The Aberdare Times

COLD-BLOODED MURDER IN FRANCE. A correspondent gives details of a trial which has terminated at Cain, and which, as a revelation of the cold-blooded cruelty and tenacity in criminal purpose which a human being is capable of, is only second in interest to the Fenayron case. In the latter the victim was the lover; in this it is the husband. The circumstances were as follow: The victim and his wife, by name Aveline, were domestics in the service of an old maiden lady, 82 years of age, in Paris. Aveline, a man verging on 50, had inherited a little money and bought some land in Normandy, and his pleasure in life was to spend a few days shooting the game that he reared for this purpose on his land. He was only waiting for the death of the old lady to retire to his little estate and there pass the rest of his days. In the same house in Paris resided a French general, with his orderlv. bv name Gamier, a young man of 25. Garnier, in the course of time, became the inti- mate friend of the Avelines, and about a year ago, the lover of the wife, who, judging by her letters, appears to have been tortured by a thirst for excitement. She contracted a violent affection for Garnier, whose senior she was by 12 years. When Garnier left Paris with his master an effusive correspondence ensued between the lovers, from which it is seen that they had determined on the suppression of Aveline, and that their object was to marry and live on the wife's money, for she too appears to have saved no small sum. It was arranged between Gamier and the woman that they should proceed to the murder of Aveline in September, ana henceforth the letters exchanged refer to the scheme as if it were one of the most virtuous of human resolves. Thus, on the 19th of March, Garnier writes: "When we are united, we shall have but one prayer—namely, that God may preserve us thus for centuries." In a subsequent letter he says: I shall go to Mass to-morrow, and pray Heaven to aid us in the accomplishment of the object we have so long been fighting for." The woman wrote in the same strain on the 25th May: I went this week to Notre Dame des Victoires, where I had a taper burnt for the realisation of our project." She wrote on another occasion of Aveline, He says he is ill (she had already begun operations). Ah if God would take pity on me! When he com- plains, I praise God in my heart." As regards her relations with her husband, she had nothing, as she confesses, to complain of. I would, she writes, I could blame Aveline for something, but there is nothing." She made several abortive attempts to poison her husband, and at length it was resolved that the only way to get rid of the poor man was to shoot him during the shooting season, when in Normandy. Gamier came down, and he and the wife concerted the measures to be taken. She placed him herself in ambush. On the first occasion he lacked the courage to fire, but the second time he shot Ave- line dead. Gamier sought to cast the blame on his mistress, whose behests he blindly carried out. The woman did not retaliate, and during the trial wrote a consoling letter to her lover, in which she looked forward to their meeting and yet marrying in New Caledonia: She was not aware that women are not sent to New Caledonia, but expiate their crimes in France. The jury found both guilty, but Garnier with extenuating circumstances. The woman was therefore sentenced to death, and Gamier to penal servitude for life. The extraordinary feature in this strange trial is the thorough and yet almost un- conscious depravity of both parties, but especially of the woman, the character of whose moral perversity is almost unique in the annals of sane criminals.

THE COLONIAL AND INDIAN EXHI- BITION OF 1886. The Gazette has published the text of the Royal Commission, bearing the date of the 10th in&t., touch- ing the exhibition of the products, manufactures, and arts of the Colonial and Indian Dominion, which is to be held in London in the year 1886. The names of the numerous commissioners, who are headed by the Prince of Wales (as President of the exhibition), the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duke of Connaught, and the Duke of Cambridge, are duly gazetted, the commis- sioners being instructed to tender advice upon the best mode by which the colonial and Indian products of industry, agriculture, and the fine arts may be procured and sent to the exhibition. It is further deemed expedient for the commissioners to obtain the assistance and advice of native princes and chiefs of Hindostan, and for this special purpose the rule™ of the provincial proiinces of India have been added to the commission. The commission is to continue in force until the close of the exhibition, and the com- missioners are in the customary manner required from time to time to report their proceedings. bir Philip Cunliffe-Owen is appointed as secretary to the

qJ ur fonlum Cormjonlitnl. [We deem it right to state that we do not at an tiaoM identify ourselves with our Correspondent's ophdou.) It is just two years since. on the 4th of December, 1882, the Royal Courts of Justice were opened by her Majesty, and as one result of the ceremony Lord Chancellor Selborne received an earldom. Judges, counsel, litigants, jurymen, and witnesses have, there- fore, now had experience of the structure, and it would be impossible to declare that an unanimous conclusion has been arrived at with respect either to its architectural beauty or its internal convenience. The proportions of the courts themselves certainly bear no comparison with those which might be expected from the Strand frontage and the great central hall. Not a term passes in which there are not complaints either as to the draughts, or the want of ventilation, or the bad light, whether natural or artificial, or the lack of accommodation for some of the numerous classes interested in attending the tribunals—bench, bar, press, or public. Remedies for these grievances will no doubt be found with the advance of time and the development of science. It will be remembered that there were grumblings over the old courts in Westminster Hall down to the very end of their existence; bat then it was always understood that the erection of these courts was merely a temporary measure until the completion of a new Palace of Justice. It is when a great case is being tried that the capacities of the now courts are put to the test. Let us take the day when the son of a late Lord Chancellor was sued for a breach of promise of mar- riage, and the son of the Lord Chief Justice of England was proceeded against for libel. Both were entered for trial before the same judge—Mr. Justice Manisty; and either would have filled his lordship's little court five times over. But the combination on the same day brought together such a croNd of the curious as had not before assembled in the Royal Courts of Justice. To the importunate requests for admission, the adamantine officials replied with the imperturbable question, "Have yon a ticket? In most cases, of course, the reply was in the negative, courts of justice being supposed to be open to the public in this country without distinction. This plea, however, did not avail, and even representatives of the press, although supplied with credentials from their own offices showing who they were, had to remain outside because they were not provided with the tickets issued by the authorities of the courts themselves. It is to be hoped that the ticket system of admission to English tribunals will not be extended. In this instance many who had legitimate business in the court with a view to the discharge of an important professional duty, were excluded; while others, attracted by mere curiosity but favoured by circum- stances, were enabled to get in. The restoration of Westminster Hall has been the subject of inquiry before a Parliamentary Committee -Mr. Shaw Lefevre in the chair. All who have had an opportunity of seeing the outside of this historic structure, facing towards Westminster Abbey, will be inclined to think that the sooner the stage of inquiry is ended, and that of action begins, the better. Any- thing more suggestive of ruin and decay can scarcely be seen in the wide area of London. It shows more strikingly by contrast with the sumptuous pile em- bodied in the Palace of the Legislature on the one side and the ornate architecture of the venerable Abbey on the other. The old Law Courts have been down nearly two years yet this aspect of dilapidation which is such an eyesore to the daily stream of traffic flowing between Victoria Station and the City, is now in the stage of inquiry before a Parliamentary Com- mittee, which sits an hour or two twice a week. In connection with the recent re-arrangement of Ministerial offices, a point has come out in connection with two vacancies which is worth a passing notice. In the present Administration the First Lord of the Admiralty has been a peer, and the Secretary has acted as the spokesman for that important depart- ment in the Commons, has explained the esti- mates, and answered all questions. The Secretary- ship of the Admiralty is not, however, technically held to be an office under the Crown. So that whoever is appointed to it has not to appeal to his constituents for re-election, while the Civil Lordship, a sub- ordinate post with half the salary, is a Crown office, so that Mr. Caine's acceptance of it necessitated an appeal to the electors of Scarborough. Again, a Minister of the Crown, in moving from one office to another, does not vacate his seat. But when Mr. Trevelyan and Mr. Bannerman successively exchanged the duties of Secretary to the Admiralty for those of Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, they had respectively to be re-elected because the latter is an office under the Crown while the former is not. These distinctions are puzzling to many persons, who on seeing a number of minor ministerial changes made, are unable to say off-hand what re-elections will be involved. The Secretaryship for Ireland is the only post described as a secretaryship in all the departments of the State which is nominally held to be a Crown office. i The Royal Commission which has been issued to inquire into the best means of promoting the success of the Indian and Colonial Exhibition to be held in London in the summer of 1886 is about the most com- prehensive list of names for such a purpose which has ever been brought together. For next year we have the Exhibition of Inventions, and those who have it in hand hope to rival the success of the Fisheries and the Healtheries. That, however, which is pro- mised to us for 1886 should be one of very great in- terest; at all events, there is ample time for the Royal Commissioners to make their investigations- Specimens of the products, industries, arts, and manufactures of India and of every British possession ,in every clime upon the surface of the globe, in charge of the natives of the different countries, will prove such a draw as certainly to equal, if not to surpass, any previous exhibition which has of late years been held in the English capital. V London is governed, so far as the City is concerned, by the Corporation, and outside the civic boundaries by the Metropolitan Board of Works. These two bodies have between them carried out vast improve- ments, and that which will occur to most people so far as the Board of Works is concerned, is the gigan- tic system of main drainage, while the Corporation stand out conspicuous, more especially by the Hol- born viaduct and new Blackfriars bridge. But there is an undertaking which, thus far, neither of these two powerful bodies has been able to accomplish, and that is to cross the Thames below London Bridge. Each has discussed schemes, but hitherto without result. At length both the Cor- poration and the Board of Works have given notice to apply to Parliament in the coming session for powers to construct two projects very different in character. The former proposes to throw across the river between the Tower and Tooley-street a bascule bridge at an estimated cost of three-quarters of a million sterling, while the Board of Works will make two steam ferries much lower down as a temporary measure. and until something permanent can be agreed upon for dealing with a long-standing and ever-increasing difficulty. The Covent Garden Promenade Concerts khave ■Some to a close after a successful season, and there are signs in the theatrical world of the approach of Christmas. It would be interesting to know how often" Whittington and his Cat have done duty as the subjects of a pantomime; but Mr. Augustus Harris will continue to find some fresh fun in it, for he has advertised it as forming the basis of the Christmas entertainment, which is so much appre- ciated by the juvenile portion of the population. Mr. William Holland, an indefatigable caterer for the public entertainment, and whose name has been asso- ciated with the management of the North Woolwich Garden?, the Alhambra, the Surrey, and other placeg of amusement, will take charge of the pantomime at Covent Garden. On the south side of the river the Surrey pantomime is always a great attraction there is invariably a plenty of it for the money, and lots of fun, while for spectacular display those who are fond of it flock to the old house in the Westminster-road conducted by Messrs. Sanger.

THE COLERIDGE LIBEL CASK. EXTRAORDINARY DISCLOSURES. The action for libel—" Adams v. Coleridge "—oc- cupied Mr. Justice Manisty and a special jury during the whole of last Friday and Saturday in the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice. Mr. Charles Warren Adams was the plaintiff. and the Hon. Bernard Coleridge (son of the Lord Chief Justice) was the defendant, and the damages were laid at £ 10,000. The alleged libel was contained in a letter written by him to his sister dissuading her from marriage with the plaintiff. The plaintiff stated that he was engaged to marry the sister of the defendant, and that the defendant had falsely and maliciously written this letter to his sister I write to you, not only as your brother, but chiefly as my father's son, because I feel it my duty. I write in order that, when misery and unhappiness come upon you, as come they will, you may not have it to say that you were not fully warned, and that matters were concealed from you. Are you aware of the character of the man to whom you are about to give yourself up ? His family, one and all, will have nothing to say to him. Is this all without reason ? Do you know that he has failed throughout his life ? Why is this, for he is a man of undoubted ability ? It is because of his utter want of character and principle. Do you know anything of his past history ? Do you know of his behavior on his voyage to the Cape ? Do you know that he ran away with a girl who was under age ? Do you know that so strong was the indigna- tion at his conduct that the Bishop of Cape Town ordered his clergy to refuse to marry him, and that consequently be, with his High Church professions, was married by a Presbyterian ? Do you know of the life which he had led that unhappy girl after she became his wife, and how she lived to rue bitterly the day when she consented to what you are now con- templating-a tmarriage in defiance of the wishes and entreaties of her f-iends and relatives? Do you know what sort of person his daughter is ? Under such circumstances, and with such a father, it would be a wonder if she were otherwise; hat, do you know that she has an irreconcilable temper, that she is boarded out of charity by her relatives to rescue her from her father ? Have you considered that, as soon as his home becomes yours, t.'ipv will be triad of the opportunity of ridding them- selves of the burden cast upon them, and will send her back to her father? Are yon prepared to live with her? Do you know that Mr. Adams has a violent temper ? Can you disguise from yourself, in your vanity, that it is money and position, not you, which he is scheming to obtain ? Are you ignorant that he has admitted that in his eyes you are devoid of personal attractions, that you would not make at all a good wife, and that you would be a white elephant" to him ? What would you think in another case of a man who, while never tired of proclaiming that the instincts of a gentleman are absolute, makes himself at home and accepts hospitalities in a house in the absence of the master, when he knows that the master refuses to meet him ? The facts to which I have alluded I have from those who have every opportunity of knowing them to be true. They are communicated in confidence. Do not put Mr. Adams upon me I care not a fig for all his bluster. I am not going to indulge in correspondence. I have no appetite for, and shall answer no letters. There are sometimes things which have to be said, and I have felt it my duty to say them. I take no pleasure in writing this. I write solemnly, and with a full sense of responsibility, to warn you from allowing yourself to fall a victim to such a man. Be warned in time." This was all that was set out in the statement of claim, but the rest of the letter was read. It was a personal rebuke at Miss Coleridge's conduct towards her father. Mi-s Coleridge had written the following answer: 8 Dec. 12, 1883. Dear Bernard,-That part of your letter which relates to myself I will say nothing about. I hardly know whether I am more grieved or ashamed that a brother of mine could have so written, and I will not lower myself by any further allusion to it. With regard to your statements respecting Mr. Adams, his marriage, married life, family relations, &c., I not only know, but am in a position to prove, that, with the solitary exception of the mistake committed by the Bishop of Cape Town, they are every one of them absolutely false. Now, I am determined that, cost what it may, this persistent backbiting and slandering shall be brought to an end. You, no doubt, have not invented these miserable falsehoods, but you have mnrlA -pnnrself resDonsible for them. I have this moment returned from the Temple, where I have been to take advice upon this point. Unless before to-morrow I receive from you either the amplest retraction of every statement, or such information as to the persons with whom they origi- nated as shall enable me to bring them to account, I will on Friday morning place your letter in Mr. Adams's hands, and shall request him, as a personal kindness to myself, to take such steps as may be necessary to protect us both from such annoyance in the future. Only one word more, with reference to your suggestion as to Mr. Adams's motive.' I think when you reflect that he is prepared to marry me without a farthing, and that you are the person to profit by the money which would have been mine had not my father been set against me, you will, even should you feel no shame at having made so unworthy an insinuation, at least perceive the unwisdom of it as coming from you. MILDRED M. COLERIDGE. The lady, it appeared, bad placed the letter in the hands of Mr. Adams, who brought this action, in which the defence set up was, in substance, that the letter was privileged. The defence was in these terms "1. The defendant did not write or publish any letter or words as in the statement of claim alleged. 2. The letters and words complained of and alleged to have been written or published by the de- fendant do not bear the several meanings, nor any of the meanings in the statement of claim alleged. 3. If the words complained of or any of them were written and published by the defendant, as alleged, they were so written and published by the de- fendant bona fide, and without malice to such person and under such circnmstances as to constitute the same a privileged communication. The plaintiff appeared in person Mr. C. Russell, Q.C., watched the case for Miss Coleridge; the Attorney-General, with Mr. Charles, Q.C., and Mr. G. Pitt Lewis were for the defendant. The plaintiff occupied the whole of the first day in his opening speech, in which he was frequently inter- rupted by the judge for importing what his lordship Iml termed irrelevant matter affecting Lord Chief Justice Coleridge in his treatment of plaintiff and Miss Cole- ridge. The chief points in the plaintiff's address was in that portion where he endeavoured to rebut the allegations in the defendant's letter. With regard to the defendant's allegation that he had run ..way with a girl under age, the plaintiff said he had married her from the house of Lady Duff Gordon, and he had her baptismal certificate to show that she was then 24 years of age. As to the statement that he had ren- dered her unhappy, he could only say that never was a married life, during the nineteen years of its exist- ence, more unclouded. Lord Coleridge had inquired into all this matter, and had written to him that he had found the charges to be untrue, and all this ;vas known to the defendant, who acted as his father's private secretary. With regard to the charge that he had a violent temper, that surely was not the subject of a confidential communication to the defendant's sister, with whom he had long been intimate, and with whom he had been in close comradeship for three years. As to the charge that he was seeking, not Miss Coleridge herself, but was scheming for her money, eight months before this letter was written Lord Coleridge's will had been altered, and the money that should have been his daughter's was transferred to her brother, so that she was absolutely as penniless as any pauper in any workhouse and this fact was known to the Hon. Bernard Coleridge, and more than that, he knew that it was known to his sister, and also that it was known to him (Mr. Adams). No doubt the Lord Chief Justice of England had large patro- nage, but it could never fall to his (the plaintiff s) lot, for he was not a barrister of ten years' standing, or pver likely to be, nor was he likely to become Lord Coleridge's private secretary, with an income of £ 000 a year while his marshalship was held by his second w 11 son, the Hon. Stephen Coleridge. As to his seeking "position" by marrying Lord Coleridge's daughter, what position could he, the son of the late Serjeant Adams, who was the son of an old Warwickshire squire, attain by marrying into a family with a mush. room peerage not ten years old. That he had ustd the term white elephant" he would frankly admit, but he had not used it to the defendant, but to Lord Coleridge himself, during a confidential inter- view from which the defendant was excluded, so unless Lord Coleridge had been guilty of the grossest breach of confidence, or the door of the room was left open, he could not understand how ti e defendant got hold of the information. As to the statement that he had accepted hospitality at a house in the absence of its master, it was a plain, un- qualified lie. He had never made himself at home in Lord Coleridge's house, for he had never entered a room in his house without being ushered in by a ser- vant. Lord Coleridge had never refused to receive him, but he had ceased to go there because he would not submit to treatment such as he had received. As to hospitality, it was not that of Lord Coleridge, for the establishment was on board wages, and the only time he had ever accepted hospitality was on oiro occa- sion when Miss Coleridge's luncheon was brought in, consisting of soles, or rather junior members of the sole family, when, at her express request, he did accept a piece ot bread, and spread on it a piece of butter. (Laughter). As to the attack which the defen- dant made on him through his daughter, this chival- rous t/entleman was not ashamed to strike through a frirl But his daughter was in very delicate health, and he had consulted Miss Coleridge on the subject of placing her in a college at Sydenham, and she mi<*ht have told this to the defendant, and also that h-r daughter had been staying with his brother. Mr. Adams =then read a letter from the defendant's solicitors, to the effect that his letter was a remon- strance to his sister on her whole conduct in her relations with Mr. Adams and was, therefore, privileged; the writer adding that from the first Lord Coleridge based his objections to her marriage on the character of Mr. Adams. The plaintiff then went on to refer to his relations with Miss Coleridge, who was a lady 37 years of age, and of exceptional literary and musical attainments, and which arose from the circumstance that he was the secretary of a charitable institution of the committee of which Miss Coleridge was a member. Neither Miss Cole- ridge nor himself had then the least idea of mar- riage, and his case was that marriage had been forced upon them by Lord Coleridge and the defendant. The defendant was cognisant of the facts, and there- fore his letter could not have been a warning to his sister. He would not go further into the history of this engagement, beyond the fact it was not sought or desired by either Miss Coleridge or himself, and it was at first an informal engagement. On the Court re-assmbling on Saturday, plaintiff was sworn, and gave evidence, which was chiefly a recapitula- tion of the statements made in his address. He was not cross-examined, and he called witnesses to prove the falsity of some of the defendant's allegations. Mr. Walter Marshall Adams, his brother, spoke of being constantly at the defendant's house, and said he was not aware of any member of the family who had refused to have anything to do with him, and Miss Effie Rose Bishop, a friend of Miss Coleridge. Miss Mildred Coleridge was called, but it was arranged that she should not be examined. This closed the case for the plaintiff. The Attorney-General submitted that the plaintiff must be non-suited that the communication was privileged, and that there was no evidence to show that the defendant, in writing it was actuated by malice. Mr. Justice Manisty said that, subject to anything that might be said, he should hold the communication to be privileged. The Attorney-General: The plaintiff admitted that he could give no proof of express malice, and what was there from which malice could be inferred ? There was no fact stated in the libel which the plaintiff said that he stated upon his own knowledge; he wrote what he had heard from others, and he said that he communicated the statements in confidence. His client should not be called upon to make a statement which must involve third persons, when the plaintiff had really given no affirmative proof of what the plaintiff was bound to prove. Mr. Adams submitted that if the defendant had written recklessly, not caring whether the statements were true or false, that would be sufficient. The Attorney-General, in answering an observation from the bench, said that he should not call evidence, but would take the judgment of his lordship upon the case as it now stood. Mr. Justice Manisty said that the course which he thought it best that' it should take was this. He should reserve to himself to act and to direct what he thought ought to be the judgment in the case but while doing this he thought that it was better that, in the meantime, he should take the opinion of the jury upon the question whether they thought that malice on the part of the defendant was proved. After that he should himself decide the question whether in point of law there was any evidence of malice. If the jury should find one way, of course there would be an end of the case, but if they should find the other, then it would rest with him to decide as a matter of law whether there was any evidence upon which the jury were entitled to find malice. Mr. Adams then summed up his case to the jury. He pressed upon them that the defendant had not dared to cross-examine him, and had not dared to submit himself to cross-examination. As to his want- ing Miss Coleridge's money, he scouted the idea; he was ready, and, please God, would take her without a shilling, and he hoped that he would make her happy, happier than she bad been for some time past. The Attorney-General replied on behalf of the defendant. He submitted that the defendant, in writing to his sister, bad only one motive, and that was to induce her to break off a marriage which he thought would be disadvantageous to her; and it was a singular thing that no other motive had ever been specifically mentioned, much less proved. He would not say what the defendant's courage was as to going into the box and submitting to cross- examination; but he would say that the course which had been taken in not calling evidence was the act of his counsel and not his, and they took the whole responsibility of it. The position of the defendant was this, that the information which he communicated to his sister had been communicated in confidence to him by private persons; and he could not in any event have called them into the witness box to state what they had said, and thus expose themselves to similar actions to that which had been brought against the defendant himself. He preferred to meet all the consequences himself rather than go into the witness- box and divulge the names of those upon whose information he had acted, and thus expose them to similar risk. He drew attention to the reason given by the plaintiff for not employing counsel. He insinuated that any counsel so employed against the son of the Lord Chief Justice might be exposed to evil consequences. Mr. Adams protested that he had never said any- thing of the kind he had said that he had no doubt that any counsel he had chosen to conduct his case would have done so, and that there was no judge upon the bench who would subject him to any evil conse- quences for so doing. Mr. Justice Manisty hoped that that was what the plaintiff had meant. The Attorney-General thought that the plaintiff having uow made this statement, it would be better that he should pass away from the subject altogether. Was there anything to show that the plaintiff had any sufficient home to offer to the defendant's sister, and was not the defendant, therefore, justified in warninc her of the consequences of marriage ? The feelings of the plaintiff also towards Miss Coleridge were peculiar, for he now said that when he became engaged to her he did not wish to marry her, and he told her father that he should regard her as being a "white elephant" to him. He submitted in con- clusion that the jury should hold that the defend- ant in what he had done was entitled rather to their commendation than that they should condemn him. Mr. Justice Manisty having summed up, The jury wished to know whether they could see the original letter sued on, and go through it for themselves. t Mr. Justice Manisty: If they wished it he did not think that he could keep it from them, but there was a part of it which it had been agreed should not be read for reasons adopted by both sides. The Jury We should like to lock at it. Mr. Justice Manisty: Well, you have a right to ^°Mr. Charles said that there was no objection on the part of the defendant. The plaintiff also said that he had no objection, and thereupon the original letter was handed to the jury. The jury having considered the matter for three quarters of an hour, expressed their opinion that as the defendant had not retracted when he had the opportunity, there was vindictiveness on his part, and therefore they found for the plaintiff. Mr. Justice Manisty: In the event of that verdict standing, what damages do you think that the plaintiff. is entitled to.. The jury said that they had not considered that; and after a few minutes' consideration, they assessed the damages at JE3000. The plaintiff asked for judgment. The Attorney-General: I ask for your lordship's ruling whether there is any evidence to support that finding. Mr. Justice Manisty: In my opinion there is no evidence upon which such a verdict can be founded, and therefore I must give judgment for the defendant with costs.

THE OLDEST KNOWN ALPHABET. It is an interesting fact that the oldest known "ABC in existence is a child's alphabet, scratched on a little ink-bottle, of black ware, found in one of the oldest Greek settlements in Italy, attributed to the fifth century B.C. The earliest letters and many later ones are known only by inscriptions, and it is the rapid increase, by recent discoveries of these precious fragments, that has inspired more diligent research and quickened the zeal of learned students in mastering the elements of knowledge of their origin and history throughout the world. As late as 1876 there were found in Cyprus some bronze plates inscribed with Phcenician characters, dating back to the tenth, even to the eleventh century, B.C. Each epoch has its fragments, and the mdus- trv of English explorers, the perseverance of German students, and the genius of French scholars, have all contributed to group them in their chronological order. Coins, engraved gems, inscribed statues, and, last of all, the Siloam inscription, found in 1880 at Jerusalem, on the wall of an old tunnel, have sup- plied new material for the history. From the com- mon mother of many alphabets the Phoenician, are descended the Greek and other European systems on the one side, including that which we use and have the greatest interest in and on the other the alpha- bets of Asia, from which have sprung those of the East, Syriac, Arabic, and Hebrew.-Boston Common- wealth.

LAND IN THE UNITED STATES. Mr. M'Farland, the Commissioner-General of the American Land Office, states in his annual report that 27,000,000 acres of land were either sold or given in grants during the financial year 1883-84, and that the Federal Treasury received for them a sum of 12 789.000dols., this representing an increase of 8 101 000 acres, and l,073,364dols. over the total of the previous year. Mr. M'Farland is of opinion that the legislation affecting public lands requires to be modified, as at present it opens the door to many abuses, and he recommends that all purchasers should be compelled to cultivate what they purchase, insteaa of keeping it for purposes of speculation. This is specially the case with forest land and he points out that much of it, worth from 25dols. to lOOdols. an acre, is sold for a tenth of its value to immigrants who are merely acting on behalf of speculators. He further recommends the re-afforesting of the regions bordering upon the great rivers, which are now almost completely denuded of timber. He also calls the attention of Government to the depredations com- mitted in the West upon the public lands, as he esti- mates that 4,431,980 acres have been illegally en- closed," principally in New Mexico, Colorado, and the States or Territories of the South-West. Mr. M'Farland terminates his report by stating that 8 34*3,1.54 acres have been ceded to the different rail* way companies during the past vear. as against 6,423.818 acres in 1882-83.

WILBERFORCE. THORNTON, AND WILLIAM SMITH. Close by Wilberforce in the House of Commons through this fight of faith stood Henry Thornton, of the same age and Parliamentary standing, the now almost forgotten, but then the popular, member for Southwark. Carrying his religion into politics, he strenuously opposed all bribery and embezzlement, and would not give a guinea per bead for votes, or allow banners to be carried before him at his election, according to the fashion of the day. Like Wilber- force, he was of the Evangelical type, and he once said to his children: "I had rather have a shake of the hand from good old John Newton than the cheers of all that foolish mob, who praise one, they don t know why." The character of this politician and his influence over Wilberforce have been graphically sketched by an admiring friend who well knew them both. Never hurried, but never idle-never harrassed, but never resting-moments caught up as well as hours, the workman ever working cheerily under a Father's gracious eye. His rest was to turn from one labour to a different one—to go from the bank to a council of benevolence, from a political dis- cussion to a struggling colony or a school in difficul- ties He lays down the pen of the financier to take up the pen of the philanthropist, to write long letters to a harassed governor, to settle differences amongst contending missionaries, to snatch an interval from a dull witness before a Parliamentary Committee in order to write letters or compose tracts for Hannah More." Wilberforce often consulted the busy man. He would rush up to him in tne nouse aurmg a debate, gesticulate and inquire in a torrent of words an answer would be given, short, clear, luminous— then Wilberforce would retire to his neat. satisfied and at rest. Another religious and political con- temporary, but of a different order, was William Smith, the Unitarian member for Norwich. His image comes before me as he appeared when canvassing in an election contest more than sixty years ago. Dressed in a Court suit with sword and ruffles, mountei on a chair of blue and white satin, and decorated with blue and white emblems, the Liberal colours for the old city of Norwich -he was carried round the marketplace, amidst bands of music and enthusiastic acclamations. The constant friend of civil and reli- eious liberty, he worked in its service with untiring diligence and.pationce,and having been active in oppo- sition to Lord Sidmouth's bill, he was not now indif- ferent to the question involved in the East Indian debate. If I did not," he said, believe in one iota of the Divine origin of the Christian religion, yet, as a philosopher, I should admire it for the pure princi- ples of morality it inculcates, and I should be anxious to introdnce it among the Hindoos, for the purpose of driving from the shores of India that cruel and bloody superstition that disgraces them."—"Religion in Eng- land from 1800 to 1850," by John Stoughton, DJ).

OUR FUTURE WATCHES AND CLOCKS. However long the use of the letters a.m." and p.m." for distinguishing the two halves of the civil day may survive, it seems probable that the more rational method of counting the hours of the day con- tinuously from midnight through twenty-four hours to the midnight following may before long come into use for a variety of purposes for which it is well adapted, even if it should not yet be generally em- ployed. It seems proper, therefore, to consider in what way ordinary watches and clocks could be best accommodated to such a change in the mode of reckoning. To place twenty-four hours on one circle round the dial instead of twelve hours as at present seems the most natural change to make; but, in addition to a new dial, it would involve also some alteration in construction, since the hour hand would have to make one revolution only in the twenty-four hours instead of two. And there would be this further disadvantage, that the hours being more crowded together, the angular motion of the hand in moving through the space correspond- ing to one hour would be less-in fact, one-half of its present amount. It is to be remembered that, in taking time from a clock, persons probably pay small attention to the figures, either those for hours or minutes, the relative position of the hands on the dial probably at once sufficiently indicating the time to most persons without any need of reference thereto, but it would be by no means so easy to pick up the hour from a circle containing twenty-four, and especially in the case of public and turret clocks. There is also the question of change of the motion- work to which allusion has been already made- necessary if the hour-hand is to make one revolution onlv in twenty-four hours—a practical question in ".1- _1..1 -_1"00. regard to which the watch or ClOCK MAW CUWU pnr- bably best speak. There is another way of adapting ordinary watches and clocks to the twenty-four-hour system, which, if the watch is intended only for the reckoning of local time. seems deserving of considera- tion. It consists in making the hour figures shorter, not necessarily at all less distinct, and placing two circles of figures round the dial, an inner circle with hours from 0 to 11, and an outer circle with hours from 12 to 23. The hour-hand would thus point to 1 and 13 and to 2 and 14, &c., at the same time, it being understood that the hours 0, 1, 2, &c., would b. reckoned in the morning, and the hours 12, 13,14, &c., in the afternoon, a convention to which people would probably soon accommodate themselves. On ,uch a plan a watch would only require a new dial, no change of wheelwork being necessary, so that it could be very readily applied to existing watches, and so sooner promote the use of the twenty-four hour system. Persons might perhaps ooject to the intro- duction of two hour-circles from an artistic point of view. But, after all is said, the question whether one circle containing twenty-four hours or two circles having twelve hours m each- be pre- ferable, is*one to be settled only by a consideration of the relative advantages and dis- advantages of the two proposals, in regard to which it would be interesting to learn what business men on the one hand, and practical watchmakers, on the other, may have to say. There are conditions under which one circle of twenty-four hours would cer ainly be the more advantageous, and clearly.it would be well that one system only should, if possible, be used. As regards clocks, there is the further question of striking the hours. For public clocks we could not go on to twenty-four. It may be a question whether in large towns one stroke only at each hour might not be a sufficient indication, though even this rule probably could hardly be universally applied.-Nature.

More than 1200 persons, many of them skilled artisans, have solicited work from the public authori- ties of Dundee. Already employment has been found for between 100 and 200 in stone breaking for the formation of new streets. A GOOD EXCUSE.—Officer How is this, Flanagan -you've been drinking?" Flanagan: "Shure, ye* honour, it's along o' what yer honour said the other day, that the regiment-long life to it!-had so few Scotchmen in't. Faix, I ses to meself, thin I drink Scotch whisky till I half turn meself into one! — Funny Folks.

IMPORTANT MEDICAL DISCOVERY. An important discovery, made by a Vienna oculist named Koller, has been publicly demonstrated before some scientific men. Dr. Koller has found that one drop of cocaine—the extract of the cocoa leaf-if dropped into the eye renders it totally insensible, thus enabling operations to be performed without pain. Dr. Jellinek has further found that a drop of the extract produoes the same effect on the larynx, a point of the utmost importance in diphtheria and other grave throat diseases. Dr. Schrotter made use of the cocaine in operating on an old polypus. The operation was performed with complete success in five minutes.

n. BLANE ON HIS DEFEAT: Mr. Blaine has been serenaded at Augusta, Maine, and in returning thanks said the chief result of the Presidential election would be to transfer political power to the South. This was a great national mis- fortune, because it placed the Republic under the rule of the minority. The negrees of the South having been disfranchised by the fraud or violence of the white man, the latter had absorbed the political rights of the negroes, and so enjoyed double the political power possessed by the white citizens of the Northern States. He anticipated that, in the next generation, a badge of inferiority would mark the Northern white man, as odiously as ever the Norman noble stamped the ign of subjection upon the Saxon churl. Further- more, he expected that the negroes of the South would henceforth be compelled to work for the pit- tance of slaves, say thirty-five cents, a day. This would drive them northwards, where a degrading competition with the labour of white men would ensue. Thus the entire question of the manhood of America was involved in the resnlt of the late election

ABSENTEE LANDLORDS IN ENGLAND. Rural England is suffering from a cause which threatens at no distant date to entirely destroy the growth of centuries, viz., the bond of sympathy and mutual interest engendered by the contact of squire, farmer, and labourer, and which has in the part held them united in the bonds of mutual esteem. A journey throughout the agricultural districts would open the eyes of the dweller in cities to the fact that numerous country seats are practically deserted, save for a few weeks' hunting or shooting. The exigencies of modern political life, with its double session and autumnal rush to the Continent and seaside, have completely changed the whole conditions of English country life. Instead of, as formerly, a six or eight months' residence among his own people, the modern landlord sees but little of them, and it is well within the mark to say that this applies to at least three- fourths of the manorial residences of England, a state- ment justified by a recent prolonged privilege of eight months in various parts of the country. There is a growing disinclination among the wealthier classes for the simplicity of rural life, which cannot but prove injurious, not only to the whole community, but to themselves. Their residence at the Hall" is not only the means of providing employment, and circu- lating money in the village, but the prolonged absence, of which so much mention has been made of late, breeds discontent, and furnishes a weapon for the ready agitator to use in setting class against class. The duties of visiting and sympathising with the people are neglected, the management of the estate is left entirely to the agent, and the hurried visit is all too short to enable landlords to keep touch with their dependents. This is a matter apart from party, and we sound no false note of alarm when we depre- cate the perpetual London season which robs the country of the presence of many whose duties lie there. It is this disinterested performance of these very real duties which has in the past formed the strength of moral life, and the most fruitful source of their neglect is the ennui engendered by the feverish unrest of London life, which makes country life to so many almost unendurable. With the many changes in agriculture that are taking place daily, such as the employment of machinery, the abandonment of the growth of cereals, and the development of grazing lands, it is not at all improbable that owners will have to become farmers; in fact, many are com- pelled to do so. Should these changed circumstances cause them to reside more at home, it will un- doubtedly prove a distinct benefit to the nation. Agriculture has ever been both the defender and supplier of commerce, and is still the true officina militum, although in the matter of supply the foreign markets of corn and meat have entered into a com- petition which, while benefitting the consumer, has pressed hardly upon the producers. It is at this crisis that it is more than ever necessary for land- lords to reside among their people. The spirit of discontent is being fostered by the party of spolia- tion, and this spirit will most certainly spread unless those who enjoy the privileges of ownership re- member its duties. The attractions of London life have multiplied tenfold during the past twenty yetvrft, and this centralisation of pleasure and politics is leaving ita mark upon the land and the rural people; and, now that the latter will have a more direct in- terest in politics, it becomes the duty of their natural leaders to take their place among them, to study their wants and interests, and live in sympathy with them. A. noble income nobly spent is no common sight in these times of display and mitigated enter- tainments but the need far expending where the wealth is gained was never greater than DOvr.-St. Stephen's Review.

commission. THE INDUSTRIAL CRISIS IN PARIS. In the French Chamber, M. Tony RSvillion, Gam- betta's successor at Belleville, drew a doleful picture of the distress in Paris. The cholera and the winter, he said, had come together, and, though the exag- gerated fears as to the former had disappeared, the foreign and provincial visitors had departed. Of every 15 artisans, only 10 had employment, and their average wages had fallen in two years from 6fr. to 5fr. per day. Of the 100,000 masons in Paris in 1882, 30,000 bad left, and only half the remaining 70,000 had work. The municipality, he contended, oueht to so on making street improvements, for which purpose it should borrow from the Urtdit JJoncier and spend 50,000,000fr. or 60,000,000fr in pubho works. The underground railway, he said, should also be begun at once, thus employing thousands of workmen; the two new Lycees, long contemplated, should be erected, and the level crossings on the Ceinture Railway should be superseded by bridges. The Sorbonne and Medical School improvements might also be accelerated, the structure of the Arts and Metiers repaired, the Bank of France en- larged, an Industrial Museum built on the un- sightly ruins of the Cour des Comptes, and two rmhpAlfchv barracks be demolished. He also sug- gested a more equal distribution of poor reuet m tne various wards, and the gift of small sums to families desirous of returning to the country or behind with their rent. He urged that, as Paris contained natives of all the departments, the State could fairly be called on to assist; and he concluded by proposing a vote of 3,000,000fr. for the victims of the crisis, half to be given to the poor relief authorities and half to ward committees of trade unionists. M de Mun, the lay revivalist and Legitimist, argued that the distress existed all over France, and condemned the present economic system, commercial treaties included. M. Delattre, Extremist, Deputy for bt. Deni3 recommended the demolition of the fortifica- tions, which were from a military point of view use- less, and local self-government, so that municipali- ties, might tax unoccupied houses, thus compelling reduced rents, and also levy on unoccupied building ground. M. Waldeck-Rousseau, Minister of the Tnfjsrinr. remarked that the distress and lack of employment had not so much increased as attracted greater attention, which result was a subject for rejoicing. He stated that the Sor- bonne and Medical School improvements were in- volving an expenditure of 58,000,000fr., that 3700 men were employed on them that the Municipality was spending 12,000,000fr.; in improvements, and the railway companies 900,000fr.; while the new Mar- bceuf quarter was employing 3700 hands, with an expenditure of 15,000,000fr. Two new Lycees and one other building might be begun next year, at a cost of 18,000,000fr. Certain street improvements, wooden pavements, and country roads, continued the Minister, would cost 26,000,000fr.; and the Munici- pality would spend next year 39,000,000fr. in sewers, promenades, &c. Prison improvements about to be undertaken would cost 17,000,000fr., and a new tram- way 7,000,000fr. Cheap houses, in the event of the State and the Municipality coming to an agreement, might be constructed at a cost of 125,000,000fr. He deprecated, however, an artificial and ephemeral acti- vity out of proportion to the real requirements of Paris, for this would soon be followed by increased distress; and the overbuilding bad already swollen the number of unemployed masons, though a large number of them had returned last winter to the pro- vinces. As to a vote of 3,000,000fr., charity was not the function of the State, especially as there was no distress elsewhere than in Paris and a grant to the metropolis would involve the provision of relief for Lvons. Marseilles. and a multitude of small towns.

ACTION FOR LIBEL AGAINST A SOCIETY PAPER. In the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice on Saturday, the case Blood v. Lau- rence came on for trial before Mr. Justice Denman and a special Jury. It was an action brought by M r-s. Mary Amy Blood and her husbaud, Ml. Edmund Maghlin Blood, against Mr. Joseph Lawrence, to re- cover damages for a libel published in Mcdetn Society, of which defendant is the proprietor, editor, aad printer, on the 19th January in the present year. It ran as follows: It is pretty generally known that Mrs. Blood waa divorced by a former husband for her elopement with Mr. Blood." The defendant pleaded that the matter complained of was inserted without gross negligence and without malice, and that defendant had offered to insert an apology, and he paid S5 into court in satisfaction of the claim. Mr. Charles Russell, Q.C., and Mr. Crump was counsel for the plaintiffs; Mr. Bullen was for the de- fendant. Mr. Russell, in opening the case, said that the plaintiffs resided in Thurloe-square, Kensington, and the lady against whom this atrocious libel had been directed was seventy years of age, whose first husband, Mr. O'Brien, died in 1835, and who, after remaining a widow for fifteen years, married her present hus- band in 1851. They were the parents of Lady Colin Campbell, in reference -to whose divorce suit a paragraph had appeared in the defendant's paper on the 12th of the same month, in which it was asked why it was that Lady Colin Campbell had waited two and a half years before asking the protection of the law against her husband, the writer at the same time expressing his reluctance to refer to Lady Colin Campbell's suit, which was then pending. As soon as Mrs. Blood's attention was drawn to the libel in question, she asked for the name and address of the writer, but was met by an offer from the de- fendant to insert any proper paragraph she might send to the office, or that the editor would insert an explanation as to how the matter complained of came to be published. The defendant's solicitors also offered to allow her solicitors, Messrs. Lewis and Lewis, to inspect the original document, on the understanding that their client should be acquitted of all blame in the matter. Beyond this no repara- tion whatever had been made for this odious libel, imputing adultery to this elderly lady, and the plaintiff was, therefore, compelled to bring this action. Mrs. Blood, the female plaintiff, was then called, and stated that she married her husband in 1851, and there were four children of that marriage, three of whom are now living. She married her first hus- band in April, 1835, and he died within a year. There was not one word of truth in the libel. The witness was not cross-examined. The defendant stated that his paper, which was published weekly, had a circulation of about 50,000, but was not a very paying concern. His defence was that the matter charged as libellous was inserted without his knowledge, and during his absence from the office, by the instructions of a Mr. Jeffreys, who was then acting as editor, and who bad died in March last. He admitted, after some hesitation, that he had himself written the paragraph relating to Lady Colin Campbell. Mr. Justice Denman, in summing up, made some strong remarks on the practice which now prevailed in a portion of the public press, for the purpose of pandering to a depraved taste, of dragging private affairs before the public, and left it to the jury to say whether the defendant was guilty of gross negligence or had been actuated by malice. The jury then retired, and after a brief absence re- turned into court. The Foreman said: We find a verdict for the plaintiff. We think the libel is wicked and false, and to show our sense of it we give ±1000 as damages. j —-t.t, For this amount his lordship signed judgment with costs.

THE LOSS OF THE NISERO. Mr. C. S. Crighton, the chief officer among the survivors of the crew of the Nisero, has furnished an account of their captivity. He states that the ship Nisero, the property of Messrs. Pinkney, Sons, and Clare, was wrecked on the coast of Sumatra, an island in the Indian Ocean, on the 8th of November, 1883. They had great difficulty in launching their boats, as the vessel had foundered on her beam-ends. On arriving at the beach they were accosted by two natives, armed to the teeth, who immediately asked them if they were Dutch. On being assured to the contrary, and that they were shipwrecked English- men, the natives left them and shortly afterwards re- turned in large numbers, carrying fruits (their emblems of peace) but at the same time the crew noticed in all the bushes surrounding were hidden armed natives, only waiting the order or the Rajah be- fore opening fire upon them. On the beach one of the crew had his watch taken from him by a native, but on the Rajah being acquainted with the fact be compelled the culprit to return it. This they considered was a good sign of his friendly feeling. They were given some rice to eat, and on the two following days the chief officers were permitted, after some persuasion, to go on board, where they found everything ran- sacked by the natives, and the only thing allowed the crew was a suit of clothes each, the Rajah appro- priating the remainder. They were cautioned to keep in their huts all day or their lives would be in peril, owing to a hill tribe over which the Rajah had no control, who, he informed them, would certainly take their lives if the slightest opportunity was given them. No satisfactory answer could ever be got from the Rajah as to their release. He said they intended to remove them to Tenom, and the terms of their release would then be negotiated for. These would consist of the opening of their ports, which had then been closed by the Dutch. They were then removed to another small village, and the Rajah before parting with them asked, What do you think of this country ? What fools the Dutch are to think they will ever take it." On the third day of their stay in this vil- lage they saw a Dutch gunboat pass close to land, but dare not make signals. It was evident the wreck had been noticed. A few days later Captain Woodhouse was instructed to write a letter to the Dutch for the pur- pose of making terms, and on December 9 a Dutch gunboat arrived for the purpose of making those terms. Captain Woodhouse was permitted to go on board to see the British Consul on the understanding that if he did not return the heads of the remainder of the crew would be cut off. The next morning a letter was received by them from the captain to say he had to go on to another port to procure money. This made the Rajah very angry, and their lives were in jeopardy. Their supply of food, which con- sisted of dirty rice and salt, was stopped for several days, and this fare formed the sole ingredients of their Christmas dinner. On the 29th of January of the present year they were informed that the Dutch were going to bombard Tenom, and they would have to be removed to further up country. This the Dutch did, and landed troops, which only made the case of the captives worse, and their supply of food was again cut off, and on their remonstrating they were told that the Dutch bad taken it all; and the Rajah only laughed at their sufferings. Their principal food during their residence in a hut at the top of a high hill was cooked leaves, which they had to collect and eat to satisfy the pangs of hunger. This lasted for twenty days. They were again moved to another village, and on the 22nd of Feb. one of her Majesty's gunboats left them a supply ot tea ana biscuits, which lasted for 12 weeks. On the 27th of Rajah to release the remainder of the crew, and detain only them, but he refused. Another of the crew died on that month (February) they were removed to a. smad island, which remained their home for five months. The first death among them was from starvation, on the 24th of March. On May 19 another succumbed from an attack of cholera, and two more the same week died of the same complaint. Shortly after this the engineer and himself (Mr. Crighton) asked the June 10. On August 16 Mr. Maxwell, the British Consul, arrived in a gunboat to make terms for their release, and these terms were as follows: Free trade and open port and 40,000 dols., or about £8000. On the 6th of September the terms were agreed to,^and on the 7th they were instructed to pack up the things and prepare for a march, wtneh they we e nothing loth to do. On their arrival Tenom y could scarcely recognise the place, as the Dutch had destroyed all the huts in the place andI burned aown the trees. On arriving at their destination they were met by Mr. Maxwell, Colonel Lockhard, and others, and given a hearty welcome. Mr. Maxwell remained himself as a hostage until the ransom was paid the next day.

GAMBLING THROUGH THE POST. The relations of the Postmaster-General to gambling transactions of various kinds are now a fertile subject of moralists and lawyers. Only a short time ago we heard a good deal about the iniquity of sending postal telegrams respecting betting trans- actions on the turf, and were assured that the Post Office authorities either are, or ought to be, liable to an action at law for transmitting such messages. The Law Journal hal now unearthed another subject of complaint of a somewhat analogous kind. It suggests that the Postmaster may possibly be liable to punishment, under the provisions of an Act passed in the reign of William IV., designed to prevent the advertising of foreign or other illegal lotteries. will be observed that the statute, with a charming frankness, includes all foreign lotteries under the broad category of illegality. It then goes on to subject to a fine of E.50 all persons who publish, or cause to be published, any notice of such unlawful affairs. And the legal paper asks whether delivering the advertisements and pros- pectuses to Englishmen in the guise of letters is n a sufficient publication to be included in the Act. opinion evidently is that this is so; and the goes so far as to suggest that the Postmaster ™ werable, even though the obnoxious advertiSem nt ,s enclosed, and concealed, in a letter. *^oukt be rather unfair, besides being manifestly unpcLSible, to go this length. But the circulars of several of the foreign lotteries are sent out m such flimsy wrapper, and bear so evidently upon them the mark of their real character, that it might be as well in their case, if it can be done, te put the old Act in force.-7i1 q1noo.

EPITOME OF NEWS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN, The communal elections in Siervia have everywhere resulted favourably for the Government. The new owners of the American Line steamers contemplate sailing their vessels under the British flag. -Reuter. The Estimates for tie Italian navy for 1885 amount to 76,865,600f., inclusive of an augmentation of 8,367,000f. in the ordinary expenditure, with a dhnhra- tien of B4,150,000 in the extraordinary outlay. The Duilio, Dandolo, and Foncatore are to be placed on the reserve list next year. The yearly report of the Hungarian Minister of Edu- cation on the state of the schools, the pension fund for teachers, and the orphan fund for the year lSSD-S, has been presented. The lUIIIisted" teachers numbered' ill. 1883 12,174, some being superintendent* of infants" homes. In all 92,000fl. were paid ort; The well-known German Privy Councillor Wagner" for many years Prince Bismarck's right hand, will shortly publish a book in which he gives an account of the origin of his so-called Kreuz Zeitung' Party." A paper on infant marriage and enforced widowhOO4 lately published by M. Mahabari, of Bombay, appearltt17 have attracted the attention of tee Supreme Govern- ment, for a copy has been sent to the Governor or Madras, with a request that he will make such observa- tions on it 88 he may consider advisable. He has resolved to consult several native gentlemen on tHai subject. The "Petit Nord" states that at Dunkirk recently the crew of the British steamship Windsor, about to start for Leith, refused to put to sea, declaring that the vessel had more merchandise on board than the' Board of Trade licensed the owner to carry. Ott examination their objection was found to be valid, and the extra cargo having been unloaded the steamer left for her destination* Complaints have been made by the Consuls at Varna* in Armenia of the pillage of the Armenians by bands- of Turks and Kurds about the neighbourhood of Bitlie; Professor Paequale Villari, who has left Rome for London to take charge of the Ashburnham manuscripts- bought by Italy, is to be one of the new Senators whom the Government is about to name. The subscription at Amsterdam of 9,000,OOOfL for the new Dutch Indian Agricultural Association, which has, been established to prevent the recurrence of certain financial disasters, has been fully covered. The projected revision of the Dutch Constitution appears to be impossible for the present, in consequence of the reinforcement of the Ultra-Calvinist element in the Second Chamber, brought about by the last elec- tions, which renders the formation of a majority very difficult. The Ministry will, therefore, endeavour only to re-establish the financial equilibrium, and then present a bill for lowering the Parliamentary franchise. A dissolution will take place afterwards, in order to secure a working Parliamentary majority. The dulness of trade in the manufacturing districts of the United States is causing a general movement, in many of the American cities, for a reduction of wages and tor a short time. This is especially noticeable in the iron, cotton, woollen, and carpet trades. Several strikes against a reduction of wages have been started, including a formidable one by the Philadelphia carpet weavers. The depressed state of trade will cause much hardship among the poor in the large cities during this winter. Among the Tartars in the district of Bogoulminsk, in the Government of Kasan, troubles have occurred, caused by a false rumour attributing to the Government the intention of converting the Mahometans by force to Christianity. The rumour originated in the fact that Orthodox priests were officially employed to collect statistical information concerning the Tartar population. Some sandwich-men lately arrested in Paris on the charge of causing obstruction in the streets, their real crime being that they wore Chinese hats, and whiskers caricaturing those of M. Ferry, have been acquitted by the Tribunal of Simple Police, which moved that as they moved on, though slowlyT they did not impede the circulation. The jubilee of the Metropolitan Isidore, who has held the archiepiscopal office for 50 years, has been cele- brated with great solemnity in St. Petersburg. Prayers were said at the Isaac Kasan and Nevski Cathedrals by the members of Holy Synod, and in the evening by the Archbishops. The whole of the Imperial family pre- sented their congratulations. The Emperor's address was published in the official newspaper. About fifty members of the higher orthodox clergy and numerous deputations, among which was one from Mount Athos, took part in the celebration. The St. Petersburg clergy have subscribed 80,000 roubles to found in the Metro- politan's name an asylum for aged priests. A meeting of old Wellingtonians" was held at Lambeth Palace on Saturday, for the purpose of con- sidering as to the best means of establishing a Welling- ton College Mission in some poor part of London. The chair was taken by the Archbishop of C ant^bury, him- self an old Welhngtonian; and the Rev. K O. Wick- ham, head master of the college, briefly explained the object of the gathering-that they should take a more active and larger part than hitherto in mission work in London," pro Deo et pro patria." After some discus- sion a provisional committee was appointed to confer with the committee of present Wellingtonians to draw up apian of operations. The Archbishop consented to be nominated on the committee. Negotiations between landlord and tenants of Inis- trahull Island have fallen through, and matters stand as they did when the ill-fated gun-boat Wasp was about to take an evicting party on board. In all probability an attempt will at once be made to enforce the Queen's writ, over seven years'rent being due. The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh have both entered fat stock for exhibition at the two great Kent cattle shows at Canterbury and Ashford to be held in December.. The weather in the English Channel and in the North Sea continued stormy on Saturday, and several shipping accidents occurred around the coasts. In one or two cases crews were rescued by lifeboat or rocket apparatus.. The West African Conference met again at Berlin on Saturday, when proposals relating to the Congo were made by the United States Plenipotentiary. Tho members afterwards dined with the Emperor, the Foreign Ambassadors and Prince Bismarck being also present. A Reuter's telegram states that a destructive cyclone has burst over part of the Presidency. Immense damage has been done in the Red Hills, and breaches have been made in the embankments of the Cholavoram Lakes from which the city derives its supply of water. As a result the supply is cut off, and Madras is left to rely upon the wells for its water. On Sunday night many thousands of persons, beaded by bands, and carrying torches and banners, paraded the streets of Waterfordin commemoration of the death of i Allen, Latkin, and O'Brien, known as the Manchester martyrs." „ shortly after one o clock on Sunday morning two constables discovered that the parish churnh of St. George's in the Fields, Glasgow, was on Are. The fire- master and his staff, with a couple of steam fire engines, were soon on the spot, but finding that the flames had sot a firm hold of the church they directed their efforts to saving the vestry, in which they were successM. Nothing but the bare walls of the church remain, and the damage is estimated at £4000. A fatal accident occurred among a gang of poachers, near Inverness, on Saturday night. While arranging as to how a young, roe which had been shot should be secretly conveyed into the town, the loaded rifle of a man named Charles Cameron, one of the party, went off, and the shot lodged in his abdomen Cameron, who was about twenty-five years of age, died almost ^AtfDevonport on Saturday, William Hicks was sen- tenced to two years' hard labour and dismissal with disgrace from the Service for embezzling large quanti- ties of stores of her Majesty's ship Ganges, where he had for many years been employed as steward, prisoner would have been entitled to retire with a pen- sion in a few months. A fire broke out on the extensive premises of Mr. Whelan, builder, Newry, on Sunday morning, and it raced fiercely for seven hours. At one time it. was feared that the fire would extend to the police barracks, and the prisoners in the cells were accordingly removed to a place of safety, but the flames were eventually MIn Sequence of the depression in agriculture the tenants on the estate of the executors of the late Mr. A. Stokes, at Dymchurch, in Kent, have been^granted a reduction of 10 per cent, m their rentals At the rent audit of Sir George Shiffner, Bart., Lewes a remission of 3i per cent, on the year's rentals was allowed. A meeting of socialists was held on Sunday in Pans at which the sacking of the houses of \be mI^e classes was advocated by every speaker, arTheB"Mo^^Tent Geographique" of Brussels on Saturday announced that Germany is preparing to extend her protectorate over the Sultanate of Zanzibar. The Rev. George Johu Dupuis, M.A, Vice Provost of Eton College, died early on Saturday morning at his residence in the Cloisters, Eton College. The de- ceased, who was in the 89th year, was educated at Eton, becoming King's Scholar in 1814 He was ^pointed Assistant Master in 1819, Lower Master ^^JFeUow of the College in 1838, and Rector of Worplesaon in 18A daily-increasing severe frost has ^t in at Odessa. The authorities prognosticate a recurrence of the extra- nrdinarv severity of two years ago, when some dO Britisn ESiSWi™ months icebound in th,, At ft largely-attended Conference of Co-operative Societies' Delegates, ^Presenting the North^Westem section and embracing Lancashire, Yorkshire, unesmre, fnd £ W North whe, ,t A~™Se°0entSj-' operative Board to engage^ Manehegter suitable fof land m the neg Board to formulate a scheme a farm, and askmg the Boar for carrying on S assumjn a more settled As matters appear Roderick Martin, aspect Lochs, made an attempt on Friday to far, .«' Itock back upon the island rented by him, from where the crofters forcibly removed them some time W n On nearing the ferry, however,he was overtaken hl a number of Cromore people, who forcibly prevented him from proceeding. They were very excited, ana their attitude was so threatening that he considereait arlvisablo to retreat, leaving the cattle with them. Mr. Martin has made a report of this to the authorities at On Saturday morning, on the North Strand, ^ublip» the police made a seizure of an illicit still, -^g a house which had long been suspected The P^mise were surrounded by detectives and Inland Revenu officers in such a manner as to ren^ esCa^dim^een sible. Directly after the police-officers had nosted in their positions a man from Cavan, D Brady, was caught in the trap. He was carrying a appliance, contained about 100 gallo nnantity of there was also found on the dy was materials for making tbe^0mo^tvrdafS brought up at the police-court on Satura y £ 100! or twelve months' imprisonment in default.