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:.:. (4)nt funkit Cflrrapntat
(4)nt funkit Cflrrapntat {We deem it right to state that we do not at all tH £ c& ourselves with, our Correspondent's opinions. The Art sales whichf,take place in London, at dif- ferent times during the season, supply ample evidence of the encouragement given by the wealthy classes to the artistic enterprise of this and other countries. The rooms of Messrs. Christie and Manson, in King- street, St. James's, form in themselves a series of art galleries to which admission is highly prized, for it cannot be bought, and is obtained only by ticket, granted by the auctioneers themselves. These sales take place naturally enough, when London is full, as it is now, and before the upper classes have begun to wing their flight from town for their autumnal holiday. Some of the articles disposed of by Messrs. Christie within the past few days have realised extraordinary prices, which in themselves might be regarded as an in- dication of high national prosperity. For a painting by Rubens to fetch [5,000 guineas was not in itself re- markable, looking at the splendour of the painter's fame. But it may well appear extraordinary to find jE6,000 given for a writing-desk. This valuable asset formed a portion of a suite of four objects made for Marie Antoinette; in both the wood and the metal work the utmost perfection of design and execution is displayed at the culminating period of French decorative art, and there seems every probability that this suite of furniture was the most beautiful work of its kind produced in the reign of Louis XVI. Another work of art belonging to Marie Antoinette fetched 4,100 guineas. Nearly a century must have elapsed since these elaborately-wrought articles were in the possession of the Queen of France. Well-nigh a hundred years have now passed away since he first murmurings of that mighty convulsion which began in 1789 with the destruction of the Bastille, and involved the death of the King and Queen amid the development of the storm. While the fashionable world of London has thus been occupied in art sales and artistic gossip, the busi- ness part of its great community watches the news- papers for intelligence of agricultural prospects. It is a very critbal time just now, the farmers tell us, for the hay crop is in danger of getting too much mois- ture, and the wheat wants sunshine. In the mean- time advices from across the Atlantic are to the effect that if the weather continue favourable, there will be an unusually abundant yield of spring and winter wheat in the principal corn-growing districts of the United States. Early this year America was visited with a great deal of wet, which seems to have been beneficial in destroying vast numbers of predatory insects from the ravages of which Transatlantic agri- culturists have in times past seriously suffered. In the United States, however, as at home, the yield of the wheat greatly depends upon the quality of the present weather. In the Parliamentary debates and Questionings on the affairs of Egypt, the contingency of danger to the Suez Canal has been more than once mooted; and although in these days of rapid steaming, vessels can go round the Cape more quickly than they were formerly accustomed to do, there can be no doubt that the people of this country would be disposed very strongly to insist that no damage should be done to the Canal by any of the contending factions in Egypt. It is of the most vital importance to the main- tenance of our communication with India; and it is very certain that under any circumstances the British Government would defend the right of way through the Canal. Our merchants are not likely to send their ships round the Cape so long as there is a short and quiet waterway between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea and the pecuniary interest which England holds in the Canal is a sufficient guarantee that one of the greatest engineering works ever executed in the world's history will not suffer molestation. The members of both Houses of Parliament are in a condition of uncertainty as to the prospects of an autumn session, nor is it probable that this will be removed until after the passing of the Prevention of Crime Bill and the Arrears Bill. Then it can be ascertained whether any compromise is pos- sible between the two great political parties over the proposed new rules of procedure, and if so, what its nature may be. If no understanding can be arrived at, a reassembling of the Legislature in the autumn will be necessary. No Prime Minister resorts to such a course unless for a special purpose, or for pressing business which cannot possibly wait. Within the past quarter of a century there have been only three such occasions. On the 3rd December, 1857, Parliament was summoned to pass a bill in. demnifying the Government for having suspended the Bank Charter Act in a time of financial panic without the authority of the Legislature. On the 19th November, 1867, the Housea met to provide for the Abyssinian expedition; and on the 5th December 1878, the same step had to be taken with respect to Afghanistan. So that, in five-and-twenty years, there have been but three instances in which the usual course hae been departed from. It is easy to understand the reluctance with which Lords and Commons assemble at Westminster in the autumn. From February to August they have been in London, with the exception of two brief recesses at Easter and Whitsuntide, when some of them perchance have paid a flying visit to their constituencies. But when August comes, they like to look forward to some months of relief from legislative duties, which are far more exacting now than they ever were before. Those who hav- nurtured holiday anticipations set out for scenes of foreign travel, the United States coming in for a very good share of attention in this way. Others penetrate the exclusiveness of China or Japan, or ex- plore the solitudes of the Euphrates Valley. To be summoned back from these far distant regions for the purpose of attending Parliamentary duty in a city which in November is the greyest and gloomiest in the world, would not be to the liking of honourable gentlemen who had gone there and if means can be taken of obviating the necessity for such a measure, it will be done. The popularity of Cricket as a thoroughly English game is exemplified every time there is a great match, either at Lord's or at Kennington Oval, the two chief centres for such events north and south of the river in London. The Australians, in their contest at the Oval with the Gentlemen of England, fully maintained the reputation which they had previously won and the fact chat on the second day of the match, nearly 2Q,0€0 persons paid for admission to the grounds, fully attested the interest taken in the result. Thus far the Colonials have been beaten only once during their present visit, and that was by Cambridge University, by six wickets. I The issue of a Royal Commission, with Lord Bram- r well at its head, to inquire into the condition of the Thames, so far as it is affected by the action of the Metropolitan Board of Works, touches a matter which is not of interest to the people of London alone. The capital has been described as the heart of the nation, of the empire, and sf the world; and the secret of its great position, and the source of its vast wealth is the river upon the banks of which it stands. To be told that the operation of the main drainage works at the outfalls of Barking and Crossness is slowly, but surely lessening the depth of water is there- fore somewhat serious. The drainage of a com- munity with a population of four millions is daily poured into the Thames in an enormous volume; and although the outfalls are so constructed that the works only act with the outgoing tide, the gradual decrease in the depth of the stream has suggested reflections which have at length led to inquiry. It is obvious that the of the river must be kept clear under whatever circumstances and at any cost. A midsummer night's dream must be a. very brief one in these latitudes, for just now there is little or BO real night. The twilight after sunset and before sunrise lasts so long that the attentive observer may almost imagine them to join hands east and west. The two longest days were really the 23rd and 24th of June, on each of which the slIn rose at X.45 a.m., and let at 8,19 ;.m., a-al ao steadily at this time of the year is the sua above the horizon that during the iriaole month of June there is a, difference of only two minutes in the time of rising. On the first it is 3.50, and on the 30th it is 3.48. Dmr- lag the month there are nearly 17 heirs of su- shine every day, and not long after the last glimme of light has disappeared in the western sky, the first streaks of dawn begin to creep along the firmament eastward, indicating the approach of another day of life and labour. Very curious it is to watch the gradual spr3ading of the morning light from one of the metropolitan bridges. The river Thames beneath presents an iron grey appearance, and but for the rushing of the water through the arches, the spectator might imagine himself gazing on a vast sheet of lead. The fact that three millions of London are asleep accounts for the absence of smoke, and as the sun slowly rises in a dear sky, the sheet of lead changes into one of silver, and the graceful dome of St. Paul's stands out in bold relief, as it looks down upon the calmness of a scene which to the belated spectator is so unwonted when in contrast with the noontide hastening up and down.
THE SEIZURE OF ARMS IN CLERKENWELL.
THE SEIZURE OF ARMS IN CLERKENWELL. In London, on Tuesday, at Bow-street Police-court, Sir James Ingham sat to hear the charge of treason-felony pre- ferred against Thomas Walsh, who was arrested and charged last week before Mr. Hosaok, at Clerkenwell Police-court, with fraudulently dealing in and receiving arms belonging to Her Majesty. It had since the last examination been de- cided to prosecute the prisoner on the charge of treason- felony, and that the case should be brought before the chief magistrate, Sir James Ingham.-We take the following re- port of the proceedings from the The Times of Wednesday Mr. Poland, instructed by the Treasury solicitors, now conducted, the prosecution; Mr. Abrahams, solicitor, de- fended. Before Mr. Poland began his preliminary observations, Mr. Abrahams called the magistrate's attention to the numerous articles that had appeared in various daily papers which, he contended, were likely to prejudice the case of the prisoner. A threatening letter had been addressed to Mr. Hosack upon the subject of bail not having been granted. The prisoner instructed him to deny that he had sanctioned such a cowardly proceeding. Sir James Ingham said he had not read a single word with regard to this case at present. Mr. Poland then proceeded to state briefly the facts of the case. The prisoner was charged under the 3rd section of 11 Vic., chap. 12, commonly known as the Treason-Felony Act, and it would be shown that he had been engaged in procuring arms and sending them to Ireland with a trea- sonable object. It appeared that he tenanted a stable at 99, St. John-street-road, Clerkenwell, which he had taken in the name of Sedgrove. He gave as his address. 12, Charles-street, Birmingham and agreed to pay P,2 a month. He kept the stable locked by means of a padlock, which he himself had affixed to the door. The place, however, was entered last Friday week by the police, who took possession of the property, which included 277 rifles, 276 bayonets, 30 revolvers, and 7,925 cartridges, which fitted the rifles (the old Snider), and 600 cartridges, to fit large pistols and 400 for small saloon pistols. There could be but one opinion, that the stable was used by the prisoner to repack these arms so that they might secretly be sent to Ireland for the use of the treasonable conspirators known as Fenians. Although the guns bore the Tower and Crown mark, they were as a matter of fact not Crown arms, but it appeared to be a custom to mark ordinary arms in that way. On the lower part of the stocks of the rifles, and also on the pistols were the marks of the sham- rock. The stocks of the rifles had been cut half-way down and the barrels removed, so that they could be packed in short lengths, in order that no suspicions might arise as to their being rifles Mr. Poland then proceeded to show that the upper half of the stock and the barrel could be easily replaced. Resuming, he said that 210 of the rifles had been cut in this way, and the bayonets had all been thoroughly sharpened. The stamp used for impressing the shamrock on the rifles had not been found, but the one employed for the pistols had. Eventually these arms were all seized by the police, but the fact was evidently unknown to the prisoner; for on Saturday night, the 17th, at ten o'clock, he came, slightly the worse for liquor, to 99, St. John-street-road, where a police-constable had been pre- viously placed, and was taken into custody. He then gave as his address 12, Charles-street, Hatton garden, and stated that he was engaged in the lacquer trade. When the pri- soner was in custody, he was at once recognized a*. having been engaged previously in sending arms to Ireland in a secret way. In October last, it appeared that he took a warehouse at Homerton, for the half-quarter commencing in November last. He affixed his own padlock, and gave the name of John Hay est. The windows were whitewashed, so that no one could look in, and there were delivered there heavy packing cases. He worked there from time to time. He paid his rent to the March quarter, and in Feb- ruary this year he stated that he was going to Paris. He left about that date, and eventually went to 99, St. John-street- road. It would be understood that the nature of his business would not permit of his staying long in one place. It would be proved that these packages were sent to Ireland to people, with fictitious names, that there were false consignors and false consignees. Many crates md casks had been taken to the Great Western Railway offices, and addressed to Miss Doherty, of Tipperary, to Rev. Dr. Ftanaghan, at the same place, and to other names of a similar character, in order to disarm suspi- cion. But it had been arranged by the Irish police, that the crates and casks which had been opened, examined, and fastened up again, should not be delivered, in the hope that the receivers would call for them, and thus be detected. With the exception of one cask. which had escaped the attention of the police, the property had been kept at the stations, and no inquiries were ever made after them. This showed the extreme caution with which all the proceedings were managed. The contents of some of the packages had been described as hardware, while some packages addressed to a supposed Irish grocer were labelled sweets." Sir James Ingham asked whan the Peace Preservation Act, and the consequent restrictions for the sale of arms in Ireland came into operation ? Mr. Poland said the Act received the Royal assent on March 21 last year. He added also in reply to the magis- trate that although some of these cases might have been sent before the passing of the Act, many had been sent since. The following evidence was then called :— William George Schoof deposed that he lived at 99, St. John-street-road, Clerkenwell. There was a stable attached to the house, which was announced to be "To let." The prisoner applied for it at the beginning of this year. and was told the rent was 103. a week. He went away, but on the 6th of February he returned and offered witness L2 a month, to be payable in advance. The prisoner said he had another place, but as some of the things he had stored had been stolen, he wished to leave. Witness ac- cepted the prisoner's offer, and received 5s. deposit. The prisoner stated that he exported lacquered goods from Birmingham to India, and gave his address as. Charles- street, Birmingham. He wanted the stable to store empty cases and goods until the ships were ready to receive them. He said his name was S idgrove. There was only a verbal agreement, and the rent was to date from then. In a week's time he came to the stable and asked for the key. He was accompanied by a man driving a cart of empties." Half a dozen or so of empty cases were put into the stable which was locked up, and the key returned to witness. About a fortnight later, he came again with a similar load, but the cases appeared to be full and heavy. After the things were stored, the prisoner put on a padlock, and kept also the key of the stable. The prisoner next came about the middle of May, and witness applied to him for rent, which was due He paid B2 on account, and said he would soon pay the rest. Witness sent a letter to the prisoner at Birmingham after that, but it was returned through the dead-letter office. Witness next saw him in custody at the King's-cross Police-station. Cross-examined: Witness did not see the prisoner the night after his arrest. A police-constable, named Ough, lodged at No. 99, and by witness's request he entered the stables and discovered the rifles, and information was ac- cordingly given to the police. Police-constable Alfred Ough, G 261, said, on the 17th of June, he was at 99, St. John's street-road. He lodged there. At ten o'clock that night he heard a knock at the door, and went down and opened it The prisoner was there, a little the worse for drink. Witness asked him if his name was Sadgrove, and he replied that it was, and that he rented the stable. Witness sent his wife for another constable, who resided opposite, and the prisoner was taken into custody. Witness was in plain c othes Prisoner said, What are you taking me for." Witness replied, For illegally dealing in rifles and cartridges." The prisoner said, All right." In reply to Mr. Poland, witness said he got into the stable at the request of Mr. Schoof, and opened some of the cases and found the rifles and cartridges. He fastened them up again, and gave information to Inspector Peel. Cross-examined: He knew it was stated by the officers who seized the property that the rifles were strewed all over the place, but he did not notice them himself. Mr. Abrahams cress-examined the witness, but nothing of any importance was elicited. Inspector Peel, of the G Division, was then called, and re- peated the evidence given by him last week at the Clerken- well Police-court as to the seizure of the arms and ammuni- tion and the arrest of the prisoner. A key found on the prisoner fitted the padlock of No. 1, Nesbitt-place, Homerton. The witness also gave evidence as to the way in which the guns had been cut for the purpose of packing. Mr. Abrahams, in cross-examination, asked if the prisoner did not say that he was only an agent for a Mr. Herbert, but witness denied this. Josiah William Anderson, a builder, living at 134, High- street, Homerton, said that at the latter end of October last year, a warehouse belonging to Mr. Chapman was ad- vertised as to be let This warehouse was at No 1, Nesbitt- place. Witness was foreman to Mr. Chipman, the owner. He knew the prisoner who called on him respecting the warehouse at the latter end of October. He asked what was the rent, and was told .£35 a year. Having been shown over the premises, he said he thought they would suit him. He gave the name of Hayest, and an appointment was made to meet the landlord on the premises the following week. The appointment was kwpt, and on a suggestion of the prisoner, it was agreed that an alteration should be made in the stairs, or step-ladder, to make it easier for goods to be carried up and down. He said he was a lacquerer. He paid the rent up to Christmas in advance and signed the necessary agreement in the name of Hayest. After he obtained possession goods arrived generally in a one-horse van with the name of Morgan on it. At the prisoner's request, iron bars were put up across the windows. He said that the windows were insecure. The windows facing tke street were also whitened inside. The prisoner at first came for two or three days in succession, but afterwards not for two or three weeks at a time. A man named Lovelock, who was in court, used to come with the van. A tall, dark gentleman with a small black bag used also to come to the warehouse. Mr. Abrahams objected that this was not evidence. Sir James Ingham thought it related to part of the conduct of the prisoner. Mr. Poland: Part of my case is that the prisoner was in conspiracy with others. I cannot show that all at once. Examination continued: Witness supplied the prisoner on three occasions with sfcavings for packing purposes. The prisoner always gave tke men who took them con- siderably mere than the shavings were worth. At Christasas the prisoner paid another quarter's rent-in advanve. Whie the prisoner eonpl.ed the premises, several eases were taken away n a eart which the prisoner generally drove himself. Witness had conversation? with the prisoner, who told him that he had plenty of business. He supposed from what he had been previously told, that it was in connexion with the lacquering trade. Witness on one occasion asked him why he did not take out a patent for his lacquer. He said that it paid him better not to do so. On one occasion he said he had received a very good order, which would take six weeks to execute. There did not seem to be anybody permanently employed at the warehouse. The prisoner told witness on one occasion he was going to Paris on a short stay. That was this year, just before Good Friday. He risked witness to go with him. Witness promised to let him know if he could, but did not see him again till after the Easter holidays. As this witness would have to produce the agreement signed by the prisoner on a future occasion, Mr. Abrahams reserved till then his cross-examination. Mr. Poland said this was as far as he was prepared to go that day. He suggested an adjournment for a week, and that the case should then be taken on several consecutive days. The case was ultimately adjourned till Monday next at 11 a.m.
TORNADOES IN AMERICA.
TORNADOES IN AMERICA. More tornadoes are reported to have raged, over a wide stretch of country in the United States; and to have done considerable damage. Three men were killed at Independence, Iowa. Two deaths occurred from lightning in Minnesota and three at John's Island, near Charleston, South Carolina. The lightning destroyed the beautiful Confederate Soldiers' Monument at Columbia, South Carolina, which was considered the finest monumental Bculpture in the South.
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Writing on Sunday, the Philadelphia Correspondent of The Times says On Saturday Emmettsburg, Iowa, was partly destroyed, many of the inhabitants being reported to have been killed. Several neighbouring towns are also badly wrecked. The Illinois Central, Chicago and North-Western, Milwaukee, and St. Louis Rail- way lines in that section were much damaged. Trains were blown from the tracks and the telegraph wires destroyed, the transmission of details being thus prevented. At Yankton, Dakota, much damage was done, and at Rochfoal, Illinois, the crops and the windows were ruined by a hailstorm.
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A later account says that the reports at first re- ceived of the tornado at Emmettsburg on Saturday were exaggerated. The loss of life was three killed there and 12 killed and 70 injured in the neighbour- ing villages. The tornado had a course of about 30 miles. A New York telegram states that the number of persons killed during the recent tornadoes in the Western States is estimated at 130, and the value of the property destroyed at 3,500,000 dols.
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The Times of Monday comments upon the above intelligence in the following leader For the last few days our telegraphic intelligence from America has contained accounts of the ravages of tornadoes of exceptional destructiveness. The first of these occurred on the night of the 16th instant, and its chief force was at first stated to have been spent upon Kansas City, Missouri, where damage to the extent of 200,000 dols. was done, and three lives were destroyed. On the same night five women were killed at Leavensworth, Kansas, and much property was injured at St. Louis, where two river steamers were sunk, six others dis- abled, and the telegraph wires blown down over an extensive area. Subsequent reports showed that the damage done was both greater in amount and more widely diffused than was at first supposed. The total destruction of property in Missouri, Illinois, and Kansas, is estimated at 850,000 dols but in Iowa one- half of the town of Grinnell has been swept away, 100 persons have been killed, and many more have been seriously injured. The destruction of tele- graph wires has been such as greatly to delay the transmission of the intelligence. Trains were blawn off the lines of railway and w-. ^ked, and the wind is described as having cut a track, same 1,200 feet in width, through Grinneil, sweeping away everything that stood in its path. The damage there alone is said to amount to 600,000 dollars, and that in the West generally to between two and three millions. Many fires have been caused by the lightning which accompanied the storm and the latest accounts represent that over 300 families have had their homes totally swept away and are reduced to absolute want. Our American news of this morning reports new disasters, so that there must have been other tornadoes as furious as the first. In Philadelphia, and in other great cities of the States, an appeal has been made to public benevolence on behalf of the sufferers; and it is manifest that the occasion 4s one which calls for prompt and ample assistance. The calamity has not only been sudden and overwhelming, but it has been one against which no foresight could have guarded, and which no prudence could prevent.
CUTTINGS FROM AMERICAN PAPERS.…
CUTTINGS FROM AMERICAN PAPERS. A Cincinnati editor who saved a tailor from drowning has received nine different letters threaten- ing his life. A New York State man who tried a flying-machine of his own invention last week had no advice to give to those who 'crowded arouud. All he said was— "Work in 'darned fool' somewhere on my tomb- stone If six men who talk politics and dispute on Biblical questions can build a wall in five days, how long will it take two men who whistle and flirt with the widow on the corner to do the same work ? "I want a little change." said Mr. B. to her hus- band the other day. "Well," was the heartless response. just wait for it. Time brings change to everybody." A woman's heart is a small affair, but it can upset the biggest man that ever ndorned this world. It takes a girl about four hours longer to wash the front windows of a house than the back windows. It is noted by a philologist that "possesses" pos- sesses more ss than any other common word possesses. A sportsman in Richmond, Virginia, mistook the red turban of a coloured lady, which he saw moving about through the branches, for a large robin, and lodged a charge of shot in it. The supposed robin promptly retaliated with a brick. A woman in Omaha was choked almost to death and entirely destroyed her power of speech for an hour the other day by swallowing a boot-button. We have said a thousand times that some serious trouble would yet come out of this custom of Omaha women unbut- toning their shoes with their teeth. "I never can enjoy poetry when I'm cookin' said an old lady but when I step out to feed the hogs, and h'ist myself on the fence and throw myself into a few lines of Cap'n Jinks, it does setm as if this airth was made to live on after all." Your real Western American believes in concise forms of expression. One grim man of the Sierras was asked about the character of a neighbour be sententiously replied, Mister, I don't know much about him, but my impression is that he'd make a first-class stranger." In a passenger train that recently left Austin for San Antonio there was a darkey who kept putting his head out of the carriage window. Keep your head inside said the conductor angrily. Whaffor ? demanded the coloured one. For fear you should damage some of the ironwork on the bridge, you idiot ?" answered the conductor. An Iowa paper having inserted a paragraph relating that a woman of that state had helped her husband to raise seventy acres of wheat, and noticing the news, copied by its contemporaries under an evident mis- apprehension of facts, now explains that the way she helped was to stand in the door, and shake a broom at him when he sat down to rest, and terrifying in other ways. An American editor thus advertises his missing hat:—" i'he gentleman who inadvertently took our new beaver, and left an inferior article in its stead, will do us infinite kindness by returning ours, and he shall receive our warmest thanks and two apologies- an apology for the trouble we have given him, and the apology for a hat' he has left us." The most pointed and probably the best remembered part of a Boston divine's sermon, the other evening, was as usual, near the close. He paused suddenly and locking at the door quietly said, We would be glad if that young man in the vestibule would come inside and satisfy himself whether she is or is not here. That would be much better than keeping a half-inch draught on the occupants of the back pew." A lover and his girl went into a drug store the other day to get some sody." One ordered "bovine," the other vaccine," supposing that these two words, which were hung up near the fountain, were the names of soma new syrups.
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IN JAMAICA.—According to the Colonies and India, fruit-growing in Jamaica is prov- ing very profitable to the planters, a lively export trade having sprung up between the island and the United States, in addition to the usual English cargoes. Oranges, cocoa-nuts, and bananas are the chief fruits, and this year's export of bauanas promises to amount to twenty times the number of bunches sent out in 1876. Even grapes are being grown for export. Thus the Jamaica sugar-growers have learnt the evil of put- ting all their eggs into one basket; and, following up the experiments made in the Kingston Botanical Gardens, they have turned their attention to cultivat- ing chinchona, cocoa, vanilla, &c.
THE CRISIS IN EGYPT.
THE CRISIS IN EGYPT. In London, on Monday evening, in compliance with the invitation of the Anti-Aggression League, a large audience assembled in the library at the Memorial- hall, Farringdon-street, to hear an address by Mr. Frederic Harrison on the "Principles of the League and the Crisis in Egypt." Sir Wilfred Lawson, M.P., presided, and was supported by Mr. H. Richard, M.P., Mr. L. Dillwyn, M.P., Mr. F. Pennington, M.P., Mr. T. Burt, M.P., Mr. Passmore Edwards, M.P., &c., &c. After some preliminary observations from the Chair- man, Mr. Frederic Harrison addressed the meeting, and commenced by disclaiming any wish on the part of the League to embarrass the Government. They were simply seeking to remind them of their own prin- ciples. The principles of the League were the prin- ciples of the Mid Lothian campaign-the principles of Mr. Gladstone. (Cheers.) Coming to the Egyptian crisis, he admitted that the Suez Canal was of great importance to English commerce and to the commerce of the world, but who, he asked, had threatened the Canal? Was the Canal in any danger? The British Government took what he characterized as a fatal step" when they sent a powerful fleet to Alex- andria, demanded the dismissal of Arabi Pashi, the head of the National party, and the constitution of the whole system of nursing. The Government had done everything which men could do to make a massacre at Alexandria probable. They were warned that massacre was more than probable, but they replied that the political advantages out- weighed the risk. What were we going to do? Some 30,000 or 40,000 Europeans had left Egypt; perhaps as many remained. The Control had broken down, and the system of dry nursing which had been adopted had come to an end. There let it stay. Let the Europeans who had left Egypt of their own accord stay away. If they had sunk their money there that was their affair, not that of the British nation. He concluded, amid cheers, by declaring that it would be an infamy to use the armed might of England for the purpose of doing the dirty work of financial speculators. On the motion of Mr. Dillwyn, M.P., seconded by Mr. G. Palmer, M.P., an unanimous vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Harrison for his address. Mr. Passmore Edwards, M.P., proposed and Sir Arthur Hobhouse seconded a resolution strongly de- precating armed intervention in the internal govern- ment of Egypt." This was adopted nem. con.
litis ted ;nrcaus JnlflKgrna.
litis ted ;nrcaus JnlflKgrna. HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL. STORM WARNING.-The following cable message was received at the London office of the New York Herald from the Herald Weather Bureau, New York :—" A large depression is crossing, and will arrive on the British, Norwegian, and North French coasts between the 29th and 1st, preceded and attended by numerous electrical disturbances and heavy rains, together with high temperature." PAPER WHEELS.—Paper wheels appear to becoming into more and more extended use on the American railways. From documents included in Mr. Drum- mond's official report, it appears that in the first ten months of last year one firm alone turned out 7,729 of these wheels. Mr. Pullman, assistant general super- intendent of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, says that they have been in use by his company for ten years, and have been found to be the most economical as well as the only safe kind of wheels for passenger carriages. Whereas the best iron wheel (says Mr. Pullman) will not average 50,000 miles, a number of our paper wheels have run over 400,000 miles, and some few over 500,000, and are still in service. It appears, however, that they are in the first instance considerably more costly than iron wheels. THE GRousE.-On the vast range of moors extend- ng from the south-west margin of the West Riding into Derbysire, Lancashire, and Cheshire, the grouse prospects are most promising. The breeding season has been most favourable, and the heather was out in good time, so that there has been plenty of good food. The young grouse are now looking well, and there does not appear to be any signs of disease. f Some of the keepers state that there will be a much larger number of birds than has been the case for some years past. One of the keepers saw no less than six broods within a distance of less than 300 yards.—The reports from various districts in Scotland say that grouse will be plentiful, and that the young birds are well for- ward. HE COULD EASILY FIND OUT.—"Pretty wife-kin," said Herr X., to his young neighbouress, "give you me yet a kisslet; I ask only out of curiosity, because I gladly know would whether it from your mouth sweeter tastes than that of my frau ?" Neighbour," replied she, snappishly, "ask you only my husband he has your dear frau many a kiss given he must it know !"—[Translated literally from the German.] EDUCATION IN FRANCE.—The total number of chil- dren attending elementary schools in France in 1881 is 5,049,363, showing an increase over last year, in round numbers, of 100,000. The public secular schools show an increase of 145,381 scholars, whilst there is a decrease in the attendance at the others. In the former case the male pupils amounted to 2,098,929, whilst in the latter there were only 470,410. ALL HE KNEW.—At the Union Depot the other day (says the Detroit Free Press) an old man who had borrowed a match, then a chew of tobacco, then a postage stamp, and lastly besought the loan of a. key to open his old satchel, came back the fifth time and said to the stranger, whom he had most annoyed: My friend, can you tell me how many times the human heart beats per minute?"—"No, sir. Can you tell me who first discovered the circulation of the blood ? "—"No, sir."—" Do you know whether the pulse should beat seventy or 700 times a minute ? —"No, I don't. All I know about the human system is the fact that if you bother me two seconds longer I shall exert a pressure of 500 pounds in the endeavour to raise you about six feet from the floor —" Just so—just so," growled the old man as he slided off; but don't try to pass that off on me for physical science. That's nothing but what any hoss could do STRANGE NESTING-PLACE. T. U." writes to Land and IVater A fe w days ago I was called upon to inspect a very remarkable nest, A digger in a garden had hung his coat on a tree while he laboured expedi- tiously in f llowing his profession. At night, when about to take it down, he found that a redbreast had built a neatly-formed nest in one of the sleeves. With a kind-hearted goodwill he replaced the garment, and master and mistress redbreast are quite at home in the old coat." LIFE'S SPRING BLESSINGS I-The Detroit Free Press tells the following :-He came out of the side gate with a kangaroo motion to his legs, and an expression of countenance that would have frozen a tramp into a solid block of ice in six seconds. Then he turned, and while he held to the fence with one hand he shook the other at the house in a wild strange manner. Then he stood on one foot and felt of the other as tenderly as if he was caressing a new-blown rose. Was it all there ?" He seemed to doubt, and that same wild ex- pression floated over his countenance again, and again he waved his arm around his head and shook his fist atan unseen enemy. A white, scared face appeared at a window, and the man danced up and down on his leg and cpied out: "Never! Never again on earth!" A white hand behind the glass beckoned to him, but he waved his arm and replied "I won't! I'll send up six men with blocks and tackle The white face was pressed against the pane and the blue eyes had a beseeching look, but the man hobbled along on the grass and growled out: "I'll smash the infernal thing with an axe!" Then a lady appeared in the door and seemed to want to explain something, but he threw down his hat with an awful whack and interrupted her with I tell ye I'm going down and have this foot amputated, and when you see me clumping around with an old wooden pedestal you'll remember that I told you we ought to turn the house aroufid instead of trying to move that old cook-stove into the back kitchen!" SUNDAY CLOSING.—The general Sunday closing Bill, which has been re-introduced by Mr. Stevenson; sets forth in its preamble that the provisions in force against the sale of fermented and distilled liquors during certain hours of Sunday have been found to be attended with great public benefits, and that it is important to extend them to the other hours of Sun- day. This differs from the similar preamble of the Welsh Sunday Closing Act in that the latter declared that the people of Wales were desirous of the extension. The enacting portion of Mr. Stevenson's Bill proposes that, after January 1st next "all premises in which intoxicating liquors are sold or exposed for sale by retail shall be closed during the whole of Sunday." No provision is made, as is done in the Welsh Act, for the sale of intoxicating liquors at rail way stations. AN UNIMPRESSED MAGISTRATE.—Montreal, some years ago, in the days of the old Court House, had a very matter-of-fact magistrate who dispensed justice in patty cases in the basement of the temple of Themis. One fine day his honour had just given judgment in a suit where both plaintiff and defendant were women, and the defendant, who had been ordered to pav the debt, amounting to about 1 dol. 75 c. with costs, hap. pened to be a woman of deep convictions as to the jus- tice of her case, so, wrapping her shawl closely around her, and lifting one bony arm tragically, she ex- claimed solemnly Your Honour, there is a court above to which I will appeal-" There is no appeal to the court up-stairs, my good woman, except in cases involving sums of 40 doli. or over. Call the next case was the brisk reply of the. deeply unimpressed magistrate, and the defendant was hustled out of court before she could explain. BILLS BEFOBH PAELIAHENT. —From the usual weekly return issued on Monday it appears that a total of 169 public bills have been brought before the House of Commons this session, of which 16 have received the Royal Assent, 11 others have been passed, one awaits a third reading, and seven have been with- drawn. THE PARCELS POST.—The negotiations between the railway companies and the postal authorities for the establishment of a parcels post have, it is understood, now practially concluded, and wait only the confirma- tion of the Treasury. There is reason to expect that the new system may be brought into operation before the close of the present year. RESEARCHES ON LUNG DISEASE.—Fresh proofs has lately been obtained by M. Giboux of the danger in air expired by consumptives. He experimented with four young rabbits of the same litter, and born of healthy parents. Two of them were kept 105 days in a large wooden case, with side gratings, into which was introduced daily a quantity (about 20,000 cubic centi- metres) of air expired by animals in a consumptive state. This operation was performed at midday and in the evening, and each time the gratings were kept closed for two hours. In another quite similar case, the two other rabbits were similarly treated, except that the impure air was made to traverse in its way to the case some wadding impregnated with carbolic acid. The rabbits in the first case, before long, showed loss of appetite, intense thirst, listnessess, diarrhoea, and loss of flesh. On being killed, both were found to have tubercles on the lungshthe liver, and the kidneys, those in the lungs being the most advanced, and the upper lobes being chiefly affected. The other couple of rabbits presented nothing abnormal while alive, and no organic alteration was observed in their organs after death. CHILDREN IN LONDON BOARD SCHOOLS.—A return showing the number of children on the roll of each standard in the Board schools of the metropolis gives as the total number of boys, girls, and infants, 291,711. Of these the boys number 93,454; girls, 86,246; mixed (boys and girls), 13,233; infants, 98,760. These children are arranged in eight divisions-namely, six standards, some below any standard, and some above all the standards. The highest rate of percentage- that of 27'9—is for children below even Standard 1; the next highest percentage, 21*7, is in Standard 1; and each higher standard carries a lower ratio of per- centage, necessarily on account of the higher demands made upon the children. Those beyond the sixth standard reach only 6 per cent. WHAT IS TO BE DONE WITH THESE PRECOCIOUS INFANTILE EXCRESCENCES ? "—Excrescence (age nine): Yes I Captain Racquet, you've not played so bad, after all, when we consider you are a comparatively battered man, and I'm just in my prime. You care- fully managed to secure the worst girl too, dear boy. Tell you what-I don't mind nominating you as a member of our club, if you like. "-Fun. THE USE OF CARRIER PIGEONS.—Communication between lightships and the shore is to be maintained in future on the German coast by means of carrier pigeons, owing to the great success of recent trials. Last autumn, during heavy gales at the mouth of the Eider, the pigeons rendered immense service by promptly obtaining assistance from the shore, and permanent pigeon depots have accordingly been esta- blished on the lightships. In order to make them thoroughly reliable, birds must be trained on the coast, those raised inland being unsuited to long sea flights. Germany is always quick to profit by any innovation, and her example might well be followed by other nations, considering how often this same use of carrier pigeons has been discussed in England without leading to any result. AN ASTROLOGICAL FORECAST.—" Signs from the stars," writes a lady to the Pall Mall Gazette, may not be credited, yet there are some curious predictions worth noting in the astrological forecast of coming events which I translate from a German paper. In July, so runs the oracle, Mars enters the sign of Virgo, disturbing Turkey and Parifl, while there will be blood- shed in India. In August Mars and Uranus will both be located in the sign of Virgo, the foes of Turkey will be numerous, great excitement in Paris, and troubles in India. The Crown Prince of Germany will gain by the transit of Jupiter; trouble for Austria. In September the position of Saturn and Taurus indi- cates embarrassments to the present Government- very critical for Ireland. December will witness stir- ring events in the East, in London, and in Paris. Though Turkey will previously be torn by strife, she will in this month settle down under a new order of laws, which, in the end, will benefit her as a nation. Earthquakes will be numerous, and the prophecy con- cludes with the cheering declaration that England will, at last, regain her old prestige.' FRENCH ASSIZES. -For each trial at the French Assizes, fourteen names are drawn by lot from a panel of forty jurymen; that is, twelve to form the jury, and two others to act as supplies in case one of the jury should fall ill. These suprleants are sworn like the rest, and they sit in the jury box, but take no part in finding the verdict, unless they are required to fill up vacancies. It is a good practice in France to carry on a trial once com- menced uninterruptedly to its conclusion. If it cannot be terminated on Saturday night, the court sits on Sunday; and, from the moment when the counsel for the defence has begun hio speech' there is no more break in the proceedings, even though that speech be finished very late in the even- ing. French assizes are only held to try criminal causes. Four categories of offences are tried firstly, crimes involving sentences of death or penal servi- tude secondly, political offences tkirdly, by the Act of 1881, press offences; and, fourthly, manslaughter caused by duelling. A NEW SPECIES OF JELLT-FISH.—A curious dis- covery has recently been made in the tank of the Victoria regia lily at the Botanic Society's garden at Regent's Park, London. For some little time past a strange-looking organism has been observed in this tank, and at first it was difficult to understand what it really could be, as jelly-fish or medusoo-to which it bore a strong resemblance-were never before known to exist except in salt water. Subsequent investiga- tion, however, has proved that it was after all a jelly- fish of a new and remarkable kind; and the authorities of the society have come to the conclusion that it must have been introduced into the tank with some tropical water-weeds. Many hundreds of specimens of it are now to be seen swimming in the tank and the discovery is specially worthy of note as showing by what unlooked-for means new and previously unknown animals are added to zoological science. DEATHS FROM STARVATION IN LONDON.—A Parlia- mentary return just issued shows that during the year 1881 there were 54 deaths upon which a coroner's jury returned a verdict of death from starvation or death accelerated by privation. Of these deaths 25 occurred in the central and 23 in the eastern division of Middlesex. WHAT HE WOULD Do.-It was in the smoking car on the New York Central. There was one chap who was blustering a great deal and telling of how many duels he had fought, and behind him sat a small man reading a magazine. Sir! II/said the big man as he wheeled round, what would you do if challenged?" —" Refuse," was the quiet reply.—" Ah I thought as much. Refuse and be branded a coward What if a gentleman offered you the choice of a duel or a public horsewhipping-then what!"—"I'd take the whip- ping."—" Ah-I thought so—thought so from the looks of you. Suppose, sir, you had foully slandered me?" —"Inever slander."—"Then, sir, suppose I had coolly and deliberately insulted you; what would you do?' I'd rise up this way, put down my book this way, and reach over like this and take him by the nose as I take you, and give it a three-quarter twist-just so When the little man let go of the big man's nose, the man with the white hat on began to crouch down to get away from bullets, but there was no shooting. The big man turned red-then pale-then looked the little man over and remarked: Certainly—of course- that's it exactly And then conversation turned on the general prosperity of the country. LONGFELLOW'S POEMS.—James T. Fields in writing of Longfellow's poems says :-As I happen to know the birth of many let me divulge to you a few of their secrets. The Psalm of Life came into existence on a bright summer morning in July, 1838, in Cam bridge as the poet sat between two windows at a small table in the corner of his chamber. It was a voice from his inmost heart, and he kept it unpublished for a long time it expressed his own feelings at that time when recovering from a deep affliction, and he hid it in his own heart for many months. The poem of The Reaper Death came without effort, crystal- lized into his mind. The Light of the Stars" was composed on a serene and beautiful summer evening, exactly suggestive o„ the poem. The Wreck of the Hesperus" was written the night after a violent storm had occurred, and as the poem sat smoking his pipe, the Hesperus came sailing into his mind; he went to bed, but could not sleep, and rose and wrote the celebrated verses. It hardly caused him an effort, but flowed on without let or hindrance. On a summer afternoon in 1849, as he was riding on the beach, The Skeleton in Armour rose, as out of the deep, before him, and would not be laid. One of the best known of all of Longfellow's shorter poems is "Excelsior." That one word hap- pened to catch his eye one autumn evening in 1841, on a torn piece of newspaper, and straightway his im- magination took fire at it. Taking up a piece of paper, which happened to be the back of a letter re- ceived that day from Charles Sumner, he crowded it with verses. As first written down "Excelsior" differs from the perfected and published version, but it shows a rush and glow worthy of its author. The ftoryof "Evangeline" was first suggested to Haw- thorne by a friend, who wished him to found a romance on it. Hawthorne did not quite coincide with the idea, and he handed it over to Longfellow who saw in it all the elements of a deep and tender idyl. ENGINEERING IN AMERICA. — Mr. Drummond, British Secretary of Legation at Washington, states that the manufacture of locomotives is now in an ex- tremely flourishing condition. All the works in the country are overcrowded with orders, and are able to make their own terms. Prices are nearly 100 per cent. higher than they were three or four years ago, the ordinary eight-wheeled passenger engines, which then sold for £ 1,458, now bringing about £2,812. AMERICAN VICISSITUDES.—The rise and fall of Pith ole City, in the centre of the Pennsylvania oil regions, seems almost like a miracle. In three months after the first house was built, Pithole had two theatres, two newspapers, an opera-house, seventy- five hotels and saloons-one of the former costing 100,000 dols.-and a population of 25,000 people. Now the inhabitants have vanished, the theatres are closed, the newspapers removed, the oil-wells are dry, and the place is lapsing into its original desolation as rapidly as it was built up. There are scarcely one hundred people left. DEATHS IN PRISON.—The Home Secretary has issued an order to all coroners in whose bailiwicks a prison or prisons are situate, directing that in future, in all cases where an inquest is to be held on a prisoner in any of her Majesty's gaols, a medical man entirely un- connected with the prison is to be employed to make the post mortem examination and give evidence at the inquest. The selection of the independent medical man to perform the duty is left absolutely in the hands of the coroner. CAUSE AND EFFECT. — Eminent Provincial Tragedian. Come hithorr, Sweet One! Your Mothorr tells me that you shed teorrs during my soliloquy in exile, last night!" Sweet One. "Yes, Sir. Mother kept on pinching me, 'cause I was so sleepy! "-Punch. WOMEN OFFICIALS IN THE UNITED STATES.—Many women were employed in the United States Govern- ment in the great work of compiling the census of 1880. Mr. Drummond, British Secretary of Legation at Washington, certifies to the fact that they were found "to perform their duties with fidelity and capacity." The census, which embraces numerous inquiries not generally included in such returns, is described as "one of the most complete ever at- tempted." THE LABOUR MARKET.—Inquiries for all descrip- tions of iron and steel are numerous, and a fair number of orders are in hand. In Scotland, the pig iron market is firm, and a good business is being done at fair prices. In the North of England the trade shows steady progress,^ and the output of shipping plates is very large. Shipbuilding is in a highly satisfactory condition, and it is anticipated that the production of the present year will, in point of tonnage and number of vessfels, exceed any of its predecessors. At all the marine engine works there is plenty of business in hand, and the workmen in all the branches were never better employed. There are large orders in the cotton market, which will tend to force up prices, and provide full employment. In all parts of Yorkshire the woollen and cloth trades are dull, only a few manufacturers being fully employed. THE WEATHER IN GERMANY.—In various parts of Germany, particularly in the Harz, Thuringia, the Eifel district, Rhenish Prussia, Upper Bavaria, and Alsace very cold wet weather has of late prevailed, frequently accompanied by night frosts. Damage is reported to have been done to certain crops, especially beans, cucumbers, and potatoes. No injury of moment, however, is apprehended for the grain crops only they are very backward. All the hllls of over 2,000ft. high have recently shown more snow than at any time during the past winter. KEY-NOTE TO THE EUROPEAN CONCERT AT CONTANTI- NOPLE.-Austria: To keep in unison with Germany. Germany: To introduce a discord in the score of France. France To keep England out of a major key. England: To force France to continue in the minor. Turkey To do everything in slow time, and to take notes all round without any variations.- Punch. WORK NEVER FINISHED.—Two kinds of work in this world are never finished. The first is the work of the farmer. The secoud is the work of a newspaper man. It is ceaseless, and never lets up. One day's issue isn't published before the next presents itself, and even in his moments of apparent leisure his brain is working at steam-engine rate. What a newspaper man needs is a mechanical appliance that would shut off the current of thought and turn it on at will. The first man who invents such an appliance has our order. QUEEN VICTORIA AND LONGFELLOW, THE POET.— Miss Blanche Roosevelt gives the following as Long- fellow's account of his visit "by command "to Queen Victoria (says the Detroit Free Press) An im- posing lady in black, with flowing drapery, came quickly forward to greet me. It was her Majesty Queen Victoria. She extended her hand, and I offered to take it." "What," I interrupted, "did you not bend and offer to kiss it ?' "No," said he timidly: "I was not then familiar or acquainted with court etiquette, as I am now. She offered me her hand evi- dently to shake, and I shook it." "Why," said I "you must have horrified her. "I presume I did," said he simply. "Now I think of it, she was dis- concerted, I suppose for that reason, but she rallied graciously, and asked me about America and myself. She explained We speak of America first because you are America'w poet. Tennyson is ours.' Tennyson is the world's poet, madam,' said I, bowing gravely. She smiled in gratified acquiescence and continued: 'You are very generous.' Her Majesty was then pleased to converse on general topics, but persistently got back to the subject of myself. I felt she was piqued about something at first, and her last words were: We shall not forget you,' adding with a laugh, Why, even all my servants read your poems The poet then glanced up, and with an almost comical expression he said: "What do you think she intended by it? I was nonplussed, and to-day, although many years have passed, I am unde- cided as to what her Majesty's real meaning was." SHEEPISH.—Why ia a scrag of mutton like one of the greatest generals of the present century ?—Because it is the Bony part.-Jttdy. AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORF.-The follow- ing are the average prices of British corn for the week ending June 24, a. received from the inspectors and officers of Excise :—Wheat, 468 lid. barley, 27s. 6d.; oats, 23s. 7d. per imperial qr. Corresponding week last year :—Wheat, 45s. barley, 30s. 3d. oats, 23s. 8d. BEING MEASURED FOR A PAIR OF SpECS."—A few years ago, if a man wanted a pair of speas," he used to go into a shop, try on a few pairs, find one to suit him, and march out (says the Detroit Free Press). Now, however, he has to be measured for them as carefully as Artemus Ward was measured for bis umbrella. They have to be adjusted, ground ani arranged with reference to each separate eye. For instance, a young girl in Detroit, who required some eye-glasses, had the directions for them, after an examination, written out as follows One surface of right lens is ground convex of ten inch focus, of cylindrical form and at an angle of 120 degrees. The other surface of twenty-four inch focus of cylindrical form and at an angle of 15 deg. The left lens is ground on one surface convex of fourteen inch focus of cylindrical form and at an angle of 75 deg. The other surface ground concave of eighteen inch focus of cylindrical form and at an angle of 165 deg." Not only do the two eyes need to be treated with different glasses, but certain mis-shapes of the eye need cylindrical instead of spherical lenses. Near- sighted and far-sighted eyes require spherical lenses, the first concave, the other convex, but these would not help any one whose eyes require the complex lenses described above. So that one whose eyes have ceased to be useful may expect to have the specifica- tions for his glasses calculatert with the niceties and complexities attending the construction of a compound engine of several hundred horse power. AN ENCOUNTER WITH A SHARK.—An Orkney fish ing boat's crew had an exciting adventure with a large shark, estimated at from 25 ft. to 30ft. in length, while hauling their lines at the deep sea fishing the other night. The shark had swallowed one of the hooks, and in trying to escape got so entangled in the lines that he could not get away, while the fishermen were unable to take so large a fish into their boat. Ulti- mately, when the shark became exhausted, the crew cut off his tail, and were thus enabled to haul off the coils of lines from the body of the fish. To WIVES.-Good grounds for a domestic quarrel. -Thick coffee.—Judy. CLOSE OF THE VIENNA CHESS TOURNAMENT.—The chess tournament at Vienna was decided on Satur- day, after having lasted thirty-four days. The second game in the champion tie match between Steinitz and Winawer was won by Steinitz, after a contest which lasted six hours. The two principal prizes will be divided equally between Steinitz and Winawer. They consist of a sum of 2,000 florins, plus 175 napo- leons. The third prize Hxty napoleons) goes to James Mason, of New York the fourth (forty na- poleons) to Mackenzie; the fifth to Zukertort, of L 'ndon, and the sixth (twenty napoleons) to Mr. Blackburne. CANADIAN lTEMS.-The Government Superinten- dent of Pisciculture is travelling through the country with a view to making arrangements for the forward- ing of exhibits to the International Fishery Exhibition next year.—The Canadian Pacific Railway is graded for 150 miles west of Brandon, and the rails have been laid down for 80 miles of that distance. The line is now being located from MOG"e Jaw Creek westward to the Rocky Mountains.-A gentbman, representing English capitalists, has been at Thunder Bay (Lake Superior), obtaining information with a view to the investment of money in the valuable mineral lands of that district.—A new hotel, to cost 100,000 dols., is being erected in Winnipeg. The emigration to that city from the older parts of Canada, from the United States and Europe, centumea to be large,