The Aberystwith Observer

LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL. The elections for the new London County Council were fought on political lines mainly, and have re- sulted in victory for the Progressives, for whom the Gladstonian Liberals have actively worked. The constitution of the new County Council is as follows:' Progressives 84 Moderates 34 Progressive majority 50 This takes no account of the chairman (who need not necessarily be a member of the Council) and the 19 aldermen, 10 of whom retired with the late Council.

GAIIFS AND LOSSES. Changes in the character of the representation of 1889 took place in the following constituencies: o Pro. Gain. Mod. Gain. Brixton 1 Bow and Bromley. 1 .— Clapham 2 .— City 2 Deptford. 2 .— Fulham 1 .— Hackney (C.). 2 .— Holbom 2 Islington (East) 1 .— Kennington 1 — Lambeth (North) 2 .— Lewisham 1 Poplar. 1 .— St. Pancras (South) 1 .— St. Pancras (West) 1 .— Stepney 1 .— Woolwich 1 .— Pro. Gain 19 Mod. Gain. 4 Net Progressive Gain-15.

THE AGGREGATE TOTE. The following list showsthe magnitude of the Toting in the 52 contested constituencies Progress. Moderate. In 48 Constituencies. 245,607 171,654 The City (four seats). 2,774 23,673 Fulham 7,112 4,848 Strand 1,157 4,843 Wandsworth. 6,761 7,889 263,411 212,907 Total votes recorded, 476,318. This grand aggregate exhibits a great increase on the total poll for the Council of 1889.

AN IMPUDENT ACTION. On Monday, Mr. Justice Charles, sitting without a jury, beard a claim by John Lees, who formerly carried on a hotel at Oldham, for an injunction to restrain the relatives of his late wife from dealing with the pro- perty of which she was possessed at the time of her death. In 1882 the plaintiff deserted his wife and left Oldham with another woman, and afterwards signed an agreement by which it was provided that Mrs. Lees was to become absolute possessor of all the furniture, fittings, and stock-in-trade of the hotel, and that in case of her intestacy the property should go to her next of kin. The learned judge charac- terised the action as an impudent one, and gave judg- ment for the defendants.

AN AMUSING CASE. In the Queen's Bench Division on Saturday, before Mr. Justice Henn Collins and a common jury, the case of Miller and another v. Abrahams was resumed. This was an action for trespass, brought by John Miller and Joseph Franks, described as commission agents, against Samuel Abrahams, lace manufacturer, owner of the premises on which the trespass was alleged to have taken place. Mr. Moyses was counsel for the plaintin's Mr. Addison, Q.C., and Mr. Mac- morran being for the defendant. The plaintiffs' case was that they became tenants of the premises in Feb- ruary last year, and that in August the defendant illegally broke into them and seized goods to the value of about E45. The premises were situated in Lisle-street, near Leicester-square, and the plaintiffs said they took the first floor of the buildings for the purposes of a private club, of which the defen- dant was aware, at a rent of £ 100 a year, payable quarterly in advance; that in the autumn, when there was not much business doing, they shut the premises up, and that on their return in September they found that the defendant had broken into them, and had removed the goods, which consisted chiefly of wines and cigars. Mr. Miller, in his evidence, said he spent between £ 50 and £60 in fitting up the premises for the club with electric light, tape machine, &c., and that the defendant used to come in and walk about as if he were a member. In cross-examination, he admitted that he bad been one of the partners in a similar club in Denman-street, but denied that they were there bundled out neck and crop." He admitted that his partner had at one time been run in by the police in a raid on a club, but that was a thing any fellow might be liable to. Mr. Addison It is fair game against the police, isn't it ? Witness Well, you can't always avoid it. Mr. Addison Here is a commission note with the letters S.P." in it for starting price. You see I know all about it. (Laughter.) The witness (winking to the learned counsel): All right, old chappy. (Laughter.) Mr. Addison, in stating the defendant's case, said there were clauses in the agreement giving the defendant power to enter on the rent being seven days in arrear, and in the event of the premises being used for illegal purposes that the rent was in arrear, and that the premises were used for illegal betting. In reply the plaintiffs alleged that they tendered the rent in due' time, but that it was not accepted, and they maintained that the business was only such as was ordinarily carried on at other private clubs. The result of the trial was a verdict with judgment for the defendant.

HEALTH IN IRELAND. The annual report of the Registrar-General for Ireland in respect of 1890 has just been issued, and bases its data on an estimated population of 4,688,462 persons. The registered births numbered 105,254, and yielded a rate of 22-4 per 1000 of popu- lation, a rate of 1'3 per 1000 below the previous de- cennial average, and lower than that in any of the 10 years. The respective rates for the provinces were: Ulster, 23'1; Leinster, 22-1 Munster, 22-0; and Connaught, 21'8 per 1000 of population in 1891. County Dublin had the highest rate, 25'7, and Mona- ghan County the lowest, 18'4. The deaths registered during the year amounted to 85,850, being equal to 18-3 per 1000 of population, as against the average rate of 18-2 for the preceding decennium. The rates for males and females were identical, 18-3 per 1000 living of each sex. The rates in the pro- vinces were: Leinster, 20 3; Ulster, 18-8; Munster, 17'4; and Connaught only 14'7 per 1000 of 1891 population. The counties of Sligo and Mayo bad the lowest rates, 13-9 and Dublin county the highest, 24-3. Infants under one year of age died at the rate of 95 per 1000 births, and 630 persons died at ages 95 years and upwards, 163 of them being aged 101 years and over. Zymotic diseases caused 7892 deaths, or 1'68 per 1000, being 0-26 above the rate of 1890, but considerably below the decennial average. Influenza and its complications are credited with 1712 deaths, or 3'6 per 10,000 of 1891 census returns, the rate in the province of Connaught having been 5-2, and the County Mavo 6'7.

TilE Due D'Aumale, the fourth son of Louis Philippe and Marie Emile, is very popular in France. He was born in Paris on January 16, 1822, and was educated, like the son of any other citizen, at one of the public colleges of the city. At the age of 17 he entered the army, and was present at the Siege of Algiers. A childless widow, he devotes most of his time to literary pursuits, and has added several valuable contributions to the historical literature of his country. He has been twice exiled, each time taking refuge in England, at a beautiful seat on the banks of the Thames, near Twickenham. In addition to this estate, he owns a pretty country house in Worcestershire, where he for some time occupied his leisure as a practical agriculturist. He succeeded the well-known writer Montalembert at the French Academy, and his tall, military-looking figure is one of the most familiar and habitual sights in the sittings which take place every week at the institute on the left bank of the Seine. Quite lately he excited great enthusiasm by publicly stating that he had willed his splendid castle Chantilly to the nation for the Due D'Aumale, although a widower, is childless, both his sons having died prematurely. The Due speaks English with extreme facility, and is a constant visitor at Windsor and Osborne, for the Queen has transferred to him the affection which ,he bore to his parents.

THE ARMY ESTIMATES. j The Secretary of State for War has issued his I memorandum on the Army Estimates for 1892-3. The Estimates, including the Ordnance Factories Vote, propose an expenditure of £17,631,300, of which £14,564,100 is for effective, and £ 3,067*200 for non-effective services. The amount now asked for shows a net increase of £ 85,900, as compared with last year. The number of men on the establish- ment shows no great variation; but the reserve is expected to reach during the year the very large total of 78,000 men. The militia has increased by 212, but this service is hardly as popular as it was. The yeomanry remains at much the same strength. The volunteers show a marked increase of numbers. There has been an in- crease in establishment of 904, of efficients for the higher grant of 2669, and in the total numbers en- roled of 998. The policy adopted by Mr. Stanhope in 1887 in insisting on improved musketry require- ments for an increased capitation grant has bad the effect of reducing the number who have failed to satisfy the conditions so imposed by 764. The dearth of officers continues, though the decrease has been averted, and Mr. Stanhope hopes during the present year to make some practical proposals on the subject. The vote for the volunteer force shows an increase of £20,500, arising partly from a real in- crease of the force both in numbers and in efficiency, and partly from concessions for camp allowances. The urgent necessity for providing new ranges and effect- ing sanitary improvements in the barracks has in- creased the Works Vote by £ 85,400. A diminution in the non-effective votes of £24,800 is expected.

THE OSBORNE CASE. The most celebrated case down for trial at the Sessions of the Central Criminal Court, which opened in London on Monday, is that of Mrs. Osborne, charged with perjury in connection with the slander suit which attracted such attention through- out the country a few weeks ago. Our artist has given some portrait sketches of some of the persons most prominently concerned in the settlement of this sensational trial, most of whose names have already become familiar everywhere. A photographer in a wholesale way of business states that there is still a tremendous demand for pictures of Mrs. Osborne, Within the last month he has disposed of 1600 copies. THE OSBORNE CASE—FACES IN COURT.

INSTEAD OF THE ONE-POUND NOTE. 8ir Henry Bessemer, in a letter to the Times, points out the insecurity and inconvenience of the proposed £ 1 note, and suggests the introduction of a coin which shall represent a value of Y.1 and be redeemable on presentation. He says The issue of a coin which shall represent a value of PI, and be redeemable on presentation, would, it seems to me, be in itself as acceptable a security as a promise to pay printed on paper while the convenience of handling in the daily course'of trade, its safety from injury or destruction in the pocket, or from accidents by fire or water, and its immunity from the accretion of dirt and the conse- quent indistinctness of the paper note, are greatly in favour of the coin. The first impression produced on the minds of many persons by this proposal will naturally be the door which it apparently opens to fraud by the casting of such coins in plaster of Paris moulds and the coating of them by the electrotype process, just as base silver coins are now made. Some 10 years ago such fears would have been well founded, but the science of metallurgy has given us a new metal which effectually bars the way to this mode of forgery, while its distinctive character is so clearly defined that a child could tell even in the dark a genuine coin from a spurious one. The new metal—aluminium—may be slightly alloyed so as to harden and increase its durability, and at the same time raise its fusing-point, and thus render the cast- ing of it in plaster moulds quite impossible. The specific gravity of aluminium is 2'56, while that of silver is 1047, so that an aluminium coin of the exact size and thickness of a common florin would weigh a minute fraction less than a silver six- pence hence, as I before observed, if taken from the pocket in the dark it would be instantly recognised by its extreme lightness, and could never be mistaken for any coin made of gold or silver, while the great weight of all lead or pewter alloys, which are capable of being cast in plasler moulds, could never be passed off as aluminium coins, however their external sur- face might be coated or coloured in imitation of that metal. There are some other important details giving great security against the forgery of aluminium coin, which, in the interest of the public, it is undersirable to mention at this moment.

A WKLL-TRAINED monkey for circus performances is valued at E3. A CIIINBSH guide to the English language, compiled by a learned Celestial, has been published in Pekin. The student of this quaint little volume, however, will not make himself easily understood in English con- versation by using such sentences as the following Diligent learn of English words no difficult. To do good virtues become rich and know. He himself no have got. Fear inside have little false. Run come too much refugee. Can do biting. Why you count, want mistake."

BY ROYAL COMMAND. The announcement that her Majesty has decided that there is to be no Royal procession this season at Ascot, and that the Royal stand is to be absolutely closed and left to the solitude and depression caused by drawn blinds, has been followed by the assertion tha none of the Prince of Wales's horses are to go into training this year, and that his Royal Highness will not attend any race meetings. These announce- ments following so closely one upon another have spread positive consternation amoag many classes of the community. Absence of Royalty from Ascot means from the social, and consequently from the modiste's point of view, no Ascot at all, for we English and our American cousins are nothing if not snobs, and where Royalty is not there will we not gather together. It will be curious as well as interesting to hear what prices the houses in the immediate vicinity of Ascot fetch this year for the week," and also to know how many, or rather how few, gowna and hats the West- end dressmaking establishments will turn out for the races in contradistinction to what they have done in other and happier times.-Hawk.

FATAL CRUELTY TO CHILDREN. It is expressly provided by the Prevention of Cruelty to and Protection of Children Act, 1889 (52 and 53 Vict., c. 44), that any person having the custody of a child being a boy under 14: or a girl under 16, who wilfully ill-treats, neglects, abandons, or exposes, or causes or procures such child to be ill- treated, neglected, abandoned, or exposed in a manner likely to cause such child unnocessary suffering or injury to its health, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding £100 j and further, in addition to payment thereof, to imprisonment, with or with- out hard labour, for any term not exceeding two years." But it is added by Section 14 that nothing in this Act contained shall be construed to take away or affect the right of any parent, teacher, or other person having the lawful control or charge of a child to administer punishment to such child." This im- portant saving refers to that well-known rule of law (see Russell on Crimes, vol. i. p. 773, citing 1 Hawk. P.C. c. 29, s. 5, and Rex v. Keite, Ld. Raym. 144), that parents and others may give reasonable cor- rection to those under their care, so that if death ensue without their fault, it will be no more than accidental death, though if the correction exceed the bounds of due moderation, either in the measure of it or in the instrument made use of, the death ensuing will be either murder or manslaughter according to the circumstances of the case. The decisions bearing on the point are very few, the most important being ftegina v. Hopley, 2 F. and F. 202, in which the late Lord Chief Justice of England sentenced a schoolmaster to four years' penal servitude for beating a boy of 13 for two hours and a-half till be died, and in all of the cases except one the child killed appears to have been at least more than seven years old. The exception is Regina v. Griffin, 11 Cox, C. C. 402, in which Baron Martin, after consulting Mr. Justice Willes, ruled that the law as to correction has reference only to a child capable of appreciating correction, and not to an infant two and a half years old that, although a slight slap may belawfully given to an infant by her mother, more violent treatment so young by her father would not be justifiable; and that the only question for the jury to decide was whether the child's death was accelerated or caused by a whip- ping inflicted by the prisoner, her father.- The Law Journal,

THERE are in Paris 184 horse. meat shops, which last year disposed of over 10,000,0001bs. of flesh. Horse cutlets now fetch lOd. per pound, and horse steak about 5d. THERE were coquettes in Ancient Greece and Rome. A matron in the times of the Cassars had a hundred ways of dressing her hair, and a hundred implements for dressing it with, an untold number of powders, essences, cosmetics, and dyes for her use at the bath. The Egyptian, the Syrian, and the Baby- lonian ladies were quite as ornate and quite as extrava- gant as their sisters in Rome and Athens. IN Queensland on a recent day the unprecedented rainfall of 19f inches in 24 hours produced heavy 4 floods, which carried away buildings and stopped all traffic. SOME painters in Geneva are painting a panorama of the Bernese Alps, which will have a height of 51 feet and width of 345 feet, to go to Chicago. The whole will cost about £ 60,000. It was all sketched from the summit of the Mannlichen, 6600 feet high. IN digging the foundations of a new sacristy for the church of St. Christopher at Turcoing a trench has been discovered containing more than 2000 skeletons. It is supposed that they are the remains of those who fell at the battle of Turcoing, which was fought on May 17,1794. THB fervour that once possessed collectors of orchids has waned considerably. They are still ready to give guineas freely at times for imported plante that look like bundles of dried sticks on the off-chance that a great prize may fall to their share; but with few exceptions, known varieties. however per- fect, no longer command fabulous prices.

ALLEGED MURDER BY A NAVAL LIEUTENANT. A sensation has been created among the foreign community in Yokohama, owing to the murder of Mr. George Gower Robinson, a banker of that city, by Lieutenant Hetherington, of the United States warship Marion, jealousy being the motive assigned for the crime. Mr. Robinson, who was born in Yokohama and educated in England, was a young and handsome man who moved in the best society. After forming the acquaintance of the Hetheringtons he paid marked attention to Mrs. Hetherington, until at length Lieutenant Hetherington told him that he must leave the city. Mr. Robirfson complied, but only to return shortly afterwards, when he resumed the intimacy to which Lieutenant Hethering- ton had objected. On the evening of February 13 Mr. Robinson was out driving with a friend, when a man's voice was heard ordering them to stop. Two revolver shots followed, at the second of which Mr. Robinson fell from the carriage wounded in the groin. His friend jumped out and seized the murderer, but shortly afterwards released him, Lieutenant Hether- ington walking away, followed by Mr. Robinson's native servant, who pointed him out to the police, by whom he was arrested and lodged in gaol. Lieutenant Hetherington is now, however, a prisoner on board the Marion.

THE CHICAGO EXHIBITION. The decision of Italy to participate in the World's Columbian Exposition completes the list of the great nations of the world as participants, says a despatch dated Chicago, February 17. It is intended that the educational exhibit at the Fair shall fully illustrate the public school system of the United States. About 200,000 square feet in the great Manufacturers' Building will be devote 1 to this exhibit. There will be a space for each State and territory, and the peculiar methods of each commonwealth will be shown. It is proposed that the work of selected classes in several grades be shown by each of the States. Postmaster-General Wanamaker is com- pleting arrangements for a post-office on the Ex- position grounds, with sufficient capacity for a city of 200,000 people. There will be a regular carrier service to all parts of the ground. The post- office will be so arranged that it will be an exhibit, and that the public may see juet how the great postal system of the country is conducted. The Indian ex- hibit at the Exposition promises to bo one of the most attractive features. It has been decided to have this exhibit under the Department of Ethnology, of which Professor F. W. Putnam, of Harvard Uni- versity, is the chief. The applications of Buffalo Bill and other Wild West Show managers have been rejected, and they will not be allowed on the Exposition grounds. Professor Putnam, talking to a correspondent recently on the plan and scope of the Indian exhibit, said: "I have arranged to have here during the Fair encampments of natives of the Western hemisphere, who will be representatives of the aboriginals from the Esqui- maux in the north to the inhabitants of Tierra del Fuego in the south. These natives will occupy huts and teppes brought here by themselves, and will illustrate their methods of life, their industries and their pleasures. The camp of the aboriginals will occupy a space 1000ft. long by an average of 175ft. wide, along the bank of the lagoon in the south- east section of the Fair grounds. They will have their boats, canoes, and agricultural implements, and will show how these are used. There will be no battles with cowboys or chasing of Texas cattle, but the exhibit will show more truthfully and more extensively than has ever been attempted before what these semi-civilised natives of the Americas really are, and bow they live." To make the exhibit ,more complete, Professor Putnam has arranged to "have the tract planted with trees and shrubbery from each of the sections represented. The Japanese Imperial Commissioner for the Exposition, S. Segunia, who has been in Chicago several weeks, has consented to recommend the appointment by his. Sovereign of a commission of women. This is at the solicitation of Mrs. Potter Palmer, President of the Board of Lady Managers, who was particularly desirous of having the women of that far Eastern land represented in the woman's department.

DRAWING IN SCHOOLS. On Saturday a deputation from the National Union of Teachers waited upon Sir William Hart- Dyke, Vice-President of the Council of Education, to urge that drawing should be an optional subject instead of compulsory in elementary schools. Mr. Yoxall, in presenting the views of the deputation, said that the imposition of drawing as a compulsory subject was an injury to the cause of education, and inflicted hardships on teachers, while it prevented more useful subjects specially suited to the localities, such as agriculture, mining, &c., being taken up. Miss Neels spoke of the difficulty of teaching drawing in a village school with a, s mall staff, as the manager could not afford to pay for a peripatetic teacher. Mr. Denny detailed the difficulty of qualifying for the drawing certificate; and Mr. Lewis said that in order to pro- vide the means for teaching drawing his salary had been reduced. Sir William Hart-Dyke, in reply, said that the department could not consent to the subject of drawing being made optional, aa they had at their backs practically a unanimous vote of Parliament, and the very strong reports of two of the most important Royal Commissions that bad ever sat upon the question of education. They had practically achieved the object which they had in view in making it compulsory by the very large extent to which drawing was now taught in the elementary schools, the increase on that account alone for this year having amounted to between £ 35,000 and £ 40,000. That huge result was a proof that so far their policy was a success. As regards freedom of classification, it was the intention of the depart- ment that there should be perfect freedom, and if that was not secured he would see that it was done. In bringing about gradually but securely the com- pulsory teaching of drawing they had no desire to press hardly upon small schools. The other subjects referred to by the deputation should receive his attention. The deputation then withdrew.

THE EASTBOURNE SALVATIONISTS. Disgraceful scenes were again witnessed at East- bourne on Sunday in connection with the outdoor pro- ceedings of the Salvation Army." In the morning the Army held a service on a piece of waste ground at the east end of the town, where the band played. The police did not interfere, but the crowd, which was small, closed in and hustled. Nothing serious happened, however, and eventually the Salvationists returned to the "citadel." In the afternoon a large and excited crowd greeted the Salva- tionists with groans as they emerged from the citadel." On the parade there was a considerable noise and hustling. In one thoroughfare a gentle- man was set upon by a portion of the mob and re- ceived some severe usage, his silk hat being torn to pieces. With great difficulty he was rescued by the police. Meanwhile the Salvationists marched to the Grand-parade, but were prevented from going on the beach by the police, who, as they persisted, pushed them away. Taking advantage of this move, the crowd closed in, tumultuous scenes followed, and the mob broke up the procession. Men and women were knocked down in the struggle, while several caps and bonnets, Bibles and hymn books, were captured and destroyed. The Salva- tionists had no instruments. Three or four lasses fainted, and were escorted away, one being taken to the hospital. There was a succession of scrimmages and disorderly scenes on the way back to the "citadel," during which the Salvationists were separated and maltreated. The police were com- pletely overpowered, but at length got the Army safe into their building. The crowd remained out- side the citadel for some time jeering sympathisers or Salvationists. Tranquility was ultimately restored by the police.

Tn. telephone in Japan is said to be growing in popularity. At Tokio there is a general familiarity with the instrument and its uses, and even in out-of- the-way districts it is not unknown.

TYPICAL BRITISH SOLDIERS. THE ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY. Major Percy Groves, writing on this fine and effective body of fighting men in the Graphic, says England appears to have been the last of the great European Powers to adopt the use of Horse Artillery. This arm was introduced into the Prussian service in 1759, and into the French and Swedish services in 1792; whilst other Continental Armies improved from time to time their Field Artillery, without, however, adopting the system of mounted detachments — the distinctive mark of Horse Artillery; but although the military authorities of this country referred the subject to a Committee as early as 1788, there was no establishment of a Horse Artillery in the British Army until 1793, when the CORPORAL ROYAL IIORSE ARTILLERY. (From a photograph by lV. Gregory, Strand, London.) Duke of Richmond, Master-General of the Ordnance, selected one of three very dissimilar schemes over which the Committee had been debating, as the basis of the organisation of a troop. In the Official Records of the Royal Regiment of Artillery it is stated, in most laconic terms, that The Royal Horse Artillery was formed as an additional corps to the Regiment of Artillery on the 1st of February, 1793." Remarkable for its brevity," writes the late Colonel Duncan, historian of the Gunners, "this account of the formation of the Horse Artillery is also remarkable for its inaccuracy. It was not an additional corps to the R.A., but from the very com- mencement an essential, integral part of it. The Driver Corps, formed in 1794, was an additional corps to the R.A. but its officers were, until after Waterloo, drawn from a different source, and its men were never artillerymen. The Royal Horse Artillery, on the other hand, was invariably officered by the Royal Artillery, and was recruited from its ranks. Yet again, in the brief record quoted above are com- pressed other inaccuracies. The Horse Artillery did not spring into existence as a corps on February 1st, '93, as the words would imply. Two troops were authorised in January of that year, but not for 12 years of straggling augmentations of staff officers and troops can it be said ta have attained its proper maturity. The earlier wars of the French Revolu- tion were the boyhood of the R.H.A., as the Penin- sular campaign was its glorious manhood." The A and B, the first two troops of Horse Artillery, were formed at Woolwich in January, 1793 the command of A Troop being given to Cap- tain Lawson, that of B to Captain M'Leod. Great care was taken to appoint officers of acknowledged ability, and they received permission to take their pick of the recruits joining the Artillery; who, once they became Horse Artillerymen, were not liable to revert to garrison duties, as was the case with Field Artillery gunners. In the Horse Artillery," observes Captain Hime, R.A., the men were magni- ficently dressed, amply paid, and not haunted by the constant dread of being torn from the Field Artillery Service and thrust into the Garrison Artillery." Thus from its birth the new branch was regarded as a corps d'elite. In November, '93, C and D Troops were raised, and a year later E and F. In September, 1801, G Troop was formed in Ireland out of detachments serving in that country in June, 1804, H Troop was raised at Woolwich and during the following year four new Troops—I, K, L, and M—were added to the establishment. There were also two Rocket Troops raised in 1813-14; the second of which, after doing good service on the Continent (especially at the Battle of Leipsic—where its captain, R. Bogue, was killed-and afterwards at Waterloo) was reduced in 1816. In the same year D, K, L, and M Troops were also reduced, and the titles of the surviving troops below D were changed E, F, G, H, and I becoming respectively D, E, F, G, and H. In 1847 the sur- viving Rocket Troop became I Troop, and ten years later the K Troop was re-formed. The summer of 1859 saw the introduction of the Brigade system in the Royal Regiment of Artillery, and with it came an alteration in the titles of the Troops, which were now designated Batteries of the Horse Brigade. In 1862, in consequence of the amalgamation of the East India Company's Artillery, the old Royal Horse became the 1st Horse Brigade of the Royal Artillery and in 1864, so as to enable the Indian reliefs to be conveniently carried out, the 1st Horse Brigade was divided into A and B Brigades of the Royal Horse Artillery. The original A, B, C, G, and K Troops thus became A, B, C, D, and E Batteries, A Brigade and D, E, F, H, and I (the old 1st Rocket Troop), A, B, C, D, and E Batteries, B Brigade. In the small space at our disposal, it is impossible to enumerate the military operations in which these Batteries have been severally engaged. Ubique and Quo fas et Gloria ducunt are the proud mottoes of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, and these mottoes are no less appropriate to the Horse Gunners than to their brethren of the Field and Garrison Batteries of whom we may well say, what William IV. once said of the Rifle Brigade: "That wherever there has been fighting they have been employed, and wherever they have been employed they have distin- guished themselves."

THE phrase, A hair of the dog that bit you," though now confined to a symbolic and alcoholic interpretation, has an accurately canine origin. In the Caucasus it is still common for anyone who is bitten by a dog to lay a handful of hair, taken from the same animal's coat, upon the wound before cauterising and bandaging it. In some mystic way the hair is supposed to prevent untoward con- sequences. AT a Catholic convent in Fort Berthold, New Dela- ware, all the sisters, including the mother superior, are Indians, and the spiritual director is a priest of Mohawk descent. IN Chicago 1997 persons died of typhoid fever during the year 1891, an average of 4ft a day, and this great mortality is ascribed to the drinking- water. TIlE wisest of us have our pet superstitions, one or more. The great house of Rothschild has unwritten canons on the subject. The head of the firm, if he met a pig on his way to his office, would not oonclude any financial transactions on that day. On one occa- sion he determined to rise above his weakness, and after meeting his omen he arranged a large loan by which the firm lost over a million sterling. IN the south-western islands of Japan the women are the labourers. Their hands are roughed and tanned with heavy work, while the men's are delicate and white.

RESIGNATION OF BERRY. In consequence of the recent order authorising the- medical officers of her Majesty's Prisons to decide on < the length of drop required for a condemned prisoner, Berry, the public executioner, has resigned his position. The following is a copy of the remarkable letter sent to the Home Secretary to be forwarded 00 the High Sheriffs of the different English eounties ",1, Bilton-place, City-road, Bradford, Yorks. —To The Right Hon. Henry Matthews, Q.C., M.P., Home Sec., Whitehall, London. Dear Sir,-I herewith tender my resignation as executioner- for Great Britain. My reason is on account of Dr. Barr interfering with my responsible duty at Kirkdale gaol, Liverpool, on my last execution, there. I shall therefore withdraw my name now as being executioner to England. Trusting this will be accepted by you on behalf of the Sheriffs of England, I remain, dear sir, your obedient servant, JAMBS BERRY, late executioner of England." The other afternoon Berry, in the course of a con- versation with a Lloyd's representative, stated that the reason of his resignation was the interference he- had received from prison doctors in regard to the length of drop he considered necessary. In a recent case he had arranged for a 3ft. 6in. drop, and on arriving at the prison he found that the medical attendant had decided on one of 6ft. 8in. Very well," said Berry, you do as you like but if the man's head is cut off I'll never hang another one." In spite of the warning this conveyed, the medical officer, who in a private letter bears testimony to Berry's efficiency, insisted on his directions being' carried out. As Berry had foreseen, from an ex- perience gained in over 200 executions, the prisoner- was decapitated on the fall of the drop, and he there- fore tenders his resignation, as he is unable to find who is responsible for the order of which he com- plains. Berry stated that he would shortly commence a*- lecturing tour through England. The subject of his lecture will be "Capital Punishment," in which he will deal with both sides of the question. In America, he said, he had already received guarantees for 145,000 dols. for 20 lectures, and his experiences will also be embodied in a book which will shortly be pub- lished. In regard to his professional work there are two points on which Berry specially prides himself.. These are the abolition of steps to the scaffold, which inflicted unnecessary suffering on the criminal, and the addition of a spring to prevent the rebounding of the flaps of the scaffold on the withdrawal of the bolt. Under the old system followed by Calcraft, Marwood, Binns, and other executioners the doors of the trap sometimes used to fly back and batter the head of the criminal as the body fell into the pit. This is now averted by Berry's invention, and has thus robbed a very gruesome ceremony of at least one of its worst details. Personally Berry is a strong opponent of capital punishment, and expresses a hope that he may live to see the day when it will be expunged from the statute book.

GALLERY OF BRITISH ART. MR. TATE'S OFFER WITHDRAWN. An interesting yet disappointing correspondence has passed between Mr. Goschen and Mr. Henry Tate relative to the proposed Gallery of British Art. On the 29th ult. Mr. Goschen wrote to Mr. Tate review- ing the whole question, and giving reasons to show that it would not be wise to assign the site at the corner of the Imperial Institute and Exhibition-roads to the proposed gallery, but pointed out that further up Exbibition-roadthere was a plot of land occupied by the temporary building of the Art Needlework Society, which he believed could be acquired from the Commissioners of the 1851 Exhibition. If the ground were fully utilised, the sum of £ 80,000 which Mr. Tate was prepared to spend on a building would not be more than enough for a suitable structure to cover it. Mr. Goschen con- cluded Allow me to say that I can well understand that the difficulties of finding a suitable home for your collection, notwithstanding your munificent offer to build yourself, may not unnaturally have caused' you some vexation. I think you will, however, admit that the Government have shown their desire to meet you in every possible way, and are willing to incur considerable outlay themselves in carrying out your plan. In the first instance, we not only offered the Eastern and Western Galleries for housing British Art, but adopted the plan of uniting them by a cross gallery, which seemed to remove many of the objec- tions. When you came to the conclusion that the prcportions given to the plan were not large enough or distinct enough to suit your views, and when' you suggested the site at the corner of the Imperial Institute-road, I hoped that a solution had been found, and that this arrangement would meet with general acceptance. You are aware of the storm which followed, and though, in my own judg- ment, the Government land at Kensington was of so large an area that, by some understanding between the representatives of Science and those of Art, satis- factory means could be provided for assigning sites for every purpose, I was, nevertheless, so anxious that no obstacle should prevent the execution of your plans that I consented to recommend the Government to incur a very considerable pecuniary liability if the Corporation of London should, on their part, offer the site on the Embankment on terms which were sug- gested to me as not impossible." In reply, Mr. Tate expressed disappointment,. though not surprise, at the decision of the Treasury.. He corrects Mr. Goschen on certain matters of detail,, and says l< I had not the slightest desire to build a- gallery merely for my own collection, but I was- quite prepared to erect a building so constructed, arranged, and top-lighted that it would in itself, I believe, have attracted gifts of high class pictures and sculpture, and thus have become the permanent home of the best examples of Britist art. These requirements, I feel the East and West Galleries do not, and are not likely to, fulfil, although, no doubt, it is presumption on my part to differ from a few of the leading representatives of Art as to their suitability for the Exhibition of Works in Oil, Water- colours, &c. So strong was my feeling on this subject that to save British Art from the humiliation of being housed in those tunnel-like edifices, I deter- mined to offer to erect a new and modern Gallerv. I must, therefore, decline to entertain either the East and West Galleries, or the site at present occu- pied by the Art Needlework Society, with the pos- sible extension to the aforesaid Galleries. The Em- bankment site being unattainable, aad you having considered it wise to withdraw the offer made to me of the site in Imperial Institute and Ixhibition- roads, and as no other suitable site appears likely to- be available, and, moreover, taking into consideration the difficulties, delay, and, in some respects, uncalled- for opposition which the proposed Gallery of British Art has met with, I really feel there is no course open to me but to withdraw my offer to the Government of my pictures and the erection of a suitable Gallery,, which, for the sake of the Art-loving public, and in the interests of British Art, I do with extreme re- luctance."

CREMATION STATISTICS. The nnmber of persons who approve of cremations seems to be steadily increasing. From the report of the Cremation Society of England for 1891, itappears- that in 18S5, the first year the crematorium at Woking was used, only three bodies were sent there- in 1886 the number was 10; in 1887, 13- in ISfifi' 28; in 1889,46; in 1890, 54; and during the past year, 99. Crematoria are being built in various parts. of the country. At Manchester a crematorium is in course of erection, and will, it is thought, be com- pleted and open for use during the coming spring. A company has also been formed, and is making rapid progress, with the same object at Liverpool; and the City of London Commission of Sewers is taking steps to obtain powers to erect a crematorium at their cemetery at Ilford. The Cremation Society at Darlington, and other associations, are moving in the same direction.-Evening Standard.

THERE are 83 national cemeteries in America in which 528,115 soldiers are buried. THE report of the Committee of the Head Masters7 Conference on the subject of pensions is very interest- ing, though it records facts without making recom- mendations. It appears that at Winchester, Harrow, and Haileybury insurance is compulsory on all masters; the arrangement at Harrow being that a master secures by annual payments a pension of £ 150 a year for himself at the age of 60,, when he is com- pulsorily retired, and the governors of the school add another £ 150 per annum thereto. At Westminster and Marlborough voluntary schemes of insurance are in operation. The whole subject deserves careful investigation, and will no doubt receive it at the hands of the Conference.