The Aberystwith Observer

49ur IMwt Corrtspoittat. [ws deem it right to state that we do not at all times I identify ourselves with our correspondent's opimions.] Daring the first few weeks that Parliament sat this session there was every prospect of business being rapidly'proce • Jed with, but now that we are in the Easter recess, the retrospect is scarcely satisfactory. Very little has really been done, and after all the pro- tracted discussions about the Irish Land Bill, that im- important measure appears far from absolutely safe, and there will be an immense deal of discussion on it yet. Just as Parliament was adjourning for the Easter recess there was a good deal of talk about the waste of time in the House of Commons, and it is probable that when Parliament again meets there will be a dis- cussion in the other House about their lordships having nothing to do at the beginning of the session, and too much towards the close. This is a point on which their lordsmps have otten insisted, and the JJM- vailing opinion is that they are quite right. As far as tLij do, and they might well have been employed in initiating legislation on which the Government had reselved. Whatever may be said for or against the policy of Government in discharging dockyard workmen, it must be admitted that the Government is doing all in its power to enable these man wit.i their wives and families to emigrate to Canada. The authorities at several of our dockyards have received notice that at the end of May or the beginning of June, H.M. troopships will carry to that country men, women, and children, at a cost to the emigrants not exceeding £2 per man or woman, and £1 per child under 12 years of age, and that on arrival at Quebec they will be in exactly the same position as ordinary emigrants. The British and Colonial Emigration Society is also using great efforts to facilitate emigration to Canada. A day or two ago the Medway, 1,800 tons register, sailed from the Victoria Docks with nearly 600 persons— husbands, wives, and little ones—for this land of pro- mise. Each adult on an average, it is stated, contributed £3 towards the expense*, the So- ciety finding the remainder. The most gratifying fact connected with this large emigrant party is that on landing at Qaebec they will be received by the Government agent, and thence passed on to various parts of the Dominion, where their services have been engaged." It is sad that there should still be suchde. pression in our home trade—though it certainly is not BO bad as it was—and that working families should have to seek in other countries the employment they cannot find at home; but the result on the whole can- not but be beneficial to the labour market at home, while there is every reason to believe that the emi- grants themselves will be largely benefitted. That extraordinary attempt at burglary at the palatial shop of Mr. Attenborou;h in Fleet-street has not yet, and perhaps never will be, cleared up. Two men and a woman have been sentenced, under the Habitual Criminals Act, to three months' imprison- ment, for being near the premises, "with intent to commit a felony, being reputed thieves;" but the evidence is by no means clear that they were actually the persons engaged in the attempt, though it favours the supposition. A thought that occurs to me is that it would pay some tradesmen in whose shops are articles of many thousand pounds value if they would have private watchmen to patrol near the premises, and this would certainly have the advantage of employ- ing now unemployed men and another thought is that had Mr. Attenborough's .shop been—as several shops now are in London—lighted up at night, with bars through which the contents of the shop can be seen from the outside, such an attempt as this would never have been made. On dit that Mr. D. A. Lange is to be made a baronet in consideration of the services he has rendered this country in connection with the Suez Canal. The chief honour in relation to this splendid work is, of course, due to M. de Lesseps, who has received honour from the Emperor of the French, but to M. Lange is owing much of the success of negotiation and official corres- pondence, and no one will begrudge honour to such a man. The Post Office authorities are rather hard upon their employes. Taking advantage of a half-holiday on Good-Friday several of them met on that day to present a testimonial to one of their members who had acted as secretary of their Mutual Aid Association, and also to read and discuss a paper on "The Posi- tion and Prospects of the Post office Employes. Upon this the letter-carriers were reminded officially of a former minute of the Postmaster General forbidding on pain of dismssal, the holding by officers of the department of any meeting, beyond the walls of the Post Office building for the discussion of official questions." This put a heavy damper on the meeting, but still a goodly number of men with wives and sweet- hearts, attended. Two or three men spoke "with bated breath and whispered humbleness," and one read his "speech "so that be might prove what he had said if occasion demanded, while the paper that had been prepared gave a very melancholy picture of the position and prospects of the letter-carriers. I shall not comment on any statement made, but simply add that it does seem hard that the men must not meet and talk over their position and prospects. The men may be right or wrong, but surely they ought to be allowed to meet and talk over their affairs just as workmen elsewhere are allowed to do. The London- letter-carriers are by no means the only class that is dissatisfied with the G. P. O. arrangements. The post- masters throughout the country do not find that they are sufficiently remunerated for their extra duties in connection with the telegraph system. It is a matter of general congratulation that Colum- bia Market, which was a dead failure as a general market, is rapidly becoming a decided success as a Fish market. This splendid place has cost Miss Burdett Coutts upwards of JB 150,000, and during the whole of this year this benevolent lady will not have a penny return for her money, the rents for shops and stalls not oommencing till the Christmas quarter, up till that time all the advantages of the market being given rent- free to the dealers. But meanwhile the market is becoming an established institution. A day or two ago we had our first arrival of salmon from Ireland, and it sold readily at Is. lOd. a pound wholesale. This looks well for the Irish salmon trade, and anything that tends to develop trading relations with that country is in itself highly desirable. Columbia Market ill gradually effecting two grand objects—it is develop- ing the fish trade of the Eastern coast and it is cheapening fish to the teeming population of London. ÄpropOtl of Ireland, every one will be glad to hear that her harvest prospects are very favourable. Add to this that her trade is becoming more animated, and that Parliament is evidently desirous of doing her justice and perhaps the remark may be hazarded that she really has nothing particular to grumble about But TVf. Gustave Flourens, a Frenchman who is now in London-one reason being that he dare not go back to France—knows better than all this. Writing to a revo- lutionary paper in his own country, he says, Misery and famine ravage Ireland under the English domina- tion the nobleat and best of her sons languish in the dungeons of England; her industry is sacrificed in favour of English trade crushing taxes consume all her resources." We can all afford tc laugh at this, though we must all admit that it is a great pity that a French- man who knows nothing about what he writes should communicate such palpably absurd statements to many who will take it aa gospel. On the eve of Parliament adjourning forthe Easter re- ceM. a letter from "A Neglected Wife" appeared in the Daily Telegraph, and numerous letters—some evidently genuine, and some with a suspicions similarity of style to others immediately followed—treating the subject either from the husband's or the wife's point of view. They are, at all events, deeply intaresting, and they all lead to one conclusion at least-that there is a great deal to be said on both sides. The ladies have plenty to say for themselves, but some of them boldly write in favour of the husband. Among the statements and arguments they put forward are that a husband who would be horrified at striking his wife will laah her more severely than with any whip by neglecting her, paying nndue attentions to other women, and stay- ing out lata at night (several wives speak strongly and bitterly about the billiard-table); that a husband has raised his hand against hia wife, told her that he never loved her, but that bis whole affection was and is given to a lady to whom he had once been engaged that it is a wife's best plan never to sit up for her husband, Bever to inquire where he has been, and to "find the greater part of your own happiness for yourself that homes are made wretched from a husband's love of excitement, the first step being passing Sundays from home, on the plea of the want of health necessitating the change, the change demanding companionship, and thM found, leading to destruction; that the great fault of hmtbandaia, that they "terzetto be kind, forget to be courteous, forget to show the love they feel perhapsthat the companionship of young men, the billiard-room, and drinking are the fruitful sources of home unhappiness; and that (it is a wife who says this) the generality of husbands are not worse than the wives, and that if a woman will only be as agreeable to her own husband as she is to others she will always (?) find him anxious to remain at home rather than leave her for others that he does sat in reality care the least about." On the other liaod, among the statements and arguments of the husbands, are that wives neglect their husbands for their «vn selfish pleasures, getting up just in time to tIee him leave for business, and when he returns—if the wife is home—being too unweH or too tired to cheer him; that the husband comes down to a chilly and disarranged room, leaves home almost breakfastless, aDd when he comes home finds the wife out, everything locked up, and that he must not perfume the house with smoke; that the husband has no room in the house that he can call his own, is snubbed before his own children, and subjected to curtain lectures; that the wife's constant straining to keep up false appearances is a great cause of misery, which Is "more caused by vain, thoughtless women than by neglectful husbands; that the jealousy of wives, who bar the door against all their husbands' female acquaintances, destroys the happiness of married life and that home would be happier if husbands and wives would spend their time together in intellectual im. provement. So you see that there is a great deal to be said on both sides. We all knew this before, but this prolific correspondence nevertheless will pro- bably do good in enforcing previously known truths.

THE VOLUNTEER REVIEW AT BRIGHTON. The Volunteers have had their great annual holiday. For the sixtft Limn IMightim has boon honousod with their pre- sence, and beeD overwhelmed, amused, or perplexed at the ereat irruption of what it is the fashion to call "our citizen Illume 1U-J "LI"III I ■' Hniiipti thn mim'hnrnf 26,000 men with 57 puns—a very respectable force indeed, and only deficient in one requisite to completeness—cavalry. With the exception of a troop, numbering 47 men, belonging to the Hon. Artillery Company, there were no mounted forces. Brighton was very gay and excessively military on Satur- day. It is not actually the season at Brighton now. But, as Sheridan replied, when he was told that London was empty in the autumn, that he always found it much fuller than the country, so Brighton this week, though out of the season, could hardly have been more full. Uniforms and more uniforms wearied the eye in their loop, monotonous suc- cession. The New York Broadway at the close of the great war never wore a more military aspect than has the. Grand Parade, the Steyne, and the Clitf at Brighton during the few days. To do the town justice, however, it was quite equal to the occasion that is to say, it neglected no oppor- tunity of profiting by it. Cabs and flys were luxuries only for the very wealthy, and on Monday were Dot to be got at any price at all, having been hired for that day a fortnight or so ago. Most of the hotels raised their tariff con- siderably, and there were only a few exceptions to this rule, notably that of the Grand Hotel, which, in spite of the great run upon it, only raised its charges a shilling per room per night—a very small advance, consid:ring the great demand. For the rest, Brighton was what it always is-gay, lively, pleasant, with a most pro- nounced military element, like a suburb of Paris stuck down by the sea. The weather was favourable—not too warm for walking or too cool for sitting still and seeing the sleepy. glafsy sea just toppling in with a dull, somnolent kind of sound upon the shore, as if it snored in its sleep. Sunday was, of course, a quiet day—that is to say, there were more Volunteers about than ever, but the parade was less crowded, and there were no kind of amusements going on. The feature of the day was the morning service under the dome of the Pavilion, at which nearly tnree thousand Volunteers attended. After that and after dinnermost of them strolled out to see the ground over which they were to man- oeuvre next day. It is not necessary now to say anything of the Volunteer review ground at Brighton beyond what is well known that it is rather difficult of access, and by consequence equally difficult to get away from. For its purpose it is well enough adapted, the hills being so steep and the ground so trying as to test to the utmost both the drill and endurance of every regiment and of every man Its distance, however, from the base of operations —Brighton—is almost too great, considering the way the Volunteers have to come and the length of time they are obliged to be under arms. Sunday, to the delight of all, closed with a glorious evening, and Monday morning dawned with all the brightest characteristics of a mild spring day. Ii anything, as the day wore on, there was rather too much sun, but the sea-breeze tempered it on the heights, and where it did not in the valleys, it was rather a luxury to feel the genial rays after the long dreary months of bitter cold east wind. The railway arrangements for taking the men down cannot be overpraised. Owing to Mr. Knight's judicious forethought and careful management, they were as perfect as they could be. At twenty minuteg to nine on Monday morning all the men had arrived. It is no slight feat to bring 26,0u0 Volun- teers and a number of horses, exclusive of an immense mass of passengers, along a line of sixty miles. without a hitch or delay of any kind. As the regiments were timed to arrive, so they came—the great bulk by the Montpelier station, and the rest by the main terminus in the town. Long before the last had come all Brighton was astir. The occasion was kept a strict holiday, and nearly every shop in the town save those that sold refreshments, was closed as if on Sun- day. In fact, as the men arrived they were moved without burrv or confusion to their stations, some brigades to the places called the Enclosures, some to the Level, and some to the Marine Parade. Here there was ample room for all, and they fraternized and were fraternized with by the Brigh- tonians in the most effusive manner of welcome. The great mass of the Volunteers utilised their time by eating the break- fasts they had brought with them, while others breakfasted at the places provided by the corporation. There was really no standpoint from which the great muster coull be seen. No large mass was ever long at one place. They were always on the move to take their places in the line of march, so that the scene from any high point of view re- sembled nothing so much as the strands of a vast web of varied colours winding in and out. Then windows were thronged, but soon were deserted for the streets, and amid the clash of bands, and dull regular tramp of the regiments, all Brighton, and all Brighton's visitors, went out in one vast stream towards the Downs. The conduct of the Volunteers was unusually good. There was no chaffing with those around, no looking about, or any- thing but a soldierly attention to their duties. The march- past was fixed to take place at twelve o'clock, in front of the grand stand on the race-course, and at five minutes past welve it did begin. By that time the stand and course were thronged, and even the tall iron lattice posts of the wire tramway, from which certainly an admirable view could be gameq over the whole grouad, were studdel with adventurous youths, who looked in the distance as if they were standing on one another's heads. For the rest it was like all other great holiday gatherings. Pic-nics here, negro minstrels there, acrobats, sham boxing, conjurors, correct programmes, and the old old business over again which has been told so often. Still some things showed the march of ideas and spread of civilization. Punch now has an interview with a spiritualist, and about the rap- ping" in the interview there is no mistake whatever. The march of science, too, was exemplified by a dingy vagrant with aueleotntyingmaehinewhogavepeople shocks for ahaifpenny, aud to j ud60 from their contortions he must have given them a very good ha'porth indeed, for none came a second tIme, and atter a few practical lessons in the powers of electricity there was little or no demand in the market for the service of the battery at all. The whole scene, however, was pleasant and picturesque. Brighton is proverbial for its beauty and fashion, and they were shown on Monday on the Downs in all their force. The racecourse was lined with carriages and visitors. Many thousands were sauntering over the hills or gathered together on the sward in groups that in the distance looked like little parterres of flowers. The great mass of Volunteers in all their variety of colour, but grey and green prevailing, were down away on the right of the stand and the background of all was filled in with the crisp blue sea, warm with a misty look, like the haze over Turner's gorgeous paintings. At five minutes after twelve, as, we have stated, the march-past commenced. Some slight alterations were made in the formation of the artillery by order of General Scarlett, but the whole force may be taken to have marched past as nearly as possible as follows The cavalry consisted of 47 men of the Hon. Artillery Company. The artillery was divided into three brigades of field batteries and two of garrison artillery. Theflrst brigade of batteries was commanded by Lord Truro, and included 16 guns, 74 horses, and 185 men; the second, Lieutenant-Colonel Creed, 17 guns, 102 horses, 318 men the third, 20 guns, 145 horses, 503 men. The first brigade of garrison artillery, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Richards, num- bered 1,669 men; the second, Lieutenant-Colonel Walmisley, 1,281 men. The infantry comprised four divisions, with three brigades to each division. During the march past the bands were placed or rather brigaded on the Grand Stand side of the course, across which the wind was blowing pretty freshly, so that it is said, those on tha other side of the course heard little or nothing of the music. The march past began at five minutes past twelve, and ended at twenty-five minutes past one, having occupied just an hour and twenty minutes. When the course was cleared, the traditional dog of courie made his appearance and kept up the fun. His life, however, must have been a happy one compared to that of an unlucky Volunteer who, when the last of the lut troops had passed the post, came panting and running up, rifle in hand. trying to overtake the rearmost column. It is almost needless to say what he had to undergo in the way of badinage from thousands of voices. The distances during the march past were most irregularly kept, the space between the brigades being often greater than the space between divisions, while the distance between the companies seemed often to be much or little as their officers chose. Once it was over; the concourse of spectators broke up and followed the troops who spread in a broad band of colour far over the downs till they were lost in the distance or in the yellow mist which their own dust raised, and every one went after them to lee the sham fiKht. This was not as succe8&ful as Ulual, for the field over which the operations extended was too wide spread; and of this many of the Volunteers themselves complained, not from the fatigue to w ich it subjected them, but of the actual lack of in- terest ia the plan. The theory of the battle was this: The 1st and 2nd Divisions, under General Russell, were the enemy, while the 3rd and 4th, under General Scarlett, were the defenders, and were, according to programme, arranged to defend in vain. When the sham fight was over, the Volunteers, after emptying their rifles, began to march to the station, which was reached at 5 30 by the lat Surrey Rifles and the other corps in their brigade. The greatest regularity was observed on the march, and the trains were despatched under the superintendence of Mr. Knight and Mr Denvil with extra- ordinary punctuality. All the London Volunteers had started by half-past seven, but an immense crowd congre- gated about the station till the last Volunteer train was sent off. Fortunately there was no serious accident during the day, but fifteen cases of fainting and enfeebled circulation, caused no doubt, by the heat, are repoited. These were at- tended to and the men were able to return with their corps. The most noticeable accident was that which occurred to the captain of a Volunteer corps, who foolishly got into the line of fire of one of the 1st Sussex Artillery eighteen-pounders. While his attention was attracted by the gun it was flrtd, and eighteen pieces of wad and gunpowder were lodged in his face, his whiskers being also burned off. The officer wore spectacles, and his eyes were thus preserved. Late in the evening there was a good deal of boisterous fun in the streets A great number of voluuteers remained all night at Brighton.

i A writer in the DailJj News gives the following sketch of the day's proceedings Before eleven a.m. all Brighton was practising Oh who will o'er the Downs so free." We say all Brighton advisedly, for with a view of ascertaining how much and how Uttle the town was participating in the event of the day we explored its back streets, composed of modest £ 15 or £ 20 holdings and found them invariably empty. The population fol- lowed the Volunteers While these latter were in the town every house commanding a view of them, every thorough- fare leading to where they were was curiously, abnormally full. When they made their way to the Downs, then were doors locked, and every soul, from the baby in arms upwards, made their way, or had the way made for them, to the same spot. Any of the predatory classes with a leaning to burglary would have found Brighton a happy hunting-ground after the time named and there was some- thing very remarkable in the unanimity of absence amongst the householders and tenants of the miles of streets we passed through. That the King's-walk, the Pier, the Steyne, and the other ordinary ltuusing places of the leisurely classes should be deserted was a thing of course; but few people, we imagine, would be prepared for the utter emptiness to be met with in thoroughfares which are presumably filled by people with wcrk to do, and to whom holidays mean pre- arraugement, and often previous self-denial Again, every conceivable vehicle in or' connected with Brighton must have been on its way towards the Downs soon after ten. The very few flymen to be 8een on the accus- tomcd stands looked melancholy and ideas had been too exorbitant, and who w^? bitterly that they should have let drop the bone in tof mouth of an offered 30s. for the day, for the 0f f ™nra sentative shadow in the water of some fabulously h<gh"r The high road to the Downs was a complete block. The well known Brighton types—the fashionable old gentlemen who appear to flourish and look buckish to a far greater age there than in any other place in the world the men whose girth and appeararce always suggests hidden straps, and pad?, and buckles; the City editions of the Park and Row; the Greeks, the Jews—were all in greater force than ever: Ladles to match these gentlemen, and to match nothing but their own fair selves—ladies with ravishing toilettes and unlimited hair, ladies from school, from shops, from the hotels and mansions, on horseback, on drags, and in carriages, were all hurryiDg in hot haste to the broad expanse on which England's citizen-soldiers were appearing expanse on which England's citizen-soldiers were appearing in their strength. Fortunately, the space was ample, and though as it seemed from the Grand Stand every inch of standing place between the point where the Volunteers assembled previously to the march past and that at the end of their march, four miles off, was occupied, the ground is so favourably situated for a review that all comers obtained a place. The scene from the Stand was simply magnificent. J1"! rhe undulating ground rises and laus in sucn a way as to rive full effect to any moving mass of colour, and when the "thin red line" of the 2fi Londons and the Tower Hamlets Engineers, or the waving kilts of the London Scottish were traced from the saluting point, round the dis- tant corner and down to Ovinedean, the effect was magical. General the Hon. Sir James Yorke Scarlett, G.C.B., and a brilliant staff, took up their position opposite the Grand Stand, and in the place marked out for them by the white standard of England, and past them came the army. We chose a place within the lines, and on the grass by the railings. Far away to the right lay a smiling expanse of waveless sea, a few steamers, yachts, and boats at anchor, and decorated with many flags in honour of the day, dot- ting its glittering surface; above u. was an Italian sky while to the left, and as far as the eye could reach in ahead of us, were the wavy Downs. Biighton lay behind, that most excellent institution the new Sussex Hospital shutting out part of it, and the conformation of the land preventing other and some of its best-known portions being seen. There were luncheon parties lit the carriages, and pleasant and proud recognitions of friends among the Volunteers; and there were other general features resembling our metropolitan festivals, our Derby Day Ascot, or what not. There were, too, the usual humours among the crowd. The ventriloquist, who, out of the open mouth of a singularly bald and wooden doll, speckled as if with pimples, evolves lessons of deep political import; the dealer in art, who vends portraits of public characters, and whose chef d'eeuvre was a likeness of Mr. Bright, in sky-blue lllLLLlJL I, II C"1,1 r''nlr 'W* rf>hfignf cHm«nr. voivnt. and ermine "the way he allers dresses since he's jined the Governmentthe poor demented lady, concerning whom a powerful black horse, and halt Masked, or with a thick veil so arranged as to perform a mask's duty, is seen at military spectacles all over Europe, always unattended, always fault- lessly appointed as an equestrienne, and never without a sword by her side the exaggerated Punchinello with hunch and nose, who combines as "People's Jester" the didactic prosiness of Mr. Wallett with the humour of HanwtU's padded room, all these and hundreds of other minor notabilities were on the Downs. There was an improvisatore, too, who kept his audience i'i a roar by his shrewd comments upon the various incidents of the moment, giving an oration full of patho?, and showing no small powers of observation, as well as minute accuracy in detail. This man, who might have been the Grand of the venerable society of Cogers, so fluent was he, professed to make a speech upon any topic set him by the crowd, reserving to himself the right of veto if he considered he could not improve their minds with the subject chosen as much as with one of his own and sending round his hat at the conclusion of a ten minutes speech, with a far more liberal response than the nature of the entertainment seemed to promise It was as if the Eastern story-teller of Cairo had been transferred to Sussex, and with license to relate and pass criticisms on the subjects of the hour. Why Lord Bury woie a large white pugaree on his uniform hat, thus violating the regulation dress ? whether the countrymen fresh from the plough, who led the stout steeds har- nessed to the gun carriages, would not have looked better In uniform ? what was Lord Elcho's opinion of himself and the impression he was makinz at the precise moment 01 his saluting the general and of causing his horse to curvet and bound?—these and other questions, trivial in themselves but made trenchant bv the intense comicality of the speaker's manner and the mock earnestness with which he pointed out the objects of his satire, drew roars of appreciative laughter and many coppers from the light-hearted holiday crowd.

DEPARTURE OF EMIGRANTS. An interesting sight was witnessed at the St. Pancras Terminus of the Midland Railway in London, on Monday evening. At six o'clock, 312 emigrants, composed solely of married men, their wives, and families, assembled on the platform prior to the depar- ture of a special" for Liverpool, at 7.30. This batch of emigrants was sent out by the East London Family Emigration Society, which is managed chiefly by a committee of ladies, the Hon. Mrs. Hobart taking a leading part in the direction, and supported solely by voluntary contributions. On the platform were several of the committee and friends of the society, amongst whom were Lord Lawrence, late Governor General of India, anu Lady Lawrence, the Hon. A. Kinnaird, M.P., the Hon. Elizabeth Waldegrave, Lady Burrell, the Hon. F. and Miss Hobart, General C. Sluart, Admiral Fishjvvurne, Rev. T. Richardson, vicar of St. Matthews, St GeororeVin-the-East, Miss Baxter, Mr. Megsy Clive, Mr. T. B. Smithies, &c. In the party of 312 almost every class of skilled and unskilled workmen was represented, and every family had either been reduced to the utmost destitution, had been a recipient ef the rates, or was on the high road to be one. Last year the society sent out 1.000 emigrants to Ontario, and without exception they have done well. Destitution is the first claim upon the bene- volence of the committee, but it must be accompanied by pood character. The entire cost of transit from London to Ontario is paid by the society two new suits of clothes have been given to each emigrant, and ten shillings each will be handed theiu on arriving at their destination, where they will be met by the Canadian agent, who will register the names and trades of the men. At half-past six the emigrants were served with tea in one of the waiting rooms, the ladies of the coin- mit^ee, being most attentive to them. A hymn was sung and prayer offered after tea, and then afew words of encouragement w^-re addressed by Admiral Fisbbourne and Mr. Richardson to the poor people who were all in hgh spirits. At half-past saven the "soecial" left for Liverpool. The Rev. T. Richardson and some ladies of the committee accompanied 1 hep <rty of emigrants. The Irain wr„3 to step at Amptbill, to take up 40 agricultural labourers, who were sent out to Canada by the Countess and the Ladies Cowper.

BANQUET TO MR. GEORGE HUDSON. The inhabitants of Sunderland gave a public dinner to Mr. George Hudson, the ex-railway king, on Saturday ni$ht The Mayor presided and the dinner was attended by Earl Vane, Mr. C*ndiHh, M.P., Messrs. Laing and Hudson, of the Wear Commissioners, Mr. Hugh Taylor, and many of the principal merchants and traders of the town. The Mayor, in proposing the health of Mr. Hudson, said that the north country owed a deep debt of grati- tude to George Hudson. Cut for him the resources of the north would never have been developed as they had been. He referred especially to the projection of Jarrow and Sunderland Docks and the High Level Bridge. Mr. Hudson, in replying, was greatly cheered. He thanked the company for the enthusiastic manner in which they had received him. He said it was thirty years since circumstances placed him in a position of being able to render services to the town in the projec- tion of different enterprizes. When he first entered the district it possessed two millions of railway property which was not remunerative but he was enabled by some foresight to place these railways ina profitab'e posi- tion. GeorgeStepnensonnevertookany partinany great work in the district without doing him the honour of consulting him. Mr. Hudson referred to the offers made to him to carry the railway communication some miles from Newcastle, but he persevered and succeeded in carrying it through that town. The next work which he was connected with in the district was Sunderland Dock. He had been told that he had j obbed that dock but this he indignantly denied, and said he felt that Sunderland, as well as Newcastle, required faculties for developing its trade. At that time he had the monopoly of the district in his hands, and he was offered thousands of pounds, but he never touched for himself a single shilling. Many of his projects which wero condemned at the time had since been carried out; among those was the Jarrow Dock, for which he entered into the contrac1". He would not say where the credit had been taken for carrying out what had been such immense benefit to the district. It was satisfactory to know that the projects which he felt necessary for the trade of the district had been carried out literally and entirely. He claimed for himself the credit of being the first to adopt that which had been of the greatest advantage to railways, viz. amalgama- tion, which was first suggested by him to the Midland and Derby, and Birmingham, and which was further carried out in the purchase of numerous branch lines in thenorih, which were dead bodies, but which after- wards became living souls. He would not say that he had notauffered, but he had always preserved his courage, and in his deepest distress some kind friend always dropped in and helped and cheered him on his way. Sunderland always stood firmly and kindly by him. He referred to the great progress made by Tyne, and urged Sunderland and the towns of the Wearto imitate her example. He next referred to the successful man- ner in which he opposed the introduction of the atmo- spheric system between Newcastle and Berwick. If that system had been introduced, and all their money spent upon it, it would have been many years before they would have got the locomotive. He initiated the amalgamation of Newcastle and Carlisle with the North Eastern, and leased it at 7 per cent.. but it had since paid dividends of 9i and 10 per cent. This showed that the principles he laid down were right, and it was unjust to repudiate the agreement for which he suf- fered pecuniarily. Many of the charges made against him were now almost antiquated. It was of no use speaking of them now. When the hurricane blew over him he was not heard, and could only bow his head and allow it to pass, but he con- scientiously asserted that he never supported a pro- ject which he did not believe to be right. He had had thousands and thousands at his feet; he might have recouped himself by buying shares of railways he recommended to amalgamate, but he did not, and he now wondered at his moderation. He, no doubt, had committed errorf, but they were those of the head, and not of the heart. When he purchased some lines be had to spend large sums in restocking them, and he charged this to capital. It was laid against him that he paid dividends out of capital, but this he had since frequently heard was the correct principle. After all the miserable straining of matters against him. out of dividends of a million and three quarters, only fifty thousand was claimed to be overpaid. Mr. Hudson entered at considerable length into the explanation and d^«»nce of a contract for rails which he afterwards sold (York and Berwick) below the market price, and which he had to repay. He contended that the policy of law in those extreme cases was bad. In oonclusion he ex- pressed the hope that the rest of his life would be spent in peace and enjoyment. Mr. Hudson resumed his seat amidst loud and hearty cheers.

THIEVES' SUPPER. "Ned Wright" still continues his efforts to benefit the criminal class from which he has been hiILself rescuei. About two hundred convicted thieves were assembled the other night at his meeting-house—once a penny gaff- near the New-cut. They were each given a basin of good soup and half a loaf and after supper Ned Wright gave them a vigorous practical address. Shall I give you some good advice, lads ?" was his commenctment; and there was a general response of approbation. By a happily varied form of address, he sustained their attention with great suc- cess for nearly an hour. There was but a single inter- ruption, and that very slight; it was at once suppressed, and Ned Wright turned it to good account. He speaks with all the force and truth of nature, and we are not surprised to learn that there are not a few thieves whom he has successfully reclaimed. It is impossible to look round the room (remarks the correspondent of a London contemporary) without feeling that there are many among his audience who, on the most sublunary principles, ought to be capable of better things but Ned Wright believes he is in possession of a truth which is powerful enough to save even the most degraded. He does not, however, omit ordinary agencies. Before obtaining admittance, every thief is obliged to apply for a ticket, and to furnish particulars of his position, and that Ned knows the name and address of every man who attends his meetings. He told them that he was not without means of obtaining honest work for any who were desirous of leaving their present mode of life but, we fear, from the interesting ac- count he gave of his own history, that this must be his chief difficulty. We think no one who goes will deny that Ned Wright is doing a genuine work. We venture to suggest that the less mere spectators are admitted to the platform, the more easy will it be for Ned to maiutaina genuine interchange of confidence between bimself and theclaf-a he addresses. None who wish well to his work wouli wish to embarrass him by mere curiosity. With this hint, we are glad of the opportunity of making it known that he is a little embarrassed just now for want of funds. He has hitherto ginn the suppers every fortnight; but he has announced, with(:ut mentioning the reawn in public, that he was doubtful if he could offer the next; at the usual time. We learn that he is himself out of pocket by them, and that he cannot continue them as he would wish without further help. It is to be hoped that there are many who will gladly help so good a work.

(From Monday's limes.) A lady has kindly sent me for Thieves' Supper," the half of a £5 note, No. 24755, and desires tho same acknowledged in your journal previous to fowarding the other half. With sincere thanks for this timely donation, also the kind re- marks in your journal of Thursday, I am yours truly, Edward Wright, 20. Carlton-square/Pomeroy-street. Old Kent- road. S.E., April 14.

THE COLLECTION OF TAXES. The boor, which w hap in store for ns would be better appreciated it a knowledge ot the history or Eneli>h taxation were more widely diffused (says the Pall-Mall Gazeltt). Our present fiscal system cannot be called faultless, but, at any rate, it is a vast im- provement upon the Georgian plan, and an immeasur- able advance upon that pursued in earlier times. For instance, the popular objection urged against the income-tax is its" inquisitorial" character, but the principle upon which it is based is so ancient as to j ustify us in calling it thoroughly English. In the 13th and 14th centuries all personal and movable pro- perty was the subject of taxation, but the method of assessment became more and more searching in every successive reign. Under King John each owner swore to the value of his property before the itinerant justices in the next reign he was compelled to swear not only to the amount of his own effects, but to that of his two next neighbours, and the assessment was submitted to commissioners specially appointed by the justices. Under the Edwards a fresh change was made, and a certain number of the inhabitants of each town- ship was chosen by the Crown to inquire into the value of the moveables possessed by each house- holder, the term moveable" including not only corn, cattle, and merchandise, but money, fuel, furni- ture, wearing apparel, &c. Tollage was paid upon the whole value, though some allowance was made for necessarieil defined according to the station of the taxpayer. Knights and esquires were not obliged to return their armour and horses, and persons of lower rank were exempted from payment on one suit of clothes, one bed, one ring, and a few other articles. Complaints were frequent that the collectors entered and searched every apartment in people's houses, and in the returns which have been preserved not only is every article mentioned, but the very room in which it was found.

DEATH OF PROFESSOR MAGNUS. Professor Tyndall, in last week's Nature, writes:- On the 4 th of April, 1870, at a quarter-past ten p.m., died peacefully, after a long illness, Dr. Gustav Magnus, Professor of Physics, and Director of the Physical Cabinet in the University of Berlin. He was an experimental philosopher of great and varied ex- cellence, executing his work with the choicest appa- ratus and with the most conscientious care. His numerous labours are known to all students of physics, and they are such as to secure for him an enduring fame. On the 28th of April, 1851,1 first saw Professor Magnus on his own doorstep in Berlin. His aspect won my immediate regard, which was strengthened to affection by our subsequent intercourse. He gave me a working place in his laboratory, and it was there I carried out the investigation on diamagnetism and magne-crystallic action, which is published in the Philosophical Magazine for September, 1851. In 1853 I was again in Berlin, and found under hiM roof the same ready help and sympathy. Professor Hurst and myself paid him a visit last summer; and he after- wards attended the Exeter meeting of the British As- sociation, where his frank, genial, and gentlemanly demeanourwere conspicuous to all. Over and above his direct contributions to science. Professor Magnus exercised a powerful indirect influence, through the kindly aid and countenance which he lent to young in. quirers. When I bade him good-bye in 1851 his last words to me were, If you should meet any really able young fellow, willing to work, and to whom such asaistanca as I can render, would be valuable, send him to me." There are many such, now no longer young, who, like myself, will mingle a grateful memory of his goodness with their grief for his loss.

BABOO KESHUB CHUNDER SEN. A crowded congregation listened last Sunday to a sermon from the distinguished Hindoo preacher in the Unitarian Chapel in Finsburv, London. It would be interesting to know the impression made upon the preacher by his congregation; upon that topic, how- ever, for obvious reasons, we (Pall Mall Gazette) are unable to throw any light. We must be content with discharging the easier duty of saying what the con- gregation thought of the preacher. Two or three remarks would probably be made bv every one pre- sent. Such, for example, are the obvious facts that Keshub Chunder Sen talks as good English as any Englishman, and very much better English than the majority of those who undertake the duty of weekly admonition in religious matters. There is a slight trace but nothing more than a Blight trace, of foreign accent, and he speaks with perfect fluency, with complete grammatical accuracy, and ap- parently without even the use of a note. His ap- pearance is striking, and has a certain quiet dignity, in harmony with the simplicity of his dress and the absence of any forced gesticulation. His features are well cut, and combine a certain Bweetness with an ex- pression of marked decision. Altogether he is a man to whom it is impossible to linten without respect and interest; though it may be that in preaching to an < audience where he could feel himself more at home he might venture a little farther into the regions of rhetoric. As it wa", though speaking with unhesita- ting ease, the c almness of his style would perhaps rather disappoint people who came out to hear any- thing startling. And what of the substance of his sermon? it may be asked. (Wo are still quoting from the Pall Mall Gazette). The scene by itself was sufficiently striking. Though Finsbury Chapel does not boast of any archi- tectural excellence—it indeed conforms rigidly to the ordinary type of Dissenting places of worship—the circumstances were interesting enough to the imagina- tion to dispense with external elements of beauty. Here, on the one band, were a large number of ordinary Britons of the most familiar type; and, on the other, a speaker whose whole appearance spoke unmistakably of his Eastern origin. What message would a repre- sentative of our Hindoo subjects deliver to the conquerors who have enforced our rule upon them, but have not as yet succeeded in imbuing them with our religious ideas? Would he throw any light upon that difficult problem why our spiritual influence seems to have lagged so far behind the material conquest. Looking at our society from a point of view so entirely novel, would he throw a new light upon the peculiarities of our creed as they strike a race no different and yet so closely connected with us ? Whether Keshub Chunder Sen could or could not have made any interesting remarks upon such topics it is impossible to say. Probably he may think that the expression of any judgment upon such matters had better be delayed until he has had more time to familiarize himself with the strange scene now first revealed to him. At any rate, the sermon was of extreme simplicity, and devoted to setting forth a doctrine which certainly did not profess to be novel or startling. In short, he spoke with much quiet fervour upon the goodness and mercy of God. There were no quotations of texts andno theological dogmas ofthekind with which we are familiar in Engligh pulpits. The parable of the prodigal son was frequently quoted, and the example of our Lord was noticed reverently and respectfully, though not, of course, with any im- plication of a belief in his sacred character. In short, the sermon was just what we might, expect to hear from Mr. Martineau or from any able Unitarian preacher; and the peculiar position of the speaker in regard to European creeds could only be inferred from the absence of certain theological topics, and not from any positive assertions of disagreement with our opinions. People who are discussing thepossibility of good morality to children without any specific dogma might perhaps learn a lesson from the Baboo but anybody who sought for a precise definition of his religious tenets or for a statement of facts would be necessarily dis- appointed. So far as could be inferred from the lan- guage of the preacher, he teaches a doctrine which harmonizes very well with the spirit of modern Christianity but with none of the formula which weare generally taught to regard as essential. On the whole, though people might naturally feel that their curiosity might have been more fully satis- fied, they could but come away with a warm feeling of respect for the preacher. In due time we shall be glad to bear anv more specific explanations of his feelings towarda English Christianity which he may choose to make public. At present he is probably wise to avoid such topics. At any rate we may learn that the doc- trine which has made so great an impression in India has a very eloquent exponent, to whom men of all sects may award the respect due to the setting forth of a pure and elevated doctrine with great sincerity and simplicity.

GOOD FRIDAY IN THE EAST-END OF LONDON. An experiment of a somewhat novel character was made in the district parish of Chiist Church, bt. George's-in-the-East, in order to bring before the mass of the people the great facts of Good Friday. While the ordinary congregation were attending the usual morning service in cburch. the vicar, the Rev. J. Maconechy, and the Rev. J. F. N. Eyre, seniorcurate, conducted a series of seven services in various streets of the parish. Accompanied by the choir boys and several lay helpers, they started from a small mission room in Devonshire-street, one of the worst streets in the metropolis, inhabited principally by fallen women of the lowest class, by some of the criminal class, and a sprinkling of the honest poor sunk in the depths of destitution and misery. The clergy were their cassocks and black gowns, and were preceded by the choir sing- ing the hymn" Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, come" to invoke the Divine blessing. They took up their position at the foot of the street, where, after prayer, the first short sermon or address was given. It was thought desirable not to take the Stations of the Cross, but to confine the addresses to the facts connected with the Crucifixion recorded in the Gospels, and more especially to our Lord's words from the Cross, one of which formed the subject of address in each of the seven streets to which the preachers moved in suc- cession. Mr. Maconechy spoke on the first and fourth utterances—"Father forgive them" and "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani." "Mr. Eyre on the third and seventh, "Woman behold thy son and "Father into Thy hands I commend my spirit;" while the remain- ing addresses were given by two laymen. Captain Dawson, RN., and Mr, R. Thomas of the East Lon- don Collegiate School. Each address was preceded by a suitable hymn, and followed by an extempore prayer, offered up by one of the clergy or by a Scripture reader or city missionary. In moving from street to street, the well-known hymn, "When I survey the wondrous cross," was sung on every occasion, and as its constant repetition rendered it familiar it was heartily joined in by the people, among whom copies of the Christian Knowledge Society's Hymnal were distributed. The other hymns sung were such well-known ones as" Rock of Ages" and There is a fountain filled with blood." The parish of Christ Church is perhaps the poorest and most crowded in the East of London, and the circuit made was through^ts poorest streets,—Devon- shire, Star, Hungerford, Lower Chapman, and Charles Streets (where a very busy market is held every Sun- day morning, despite all the laws against Sunday trading), ending with Dean-street and Watney-street, where the last address was delivered opposite the church. Those present were then invited into church, where the service was ended with the Litany. Nothing oiuld exceed the quietness and decorum with which the services were received in the various streets. Everywhere the addresses were listened to with marked attention, not only by the bystanders, but by many at the windows of the houses, and although few, if any, joined in all the seven services, yet many followed from lln.ii mm ntgoot to tho nontj OF the IILXIJ ■ two streets, and probably not less than 300 adults, besides children liEtened to the various addresses.

DEATH OF THE DUCHESS OF BERRI: On Sunday last, there died in Styria a Princess who m^ny years ago played no unimportant part in the fffairs of Europe. Caroline Ferdinanda, Louisa, Duchess of Berri, daughtrr of Francis I., King of the Two Sicilies, sister of liomba, and aunt of the ex-King Francis II., was born towards the close of the last ceutury. At the age of eighteen she was married to the Duchess de Berri, younger son of Charles X., then Due d'Artois. Her married life barely lasted three years. When her husband was assassinated in 1820, the Duchess was expecting the birth of the Due de Bordeaux, known to the Legitimists of France as Henry V., and to the world at large as the Comte de Chambord. Throughout the reigns of Louis XVIII. and of Charles X. the widowed Princess took no active part in public life. After the Revolution of July she quitted France and took refuge at Rome, where she con- tracted a secret marriage with the Marquis Lucchesi Palli. In 1832 she suddenly landed in France, and headed an abortive insurrection in La Vendee, the object of which was the dethronement of the Orleanist dynasty, and the restoration of the legitimate branch of the House of Bourbon. But the times had gone by whm such a rising was possible, and the Legitimist crusade of 1832 was an almost contemptible parody of the great insurrection with which the name of La Vendue is inseparably associated in history. The Duchess, who travelled about Brittany in peasant's costume, was arrested, happily for herself and her adherents, before any st rious outbreak had taken place. Kept as a State prisoner in the Citadel of Blaye, under the custody of Marshal Bugeaud, the difficulty of how to deal with her was a source of extreme embarrassment to Louia Phillipe and his Ministers. The difficulty was, however, solved by the sudden discovery that the widow of the Due de Berri was in the family-way. The pathos of this unsentimental ending to a romantic enterprise afforded the French Government a happy excuse for releasing their prisoner, who, in order to preserve her reputation, confessed the fact of her marriage with the Marquis Palli, After her relase from prison, the heroine of the second La Vend 6 d rising led a very quiet and retired life. She has lived to see the House of Orleans in exile, the Bourbons expelled from Spain, Naples, and Parma. She has witnessed the ri^e and fall of a second French Republic. She has beheld another Napoleon reigning as Emperor in Francs. Indeed, well nigh the only member of the Royal houses of Europe with whom she was connected, either by birth or by marriage, whose fortunes have experienced no change during the last forty years, is her son, who remains in 1870 what he was in 1830—Count of Chambord, of Frohsdorf, in Lower Austria.

THE UNIVERSITY BOAT RACE. Speaking of the University boat race, the Allgemsine Zeitung siys:— The struggle of the crews of the two universities is as great a festival for the Upper Ten' as the horse races which have lost lately so much of their respecta- bility. But the lower classes, although they care little about the beauties of academical muscle-worship and do not read Kingsley's novels devoted to it, have yet taken advantage of an occasion for betting. Out of the many hundreds of thousands who covered the shores of the 1 names in carriages and on horseback, as well as without carriage or horse, the majority has no interest whatever-in the universities themselves. The victory. of the dark or light blue is for many of them a question of £ s. d. while for the rest it is merely a question of a sickly excitement. Lady Noodle thinks to have outdone Lady Doodle if she has succeeded in securing at lea^t one of the victorious heroes for her soiree. The leading articles with which the daily press welcomes these heroes throw a peculiar and, we think, for a continental man, quite »n unintelligible light up in the delirium into which England falls through the childish play at heroes. These leaders exhibit a dithyrambic Johnbullism which goes beyond all limits of the risible straight to the dominions of the ridiculous. A few papers only, like the Pall Mall Gazette and the Daily News have the courage to venture a question whether it ia really the highest aim of a university to train young men for boaf-races. cricket-matches, and kindred performances, to which the enthusiasm of the high as well as of the low gives the importance of a national event; and whether the harmonic combination of theological ortho- doxy with athletic development of muscles really has any right to our admiration?"

AMENDMENT OF THE GAME LAWS. The bill introduced by the Lord Advocate, and which bears also the naite of Mr. Secrstary Bruce, proposes to amend and assimilate in certain respects the laws of England and Scotland relating to game. It provides that, as in England so in Scotland, the occupying tenant under any future lease or agreement shall have the sole right of killing and taking the game and rabbits upon such land, unless such right shall have been expressly reserved to the landlord. No lessee (for not less than a year) in the occupation of land in England or Scotland shall be liable to prosecution or to any penalty under any Act of Parliament for killing or taking hares or rahnita on such land; but if, by himself or others for whom he is responsible, he kills or takes game or rabbits contrary to his lease or bargain, he may be wied for damages, and such damages, not exceeding £ -iO, may be sued for in the county court (the case to be tried and decided without a jury), or in Scotland be fore the sheriff of the county. No injunction or mter. dict m to be granted to protect or enforce a contract re- strainincr a lessee from taking hares or rabbits on the Where the exclusive right of killing hares or rabbits haa been reserved to the lessor, f aQd he shall fail to keep down the stock of such animals to such an extent as shall be fair and reason- able in justice to the lessee, suoh lessor shall be liable in damages to the lessee for the injury but in judging of such fairness, and also in assessing damages, regard shall be had to the character and cultivation of the land, the amount of the rent as compared with the real value at the commencement of the lease, and the terms and conditions of the lease; and the above provision as to the county and sheriffs court av- ulies. An action by a lessor must be brought within three months by a lessee not later than Martinmas in the year in which the injury was done, and only one such action shall be competent to the lessee in the same year. A lessee, who is by his contract prohibited from killing hares or rabbits shall be at liberty before Mar- tinmas to render to the lessor or his known factor or agent an account of his claim fordamage in that year, by the lessor's failure to keep down the stock of these animals, and to name an arbiter and propose arbitra- tion and if the claim' do not exceed £ 25 the lessor murt within 14 days name his arbiter, or the lessee's arbiter is to decide on the claim.

|!Tis<tl!;nrcoits Inltllicjente, EOIaE, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL. MAKING A NEW NOSE FOR A MAN.—The case of Mr. O'Connor, of King's County, whose nose was cut off some weeks ago by a band of ruffians, excited attention evea in a land of outrages by its exceptional atrocity. The sequel of the story, however, is very different from the beginning. Mr. O'Connor's mutila- tion has led to one of the greatest surgical feats ever accomplished. A new nose, fashioned out of his own flesh, has been fitted upon him with admirable success. An incision was made in the forehead, and a portion of the living flesh skilfully drawn down, fashioned into the proper form whilst still warm and plastic, and. fitted to the stump of the mutilated feature, the skin being artistically drawn over the scar. Mr. O'Connor will be but slightly Jisfigured-indced, his friends say that the new nose looks better than the old one. THE PKCSSIAN NEEDLE-GUN.—A contributor to the Allgemeine Militdr-Zcitung writes :— "As you know, two improved models of the needle-cun are on trial, whichboth aim at increasing the rapidity of firing with na llttlft waata on pnaalhla TiYnm flft-pen tn t.gcnt.17 shots may be fired by them in a minute, so that the appre- hensions of those may be quieted who are alarmed as soon as and many others are inclined to shrug our shoulders when we hear the nonsense current on this subject. All who have any experience know that two. or perhaps three, well-aimed shots are the most we can obtain from infantry in the field.' SHOCKING SUICIDE IN PARIS.—A well-dressed man on Saturday ascended. to the top of the column at the Place de la Bastille, and, on arriving there, without a moment's delay threw himself over the railing above. The body was dreadfully disfigured hy the faU and death instantaneous. Papers in his pocket declared him to be M. Leon Msge, a clerk. The deceased, who was only 40 years of age, had been attacked with typhus fever some time back, and since then his brain has been somewhat affected. MATRIMONIAL CHANCES. (From the Man- chester Examiner)| "A bachelor, of 40, who has travelled, and who haaposi- tion and snnll independence, desires to settle with a family. -Addrfiss," &s. "A gentleman, 29, wishes to meet with an amiable lady, with a view to a speedy marriage. A good income desirable. Age of little importance.—Address," &c. Respectable gentleman, age 29, of position, with a few hundred pounds, wishing to commence business, is desirous of meeting with an amiable young lady, with similar means No applicants needreply except in confidence.—Address," &c. Wanted, by a widower (bonâ. fide), a well brought-up and educated young lady or widow, between 24 and 30, to take chprge of his small establishment ana family, with a view to matrimony.—Address," &c. A gentleman, 29, with good private Income, home, and business, wishes to correspond with a domesticated young lady, with a view to" marriage. Strictest confidence will be observed.—Address, with own name," &c. • a —A gentleman of position, in the prime of life, is desirous of meetiDg with a lady in similar circumstances with a view of marriage; the Continent, if agreeable would be their chief residence: the strictest privacy may be relied on cartes exchanged before an interview.—Address," &c. THE SUN CONVALESCENT !—On Friday after- noon (the 15th) a careful scrutiny with a powerful telescope elicited the ci* cum stance that there were then only four small spots distinctly visible on the face of the sun. The serious blotch on the left cheek was disappearing, and on Sunday it was not to be seen. PRINCE MURAT AND M. COMTE.—The High Court at Tours will not be troubled with the trial of Prince Murat for an assault on M. Comté. Replying to a question addressed to bim in the Corps Legislatif, a few days since, M. Etnile Ollivier intimated that probably the affair would be arranged, and it appears now that such is the case. M. Comte has addressed a letter to the Prime Minister, in which be says that he never sought to obtain a mean vengeance, and that he did not intend to become the catspaw of any party. "You wish, it is said, to establish liberty. I desire not to offer any impediment to the establishment by creating embarrassments to your administration. For that reason I declare by the present letter that I with- draw the complaint which I had lodged against Prince Murat, foregoing all my rights of action against him. on account of the violent acts of which he was guilty towards me. I pray you, M. Ie Ministre. not to pro- ceed with the affair." The Opposition journals make merry over this letter, and indulge in various specula- tions as to the real motive for so sudden an act of for- giveness, the Bappel wittily, but perhaps unjustly, suggesting that the plaintiff "il a compte^ TANTIA TOPEE'S HEAD.—A discussion is going on in the Indian papers as to the fate of Tantia Topee's head, which was cut off after his execution for par- ticipation in the mutiny. The Mofussilite has the following:— Our Madras and Mysore contemporaries have been adorn- ing their columns with biographical sketches of Colonel Meade, and very pleasant and instructive reading those sketches have been. They one and all, however, fall to throw light on, or even to mention, an incident in the gallant commissioner's Indian career which, in the interests of cur- rent history, they should have elucidated. We allude to the mystery which still envelopes the fate of the rebel Tantia Topee's head Tantia was hanged shortly after his capture, and-his head was cut off, and was carried to England in a keg of spirits by—according to the account prevalent at the time-Colone], then Captain, Meade! Its ultimate fate or destination we have never been able to learn. Is it in the British Museum, or in either of those at the Universities ? Or has Colonel Meade, as one of the foremost amongst the arch-rebel's captors, decided that it shall be an heirloom in his family? A QUAINT BEQUEST.—In the churchyard of St. Bartholomew-the-Great, Smithfield, London, one of the oldest of the City churches, a curious custom was observed on Good Friday. A lady who many years ago lived in the parish bequeathed property for the formation of a fund for preaching a sermon every Good Friday, and for the giving twenty-five p)or. widows of the parish 6J every year for ever. With re- gard to the latter bequest, she made the singular stipu- lation that the sixpences should be taken by the re- cipients from her grave, and those who were by age too stiff in their joints to do this were not to have the money. The ceremony took place under the direction of the rector, the Rav. John Abbiss, M.A., who preached the sermon, and who has held the living sinca 1815, the rev. gentleman being now 84 years of age. A VERY CLEAR EXPLANATION !—The following has been referred to the clear head of Lord Dundreary, as it has befn found rather confusing to the Oxford Dons it has been submitted to. The question was put to a little Dutch boy, Hans," the offspring of the first marriage of the gentleman at St. James's Theatre who has lost bislittle dog :—" Hans, where were you born ?' On the Haldorbarrick." What, always ?" Yaw, and before, too." How old are you, then ?"' "When the old schoolhouse ish built, I was two weeks more nor a year, what is painted red as you go home mit your back behind you, on the right-hand side, by the old blacksmith shop, what stands where it was burnt down next year will pe two weeks." SEVERAL REASONS FOR TAKING A HOLIDAY !— A Radical member of the North German Parliament, Herr Lebel, explains to his constituents in a charac- teristic letter the reason of his having taken a holiday. He says :— To-morr JW I leave Berlin for the present. To stop here is a mere waste of time and money. Since the begin- ning of the session I have not had a single opportunity of speaking, and am hardly likely to have one before Easter. I have no inclination to ask permission to speak about trifles—that is the business of the other parties. Besides, the sittings are so badly attended, and the proceedings so slovenly, that the members Bre penetrated with a sense of their utter insignificance. Often there are many more of them to be found in the restaurant and the reading room than in the Chamber. I will return only for the third reading °J Jhe criminal Code, when a number of important clauses will be put to the vote, and an opportunity will pro- bably be given for treating the matter from our point of view. A BBV £ RAGE WITH RATHER Too MUCH BODY A startling discovery was made last week at the Waterford Workhouse. Some workmen re- pairmg the pump, which had for some time been out of order, discovered a large black-looking lump at the entrance of the tube from which the water flows, and on one of them going down to remove it he was horri- fied to find that it waa the body of a child greatly de- composed. The obstruction to the water, supply has been noticed for the past fortnight, and as the guardians are nearly all teetotallers and wont to drink heartily from this crystalspriog while discharging their duties at the board they have clearly been enjoying a beverage which had much more "body" in it than they were aware of or desired.' FROZEN TO DEATH.—The Blue Earth City (Minnesota) Post of the 16th of March gives the ac- count of the death of the wife and three children of Mr. Bates, of Seely, Blue Earth County. Mr. Bates's residence was on the prairie, some distance from any other habitation and during the prevalence of a fierce storm the house took iire, and waa burnt to the ground. Mr. Batea started off for assistance, but before he could get back his wife and children were frozen to death. The same paper reports the freezing to death, "I the Bame storm, of two brothers living at L«ake Bell, Minnesota, and of a German and four other men in the State of Iowa. UNITED STATES PUBLIC SCHOOLS.—The New York Times says:— Mr. Forster, M.P., has fallen into a serious error in regard to educational affairs in this country. In a debate in the House of Commons on the 14t.h of March, he touched upon the question of excluding tha Bible from schools, and said,— There are countries in which the Bible is excluded; I relieve it is excluded in America at the present moment." There is no part of the United States, we may inform Mr. Forster. in which the Bible is excluded from the schools. The attempt was made to prohibit the reading of it in Cincinnati, but it failed. THE MUUDAUNT CASE.—In referenda to the great case of "Mordaunt v. Morlauat. Cole, and ■Johnstone," public interest seems likely to be balked for the present. It will be remembered that an order to stay proceedings was made by Lord Penzance by consent of parties with the view of trying the question whether insanity should be a bar to a petition for divorce, and it was expected that the appeal from this order, entered on behalf of the petitioner, would be argued before the full Court in the course of the next fittings. There are, however, no appeal pauses set down for hearing in the new list, and it appears that within the last few days notice to prolong the term of summons has been filed on the part of the respondent, which has thrown the case over to Easter sessions of the COUIt. How TO EVADE HANGING !—A surgeon of Aberdeen writes to The Times:- With reference to the murderer Rutterford, recently re- prieved because of a cicatrix on his neck, which has Ceen rightly considered an insurmountable obstacle to his being hanged, your numerous correspondents on the subject several of whom think it a good opportunity for abolishing death by hanging, fcave overlooked by far the most important argument in their favour.—viii., that any murderer can pro- duce a similar deformity in a few days, by simply abrading the under surface of the chin and a small patch of the skin in front of the neck, keeping the abrased surfaces in contact for a few days, or until adhesions have formed, when aa amount of deformity may be produced sufficient to prevent auy man so deformed being hanged. PUTTING IT T9 THE TICST,—The legislature of the State of Ohio is about to try an experiment, it appears, the result of which it will be very interesting and instructive to watch. To meet the argument that women do not care for the suffrage, and that the whole agitation on the subject is got up by a few strong- minded ladies, the advocates of woman suffrage in that State have brought in a bill to test the point in dispute by the vote of the women of Qhio themselves. It is said that the bill will pMS. It provides for an enumera- tion and registration of all the women in the State of twenty-one years of age and coward. who shall have resided in the State one year on the second Tuesday < f next October. Separate polling-places and ballot-boxes are to be provided at the usual places of holdi. g elec- tions, having the usual number of qualified officers at which all women registered as required by the above provision may vote one of two tickets. "Ben ale uffrage Yes." Female Suffrage No." The votes are to be returned in the usual wry to the Secretary of State; and, if it shall appear that a majority of the whole number of votes cast are for female suffrage in Ohio, then "the General Assembly shall, at its ad- journed session, submit in due form the question of female suffrage to the electors of the State on the second Tuesday of October, 1872." UNDERWRITERS AKD THE "CLTY OF BOSTON The announcement that the underwriters had in the tease of the City [of Boston settled the clains as on a total loss is premature. The underwriters only settle after the vessel has been posted at Lloyd's. The City of Boston has not yet been posted. The ships are posted by the committee of Lloyd's, and annear in Lloyas Listi. This appearance, which takes the form that the ship sailed from a certain port on a certain date to another port, and has not since been heard of, is considered, in underwriting circle. to a properiy authenticated report ol Ws, and iinder writers settle on the vessel. This is done'w^ki It —, ,~1 for some weeks. THE "ALABAMA" CLAIMS.—The Washington correspondent of the New York Times of April 5 writes as follows:— The State Department has advices that the British Government desires again to discuss the claims ari ir.g out of the Alabama question. Lord Clarendon would n;-ier tw Mr. Fish should propose the terms of settlement^nd tLfuV t,hat efleCt" lh° Se°r?,C;iry °'State » of the opinion that better terms can be agreed upon by waitine thai bv an immediate action, and, although anxious that a' an^cable and speedy conclusion should be reached in teo-Td to the present differences, he prefers to allow matters for the time being to remain as an open question." WIFE MURDER IN GREENOCK.— On Saturday morning a woman named RoseM'Cleau diedinGreeMck Hospital from the effects of kikR and blows received- from her husband, Archibald M'Clean, a sailmaker, a" few days ago. The poor woman was cnceinte at the time the outrage was committed. On being told of the deata of his wife, M'Clean coolly said it was a pitv that she was dead. 'T WIDOW MARRIAGE IN INDIA.—Moroba Canofca writes to the editor of the Times of India Dear -You can notify to the world that Rao Bahadur Moroba Canoba will be married to a widow of hin own caste on Saturday next.—Yours faithfully, Moroba Canoba." y' a THE WARWICK GUARDIANS AND BOARDIS^ OCT.— The system of boarding out pauper children was commenced as an experiment by the Warwick guardians three months ago, and the committee of guardians entrusted with carrying it out have just re- ported strongly in its favour. They state that the results so far have proved highly satisfactory; and they recommend that any orphan nr deserted children still remaining in the Warwick Union shall be boarded out so soon as respectable persons can be found to re- ceive them. A PUZZLE Major-General P. AnstrutlwA dating from Arith Castle, Falkirk, March 7 >870 sends the following curious challenge to mathema- ticians. He says:— "From the subjoined proposition may be deduced all the laws of the science of gunnery. The first mathematician who will prove that the proposition is not true, may name any charitable institution he likes, and the majur-generalhereby,- binds himself to send to its treasurer thirty pouuds sterling Proposition: A cannon ball suffered to fall freely fromu state of rest will, in any number of seconds of tims T acquire a velocity V—a certain number of feet per second"' The same ball fired vertically upwards, wiih initial velocity exactly equal to that velocity which it acquired by falling in the time T, will return to the place from whence it rose ah the expiration of a time exactly equal to the time T—hav'ins1- in exactly half the time, ascended to a height exactly equal; to one-fourth part of the time of flight, in seconds, multiplied by the initial velocity in feet, or one-fourth of TV. This is a very pretty Easter egg to crack. FILTERING RIVER WATER.—The humblest and the poorest of the population possess two very efficient means for rendering water comparatively pUie if they would only take the trouble to use them (remark* thl. Engineer). They can all filter and boil the water they. draw from the river, the well, or the pipe. By the-, former, all impurities and foreign substances held int mechanical suspension will be arrested and sepirated and the latter will remove several of the chemical in- gredients, particularly a large portion of those which impart to a water what is termed temporary hardness. This statement is not put forward as an excuse or pallia- tion for the abominable state into which our rivers and streams have been allowed to fall, but simply to point; out that, until legislation steps in to the rescue, every- one has it in his power to partially nullify the evils off wholesale water pollution. A FAITHFUL TIGER.—An amusing scene oc- curred the other day at the citadel of Dover. The 102nd Regiment have a very tine tsiger just come to this country with the regiment from India. He is very tame, and is daily taken for a walk, and he also goes, round the mess bble getting tit-hits. The other day his keeper got the worse for drink, and made his way to the den, fearing detection. An officer seeing thab the man lay asleep, and the tiger sitting by him, sent; for the picket, who at any other time can do what they please with the beast. The moment they at- tempted to go near the keeper the tiger growled, and very soon let them see they must keep off. For two hours the tiger kept guard over his keeper, who, on awakening, was surprised to see no one dared come near his charge. ANONYMOUS CHARITY.—A few months back an. unknown gentleman left at Messrs. Hoare's bank ir, London, a Bank of England note, value £1,000, with. a request that it might be placed at the credit of tho London Fever Hospital, under the initials C. R. W/' Some days back he left a similar amount at Messrs. Dimsdale and Co.'s bank for the same institution. I SPACRRUM OF THE FIRK-FLY,—The Bpectrum piven by the light of the common fire fly of New Hampshire is, according to Mr. Young's observations, perfectly continuous without trace of lines, eitherKite or dark. It extends from a It;tie above iraunbof^s line C m the scarlet to about E in the blue, gradually fading out at the extremities. It is precisely thi¡:¡ por- tion of the spectrum that is composed of rays wliifh while they more powerfully than any other affect the organs of vision, produce hardly any thermal or actinic enect. Very little, in fact, of the energy expended in the flash of the fire-fly is wasted. It is quite d.tferenfe with our artificial light. In an ordinary gas light!!? is proved that not more than cr t *J° t radiant energy consists of visible r»n JL .plt iL jtfi! invisible heat or actinism; in other w^. ff' ll 98 per cent of the gas is wasted in product do not help in making objects visible. ys tnas A "TALL" CALCOLATION.—An American "CM culates that the simple interest of a halfpenny at 6 per cent. since the birth of Christ would give 11,178,120 dollars, but that at compound interest it would come to gold enough to make 84,840,000,000,00C» globes as large as the earth, and that, divided among a thousand millions ol people, it would give to each 81,840 of these globes. And if all these globes were placed in a straight line, it weuld take a cannon shot, travelling at the rate of about a mile a second, millions of years to pass them. DISCOVERY OF ROMAN REMAINS IN BSLGITJM* —The Belgian journals state that some Roman re- mains have just been discovered in digging the founda- tions for a bridge over tho Meuse, at Omtret, The oaken piles of a similar structure, erected by Julius CseBar during the conquest of Gaul, were brought to. light, in a perfect state of preservation. Vestiges of the road on both Bides of the river are besides frequently seen. Between two of the piles were also found"a quantity of Roman coins, bearing the effing 0f tha Emperors Trajan, Vespasian, Adrian, Antonino Pins and his consort Faustme iheyare all of about thesiza of a five-franc piece, and well preserved. AN UNWORTHY PRIEST.—The Tribunal Cor- rectionnel of Bordeaux last week pronounced sentence upon a pnest who, by his unseemly conduct, bag brought discredit upon the sacred profession. The. accused was a Scotchman, named John Gall, forty- seven years of age, born at Aberdeen. In 1848 he wag* ordained a prifest in Paris, havmg. previously pursued), his theological studies at St. Sulpice. On the ISth of: March the Bordeaux police found the accused dressed in his ecclesiastical garb helplessly drunk on the quay and he was induced to retire to an inn, ajid the same afternoon the Vicar-General of the diocese sent a written prohibition against his exercising any eccle- siastical functions, and ordering him to abandon the clerical dress which he had disgraced. On the evening of the next day, however, he w,cs again found in a wio-o shop in a state of intoxication, and a cause of public scandal. The Vicar-Gieneral then applied to the Kro- cureur-Imperil to prosecute Grail for illegally w earing: an ecclesiastical costume after formal prolai^^jQQ Proceedings were accordingly commenced, a.fter- hearing evidence, the Court sentenced the. accused to six months* imprisoment upon the ground stated THE INCOME-TAX.—The change how to be. mad« in the rate of income-tax ia the fourteenth alteration in the last 17 years, When Sir R Peel introduced the income-tax of our day in 1842 he fixed i m.the rate was paid until i854, when it w»dwM«d m consequence of the war with Russia, m 1«55 it was further raised to 16<L The war being ended, the rate was reduced again to 7d. ia )8157..In ]858 \VTas educed to 5d., in 1853 raised to 9d., m.1860 .to 1QJ., in 1861 reduced.to in 1863 to 7d., in 1864 to tirl., in ]865 to 4d., in "867 raised to Sd., m lislU to 6. L, in 1869 reduced t0 5d., and in 1870 to 4d., or the 60th part of every p.overeign. A PEASANT POSITION I-It seews to be the fashion in Paris to talk of small-pox as the reigning epidemic, though the statistics of tb.'e public health do not show any veason for alarm. However that may be. a French paper relates a p'J.oat heartless advantage taken of one sufferer from this shocking disease. M, de 0 suffering from Bitiall-pox, was lying well covered over by three blsmkets, and an eider-down quilt by the express orders of his doctor, it being most desirable to produce a violent action of the skill. The result w** obtained and all going on well, when in came respectably dressed individual, who, with the gre»**8^ politeness, thus addressed the sick man "Sir, pray do nojt mpve; I know the least exertio'* wou'^ be fatal to you; tell me quickly where vour £ "ney an* jewels are.* "What, wretch • tty ie° [8 8V money?* "Dq not wove; you are surely awVe how illness this Is ■ • • • Go out or I cal^ fop- help. YouwiU not, for if yoil do T shall *nrow the ui-ado^ wide open; a draught of air wm wii or» aU events. disSgure yoA considerably AhT he**ls your watilh- That's right y°»r KQOB6V ."IWt stir, or- beware o» *beopeil window cooie, where 13 this dross? «In that des V murmured tne Poor "*vaW. Very welt. you are reasonable. 1 ^0uid be ^orry tCi lncrease the dancer Of your State. I wi6h » speedy recovery, and so take my ea't8. AN E "ORMOUS DOCTOR S BILL.—Mr. Charlton, °f North Shields, is* owner of several vessels which trade to the p«»tosular ports and one of his captains lately had the ill-luck to fall sick at Carthaeena. A 1 doctor was called m and the sick captain was physicked and bled to his heart s content, and on his recovery the doctor sent 10 his little bill to Mr. Cha lton, the owner of the vessel, For attendance upon the invalid: while in the s. ip and fifteen days ashore at lodgings,, the Spanish medioal man charges J2800, with B50 for his assistant; £150 i. charged for the fifteen days5 lodgings, and the whole amount for attendance on the. sick captain ia £1,300.