The Cambrian

LORD ABERDARE. The following congratulatory address has been pre- sented to Lord Aberdare, on his elevation to the Peerage, by the inhabitants of Mountain Ash, < £ :c. In consequence of the illness of his Lordship's eldest son, the Hon. Henry C. Bruce, the presentation took place privately, Dr. Davies, and the vicar, Mr. Protheroe, being deputed to do so. To the Right Honourable Lord Aberdare. My Lord,—We, the inhabitants of Mountain Ash, desire sincerely to congratulate your Lordship upon your recent elevation to the peerage of the United Kingdom, and to express our unqualified appreciation of your appointment as Lord President of the Privy Council. We review your Lordship's past association with this town with very greatful feelings, attributing to your active interest and constant aid the local privileges which we at present enjoy. It is to your Lordship's valuable counsel and monetary aid that we are chiefly indebted for the exceptional educatlOnal advantages which our children now possess, and we earnestly hope that your interest in their welfare will continue unabated. We are reminded, too, not only that your personal efforts procured for us a local sanitary authority, by whose agency the rate of mortality amongst us has been materially decreased, but aiso that it was through your instrumentality we obtained from your late venerable and revered father so great a boon as a burial place for this district. We are also deeply sensible of the able manner in which your Lordship rcpresente 1 this borough in the House of Commons for a period of 1G years, during which you held successively the onerous posts of Under Secretary of State for the Home Department, and Vice- President of the Committee of Council on Education. The result of the general election of 1868 produced inex- pressible disappointment amongst us ;but your Lordship s acceptance of the representation of a distant county, and your return to Parliament as her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Home Department, were hailed by all of us with unbounded gratification, and the conscientious manner in which you have since discharged the respon- sible and most laborious duties of that office has, we believe, won for your Lordship the esteem and gratitude of your countrymen generally. The measures for social reform and the better safety of miners, known respectively as the ''Licensing Act of 1872," and the "Mines Regulation Act of 1872," which your lordship introduced and successfully carried through Parliament are, we believe, among the most prominent acts of recent legislation. For the latter especially, since it bears more directly upon the interests of this neigh- bourhood, we would offer our most sincere thank-, believing that your L )r.lship's name in connection with it will ever be remembered by the mining population as that of a public benefactor. For these several reasons we cannot remain silent spectacles of your elevation to a dignity which you have so well earned, and to an office the duties of which former experience in that Department has so well qualified you efficiently to discharge and we pray that your Lordship s life may be long spared to enjoy this distinction. We would also ask your Lordship to convey our sincere congratulations to her Ladyship on assuming the distin- guished title of Lady Aberdare, and also expressing our deep thankfulness to Almighty God for the complete restoration to health of one who by her sympathy and generosity to the poor and afflicted has endeared herself to all of us, and we sincerely trust she may live long to sh ire the honour which ic has pleased her most gracious M tjesty to confer on your L jrdsh'p. We cannot conclude without mentioning how deeply we sympathise with you both in your present grave anxiety in regard to the health of your son and beir, and we earnestly pray that it may please Almighty God to grant him speedy and complete recovery from his present serious illness.—We have the honour to be, my Lord, your Lordship's obedient servants. [Here were appended the signatures.] His Lordship has replied in the following terms :— Duffryn, August 30, 1873. Dear Mr. Davies,—Allow me to acknowledge very warmly and gratefully the address which, on the part of the inhabitants of Mountain Ash, you and Mr. Protheroe were deputed to present to me. Honours are valueless which have not been earned by honest and adequate public services and I accept with the greatest satisfac- tion the assurance of the friends and neighbours among whom I have passed the best years of my life, that, in their opinion at least, the distinctions which her Ma- jesty has been graciously pleased to confer on me have not been unworthily bestowed. Such services as my father and I have been able to render to the flourishing and energetic community at Mountain Ash have been more than repaid by your frequent and kindly acknowledgments of them, and by the interest you have ever taken in the fortunes of myself and my family. Your reference to Lady Aberdare has greatly touched both her and me. It has been no slight addition to the many blessings I enjoy, that, from her first appearance among you in this valley, she has so heartily responded to the affectionate welcome she received from the inha- bitants of Meuntain Ash, and that she has been so for- tunate as to inspire those feelings of attachment to which the address so kindly refers. No greater pleasure can be in store for her, or for me, or for our children, than to contribute by every means in our power to advance the well-being, and to deserve the good opinion and friendly regards of the many kind friends among whom our lot has been so happily cast. Believe me to be, dear Mr. Davies, very sincerely yours, I. ABERDARE. E. W. S. Davies, Esq., Monntain Ash.

SAD END TO A DAY'S EXCURSION.—A distressing oc- currence took place on Sunday night at the Westbourne- travellers named John Atioway, f lishlv stated, some bacon belonging to himJl fwommnv's held back. He, however, suspected one of the company servants, whom he assailed. Struggle ensued on the platform, and as the tram was moving on ifs way to Paddington the unfortunate man rolled on to the and was dragged along for some distance. p fellow's arm was torn completely from its socket, and others injuries were sustained which resulted in his death. The sad event was witnessed by a number of persons who had just left the excursion tram. SCHOOLS AN SANITARY LOANS.—By writue of an Act oassed in the recent Session (36 and 37 Vic., c. 49), the Treasury is empowered to issue £ 3,000,000 out of the Consolidated Fund to the Public Works Loan Com- Jrm«rs to enable them to make loans to School Boards in pursuance of the Elementary Education Act Fa™ and to Sanitary Authorities under the Public tr itWct The 57th section of the 33 and 34 Vic., 75 provides that where a School Board incur any cap. 75, P enlarging aechool-houee, they may, eX-??n*Bl!« consent of the Education Department, spread with the co geVeral years, not exceeding 50, and thepayme borrow money on the seourity of may for that p P rat6) to bear interest at the the school lunfl anu Workg Loan Cornmis. rate of 3 £ per cen reoommendations of the Local sioners may, <Dntne loan8 under the Public Health Government Board, game rate of interest, or Acttor -ni^ porpo^h^ any such rate as th enable the loan to be made deem necessary, m order to e Treasurv mav without loss to the Exchequer. The Irjwury may sanitary iu National Debt Commissioners Commissioners. Ihe .national may invest money in their hands under this Act.

COLLISION BETWEEN THE ALABAMA AND I ABEONA. CORK, Sunday Night. The Canard steamer Scotia, from New York on the 19th inst., arrived off the Harbour on Saturday. The steamship Alabama, of the Star Line, about whose safety apprehensions were for a time entertained, arrived at New York on the 18th, and the following details are given of her collision with the Abeona, of Liverpool, off the Irish coast. According to the official log, on the night of the 4th of August, at 11.50, the look-out, Donald M'Millan, reported a light about one and a half points on the port bow. The officer of the deck, Mr. George Hutchins, a short time afterwards got a glimpse of a red light and ported helm. Imme- diately afterwards he lost sight of the red light, and put the helm hard to port, ordering the engines to be stopped. Then he perceived a barque heading ap- parently up about north, north-east, crossing the bows of the steamer. Though an order was immediately given to reverse the engines, the barque went directly into the Alabama, striking her on the port bow, and also abaft the barque's forerigging. The time from the period of the collision until the barque went down could not have been more than four minutes. The engines were again stopped, and the quarter boats, in command of Messrs. Hutchins and Miller, were lowered in search of any survivors. Buoys and ropes were thrown overboard, to one of which a man who was swimming close to the steamer's side succeeded in clinging; and he was picked up by the port quarter boat in charge of Mr. Miller. Another man drifted alongside on part of the wreck, and was hauled on board. A third was rescued from the barque's boat, which was full of water. The steamer's boats con- tinued to pull in the immediate vicinity of the wreck for two and a half hours, but failed to discover any further traces of the crew. The port quarter boat was hauled up with some difficulty; but the starboard one got stove in, and lost altogether, but the men who were in it were saved. The steamer remained near the scene of the wreck, steaming slowly round until four o'clock in the morning on the 5th. It was then daylight and clear weather, and nothing further of the wreck being in sight, and the steamer not having received any damage worth mentioning, she proceeded on her voyage. The three rescued men were the boat- swain, Wm. Schunk, of Lubec; Adolph Horn, of Chili; Charles Dunker, of Lubec. Those who went down were the captain the mate; Bote Tooke, a Ger- man Mr. Caldwell, one of the owners, five English- men, and one Swede. The mate of the barque mis- took the steamer for a tug-boat, and was not unde- ceived until the collision became inevitable. [Mr. Ace, of Page-street, had a son a board the Abeona, and we regret to state that he was amongst the num- ber of those unfortunately lost in consequence of the cullision. ]

NEATH. TIlE GAS —A meeting of the shareholders was held on hridav last, when a statement of account, was presented up to the 30th June, showing a loss of about £ 1J. At the same meeting, David Bevan, Esq. Mayor, was unanimously elected director; and upon the motion of Mr. Ludlow, seconded by Mr. H. Thomas, TRI <■ Y.'°[ SWANSEA, and formerly a pupil of Mr. orn on Andrew, was appointed secretary and manager In the room of Mr. Doré. RATIIEK COOL. Elizabeth Owen, a married woman, was brought up on Monday charged with larceny. During the temporary absence of Mr. J. C. Bartlett from his stall.in the market on Saturday, the prisoner, without the slIghtest authority, took possession and sold what goods she got buyers for, and when she saw the police approaching left the stall and went away with the money she had received. Remanded to Friday. PETTY SESSIONS, FRIDAY.—(Before Griffith Llewellyn ??N ^ENRY ROWLAND> Esqrs., and the Rev. W. s") ■L'aroeny. Thomas Welsh was charged with stealing a flannel shirt, the property of Henry Rees, at Cwmavon on the 26th ult. It appeared from the evidence that Mrs. Rees left her houfe for a short time in the afternoon of that day, the flannel shirt then being on a soia in the parlour. When she returned it was missed, and she gave information to the police. The prisoner was apprehended, at the Copper-house inn, and charged with the onence, but he denied all know- ledge of it. The officer then questioned a man named David Thomas, who was present, and ultimately he pulled out the lost shirt from his breast, saying, at the same time, that he had bought it from the prisoner, which, together with an umbrella, he gave 3s. Gd. for. The property being identified by the owner, prisoner was committed for trial, the bench administering a severe rebuke to the witness David Thomas for his conduct in not making proper inquiry before purchasing, and for not speaking out when he heard prisoner denying the theft.—Assaulting the Police.—Hopking Evans, who is quite a lad, was charged with assaulting Police-constables Thomas Martin and Martin Markham, at Cadoxton on the 3lst ult. The defendant being the worse for liquor, was quarrelsome, and when remonstrated with by the officers he struck and kicked them- A penaly of 40s. and costs was inflicted in each case.—A Family Quarrel.— William Hughes was charged with assaulting Hannah Rees, his mother-in-law. During a quarrel on Monday last he struck her and used very foul language towards her. Two witnesses were called for the defence, who swore that the complainant spat in his face three times. They did not, however, witness the commencement of the row. Fined 20s. and costs, and bound over to keep the peace for twelve months.— Vagrancy.—Joseph Williams, a Cornishman, was charged with being on the premises of Mr. Bedford, at BritoHferry, on Wednesday night, the 27th ult., for an unlawful purpose. In consequence of a noise which was heard search was made by a constable, and prisoner was found in a bay- loft at 11.20 p.m. Sent to gaol for fourteen days.— Several drunkards were fined in various penalties.

CARMARTHENSHIRE. MONSTER GATHERING OF SUNDAY SCHOOLS. — On Thursday a monster demonstration on the part of the Dissenters took place as a set-off to that of the Episcopa- lians a fortnight ago. It has been resolved that this shall be the first of the annual gatherings of all the Dis- senting Sunday Schools in the town and immediate neigh- bourhood, and by all of them turning out on the same day many children will be prevented goin" from school to school in search of tea and cake. By °this arrangement the managers of the different schools will have a lesser number of mouths to feed. A united choir has for some time past been in training for this event, under the leader- ship of Mr. Samuel, Priory-street, to whom there is much credit due for the painstaking care he has bestowed upon the choir, and the degree of perfection he has enabled them to reach. It was arranged that the children and their teachers should meet in their schoolrooms at half-past one. Leaving the schoolrooms about two o'clock, they joined each other in the market-place. From here they marched m procession in the following order Priory-street In- dependent school, English Weslevan, Lammas-street Independent, English Baptist, Priory-street Baptist, Mission School Zion Calvinistic, Pensarn Calvinistic, ^'hrvinJro *?dePendent, Water-street, Calvinistic, Eng- Sthaft^nn?1! and the Tabernacle Baptist. It is thousand Th« StrenSth was between three and four Ouartermastpr% 00eSSlon h*ving been marshalled by through rS5 Sergeant Henry, left the Market-place tow \Aundewrian6^-r!et gate' Passed through Barns- King-street G-iiihu, i\ ° Pnory-street, returning through Hcton? M„Z^U-square, through Lammas-street to ricton s Monument, returning through Goose-street, ?n pe7ambu]atin' ,a,nd ^-street, to Guildhall-square, In perambulatlllg the town, numerous banners, borrowed were carriwl 11 1 it™1?* aPPropriite scriptural mottoes, learnt for the OCM different schools sang various pieces learnt tor the occasion. Two or three bands of music would have enlivened the proceedings In Guildhall- sung veiv well anh •,tround him, several pieces were sung veiy well and with great effect The square was sigh^was altogetl^ numberi*g many thousands, and the FFIIMPOSINE AVHE -^TE place appointed for its se?ar^ed> eac^. SoinS which was made un of .evening's entertainment, which a Wuw -p recitations, singing, and so forth. nished with been removed. It is well iur- with cocoa nut maH8 and chairs- The floor is covered duced in the form of*18' "v nove^ feature has-been intro- bv gas and will as'3estos stove, which is heated comfortable chanel v« Ifc is altogether a service was conducted b"v n arra^8ed- The °Pen'^g his senior curate +1 e ^ev- Latimer J ones, and 5f Jones. In the course whole of these come out of ]/1EN .TERE baptised, populated. This fact AI ■ LOCALLTY' WHLCH ^THL S necessity for AL?R}E sufficient to show the with the Church NEW chapel in connection been offered to the Viclr +° gU0Ul1t° £ vh fn all likelihood will car at a reasonable price, which m chanelaff WDSIIA accePted- The opening of this new narish of St PP+OT. aD °PPortunity of stating that the and success as it ^IaS never wo^ed with so much zeal and his earnest coadjutors" The^ REV; ^^SUNDA^ three times in +1,1 IJ There is service every Sunday veniently crowded that C\URCH' °^N urged the Vicar „ tlle Parishioners have strongly tional transient IVP T611* ,to building of an addi- unable to fmd ai e< The Churchwardens are Priorv-street thP <a >!ngi8 Xor 8cores of applicants. In Sundav The litHo v. ^burch is crowded twice every filled It the seSL schooiro°m Under-the-Bank also is are too manv se^f S4NDAYS- In these places there must rm& the week- And these Dissenters as wS l nt neT chaPel Cambrian Placa work which the v £ m m«?t rejoice atthe g0°d parish in charge of a vicar Rev. Latimer Jones. useful as the Rev. LatImer Jones.- Welshman.

COUSFMSITO?*6wtS' a n?edi"cal student of the University College Hospital, was at the Marvlebone Police Court, on Monday, sentenced by Mr. D'Eyncourt to two months' imprisonment with hard labour, for a violent and unpro, voked assault upon two gentlemen" iu the Euston Road. A plea of drunkenness was set up, and the magistrate was urged to allow a fine to be pSd, but he wal inex- orable, Larkish ruffians may take this as a warnings

RELIGIOUS BODIES AND THE EDUCATION QUESTION. In a sermon recently preached to the congregation at Francis Road Chapel, Edgbaston, by the Rev. F. S. Wil- liams, of Nottingham, the following interesting passages occur :— "And while this duty of imparting the lessons of early piety is incumbent upon Christians of every age and land, a special responsibility rests upon Christians in our own day, and. may I add, upon the Nonconformists of this town of Birmingham. We are at this moment passing, as you all well know. perhaps too well know, through a great educational crisis in the history of this country. A demand has been made, as it has never been m:tde before, fur the education and the religious education of the people. I will not stay to criticise the motives that have led some to adopt measures that are not very religious, in their zeal for the religious welfare of others. I will simply deal with the fact that, through the length and breadth of the land, there is a demand for the education of the young, and that that education should be religious. But while all denominations and all parties appear thus far to travel together, at this point they diverge. That all children should be taught, and taught religiously, they agree in affirming but on the vital question, Who shall be the teachers of religion to the young ?' they are at variance. The proper religious teacher (say some among us) is the schoomaster appointed by the State, paid by the State, regulated by the State—let him do it. The State has pro- vided a State religion for the adults—let it do so for the children. And so it has come to pass that within tbe last few years we have witnessed the gradual growth, develop- ment, and completion of a new State Church system for children—a State Church within a State Church, vast, overshadowing, priestly, and irresponsible. "But all this has not been done without criticism and protest. Of the importance of the religious instruction of the young there has been no doubt or hesitancy, at any rate among Nonconformists. They insist, and always insisted, on its supreme necessity the only question with them has been—who is to give it ? Secular education may be given by the State but can religious education, they have asked, be given by anything except the Christian Church ? Literary knowledge may be imported as a task; can Christian knowledge be given except by those who have it, by those who love it? A schoolmaster may have a competent acquaintance with the rudiments, or even the refinements of secular learning, but could it be to any one but a disciple of the Lord Jesus that he would address the plea, Feed my Lambs.' Hence the conclusion at which multitudes have arrived—a conviction shared by many in this town, and probably by many in this congregation— that secular knowledge, and that alone, may be taught by the State, but that religion must be taught, and can only be taught, by the religious. But does not the very attitude thuII assumed hy upon us a grave responsibility. It is not enough for us to say, 'The State cannot do it—ought not to do it.' It is not enough merely to say, 'It is the work of the churches— let the churches do it.' Protesting on the one hand, or exhorting on the other, will be of little avail. The only pos- sible way in which to meet the case is for the churches to show that thty are able to do it that they are willing to do it; nay, that they are doing it. Let it be seen that if the Government will do its share of the work, you will do yours. Let the suspicions and sneers of those who tell you. that only the State can do the thing properly be rebutted by the logic of facts, and let it be seen that our Sunday schools are rising to the necessities of the case, that our noble.4 men and women are stirred with the en- thusiasm of a new interest in this divine work, an'i that, with the tenderness of affection for the young, with the earnestness of believing disciples, with the inspiration of the love of Christ constraining them, they are seekinsr, as never before, to mold the minds and hearts of our children and youth to a directly spiritual character, to win theID to the love and faith vi t le Lord Jesus Christ, and to lead the lambs of the flock of Christ, which he hath purchased with His own blood, into the 'green pastures and beside the still waters.' Permit me to add that, in my judgment, there rests upon the churches of this town a special and solemn weight of responsibility. There are some respects—some honourable respects-in which the people of Birmingham are the pioneers of the action, if not of the advanced thought, of the age. Let it be whispered that, while you have been eager to hold back the State from supplying religious instruction to the young, there your eagerness has evaporated; that, while you have been ardent in your advocacy of a new, beautiful, and impracticable theory, there your ardour has cooled. Let it be said, and said with truth, that of late, in the town of Birming- ham, your liberality in the support of your Sunday schools has diminished, your teachers have become less numerous and less efficient; your labours are less self-denying and more intermittent; and I venture to say that, at this crisis in the national, the ecclesiastical, the religious life of this country the effects not only here, in your own midst, but throughout the length and breadth of the land, would be deplorable and disastrous. I appeal to you, brethren, in the presence of this great nation, at this grave and anxious time—nay, in the pre- sence of, and by the love you bear your Lord—that it be otherwise. Let there be no slackness, no irresolution, at any rate among yourselves, in this matter. Let vacancies in the ranks of your teachers be supplied. Let some, who have hitherto done nothing or little, see if they cannot spare a portion of their time and talent for this sacred service. Let seme, when they reach their homes to-night ask whether they can stand all the day idle while this great work goes undone, stand aloof while the great battle rages and in that quiet hour of holy self-enquiry, as they lift up the prayer, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ? the answer will come, 'Lovest thou me ? Feed my lambs.' It is recorded that a Scotch farmer, who was con- gratulated by a surprised visitor on the excellence of a splendid flock of sheep, replied I aye take care of the lambs.' Yes, and that which is true of the flocks of the field, is true also of the multitudes of the city people. England—her laws, her polity, her government, her churches, her religion, her destiny, of her future will soon pass from our control, and will be entrusted to the keeping, and 'noulded by the hands of those who are to- day rocked in our cradles, playing in our nurseries, taught in our schools. The spread of the elements of English knowledge will save our Sunday school teachers from much of what has been the drudgery of their work and will enable them to concentrate their time, and thought, and toil upon the higher service of directly impressicg the minds and hearts of the young with religious truth. You will have better materials on which to work, a nobler function to exercise, a more immediately spiritual result to contemplate. Will you rise to the height of this sublime service? Will you lead on as pioneers through this open gate of opportunity? Will the Nonconformist Sunday school teachers of Birmingham be, at this supreme crisis in the history of our country, an ensample unto England ? "God grant that it may be so, and that we who are comparatively strangers among you, whether we came and see you, or else be absent, or hear of your affairs, may we hear that you stand fast in one spirit, striving together in this ministry of love, tending the flocks of Christ, and especially the lambs of the fold may It be truly said of the Sabbath schools of the Nonconformist Churches of this great town, that never were their contributions so liberal, their teachers so numerous, their instructions so intelligent and so spiritual, their work so efficient, and you will set an example, and inspire a purpose which will be fraught with the highest results of good to the Non- conformist Sabbath schools throughout the land, and to the social and spiritual destinies of the empire." After other remarks, he said In a litte churchyard that stands on a mighty headland, that runs far out into the sea, on the northern shoes of Wales—a spot around which the waves mourn their melancholy music, or lash themselves fiercely on an iron-bound coast—in that little churchyard one of the greatest and noblest of England's statesmen has laid the remains of his child; and over that grave the strong and tender heart of John Bright has found holy consolation, as he has written the expression of his Christian faith on the tombstone of his little son, 'And there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.' God grant that this may be true of us that when the scattered flocks of our homes are gathered together— gathered perhaps from many lands, separated often or long, by distance or by time—we may all meet together at last; no wanderer lost, no loved one absent, parents and children, sisters and brothers, teachers and scholars, One fold and one Shepherd.'

A WATER FAMINE.—IIANLEY, MONDAY.—The water supply of the Staffordshire Potteries has been cut off since last Thursday morning by the bursting of the main near the source of supply. The damage was repaired by last night, but this morning the joints of the new pipes gave way, and the district is still destitute of water, except such as have been caught from the rain, or found t in stagnant pools. The consequences of this famine are likely to be serious, as about a hundred thousand persons are dependent upon the supply of the water company. I PARENTAL DISCIPLINE.—Rigid disciplinarians will read with sympathy the account of the trouble which has be- fallen an honest working-man named Moles, who was charged at Brentford Police-sourt on Saturday with assaulting his son. The chastisement inflicted by this affectionate parent on his offspring was certainly severe but perhaps young Moles is deficient in the respect due from a child to its father, and requires what is termed a tight hand" over him. It appeared from the evidence of an eye-witness that one afternoon last week Mr. Moles was seen chasing this little boy—aged about six—along the public road. The young urchin endeavoured to escape the righteous indignation of his father, and, ut- tering abject shrieks for mercy, dodged behind a cart. Mr. Moles was, however, both stern and sharp, for he caught the child, and taking it by both arms, twisted its back violently. He then took it by the legs, lifted it above his head, and dashed it on the stones twice. By this time the child was thoroughly subdued, for it lay on the ground as though unable to move but (as it might have been shamming), Moles, urged, no doubt, by a strong sense of duty, and curbing his feelings of natural affection, went up and kicked it in the small of the back with his heavy shoes." The witness at this period of the affair officiously requested Moles to desist from further cor- correctien. Of course Moles could not allow interference of this nature to pass unnoticed, so without deigning a reply, he took up the child and struck it on the head with his clenched fist as hard as he could, making the blood gush from its nose." He then, to assert his parental authority, "continued to beat the child all up the street," and probably would soon have desisted of bis own accord, but that the police, finding the child much bruised and covered with blood, took it to the workhouse and con- veyed Moles himself to the police-station. Moles, it was stated, was not drunk" at the time, a most creditable circumstance considering how much brutality arises from drunkenness. The child did not appear at the Court on Saturday being in a prec3Iious condition at the work- house, and being too ill to be moved, so Moles was re- manded for a week, the Bench remarking that it was a serious case." In the mean time, it must be remembered that to spare the rod" is to spoil the child," and it is doubtful whether society is justified in sparing the cat" on the back of Moles, who certainly would not be spoilt by its application, and fully deserves the same tenderness with which he treated his little son .—Pall Mall Gautk.

/antral ftrteUflcture. The Civilian states that the probate duty on the estates of the late Lord Wolver on will be about £14.001. Typhoid fever has broken out amongst some cf the peo- ple living in Chatham Dockyard. A youth nam-'d Green was struck dead by lightning on Monday evening at Bittern, near Southampton. He was from London on a visit. A large mill belonging to the Bury Saw Mill Co. was on Tuesday morning destroyed by fire. The damage is esti- mated at flj,OOO, Death from apoplexy" was the verdict which was on Monday returned by the coroner's jury in the case of Mrs. Charlotte Bast, whose body, in an advanced stage of deco npositio; was found in a house in St. Mark's-road, Notting-hil!, London. The Sporting Gazette states that Mdme. Nilsson has had a. narrow escape from drowning in the Lake of Geneva. The yacht in wLich she was sailing was caught in a tem- pest, and filled with water. The death is announced of Elizabeth Mary Beynon. wi low of the seventh Lord Beynon, and cousin of the poet. Mr. Timothy Lewis, the celebrated greyhound trainer, has been killed by being thrown from his trap near Hounslow. It is proposed to erect a permanent Kallery of pictures and valuable objects in Liverpool at a cost of £ 15,000. The pries of coal at Sheffield was on Saturday last raised 2s. Gd. per ton. Best Silkstone is now 27s. lid. per ton. Members of the Shah's suite want Joe Goss.the pugilist, to go to Teheran, to teach the noble art to themselves and their scions. The Duke of Beaufort has accepted the office of Presi- dent of tie Musical Festival to be held in Bristol in October next. The late Sir D. Salomons has bequeathed to the corpo- ration of London £1,000 and the plate which was pre- sented to him by the Jewish community. A convict at Haulbowline Works nearly killed Warder Campbell on Monday by striking him on the head with an iron damper. The pottery districts of Staffordshire are destitute of water, owing to the bursting of the pipes on which the supply for a large population depends. An anonymous donor has placed £500 at the disposal of the Society of Arts for promoting economy in the use of coa' for domestic purposes. The Council have therefore determined to offer prizes for carrying out the purpose of the donor. On Fiiday, a number of horses that had been used by the Government for the Autumn Manceunes were sold at Exeter, and on an average realised £35 each. They cost the Government £ 19 each. Castor oil applied to the corn after paring closely each night before going to bed. It softens the COrll, and it be- comes as the other flesh. It will cure every time.— Medi- cal Press aild Circular. The Local Government Board have again refused to allow the St. George's, Hanover-square, Union Guardians to give the chaplain of the Kensing'on Workhouse an ad- dition to his salary of £;)0 per annum. Two ladies, the Misses Webb, of London, bathing on Friday morning at Princept-bay, near Manorbier, were taken out of their depth by an under-current. Mr Ford, their brother-in-law, rushed in and succeeded in saving one. Miss Bessie Webb was drowned. Tii i'e is some talk of extensive travels by more illustri- ous persons even than the Whalley. After her visit TO the Duke of Argyll, it is likely that the Queen will make an excursion to Germany to see her brother-in-law, the Grand Duke of Saxe-Cobourg-CJotha. It is stated that M. Thiers intends spending a portion of his holidays in the Xorth of Scotland, and that it is probable he will be the guest, for a time, of Mr. E. Ellice, at Invergarry. A man about 35 years of age was found in one of the closets of the Vauxhall Railway Station on Monday, with his throat completely severed. A razor was lying by his side. The Sheffield Telegraph announces the death, at the age of 62 years, of the Rev. W. Mercer, incumbent of Saint George's Church, Sheffield. As the compiler of "The Church Psalter and Hymn Book," the deceased was well known. Archbishop Manning has been staying at Leamington during the week with his niece, Mrs. rye, who is the daughter of the late Bishop of Winchester. The reason for the visit is the state of the Archbishop's health, which of late has been unsatisfactory on account of over- work. The balance of rent from the crop of 1872 having re- cently become due, the Earl of Zetland has made a liberal reduc:ioll of 15 per cent. frolll the rents of the occllpiers of the Kerse Estate, in consideration of the unfortunate harvest of last year. At a council meet upheld at Balmoral on jSiturdiy, Mr. Gladstone to k the oaths on his re-appointm^i.t ns First Lord of the Treasury, the Master of the Rolls was sworn as a member of the Privy Council, and Mr. H iwk- shaw received the honour of knighthncd. Tile Rhondcla If erthyr colliers have given notice to terminate their engajjemen' at the close of this month, the reason assigned being the refusal of the manager to discharge three labourers who have objected to be mulcted by the union in £3 each for permission to ad- vance to the position of coal-hewers. A meeting or the engi81:ers who are on strike in Shef- field was held on Monday night, to consider an offer which had Leen made by the Yorkshire Engine Company to give them the same rate of wages as that paid ill Manchester. The men resolved not to accept the terms. Two nlem bel's of the Devon Volunteer Engineers were summoned by the captain before the Torquay magistrates, on Monday, for neglecting to make themselves efficient, whereby tbe corp? lost the capitation grant. Ctptala Appleton said he brought forward the cases that volun- teers might know they were amenable to law. The magistrates inflicted a fine of 10s. in each case. On Thursday last, the magistrates at the petty session at Ely were occupied for three hours in hearing a charge against W. Watts, a retired blacksmith, and of reputed wealth, residing at Heddenham, for outraging a little girl only six years of age, named M. A. Leach. He was com- mitted for trial at the session. At Wisbeach a fatal accident occurred on Sunday night during a thunderstorm which was very violent there. Mr. J. Rae, a tailor, of Wisbeach, was driving home with his wife from Downham, when the horse took fright at a loud clap of thunder, and bolted into the canal. Mrs. Rae w.is drowned, and Mr. Rae was got out in ail unconscious sta^e. The horse also was drowned. The Record, noticing the statement made at the meet- ing of the North Metropolitan Tramways Co., that since the formation of the company B12,000 had been lost by the peculation of their servants, inquires, Does it ever occur to the directors that, owing to the system of conti- nuous Sunday labour, their servants are almost entirely precluded from hearing the Decalogue ?" C. May, aged 19, formerly a clerk iu the office of Messrs. L. Philips, Sons, and Co., merchants, Great Tower-street London, has effected an embezzlement of more than £2,000 and a marriage both within a week. On the day after his marriage he was arrested, and a large quantity of valuable jewellery was found upon him. On Saturday he was charged at the Mansion House with the embezzle- ment, and remanded for a week. The Army and Navy Gazette says that the late riotous proceedings at the Devonport theatre will be the subjiect of official inquiry. The same journal remarks that it seems that Mr. Kinglake has not abandoned his History. He is at work on the Battle of Inkerman, or at least he is in search of materials to complete his account of that famous engagement. Intelligence has been received at South Shiells that the splendid new screw steamship Saltwell, the property of Elliott, Lowrey, and Dunford, of Newcastle, had be:;n caught in the destructive cyclone off Cape Breton and foundered. The captain, Mr. Mace, belonged to South Shields, and the crew, 28 in number, are believed to be all saved. On Friday, a collision occurred on the Metropolitan District Railway between the Kensington High-street and Gloucester-road Stat tons. Several passengers were injured, the more severe of the cases being taken in at St. George's Hospital. So far as we can learn, no lives have been sacrificed. A chemist named Goss, of Braunton, near Barnstaple, has been apprehended under a coroner's warrant on a charge of manslaughter. In his treatment of a woman named Yeo he gave her some lotion which is supposed to have contained large quantities of impure sulphate of zinc, from the deleterious effects of which, it is thought, she died. THE \DUKE OF BRUNSWICK.—The enormous fortune left by the late Duke of Brunswick to the city of Geneva (some say eight millions sterling), will probably give work to architects, sculptors, and builders. A new theatre and university are talked of, and his monument is to be elaborate and costly. It seems very terrible that the court of Queen Victoria of England should be ordered to go into mourning for such a contemptible wretch as this Duke of Brunswick was.—Builder. On Saturday, Mr. Gladstone visited Col. Farquharson, of Invercauld, and on Sunday was the guest of the Earl of Fife, at Mar Lodge. He attended divine service in the Earl of Fife's private chapel, and was afterwards enter- tained at luncheon. Mr. Gladstone appears in excellent health, and has left for the south. He rode from Bal- moral across roads which intersect the Grampians and was accompanied part of the way by some friends arnono whom was Mr. Pease, M.P. He took the railway at Avinmore station on the Highland line. On Saturday, Austin and George Bidwell, George Mac- donnell, and Edwin Noyes, who were recently convicted at the Central Criminal Court of the great forgeries on the Bank of England, and sentenced by Mr. Justice Archibald to penal servitude for life, were removed from the gaol of Newgate to one of the convict establishments to undergo a portion of their sentence. Before they left Newgate they were shorn of their beards and whiskers and clad in prison garb, and no one, it is said, could have recognised them after this change in their appearance had been »ffected. During the gale on Thursday night, the ship T E Lemon, 1,089 tons, for Sapelo, which had left the Mersey in ballast in tow of the steam-tug Fiery Cross, parted her hawser drifted helplessly on to the Jordan flats, and ul- timately sank eastward of the Crosby Light-ship off Liverpool Seven men were saved by the ship's own gig j and four others went off in the long-boat, which was in a sinking state. With much difficulty the Liverpool life- boat succeeded In taking off 12 men. It was known that at least three were drowned—the steward, a seaman named John M Ghee, and a stow-away. Canon Bright spoke on Friday at great length atllfra- combe, at an English Church Union Meeting, and re- ferred particularly to the proposed alterations in the Ru- brics in the Common Prayer Book, especially those of the Communion Office. He deprecated them as premature and not according to the feeling of Churchmen, and objected strongly to any alteration at all until liturgical know- ledge and Church principles had become more widely spread. He denounced the manner in which the Lower House of Convocation decided delicate questions, and subsequently spoke against the Burials Bill and on other kindred subjects. Resolutions were passed embodying the rev. canon's views. THE MANCHESTER LIBERALS.—A new Liberal Asso- ciation for Manchester, with the object of promoting the union of the Liberal party within the borough, was in- auguratell by an open-air fête, at Burnage, on Saturday. The conùitions of membership are simply, adherence to Liberal principles and enrolment in the register of the association and the association will be governed by a committee electell by the suffrages of every member. Eight or ten thousand persons were present at Saturday's fete, and were addressed by Mr. R. N. Phillips, M.P., Mr. T. Potter, M.P., and other gentlemen. ANOTHER BOATING ACCIDENT. —A sad boating accident is reported from Whiting Pay, on the Arran Coast. On Thursday evening a number of visitors were out in a boat in the bay, when a sudden squall arose. One boat was drifted to the Ayrshire Coast, and a party of ladies and gentlemen in a second boat were picked up off King- cross Point, by the crew of a barque bound for Demerara; others were safely landed. It fared worse, however, with Mr. John Young, a well-known news-agent, who was out in a small punt fishing. He was unable to make t le land, and was drifted out to sea several miles, where he observed by a Burra vessel. A rope was thrown to him from the vessel, but his little boat capsized, and he pens bed. THE DISPUTE IN THE SOUTH WALES COAL TRADE.— A letter from Mr. Halliday, President of the Amalga- mated Association of Miners is published. It bears upon the declaration made by the Associated Masters at the conference held at Cardiff last week, to enforce the discharge-note system. Mr. Halliday cites a case in which two men from Lancashire have within the past day er two been refused work in the Vale of Neath because they could not produce a printed discharge from their late employers, by whom they had been dismissed for declining to secede from the Union. He denounces the system as a conspiracy against the natural rights of his fellow-workmen—"a conspiracy which must be foiled at any and every sacrifice." He appeals to the masters to do away with a system fraught with every kind of iniquity," and advises the colliers under no circumstances to apply for or accept a discharge-note. SERI-US RAILWAY ACCIDENT NEAR HARTLEPOOL.— As a passenger train from Sunderland was approaching Hartlepo d, on the North-Eastern Railway system, at a rate of about twenty-eight miles an hour, the locomotive jumped off the line, at the Trinity Junction, which is about 300 yards from Hartlepool, dragging with it the first four carriages, three of which were third class, and the fourth a first class. The carriages which followed, with the guard's van, kept the metals. The drivers were not seriously hurt; but of the passengers, Joseph Talbot, of Thornley, a neighbouring village, was fearfully injured, and died 011 his way to the hospital. A young man, named \atson, had his legs fractured, and two others were more or less hurt. Another effect of the accident was to bring d"wn a wooden brid;;e spanning the line, and two lads who were passing over at the time were precipitated OlJ to tbe railway, and, theugh they escaped witbout any fractured limbs, they were so knockeù ahout the head that fatal consequences may at any moment ensue. WHAT WE PAY FOR WAR.—Twenty years before the Crimean War the military and naval expenditure of the country was ten millions. In 1S51, the year before that war, it Had risen to sixteen millions. Since the termina- tion of that war it has averaged more than 26 millions per annum. Thus we have had a permanent increase of ten millions per annum (not including the interest of debts) ever since the Crimean war. These sums are so enormous that they cannot even be imagined, exccpt by some pro- cess of comparison. To aid this comparison let us maik the following facts :—According to the officially-published annual statistics, the total amount of coal produced in the United Kingdom has averaged, for the past seven years, an annual value of 22 million pounds sterling, or 4 mil- lions less than the average cost of the army and navy. Hence all our coal mines united will not suffice to main- tain our army and navy. And all the coal, iron. copper, learl, tin, zinc, silver, and other metals produced in the United Kingdom has averaged in value, for seven years past, 37 million pounds per annum, or about 18 millions less than the year's expenditure for past and present wars. The tobl amount accumulated in the Post Office Savings' Bank was (in 1807) £9,í 49,fI:.?G. The total capital in other Savings' Banks in the Kingdom in 1867, £36,4í(;,408. Total, £ 46,22.3,337. Hence the annual war expenditure for present and past operations far exceeds the total de- posits of the industrial and economic classes invested in the Savings' Banks. The total annual receipts of all the railways in the United Kingdom for passengers and goods are about 33 million pounds, or 17 miilions less than the money demanded on account of war. The average value of all the wheat, barley, oats, maize, and flour imported into the United Kingdom for seven yea's past is 30 million pounds per annum, or only four millions more than the annual expenditure for the army and navy alone (irrespective of national debt). No wonder that many are almost i't.1rve.l. The average value of the cotton im- ported into the United Kingdom for seven yeirs past is 29 million pounds, exactly the cost of the army and navy alone in 1868. No wonder the manufacturing population have to work hard to get a livelihood. All the paupers in th" United Kingdom coat in the year 1870-71 i.'9.5'r»L!.7j7, or about one-third of the expense of the army and navy. THE NEW LAW ON SALMON FISHERY.—On Monday the Act passed in the recent Session (39 and 37 Victoria, c. 71) to amend the law relating to salmon fisheries in England and Wales came into operation, anil is to be con- strued together with the statute of 1861. There are G5 sections and three schedules, consisting of preliminary definitions, fishery districts, restrictions as to certain modes and times of taking and selling fish licenses, con- stitution of Boards of Conservators, powers of water bailiffs, by-laws, weirs and fish passes, gratings preventing fish entering water, crosses, and legal proceedings. The Secretary of State is empowered after notice to alter any fishery district, and he has power to alter the number of conservators appointed. Where any person is convicted for an offence, the clerk of the peace is to send notice to the Board of Conservators of the district, and in default of such certificate to be liable to a penalty of not exceed- Ing £2. For the purposes of the Salmon Fishery Acts 1861 to 1873 the Commissioners of Supply in Scotland are to have all the privileges and duties of the magistrates in England for the election of conservators for the river Usk. The provisions of the Malicious Injuries Act, so far as they relate to poisoning any water with intent to kill or destroy fish, are to apply to salmon rivers. No draught net is to be shot within one hundred yards of another net until the latter is landed, nor are eel baskets to be fixed between the 1st of January and the 24th of June, and no interference with salmon to be allowed in close seasons no fishing except with rod and line to be permitted above 100 yards or below a mill or weir races. After various regulations as to penalties for taking or selling salmon in prohibited periods—and in one instance October is substituted for November—it is enacted that no person shall buy, sell, or have in his possession any salmon or part of any salmon between the 3d of Septem- ber and the 1st of February following, both inclusive, and any person acting in contravention of this section shall forfeit any salmon so bought, sold, or exposed for sale, or in his possession for sale, and shall incur a penalty not exceeding £2 for every such salmon or part of any salmon but nothing herein contained shall apply to any person buying, selling, or exposing for sale, or having in his possession for sale, any salmon which has been cured, salted, pickled, or dried beyond the limits of the United Kingdom, or if within the limits of the United Kingdom, between the 1st of February and the 3d of November in any year, or any clean, fresh salmon caught within the limits of the Act, provided its capture by any net, instru- ment, or device other than a rod or line was lawful at the time and in the place where it was caught, or to any clean, fresh salmon caught at any time beyond the limits of this Act, provided its captuie by any net, instrument, or device other than a rod and line if within the United Kingdom was lawful at the time and in the place where it was caught; but the burden of proving that any clean, fresh salmon, so bought, sold, exposed for sale or in the possession of any person for sale was captured abroad or lawfully captured within the United Kingdom, shall lie on the person selling or exposing or having in his posses- sion for sale any such salmon, and the burden of provino- that any cured, salted, pickled, or dried salmon was cured, salted, pickled, or dried elsewhere than in the United Kingdom, or if within the United Kingdom then between the 1st of February and the 3d of Novem- ber in any year, shall lie upon the person in whose pos- session for sale such salmon was found." There is also a penalty for selling trout or char during the close time. There are various other provisions as to the execution of the Act and the amendment of the recited statutes, mak- ing an explanation of the law from 1861 to 1873, and the manner in which it is to be carried into execution. THE NEW GERMAN PRIMA DONNA.—This charming songstress (Madame Otto Alvsleben) will make her debiit in the West of England at the Bristol Musical Festival in October next, and, from all we bear of her, is certain to vindicate the judgement of the committee in securing her services. She is an artiste of the German school, and appeared in England for the ursttimein March, at Manchester, under the auspices of Mr. Charles Halle, where she was so successful that her introduction to the leading concerts at the Albert Hall, Crystal Palace, &c., in London, followed as a matter of course. She is mistress of all kinds of music—classical and operatic, and last year was chosen from all Germany as friiiia donna at the Beethoven Festival at Bonn. There she obtained a most signal triumph, and her career in England, so far, has been no less distinguished. At Manchester, Mcdame Alvsleben took the principal soprano solos in the Creation," a work which, it will be seen from the official notice, is also to be performed at Bristol. A musical critic Bays that as soon as she bad sung the first few bars, it was patent to everyone that she was a vocalist of the first rank. We' are assured that with a voice of most excellent quality, ex- tensive range, and ample power, Madame Alvsleben unites no little dramatic power and great sensibility Haydn's music; her voice, and she did full justice to the musid and her performance is summarised as the '■most effective interpretation of the soprano music of the Creation' ever heard. Madame Alvsleben sub- sequently appeared in Bach's Passions-Music \nd the favourable impression she. produced in the Creation" was, if possible, deepened. One paper ears thnh .•Madame Alvsleben gave a fine renderin j f b soprano music. Her magmficent voice, and more even than that, her intensely dramatic power under the re stramt so necessary in a work like tho < T>o • > 1 immense service." Another same performance, wntes Tn „ nT- &, 6 the purity of her voice and the expol! rf were apparant and she delieverpd tvf"06 °^, .r the finish and power of a /i Teci at.1Te? w'^ are not surprised to learn tb mfl? c artlst.' We Madame Alvsleben in Bristol a aPPeara"ce °f comment, in local musical circle the eubject of in predicting that t e resu t of' ™ feel Juffied enhmpp fW A f t.0' her visit Will be to a neriorl nlr '1 W^IC^ she has, within so brief of the count!?. 7 d°Q and other Parts of

THE LICENSING ACT. (From the Times.) A much-abused Act has now been for some twelve months on its trial, and we can apply to its operation the test-counnonly infallible—of actual exp-rience. III this, however, the time has been short, the sports have been partially received, and independent pauses have been at work to affect the result. Nevertheless, we think it m::v be concluded that this famous measure—the Licensing Act of the late Home Secre: arj-has been working beneficially for its direct and immeuiuui purpose. At the Urewster Sessions in various towns the coneuiTer.ee ofopion to this effect was almost universal. At Leeds, Knarsborough, Worcester, Sheffield, and Newbury the testimony Wl" positive and the conclusion plain. It was not, for the most part, alleged that drunkenness had been actually on the decrease—indeed, the returns often pointed in the opposite direction; but it was almost everywhere stated that public order had been better preserved. The streets were more peaceable, violence an a uproar were of less frequent occurrence, and the polica found in this respect that the Act played most usefully .nto their hands. In this city it has been matter of common remark that the town becomes quiet at an earlier hour of the night, and that the period of disorder has been abridged. But the evidence affecting the prevalence of intoxication is remarkable, and deserves careful attention. That drunkenness has diminished in but few instances, and actually increased in many, seems to be beyond a doubt. In the Metropolis the figures given by the police are surprising. In the year 1869 the arrests made for drunkenness—either with or without disorderly conduct—were 23,007; in 1871, they were 28,241, while in 1872—the first jeir of the new Act—the num- ber rose to 3;),867. The Act, it will be remembered, was only in force for a portion of the year, and it is clear enough from these very figures that things had been getting worse and worse for some time past. Still, the addition of more than 10,000 cases of drunkenness to the number for 1869 is a fact not to be mistaken, though it may be in some degree explained. The limita- tion of business hours in the drink trade cannot, of course, have directly tended to the consumption of drink, but it may have brought drunkards more effectually under notice, and that is what, in fact, is now asserted. Formerly a publican would allow a customer who was more or less intoxicated to remain on his premises till he had become somewhat sobered or could be helped home by his friends but now, under fear of the Act, all such persons so soon as the clock strikes Bruce" are turned out into the street, where they fail ur'er the cognizance of the police and are reported accordingly. We have no difficulty in believing that this explanation is to some extent correct, and the magistrates of Bradford were doubtless under this im- pression whev they took into consideration the more stringent administration of the law" in estimating the return- before them. We do not, however, expect the public o be of opinion that the argument goes very far. Ordinary drunkenness, if not disorderly intoxic-ilio i, has, we fear, increased rather thin diminished daring the las: twelve months, and the true cause was stages ed, we imagine, in the rtference made at Leeds to the short hours and high wages, now ruling in most branches of mania! industry. On that presumption we may look ai the reports before us in a new ligjt, and a-k, not merely what the state cf things if, but what it might have been except for the timely restraints im- posed oy the Act. Wilimgly or unwillingly, our friends the Licensed Victualler appear, we are bound to say, to have co- operated with the police in the enforcement of the obnoxous statu:e. At Worcester they were even com- plimented by the Bsnch upon their behaviour, but they have nevertheless allowed us at last to see where the shoe pinches. The new Act is by no means so nugatory, impotent, and useless as they were once pleased to re- present it. confiscation Bruce" did something, after all, to earn his name. At Leicester the publicans memorialized the magistrates against the deprivation of so many hours of business during the year," and the applications tor an extension of trading time were all but ui iversal. The decision of the authorities, however, Was almost as uniform in the way of refusal. At Brad- ford the liquor dealers begged hard for a longer licence just during the gala week, to commence on Mou ay next; but the magistrates were obdurate. The truth is the hours thus snipped off the drink trade were the best for the traders, or, in other words, the worst for the public. More drink passed from the seller and more money from the buyers in the forbidden time than at any other. When the hand comes round to Bruce the clock does nut strike for nothing. The assertion of the reformers has been verified by facts. Shorter hours in business do really mean less money spent in drink, and the Licensed Victuallers would be wise to remember that this instrument of restriction or coercion is always at the command of Parliament, not as a new-fangled weapon of confiscation, but as a piece of machinery recommended by well-established precedent. At the same time it is to be acknowledged that a good deal of inequality—perhaps even of hardship—now exists. It is certainly hard that one house for the sale of spirituous liquor should be compelled to close at 11, while another, just opposite, may keep its doors open till 12. Ex- emptions, too, though indispensable, perhaps, as re- gards the due accommodation of certain classes, naturally produce jealousy and irritation. But the remonstrances urged on this point, justifiable as they may be, neverthe- less confirm one of the main arguments of the reformers. They ay that if you open a liquor shop people will rush hr liquor as long as it is open and wherever it is open, ard that the only way, therefore, of curtailing the liquor traffic is by reducing the number of shops and shortenmg the hours of trade. The present complaints of the publicans carry with them the very same assertion. When their houses close, their customers swarm into the next which is not closed, and so they want one law for all. The demand is reasonable, but it will most assuredly be taken out of their mouths and used against them in thi next campaign. Whr ii the domestic history of this century comes to be written, the legislation on the licensing question will occupy a more prominent place than is probably imagined. The Government began with a bold assault directed against the very centre of the enemy's position, and for a time it seemed as if the ground would be carried and the vic tory won. But the attack was not followed up neither supports nor reserves were at hand, the de- fenders acquired courage, and the whole movement failed. A less ambitious operation proved more suc- cessful, but the effect of the first contest still survived, and survives indeed, to this day, in a certain popular conviction of which we have not yet seen the end. Driven to desperation by suspicion and alarm; the various representatives of the drink trade banded together in defence of their interests, and constituted themselves a political power. They have turned many an election, and they threaten to turn many more. By combining to pursue one single object, and to know nothing" as the American phrase goes, except the exigencies of their own private pockets, they have accomplished a great success, and set a signal example. Other interests" are already following in the same track, and with the same assurances of triumph. Only the other day the chairman of one of the largest rail- way companies in the kingdom called upon his con- stituenfs at their half-yearly meeting to imitate the publicans, and to extort from Government by sheer force of unreasoning combination the remission of certain passenger duties now exacted. It is clear that elections, instead of turning on principles, and indicating the current of opinion, may hereafter come to represent only assertions of particular interests, and we need only compare (he power of the Licensed Victuallers with the feebler os =; of the Temperance Leagues to see which of the two motives—interest or principle—is likely to prevail..

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC PILGRIMAGE. About 400 members of the pilgrimage to Paray-le- Monial left London by special train on Tuesday morning for Newhaven. Prior to their departure early mass was celebrated at many Roman Catholic chapels in the me- tropolis. Some hundreds of spectators assembled at Victoria station to witness the departure, but there was no procession or formal ceremony as had apparently been expected. The pilgrims all wore the badge of the Sacred Heart, and the different Roman Catholic orders and brotherhoods each sent their representative. Among the pilgrims the clergy predominated, and there was also a con- siderable number of ladies. As the train left the station there was much cheering and waving of handkerchiefs. The pilgrims are under the guidance of Dr. Vaughan, Bishop of Salford. The special trains with pilgrims arrived at Newhaven before half-past eight, and the steamers Alexandra and Marseilles left the harbour for Dieppe at a quarter to nine with above five hundred pilgrims on board the two steamers. The pilgrims on Monday night attended a special service at the Pro- Cathedral, Kensington. Nearly 1000 persons were pre- sent, a large majority being ladies. It was understood that amongst the pilgrims gathered together were the Duke of Norfolk, the Earl of Denbigh, Lord Edward Howard, Lady Philippa Howard, Lady Anne Howard, Lord Arundell of Wardour, Lady Herbert of Lea, the Dowager Marchioness of Lothian, the Marchioness of Londonderry, Monsignor Capel, Monsignor Patterson, Father Christie, Lady Georgina Fullerton, Lord Walter Ker, &c. The church was decorated as for high festival, and the Banner of the Sacred Heart was placed in a con- spicuous position near the altar. Archbishop Manning addressed the pilgrims, and informed them that the Holy Father had granted to all who united in the pilgrimage a plenary indulgence and his special benediction. At the conclusion of a lengthy sermon, in which the propriety of this pilgrimage was strongly insisted upon as a testimony in the face of a blind and unbelieving world of faith and affection towards the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, the Archbishop pronounced the Papal benediction. The Archbishop, with his; assistant", then went in procession round the church, and bestowed the archiepiscopal blessin"- The proceedings terminated with the blessing of the"" banners and the distribution of the pilgrims' badses-both of which ceremonies were performed by the Archbishop. The chief banner of the pilgrimage to be W+at the shrine is a rich and elaborate work. It is in tVip f^iurteenth century style, worked in silk and gold from the designs of Mr. Buckley, of Bond-street, and executed by Tassinari, of Lyons. It bears on the front a representation of the Saviour with the Sacred Heart with the heads of four English saints-Edward, Thomas of Canterbury, Cuthbert, and Hugh of Lincoln. Ine motto, from the pen of Archbishop Manning, is Cor Jesu unicum Salutis Ostium Anglia supplex. On the back is a representation of the Virgin guiding a °hda* The cost of the banner is about £95. The church at Warwick-street also sends a. very handsome banner. The pilgrims' badges consist of a representation of the Sacred Heart surmounted by a cross of scarlet on a white ground. The shape differs somewhat according to the various parishes and districts whence the pilgrims come.