The Aberdare Times

A DIFFICULT SCIENCE. Any body who will take the trouble of turning over the pages of the Charivari-of a great many years ago —will find there a picture of an amateur of le sport in trouble (writes the Milan correspondent of the Daily Telegraph). The disciple of Nimrod is got up in the most elaborate of fashions, with carnassiere, powder flask, double-barrelled gun, black velvet billycock, gaiters, and the Sportsman's Handbook. His gun is pointed at the right angle; but an audacious snipe has perched itself upon the barrel. How is he to shoot it ? or will he turn over the pages of his pocket handbook ? And the picture represents him dropping it sadly, with the words Cas non prevu dans Ie manuel des chasseurs." It has always seemed to me that in this caricature there was conveyed a profound satire upon the whole theory of war. You may learn the science of strategy from beginning to end; you may know Jommi by heart, and be able to draw diagrams of all the fortifications which Vauban ever planned; yet, somehow or other, the particular case to which you are called to apply your science does not happen to have been foreseen in your military manual. For in- stance, I have before me now Colonel Hamley's ad. mirablework on the "Operations of War." I have there explained, in a most lucid and satisfactory manner, why the various battles for which Northern Italy is famous have been lost or won. I know or ought to know, what were the tactics by which Napo- leon won Marengo, and by what operation the Em- peror Francis Joseph might have turned Solferino from a defeat into a victory. If I turn to the Index, I am disposed to imagine there is no possible contin- gency in war which I should not be prepared to grapple with—in theory. I could tell you how Continental armies should operate from divergent bases; or how the conformation of a base may enable the army pos- sessing it to force its adversary to form front to a flank; or how any other elaborate and intricate operation ought to to performed, But with all W knowledge —with my handbook at icy side, I could not give General Cialdini the slightest assistance in solving the military problem he is now engaged upon, which is, how you are to defeat an enemy who is resolved not to fight. The contingency has occurred, and, as usual, it is not foreseen in any military handbook from the days of Xenophou downwards. In every contest these unforeseen contingencies are the ones that really occur. No manuel of whist ever laid down a rule to tell a player what he ought to do when he has forgotten whether trumps are out or not; and yet this—as all candid whist-players would admit—is an emergency which is constantly occurring, and concerning which instruction of any kind would be most thankfully received. So, as far as we can learn, General Cialdini, though provided with every sort of recipe for cooking his hare, when caught, after the most approved military fashion, is still left without any instructions as to how to catch it. The hope of the Italians is that he will succeed in cutting off the line of retreat of the Aus- trians, and thus compel them to fight. Still this result is rather hoped than expected.

THE MILITARY CHESS-PLAYER! That skilful strategist, General von Moltke, who has been the chief director of the movements by which the three Prussian armies, starting from different points, were collected at the necessary hour on the field of Koniggratz, has never, except at that battle, appeared in the front of the armies (writes The Times correspondent). Some distance in the rear, sitting calmly at his desk, he has traced on the map the course of his troops, and, by means of the field telegraph, has flashed his orders to the different generals in more immediate command with such skill and foresight lhat not a movement has failed, and every combination has been made at exactly the right moment. A quick, light-blue eye, a high forehead, and a well-set figure, mark him an intellectual and energetic man, but though quick in action he is so prudent in discourse and so guarded in his speech that from this quality and his wide knowledge of European languages he is known in the army as the man who is silent in seven tongues. Careful and laborious, he has worked out with his own hand and himself calculated almost every detail of the operations in which he has taken Europe by surprise from the lightning rapidity of his strokes and the tremendous consequences of his disposition, before which the Austrian army has withered away almost before it was gathered together, and which have won for him from his countrymen the title of the first strategist in Europe. But though General von Moltke has in so short a time deservedly obtained such a high reputation in Prussia (continues the same correspondent who penned the above), the soldiers and officers of the two armies think almost as highly of the Princes who have carried out so ably the plans which were formed by the Chief of the Royal Staff. Prince Frederick Charles, with all the dash and fire of a cavalry officer, can equally well lead his squadrons to pursue the broken enemy, and direct with patience his infantry and artillery in an attack against a firm and steady line; but his quali- ties as a General do not shine out more in the exciting duties of the battle-field than they do in the more tedious and laborious work which is necessary for the comfort of his soldiers in quarters or on the line of march. He has a singular power of making his troops care little for fatigue and hardship; on the line of march he is always with them, and often, from his knowledge of how to deal with his men, can, by a few happy words, close up the straggling ranks of a weary battalion and send the men forward cheering loudly. In the bivouac often, in person, he inspects the rations and hears the applications of the men for favours or indulgences, and few apply in vain to their Com- mander-in-Chief. He has both the confidence and love of his troops, who regard him as a skilful leader and a powerful friend. The Crown Prince has, by three victories in three successive days, established his title to being con- sidered a General. In the second army he is looked upon with the same affection and confidence as Prince Frederick Charles is in the first. By the men of Silesia he is particularly beloved, for he commanded a regiment at Breslau, and became well-known then to the whole province. Careless of trouble, ever anxious for the welfare of his troops, he visits, personally, billets and hospitals, and takes the most kindly interest in every individual soldier. But in the hour of need he does not spare his troops, for his affection for them springs from a sense of duty and from no mere desire of popularity. The march from Miletin to Konig- gratz, and the attack on the Austrian right in that battle which crushed Marshal Benedek's army and has, perhaps, shaken the Austrian dynasty, say more for his energy in action than could be written in any words. With such leaders and so well led, with a better arm than their enemies, with every mechanical con- trivance which modern science can suggest, adapted to aid the operations of the army, it is little wonder that the stout-hearted and long-enduring Prussian soldiers have proved victorious on every occasion on which they have gone into action.

fmiSou Cnmspfmtaii aeem it right to state that we do not at all times ldentff) ian»lvej witu our correspondent's opinion*.] The proceedings in the House of Lords this session have never been remarkably smart and lively. Had the Reform Bill been sent up to their lordships we should no doubt have had some aminated discussions, and perhaps some fierce party struggles but, as it if, both the advocates and the opponents of Reform may give their lordships the benefit of the doubt whether they would or would not have passed the measure. Now at the end of the session the Upper House has to work rather harder than they like, perhaps, but neither in that House nor the Lower House are the proceedings of a very interesting character. The truth is that inside and outside the House it is felt that it is moribund—that only that business is done which is absolutely necessary, and that the chief ob- ject of members—their "being's end and aim" for the time—is to get away. On the great political questions of the day, her Majesty's opposition is now content to accept the situation, and the Conservatives may, with tolerable certainty, look forward to maintaining their offices for some seven months more. I think it highly probable that the Liberals, at the commence- ment of next session, will endeavour to oust their opponents, as they themselves have been ousted, by a Reform Bill; but we need not meet troubles half way. We cannot say yet what more the present session may bring forth. At present hon. members are here and there engaged in pouring water into sieves, or in other words introducing bills which cannot by any possibility be passed. With all due deference to the wisdom of Parliament, I think it is a great pity that unfinished proceedings should be quashed by prorogation. By the present arrangement a good deal of business has to be done twice over, while other business, which is perhaps half accomplished, counts for nothing. This question will one day possibly command attention, seeing that it is now universally admitted- that the sessions are not long enough for the work that has to be done. It requires a large appetite for dry statistics and finance for any one to like to wade through the entire speech of a Chancellor of the Exchequer when laying before the country his annual budget, but he must be indeed a cormorant at figures who can read with in- terest and pleasure Lord Cranbourne's recent speech when giving his exposition of the Indian Budget. I confess I have not done it, but I know people who have, and I know some who heard it delivered; and I refer to it merely to say that they speak highly of it— an opinion which is all the more important when com- pared with the strong remarks that were made in some quarters on the appointment of the noble lord. On the result of the arrangements for the great Re- form demonstration in Hyde Park on Monday, and of the action of the Government, I shall make no com- ments, but the two sides of the question have been so clearly stated by Mr. Edward Beales on the one hand, and by Sir Richard Mayne and Mr. Walpole on the other, that the subject is worth reference—looking at the matter as I do entirely without partizan feeling, and as having been observant of London manners and customs for many years. The walls of London have been for some time placarded with bills notifying ar- rangements for the demonstration. People were invited to meet in certain districts and proceed to Hyde Park, and arrangements were made to give a holiday aspect to the affair by means of music and banners. Sir Richard Mayne thereupon issues a pro- clamation, as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, stating that such an assembly is contrary to the purpose for which the Park was thrown open to the public, that it would be likely to lead to a breach of the peace, that it cannot be permitted, and that measures will be taken to prevent it. Sir Richard courteously forwards a copy of this proclamatian to Mr. Beales, and the latter publishes a temperate reply. This gentleman, who is himself a lawyer, disputes Sir Riohard's power or right to issue such a notice asserts that if the meeting is illegal, which he does not admit, it ought to be shown how and where its illegality exists; points out that the Park is kept up at the pub- lic expense; that it was intended that the meeting should be an orderly one; and that Sir Richard's con. duct was Hkely to lead to the very result that he es- sayed to prevent. Subsequently Mp. Walpole, the Home Secretary, took upon himself the responsibility of this notice, and Sir George Grey, Mr. Walpole's predecessor, stated that the course now pursued was the same as on previous occasions, and that Sir Richard Mayne had received instructions from the ex-Home Secretary to prevent the meeting. Now, without further reference to this particular meeting, I cannot but think that it is expedient, if not politically right, to prevent enormous meetings in our parks, especially where the purpose is to express strong party feeling on any subject whatever. I cannot shut my eyes, how- ever willingly I would do so, to the fact that there is a very strong rough element in London, and that, what- ever arrangements may be made by respectable work. ing men who intend to assist at such meetings, it is almost impossible to prevent outrage and ruffianism, which bring discredit upon the objects of such meet- ings. It is on this ground that Government and the Commissioner of Police act; and the Conservative and Liberal Home Secretaries have both carefully re- pudiated any attempt to repress political discussion; they have—whether mistakeably or not—simply acted in the public safety, though it will be a long time be. fore a large proportion of the public will see this. America is the land of wonders; it has produced woolly horses, wooden nutmegs, and mermaids, but the artificially produced wonders have not borne ex- amination, as the natural marvels of that great country will bear it, and it is quite refreshing to have a genuine wonder sent to us from across the Atlantic. Such a wonder I saw and heard a few days ago, when assisting at a private performance by Blind Tom. I have seen many wonderful people in my time, but I think I never saw a more extraordinary specimen of the genua homo than Blind Tom. He is a musical genius who appears to owe little or nothing to art. His appearance is certainly against him. After hearing him play the piano, and comparing his wondrous performance, I could not but call to mind the phrase inspired idiot." He is a negro lad, said to be 17 years of age; he is blind, and has a look which may fairly be called semi-idiotic. That he possesses any other talent but his marvellous powers of playing I cannot believe, but after hearing him play your mind gets into such a state of wonder and doubt that you know not what to think. He is not a musician in the artistic sense of the term; in fact, he appears to know nothing of music either as an art or a science; but his skill consists in ready imitation. Let a piece of music ever so difficult be played, Blind Tom will imitate it with as much fidelity as the Chinese made a set of saucers with the same crack in each as in that which had been sent to him as a pattern. And while he is playing, his vacant, idiotjp look dis- appears his countenance assumes an expression of enthusiasm, and you would never believe it was the same lad who a minute or two before was standing with an imbecile stolidity of countenance which im- mediately characterises him again when he has done his performance. It is too much to expect that this marvellous display of musical genius will raise the negro in public estimation, because when the question of mental superiority is started, Blind Tom's idiotic expression, and the absence of his talent in anything but music, comes into antagonism with his genius as a pianist; but, quite independently of nationality, this "inspired idiot" will, doubtless, become the rage. Some years ago, the Queen wrote a very kindly and sensible letter to the railway directors, urging on them the importance of all available precautions for the safety of railway travellers. I should like to hear that her Majesty has brought her influence to bear upon them in reference to a communication between pas- senger and guard. I see that in the royal train that is used for travelling to Balmoral, a system of com- munication has been adopted. Now when I read of the care and caution that are exercised whenever the Queen travels, I never begrudge an atom of it; but the thought naturally occurs, why should so much care be bestowed upon royalty, and so little upon us common folks ? If a means of communication is ad- visable in the royal train, why should it not be adopted in ordinary trains? Many accidents have occurred which might have been prevented by timely notice to the guard; and the murder of Mr. Brigga by Muller for instance, would not have taken place, perhaps, had the unfortunate man been able to communicate with the guard of the train. The whole subject demands more attention than it has lately received, and it railway companies do not voluntarily adopt some system of the kind, it would be well if Parlia- ment were to enforce it. The improvement of the dwellings of the labouring and artisan classes has, during the last few years, excited an amount of attention which is quite cheering, and it is encouraging to think that the interest felt in the subject doc* not slacken Whether the Public Health Bill and the Artisans Dwelling Improvement Bill pass this session or not, there is no doubt that the at- tention of Parliament will be devoted to this subject till some legislative action is taken in a right direction. Meanwhile private e £ t>T^ is being succeessfully car- ried on. Another block of buildings has been erected here, called Palmerston Buildings." I am sorry that this word buildings," has been adopted, because it at once marks out the residences as "model lodging- houses," and so naturally raises an objection to them. They would smell as sweet by any other name. The i defect of name, however, is more than counterbalanced by the admirable character of the new erection* It j consists of three blocks of houses, side by side, six I stories in height. This is just what we want in Lon- don. Our builders persist in covering a vast extent of ground with small houses, built for one family and to be occupied by two or three. These great block houses are on the other hand a collection of tenements, each adapted for its occupants and every improve- ment in building and fitting-up that can be given for the money is adopted. And it is astonishing what ean be done on this combination system. Seventy families are accommodated — not merely stowed away in these Palmerston Buildings; whereas, under the old system, only about seven families could obtain an inferior accommodation. This ad- dition to the comforts of the industrial classes of London has been made under the auspices of a joint-stock company, and that it will be a commercial success may be concluded from the unvarying success of similar experiments. This being the case, it is marvellous that builders do not profit by the hint. By adopting the system they would benefit the community and benefit themselves. r

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. In the House of Lords, on July 19, the Lord Chancellor in- troduced a DID upon the Treaties 01 Extradition, observing that the treaty with France had already expired, but the English and French Governments had consulted together, and agreed to extend the time for six months more, which would expire on the 4th of December next. The offences under the Extradition Aet were, he thought, much too limited, for they now only extended to mnrder, attempted murder, forgery and fraudulent bankruptcy. It was also to amend the law in this respect that he had Introduced the bill, which he now laid upon their lordships' table. The Earl of Clarendon thought it was of great importance that the new clamses should be passed, and he believed that they would work well. The Glebe Lands (Scotland) Bill and the Carriage and Deposit of Dangerous Goods Bill were each read a third time and passed. Their Lordships then adjourned. In the House of Commons, Mr. Mill put his long Btring of questions relating to the prosecution of the Jamaica officials, and The Chancellor of the Exchequer, In replying, strongly censured the form of the questions, and pointed out in them various inaccuracies and assumptions of guilt not warranted by the evidence taken before the Commission. The late Government having considered that evidence, had dismissed Mr. Eyre, and had directed the Admiralty and the Horse Guards to consider the propriety of inquiring further into the conduct of their officers. The Admiralty had decided not to make any further inquiry, and had approved the conduct of the Admiral, but the Horse Guards had not come to any decision. The present Government would not take any further steps unless they received fresh information. The House then went into committee on the Indian Budget, and Lord Cranborne brought forward the financial statement on the East Indian accounts. The Thames Navigation Bill passed through Committee. Mr. Gladstone, in withdrawing the four Bills relating to the representation of the people, said that, the question having now passed out of his bands, it was to the Govern- ment that the country must look in the first instance for a renewal of it. He did not blame the present Government for declining to give any pledge upon the subject, but he and his friends would be rejoiced if the Government should feel it in their power to deal with it in a satisfactory manner. While they would be ready to support any measure which they thought prudent and Just, they would deem it their duty to oppose a Bill which seemed to them to be reactionary or illusory, and they would wish their future conduct to be inferred from their past acts and language. The Bills were then withdrawn. The remaining orders were disposed tf, and the House ad- journed. In the House of Lords, on July 20, Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, in moving for papers, called atttention to the question of the Danubian Principalities, the history of which he reviewed down to the recent election and assumption of power by Prince Charles of act which he suggested had been instigated by the Prussian Court. Diverting to the more general topic of European affairs, Lord Stratford de Redcliffe commented upon the aggressive policy of Prussia, and invited the House to consider whether it was desirable that this couatry should permit a great Power to be struck out frtm the list of nations without some expression of opinion on our part. Lord Derby declined to follow Lord Stratford de Redcliffe over the whole range of European politics, and pointed out that the alternative to inactively witnessing the course of the present war was to Interfere actively, which he believed no party in the country was disposed to do. If the assistance or good offices of the Government should be needed to co- operate with France in restoring peace they would not be withheld, but until those good offices were sought it was not the province of the Government in any way to interfere. With respect to the papers moved for, he thought it would be more for the public advantage that their production should be deferred until the pending negotiations were brought to a close. Lord Russell approved the decision of the Government, and said that he saw no reason to object to the election of of Prince Charles to the hospodarshlp of the provinces.' The motion was then withdrawn. The Standards of Weights, Measures, and Coinage Bill, and the Crown Lands Bill were severally read a third time and passsd. The Postmaster-General Bill, the Piers and Harbour Orders Confirmation Bill, and the Extradition Treaties Act Amend- ment Bill were read a second time. Their Lordships then adjourned. In the House of Commons, Mr. Walpole, In reply to Mr. Ewart, announced that the Capital Punishment Bill would not be proceeded with this Session. Mr. Samuda, in calling attention to the small progress we had made of late years in building iron-clad men-of-war, read to the Heuse some Important Information as to tbe iron-clad navies of France, Russia, Italy, the United States, and other countries, showing that we were in a state of ine- quality and backwardness in this respect, which, he said, filled him with the greatert alarm. Sir J. Pakington admitted that Mr. Samuda had not over- stated our inferiority to other countries in respect of our iron-cJad fleet, as he showed by returns corresponding very closely with Mr. Samuda's. Though we had not made as much progress as could have been wished, he was not dis- posed to blame the late Government, on account of the novelty of the matter and the necessity of making careful experiments at every stage. Mr. T. G. Baring defended the late Board of Admiralty, asserting that they had left our seagoing iron navy in a position far superior, both in armament and defensive armour, to that of any other power. He entered into an ela- borate review of thenumerous experiments made during the laat six years to shew that, from) the constantly changing and advancing results which had been obtained, it would have been unwise for the Admiralty at any moment to order a large supply of ships or guns which would have been inade- quate to present requirements. He defended at length the course taken by the late Board on the turret ship question, and argued with regard to the whole matter that in pro- ceeding carefully and experimentally they had acted Judi- viously and with true economy. Sir J. Hay pointed out that, as foreign nations had now iron fleets on distant stations where our flag was only repre- sented by an useless wooden ship, it was necessary that we should set to work at once to retrieve our inferiority. He believed that we were on the point of solving the problem of a seagoing cupola ship, and the Board of Admiralty which supplied the navy with an aquedate force of these vessels would deserve the gratitude of the country. The subject was pursued by Mr. Laird and Sir M. Peto, who censured the dilatoriness of the late Board in adopting the turret system by Mr. Graves, who drew attention to the advantage of using machinery which consumed less fuel; by Lord J. Hay, who defended the late Board, and by Mr. Alder- man Lusk. Mr. Laing, in putting some questions to Lord Stanley as to the foreign polley of the Government, expressed his entire concurrence in the doctrine ef non-intervention as laid down by him at King's Lynn. It was not likely, he said, that we should go openly and kncwringly into an intervention but we might drift into it under the insidious guise of a media- tion. Without asking for a decided pledge not to mediate, he pressed the Government to {declare that they would not commit the country to an armed mediation, without calling Parliament together and laying the whole circumstances before it. Mr. Horsman, after some remarks as to the different degrees of sympathy felt in England for Prussia and Italy, expressed his concurrence with Lord Stanley's non-inter- vention views, but maintained at the same time that as we were a great Power, with great responsibilities, we ought to be able to co-operate everywhere to advance the cause of liberty and peace. He dsacussed the various rumours afloat as to the invitation of France to England to join in a mediation, and showed that the relations and the views of the two Powers in respect to Prussia and Italy were so di- vergent, England only desiring to see Germany united and powerful, and Italy free and independent, that there could be no Joint mediation unless the Emperor were prepared to bring his policy into harmony with ours. Mr. Horsman con- cluded by putting a string of questions to Lord Stanley as to the communications which had passed between France and England. Sir G. Bowyer made some caustic remarks on the present position of the French Emperor, and read from a speech of Prince Napoleon to prove that the war was one against Ca- tholicism and for the triumph of Democracy—the result of a conspiracy between France, Russia, and Italy. He trusted that the present Government would endeavour to remedy the mischief done by their predecessors, whose foreign policy he strongly denounced, and would discountenance the ex- clusion ef Austria from the German Confederation. Mr. Gladstone, having first vindicated with some warmth; in answer to Sir G. Bowyer's attack, the Italian policy of Lord Palmerston's Government, said that whatever the origin of the war might have been, we must now look at it as bearing upon the happiness and freedom of Europe, and consider how we could best use our Influence to promote those objects. In discussing our duty, he exhorted Lord Stanley not to forget that the cause of Italy was dear to the people of this country, and warned him that they would never forgive a policy which attacked her unity and inde- pendence. Turning to Germany, he maintained that for years past she had been a perpetual weakness to Europe and that often our Estimates had been increased by millions on account of what might happen to her. The struggles of Austria and Prussia for predominance had been an immense injury to Europe and to Germany, and the elevation of one Power to a position to wield the ln- fluence would be an unmixed advantage even to the loser. Her old position had been both in Germany and Italy any- thing but beneficial to Austria, and though he lamented the unprecedented attempt to Introduce a third party into the strife by ceding Venetia to France—which might prevent ih^°hmr,^y °? Th frien«y terms-the loss of pr,e8°nt> at leaat> Involve the logs of Trieste, would be a gain to Austria. Even if she were excluded from Germany, she had still a glorious task before her in the cultivation of that vast and fertUe tert torv and the civilization of those millions of subiecta whlah could still be left to her. suDjects which Lord Stanley, in the present state of affairs, excused him self from going into any detailed discussion of a situation which varied from day to day, but with regard to the armed intervention into which Mr. Lang seemed to dread we micht drift, he could conceive no stronger guarantee against it *h-n the language held the other day by Lord Derby and by him- self constantly, both in and out of office. He was not fond of giving advice to foreign Powers, though cases might arise in which the interference of a friendly and disinterested Power might be of service, but he assured the House that un to the present time the Government was entirely unpledged toany policy whatever. Speaking of the future policy of the Government, Lord Stanley said there never was a great European war in which England had less indirect interest. In conclusion, Lord Stanley said that, as far as was con- sistent with his duty, he should take care to keep the Honse cognizant of all that was done. After a few words from Mr. B. Cochrane, the subject ^Various orders were forwarded a stage, and the House ad- journed. In the House of Lords, on July 23, In reply to Lord Lyveden, Lord Malmesbury stated that the Secretary of State for India was considering the claims of Indian officers, who complained of grievances sustained by them from the amalgamation of the Indian with the Queen s Army, and that he hoped shortly to be able to state his views upon the subject. Lord Clanricarde, after referring to some remarks made by Lord Russell at the inauguration dinner of the Cobden Club, which induced him to put the question, inquired whether the Government had proposed any terms for an armistice between the belligerents on the Continent, or any preliminaries of peace. Lord Derby, In his turn, asked Lord Rus&ell whether he was correctly reported as having expressed surprise that the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs should have joined with the Emperor of the French in a proposition that must nave been offensive to the Italian people. said>thniRK?se11 ^{pitted the accuracy of the report and Stanley's w,ere based uP°n the belief that Lord TSS^?5S3TSAS IS.—" tions with the Fre^h G^el^ent" ^hlohth6 commu?I,ca" mediately upon the present Ministry assumin^m i stated that they acceded to the reauest v e' *2 instructing the British Ambassador* at Be*Un wid to oo-operate with the French t S?™ possible, to obtain an armistice and to ascertain if any terms of peace could be agreed upon. They had exoreased no opinion upon the mode in which the cessio.u or Venetia had been effected, and their sole desire WAS to assist, if possible, in preventlDifurther bloodshed. Thoarmisticewasnotagreed to, and the British Government had taken no further step, nor had thsy tendered any advice, nor proposed any terms. They bad, however, reeeutlytearnt that a five days' armistice had been agreed upon aud preliminaries of peace accepted. by Austria and Prussia, and more recently they had been infonned that Baron Ricasoll was willing on the part of Italy to accept the conditions proposed. Lord Russell repeated that his remarks on Saturday had reference only to Lord Stanley's statement in respect of an armistice, which he considered it was useless to ask for without some preliminaries of peace having been previously agreed upon. The conversation then ceased. Several Bills were advanced a stage, and their Lordships then adjourned. In the House of Commons, Lord Stanley, in answer to a question put by Mr. White, acknowledged to the fullest extent the friendly and honourable conduct of the United States' Government during the Fenian raids; but, in regard to submitting the Alabama clainM to arbitration, as the dis- cussion on those claims had been closed sometime ago, and had not been renewed since the present Government came into office, he declined beforehand to give any opinion on the subject. At the same time he informed the House that it was intended to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire Into the sufficiency of the Neutrality Laws. In answer to some observations from Mr.D. Griffith, Lord Stanley said that the Porte bad not yet recognised Prince Charles of Hohenzollern as Hospodar of the Princi- palities, though negotiations were going on which might have that effect, and repeated his explanation of Friday night. that the only part taken by England in the mediation between Austria and Prussia was to support an armistice as a matter of humanity. He confirmed the intelligence that an armistice for five days had been agreed to by Austria and Prussia, and would probably be accepted by Italy; adding that there was some reason to hope that it would be pro- longed, and the hostilities weuld not be renewed. After some explanations had been given by Lord Naas In answer to Mr. Maguire as to recent proceedings instituted in Ireland against the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, Mr. Bromley called attention to the defective operation of the Metropolitan Houseless Poor Act, and recommended a more stringent treatment, under the superintendence of the police, of the professional vagrants who are thereby at- tracted to the metropolis. Mr. Neate, Mr. Henley, and Colonel Hogg made some observations in reference to the vagrant poor in the country districts. Mr. Hardy, though he was too new in office to have in- formed himself on the subject thoroughly, was of opinion that the Act had answered the purpose of clearing the streets of homeless poor, and promised in the recess to consider how the vagrant Imposters could best be hindered from abusing it. General Peel moved the Supplementary Estimates, amounting to 245,0001" for converting Enfleldsinto breech- loaders, and took the opportunity of defending himself from Mr. Gladstone's charge of precipitancy brought against him in the early part of the evening. He pointed out that he was only acting on the decision of his predecessors, and that only half of this estimate was for eonversion. The En- field factory was to furnish 100,0000, which entailed a cost of 45,0002. beyond the sum already obtained by Lord Hartlngton for converting 40,000, and he had also entered into contracts with the trade for 50,000, tenders also having been invited for 50,000 more. The rest of the estimate was for the ammuni- tion—the cost of which was about ll. per 1,000 rounds dearer than the ordinary Enfield ammunition, and it would provide 200 rounds for each converted breech-loader. The votes were agreed to after a short discussion. Mr. Corry next moved the Education Vote—amounting to 694,5302., which is an increase of 1,4522. on the vote of last year. He mentioned that the principal items of the esti- mate were 431,6942. for annual grants to schools; 30,0002. for building and enlarging schools; 75,0002. for training-schools; and 78,6562. for the expenses of the Education-office; and gave many other interesting details relating to the vote, which, after a long discussion, was agreed to. The Railways (Ireland) Temporary Advances Bill was read a second time, after a short discussion. The remaining orders were disposed of, and the House then adjourned.

A BOLD CAPTAIN AND HIS GALLANT EXPLOITS The Italian papers are full of the singular exploits of a Savoyard, Captain de Leu, who commands a squadron of the Victor Emmanuel Lancersl and is de- scribed as an officer of remarkable dash and intrepidity —a reputation he certainly deserves if the stories told of him be true, and of which the following is the latest:— His squadron being the head of the advanced guard, he received orders from Cialdini to press forward in the di- rection of Padua until he found the enemy. He did not find them until he reached the very gates of that city, and there he found them in very considerable numbers. Instead of considering his mission fulfilled and retreating, he is re- lated to have ordered his trumpets to sound, and to have of considering his mission fulfilled and retreating, he is re- lated to have ordered his trumpets to sound, and to have audaciously entered the place, whereupon the Austrians, although six or eight times as numerous, doubtless thought the whole advanced guard of the 4th Corps was close upon his heels, and hurriedly evacuated the city, whose inhabi- tants could not make enough of the bold handful of Lancers. After a short time, De Leu then took four of his men, went down to the railway station, had a locomotive and one carriage got ready, and started in the direction of Vicenza. He went on and on without seeing Austrians, until at last he entered the Vicenza station, full of Imperial Royal troops. Had he had his squadron with hlm, he would perhaps have charged them, taking advantage of their astonishment at the unexpected sight of Italian uniforms, but, with four dis- mounted Lancers, he, of course, could do nothing. Un- willing, however, to return to Padua empty handed, he ordered the driver to take the engines to the head of a long train which he saw there all ready to start in another di- rection. This was smartly done, the train hooked on, and within half-an-hour the adventurous captain re-entered the Padua station with a quantity of Austrian tobacco worth something like half-a-mlllion francs. Thus is the story told, and if it be true and un- exaggerated it must be admitted that M. de Leu was more lucky than wise, and that the Austrians at Padua and Vicenza were easily frightened and out- witted.

WHERE THE FENIAN MONEY GOES! The Nation has published a letter from John Mitchel, who is still in Paris, which Head-Centre Stephens will not like to see, as it most undoubtedly must again cause some trouble- some disbeliever in that personage's honesty to demand of him an account of what he did with all the money he got to revolutionise Ireland with. Mr. Mitchel writes:- It is known that on coming to France in November last I was entrusted by the then-president and senate of the Fenian Brotherhood with a sum of money, under written instructions to transmit the same to Ireland from time to time, as Mr. Stephens should call for it, either by his own order or that of his authorised agents. Some safe arrangement for the remittance of funds had become necessary in consequence of the English go- vernment having previously seized and stopped consi- derable amounts, either on the persons of messengers whom they arrested or by opening letters in the post- office, for the English post-office, as the world knows, is not merely a machinery of espionage but a bureau of embezzlement also. Since my arrival in France other sums have come into my hands from the same quarter, and for the same purposes. Now, I read in American newspapers that atalate meeting of Fenians in Philadelphia, where Mr. Stephens was subjected to a kind of cross-examination as to his various proceed- ings, some one asked him, among other things, (What had become of John Mitchel's fifty thousand dollars?' —the most natural question in the world. I regret that Mr. Stephens should have answered it, as the newspaper report states he did, by bidding the ques- tioner 'not dare to mention John Mitchel's name,' and that he 'desired to be forgotten.' But an individual who has undertaken the charge of large sums of other people's money cannot with propriety desire to be for- gotten '—not just yet, until his account is passed. I have, thersfore, to inform the unknown questioner at Philadelphia, and all others concerned, that not only fifty thousand, but a fraction over seventy-five thou- sand dollars in gold, have passed through my hands since I came to Paris, all remitted by the Fenian Brotherhood in New York, and all safely transmitted to Mr. Stephens while he was still in Ireland, or handed to him personally in Paris for the whole of which I hold receipts, either of Mr. S. himself or of his duly authorised agents and messengers. It is satis- factory to be enabled to add that in no case were my remittances intercepted by the enemy's government, although there were spies upon all my movements, and although one bold effort was made to rob me of a large amount. That the funds thus transmitted by me to Ireland were there properly employed for the pur- poses of the patriotic organisation created by Mr. Stephens to destroy the British Government m my native country, I have no reason to doubt; but I have had no control over the expenditure of the money from the moment it left my hands.

If&ttllmiCMs Jittelltgcittt, HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL. DEATH OF A CLEVER DOCTOK.—The American papers record the death of Dr. Mussey, at the age of eighty-sixty. The Cincinnati Gazette says :— In 1830 he proved, what Sir Astley Cooper had said was impossible, that intra-capsular fractures could be united. He was the first person to tie both carotid arteries, and gained success on more than one occasion. He operated, with e jually happy result, in a case of that rare and frightful disease, hypertrophied tongue. In 1837 he removed the entire shoulder-blade and collar-bone of a patient who was suffering from osteo sarcoma, the first operation of the kind on record. The patient is still living. Out of forty-nine operations in lithotomy, only four were followed by the death of the subjects. He relieved strangulated hernia in thirty-two out of forty case?. FIRE AT A CIRCUS.—A fire broke out in the well-known Cirque de l'Imperatrice, Champs Elysees, Paris, at ten o'clock on Saturday, caused by an ex. plosion of gas. The Minister of the Interior, attended by his Secretary, arrived a quarter of an haur after the alarm was given. Several of the employes of the Circus were severely burnt, and instantly conveyed on stretchers to the Hospital Beaujou. Three horses were killed, and several got loose, and were only captured at the Rond Point of the Champs Elysees. The horse Jupiter," who performs such marvellous feats every night under the guidance of Loyal, had the sense to walk quietly into a courtyard in the Rue Jean Gonjou, where he was found standing, evidently waiting for his groom. The noise and smell of fire terrified six lion's cubs, who set up such fearful howls and became so unruly that they were transported to a salle in the English tavern close by where they could scarcely have proved pleasant company for those who had gone in to have a. pint of pale ale and enjoy a quiet half hour looking over the morning papers. The damage done is valued at 1,500Z.—30,000f. FIRE AT AN OIL RON IN PENNSYLVANIA.— Advices from New York give the following account of a great fire at an oil station :— There was a great fire on Bennehoff Run last night. During a thunderstorm the lightning struck the gaspipe In the Western Union Telegraph Well. The; are quickly communicated to the tank, which exploded, and the oil ran down the run, causing the flames to communicate with several other tanks, which In turn exploded, and caused one of the heaviest conflagrations the oil regions has ever ex- perienced. Between eighteen and twenty large producing wells were burnt up, including two or three large flowing wells. The oil was a foot deep as it ran down the run to Oil Creek. There were also between twenty and thirty derricks destroyed, the wells of which were in various stages of completion. UNCOMMON GOOD !—Mr. Frank Buckland writes in Land and Water for the benefit of those whom it may concern :— Having had some experience in horseflesh as human food, I would now like to tell it to my friends. Not long since an exceeding fine young horse was sent to the Zoological Gardens as food for the lions. The master of the horse in- sisted, for certain private reasons, that the animal sheuld be destroyed, which was done accordingly, though the horse was in perfect health. The next day my friend, Mr. Bartlett, resident superintendent of the gardens (with whom I had often talked over the subject of hippophagotomy), invited me to lunch two exceedingly fine hot steaks were placed on the table. "Now, Buckland," said he, "one of those steaks is horse and the other is rump steak, proper; I shall not tell you which is which, make your lunch of that which you think is best." Accordingly, 1 set to work upon that dish which I fancied from taste was the rump steak, and I thought I was right, for Mr. Bartlett also partook of the same dish. His daughters all the time were laughing at us both. I tried in vain to get a clue from them as to whether I was eating horse or beef; but It was no good, not a hint could I get, for whether I tried one dish or the other, my attempts to make a meal only produced shouts of merry laughter at my doubts and difficulties. However, luncheon over and the dish I had chosen being quite empty, I said, "Now, then, Bartlett, which have I eaten?" "You have made your lunch off horse," said he. "Uncommon good it is, too," 1 replied, though I confess, as far as the idea was concerned, I had much rather I had made my choice the other way. LUXURY OF RAILWAY TRAVELLING.—The direc- tors of the Chemin Fer d'Ouest announce that sleeping- carriages and saloon-carriages are provided along their lines for parties going a distance of not less than 120 miles. Each compartment of these sleeping carriages has two beds and two ordinary places in which four persons are permitted to travel on paying a fare and a half each. The compartments of the saloon carriages accommodate nine persons, and the fare is 40 per cent. more than the ordinary first class. Nothing less than an entire compartment is let to a single party. We also read that:— "Pullman's sleeping car, the Omaha, now being used in America, is 70 feet long, runs on 16 wheels, and on the in- side is 10 feet wide and ten feet high, affording cool, com- fortable, and clean couches for 64 persons. In the interior the wood-work is of artistically carved black walnut, and carpeted, the seats all covered with velvet, a cabinet organ in the centre of the car, fragrant bouquets suspended from the roof, lighted by night from six large lamps, and by day through damask-curtained windows; it certainly has more the appearance of an elegantly furnished parlour than the interior of a railroad car.' The proprietors of this line of sleeping cars are now building 20 more 01 them, at a cost of 20,000 dols. each." THE FOUR-LEAVED SHAMROCK !—A German journal recounts the following episode of one of the late battles:— A young soldier in the midst of the tumult of battle thought he saw on the grass a four-leaved shamrock grow- ing. As such a plant is rare and is considered to bring good luck, he" stooped to take it. At that very instant a cannon ball passed over his head so near that he must have been killed if he had not been bending down. The man so miraculously saved has sent the plant to which he owed his life to his betrothed at Kcenigsberg. A FATAL ACCIDENT AT PJFEFEERS-—The follow- ing are the particulars of a fatal accident to three English ladies in Switzerland from a correspon- dent — The last tourist season in Switzerland closed with a heavy list of ill-fated but intrepid travellers. This season opens no less ominously. On the 3rd of July three ladies, unac- companied by a gentleman, arrived at Ragatz by train. They were—Mrs. Delffs, wife of Professor Delffs, of Heidel- berg University; Miss Hollywood, of Bath Lodge, Bally- castle, Ireland r and her niece, Miss Walker, of the same place. They went to the Hotel Ragatz. where they dined, and ordered a carriage to take them to the baths of Pfeffers. They reached the baths in safety, and started on the return journey a little before six o'clock. They had got about a quarter of a mile on their way back when their pleasure trip came to its fatal termination. They were going at a trot down an incline where the road Is quite unprotected on the river side, when the horse seems to have taken fright, and made a sudden turn towards the precipice. The driver hftU and ww bait thrown frora the box 011. tiie road, and when he recovered himself he was horrified to find that the horse, carriage, and its occupants had been precipitated into the Tamina, a fall of fifty Jfeet. The river was swollen at the time to the depth of fonr orfive feet, and flowed so rapidly that at this.spot the strongest man touldscarcely keep his legs; so the unfortunate ladies were carried off in its resistless current and were never after- wards seen alive. There were few witnesses, of the melan- choly occurrence. A carriage followed at a difctance of about fifty yards. The coachman of thia seems to have been so overcome by terror as to be unable to render âny assistance. He says he did not see the ladies after the fall, but only heard their cries. He drove forward to Ragatz for help, which came, but too late. Miss Hollywood's body was first recovered, but life was extinct. Mrs. Delfts was found two days later; and Miss Walker's body was found by some children in the Rhone at Trubbach. REMARKABLE ESCAPE.—The following is an ex- tract of a letter received from Captain W. M'Culloch; of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's mail steamer Rangoon (from Bombay), dated Suez, July 11 On the morning of June 28, while steaming against astrong monsoon and high sea, a man was washed overboard from the bowsprit. The sea was too heavy to lower a boat without greatly endangering many other lives, besides the fact of its being night time. I consequently forbade lowering a boat, and manoeuvred the ship so as to drift as nearly down upon the man as I could Judge. For more than twenty minutes did the ship drift; perfect silence kept; men looking and listening intently; engines ready to go a head or astern should we hear any cry; when suddenly a faint cry was heard, and, under Providence, right in the way the ship was drifting. A few minutes • more he was alongside and on board, but quite exhausted. He said, afterwards, he had only floated, the sea being too heavy for swimming, and, as the ship apparently left him at first, he had given up all hopes. It certainly was one of the most Providential escsape from drowning ever known. A LITTLE GIRL's EMOTION.—The King and Queen of the Belgians have been paying a visit to Verviers, and as soon as they entered the waiting room of the station an interesting-looking little girl, dressed all in white, stepped forward, or rather was pushed forward by her mamma, and presented her Majesty with a very handsome bouquet. The Queen smiled graciously upon the youthful ambassador, and addresst d to her a few kindly observations. The little girl had to reply, but failing to find words, covered her face with her hands, and burst into tears. In vain her Majesty attempted to reassure her, the floodgates were opened, and their waters would not be checked. The tender solicitude which the Queen evinced, however, created a great impression upon the spectators, who expressed their appreciation of her kindness by loud shouts of Vive la Reine." PUBLIC FEELING IN ROME.—A letter from Rome, in speaking of the explosion of feeling there on hearing of the cession of Venetia, says :— There was an extraordinary excitement; men stopped each other in the street and embraced. Several hours passed in an indesrcibable anxiety as the intelligence was feared to be adeception—a manoeuvre of the enemies of Italy. When night arrived an immense crowd hastened to the printing omce of the Obiervatore Romano. Group?, not less numerous, besieged the shopswhere the journals were sold, but the semi-official Journal did not contain the news so 1m patiently expected. The national committee hastened to publish the article In- serted that same morning in the Moniteur. The evening was somewhat agitated. The cafes were full of people; pro- menaders abounded on the Corso, and it was remarked that more than one feminine toilet was distinguished by the assemblage of the Italian colours. The police, who feared a great manifestation, had given orders to repress it by force, and had put all its agents on foot. The French army took no part in these measures, and not one of the soldiers left the barracks, except the ordinary rounds, composed of three men without guns, guided by a gendarme. The people were calm and dignified, evidently obeying a word of order. If the fears of the police were real, they ought to have promptly vanished, and if there was an intrigue, it was foiled. The next day the journal reproduced the famous note of the Moniteur. The joy of the Romans was a little less lively than on the previous evening it had been modified by re- flection. ALARMING SPREAD OF THE STRIKES!—The Dundee Advertiser has a comical story about the in- mates of the Asylum at Murthly. The male inmates are employed in the garden, and to do odd jobs about the premises. Recently, however, one of their number found a newspaper giving an account of the Clyde strikes. He read the news to his fellows, and they at once decisively struck work, the efforts of the super- intendent were of no avail. At length Mr. M'Intosh, medical superintende nt, on hearing how matters stood went to the men and suggested that they should send him a deputation to address him on the subj ect. Imme- diately about half a dozen marched up to the doctor, stated their grievance at much length, and demanded more pay and shorter hours. The doctor said it was per- fectly true they had a great grievance of which to com- plain—provisions were high in price, and the hours of labour were by far too long in this warm weather, and then put his hand in his pocket and handed the depu- tation half-a-crown. This gave complete satisfaction; the deputation returned, informed their associates of their success, and the whole resumed work immedi- ately. Though it might be expected, the joke don't end here. The doctor happened to pass the men some hours later, when he was accosted by the man to whom he handed the half-crown. He took the doctor aside, and told him in confidence, They were a set of dis- agreeable chields, and were quarelin' and wranglin' wha shud keep the half-crown. There it's back to you, doctor, to keep it for us yoursel." HORRORS OF THE BATTLE-FIELD.—Accounts from Bohemia describe as one of the most heartrending sights imaginable the crowds of women, both of the highest and lowest classes, who, having rushed to the scenes of carnage from all parts of North and South Germany, are seen wandering over the battle fields, through lazarets and hospitals, looking for their fathers, husbands, brothers, and lovers. The terrible cries that every now and then strike the ear when one of these heartbroken creatures has suddenly discovered her dearest friend among a heap of slain, or dying on the battle-field, or even among the thousands of the sick, are said to shake even those most hardened against all forms and expressions of human misery. It is chiefly at Tumau, where the thousands of wounded of Sadowa at present are housed, and tended by the numerous sisters of mercy and Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, that these scenes occur. Many of the poor ladies have to return to their homes without finding those they sought, and the ordinary means of communication being very much interrupted, they often think them- selves lucky if they obtain a small seat on an ammu- nition waggon, or a vehicle filled with convalescent soldiers rejoining their corps. But they are every- where treated kindly and courteously.—Pall Mall Gazette. PERILOUS LEAP FROM A BALLOON.—The follow- ing is from a New York paper :— M. Auguste Buislay, a gymnast, went up In a balloon from Elm-park on Wednesday afternoon, and performed some very difficult feats upon a trapeze pendant therefrom. When six or seven thousand feet in the air he was overtaken by a rain-storm; the balloon became wet and heavy and began to descend. When over the Hudson river, and sixty feet in the air, the balloonist sprang from his air ship into the river, fearing to get entangled if both came down to- gether. He swam for the New York shore, and was finally picked up, when nearly exhausted, by a small boat which had put out for h's relief. He will repeat the experiment. A NEW WEAPON OF WAR AT WIMBLEDON.—A curious war-weapon has been exhibited at Wimbledon in the shape of a Volley gun"—an awful instrument of death and destruction, intended to throw with pre- cision a hundred and fifty rifle balla at one discharge to a distance of from one to two thousand yards The gun consists of a short thick copper barrel bored in parallel lines for the required number of shots, and mounted on a carriage similar to that of an ordinary field-piece. It is loaded at the breech, which is moved by a powerful two-handed lever screw and epene down- wards, the charges being then inserted by means of an ingenious modification of the machine used in filling in the detonating powder in the manufacture of percussion caps. The working of this formidable monster re- quires only five men. WAR'S SAD HORRORS!—A Berlin correspondent writes:— Last week a man was hung at Trautenau, for cutting out the eyes of some Prussian wounded, while lying helpless on the battle-field. After the battle of Koniggratz a place was discovered in the woods where Austrian wounded had been attended to by their surgeons while the contest was raging in front When the flight became general the medical staff likewise decamped, leaving the sufferers, who were not dis- covered till two days after their cruel abandonment. They were 1,135 in number, of whom the greater part were dead when found by the Prussians. Almost as heartless a case is now omcially reported from Leitomlschel. There 130 wounded had been left In a hospital without medical or other attendance by the retreating Austrians. It was not till three days after their desertion that the Prussians reached the place, and were able to afford them surgical aid. BLIND TOM," A MUSICAL PRODIGY.—A musical wonder has just arrived in England from America, in the person of a blind negro, whose power of playing the piano "by ear" is as remarkable as his appear- ance is odd and amusing. He not only performs solos with a full command of all the dexterity which distin- guishes pianoforte soloists, but is able to play from memory, after once hearing it, any piece of music, no matter how elaborate, performed before him for the first time by an accomplished"player. He can play two distinct tunes at one time—one with each hand— and sing another tune simultaneously, and can per- form other clever musical feats which would puzzle the best trained musicians. His manners are eccentric, and he applauds himself even more loudly and delight- edly than the audience applaud him. Taken altogether, his performance is a musical curiosity, and fully justifies the account given of him about four years ago in All the Year Round. POOR FELLOWS !—The Germans have a saying, expressive of contempt of any one's mental capacity, that he did not invent gunpowder." The poor lock. smiths referred to in the ensuing paragraph, must often have devoutly wished that they had never had the wit to invent the cartridge for the needle gun :— It Is not generally known that the success of the Aunanaaelgewehr, or needle-gun, is declared by its inven- tors to lie In the manufacture of its cartridge, the composi- tion of which has never yet been discovered. The gun itself can, if it be wished, be imitated exactly, but the component parts of the cartridge, and the way in which they are com- mingled, is yet a secret. It is said that the two men who some twenty years ago hit upon this discovery, and who were common locksmiths (schlosser), have been ever since, and are to the present day, virtually prisoners of the Prussian Government. They live at Spandau; they have plenty of money, and express no wish without Its being immediately gratified. They go about and occasionally travel in Germany, but they never move day or night without being accompanied by two staff officers. Such is the story that is going the round of the press" now. A FANCY DRESS !—Ladies have done something to disgust men by their ill-judged love of eccentric dress (says the Court Journal), but it was reserved to the present week to cap that displeasure in consequence of the sanguinary turn of ideas imparted by ladies to their wardrobes. For instance, a lady appeared the other night at the concert in the Champs Elysees Paris, in a black and white muslin dress (the Prussian colours), embroidered all over with needle-guns and with Prussian soldiers mowing down Austrians with the murderous weapon, and the little cockade which now serves as a substitute for a bonnet was trimmAd with steel aiguillettes of the needle-gun pattern RESULTS OF WAR.—A learned German M Haussener, has just published some statistics 'from which we extract the following" The wars 5%ehbeoefn2W762^r0m 1815f t0 1864 have caused the death of 2,762,000 men, of whom 2 148 000 were J 614>000 from other quarters of the globe, whicb gives an average of 43,800 per annum. These figures do not include the deaths caused by epi- reffljlting from war. The most sanguinary hostilities of that period are theseThe Eastern war of 1856, in which 508,600 men fell, in the following proportions t-256,000 ftwwians, 98,000 Turk*, WT,QQ0 French, 45,000 English, and 2,600 Italians. In the t Caucasus (1829-60) 330,000 men lost their lives. The revolt in India (1857-59) cost 196,000 lives. The Russo- Turkish war (1820-29) 193,000. The Polish insurrection (1831) 190,000. The whole of the French campaigns in Africa (1830-59) 146,000. The Hungarian insurrec- tion 142,000. The Italian war 129,870, of whom 96,874 died on the field or from their wounds; and 33,000 from various diseases. The total number of lives lost iu Europe during the wars from 1702 to 1815 amounted to 5,530,000, which gives for the twenty- three years an average of 240,434 deaths per year." WAR IN .ABYSSINIA.—Cairo papers, under date of July 7, say :— A tremendous battle Is imminent between the King Jneodore II. and Gubassie, who aspires to the crown, and has risen In opposition to the despotism of Theodore. Yahro- Meama, the General of Gubassie, has placed the province of ligre under contributions of men, horses, animals of all kinds, provisions, and money. Both parties are making great pre- parations for war. According to the statements of the Abyssinians, there will be not less than 150,000 combatants upon the field of battle. Consul Cameron and all the other European prisoners whom the newspapers had stated to have been released are still in the King's power at Pabretabor. This news is so bad that we should wish it to be contradicted, but the source whence we have received it is one which renders it quite deserving of credence. THE FETTERS OF TRAVEL.—We met an acquaint- ance one day in an out-of-the-way village in Switzer- land, wearing a gouty shoe, and passing his time on a. ju-ri j .s *luarters, looking at sky, and lake, and hill, and seeing them—a very unusual feat. We were told he had gout, but condolences only elicited a wink, and the remark, "A gouty man needn't travel, you see, so I brought this shoe with me." He was at rest with his gout, for he was enjoying what he really enjoyed, and nobody else in the inn or at home could set him down as a person without enterprise or sense of a traveller s duty. We have ourselves known a lady as innocent of caring for pictures as if she had been born blind go out of a gallery weary to fainting, and go back through it again because a friend asked her if she had seen that celebrated little Raphael She did not want to see the Raphael, would have believed, if she had been told that it was painted by President Grant, and was not affecting connoisseurship, but to go away and not see the gem was a dereliction of duty. So she went back, and came out as comforted as a Sister of Mercy by a long night's watching.— Spectator. THOSE PRINTERS AGAIN!—Printers, as every- body knows, make the most ludicrous blunders every now and then, but rarely have we seen the following excelled in any sense. During the cross-examination of a witness before the committee of the House of Lords new sitting on the Manchester central station and lines Bill, the following colloquy is reported to have taken place :— Mr. West: Have the Corporation of Manchester ever before opposed the preamble of any bill of yours ? Mr. Underdown Not in my recollection. Mr. West: Over what period does that extend ? Mr. Underdown: About ten or twelve acres. The London correspondent of a Sheffield paper writes:— By the way, there was a misprint in my last letter which deserves a plaea in the history of curious errors of the press. *her hujbaud joined his regiment the Prin- cess Mary would be sola but your printers made me declare that she would be sold, a barbarity which must have moved susceptible readers to tears-if they believed it. PEAT AS STEAM FUEL.—A practical trial for ascertaining the value of peat as fuel for locomotives has been made in the United States, on the Newhaven, Hartford, and Springfield Railroad. The peat fuel 6 company's own manufacture. The train, which consisted of a locomotive and one passenger car, made the run of twenty-six miles in forty minutes, including one stoppage. The whole distance and re- turn, consumed but about 12 cwt. of peat. In the generation of steam it far exceeded either wood or coal, and even while running at the greatest speed, so rapidly did it gain, that the furnace door had to be thrown open. The last six miles of the return trip was made without using a particle of fuel. One great consideration is the entire absence of smoke or cinders, the whole substance burning to ashes. The engine, on its return, was apparently as free from cinders as when it nrst started. The trip was conceded to be a perfect success in all respects—in fact, more J ,an realising the anticipations of its most earnest friends. The peat used was obtained from the com- pany s beds on the line of the road, and, in view of the recent successful trial, has demonstrated the fact that it will supersede both wood and coal for general use. FRATRICIDAL WAR."—The following obituary announcement appears in the New Gazette of Hanover, signed by Madame Heinichen:— My youngest son, Hermann Heinichen, captain in the 3rd Regiment of Hanoverian Infantry, died the death of a hero at Langensalza on the 27th of June; and my second son, Charles Heinichen, Lieutenant-Colonel of Dragoons in the Prussian army, was killed by a ball at the head of his regi- ment in a cavalry encounter.

EPITOME OF NEWS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN. Sir J. Emerson Tennent draws public attention to the fact that in soldiers' families the births of male children exceed those of females in the proportion of nearly two to one. The American Government has provided 6,075 artificlallimbs for soldiers, at a cost of 357,628 dollars. Prince Teck had an interview with the Emperor of Austria, and tendered his services The offer was graciously received, but declined under the circumstances of the recent marriage, and the Prince and Princess have returned to London. The Southampton papers record the death in that town of Dr. Oke, a physician, at the age of eighty-one years. He practised nearly forty years in Southampton. He was a skilful physician, and very kind to the poor. The tax upon dogs or upon dogs' friends for keeping them, is returned in the financial accounts for the year end- ing with March, 1866, as amounting in Great Britain to 219,3132., an increase of 8,984J. over the previous year. The Salut Public of Lyons states that a service of public vehicles drawn by locomotives, to run between that city and Cremieux, has just been authorised by the Minister of Public Works. At the recent Bristol Assizes, Mr. Justice Byles said, The first duty a man owed to himself was to avoid the door of an attorney as he would the grave." A new feature in the journalism of Paris is that neither the morning nor the evening Moniteur now has a stamp. The other papers are by no means pleased with the partial exemption. The mont de piete of Vienna is unable to advance more than five florins on any article, be it what it may, from a koh-i-noor downwards. Beer-drinking is rapidly increasing in France. A great deal of the beer drunk is from Burton. An English nobleman, with his wife, family, and servants, are about to travel all over France in a canal boat which has been fitted up mest comfortably with every luxury and creature comfort. She will go to Paris and anchor opposite the Tuileries for a week. Mr. Howard, of Temple Bruer, Lincolnshire, has just sold a chestnut mare, allowed by many judges to be one of the best that ever left England, to Colonel Castellengo, for King Victor Emmanuel, at a long figure. It is to be hoped his Majesty can ride him. His seat—not politically speak- ing—is not a firm one. A Frenchman, Dr. Blanchet, claims to have dis- covered a very pleasant remedy for the restoration of the sight in cases of blindness from cataract, amaurosis, injury to the cornea, or staphyloma. The good-natured doctor's operation is boring a hole into the centre of the eyeball— about as jelly to imagine as the clown's operation of run- ning a centre-bit through the sedan chair and his friend's pantaloon at the same time. The spiritualists in New York have met with a great exposure. Miss Ella Van Wil (the Child of God) gave a seance on the 1st of July, in Broadway. The medium fainted away in the cabinet, while bound, and the spirits failed to come to her relief. The audience became indignant. The master of the ceremonies had his hat broken over his head, and was taken into custody, for practising a fraud on the public. The Americans have "realised" in advance their population for 1870. We do not know how it is done, but- see It is very accurately stated or discounted as just 40,569,365. The latest bon mot about Bismarck is that his fate depended not upon a thread, but upon a needle. There will be about 100Z. prize money for each private soldier entitled to a share of the Banda and Kirwee money lot is said that the Parliamentary contest respecting th n(tw line ef rail to Brighton has not cost less than r,(J (i 1 two companies. The Lancet contradicts the statement which has beeh going the rouud of the papers, that the late Dr. Warder, W Brighton, was one of the witnesses for the defence in Palmer's trial. He never made toxicology a study at all, and he took no part whatever in the Palmer trial, which occurred some years alter he had ceased to lecture. So far from his having defended Palmer, he went with the stream strongly for the prosecution, but he did not appear on either side. The Spectator says that upon no power will the blow fall so heavily as on the Papacy, which lost at Sadowa in- finitively more than it has forfeited during the last six disas- trous years, for it lost the chance of regaining all. Had Austria won the game, and an Austrian army been billeted in Berlin. Rome would hardly have been evacuated within this generation, and Umbria and the Marches might have been replaced under the priestly sway its subjects so bitterly detest. The Dieppe regatta, which was to have taken place on the 12th August, has been postponed until the 2nd Sep- tember, as the former day has been fixed for the benediction of the bells of one of the churches. The London Gazette announces that the Queen, as Sovereign of the Order of the Garter, has been pleased by letters patent under her Royal sign manual and the great seal of the order, to dispense with all the statutes and regu. lations usually observed in regard to installation, and to grant to His Royal Highness Prince Frederick Christian Charles Augustus of Sleswick-Holstein Sonderburg-Au- gustenburg, knight of the said most noble order, and in- vested with the ensigns thereof, full power and authority to exercise all rights and privileges belonging to a knight com- panion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, in as full and ample a manner as if he had been formally Installed anv decree, rule, or usage to the contrary notwithstanding: tendance there was also' an advance of fi fnTW" average daily attendance is now 321 209- ami th on their rolls 598,408. They have in ™ thf. »">mb«r five new school-houses and thJ* i f erection forty- (^372. their total number of schools is high^reDutfttlfiifnn™ I08"1? something of its man has been disecrvrcrcd that for one woundpJ pi" ha",a d02e° that get struck are only AMFRINJ?' NJT *?rown Bess, according to the military correspondent of The Times, did better than this, aad-when she did it killed one for every five that A16 I a °ther hand; the eight-pounders used ny tne Austrian artillery are beginning to be spoken of with a contempt which they no doubt deserve. Who cares for an eight-pound ball?"a professor of the destructive art asked the other day, with a look of the most bitter scorn, as though such a missile, but for its want of elasticity would be about the proper thing for cricket. If it kills oneman, he continued, that is the most that can be expected from it." And in the opinion of the man killed it would, no doubt, be enough. A terrible scene was presented in London on Sunday 1D0rniHg, at the shop of a small draper, whose premises wrere accidentally burnt down, and the inhabitants nar- rowly escaped being burnt in their beds. The police on luty were first made aware of the disaster by the screams )f four persons in their night-dresses on the roof, the flames tt that time pouring out of the window and through the ;rap-door by which they had reached the tiles. A fifth, one )f the shop-women, was following when the fire suddenly Surst through the aperture with such violence that those who were helping her up were compelled to let go their lold, upon which she fell back and was burnt to death. rhe others (who also were much injured by fire) escaped CTM ft tuftt-yrtU to ttw next boose, and .vo4. Among the many curiosities of the Paris Exhibition, which will take place rext year, will be a piano-violin. Attached to a piano of the ordinary kind will be a box con- taining a violin, and from some admirable mechanical arrangement, when the keys are touched the violin will discourse excellent music. It is an American invention. It is computed that 706.621 persons enter London every day hy rail and steambout. More than 1,500,000 human beings derive their sole support from the culture and manufacture of the fibres spun by the silkworm. It is stated that the rag trade of New York supports 10,000 persons, and that the aggregate value of the business amounts to about 1,000,000?. annually. The consumption of petroleum in Europe, in 1864, was 30,000,080 gallons, against 16,000,000 in 1862; the probable consumption in 1866 is estimated at 90,000,<;00 gallons.. > The receipt, draft, and other penny stamps, pro- duced 531,323J. in the financial year ending with March, 1866, an increase of more than 31,0002. over the product in the previous year. The population of the eight principal cities in the kingdom of Italy at the beginning of this year is thus stated in a recent official documentNaples, 417,065; Turin, 204,715; Milan, 196,109; Palermo, 194,463; Genoa, 137,986; Florence, 114,363 Bologna, 109,395; Messina, 103,324. A meteorologist, Mr. Symons, states that more rain had fallen during 1866 up to June 30th than fell during the whole of 1864. It appears from a recent return that the total number of ejectments in Ireland for the last six years was 3,129 in the superior courts, giving an average of 521 a year. In the county and borough courts the aggregate numbers were-fot non-payment, 22,910; and for overholding, 11,125; the yearly average being 5,672. At Derby assizes, the other day, Mr. Justice Mellor remarked that it had always been his opinion that calling many witnesses to prove one fact was like adding a large quantity of water to a small quantity of brandy—it made it weak. A New York paper states that upwards of 15,000 persons left the United States and Canada for Europe, be- tween May 1 and June 15, in the principal steamers and sailing ships that crossed the Atlantic eastward. The Morning Star notes that although the new Go- vernment has been in power only a fortnight, it has already increased the expenditure by close upon half a million. Of this a goodly proportion is for breech-loaders and a turret ship. The heat was so great in Washington on the 25th June, that the majority of the members of the Legiala' ui e were overcome with sleep, and had it out in their ibiit sleeves. Count de Flahault, the Chancellor of the Legion of Honour, has proposed to the Emperor the creation of a new order to be conferred exclusively upon women, as a recom- pense for striking acts of courage and charity. It is to be called the "Order of Eugenie." In New York there are 304 churches, viz.: Episco- palians, 60; Presbyterians, 66 Methodists, 38; Catholics, 32; Baptists, 29; Jews, 24; Dutch Reformed, 22; Lutherans, 9; Universalists, 6; Congregationallsts, 4; Friends and Uni- tarians, a each Miscellaneous, 22. At the Paris Universal Exhibition next year 32,0001. will be given in prizes, awarded by international juries; of this sum 4,000J. is appropriated to the arts section, in seven- teen grand prizes of SOl. e?ch, thirty-two first prizes of 32Z. each, forty-four second prizes of 201. each, and forty-six third prizes of 101. each. The distribution will take place on the 1st of July next On Saturday morning a painful sensation was caused iu Manchester by the announcement that Mr. Harrison Blair, a well-known solicitor, had committed suicide by shooting himself through the head. The deceased gentle- man had become connected with some ironworks and it is rumoured that losses connected with these had given him much uneasiness of mind. The Wimbledon meeting concluded on Saturday, the 2lst. About fifty of the principal prizes had been reserved for distribution on this occasion, and the winners had the ad- ditional gratification of receiving them from the hands of her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales. This interest- ing ceremony was followed by the annual review and a sham fight. The weather was beautifully fine, and everything passed off most satisfactorily. In an Auckland (New Zealand) paper, a girl advertises for a situation to take charge of a laundry or dairy. She can cook, and understands housekeeping; and adds, None but a respectable mistress, who wishes to leave her servant in uninterrupted discharge of her duties, need ap- ply." What a competition there must be among the mis- tresses for the model servant! Crinoline is undergoing modification and to keep it In fashion there are numerous varieties-the jewelled, striped, Parisienne, Pompadour, Piccadilly, puffed, ondina, sans- flectum, all of which we can more readily imagine than de- scribe but a law (fashionable) is also laid down as regards dimensions, as we find a lady 5 feet 8 inches high requires 41 inches long and a 31 yards circle a lady 5 feet 6 inches high diminishes her circle 4J inches, and so on, till the lady 6 feet high requires a circle of 2i yards. One of the results of the fratricidal war in Germany will be that there will be a great emigration to America, if the parental government of Bismark will let the poor people escape from his clutches, for a permit to emigrate has now to be obtained. In other parts of Germany the like emigration will take place. Nine thousand Bohemians, persons of education and wealth, have determined to settle in America. A Cobden Club," after the fashion of the Pitt and Fox Clubs of the last generation, has been founded in London by the political friends and admirers of the late anti-corn law agitator to perpetuate his memory. The first dinner took place on Saturday evening, under the presidency of Mr. Gladstone, at the Star and Garter," Richmond. About 150 gentlemen, principally members of Parliament, were present, and the principal speakers were the chairman, Earl Russell, and Mr. Stuart Mill. Inspired by a. deep compassion for the sufferings- which the war raging on the continent has entailed upon thousands, a great many ladies, (amongst whose names stand first the Countess of Shaftesbury,) disclaiming all expression of political opinion, have associated for the purpose of so- liciting aid for the sick and wounded and prisoners on all sides in Germany and Italy. At the Nottingham assizes, on Saturday, before Mr. Justice Mellor, Jane Revill (18), domestic servant, charged with the murder of her child, eight months old, at Nottingham, on the 16th April last, was found guilty, and was sentenced to death. The jury recommended her to mercy. The prisoner wept bitterly whilst the sentence was being passed. Among the recent "inventions" in France which have been brought to light by the recent discussion on the needle-gun, is one which fires twenty balls a minute, and has a musical box in the butt, thus doing away with the necessity of regimental bands. Toilet receptions" are the latest idea in New York fashionable society. Hairdressing has become such a fashion- able affair, and occupies so much time, that belles nov receive their callers while under the hand of the maids. At present their intimates only are admitted, but the sex is not limited, and gentlemen are also received oy madame in the most charming and combing toilets, with the sweetest of smiles and the prettiest of apologies for the situation. At Eriarstown, a few days ago, some workmen turned up, out of a trench, an old horn, containing a num- ber of ancient coins. The only one described in the local paper is an English silver coin of Henry VII., very well preserved, of about the diameter of a modern florin, but not thicker than a threepenny piece. On the obverse Is. "Henry VII, Di gra. Rex. Ang. z. h.with a profile of the King's head, surmounted by an arched crown. On the re- verse :—"Posvi Dev. adntorem mevm," with the escutcheon of England in the centre. The French papers make merry at the false delicacy of the British mind. Some member of Parliament asked Lord John Manners the other night whether he was going to make decent arrangements for public bathing in the environs of London, and Lord John is reported to have replied that he should prefer discussing the subject with the hon. mem- ber in private." The French journalist assumes that his lordship considered the subject "shoking and well observes that the English, who are so prudish in theory, are never- theless, the only nation which persists in the indecent prac- tice of bathing stark naked. At the Clonmel Assizes, John Buckley, a discharged soldier, was convicted of the murder ef Mr. Lorenzo Jephson, on the 31st of March last. The prisoner had been an inmate of the Carrlck-on-Suir workhouse, and entertained an animosity against Mr. Jephson, who was chairman of the union, in consequence of some disparaging remarks which that gentleman made with respect to him when he applied for relief. On the 31st of March he was discharged from the house at his own request. He loitered about the premises until he saw Mr. Jephson, whom he struck on the head with a large stone, fracturing his skull. The prisoner was sen- tenced to death. A curious case has occurred in one of the carriages of the Great Northern Railway, where they have just fixed up a communication with a guard, which cannot, however, be used without breaking the glass. It appears that a stiff- backed spinster of mature years and thin hair, was alone in a carriage with a gentleman noted for his excessive timidity with regard to the fair sex, and the gentleman ob- serving the lady fix her eyes sternly upon him became so agitated that he rushed to the alarm at the same moment and from a like impulse the lady did the same; this naturally broke the glass and sounded the alarm. When the guard came th e lady said, "This gentleman-" The timid man exclaimed, "No, this lady-" [We drop the curtain on the explanation that ensued.] It has been suggested by a gentleman on the Paris Bourse that the following should be the text of the cession of Venetia to Italy:— months after date I promise to pay Napoleon III. or order the sum (and substsnce) of my care and solicitude for some time past- Venetia-value received in powder, shot, and 'lickings' from Prussia and Italy as advised.—FRANCIS JOSEPH." He presumes it will be endorsed thus :—E pel me al Be d'ltalia valuta in cessione di (or eontante as the case may be).—NAPOLEON." It is said that a French restaurateur is going over to London to establish a house for the sale of horse meat which is becoming such fashionable food in Paris. Poor man, he will find himself forestalled when he sees the delicious little bits of meat on a skewer which are retailed in London (cat's meat), and of which a Frenchman In hia celebrated work on London has already spoken, saying that he saw for himself, as regards taste, no superiority in English beef over French beef, the only difference being the convenience in England of having beef brought round dally on a skewer to one's own house! In a letter to HtrepaiKs Journal, Mr. Remington C.E., describes his plan for carrying a tunnel from England to France. His route under the sea is from Dungenesa straight across to Cape Grisnez, which is about midway be- w? 0gne' a hea'er the latter than Twi.. reasons for adopting this rout in preference 1 °?if ?PPears to Herapath to have great force, fw- > i at a tunnel Is to be carried, Mr. Rem- ington's seems the best plan. A few evenings since a man stopped close to a trea in the Avenue Montpensier, Paris, and was coolly making preparations to hang himself, when he was perceived by a sentinel on duty, who told him to leave the place at once. in a very unconcerned manner the man told the sentry not to be angry, and that he would go and perform the opera- tion elsewhere, and then walked away. The next morning a man, supposed to be the same, was found hanging to a tree on the other side of the ditch of the Fort-Neuf. The proceedings of the Archaeological Congress during the past week have presented an uninterrupted series of attractions, which culminated in the visits to the Tower on Friday and to Windsor Castle and Eton on Saturday. The papers read in the various sections have possessed more than even their customary amount of originality and instvue- tiveness. Not the least valuable result from this important meeting will be the greater value which the public will be dfsposed to set upon our national historic monuments when they see the most learned antiquaries in. the land regard them, not as mere common shows, but as the fitting obiects of study. • a J The court-martial at Portsmouth upon the captain and officers of Her Majesty's ship Amazon was concluded on Saturday. Commander Hunter was honourably acquitted, and the President returned him his sword in the most com- plimentary manner. The Court ascribed the collision to a grave error of judgment on the part of the officer of the watch, in having the helm put to starboard and not to port, according to the regulations, and sentenced that officer to be dismissed the service, at the same time recommending tlim to mercy. The exertions of the oflicers and crew of the Amazon to save life after the colliaon were the subject of warm panegyric on the part of the court. One of those shocking domestic tragedies which un- fortunately have not occurred unfreauentiv of tnnk place on Saturday in London. About^eveno clockinthe Vf! £ K™°.r»wn!'°w £ t •o look for thfSclousn,ess- A,ter 8 while tbe lodgers wlnfi ;hem dead in ths°blT an(Jiwere horrifted to find vuc j mine bed, concealed under the rinthoa Th^v '"n «s"> iAZ, («»J ip readv toh« ^fff^ ca™fu"y \aid out and their jaws tied nan li ft coffined. The husband of the wretched wo- he ls renorWi' Dg Tn' by trade a baker; and i reP°rted also to have been well-behaved *nd in« twtelws, and toiu* ofeiaSa.