The Cardigan Observer and General Advertiser for the Counties of Cardigan Carmarthen and Pembroke

XAT*BTIC Piixa, for Neuralgia, F&oeaehe, Ac., 9}d., Is. ljd Postage Id. Sold by all Chemists. Kay Bros., Stockport M. JOHN LEMOINNK, coupling the death of the Pope and the fall of the Turkish Empire, says that these simultaneous events are the end of two theocracies, which shared the universe between them, and the definite consecration of the principle of the separation of powers, and of that secularisation which 18 the necessity, the law, and the constitution of the modern world." Tmi POOR SMITH CHARITY.—An appeal was heard in the Court of Appeal for a reconsideration of a decision of the Master of the Bolls respecting the distribution of a fund known as Smith's (Poor Kin) Charity," left under a will made by Henry Smith, a citizen and alderman of Lendon in 1627, and for ad- ministering which a fresh scheme is being settled. The property left has risen in v,Jue from X130 to £11.000 a year, with » further prospect of increase. The Master of the Rolls treated the bequest as a per- petual charge of X60 a year only to the poor kindred, and decided that the surplus was applicable to general charitable purposes. Tbeir lordships, the Lords Justices, decided that on the question of construc- tion the poor kindred were entitled to the whole in- come of the moiety of the property, and not merely S60 a year distributable among them under the order of the Master of the Bolls.

FOREIGN AND COLONIAL. F t The Hellenic Government has declared to the representatives of the six (Sreat Powers its acceptance i; of the arrangement proposed by them, that on con- j ■ ditionof its troops being immediately recalled frdm i Thessaly the Great Powers would undertake to secure order in the Greek Provinces of Turkey and have the claims of the Greeks considered in the Oonferonce on equal terms with those of the SLava. A Berlin correspondent saya The Speech from the Throne making no mention of the three Emperors' alliance, but emphasising the existente of friendly re- lations with all the Powers, and more especially I Austria, it is concluded that the German Government have not entered into any engagement to support the new demands of the Russian Cabinet. This inference I is not a little strengthened by the Boyal Speech ex- pressly mentioning the programme agreed upon at the Constantinople Conference as the basis of the coming peace. These opinions seem to be pretty general to day. If yesterday there was less unanimity j as to the meaning to be attributed to the Boyal Speech this was owing to the opposite constructions placed upon the passage in which his Majesty the Emperor is introduced as the originator of Germany's Emperor is introduced as the originator of Germany's policy, in the East. From Melbourne we learn that the International I Exhibition Bill has been rejected, and the motion brought forward by the Chief Secretary for an address I to the Queen asking permission for the Prince of Wales to visit this colony in 1879 for the purpose of opening the Exhibition, has been withdrawn. The I recent passage made by the Peninsular and Oriental I Company s steamer Siam was the fastest on record, the mails being delivered within thirty-eight days. The total sum subscribed in Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania in behalf of the Indian Famine Fund was about £75,000, of which Victoria contributed £ 27,000. The latest experiment of Sir Samuel Wilson in intro- ducing salmon ova into Australia has proved a brilliant success. Gold mining shows agns of increased activity throughout the colony. The appearance of the vine- pest (phylloxera vastatrix) in the Victorian vineyards is causing much alarm, and a bill to eradicate the evil has been introduced into Parliamentand is now under consideration. The following despatch is from Brindisi: Mr. Parkes having been unsuccessful in his attempts to form a Cabinet, Mr. Farnell undertook the task, and the following Ministry was constituted Mr. Farnell, Premier and Secretary for Lands Mr. Fitzpatrick, Colonial Secretary; Mr. Cohen, Treasurer; Mr. Sutherland, Minister of Works; Mr. Sutton, Minister of Mines Mr. Leary, Minister of Justice Mr. Burns, Postmaster-General; Mr. Foster, Attorney- General. Parliament has adjourned until Jan. 2"Jnd for the Ministerial elections. The Government has already suspended the auctions of Crown lands until Parliament decides whether the system shall be con- tinued. Mr. Grey, the Premier of New Zealand, has delayed complying with the request of the Governor to publish in the Gazette a notification conferring the title Honourable upon Judges Chapman and Greg- sen, because he disapproves the creation of what he considers a sham aristocracy in the colony. A demonstration against the Provincial Govern- ment's railway policy was made at Quebec by a mob numbering 6000 persons, bearing torches and trans- parencies, before the Parliament House while the sitting was proceeding. The police guarded the doors of the House and prevented the people from entering. After burning the Solicitor-General in efflgy, the mob paraded the city, and dispersed quietly at midnight. The Swiss National Council has adopted the re- commendations of the Council of State with reference to the projected treaty with Great Britain for the re- ciprocal protection of trade-marks. Believing that the treaty would place Switzerland in an inferior position relatively to England, and that a too elastic phraseology would give rise to interminable conten- tions, the council decides to defer further considera- tion of trade conventions until a new Federal law on the subject shall have been matured. From Adelaide we learn that the Government has abandoned the system of requiring emigrants to sign a bond not to leave that colony within two years from the time of their arrival. It is intended to charter a vessel to bring emigrants frDm Scotland. The total cost for the defences of the colony, as recommended by the Governor, Sir William Jervois, is estimated at £ 35,000, with an annual expenditure of £ 25,000. This sum does not include the purchase of an ironclad.thecoat of which is reckoned at £ 150,000. Western Australia is now in direct through communication with the ad- joining colonies. The Government have appointed a committee to inquire into the administration of the various departments of the public servioe in accord- ance with a resolution 'of the Legislative Council. A despatch was received by the last mail from the Im- perial Government abolishing the office of Controller of Convicts. The Official Journal of Egypt publishes a statement regarding the estimated revenue for 1878, which has been drawn up bythe Comptroller-General of Receipts from data furnished by an examination of the accounts of the Receiver-General. According to the statement in queetion, it appears certain that there will be a falling-off in the revenue Irom Lower Egypt in consequence of the inadequate rising of the Nile, only one-half of the Moukabalah and land- tax being recoverable from lands artificially irrigated. Etomaine, the Comptroller-General of Receipts, sfofes it as his opinion that the burden of taxation is too heavy, and that the principal heads of revenue, such as the Moukabalah, the personal and professional taxes, and the salt-tax exceed the paying powers of the people. The sircars of these heads must, therefore, be erased from the Budget. Even on the reduced figures of the revenue estimates, a further falling-off must be expected, because the failure of the Nile bas affected to a certain extent every province of Lower Egypt.

IT IS STATED that the Pope left for publication,, with a gentleman of political distinction, all the con- fidential letters exchanged between his Holiness and Victor Emmanuel. MARITIME INQUIRY.—An inquiry instituted by the Board of Trade into the circumstances attend- ing the stranding of the ship Sovereign on the South Rock ridge, off County Down, has been concluded at Glasgow. The Court found that the master, Charles Fenbow, had navigated the vessel in an unseamanlike manner, and ordered the suspension of his certificate for three months. THE POPE'S WILLS.—The late Pope left two wills. In one he bequeaths an annual sum of 3,500,000 francs to his successor for the expenses of the Holy See. In the other, his private will, he makes his nephews his heirs, and leaves 300,000 francs to the poor of Rome. The cost ef his monument is not to exceed £80. CONSCIENTIOUSNESS IN ART.—The Portfolio for February gives some curious details of Meissonier's method of working. He spares neither trouble nor expense, neither time nor money, to get at the exact truth. A tailor makes complete costumes for his models, and the painter goes scrupulously into the minutest details, not only about the costumes, but the way in which they were worn. It is quite true that, in order to study the action of horses at the gallep, M. Meissonier had a short railway made on his own land, on which he was drawn at the same speed, whilst he took notes. M. Meissonier models horses for himself in wax, and has the models completely harnessed. He is just as careful about truth of effect as he is about truth of fact. He does not, like many figure- painters, compose a picture from models in the studio, and then add a landscape background out of his own head; but when the subject is an out-of-door subject he is careful to see and study the effect of open day- light on his materials. His aim has been to paint a man, with his costume and the objects that surround him, quite perfectly on a small scale. There is, it is believed, no instance of a female figure in any of his exhibited works. ACTION TO RECOVER A GIFT.-At the Leeds County Court, before Mr. Serjeant Tindal Atkinson, an action was brought by Mr. Samuel Chapman (assignee of the estate of Mr. Thomas Turner, formerly a draper in Huddersfield, from the trustee) to recover the sum of .£25, money received by the de- fendant, Julia Anderson. The defendant's solicitor did not deny that the money was paid, but said that it was while there was an understanding between the parties that they were to be married. Miss Anderson was taken by Mr. Turner to Scotland, and she during this time received money that altogether amounted to .£25. He also made her presents of baby-linen, in view of coming events. If the child were a boy it was to be called Tom, and if a girl, Maud. But, while this was all going on Turner was already married, and had a wife living at Halifax. After he had taken the girl to Scotland he had the audacity to take her home to his own house, while his wife had gone on a visit to her friends. Mrs. Turner afterwards made herself known to Anderson, who said that until then she had believed the debtor to be a single man. Soon afterwards the debtor filed his petition, and then made public his connection with the girl, and stated what money he had paid her. His Honour said the girl could have brought an action for breach of promise of marriage, and ceuld have recovered damages against Turner. He bad never known such a case before. The debtor, knowing that he could rot fulfil bis promise to the yopnc woman, gave her S25 as a sort of instalment to provide a home in view of their marriage. The plaintiff was non-suited, and the judge declined to grant costs. ciottjriitAH's TEA. guaranteed Pure. ELOBNIXAWS TEA, best value for money. UOBBIHAJT'S TXA sold only in Facket-

THE SCHOOL GOARD AND THE THEATRES. Mr. William Wybrow Bobertson, manager of the Royal Aquarium Theatre, appeared at Westminster Police-court, to several summonses taken out under the provisions of the Elementary Education Act, 1876, for employing children under 10 years of age. There were also two summonses for employing children over the age of lOyears, they not hiving obtained certificates of competency as to rfading, writing, &c. In opening the cvse, Mr. D. Straight, who appeared for the School Board, said there were six summonses for employing children under 10 years of age, and two for over that age. The specific summonses related to the employ ment of children in the Christmas pantomime, and instead of their minds being improved by proper and judicious schooling they were employed twice a ctay skipping about, and got pantomime notions in their heads, which could be of no use to them, and it was not desirable that children should be so employed instead of being sent to school. In the case of one of the boys named Coles, under 10 years of age, the mother proved that he attended school in the morning, and in the afternoon and evening personified a Colorado beetle and a French soldier. He received 9a. a week. The f&ther of two boys named Body proved that his two children were employed at the Aquarium Theatre. Latterly there had been a school at the Aquarium for these boys, and they went through a course of instruction under a schoolmaster. They received payment for their work. Mr. Robert- son said a lot had been said about idleness, skipping- about, and pantomimic antics, but that had only been put forward to cast a slur upon the profession gene- rally. He begged to say that there was no idleness in a theatre, and, referring to the exceptions allowed by the Act, he contended that according to the terms of the Act of Parliament the children were educated, more educated, in fact, than they would be at a School Board school. They were drilled under the best masters, taught music and singing under the best masters, and were being taught a profession and earning an honest livelihood, and beyond that a competent schoolmaster was pro- vided for them. He ventured to say that next to god- liness, which, he presumed, was one of the maxims of the School Board, they had been taught cleanliness. There were many men now eminent in the theatrical profession/who had commenced life in quite as humble a manner as these children, and he took it that the Act of Parliament was not framed to meet such cases as these, which were of the most vital im- portance to the whole of the profession. He, however, had come unprepared with witnesses, and was not aware that an array of legal talent had been engaged to contest the matter, or else he would have taken care that the matter should be left to more able minds to argue. Mr. Straight ridiculed the idea that this could be called educating children. Mr. Robertson argued that if the intention to educate the children was bona fide he could not be convicted. Mr. D'Eyncourt was against Mr. Babertson, and adjourned the case at his request. I '1'1

REQUIEM MASS FOR KING VICTOR EMMANUEL. On the morning-of the 9th inst. their Majesties the Xinp and Queen of Italy, accompanied by the Queen and the Prince of Portugal, Prince Amadeo, and the Duke of Genoa, attended by their respective suites, drove in plain mourning carriages to the church of Santissimo Sudario, to be present at the solemn Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of King Victor Emmanuel. It was a mass which, according to Court etiquette, should have been celebrated in a private chapel of the Royal Palace, but the chapels in the Quiriual having been formally decon- secrated before the clerical authorities left it in 1870, the national church of the Piedmontese in Borne was the only place remaining at the disposal of the Royal family. The church was splendidly decorated for the occasion, being draped throughout, both internally and externally, by black velvet ornamented with silver. Concealing the altar picture was an immense plain silver cross on a black field. On the catafalque, which was surrounded by 120 great wax torches, lay the crown, the sceptre, the mantle of the Order, and the collar of the Annunziata, and above it a great crown was suspended from the vaulting, from which a pavilion of ermine descended. Upon the catafalque we read, Acceptus erat in oculis universi populi, et ambtdavk in via patris sui, me declinavit ab ea" (" He was acceptable in the eyes of all the people, and he walked in the ways of his father, nor swerved therefronv") altid other firatilar passages from the Scriptures. The choir was led by Professor Rotli; the mass was' by Casciolini, the Dies irse by Pitoni, and the Benedtctus, which was particularly fine, by Botoli. The mass, which was celebrated by Canon Anzino, Private Chaplain of the late King, assisted by the Royal Chaplains, Rossi and Matte", was strictly private, being attended only by the Boyal party and their households, the Knights of the Collar of the Annunziata, the more distinguished members of the Boman Italian nobility, and a very few others. The streets were densely crowded, and people were anxious to obtain a sight of their Majesties; but strict silence, as suited the occasion, was maintained.

COAOULINE.The best cement for Broken Artiotes.M., Is., 28. Postage 2d. Kay Bros., StoekpoTt Sold everywhere. THE ROYAL HISTORICAL SOCIETy.-The anni- versary dinner of the Boyal Historical Society was held in the St. James's Hall, Regent-street, Dr. B. W. Bichardson, F.B.S., presided. Mr. E. J. Reed, C.B M.P., spoke at some length on the Eastern Question in Mknewledging The Houses of ParHament." In proposing "The Boyal Historical Society," the Chairman alluded to the remarkable success of the institution—a success which had constantly attended it since its commencement ten years ago. The forma- tion of its historical library, mainly founded by the Baroness Burdett-Coutts, would, he held, be found of inestimable advantage. The society already exchanged transactions with the principal historical associations of Europe and America. The Bev. Dr. Moffat felici- tiqusly referred to his late distinguished sonyn- law, Dr. David Livingstone. In proposing jhe toast of The Grampian Ctub," Mr. Vans Agnew, M.P., spoke of the club as an associate of the Historical Society, both having been originated by Dr. Bogers about the same time. The club had been so successful that of its sixteen issues a majority were out of print. The other speakers were Mr. Robert Ferguson, M.P., the Bev. Prebendary Irons, D.D., Alderman Hurst, Mr. Cornelius Watford, Dr. George Harris, and the Rev. A. H. Wratislaw. THE HEDGEHOG.—We were disturbed at night by such a continuous and persistent barking that there could be but little doubt of my house being the object of a midnight attack. Having left my bed- room I distinctly heard the sound of a noise as of filing, or rather sawing, and having aroused the servants outside, and some in the house, we proceeded carefully to search for and examine any point of in. gress or access. Nothing, however, was discovered to indicate the presence of marauders, and being driven to reflect as to what could be the cause of the still grating or filing noise, J be- thought me to ask if a cat were missing, or if there had been any indication of the presence of rats in the house. Upon this arose an exclamation from one of the women servants, I wonder where that little edge-og has got to, he hasn't been in the kitchen for nearly a fortnight." With this gleam of anti-ghostly light I made a succes- sion of inquiries, which brought out the fact that the foresaid hedgehog had been whilom a member of my establishment, having been introduced for the object of clearing us of black beetles, which object being success- fully accomplished he had,aft-r a few days, secretly dis- appeared. Now commenced a pursuit which I take credit far having conducted in a scientific and sports- manlike manner—as became both the fun and the seriousness of our condition. Following, therefore, carefully every scent of sound, we reached an en- closed recess under one of the principal staircases, and there found a large roll of brown paper, tightly tied round outside, but hollow within, which had been placed there in preparation for a paper lining under a carpet. Holding up this to a light, an ob- struction was visible, which left no doubt as to the adopted home of our truant friend; and as I could not shake him out, I untied the bundle, and found little" Prickles" so tightly wedged that he could neither "pass on or go back, and so he had settled down to the steady sawing process by means of which he was tunnelling his way out, in doing which he had already accomplished a piece of engineering which en. titled him to be regarded by all bis discomfited pur. suers as a true bore." Now, how he got into that hole and corner, and how he subsisted with strength enough to bring down the wbcle house upon him by his noise, is to me a puzzle, and certainly suggests a curious inquiry as to the time of fasting possible.—ZtM Stock Journal. THE WILD FOWL ^RESERVATION ACT.—The Secretary of State for the Home Department has varied the close time for wild fowl in the county of Carnarvon so as to be from the 1st of March to the 1st of August, instead of from the 15th of February to the 10th of July, as enacted in the above-named Act. The followinir is a complete list of the close times now in force in the United Kingdom In Nor- folk and the Eastern Division of Suffolk, from March 1 to July 10. In Brecon, Carnarvon, and Southamp- ton, Devonshire, and Dumfries, from March 1 to August 1. In Queen's County, Wicklow, and Somer- set, from March 1 to August 12. In Essex and Kent, from March 15 to August 1. In Dorset, from February 15 to August 1. Other applications for variations of the close time in different counties are • still before the Secretary of State,

FUNERAL OF GEORGE CRUIKSHANK. On Saturday afternoon, both at the residence of this eminent caricaturist and at the Kensal Green Cemetery, there were present very large crowds of persona desirous of witnessing the funeral obsequies of the late Mr. George Oruikshank. The remains of the deceased were in a leaden shell, enclosed in a polished oak coffin, with brass handles and fittings, and having a brass plate, in the shape of a shield, j upon which was the following inscription George Cruikshank, artist, born 27th September, 1792, died 1st February, 1878, aged 85." The funeral cortege consisted o £ an open car (the same which was used on the occasion of the funeral of Douglas Jerrold), drawn by four horses, and seven pair-horse mourning coaches, following which were about twenty private carriages, occupied by the personal friends of the deceased. Upon the coffin was a violet pall, and the bearers were Lord Houghton, General M'Murdo, Mr. George Augustus Sala, Mr. Charles Landseer, B.A., Mr. Samuel Carter Hali, and Mr. B. S. Ellis, the chairman of the Mid- land Railway Company. The mourning coaches; were occupied as follows The first by Mrs. Cruikshank, Dr. George Hazell, Mr. Percy Cruik- shank, and Mrs. George Oruikshank-Pulford the second by Lord Houghton, General M'Murdo, Mr. Landseer, B.A., and Mr. Ellis the third by Mr. G. A. Sala, Mr. Hall, Mr. George Oruikshank Gibbs, and Mr. E. Duncan the fourth by Dr. Parratt, Mr. F. W. Cousens, Mr. George Bell, Mr. George Wallace the fifth by Mr. S. Phillips Day, Mr. Charles Kent, Mr. Percy Cruikshank, jun., and'Mr. J. 0. Rogers the sixth by Mr. Octavian Blewett, Mr. Willian Field, Mr. George William Reed, and Mr.George H. Haydon; and the seventh by John Adams Acton, Mr. C. J. Pocock, Mr. E. N. Hogarth, and Mr. W. Stanley. At the cemetery, in anticipation of a large gatheiing, a barrier had been erected to keep the crowd at a re- spectful distance, and for the accommodation of mourners a platform draped in black was provideel. A contingent of the police force were in attendance, as was also the case in Hampstead road to preserve order. Th3 coffin was received at the cemetery by the Rev. Charles Stuart, the chaplain, and the Burial Service, was read by him. The remains were de- posited in a newly-made grave near the tomb of deceased's friend Thackeray, and also that of Mdlle. Tietjens. T

THE IRISH EDUCATION QUESTION. ^^dinal Oni]en and Bishops Moran, Warren, M'Cabe, Walsh, and Lynch, representing Ireland, have issued a pastoral letter to the clergy and people of Ireland, which was i-easl at high mass on the 10th inst. The letter, which may be characterised as a manifesto, deals entirely with the question of educa- tion. The bishops believe the present is a moment which seems more urgent than ever, for her Majesty has within the -last few days informed P rlia- mentv that the Ministry intend to introduce a bill on intermediate education itr Ireland. They regretted that the Ministera have not undertaken to redress the grievances in primary, intermediate, and university education. They hope the Government will bring forward some sub- stantial measure, capable of restoring in no small de- gree the rights they have been unjustly deprived of, and give equality in educational -matters. with their non-Catholic fellow subjects, which they complain has been systematically refused. The manifesto deals with the rights of educational resources, of which they say their fathers were deprived, and refers to the reigns of Henry VIIL, Queen- Elizabeth, James I., and Cromwelli --and; then" ref era to Mr. Glad- stone's Eiucatidntf^^H. Mwhich it describes as a scheme for fixing, ijpen Ireland .the system of mixed education, which the Holy See has condemned as grievously and intrinsically dangerous to the faith fead' ndor»ls of Boman Catholic youth, and which the Bopian Catholics Of Ireland have refused to accept for the last thirty years in the Queen's colleges and model schools, and by which refusal these educational establishments have been deprived of all vitality in this country, and have become a signal failure. The steps taken to restore their educational rights have been not only a meagre instalment, but have been given with faltering steps/even up to the pre- sent degyiwfien their actual state, as regards educa- tion, has been -admitted by ar Pj?ime Minuter to be scandalously bad. The- manifesto then refers to Trinity College, enjoying 200,000 acres of land; Protestant Endowed Schools, X40,,000 per annuo15 and the Queen's Colleges, £ 30,000 a year, while the higher education of Beman Catholics receives nothing from the State. The latter, in conclusion, ask for prayers to inspire those who sway the des- tinies of this great Empire with thoughts of justice that they may repair the past injuries inflicted on Ire" land. The letter argues that all the knowledge that the able professors can impart, all the sciences that the most renowned universities VM Communicate, all the distinctions and honours this world can give, will be of no avail to tbem on the great accounting day, they lose their faith. The bishops urge the Clerfy and people to use their legal rights- to the their power in order to obtain a full redress of their educational grievances, and a sound system of educ»T tion in all its branches, of which Roman Catholics can avail themselves with a safe conscience. fiet them keep before the Rulers their admitted disabili" ties until they have been removed. Let them also avoid secret societies and associations which hate the light, and conspire in darkness against the State and their religion. Such societies can never he blessed. They are, and always have been, a frightful source crime, of dissension, Of treachery, of ruin, and of misery to individuals and their country."

CONTINUOUS BRAKES.—Major-General Hutch" inson has lately held inquiries into the circumstances connected with two accidents wheh Occurred on the Great Eastern Railway. The first of these happened ) on the 20th December at Chobham Farm Junction Stratford, on the Great Eastern Railway. In this case, during a fog, an up passenger train from Loughton to Fenchurch-street came into collision with a goods train from March to the London Docks. II This collision was caused, first, by the driver of the up passenger train having approached the up home signal of Chobham Farm Junction at a 8Peed which prevented him from stopp'11^ train at the up home signal, which r w.. at danger; and scondly, by the ggoal- RIM in the Chobham Farm cabin having V- lated the block telegraph rules by giving Line clear" for the passenger train to Loughton Junction before the goods train was off the main line and clear in the siding. The second accident was a double collision between three passenger trains, which occurred on the same day, at Stratford Station. A passenger tra'n from Loughton to Fenchurch-street was standing ftt Stratford Station when it was run into by another up passenger train, also from Loughton to Fail- chnrch-street, and with the tail of this latter train the up passenger train from Ongar to Liverpool-street, due to pass, but not to atop, at Stratfcrd at 8.50 came into slight collision. In his reports to the Board ?f Trade, Major-General Hutchinson points out that If the trains bad been furnished with an efficient con- tinuau, brake in the handa of the driver, the accidents wouJdprobably have been avoided. I 8 COMPOIRNB ESSEHCE or LIWSKKD, a demuloent erpec wnajt, for Coughs *Qolds. Sold everywhere, 91d., Is. lid- Two BLACKBURN POLICEMAN IN A FIX.-— Two Blackburn policemen had a rather unusual chase the other day. Armed with a warrant, they Proceeded to some large buildings in course of erection, for the purpose of apprehending a man who had been negligent in the payment of a fine. The man was discovered working at the top of the bnildings, and 10 answer to the demands of the constables to coIJle down he told them to "go to Jericho," or some other distant region. The police at once decided, if the man would not come down of his own accord, to fetch him down. Some labourers below volunteered to fssist tbem to go up aloft. The twe constables in a hoist used for the purpose of elevating bricks and mortar, and they began to ascend towards the regio"0 above. But before they had ascended half bi?^1 enough something went wrong with the hoisting Machinery, and our two policemen were poised in mid air, and had then the additional chagrin of seeing their wished for prey step into another hoist before their faces, and rapidly make his descent. When the hoisting machinery had been got into order again-if it was ever out-the policemen found that their man had escaped. It it not expected that they will again resort to the same method of seeking to procure his capture. WEIGHT'S COAX TAB SOAP (SAPO Carbowi* Det&rgtn*)* Antiseptic, Detergent rWsmiectant. The most healthful agreeable, and refreshing Toilet Soap in the world. By Its daily use, freedom from infectious diseases is secured 5 thu complexi • n improved} pimptes, blotches and removed: and the skin made clear, smooth, and lustrous j In our tmnrta it has proved most effective in skin diseases* —TheLane«L It is the only true antiseptic soap."—British Medical Journal. In Tablets, 6d. and is. each of all Chemi8t'i• W. V. WBI»» "ind Co.. S^nthwnrk-ptreet. London. ACCORDING TO Vanity Fair no less than £ 10,000 have been expended on the repairs and re- organisation of the Marlborough House drains. A new wing is to be added to the house, but the building operations will not be commenced till the autumn of the present year. IN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRE DOME, Madame M., the wife of a colonel in the French army, has been arrested for fraud. Her husband has gone out of his mind in consequence, and her son of 18 has blown his brains out. KEATING'S COUGH LOZENGES oontaln PO OpiniKs, Morphia, nor any violent drug. It is the most effective remedy known to the Medical Pro- fession in the cure of Oceans, ASTHMA, BRONCHIT18 —one Lozenge alone relieves. Sold by all Ohemis in Boxes, le. lid. and 21, 9d. each

THE EASTERN QUESTION. THE PBAOfl PRELIMINARIES. j The Journal de St. Petersbourg, the organ of Prince Gortschakoff, publishes the text of the preliminary conditions of peace, signed by the Plenipotentiaries at the Bussian head-quarters at Adrianople. The conditions are as follows: Preliminary Conditions of Peace communicated by Mgr. tue Grand Duke Oommander-in-Ohief to the Turkish Delegates: Should the Turks demand peace or an armistice at the outposts, his Imperial Highness the Commander- in-Chief shall inform them that hostilities cannot be suspended unless the following bases shall have been previously adopted: p I.-Bulgaria, within the limits determined by the majority of the Bulgarian population, and the limit of which shall not, under any circumstances, be more circumscribed than that indicated by the Constantinople Conference, shall be erected into an autonomous tributary principality, with a national Christian Government and a native militia. The Ottoman army shall no longer remain in Bulgaria, excepting at certain points to be mutually agreed upon. J II.—The independence of Montenegro shall be re- cognised. An increase of territory equal to that which the fortune of arms has caused to fall into its hands, shall be secured to it. The definitive frontier shall be hereafter arranged. IH.-Tbe independence of Roumania and Servis shall be recognised. An adequate territorial in- demnity shall be secured to the first, and a rectifica- tion of frontier to the second. IV.—Bosnia and the Herzegovina shall be granted an autonomous administration, with adequate guarantees. Analogous reforms shall be introduced into the other Christian provinces of Turkey in Europe. V.-The Porte shall undertake to indemnify Russia for the expenses of the war, and the losses which she has had to incur. The nature of this indemnity, whether pecuniary territorial, or otherwise, shall be settled hereafter. His Majesty Sultan shall come to an understanding with his Majesty the Emperor of Russia to protect the rights and interests of Russia in the Straite of the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles. In proof of the acceptance of these essential bases, Ottoman Plenipotentiaries shall proceed immediately to Odessa or to Sebaatopol, there to negotiate with the Russian Plenipotentiaries preliminaries of peace. As soon as the acceptance of these preliminary con- ditions shall be officially notified to the commanders. in-chief of the Imperial armies, armistice con- ditions (Conventions a Armistice) shall be negotiated at the two theatres of the war, and hostilities shall be provisionally suspended. The two com- manders in-chief shall have power to complete the above-mentioned conditions, while icdicating certain strategic points and certain fortresses which will have to be evacuated as a material guarantee of the acceptance by the Sublime Porte of our armistice con- ditions, and of its entrance on the path of peace negotiations [entr6e dans la vote des neqocvatvms de pais). RUSSO-TURKISH ALLIANCE. The correspondent of the Daily Chronicle at Vienna telegraphs on the 8th inst. as follows: The diplo- matic negotiations between Prince Gortschakoff and the Vienna Cabinet respecting some of the stipula- tions of the draft treaty are gradually assuming more peaceful issues, and Count Andrassy hopes that a favourable result will be attained. Bussia has propoaed that the Conference shall meet at Baden Baden or Dresden. No resolution has been come to either as to the place and time of meeting. inrom Count Zichy, at Constantinople, and from the Bussian Embassy, Coun^ Andrassy has been infortaed of the exact terms of the armistice and draft treaty, but no official formulation of these terms has yet been published. They are said to coincide in sub- stance with those pnblishedin the Agence Susse and JourmlM.Petenlourg, Iam, however, informed by a most reliable authority that a Russo-Turkish alliance for offensive and defensive purposes has been formed. To this end the Porte has ceded to Russia the tem- porary military occupation of certain cities and towns, in order to secure the authority of the Sultan's Govern- ME A .8^*l intervention by foreign Powers or against any disorders by Turkish subjects If necessary the e v'i1 ?ccePt military occupation, by Bussian 0?.n8tanhEOPle, in order to assure security. DOtt re £ arded as inimical to the w* do J Gallipoli, the Bussians are left to decide for themselves as to the desirability or Porte will offer no re- °?? h|B to Bussia the right ^Dardanelles*" PS thr0Ugh the BoaPfaorua and mi W* LBVY E* SPRING. e as ern Budget learns from Warsaw that pre- parations are being made in the kingdom of Poland •°rfofnlTu 77u°f,about 40>000 recruits next spring. It 3.. losses sustained by the Bussian army 11ffi ;,1?I ar* n*uc*1 heavier than they have been officially represented to be, and that this was especially the case in the recent crossing of the Balkans, where the Russians lost three times the number stated in the i?a Jp6??rtfL Notwithstanding the financial diffi- culties of the Bussian railways, the Government is laying ^own at a great expense a second line of rails to. facilitate traffic on the lines which proceed to the western frontier of the Empire. This measure is sup- posed to have been taken with a view to a military occupation in great force after the conclusion of peace., mu BOSSES AT BATOUM. lne Constantinople correspondent of the Man- chester Guardian, telegraphing via Syra, saya: A great victory was gained on the 30th January at Batoum. The, Busstana made » desperate attempt to carry the lines of Buboo Hinssir, after they had beard of the withdrawal of ten battalions to Con sUntmople in Hobart Pasha's squadron. They were, however, defeated with great slaughter. Over 2000 were killed and 300 taken prisoners. The latter have been placed on board the ironclads. The Turkish loss was slight. The Fethi Bulend and the Avni Illah, ironclad corvettes, contributed greatly to this success. Lying off the flank of the attacking force, they swept the plains between the rival intrenchments. RUSSIAN MILITARY MOVEMENTS. At nine o'clock on the morning of the 29th of January a force of cavalry constituting the advanced guard of General Strukoff captured Tschorlow. The Kussian troops which took part in the engagement con- aisted of one squadron of the Moscow Life Dragoon Regiment and two sotnias of the 1st Regiment of Don Cossacks, while the forces of the enemy comprised 1000 regular horae, together with Circassians. After a nana-to-hand fight, the Turks began to retreat, at first m order, but eventually in confusion. The Russian troops then entered the town, which proved i 1 ma&ed. The Pasha in command of the place had taken to flight, leaving all the official docu- ments in the konak. The telegraph apparatus also fell uninjured into the hands of the Bussians. Their 1088 was four men killed and nine wounded. On the -ff/tnult. General Ernrodt took posseesien of Oaman Bazar, which he found to have been pillaged and com- pletely destroyed by the Turks before their withdrawal from the place. MASSAORE OF CHBISTIANS NEAR BOUBGAS. In the Turkiah Chamber attention has been drawn to the massacre of the population of a Christian village near Bourgas by a detachment of Albanian regular troops. During the panic caused by the Cir- cassians and Bashi-Bazouks, the Governor of Bourgas contided the Care of Stathopulo to an Albanian de- tachment of regular troops. When the Albanians were thus constituted the guardians of the village they demanded a ransom of two thousand pounds •KI inhabitants. It being impos- f? e_, 0 pay, the villagers sent messengers to f6 -??i!-e,?.0r of Bourgas. When the Albanians ear is they became furious and began the attack. Then commenced, says the Mytelene deputy, support- inf, ky official documents, the suffering, or ratner the martyrdom of the unfortunate population, The troops pursued the inhabitants with firearms and yataghans, and the terrified people took refuge in the church. The Albanians beaieged the building for three days, during which they constantly fired upon £ j°fSuPan*18, Only two hundred out of eight dred succeeded in escaping. The rest were cruelly massacred. The women were dishonoured. Even ? kn were not spared. The Chamber dec ed that urgent measures should be adopted. tv, TVTHE ATTITUDE OF GBEECE. f ^f8 remarks that "whatever sympathy may i t f +lD ,°Pe for the Hellenic cause, Greece is not li e y o receive any assistance in her present fruitless and misguided enterprise. There may have been a moment during the course of the war, now, we will hope, at an and, when the active intervention of Greece might have secured for her a title to demand that for which she now must sue. But that moment, which the Greek Government no doubt waited for with anxious suspense, came and went with a rapidity which took every one by surprise, and what might at one time K 660 fighting must now be attained, if at a I^20^lati°n Greece, like Servia, is powerless against Turkey alone, even in the shattered condition of the latter, and, though she may find powerful friends in the Conference, she will find no effective allies in the field. Even Servia, though she long hung back, yet seized at last the opportune moment for taking the field but she now sees that an isolated continuance of hostilities would be fruitless, and has assented to the armistice concluded by the Bussian commanders. Greece cannot do better than follow this example. She must see that the time for warfare Î8 over. However strongly Englishmen may sympa- thise with her legitimate aspirations, the best we can i do for her at present is, as Lord Derby said, to help to arrange the present difficulty and give a reasonable I support to her demands at the Conference." I ] PROCLAMATION OF THE ARMISTICE. There is news that on the 2nd inst. already the armistice was proclaimed in the Bussian camps, both in Europe and Asia, which is another curiosity, »s the official intimation of its conclusion was only announced from St. Petersburg later. There is no word, how- ever, as to whether the same has been done in the Servian and Montenegrin army, or in the Rou- manian force before Widin indeed, as for the two I first, they seemed inclined to resist the armistice, which comes too soon for them, as neither of them j has as yet laid hands on all they wanted to secure, and the Montenegrins especially were meditating an attack on Scutari in concert with some of the Albanian tribes. All will doubtless depend upon whether any stipulations have been made with regard to them likewise. As for the Greeks, the news is I that, in spite of the armistice, their action will not be stopped and that the army will continue its march into Thessaly. THE DANUBE STRONGHOLDS. I It seems that the stipulation for the evacuation of the Danube strongholds does not comprise Shumla and Varna, which are to remain in the hands of their present possessors. The Turkish troops in the other river fortresSts will probably have to retire to these places, and part of the forces which will be thus available are said to be destined to act against the Greeks. Those of Sulei- man's troops still at Kavala have already received orders to embark for Salonica. The Russians, we hear, are to remaiil at Lule Bourgas, Tchorlu, and Rodosto, in the direction of Constantinople. Except I these scanty details, however, gathered from one or the other side, all is quite dark about the conditions of the armistice and may possibly remain so until the stipulations made are actually carricd into Effect. CAPTAIN BURNABY'S ACCOUNT OF A FIERCE BATTLE. Captain Burnaby, in his account in Mayfair of the engagement near Karmarli with Ohakir Pasha's force, says: "Baker Pasha, with a small brigade of 2800 men, was sent to the village of Tashkasan to hold the newly-arrived Russian force in check, whilst Chakir Pasha determined to retreat with the remainder of our troops in the direction of Statitza. I accom- panied Baker, and on the last day of the year 1877 saw the best contested battle against over- whelming numbers that it has ever been my good fortune to witness. The Russians had 30,000 men, we only 2800. The odds were great against us. Things looked very black fcr Valentine Baker and his little force. From our position at Tash- kasan we could see lines upon lines of the foe coming forward to attack. The battle raged from day- break to sundown. It was a desperate one, and Ohakir Pasha's reply to Baker's repeated request for reinforcements was that he had none to give, and that we must at all cost hold the position as if it were carried by the foe the whole of his (Chakir Pasha's) army, which was retreating, would bs taken in flank and annihilated. The Turks fought splen- didly. They struggled for every inch of ground with extraordinary tenacity. Each minute of daylight seemed a year, and Baker kept looking at his watch, the Turks meanwhile gazing at the sun, old Nature's timepiece—as until nightfall it would be impossible for us to abandon the position. The hours rolled on, and our men died in their places. The Turkish ranks became each moment more thinned by the bul- lets of the foe, and the plucky survivors of the little brigade stood up on the mountain ridge, with their forms standing out in bold relief against the sky-line, and returned volley for volley to the slowly but steadily advancing enemy. Just before sunset the Russians collected themselves for a supreme effort, and charged home at the Turks. Our men burst forth with their battle-cry, and the Ya Allah Ya Allah! re-echoed over the mountains. The Russians cheered in response, but their hurrahs were of no avail. The Mussulmans dashed at their foe. Shoulder to shoulder, there was no flinch- ing on either side, and the steel was driven home. Baker ordered his bugler to sound the Ya Allah and the Ottoman soldiers again took up the strain. They seemed possessed of superhuman enersy. Each man looked as if he possessed the strength of ten. Another charge, and the Russians were driven back a few hundred yards. It was now too late for the enemy to make another effort. In the dark we marched to the plain below. Here Baker; ■assisted by Colonel Alii*, his aide-de-camp, who had behaved with great galtantry during the battle, mustered bis little force. Out of 2800 men more than 600, of jihe brave fellows had bitten the dust, nearly 400 being killed outright. There was little quarter given on either side. You ican diAdeirstand the disproportion between the lists of the killed and wounded at the roll call. The Muscovites must have suffered very severely, owing to their generals persisting in attacking us in column, the more particularly tqwards the end of the day."

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. The conditions of the armistice virtually place Con- stantinople at the mercy of the Russians. The Turks are compelled to retire twelve miles from the defence lines of the capital to a line extending from Tcherk- medje on the Marmara to Akbounar on the Euxine. The Russians have advanced in force on the line drawn through. Tchataldja to the Euxine and the Marmara. In the "Greek Cfeamher-the "Prime Minister ex- plained that the army -had been "Withdrawn from the Turkish provinces in consequence of the representa- tions of the Powers, that if Greece continued to act alone after the eignatare of the armistice she would forfeit their protection. The House, after hearing the Minister, passed to the order of the day. The Mahomedans and Beys in Bosnia, being in re- duced circumstances and anxious for peace, are en- deavouring to cultivate friendly relations with the rayahs and holding out promise of assistance to the refugees, if they should return to their country. The Bosna reports an engagement between the Turkish troops and the insurgents, in which, after three hours' fighting, the former with great difficulty succeeded in forcing the latter to retreat. The same newspaper appeals to Bosnian patriotism and courage to spare no sacrifices in defence of the rights of the country.

X NEWS FROM. INDIA,. The last overland mail brings Bombay papers to the 21st ult. The Times of India says: "The an- nouncement that England and Austria have decided not to allow the infringement of existing treaties by Russia has caused a good deal of excitement in Bombay. The ieeling here is strongly in favour of active inter- vention by England. Fever of a severe type has appeared in many of the famine districts in Bombay and Madras. The Italian Exploring Expedition, which attempted to penetrate into the exterior of Africa, has been attacked by the King of Shoa, and compelled to return to the coast. The Convo- cation of the Bombay University is to be held on the 2nd of February. The Mohurrum has passed off quietly this year; no disturbances at all have occurred. Mr. W. Beckett, of the Assam Service, has been killed by an elephant. Letters from Ladakh, dated the 20th of December, have been received in Scrinuggur. It appears that the delay in the arrival of the caravan this year has been due to the road being closed by Niaz Beg, the rebel Governor of Khoten. This rebellion against his authority has been put down by the young Ameer, and the merchants have received permission to pro- ceed to India. Among them is Mr. Dalgleish, of the Central Asian Trading Company, who was expected in a few days. A messenger, with letters from the Ameer to,thp Viceroy, is said to have arrived. There has been a great scandal at Lncknow. A Hindo widow desired to embrace the Christian religion, and escaped from her uncle's house to that of a lady named Mulvaney, a member of the Zenana Mission. The widow's relations demanded her extradition, but Miss Mulvaney refused to give her up, so the relations brought a suit for her restoration in the local civil courts. The suit was decided in favour of the Zenana Mission, but the Judicial Commissioner reversed the decision on appeal, and Soondari, the widow, has been restored to her disconsolate relatives. During her examination she made the following statement: I left for religion, wished to adopt that of Jesus Christ; got the knowledge from the Holy Book, which is the Christian Bible inspired by the Holy Ghost. But, according to the commissioner, this cannot be accepted by a court of law as a sufficient reason for a minor to repudiate the protection of her lawful guardians.

Sm CHARLES REED, chairman of the London School Board, presided over a public meeting at the Shoreditch Town Hall, in support of the bill for giving the franchise to women, amongst the speakers being Miss Helen Taylor and Mrs. Fenwick Miller. DEATH OF THE POPE.—A telegram from Rome, Feb. 7th, says Pope Pius IX. is dead. His Holiness was in extremis at three p.m., and an an- nouncement was made of his dissolution; but he only expired at fifty-seven minutes after four this after- neon. ACCIDENTS FROM THE STEAM-TRAMS are re- ported almost daily in Paris. 'BERLIN WOOLS and GERMAN NEEDLEWORK.- The above are imparted direct by M. LEADER, 9, NJi:1r INN-YARU, SnoBKDiTCH, LONDON, E C., from whonc price lists are sent, on application, of every deaorip tion of fancy wools, canvas, filoselle. &C.

PA ULIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE. THE BUSSIAN ADVANCE UPON CONSTANTINOPLE.—In the House of Lords Lord Granville referred to the rumours of the Russian occupation of Constantinople, and T-ord Derby stated that Mr. Layard had telegraphed under date of Tuesday, that, notwithstanding the armistice, the Bus- sians were advancing upon Constantinople, and that the Turks had evacuated some strategic positions on the Sea. of Marmora. The noble earl also said that he had applied to the Russian Government for an assurance respecting the occupation of the Turkish capita], the necessity for which her Majesty's Government refused to admit. Lord Stratheden, having called attention to the fur- A ther correspondence respecting the affairs of the East, Jfe' Lord Derby remarked that since he last addressed their,X lordships he had received a communication from the Rllssiaa" Government to the effect that orders had been given to their commanders to cease hostilities, andt that there was no truth in the rumours that prevailed of a; contrary character. AFFAIRS IN THE EAST.-In the House of Commcns, in reply to the Marquis of Hartington's inquiry as to the truth of the rumours prevalent that the Russians were ad- vancing upon Constantinople and Gallipoli, the Chancellor of the Exehequer read two telegrams from Mr. Layard, stating that the Russians were advancing, that they had compelled the Turks to evacuate a port on the Sea. of Marmora, that the Servians were also advancing, and that the Porte was in great alarm. Her Majesty's Govern- mentlial telegraphed to St. Petersburg for information, reminding the Russian Government of the Czar's promise that Constantinople should only be occupied if the march offevents compelled such an occurrence, and that as the Turkish resistance htld ceased the necessity for such a step was at an end. Subsequently Sir Stafford Northcote read a telegram from St. Petersburg which had been banded to Lord Derby by the Russian Ambassador, stating that there was not a word of truth in the rumours that had reached this country. Mr. Forster said the telegrams from Mr. Layard had so altered the state of things that he must ask permission to withdraw his amendment, which was met with shouts of "No." A discussion ensued, in the course of whith Mr. Bright remarked that what had taken place in Turkey might have been with the connivance of the Porte, and in that case the position of this country was not changed. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said the opinion of I the Government of the necessity of the vote was unaltered. Mr. Gladstone regarded Mr. Layard's telegrams with astonishment and dismay. It was not unreasonable to ask for twenty-four hours' delay to ascertain how the matter really stood. The Chancellor dissented from this pro- posal, but eventually Mr. Forster's amendment was with- drawn, and the debate on the main question was resumed, in the course of which a discussion ensued upon a motion by Mr. Richard for the adjournment of the debate, which was opposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Marquis of Hartington. Ultima'ely the House divided upon the question that the Speaker should leave the chair, which was carried by 295 against 96. The House accord- ingly went into committee, and iimmediately reaujned and adjourned. THE VOTE.—In the House of Commons the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in answer to the Marquis of HartingtoD; stated that a summary of the articles of the armistice had been received that day from Mr. Layard, and it was of such a nature that a portion of the British fleet had been ordered to proceed to Constantinople for the protection of the life and property of British subjects. The prin- cipal effect of the armistice articles was that almost the whole of Bulgaria, Boumelia, and Thrace, up to the lines of Constantinople and Gallipoli, are ic Bussian hands. The House went into Committee of Supply, and the Vote of Credit for six millions was formally moved. AF £ «F a speech against the vote hy Mr. Biehardj Lord Hartington admitted that the despatch of the fleet might be. productive of advantage. He objected, however, that the Government had made no such statement as to their views,, intentions, and policy in relation to the vote as would justify the House in giving them its confidence. At the same time, in the crisis at which they had arrived, he was not disposed to refuse the vote, while he hoped that the Government would not consider themselves warranted in acting with precipitation. The Chancellor of the Exchequer ex- pressed the pleasure with which he had heard the noble marquis's announcement. As to the question of policy, the Government recognised the great changes that had taken place in the European system in consequence of the war. It would be their duty to take part in th'e reconstruction of Eastern Europe, because Eug- land was bound to take care that her interests were not injuriously affected, and because she had a right to claim her place is the council of the nations in order to give effect to the views which she might think fit to support. The views with which the Government would entef the Conference were—that there should be perfect freedom of commerce into and in the Black Seft? that the arrangements in respect to vessels of war should be such as would render it impossible for any single Power to close the entrance to the Straits; and that » fair and durable settlement should be made in the con- dition of the countries to be reorganised. FURTHER into detail it would be wrong for him to go. hoped the occasion for using our naval and military forces, for the transport and supplies of which the VOW was asked, might not arise; and in that case the whol* vote would not be spent, though a part of it might be spent- Mr. Gladstone said the definition of the purpose with whicJI the fleet had entered the Bosphorus was most satisfactorfo and no Power had a right to complain. In respect to the reorganisation of the Christian provinces, he entertained some apprehensions with respect to Austria, whid1 must be vigilantly watched. He declined to sup- port the vote, as the Government had failed to connect it with the object they had in view; I' was opposed to the long-established rule of the House, and might prove in worse hands a precedent dangerous to the Constitution. Mr. Fawcett stated that he intended to per- sist in his opposition to the vote. Mr. Forster hoped THE influence of England would be used to the utmost in favont of liberty of conscience for all the inhabitants of Turkey- He should not, however, oppose the vote after the satis- factory explanation of the Chancellor of the Exchequer- Mr. W. H. Smith, promised that no efforts should be spared to accomplish the objects mentiored by Mr. Forster. Aftef some observations-from Mr. Sullivan and MFC, D. Davies, » division was called, whereupon Lord Hartington, MR* Forster, Mr. Goschen, and other leading members of the or position, rose and withdrew from the E:mse,atnidstdensi'¥'d cheers and laughter. Th>: committee divided, and assented to the Vote of Credit by 328 to 121-or D. Ministerial majority of 204. THE PORTE AND THE BRITISH FLEET.—In the House O* Lords, Lord Beaconsfield told Lord Dunraven that Mini- sters had received no information with regard to the intel- • ligence published in some of the newspapers, to the effec* Y, that a number of Russian marines had crossed the Balkans towards the Sea of Marmoraforthe purpose of manningTØ- ish men-of-war which were tobecmne Russian PROPERTY* and convey troops from the Sea of Marmora to Odessa and Sebastopol. He added that be hid no reason to the statement correct. The noble earl also said, in answer to Lord Granville, that, in the absence of any notification from Constantinople, Admiral Hornby had declined responsibility of taking'a portion of his fleet tluougn £ the Straits without instructions, and hud to Besika Bay. Her Majesty's Government had, consequence, communicated with the Porte, and would not conceal that some such difficulty as was referred to in the newspapers had occurred; hut he confidently believed «that it would shortly,-tie surmounted. SubOO* quent to the communications between her Majesty's O0,' vernment and the Porte, three foreign Governments H»» applied for firmans to enter the Dardanelles, though was not able to say that they wotald act upon them at ONE0 if granted.. THE VOTE OP CREDIT.—In the Commons, on the report^* the Vote of Credit, Mr. C. S. Parker suited his reasons objecting to the vote. Mr. Co wen replied^ to some REMAR^F of Mr. Gladstone on Friday referring to him, and said contention was that when national interests were at all party differences should be sunk. He considered THJ* the Turkish Government was superior to any that could P. substituted for it. Mr. Bath bone deprecated the EXHI- BITION of distrust of foreign Powers. Mr. Parnell spo*0 of the wrongs of Ireland," which far excee4ed those suffered by the Bulgarians trom the Turks. Anderson and Mr. E. J. Beed having made a few marks, Mr. Gladstone observed that the RESPONSFBFL"? of tho Honse was now at an end, ANA that 1 would not beseem their dignity to worry the GOVERN- MENT when engaged in transactions of an anxious AND F difficult kind. He hoped, therefore, that he might REGA^ the question as at an end. Adverting to Mr. Co wen's planation, taking the speech the hon. member had as the measure of his opinion, he did not see there was much difference in principle between them; HA quite agreed that party should give way to PATRIOTISM The discussion was continued by Mr. Waddy, Mr. donald, Mr. Storer, Mr. T. Brassey, Dr. Ward, APJ* Mr. Hubbard, and closed with the adoption of the rep0? »• con. Subsequently, in Committee of Ways Means, the Chancellor of the Exchequer moved solutions for raising the six millions by the of Exchequer Bonds and Exchequer Bills, at par IN a period of not more than three years. In REPLS to Sir G. Campbell, the right hon. gentleman said that should not think of proposing to make a permanent ADD*" tion te the Debt, and as we were within six weeks of end of the financial year it would be impossible to put O» new taxes that would be worth anything. The ment therefore, be a temporary one and brought forward his financial statement for the year 187^ 79, he would explain how he would provide for it. resolutions were then agreed to. » THE EASTERN QUESTION.—IN the House of Lords Granville having asked what was the latest information respecting the state of affairs in-the East, Lord replied that, with regard to the movements of the tieet, which he took to be the most pressing matter at the preSeOt moment, he hoped when next their lordships met to be IN* position to say that the intention announced some days had been carried into effect, and that the ships W^RE »T near Constantinople. As to the Conference, there was NOTHING altered in the situation. All the Powers had agreed that> should be held, and the only matter in difference was TN" place of meeting, which he did not think was likely cause much difficulty. With regard to the of the Bussian army he could add nothing or authentic to the statement contained in the EIRCUL8^ telegram of Prince Gortschakoff, which had gone the ROUS of the papers. Italy and France had suspended the patch of their fleets, he presumed, because they had obtained firmans to authorise their proceeding up the danelles, and, as to Austria, all he knew was that she HS** applied for a firman. THE IMPORTATION OF CATTLE.—The Duke of and Gordon called attention to the operation of the relating to the importation of cattle, and laid a bill the table on the subject, which, after a short discussi" was ordered to be read a second time that day three weekØ.

_u_- LONDON CORRESPONDENCE. THERE is less electricity now in the polikloal atmosphere, and acquaintances can meet each other in the street or at the same luncheon- table without the risk of running into heated dis- cussion. Party strife in Parliament, in connection with the settlement of the Eastern Queatioa, may he considered ashaving come pracrtioally to an end when a large number of Liberals, including most of the members of the late Government, abstained from taking part in the division when the House of Commons went into Committee on the Vote of Credit. Nobody need feel alarmed that any wrong steo has been taken in desoatohing the fleet to Con- stantinople when the Government have made it known that the sole object of this movement is to protect British residents in the event of any disturbances in the Ottoman capital and when other Powers also, actuated by similar motives, have sent portions of their Mediterranean flee* to join our ironclads. With reference to the despatch or the British fle* t the Observer, in its last issue, exhibited a strange contradiction of opinion within the compass of one leading article. In one sentence it was said, While admitting that the action finally taken by the Govern- ment does not involve any departure from our attitude of neutrality, we fail, so far, to see what practical advantage is likely to accrue from an act which may involve us In ulterior complications." And the concluding sen- tence of the article ran thus: "Whwertej, British fleet goes, there—in no me taphorical sense -the British nation may be said to be, and it is only right that England shou d be present at a spot where the destinies of two oontinents are about to be deoi e pretty clear that the author of the 5Xch these two sentencesi arequoted must ha™ undergone some change of mind while he was in the act of writing it, and in this respect he only reflects the remarkable ohanges of front which have recently characterised the parliamentary manoeuvres of Lord Hartington, Mr. Forster, and other leaders of the Liberal party, who have never recovered from the effects of the scare produced by the rumour that the Russians were in occupation of Constantinople. Kensal-green Cemetery has become—temporarily at least—the fitting resting plaae of the remains of George Cruikshank, the eminent and veteran caricaturist. He was buried near the tombs of his old friend Thackeray and the recently-deceased Mdlle. Titjiena. In order to prevent a repetition of the scandalous scenes—arising from the shame- lew indulgence of a morbid curiosity—which took place on the occasion of the funeral of the distinguished lady just named, a barrier had been raised to keep the expected crowd at a respectful distance, and there was also in atteadance a. contingent of the police force. George Cruik- shank has been styled the Hogarth of the nineteenth century, altd by a strange coincl- danae one of the gentlemen who occupied the seventh mourning coach was named Mr. E. N. Hogarth. It was in Kensal-green Cemetery that John Leech, another oelebrated comic artist, was buried, and here also rest the remains of Caloott, Daniell, and Mulready, the painters. In fact there are few burying grounds that contain the dust of so many distinguished votaries of Art, Litera- ture, and Science. On the December day of 1863, when Thackeray was laid to rest at Kensal-green, he was followed to the grave, among other eminent men, by Charles Dickens, Mark John Leech, Shirley Brooks, and George Cruik- shank, all of whom have now followed him into the world beyond the grave.. Some of the friends of the deceased caricaturist were desirous that his body should be entombed within the preoinots of St. Paul's Cathedral; but on application being made to the Dean they were informed that, until certain enlargements were made in the crypt, there was no room for any new interment. The Dean at the same time ex- pressed his willingness that the remains should be placed there when a vacancy occurred. As the greater number of the mural monuments in St. Paul's commemorate naval and military heroes, it seems more appropriate that the remains of George Cruikshank should be allowed to rest where they have been laid in ground consecrated by the dust of men famous for their literary, artistic, and acientifia genius. Shortly ago the announcement was made that Cremome-gardens were to be paroelled out in building sites, and now the same fate has befallen the Surrey-gardens, after the failure of sundry attempts in recent years to ravive the popu- larity and celebrity they once enjoyed. The announcement is now made that the gardens are marked out in building lots; that the lake—which used to add immensely to the effeat of firework displays by reflecting their splendours—is to be filled up that the pavilion and other edifices are to disappear like the tents of wandering Arabs; and that even the trees are to be cut down-perhaps by the new Invention of steam-worked saws—except the for- tunate ones that may be considered available for front gardens. Really it is a thou- sand pities to see open spaoes, that have contributed to health and enjoy- ment, falling a prey, one after another, to the omnivorous appetites of speculative building societies. i The Gardens now doomed first obtained their oelebrity as Zoological gardens, an extensive collection of animals being there exhi- bited by Mr. Edward Cross, who enclosed the eages of the carnivora in a conservatory which was at the time the largest in England. The great firework displays, which formed at fint an attrac- tive feature of the gardens, were rendered realistic by great piotorial representations beside the lake of Mount Vesuvius, London during the Great Fire, the storming of Badajoz, and other exciting scenes. Within the last five years attempts have been made, by the use of great pictures and otherwise, to revive the fame of the gardens for brilliant fireworks; but somehow the exhibitions oonld never be got to pay, and so the end has come at last, and the dwellers in South London will require to look elsewhere in future for re- creation and amusement. Since the Cleopatra, containing the obelisk, was towed up the river and moored a little above Westminster-bridge, the watermen, charging sixpence ahead for passengers, have made a good thing of it by rowing people to have a close in- spection of the curious cylindrical-shaped vessel. In order to see how the suggested site on the Adelphl steps will suit, the wooden model, which stood some months in Palace-yard, has been re- moved and re-erected on the Thames Embankment. There was an expectation that, when the obeiisk arrived, the battle of the sites would be renewed with greater ardour than ever, and this expecta- tion has been fulfilled. The latest proposal is that it should be placed in the centre of the great quadrangle of Greenwich Hospital where Its proportions, it is contended, would harmonise with those of the surrounding buildings. The suggestion is a very good one, the only drawback being that it is rather belated, as it would look something like beating a retreat if the grand o'd pillar were to be towed back to Greenwich after getting up the river the length of Westminster. D. G.