The Aberdare Times

<9ur Ifonkit Cormptbtnt. [We deem It right to state that we do not at all times: identify ourselves with our Correspondent's OplntODe.) Although the Queen completed her sixty-sixth year on Sunday, the official celebration of her Majesty's birthday will not take place until Saturday, the 6th June, when Ministers and members of both Houses of Parliament will again be in London after the recess. The Ministers and great officers of State give grand banquets to commemorate the occasion, the Prince of Wales generally dining with the Premier. The Government offices in White- hall, the clubs in Pall Mall, and the shops of the lioyal tradesmen in such thoroughfares as St. James s-street, Piccadilly, Waterloo-place, and Regent-street, are illuminated with devices of all descriptions. Fine weather, with not much moonlight, makes this spectacle one very well worth going to see, and the streets are always crowded for hours at such celebrations. Politicians, albeit we are in the Whitsun recess, are speculating on the probable events of the next few months, which under any circum- stances. cannot fail to be full of importance. What is Mr. Gladstone going to do ? He has declared that his intervention in public affairs can now be measured by months or even by weeks, and there is a belief that if he could bring about a satisfactory settlement of the Russian difficulty he would retire from office. One thing is tolerably certain, that the right hon. gentleman does not intend to sit in the new Parliament. He has hinted this over and over again. The work of the present Parliament has told severely upon ( him, and he has not now the physical strength which he possessed in IS79 and 1B80, when"he delivered his Midlothian speeches. The entire aspect of the man is one of weariness and a desire for rest. The session has been a most harrassing one for the Prime Minister. One vote of cen- sure after another has had to be beaten off, the Soudan Expedition has come to nought, the Russians hesitate over the negotiations, and the national expenditure has been raised for this year to the vast sum of one hundred millions sterling. Such accumu- lated anxieties tell upon a man who has lived in the world more than three-quarters of a century, and who began his official career over fifty years 0-- ago. After the death of Lord Palmerston Earl Russell came to the Premiership as a matter of course, for he had already held that office; but in the case of Mr. Gladstone's retirement no one can say who the new Prime Minister would be. The Marquis of Hartington has led the Liberal party in the Commons, where there is no doubt the head of tho Government should sit.' But the noble lord's father, the Duke of Devonshire, is a man of advanced years—the marquis himself is 52—so that Ms tenure of a sea £ in the House Qf Commons would not probably be a long one. p I Earl Granville has often been mentioned as having a reversionary right to the Premiership but he is 70 years of age, and younger men are now required for the exacting duties of the State. Each political party believes that the General Election will give it a majority; but never was an estimate more difficult to make in the face of the extended franchise and the multiplication of electoral divisions. By the adjournment of the House of Commons to the 4th of June the annual wrangle over tho Derby holiday was saved. Many members objected to a branch of the Legislature sus- pending its business because a horse race was being run on Epsom Downs, holding that a sort of legislative encouragement was thus given to the sport; but if the House had sat it is doubtful whether a quorum of forty members would have assembled to discuss the contents of the notice paper. The House, therefore, invariably adjourned for the Derby on a division. The people of London read of the Queen's journey along Deeside in an open carriage, and in splendid weather, while a pitiless rainstorm was passing over the metropolis. It was not one of those gentle showers of midsummer which are often so welcome, but a cold descent mixed with hail, which lasted several hours. Steamboat trips from the Thames had been advertised for that day in all directions but excursions of this sort naturally had to be given up. It has been a strange ungenial season. The absence of sunshine has retarded the growth of the fruit to an extent which is perceptible at a glance at any fruiterer's shop in a principal London thoroughfare. Oranges are now practically past, apples are not much better; cherries and straw- berries cannot come to maturity without sun- shine. One suggested reason for the long con- tinuance of chilly winds is the presence of icebergs in the Atlantic, where they are found in targe numbers. The Inman steamer City of Berlin ran into one of these in a fog, and narrowly escaped destruction. On the 1st of June there will be opened to the public the largest caravanserai which has yet been attempted in London. At one time New York carried off the palm for vast hotels but in this respect the British capital is now competing with the Empire city. The Grand, at Charing- cioss, at the Corner of Northumberland Avenue, is of immense extent and imposing dimensions. Next was raised the First Avenue, iri Holborn, and now comes the Hotel Metropole, an enormous structure extendingfrom Northumberland Avenue to Whitehall-place with dining accommodation for a thousand guests and with 600 bedrooms. I ZD Charing-cross is rapidly becoming the centre of large hotels. Thcse are Morley's, the Golden Cross, the South-Eastern, the Grand, and the Metropole. A stranger coming to- London ought not to be under the slightest apprehension as to obtaining quarters. A cab fare to Charing- cross will present him with such a variety of temporary homes as can be found in no other part of the metropolis. The crickfet season is now getting advanced, as already some important county matches have been played. The sport lately has been much interfered with in several parts of the country, through the rain. When we have had a long spell of warm dry weather, and the wicket becomes^ hard, a few showers are beneficial; but continuous heavy rain saturates the ground, and renders play an impossibility. Oxford have lost their second trial match by fifty runs, their antagonists being Lancashire. The rival L niversities are likely to be strong this year in batting, but weak in bowling. But, apart from this, both sides will endeavour to put a thoroughly representative team into the field to do battle on the eventful day at Lords. Last year, it will be remembered the Light Blues were defeated. Nottingham, the champion county for the last two years, can now play their full eleven, as all the members of Shaw's Australian team are back in England. They started last September, and have had a very successful tour, winning most of the contests they were engaged in. A county that may be mentioned as having commenced the season well, is Surrey: this eleven up to the present has been successful ia all their engagements. G. R.

DARING DIAMOND ROBBERY IN LONDON. :ome excitement was caused in the neighbourhood of Hatton Garden on Saturday by a report that a man lwd, after robbing a well-known diamond merchant of a quantity of valuable diamonds, attempted to murder him by shooting him. It appears that oil Friday evening Mr. James Alexander, a diamond merchant, who has offices at 16, Hatton Garden, returned to them about seven o'clock and saw a strange man in the place. When he asked him what he was doing there, the man made some paltry excuse. Mr. Alexander then missed from the sidg of the table his purse containing diamonds and precious stones. On his asking for it, the man took from his pocket a revolver, and, after threatening Mr. Alexander, shot at him and run out of the house. He was seen to run down Hatton Garden, and to get into a hansom cab and drive quiekly away. The nolice were called into the place; and, on learning wbS had occurred, they went in pursuit of the man, who, how- ever, it was found had got clear away. The police and some other persons took Mr. Alexander to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where it was found that he had received a revolver bullet in his right hand, the wound being of a serious character. The police have obtained a d-escription of the man who committed the outrage. It is stated that he had been noticed by several persons during the previous part of the evening loitering about ,!ie neighbourhood. The purse contained diamonds and precious stone's Sforih several thousand pounds.

"Suites to the sweet," as the man said wh5a fie took his youns: wife to live in a Qat. — -—

REPORTED MASSACRES ON THE CONGO, The Globt (a responsible for a report from Paris to the effect that the Societe de Geographic had received disquieting news from the Upper Congo, which went to show that the large Mohammedan populations, probably excited by the success of the Mahdi's rising in the Soudan, were determined to assert their claims to the centre of Africa. One of Mr. Stanley's convoys, richly laden with ivory, it was stated, had been dispatched under the command of M. Arm lot, an agent of the International Association, and under the protection of Tipu-Taib, a powerful Arab chief, eastwards to reach the coast at Zanzibar. Tipu- Taib immediately collected a large army for the purpose of conquering the Congo countrv, and was reported to have advanced at the head of 3000 Arabs, well supplied with modern rilles, pillaging and massacring. The station at Arawimi was sacked and destroyed, and the negro populations were flying for their lives. Tipu-Taib claimed the Congo as the territory of the Sultan of Zanzibar, and had pro- claimed his intention of suppressing all opposition. The country around round Lake Tanganyika was the centre of the movement, but all the Mohammedan races across Africa were liable to be seized bv the new fanaticism, which promised to bring them wealth and power. The station and river of Arawimi is about ldeg. north of the Equator, and about 23deg. east longitude. The latest telegrams received de- scribed the rising as spreading, and that a holy war was being propagated among the Mohammedan sultanates. All the stations of the International Association down to Stanley Falls were described as entirely at the mercy of the fanatics.

STRAITGE CONDUCT OF A GENTLEMAN. At the Marlborough-street Police-court, London, Nigel Young, 30, no occupation, residing at 4, Jer- myn-street, was charged with stealing sixpennyworth of whisky at Hatchet's Hotel, Piccadilly. Mr. Tickell, barrister, appeared for the defence. Mary Holliday said she was barmaid at Hatchet's Hotel, and on the previous evening, about seven o'clock, the prisoner came into the bar and asked to be served with some brandy and soda. As he had not paid the bill for some refreshments he had on the day before she refused to serve him. The prisoner brought in with him a tramp, for whom he also ordered refresh- ments. When the accused, whom she knew as a cus- tomer, found he was not going to be served, he poured out some whisky for himself and some brandy for the tramp. After this she cleared the counter, but the prisoner succeeded in getting some more liquor, and smashed a glass on the floor. Mr. Walter Corner, superintendent at the hotel, said he asked the accused to leave the place quietly, and told him if he did so nothing more would be said about the matter. By this time a crowd of about loQ people had assem- bled outside. As the accused would not leave he sent for the police. There was no desire on the part of Hatchett's Hotel Company to press the charge, which, in fact, was preferred against him mainly with the idea of getting him out of the house. On the occasion in question the defendant, who was not the worse fr.r drink, acted like a lunatic. Sergeant Leverington stated that when he was called to the prisoner he had his coat off, and appeared to be in a very excited state. The accused refused to put his coat on, and ran all the way to the police-station. Witness found it difficult to keep up with him. When he got there he walked straight into the dock, and when charged made no reply. Mr. Newton (to the prisoner): Can you explain your conduct ? The prisoner This man (meaning the tramp) wanted bread and meat, and I ordered a pint of beer and some cold meat for him, and they would not serve me. The man was starving, and as an Englishman I could not stand it. (Hero the accused burst out crying.) Mr. Newton The reason they would not serve you was probably because you had not paid for what you bad the night before. The accused: I did not refuse to pay my bill, and besides there were plenty of my friends there who would have paid it for me. Mr. Newton: As the prosecutors desire to withdraw from the case you will have to find one surety in the sum of £50 to keep the peace for three months.

CHURCH BUILDING SOCIETY. The annual meeting of this society has been held at their offices in Dean's-yard, under the presidency of the Earl of Devon. The secretary read the annual report, which stated that the income for 1884 wa, £li770, as compared with .£72G3 in 1883. By the grants of the society during the last sixty-six years 1,781,315 additional seats were obtained, three-fourths of them being for the free use of the parishioners The sum voted towards these works was £ 917,888, involving a further expenditure on the part of the public of at least Sl 1,783,281 sterling. At the nino meetings held in 1884, the General Committee enter- tained favourably 126 applications for aid, and voted grants to tho amount of £6675. Sir W. Riddell moved the adoption of the report, and hoped that, although the general depression had temporarily checked their prosperity, the society might hereafter be able to do more work than it had hitherto done. Mr. Thornton, who seconded the motion, thought one cause of the diminution of their income was the fact that this society had given birth to many diocesan societies for the same purpose. They had to meet the competition of their -own chil- dren; but there were benefits to be got from this parent society that could not be got elsewhere especially in the matter of church architecture Tho motion was agreed to. The Yen. Archdeacon John- son moved a resolution to the effect that the society deserved a wider and more substantial support from Ghurcu people. Lieut.-Colonel G. W. Clive, M.P., seconded the resolution, which was agreed to. In responding to a vote of thanks for presidipg. tho noble chairman said ho thought it would be a beneficial sign if it were made evident that the laity took as great an interest in the Church as those professionally connected with it. As to the depression in agricul- ture, whKh he bc-lieved was tho cause of the fallm* off in the society a income, he stated that there were parts of England in which the income of the clergy largely depended on land, and he knew of cases in which farms had been thrown up, and the clergymen themselves had to do the best they could with them. The proceedings then terminated.

I THE MINT. The fifteenth annual report of the Deputy Master of the Mint states that the amount of gold coined during 1884, though exceeding by more than a mil- lion the amount coined in 1883, was not large and the stt-vcr coinage, which in 1883 reached the abnormal figure of 1:1,274,000, did not greatly exceed tho average, lhe coinage of bronze, on the other hand, was larger than in any year since 1875, and the Colonial coinages executed were unusually numerous Ail the coinages required for Colonies during the year were undertaken by the Mint, the additions made to the coining power of the department in 1882 having rendered it unnecessary that any part of the work should be performed by contract with private firms. The coins struck during the year 1884 were of no less than 31 different denominations, and the total number of good pieces struck was 50,363,301, -as against 39,119,714 in 1883, and their value, real or nominal, £ 3,157,960 10s. Id. The good pieces of Imperial coinage consisted of £ 2.330,513 in gold £ 004,433 in silver, and £ 69,340 in bronze. With oregard to the bronze coinage, of the amount issued in 1884, 1-x4,4q0 consisted of pence, £ 14,990 of half- pence, and £ o895 of farthings, as against £37,¡jDn of pence. £ 9350 of half-pence, and £ 2830 of farthings ,in 1883. Mr. Fremantle states that:—"The seignornge on the coinage of silver, £ 91,870, was, as usual, the principal items in the profits of the year, but the receipts were increased to a much greater degree than in former years by the profit-on the •coinage of bronze, which amounted to no less than £ 72,Oi f0. The very low price paid for silver bullion -and for bronze bars both contributed to these results, and it should further be mentioned that the loss on the withdrawal of worn silver coin from circula- tion, which is -paid out of the Mint Parliamentary ote, was considerably less than usual." Mr Fre- mantle concludes his report with a reference to the unsatisfactory condition of the gold coinage. He s&ys I r ^-ret not to be able to include in my record of the events of the past year any announcement that the .question of the withdrawal of light gold coin from circulation has received a settlement. My last report described the provisions of the bill brought in by her Majesty's Government, and read a first time in the House of Commons in May, 1884, for restor- ing and maintaining the integrity of the sovereign coinage, and for substituting for the half-sovereign's ten-shilling piece containing one-tenth less fine gold; and it might have been hoped that the opinion of Parliament would be taken on the proposal made. Owing, however, to the general withdrawal of Govern- ment measures which took place in the month of July the bill was not proceeded with last session, nor has it been re-introduced this year. The matter, there- fore, has for the present made no progress, but several returns were in the course of the session ordered by the House of Commons, which elucidate points connected with the gold coinage, and among them one showing the Mint charge on the manu- iacture of gold coins in the principal States of Europe. xms return, as giving information not easily acces- Bible, is printed in the appendix."

A VENERABLE JOURNAL. The oldest newspaper in the world, the Pekiv, Gazette, has lately taken a new lease of life. Estab- lished in the year 911, it has been published regularly since 1351. Under the new arrangement three editions are published-the first, the King-Paou, printed upon yellow paper, constitutes the official gazetta of the Middle Kingdom; the second, the Hsing-Paou (commercial journal), also printed upon yellow sheets, contains information interesting to the trading community while the third, the Titani-Paou (provincial gazette), printed upon red paper, consists of extracts from the other two editions. The total circulation of the three issues is 15,000 copies. The editorship is confided to a committee of six members of the Academy of Han-Lin1

COMPULSORY INSURANCE IN THE POLICE FORCE. It appears from the official accounts that the Metro- politan police contribute to their superannuation fund out of their wages, in accordance with the regulations, a total sum of £18,781 in the year. Stoppages during sickness and fines for misconduct also go to this fund, which brings the amount up to £24,135. This, however, furnishes but a small proportion of the fund, as will be seen by the fact that the super- annuation allowed in the year-there are now 3704 pensioners on the list—amounted to no less than £ 1/0,000. The superannuation fund, in fact, derives the bulk of its revenue from the contribution from the General Metro- politan Police Fund, amounting to £129,754, supple- mented by various small sources of income, such as fines imposed on drunken persons and for assaults on the police, proceeds of sale of old clothing, and con- tributions on a fixed scale from public departments, companies, and individuals, in addition to the pay- ments made by them for special services. The general advantages of the superannuation fund, beyond the direct contributions of the men, are of course part of the reward of their labour. From this point of view, therefore, the superannuation system in general may be regarded as one of compulsory insurance.

BREWERS' PETITION. A petition on the subject of the beer duty from the brewers of Burton-on-Trent, unanimously adopted at a meeting of the Burton brewers, has been presented by Mr. Charles Allsopp to the House of Commons. The petition shows that in introducing the Customs and Revenue Bill of 1880, which commuted the malt- tax dnd brewers' license into a beer dutv, the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer said he onlywanted an eqiva- lent revenue with a slight turn in favour of the Government of £ 300,000 or £400,000, equal to lOd. or Is. per quarter, whereas the effect of the alteration has been an increase of 2s. per quarter: that the trade were promised the Chancellor of the Exchequer would reconsider the matter at the end of the past year, but no relief had yet been afforded; that the in- creased duty will make the beer duty equal to 28s. per quarter, against tho old duty which averaged about 22s., the increased duty amounting to nearly the original cost of the raw material. As the retail price of beer cannot be raised to correspond, the increased duty will prejudicially affect both the grower of barley and the consumer, by deterioration in the quality of beer.

SAD DEATH OF A CLERGYMAN. The Rev. Nathaniel Small, Rector of Market Bos- worth, has met with a shocking death from burning. The reverend gentleman, who was 89 years of ago, on the 15th inst. whilst attending to the fire in his study, feli forward. His clothes caught fire, and when he was found by his page he was lying on the hearthrug enveloped in flames. Medical assistance was at once procured, but the injuries resulted in death. Mr. Small was presented to the living, which is worth £ 900 a-year, in 1847, but had for some time ceased to engage in active duty.

RUSSIA'S NEW SUBJECTS- (FROM THIS "GLOBE.") The Sarik Turcomans, who have been so success- fully exploited in the Russian interest, may safely be considered the most unmitigated scoundrels on the face of the earth. For half a century western nations have been in possession of incomplete accounts of the regular system of man-stealing pursued by the Turco- mans, but it is of comparatively recent date that we have had laid bare the sickening details of torture and inhuman barbarity with which their maraudings were invariably accompanied. Of course, there are some honourable exceptions, especially among the tribes in close proximity to the Caspian and Persian province of Astrabad, but nothing can be urged in favour of the Sariks. Of a race of robbers and murderers they are the worst, and, being rather more favoured by nature than their Tekke brethren, cannot plead the extreme poverty that often drove otherwise well-meaning Tekks to take part in the forays. The Sariks are supposed to have oocupied Merv, in conjunction with the Salors, at the time of the Arab conquest, but this seems rather doubtful, if we ac- cept as true the statement that the Turcomans formed the vanguard of the army of the Seljuk Turk princes who crossed the Oxus from the north in 1037, or nearly 400 years after the first appearance of the Arabs. At any rate, there seems to be little doubt that they have occupied the Merv oasis for about eight centuries, and are quite justified in regarding the Tekkes as usurpers of their inheritance. During this time they have formed part of the nations whose sovereigns possessed authority over Merv. and owned allegiance to Iranian or Turanian with complete indifference, so long as border warfare afforded the opportunity of indulging their preda- tory instincts. As might be expected, their tenure of theoasis was not uninterrupted, but theyseem to have enjoyed undisputed ownership from 1790 until 1845, when the struggle with the Tekkes com- menced. The latter, driven from Oraz-Kala, on the river Tejend, by the Persians, advanced northwards, and, after ten years' constant warfare, made them- selves masters of Mery, where they have since re- mained. For assisting Sultan Murad Mirza, governor of Khorassan, in an expedition undertaken on their behalf against Merv, the Sariks were set upon by the Tekkes and decimated. They thereupon withdrew to their present positions at Yulutan, some forty miles from Merv and Penjdeh-the scene of General Komaroft's treacherous massacre of the Afghans. Change of domicle and loss of power were un- accompanied by any attempt at emendation of their evil ways on the part of the Sariks. Their first acts were the expulsion of the Salors from Yulutan, and of the Jemshidis and Teimuris from Penjdeh. Since 1857 they have lived in open enmity with the Tekkes, plundering small bands when opportunitv offered' and making organised raids on North-west Afghanistan and the defenceless province of Khorassan. Their last grand cdaman (raid) can bo recorded with grim satisfaction, as it resulted in a complete fiasco. In 1877, the Sariks swooped down upon the Persian town Turbat-i-Shaikh-i- Jami, and carried off 30,000 sheep and many prisoners. The Shah at once tele- graphed orders for the collection of a force of two regiments of infantry, and 2000 cavalry; and, to ensure seeresy, quietly told the officer in command that he would lose his head if the order became known. In due time, the force set out on its march, crossed the Heri-rud, and in two days reached the Sarik camping grounds on the slopes of the Paro- pamisus, near Gulran. So sudden and unexpected was the Persian attack, that almost without firing a shot, 100 shepherds and 100,000 sheep were captured and driven back to Persia Tho Sariks are divided into five principal clans, which are -further subdivided into 16 families or branches. At Yulutan and Penjdeh these families are indiscriminately mixed, and the total population is about 60,000. The method of computation fol- lowed is always based upon the number of canals. The whole community being dependent on the water supply for existence, the administrative system of all Turcoman tribes is limited to enforcing the regular distribution of water, and compulsory labour in con- nection with the repair and cleansing of the canals. In each of the two Sarik oases there are 18 large, about 500 secondary, and GOOO small canals. As it ie very rarely that more than one family makes use of a small canal, it is reckoned that there are from 12,000 to 13,000 tents in both oases. If, as is pre- sumed, the administration established byGeneral Koma- roffat Penjdeh be conducted on native principles, the applause with which Russian papers herald its inuaugu- rat,ionBis rather out of place. There has been no such thing as native administration known to either the Merv Tekkes or Sarik Turcomans. True, each branch appoints a Jcct Ichoda, or elder, but his power is exceedingly limited, and, except in rare cases of ab- normal personal influence, is restricted to the regula- tion of the water supply. In discussing alamans, or any other affairs affecting the community, everyone has a voice in the matter, and joins with the rest or holds aloof as he thinks fit. Native adminis- tration as a guarantee of orderly conduct among the Sariks is, therefore, an obvious sham. They will refrain from attacking the Afghans on the one hand, or pillage and murder them on the other, according te the orders received from their new masters, General Xotnaroff and his crafty lieutenant, the now notorioue Colonel Alikhanoff. The insertion of the saving clause in Mr. Glad- stone's famous "agreement," clearly shows the Russian hand. The Sariks have been recognised as Russian subjects, not from any high ideas of civilising destiny of the great Northern Power of which we hear so much, nor yet because the oasis of Penjdeh pos- sesses any value. The value lies in the villainous character of the Sariks, who have been the scourge of North-West Afghanistan for years, and who will always be found a most willing tool in Russian hands for the manufacture of disturbances at convenient seasons. For instance, a Sarik raid on Maimeneh, or the neighbourhood of Herat would create a disturbance, and would certainly cause the Afghans to assume a menacing attitude towards Russian subjects. This, of course, would compel a further advance of General Komaroff's army, much to his regret, and when properly ex- plained would be readily swallowed, and another slice permitted to be cut from Afghan territory without protest by our chicken-hearted Govern- ment. It cannot even be urged that the Sariks were anxious to become Russian subjects, as we have posi- tive documentary evidence to too contrary. Of course in such a community there are always to be found many who are willing to change their nationality for a cash consideration, and if M. Lessar resembles other diplomatists of his country 00 probably pro- mised the Sariks many little opportunities of pillaging t „8 '^ns such as Komaroff helped them to on tho oOth of March. If Russia had no ulterior aim, she would never have burdened herself with such turbu- lent subjects, but have left them to the tender mercies of the Afghan ruler, who was just beginning to show the border thieves that they must submit or take the consequences. Mr. Gladstone probably fancies he has staved off the evil day by giving way to Russia but of all the grievous blunders he has committed, that of transferring the Sariks to Russia wiy certainly be followed by the most deDlorable results.

THE REBELLION IN THE NORTH- WEST TERRITORY OF CANADA. It is satisfactory news (says the Illustrated London Petes') that Louis Riel, the conceited and fanatical mongrel Canadian, who got up the Red River insur- rection of 1870, and has again stirred up a rebellion among the half-breeds and some of the Indian tribes on the North Saskatchewan, is now a prisoner, and there are strong hopes of a speedy pacification. The colonial troops, under the command of General Frederick Middleton, have done admirable service in a brief campaign of hard marching and sharp fight- ing. Some explanation of the geography of the North-West Territory, and the condition of the un- settled part of its inhabitants, may be interesting, That vast prairie region west of the Province of Manitoba and of Lake Winnipeg, is traversed by the two branches, the North and the South brarch, of the great river Saskatchewan, both rising nrar the base of the Rocky Mountains, and uniting < j form the lower stream which flows eastward to tfie head of Lake Winnipeg. The country along the South Saskatchewan is traversed by the Canadian Pacific Railway, and is being rapidly settled and occupied for cultivation, with the banks of the Qu'Appelle, a tributary of the Assineboine, three or four hundred miles west of the town of Winnipeg; and the rising towns of Regina and Moose Jaw, and the railway stations further on, Medicine Hat, Calgarry, and Morleyville, are the secure abode of colonial civilisa- tion. The country of the North Saskatchewan, on the contrary, not having yet obtained the benefit of a railway, and being situated in a more severe climate, though its soil is very rich, still lies in a rather back- ward condition; the principal stations in ascending the river, which is navigable after the melting of the ice, are Prince Albert, Battleford, the seat of the ad- ministration, Fort Pitt, and Edmonton. Battleford, the centre and capital of this territorv, is fix hundred miles, by road, from the City of Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba. The aggregate number of the various native Indian tribes in the nortb-west and in British Columbia is reckoned at 85,000, but scarcely a quarter of these belong to the region which is disturbed by the present insurrection. The half-breeds, mostly the offspring of French Canadians by Indian mothers, number about 5000 one of them is Louis Riel, who was educated in a Roman Catholic missionary college, but, instead of becoming a priest, took up the trade of a political intriguer. It does not appear that the Canadian Dominion Government has ever treated the Indians with harshness or unfair- ness. They have received, individually, sufficient grants of land, which instead of cultivating they have sold, and they now demand fresh grants of land, pro- bably to be sold again, for they dislike the toil of agriculture. The outbreak of the insurrection was rather alarming, and was attended with cruel massa- cres, a dozen white persons, including women and children, being slaughtered by the Indians at Frog Lake; Battleford was also captured and plundered, but the resident officials and their families, with the other English there, 300 in all, shut themselves up in the barracks, from which they were relieved, and the town was recaptured, by the Mounted Police under Colonel Otter. Fort Fitt, eighty miles above Battleford, has fallen into the power of an Indian chief named Big Bear, and much anxiety in felt con- cerning the fate of the few English who were there, and whom Big Bear detains as prisoners and hostages.

HERALDS OF SUMMEER'S APPROACH. The lovely flowers which herald the approach of summer come this year in glorious profusion. The periwinkles, with their starry blue flowers and their shining myrtle-like leaves, the woodbines and elder trees pushing out their gently swelling buds; the May and lovely hyacinths, not to forget the graceful and delicate laburnum—beautiful as the laburnum is, it is dangerous, because poisonous. The poiscn was first discovered by Huseman and Marne in 18G4. Adults and children have frequently been poisoned by eating the seeds of this plant. But to continue our floral list, we may mention the yellow primrose, the white lilac, violets of either hue, cowslips, oxlips, and pansies. There is a lovely spot in Devonshire where violets and primroses abound, and no prettier sight is to be seen than that of many little girls, some clad most picturesquely and armed with baskets, gathering these simple flowers, with which the ground is covered. Here they lie by hundreds, by thousands-aye, by tens of thousands. And how happy the children seem as they fill their baskets, how happy and how good; would that they could always keep so, content to enjoy in peace and grati- tude the blessings of nature But, alas! who dare expect a life of such happiness ?— The Lady's Pictorial.

IRISH COTTAGE INDUSTRIES. If the thanks of the community, says the Lady's Pictorial, are due to the man who makes two blades of grass grow where only one grew before, what may not be said of the men and women, who, when agri- cultural industries fail, foster others to which the labourers can turn their hands, and thus bring peace and comparative plenty into homes where starvation would reign if the breadwinners were dependent on the fruits of the earth alone for a livelihood ? This has been done most effectually and in an incredibly short space of time by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Hart, who have diligently set themselves to inquire into the true causes of Irish destitution and poverty, and after long and careful consideration have come to the conclusion that much, if not all of it, is due to the decay of cottage industries, by which in former days the population supplemented their scanty earnings, and on which they fell back in times when bad harvests or the impoverished state of their holdings would otherwise have brought the wolf to their doors, and killed their little ones with famine and fever. It is a great mistake to suppose that the Irish, as a nation, are idle and negligent; they are one of the most industrious races under the sun, and painstaking to a degree when they see their way and have their work before them. But they live out of the world, and far from the centres of life, and cannot see beyond their own immediate daily round and task. While they had flocks of sheep to shear, they sprn the wool and wove it into frieze for home wear, but when the sheep had the rot in bad seasons, or were sold to pay the rent, there was no wool to spin, and as they saw no prospect of ever having any again, they sold the lumbering old cottage loom, or broke it up for firewood. From sheer disuse they lost the secrets of the vegetable dyes their fathers bad used for generations past, and as there was no worsted for knitting hose they forgot even the merrv click of the needles that used to fill up odd moments, and keep them all supplied with stockings. They saw no help nor any prospect of better days, and they accepted the inevitable with the sad patience of the hopeless. This was the view taken by Mrs. Hart, and she determined to give them a fresh start on the old lines familiar to their grand- parents if not to themselves. So she bought wool and flax and other materials, gave them looms and distaffs, sought out those who remembered the old dyes and the old-fashioned methads, established classes for instruction, and planted agencies in the far-away mountain villages. The women soon learned, and their friend found a market for their work many of those who had known better days were thankful to join and do the finer embroideries, and the delicate silk tatting and crochet. Old Celtic missals were studied, and quaintlv char- acteristic designs drawn from them for the flax on flax or Ivells embroideries, which during the last two seasons, have become well known, and are much sought after in the artistic world.' Tho founders seek no profit, but simply supply the capital, encourage the workers by bringing their wares before the world, and all the benefit goes to the producers. A depot has been established in London and at the Inventions Exhibition this season, and the sale of Irish frieze and tweed, the Claddagh and Kilcloony cloths, the knitted hosiery and the dainty laces and embroideries, goes on briskly, and the Donegal Indus- trial Fund proves itself to be one of the most in- valuable and prosperous efforts of women for women that has ever been developed. Thousands of pounds have through its means found their way into Ireland during the last eighteen months, and if the business can only be kept up and enlarged, the influx of money it creates will go far towards making the Irish peasantry happy and light-hearted where they are now discontented and morose.

RECREATION GROUNDS AND THE BOARD OF WORKS. The -Graphic says: In a case which was recently heard at one of the police courts, it seemed at first sight as if the Metropolitan Board of Works were endeavouring to act with needless severity towards the Chelsea-park Dwellings' Company. This body has -erected a block of cottages to accommodate some 300 persons, with an ornamental garden in the centre. But, unfortunately, this court-yard is only approach- able by a covered passage, whereas the Board main- tains that legally the opening ought to be uncovered, and twenty feet wide, so that, in case the company should hereafter dispose of their ownership, the local authorities may be able to enter the court-yard for cleansing and other purposes. The case is at present Bllb judtce; but it is easy to see that there is some- thing in the Board's contention, and that the Dwel- lings' Company, before building their houses, should have got their plan examined and sanctioned. We cannot, however, approve of the doings of the Board Ui another matter, as evinced by the expressed opinion of its chairman. There is a bill before Parliament for transferring the Greenwich and Poplar Ferry to the custody of the Metropolitan Board. Mr. Bryce moved that a plot of land, an acre and a half in extent, should be reserved on either side of the ferry at Poplar, as a public recreation ground. "No," replies Sir J. M'Garel Hogg, it will be a useless expense to the ratepayers. There is no need for a recreation ground at that spot, since persons desiring recreation have only to cross the river to reach Greenwich-Dark We hope Sir James Hogg does not always talk in this style. As we said last week, there is no expenditure which metropolitan ratepayers grudge less th/in that which is spent on parks and pleasure ground.. And Poplar seems especially deserving of this p. ,r little bit of play ground. Greenwich-park, indeed Why, a broad river must be crossed, the ferryage paid, and then half-a-mile of streets traversed before the park is reached. For poor, feeble women and young children this littltfplofc by the Poplar-pier will be a real boon. The House of Commons sensibly agreed with Mr. Bryce,

LUNACY LAWS. It is not to be wondered at that the various esclandrts which have taken place of late, as to the detention of persons alleged at the time to be insane, but who have subsequently showed themselves to be quite capable of managing their own affairs, should have convinced the legal advisers of the Ministry that a revision of the law relating to lunacy is advisable, if only to allay popular uneasiness on this score. The result has been a bill for the consolidation of the various Acts passed on this subject since the com- mencement of the present reign. There are three pro- cesses (says the Field,) under which an alleged lunatic may be placed under restraint. These are, first, the old procedure de lunatico inqutrendo, wherein the sanity of an alleged lunatic is made the subject of an inquisition secondly, the process' whereby the friends or relatives of a person alleged to be insane obtain authority for putting him (or her) under re- stiaint; and thirdly, the case of a lunatic wander- ing at largs," and as such apprehended by an officer of the peace and taken before a justice or iustices of the peace. The second process is twofold, accord- ing^to whether the lunatic is a pauper or other .vise. A pauper lunatic ia one whose maintenance is wholly or partially defrayed out of the rates, and who is not entirely maintained out of his own means or those of friends. The first, the third, and the latter part of the second process for detention of an alleged lunatic has never been calculated to cause much un- easiness in the public mind. In none of them is there any facility for error or foul play remaining long un- detected, even if perpetrated. An "inquisition'' is held before public officials, and the alleged lunatic can demand a jury, save that the judge in lunacy may, if in his opinion the subject of inquisition is whollv unfit to plead to the allegation, after due personal examination, dispense with the jury, and refer the inquiry to the masters in lunacy. Certain publicity also attends inquiry into the state of mind of anyone apprehended by a constable, and charged at petty sessions with being a lunatic wandering at large. It is possible that the Bench may examine the alleged lunatic in a perfunctory manner, and that the medical practitioners whom under the bill they are to call in, may be also remiss in their examination; neverthe- less, we do not think the public will be uneasv on this score, provided that two provisions are added to the draft as it stands at present. These provisions would be-First, that the justices must be sitting ia open court, and not in camera secondly, that the patient may not be committed to a private house of lunatic detention under any order from the bench without a right of appeal to a jury—this last to be subject to the power of a judge or master in lunacy to dispense with the juryif, in his opinion, the patient is hopelessly incapable of understanding the ques- tion. It is obvious that where a patient is relegated to a public asylum, there can be little chance of im- proper detention being long maintained. This remark also applies to the detention of pauper lunatics. Their place of abode will of necessity be a public asylum, wherein, if they show sanity, they can rely on speedy release. It is in the cases of tho ordinary well-to-do lunatic that recent scandals have arisen. Under the old law any two medical prac- titioners could certify to the insanity, and the certifi- cates, coupled with an order," signed by a presumed nearest friend, deprived the patient of liberty, with authority for removal to a private licensed house, if the nearest friend so desired. We are unwilling to believe allegations which have often been scattered broad- cast, in court and in fiction, of deliberately cor- rupt motives on the part of medical men who signed certificates in certain instances. At the same time, it is undeniable that before now certificates have been signed which should have been with- held sometimes through accidental error, at others through negligence, prejudice, or perfunctory examination of the patient. There must often be temptation for the latter fault; an insane person may only display insanity at intervals, and in the society of certain persons; or he may have sufficient cunning to exercise self-control in the presence of a stranger, and for a long time. The medical man who inspects him with a view of testing his sanity may fail to note any of the glaring symptoms which friends have observed, and yet he may feel confident, from what he is told, that these symptoms do really exist. By rights, in such a case he would do better to withhold his certificate, and to leave the friends to petition for an inquisition or to tell them that, if the alleged lunacy is of a criminal nature, they may protect them- selves by prosecuting, and thus eliciting the real state of affairs. But then there are the feelings of the family to be considered, and therefore, in deference to them, the certificate is often signed onpurely hear- say evidence, instead of on personal proof to the senses of the doctor. Even herein no great scope for evil would exist, if incarceration were limited to a public asylum; or, if allowed in a private licensed house, then only with right of appeal to a iury on the part of the patient. It is because there Las been facility for incarceration, without appeal, in private establishments that abuses have arisen and complaints have occurred. It is on this score that a demand has arisen for amendment of the law, and yet, when we come to examine the provisions of the new bill under this head, we find that they are prac- tically the same as before. No new safeguard nor facility for appeal seems to be introduced into the machinery. As before, the friend or relative must sign the order for incarceration, and then there must be two medical certificates, with the reservation that the medical men must not be practising together as partners or assistants, and shall each have made a separate and personal examination (extent of the latter is not defined) within a week prior to the detention. Each certificate must specify the facts upon which the medical man has formed his opinion, distinguishing hearsay from personal observation. There is a veto against medical men who are personally interested, or whose near rela- tives are interested, in asylums or licensed houses, or who have made the order for detention, sign- ing certificates of insanity. We confess that we do not expect that these provisions in this quarter will satisfy the public mind at the present time. What seems to be further wanted is power on the part of the patient to demand a more public inquisition, if the place of detention is to be any other than the county asylum, where a mistake could not be ex- pected to remain hidden. As in the case of inquisi- tion by petition in the first instance, there should be discretion on the part of the judge (or also a master if possible) in lunacy to dispense with a jury in hopeless cases. But the mere right of appeal would be a strong primary safeguard. It might even suffice if the alleged patient bad a right to insist on being brought up at the nearest petty sessions, and there further subjected to the investiga- tion pertaining to a charge of being a lunatic wander- ing at large. In such a case the Bench and a fresh doctor would all have to be additionally converted to a view of insanity in him before he could be locked up. It may be said that such rights of appeal would cause much pain and exposure in domestic circles, and repeatedly so in cases where there was no real doubt of insanity. For the matter of that, the same objec- tion might be raised to any coroner's inquest where there is no real doubt as to the cause of death yet no one then dreams of suggesting that inquiry should be hushed up, simply because painful incidents may be disclosed. Saltis populi suprcma lex in either case. case.

SHOCKING SCENE AT AN EXECUTION. On Monday morning the execution of Moses Shrimpton, aged 65, of Birmingham, for the murder of Police-constable Davies at Aivechurch, took place in the Worcester County Gaol. After condemnation Shrimpton's behaviour was becoming, and he paid due attention to the ministrations of the gaol chap- lain, the Rev. A. Telfer. In his letters to his family he expressed himself as willing to die, and as believ- ing he should meet them in heaven. He, however, made no confession, as far as can be ascertained; the gaol officials, however, are very reticent. Three re- porteis were admitted to witness the execution. The condemned man was understood to have slept well on Sunday night, and arose at six o'clock on Monday morning and breakfasted, and up to the time fixed for his death-eight o'clock-he was attended by the chaplain. A few minutes before that hour a pro- cession was formed from the condemned cell to the Treadmill House, where the drop was erected, Shrimpton being attended by a warder on each side, the hangman (James Berry) following, and the Rev- A. Telfer leading, and reading the Burial Service. All arrangements being complete, Berry performed the last offices, the fatal bolt was drawn, and at the same moment the raising of the black flag announced to outsiders the carrying out of the final sentence of the law on one who for the greater part of his life had set it at defiance. Death was instantaneous, but the body presented a shocking spectacle—the long drop had had the effect of partially severing the head from the body, and a terrible gash appeared in the throat. The usual formal inquest was held. Sbrimpton was a native of Long Crendon, Bucks- His first conviction was for apple stealing, when, at the age of 15, he was sent to Aylesbury Prison for a month, a Mr. Dodswell being the prosecutor. On a subsequent occasion he effected his escape from gaol, And was pursued for ten or twelve miles, bloodhounds being employed in the chase. Finding that he was- being overtaken, Shrimpton jumped into a millpond, and remained there until his pursuers came up and arrested him. He was about 25 years of age wheji he went to live at Headless Cross, near Redditch. At the time lie was apprehended for the capital offence he was living at Birmingham with the woman More ton, who was indicted with him as accessory after the fact, she being, however, acquitted.

t DEATH OF VICTOR HUGO. j After a terrible struggle between his organio vitality and death, Victor Hugo breathed his last at half-past one o'clock last Friday afternoon. His death was eSpected by all, but the announcement of his decease must probe every Frenchman's heart. The place that the great poet occupied in the hearts of Frenchmen will not be readily understood in England. It will not be easily credited that among all sorts and con- ditions of men in France, Victor Hugo was the em- bodiment, the genius of all that was good and noble in the history of his country. Monarchists, Bona- partists, Republicans, and Anarchists all worshipped at the altar of his genius. Years ago, when Napoleon the Third held court at the Tuileries, and Victor Hugo lived an outlaw in Jersey, the peasants of the Midi chalked his verses on their doors, and happy he who could recite to an admiring throng the poet's denunciations of the tyrant of the hour. Thus he lived in allmen'ahearts, and the grief which to-days holds all Paris wli check will find an echo wherever the French language is spoken, or French literature is read. In Paris, where Victor Hugo was known personally to all classes of the community, the most poignant grief was felt on the announcement of his death. At the Bourse even tho worship of mammon was for the nonce abandoned, and business men congregated in groups expressing their sorrow. In the Chamber politics were discarded, and the universal grief was expressed in the speech of M. Brisson, the Premier. During the afternoon the President of the Republic, the members of the Ministry, and the numberless friends of Victor Hu^o left their condolences at his house. But of all sorrow expressed perhaps the most sincere is that of the workmen, who for days past have gathered out- side the poet's house, and waited even in the pelting rain for tidings of his condition. They were there again on Friday, and respectfully saluted M. Roche- fort, a bosom friend of Victor Hugo, as he left the House. The illness of 'Victor Hugo, which hari resulted so fatally, was first made known by the Rappd. Then the startled Parisians found a bulletin, signed by Pro- Germain See and Dr. Alix, to the effect that their illustrious patient, who had been suffering from lesion of the heart, bad been further attacked by congestion of the lungs. It tvas on the previous Wednesdav that he experienced the first symptoms of his illness." On that day he had exposed himself while in consultation with his architect on the site of the residence that he was building. The ground was wet, and sunshine was kept out by walls and trees. He twice got caught in the rain, and as he wore no flannel nor great coat in any season, he caught a chill. On Thursday his academical godson, M. de Lesseps, was to dine with him along with his ten children, and some other friends. He struggled against feverish symptoms and refused to countermand the dinner. At table he put forth all his mental resources, and taxed what vitality he had to do honour to his illustrious guest. The after-dinner reception, instead of lasting only twenty minutes, was prolonged up to eleven o'clock, it being impossible to hint to M. do Lesseps to go away, or for M. Hugo to withdraw. Defore he went the efforts he had made caused him great fatigue, and his family bade him good night with apprehension. A watch was kept at his door. At one o'clock he rang the bell, and was found uneasy, as if troubled with bronchitis. Dr. Alix was fetched, but the fit had subsided when he arrived. Next day the poet remained in bed, and seemed getting on fairly well. On Saturday there was terrible oppression. Dr. See came, and after auscultation said there was heart disease and a great tendency to congestion of the lungs. He came again in the evening, and found Victor Hugo very feverish, but not at all delirious. From this date, with aggravated sufferings, his state grew daily worse until the end came on Friday. It is rather remarkable that, while Victor Hugo was on his death-bed, the Peace Society was holding a meeting at Finsbury Chapel. The circumstances will, no doubt, be linked together in the minds of those who remember the important part which the dead poet played at the first meetings of the friends of peace, and notably at the Peace Congress assembled in Paris in 1849. He presided; Dr. Godwin, of Brad- i ford, spoke, and so did Mr. Ewart, Mr. Miall, and Mr. Elihu Burritt. Warmed by the enthusiasm of the assembly, M. Emile de Girardin called upon Victor Hugo to sing the praises of Organised Peace," as Tor- quato Tasso had sung Jerusalem Delivered." So the congress dispersed, but Victor Hugo's first song there- after was something very different from "Organised Peace," and it was certainly not to the tune of the Jerusalem Delivered." It was Napoleon le Petit." What excluded hope from the very outset was the fact that the case was complicated by the affec- tion of the heart. As far back as 1852, when he was living in Jersey, some doctor told him he had heart disease, which Victor Hugo did not believe, and by way of demonstrating the mistake indulged in all sorts of violent physical exertion, particularly horse exercise. From that time he has always been in the enjoyment of robust health, with the exception of rather a serious illness at the time ho was writing Les Miserables." He used to maintain that people were only ill who wanted to be so, and his taste, he said, did not lie that Way. For the last year or two, however, he has often in his familiar talk mentioned his death as an event that would soon occur. Allons, it est temps de désencombrer mon siecle," he remarked on one occasion, and added "Je suis prctA day or two before his death, one of his few utter- ances was (Test bien longla nwrt." 9 Vicomte Victor Marie Hugo was born at Besancjon February 26, 1802, his father being a colonel in the French army. From Besaneon he was carried to Elba, to Paris, to Rome, and to Naplers before he was five years old. In 1809 he returned to France and received classical instruction at a religious house. The first volume of his "Odes and Ballads" appeared in 1822, and his tales "Hana of Iceland" and" Bug. Jargal" were written about this time. In 1826 be published a second volume of Odes and Ballads," which exhibited a change in his political and literary opinions, and in 1827 he composed his drama," Crom- well." In 1829 he published his "Last Days of a Condemned Criminal," the terrific interest of which secured it an immense tuccess. M. Hugo prepared a further attack on the stiff and unnatural style of French dramatic literature in his Hernani," first played at the Theatre Francais, Feb. 26, 1830, and it caused a scene of riotous confusion. The Academy went so far as to lay a complaint against his attempted innovations at the foot of the throne. Charles X. sensibly replied that in matters of art he was no more than a private person." Shortly after the Revolution of July, 1830, his Marion de Lorme," which had been suppressed by the censorship under the Restoration, was brought out with success. H Le Roy s'Amuse was performed at the Theatre Fran- caia in January, 1832, and the day after its produc- tion was interdicted by the Government. M. Victor Hugo, who published a number of dramatic pieces of various merit, after many struggles was ad- mitted into the Academy in 1841, and was created a peer of France by Louis Philippe. In 1849 he was chosen President of the Peace Congress, of which he had been a leading member. After 1852 M. Victor Hugo resided in exile in Jersey, Guern- sey, and elsewhere, and refused to avail himself of the general amnesty issued in August, 1859. On the fall of the Empire, however, he hastened back to his native country, entered heartily into the Republican movement, and was returned to the National Assembly at Bordeaux, which he soon quitted in disgust, sending, on March 9, 1871, the following characteristic letter to the President, M. Grevy: Three weeks ago the Assembly refused to bear Garibaldi; to-day it refuses to hear me. I resign my seat." M. Hugo then repaired to Brussels, but the Belgian Government, alarmed by his violent writings and his avowed sympathy with the Communists, expelled him from the eountry. He then sought refuge ip the seclusion of the little town of Vianden, in Luxemburg, where he composed L'Annee Terrible." Return- ing to Paris in July, 1871, he pleaded earnestly for the lives of Rossel, Perré, and the other Com- munists, to no effect, He accepted the mandat impcratif in the following elections, but M. Vautrian defeated him. M. Victor Hugo has given an account of this period of his career in "Actes et Paroles, 1870- 71-72," published in 1872. He wrote much after he quitted France in 1852. His satire, Napoleon le Petit," appeared at Brussels in 1852; Les Chati- ments," at the same place, in 1853; and Contempla- tions," at Paris, in 1853. His fame rests principally on his Notre Dame de Paris," which has been trans- lated into most European languages, and is known in England under the title of the Hunchback of Notre Dame." His semi-historical and social romance, Les Mistrables," translated into nine languages, was issued at Paris, Brussels, London, New York, Madrid, Berlin, St. Petersburg, and Turin the sameday, April 3, 1862. This was followed in 1864 by rhapsodical work on Shakespeare-not likely to add to his reputa- tion. His last novel, "L'Homme qui Rit," appeared in 1869. M. Victor Hugo has been a prolific writer, and a list of his works would exceed our limits. Amongst those best known in England are Claude Gueux," a tale; Lucrece Borgia," Maria Tudor," Ruy Bias," "LesBurgraves," and "Marion de Lorme," plays; and Le Rhin," a book cf travels. His most recent works are La Legende des Siecles," new series, 5 -vols., 1877-78; "Historic d'un Crime," 2 vols., 1877-78, being an account of Louis Napoleon's coup de itat; La Pape," a poem, 1879; La Petie Supreme," a poem, 1878; Religions et Religion," 1880, a poem, which, beginnins like the Chati- ments," in a tone of comedy and irony, reviews creeds and systems, passes from Catholicism to Nihilism, and concludes by an affirmation of Theism without catechisms, Korans, and grammars; "Les Quatre Vents de l'Esprit," 1881, poems; and Torquemada," a dramatic poem (1882). It has often been said lately that the French are degenerating, but one good quality they are certainly not losing—reverence for their great men. When it became known that Victor Hugo was seriously ill, the feeling of the nation was stirred to its depths. Every educated Frenchman felt that the threatened calamity was one by which he himself would be directly af- fected; End men of letters, men of science, artists, {)olitician3, working men, went in crowds to hear tha atest tidings from the poet's sick room. The French have always displayed enthusiasm of this kinrl for il- lustrions writers; and no feature of the national character is more significant or more attractive, Victor Hugo well deserves to be held iq honour by all classes of his countrymen. Hi at he has faults everybody knows; and everyhody knows, too, exactly what his faults are. But his defects are unimportant in comparison with fbe splendid qualities which have made him for aboat half a century the foremost figure in European literature. In his best days his imagination was one of astonishing vitality and resource and he used it in the service of noble ideas-the ideas which have most profoundly moved the modern world. The school of writers who are now dominant in France have departed widely from Victor Hugo's method, and there can be no doubt that they represent a genuine movement of French thought and sentiment. It will be strange, however, if France and mankind are ever touched by M. Zola's realism as they have been touched by Victor Hugo's idealilsm.- The Grajili ic. The arrangements for the funeral of Victor Hugo were agreed upon by the State Committee. The body was to lie beneath the Arc de Triomphe for a few days, and then conducted to its last resting-placo amid the pomp of a State ceremonial. All Sunday the public streamed past Victor Hugo's residenca, and a demonstration of sympathy was made by two thousand students. Wreaths and letters of condolence were received from all parts of the world.

COMMUNISTIC RIOTS IN PARIS. Sunday being the anniversary of the fall of the commune, a, demonstration took place at the tomb of the Communists in the cemetery of Pere la Chaise The police finally succeeded in dispersing the rioters after arresting thirty of their number. During the not the police bad one officer and eight agents wounded. According to the anarchist, journals two or three of the Communists were killed and only about thirty people were wounded during the disturbance. No one was killed. The conduct of the police, in connection with tho rlicf,, k 0 aact ?r U3,e discussed ti,0 disturbance, was much Mondav exnri which' in tbeir ^ue of when Victor W pro, '? re8ret at a moment should have b U^CJ. dead in his chamber, Paris voktionarIL Hn dTaC,^ such a scene- The re- urfe ?hat tlia rgh allTR°<>hefort and others- unon n P°ullCe ,made a Premeditated attack that th« l w i 0^er hand, the authorities state anarchists had placarded the cemetery with incendiary appeals to the proletariat to rise and mas- sacre the bourgeoisie. fresh encounter occurred on Monday between e anarchists and the police on the occasion of tha interment of the Communist Courmel. Some hours before the arrival of the funeral procession a strong body of the Republican Guard- took up their position in the Cemetery of Pere la Chaise. The manifest- ants filed past the Guards in suflen silence, and pro- ceeded to the grave. Here violent discourses were pronounced, M. Henri Rochefort being among those present. Inflamed by the speeches the anarchists marched out of the cemetery in a body, with the red flag flying bravely in their midst. As was to be expected, the police made a determined effort to secure it and the scene on Sunday was re-enacted with fortunatelv a less sanguinary result. Many persons were injured however. One policeman was stabbed and his assailant was arrested. Further arrests were made,

EPITOME OF NEWS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN. Professor vambery says the Prince of Wales baS promised to visit the Pesth Exhibition. The Austrian Government is preparing a bill giving legal status to the members of the Anglican Church in Austria. A conference of local authorities at Aberdeen has resolved to make the town a port for the importation of foreign cattle. Mr. E. N. F. Fenwick, of the North-Eastern Circuit, has been appointed to the newly-created stipendiary magistrateship at Bradford. The guarantee fund of the proposed Navigation, Travelling, and Commercial Exhibition, to be held at Liverpool next year, amounts to £ 25,000. The motion recently made at the Reform Club for the abolition of the Political Committee has been re- jected by a majority of two to one. The British and Foreign Unitarian Association has petitioned the House of Commons for the withdrawal from the Church Service of the Athanasian Creed. No increase has been made in the number of Re- vising Barristers, but it is not expected that this will lead to any delay in the preparations for a general election. The Department of State have issued a Circular giving instructions to the representatives of the United States abroad as to the rights and duties of American citizens in foreign countries. A coroner's jury has found that the sudden death of Evelyn Douglas Jerrold, grandson of the famous author and wit, was due to natural causes, deceased having been in extremely delicate health for the last fifteen years. The death is announced of Mr. Peter William Barlow, F.R.S., M.I.O.E., who designed and con- structed the two latest road crossings of the river Thames in the metropolis—namely, the Lambeth-bridge and the Tower Subway. Dr. Collingridge, the Medical Officer of Health for the Port of London, has issued a series of for the removal to hospital of persons brought within the port by any ship or boat having a dangerous in- fectious disorder. It is announced from Panama that during the late rebel attack upon Cartagena the Colombian insurgents lost 260 killed and wounded, and the Government troops nine killed and fourteen wounded. Mr. John Mitchell, who for the last 70 years has sung at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, has been pre- sented by the hy clerks of the Chapel Royal with aD illuminated address, upon the anniversary of his joining the choir, which he entered when about 6 years old. It is authoritatively announced that the Bishop of Salisbury will resign that position during the ensuing summer. Dr. Moberly, who is in his eighty-second year, has been in a feeble condition of health for socao time. The members of the Royal Commission on tbØ Housing of the Poor sat for the first time in Ireland a* the Oity Hall, Dublin, on Saturday, under the pre^* dency of Sir Charles Dilke, M.P. Mr. James Deykin, an alderman, of Birminghamf was accidentally drowned in Aston Reservoir on Monday. John Daly, a youth, who stabbed a young woman in Torrington-square, London, on Saturday, was charged at Bow-street Police-court, on Monday, and coOl" mitted foi trial. He pleaded that he was intoxicated at the time, and a surgeon, who examined him after his arrival at the prison, has certi- fied that he was suffering from the effects of drink. The injured girl was able to give evidence. Sentence of three months' imprisonment with hard labour was passed by the Marylebone magistrate off Martin Walsh, a labourer, for assaulting a policeman. A young man named McFayden, who, by way of is joke, burnt a gentleman's ear with a long clay pipe, waS on Monday sent by the Wandsworth magistrate to prison for two months, with hard labour. The annual Whitsuntide meetings of OddfelloWS* Shepherds, and other benefit societies were opened oO Monday at Aberystwith, Aylesbury, Bristol, Birkenhead, Reading, and other towns. Her Majesty's ship Sultan left Spithead on Monday for Portland to join the large fleet assembling there fot a cruise under the command of Admiral Sir G. Homby- The fleet will be exercised in torpedo warfare, rammingo and steam tactics. Two transports, the Richmond Hill and Kimberley have sailed from Portsmouth for the Cape with mlli" tary stores. They also convoy the gunboats Tickler, Griper, and Gadfly. The official return just made to the Northern Iron Trade Arbitration JBoard shows a further decline of 16. per ton in rails, plates, bars, and angles in two montb89 the net average price per ton being 5s. 4d. below the depression of six years. The total output for the two months show a decline of nearly one-halt as compareu with a year and a-half since. The Spanish Government have prohibited the coD" tinuance by Dr. Ferran, in the province of Valencia, of his inoculation experiments with a view to reduce the- virulence of the existing epidemic of cholera. Government have received information that several persons thus inoculated have been attacked cholera. The Sanitary Congress in Rome began the of the subject of maritime quarantine. England strongly opposes a proposal by France that sucC quarantine should commence at the Red Sea end 0 the Suez Canal. A hundred years ago a Frenchman named Blanchafl* and an American-born Englishman named started from Dover in a balloon, and descended at Guines, near Calais. The centenary was celebrated off Monday at Guines, and was attended by two grand" sons of Dr. Jefferies. The chief incident was a balloOØ ascent; but within a qaarter of an hour the balloo" was hidden by clouds. It was then proceeding in north-north-easterly direction. It descended during the evening at a seaside village near Gravelines. a 8tiam tight took place on Monday in the bourhood of Weymouth. The operators were by a dense mist, which concealed from the defending by a dense mist, which concealed from the defending force the movements of the invaders. The latter go round the defenders and seized their battery, where' upon the victory was adjudged to the invaders.. The volunteers in camp in the neighbourhood London went through a number of drills on Monday* and some gun practice, notwithstanding the ver" uO- favourable weather. At noon on Monday a shocking building accident occurred at the Rose Mill, in course of erection Holinwood, near Oldham. A dozen men were fixing aD iron shoulder for an iron beam, when it gave way* Several men fell five storeys. Martin Grady, labouref, was killed, another had both legs broken, and two othet sustained fractures of the skull. On Monday a shocking accident happened at Wood' end Colliery, Leigh. As three men were descending the pit the cage caught against an obstruction, which threw them off their feet. The signal was given to ascend, and on reaching the surface it was found one of them had fallen out of the cage. The dead body was afterwards found at the bottom of the shaft shoe! ingly mutilated. A sad tragedy is reported from Scotland. A cor*' mercial travellemamed David Doig, from Glasgow, a young woman engaged a room at Miller's Temperan<f Hotel, Ayr. On 1 r^lay, on the room being entered* the latter was found dead, and the former lying her wounded and insensible, both having apparently been shot. The young woman, it seems, is a Miss Dic^' whose father would not allow her to receive Doig' attentions. An expedition, under the direction of Captain R. 1. Stevens, of Lloyd's, has left Liverpool for Grand Canary to try and recover for the underwriters, by diving operations, the sum of £ 100,000 sunk in the Alphonso XII. while on a voyage to Cuba in Februaft last. The vessel struck on a shoal near the island 0 Las Palmas, and in a few minutes afterwards fell OvO into deep water, and went down bodilv A sad occurrence took place at Lofthouse, nef Wakefield, on Sunday night. A nartv of seven wor"' hnKndP™f ted ,t0 a barn « Km In"? £ lSr ins fiamps w ? y after they had entered the buil^' wfslmmedU,^ issuing therefrom. An alar*} ? y raised, and on the fire being subdue^ Plains of one of the men were found in a terrib^ narred condition. The deceased,who has been identify as Arthur Wright, aged 34 years, leaves a widow a° D" His six companions were arrested, shortly before eleven o'clock on Monday morni"^ great consternation prevailed in Tachbrook-stre^ Pimlico, by a repoit beiDg spread that a mad dog at large there. It was then found that a youug bl»c*, retriever dog, surrounded by a numerous crowd at corner of Warwick-street, was struggling and foaoo'^ii in a fit, and suffering from rabies, and snapping at who came in its way. Fortunately no person seriously bitten, and eventually the auimal, after a of difficulty, was secured and despatched by a veteriff9! surgeon in Wilton-road, opposite Victoria Stat'0 whither it was pursued by a large number of many of whom had narrow escaDes,