Evening Express

ANTI-GAMBLING CRUSADE. A CLEfRICAL DEMONSTRATION AT A RACECOURSE. A Birmingham correspondent telegraphs :— The anti-gambing" crusade will reach a climax to-day( Wednesday),when Hall Green Races,near Birmingham, will be visited by a clerical demon- stration. A dozen or more Church of England ministers have announced that they and their followers will march to the course and offer up prayer. They will intercede for the wicked people at the races and sing hymns while the races are run. The sporting men are incensed, and lively proceedings are anticipated. l

ECCLESIASTICAL NEWS. ARCHIDIACONAL VISITATION AT BRIDGEND. The usual Easter arcbidiaconal visitation for tie rural deanery took place at St. Mary's, Nolton, on Tuesday. The usual meeting of the clergy and churchwardens with the archdeacon was preceded by a short service in the church. ?-

RESCUE FROM DROWNING. On Sunday morning last a boy, bathing with others in the River Ely, on the Ely Moors, was drowning, and, although there were several youths close by, no effort was made to save the lad, until John Stanley, of Ely Common-gardens, who happened to be walking that way, plunged into the river without taking off his clothes and effected a gallant rescue. This is the second Berson young Stanley has ssv»d from drowning, j

Limbs Blown Mile Away FOURTEEN LIVES LOST IN A TERRIBLE EXPLOSION. A Powder Mill in Frisco Blown to Pieces and Hardly Anything Remains of the Site. A Reuter's telegram fron San Francisco says: —A terrible explosion has occurred at a powder mill here. Five while men and nine Chinese were killed. Their bodies were terribly muti- lated, faome of their Lnnbs being afterwards found a mile fioivi the scene uf the disaster. A three-storey building was .bl'iwn to pitctH, the debris being carried so far that hardly any- thing remains of tin- site.

THE ELBE DISASTER. PILOT OF THE ELBE GOES INTO THE BOX. The Board of Trade inquiry into the collision between the Crathie and the North German- Lloyd steamship Elbe was continued at West- minster Town-hall on Tuesday. Robert William Greenham, a Trinity House pilot, who was on board the Elbe, said he was to take charge of her for the owners. He was below when the collision happened. He put the time a.t 5.30. He went to assist in getting out the boats on the port side. The Elbe took a heavy list to port after the collision. The captain gave an order to go easy ahead after the blow was struck, in order to get the damaged portion of the ship out of the water. He also told the women and children to go to the starboard side. No. 5 boat on the port side was first launched, but she swamped immediately. They had to cut the ropes, which were frozen, with axes. Witness went off in boat No. 2. He could not see what was happen- ing on the starboard side. Only two boats were lowered. It took five minutes to lower them. There was no panic among the crew. He could not speak for the passengers. It was within twenty minutes after the blow was struck that be Elbe sank. Witness saw the green and stern 11 ght, as he thought, of the Crathie standing still for more than a.n hour and a half a mile distant. Cress-examined: If the engines had been stopped the momentum of the Elbe would have carried her about half a mile. If the lights were in position it would be impossible on a steamer to see the stern and green lights. He saw the hull of the Crathie when morning broke. After witness got into the boat he heard cries from where the Elbe sank. They were cries of dis- tress. There was no use shouting towards the Crathie, which was to windward and could not hear any cries. The sea was very heavy, and his boat was unable to reach the steamer. The Elbe was making 15 knots when the collision hap- pened. By reversing she could have been stopped from full speed within a quarter of a mile. His boat could not have held more persons than were in it. Miss Boecker was in the boat that swamped and they picked her up out of the water. Mr. Robson, Q.C., 011 behalf of the Board of Trade suggested an adjournment until the 10th of June, to give the North German Lloyd's Company an opportunity to produce witnesses. Mr, Herbert Aspinall opposed. Mr. Robson thought the German Govern- ment might yet desire to send witnesses. Mr. Nelson, for Captain Gordon, said he would advise him not to go to Germany if requested, after the opinion expressed about the disaster in the Reichstag. Mr. Marsham said he had no power to order British witnesses to attend foreign courts. Mr. H. Aspinall said that explained why the German Government did not interfere. Mr. Nelson said he should advise Captain Gordon not to attend. The inquiry stood adjourned until the 10th of June.

WELSH FIASCO. THE RETREAT OF MR. LLOYD- GEORGE IN THE COMMONS. [FROM êUR LONDON COBRESPONDEN%.] LONDON, TUESDAY. Mr. Lloyd-George is very bitter against his critics to-day. He complains sadly of misrepresentation, and, as even an extreme Welsh Nationalist is entitled to fair con- sideration, it is only proper that his position should be defined by himself. Mr. Lloyd- George informs me that he told the Govern- ment that he would press his amendment substituting the administrative capacity of a county council for that of Welsh Commis- sioners in the Welsh Church Bill to a divi- sidn unless the Government were prepared to provide .some remedy for a state of things where the Commissioners appointed hy the Bill could wholly reject a scheme prepared by the county council. "Mr. Asquith, in reply to this," observed Mr, George, "said he was quite prepared on coming to Clause* 12 to 15, or to Clause 9, to consider the point, and, if it were possible, provide machinery to prevent the rejection en bloc of popular proposals. Now, this I considered to be a concession worthy of acceptance. It was a distinct promise, and I felt justified in post- poning, not withdrawing, my amendment. The fa.ct that the Conservatives would not consent to this proposal of mine placed me in an unfortunate position, but after the deli- berate expression of the Home Secretary I felt bound to support the Government. My attitude on the point in question lias not altered one bit. I quite agree with Mr. Asquith that Clause 9 will be a. much better portion of the Bill to decide the point, and after the statement made last night I have no hesitation in saying that my demands will be granted." MR. LLOYD-GEORGE AND liiE CON- SERVATIVES. But Mr. Lloyd-George is not only bitter against his critics, he is also bitter against Opposition critics. The Church party, he says, approached him last week with the object of obtaining his consent to a postpone- ment of his amendment till Clause 9 was reached. Under the circumstances, Mr. Lloyd-George considers that they should not have challenged a division last night, but that they should have supported him in his attitude towards the Government. Whilst not denying Mr. Lloyd-George's statement, the Conservatives reply that Mr. Asquith's answer gave them little reason to suppose he would entertain any proposal in which they and Mr. Lloyd-George were in agree- ment, and they felt bound to demand a divi- sion. The Conservatives, unlike Mr. Lloyd- George, do not think the Government will climb down and accept Welsh demands. Appearances, in fact, are very much against Clause 9 being discussed at all. THE FAMOUS RESOLUTION. As to the meeting of the Welsh party at which the resolution pledging the members to support the Welsh council amendment was unanimously massed the greatest diver- gence of opinion prevails. Several South Walians openly avow that no such resolution was ever submitted to them, and had it been they would never have given approval to such a line of conduct. 3ir. Lloyd-George, who is responsible for the amendment, not only denies this, but states that the meeting was adjourned from a Monday until Thurs- day to discuss the matter further. The busi- ness of the meeting was actually specified on the notice convening the meeting, and, there- fore, there is no reason, he says, for Welsh members to express ignorance of the terms of the resolution. Be this as it may, the Welsh members just now are strangely at variance, and the party can rival the Irishmen in the number (jf factions. The more moderate members are dead against the enforcement of any amendment. They state it is a foregone conclusion that the Bill will be thrown out by the House of Lords, and. therefore, they should not hamper the Government in amendments which not only endangers the passing of the Bill through the Commons, but the very life of the Government. This attitude is regarded as the height of imbe- cility by the extremists, and, in consequence, life among Cymric members is not now one to be envied.

THE IRISH PARTY. MR. O'BBIBN A17D HIS ESGXilSH FRIENDS. It is stated (says an Exchange Telegraph Company's correspondent) that Mr. Willia.m O'Brien, M.P., has just reoeived a generous offer from a. wealthy English gentleman, whose name is familiar in political life. This gentle- man undertakes to meet judgment obtained by Mr. Chance against the honourable member, and to discharge all similar demands that may immediately arise from this arrest of bank- ruptcy, provided Mr. O'Rrien will consent to retain his seat. Mr. O'Brien is understood to have declined the offer with thanks. He has till Thursday to satisfy the judgment. A Cork correspondent ef the 11 Independent" states that it is rumoured that the letter pur- porting to be from Alderman Flavin, offering £100 to head a subscription for Mr, W. O'Brien's j costs, and promising £ 45 from three others, was A boons letter. 1

TAYLOR ON TRIAL, Under Cross-exami na- tion. PRESSED TO GIVE NAMES. Taylor Appeals to Justice Wills but is Told There Must be No Suppression. The trial of Alfred Taylor, on certain serious charges, was resumed at the Old Bailey on Tuesday.—-Taylor, on being put into the box, gave emphatic denial to the whole of the allega- tions of improprieties between himself and persons whose names had been mentioned.— Taylor, in cross-examination, admitted that he had slept with young men on more than one oooaeion, and had attired himself in female Eastern costume. VV hen asked to give the names of every person that he had slept with, he hesi- tated and asked the judge if he might not write down the names. The Judge said lie could have no secrecy about the matter, and if the names wore written down lie should read them out. The practice was often adopted ycod-naturedly of suppressing names, but it had led 'to a deal of suspicion, and did a deal of harm. Sir Frank Lock wood said he was pleased to hear his lordship make those remarks. Witness, pressed further regarding persons in whose company he had been, said he did not remember their names. He was intro- duced to Mr. Wilde by a friend named Seliwabe. He went to a restaurant with a man named Harrington, but the latter did not pass the night at Little College-street. The names of a number of persons were put to the witness as those with whom he had misbehaved himself, but he denied the allegations made. In re-examination Taylor stated that many of the persons whose names had been mentioned were old acquaintances. With none of these had lie ever misconducted himself. Mr. Grain, addressing the jury, appealed to them to place no reliance upon the testimony oi blackmailers and accomplices, and main- tained that the prosecution had failed to estab- lish Taylor's guilt. The Solicitor-General replied on behalf of the Crown, submitting that the evidence left 110 doubt as to the accused's guilt. JUDGE SUMS UP. Justice Wills, summing up, said it was an established rule that a prisoner ought not to be convicted on uncorroborated evidence of accom- plices, and it was for the jury to say what weight ought to be attached to the evidence adduced in corroboration of the statements of accomplices. They should satisfy themselves, before giving an adverse verdict, that corrobora- tive evidence warranted conviction. His lord- ship, reviewing the specific charges, said lie was abundantly justified in not withdrawing the case fnom the iury. VERDICT. The jury returned a verdict of guilty of gross acts of indecancy with Charles and William Parker. Sentence deferred. SENSATIONAL SEQUEL. LORD QUEENSBERRY CHASTISES HIS SON. BOTH TO BE SUMMONED. The Pall Mall Gazette," in an extra special edition on Tuesday night published the follow- ing :— "It is reported that an encounter between Lord Queensborry and a member of his family occurred this afternoon, shortly after five o'clock, in the neighbourhood of Piccadilly. The young man, it is stated, received a severe chastisement, and Lord Queensberry, who was subsequently seen coming out of Vine-street Police-station, also bore traces of the fray, his tall hat being somewhat battered. As his lord- ship walked down Swallow-street he was cheered by the bystanders, who had collected in large numbers. The Press Association says --The fashionable afternoon promenade in Piccadilly was fairly well filled with a select crowd of pedes- trians when the fracas between the Marquess of Queenberry and his eon, Lord Alfred Douglas, disturbed the peace of the thoroughfare. The affray appears to have been short and determined, and but for police intervention might have had more serious results. Considerable violence must have been used by both father ana son. The marquess appears to have met his son accidentally in Piccadilly, near Bond-street. What passed between them in language will possibly be made known at Marlboro ugh-street Police-court this (Wednesday) morning, but, so far as action is concerned, they were both seen in violent con- flict when the police-constable came upon the scene and separated the combatants. A consider- able crowd of well-dressed persons had sur- rounded the principals of this exceptional epi- sode in the fashionable highway when the police-officers escorted the marquess and his son, Lord Alfred, to Vine-street Police-station, which is a short distance from the scene of the disorder. A crowd followed, and awaited events outside the station. Three gentlemen friends of the accused were permitted to accom- pany their lordships into the station, where the proceedings were exceptionally brief. The father, we understand, preferred no charge against his son, neither did the son make any charge against his parent, the prosecution being that of disorderly conduct preferred by the police. In less than half an hour the accused had been released on bail, guaranteed by those friends present, and they were set at liberty. On leaving the station Lord Alfred, who it was noticed had suffered discoloration of one eye, proceeded through a passage at the back of St. James's-ball into Regent-street, whence an available hansom ca.b speedily separated him from an inquisi- tive, but undemonstrative, crowd. His father, the Marques3 of Queensberry, appeared to have suffered 110 facial disfigurement, but his silk hat showed signs of rather rough usage. As he left the main entrance of Vine-street Police-station he walked through the crowd into Swallow-street a by- way directly connecting Regent-street, and Piccadilly. As he walked into Swaliow-street and Piccadilly the crowd for the first time became demonstrative, clapped their hands, and cheered his lordship, who took a conveyance from the scene, and the crowd dispersed.

SALE OF HORSES. FORTY ANIMALS CHANGE HANDS AT CARDIFF. On Tuesday at the Corporation Repository, Cardiff, Mr. Alfred Phillips held his second spring sale of hunters and harness horses, and from every point it was a great success. Out of the 68 hor.-es in the catalogue, about 40 changed hands. The following are some of the prices realised: -Brown mare, 30gs.; chestnut cob, 25gs.; chestnut mare. 30gs.; chestnut gelding, 41gs. bay gelding 29gs. The Stay," 40gs. Blinker," 23gs. bay mare, 29gs. grey mare, 36gs. In the Llanharan horse all changed hands except two. St. Mary," 15gs. Rover," 25*3. "Comet," 54gs.; "Game," 35gs.; Cymro," 47gs.; "Podge," 40gs. Day gelding, 50gs.; roan gelding, 40gs- Other properties Black gelding, 29gs.; bay mare, 40gs.; brown cob, 30gs.; also several carriages and lots of harness. Amonjst the large company present were Lord Tredegar, Mr. Blandy Jenkins and Miss Jenkins, Mr. J. D. Williams (master ef the Ystrad Hunt), Mr. L. J. Shirley, Mr. W. R. Shirley, Mr. J. G. Thomas, Mr. John White (Taunton), who bought eleven horses General Watson, Mr. John diinit, Mr, A. Stevens, Dr. Edwards (Taff's Well), Mr. Henry Lewis (Tynant). and Messrs. Tom Price and Morgan Davies (bon. secretaries of the Llanharan Hounds), Mr. F. Meon (treasurer of the same pack), and most of the regular followers of the hunt.

CROFTERS' GRIEVANCES. THREATENED RESIGNATION or ANOTHER SCOTCH MEMBER. Mr. Galloway Weir will apply for the Chiltern Hundreds if the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement on Thursday is satisfactory to the crofter members.

BEDWELLTY SCHOOL BOARD. I The result was declared by the returnin g fficer (Mr. J. A. Shepard) at Tredegar on Tuesday afternoon as follows ELECTED. *\V. H. Routlcdge, general manager 5^29 D. W. Price, clot'.ier 5,001 N. W. Wilputte, manager coke works 4,953 *J. 1>. Thomas, merchant 4,819 H. T. Evans, surgeon 4,802 Thos. Kichards, Congregational minister 3,735 •Thomas Davies, Chemist 3)258 Benjamin Phillips, merchant 3 154 *R. E. Peregrine, B.D., Congregational minis- ter- 3,151 T. Theophilus, vicar 3,031 J. A. Evans, Baptist minister 2,891 NON-ELECTED. ♦W. G. Williams, merchant 2,80'? John Thomas (" Ap Noah ")» collier 2> J A. Fritz, Catholic priest 2,38s A. Barrett, minister 2,204 C. Bowditch, collier 2,086 *J. Coleman, collier 1,910 ♦Peter Williams, Baptist minister 1,793 •Jacob Davies, contractor 1,145 *A. E. Smith, minister 839 Indicates old member.

Peers and Privileges SETTLEMENT OF LORD SEL- BORNE'S CASE. Must Go to the Lords, and a Writ Ordered for West Edin- burgh. In the House of Commons on Tuesday, 1, Sir W. HAKv Ol'RT (Chancellor of the Exchequer), amidst general cheers, brought up the report of the Comiuittee on the case of the Earl of Selborne, which simply stated that the Hon. William Waldegrave Palmer, commonly called Viscount Wolmer, had succeeded to the Earldom of Selborne in the peerage of the United Kingdom. Mr. ANSTRUTHER (the Liberal Unionist Whip) moved the issue of a new writ for West Edinburgh, in the room of the Hon. William Waldegrave Palmer, commonly called Viscount Wolmer, now Earl Selborne. Mr. G. CURZON (C., Southport) said he recognised that the opinion of the House, as well ad the Committee upstairs, was hostile to the claims of Mr. Brodrick and himself, but he desired to point out that the House was being invited to take a step which was entirely new in Parliamentary procedure—(hear, hear)—and which might involve them in Constitutional trouble and difficulty in the future. The House of Commons was about to issue a, writ without waiting for the writ of summons of the House of Lords. He and his friends had not moved in this matter out of any selfish or unworthy motive, but simply in order to raise a Constitutional issue on Constitutional grounds. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he persistently refused to give any opinion on the subject because he knew he should have to give it in the House. He had treated the whole claim as childish and absurd. (Hear, hear.) Mr. SWIFT MACNEILL (N., Donegal) ex- pressed his acknowledgments to Lord Selborne and the Liberal Unionist party in the House for the blow they had struck at the House of Lords. Mr. DALZIEL (L., Kirkcaldy) moved the adjournment of the debate on the ground that a question of this great Constitutional impor- tance should be further considered. Sir W. HARCOURT said that he had intended to move the writ on Thursday, and he was entirely taken by surprise when the writ was moved that afternoon. The motion having been made for the issue of the writ, he would be prepared to support it. The House then divided, and the motion for the adjournment of the debate was defeated by 34-3 to 109. Lord CRANBORNE (C., Rochester) said he belonged to that unfortunate class of people who might be disabled from sitting in that House. It was, in his opinion, in the highest degree absurd to charge Lord Selborne. wth pursuing a childish and preposterous course in the action he had taken. Sir RICHARD WEBSTER (CI, Isle of Wight) believed the position taken up to be legally erroneous and historically inaccurate, (ilear, htar.) The writ for West 'Edinburgh was then ordered to issue without a division.

LOCAL LAW CASE. The Owners of the City of Belfast v. the Owners of the Dragoman. On Tuesday, in the Admiralty Division of the High Court Mr. Justice Bruce, in delivering his reserved judgment in this question of costs, said the question had been raised as to whether the plaintiffs were entitled to costs on the higher scale. This turned upon the effect to be given to the 547th Section of the Merchant Shipping Act of 1894. After full consideration, he thought, having regard to the property at risk, amounting to Cl3,748, the somewhat unusual character of the services, the circumstances in which they were rendered, and the conflicting nature of the evidence, he was justified in certifying that this case was a fit one to be tried otherwise than in the county-court.—Judgment for the plaintiffs, with costs on the higher scale. A COMMERCIAL TRAVELLER'S WILL. The case of Sully v. Enosh and others was heard on Tuesday in the Probate and Divarce Division of the High Court before Mr. Justice Lawrence, and raised a point as to the validity of a codicil to a will made by the late Mr. Henry Ainslie, a commercial traveller to the firm of Sir Henry Peek, the well-known tea merchants. Deceased resided for some thirteen or fourteen years in Melrose-place, Cliften, near Bristol, in which town his property was situated, and it was stated that his mother, brother, and sisters resided at Cardiff.—Mr. Justice Lawrence, in giving judgment, pronounced in favour of the codicil, which carried with it the previous will of 1890, with costs.

BILLS IN PARLIAMENT. RHONDDA AND SWANSEA BAY RAILWAY. The petition of the Pacific Patent Fuel Com- pany to oppose the Rhondda and Swansea Rail- way Bill in the House of Commons has been settled and withdrawn. MERTHYR WATER BILL. Petitions on behalf of the following, praying to be heard by counsel against the Merthyr Tydfil Local Board Water Bill, have been deposited in the Private Bill Office of the House of Commons :—(1) Company of Proprietors Of the Glamorganshire Canal Navigation (against alterations), a.nd (2) Messrs. Crawshay Bros., Cyfarthfa, and others. MIDLAND RAILWAY. In the House of Commons on Tuesday at the time for private business the Midland Railway Bill was read a third time. THIRD READING. The Pontypool Electric Lighting Provisional Order Bill and the Vale of Glamorgan Railway Bill were on Tuesday reported for third reading in the House of Commons.

(LOCAL MARRIAGE. RICHARDS- JENKINS. The marriage took place in the parish church, Llandyssul, on Tuesday, of Mr J. Eaton Richards, of the Inland Revenue Department, and Miss Jenkins, daughter of the Rev. W. G. Jenkins, vicar of the parish. The service was full choral, and the Revs. E. Evans, vicar of Moylgrove D. J. Thomas, vicar of Lydiate. Liverpool (brothers-in-law of the bride) E. P. Jones, B.A., and J. H. Davies, curates of Llandyssul, officiated. Miss M. E. Evans pre- sided at the harmentum. The bride was given away by her father. Miss Jones, Penboyr Rectory, and Miss Davies, the vicarage, Llanybri, were the bridemaids, while Mr. T. Thomas, solicitor, acted as best man. The bride wore a travelling dress of hussar blue- faced cloth, trimmed with pearl passe- menterie and white silk, with white lace picture hat to match. She carried a lovely bouquet of white flowers. The bridemaids wore dresses of grey crepon trimmed with silk, with black Gainsborough hats trimmed with cream lace and pink roses to match. They wore gold thistle and harp brooches set with pearls, the gift of the bridegroom. The presents were both costly and numerous. The members of the Llan- dyssul Church presented the bride with a valuable clock and a silver kettle with stand, each bearing plates of sterling silver, hall- marked, whereon were engraved the following Presented to Miss Jenkins by the members of the Llandyssul Parish Church on the occasion of her Marriage, May 21, 1895, as a token of regard and esteem." The happy pair left the town by the five p.m. train, en route for the West of England, where they will spend the honeymoon.

METHODISM IN GLAMORGAN. At the West Glamorgan monthly meeting held at Laleston, under the presidency of Mr. W. Williams, Morriston, the Rev. W. John, Bridg- end, in the course of his report on the Methodism of the Vale of Glamorgan, stated that want of a more regular and general ministry was one of the chief causes of decay in the Vale.—A long discussion took place, and it was decided that additional preaching should be arranged for the Vale. It was decided that the next meeting be held at Cwmgiedd on July 10 and 11. Notes amounting to X37 were ordered to be destroyed. —Votes of sympathy with the Revs. Thomas Salmon and Charles Williams were passed, and the resignation of the Rev. B. P. Morris was con- sidered.

T PORTHCAWL GOIjF CLUB. I A ladies' competition was held at Porthcawl on Tuesday afternoon in fine weather. Scores:- Mrs E. Williams 68 less 25 43 Mrs Phillipps 61 „ 15 46 Mrs M'CaU 76 „ 25 51 Mrs Gordon 90 35 55 Mrs C. Ward 72 ,,15 57 Mrs Cook 87 „ 30 57 Miss A. Brind 76 „ 18 58 Mrs Tate 97 „ 35 62 Miss A. Williams 87 „ 22 65 Mrs Earle 71 „ 5 b6 Mrs Riley 102 „ 35 67 Mrs Collins 95 „ 25 70 Miss Williams. 99 „ 22 77 Miss Davies, retired.

EXCURSION TO BRISTOL. A cheap excursion to Bristol by the steamer Marchioness is announced for to-day (Wednes- day), leaving Cardiff at 2.15 p.m. and returning at six p.m. Those who take advantage of the trip will have about two hours at Bristol.

TURF TALK. Pithy Pars for Sporting Readers GOSSIP OF TO-DAY'S EVENTS A popular young light-weight iookey expects to see Mr. Russell's colt win the blue riband. After the manner of owners. Sir Blundell Maple seems to be tired of declarations, and, when t-peaking at the Holborn Restr.ura.nt, he confided to a meeting that if The Owl and Kirk- connel went to the post for the Derby he should not make any declaration at all. The connections of Laodamia, who lost a cart- load of money over her in the Jubilee, will very likely get it back in the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood. Till then she will not be seen in prblic. As the oourse and distance there will suit her to 3, nicety, she will be worth bearing in mind if treated 011 anything like the same terms as at Kempton. Of the outsiders for next week's big race at Kru-c-m both Matchmaker and The Lombard have coming appearances in the betting, and the support awarded the latter has caused the slight opposition again manifested to Raconteur. Briardale. who has been talked alxiut in con- rection with the Derby, has been struck out of that race. Informa.tion to that effect reached us frcm Mtssrs. Weatherbv ou Tuesday morning. The Danebury Derby candidate Curzon was on Tuesday tried with Amphidamas over a mile and a half, and easily beaten. Campanajo, the winner of the Great Northern Handicap on Tuesday, is engaged in the Man- plater Cup, and a 51b. penalty having been m. curred the colt's weight for that race is now 6st. 51b. It is a defect of mine that I take not the remotest interest in betting (says the special commissioner of the "Sportsman"). I say a defect advisedly, for I never can bring myself to understand the importance which some people-a vast number of people—attach to selections, "tips," or whatever you choose to call them. None the less, upon occasion I see signs of people losing their money, and I do not like it. Such a fate is certainly his who took 2,000 to 80, 2,000 to 60 and other bets about Tarporley for the Derby at San- down 'Park on Tuesday afternoon. Wht}. bless the man! Tarporlev has no more oliance of winning 'the Derby than I have. He has been suffering from splints just below the knee which absolutely incapacitated him and. though he is getting right again now it Will probably be auiumn before we see him in anything like form. This is his trainer's opinion, and I myself saw the horse the other day. Owing to being slightly indisposed Colling did not ride at York on Tuesday. Up to now none of the Allies in training at Newmarket likely to compete for the Oaks are coing better than the One Thousand Guineas heroire. Galeottia, who has gone on improving since her somewhat unexpected success in the "ladies' race. If all continues to go on satis- factorily with her up to the day t^*1^ she may win as easily as she did the One Thou sand Guineas. Ryan thinks La-vmo will win the Derby, and the Green Lodge trainer fears nothing, but what price Speedwell's trial for the Guineas nfljw ? The Stanton colt, Beckhampton, who has been backed for the Derby from 50's down to 2o during the past few days, is in splendid trim at present, and is believed to be one of the most improved animals in training. He wilt, probablv be tried on Wednesday or Thursday and if he should satisfy Wadlow that he has improved as much as appearaces suggest it is quite on the cards that we may have a repeti- tion of the Sir Hugo surprise at Epsom. The conditions are deoidely ffavourable to a turn-up this year. Sir Blvndell Maple has discovered a gem of the first water in the two-year old London, who will probably be seen out at Epsom. Isinglass, who is in reserve for the Ascot Gold Cup, and who up to now has certainly been doing good galloping, can be finished oft 111 his preparation to the satisfaction of his trainer. As Mr M'Calmont's horse is wonderfully well, and apparently as sound upon his legs as ever he was, onlv a mishap can possibly prevent him from setting the seal on his fame by winning the Ascot trophy. Whether Matt new .'aw son will be able to proceed with Ladas remains to be seen. Probably he may do so with the ground in a moist fctate, but as Lord Rosebery's four- vear-old has during the last three weeks done nothing in the way of training beyond msy cantering and trotting, it is a certainty that there has been something more the matter with him than those outside his stable are cognisant ct. Le Var is a. doubtful starter for the Derby. He is said to be in reserve for one of the ten thousand pounders. Slow Step win and place for the Derby is the cry just now. Though Cvpria is progressing most satis- factorily for the Manchester Cup, no stable money will be invested until she has been put through the mill, which will probably be'about the end of the present week. Those who fancy that the Doncaster Spring Handicap is a gift f0r Irish Car may Prof' ablv bear in mind the fact that, judged through the City and Suburban form with Stowmarket and her home trial with Kavens- burv she could not have won the Jubilee Stakes with 6st, in the saddle. The time occupied for that race was 1mm. 42 <i-asec. On the other hand, MatJabele, carrying 8st 121b covered the Rowley mile last- week in a fraction of a second less time. It is a noteworthy fact that, though the Rewley Mile is eleven yards further tha.n the •Jubll1ee course, the Green Lodge colt covered the distance in better time tha.n Victor Wild with 81b. more 11 the saddle. I am not. as a rule, a believer in the time test, but it, a.fter that, Irish Car can concede 91b. to Matabele. I shall never look a clock in the face again. The Manchester Cup promises to become a good betting race, inasmuch as the great maiority of the horses left in are probable starters, and probable tryers to boot. Rock- dove headed the Manchester quotations on Tuesday, but had a fractional advantage only of The Docker, who in London ranked favourite from Cypria. So far, however, the market represents merely the fancies of the general public. No stable companion is yet traceable to any candidate.

To-day's Racing. YORK, TUESDAY. Large fields contested the various races this afternoon, and sport was filly up to the average. T}:. Great Northern Handicap brought out a field of eleven runners, and Campanajo just managed to defeat Spindle Leg by a head, with Low Moor third. My selections for to-morrew arLondeeborough Stakes—FALSE STEP. Tyro Plate-RESIN or ACE OF CLUBS. Flying Dutchman's Handicap — OPERA GLASS or FIRST CONSUL. Consolation Scramble — LEOMINSTER or ROYAL BALSAM. Stamford Stakes—ADA COLT. Ealinton Stakes—VERONESA or GLAVE. 15 VENATOR.

PROGRAMME FOR THIS DAY. Horses marked (a) have arrived. 1.45—The LONDESBOROUGH STAKES of 5 sovs each, with 150 added. One mile and a quarter. Mr G F Fawcett's Philology, 4-yrs, 9st 12lb aMr W Stevenson's Perganios, 5yrs, 9st lllb aMr G Maclachlan's Bluff, 4yrs, 9st 81b Mr J R Humphrey's Hatfield, 6yrs, 9st lib aMr Dobell's False Step, 3vrs, Bat 121b Mr W I'Anson's Dr Jamieson, 3yrs, 8st 12lb Mr D Hollis's Merry Carrie, 4yrs, 8st 91b aMr Ellis's Virago, 3yrs, Sat 21b 2.15-The TYRO PI/ATE of 200 sovs, for two year olds. T.Y.C. aMr Grieve's Glennie filly, 8st lllb aMr L de Rothschild's Resin, 8st 111b aMr T Green's Barca, 3st lllb aMr J Newton's Crin, 8st lllb aMr Laclachlan's Ilfraoombe, 8st lllb aMr J Coats's Comedienne, Set 111b aMr Barnes's White Mouse, 8st lllb aMr Sadler's Cossack Maid, 8st 111b aLord Durfern's Negative, 9st aMr T Connor's Steeple Bob, 9st aMr J Tait, jun's St. Cannera, 8st lllb aMr W Chatterton's Ace of Clubs', 8sti lllb 2.45—The FLYING DUTCHMAN'S HANDI- CAP or 300 svos. One mile. aMr Lowther's First Consul, aged, 9st Mr Stevens's Kilmallock, 4yrs, 8st 91b Mr Reid's Kyle, 6yrs, 8st 71b Mr J Tait, jun. 's, Antonio Pierri, 4yrs, 8st Mr Tait, jun.'s Antonio Pierri, 4yrs, 8st 71b Sir R Jardine s Sarawak, aged, 8st 61b Mr J Snarry s Ormac, 5yre, 8st 41b -Y Mr Snrubv's Mouton, 5yrs, Bat 21b Mr R Crest's Mowbray, 4yrs, 8st lib Mr Ellis's Opera GIMS, Ayrs, 8st lib aMr G Maclachlan's Bluff, 4yrs. s8t Mr V yner's Naanah, 3yrs, e8t Mr Binnie's Crooked Pin, 5yrs, 7st 121b Mr Hollis's Wensley, 4yrs, 7st lllb lord Durham's Pot Luck, 6yrs, 7st lllb Mr Vyner's Sardis, 3yrs, 7st 81b Lord Downis's Hagopean, 3yrs, 7st 71b (71b ex) Mr I'Anson'8 Jim Selby, Ziyrs, 7s161b Mr Maclachlan's Alburnum, 3yr8. 6st 121b Mr Cooper's Kirkbauk, 3yrs, 6st 91b Mr Fernandez's Lady Sturton, 3vrs, 6st 71b 3,20-The CONSOLATION SCRAMBLE HANDICAP of 5 sovs each. T.Y.C. aMr Vyner's Pickled Berry, 4yirs. 9st 101b aMr Marshall's Ganges, 4yrs, 9st 31b aMr Murphy's Ken dale, 3yrs, 9st 21b aMr J Cannon's Leominster, 5yrs, 9st aSir H Fa-quliar's Ejector, 6yrs, 9ts aMr Percy's Richard, 5yrs. Bst 71 b aMr Donald's Porte Bonheur, 5yrs, 8st 71b aMr Dugdale's Pimperhill, 3yrs, 8st 21b aMr Gubbins's Toffy, 3yrs, 8st 21b a Mr Craig's Minaret II., 3yrs, 8st aMr Buchanan's Beano, 3yrs, 7st lllb aMr Hobday's Fruit Salt, 3yrs, 7st 91b aMr Wright's Wilford, 3vrs. 7st 71b aMr Whipp's Royal Balsam. 3yrs. 7st 51b aMr Dickinson's Straffaji Bridare. 3yrs, 7st 21b 3.50—The STAMFORD STAKES of 5 sovs each. T.Y.C. aMr J Maekie's Castle Loch, 4yre aMr L de Rothschild's Resin. 2yrs aMr Maclachlan's Panacea filly, 2yrs aMr Dugdale's Ada colt, 3yrs aMr J Hartley's Lamb's Fry, 3yrs -i aMr J Maclachlan's Cut Throat, 3yrs aMr T Clayton's Half-Dollar, 3yrs 4.30-The EGLiNTON STAKES of 5 sovs each. T.Y.C. Mr W Reid's Mercliiston. 9st 61b Mr W Stevenson's Automatue, 9S1t 31b aMr A cxidler's Cossack Maid, 9st Mr J Barrow's Strand, 8st 71b aMr F Bates's Carabas, 8st 71b Mr P Buchanan's Estiferous, 8st 71b aLord Durham's Gilead, 8s"t 71b Mr Fame's Aerolite, 8st 71b Sir H Farquhax's Polly Marden colt, 8st 71b Mr W I'Anson's Lector. 8st 71b Mr W I'Anson's Lotrd Mayor, 8st 71b Sir J B Maple's Miarton, 8st. 71b Mr F Plant's Lauder, 8st 71b aMr J Rowson's Avice oolt, 8st 71b Mr W Sa>nderson« Phil Brown, 8st Mr Vyner's Leirion, 8st 71b aMr Vyner's Glave, &t 41b Mr Vyner's Crakeberry, 8st 41b Mr Vyner's Silverings 8st 41b aLord Zetland's Veronesa, 8st 41b Lord Derby's Carlotta fillv, 8st 41b Lord Durham's Amaryllis, 8st 41b Lord Durham's Inez de Castro filly, 8st 41b Lord Durham's Rundale, 8st 4!b Mr E H Egerton's Napkin, 8st 41b Mr Fairie's Sprinkle. 8st 41b Lord Harewood's Lovelock. 8st 41b Mr W I'Anson's Salebeia, 8st 41b Mr J Joicev's Queen of the Belles, 8st 41b Mr J Lowther's Victa, 8st 41b Sir J B Maple's Pensive. 8st 41b Mr L de Rothschild's Banket, 8st 41b Mr J Tait. jun.'s Sumatra, 8st 41b ADDITIONAL ARRIVALS THIS MOINlNfi. Mertie Carrie. Onnac, Crooked FSn, Wensley, Sard's, and Estiferous.

BATH AND SOMERSET RACES. Ortler of Running.—Licensed Victuallers' Plate, 1.45. Bath Welter, 2.15; Dvrham Park, 2.45; Somer- setshire Stakes, 3.15; Worcester Plate, 3.45; Lane- down Stakes, 4.15; Westoa Stakes, 4.45. CLAIMS. Lansdowne Stakes.—Ganv~ale, Floater, Fighting Cock, Sweet Mart filly, and authoress (each to be sold for 100 sovs). ENTRIES. Worcester Plate.—Conacher, aged Binstead, 4yrs Trumpeter, 3yrs; Absentee, 4yrs; lYaekle-ss, 3yre; White Lie, 3yre Tall Talk, Svrs and Daily Bread, 2yrs. Licensed Victuallers' Plate.—Oressida, 4yrs Geof- frey, 4yrs; Peter Robinson, 3yra; Full Face, 3yrs; Secrecy filly, 3yre; Hotiiain, 3yrs; Pentonia, 3yre; and Mr. Jersey, 3yrs. SORATCHINGS. Bath Welter-Heatitemell. Somersetshire Stakes—Mouton. Lansdown Stakes—Daily Bread. ADDITIONAL ARRIVALS. Aratieula, Arcano, Authoress, Ajax, Aldboume, Battlefield, Blue Ensign, Brambling, Contie, Cross Legs, Cric-Crac, Daily Bread, Gay Baraaul, Great Shot, Honorious, Hasty Boy, Hecuba, La Belle Sarah, Lake- side, Musley Chief, Mr. Jersey, Mocanna, Peter Robin- son, Queen of Fortune, Springfield colt, Sweet Mart tilly, St. Osniand, Santa Luna, Tinman, Trackless, Tulchan, Theory, Trionfi, Tall Talk, Yards, and those entered in overnight races.

YESTERDAY'S LONDON BETTING. THE DERBY. (Run Wednesday, May 29. About 1 mile 4 furlongs.) 9 to 2 agst Raconteur, t & o 9 to 2 — Laveno, o—5 to 11 20 to 1 — Beckhampton, t 20 to 1 — Slow Step, t & o 20 to 1 — Troon, o—25 to 11 50 to 1 — The Lombard, t 50 to 1 — Galopian, t 50 to 1 — Matchmaker, t & o 100 to 1 — The Corsican, t & w 100 to 1 — Tarporley, o MANCHESTER CUP. (Bun Friday, June 7. Distance, one mile and three- quarters.) 9 to 1 agst Florizel II, 8st lib, t & o 9 to 1 — The Docker, 4yrs, 6st 91b, t & 0 10 to 1 — Bushey Park, 6yrs, 8st, t 10 to 1 — Cypria, 5yrs, 7st 21b, t & w 10 to 1 — Reminder, 4yrs, 9st 31b, t 10 to I — Bockdove, 4yrs, 6st lllb, t & o

OFFICIAL SCBATCHINGS. W e are officially informed by Messrs. Weatherby of the following scratchings Epsom Derby Briardile- All engagements in Mr Oorns's naine-Gallic. Bath Wetter- HeabherweU (by telegram). Somersetshire Stakes, Bathoo-Mouton. Chesterfield Handicap, Doneaeter—Ilium. Zetland Plate, Düneal termMootauk. Doncaster engagements—Red Drop and Miss Nanty. Trial Handicap, Manehegber Ilium. Manchester engagements—Shancrotha. All engagements in EnglaJId-La Douee. All handicaps where the weighte have appeared— Queen Saraband. All engagements in Mr. N. H. Scott's Dame—Step- ping Stone. All engagementlf-Yearling colt by, Galliajrd~» Evelina (dead) and Oxus II. (dead). Shancrotha, having broken down, has been struck out of the Manchester Cup. The apprentice who steered Sauteuse to victory in the Tradesmen's Plate at Bath on Tuesday afternoon had never before had a mount in public. He shaped in very promising fashion.

aw oar MIM=ON ? -?- "?-?.?' DERBY. OAKS, MANCHESTER CUP, &c Mr. ALFRED CROOK. OSTENDE. Alfred Orook will forward, free, on receipt of address, "CROOK'S PRICE RECORD," Containing Entries and Latest Market Moveemnfa 011 above. Letters posted by the Night Mail arrive In Ostende the following day, and answered Õ" j* turn of post. Letters must be prepaid. Address ALFRED CROOK, Ostende. Postage 2¥i. Accounts settled at Tatteraall's, of which M* Orook is one of the oldest members. e3995

WELSH TWENTY CLUB. RESULT OF THE FIRST DISTRICT SHOOT. The first district shoot in connection with the above club took place on various district ranges in Wales and some English districts last week. The weather was fine throughout, but the wind was very strong the whole time, and very changeable. The following are some of the scores Colour-sergeant J. Ball, Merthyr Vale 32 32 34 98 Corporal Andrews. Carmarthen 31 33 31 95 Private J. B. Jones, Carmarthen 32 32 30 94 Sergeant G.Watkins.YstradBhondda 31 34 29 94 Colour-sergeant Phillips, Surrey 29 31 33 93 Private Hopkins, Maesteg 31 33 29 93 Private Proudfoot, Liverpool 28 33 29 90 Colour-sergeant Pascoe, Llanelly _.H 31 31 28 90 Colour-sergeant Howell. Surrey, 34 28 28 90 Lance-sergeant Sillery, Wrexham 31 32 27 90 Lance-sergeant Heywood, Wrexham. 29 31 29 89 Sergeant-inst. Bocklain, Cardigan 31 30 28 89 Lieutenant Naysmith, Morriston 30 29 29 88 Private W. Davies, Bridgend 29 31 28 88 Sergeant W. T. Davies, Llanelly 30 30 28 88 Private John Davies, Llanelly 29 32 27 88 Private Tobias Williams, Llanelly 32 29 27 88 Private G. Bailey, Wrexham 30 33 25 88 Private Wm. Davies, Llanelly 31 32 25 8rf Captain Dowdeswell, Merthyr Vale 26 31 30 87 Qtrmster-sergeant Richards, Llandilo 26 32 29 87 Private H. T. King, Wrexham 29 30 28 87 Major Langden, Swansea 30 29 28 87 Serjeant J. Howell, Margam 32 27 28 87 Sergeant A. Bellis, Liverpool. 28 34 25 87 Colour-sergt Hopkin Jones, Bridgend 29 33 25 87 Private Hutchings, Bristol 33 31 23 87 Orderly-sergeant John Lane, Bridgend 26 31 29 86 Sergeant G. S. Harris, Swansea 29 29 28 86 Colour-sergeant T. Lewis, Cardigan. 28 31 27 06 Sergeant J. T. Williams, Swansea 31 30 25 86 Srgt. J. S. Hutches, Burton-on-Trent. 28 27 30 85 Lance-corporal W. J. Bees, Bridgend 26 31 28 85 Private David Arthur, Llanelly 31 25 28 84 Major Sparrow, Wrexham 25 32 27 84 Private David Thomas, Bridgend 26 33 25 84 Private Shamnon, Aberdare 27 33 24 84 Sergt.-major Raglan Thomas, Exeter 31 29 24 84 Lieutenant J. E. Lloydd, Liverpool. 25 26 32 83 Lieutenant F. B. Williams, Surrey 27 29 27 83 Sergeant J. Thomas, Dowlais 26 30 27 83 Pte. D. Williams, Aberavon 28 28 Z1 83 Corpl. B. Collins, Liverpool 28 28 27 83 Sergt. Fenniel, Brighton 30 29 24 83 Trooper J. E. Barnett, Wrexham 30 29 24 83 Pte. E. Morgan, Liverpool 29 32 22 83 Sergt. A. Weeks, Brynmawr 27 28 27 83 Sergt. G. Williams, Cardiff 31 25 26 82 Sergt. J. Walters, Monmouth 27 30 25 82 Sergt. S. Griffiths, Wrexham 26 32 24 82 J Pte. Keg. Bees, Bridgend 29 32 21 82 j Lieut. Thomas, Hirwain 28 27 26 81 Sergt. W. Walters, Monmouth 31 25 25 81 Sergt. John Davies, Dowlais 30 27 24 81 Pte. Geo. Parry, Liverpool 27 31 22 so

The Cymric Causerie GOSSIP AND CHATTER OF WALES AND WELSHMEN. A Column of Notes and News of Persons and Places of Interest and Instruction for Old a.nd Young. Lady Bute has changed the date of her dance from the 18th of June to the 14th. On Monday Admiral Seymour and suifll vieited Porthcawl and inspected the coMt. guards' station. 1\11'. Abel Thomas's new hat is a. study. With its broad brim and bell-like contour it i. enough to make even the Bishop of St. Asajib green with envy. The inhabitants of West Wharf. Cardiff, thoueht on Tuesday that the millennium had a* length arrised. A steam-roller made its appearance there for tho first time in one hun- dred years. Before the late restoration of St. David's Cathedral, some broken tiles between St. David's Shrine and the Earl of Richmond's tomb were pointed out as footprints of Crom- well's horse. Allen Upward and Onward is the way "Fun" refers to the Cardiff Radical barrister, who says he has turned Tory, and the comic paper seems to think the name an assumed one. We understand, however, that Mr. Upward's name is as much his own as his politics. Sir Edward Reed and Mr. D. A. Thomas were unpaired on Mr. Lloyd-George'« amend- ment The former entered the House after the division. The driver who put him down at the members' entrance informed the con- stable. on duty that he was "a jolly old chap." Sir DonaJd Macfarlane voted against the Government on Mr. Lloyd-George's amendment. This, however (says the Westminster Gazette"), was in mistake more than ill anger. He walked into the Opposition lobby and did not discover his mistake until it was too late. There are several doubles in the House of Commons, and now one of the members writes to say that there is a very striking physicai resemblance between Sir Edward Reed, the Radical member for Cardiff, and Mr. Cum- ming Macdona, the Tory member for South- wark. Two resolutions passed by the Cardiff grocers this week wear a significant look when they stand side by side. The first was to raise the price of sugar at once; the second was that 81 pic-nic be held at Llangorse Lake. The public will be almost persuaded to say they will do without the pio-nic. It may be a comfort to Mr. D. A. Thomas to know that Mr. Alfred Thomas and Mr. Lloyd- George will hold meetings wherever the member for Merthyr dares to talk in support of the South Wales Federation, and they guarantee a complete capture of the audience in favour of the national federation idea. Mr. Francis Thompson (Machen), who entered into his ninetieth year on Sunday, is a familiar figure in thE" Newport Union. where he has held the post of assistant-overseer for three parishes for nearly 50 years. Mr, Thompson may still be frequently seen riding over the hills in the pursuit of his calling, and looking hale and hearty all the while. Even if he gets nothing else, the pauper gete a world of sympathy. This is from the "Daily Chronicle":—Here is a touch of Dickens which we commend to M. Daudet. Scene The board- room of the Cardiff Guardians. Speaker Mr. F. J. Beavan, a guardian. Time: Saturday:— Mr. Beavan said the contractor undertook to do a certain business for 17s. 6d. a case, and he well understood that he might use a spring-cart for the purpose. The board never objected. The "certain business" thus delicately alluded to was simply the burial of Cardiff paupers, and 17s. 6d. "a case" was the price to be paid. The difficulty was, however, that the contractor rattled the bones of his cases over the stones in a spring-cart instead of a hearse, and, as another guardian remarked, "he did not think that he or Mr. Beavan would care, if they knew of it, to be conveyed to the cemetery in a. spring- cart. (Laughter.) It came out in the course of discussion that another contractor had offered to do the work for 16s., with a hearse thrown in. This gave the requisite economic sanction. "If," as a reverend guardian put it, "that tenderer could do the work for Is. 6d. a case less than it was now being done for, and furnish a. hearse, the present contractor should oertainly do so." Yes; we certainly are a commercial people. The other evening a woman who had apparently fallen down in a fit was taken into a Cardiff chemist shop, and the chemist's assis- tant immediately set to work with the usual remedies to bring the woman to consciousness. At last the "patient" wearily opened her eyes, and the chemist's assistant tenderly inquired if she was subject to fits. "Fits—ic—fits," was the reply; "'tisn't fits; I'm drunk. That's what's the matter with me. The most conspicuous place in the presby- tery of St. David's Cathedral is occupied by the tomb of Edmund Tudor. Bar! of RicltnHNKi, son of Owen Tudor and Queen Catherine 01 Valois, widow of Henry V., and father of King Henry VII. The earl was, in 1456, buried in the church of Grey Friars, a.t Carmarthen. At the dissolution his remains were brought to St. David's, together with the altar tomb which had been get up at Carmarthen in his son's reign. It is a, pretty competition that is now going on in Cardiganshire between Mr. Vaughan Davies and Mr. Wynford Philipps for the con- fidence of the Liberal party. At a meeting addressed at Aberayron last week by Mr. Vaughan Davies, Mr, John M. Howell made a remark which seemed to puzzle everybody. He said that the only Liberal paper printed in the county strongly opposed Mr. Vaughan Davies and supported Mr. Wynford Philipps, "and," added Mr. Howell, "I do not know which is the most fortunate of the two in that respect. A catastrophe oourred to Mr. Stanley Leighion in the House of Commons on Monday night while delivering irrelevant remarks con- nected with Queen Anne's Bounty. 1'he Chairman suddenly called him to order, and he was so shocked that 'be eat down on his hat. Mr. Leighton realised the situation at once, and1 bounded up again with such swiftness that the Chairman mistook his intention, and, Slinking he was going to question the ruling, inter- vened with a sharp Order! order!" Mr- Leighton, alarmed and flustered, again sate down, and this time crushed the hat out of recognition. Thos. ab Rhys, of Glamorgan, who died ia 1615, aged 141. was one of the Monks of Mar- gam. He was regarded as a prophet, though the sceptical called him "Tom the fair liar." \\t hn the son of Sir Matthew Cradock, of Swansea, was christened, the horses were shod with silver. "Tush," said Tom, "what fuss to make of a child that will strangle itself with ihe strings of its cap." Sir Mattlhew, hearing i*. sent him to gaol, but records state that ei>me days afterwards the servant left the child for a few minutes, and in the interval it was reaily strangled by forcing its fingiers into the strings of its head-dress. There are at least two prophets in Wales- one at Cardiff and another at Maesteg. A short time ago the Rev. E. Jones ("Iorwerth Ddu"). who occupies "Y pwlpud yn Betha- nia, made famous by the late "Tremrudd," delivered a lecture in Salem. The lecture was interesting, and consisted of prophecies of jife in Wales in 1995. On Monday last Dr. Joseph Parry, Cardiff, prophesied in Maesteg that in two or three years there will be. in Wales at least, an united Christendom, and contingents from the various religious denominations will be sent to the Crystal Palace annually to sing Welsh hymns. The "Western Mail" will report the fulfilments of the prophecies as they occur. According to Mr. Clement E. Stretton, the well-known authority 111 railway matters, "there can be no question that the first per- sons ever conveyed by a locomotive upon rails travelled on the 24th of February, 1804, behind Trevithick's locomotive on the Peny- darran cast iron plate-way or tram-road to Merthyr Tydfil, a distance of nine miles. In order to convey long bars of iron, and also timber, wagons were constructed in pairs, coupled together by an iron draw-bar having » joint at either end; these wagons had no sides, but in the middle of each there was fixed a centre-pin, upon which worked a cross- beam or bolster, upon which the timber or bars of iron were placed. The trucks in this case were loaded with ten tons of bar iron, and upon the iron seventy pwsoaa either stood or sat."

iamily investment amounting in all to B150. Mrs. Griffiths. Garn, an old widow, who had S60 in the ill-starred society, felt the loss Bo much that she sickened and broke her Wrt. Owen Bowen. Newport Mountain, Carrier, lost JB50. Thomas Lloyd, an old tailor. also residing on the mountain, lost £ 90. Jis life's savings. Mr. Roch, the retired soal merchant, the original agent, invested md lost £90. Maria Jones. East-street, ras given £ 30 by her aunt. which tvas swallowed up with the rest of the losses. George Morgan, Dinas, invented £ 30 only a week before the smash. There were numerous other losses. SOME NARROW ESCAPES. Some narrow escapes are also recorded. Captain Jenkins, of Newport (Pem.), in- vested JB50. and the money being sent away, reached London the day before the Liberator was announced to be in difficulties. A tele- srram was sent off to >«top the cheque, but it was stated to be too late. The money was, however, afterwards recovered by Mr. Daniel, solicitor. Cardigan. The Rev. James Jenkins, Baptist minister, of Newport (Pem.), had JE100 ready to invest, and was only wait- ing for the necessary documents when the crash came, and the money was saved just in time. About twelve months before the crash the Newport (Pem.) Oddfellows were very anxious to invest B500 in the Liberator, but by the advice of the district corresponding secretary at Cardigan they were dissuaded from doin, so. LOSSES AT COLWYN. We learn that in the Colwyn district of Radnorshire, the agency being in the hands of a highly respected Baptist minister (who evidently was a firm believer in the stability of the society, for he was himself a loser), there were a large number of investors. INVESTIGATIONS IN THE BUILTH DISTRICT. The losses in the Builth district, although not of great magnitude, are yet serious, because in every case the loser belonged to the working class, and the sums lost were not so many windfalls, but the hard savings of years, the two heaviest sums repre- senting the accumulated contributions, with the fictitious "bonuses" and accruing interest, of many years. The following list is fairly com- plete:—Mrs. Mary Jones, West-end, Builth, widow. 8t years of age, £ 792; Mr. George Jones, Builth-road, engine-drive<r, London and North-W extern Railway, £ 500; Mr. James Price, Park-road, Builth, gardener, £ 60; Mr. John James, Builth, warehouseman, 260; Mrs. Jones, Railway Station House, Builth, vife of stationmaster, £ 50; Miss F. Gunter, West-end, Builth, spinster, £ 45; Mr. G. H. Daviee, stationmaater, Defynook (formerly booking-nlerk, Builth), £ 40; Miss Gunter, Weet-end, Builth, milk vendor, 68 years of age, £ 30: Miss Lewis, Broad-street, Builth, grocer, £ 30; Mr. Lewis Cors'ham, Builth-road, railwayman, E20, Mr. Geo. Davies. Rhayader (formerly of Builth), railwayman, £ 20: Mr. R. Paij-y, Talg&rth, booking-clerk (formerly Builth), £ 10; Mr. W. Prothero, Cneitho Mill, near Builth, farmer, £ 10: Air. Thos. Prothero, Pontardawe, poor-law clerk (formerly Builth), £ 10; Mr. James Norburv, Brecon, passenger Vfuard, £ 10; Mrs. Mary Bound, wife of Mr. C. Bound, Castlcsarm. farmer, £ 10; and Mr. Eyaai Jones, Builth, stationmaster (the last Liberator agent), £ 5—total, 91,702. AN OLD WOMAN'S STORY. The case of Mrs. Mary Jonts, widow, is the most distressing in the Builth district. The old lady is now in her 84th year, and, although sharp enoug'h in intellect, is physically much enfeebled, sight and hearing failing her. Our representative had an interview with her, when the old lady bemoaned her loss. The sum, she said, included her contributions at the rate of 5s. per month for a period of twenty years, and nearly the whole of her savings were swallowed up. She first of all saw some "papers," which tempted her to start deposit- ing in the Liberator, in which she gradually acquired six E30 shares, and she also bought some for her grandson. She afterwards ac- quired twelve j650 eftiares in the Home and Land, and to think it was all lost it maddened her. The old lady now lives in a cottage on the road to the Wells, her front room being used as a little store, by which she now tries to eke out a livelihood. THE BUILTH DISTRICT AGENTS. The first agent at Builth was one John J ones, a retired gardener, the agency upon his death being taken up bv his daughter, Miss M. A. Jores. She was followed by Sergeant-instructor Butts, and after his departure there was an interval, the agency being eventually taken up by the present Builth stationmaster, Mr. Evan Jones. The agent at Rhayader was the Rev. S. Prosser (Calvinistio Methodist minister), who still resides there. The agent for the Colwvn District of Radnorshire was the Rev. T. D. Jones (Baptist minister), who lived at Franksbridge, but now lives at Nantgwyn, Rhayader. FARMERS HEAVY LOSERS. The Hay (Clyro) and Talgarth (Brinllys) dis- Vricts suffered aoutely, the losses being very keavy upon farmers. IHE LOSSES IN SWANSEA DISTRICT. The Swansea district appears to have pro- duoed few striking cases, although unques- tionably a large number of Swansea folk were either depositors or shareholders, or both, in the Balfour group of concerns. The investors are mostly people of average mean 3. In some districts of Wales, especially the agricultural parts, there have doubtless been many cases in which hard-working men invested all their little savings in the ventures in question, but in Swansea an investigation only led to the dis- closure of one case of real destitution caused by the collapse. It was that of a widow at Cockett, who entirely lost her means of liveli- hood through the failures, and who is said to ha.ve received JS10 from the relief fund formed after the failure. In the course of an investigation at Swansea we found evidence that Nonconformists had been much bitten. The Rev. Mr. Gibbon, late of Castle-street Chapel, Swansea, now of London, and the Rev. W. Gibbon, of Mansel-street; the Rev. Mr. Samuels, Zoar; the Rev. Thomas Evans, Mount Pleasant, and the Rev. Mr. Rees, Welsh minister, Sketty, are amongst those whom we discovered to be losers there. The first-named. Mr. Gibbon, has removed to a highly lucrative post in London, and is, therefore, in a better position than before to bear his loss. Miss Dodd, of Llanrhi- dian; Mr. D. L. Evans, chemist, Walter- road* Mr. James, schoolmaster at Cadle; and Mr. Hicks. Walter-road, have each been victimised. The Church of England has not escaped, the Rev. S. Emery, of Normal College, the recently-appointed vicar of Pen- maen, being a gentleman who has suffered. A peculiarly distressing case was that of the late Rev. W. J. Griffiths, English Congrega- tional minister. Sketty, and Mrs. Griffiths, Both died within a day or two of each other, and were buried in the same grave on the ime day. and it was a matter of common eport that their financial disappointment in his matter had something to do with their leaths. In the course of a conversation with a Swansea tradesman who lost L150 only by the frauds, we were informed of the names )f a number of other people who, by common oepute, had lost through the failures. They included several Nonconformist ministers. The tradesman in question was a good Con- servative, and he pooh-poohed the idea that the word Liberator had suggested the Libera- tion Society to him and others of his acquain- tance. /'ft never occurred to me that it had to do with the Liberation Society at all. I know other (food Churchmen who are in it. "We tnought it a good investment. It wasn t as though they were offering a high rate of inte- rest Of course, if you embark in things offering heavy interest you only get laughed at if you are bitten. But here we had only 4 per cent. at first, and then 5." "Do yon. expect to get anything of your £ 150 back? we asked. "I am a shareholder," Was the reply. "1 suppose the depositors will get something, but I have not the slightest hope of ever getting anything. Although I have had the papers from the Utncial Receiver I have decided not to incur any expense, so I have not„ made.. a claim. "It is a curious thing, he continued, "that I had money in another venture which failed just before this—Barker's Bank; tnd it was whilst I was on my honeymoon in London that, walking down the Strand, I bought an evening paper and saw that the crash in connection with that affair had come. A nice honeymoon paragraph for me, wasn't it ? But, thfre. they were giving us 7 per cent., with a bonus of 1 per cent., so that, having accepted the risk. I had to grin and bear it. My wife said to me at once, Better take out that Liberator money, but I replied. 'Oh! no, that is a different class of thing altogether. That is sound enough. I aw not crointr to Ka iti + lmldaiarl hIT this accl- dent.' So I let it remain, with the result you know." "Were you induced by any of these Non- conformist agents "Not I!" he replied. "I fancied the thing myself, but I wrote up to two London evening papers-the 'Echo' and the 'Star'—before I invested, and they replied that the- Liberator was a society of some years' stand- ing. and was a sound investment." "That was what everybody thought, "remarked our representative, as he left to seek others. Subsequently he called on a gentleman who is undoubtedly the largest loser in Swansea— Mr. W. Evans, of Eaton Grove—who had a big tale of disaster to unfold. Mr. Evans is a grocer who for years carried on a big business at Ebbw Vale, but who some years ago retired on a well-earned fortune to live in Swansea. Mr. and Mrs. Evans, with their family, reside at a most pleasant new residence overlooking Swansea Bay. They bear their loss well, although probably the thought of what they still have, combined with their own pleasant, sunny natures, helps to make them philosophical over it. "Yes," said Mr. Evans, "I lost £4,600 in this man's companies. It is a lot of money, and! people will hardly believe that I would have invested so largely in those concerns, but there is the scrip for you to see for yourself. I first became connected with the Liberator about seventeen years ago, when in businoes at Ebbw Vale, I trave JE512 for shares then. I took every pre- caution I could. I saw my bankers about it—■ the Bristol and West of England—and they kindly made irquiries for me. They did not lecomineud any tiling, but they reported to me that the directors were all men of good reputa- tion. Well, after coming to Swansea I gradually increased my investments, till I had £ 4,572 invested in Balfour's companies. I had £1,160 in the Liberator, jBl.912 in the Lands Allotments, £1, aoo in the House and Land Investment Trust, and £ 500 in the London, &c., Bank. By-the bye, I paid a call of £'15 on the last i.anirid the other day, and finished with it, 1 hone." "How did you embark so heavily?"—"It was chiefly through a young friend of ours in Cardiff. He advised us honestly to the best of his belief, and he had money in it himself. Ho was always advising us to secure shares, and he was simply staggered by the unexpecetd collapse. Well, I myself have never advised anyone to put their money in it, but several of my friends have in- vested in it, and, I believe, in nearly every case it was my young Cardiff friend who gave the advice. He had wonderful faith in it, and he was acting quite conscientiously. Of that I am quite sure. We were getting B280 a year from this investment. Now the shares," con- tit, ued ne, taking up the papers, and laughingly letting them fall on the table, "are not worth the paper they are printed on, I suppose. Perhaps I may get r little on my deposit of £ 1,600, but the other is all gone. "You oan stand your losses all right, but I daresay you know cf very different cases?"— Yes, it is very hard on some. no doubt, but the cases I have heard of, chiefly in Swansea, a.re those of people who can afford to lose it. I had an assistant at Ebbw Vale who put every penny of his savings into it whilst he was in my employ. He loses £ 1,100, but, fortunately for him, he has now a good busi- ness and is worth his thousands. He was getting JE60 a year and his keep, and was a very savin"- boy. He saved £300 first and put it in, then he increased it vear by year to £ 1,100." "Indeed," continued Mr. Evans, "it is diffi- cult to know what to invest in. I have two farms; they don't pay 3 per cent., and as for shipping, well, I get nothing out of it at all. But the land, after all, is sure. It is a funny thing, when we bought a farm in Carmarthenshire this investing friend of ours was surprised at our putting our money out like that. 'Why, you are losing a couple of hundred a year on it. Don't be foolish.' But the farm remains and the Liberator is gone. Last time we saw him before the failure I don't think he thought so much of the concern, because he said, 'You have enough invested there now; try something else.' If he had said a word more I would have had my money out, but, unfortunately for me, he didn't say enough." "And we were congratulating ourselves the other day that we didn't raise the money from the Liberator to buy a farm at an auction. chimed in Mrs. Evans. "I was at the sale and almost bought it. If we had, we would have taken out the JB1,600 we had on deposit." The Rev. W. Gibbon, of Mansel-street, Swansea, Nonconformist minister, on being called upon, said he had been interested in the Liberator for some years, and had invested a little in it. He believed there were a great number of losers by it in Swansea, but he could form no estimate of the amount. No one could have expected such a crash. Balfour came of a good stock. His mother was well known as a most noble woman, a.nd his father was a man of force of character, a temperance reformer, and a God-fearing man. Balfour, therefore, had a good start in life, but when he got command of so much money he seemed to become suddenly reckless. A BAPTIST MINISTER LOSES ALL HIS SAVINGS. The Rev. Samson Jones, Baptist minister, of Treforest, told our reporter frallklr enough the story of the loss of "his little all. As pastor of Libanus Chapel, the reverend gentleman is well known in the Pontypridd district, and the rumour having got abroad that Mr. Joneo had made a little money in America and lost it in the "Liberator," the reporter determined to verify the tale, if possible. "Yes," said the Rev, Samson Jones, "it is true enough that I had £300 in the Liberator grcup, and, of course I have lost it. During my seven years' stay at Wilkesbarre I made a little money, and on my return to this .'o ii.tiy I was almost immediately visited by the agent of the Liberator at Oswestry, but I did not do anything with him in the matter. Knowing that a brother minister, the Rev. Mr. Parrisli, of Bargoed, was an agent of the Liberator, I wrote to him for particulars, and in consequence or his reply I sent him the whole of it at once—paying it in the name of Parrish through the Provincial Bank at Wrexham." "Some of the victims," remarked the re- porter, "appear to have spread their savings over the various companies in order not to have all the eggs in the same nest, as the saying goes." "Oh!" said Mr. Jones, "the agents were, I understand, instructed to tell them to do that, so that, if by any possibility, anything hap- pened to one company, the money in the others would be safe. At any rate, I was advised to do so." "And you did, I suppose?" asked the news- paper man. "Yes, I invested in the Liberator, the House and Lands, and the Building Securities." "Did you receive any dividend?" "Well, yes,three or four times—5 per cent. in the Liberator, 6 in the House and Lands, and 7 in the Building Securities. Then I thought at one time of withdrawing from the concern, but unfortunately abstained from do- ing so afterwards. I will tell you how it hap- pened. I went to Lloyds Bank to change the cheques I was receiving as dividend, and on one occasion the manager, Mr. R. A. Lewis, asked me if I was not afraid of leaving my money in the Liberator. I did not say much then, but, after thinking over the matter, I began to doubt whether it would not be better to withdraw. I consulted the late Rev. Dr. Roberts, and, after talking over the matter with him, I decided to build a. couple of cottages and get the money out for that. Dr. Roberts pre- pared plans, at my request, and the plans are here in the house now—plans for three houses. But Mr. Parrish came here and advised me not to do so. Four or five months later the craph came." "And the salaries of Welsh ministers, as a rule, are not very high?" mused the reporter. "No," replied the pastor, "I never had the chance of saving from the pastorate salary, except when I wag in America, and I have now to face advancing age with nothing but my losses to remind me of the money I once had." WORSE CASES THAN HIS OWN. Mr. Jones added that, although his case was a bad one, he knew of worse cases than his own. A neighbour of his, Mr. Thomas Jones, a tin-plate worker—known as "Tomas Jones y shearer"—had in his old age lost about £ 60—all he had. But, he added, a really sad case is that of "Gwrhyd," the Congrega- tional minister of Tonyrefail now. 'Gwrhyd' and I," continued the Rev. Samson Jones, "were fellow ministers at Wilkesbarre—he with the Congregationaliste and I with the Baptists. Our chapels were nearly next door to each other, as you might say. We spoke to each other of the Liberator when in America, and when he came here he, like myself, put his money in it. I don't know how much, but the circumstances are really sad ones For two years after he came back to this country he was without a ohurch, » i'd then he buried his daughter, and also lost his V- vii gs. so that the man has had grief :nd trouble together." The reference to Thomas ooues, the shearer. was oonfirmed by othirs who knew the family. The poor fellow has b&f*n suffering from partial blindness, but has been enabled to resume work, and in his old age is struggling bravely with his misfortune. A SCHOOLMASTER'S SERVANT'S SAVINGS GONE. I am informed, writes our Pontypridd reporter, that a Rhondda schoolmaster, whose name I am not at liberty to divulge, placed his savings in the Liberator and lost them. But what is worse is this: A servant girl in the schoolmaster's service followed her employer's example, and invested all she had —- £ 30—in the same concern. I have not heard that she has been in any way relieved or compensated. A YOUNG COLLIER LOSES JB75. From Mountain Ash comes a storv of a young collier who invested JB75 in the con- of a Baptist minister in the same neighbourhood who lias W +;40(L £ ta thai being a sum given him as a present by his church. DETAILS FROM PEMBROKE. What can be gathered merely by hear- say, is tliat several persons in Pembroke are heavy losers, one being reputed to have lost between £300 and J6500. It is reported that a Baptist minister lost between £1,000 and JS2,000, but this cannot be vouched for. All depositors are most reticent. EFFECTS AT DOWLAIS. PROBABLE LOSS OF £100,000. From inquiries made by our Dowlais corres- pondent, it would appear that in no part of Wales has such a. tremendous amount of money been lost, or so many poor, hard-working people been defrauded of their savings, as at Dow- lais. Little short of the appalling sum of £100,000 found its way into thb ooliers of the London society from that town. The local agents were men of integrity and position, and their confidence in the societies probabiy acoounts for their energy in promoting its interests. The local friendly societies lost heavily, no less than nineteen different insti- tutions of this character having sunk sums varying from JB60, in the case of the "Lily of Vocliriw to £ 800 in that of the "True Britons." Our correspondent not having com- pleted his investigations, details will be pub- lished in a future issue. Many private in- dividuals are credited with losses of j31,200 and £ 1,000, and there are numerous cases of amounts nearly reaching the latter figure. The partial list sent by our correspondent contains the names of over 50 heavy loser*. MERTHYR DEPOSITORS SINK £ 20,000. The difficulty of obtaining really authentic information makes it quite impossible to ap- praise with any degree of accuracy the losstB sustained at Merthyr, but it is notorious that fhe town has been hand hit, and we shall not be very wide of the mark in fixing the amount at from j315,000 to £ 20,000. W hen the great crash came, viotims were somewhat inclined to pour their lamentations into the publio ear, but now time has somewhat reconciled them, and there is a. unanimous disposition on their part to let the remembrance of the cruel blow rest, so far as possible, in deep oblivion, xne victims, indeed, have evinced an earnest desire that even their names should not appear in the press, and in no instance, except in the case of friendly societies, 'have they been willing to state for publication the extent of their pecu- niary misfortunes. Perhaps the bulk of the losers in point of amount are to be found among past and present members of Zoar Welsh Independent Chapel, Pontmorlais, and this is acoounted for by the fact that two of the lead- ing men of the congregation acted as agents for one or other of the two societies, Mr. John Rees, sub-inspector of schools, who now resides at Swansea, representing the Liberator, and Mr John Bowen, a great temperance man, the Land Investment Trust. These gentlemen were exceedingly active in endeavouring to promote the benefit of the societies, and it was through th°ir influence a.nd status that so many of the chapel people became involved. It is not to be assumed for- one moment that Mr. Rees and Mr. Bowen were so zealous in finding members merely for the sake of the gain wnioh they themselves derived from the commission that accrued, because they showed their faith in the concerns bv investing their own money, common report debiting the former with a loss of £ 1,700 and the latter with a loss of about £ 1,000. As has been already explained some of the victims have been content to divulge the sums of which they have been robbed, and it must, therefore, be distinctly understood that where amounts are mentioned they are given at second-hand, without pretension to literal accu- racy. The pastor, the Rev. John Thomas, who was drawn into the mesh. became the poorer by £ 800, but the heaviest loser of all is a ^ocer, who is said to have sunk upwards of £ 2,000 It has been rumoured, and the report has ap- peared in print, that' the worshippers attending Zoar have been affected to the amount of JB12,000, but, so far as diligent inquiry enables one to hazard an opinion, this appears to be a somewhat exaggerated estimate. Investigations have brought to light pitiful stories of the havoc wrought, the saddest case, perhaps, of all being that of Mr. William Jenkins, meckuiieal engineer, of Upper Thomas-street. Living a frugal life, he was enabled to save a lot of money, and he put between £3,00a and £ 4,000 in the Liberator. When the collapse occurred his health failed and he died, and there is not the smallest doubt in the world that his end was brought about by collapses of the Balfour group. Another man who is reported to have been brought to an untimely grave was John Evans, a collier, of Plantation-street, Penydarren, although his loss was comparatively small. The case of the Rev. William Jones, minister of Adulam Chapel, Thomas-street, is one calculated to excite svmrathy a.nd commiseration. He invested JE810 of money raved by himself and by his wife, who for many years was a schoolmistress, and J6200 entrusted to him for the purpose by a nephew in Carmarthenshire. Ever since the sr.IE.sh lie has been breaking, and he is now so seriously ill that it is doubtful if he will recover. A very singular case is that of Mr. J. Maddoeks, grocer, Betliesda-street. He put in a big sum for the benefit of his wife, and he gave up business, thinking to spend the rest of his days in retirement, but when he found that it was lost he comported himself more bravely than some of his fellow-sufferers, and he turned to and opened shop again. Mr. Llewellyn Jenkins, auditor, formerly of Upper Thomas- street, who is at present living at Swansea) was not -only fleeced by the Liberator of a very sub- stantial amount, but he was also a victim of the frauds of Dr. Clutterbuck, of Bath. The Lady Charlotte Lodge of Oddfellows lost £800, and, through the persuasion of a member who has himself lost £300, the Printers' Provident Society were induced to deposit a reserve fund of JE30 orly a fortnight or three weeks before the collapse. The victims include all sorts and conditions of men and women, many of them colliery workers, to whom the deprivation of their capital has been a sore affliction, but while, in all conscience, the lot of the simple deposi- tors has 1>('(>n hard, the ill-I lick of the share- holders has been harder still, inasmuch as they have had calls made upon them bv the Official Receiver to meet. while some of them have been put to 1I13 straits of having to realise all their available property. HEAVY BLOW TO A BRITHDIR FAMILY. It is stated that a well-known resident of Brithdir and two other members of his family have lost between them no less than £ 7,500.