The Aberystwith Observer

:=:: ABDICATION OF THE AMEER, YAKOOB KHAN. A telegram from Simla, dated Oetober 19th. an. nounces the abdication of the Ameer. Yakoob Khan. General Roberts has advised him to reconsider the matter, but he remains firm in Fe8° onV j-1" tended taking this step earlier, bat suaded. General Roberts is accordingly making pro- visional arrangements for maintaining order and carrying on the administration of the country.

wim*a nt Monday had ft Ioadsr on the position of affairs in Afghanistan, Iron. «h'ch we e^ract Uie following commeuts ou the abdication o • "The event is one of grave importance, but the public wilt not. perhaps, be wholly unprepared for it Sfter the account which we published on Saturday of General Roberts's formal entry into Cabul. The late Ameer declined on that occasion to join the English General'* procession, pleading indisposition as his ex- cuse. He sent his eon with the General, however, who*was also accompanied by Daoud Shah; and all the principal Sirdars were Bummoned to listen to the proclamation issued to the people of Cabu'. Yakoob Khan's indisposition, aa well as much of his previous conduct, is now explained. If he had been compelled to accompany the entry into Cabul, it might have been supposed that his abdica- tion was fo/ced upon him by his being placed in a fa-jmiliatitip position before his subjects in his own capital. But the politic forbearance of General R iberts in the matter enables us now to conclude that the Ameer's abdication may be taken as a genuine and voluntary admission on his part that he feels himself unequal to the position in which circumstances had placed him. His determination seems to be firm ud well-considered when it was farst made known to Sir Frederick Roberts, he was urged to recon. aider it, but after some further reflection he an- nounced that be was still of the same mind. His abdication was then, it would seem, accepted by the British General, who at once took measures for secur. ing the maintenance of the late Ameer's lapsed autho- rity during the necessary interregnum. With Cabul in complete possession ot the British troops and the mutinous regiments routed and disarmed, there need be no serious apprehension that this change of autho- rity will have any untoward results. Yakoob Khan's sovereignty, so long as it lasted, depended on British support; hia independent power was at an end at least for the moment, and it is quite possible that the sur- render of his nominal authority may ultimately be found to further rather than to impede the task im- posed upon us in the punishment of Cabul and the reduction of Afghanistan to some sort of order and settled government. It is quite possible, therefore, that Yakoob Khan's abdication may, as our Correspondent points out, re- lUve us ultimately from some embarrassments. It thrown a new light on his character,, and enables us to 33e clearly, what we could only suspect before, that be has never since his release from captivity possessed the force and firmness of character which are abso- lutely necessary in the ruler of such a country as Afghanistan. If we can find a fitting successor who can make his authority respected, it will be jnflt; as well that a weak ruler such as Yakoob Kftan hlllll now shown himself to be should have voluntarily set himself aside. But it is im- possible to doubt that the primary effect of hia abdication will be to increase the difficulties go-mediately before us. Yakoob Khan was at least the acknowledged Sovereign of Afghanistan, and his anthoritf as such was recognised. It will be necessary to find, not only some one who is ready to take his place, but some one whose right to do so will be gene- rally recognised by the people whom he is called upon to rule. An unpopular nominee of the Indian Government, supported by British bayonets, would at best oecupy the precarious position of Shah Soojah, whose history and fate will naturally be a significant warning against any attempt to repeat the disastrous precedent. Even if Yakoob Khan's son were not too young, he probably shstras the unpopularity which his father has never completely overcome, and would therefore prove unacceptable to the leading Sirdars. There are prac- tical objections, therefore, under existing circum- stances, to the two alternatives—the succession of Yflroob's son and the direct nomination of an Ameer by British authority. Whoever is to rule in Afghan. istan must be a man of rare force and courage, accept. able to the Sirdars and free from the suspicion of being the mere nominee and delegate of a foreign Power. There remains a third course. The leading Sirdars, especially those of the great Darani clan, which has long furnished the rulers of Afghanistan, might be invited to select their own Ameer, on the condition that the selected Sovereign waa acceptable to the ladiaa Government. This condition is manifestly indispensable. We should gladly leave the choice of an Ameer to the Afghans themselves as far as possible; but the ruler cho-ten must in all cases be prepared to take up and fulfil the engagements entered into by his predecessor, and he must also be able to show that he has the power, as well as the will. to do so effectually. Until some such solution as this of the present difficulty is reached, it is clear that we have no course open to us but to retain our hold on Af- ghanistan and take what measures we can for its goyroment as well as for our own security. This necessity undoubtedly opens up a wide and uncertain prospect in the immediate future. But in reality the nr. Jioect was none the lees uncertain while such a wsak ruler as Yakoob Khan has lately shown himself to be retained his nominal sovereignty. At le,t,Rt we know now what is the task before us. We could not have deposed Yakoob, however unfit to rule he might have proved, without undertaking the responsibility which is now thrust upon us without our feeking it; while if we had trusted to his good faith and good will we should have found sooner or later that he had not the power to fulfil his engage- ment?, and had lost the authority on which we had heped to rely for the security of our own interests."

From the particulars published of the attack on the British troops at the Shuturgardan and Sirkai Kotal on the 14th, it appears that the latter place being threatened, Major Collis was sent there with reinforce- ments. He was attacked by 2.000 of the enemy, who "ere afterwards reinforced by 2,000 more. A desperate attack was made on the British Camp, but it was re- Pulsed at the point of the bayonet, and the enemy "< leaving 40 killed and 200 wounded. Our loss was two killed, and fourteen wounded. The Kurram tribes are said to be in a state of commotion.

^NIVERSAEY OF THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR. Oft^aaday (21st) was the 74th anniversary offte Battle Trafalgar. The surviving officers are Admiral of the fcsirGeorgeRoseSartorius, K.O.B., «hoisnowln year, and fought as a midshipman on bo H^»at J Admiral Robert Patton, now in hiB 89th year, Vfm-Waa a midshipman in the Bellerophon; A Ik Ward Percival Johnson, who entered the ^Z? July 2,1803, and waa on board the Victory at time of the battle; Commander Francis Harris, a it,"}PJ'nt of the naval pension, who was midshipman h T^m^raire Commander William Vicary, now V,,?1.3 87th year, who waB midshipman in the Achilles, V, in receipt of a Greenwich Hospital pension; and t>t riant-Colonel James Tynmore, also a recipient W Greenwich Hospital pension, who was a midship- the Africa* r^esday evening the members of the Royal Club of 1765 celebrated, as customary, the &orwer*ary of the battle ot Trafalgar, at Willis's London. Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Vtsnll,lp. who was expected to preside, was unable to A. and the chair was tilled by Admiral the Hon. *v.{><r,tlconjbe, supported by Admiral Sir W. Mends, > Admiral Sir E. Ommaney, K.C.B., Rear- Admiral M. Nolloth, C.B., Rear-Admiral G. C Mends, Rear-Admiral Soady, Rear-Admiral W. Graham, Rear-Admiral Robertson Macdonald, Cap- tain Horatio Nelson, and many others.

THE FLOODS IN SPAIN. Some further details of the inundations in Murcia- a disaster unparalleled in Spain even by the floods of 1651-are given by telegraph to the Temps (writes the Paris correepondent of The Times). It appears that a storm of hail and rain commenced on the evening of the 14th in the provinces of Malaga, Almeria, Granada, and Seville, and was especially violent at Murcia and Alicante, in the Segura Valley, where a drought of some months had greatly injured agriculture and increased emigration to Algeria. The Segura and Mundo basin, flanked by hills and mountains, is a plain covered with palms, villages, and mills, many of them below the lower level of the beds of the rivers and gulleys dry at this season. Between midnight and 2 a.m., after a seven hours' storm, the Segura and Mundo brought down such a volume of water that the plain was covered, the current sweeping away dykes, Bluices, mills, farms, and village,. Nonduermas, Fra Alta, Torre Aguerra, Alcantarilla, and Larya, with their hundreds of houses, were carried away, and the plain for a stretch of 30 leagues was converted into a lake, to the destruction of 40 miles of telegraph, several roads and bridgep, and the railway. The towns of Murcia, Orihuela, and Lorca were invaded at night by the water, which extin- guished the gas, overwhelmed churches and houses, and created a perfect panic. The authorities of Murcia by torchlight rescued the inhabitants of three villages, where the bursting of a dike destroyed 200 houses. The hospital was flooded, the patients being with difficulty rescued. Next day the authorities provided temporary accommodation in the public buildings and Bishop's palace, while boats collected persons who had fled to the roofs or upper stories. One hundred and forty corpses have been discovered at Murcia. For forty-eight hours it was impossible to succour the villages and farms, where the losses are incalculable, and the waters are carrying down cattle, crops, and furniture. Many acts of heroism are cited, especially on the part of the gendarmerie and clergy. Orihuela and Lorca were surprised the same night, and most of the houses were carried away, the panic causing terrible scenes. At Murcia the number of victims exceed 200, at Orihuela 50, and at Lorca 60. At Malaga the cathedral and several churches were flooded, the gas was extinguished, and the alarm was very great. In the villages of Almeria and Malaga there have been numerous victims, and the storm reached the localities near the coast, causing great damage to the small ports of Alicante. The total damage is estimated at 60,000,000f.. 3,500 houses and 120 mills being de- stroyed. More than 500 lives have been lost. Clothes and money are being sent from Madrid to the local authorities, who have to board and lodge thousands of outcasts. The King has subscribed 50,000f., the Princess of Asturias 5,000 piastres. The Bank of Spain has already collected 60,000f.

The Correspondent of the Daily News, writing from Madrid on Sunday night, says Official telegrams say that 500 bodies have been recovered among the ruins in the suburbs of Murcia, and in the parts where the water rose eight metres above the ordinary leveL The greatest havoc was caused by the water over the cultivated fields and villages in the plains, some of which, like Nonduermas, have entirely disappeared. Sixty important mills and factories have been de- stroyed near Mureia and Horisuela. The lower part of both towns was flooded. 250 houses in Murcia, 400 in Horisuela, and 150 in Lorca have been wrecked. The number of bodies interred in these towns respec- tively is 2*0, 67, and 51. The civil guards find it impossible to recover the bodies in the villages owing to the mud and the intolerable stench. The Madrid papers are full of details of the terrible sufferings of the inhabitants of the province of Murcia, and the gallant attempts to save lives. The Government, by a circular in the Gazette and a Royal decree, has made an earnest appeal to public charity, and munificent donations are coming in from public officials and the nobility. The King and the Ministers head the list. The King starts on Monday morning by special train for Murcia. en route for Car- thagena, with several generals and Ministers. Official accounts say that the provinces of Alba- cete, Almeria, and Malaga have suffered less than Murcia.

It is Buppoeed that the inundations were caused by an enormous waterspout from the sea, as part of the water in the flooded districts was salt.

The Murcia inundations have excited a feeling of universal sympathy in Paris (says the Correspondent of The Times). The Spanish Embassy has warmly appealed to public liberality for the relief of the sufferers, numerous committees are about to be formed, and the newspapers are laudably eager to give publi- city te these organizations.^ It is announced that King Alfonso has declared that in view of such a calamity his marriage ahall not become an occasion of expense on the part of individuals or public bodies, and that the strongest proof of attachment that can be shown him will be to devote to the sufferers the sums destined to marriage fStes. Such a resolution on the part of the young King is quite consistent with his character.

King Alfonso made a tour of inspection on horse- back on Tuesday morning through the town of Murcia and the surrounding district. The King, after having visited the plain of Murcia and distributed relief among the sufferers from the inundations, returned to he capital.

The Spanish papers are full of lists of subscriptions in money and kind. An inhabitant of Alicante has given 8,000,000 reals, or £ 80,000. In Paris the fund amounts to 100,000f. The Due de Nemours has contributed 5,000f. In the great markets 30 or 40 collecting boxes have been fixed up by dealers who had asked for them, for Murcia yearly sends to France 50,000,000 kiles. of desaert fruit, 31,000,000 kilos, being oranges, and it ranks with Seville as the Spanish town most familiar by name to the Parisians. The Pope has also sent a sum of 6,000 francs for the relief of the Bufferere.

MB. SPURGEON'S SERMONS. On Sunday morning the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, preaching to his church at the Metropolitan Taber- nacle, Newington, stated that the discourse he was about to preach, when printed, would complete a series of 1,500 which he had delivered in regular con- secutive order from the pulpit, and which had been publiehed week by week. He did not make this state- ment by way of glorying himself, but rather in order to express his thankfulness. He knew of no instance in Church history in which 1,500 sermons, together with a great number of others preached on divers occasions. had been printed and scattered abroad. He desired to express his thankfulness that so much Divine help had been granted him in the preparation and delivery of sermons which had not merely been printed but read—sermons which had been translated into many foreign tongues, and which were being read that very moment on that Sabbath morning m many hundreds of places where a minister could not be found.

EMIGRATION FROM LIVERPOOL. The returns of emigration from Liverpool during last month which have iust been officially made show compared both the figures of S?8P n°U.9 toonth the corresponding month of 187 j-Sft during September last 83 vessels left the Mereev having on board no fewer than 14,739, jgrio.t 8,«2?i tteTme mouth ol!»«««, or an increase of 6,339. Of this number 12,043 went to the United States, 2,261 to British North America, 133 to Australia, 1i4 to South America, 117 to thei East and i2 to the West Indies, 13 to China, and 46 to the West Coast of Africa, their nationalities being 8,248 English. 201 Scotch, 1,459 Irish, 3,914 foreigners, and 917 not distinguished. These figures are also 1,151 in excess of the mon1;h of August this year, which was also unusually large.

The Conservatives of Liverpool claim a gain of 3,661 votes on the recent borough revision,

EPITOME OF NEWS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN, During a heavy squall on Monday afternoon a boat, containing several men, capsized oS Portland, and the whole of the occupants were drowned. It is said that among other congresses, one of Evan- gelical, Protestant, and Baptist pastors is about to be held in Rome, In replying to the toast of The House of Lords," at the Mayor's banquet, at Rlpon. on Wednesday night, the Marquis of Rlpon referred to the death of the late Lord Lawrence, who, he said, was a far-feeing statesman, a great administrator, and a most fust ruler, and every one who knew anything about Indian affairs must have wished for such a man during the last few month., The cattle plague has re.appeared in Austria viz., In Carniola and Styria, cattle from Croatia having Intro- duced it into the latter province. Madame Goldschmidt, better known by her maiden name of Jenny Lind, or the Swedish Nightingale, was born at Stockholm on October 21, 1821, thus completing her 58th year on Tuesday.—On the same date, in the following year, Mr. Sims Reeves, the greatest of English tenors, was born at Shooter's Hill, near London, and thus attains his 57tn year on Tuesday. Fair hair has entirely gone out of fashion across the Atlantic, and Veronese, Murillo, and chesnut brown, with yellow reflections," are the favonrite hues. Joseph Payne, a mechanic, while standing on the Gloucester railway station platform, bidding good-bye to his daughter, who was leaving by train, was killed by the train suddenly moving on and pulling him under the wheels. It may not perhaps he widely known that though the 24th Regiment has suffered twice from almost complete annihilation, it can lay claim to the honour of having received more Victoria Crosies than any other regiment in her Majesty's Service-more even than the 60th Rifles and Rifle Brigade, with their four battalions. The numbers, in fact, would more than double those of any other corps.— Court Journal. The sugar-canes planted as an experiment in Argau, in Switzerland, are now being harvested, and the results are to be reported to the committee of promoters at Murl. The Right Hon. Sir Michael Edward Hicks-Beacb, Bart., Secretary of 8tate for the Colonies, completed his 42nd year on Thursday, having been barn in London, on Oct. 23, 1837. He is the ninth baronet, the title having been granted in 1619. The first baronet's father was secretary to Lord Treasurer Burghley, and the founder of the family was distinguished In the French wars under Edward the Black Prince. letters received from the Pacific station state that her Majesty's ship Opal had been on a cruise to the Pitcairn Islands, and had placed in the church an American organ, the gift of the Queen. The first tune played on It was God save the Queen in which the islanders joined heartily. A private shipbuilding firm at Hamburg has, it is stated, been commissioned to construct a new Ironclad vessel for the German navy. The new ship is to be an armoured corvette, and will form the filth of the class of which the Sachten and Balern, launched last year, were the first to leave the slips. Among the many curious old works possessed by the Medical Society of London, which has just commenced its 107th year in Chandos-street, is the remarkable picture, painted, it Is believed by Copley, Illustrating the famous Dr. Lettsom presenting the deeds of some property in Bolt-court, Fleet-street, to the society in 1775. The figures are all por- traits including the only known one of Dr. Jenner, together with those of Dr. Sims, Sir John Hayes, Babington, and others. The picture is often consulted by antiquarians, and is of much historical value. Dr. William Thomas Domville, C.B., Inspector- General of Hospitals and Fleets and Hon. Surgeon to the Queen, expired at Haslar Hospital on Tuesday evening, after a very protracted Illness, from fever. It was in constqaence of Dr. Domville's illness that the firing of heavy ordnance at the recent torpedo attack was dispensed with. The Manchester Guardian is advised that an associa- tion of capitalists and other persons Interested In the com- mercial and Industrial development of the United States are about publishing a work of some 1,000 pages upon the subject of "The Wealth of the United States." It Is pro- posed to present a copy ot this book, which is being prepared by a very distinguished American, to the leading commer- cial libraries and boards of trade In foreign countries. The Archbishop of Dublin, at his visitation on Tuesday, said that since the disestablishment of the Irish Church the number of Incumbents and curates had dimi- nished by 10 per cent, while the number of glebe houses bad increased Iti^per cent. The number of churches In which daily prayers were held was doubled, and the general obterv- ance of the Christian year was much improved. A Reuter's telegram from St. Petersburg says that the Golos, commenting on the recent speech ot Lord Salisbury at Manchester, expresses astonishment at the tone of hos- tility towards Russia which It perceives in his lordship's utterances. "If," proceeds the Golos "the reported alliance between Austria and Germany prove to be true, Russia must secure allies for herself to act In the rear of the enemy in case of emergencies. Lord Salisbury's speech has opened the eyes of Russia aad has afforded her freedom of action." Sir Heary Drummond Wolff, M.P., presided on Tuesday evening at the annual dinner of the South Avon and Stour Agricultural Society. In responding to the toast of the Houses of Lords and Commons, hetsaid the recent coali- tion, whether it was a tacit understanding or an alliance, that had been formed between Germany and Austria was one of great consequence to the people of Europe. It was formed he believed to resist the aggressive tendencies of Russia. He believed that neither the Emperor of Russia nor the Russian Government was fully responsible for this, but that they were carried away by the torrent of an unknown democracy. Alfred Henry Garrod, F.R.S., one of the most dis- tinguished of our younger zoologists and comparative ana- tomlsts, died on the 17tU lnst., at the early age of 34 After taking a first class in natural science, Mr. Garrod was elected a Fellow of St. John's, Cambridge, in 1873, and was subse- quently appointed Prosector to the Zoological Society of London and Professor of Zoology at King's College. His papers on animal temperature and on the use of the sphyg- mograph are well known to physiologists, as also his numerous memoirs on the structure and affinities of the higher vertebrata-—Obituary of The Times, Oct. 20. The advantages of simplicity in travelling were peculiarly demonstrated by the two French Ministers, 31M. Lepere aud Le Royer, during a recent trip In Italy. On arriving at a hotel, the latter gave his name simply as Le Royer, but his ooileague replied grandiosely, His Excel- lency M. Lepfere, Minister of the Interior to the Government of the French Republic." When settling day came M. Le Royer was charged 16s. daily for his room, but His Excel- lency had to pay L2. thanks to his title. The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, in reply to a request that he would receive a deputation, In reference to the question of the existing agricultural depression and want of employment, has intimated that the matters alluded to in a memorial proposed to be presented to him personally have not escaped the attention of the Government, and he does not think it necessary to give the deputation the trouble of waiting oa him. The Chinese officers who have been attached for some years past to regiments In the Prussian army, with a view to becoming acquainted with the rules in the practice of the German service have now resigned the honorary post to which they had been appointed; and will return to their own country. They have been In Germany about four years, and have had ample opportunity durhsg that period of ac- complishing the object for which their visit was undertaken. The annnal meeting of the United Kingdom Al- liance was held at Manchester on Tuesday, under the presi- dency of Sir Wilfrid Lawson, M.P. In the morning there was a conference of the council, at which Sir Wilfrid said that a general election was rapidly approaching and that having the men it was necessary to have the money, too." He attributed the depression and suffering now existing mainly to the drink traffic. In response to the appeal for special subscriptions sums amounting to over d65 COO were promised In the room. Sir W. Lawson headed the list with £ 1,000, Mr. Hugh Mason gave &500, and the Messrs. Pease £ 600.—In the evening Sir W. Lawson took the chair at the annual public meeting In the Free Trade Hall, at which it Is estimated about 4,000 persons were present. A supple- mentary meeting was held In a neighbouring building, at which It is stated 1,800 persona attended, and 1,000 mora i I had to be refused admitslen. At Bath, on Saturday, the death of Mr. David Johnson was announced, who, for forty years, has resided in the city and taken an active part in the management of its charitable, benevolent, and educational institutions. The Earl of Bradford has offered to present to the Town Council on certain terms and conditions, which have been agreed to, 46 acres of land at Reed's Wood, near Walsall, for a public recreation ground. It is stated that the Mayor of Crewe has paid into the bank the snm of £500 towards providing a public park for the town, the donation being made in lieu of giving ban- quets during his year of office. quets during his year of office. It is stated that no fewer than 5 400 dogs have been killed during the seasun at the New York City dog-pound, which has just been closed. The contractor is said to have realised a fine profit on the skins, which he sold to the glove makers. His Eminence Cardinal Manning will leave London on Thursday, the 6th of November, on Ills way to Rome, to take part in the 25th anniversary of the definition by the late Pontiff. Pius IX of the dogma of the Immacutate Con- ception. Other R -man Catholic prelates, of England are expected to proceed to Rome to be present on the occasion of the anniversary, which will be kept with great solemnity. Two facts of interest are recorded in connection with the death of Count George Earolyi, father of the Aus- trian Envoy to Ecgland. The legacy duty on his fortune amounts to 1,700,000 florins, and among the various collec- tions left by the deceased is one consisting of over 150 meer- schaum pipes-his hobby.-Court Journal. The French Minister of War has published a regula- tion for organizing optical telegraphy in time of peace. The several places on the French frontier are to be connected by Posts; apparatus ara to be manoeuvred by persons trained and keeping records of communications sent or received. This new service is to be placed under the supervision of the Director of Aerial Communications, who already has com- mand of the balloouists and the colombophlles, for carrier- ptgeous. One of the largest of the dry goods stores of Paris was visited on Monday week by 64,921 persons, and the money taken amounted to 1,135,3721. 80c. There were sold 400,0001. worth ol s'Vk, 7,000t worth of umbrellas, 35,0001. worth of artificial flowers, and 25.COOf, worth of fichns. The ladles were makiog their provisions for the winter leason, Parisian The leading manufacturers of tinned goods in Wol. verhampton and district have issued circulars to their cus- tomers stating that owing to the advance in the price of iron and tin all their price lists are suspended, discounts are reduced 6 per cent., and that all new contracts will be sub- jected to the special circumstances of the market. It is believed that no further call will be made on the shareholders of the City ot Glasgow Bank. The third dividend, 13s. 4d. per £ 1 in all, has just been paid out of money in band. It is hoped that a rise in the value of securtties held will enable the liquidators by and by to meet all claims. Speaking at a meeting of the South Staffordshire Church Sunday School Association, held under the presidency of Canon Lonsdale, at Lichfield, the Daan of Lichfield advo. cated definite religious teaching, according to the principles of the Church of England, in their Sunday schools. He believed the prosperity of the country was bound up in their maintaining religious elementary education upon the prin- ciples ot the ref ormed Church of England. The report of United States mercantile failures for the three months, July, August, and September, shows 15,275,550 dots, liabilities, compared with 66,378 363 dols. in the oorrespondtDg period of 1878. For the first nine months of 1879 the liabilities amount to 81,054 940 dols., compared with 197,211,129 dols. in the corresponding period of 1878. This is regarded as another indication of the im- proved state of American trade. The rew station at Lime-street, Liverpool, which has been constructed by the London and North-Western Rail- way Company at a cost of £"200,000, was formally opened on Monday. The entire area of the two stations is 28,100 square yards, the new portion covering 13,700 yards. The tunnel has been enlarged and opened for a distance of a quarter of a mile from the bottom end, and it is in contemplation to make it wide enough for four lines of rail for the whole dis- tance from Llme-atreet to Edge-hill. The terminus now comprises no fewer than eleven platforms. I Mr. Colledge, secretary to the Warwickshire Mineral Association, in an address issued on Tuesday to the colliers throughout fits district, soys there are unmistakeable indica- tions on every hand of not only improvement In the Iron trade, but that COAI will soon be in far greater demand than for years past. He urges miners throughout the country to be united in order to participate in the returning pros- perity. According to the Official Messenger of St. Petersburg, the damage caused by tires in Russia during the mouth of September represents a sum 01 8,600,000 roubles, and this only refers to those conflagrations of which notice has been given to the authorities, An Immense fire lately broke out in Ufa, the chief town of the Governmentof the same name, by which more than » fifth part of this large town was con- sumed. Many persons were burnt to death, and the loss of property was enormous. The committee of the United Services Memorial to the late Prince Imperial" state that up to the 15th of October the sum of £ 2 600 has been received for this fund, from about 10,000 auoscribers, in sums varying from Id. to ki. Contributions have been received from all ranks now serving, or who "ave served, In every branch of her Majesty's sea anu land forces. Some time must necessarily elapse before the subscription list is closed, in consequence of the unavoidable delay in communicating with naval and military forces at distant stations. Mrø. Butler-better known as Miss Elizabeth Thompson—has be^n commissioned by the Queen to paint for her gallery at Windsor two subjects, the one from the Afghan, and the other from the South African war. Mrs. Butler's painting for the Riyal Academy next year will be The Charge of the Scots Greys at Waterloo."—Court Journal. The Sussex Express states that the Duke of Rich- mond and Gordon has deferred the payment of rents due from his tenants on the 29th September to the 1st January next.—The Earl of Sheffield has postponed the collection of bis Michaelmas rents until the end of November.—Lord Sheffield has also informed his agricultural tenants that in consequence ;'of the continuous depression, he will then make the same abatement in their rent3 as he made at the audit in April last, namely, 25 per cent. The American merchants want an express train put on between Washington and New York, so that pas- sengers may leave New York in the morning, haveafult offidat day in the capital, and be home In time for tea; but upwards of 450 miles of railway travelling in a day, going to and from business," takes some of the pleasure out of the work, The Paris correspondent of The Timet says that the Villa Lamartine, Avenue du Trocadgro, presented to the poet by the municipality in 1869 and redeemed by It from his heirs for a perpetual annuity of 12,0001., was sold on Tuesday in three lots for 478,000f. There were 2,c37 births and 1,499 deaths registered In London last week. Allowing for increate of population the births exceeded by 135, and the deaths by 43, the average numbers in the corresponding week of the last ten years. The annual death-rate from all causes was 21 6, a higher rate than has prevailed in any week since the middle of May. Only one death from small-pox was regis- tered throughout the whole of the metropolis. Princess Louiae (Marchioness of Lome), as has already been stated, embarked at Quebec on Sunday last on board the Allan Royal Mail steamship Sarmatlau. The vesitrl, having been detained by fog for 16 hours beyond the usual time for tailing, need not be expected to arrtve in the Mersey before Monday evening or Tuesday in next week. Mr. Arthur Arnold, one of the Liberal candidates for Salford, addressed the constituency on Wednesday night on Ireland, urging reform in the land laws, while at the same time he Insisted upon respect for the rights of pro- perly. He would give security ot tenure to Irish farmers and with regard to the franchise, the volunteer, and other questions, h« held that there should be equality between England and Ireland. A good word for the blackbirds is thus spoken by the Natchitoches (La) Vindicator: "Our farmers tell us that thousands of blackbirds are swarming in the fields of cotton and destroying the cotton-worm as they go. Very few worms can be found webbed up,' and the planter feels good. The destruction by the birds this year is accounted for only by the effects of the Game Law, which are just being felt." The exhibition of paintings at the Manchester Royal Institution, was opened to the public, free of charge, on Sunday afternoon. This being the first of a series of Sunday openings, the rooms were crowded to excess. The mayor and other members of the corporation, who were present, expressed themselves highly gratified with the result of the experiment, not a eiingi- compiaint being made against any Individual, although 4, J 94 persons, representing all classes of society, from city aldermen to street arabs, passed the turnstile. The members of the Bar of England have invited Brigadier-General Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C., K.C B., to a complimentary dinner, which will take place on Saturday, Nov. 1, in the Middle Temple Hall, the use of which has been granted by the Benchers for the occasion. The Attorney-General, Sir JobnHolker, will preside, and will be supported by the Lord Chancellor, Lord Hatherley, and several other Msjusty's judges. The names of the gentle- men on the committee numbered over 160, and include most of the leading members of the Bar. Mr. Cubitt, M.P., speaking at the dinner in con- nection with the annual ploughing match of the Chertsey Agricultural Assoctati jn, observed that there would be throughout the country a feeling of gratification that at last the clouds of war appeared to be rolling away, and that If the Empire was not at this moment at peace, still the troubles of war were only existing in a very remote corner. Referring to the depression, he remarked that at the farm- ing Interest was the last to suffer from the depression, per- haps it would )»e the last to recover but at all events there was fiir reason to hope that prosperity, If they were favoured with sunshine next year, would return.—Mr. Sidney Buxton, in proposing Prosperity to the Society," observed that as last year the farner bad to live on faith, and this year on hope, so next year, unless things improved, they would have to live on charity. The Sydney Morning Herald, of Sept. 1, states that a memorial, in the form of a golden salver, is to be pre- sented by the R )man Catholics of New South Wales to John Henry Newman, as an expression o< love and admiration, and as a token of the juy which has been afforded to Dr. Newman's co religionists on that side of the globe by his elevation to the Cardinalate by Leo X HI. The subscriptions far more than covered the cost of the memorial. It has been arranged that the memorial shall be transmitted to the Duke of Norfolk, with a request that his Grace would present the memorial to the Cardinal on the partjof the Catholics of New South Wales. The Pittsburg Southern Railroad, extending from Pittsburg to Washington, Pa., a distance of over 36 mUes, has discarded the telegraph instruments for the telephone In the transaction ot business, including the running of trains. It is said a whisper in Washington can be heard in Pittsburg. Several western railroads have also resorted to the use of the telephone instead of telegraphic instruments. -.Ele.trician. Sic Lawrence Pilk, M.?., addressed a gathering cl farmers on Wednesday 1u Devonshire. He ridiculed the assumption of m«ny paople that they could advise farmers what to do in linns of agricultural depression; and said the difficulty in regard to reciprocity was that it required two people to reciprocate, and lie belived we should look in vain for reciprocity from any foreign nation. At the same time he believed there were indications of an improvement In trade. Last week 17*4 hours at bright sunshine were re- gistered at Greenwich. At Glynde-place, Lewes, the Speaker of the House of Commons recorded 21*2 hours. Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to appoh it the Ven. Lord Alwyne Compton, Archdeacon of Oakham, b the vacant deanery of Worcester. The pedestal of a bronze statue, bearing Greek in. scriptions of the second century B c has been discovered near Sebastopol, and the Odessa Archaeological Society is about to decipher them. The house in which Garibaldi was born at Nice is about to be pulled down to allow of the construction of a port. Lieutenant Bigge, R. A., who had been a personal friend of the Prince Imperial, and Is now on a visit to the Empress Engdole at Abergeldle Castle, had the honour of dining with the Queen."—Court Circular, Oct. 18. Last Saturday two men were killed at the Nunnery Colliery, Sheffield. They were In the act of propping the roof, when a large stone fell upon them, burying them both, and injuring a third man. When the stone was removed the two men were dead. They were frightfully crushed. A Modoc Indian, who had taken to farming and raised a pmtty good crop of corn, asked a white neighbour How do white man cook corn so be drink him out of a bottle f" At the annual meeting of the Hampshire Union of Working Men's Clubs and Institutes, held at Bournemouth, on Monday, Mr. W. Cowper Temple, M.P., presided. Lord Northbrook, In the course of some observations, referred to the usefulness of these clubs, and expressed the opinion that after the present system of education had been n force some ten or fifteen years there would not be a parish In tbe Kingdom without its lending library. A Bird Tug has been invented by an ingenious fisherman at Morgan, South Australia, who has trained a large pelican to tow his boat about the lake. The pelican goes most obediently in a harness of fishing-lines. A man who is always going in for figures, has arrived at the following calculationThat, U a person were born in a railway carriage, and were to be continually travelling till he was killed by a railway accident, he would, according to the average number of deaths and passengers, live 960 years. From the official statement of the vote in the recent California election on Chinese Immigration, It appears that the numbers for the measure were 883, and those against it, 154. The fortnightly meeting of the managers of the Metropolitan Asylums DUtrict was held on Saturday, when the report presented showed that there had been a decrease of small-pox, but a slight increase of fever. The number of small-pox patients under treatment was 45, leaving 627 beds vacant; and the number of fever patients was 374, leaving 97 beds available. One of the first uses to which the St. Gothard Tunnel will be put will be to afford the means of conveying an underground wire between Goeschenen and Airolo, thus securing the telegraph department against the numerous delays which now occur through the breaking down of the wires by storms and avalanches. Bishop Colenso is printing in Natal a complete digest of the Blue-Books on the Zulu War. Mr. Gladstone was entertained, on Sunday evening, at a grand dinner at the Foreign Office at Paris. Mrs. and Miss Gladstone were present, as well as M. Leon Say, M. Le Royer, M Roustan, the Comte de Ponteconlaut, M. Deprez, and M. Meuraud. The United States' official returns show that the value of the cattle exported from the United States to Great Britain during the fiscal year 1878 was 2,408 843 dols., and in 1879 6,616,114 dols. It is expected that the improvements made in the transportations and care of the cattle will largely Increase the exportation. An hotel of extraordinary dimensions is being erected at Berlin. It occupies a site opposite the Central Station, and contains 506 bedrooms, together with a theatre, two chapels, and a synagogue. Large courtyards, orna- mented with statues of the most celebrated travellers, are to form a special feature of exterior adornment. The Conservatives of West Surrey made again of 110 on the revision of the register this year. A rather curious incident occurred recently when the Royal Artillery were shooting off a regimental carbine match. While one of the competitors was firing at 300 yards a crow crossed the range. The bullet went clean through tho bird, and made a low outer" on the target. The crow was picked up quite dead, the bullet having passed through the chest under the wings. Two thousand colliers struck work on Tuesday morning In the Prodults Flenn pits, in Belgium, and were followed at noon by the men in the Mons a Coply pits. The reason assigned In both cases is the refusal of the employers to grant an Increase of wages. It is announced from Stockholm that the Hotel de Ville of that city and a number of surrounding houses have been destroyed-by a fire, which broke out on the 16ih lnst. German and English Insurance companies are, it appears, chiefly interested In the calamity. By the breaking of the drawbar of a waggon in the mineral train at Dairy on Tuesday morning two waggons got in the way of the Pullman 7.12 train from Kilmaiuock to Greenock. Steam was shut off, but too late to avoid a collision, and the engine was thrown across the line, block- ing the traffic. The driver and stoker were hurt, but the passengers escaped with a shaking. "The Comte de Paris has had a narrow escape and, strange to say, not far from the spot where the Due d'Orleans, his father was killed by a similar accident. The horses of his carriage took fright near the the Porte Maillot, startled by the engine of the tramway which goes to Courbevoie. Both horses and carriage were upset, but fortunately, only the coachman was slightly wounded. The occupants of the vehicle escaped with a shaking."—Paris Correspondent of the Standard. A return has been issued showing that the number of building societies In England and Wales, incorporated under the Building Societies Acts, 1814 and 1875, up to the 31st December, 1878, was 987, of which 826 have furnished statements of their annual Income, and 830 of their liabili- ties and assets. The total number of members of 767 societies was 275,450; the liabilities (of 830 societies) j628,248,005, and the assets jEM.236,153, leaving a balance de- ficient In 129 societies of £ 19,852. On Sunday the Empress Eugénie attended Divine service In the Roman Catholic Church, Braemar. Mass was said by the Rev. Mr. Stewart, after which the Empress re- turned to Abergeldie. Notwithstanding the Inclemency of the weather, there being occasionally falls of snow and sleet, she occupied an open carriage. A large crowd assembled at the church, and it was subject of remark that her Majesty appeared considerably improved In health since her resi- dence in the North. As a farmer was digging near a hedge at Mantua a few days ago he found an earthen pot containing a large number of gold pieces belonging to the 16th century, in- cluding some half and quarter doubloons of Spain and Genoa, and some florins of Coamo III. and Ferdinand de Medlcls, Grand Dukes of Tuscany. At the annual meeting of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club, there was produced a fragment written in 1832 by Sir Walter Scott at Rome. It is the last poem penned by him, and Is unfinished. The verses were written at the request of the Countess of Woollenluss, a Russian lady, and in them Sir Walter Scott describes himself as "A withered Scottish thorn." Once more the Queen has given proof of the affec- tion with which she regards the defenders of her Throne and the country. Several times Her Majesty, I learn, has, through Lady Frere, commanded particular inquiries to be made as to the condition of the sick and wounded In hospital at the Cape. Further, the Queen gave specific directions months ago that she was to be kept fully informed of tbe progress made by those sick aad wounded men remaining under treatment. It is In this womanly way that Her Majesty essays to show the world that she Is not only the Ruler but the Mother of her People.Whitehall Review. Mr. Raikes, M.P., at a meeting of his constituents at Chester on Monday evening, made a speech on the foreign policy of the Government and other subjects. He contended that the conduct of the Government had been In every way worthy of the support of the country, and that never since the peace which followed the battle of Waterloo was there a better prospect of peace and a revival of trade and industry than there Is at the present moment. The present depres- sion of trade was merely a rebound of the inflation of trade some ten years ago, which was In a great measure due to the policy ot the Government then In office. Lord Hatherton, having received a deputation from the Staffordshire Potteries Board of Arbitration, has consented to act as arbitrator in the dispute between the employers and workmen in the eartheraware and china trades. The Augsburg Allgemeine Zeitung announces that the University of Heidelberg has suffered a most severe loss by the death, at Welnbeim, on the 12th inst., of its ordinary Professor of Archeology, Dr. Bernhard Stark, In the 56th year of his age. During his connexion of more than a quarter of a century with the University he had never been a day ill, until about four or five years, when he began to suffer from some disorder of the stomach. Unfortunately, his great work, to which German savans were looking for- ward with much interest—" The History of the Archso >logy of Art-bas not been completed: only the flrot volumo 18 ready for publication.—Obituary of The rimes Oct. 20. Letters received from Gibraltar announce the arrival of the Bacchante, having on board the Princes Albert Victor and George. It appears that the two young Princes were terribly seasick during the earlier part of the voyage out. Of course, smoother seas brought them relief. Accord- ing to instructions they lare to be treated throughout the cruise as ordinary midshipmen, taking the regular round of duties, messing with their comrades, and distinguished only by special and separate sleeping accommodation. Several serious fires occurred in Minnesota on the 1st inst. causing heavy losses. It is the season when the prairie-grass is dry, and a spark carelessly dropped starts a conflagration that may sweep over farms and Into villages. A fire near Mankoto passed over two farms, destroying several stacks of grain, and compelling men working in the fields to fly for their lives. Another fire near Worthington, Nobles County, burned for fifteen miles through a settled country, destroying hay-stacks and buildings. The farmers fought the fire as long as possible, and then fled to the village for protection. A correspondent describes the flames as leaping 40 feet in the air, and presenting a magnifi- cent scene. Speaking at an agricultural dinner in Moorgreen, Notts, Earl Cowper, who is a large landed proprietor in the district, referred to the agricultural depression, arguing that a protective duty was out ot the question. Personally, though a great admirer ot the ancient families of this country, he thought it would be an enormous advantage it land were less encumbered than at present and were as easily transferred as other property. He concluded by say- ing that rating as at present regulated fell unjustly on the land, and that anything that legislation could do would be very small Indeed. Mr. G. Storer, M.P., also spoke advocat- ing a protective policy. The Droject for constructing a tunnel under the River Mersey between Liverpool and Birkenhead is now assuming a definite shape, and it is intended to go for the necessary ParUamentary powers next session It possible. The scheme is estimated to cost £500,000 and four public bodies—the Liverpool Town Council, the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, the railway companies having termini at Birkenhead, and the Birkenbead Town Council—are invited to confederate for the purpose of carrying it out. The latter body has already agreed to be one of the fonr con- tributorles. The width of the subway under the river is to be 27ft, and 80ft. at Its entrances, and it Is stated that the engineering difficulties are comparatively Insignificant The gradients vary from 1 la S3 to 1 In 5Q teet. I It is stated that the marriage of the King of Spain with the Archduchess Maria Christina will take place on the 29 .h November. The Mayor of Portsmouth has received a telegram from Lord H. G. Lennox, M.P., expressing his cordial ap- proval of the proposed welcome home to the seamen and soldiers from Zlllulaud, and requesting that his name may k be added to the local committee. A Copenhagen paper states that the Duke of Cum. borland contemplates definitely renouncing his claim to the thi'one of Hanover. Artistic ladies who like to ornament their owa dresses, and are tired of crewel-embroidery, may enjoy copy- ing their AmerIcan sisters, who are wearing silk costumes painted by haad. This sharmlng trimming is executed in water-colour, Md chlelly 73prelents trailing flowers or water- plants combined with birds and insects, the tiny chlDa buttons being painted to match. The letters of the world in 18^3 amounted to 3,300,000.000, or about 9i milSons daily. As to telegrams, nearly 130,000,000 were sent in 1877, an avenge of 353,089 per diem, while one-third of these were private,, dealing with purely personal con jams. The Cesarevitch has given 300 roubles towards th& funds of the committee that bas been formed at St. Peters- burg, to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the repulse of the allied French and English SMts before Patropavlovsk, by the erection of a grand monument on the spot where the- Russians, who fell in the defence, are buried. A large meeting of agricultural labourers waa held last Saturday evening in the Theatre at Canterbury, at which a resolution was carried requesting the Riyal Commis- sion on Agriculture to receive evidence on behalf of the- labourers of Kent and Sussex. Two Lincolnshire farmers are sailing for New Zealand, In compliance with a requisition from upwards of 500 farmers and landowners, who occupy or own in the aggregate considerably more than 100,000 acres, asking then to proceed to that colony, in order that, after personal inspection, they may report upon it as a field for emigration for farmers possessed of means, and capitalists, with special reference to such as have had experience of farming In Lincolnshire. A successful trial of the electric light, on the system Invented by Messrs Siemens and Halske, took place at the British Museum on Monday evening, the large Read- leg room being brilliantly illuminated by means of four lamps, while seven smaller lamps were employed to light up the entrance ball and the exterior of the building. The library of the late Dr. David Laing, librarian to the Signet Library, Edinbureh, will be sold In London towards the end of the year. Dr. Laing was an insatiable collector, and his collection of Scotch books Is unique. Among other works which will be brought to the hammer are "Froissart's Chronicles," "Black Letter Chronicles of Holinshead, Hale, andGraiton, a "Breeches Bible," &e. It was stated at a conference on emigration and the depressed state of trade, held on Mondav at the Homerton Evangelical Mall, that the ex-Mayor of Natal Is prepared to take out in a short time 200 artisans, provided each man can raise £10, and a resolution was passed asking the various friendly societies if they are desirous of forming a fund by which the subscribers would have the privilege of voting passages for persons who had been nominated to go to the colonies. The hair of the Presidents of the United States, from Washington to Pierce tn 1853, is carefully preserved in the Patent Office at Washington. Most of the locks are bleached by age. Washington's hair being nearly pure white, but fine and smooth while Jefferson's is a mixture of white and auburn, and rather coarse, and General Jackson's locks are also coarse. Since Buchanan succeeded to the Presidency in 1857 the custom has been dropped. At Guisseny, Finistere, a cave fifteen metres long by four wide has been discovered under a heap of rocks. One entrance faces the sea at a height of tour metres, and the other the land, so that it mutt have been well adapted for watch and defence. Below a layer of ashes were found stones laid together, human bones, remains of funeral urns, evidently Celtic, a considerable quantity of animal bones, some of thom apparently of extinct species, and a stone hammer and polished porphyry hatchet. Notwithstanding increased supplies of foreign wheat, activity and excitement have prevailed in the corn trade during the past week, and under the stimulus of enlarged consumption and speculation prices have, says the itark Lane Express, rieen from 3s. to 4s. per quarter. The improvement in trade continues and is now spreading to branches which had hitherto remained dull In manufactured irou increased activity and higher prices are the rule, although from Birmingham there are complaints that the ba,l shooting season Is affecting gun-making. In tin there was another marked advance upon Friday, and the metal trades generally are buoyant. Even wool now feels the revival, and there Is also more activity in jute."—" Trade and Finance in Pall Mall Gazette. The Paris Correspondent of The Times asys A soldier named Marlotti, of the 11th Battalion of the Italian Bersaglierl, though long confined to the room by illness, refused to be carried to the hospital. Ultimately, on being forcibly removed thither, the soldier was discovered to be a woman. She Joined the army during the war of 1866 to enable her brother to remain with hit wife and six children. She bad previously, being very strong, worked in the mines. At Custozza she won a medal for bravery. The King has new conferred on her a decoration and sent her home with a pension of 300 lire." The Marquis of Salisbury opened the Junior Con- servative Club at Manchester on Saturday, and in the after- noon attended and spoke at a great Conservative meeting In the Pomona Gardens, when a resolution was passad, giving the Marquis of Salisbury a hearty welcome In acknow- ledging the vote, the noble Marquis referred to the subject of foreign policy, and pointed out that, whatever might be said on that topic, It had been more favourable to the pro- sperity of the country, and had been less likely to produce depression, than that which was followed by the Liberal Government of a quarter of a century ago. As Immense number of persons who could not get into where the meeting was held were addressed in the open air by the Marquis of Salisbury. The other speakers at the meetings included Colonel Stanley and Mr. A. Egerton. M.P The Council of the British Medical Association, at the last meeting, presided over by Dr. A. Carpenter, resolved to give a dinner to that distinguished member of the profes- sion, Surgeon-Major Reynolds, V.C., who has received the gold medal of the Association for his bravery in Zaluland in tending to the wounded while under fire. San Francisco telegrams announce a sharp advance In wheat, as also in freights, the demand for European ship- ment btlng great and the tonnage goarce-only 15,953 ton- nage being disengaged In the port (says the American Correspondent of The Times). This scarcity is expected to continue for sixty days, shippers telegraphing everywhere for vessels and chartering thousands of miles away. Many vessels are reported to be sailing for San Francisco from Australia, China, New Zealand, and the West Cosst of South America in ballast; 47 vessels sailing for Callao alone, 154,958 tonnage, are bound for San Francisco. An English Spelling Reform Association has been established, and proposes to collect, arrange, andjtdistribute information on the subject of spelling reform to collect works on spelling reform, and to preserve copies of articles bearing on the subject from periodicals; to institute and watch experiments on teaching to read, spell, and pronounce, with reformed systems and to promote lectures and public meetings for the purpose of Imparting Information on spelling reform, and for memorialising public bodies In Its favour.

Tha following has been Bent to the papera from the India Office for publication :— From Viceroy, October 20. "Riberts telegfabhed, l^th October. 'Infantry and cavalry marched through Cabul street* people respectful. Time cases of cholera among troops hia force In camp at Slab sung; his cavalry found 12 guns from Ghaznl abandoned bear Cabul." Communications with Cabul have been since Interrupted by Injury to telegraph between Alikhel and Shutargardan. At JbutHfgardan Colonel Money had been surrounded by bougie gathering of tribes from 15th, but news just re- vived that they are dispersing on authentic news of our ^'session of Cabul and of arrival at Khushi of detachment I)tu ClIobullent to relieve Shutargardan. TERRIBLE EXPLOSIONS AT CABUL. "From Viceroy, October 21. 6 "Fallowing from Roberts, Cabul, 17th. Tortton of ma- in Upper Bala HiBBar blew up soon after noon V^twrday, and constant explosions have occurred since. fV'thiu* lett but large powder magazine, said to contain 250,0001b. all small-arms, ammunition, and ^her munitions of war collected by Shere All must "a*e been destroyed. Captain Shafto, witn Goorkha <™*rd at gate, and small party of Goorkha*, including j^adar major who were sitting near, have been blown S,P: altogether about twenty lives lost. A soldier, 67th *oot, waa killed in garden below. 67th and Goorkhas wm? out of Bala Hlssar at once, and now encamped Mth rest Ot force on siah SuDg raDga. No reaion to sup. hose explosion oacurred except by accident; powder and ^niranltlon wera ljt M £ ver. every precaution was taken, gat* guard placed, and no one admitted except ^buslnew. Endeavours now being made to check progress Are and save larger mag92ine blowiue up of which would JgbWess cause considerable damage to life and property In

A Renter's telegram under date Oct. 19, says :— "Further inundations are reported from Cuevas, AI. meria, Malaga, and Alicante, causing the loss of several lives and much damage to property. In the Malaga and Alicante districts 2,000 houses have been destroyed by the inundations. Railway communica- tion with Murcia has been restored. At a public meeting held here to-day under the presidency of the Cardinal Patriarch of the Indies, resolutions were adopted for opening a subscription in aid of the suf- ferers from the floods. The number of persons who have perished in the inundations is believed to be not lees than 500, and the damage done to property is estimated at above 30,000,000 francs."

MADRID, Oct. 19, Evening. A telegram from Murcia of this evening giving details of the floods state that 570 bodies have already been found, and it is believed that more than a thou- sand people have perished. The inhabitants of the village of Nonduermas have all been drowned, with the exception of the curé, who escaped by taking refuge in the belfry of the church. No particulars have been received of the floods in the province of Almeria owing to telegraphic communication being interrupted. The Epoca of to-day states that the sea has invaded the port of Aquilas (Murcia), on the Mediterranean. Several buildings were destroyed.

CUTTINGS FROM AMERICAN PAPERS. When a Brooklyn boy sees a young lady who has Improved upon nature by the appliances of art, and whose face Is & picture fresh from the hand of the paiuter, he nudges his companion and shrewdly exclaims. Jim, she's only a chromo," "What is editorial courtesy?" asks a Southern paper. Why, Its when a Southern editor Is caught stealing chickens at midnight and his brother-editors kindly allude to the matter as a strange freak of a somnumbulut. Josh Billings says, The mewl is a larger burd than a guse or turkey. It has two legs to walk with, and two more to kick with, and It wears its wings on the side of its bed." A minister out in Oconto, Wis., went on a strike a few Sundays ago. The congregation assembled and waited anxiously for him. He didn't put In an appearance. A messenger arrived, however, with a note from the pastor, stating that Divine service would be su»pended until the congregation purchated him a suit of clothes so that he could appear In the pulpit decently clad. A monster, yellow as orange peel, has spread terror In Barks county, Pa. It has the shape of a human being, about four feet high arms with two fingers on each paw, formed like the talons of a chicken feet without toes eyes like those of a cat; three crowns on its head, about six inches high; body naked and yellow. Its genus Is unknown. -Ame.rican Exchange.—It is probably a canard-American Register. A rough North Carolinian, going West with his dozen children and two dozen dogs, went on board a steamer at a Kentucky landing, and his first question was, How much will you charge, cap'n, to take us to St. Louis T" "Will you go on deck or in the cabin?" queried the cap- tain. The Carolinian hesitated a moment, and then, with a sigh over his own self-sacrifice, replied, "I wal cap n, I've lived In a cabin all my life, aad I s'pose the cabin 11 be good enough for me." A popular concert singer, advertised to participate In an entertainment In a Missouri village, excused ner absence on the ground or having a cold in the head; the next day she received the following from an admirer— "Thlzisgonse greze; melt It and rub it on the brigs of yore noz until kured. 1 luv you to distraxsbun." An American deeply smitten with a girl was smitten by her In return when he proposed. The blow and the scornful refusal awoke ire in place of love. His revenge was to propose to her mother, who accepted right off, and now that girl is under his parental rule. He enforces her atten. tion to household details in place of gadding about, and he peremptorily forbade all male vlsltons the house, saying that the girl was too young to think of marriage, and that he would not have her fooled around. He has been married several months, and yet, contrary to the usages of the country, he has as yet made no application for a divorce, and it is believed that he will continue to remain united to the mother until the girl comes of age and he can no longer prevent her from getting married. The young woman is pining away, her spirits are gone, and the monster triumphs In his hideous scheme of vengeance.

THE MARKETS. MARK-LANE.—MONDAY. At Mark-lane the grain trade continued firm. American advices report considerable steadiness, and It Is evident that the market here being mainty influenced by the course ot events on the other side of the Atlantic must respond. Supplies of home grown produce were again very short, and proved not so plentiful as formerly. There was a moderate attendance, and a fair business was transacted. English wheat was about 2s., and foreign about 2s. to Sa per qr. dearer than on Menday last. Barley was in moderate supply. Malting was very firm, and grinding ruled about Is. higher than last week. Malt was firm in value and Inquiry. In oats more business was doing, and the tendency was against the buyer to the extent of is. 6d. per quarter. Maize was again very Arm, especially round American. Prices ruled 2s. to 3s. higher. Beans and peas were steady, and about it. dearer. The flour market was very firm, at an advance of Is. to 2s, per sack and barrel. METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET.—MONDAY. The cattle trade was much in the same position. Supplies were ample lor requirements. The arrivals of English beasts were on a fair scale, and there was a liberal display of Irleh stock, but not much from Scotland. As usual, the quality aud condition left plenty ot room for improvement. There was no feature in the market. Business throughout was quiet, and no particular change occurred in prices. The best Scots and crosses sold at 5i. 4d., but much good stock went for 6s. per 81b. From the Midland and home counties we received about 2,000, from Scotland 64.. and from Ireland about 1,000 head. On the foreign side of the market were about 380 Americans, besides a few Danish and Spanish. There was a quiet trade, on former terms The sheep-pens were fairly weil tilled. The demand was hardly so good. but values remained about the same. The best Downs and halt-breds sold at 6a. 6d. to 6s. 8d. per SIb. Oalves and pigs were quiet, but steady. At Deptford theM were about 2,300 beasts and 11,610 sheep. Quotations Coarse and inferior beasts, 45. to 4s. 6d. second quality, 4s, 6d. to 5s. prime large oxen, 6s. to 5a. 2d.; prime Scots, &c., 5s. 2d. to 6s. 4d coarse and inferior sheep, 4s. 6d to 68. second quality ditto, 6a. 6d. to 6s.; prime coarse woolled, 6s. 2d. to 6j. 4d.; prime Southdowus, 6a 6d. to 6s. 81 large coarse calves, 6s. to 6s. 6d.; large pork, 4s. to 4s. 6d.; small ditto, 4s. Od. to 5s. per 81b. sinking the offaL METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET.—MONDAY. With a large supply and mild weather, trade was very bad at the following pricesInferior beef, 2s. 6d. to, 3s. 4d.: middling ditto, 3s. 4d. to 4s. prime ditto, 4s. 4d. to. 4s. 10d inferior mutton, 8s. to 3a 4d.; middling ditto, 3s. 6d. to 4s prime ditto, 4s. to 5s. 4d. veal, 5s. to 5s. 4d.: large pork, Ss. 4d. to 3a. 6d.; small ditto, 3s. 8d. to 4s. pec- 81b. by tbe carcase. POTATO, The supply of home-grown potatoes continues very indif- ferent but the foreign Importations are amply sufflcleac to meet the demand. Prices are without much change from last week, as follows Scotch regents, 130-, to 150s. i ditto champtans, 1303. to 150s. Lincolnshire ditto 130s; Victorias, 120s. to IbOIl. per ton; German reds and Belgian kidneys, 5s. 6d, to 6s. Ed. per hag. FISH. Fresh herrings, 15s. to 2U. 6d roused ditto, 13s. to 25s. red ditto, 19s, to 2t2. kipper haddocks, 80s. to 400. plekleft herrings, 30s. to 35s.; crabs, 45s. to 60s. per barrel • Esackerel, Is. 6d. to 3s. mullet, 2s. 9d, to 5s. lobsters ids. 6d. to 49s. oysters, 6d. to 3s. per dozen bloaters, 8a, to 6s. kippers, 2s. 6d. to 6s.; whiting, 8s. M. to 12a. 6d. plaice, 14s. to 20s.; smelts, 6s. 6d, to 8s. pes aox. MP. The trade for hops presents a quielai appearance, but choice hops are scarce, and ceuomana lull prices. Medium qualities are searoely so dear, but lnierlor produce is almost uuR.ue&ble. Tho following are the q-aotalions E«t Kent, choice, Zll 1015. So AIS 18a. Mid Kent, choice..SH 10s. to £.16 16s. ditto, second qualities, £8 8s. to 4 10 Weald of Kent, £9 9f. to £ > ftisex, 29 5s. to £ 12 ditto inferior and diseased, M K*. to JN 7s. Bavarian. £9. 10s. to iCl2 Bohemian, £ 9 16s. to £ 13 Poperlnge, £ 5 10*. to £ 6 6), 1 Alost, £ 6 5S, «o £ 51&8. American, £ u to £ 1S