The Aberystwith Observer

A Chicago girl left her slipper at a newspaper office in that city by a mistake and the nasty, mean re- porters mounted it on wheels and took a ride out into the suburbs,

SUDDEN DEATH OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON. We regret to announce that the Duke of Wellington died suddenly on the platform at the Brighton Rail- way Station on Wednesday afternoon. For some time past the duke has been somewhat unwell, and by the advice of his medical attendant he had gone to Brighton for a change of air. He arrived on Tues- day, and took a suite of apartments at the Bristol Hotel, Marine Parade but not feeling so well on Wednesday morning, and fearing that he was about to have a lengthy illness, his Grace determined to return to his country seat, Strathfieldsaye, Winchlield, Hants. Arrangements were accordingly made for his doing so on Wednesday afternoon, and the duke was accompanied to the Brighton Railway Station by Mr. Birkbeck, of Brompton-crescent, London, and Mr. George Biddle, his valet, intending to leave by the 1.45 p.m. train. The Duke had in- structed the latter to take tickets for Redhill, whence they were to proceed to Winchneld; and Mr. Biddle having taken the tickets, left to see that the luggage was in the train. On returning he was unable to find his .master, and whilst making inquiries respecting him he noticed a commotion on the platform, and on hurrying to the spot found that the duke was dead. After conversing with Mr. Birkbeck, his grace suddenly reeled and fell. Medical aid was promptly sent for. Mr. Coleman, surgeon, was in attendance in a few minutes, and pronounced life to be quite extinct. The body was removed to a private apart- ment at the terminus. The Duchess of Wellington was staying at Tunbridge Wells, where she received the news of the duke's death during the afternoon. The deceased, Arther Richard Wellesley, Duke and Marquess of Wellington, Somerset; Marquess of Douro; Earl of Wellington, Somerset; Viscount Wellington of Talavera. and of Wellington, and Baron Douro of Wellesley, both in the same county, n the Peerage of the United Kingdom; Earl of Mornington, Viscount Wellesley of Dangan Castle, and Baron Mornington of Mornington, county of Meath, in the Peerage of Ireland; Prince of Water- loo in the Netherlands; Duke of Cuidad Rodrigo, and a Grandee of Spain of the First Class Duke of Vittoria, Marquess of Torres Vedras, and Count Vimiera in Portugal, was the elder son of the great Duke of Wellington and was born 3rd February, 1807, so that he was in his 78th year. He was educated at Eton, and entered the army, where he served several years in the Rifle Brigade, and became Lieutenant-Colonel in August, 1834, when he went on half-pay. He was aide-de- camp to his father when Commander-in-Chief, from 1842 to 1852, and was appointed Lieutenant-General in February, 1862. Many years ago he was a mem- ber of the House of Commons, having represented Aldeburgh (Suffolk) in three Parliaments previous to the Reform Bill of 1832, and was first elected for Norwich in 1837, for which city he sat till July, 1852. In politics he was a Liberal-Conservative, and in favour of Free Trade. He succeeded to the title and other distinguished honours con- ferred on his illustrious father on the 14th September, 1852, and to the Irish Peerage on the death of his cousin, the late Earl of Mornington, in July, 1863. The late duke was Master of the Horse to the Queen from January, 1853, when he was made a Privy Coun- cillor to February, 1858, and was made a Knight of the Garter in the last-named year. On the death of the late Marquis of Salisbury, his Grace was ap- pointed Lord Lieutenant of Middlesex. His Grace was an influential supporter of tho Volunteer Rifle move- ment, and on the formation of the Victoria Rifles was selected as Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant. Of late years his Grace took no active part in politics, but he was a supporter of the late Earl of Beaconsfield's Go- vernment. The deceased duke married, April 18,1839, Lady Elizabeth Hay, fourth daughter of George, eight Marquess of Tweeddale. The duchess was a Lady of the Bedchamber from 1843 to 1858, and Mistress of the Robes to the Queen from 1861 to December, 1868, and again from February, 1874, to May, 1880. As the duke leaves no issue the dukedom and other honours devolve upon his nephew, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Wellesley, late of the Grenadier Guards, eldest surviving son of the late Lord Charles Wellesley and Augusta, only daughter of the late Mr. Henry Man- vers Pierrepont. Colonel Wellesley was born 5th April, 1846. He retired from the army in 1882. From February, 1874, to March, 1880, he sat for Andover in the House of Commons. In 1882 he married Evelyn, daughter of the late Colonel T. Peers Williams, of Temple House, Bucks.

ARRIVAL OF A SHIPWRECKED CREW AT PLYMOUTH. The Royal Mail steamship Merkara, which arrived at Plymouth on Wedn sday, brought sixteen of the crew of the barque Newark, of Port Glasgow, which has been wrecked at Batavia. The Newark was from Cardiff with a cargo of coals, and in going through Sunda Straits passage she ran full speed on a sunken reef. Heavy seas began to break over her, and the captain and crew, twenty-two in number, made a hurried escape in two small boats. There being already 8ft. of water in her hold, they were unable to save anything, and had to pull a distance of twenty miles before reaching land. Here they re- mained for six days, where they had no other food but occasional biscuits and water, and the unfortu- nate men had to row the whole distance to the wreck and back in order to obtain provisions. Eventually they were conveyed to Batavia, where they were housed in a low damp part of the town, with the result that seventeen of them were soon prostrated by a dangerous fever, from which many of them were still suffering when the Merkara called at Batavia to bring them home.

BATHING FATALITIES. A boy named Thornburn was drowned while bathing in the Thames at Fulham on Tuesday night. His body was not recovered. An inquest has been held on the body of another boy named Outhwaite, found in the river at Chiswick Draw-dock. A large number of boys have been drowned during the present hot weather in the upper reaches of the Thames. A sad bathing accident is reported from Kintfcury, Berkshire. Two young fellows named William Fisher and George Fisher, who came|from Maidenhead on a visit to a relative at Kintbury, went to bathe in the river Kennet. Neither of them could swim, and William Fisher unfortunately was drowned before assistance could be obtained. George Fisher had a narrow escape. Another case of drowning occurred on Wednesday at Goole, and there are now in the river no less than six bodies of persons who have been drowned near or above Goole, and whose remains have not yet been recovered. The latest case is that of a lad named John Appleyard, who while attempting to recover his hat, which had been thrown into the water by another boy, overbalanced himself and fell into the river.

THE VOLUNTEERS AT ALDERSHOT. For the first time this year the strength of the division at Aldershot has at the present moment at- tained to a strength of nearly 18,000 officers and men, this number having been reached by the arrival on Saturday afternoon of 5500 volunteers from dif- ferent parts of the country. It has been the custom every year since the first autumn manoeuvres in 1871 for a few representative detachments of volunteers grouped in provisional battalions to join in the army manoeuvres or to be attached to the Aldershot Divi- sion, but hitherto such attachments have spread over several weeks, and rarely or never have the volunteers all been assembled in one week, and so have not before been in such strength as now. All the troops of the junior military service now in camp came in after noon on Saturday in very sultry weather, attended by an ominous leadenness oe sky, which threatened to end in a severe storm. The storm, ^however, did not visit Aldershot, and the arrival was accompanied by no worse discom- fort than extreme heat, sufficiently distressiag to men bearing a,full kit. Most of the corps found their tents ready pitched for them on arrival, but Colonel Du Plat Taylor and Colonel Routledge set their men to pitch their tents themselves, and the excellent manner in which the operation was performed showed that some at least of the volunteers have had practice in this sort of work. On Saturday night there was no further work than establishing the camp guards and detailing the necessary fatigue parties to perform camp duties. There was church parade on Sunday morning for the volunteers as for the rest of the troops, but after, save for men on guard, there was nothing to do but stroll about the camp and the country, always in a sober, good soldierly manner, which showed what great advances in military character the volunteers are making.

CHARGE OF MURDER. At the Thames Police-court, in London, John Sullivan, a young man, described as a labourer, of 3, Stephen's-acre, Blackwall, was charged on remand with cutting his two children about the head with a chopper, with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, Since the previous hearing, one of the unfortunate children, named Thomas Sullivan, aged 4 years, has died from the injuries he had received, and the prisoner will now be charged with murder. Charles Smeaton, a constable, No. 432 K, said that at a quarter to ten o'clock on the night of the 23rd of July he was on duty in High-street, Poplar, when he saw a crowd of persons outside No. 318, which was a pork buteher's shop. On entering the shop he saw the prisoner, who appeared to be very much excited, and said to him What is the matter here ?" The prisoner replied, I want you; I want to tell you something." Witness asked what it was, and he replied, "I have killed my two children-my poor little Johnny and Tommy. 1 hit them on the head with this chopper," at the same time pointing to a weapon lying on the floor of the shop. Witness asked him where it occurred, and he said, At my house." He then accompanied the prisoner to No. 3, Stephen's-acre, Blackwall, and on entering one of the rooms saw a large quantity of fresh blood, and he was informed by the neighbours that the children had been taken to Poplar Hospital. The prisoner appeared to have been drinking heavily, and kept repeating Poor little Johnny and Tommy." While witness was in the house, he said, I knew you were on the cross" (meaning a fixed point where witness was on duty), and I came on purpose to see you and to tell you what I had done. As I did not see you at the corner, I walked up the street, and went into Hagmaier's. My wife ought to have had it instead of the young ones, but I was forced to have revenge on some one, so I hit them on the head, and I know I have killed them." Ernest Westbrook, house surgeon at Poplar Hos- pital, said that on the night of the 23rd of July the prisoner's two children, John Sullivan, about seven, and Thomas, four years of age, were brought into the hospital. Thomas was suffering from a depressed compound fracture of the skull on the left side of the frontal bone, about 3in. in length the membranes of the brain bad been penetrated, and the brain was pro- trading. The child was unconscious when admitted, and lived until three o'clock on Sunday, when he died. Witness had made a post-mortem examination, and found that the cause of death was injury to the head. Such a wound was likely to be caused by a blow from the sharp edge of an axe. The child John had a compound fracture of the skull, which was likely to have been caused by the same instrument. It was not certain whether he would recover or not. The prisoner, who said he had no recollection of what occurred, owing to the drink, was remanded for a week, and it was suggested that the Treasury should take up the prosecution.

THE OCCUPATION OF OLD SARAKHS. The Teheran correspondent of the Daily News writes: According to trustworthy information which I have received, it appears that some months ago General Alikhanoff with 400 Cossacks and 600 Turco- mans occupied Old Sarakhs, declaring that the terri- tory belonged to Merv. He collected tithes on the crops from the Salor Turcomans, who are Persian subjects, and who cultivate the country around. He enjoined them not to sow for the next harvest, because Russian subjects would do so. The Russians have since left the fort, it being in a ruinous state and untenable. Russia is pressing Persia for the formal cession of Sarakhs.

SUICIDE OF A SOLDIER. On Monday Mr. H. Marlin, coroner, held an inquest in the Infantry Hospital at the Windsor Cavalry Barracks, on the body of Sergeant Russell, of the Army Hospital Corps, aged 32. About four o'clock on Sunday morning the deceased soldier, who was staff sergeant at the hospital, awakened his wife, saying he was very bad and thought he was going to die. He said he would have a seidlitz powder, and taking the key of the surgery he left the room, to which he returned in about a couple of minutes. His wife asked if he bad taken the draught, and after replying in the negative, he jumped into bed and went to sleep. On waking at six o'clock, Mrs. Russell found her husband making a noise in his throat, and as he could not be roused she sent for a doctor. The man expired about twelve o'clock. The corporal on duty said the deceased had for several days seemed flurried and unusual in his manner. Surgeon Alexander, of the Coldstream Guards, who made a post-mortem examination, proved that death arose from the effects of laudanum. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased com- mitted suicide during a state of temporary insanity.

DEATH of BISHOP PIERS J GHTON Bishop Piers Calveley Claughton, Archdeacon of London and Chaplain-General to the Forces, died on Monday evening at his residence in Northwick-terrace, Maida-hill, London. The Times, in an obituary notice, says Born in Lancashire in 1814, he was educated at Repton School and at Brasenose College, Oxford, where he graduated in 1835, being placed in the first class in Literis Htmanioribtis. An elder brother, Thomas Legh Claughton, had obtained the same dis- tinction five years previously, and was at this time Fellow and Tutor of Trinity, hence he was destined to pass successively to the vicar&ge of Kidderminster and to the Bishoprics of Rochester and St. Albans. Piers Claughton obtained the Chancellor's English Essay Prize soon after taking his degree, and was elected Fellow of University College in 1837, after which he became in due course Tutor, Public Exami- ner, and Select Preacher, and Rector of Elton, in Huntingdonshire. In 1859 he was chosen as the first Bishop of St. Helena, and after three years was translated to Colombo, Ceylon. Mainly, we believe, in consequence of the trying climate, he resigned that see in 1870 and returned to England. He did not remain long in retirement, and in the following year, on the death of Dr. Hale, he was appointed Arch- deacon of London, a canonry of St. Paul's being ex-officio attached to the post. It was thought de- sirable by those in power that the new Archdeacon should be qualified to help the Bishop of London in his episcopal duties, especially in confirmations; and thus Bishop Piers Claughton was selected. In 1875 the Rev. G. R. Gleig resigned the post of Chaplain- General to the Forces, and Bishop Claughton was appointed to succeed him—a nomination which caused considerable heartburnings at the time, the Bishop having never served as a military chaplain. These combined offices he continued to fill till his death. He leaves behind him the reputation of an amiable and accomplished man, and of a very useful and efficient servant of the Church of England.

PRIVY COUNCIL AT OSBORNE. The Queen held a meeting of the Privy Council at Osborne on Monday morning. A special train con- taining Earl Granville, Lord Carlingford, Earl Sydney, Lord Cowley (to deliver up the insignia of the Garter held by the late earl), Admiral Sir Astley Cooper Key, and Sir Erskine May (to be sworn in as members of the Privy Council), Mr. Justice Wills and the Lord Provost of Edinburgh (to receive the honour of Knighthood), and M. Leon Ferdinando, Minister of Costa Ricft, left London at twenty minutes past nine o'clock. Lord Northbrook, who went to Osborne to take leave of her Majesty previous to proceeding to Egypt as special Com- missioner, joined the party at Portsmouth. It was understood that on the arrival of the train at Portsmouth shortly after eleven, the travellers would be conveyed to Osborne from the Harbour Station in one of the railway steamers specially chartered for the occasion, and several officers were accordingly on the platform to await the arrival of the party. At the last moment, however, the orders appear to have been changed. The train proceeded direct into the dockyard, where the Elfin tender to the Royal yacht was in attendance to convey the Ministers to Cowes. Earl Granville appeared to be in bad health and supported himself with crutches. The time fixed for the train to leave Portsmouth on the return journey was three o'clock, but it was not until after four that the Elfin arrived alongside. The party remained unchanged, with the exception of Earl Granville, who stayed behind at Osborne to dine with the Queen.

A PARDONABLE MISCONCEPTION.—Seaside Visitor Now, I hope you've no microbes down here?" Lodging-house Keeper Oh, dear, no sir; I'm sure there isn't one. I always see to the beds myself!"— Funny Folks*

BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE. At the Lowes Assizes on Saturday, before Mr. Justice Smith and a special jury, the case of Joliffe v. Gasson was heard. It was an action by Miss Alice Joliffe, dressmaker, of the Dyke-road Drive, Brighton, against James Gasson, who does a large business as a cl carrier in the same town. For the plaintiff it was al- leged that the engagement commenced in 1876. In 1877 the defendant was introduced to the plaintiff's friends, and in 1881, in the presence of plaintiff's mother, there was a conversation about settling in life. It was further alleged that the defendant asked the plaintiff to become his wife, but as the time for the marriage approached, it was noticed that the defendant became unsettled. About 1882 the plaintiff bad an opportunity of taking a good situation in London but she relinquished the offer at the wish of the de- fendant. In the same year, however, when the de- fendant was getting on very well in his business, a "coolness" arose between the parties, and it was stated in evidence by the plaintiff, a prepossessing young lady, that when she went to Mr. Gasson's office on the subject he kicked her out of the place. For the defence it was alleged that the plaintiff had for- feited the confidence of the defendant by associating with men whom he considered undesirable acquain- tances, and that she had struck him with an umbrella. The jury found for the plaintiff—damages .£75.

THE WELSH CREMATIONIST. On Saturday, at Swansea, before ]\fr. Justice Grove and a special jury, Dr. Price, the Welsh Druid and cremationist, brought an action against Superintendent Matthews and Sergeant Hoyle, of the Glamorganshire police, to recover £3000 damages for false imprison- ment, malicious prosecution, wrongfully depriving him of possession of the body of his infant child, and slander, imputing felony to him. Plaintiff, attired in his usual Druidical costume, with fox-skin cap, con- ducted his own case. The action arose out of pro- ceedings in connection with the cremation of the plaintiff's child in January last, for which, as well as for attempting to dispose of the body with a view to prevent an inquest after notice from the coroner, the plaintiff was tried at Cardiff Assizes in January and acquitted. The evidence showed that Hoyle, acting on his own responsibility, finding the plaintiff engaged in cremating the child in the presence of an angry and excited crowd, who were threatening to lynch him, took him to the police- station. He was remanded on bail, and Mr. e Matthews, fearing a repetition of this disturbance, kept the body until ordered by the magistrate to return it to the plaintiff. Mr. Justice Grove with- drew the question of slander from the jury. He intimated an opinion that there was no evidence in support of the malicious prosecution, but felt that, as well as the false imprisonment and depriving the plaintiff of the body, to the jury, who found a verdict for the defendant Matthews on all the issues and a verdict for the defendant Hoyle on all the issues except false imprisonment. On this they found for plaintiff, damages one farthing. The Judge refused to give the plaintiff his costs.

EARTHQUAKE IN THE UNITED STATES. The New York correspondent of the Daily News, writing on Sunday, says :— Quite a heavy shock of earthquake was felt here at seven minutes past two o'clock this afternoon. The vibration continued for twenty seconds, increasing in strength constantly. The shock extended along the Jersey coast and up the Hudson river. No damage beyond the cracking of walls and buildings is reported. Rumours that two houses in Brooklyn were thrown down are not confirmed. The high buildings in all parts of the city were perceptibly shaken. The excitement was great, and persons rushed hurriedly into the streets in fear at the unusual event. The city has not been visited by an earthquake before for many years, and the last one anywhere in the State was about five years ago. Another account says: At two o'clock this after- noon a shock of earthquake passed along the Atlantic coast from Philadelphia to Portland. It lasted about ten seconds, and was distinctly perceptible in New York and the district. So far as has been ascertained at present nobody was injured, but the shock caused great alarm, the people rushing out of their houses in terror. In some places plastering and scaffolding fell. On the New Jersey coast the shock appears to have been stronger than here, and lasted, it is said, one minute. At various points a slight second shock was perceived, more severe in some places than in others. It is reported to have been quite severe at Rockaway, Coney Island.

A BALLOON EXPERIMENT. The' Paris correspondent of the Standard states that a successful experiment in balloon steering has just been accomplished in the neighbourhood of Paris. The balloon was shaped like a long cigar, and fur- nished with a screw and rudder. The ascent was made from the balloon works at Meudon. At first the balloon was permitted to rise to a height a little above that of the plateau of Chatillon. The screw was then set in motion by means of machinery, and the balloon, after slightly rocking for a moment, gradually quickened its speed, and moved east- ward at the rate of some ten miles an hour. When it was over Meudon Forest the rudder was handled, and the balloon sailed steadily towards Petit Bicetre. Then it was turned completely, and after a voyage of twenty-five minutes descended at the exact point from which it had risen. The experiment was conducted by M. Charles Renard, Captain of Engineers. The balloon was watched by large crowds on the banks of the river. It presented a most curious sight.

ALPINE ASCENTS. The ascent of the Aiguilles du Tour, near the Aiguilles Vertes, and belonging to the Mont Blanc chain, has just been made for the second time since Mr. Whymper's ascent by Mr. Van "Rensselaer, of New York, the son of an American pastor, who has been for some time past in Geneva. When he arrived at the top of the mountain he planted the American flag. The ascent occupied twelve hours. Mr. Van Rensselaer had two guides with him; he has made in one week the ascent of Mont Blanc, the Aiguilles du Nord Geant, and those of the Tour.

A PIG IN QUARANTINE. It puzzles us to discover why a pig travelling from Paris to Geneva should be initiated into the mysteries of quarantine (says the Evening Standard). The cholera is not in Paris, and if it were, it would hardly appear rational to place a pig in quarantine whilst its owner was left unmolested. Yet one reads that a clown performing at a circus in a Parisian suburb with a learned pig, who had been engaged to amuse the public at Geneva, found himself unable to fulfil his engagement, owing to the fact that on reach- ing Vallorbes, on the Vaudois frontier, the animal was detained by the officials to undergo quaran- tine. Its owner expostulated, and pleaded hard to obtain the release- of the gifted quadruped. But in vain. He then telegraphed to Geneva explaining what bad befallen him, and soliciting the authorities to interfere on behalf of his four-footed assistant, whose period of quarantine was ultimately curtailed but before the animal was restored to its master it was copiously scrubbed, fumigated, washed, and purified by chemical preparations, the object of all these ex- traordinary proceediugs not being, probably, clearer to the learned pig than it will be to any man or woman who thinks over the matter.

CUTTINGS FROM AMERICAN PAPERS. An aspiring young amateur actor lately left his New England home for New York, where he expected to obtain a conspicuous position on the stage. He got it, after a while, on the South Ferry line and now he occupies a conspicuous position on one of its stages, at twelve dollars a week. A Texan paper having announced that silk ties, knotted at the throat," would be much worn in that section the present season, a subscriber protested against such extravagance, saying that heretofore a common rope, knotted at the throat, has been con- sidered good enough for any of 'em." In playing a game of seven-up with a young lady from St. Paul, a wicked Bismarcker told her that every time she held the jack of trumps it was a sure sign that her lover was thinking of her. Then he watched her face at each deal, and every time she blushed and looked pleased, led out and caught her jack.

BOMBARDMENT OF A CHINESE PORT j BY THE FRENCH. Intelligence has been received at Shanghai that the French squadron of five vessels, under the command of Admiral Lespes, has bombarded and captured the town of Kelung in the island of Formosa. The bombardment lasted one hour. There was no loss on the French side. The Chinese losses are unknown. The fortifications were dismantled. The Chinese troops afterwards withdrew. Admiral Courbet remains with his squadron before Foochow. Four French war-vessels have taken up a position before Woosung. The following semi-official note has been published in Paris: The conferences opened at Shanghai between M. Patenotre and the Chinese plenipotentiary having only resulted up to the present in the offer of an illusory indemnity on the part of China, and the respite fixed by the French ultimatum having expired on the 4th inst., the French Government has been placed under the necessity of supporting its demands by the seizure of a guarantee. Admiral Lespes, therefore, took possession on the 5th inst. of the port of Kelung and the coal mines in its vicinity. The news reached Shanghai on the 8th inst. M. Patenotre wrote imme- diately to the Chinese plenipotentiaries informing them that it depended upon the Tsung-li-Yamen to shorten the French occupation by satisfying the French demands. The amount of the French in- demnity is reduced to 80,000,000fr. payable in ten annual instalments." Ke-lung, or Keelung, as it is sometimes written, is a port at the north end of the island of Formosa, 23 miles east of Tamsui, with which place the trade of Ke-lung is included, Tamsui being the consular resi- dence. The only coal mining of importance in the Chinese Empire is carried on near Ke-lung, and the export of this commodity forms a considerable portion of the trade of the port.

'(I II. Illbcfllmrfflns @ nt£ t£,enit. llJME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL. PAUPER CHILDREN.—The City Press says: There are 56,750 children receiving indoor relief in England and Wales, of these about 11,000 are in London. The cost of the London workhouse children, taking an average of 18 of the large district and separate schools, as given in the report for 1881-2, is L22 14s. 4d. for each child yearly. To this must be added a further sum for interest of loans for building, &c., of E3 2s. 9d. per head, making a total of jE35 17s. Id. per head.yearly. When guardians board out they pay 4s. weekly for main- tenance, &c.; other charges for clothing, school fees, medicine, &c., make it about 5s, 2d. weekly, or zCl3 10s. yearly. With children who are placed in certified homes an inclusive weekly sum is paid, varying from 5s. to 6s. weekly, according to the amount of special training given in the home, &c. There is also, the first year, the cost of the journey to the home. Thus, the cost of boarding out in families or in certified homes is about one-half the cost in large schools. DESTHUCTIOH OF WOLVES IN FRANCE.—According to the returns prepared by the French Ministry of Agri- culture, the law which has been passed within the last two years with regard to the destruction of wolves has had the effect of increasing the vigilance of the officials appointed for that purpose, as well as of private indi- viduals. A sum of £8 is now paid for every wolf which has attacked a human being, and nine were killed last year in three of the central departments of France. A reward of E6 is given for every she-wolf with young, and 32 of them were killed last year. A sum of £ 4 is given for every other wolf killed, and 774 were killed, this being exclusive of 493 cubs, for each of which a reward of 32s. is given. Altogether, 1308 head were destroyed last year at a cost to the Government of £4150 in fees alone. The greatest number of wolves were killed in the northern and eastern departments bordering upon Belgium and Germany. WORK IN THE KITCHEN GARDEN.—Peas and beans intended for seed should be gathered as soon as the pods show signs of ripening, and be placed on shutters in pits or frames where they can have the sashes drawn over them to protect them from rain; or in dry sheds, where they can be shelled, labelled, and stored away on wet days. The old haulm should be cleared away, and the ground by Dutch-hoeing and raking, be put in readiness for the planting of late broccoli. Clip box edgings in kitchen gardens, in either round or square fashion, but in either case it will be necessary to use a line and good taste in the operation and according to the manner in which it is performed so also will be the effect, good or bad. Early potatoes, which, like the late ones, are in consequence of the heavy rains now showing signs of the disease, should, where not already done, be taken up, sorted, and put away on the shelves in the potato house-those intended for seed in one place, and those for table use in another. A portion of the ground thus cleared will come in for the winter crops of spinach and cauliflowers. A vigorous war must now be waged against weeds, which, owing to the recent heavy rains, fruit-picking and other pressing work are more plentiful than desirable in most gardens at the present time, and in the destruction of which a couple of willing hands with the Dutch hoe can show good results for a day's labour. See that lettuce plants are tied up in good time with a piece of matting, to get the heads well blanched and that vegetable marrows and ridge cucumbers are cut before they get too large for use; indeed, these should be cut rather under than over-sized.—" Gardeners' Chronicle." DEATH OF A WEALTHY MISER.-Abraham Price, better known by the sobriquet" of Abraham Hodge, was interred in Chescer Cemetery on Saturday. He kept a bookstall on a vacant space in Eastgate-row. He was dirty in appearance and miserable in his habits. He was originally a member of the Chester police force. Recently he had been confined to his home from illness. He had no relations, and nothing is known of his early life. He was frequently pressed to make his will, but he kept repeating the formula, The Crown shall make my will." When he died the Chester police took pos- session on behalf of the Crown of Hodge's property and cash. It is found that the old miser is possessed, in goods and cash, of £5000. ST. PETER'S, AT ROME.—An important piece of work has been brought to a successful conclusion in Rome, in the complete renewal of the leaden envelope of the dome of St. Peter's Church. It has occupied twelve years, and has cost over 200,000 lire (C8000). Thf original covering was applied to the dome in an im perfect fashion, which made continuous repairs a necessity; and at last it was determined to strip off the whole envelope and substitute a new one on a better system. New lead was imported from Spain and mixed with the old lead, in the proportion to one part old to two parts new. The total weight of the new cover is given as 354,305 kilograms, and if it were spread out flat it would occupy an area of 6152 square metres, or about an acre and a half. In stripping off the old plates, three of them were found to be of gilded copper. PLAYING WITH A ROCKET.-On the 30th ult. a youth in Cincinnati took home an unexploded rocket which had fallen from an exhibition of fireworks He tried to open it, but failed, whereupon his mother struck it a vigorous blow with a hatchet. A terrific explosion fol- lowed, wrecking everything around, and fatally injuring the woman and her daughter, aged 12 years. The rocket was a six-pounder. HORRIBLE ATTACK ON A WOMAN BY A Cow.-Intelli- gence from Banagher states that a farmer's wife, named Nevin, is now lying in an almost hopeless state from a horrible attack made upon her by a cow. At an early hour in the morning she left the house only half dressed to turn one of her cows out of her neighbour's man- golds. The cow at once attacked her, and struck her with its horns in the stomach. The unfortunate woman being enciente became insensible, remaining totally at the mercy of the animal, which mutilated her terribly. Her husband after a search found her in a terrible con- dition. ARMS OF THE SOUDANESE—The only tribe which uses the javelin is that of the Mahomedan Jakruris, who are very small in number. The best lances are those used by tlie-Bedja and Khaza races, which fought under Osman Digna in the late engagements near Souakim. These lances are rarely thrown, being much too heavy for this purpose, for the Bedjas are not pro- vided with a number of extra lances. The lances of the Baggara tribe, who are the principal supporters of the Mahdi in Kordofan, are upwards of five metres long. Next to the lance, the weapon most used by the Soudanese is the straight double-edged sword, mostly made in Solingen, and sold all over Northern Africa. A good sword is highly prized in the Soudan, and the people are careful to keep the swords sharp and clean. The shields used by the Soudanese are made of the skins of elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes, and buffaloes. THE WHALE AND THE CABLE.—The steamer Re- triever, says a late number of the Panama Star and Herald," was engaged in repairing a break in the West Coast of America Telegraph Company's submarine cable, when a whale, measuring from 70 to 75 feet in length, fouled itself in the wire. In its struggle to get free the cable cut into its right side, the entrails and large quantities of blood issuing from the wound and floating round the ship. In the last dying struggle of the captive it parted the cable, and floated away to windward of the steamer. Some days afterward the Retriever returned to pick up the piece of cable in which the whale had been entangled. It was then found that the fish had drifted away, and that the cable was twisted up in a most curious fashion. In no fewer than six different places it had been bitten through suffi- ciently to stop aU communication, A BRAVE DEI-D.—General de Gallifet was standing on the platform of a station in the neighbourhood of Limoges a day or two ago, when a woman, leading a child by the hand, attempted to cross the line just as a train was coming in. The General rushed forward, took the woman in his arms, and threw her back, thus saving both her and the child; but he was caught by the engine and dragged some yards, his left shoulder being much injured. BATHING FATALITY.—On Saturday afternoon Dr. Diplock held an inquest at Chiswick on the body of William Murphy, aged 14, son of a market gardener's labourer. The deceased and some companions went to bathe in the Thames, near Grove-park, on the previous Thursday. Murphy dived from off the stump of a tree, and he had no sooner done so than he was observed to sink. A lad named Rickett went to his rescue, but was unable to bring him to shore. The body was recovered about an hour afterwards. The jury returned a verdict of Accidental death from drowning." UNDER LAKE ERIE.—A well-known scientist holds the belief that there is a subterranean river running from Lake Superior through Lake Huron and under Lake Erie into Lake Ontario. There is a continuous fall from Lake Superior to Lake Ontario, and the outlet that the upper lakes have is the comparatively insignifi- cant Detroit River. None of the fish that swarm in the St. Lawrence are taken in Lake Erie. This the scientist accounts for by the fact that under Erie they follow the course of the subterranean stream. AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH OORN.-The following are the average prices of British corn for last week, as received from the inspectors and officers of Excise: Wheat, 37s. 6d.; barley, 28s. 3d.; oats, 23s. Id. per Imperial qr. Corresponding week last year: Wheat, 43s. 6d.; barley, 27s. 9d; oats, 23s. lid. A FATAL FALL.—In London, on Sunday afternoon, a number of boys got upon a wall that enables them to see the trains enter Haverstock-hill Station of the Midland Railway, when one of their number, Francis George Reed, aged 10 years, residing with his parents at 35, Roderick-road, Kentish-town, overbalanced him- self and fell on to the platform of the station fifty feet beneath. When some of the officials went to him they found that he was terribly injured and in an in- sensible condition, and they placed him in a train that entered the station a few seconds afterwards and con- veyed him to King's-cross, and thence to the Royal Free Hospital, Gray's-inn-road, where, on being ex- amined by Dr. Gray, one of the house surgeons, it was found that, besides other injuries, the deceased had sustained a fracture of the skull, and he died some hours after his admission into the accident ward. EVANGELICAL CONFERENCE AT COPENHAGEN.—The King and Queen of Denmark have signified their inten- tion to be present at several of the sittings of the Evan- gelical Alliance Conference, which is to assemble in Copenhagen the first week in September. The interest awakened in view of the forthcoming assembly has greatly increased, and the latest information from the Copenhagen committee clearly shows that the prospects of this gathering in the Danish capital are most en- couraging, both as regards interest and numbers. From Denmark, Sweden, aud Norway no fewer than 1200 persons have already been enrolled as members of the conference; from Germany, France, and other conti- nental countries, over 100; from England and America, at least 200. Among the British delegates will be the Lord Mayor of London, who is to preside over one of the meetings. NARROW ESCAPE OF RAILWAY PASSENGERS.—The mail train from Gal way, due in Dublin at 4.40 on Satur- day afternoon, ran off the line between Athlone and Moate at half-past one o clock. The engine and all tho carriages, eight in number, were thrown against an em- bankment, and although some of the carriages were smashed, the passengers only sustained slight injuries and were all, with two exceptions, able to continue their journey. Considering the extent of the damage done to the rolling-stock and line it is marvellous that no lives were lost. A whole family bound for Liverpool occupied a carriage next the engine, and although the seats in the carriage were smashed the passengers all escaped-some passengers escaped from the train before it struck the embankment. The train had just passed over a steep incline, and had crossed the Channel viaduct five minutes before. It is believed the axle of the engine broke. A CHINESE KITE FESTIVAL.—The Chinese have what is termed a kite festival on the 9th day of the 9th moon. Sometimes the kites resemble serpents thirty feet along, at other times a group of hawks hovering around a centre, all being suspended by a single strong cord, but each kite moved by a separate line. Sometimes the kites are cast adrift under the belief they will carry away with them all impending disasters. FRIGHTFUL DEATHS OF A FATHER AND SON.—A fear- ful accident is reported from Gresy-sur-Isere. A farmer named Stradella, together with his son, were on the mountain side cutting hay. The son, who was working at a spot higher up, suddenly missed his footing and rolled down upon his father. The latter tried to stop the fall, but was himself carried along, and both fell down a precipice, a distance of over 3000 feet. The bodies, which presented a shocking appearance, were recovered later by the witnesses of the fearful occur- rence. DEATH OF THE OLDEST INHABITANT OF THE ZOOLO- GICAL GARDENS.- The oldest inhabitant in the zoolo- gical collection in the Regent's-park died the other day. This interesting individual was a specimen of the black parrot from Madagascar. It was presented to the society by the late Mr. Charles Telfair, a corresponding member, so far back as July, 1830, just two years after the gardens were opened. This bird has therefore lived for fifty-four years in the gardens. How old the parrot was when it arrived we cannot learn beyond the fact that it was represented as an adult bird." The ancient black Vassa parrot seemed until very recently to have carried his half-century of years lightly enough, never- theless, his keeper remarked that he was a little dull of late, although he fed well. One morning, however, the parrot was found dead in his cage, having previously shown no symptoms of ill-health. A THIEVES' SUPPER.-As some police agents were patrolling the Rue de Oourcelles in Paris on the night of July 18 they heard, in passing before a house which is in course of construction, a strange tumnlt, seeming to issue from the ground. They entered the building, and discovered in the basement a party of about ten men and women, supping together in the most joyous manner. The windows had been stopped up with pieces of old carpet in order to prevent dis- covery, but vainly, as it turned out. At the moment when they were surprised the merry guests were un- corking a number of big bottles of champagne. When questioned as to the 'source from which they obtained the meats and wines with which the table was loaded, they attempted at first to make the police believe that they had purchased them. It so happened, however, that the bottles bore the label of a dealer in comestibles who had complained to the police only a few hours before that his shop had been robbed. The whole of the gay company was, therefore, marched off to the police-station.

THE MARKETS. MARK-LANE. New wheats are coming more freely on cur country markets and there was a Food supply of them at Mark-lane. Prices were lower than in the earlier sales, though the con- dition and quality were quite as good Bel wheats sold at 36s to 38s, and white at 40s to 42s. Foreign wheats were almost unsaleable at 2s decline on the fortnight. Flour was depressed in sympathy with wheat, and the top price of town reduced 3s, making the present quotation 37s per sactr. The new barleys are beginning to appear on some of the country- markets, and the trade here is dull. No quotable change in beans. For peas and lentils prices are reduced 6d to Is; and oats, wi h large arrivals, are 6d lower. Maize on the spot is quiet and unchanged in value. The fl tatiilg cargo trade is very dull, and prices are weak. American red winter wheat, for shipment by steamer, quoted at 35s 6d and Saxonka, by steamer to East Coast of Englan33s 9d to 3ts. Maize is dull, and near at hand parcels easier. Farley meets little inquiry. METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET. The cattle supplies were not heavy, and the assortment was fai. ly good, including 1680 Herefords, runts, shorthorns, &c. from the midland and home counties, 80 from Norfolk, 40 from Dublin, 50 from Canada, and 2 0 from Denmark. The trade opened slow, and finished quite 2d, in some cases 4d, under last Monday, except in a few isolated cases. Sheap and lambs were less numerous than last week, but no advance was established, although the trade op-ned rather more cheerfully. The supply of sheep included about 800 Danish at 5s 4d to 5s 8d Calves, of which the assortment comprised 120 foreign, chieflv Swedish, at 5s to 5s 4d also 70 Irish and about 40 English. The trade was rather better. Prime Herefords and runts, 5s 8d best shorthorns, 5s 6d to 5s 8d; second quality beasts, 5s 2d to 5s 4d; inferior, 4s to 4s Sd best Downs and hatf-breds, 5s lOd to 6s 2<1; best Kents, Leicesters, &c., 5s 8d to 5s iOd; second qualities and ewes, 5s to 5s 6d; lambs. 6s to 7s calves, 4 < Sd to 5s 8d per 81d, sinking the offal. Total supplies Beasts 2120 sheep and Jambs, 7230; calves, 230. METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET. Frozen meat in fair S'ipply, and rather quiet demand very litt'e country meat in saleable condition, and town killed in very smaH compass, but demand almost at a standstill, and quotations are merely nominal, so irregular and uncertain are the actual prices. Beef, prime, 4s 8d to 5s; middling, 4s to 4s 4d; infer or, 3s 4d to 3s 81. Mutton, prime, 5s 4d to 5s IOd middling, 4s 44 to Is 8d inferior, 2s 8d to 3s 4d. Lamb, 5s 4d to 6s foreign, 5s to 5s 8d. Veal, prime, 4s 81 to 5s; middling, 4s to 4s 4d; inferior, 3s to 3s 8d. Pork, prime, 3s IOd to 4s; middling, 3s Ed to 4s inferior, 33 4d to 3s 6d per 81b. GAME AND POULTRY. Pat quails, Is 6d to Is 7d; leverets, 3s to 4s 9d; tame' rabbits, Is 6d to 2s; wild ditto, 6d to IOd pigeons, 8dto Is French ditto, Is 2d to Is 5d; chickenSj Is 6d to 2s 3d; pullets, 3s to 3s ffd; capons, 5s to 8s; live hens, 2s 6d ducks, 2s to 2s 8d; goslings, 4s to 6a, and Turkey poults, 4s 6d to 68 each. FISH. Fresh herrings, 63 to 8s; roused ditto, 5s 61 to 7s 6d; red ditto, 3s to 4s picked ditto, 6s to 7s kipper ditto, 8s to 9s; bloators, 7s 6d to 10s per 100; salmon and grilse, lCd to la Id per lb; lobsters, 8s to 27s 6d; crabs, 6s to 25s; mackerel, Is to Is 6d; mullet, 8s Cd to 15s, and oysters, Is to 3a 6dper dozen.