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

THE TERCENTENARY OF HARVEY. "Williara Harvey, the illustrious discoverer of the circulation of the blood, was born at Folkestone on the E 1st of April, 1578, and an endeavour is being made to celebrate the tercentenary of his birth by the erection of a statue to his memory in his native town. Harvey I was a great benefactor to the College of Physicians, and an oration in his honour is annually delivered in the college; but this is primarily in memory of his gifts to the institution rather than of his labours in the causa of suffering humanity or of his great dis- covery, by which he laid the foundations of the whole of the modern sciences of physiology and medicine. The Memorial Committee, of which the Earl ef Deroy 18 chairman, has now been at work forsomeyears, having been appointed at a public meeting which was held at Folkestone in September, 1871. On that occasion Mr. John Simon, O.B., then chief medical officer to the Privy Council, was present, and seconded one of the resolutions. In doing so, he said it was almost needh-ss, before an educated audience, to speak in detail of Harvey's discovery or to insist on its high importance to the human race. To medical practice it stands much in the same relation as the discovery of the mariner's compass to navigation; without it, the medical practitioner would be all adrift, and his efforts to benefit mankind would be made in ignorance and at random. Any one c".n imagine what the practice of medicine, and es- pecially of surgery, must have been before Harvey's discovery, when men's conception of the working of the different parts of the human frame in relation to one another was littlo clearer than the child's physiology of the sawdust in its doll's body. Harvey, in teaching the fact of the circulation of the blood, in teaching what duty is done by each beat of the heart, in relation on the one hand to tho function of respi- ration, and on the other hand to the nourishment of all the textures of the body, gave us our first ground- wark of animal physiology. It is no exaggeration to say that in giving to the world that first precise knowledge of the circulation of the blood he laid the indispensable foundations for all physiology that has followed or can follow; and surely this achievement by our countryman is something for us all to honour and be proud of.

DEATH OF A SCOTCH POET IN AMERICA.— The Scotsman quotes from the American papers an announcement that Hew Ainslie, the Scottish poet, died at Louisville on the 11th of March. He waa born in the parish of Bargeny, Ayrshire, in 1792, and in 1822 he emigrated to America, and settled on a farm in the State of New York. In 1825 he removed to New Harmony, Indiana, where he became a member of a Utopian community founded by Robert Owen, the members of which were to share the products of their common labour, and to possess no private property. The community breaking up about a y<-ar after he had joined it, Mr. Ainslie, after a short stay in Cincinnati, began business as a brewer at Louisville, where he thenceforth resided until his death. After 1836 he devoted himself mainly to literature, and produced a number of Scottish songs and ballads, many of which have gained a wide popu- larity both in Scotland and the New World. His beet known piece is The Rover of Loch Ryan," a stirring fiery poem, perhaps the most successful of all modern imitations of the old Scotch bailads. Among his other pieces are "A Pilgrimage to the Land of Burns," and the well-known verses, entitled "The Ingle Side." THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKKTEBS. — The Aus- tralian cricketers (says the Daily News) have started for this country, where June, let us hope, will give them a warner greeting than young Ap''11 promises. They are very welcome, for the old round of matches has a little lost its interest. County matches are overshadowed by the monumental figure of Mr. W. G. Grace, whose style has something Assyrian in its mas- sive erandeur, and whose stay at the stumps has an Egyptian immobility. Let us hope that the colonists can puzzle him on our grounds, which, it must be said, is a very different thing from "sticking him up" on Australasian wickets. These are often deceitful above all things, and pro- ductive of deliveries more curly and perplexing than the laws of nature allow on the Oval or at Brighton. Accustomed to pitches which have often little of the aspect of the billiard table, the squatters miy be less happy here than they were at home. They have certainly some admirable batsmen, and report speaks well of Mr. Bannerman. As to bowling, they are not unlikely to prove our match, unless Mj croft, and Alfred Shaw are in the full vigour and perfection of their accomplishment. We are not very rich in bowlers in the old country, and the younger amateurs do not seem peculiarly promising. There is no new Fellowes, the swift and unerring, and the mantle of Mr 0. D. Marsham has not fallen on t ie shoulders of Mr. J ellico. though he is by no means a person with whom it i3 safe to take liberties. MURDER BY RAILWAY.—A pamphlet, israed by the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, shows that Mr. Cross has not been premature in pro- mising on bahalf of the Government to introduce a biil to entitle railway servants to eompenea,ion for .njuries received while performing their duties. The railway companies have hitherto succeeded in e3caping from a just liability by putting for- ward the quibble that those to whom they » delegate authority to manage their different lines must be regarded as the felloe-servants of the humbler employ is who are maimed and killed in hundreds. Four years ago one of the first acts of the present Go- vernment was to appoint a Royal Commission to in- quire into the causes of accidents on railways, and I into the possibility of removing any such causes by further legislation." The inquiries of this Commis- sion lasted for nearly three years, and their report extended over 1300 folio pages. Their inquiries satisfied the Commissioners that a most unjust and painful state of things existed, and one of their first recommendations was that in any action against a railway company for compen- sation for the death or injury of a servant through the defendants' negligence, the officials whom the company entrusts with executive authority g iall no longer be deemed to be merely fellow-servants or their subordinates." But to bring this about re- quires an alteration in the law. The pamphlet itself rJve ils proved facts that are simply disgraceful to the railway companies. In the three years 1874-5 6 no ] ss than 2249 railway servants were killed outright, aid 10,305 were injured. The great majority of these deaths and accidents were caused, it is averred, by the refusal of the companies to take the simplest precautions to prevent them. And the reason 0 the refusal was that to take the precaution would cost money, and slightly diminish the amount of the dividends they pay. That is to say, the com- panies have been and are still calmly murdering 750 of their poorest fellow-creatures every year, in order to be able to pour a little additional gold into the pockets of some 200 times that number of their better- to-do brethren. To state in plain English such an atrocious fact ought to be enough to at once persuade Mr. Cross that the sooner he introduces his bill, and the more stringent be makes it, the better it will be for the make of the reputation for humanity to which this country imagines it can lay claim.—Tht Hornet. DETERMINE* SUICIDE OF A BANK MANAGES. —Information was conveyed to the Oity of London police authorities of a most determined suicide which had occurred in the immediate neighbourhood of the Bank of England. The occurrence happened at the offices of tb6 National Bank of Scotland, No. 87, Nicholas lane, Lombard street, and the un- fortunate suicide was Mr. George Cecil Jones, who held the position of resident director and accountant of the bank. Upon inquiries it would appear that Mr. Jones went to his bath room adjoining his sleeping ap"rtment soon after eight o'clock, and having been absent a longer time than usual, alarm was felt by his wife, who also resided upon the premises, and, upon her going into the bathroom, she found her husband lying on the floor with his throat cut from ear to ear. Medical assistance was at once sent for, and Dr. Clark was speeilily in attendance, but he at once ascertained that the unfortunate gentleman was quite dead. The de- ceased was possessed of considerable ability in financial and banking matters, and aras 30 years of age. THE SUPPLY OF AMERICAN FOOD.-Last week there was a decrease in the quantity of fresh beef brought to Liverpool from America when compared with the former one. though a slight increase in the supply of mutton. There were no arrivals of fresh meat from Canada, and the five steamers from the United States had on board 4337 quarters of beef 1749 carcases of mutton, and 250 carcases of hogs, "For the first time for several weeks past live cattle were brought to Liverpool last week, two consignments arriving comprising W6 head of oxen. TuN ASCENT OF THE ILLIMANI.—The Berlin Post narrates that Professor Karl Wiener, who re- cently returned to Europe after a prolonged journey of exploration in South America, has successfully per- formed the first ascent ever made of the Illimani. Dr. Winner was sent, out by the French Government, and 'Wdil accompanied in bis ascent by two Germans, Herrea Grumkow and Von Ohfeld. It was the south- eastern summit of the mountain, lying 6131 mitres above the level of the sea, which be reached, and he has named it the Paris Peak," with the consent of the Bolivian Government. The ascent was made from Chtana. Of saven native r,Yvints who accompanied t is expedition, only three held out to the end. The orier four, at the hsight of 6000 metres, were quite unfit to go further. The American explorer Gibbon, when he attempted the Ulunsoi. reached only the beigkt ef 4600 nitres, j

ERUPTION OF MOUNT HECLA. On the 27th of February, about seven o'clock in the evening, an eruption commenced at Mount Hecla. « Two hours previously," writes Dr. Hjaltalin to us from Rejkjavik, under date March 22,there was a severe earthquake, which was slightly felt here at Reykjavik, about fifty English miles distant, but we hear more seriously in the neighbourhood of this volcano, and even to an extent of ten English miles all areund. This eruption still continues, as the flames often are visible in the evening, even from our town. But, owing to the great difficulty of travelling in Iceland at this time of the year, the man I sent to report about it has not yet re- turned, hence detailed accounts cannot be given until by next boat. From a clergyman who lives very near the mountain I have got a small sample of the ashes thrown out by the eruption, ar d in comparing it with the ashes which the same mountain vomited in 1845 I find it to be the same mineralogically. It is a black basaltic, orr-ther augitic, ash, which may prove ver" hurtful, and has done so to herbage, especially in the neighbourhood of the mountain. Previous eruptions of Hecla have been very terrific, both in aspect as well as results, to the Icelanders, although they have not all proved equally danger- ous. But especially round the mountain the damage has been more or less felt as the eruption each time was large or small. There has been some dis- pute among historians and cthtr learned men how many eruptions have occurred from Hecla during the historic time. Last century, when the learned tra- vellers, Dr. Bjarni Paisson and Eggert Olaysson, travelled through Iceland, they reported that in the historic time 22 eruptions occurred from the mountain itself "nd three from its annexes. Two eruptions have since occurred, so that this one would be the twenty-eighth. Some of the theo- retical geologists who visit us sometimes assured us a short time ago that we might rest assured that Hecla would not trouble us again." In a private letter it is stated that the eruption was close to the north-east side of the mountain. The eartbquakes which pre- ceded it were very violent, and as soon as it was dark the sky in the direction of Hecla seemed quite aflame. The editor of Thjodobrus, the chief paper of Iceland, has sent to the place for information, but the weather is so stormy and dark that he has not yet returned. Fortunately, the ashes have, as a general rule, been carried northward and eastward into the deserts. The eruption is still (March 24) going on with un- diminished foree."

A REMARKABLE CASE. AN HEIR FOUND—A PROPERTY LOST. In the Court of Chancery the cise of Moreton v. Leather came before Vice-Ohancellor Sir James Bacon. This was a most remarkable case. Some years since the will of Samuel Holland Moreton, of Liverpool, was declared to be invalid, it having been proved that the signature to the will, though sworn to be his, was not his own, but that his hand had been guided after his death. Thereupon it became necessary to And the nearest heir to Samuel Holland Moreton's property, and in June, 1872, it was discovered that the plaintiff James Moreton, a wheelwright of Liverpool, was such heir. The value of the property was between £15,000 and £18,000. James Moreton was discovered by Charles Stanyer, a plasterer, of Chester, who, noticing the advertise- ments inquiring for the heir-at-law and having con- nections by marriage of the name of Moreton, took great pains to trace the pedigree of the inteatate, and to find the link between it and the pedigree of his own connections. Shortly afterwards, the defendant, Joseph Leather, a, v terinary surgeon, at Liverpool, employing John Moreton, the plaintiff's brother, made the acquain- tance of the plaintiff, and according to the plain- tiff's story told him things were not being done right and offered to be his friend and act as his agent in the matter. He introduced him to new solicitors, Messrs. Smith, Williams, and Quiggin, of Liverpool, of whom Mr. Quiggin (a co-defendant) was the survivor, and the plaintiff put himself into the hands of Joseph Leather and Mr. Quiggin, in whose hands the plaintiff's property melted away to nothing, and in accounts which they induced the plaintiff to sign, and which he now sought to reopen, they made charges to an enormous amount for journeys, for repairs, for law ex- penses, and other matters which appeared to exhaust the whole of the plaintiff's income. Leather had told him that the property was bringing in very little, and he could only pay him S3 a week, which was afterwards reduced to £2, and then .ei 10a., and finally (tc use the Vice-Chancellor's words in his judgment) the fairy gifts faded away and he woke from his drea-u to find himself a journeyman shipwright again." The plaintiff bad sold part-executed mortgages on other parts of his property to the defendants, and had agreed to several bills of costs which he now asked to have referred to taxation. The plaintiff, who appeared a simple, illiterate person, gave evidence that Joseph Leather prevented him from going to a solicitor on his own account by telling him that he would be charged 6s. 8d. every time he went into the office, and in the Vice-Chancel- lor's opinion his evidence showed that he bad been entirely under the dominion of the defendants and had had no competent independent advice. The Vice-Chancellor in a long-written judgment reviewed the evidence and came to the conclusion that the settled accounts must bo reopened and the solici- tors' bills taxed, and the sales and mortgages must, stand only as a security for moneys properly advanced and remuneration properly due to the defendants for service rendered by them, on the ground that the de- fendants had taken advantage of the plaintiff's ignorance and had exercised an undue influence over him and must be considered as having acted through- out as his agents and as being in a fiduciary position towards him.

I MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.—The Central r Press Agency says the London police are at present I engaged in an attempt to unravel the mysterious disappearance of a lady and gentleman. On Monday, f the 11th of March, Mr. Arthur Grey, son of Colonel Grey, of Warwick-equare, Belgravia, left his home for j the purpose of. proceeding to his chambers in King's > Bench Walk, Temple, where he is studying the law. f After remaining in the Temple for a short time he, it t has since been elicited, proceeded to the house of General Ward, Talbot-road, Westbourne-park, whence t he and Mrs. Ward travelled by train to Hammer- smith. They engaged a boat at May's boat-house, Hammersmith bridge, for the purpose, as Mr. Grey stated, of rowing to the Cedars at Putney, his father's country house, and on their arrival there the boat was left in charge of a man named Carter. They remained at the Cedars for an hour, and since they re-em barked on the boat nothing has been heard of either of them. The matter was placed in the hands of Detective Sergeant Marshall, of Scotland-yard, who has ascertained that about five o'clock on the following morning the boat was found keel upwards near the bridge. and was returned to May's For the past fortnight Al arshall has engaged a number of boats to drae the river, but no bodies have been recovered. Marshall has also ascertained that one of the oars of the boat, Mr. Grey's bat, and Mrs. Ward's bonnet and handkerchief, tht. latter marked with her initials, have been picked up off the Middlesex shore of the river. Mr. Grey was only 23 years of age, and the lady was twelve years his senior. bWORD SWALLOWING AT THE AQUARIUM.— As regards the sword, on March 9th there was a care- ful examination of the performance by several medical men, in the course of which, when the largi bright sword had been swallowed, Dr. Priestley, who is said to possess a peculiarly delicate and sure sense of touch, felt for and plainly found the point of the weapon far down in the abdomen! How the point of the sword passes the stomach is a problem of some interest, and as will readily be seen, some little difficulty. Mr. lard states that it was the opinion of the medical men present that it was in a similar manner to what is seen if a pocket-handkerchief be laid over a ring formed by the thumb and forefinger, and pushed through m a sac by the point of a pencil. In tbe same way it is supposed the point of the sword carries down a portion of the stomach as an elongated bag among the other viscera. It is, in fact, difficult to see any other possible explanation. Even this is not free from difficulty, and is calculated to encourage strange speculations as to the tolerance of a healthy organism fcr foreign bodies; but it may throw some light on extraordinary displacements in both human beings and other animals, which were never suspected until death revealed them, and which might natural y have been supposed to render prolonged life impossible.—Live Stock Journal. PROPOSED NEW UNIVERSITY.—A movement has fcr some tine been on foot for the establishment of a new university in the north of England, and on Tuesday afternoon a deputation, which included the Rev. Dr. Gott (vicar of Leeds), Mr. Edward Baines, Professor Thorpe, Professor Rucker, and Mr. R. Reynold@, waited upon the Mayor of Bradford, Mr, *•' '•"th object of inducing the Corpora- ion of Bradford to adopt a memorial to the Privy £ TOUr of ProP°»i»l. The Mayor inti- 4 mated that the matterwould be referred to theFinance < and General Purposes Committee of the Corporation I TMpM.BiMH.-Tho Queen has sent to the Eev. H. Bell vicar of Muncaster, Cumberland, a do- nation of £ 3 for Mrs. Marsicks,one of his parishioners, 1 Who, on March 24, gave birth to three children, all of p whom uodaiag mil. £

THE AUSTRIAN ARMY. We quote the following from an article en- titled "England and Austria," contributed to the Daily Chronicle by their special correspondent at Vienna: The present army organisation is based on a scheme propounded in 1869 by Baron Kuhn Kuhmenfeld. At the age of 20 every male is liable to military con- scription, and even when not required to make up the army numbers every male is drafted into some class ef the ranks. The peace strength is estimated at some 400,000 men, whilst the war strength is calculated to produce 800,000. The classes comprise the active army, the Ersatz and Landwehr, or reserves, and t he Landsturm. As there are close upon 300,000 yoong men who are annually liable to conscription, and as this number is three times the effective wanted, the ballot is resorted to. However, those who escape the active service are drafted into the Ersatz for nine years. This implies a fortnight's drill per annum in Austria and six weeks in Hungary. The usual service is three years in the active, seven in the Ersatz, and two in the Landwehr. This latter force is liable for duty in time of war, whilst the Ersatz is utilised for filling up gaps in the active army at all times. All members of the Ersatz having es- caped the active army are liable to be reealled to the colours for a period of two years. In case of war the mobilisation of the Austrian army would bring into the field some 580,000 infantry, 58,000 cavalry, and some 75,000 artillery. This includes the Ersatz and Landwehr reserves. The number of guns would amount to 1890, the number of horses to 148,000, whilst the transport service would comprise some 22,000 waggons and trains. The whole of this force would be divided into eleven army corps, each corps having three divisions of 14,000 bayonets and some 41 guns. Thus each corps would be about 51,000 strong, with 126 guns and some 8000 horses, with the usual complement of sappers and miners and a pon- toon train. The infantry possess the Werndl breech- loader, which I must confess is inferior to the Berdan or Martini-Henry. The guns are known as the Ucbatian rifled cannon. They are made of a mixture of bronze and steel, and are about the most serviceable of any artillery pieces. They exceed the French and German both by their accuracy of fire and resistance to wear. The army is in very excellent condition. The discipline is strict without being severe. I had an opportunity of witnessing some important manoeuvres at Kaschau, in Hungary, last summer, when the vigilance of the cavalry and smart movements of the infantry were all that could be desired. I saw the cavalry take fence and hedge and swim brooks in a manner that eminently fit them for the modern tisage of this scouting and covering arm of an army. The infantry were quick in movement either in deploying or re-forming. The artillery was marvellous in its execution and nicety of range, and the pieces were handled with a rapidity and ease that spoke well for the men and the gun alike. The officers are smart and intelligent, but I doubt if Austro-Hungary has any marshal capable cf. wielding effec- tually 800,000 men. I am afraid events will not afford us an opportunity of judging, as nothing is further from the Imperial or official mind than a war against Bussia. Should England really intend war, as is here believed, she had better prepare for a struggle that needs an Austrian army to contest with any hopes of success. I am told that Count Andrassy considers the English policy as a blustering one, that may impose itself upon Russia, and so lead to a conflict which England may conduct nobly, but weakly, and of which she will be soon glad to rid her- self at any cost of prestige or wealth.

BONNETS IN STALLS.—THBATMCAL CASE.— At the Shorediteh County Court, Judge Dasent, pre- siding, Mr. 0. H. Tennant, sued Mr. John Douglass, proprietor of the Standard Theatre, for £1 for breach of contract. Mr. St. John Wontner represented the plaintiff, and said that a few weeks ago his client, accompanied by two ladies, went to defendant's theatre and purchased three stall tickets. On their way to the stalls the boxkeeper said that the ladies must first go to the cloak-room, where they were re- quired to deposit their bonnets, for the care of which a small fee was demanded. Plaintiff not only refused to pay the fee, but contested the right of the manager to make such a regulation. Eventually, however, he agreed that the ladies should not wear their bonnets in the stalls, but should hold them in their hands. This the boxkeeper refused to allow. Plaintiff thereupon saw the proprietor, who also re- fused admission till the bonnets were given up, but offered to remit the fee. To this the plaintiff would not Agree. As he was retiring the defendant offered to return the ticket money, but he refused to accept it. The case was then taken before the magistrate at Worship Etreet Police-court, who said be was unable to afford the plaintiff any redress. In bringing the case before the county court, Mr. Wontner contended that the defendant bad no right to enforce such a regulation or impose a fee, which he felt certain would never be authorised by the Lord Chamberlain. The plaintiff had taken the matter up on public grounds, and for these reasons he asked for a verdict in favour of his client. The judge said a notice had been hung up in different parts of the theatre, informing the public that in certain parts of the house "No bonnets were admitted;" but, apart from this, the defendant had a perfect right, in his opinion, to make the restriction in question. Judg- ment was given for the defendant. A THEATRICAL CASE.—At the Leeds Assizes an action was tried for breach of a contract to let the Drill Hall at Keighley to a theatrical company. The plaintiff was Mr. F. A. Seudamore, formerly manager of Herr Bandmann's Scarborough company and the defendant is a bank manager and com- mandant of the Keighley Bifle Corps. In October last year, seeing an advertisement that the Keighley Drill Hall was to let for theatrical purposes, the plaintiff applied to Mr. Cooke, the agent, for terms. Eventually he engaged the hall for three months, commencing Saturday, the 4th of Novem- ber, at six guineas a week, and paid one week's rent in advance. Next he engaged a stock com- pany, and opened on the night named with the play of "Ambition." In the meantime, however, he bad placed £ 270 in the defendant's bank, and the defendant wished him to enter into an agreement to allow him to attach the balance of this sum for any rent which might become due. The plaintiff refused to enter into such an agreement, and the following Tuesday the defendant sent his drill sergeant, M'Grath, who enticed the plaintiff's carpenters out of the hall, and then locked the door in their faces. The plaintiff was therefore unable to proceed with his performance that night, and was obliged to take his company to Burnley, where, instead of making a profit, he sus- tained a serious loss, for which he now claimed com- pensation. After the case had been opened the counsel held a consultation, the upshot of which was that a verdict for the plaintiff, by consent, for £75, was come to. THE FATAL AFFRAY AT A WEDDING PARTY. -At the Notts Assizes the five men named Hollings- worth, Wilkinson, Attewell, Drayton, and Law, were found guilty of the manslaughter of Patrick Duffy, at Greaaley, during a quarrel at a wedding party, and Lord J ustiee Bramwell sentenced each of them to four months' imprisonment with hard labour. DESPERATE POACHING AURAY. — At the Chester Assizes, James Dean, William Dean, Charles Dean, John Langley, and William Hughes were charged with night poaching, and with wounding three keepers named- Shave, Talbot, and Davies, on the Duke of Westminster's estate at Baton, on the 12th of September. The three keepers. with another named Foster, met at nine o'clock at Bretton Drive, and, hearing a hare scream, crossed a plantation into a field, where they saw two men drawing a net. The men first ran away, but on being joined by two others they turned and attacked the keepers, who fol- lowed, with stones. Shave, Talbot, and Davies were each struck with stones, but they rushed at the men, and each struggled with one of them. Shave was struck several times on the body and head with a heavy stick, and eventually fell to the ground insensible. Talbot was similarly treated and Davies, in addition to being beaten with a stick, was struck with some sharp-pointed weapon, which made a hole through his clothes, and inflicted a punctured wound in his chest. The poachers got away, after having killed bystaobing with long spears, two large mastiffs which the keepers had with them! but they left behind them a number of articles and two dogs, which helped to identify them. The keepers positively swore to the identity of four of the prisoners The defence was an alibi, which was proved by about a dozen witnesses. The jury foupd Charles and James Dean and Hughes guilty, and they were sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment with hard labour. Langley and William Dean were found not guilty. i PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN INDIA.-Lord North- brook, the late Governor General of India, was ex- amined before the Indian Public Works Committee in connection with the amount expended on Government buildings in India as compared with the taxation which the country could fitl* bear for that purpose His opinions were that but a moderate sum should be borrowed from public works, so as not to embarrass bhe financial forecasts of succeeding years, that iuch money ought to be raised in India, and that ;he irrigation works should be prudently forwarded n which case there would be no occasion for fresh ;axation. CHINESE LADIES AT THE PARIS EXHIBITION. -Twelve young ladies from the Celestial Empire will erve behind the counters of the Cbiseaa section of the French Exhibition. They are reported young and iretty. These Chinese counters will undoubtedly prove a attraction* a attraction*

RUSSIAN VIEWS OF WAR WITH j ENGLAND. The St. Petersburg correspondent of the Times says: The attitude assumed by the British Govern- ment and the warlike preparations which are being made on such a large scale in England have pro- duced here the conviction that the negotiations for a Congress are a mere pretext for gaining time and that war is inevitable. Already this conviction is expressed both in private and in public, and amateur strategists have begun to publish their views as to how the war should be conducted. In all reasonings on this subject it is assumed that Austria will remain neutral, and that the struggle will be exclusively between England and Russia. Accordingly, the war will have a very peculiar character. The whale, as Prince Bismarck is reported to have said, cannot well fight with the elephant, and, consequently, if a war should break out between Russia and England it can- not be a series of great battles or great naval engage- ments. England will not send into Russia an army of invasion, and Russi i will not send out her fleet to the high seas. How, then, can the two nations carry on war with each other, supposing they wish to do so ? To this question a writer in the Novoe Vremya gives a lengthy reply, which may be summarised thus: It is impossible for our troops to make their way to England, and consequently we could not attempt an offensive campaign in the ordinary sense, but on the other hand to restrict ourselves to purely defensive operations would be very disadvantageous. England would at once close all our ports, and might by land- ing troops and bombarding now at one place and now at another inflict upon the country very considerable injury. Without any serious loss, and even without any great expenditure, she could continue this mode of warfare for an indefinite period, and we should in the long run be forced to come to terms. Such would be the inevitable result of a purely defensive plan of operations if we were compelled to adopt it. Fortu nately for us, however, we have other means at our disposal, and we may easily, though we have no great fleet, assume the offensive. England has two weak points—her maritime trade and her Indian pos- sessions. To destroy the British commercial fleet and to drive the English out of India would be for England a blow from which she would never recover." As to the feasibility of an Indian expedition opinion is divided. Some people think that for soldiers who forced the passage of the Balkans in winter nothing is impossible, and that 100,000 of these heroes led by Skobeleff could easily make their way to the fertile valley of the Ganges. Those who hold this view do not take the trouble to study geographical conditions or to use large maps. Assuming as a principle beyond all doubt that Russian soldiers can do anything possible or impossible they arrive safely at this conclusion as a matter of course. Those who have less faith and more knowledge hold a somewhat different opinion. Admitting that in the abstract an invasion of India is possible, they declare that it would bean extremely difficult, hazardous, and costly undertaking. This view is ably stated by a M. Skalkovski, who has been in India and who seems to have studied the subject.

THE CALLING OUT OF THE RESERVES. The London Gazette publishes the following Royal Proclamations relative to the calling out of the Be* serves: VICTORIA B. Whereas, by the Reserve Force Act, 1867, as amended by the Army Enlistment Act, 1870, it is amongst other things enacted that, in cue of im- minent national danger, or of great emergency, the occasion being first communicated to Parliament, if Parliament be then sitting, or declared by Proclama- tion, it shall be lawful for her Majesty by Pro- clamation to direct that the Reserve Force, or such part thereof as her Majesty may think fit, may be called out on permanent service, and that upon the issuing of any such Pro- clamation the men in Class I. of the Reserve Force, or those of them to whom such Proclama- tion applies, shall become subject to general service with her Majesty's army. And the said force, or such part thereof as may be so called out shall serve in pursuance of such Proclamation until it be signified to them by her Majesty's command that their services are no longer required but so, nevertheless, that the services of men so called out shall not be required under such Proclamation beyond six months after peace has been next proclaimed: And whereas the present state of public affairs in the East, and the necessity in connection therewith of taking steps for the maintenance of peace and for the protection of the interests of the Empire, have, in Our opinion, constituted a case of great emergency within the meaning of the said Acts, and We have communi- cated the same to Parliament: Now, therefore, We do, in pursuance of the said Acts, hereby direct, that on the third day of April, 1878, Class I. of the Reserve Force shall be called out on permanent service, and that the men thereof shall, on or before the nineteenth day of April, 1878, proceed to, and attend at, the places which may be respectively appointed by Our Secretary of State, to serve as part of Our army until their services are no longer required. And We do hereby direct the Right Honourable Frederick Arthur Stanley, one of Our Principal Secre- taries of State, to give all necessary directions herein accordingly. Given at Our Court at Windsor, this second day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-eigb t, and in the forty-first year of Our Reign. God save the Queen. VICTORIA R. Whereas, by the Militia Reserve Act, 1867, as amended by the Army Enlistment Act, 1870, it is amongst other things enacted that, in case of immi- nent national danger, or of great emergency, the occasion being first communicated to Parliament, if Parliament be then sitting, or declared by Procla- mation, it shall be lawful for her Majesty, from time to time, to order that on such day as may be men- tioned in her Majesty s Order in this behalf, the men enlisted under the first-mentioned Act, or such of them as her Majesty may judge necessary, and by such Order direct, shall enter upon Army Service, and for that purpose shall attend at such place or places, and at such time or times, as shall be duly notified in this behalf; And whareasthe present state of public affairs in the East, and the necessity in connection therewith of taking steps for the maintenance of Peace and for the protection of the interests of the Empire, have, in Our opinion, constituted a case of great emergency within the meaning of the said Acts, and We have communi- cated the same to ParliatJtnt. Now, therefore, in punfaance of the said Acts, We do hereby order that on the third day of April, 1878, the men enlisted or serving under the above-mentioned Acts shall enter open Army Service; and for that purpose shall, on or before the 19th day of April, 1878, proceed to, and attend at, the places which may be respectively appointed by Our Secretary of State, and shall serve as part of Our army until their services are no longer required. And We do hereby direct the Right Honourable Frederick Arthur Stanley, one of Our Principal Secretaries of State, to give all necessary directions herein accordingly. Given at our Court at Windsor, this second day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy- eight, and in the forty-first year of Our Reign. God save the Queen.

DISTRESSING SUICIDE AT HEBNE-HILL STATION. -A distressing suicide took place at the Herne-hill Station, on the London, Chatham, and Dover line, on Sunday morning. It appears that a gentlemanly- dressed man went on Sunday morning to the stable- man at the Half Moon public-house, and asked him if he knew anT person who wanted to earn 10s. The stableman, supposing that be required a horse and trap, asked where he wanted to go to, but the man ■aid he only wanted bis Bhoes cleaned, and he would pay 10s. to anybody who would do it. The stableman cleaned the shoes, and got a half-sove- reign for it, and remarked that the gentleman appeared to be much excited. While the operation of shoe cleaning was going on he told the ostler that he had lost .£1800 over the Grand National, and he could not pay it. About half an hour afterwards the man went to the railway station, and seeing a train coming he went and deliberately laid his neck across the rail, and the engine completely decapitated him. The trunk and head were taken up, and search being made in deceased's pockets, a card bearing the name "Mr. Cummins, solicitor, Canterbury," together with » gold watch and a considerable amount of money "ere found., GREAT FIRE AT PANAMA. — The Panama Star and Herald says: Panama was again devas tated by are on the forenoon of 6th March. The north eaat and east sides on the Plaza ana adjoining neighbourhood were destroyed, with loss of half a million dollars. The fire originated in a drug store of Messrs. F. C. Herbruger and Co., on the east side of the Plaza, under the Grand Central Hotel, about 9.40 a.m., in the absence of Dr. Kratochwil, who has charge of the business. The boy left in care of the store lit a candle to seal a bottle of medicine and carelessly threw the lighted match into a measure of bay rum that stood close to a tin of inflammable oil.' THE FBENCH ANTI-TOBACCO LEAGUE hsve offered a number of prizell, varying ia value from 100 to 300 francs, for the denunciation of sublime tobacco." Doctors, schoolmasters, and authors art invited to prove the horrible influence of the plants

HOW THE GREEh. INSURRECTION IS CONDUCTED. A despatch from Volo, dated the 4th, says: The body of Mr. Ogle, the late correspondent of the Times, has been found headless in a ravine, and brought in. It bears marks which will be ex- amined and reported on by the doctors. A scar on the wrist, of long standing, enabled a friend to identify him. An immense crowd has assembled, and in the deep sorrow which this event has caused every other interest is forgotten. Among the people are refugees from Bulgarini, whom he so lately assisted, others from Macrinitza and Portaria whom last Friday after the battle he comforted with the assurance that he would go down to the Consuls and get them to protest against the soldiers entering the villages. The late correspondent of the Times wrote as fol- lows from Volo: In an insurrectionary war like that which is going on around me, I cannot speak with any certainty of events which happen beyond my per- sonal observation, and I have hitherto confined my excursions to the three districts already mentioned. I In these, I do not think that the insurgents could muster on any given day more than 3000 men, and of the 3000 not more than one-half are constantlv under arms, including all the volunteers, who number about 750. But, notwithstanding the unwarlike character of the native population, if we take into account all who during the present movement have bad a shot or two at the Turks, or at least have enrolled their names, the insurgent force acting in this neighbourhood must be put down at between 5000 and 6000. I know a smuggler who, having dodged the Ottoman authorities for five years, seems to have lost in one or other of the ports he frequents all his ideas but one, and that one is that the Turks are blockheads. Perhaps he has reason on his side. The Caimakam of Volo pathetically remarked, "These people come and pay me compliments one day, and the next are fighting at Macrinitza." He was quite right. One man went to ask a favour of him with his shirt-cuffs black with gunpowder. Another habitually salutes him limping from a wound which he received in the hrst battle of Platona. And these men, who fight and cringe on alternate days, are they on whose authority it is asserted that no insurrection exists. The Turkish force operating in the sa.ne three districts numbers between 7000 and 8000, mostly regulars, and almost entirely drawn from Asia Minor, though a few battalions are Albanians. A large rein- forcement is expected daily. The mode of warfare adopted by the insurgents is the only one suited to the circumstances. It is necessary for them to economise men, and to avoid the disheartening effect of a decided defeat. The object kept in view is not so much the defeat of the Turkish army, as the expulsion from the land of the machinery of Ottoman Government, and the affording an opportunity to the inhabitants to express their true sentiment-. They should, and generally do, strike no blow without a fair chance ?f gainThrGreJks8^1rate8ica1.01" P0litical adraH" tege. lbeureeis, with few exceptions, have no idea of fighting in the open. They are too intelligent to stand up and be shot at; and this, with the political considerations already mentioned, determines the nature of the tactics which they have re- course to. They keep to the mountains, descend- ing into the plain only to capture Turkish ccnvoys of previsions — an operation which they effect with great success, even under the castle. Posted on the heights, bfhinj rocks and breast- works of loose stones, they fire with deliberate aim at the advancing battalions, and retire with scarcely any loss before they can be surrounded. HoweTer strong a village may be, they never occupy it, but take up positions on the surrounding heights to avoid, as they express it, being taken as rats in their holes. In this way the defence is sometimes successful, sometimes not; but it in never disastrous. If we compare the two opposing forces as regards humanity of conduct, we find that the Greeks, though irregulars, have immeasurably the advantage. I hftye before today described some cf th« atrocities committed by the Turkish troops, and I will not dwell on a distasteful dubject. Notwithstanding them, tboug reprisals are to be expected between even the most civilised armies, the insurgents have acted with justice and generosity. With one exception, when an murdered a Gheg to show his zeal for the Christian religion which he had recently adopted, prisoners have been well fed, and released with all •elFj their arms, which were re- 81Eg t0 the Turkish Government. °fe case money has been given to them to enable them to purchase food by the way. Civi- f i7 am^8ted haTe been Pai«J for the loss of time incurred. The horse of a postman requisi- tioned during an engagement was returned as soon as it could possibly be dispensed with. These things I have heard, not only from the insurgents, but from high Turkish officials, and from some of the men themselves. Surely such rebels were seldom seen Many of them, indeed, are little fit for the rough work of war. One leader sighs and sajs—"If they! let me have my way, not so much as a nose should bleed." Another prominent volunteer ran to Captain Axeles, when the Ghegs began to retreat at the battle of Zenia, exclaiming vehemently, "It is horrible! It is horrible! Do net kill them."

5 BREACH OF PROMISE CASES. WDM BUSH V. COLLINGS. TT ci!e ^imbush v. Collings came before Mr. Urider-Sheriff Burchell and a jury at the Sheriff's Court, Westminster. This action had been brought in the Exchequer, and judgment being allowed by default, was sent to this court to assess the amcuntinan action for breach of promise of marriage. The claim was for £200, and Mr. Erskine Pollock, as counsel for the plaintiff, Jemima Wimbush, asked for substantial damages from Edward Collings, who was coach- man to Lady Charles Burt Percy, at Guy's Cliff, Warwick, where the plaintiff had been in ser- Tfl7ft Ji y.,Wer6 .acquainted in 1869, and in lo7o, when the plaintiff mmn to London, he Dro- misedher marriage. The wedding was arranged for Sept. 2 last, and a few days before he told her he liked some one else better. He, however, made it up, and saw her on the day before the appointed marriage. He was to see her again in the evening, but she had not seen him since, and in November be was married to another. In December she wrote him a letter, and he returned it with his own remarks. Mr. Pollock said judges were divided as to actions on breaches of pro- mise, but for the heartless conduct displayed by the defendant be asked for ample damages to punish him. Mr. Under-Sheriff Burchell said the jury were not to A 0 defendant, but to compensate the plain- loss she had sustained. The jury ultimately awarded £ 75 as damages. mij, MAT V. ROTTON. fj" C??J6 before Sir James Fitzjames Stephen at tbe Assize Court at Devizes. The plaintiff waa the n „Ufhter of the Eev. Edmund May, rector of J near Devizes, and the defendant was an undergraduate at Cambridge, where he became ac- quainted with ths plaintiffs brother. A visit to the rectory oil owed, which resulted in defendant becom- ing a acned to the plaintiff, and in an engagement ^e^'en He had, however, failed to pass his i. j f0', Bn^ «ome months after the engagement he wished to break it off, on the ground that he had no prospects before him at present. The plaintiff, however, refused to exonerate him, but eventually he broke it off, though still against her wish. Being prestea by plaintiff's father as to his reasons, he said, in a letter he then wrote, that his only fea*L?5 that the plaintiff was untruthful, and that u* k there could be that confidence that ought to exist between man and wife. The charge of untruthfulness was indignantly denied, and as the de- fendant declined an interview in which to come to an arrangement, the present action was brought. During the correspondence his father—a bank manager in Birmingbam-had died, and he was said to have re- ceived AoUUO as his fortune. The learned counsel read a number of letters that had passed between them, and after the plaintiff, her father, mother, and brotner nad been examined, the learned counsel for the de ence addressed the jury, and his lords-tip eummed up, somewhat unfavourably to the plaintiff. The jury, however, found a verdict for the plaintiff- damages, £1000.

THE MILITARY SITUATION IN THE EAST. (From the" Times.") The latest information as to the mevement of troops in the Balkan Peninsula points to a general concentration of the Russian forces southwards. The Servians are reported to have begun their march towards Belgradjik, and are intended to cover the Russian lines of communication as far, at least, as Plevna. Thus the Muscovite battalions, which have hitherto held that important link, will be set free, and can be pushed forward to join the corps that are cantonned near the Bosphorus, or on the peninsula of Gallipoli. At the same time, there are indications that the Russian troops which were lately at Sofia and north of Adriancple are being moved towards the south-east. One of two reasons may be the cause of such a march. It may be con- sidered advisable, on account of the political prospect, to strengthen as m'lch as possible the army of the Grand Duke Nicholas, or it may be that the intention of the Russian staff is to abandon their lines of land communication and rely almost exclusively for the conveyance of reserves and supplies on marine transport over the Black Soa. Such an alteration of the line of communication would only be prudent when Roumania is manifesting grave signs of discontent, and mignt prove a most for- midable obstacle to railway commun cation. At pre- sent the whole of the roads by which stores are brought to the Russian forces in Turkey are fed by the railway that runs through Bucharest. A rising on the part of the subjects of Prince Obatles, or any action on the side of Austria, would seriously imperil this channel of supply. The sea communication from Odessa to Bourgas and the small ports further south must remain free to Russia, whatever enemies might be arrayed against her, so long as the passage of the Bosphorus is closed to hostile men-of-war. If. how- ever, an enemy's fleet could push past Euyukdere and gain the Black Sea, it must cut off the communication between Odessa and Bourgas unless it could be de- feated by the Russian flotilla. Should the Cabinet of St. Petersburg force both England and Austria into arms against Russia, the line of communication by land must be seriously threatened, and the main- tenance of that by sea must depend upon the in- capability of the British fleet to force its way through the Bosphorus. Some well qualified to judge main- tain that no efforts en the part of the Russian army, even if it had occupied the northern shore of the Straits, could prevent the passage of the ironclads of Admiral Hornby. Yet it is not unnatural that the staff of the Grand Duke Nicholas should make every effort to place their troops in the most favourable position to impede the progress of the English ships. It is probably for this reason that Russian divisions have been echplenned on the road to Buyukdere. and that a total force of about 30,000 men is collected within an easy striking distance of this point. Betwem these troops and Buyukdere there are some Turkish brigades, which could pro- bably hold the place till assistance arrived, if they were sure to be energetically employed and loyally commanded. But they must in time be overwhelmed, for the army of the Grand Duke Nicholas, even allowing for all deduc- tions, should assuredly still must er, at least, 75,000 combatants in front of Constantinople. On the peninsula of Gallipoli, or the neighbouring mainland in front ot the position of Bulair, there are probably about 50,000 Ruesian troops, while at Salonica and on the lines of communication there may be scattered some 50,000 more. If this calculation be correct, the Russian soldiery fit for service south of the Danube must muster considerably less than 200,000.

THE CHANGES IN THE CABINET. Amid numerous changes in various departments of the State, the Cabinet had remained intact, and it was not until August, 1876, when the Government had been in existence nearly two years and a half, that a Cabinet vacancy occurred. This was occasioned through Lord Malmesbury's resignation of the Privy Seal and as about this time the Prime Minister was raised to the peerage, he combined the duties of the two offices. Eleven months afterwards Mr. Ward Hunt died, and Mr. W. H. Smith was made First Lord of the Admi- ralty, Colonel F. A. Stanley becoming Financial Secretary to the Treasury, and being succeeded as Financial Secretary at the War Department by Colonel Loyd-Lindsay. In January last the resigna- tion of Lord Carnarvon led to the appointment of Sir M. Hicks-Beach as Secretary of State for the Colonies, Mr. James Lowther taking the duties of Chief Secretary for Ireland. Mr. Lowther's post as Colonial Under-Secretary was given to Earl Oadogan, whose position as Under-Secretary for War was conferred upon Lord Bury. The duties of the first Lord of the Treasury and of Lord Privy Seal, which had been united for nearly a year and a half, were &gain separated, the latter being taken by the Duke of Northumber- land. Lord Derby's withdrawal from the Ministry has led to an even more extensive re-arrangement of offices, Lord Salisbury becoming Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Hardy Secretary for India, while Colonel Stanley is taken into the Cabinet as Secietary of State for War. The Financial Secre- taryship of the Treasury vacated by him is announced to have fallen to Sir H. Selwin-lbbetson, who is succeeded as Under Secretary for the Home Department by Sir M. W Ridley. The other changes in the ranks of the Administration have been amongst its legal members. In September, 1876, Mr. Gordon, the Lord Advocate of Scotland, was created a life peer, and Mr. Watson became Lord Advocate, with Mr. Macdonald as Solicitor-General. In Feb- ruary, 1877, Mr. May, the Attorney-General for Ireland, succeeded Chief Justice Whiteside, and Mr. Gibson was appointed his successor. A month later Mr. Plunket resigned the Irish Solicitor-Generalship, which was taken by Mr. Fitzgibbon.

TURKISH REFUGEES. The Levant Herald of March 27th says: Typhoid fever, which for some time past has been making great ravages among the fugitives crowded together in the capital, is daily becoming more alarming in its proportiens. Every place of refuge—especially the great mosques—is at present literally transformed into a hotbed of infection, and the mortality in these places augments day by day. The resident popu- lation of the capital may well complain of this state of things, for, unless the Government intervene by taking energetic measures similar to these adopted by the late eminent Fuad Pasha in 1365, at the time of the great cholera epidemic, it is much to be feared that, when the fine weather set in in the course of a few weeks, the mortality will be dreadful. It has been proposed, as the best means of ward- ing off the threatened evil, to remove the refu- gees from their present places of shelter in the capital to some of the vast and fertile districts in Asia Minor, capable of nourishing and supporting a large popula- tion in ease and comfort, instead of keeping them here to din from misery and disease. No less than 130,000 of these unfortunates are here now, a vast number of whom must infallibly perish, if not re- moved in time, and who will likewise cause the deaths of thousands in the capital from the spread of infec- tious disease. It is not sufficient to send away every three or four days a Lloyd's steamer with 1500 or 2000 individuals; that is but a drop in the bucket. The Turkish national marine ought to be brought into use for this purpose, and the greatfrigates and even the ironclads should help to remove these poor people to healthy localities in Asia. Some time ago, Said Pasha announced in the Chamber of Deputies that a small squadron of vessels of war had brought away in a few days from Soukhum Kale 50,000 Abaze families and landed them at Trebizond, besides a great quantity of cattle of allkinds. Now, then, is thetimetorepeatsucb a feat for the preservation of the health of the capital and of that of the fugitives themselves. The Sixth Circle (Pera, Galata, and thereabouts), which, only a month ago, gave refuge to 6000 refugees, now main- tains 14,000, all of whom are more or less infected with the germs of typhoid fever. It is therefore lrgent, we repeat, if the population of Constantinople s not to be decimated, to put an end to the arrival of nore refugees, and to embark those already here vithout further delay for Asia Minor."

A CASE CAMB BEFORE V ICE-CHANCELLOB JACON, in which a man named Simmons sought to ecover from his wife property which he transferred o her upwards of twenty years ago, on the eve of his eing sentenced to eight years' penal servitude. He ] ontended that she was to retransfer it to him on his elease, vhich she had refused to do. The Vice-Chan- < ellor decided that the wife was entitled to retain I ossession. i Less OF FoUR LivES.—About: two o'clock in the morning a fire broke out on the premises of Messrs. Buchanan and Tyndall, gas-fitting manufac- turers, St. Jamfs's square, Edinburgh. It was not extinguished until the whole of the stock was des- troyed. The smoke found its way through the floor and up a common staircase to three flats of dwelling- houses above, the occupants of which were awakened out of sleep by the suffocating smoke. Two men were rescued by a fire-escape, and several of the inmates got down the staircase; but four people-av old woman, a young man and woman, and a little girl— were suffocated in attempting to escape down the staircase. The camps of the four peraons burnt to death are: Robert Kerr, 24 years Margaret Brander, 60; Margaret Ann Brander, 14 and Mary Kerr, 26. IN CONSEQUENCE or THE AMNKSTY, M. Bonnet- Duverdier, formerly President of the Municipal Council of Earis, has been released from pnsoot

THE BURNING OF THE SPHINX. Lloyd's agent at Larnaca (Cyprus), in a letter dated 19th March, furnishes full particulars of the burninsr oi the Austrian Lloyd's steamer Sphinx, near Cape Elia, in the early part of last month, by which 500 Circassian refugees lost their liven. It appears that the Sphinx was on her way to Lattachia from Cavalla, with about 3000 Circassians on board. On the 5th March, at 7.10 a.m., she was doubling the Klito Rock, off Cape St. Andrea, with a strong wind from the south-east, with the intention of going to Famagusta to wait for better weather, and take in provisions for the emigrants. At three p.m. there was a strong gale from the south-east, which shifted to the west, then to the north, returning at last to the south-east. At that time the ship would no longer obey the rudder, and a heavy sea striking the vessel washed forty refugees from the forecastle. Could not put back to Alexandretta, as the hatches, were open, and being afraid that the sea would fill the hold coupled with the fact that the Circassians would not allow them to be closed for fear of being suffocated. Towards sunset made out Cape Gregs, and was about six miles from the south of Famagusta. At 6.45 smoke was seen coming out of the fore hatch, and the ves3el shipping heavy seas. A little later she grounded on a sand-bank, one heavy sea drove her on the coast, and she sprang a leek. There was no working the engines. Meanwhile, the fire increased, and the confusion and cries of the Cir- cassians are said to have bten terrible, seeing that the fire could not be put down. The batches were closed with the consent of the Circassians, and so upwards of 500 lives were sacrificed to save the rest. During the night attempts were made to extinguish the fire, but without success. On the 6th the surviving emigrants were landed. The captain and crew fled from the wreck, as the Circassians threatened to murder them. Two days afterwards the French gunboat Lavis received on board the captain and crew, who had taken refuge at Tricomo, and the following day H.M. S. Coquette received on board the first lieutenant of the Sphinx, who was also hiding at Tricomo. The Circassians robbed the ship before leaving her of everything that was port- able-plate, linen, furniture, and all the clothing fit the officers. The Circassians had fires, it is said, in the hold to keep themselves warm and to cook witht and it is not surprising that the fire originated from the accidental upsetting of one of their stoves. The Sphinx is completely destroyed from the bow to midships, and all that is expected to be saved are the engines.

DEPUTATIONS TO LORD GRANVILLE AND LORD HARTINGTON. Earl Granville and the Marquis of Hartingtolt received a deputation representing the Liberal party in 120 boroughs and districts, whose object was two- fold-first, to give their leaders assurances of sym- pathy and confidence, and secondly, to inform then* of the earnestness of their desire to save England frotf the shame and misery of war. The deputation introduced by Mr. Bright, who declared that in all his political experience he had never before witnessed such a remarkable gathering. The right hon. gentleman entirely concurred with those who think that the time is very serious, and that it become all good, honest, earnest men throughout the country to examine what is going on, and if it were possible to keep the vessel of State from the rockt that seemed to be very close ahead. Earl Granville agreed that the moment was one of gravity, and avowed himself an ardent, almost a passionate, lover of peace. He denied that on the present occasion either Lord Hartington or himself required any ati- mulus to adopt whatever course appeared to their minds most judicious to prevent the country bei dragged intoawar, which neitheritshonourable engage- ments nor its national interests required. Whilst point- ing out how difficult it was for a Parliamentary Oppo* sition to prevent a war which had been determined upon by the Government of the day, he assured them that the Liberal leaders would do their utmost tO secure the continuance of neace. Lord HartingteB also replied, saying that -the efforts of the Liberal leaders in Parliament would be directed to the pre- vention of that which the party considered an unjust and unnecessary war. The course to be pursued wust necessarily depend upon changing circumstances, but it would be founded upon the principle which they thought best calculated to kefp the country from being drawn into hostilities in which, even if successful It had nothing to gain.

ON BOARD HOBART PASHA'S FLAG- SHIP. The Times correspondent with Ilobart Pasha write* as follows from Volo, March 20th: Our ship is the Izzeddin, a steam yacht built fourteen yearo ago on the Thames for the hopeful first born of Abdul Aziz, whom we used to flatter in thOSl days by calling his son the Prince Imperii* Youssouf Izzeddin soon became too effeminate tc care about yachting, and made over his ship to tbB arsenal for a despatch vessel, and sbe was used tO carry Ambassadors sent on special missions and the like. But since the war broke out she has been turned into a slave, carrying coals, troops, refugeee* and what not, till her rich fittings and dainty finJSb are gone to a dismal wreck of ehabbiness. But sbØ is comfortable, a good sea craft, and Bhe can g°: Therefore Hobart Pasha hoisted his flag on board her last Wednesday (March 13), to take up his mand of the squadron on tbe coasts of Thessallo Greece, and Epirus. We called at Gallipoli to pic* up the Mukadem-i-Khair, a smart little mailed cor" vette, wit i box batteries, built in Constantinople and said to have cost half her weight in silver. Sbf did actually cost thrice her value, which, hoW ever, was of no consequence whatever, as shf was built by special command of the who -from a month after he had ordered her to the of the three years she was on the shocks used to as* almost daily whether she was ready for sea. As fie called at Chanak Kalessi, the town of the I was able to obtain from Hussein Pasha, commandet of the forts, some infermation respecting the order to prevent any more foreign war vessels from enteringthe Straits, telegraphed to him by the Seraskier of the 27tb of February and to you from Gallipoli on the same day. Acting upon this order, the Pasha b" successively turned back a German corvette and 910 Austrian training ship but he added that the order did not cancel one previously given to admit eleYeO British ships in all into the Marmora; and, as outy eight bad gone through, the option to do nowas stillrr served to other three—that is to say, to the three vessel* of Admiral Commerell's squadron at present lying in the Gulf of Saros, on the left of the Bulair line" Hussein Pasha expatiated upon the raahneøt of any fleet attempting to force the paS- sage. "I am perfectly prepared," he said; t can concentrate the fire of sixty heavy rifled guns upOø any ship trying to run the batteries. Each gun b** its own powder magazine and store of shell by its s«»* for several rounds, so that our firing would be l&f. rapid. Our gunners are experienced men in dailj training. In the sixty guns I do not include any the old-fashioned sort which you see in the tanieh and Kilid-Bahri forts. If it had been misfortune to have had to resist the passage J* your fleet, it would have submitted it to a very severe trial (une ipretive bien rude). When your ad- miral's flagship (the Alexandra) grounded on the ban*: of the river's mouth, 1 had twenty-two guns poino at her." Anchoring for the night under Abydos shelter from a heavy southerly squall that and raged all through the hours of darkness passed through the lower half of the Strait the gray of the morning, end, turning Cape He!I'" issued from the drizzly fog that bung upon tP! Hellespont and found ourselvqp under blue and sunshine. All the day we went leaping plunging through the merry sea that smote upon o*j\ starboard bow and tossed" its spray high over funnels, covering the Izzeddin with rainbows. passed Imbros and sighted Samothrace, towering rugged. Lemnos and Aghios Strati were left The red glow of sunset faded off the white pe»t. Athos, and the dawn lighted us into the Gulf of where we found the bulk of Hobart Pasha's squads already lying at anchor. -v. -q.

NEWS lNDEED,- What a silly rumcur may leS4 to is seen in a paragraph which appears in an paper announcing that La Baronessa is about to appear at the Teatro-Drury-lane, in leading parts in Shakesperian drama. It will be membered that several journals some short time i stated that the Baroness was about to undertake fjj easeeship of Drury-lane Theatre. This, however f t was afterwards stated, was not correct. b v AN APPLICATION BY AN ACCOUNTANT bad been induced to pay a pretrium upon IOU P; shares in the Gold Company (Limited), which øhBtl'r were altogether worthless, wes made to Vice- Chanced Malins, that the company miaht be wound up « pulsorily. In granting it the Vice-Chancellor <la0 one of the articles of the company (which was to a pretended mine in Merionethshire), of which, said he had never seen anything like it before, hoped he never should again. It was calculated defraud, if not actually intended to do so. „ THE Tetit Mmrseillais says a marriage LA c° t ten&plated between the Marshal's son, Lieuten Patrick MacMahon. and Mdlie. Laiubrscht, d&ug* of a Minister of M. Thiers. c Printed and published BY the proprietor, JOHN BOBEET.I', at his General Printing Oilice, gfi lane, Cardigan, in the parish ot Saint Mary's S* L CoImtJot Caidi#4iawutiay, Atd Vt 16716