The Aberdare Times

OBPlERIAL PARLIAMENT. "tove?! 5?^,op f°EM' May 1,1«rd Balfour ot Burleigh y°nld lu*J°n J? favour of making such provision as fn»tfc House, If it should think fit) to adjourn Proceedings upon any BUI which should have ^onof^Paritament HOUle until thenexfc BUCCeedinK o Parliament. ^anvilu"1 of Redesdale opposed the motion, and Earl •grated byritoB^dopation!Ubt whether baaine8g wouW *°nld ot S^bury di<* a°t think the proposal The M. „ Wlttl eHher party In the other House, e motion was then withdrawn. jQ Iordships rosQ ti a quarter past six o'clock. 5kfc.c!r<™«1fKE«?v ^0mm0H8, in answer to a question from ^anceU°rof the Exchequer said that he had snwftaJ? ma^e » change in the Budget BUI, whereby •he cou' public officials for the present income- ,» "Ors would only take place as vacancies occurred. THE PARCELS POST. 'Jouirt* ^*cartney asked the Postmaster-General whether be Wtg the prohibition to the contractors for mail to oars to be employed by the parcels post with regard tot m. r Jwrylng parcels under the Weight of seven pounds so far as to admit of private arrangements made by the proprietors of newspapers for the carriage w" Parcels of newspapers as heretofore, .•tmaster-General said—With the view of prevent- jj^oyinterferenoe with the cheap and early circulation of ^■Papersin rural districts I have, after giving the subject s^J^aconsiaeration, decided to allow contractors for mail cars to continue, as at present, to enter into private PttoeKr01?1*8 newspaper proprietors for the carriage of %S(>0'1 newspapers, but on the understanding that the °* newspapers in no way interferes with either the or parcel postal service. (Hear, hear.) 4*JBriii2F0^?r'iney Will the right hon. gentleman say, if ? 6n he ejects the new parcels post to come into inia^j Postmaster-Oentiral: It has been decided that the the P08* "hall come Into operation on Wednesday, tfiij A circular will be issued to the pubUc ticni. *s to the dimensions of parcels and other par- "■- (Bear, hear.) THE GENERAL POST OFFICE. Ixjr)' Bltchle asked the Postmaster-General whether it was Jw £ °*ed to enlarge the accommodation of the Telegraph *h«»»2?ent of the Geneaal Post Office by adding a story to *torSoe,lt building what height from the ground the new Woald he how many persons would be located in the It when completed; and what precautions against Are *"W proposed to take. the «^,RWC?tt said in reply: I may state that the height of abov«!«r t*16 new story in the Telegraph Department Ion. ° j.. Pavement is 76ft. The maximum number of per- (wjBiployed in the entire building is about 2,500. Of AW?' *5e whole number are not employed at one time. 800 are employed at night. The building is flre- **re« V.*0,? every precaution is taken against fire by having QoqL *^2** on the top of the building and hydrants on each thatV^H^eaMof exit are so good that it is considered U»v„ whole staff at the busiest time in the day could « We building in ten minutes. (Hear, hear.) to a further question from Mr. Ritchie, Mr. 2,oon?*' "toted that to the best of his belief, no more than tlqjp Persons were ever employed in the building at the same THE DEPARTMENT FOR AGRICULTURE. wifSi J. Howard asked the First Lord of the Treasury *oniH the Department for Agriculture about to be created cattu branches for dealing with the questions of and «, agricultural education, agricultural statistics, •fid investigation of special subjects which might arise; •Bent • 'n ^r to insure the efficiency of the depart- chofciL Permanent officials or any of them would be for their special knowledge of agricultural and rural .l! Gladstone, In reply, said Sir, this question does not °f a specific answer in detail, because we have to feel as to particulars, ana especially in regard to the J>Ij™culw qualifications which may be required fer any tjr?°na who an to discharge the business under the direc- ,?* of my rjght hon. friend; but, speaking generally, I from that undoubtedly he, in his office, will take over ™e Privy Council, as now constituted, questions of disease, questions of agricultural statistics, and like- "WcSf of special subjects. With regard to ^hleh education, that is a matter of consideration on J. can give no positive answer at present. questions were addressed to Sir William Harcourt ft0T-~ord Hartington in reference te the action taken by the Hth^yent to carry out the resolution of the House re- the Contagions Diseases Acts, and ultimately Mr. obtained leave under the condition of the Standing can m°ve the adjournment of the House, in order to a^^ention to it as a matter of urgent publie import- to h«i»w *r^ 200 members on the Opposition side rose up his request, and In the course of his re- the xi.JB6 Protested strongly against the withdrawal of Acta•gopolitan Police engaged in the administration of the t. ^c opinion in the towns affected, as he showed by t»*outa5taiD8 *Dd letters he had received, was strongly in °f the Acts, and looked forward with apprehension to must follow. ^frthigton, in the course of his reply, maintained tb Gotbe Acts were only permissive and not obligatory on "MOTemment. and after the carrying of Mr. StansMd's Do* which was a plain warning thai the House would otho«^™e the money required, the Government had no open to it. witodrawn'hy discussion, the motion for adjournment thdrawn. THE NAVY ESTIMATES. jg*|h^House went Into Committee of Supply on the Navy -tes. asP? vote of £ 937,400 for victuals and clothing for the "e*nien and marines, ,J[*Wd H. Lennox minutely reviewed the condition of the *r*Meriel of the Navy, contrasting it with foreign navies, Sk« especiaUy with the French Navy. Enumerating the Z*Up* built and fenilding in the dockyards (public and vnvaie) of each Power, he blamed successive Boards of Admiralty for allowing our Navy to fall below the require- ments of the country, and he complained also that the etfidency of the ironclad ships had been aUowed to faU below *ne mark. As a rule, the shipbuilding programme had j*ematically remained unfulfilled, and the arrears of thq t ten years amounted to five ships of the Conqueror type. ^i^-Brassey, who replied on behalf of the Admiralty, oavlMh. 1 the Navy would bear comparison with foreign than anv f° *ny point of view. We had fewer obsolete ships have a navy!we were building ships which would We had 0 ftt>m 16 to 17 knots, and in fighting qualities the »> Jwhich were unrivaUed. If the expenditure on la a ri vn I «~\increased, we had been following, not leading, taken which was to be deplored, ana the Board had circumgtUr68 which it deemed to be necessary in the -"UIIlB &nces. "ho«n^ further discussion, Mr. Campbell-Bannerman Shin. « France bad about 71,000 tons ot iron and steel Jf-^ipo'npared with 334,000 tons of such ships In our fleet. It nad certainly been making great strides of late, but in «rder to convert a wooden Into an Iron fleet. He not believe that France was aiming at naval pre- "Wnence. bEventually at ten minutes past one progress was reported, House proceeded with the other orders on the KVer> and some other business having been disposed of, the onse adjourned at a quarter to two o'clock.

A PATHETIC STORY. .tinder the above heading the Daily News of Tues- «.i an interesting article, from which we make lollowing extracts :— I k'fe must not be judged by years," is a remark W Tvn?a °8, from the pen of Mr. ^shton ■■ u"ke quite recently, as his young life was ebbing bectL .Algiers. We are reminded of it in con- of *vn one of the most remarkable young men w these days. 26th of March we chronicled the death of jjattif ^a°k Hatton (the only son of Mr. Joseph Nortk°¥> w^e on &n expedition of exploration in The °™eo* ^t was tragic in its simple brevity, pathetic details have only just reached London, are contained in despatches from Governor inon Pryer, and the notes of the firBt OartK*' beld on an Englishman at Elopura, on the fu^Bt coast of what has been, not inaptly, called J* Garden of the Sun." Hatton was conducting an expedition in an the unexplored district, with a view to determine ^geological character of the Seguama River and regions of the Kinabatangan. His expedition ^oar He was in the first, Mr. ad Australian mining expert, in the last.. Mr tt8 ^oat was an hour in advance of the others. Hatton fired from the river at an elephant on the hi* and wounded it severely, Leaping ashore with naandore, a Malay, he gave chase. The elephant i^j^ng, as they thought at bay, they returned for gUuorcementa. Arming a few of his men with Snidera lt*: Hatton led the way into the jungle. The elephant -.q moved off, and, night coming on, Mr. Hatton was persuaded to return. Mr. Hatton, when penetrating country, had been in the habit of carrying a to remove the obstructions of vine and creeper. this fatal occasion he raised his Winchester move an overhanging creeper, stooping we* 8ame time to pass underneath it. The tow*!? entangled, the muzzle was twisted totili j u an<^ exploded, the trigger having been wiled by some twigs of the vine. Ovodeen, Ovodeen, Ski exclaimed. Ovodeen was the name j-^tong boy, the rest is Malayan for I am S««d,' His men were all around him in a moment, ^ey caught him as he fell, and he murmured his boy's as he laid his head upon his shoulder, lost con* and died. Mr. Beveridge arrived on the at the moment, and found the young scientist's vr"*y followers weeping, Ovodeen havingthe deceased's ?Pon his knee. Shedding bitter tears, the men 'PUinsd the incident (Beveridge had heard the was by Mr. Hatton's side within four or five Routes), and, after satisfying himself that their story Jj1. ol"? too true, he had the* body carried to the 555?" r ?r.a" ?fgbt now, and some lamps which Mr. 2*tton had had lighted, in his resolve not to leave a lliX1 elephant in the jungle, were used to throw a "ght upon th, embarkation of his corpse. And now foUowed one of the most afiFectionate acts devotion m the records of exploration. Under the Erection of Mr. Beveridge, eleven of the deceased's [••thful followers paddled the body in a native go- J*ng," or boat, by river and sea to Sandakan, a Gistance of nearly 170 miles, without sleep night or oay, over the unknown river and finally into the sea, Siting along the north-east shores into the_ bay of ?andakan, where they arrived soon after midnight, 2**ing pulled for 53 consecutive hours, only resting ^ree times for half-an-hour to eat a little rice. An inquest was held. Dr. Walker, who had been deceased's fellow voyager from England some two JJU*8 ago, said the wound was perfectly consistent anH*u "tatementsof the Mandore, the boy Ovodeen, the others; and that it was altogether inconsistent l^»h the suspicion that one of the other rifles might Sr*e accidentally exploded, as Mr. Hatton was taller any of the natives, and the bullet had entered above. Furthermore, the men had always acted ,a general order of Mr. Hatton never to carry pieces loaded, and only to load them when there something to shoot at. Mr. Beveridge said Mr. ^*ton's men were devoted to his service, and would ^.•oythin^ for him. Several of the natives giving on °ried we were very sorry and who had been with the young fellow in several $J*ious expeditions for over a year deposed that ti^e^all ftn(^ said, • Better we had died than ]ury'B verdict described the manner of the acci- WK deplored "the sudden death of Mr. Hatton, as an explorer and mineralogist had proved him- r*« of much valu9 to the North Borneo Company and "the world generally, and on account of his many qualities and they registered their approving of the conduct of Mr. Beveridge and -the in bringing the body to the Residency, The at Elopura was attended by all the Europeans by most of the native and Chinese residents of 111 °Puii. The body will be exhumed for final inter- ent in.one of the London. cemeteries.

(Court Journal) are glad to know that the of judicial rents privately between landlords t^ants h being extensively punned throughout

EXECUTION AT LINCOLN. Thomas Garry, alias "Irish Joe>" was executed at nine o'clock on Monday morningk in Her Majesty's prison, Lincoln. Garry was sentenced to death at the last assizes for the murder of John Newton, a farmer, 74 years of age, residing in Great Hale Fen, near Sleaford. Since his condemnation Garry has maintained a callous demeanour, showing no signs of contrition for his terrible crime. He has been daily visited by the Rev. Canon Croft, Roman Catholic priest. Repre- sentatives of the press were not admitted to witness the carrying out of the sentence.

ANNIVERSARY OF THE PHffiNIX PARK MURDERS. Sunday (6th) being the first anniversary of the Phoenix Park murders, prayers were offered up in all the Roman Catholic chapels in Dublin for the repose of the soul of Mr. Burke, and the scene of the assas- sinations was visited by large numbers of people. The day WM fine-just such as that upon which the terrible crimes were committed. Opposite the Vice- regal Lodge two crosses of ivy leaves and wallflowers denoted the places on the slope and the footpath where Lord Frederick Cavendish and Mr. Burke fell. These simple mementoes were placed there by unknown hands, and were the objects of sympathetic contem- plation by the visitors. On Saturday the first atone was laid of a memorial to Mr. Burke, in Glasnevin Cemetery, beside the grave where he lies buried with his father. It will consist of a cross surmounting a pillar about,25ft. high, with the inscription: To the memory of Thomas Henry Burke, Under-Secretary to the Lord.Lieu- tenant of Ireland, assassinated in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, on May 6, 1882, to whom this monument is erected by many of his friends among the Irish resi- dent magistrates as a mark of their appreciation of his high character and eminent public services." On Sunday morning a floral cross, sent by his sister, Miss Burke, from England, was laid on the grave, together with wreaths of freshly cut flowers stent by Lady Power. During the day a policeman was stationed beside the grave, which was visited by large numbers of persons.

THE ATTACK ON MR. FIELD. On Saturday Mr. J. H. Monahan, Q.C., sat at the Four Courts, to hear a claim for £ 10,C00 compensa- tion, made by Mr. Denis Joseph Field, under the Prevention of Crime (Ireland) Act, 1882, in respect of personal injuries inflicted on him at North Frederick-street on the evening of Nov. 27,1882. Mr. J. Monroe, Q.C., appeared for Mr. Field, who de. scribed the attack made upon him in similar terms to those employed by him when examined before the Com- mission Court. Mr. Field's medical expenses amounted- to about £250. The income he had been making was about E400 a year. In his evidence Mr. Field said:— Since the night of the attack upon me I have never known an hour's rest, and I have been affected both mentally and bodily. I am nervous, and always starting. I have got apprehensions, and my health is completely shattered. At present I am mentally and physically unable to carry on business. I am still under the protection of the police. I have been advised to reside in England for some time for the benefit of my health. Mr. Field also said that he was fifty-one years of age. Amongst other witnesses Dr. Wyse, surgeon, deposed that Mr. Field's complete re- covery was rendered tedious and uncertain by his mental apprehension. He was completely shattered in mind and body, and was quite unfit for business. Mr. Adams, for the Corporation, contended that the award ought to be as moderate as circumstances would allow. The report of the court of investigation will be forwarded to the Lord Lieutenant.

AN ITALIAN TOURNAMENT. The correspondent of The Timu, writing from Rome, 8ays:- The tournament in the Villa Borghese in honour of the marriage of the Duke of Genoa was an interesting speotacle. It will be remembered, that the Piazza di Scena, which was planned for pageants of this kind, and where many have been given, since the days of Pope Paul V., has exactly the outline of an ancient Roman circus. The seats which had been erectedalong the sides and semicircular ends were filled with 30,000 spectators. In the Royal Pavillion, on the middle of one side, hung with crimson velvet, and decorated with flowers, were the King and Queen, the bride and bridegroom, the Duke of Aosta, and Prince Arnulph of Bavaria, with their respective suites. On their right was a pavilion for the foreign Ambassadors and Envoys, and on their left others few their families, and for the Cabinet Ministers, The cavaliers, all young Italian nobles and cavalry officers, divided into four squadrons of 34 riders each two representing Bavarians and two Italians, were mounted on richly-caparisoned thoroughbred horses, and wore handsome 16th cpntury costumes of gay colours, with plumed hats. They rode into the lists preceded by the herald, Prince Odescalchi, trum- peters, and standard bearers, and were led by the young Prince of Naples, who acquitted himself gal- lantly. The sports were of the various kinds practised at such pageants, since tilting went out with the use of armour—the Turk's head, the hunt of the rose, and the like. The men rode well, and the evolutions, especially those at a hand gallop and over hurdles, were admirably executed, and elicited loud bursts of applause. So gay a spectacle has not been witnessed in Rome for many years.

CUTTINGS FROM AMERICAN PAPERS. A Nebraska paper speaks of a young farmer who "runrapidly through his property." His property was an open lot. He wore a red shirt, and a crank bull was in the wake of the young farmer. It was in a New England school. "What is the feminine of tailor?" asked a teacher of a class in grammer. "Dressmaker," was the prompt reply of a bright-eyed little boy. It is a time-honoured custom in Quincey, Fla., to vui new'y'5aarried couple by firing a cannon, begun remuid them that the battle of life has fairly A New York paper says It Death has been busy in high places this year." This is an elegant way of re- ferring to the many executions which have recently taken place. Gentleman to waiter: "Bring me some gram. matical and typographical errors."—Waiter (lookine puzzled at first, but recovering in a moment his usual serenity): "We are just out of them, sir."—"Then what do you mean by keeping them on your bill of fare ? "Yes," said she, with tears in her eyes, "in his qualities of head and heart dear George is always the same." Then, after a moment a lapse into dreamland, she added: He is so Boft-hearted, dear fellow." The other day a huBband was reading that the pre. monitory symptoms were a wild look, flushed face, thick speech, &c., and he handed it to his wife, and remarked, Mary, it ever I come home looking thtt way, you'll know what'it means, and you'll know what to do." It Yes, darling," she softly replied, as she laid the paper down; I'll have an emetic and a thick stick waiting for you." On his return from India, Brown was asked how he liked tiger-hunting. It is very good sport as you hunt the tiger," he replied; "but if hard pressed, he sometimes takes it into his head to hunt you, and then it has its drawbacks." The last St. Louis story about the Chicago girl is really too bad. It says that she insisted uponithrowing her shoe after a newly-married couple. The carriage is a total wreck, the bride is in the hands of a doctor, and the ftroom was with difficulty dug out from under the rums,

The PREPARATIONS for the CORONA. • TION of the CZAR. Noticing the preparations for the coronation of the Empevor of Russia the Globe in an article says :— According to common assertion the Coronation fUes will not cost less than ten motion roubles, or, at the present low rate of exohatigc more than a million sterling. If it be remembered that the coronation of George IV., one of the most magnincenton record, cost only £240,000, and that the House of Parliament voted only the relatively beggarly sum of jE70,000 to crown her Majesty the Queen, it will be seen that Russia on this occasion means to outdo anything that has ever occurred in this country. Moscow, luckily, is famous for the number of its taverns, lodging-houses, and hotels; otherwise it might view with anxiety the prospect of having to provide for a quarter of a million guests next month. Still, all the same, in Bpite of its resources in the way of accommodation, the pressure on its space is expected to be so severe that everybody who possesses a room, or a fraction of one, is preparing to let it for the occasion. A printer, it is said, has sold 80,000 printed notices of rooms to let during the coronation since the beginning of the year, and, as a local writer in the None Vrtmya put it the other day, it would seem as though all the regular inhabitants intend to live in their cellars and garrets during May and June in order to make money out of the new comers. Moscow has a considerable number of mammoth hotels, but the unlucky foreigner who relies on obtaining accommodation in any of them will be grievously disappointed on his arrival there next month. All the best have already been secured by the State to lodge the officials, the deputations, and the Russian guests of the Emperor; and the remainder are being taken possession of by degrees by the com- mission appointed to supervise the fites. Thus the splendid and favourite hotel Slaviansky Bazaar has been taken for the generals and the personages of the Czar's suite, 27 other hotels for officials of lower degree, the Metropol Hotel—another favourite-has been secured for the 115 persons composing the 1m. perial ballet, and the Dusaux—in which Sko- beleff died—for the singers of the Imperial Chapel. To lodge the 55,000 troops who are to march into Moscow to represent the army at the ceremony, the ordinary garrison will quit its quarters^and remain outside the city under canvas. Of the 55,000 troops, 30,000 will be Imperial Guards from St. Petersburg, and the officers will comprise 121 generals and 2,417 superior officers. This body of Imperial Guards alone should impart a splendid effect to the ceremony, without counting the more picturesque portions of the army—the Caucasian CoBsacks, in their khalats and white busbies the Lesgians, in their chain armour, reminding one of the Crusaders, and armed with bows and arrows; the swarthy Tartar Bashkir cavalry; the militia rais :d from Kirghiz; Khivans, Turcomans, and various Siberian Tribes, all in thoir national dress; and the pug-nosed Finns, still wearing the tall grenadier hats of the European fashion of last century. The guests to be specially ffied will exceed 6,000 in all. For the tables at which they will be fed 7,000 table cloths have been ordered, and 40,000 napkins. A week ago a special train took to Moscow 100 tons of China ware, cutlery, glass, &c., for the use of the higher guests. The lower guests, or populace, are to be equally well looked after. Sixteen reservoirs are now being erected in the Khodinisky Square, to hold 40,000 buckets of beer, which will be given away in 800,000 earthein jugs, decorated with the portrait of the Emperor. As solid food, 800,000 meat pies, each weighing three-quarters of a pound, are to be distributed among the people, together with 800,000 pound packets of nuts, cakes, and lolli. pops. To amuse the mob theatres are being erected, in which 400 actors will perform and bands being advertised for, which, in the aggregate, will comprise 2,000 performers. The troops will be specially filed in a village outside Moscow, where booths for amusements of the Russian carnival description are being prepared for them. On the day of the coronation 55,000 silver medals will be distributed among the troops, and several thousand gold ones among the officers. When the shades of night gather about Moscow, a quarter of a million lanterns will be lighted, and 3,500 Edison lights will illuminate the stately tower of Ivan the Great, along- side the Uspinsky Cathedral. Of course the chosen representative of the 101 million people comprising the population of the Russian Empire will bring with them gifts for the Emperor. Many of them will be specimens of local handiwork in silver or gold, but the majority will probably be trays or salvers. The procession that will take place on the day of the coronation will comprise twenty.three gold carriages, most of which have figured in coronations since the time of Peter the Great. The one conveying the Emperor is a splendid work of art, and is reckoned to have cost £10,000 to build. Of course, the procession will be the principal sight of the ceremony, so far as the general public is concerned, for only a favoured few thousand will be allowed, or rather will be able, to be accommodated in the immediate vicinity of the Uspinsky Cathedral. Hence there is a great demand for windows and bal- coniea along- the route of the procession, and in some instances £100 a balcony has been paid, the anjount including the mo of the room behind and the attend- ance of the servants of the household. In one case JB350 has been given for a corner-room, commanding a view of the procession along two thoroughfares. In the Red-square a huge stand is being erected for the 1,000 musicians aad 8,000 school children who will greet the Emperor with the National Anthem. In the Opera House a monster concert is to be given at at which 5,000 military musicians will perform. Eight balls will be given after the coronation, four of which will be Embassy ones. For the British Embassy, Malkiel House, in the Tverskaya-street, has been hired for £ 4,000; the ball to be given by the Duke of Edinburgh is expected to cost at least .£2.000 more. The feee. at Moscow will last ten days, and wil be followed by a fortnight's festivities at St. Peters burg. In all the administrative towns of the Empire fUes on a minor scale will prevail for a week, and a Russian statesman has made the calculation that the aggregate cost of these to the entire Russian Empire will not be much under B15,000,000 sterling.

The St. Petersburgh correspondent of the Standard says :— Among the festivities at Moscow on the oocasion of the Coronation will be a feast given by the town to the soldiery, of whom no fewer than twelve thousand will sit dewn to a dinner of five courses and each one will be allowed to carry off when he leaves the table the spoon, dish, and cup supplied to him. The troop of ballet dancers will number four hundred, and a new piece, called Day and night, will be brought out at an expense of fifty thousand roubles.

A Reuter's telegram says that the programme of the Coronation festivities is as follows :—On the eve of the day fixed for the ceremony, Divine service will be celebrated in all the churches, and salutes will be fired. The approach of the procession from the Petrofsky Palace to the Kremlin will be signalled by peals from the bells of the Uspensky Cathedral, which all the other churches will afterwards take up. All the princely guests and dignitaries attending the festivities will previously assemble in the Petrofsky Palace prior to the starting of the procession, the order of which will be the follow- ing :—Gendarmes, soldiers, Asiatic deputations, Cos. saeks, the representatives of the nobility, the Court dignitaries of middle and lower grade, the suites of the Foreign Princes, the Chief Court digni- taries, the members of the Council of the Empire, the Chief Court Marshal, detachments of the Chevalier Guard^ and Body Guard, the Emperor attended by the Ministers, the Chief of the Headquarters Staff, and the Adjutants General. Then will follow the Grand Dukes, the Russian and Foreign Princes, with their aides-de-camp and military suite the Empress, attended by the Chief Equerry, the Master of the Horse, the Court Pages, the Grand Duchesses, the Princesses, the Cuirassiers of the Guard, the Ladies of the Court, the Hussars of the Guards, and detachments of Uhlans,

THE BANKRUPTCY BILL. The Grand Commit'ee on Trade sat ag tin on Mon- day, Mr. Goschen in the chair. The consideration of Clause 25 of the Bankruptcy Bill was resumed. The section deals with the condi- tions under which bankrupts are to be discharged. Sir John Lubbock moved an amendment to coaopel the bankrupt to prepare an annual balence.theet, but, on Mf. Chamberlain painting out that if they unnecessarily multiplied eorditions to be taken into account it would have a tendency to make consider i- t'on by the courts perfunctory, the proposal was withdrawn. Mr. Cohen moved to give the court power to refuse a bankrupt his discharge where he had unjustifiably continued to trade after knowing himself to be in- solvent; but this amendment, although approved of by Mr. Chamberlain, was also withdrawn. Mr. A. O'Connor proposed an alteration to enable the court to punish a man, not for having continued to trade, but for having increased his liabilities by carry. ing on trade at a loss after knowing himself to be insolvent. Mr. Norwood strongly supported the amendment, which was opposed by Mr. Chamberlain, and ultimately defeated on a division by 26 to 10. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to amend the clause, among the number being a proposal by Mr. Rylanda to the effect that the court might have power to refuse a bankrupt's discharge where he had drawn or accepted accommodation bills upon which the words "for value received" were written when no such value had passed. This latter amendment on a division was defeated by 30 to 14. Mr. A. O'Connor moved a new sub-section, to the effect that the provisions as to discharge should apply to debtors whose estates wera in bankruptcy or liquida- tion on the 1st of January, 1884. Mr. Chamberlain opposed the amendment, which was negatived without a division. Mr. O'Connor asked how it was proposed to deal with the enormous number of bankruptcies which would be before the court when the old law expired. Mr. Chamberlain said that the old la" would apply to those cases. Clause 25 was added to the bill. On Clause 26, which has reference to the effect of the order of..discharge, Mr. Gregory moved an amend- ment, which was agreed to, to the effeot that an order of discharge should not release the bankrupt from any debt or liability incurred by means of any fraud or fraudulent breach of trust, not from any debt or fraud w^ereo^ kad Obtained forbearance by any The clause was added to the bill, as was also Clause 7, which provides that a bankrupt obtaining goods demeanour° extent of £ 2° shall be guilty of mis- On Clause 28, which disqualifies a bankrupt from holdmg certain public offices, Sir H. Peek proposed that a solicitor or auctioneer twice adjudged bankrupt should be disqualified from renewing his annual certifi- cate or license- The amendment was negatived and the clause agreed to, aB also were clauses un to Clause 35. y Clause 36 was under discussion at a quarter to four ¡ o'clock, when the Committee adjourned over the Whitsuntide holidays. t

PETROLEUM AS A FUEL IN ROLLING MILLS. Engineering says that the managers of the Norway Iron Works, Boston, Mass., have for several years been experimenting upon this matter; and, after numerous changes in plant and detail of working, they believe that they have succeeded in rendering its use preferable to that of gas or solid fuel. The system adopted is the following: —The petro- leum is forced by a small pump into a cast-iron tank, whieh contains a receptacle, upon the, surfBCe of which the petroleum drops in a small stream through the vessel passes superheated steam, from an orifice in the bottom, and mixes with the vaporised oil. The entire tank is heated by a special firegrate, and the mixture of superheated steam and vaporised petroleum is directly carried by pipes to two furnaces where it is used. It is stated that no trouble is experienced from the formation of coke. Oil as a fuel has lately been introduced for the use of a scrap-heating furnace, in which the 2-ton charges are put through m 25 or 30 minutes. This heatinc furnace has regenerators at both ends, and the work that it does is pronounced satisfactory. Near this is a double puddling furnace, also heated with oil. It has a capacity of from 12,000 lb. to 15,000 Ib, of pig, from four to five heats being got out of it per 10-hour shift. These furnaces are worked rather for high quality than for large production. A third furnace, heated with oil, is tued for re-heating open-hearth steel ingots. It is not provided with regenerators, the heat being utilised for making steam in a boiler overhead. For this purpose, too, the oil-heating appears to give satis- faction. The steel.making plant of this establish- ment has also been fitted up with the petroleum apparatus, the gas-producers and regenerators having been discarded. The heat obtained is very satis- factory j in fact, at one time there was danger that the roof of the furnace would melt down.

DEATH OF THE "TITULAR ABBOT OF ST. ALBANS." The Very Rev. James Norbert Sweeney, "Titular Abbot of St. Albans." who died last week at Bath, was a leading member of the Benedictine Order in England. The son of an Irish gentleman, an officer in the British Army, Captain Sweeney, who was sta- tioned at St. Helena when the Greit Napoleon was our prisoner in exile there. Dr. Sweeney was born in India in 1821, he was educated at St. Gregory's Col- lege, Downside, near Bath, of which he became suc- cessively a professor, sub-prior, and prior. In 1859, he was appointed by Pope Pius IX. to preside over the new Abbey of St. Michael's, at Belmont,near Hereford, then lately founded by Mr. Wegg-Prosser. He held that post until 1862, when he was removed to Bath, where he acted as missionary rector of St. John's Church for nearly 20 years. He was an active mem- ber of the Bath Literary and Scientific Institution, and of its sister body, the Philosophical Association, and was very widely respected both in Catholio and Protestant circles. He enjoyed also the titular dignity of Prior of the Cathedral of Gloucester; and he will long be remembered as Provincial of the English Benedictines. He was buried in the Roman Catholic Cemetery, Prior Park, near Bath, his funeral being attended by a large number of the resident gentry, and the service being conducted by the Hon and Very Rev. Dr. Clifford, the Bishop of Cliften.—Obituary of The Times.

M. JULES FERRY ON THE DEMOCRATIC IDEALS. M. Jules Ferry, at a banquet at Vierzon, speaking of what he called the two Democratic ideals, in- dustry and education, said:— Labour and schools—that is the law of the future. It is by these that the great American Democracy is daily taking gigantic strides towards the almost incal- culable greatness of its destinies. You are also a young and laborious Democracy, a Democracy inspired with a passion for culture and truth. But if the future is yours, it is on one condition. If you have youth in your favour, if the breeze of hope ntlsyoursaila, do not forget that you owe your position to the policy of reason and prudence. The policy of prudence is sometimes con- trasted with the policy of adventure. The latter finds it easy to make promises yet its usual tactics are to twit the advocates of prudence and reason with not performing their promises. I ask you. however, to judge these policies by their fruits, and to be faithful to the cause of the prudent and reasonable Republic; for there can be no progressive Republic without prudence and reason."

EXPERIMENTS WITH EXPLOSIVES. On Saturday some interesting experiments with gun cotton and the new E.C." powder took place at the works of the Explosives Company, Stowmarket, Suffolk. A large party of gentlemen, including Sir F. Abel, the War Office chemist, and a number of officers belonging to the scientific branch of the service, visited the laboratory, where a preliminary explana- tion of the experiments was made by Mr. W. F. Reid, I' the manager. This was followed by a general inspec- tion of the gun-cotton works, and then succeeded trials showing the effect of different modern explosives on steel discs. Next came the application of gun-cotton in quantities ranging from 2oz. to a pound for the purpose of blowing up an iron tank filled with water, in which the cotton was immersed, and of splitting a thick wrought-iron boiler bead and a heavy steel rail. In each case the desired result was fully achieved, while the force of the explosive, though used in com- paratively small quantities, was well demonstrated by the ploughing up of the ground in the vicinity. Some- times the fuse and sometimes the electiic current was employed to bring the detonator into action. The visitors were then conduoted over the powder works, which are at a considerable distance from those devoted to the manufacture of gun-cotton, and this part of the programme being ended, they wit- nessed the principal experiments of the day—the blowing up of a boat by means of a miniature White- head torpedo, containing a 21b. charge of gun-cotton, and the felling of a tree by placing round its trunk what may be described as a garland of the same explosive. The boat was moored in a small lake at the extremity of the works, and the torpedo was run under it at a distance of two feet below the surface, and then, at a given signal, the electric current was communicated, and the boat, shivered to fragments, was sent into mid-air accompanied by a volume of dense black smoke. On being examined the water, two minutes afterwards, was found to be violently agitated, while on its perturbed surface floated a few fragments of wood—all that was left to tell the tale of destruction. The pièce de resistance—the felling of a stout willow tree, four faet in circumference—succeeded, and was achieved with as much ease as the snapping of a twig. Here,the charge was the largest used, but though only 41b., the report was deafening. It was noteworthy, however, that in all these gun-cotton trials the volume of flame at the moment of discharge was small. To show the safety of gun-cotton under severe con- ditions of concussion, as distinct from the percussion set no by the action of a fulminate, a 228!b, weight was dropped from the bough of a tree 15 feet above ground upon a box containing 51b. of the explosive. The box, of course, was broken into a thousand piece", but the gun-cotton withstood this forcible disturbance in a manner wholly satisfactory. The excellent qualities of the IIE,C." powder were shown first at the rifle range, and afterwards in the shooting grounds, where a number of the visitors took part in the pastime of pigeon shooting, some good shots being made. The interest of the proceedings here, however, centred in the remarkable perform- ances of Master Charles Brown, a lad only nine years old, but who appears to be by nature and intui. tion a crack shot. At starting he knocked over 24 birds out of his 30, with a small double gun, and using but five-eighths of an ounce of shot. Upon several subsequent occasions, after others had used both their barrels without bringing down their bird, Master Charley—or "Nimrod" a'! he is called in sporting circles—let fly with almost invariable success. The youthful sportsman has already won four medals, which go far to cover hili breast.

CHESS WITH LIVING PIECES. A novelty was introduced to the London public on Mondav afternoon atthe Cirque, Argyll-street, Regent- street, in the shape of a tournament, in which the ordinary figures of a chessboard were represented by non-eommissioned officers and men of the Household Brigade, who had been most carefully trained by Colonel Stirling. The object of the entertainment was beneficent, as the proceeds were to be devoted to two charities, one being the Royal Hospital for Children and Women, Waterloc-bridge-road, S.E.—among the patrons of which are her Majesty the Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales,the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke of Albany, and the Queen of the Hellenes— the other is the West-end Hospital for Diseases of the Nervous System. At the performance there were present the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke and Duchess of Tetk. the Duohess of Buccleugb, the Baroness-Burdett Coutta and Mr. Burdett-Coutts, Sir W. Brett, Lady Brassey, Lady Waterford, Viscountess Clifden, Lady Freake, &c. The scena of the performance (formerly Hengler's Circue), retains many of its original features; but in place of the sawdust, the rl.ng 16 covered with matting, the centre being occupied by a huge chess- board, each square carefully lettered and numbered. As the Prince and Princess of Wales, accompanied by the young Princes and Princesses, entered the royal box. the whole audience rose, and the band of the Coldstreams played the National Anthem. Her Royal Highness carried a magnificent bouquet presented by Miss Montague, whose father. LordRobert Montagu, is chairman of the committee 5f the W«jst end Hospital. At the conclusion of the National Anthem seven boy pipers from the Royal Caledonian Asylum, led by their instructor, Sergeant MGrego. emerged from a little tent and marched round the arena playing 4he music so dear to the heart of the uael, while a couple of sergeants took up their positions as nominal players on each side of the tent opening. At sound of trumpet forthwith issued Mr. J. Broome, chamberlain of the board, heading the pro- cession of castles with their pawns, who marching to the head of the board, filed right and left to their re- spective squares. To them speedily followed the knights in well-simulated panoply of steel, obtaining the cheers of the crowded audience, whose plaudits again rang out as the venerable bishops made their appearance, "white" being vested in tall modern mitres, fiddleback" chasubles, and full-sleeved surplices; while "black wore the undress habit of a cardinal. After a befitting pause came the royal processions with stately øtep and slow, the pieces already on the board lowering the red and white bannerets which alone distinguished the II sides" as kings and queens passed by amidst the renewed cheers of the assembly. The various dresses were of the most tasteful de- scription, and well sustained the severe test of mingled gas and sunlight to which they were subjected. The pawns wore habits of divers colours appropriate to pages in the days of chivalry, and admirably looked 1 their parts. The kings and queens were in blue and red, the royal dames being in particular marvellously well got up. Again the trumpet aounded and play began, each move being announced in tones resonant of the word of command. Rapidly and noiselessly rooks and pawns moved from square to square, as did the bishops with dignified gesture, while the clang of armour and accoutrements distinguished the movement of the knights. As the various pieces were taken the captured ones saluted the victors, the bishops retiring in the attitude of benediction (albeit with the wrong hand), while one of the knights created much amuse- ment, mingled with applause, by the dejected air with which he sadly retreated from the board and took his seat in the rear of the victorious side. At ten minutes to four a flourish of trumpets au. nounced that the red king had been checkmated, and he surrendered his sword to the conqueror. Another signal gathered the pieces with much celerity in the centre of the board, whence they retired in pro. cessional order. After an interval of ten minutes a second game was played, when white was again the victor. The first game was played by Mr. Hirechfeldt and the second by Mr. Hoffer. As the moves were made much more rapidly than is the usual practice at chess the interest of the spec- tators was well maintained and the greatest interest was manifested by all present, the Royal visitors re- maining until the close of the second game.

THE RATING OF SALVATION ARMY PREMISES. In the Middlesex Sessions the appeal case "Booth v. St. Leonard's. Shoreditch," has been heard. Mr. Scott was counsel for the appellant; Mr. Besley and Mr. Mugliston appeared for the respondents. The question was whether parts of the premises oi the Eagle Tavern, formerly used as a theatre and a music-hall, with a platform for dancing, and now used for services and certified as appropriated for religious purposes exclusively," were exempt from poor ratea under the statute. It was admitted that prices were charged for admission, that bookstalls were used for the sale of books, and that a newspaper, the War Cry, was hawked in the theatre, but it was said no profit or ad- vantage accrued, as all moneys were devoted to the religious purposes of the Salvation Army. Without calling on counsel for the respondents, the Assistant-Judge said the Court could not hold that these premises were exclusively appropriated to reli- gious services. There was a music license, and a secular entertainment might be given to-morrow. Appeal dismissed with costs.

THE LABOUR MARKET. We leam from the labour reports for last week that business in the manufacturing districts is fairly up to the average, notwithstanding a temporary dulness in some branches. For all descriptions of coal the demand continues to decrease, stocks are not large at any of the collieries; but the demand for house coal from the metropolitan district is well maintained. In the iron trade there is very little actual business doing, and inquiries in the market are very few. The finished iron trade continues extremely quiet. Wire rods and wire have a quiet sale. Girder and boiler plates command little attention. The tone of the cotton market has rather improved during the last week. Yarns have been in fair de- mand at higher prices for nearly all sorts, both for home and export business, consequent on the active cotton market. In most of the districts the mills are running full time, and the operatives are well em- ployed at good wages. A better feeling prevails in the woollen trade, and more business has been done in the warehouses and the general market, for there has been greater cheerfulness in the hosiery manufacture. The reports from the Yorkshire districts show a decided improvement. In the linen trade the dullness is not quite so great as it has been for the last few months. The jute trade is moderately active. Tows and hemps meet with ready sale, Italian and Belgian kinds realising better values. Ropes, twines, canyas, &c., maintain their value, and are fairly dealt 10. The market for flax goods maintains a firm tone. Business in the lace trade is not at all brisk. Work in the hardware branches is good at most of the establishments. The steel and other heavy branches continue fairly busy. In the rail trade there is a good demand for. all kinds. At Sheffield a steady business exists in saws, edge tools, and files. The brass trade is good, and tin-plate workers moderately employed.

MR. SPURGEON'S TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY. In London, on Sunday afternoon, a Gospel Temper- ance service in oennection with the Metropolitan Tabernacle Blue Ribbon Total Abstinence Society, of which the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon is president, was held at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, and was attended fcy a congregation that filled the spacious edifice, it having been Announced that an address would be de- livered by Mr. R. T. Booth, the American evangelist. Mr. W. D. Stephens, a magistrate of Newcastle-on Tyne, conducted the service, which commenced with the singing of a hymn, fellowed by the reading of a portion of Scripture by the Rev. Charles Leach,' of Birmingham, and prayer by Mr. J. T. Dunn. Mr. R. T, Booth expressed the pleasure it gave bim to see so many persons at this his second meeting after his return to England. Since he had been away he had seen many signs of the progress of the blue ribbon movement, and he was rejoiced to say that now Englishmen were carrying on the Continent and wherever they went the principles of total abstinence and the little badge of blue. He pleaded with his hearers for the sake of the unconscious influence which every man and woman wielded to take the blue ribbon. He did not, and never had said, that it was a sin for any one to take a drop of wine, but personally he would not dare to touch it, and knowing what drink had done and was doing in the world, he believed it would be a sin for him to take it. He appealed to them to leave it alone, because of the danger m the cup, and to help in doing away with the wrong, and to make it easier to do right. Subsequently Mr. Booth asked all who were total abstainers to hold up one hand, and about three- fourths of the vast assembly responded to the invita- tion, Mr. Booth remarking that it was a grand Bight. He then asked those who were not total abstainers to come forward and take the blue ribbon, and many came down the aisles to some desks, where pledges were administered and the blue ribbon given away. The proceedings closed with the singing of the "Doxology."

DECREASE OF EMIGRATION. During the month ending April 30 there left the United Kingdom for the United States 43,411 persons for British North America. 8,342; for Australasia, 4,510; and for other places, 1,305; the total being 57,568, as compared with 68,087 during the corres- ponding month last year. For the four months ending on thesame date there were 110,568 emigrants, there having been in the four corresponding months of last year 133,866.

A WHIT. MONDAY CUSTOM IN DEVON- SHIRE. E. Gunthorp, of Sheffield, writes to Notes end Queries:—A curious custom is kept up in the parish of King's Teignton, Devon, every Whitsuntide. A lamb is drawn about the parish on Whitsun Monday in a cart covered with garlands of lilac, laburnum, and other flowers, when persons are requested to give something towards the auimal and attendant expenses; on Tues- day it is killed and roasted whole in the middle of the village. The lamb is then sold in slioss to th% poor at a cheap rate. The origin of the custom is forgotten, but a tradition, supposed to trace back to heathen days, is to this effect:— The village suffered from a dearth of water, when the inhabitants were advised by their priests to pray to the gods for water, whereupon water sprang up spontaneously in a meadow about a third of a mile above the river, in an estate now called Rydon, amply sufficient to supply the wants of the place, and at pre- sent adequate, even in a dry summer, to work three mills. A lamb, it is said, has ever since that time been sacrificed as a votive thank offering at Whitsuntide in the manner before mentionsd. The said water appears like a large pond, from which in rainy weather may be seen jets of water spring- ing up some inches above the surface in many parts. The place has been visited by members of different scientific bodies, and the question as to whether it is really a spring is still a vexed question.' The general opinion appears to be that the real spring is on Haldon-hill, and that on flowing down to Lindrids, the seat of Mr. James G. Templar, it loses itself in the fissures of the lime rock which abounds in this neighbourhood, through whioh it flows, when it meets with some impediment where it now bursts up through the soft meadow ground on Kydon, and where it has ever had the name of Fair Water,"

COUNT VON MOLTKE. The Berlin newspapers publish the following an- nouncement concerning Count von Moltke, who is now in his eighty-third year :— On Ascension Day Field-Marshal Count von Moltke entered upon a lengthy leave of absence. Accompanied by his adjutant, Captain von Moltke, of the Grand General Staff, he will first visit Switzerland, and then go to reside on bis Silesian estate. Count von Moltke, according to his own statement, is in excellent health, having now com- pletely recovered from his late slight illness, which has not at all interfered with hiB usual habits. The Field-Marshal gets up every morning very early, takes a cold bath, and then sits down to work till the arrival of the morning papers, which he carefully reads, smoking a cigar all the while, and then returns to his desk. It is a curious coincidence that for the last four years the Field-Marshal has always begun his furlough on Ascension Day.

A RECOMMENDATION for MINISTERS. The Daily News (Tuesday) does not think the Go- vernment would do well to insist on carrying out within the session the whole programme of legislation promised in the Queen's Speech. But there are some measures of primary importance in domestic legislation which the country has long been looking for, and whioh ought to be, and can be, carried out in the present session. The recommendation of the Daily News, therefore, would be that Mr. Gladstone and his colleagues should at once make up their minds, and announce their determination to the House of Commons, to go on with their measures until a distinct decision has been given by the House re- specting them. When once it is made known that Mr. Gladstone and his colleagues intend to take the vote of the House of Commons on certain measures, even though the disposing of them should keep Parlia- ) ment sitting a little longer than its usual time, the effect will be marvellous. Not a few members of the House of Commons on the Opposition side who are now only thinking of hindering will then make up their minds to help.

THE AFFIRMATION BILL. The second reading of the Affirmation Bill was re- jected at the close of Thursday night's debate in the House of Commons, by a majority of 292 against 289. The division was taken shortly after one o'clock in a scene of unexampled excitement. The counting of the "ayeB" was concluded much more rapidly than the noes," and the cheering on the Opposition tide began before the telling of the noes bad been com- pleted. The numbers were,— For the Second Reading 289 Against it 292 Majority against the Government 3 The announcement of the numbers was received with loud and prolonged cheers.

On Friday evening, in the House of Commons by aueetion time every bench was crowded to excess, in lie expectation that, consequent upon the rejection of the Affirmation Bill on the previous night, Mr. Bradlaugh would once more come to the table and demand to take the oath. Mr. Bradlaugh occupied his usual seat under the Peers' Gallery. At the commencement of public business the Speaker informed the House that he had received a letter from Mr. Bradlaugh requesting that he should be called to the table in order to take the oath required by law, or, if this were not done, that he should be heard at the bar in support of his claim, The right hon. gentleman asked for the instructions of the House upon the sub- J'ect. The Premier makfag no response to the calls for iim from the Opposition benches, Sir S. Northoote moved a resolution similar to that adopted by the House on previous occasions, excluding Mr. Bradlaugh from going through the form of repeat- ing the words of the oath prescribed for members of Parliament. This, Mr. Gladstone admitted, was a proper motion under the circumstances, and one which was most ap- propriately made by the leader of the Opposition. Mr. Labouchere, however, interposed with a motion that Mr. Bradlaugh be h^ard at the bar, and the House signified its assent. Mr. Bradlaugh, speaking from the bar, reminded the House that he had been re-elected in March la&t Jear, but that the House had last Session decided that e should not be permitted to affirm, and had now rejected a measure which would have enabled him to do so on re-election. His constituents had a right to be represented by vote and speech by two members in that House; they had twice elected him, and the law rsquired him to take his seat. Any hindrance to his doing so which was not justified by law was an act whioh in itself was flagrantly wrong and illegal. Par- liament had a right to take away, negate, or destroy the right of arty citizen, but it was not competent to one Chamber to arrogate that right to itself. In the name of the law, therefore, he claimed his seat. Mr. Labouchere thereupon moved the previous question, which Mr. Gladstone said he should feel it his duty to support in the event of a division. The Speaker, in reply to a question, explained that In the event of the previous question being carried, there would be no Resolution before the House ad- verse to the operation of the law under which the member for Northampton would be entitled to take the oath. On the House dividing the previous question was defeated by 271 to 165, or a majority of 106. The Resolution of Sir S. Northoote was then put and agreed to without opposition.

It is reported that Mr. Bradlaugh does not intend to give the House of Commons any further trouble .on his account at present. He is now entitled to enter the House and Bit below the bar without voting or speaking. He is also permitted to enjoy other privileges as a duly elected member.

A crowded meeting of the Liberal Eight Hundred has been held at Birmingham to consider the result of the debate on the Affirmation Bill. A resolution was unani- mously carried to the effeet that the hearty thanks of the Liberal party were due to her Majesty's Government for having introduced a measure permitting the sub- stituting of an affirmation for the existing oaths of allegiance expressing regret that, by the desertion of some Liberal members and the abstention of others, the Bill was defeated recording the conviction that, although the force of bigotry and intolerance had secured a temporary triumph, the measure of justice could not long be delaye f, and pledging the meeting to seeure its accomplishment. The resoHicion further tendered to Mr. Gladstone a tiibute of admiration and gratitude for his vindication of the principles of re- ligious freedom, earnestly trusted that he would continue to press upon the attention of the House of Commons the numerous matters announced in the Speech from the Throne, and hoped that Parliament might not separate until those measures had been considered and disposed of.

The Gene7a Correspondent of the Daily News writes 'The debate on the Affirmation Bill has been < followed by the Swiss papers with great interest. Many of them .have reproduced Mr. Gladstone's speech. The Journal de Geneve, the most influential Conservative paper in the Confederation, and a fervent admirer of the late Lord Beaconsfield, thus expresses itself on the vote of Friday morning :— "This time the Government had truth and right on their side. Though the rejection of the Bill will not entail their retirement from power, it is a oheck to their policy. But not a serious check. In a few years the debate will be remembered only because it was the occasion of the most magnifi- cent defence of liberty of conscience ever spoken by human lips. That the author of this speech, despite his more than seventy years and absorbing occupations, still retains unimpaired his love for truth and justice may well make us hopeful of the future and indifferent to the deceptive theories of Political Positivists who prefer party interests to great principles."

The entire Vienna Press comments at considerable length on the vote upon the Affirmation Bill (says the correspondent of the Daily News), The Neue JBreie Prllu, in its leader, says:—"Not only Mr. Gladstone and his party were defeated, but also English liberty and progress, by religious prejudice. Those who triumphed are the same who, refusing Lord Byron a place in Westminster Abbey, have earned for the British 'people a reputation for ingratitude, bigotted narrow- mindedness, and exclusive devotion to material inte- rests." The article concludes as follows "Notwith- standing Thursday's resolution, the question will be often renewed, for it is no question between Conserva- tives and Liberals, but of a nation's rights and if Mr. Gladstone fails to solve it, the Conservatives them- selves will have to complete the work commenced by their political enemy." The semi-official papers also support Mr, Gladstone, and trust that he wiH not resign power.

ROMAN CATHOLIC DIGNITARIES. According to the new edition of the "Gerarchia Cattolica," the dignitaries composing the Roman Catholio hierarchy number 1,229, including 62 Car- dinals, one of whom, however, Cardinal Antici- Mattei, died after the edition was printed; nine Patriarchs of both riter, 737 Archbishops and Bishops of the Latin rite, and 46 of the Oriental rite, holding sees; 343 Archbishnps and Bishops in partibus, 26 Patriarchs, Archbishops and Biehops without sees, and six prelates nullius diceocsis. During the twelve months since the last edition was published four Cardinals, eleven Archbishops, and 38 Bishops have died. The oldest Cardinal in the Sacred College is Car. dinal Bonnechose, Archbishop of Rouen, aged 84; and next come Cardinal Newman, 83, and Cardinal Guibert, Archbishop of Paris, 81: The youngeBt are Cardinals Parocchi and Zigliara, both aged 60, and Czacki, recently created, aged 49. The senior members of the College itself are Car. dinal Prince Schwarzenberg, created by Gregory XVI., 41 years ago; Cardinal Di Pietro, Dean of the College, who has worn the purple for 30 years and Cardinal Mertel, created 25 years ago. Of the 61 Cardinals living, one was created by Gregory XVI.. 40 by Pius IX., and 20 by Leo XIII. Counting one more reserved in petto at the Consistory held on December 13, 1880, whose name has still to be declared, there remain eight hats vacant.

LEASES OF HOUSES. The right which Mr. Broadhurst, M.P., proposes, in a Bill which was on the-notice paper for second reading on Tuesday, to confer on tenants of purchasing the fee simple of their houses or oottages, is to apply only where there are 30 years unexpired of a lease already created, or 20 years of any future lease. In these purchases may be included chattels and also any gardens or other lands held with the house to the ex. tent of three acres. For carrying out the scheme, Mr. Broadburet's Bill adopt the machinery of the County Courts. When a tenant wishes to purchase his house, his first proceed- ing is to be to pay into court two years rack-rent, by way of deposit. After advertising the application the Registrar of the County Court would investigate the landlord's title and interest, and the tenant's right to claim the benefit of the Act. The County Court Judge would then proceed to ascertain the sum that ought to be paid for the purchase. In this inquiry any person interested would be entitled to demand a jury. The sum to be thus ascertained would be that which the entire estate in the bouse, beyond the tenant's interest, would fetch by sale in the open market. But as re- gards future leases, there would be excluded from computation the value of any improvements that may have been made by the tenant or his predecessor in title, which were not in pursuance of contract with the landlord. On paying the purchase money into conrt, tbe tenant would be entitled to receive from the Registrar a certificate of purchase, which would operate as a conveyance from all the landlords who have been eervW with notice. The purchase-money would then be distributed by the Registrar, or retained pending inquiries, in accordance with the directions of the Judge. From his dechion, however, on questions of law, but on those only, an appeal is allowed. With regard to the expenses of these proceedings, they would to a reasonable extent be borne by the tenant.

Throughout Kent, and especially in the extensive Romney Marsh pastures, the lambing season has been most satisfactory, both as regards numbers and health. A curious fact is the large proportion of ram lambs to ewes that have been dropped, they being in some places in tbe proportion of two to one. PrtCM which fell so noticeably when the decision of her Majesty was made known, are now rapidly rsoovenng.

THE ROYAL ACADEMY BANQUET. In London, on Saturday evening, the annual dinnet of the Royal Academy was held in the great room of the Academy, Burlington-house, when the President, Sir Frederick Leighton. and council, entertained a large and distinguished company. The chair was taken by the President, and on his right were the Prince of WaleB, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar, and the Duke of Teck on his left the Duke of Edinburgh, the Turkish Ambas- sador, the German Ambassador, the Russian Ambas- sador, and the Swedish and Norwegian Minister. In the course of the evening Earl Granville in responding to the toast of The health of Her Majesty's Ministers," said:—The great diplomatist, Prince Talleyrand, speaking enthusiastically of his dinner, which was always very good, said, "Talk to me of a pleasure which lasts an hour and comes back every day." The dinner of the Royal Academy does not come back every day, but once a year it does give a great intellectual pleasure to eminent representatives of the brains and culture of this great metropolis. There are, however, drawbacks, and it does not require the genius of a Shakspeare to teach an indifferent performer that it is anything but a privilege to replace the well-graced actor who for excellent reasons is obliged to be absent from the scene. It is always pleasant in this world to have a griev- ance, and it appears to me that we political officials have a grievance. It is the duty of a Royal Acade. mician as a painter to paint, as a sculptor to model, and as an architect to construct. It is the duty of an official, or, at all events, it is supposed to be his duty, to legislate—more or less (laughter)—to administer, and to speak in public. Now, however hard an Academician may work during the rest of the year, there are certain hours—say from six to eleven— on the first Saturday evening in May when no one expects him to paint, or to model, or to construct. (Laughter). It would hardly be convenient that I should take this par- ticular occasion to explain and defend the general policy of Her Majesty's Government. It might lead, Mr. President, to a severe reply, possibly to two severe replies, from the other side of the chair. Now I am aware that Mr. Herkomer, with more than his usual skill has made a most attractive picture of "Natural Enemies fighting over their cups. But I am afraid that until age has given an artistic tinge to our present evening dress, a real fight over their cupe between natural enemies in white neckclochs would hardly be picturesque. There is, however, one political principle of which I may say that I am a warm supporter—public economy. But this does not make it necessary that we should out.Hume the lata Joseph Hume, the steadfast and successful guardian of the public purse, and I entirely agree with the doctrine that he held, that it is not only gene- rally right, but that it is in the interest of the tax. payer himself that, within reasonable and well-consi- dered limits, the State should be liberal for the pro- motion of eduoation, of science, and of art. (Hear, hear.) I am, therefore, glad that the estimates for these purposes are greater than they ever were before indeed, they are between three and four times higher than they were thirteen years ago. Her Majesty's Government, although unable to comply with all demands, have not turned a deaf ear to proposals to make valuable additions to the great art treasures of the public. They have promised additional building accommodation to the galleries in Trafalgar-square, and I was glad to pass through the House 81 Lords a Bill to enable the National Gallery to lend super- fluous works to institutions in the country. I gathered last year that the Royal Academy had two wishes, and two wishes only, with respect to the action of the Government, First, they desired to be left alone by the Government, and, secondly, they pressed us to take immediate measures to move down the statue of agreat man from a ridiculous position, unpleasing to the sesthethic eye, and jarring on the feeilings of gratitude and respect entertained by the nation for the memory of the Duke of Wellington. With regard to your first desire, I may boast that the attitude of the Government towards the Royal Academy has been one of masterly and friendly in- activity. With regard to the second, my right hon. friend, Mr. Shaw-Lefevre, acting for the Government, has, among other improvements at Hyde Park. comer, not only successfully brought the statue to the ground, but I am credibly informed that, with the help of Royal Academicians and other competent advisers, he haa actually got a notion what to do with it, now that it is down. (Laughter.) After some further observations, the noble earl concluded by saying:—I have now, on behalf of Mr. Glad- atone and w colleagues, to thank you for the honour you nave done them, to congratulate you that in this exhibition there are mixed with some charming foreign contributions works by men whose names jump to our lips, which will add to the reputa- tion of the British School, and that the general standard of merit has not only been maintained, but raised. J beg to assure you respectfully of the sym. pathy we feel with art and with those who nobly profess tt. No one can influence or lead men who does not possess that quality, and has not the power to excite it in others, and that Government is not worth its salt which does not understand the feelings which make you desire by art to elevate, to refine, and to please mankind. (Loud applause.)

FARMING PROSPECTS. Land and Water Bays The interest taken in the seasonable weather which has prevailed throughout the land during the past six weeks, goes far to show how dependent is the business of the world upon agricultural prosperity. Each succeeding week, but adds another hope that the coming harvest may be not only good but exceptionally bountiful. The gentle showers and tbe cold nights we have had lately are in every respect favourable for agriculturists, ast they are some guarantee that we shall not have any frosts later on in May. Late frosts in this country do great damage they destroy our fruit, and render the products oi the orchards valueless, besides depriving the labourer of the work for which he has been anxiously waiting. The wheat market is slow and drooping, a sure Bign that the appearance of the young growing corn is satis- factory. Reports from America do not speak highly of the winter wheat prospects there; much damage has been done by the heavy rains of last winter, and the fly has been mischievous in many States. Even California has suffered from the wet season she has lately passed through, and much of her corn is winter- killed. From the Kent bop plantations better news arrives than was anticipated, and the young bine is making good progress, and is nearly ready for tying to the poles. Spring corn is showing strong, and hoeing between the drills has commenced. Peas that were Bown early have been frost-bitten, and the winter sown beans as well as spring sown have been much retarded by the last frosts, but these are hardy plants and generally recover. Perhaps the greatest disappoint- ment lies in the backward state of the grass paddocks. The frosts have checked the growth so much as to have affected the price of lean stock considerably, a con. summation no doubt by some devoutly wished for. Potatoes are pretty well all in, and seldom have they been planted with better prospects. On the whole it is certain that the prospects of the farmer have not, for a long time, been brighter than now, and should the coming summer only prove as seasonable as the spring has done, the nation will begin to regain a portion of the enormous losses sustained through the failure of crops during the past ten years,

A NATIONAL RAILWAY EXHIBITION AT CHICAGO. A national exhibition of -railway appliances will be held in Chicago, June 12-23, in the Interstate Expo- sition Buildings, one gallery of which is one third of a mile long. Railway tracks are to be laid in this building to acoommodate cars and locomotives. There will be also an exhibition of an electric rail- way. The building was opened for the reception of articles on May 1. The exhibits will include locomo- tives, cars, running gear, interior furnishings for pas- senger cars, all sorts of freight car appliances, machinery for manufacturing railroad equipments, all kinds of track goods, station, and depot appliances— in short everything which goes to make up a thoroughly equipped railroad. One of the interesting incidental attractions will be an original locomotive engine built by George Stevenson, which has been lent by the British Government. The managers think that they have found the maa who first ran a locomotive engine in this country.

THE PRfOE OF LAMB. The writer of "Our Agricultural Reports" in the Morning Post says :—I have gone through the spring markets for the last four years, and have taken the prices of lamb from C. riatnuas to May, and I find that the decrease which was attributed to the Queen's order has taken place each spring in almost the identical proportion of the present year. At Christmas in each year house-fed lamb sold at from 2s. 6d. to 3s. per lb., and from this figure the prices decreased until on the first Monday in May is sold at from Is. to h. 2d. per lb. These are about the figures of the present year, and it is a matter of fact that in the London. cattle market no lamb has yet been quoted under 8s. per stone of 81b. Every year as more lamb comes into the market prices decline, and this has but been the case this year.

THE MARKETS, METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET.—MONDAY. The cattle trade is steady. Heaviness is reported In the dead meat market, and the milder weather also Is against the demand, but the tone is good. Supplies about the same as usual. The number of English beasts offering was not large, and the Scotch arrivals were few. The demand was steady, and pure breeds made rather more money. The best Scots and crosses sold at 5, lOd to 61 per 81b. On the foreign side of the market the show of beasts was fair. The trade was firm, and prices were maintained. In the sheep pens the show of sheep was limited. The business doing was on a fair scale at steady currencies. The beat Downs and half breds realised 6s 4d to 6s 6d per 81b. Lambs were firm. 8s to 8s 8d per 81b. Calves and pigs sold at full price*. At Deptford were about 600 beasts and 8,600 sheep. The follow- ing are the quotationsCoarse and inferior beasts, 4s to is 6d • second quality ditto, 4s 61 to 5i; prime large oxen, 5s 6d to 5s 8d ditto Scots, &c.. 6s lOdI to 6s1; coarse and Inferior sheep, 5s to 6s 6d; second quality ditto, 5s to 6s crime coarse woolled ditto, 6s 2d ito 6s 4d prime Southdown ditto, 63 to 6s 6d; lambs, 8s to 8s 8d; large coarse calves 5s 6d to 6. prime small ditto, 6sto 6s 6d large hogs, 4. 4d to 4s 8d; neat small porkers, 4s 8d to 5s per 8lb to sink the offal METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET. —MONDAY. There waa a larger supply on sale. A heavy trade pre- vailed, and top quotations were not generally maintained. Prices Inferior beef, 3s 4d to 3s 8d; middling ditto, 4s to 4s 8d prime large ditto, 4s 8d. to 68 2d; prime small ditto 5s to 6s id veal, 5s to 5s 4d inferior mutton, 31 8d to 4s; middling ditto, 4s 4d to 5s prime ditto, 6s 2d to 6s 2d; large pork, 4s to 4s 2d small ditto, 4s 4d to 4s 8d; lamb, a to 8d per 81b. by the carcase. POTATO. There was a good supply of potatoes on offer. The de- mand was moderate, as follows Magnum bonums, 160s to 180s; regents, 140s to 166s; champions, 150s to 160s; Vie- torias, 160s to 180s per ton German radt, 7s to 8s per bag