078,319 366 I860. 2,04J,884 376,678.. 2,418,562 124 1870 6,786,841 850,607 7,637 448 216 1880.15,685,739.. 3 217 7-ql 18,903,530 147 1383 19.920,580 4,447,007 24,367,687 28 The percentage for the last three years is singu- larly alike that of the coal export for that period, in contrast to the manifest disparity of the former periods. Turn now to the steamers registered in th United Kingdom during the S2»me term of years. They -vere:— ,0/1 a Jfo. Tons. In. p. Cent 1840 771 87,928 1850 1,187 lbS,47 91 1860 2,000 454,32) 170 1870 3,173 1,112,934 143 1880 6,247 2,72-3,46} 144 1883 6,2o0 3,728,^ 35 inis is one cuntinued cuurse of increase in all these figures. They vary and yet they agree. There are minor dissimilarities, and yet a broad family resemblance—like children, according to Darwin, who decline to be exactly like their parents, but follow more after their grand- parents, and even farther back in the perspec- tive of pedigree. But our faniiiy resemblance hardly gets so far back as tho" arboreal period." In the first place, the production of coal does not proceed so fast in a percentage degree as the export of that article- This indi- cates, I should think, that our foreign customers are in ratio stepping out in front of us. Then, in the next place, the increase of steam vessels as carriers is ahead of the export of coal; but, al- though the aggregate increase is piuca more in the former, theie is a coterminous resemblance in the consecutive years given. The year 1870 is an exception, but an exceptional exception which could hardly" prove the rule." Going further, we find that the registered steamers have increase 1 more in proportion to the carriers-" The latter, however, have increased more rapidly. Why so? Because the modem steamer goes faster, and thus makes more voyages. But there is another exception to be noticed here, and that is-the registered steamers in- creased faster in 1860 and in 1883. I hardly re- member the whole of the circumstances of the former period. It comprised the disastrous Crimean War and Indian Mutiny. There was a financial crisis a few years before 1860, and after the recoil, probably, a good deal of money was spent in steamers. About last year, however, there cannot be much doubt. It was the most unprecedented in the annals of shipbuilding for the production of steam vessels. Take the Clyde alone, and we find this view confirmed. The tonnage built there in five years amounted to In 1880 242,774 tons. 1881. 340,8'3 „ „ 1382 395,149 „ 1883 417.881 „ „ 1884 299,119 „ So that more than a million tons was built and lauuehed in the three great years, 18813. Ot course, such productive power could only have one result. It outstripped the demand, and the per- centage of increase placed upon the register again exceeded the carrying capacity. In passing, it is hopeful to see that the tonnage built this year is more than that, of 1880, and proves that there is some vitality in the trade yet. But let us return. The popular delusion that Tenterden steeple was the cause of the Goodwin Sands is no longer believed in, especially by the enlightened citizens who dwell under the shado-v of the University College of Cardiff. This blem, however, remains: Can any of the leajn. professors solve it? Will our steam fl^ease crease again ? And what bearing will *hat^ for have upon the coal trade ? That a deT possibl steamers will again arise is surely not 0/ jf 1 but probable. Some people think tha'"S .a °7.0n days are over and that the prop n.U 1Ca V1 vestment is the big iron four-mast'' 1D^ Cia t- They certainly are increasing, a. V.1S 0C^S10^" ally to our docks will show. I»^sin^ c nuinberas well as size. Thevar-rthings of beauty' that walk the waters like things of lite. It makes a patriot's heart 3' wl^ pr|de to think i.:» n .n can be_ra'fesented ia far'off ,seas hy such tokens if ha iisoUicea. ka Tel!, addressing the K^viss Alps, according to .^heridaa Knovies, ■'ia might well apostrophise thw, tht :— Tf',K i., lib you lift^ojr heads into the sky j How tiugeyou ar«how mighty and how free Ye are &e thitfr t^U^r, that rl,:n- -.nose smile mate! glstf. i But notwithstanding *ho utility 01" such ships l.o j carry goois cheaply ur.d safely cn JoP/? voyageB, i* j unlikely that any serious inroad will bo roadft « upon Revocation of our steamers, either 'Miner or "bcsan-traTnp." They are more likely to sup- ploat the old wooden sailing ship, which j" l uH&IIy being relocated to the- limbo 01 U.8 dear deputed." TLt.. revival of the steam trade dependent probably r.pon gsneral trade, The £ run '«o*.va of that main element commenced in spring. It did the sam"! thing about ten years ago. In 1.666 it began in London with the collapse of Overend and Garaey's, The Stock Exchange, for good or evil, has al''hlY¡; the credit of beginning this generalmischicf; after capitalists have been well- cautioned and prices redvictu, I'v? <! turn of the tidn" "011163 gp Om at th" featares oi general trade about twelve or thirteen years ago was ah inordinate thirst on the part of speculators to ia->'?<t in cor,! Tho men of this district do not require to be reminded of the result. For a few years back another "feature" was to "invest in steam." Twenty per cent. dividends, vide circulars of managing owners, had a wonderful effect on the gudgeon-like public, who swallowed the bait- hook and all. Behold the result—an empty pocket and a lacerated mind and stomach. Well, if general trade should revive—and let us hope the revival will begin with this new year-there is plenty of coal in South Wales to supply any amount of "steam." According to the Royal Commission on the Coalfields of the United Kingdom (1866-71), we have 32,456 million and odd tons, which is something to dream .about and dig for. But, I forget, the Bristol people are going to take the wind out of our sails." The new number of the Manufacturer has an article on the subject. Bristol has as good coal as South Wales It has only to erect tips and go ahead exporting. The Chamber of Com- merce there has petitioned the town council, and the town council has-not yet consented to erect these said tips. This by the way. It shows, however, as every straw does, how the wind is blowing, and Cardiff men must be up and doing— must look after their general as well as their coal trade. Because, if a port exports and does not import, and vice versa, it makes a difference of Is 6d per ton to the trading ship shifting across this channel. Now, if steamers are still to increase, will they have an appreciable effect on the development of the coal trade—especially the steam-coal trade? To understand this question more clearly, let us ask-who are our foreign customers for coal ? In 1883 the exports of coal, etc., stood thus:- Tons Value. Coals 21,670,926 E9,97,0,711 Cinders 488,001 > 39,001 Patent fuel 616,707 335,657 Total 22,775,634 BlO.645,919 The principal customers were:— Fiance 4,481,426 tons. Germany 2,424,573 „ Italy 2,212,111 „ Kussia 1,563,843 Sweden and Norway. 1, 57,484 Spain 1,229,924 Denmark 1,102,133 14,571,494 Other countries (under a million each) 8,204,140 „ Total 22,775,634 „ So that the main part of our coal goes but a short distance after all. What is done with it ? Ap- plied to a variety of purposes, no doubt. France gets a good deal of small coal, and makes patent hl. A large quantity is consumed in bunker- ing" steamers. It is also used for house purposes and for factories. The bunkering question is well worth a little consideration. In the Return —above quoted (Parliamentary Return, No 138)- the coal shipped as bunkers" is not taken into ac- count. On- Hussey Vivian moves for this important account-important especially to this district. Why does he not include in his programme the "bunker" coal, both foreign-going ^oastin°- 9 No account at all is taken of the latter, but the former is, for a few years back, stated separately in Mineral Statistics." It is becoming an im- portant item of export, as for instance Year. Tons. 1880 4,926,076 1881 5,227,588 1882 5,575,160 1833 6,400,594 These figures, of course, refer to the whole United Kingdom. For Cardiff alone in 1883 the amount was 969,150 tons—nearly one million tons, worth about half a million sterling at ship- ment. It is a large sum for one port, and repre- sents a good deal of capital and labour to produce. It is, however, a larger quest-ion for the whole kingdom and it becomes an impor- tant consideration as to the quantities that our steam fleet uses when "bunkering" in foreign ports, to trade in foreign waters, or to carry them back to 41 Old England" again. Also, how much of the coal we export goes to supply foreign steamers in their voyages abioad? Look, for instance, at the big lines" of boats, and judge what they may need. In those above 100,000 tons register, there are belonging to the No. Tons, Peninsular and Oriental Line 53 176,339 BritishInma.Line. 83 173,787 Messageries Maritimes Line 61 141,112 J Comp. Transatlantique Line 66 133.P62 Anchor l ine 4b 129,871 Cunard Line 33 312,608 Allan Line 37 106,452 Austrian-Lloyd Line 81 104,263 Florio Rubattino Line 87 104,167 In the yearly account of the hrst-mentioned line for the period ended 30ch June last, the cost of coal (including its freight) was £ 488,822 15s 6d. This would at least represent half a million tons. If the others consumed the same ratio, about four million tons would be taken for those seven fleets only, to say nothing of the other more numerous, but smaller, fleets of the world, amounting to about six times the tonnage of those., enumerated above. c I have now done with this subject for tv nonce. I hope this little "study of statist^ may be of some use to our local shipowner '1 n coal-shippers, who are just now in trib'° about the stagnation of trade.

LlANDAFF CATHEDRAL "HQOL -J- uetsu xunuo The following appointments hedral School: this Christmas in the Llandaff Ga full Dean's Athol S. J. Pearse promoted /ilkinson elected Scholarship, and Waldemar Boated by Pearse's to the half Dean's Scholarsh/ne appointed to a promotion; William E. Gordon Peiniger, Cboral Scholarship, and H, Finch Dawson to Francis G. Crawshay, a* two of these being probationerships, the Jot We are glad to hear already pupils in the Nourishing condition, the that the school is in left it for the great public boys who have latrRepton having taken excel- scllOols of Rugby; and already distinguishing lent positions tp new places ot education. themselves ia t- .—

IALARIV<G F,RE AT MERTHYR- x quarter to seven o'clock on Thursday Abe;, a fire, which at one time promised to evenvhlarming proportions, was discovered to asstfroken out in the cellar of Messrs Lewis harfones's offices, in Victoria-street, Merthyr. re was no one on the premises at the time, jd the origin of the outbreak is at present un- nown. Information of the fire was conveyed to he police-station near at hand, and not a moment was lost in turning out with the hose, and vigorous efforts were made to prevent the conflagration from extending beyond the cellar, but, notwithstanding, it reached the passage and stairs on the ground floor before it was finally subdued. Mr Lewis is the registrar of the Merthyr County court, and clerk to the magistrates, and in conjunction with his partner, carries on an extensive private practice. It is obvious, therefore, that had the flames reached the offices, books and documents of a very valu- able character would have been placed in con- siderable jeopardy. At the time of the un- fortunate occurrence, Mr Lewis happened to be absent from home, but Mr Jones was soon on the scene, and rendered signal service in directing operations. The cellar contained coals and other fuel, ar.d rome old books, which were without any substantial value.

lNXm'.NATIO!;<i; Healtk .x —The UishtiatAwt/i'd Medal) been awaruad to the Wheeler and Wilson itrw Styie SsWinp; Machines, for great .superiority over all others, AU ■:sperts pronounce the Wheeler and W- so:) Nos. 8 anu 10 Machines the most wonderful pieces »f mechanism iu the world,«itaNe for averybod-v. and "Yerv class of serving, hea vy and light-Wheper and Wilson, 19 Duke-street, C't rdiff and all chi^f centres in tlisti ict.oyol Electric Life—Magnetism-.—Park«S' Patent Compound Magnets are int^usely powerful and readily relieve Neuralgia, Kfteiunatisia, Nervoasii^s. & c Their gre:it stticaoy is dos tr. the .irscoviiry of a INow Principle U03 explanatory circular). Made in i! p forms, for use a* Armlets If. Pad I-, bd, band 2* the Sel, with testing Comr-ss, 5s. Ask ihe l iw-.ist or sejvd Postal Order to ♦vatProprieto?f.T Messrs f0fi3 King's fieath, Sirciin.ghm

THE OHEAT FOOTBALL MATCH. i i-i England <. Walss. Great mterest is centred in match whid: '.vill p-ayed at bwvasea to-moiit-w ?.50 j».rn. Not a aiagle important match wiV take phici ill any of ttJ, towns of South Wales 011 the same cia" v enthusiastic number of sotcta- tors m be expected to visit the ssene of the con- test. Wcround Rt present; is in good condition, although somewhat ht.rd, but about ten mkutes' play uouic butnob to render it son enough c, pdV on without the slightest danger. The ga,,ne ot football has greatly inci^as^d in popularity in Wales during the lat IbINe four years, and it is now recognised !,s a national oastime. A cricket cup !l.h will only bring together 200 or olQ spectators, whilst a football cup match will brit* together some thousands. There was a title wh Wales could scarcely muster a fifteen food eUbILh to play against an English team, Vat now Uteen Welshmen can nearly hold their CW against the most skilled and subtle players oi England. x s prcot ot this in iasi vv aies piaptu j^iiKiana ai Blackheath. when England gainu a most deci- sive victory by 8 goals and 5 trie. In 1882, at Swansea, England defeated Wtes by 2 goals and 4 tries. In 1883, at Leeds, England only won by 1 goal and 2 tries t 1 goal scored by Wales. Thus it willle seen that the tries scored by England ave, curiously enough, decreased each match byjalves, viz., 12, 6, and 3. This speaks volumes fr improvement of football in Wales. No doub a great deal of the improvement noticeable in te Welsh teams dated from the time England fir, visited Wales, as by witnessing skilled play ( the best kind players and spectators were enabd to gain many a valuable hint. Passing began be shown, men were not savagely thrown to 1e ground, but held, "tackled," or "collad" properly. Referring to the match whiclwill be played to-morrow (Saturday), there s every pros- pect of a good game, an not a one- sided affair, wnich always provesf little interest. Most of the leading authorities iEngland do not consider the English team so str4g as the two previous ones, whilst, on the "her hand, the Welsh team is stronger than bef-e. The English three-quarter-bscks are about thbest "dodgers who, perhaps, ever played. Stodart and Haw. eridge have quite a number of trks, and take a lot of finding." Wade, who ofcuned three tries in the previous match at Swana, is a resolute, dodgy runner. Rotherhamand Payne, at half-back, are very unselfish, an are masters of every trick that is liliy to puzzle their opponents. Sample, back, is a very powerful kick and a ertain tackier. The English team being equallvlivided between north and south, the wonderful }ssing and com- bination displayed by the twoirevious English is teams will naturally be somewlt missed. The northern contingent is light, bufrery quick, and excel in dribbling. If Wales sh.ild prove strong enough to farce England to act a the defensive, the possible lack of kicking by <e three-quarters will be noticeable, but this is bout their only weakness. Nothing need be saiíabout the Welsh team the players are nearly allveil known men i hnngh many are dissatisfied wh the selection. Devotees of the game i each town perhaps, minus Newport, would like to see more of their first fifteentake pait :n the match, but in all possibility, the team were selected again, dissatisfaction .vould again pre- vail to about the same extent. fine day, the ground in good condition, a larg good-tempered and impartial number of spectatcs are the requi- sites necessary to make this very important match a great success. Below ate the nanes of the players, which will perhaps piove serviieable the day before the match. Following the names of the English tean are the dates they have previously playedforlcgland; Etgland —(Back) C. H, Sample (CamMdge University and Durham), E 84 three-qsarter bjeks, J. Hawcridge (Bradford), G. C Wade 1(0 Universit^)E 8pi()^e#n J; ^od^XJnnersi'ty) E' 83, 84, J. H. Pavne (Broughtm), E. 82, 83 forwards, E. T. Gurdon, captaii (Kichaond), E. 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, and 84. G, Gurdoi (Rich- mond), K 80, 81, 22, 83, and 84; R. findersley (Oxford University and Exeter) E. 83, 4 E. D. Court (Blackheath), A. Tejgin (Iroughton Rangers), F. Moss (Broughton), H. T. Ryalls ton), Kemble (Liverpool), ki ar- rison (Hull), E. 80, 81, and 82. —Wdes—BacV, A. J. Gould (Newport); three-qutrle- backs, t. E Hancock (Cardiff), 1. 84, C. J. Taior (RJa. bon), E. S. 1. 84, H. M. Jordan (Newport and United Hospitals); half backs, C. E N,<f man (Newport and Durham) (captain), E.51.°J> an<l 84, S. 83 and 84, 1. 82, W. H. Gwynn S"'é.iou:sea), K. S. and I. 84; boards jpapp (Newport). E. 83 and 84, S. 8? R. Gould (Newport),|I. 82 and 84 B. Jones (Newport), E. 83 S. 83 and 84; R.^8 port), E. 83 and 84, S. 83 and PJ ^oids" worthy (Swansea), I. 84 E. S. (Swan- sea), 'L. C. Thomas (Cardiff. Rowlands (LampeW) J. S. Smith (OajjJj* 8 £ kn?iand> L Helana, S. Sr thre(j f seen that seven are from j 1 Lamueter Cardiff, three from Swanse?dnt/ trjn -uaniPeCer> and one from Ruabon. —

NEW YEAR'S P^NERS TO THE CARD'^ POOR- At the St National Schools, Mount Stuart-squave, Oi."ni,reday, a substantial dinner was oiven to t' usectarian poor ot Cardiff Docks and r et(jl% Tile bip of faro was a "tara *,S*te"nterITe'i' .rl"- "V th° «r« wiu-j most cordial vote >,t thanks fers. The same evening, about 5oo ° -/om above-named districts, inclnd- f!luluie('a]]y very poor and little eared for, mg sippiie(j with a capital tea. This was werad by a magic lantern entertainment, pre- foll' over by the Rev. J. R. Phillips, of the ship Thisbe, who had been kiudly Wttted for use a large number of slides y Mr Thatcher and Mr Biggs, opticians, 'i.ially, the children, who seemed by their lemonstrations to have spent most rapturous evening, were presented each with some little article from an imposing Christmas tree. They were also the recipients of four oranges each and a ticket for the pantomime at the Oai'ditt Ineatre this afternoon, the latter the gut of Mr h letch r. Addresses were delivered by the Rev. A. G. Kuasell (St. Stephen's Church) and others. The tea and all the arrangements were got up by Dr. Laen, Mr J. J. Atnes, and Hr W. Burrow. Several ladies also assisted, especially in decora- ting the Christmas tree.

THE REVENUE RETURNS. J The quarterly abstract of the revenue of the United Kingdom has just been issued from the Treasury. The total receipts for the quarter are L21,118 471 as against £ 21,423,174 in the corresponding quarter of 1883. thus showing a net decrease of £ 304,703 in tie present return. The items composing the .otal receipts of the past quarter are as f.Jiows Customs, £ 5,570,000 excise, £ 8,100,000; stamps, £ 3,160,- 000 land tax, £ 5,000 houe duty, £ 20,0:J0; property and income tax, £ 8b,000 post-office, LI,980,000 telegraphs, L430,(00 Crown lands, £ 130,000 interest on advances, P,282,582, and miscellaneous, 2595,839. These figures, compared witi the return for the quarter ended December 31s, 1383, show the following differences — Incease in customs, £93,000; stamps, £ 230,000 poperty and income tax, £ 40,000; post-office, £ 10c000. The decreases m excise were i;L,()UIUUI House auty, L5,000 telegraphs, £ 5,000 uterest on advances, £ 102,675; and miscellaneous, £ 455,028. For the nine months just completed, tie revenue shows a net decrease of LI,695,301 orthat of the corre- sponding period of 1883, the (lief difference being decreases in the excise of £ 45,000 income-tax, 2400,000 and miscellaneous 21,121,216. The Customs, ou the other h,d, have increased £ 249,000, and the Post-office, £ 120,000. For the three completed urtel's of the finan- cial year the revenue for tbt year ending 31st December, 1884, was £ 85,Jbft883 as compared with £ 90,035,522 in 1883, tha jet decrease being therefore £ 4,525,639 for the tl Ve months. This is accounted tor principally by the decrease in the income tax of 22,402,000, and in the excise of £ 593,000. Miscellaneous ia "Iso £ 1,707,962 less. Against these there are Uieiepses in the post office of £ 400,000, and customs £ 140,000.

FATAL FIRE AT EDINBURGH. I A rire occurred «urly onfrursdav morning, J'-» •] | broker's shop in the West Edinburgh, :iTJd a man named Brown, agt»<i 22, engaged at .w Forth Bride,e Works, w»s butfocatssd by «-ne •smoke. Several ptv.-«(,us W8,è rescued by ladoafs, j oidinavy cownnunication vvtth their hou;aS oa been out oft". A jSremaj? fell from "ond | storey, find disk.oased lug lip.

rVF-MUV ItSMfiDYFOB iJ.EAl>ACHES? | KEitNICK'S v^r-UABLK Plliis', '<•• :>!■, i' r;-M>' I iold few "!1 CbentHts, 4 -• in =>- ) IRU'IA'ILO' i.

The NiI Lxpe-lition, ANOTHER hZPihM OF THE H: WUJ. CorNn' V i V4B. ¡! Letter to Lord Wolseiey from General Gordon, [lUiUTER'S TELEGRA K. j CAIRO, Thursday.—The Mudir of Doiigob, telegraphs under ye".terday:s date that an Arab from the Mahdi's camp, who has reached Dougcla, affirms that the Mahdi's followers are in force at Mizan El Nek, twelve miles south of Oiuderman, whence they inve made repeated attacks upon Or- d-erman. Thbz were repulsed with heavy losa. nti com- nelled o return to }\L;;an El Nek. General Urdor living learned that f t,? Bedouin Arabs c • • :nr; the -night tc the wells, sent arnied ■stop tho practice, thus causing great B-Qfferiaiz illlclig the many of" whom died of smail-p' and dysentery. Tho Mahdi in consequence withdrew with his army to Jabbara, two days* Journey from Omdsrman. Several tribes afterwards deserted him. It is added that the "hdi subsequently sum- moned his principal chiefs aid declared his inten- tion of marching aga-in^t the Modir ef iiongola. ( The chiefs professed Uieiv readiness to lolloiv the Mahdi if instead o' lemaming behind the arniv he placed himself in Lbe front, and thus charmed off hostile bullets. On the following ttxy the Mahdi again summoned his chiefs, and told ftbara he had seen in a dream that the Jclud'r of Don. gola was a saint against whom it was cse!?*s to fight, a reply which caused great consternation. The Mahdi's forces were still at Jabbara. Caiko, Thursday. Lotd Wolseley revived yesterday a small piece cf pllper Irom General Gordon, containing the words, Khattouia a-ll riglit. C. G. Gordon. December 14th." No doubt is entertained as to the genuineness of this paper, as it bears General Gordon's geal on tha back. ["TIMES TEr.EGRAMtS. j Korti, Tliursdaj'.—'Ihere is no aonnt 01 uno authenticity of the letter from Geueval Gordon, which is both signed and seaie'J. The messengo- adds that General Gordon has occurred two palaces, placing a gun on the roof of each. He goes to the top of one every morning void looks round the country with a telescope, and he "ponds the day on one or the other of them. At night h? r goes round the works. ALEXANDRIA, Thursday.—It is hardly possible to consider seriously Mr- Bhiat's proposals. Hi«. good-natured credulity has evidently b,,ta im- posed on, as it was by Arabi. But the conse- quences of his act,OD haw already been too serious in Egypt to encourage us to repeat s*- neriments in the Soudan. I" DAILY N!>W¡; 7SL2GRAJI.J Kobti, Thursday--Though Barrow's Hussars, through an error, yesterday only covered úP" flank of Sir g, wart's advunco., their reconnaissance procures important information. Many miles of the desert were without tracts of, human ,n)eings, but they f una one camp of nomad.* Arabs, from whom they leamed that no hostile force was within many days' march. Lavg« num- bers of Arabs are said to be procurable from tliii and other tribes if necessary, From the infantry advanced post near Barkel I leam that no attenip- has been made to ;ùc<,eclčOWM\îs GerendSd at present. [" STANDARD TELEGBAJI.j KORTI, Thursday. — No definite iiforr-iution has reached head-quarters with reference to the strength of the ereaiy at Metamneh. It i? sup- posed that the place i. occupied by a detach- ineut of the Mahdi s Dev.-ieb tMt. [" DAILY TELEGRAPH. JEhEOHA. ] T Korti, Thursday The desert march MAY now be regarded as settled, not merely for the camelry and mounted men, but also for tb infantry. The RoyaJ Sussex are already undcl orders to be prepared to start for the Gakdu1 Wells, and my belief i« that the General will himself start for Shandy and Khartoum with three, if not mere, ;nftntry regimaats. in addition to the whole mounted Force, except a few detail. His column will probably mnaber close on 6,000 men. Yesterday, a Bedouin stated that ha had heard there was ii Lian who had upset the whole country still on the river Metcv, Peli with a large force, but it was not the Mahdi. He knew, he said, that the rebels were theio a week ago. [" IWLY.CHRONICLE TKLSfiKAM.J Korti, Thursday Nigh.-My lnfoimanc with General Earle's division, wirss me that the tele- graph wires were cut bv the anemy Oil the tiver uatiK last night, but a pany of Hussars repaired them. LarKe quati. ."sci of ytorzs are bsistg col- lected at Abudom, \1 the south side of tht,, river facing Merawi. Tho present intention is to make a start to-morrow. Colonel Prackeubtiry with r squadron of Hussar, ha. gone to choose a position. The messenger who brought Gordon's brie: message of December 14th all rfigh* was instructed to inform Lord Wolseiey that Khartoum can hold out, and that in the last en. gagement he disabled one of the enemy's guns. Skirmishes with the JViahui's follower; are fre- quent. Gordon still keep-, a stun on the roof of both palaces at Khartoum, making play on the enemy encamped on the west oa-vk. At liigbt ho makes a. round of the city's earthworks, and by day he learns the enemy's movements. General Earle has ascertained that the Mooincers, the tribe most deeply implicated in Coi. Stfvyatt's murder, ha veassemkkd at a difficult pa aon fhariyat some miles beyond Gerendid. The tribesmen haw# however, not responded to th-s call to hims, md it is not probable that our passage will be disputed) if at all, by more than a inuwred or twi) of We enemy.

GERMAN AND FRENCH AM NEK A" TIONS. Probable British Cabinet Coiunoil, To-day's Daily Chrmicie stcys:—" Tot'news d Mr Gladstone's sudden return to Lohdon tal caused some surprise and a it speculation in political circles. It its knuimn thai no Cabinet Council were te have taken place it the ordinary course ct Government ousifie.* naii j the end of the present mouth. Re;, r: weri current last evening *bat Ministers have heel called together at the rei.-iftgt d x">»iby, v. Jj< has received important infopm^tion in coau jctiai with the German French annexations ib tb< Western Pacific-

FAILURE IN LONDON. To-day's Mornim JPisl A circals Jas been issued t'.aiinj? that Messrs Cot-mitt' Brother5 and Co., merchants, 42, Manning Unfi d. have found it necessary to convene c me. ting 4 their creditors. The liabilities are believed to b! moderate. The books are in the hands of M J. J. Saffery and Co. i .c"

DEATH OF LADY Tua death is "oai.-cd Jo.-a. Hastings, widow oi l¡1.tr, r. .,itice married to o; Heme, C.a: Glciiiceatershi-* "1fiI'

Tlt A 11 L if Mali ay .4 'toiss". i I