The Cambrian

WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. On Monday evening the anniversary meeting of the Wesleyan Missionary Society was held in Exeter-hall, Mr. H. H. Fowler, of Wolverhampton, in the chair. | The hall was well filled, and among those on the plat form were the Rev. G. T. Perks, M.A., Rev. W Morley Punshon, LL.D., Rev. W. O. Simpson, Kev. J. Jackson Wray, &c. The Chairman, after the meeting had been opened with prayer by the Rev. John Hartford, said he was glad that the autumn missionary meeting had been such a success as to lead to its repetition. The meeting was for the purpose of giving information as to the missions. A magnificent success had crowned the efforts which had been put forth as the result of the mar- vellous feeling on behalf of missions, which was a distin- guishing feature of the present day. Our missionaries had preached the Gospel to the dark nations who had been sunk in ignorance, and in the South Sea Islands, even in Fiji, the last gem in the British Imperial diadem. Let no one talk of the failure of missions but, great as the work was which had been done, it was small when compared with what was yet to be done. He referred to the recent discoveries of the physical features of Africa, a splendid and fertile territory, but inhabited by r ices sunk in the deepest ignorance. No chance had opened this vast field at the present day. Loud cheers greeted the mention of the name of Livingstone, and the call that his work should be carried on. Mr. Perks had gone to Southern Africa to look to the missions there, and would give a satisfactory account of them. Much must be done by native aid. The missionaries Were about to advance in a northerly direction from the Gambia into an unknown region. The severest and the crowning conflicts of Christianity were to be won against Mohammedanism and Buddhism. He pited the man who could watch the moves on the European chess-board without hope and anxiety as to their re- sults on the state of Europe. He believed the people of England bad a right to say, and would say clearly, that come weal or come woe, the blood and treasure of England shall not be wasted in upholding the effete and bloody Mohammedan power. He then spoke of the encouragement which might be taken from the success of the missions in the Turkish Empire. As to India also there was much cause to hope, and in China and Japan success had been also achieved. He concluded by urging his hearers to sustain the now historic name of Wesleyan Methodism. The report stated that the in- come in all had been £190,000 for the past year, in- cluding special contributions. The contributions from the London districts had amounted to £11,595. The Rev. G. T. Perks gave an account of his reception in Boutb Africa, where he had had hearty welcomes both from missionaries and chiefs, and moved the adoption of the report. The Rev. W. Morley Punshon seconded the resolution in a short speech, after which it was put to the meeting and unanimously carried. The Rev, J. Jackson Wray moved the following resolution—"That In the success which bad attended missionary labour in many lands, as well as in the immense and pressing needs of the heathen world, this meeting recognises an indubitable call to renewed exertion, liberality, and prayer." The resolution was seconded by the Rev. W. l ■, j P?on> and carried, and finally the meeting con- cluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman.

IN THE TREATMENT OF CONSUMPTION THE USE OF DE JONOH'S LIGHT-BROWN COD LIVEB OIL 18 OF THE HIGHEST IMPORTANCE.—The extraordinary I™ ° Jongh's Cod Liver Oil in Consumption, Y,™-1 fuP,e.r'ority over every other kind, are 1B8tahlished. Administered in time, and wj persevered in, it has not only the power of subdUing all dISposItIOn to Phthisis, but of arresting j P tubercles; or, when the disease has advanced to the developed form, it has accomplished numerous instances a complete cure. Dr. Nedley, Physician to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, observes: ♦ n t P'en ,rH10n8 °f that valuable remedial agent, Cod Liver O. the most uniformly pure, the most palatable, and the most easily retained by the stomach, is Dr. de Jongh a Light-Brown Oil. I have habitually prescribed Dr. de Jongh's Cod Liver Oil in cases of Pulmonary Consumption, very beneficial re- sults, and I can confidently recommend it a8 the most efficacious kind." Dr. de Jongh's Light-Brown Cod Liver Oil is sold only in capsuled imperial half pints, 2a. 6d.; pints, 4s. 9d.; quarts, 9s.; with bis ttamp and signature and the signature of his sole con- signees on th^ label under wrapper, by all respectable chemists. Sole consignees, AneWi iLarxord and Co, 77, Strand, London

THE WAR IN THE EAST. THE RUSSIAN ULTIMATUM. VIENNA, October 21.—The ultimatum presented to the Porte by Russia consists substantially of the follow- ing three points:—1. An unconditional armistice of six weeks' duration. 2. Administrative autonomy in Bulgaria, Bosnia, and the Herzegovina. 3. The carry- ing into effect of the reforms under the supervision of Oommissianers to be named by the Great Powers, who are to be protected by an armed foreign force from Mussulman faaaticism. Intelligence received here states that General Miloutine, the Russian Minister of War, has ordered the concentration of ten army corps, of which the Grand Duke Michael Nicolajevitch will take the chief command. It is said that the staff has already b.jen formed. Intelligence from Constantinople states that the Porte, not considering itself in a posi- tion to make a stand against the military preoarations of Roumania and Greece, manifests some disposition to yield to Russia's demands. The interpellation of the Ministerial Centre party relative to the Eastern policy of the Austro-Hungarian Government was laid on the table of the Lower House of the Ileichsrath to-day. It is signed by the leaders and 112 members of the Constitutional parties in the House. The Ministerial Centre party thereby declares that. with regard to the Eastern question an understanding between Austria and Russia is indispensable. 0 PARIS, October 21.—It is stated here that England has replied to Russia that, having already supported the proposal for a six months' armistice, she could not now recommend one of six weeks, a though, at the same time, she would not oppose an armistice for the latter period. No Power appearing willing to take the initiative, the question rests between Turkey and Russia, who now confront each other. A solution can thus only he looked for at Constantinople. In diplo- matic circles here hopes continue to be entertained of a pacific settlement. BERLIN, October 21.—The National Zcitung of to- day states that Germany has defined hi r position upon the armisticj question with respect to the other Powers interested in it as folio vs :—" Germ my has no objec- tion to offer to a decision in favour of an armistice either for six months or six weeks, and is not, there- fore, in a position to support one proposal mire than the other, and thus, also, her interposition with the object of bringing about an understanding ber ween the Powers on this question can be of n > great advantage. On the other hand, however, Germany never fails to recognise that the object to he arrived at is the restora- tion of an understanding between the Powers with a view to procure a durable p»ace." PESTH, October 21.—The Pesther Lloyd of to-day, speaking of the present position of affairs, says:— Peace is still even now possible; but a wir between Russia and Turkey is probable, which when once broken out cmnot be localisel." The Hungarian students intend arranging a torchlight procession in honour of the Turkish Consul, and also to make a col- lection for the relief of wounded Turkish soldiers. CONSTANTINOPLE, Ocrob r 20.—The telegraphic sum- mary of yesterday's article of the Times, and the state- ment tint Elgland is opposed to military assistance being afforded to the Porte, have produced consi- derable impression here. The feeling in Government circlesismoreorlessdepres-ed. It is, at all events. certain that, after the reception of General Ignatieff bv th" Sultan, there will be a fresh deliberation at the Divan. A meeting of tl-:e Amhassa lors was held to-day at the residence of General Ignatieff, the Russian Ambassador. It is believed that the Ambassadors are agreed upon a common action for bringing about an understanding with the Porte on the subject of armis- tice an ) the conditions of peace. G n ral Ignatieff wll deliver his new credentials to the Sultan on Tues- day next. TRAITOROUS PLOT IN CONSTANTINOPLE. COSSTAHINOPLE, October 2-i (3 45 p.m.)—The Go- vernment has discovered a plot against the life of the Grand Vizier and Midhat Pacha, in which two ulema* of the highest rank, Ranvz Pacha, and another high personage, were implicated. They have been arresred, and exiled to Tenedos, L^mnos, Rhodes, and Cyprus respectively. Furt.her arrests are expected. An active interchange of communications continues between General Ignatieff and the other foreign Am- bassadors, notwithstanding the reserve which the re- maining five Powers wish to maintain, in order to leave to Russia, temporarily at least, the task of negotiating alone with the Porte. As regards the arinis ice of six weeks, the Turkish Government appears to be prepared to yield, provided that an engagement be entered into to prolong the truce at its expiration for another six weeks, in case peace shall not have been e-tiblished within the first named period. With regard to the question of a conference, it is not yet known whether Turkey would be a Ie beforehand to accent the condi- tion of submitting to the resolutions of a conference in the deliberations of which she would have no voice, even if she were to obtain a conditional prolongation of the armistice, and to make her reservations as fa the nationality of the Commissioners appointed to super- vise the execution of the decision of the conference. CAPTURE OF KREPET BY THE TURKS. BELGRADE, October 23.—After three days' incessant fighting, the Turks have taken Krepetby assault. The Turks got. possession of this position last Thursday, but were dislodged from it by Tchernaieff on the following day. On Saturday, however, the Turkish attack was renewed, and Krepret was definitely captured. The neight bearing this name is situated a little south of the village of Djunis, and west of the heights of Djunis, to the north of which lie., Sanitneslor, where the staff of General Tchernaieffs army is stationed. Although Krepet is an important position, it is not thought that its loss will have an immediate decisive influence upon the military situation, since Djunis commands the posi- tions held by the Servian army on the army of Deli- grad. Great cruelties were committed by theTurki-h soldiery after the fighting. The Turkish success has given a great impetus to Servian patriotism, and public opinion is in harmony with the Government respecting the necessity of pre- paring an energetic resistance to the Turks. Measures have already been taken with this object. The position of affairs is nevertheless regarded as critical, and help from Russia is anxiously waited VIENNA, October 23.—The interpellation relative to the Eastern question put in the Lower House of the Reichsrath on Saturday is regarded, in diplomatic cir- cles ht re, as an error of judgment on the part of the Constitutional party, as the policy of Austro-Hungary continues to be characterised by her adhesion to the Aliance of the Three Emperors. Least of all should a Liberal minded party, on the eve of events, tie the hands of a Government in which it reposes confidence, and there cannot, therefore, be any doubt that the Go- vernment will bs able to maintain its standpoint, and preserve its freedom of action. The attempt made at Pesth to force the Government, by means of demonstrations in favour of the Turks, to espouse the cause of Turkey, has been met by the strongest marks of disapproval from all serious persons, and it is confidently expected that the Government of Herr Tisza will suppress all similar manifestations. No official intimation has yet been received here of the in- tended visit of the Czarevitch, which was announced by some foreign journals. BUCHAREST, October 2).—Intelligence received here from Constantinople to the 21st inst. states that at the meeting of the Ambassadors at the residence of Gene- ral Ignatieff, the latter pointed out the necessity of al- laying the feverish excitement of public opinion in Russia by obtaining certain indispensible concessions from the Porte. Russia insists, first, on an armistice of six weeks' duration secondly, upon the granting of autonomy to Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Bulgaria; and thirdly, upon guarantees for the execution of the re- forms. The Russian Ambassador declared that the concession involved in the first point should be obtained immediately and as regards the two remaining ones, it would devolve upon a conference of the Powers, at which .Turkey should not be represented, to define the meaning of the words autonomy" and guarantees." THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. CONSTANTINOPLE, Monday.—The Porte is disposed to accept a six weeks' armistice on the condition of its being prolonged for another six weeks, and fur a further period of two months if necessary. It is hoped that an agreement will be arrived at on this basis. Russia is represented to be already willing to agree to a six weeks' prolongation. General Ignatieff will have a private audience to-morrow after the official audience, in which he will present his new credentials. BELGRADE, Tuesday Noon,—It has been reported here this morning that the Turks have taken Djunis and Saint Nestor, but no confirmation of the rumour has yet been received. Should it prove well-founded General TchernayefFs army will be in great danger. M. Ristics, the Servian Premier, is indisposed" and at present receives no visitors. The military pre- parations proposed by the Greek Government have given great satisfaction to the war party here. RAGTISA, Tuesday.—Two detachments of the corps of Despotavitch have taken possession of the town of Pecovatz by sterna, but they were unable to gain pos- session of the fortress. The rising of the Christians in the Pachalik of Travanik is extending, and the Roman Catholics are taking part in it. The Prince of Montenegro is said to have declared his willingness to accept an armistice for six weeks, but only on condition that Moster should be surrendered. SEMLIN, Tuesday.—Intelligence received here states that, if contrary to expectation, the present negotia- tions with the Porte have no satisfactory result, General Ignatieff will leave Constantinople. BERLIN, Tuesday.—General Von Schweinitz, German Ambassador at St. Petersburg, had a protracted audience yesterday of the Emperor William. He left here this evening for St. Petersburg, and will proceed thence to Livadia, where he will make a stay of about three weeks, after which he intends returning to Berlin. PESTH, Tuesday.—In to-day's sitting of the Finan- cial Committee of the Hungarian Diet, Herr Szende Von Kereezses, Minister of War, declared that in case of need 217,000 Honveds could be completely equipped ind mobilised within eight days. PARIS. Tuesday.—Tivj proposal of the Times for French soldiers to occuoy Bosnia and the Herzegovina is not seriously entertained here, and ino.-t of the I French journals publish comments on it. Official information reachi-d the Belgrade Govern- ment on Monday morning that the Roumanian army had been concentrated on a war footing, and that Prince Charles had assumed the command in prison. Quarters for 16,000 men have been taken at Galatz. It is thought possible that Prince Gortsch.ikoff mav endeavour to carry out his policy by the constitution of Bosnia, Servia, and Roumania as independenl king- doms, relying on their separate Monarchs for the influence which his Government is desirous of acquiring in their territories. Vleiiitirne he might continue the wir through the agency of the Russo-Servianarmy, continually reinforced by new bodies poured into Prince domiliion. The Berlin National Zeitung says that, according to all appearances, Europe is rapidly drawing neart-r and nearer to open war, and that the most persistent opti- mist cannot close hii eyes to the fact. Roumania is supposed to have about 60,000 men ready for action Pesth correspondents still prptend to believe that Austria has not. surrendered her freedom of action in any form to Russia. The news is circulating both at Pesth and in Vienna that Prince Charles will shortly be proclaimed King of Roumania. In German Parliamentary clubs it is rumoured that if the porte and Russia should not coine to terms re- specting the guarantees for the reforms to be granted to the Christians, both Russia and Austria will aoply t > Germany to fix on the best mode of foreign inter- vention in Turkey. The recent successes of the Turks at Z ticar and before Alexinatz are said to have greatly increased the stubbornness of the Turkish statesmen and diplomatists. General Ignatieff has alreadv bad an interview with the Grand Vizier, who showed little dispositi m to yield. To-day he will have an audiei ce of the Sultan. Opinions as to the yielding of the Porte and the speedy outbreak of war between Russia and Turkey still appear in official circles to be about equaily divided. The sudden departure of the King of the Hellenes for Athens is said to have been caused by a letter from M. Coumondouros, informing his Majesty that the Turkish Goverdment had sent an ultimatum to the Greek Cabinet The Berlin correspondent of the Times publishes the translation of a violent article against Lord Baconsfield which receatly appe tr. d in the Russian Golos. The article actually asserts that the clue to the apparently inc imprehensible Eastern policy of the Engli-h Pre- mier is to be found ia the fact that he is in league with a Continental firm of financiers, and that he h'lS shaped his course in order to fill the pockets of himself and his confederate's! It was for this (according to the Golos) that Lord B iconsfield got up" the Royal visit 11 it to India, that h" bought the Suez Canal shares, that he rejected the Berlin Memorandum, and that he has boen wrecking the scheme of the other European Cabinets for the last four months." As if this mendacious inso- lence were not suffi ient, the Russian organ actually charges the head of the British Government with em- ploying British dipl > na -y to f..n the rebellion in the two Turkish provinces into a great political confligra- tion, so that milli >ns of money might be made!" A mnre foul attack has rarely been mads on an English state-man. The semi-official Journal de St. Petersbourq has been directed to apologise for t;e vulgar out iur-t T"e Times Berlin correspondent says the Golos is th" newspaper most re id by the enlightened and educated classes" in Rus-i i. THE RUMOURED PREPARATIONS FOR WAR. A London correspondent, who is in a position tn speak with authority, writes to us The Cabin t have decided, as most persons thought they would d clde, that there is to be no autumn session. All th- extraordinary nonsense which has appeared in the papers about war preparations turns out to be th purest manufacture, got up for what reason I will not say. I could not contradict that part of the fiction about the autumn session, but all the rest I knew to hp rubbi-h. There has not been t iken one sing!e -tep to prepare for war. Not a single movement has boe" made, nor an ounce of provisions or stores exported to meet such a contingency." THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL ON THE EASTERN QUESTION. At Preston, on Tue-d iy night, there was a crowded meeting called by the local Conservative Association to express sympathy with the Bulgarians and confidence in Lord B aconsti -ld's Government. The motion of sympathy having been moved and seconded, Sir John Holker, the Attorney-General rose, and said he was not there as a member of the Government, nor was be authorised to represent the Government; he simply spoke as junior member for Preston. The object of the Bulgarian insurrection was not merely to accomplish independence, but to exterminate by wholesale massacre the Mahometan population of the disturbed districts. (Cries of No" and Shame.") That was the view the Turks entertained, and it was, he beleived, the true one, But whether true or not, and he hoped the Turks' suspicions were ill-founded, as one could doubt that in the earliest stages of the revolt when the Bulgarians efforts were crowned with partial suc- cess, they had used that success most unworthily, and totturei and massacred many of the Mahometans. (Renewed cries of "No" and "Shame.") He was not urging this as any excuse for the murder, rapine, and barbarity that followed but let them be just, whether dealing with Bulgarians or Turks. The insurrection really threatened the Turkish Empire. The Porte took steps to put it down, and they did put it down. Re- ferring to the recent agitation here, and premising that lie used to consider Mr. Gladstone a man of great honesty of purpose, Sir John Holker said Mr. Glad- stone's letter read at the meeting in St. James's-hall showed how grossly unfair he could be to those who presumed to differ from him, and with what vindictive malignity he could treat Ministers who, so far as he could learn, had committed no fault, except possessing the power the membr for Greenwich would himself be glad to wield. (Disturbance.) The characteristics which Mr. Gladstone had exhibited had rather lessened his (Sir John's) op: ion of the ex-Premier's high at- tributes, and had dimmed the lustre of his character. We were all as indignant, as pitiful, and as sympathetic as Mr. Gladstone. The speaker next referred to the Russian atrocities in Central Asia, and dilated on the evil consequences to us if Russia, should gain Constan- tinople. The late Government had, he said, got rid of our Consuls in Turkey, who would have been able to 'e, inform Sir Henry Elliot of the Bulgarian atrocities. The meeting passed a vote of sympaty and also a vote of confidence in the Government. AN HISTORIAN'S IDEA OF ENGLISH POLICY. Mr, Freeman, the historian, writes another letter to the Daily News of Tuesday, on the Eastern Question, and on this occasion takes as his subject Rumours of War." He contends that what has been wanted throughout, what even now would not be too late, has been a loyal agreement among the European Powers to act honestly and with energy on behalf of the Sauth- Eastern lands. Could the six Powers have made up their minds to force certain terms upon the Turk, it is quite certain that the Turk would not resist. If the Porte knew that it stood face to face with six Powers united in a resolve to do justice, there would be no fear of Achmet Aga being sent on another errand of blood. Such a union among six Powers, each of which Such a union among six Powers, each of which has its own views, its own interests, its own jealousies and sympathies, is at no time very easy to bring about. It is always difficult; it is not in its own nature impossible. But it is always very easy to make it impossible. And there is no doubt that the action of one Power has been used throughout to make such agreement impossible. Not England, but the man who has unhappily represented England, has stood in the way of everything. There has been no hearty concur- rence shown in any proposal, from the Andrassy Note onward, which had even the appearance of being con- ceived in the interest of freedom. The policy of Eng- land should have been-it should be even now—to put herself forward as the champion of the revolted lands, she should have been the first to demand their freedom of the oppressor. She should have done this simply as a matter of right and duty, without reference to any jealousy of Russia or of any other Power. But if jealousy of Russia is to be allowed to come in, jealousy of Russia should itself have prompted such a course. As it is, we have driven the victims of the Turk to look to England. What then is to be done ? One thing plainly. Strain every nerve to make an agreement, even now, between England and the other Powers. Let all Europe join, even now, in putting a pressure on the Turk which the Turk will not dare to resist. Let the Powers, all, if possible—if sot, as many as ^w*ill act to- gether—join in demanding the autonomy of the re- volted lands. The Turk would hardly dare to withstand the united demand of England and Russia, even if no other Power joined them. Let England and Russia once agree, let us cast aside our foolish and wicked jealousies, and peace may yet be had, the freedom of the revolted lands may yet be established, most likely without any bloodshed whatever, certainly without any Christian and civilised nation drawing the sword against any other. WAR AND THE MONEY MARKET. The apprehension of a war ciused on Wednesday a very considerable fall in all securities on the Stock Ex- change, and very reasonably, for there has certainly not been so critical a conjuncture for the peace of Europe for some years. There is certainly already a war be- tween Russia and Turkey in fact though not in name, for so many so-called volunteers have gone from Russia to Servia, so large is the number of Russian officers in the Servian army, and so grest the power of Tcher- nayefF, the Russian General, that Servia herself is only in name a belligerent. And this semi-war on the part of Russia is countenanced by Germany, for Russian troops in great numbers are being sent, and are to be sent, through Roumania, the Prince of which belongs to the House of Hohenzollern and would do nothing which Prince Bismarck did not like. Austria, too, seems to approve though whether from any sueh i>-al feeling or simply from f'jsir to move i- but d >uh ful lius-ia, therefor is moving agiin->t. Turk y, and, unless we aet, will bes unimp-ded in so doinir; and all kind-? of ru- mours have b-tn in circulation as to what our inter- ference will be. We discuss else.he e the political as- pect of these events, and their monetary aspect seems to he this :—Supposing that we are not drawn into the war, its eff ct will be, to some extent, to attract money hither. London is the refuge for the money of troubled countries, and for all the money of the world which would otherwise have gone into these countries. In otr er cases we have had a contrary effect before this; the belligerent countries hive drawn money from henre for war purposes. But in this ca-e neither Turkey nor Russia can do so to any material extent; they have no funds here, and their borrowing power is exhausted If Germany should become a bjlligerent, this would, of course, ba changed, for she coutd take much moni y from hence; but we need deal now only with the present belligerents. And, as far as the direct effect of their conflict goes, which will not be large, it will be to cheip n money, for it will tend to bring us some which we should not otherwise have had, and will not take any which wo now have away from us. The result will be augmented by another cause. All trading operation-), especia ly tho-e with the Levant and partly those with India, will be impeded by these events, and this will cause a diminution in the demand for money, which wilt likewise tend to le-sen its value. Although, there- fore, for the moment, the apprehension of this war has a little tended to augment t,he rate of discount, because it makes all persons under large liabilities wish to keep strong, vet soon its effect will be the other way. and it will tend to diminish that rate. All this will be at once altered if we should take part in the war. Our Government will have to borrow, probably largely, and this^will rai-e the value of money. And the London money market will cease to be a refuge from war, for it ill itself be a focus of war. From these causes th value of money will rise here, and the price of securities will greatly fall. No doubt this will tend to bring money from the Continent to be invested in the dis- count of English bills and the purchase of English securities, but this will only in part remedy the evil whii-h c i uses it; our money market would still b. much dearer than it is now. We hope that we shall remain at peace, and that these events, therefore, will not happen but still the juncture is critical, and their pos- sibility should be considered by all who will be much affected by them if they should occur. We may observe that the effect of the war (-upposing it to be confined to Russia and Turkey only) is in opposition to what would oth"r wise be the co irse of the in ney market. Just now there is a tide of money from hence—partly the usual autumn drain, and partly an additional one caused by the unu-ual cheapness of money here; and since the 2ath of September the reserve in the banking depirt- ment and the coin and bullion in both departments of the Rank of En^lan i have varied thus :-Spptember 20th. eo n and bullion, £ 3-5.017.000 banking reserve, t22,2-4,0n0. October 18, coin md bullion, £ 33,.3-57,000 banking reserve, £ 19,3?6,000 Diminution -c ,in and bullion, 1,6*10,000 hanking reserve. £ 2,818,000. And in ordinary times t.hes t ••hanges would have a'tracted Ii Ime attention. Tie p'ethorn of money i-, however. still «o gre t that, they have been altogether unfelt. T ie only r Jal di ninution has been in the surplus money of the B ink of E igland, which it does not use an 1 does not attempt to use. But now that new fotces are begin- ning -o act on the market., it is important to see what th- effect of those b fore in action will b, that we mav know whether t 1e operation of the n' w ones will ba accelerated or retarded by them. — Economist. TIE EASTERN QUESTION. The announcement that Russia has addressed an ulti- matum to the Porte must, the Standard says, be received, as our F ench contemp iraries would say, sous benefice d inventaire. It may he true, but it i" more likely not to he tru", and the very fact that the terms of the ulti- matum are just those wh eh Russia might be expected to insist, upon r.ither tends to discredit the story. The document is exactly such a one as any one conversant w Lh Eastern Question, and aware of the plans of Rus it, might draw up with the greatest ease, and with the comfortanle assurance that if an ultimatum had been ahlressed to the Porte, which he must be assumed to believe, it would not differ greatly from his own drRft. Altogether the news, however, is very far from pacific. The Turks seem to have come to the conclusion that they have only themselves to depend upon, and that the so- c died frields who have been advising and bullying thpm du.ing the last few months are not to be depended upon for any real help. It is quite possible that they will make their own terms with Russia, and that, to the great "'eli^ht of our Ma.d cals, Russia will be as powerful at Constantinople as if she actually possessed it. The position is a very serious one, but there is no room at present for the apprehensions of any other war than that one which so much delishts our philanthropists who cry, Bravo Servia, go in and win!" and do not find their digestion di-turbed by the fact that poor Servia, doing always what it has been told to do, goes in and does not win. It will be some time before Russia, openly appears as a belligerent. The Russian government will put Roumania in motion first, and, with a patriotic caution which can hardly be condemned, save the lives of Russian soldiers by sending the Roumanian army into the same fornlorn hope into which the Servian peasants were driven. Russia will not appear as a belligerent until the last moment, for to Russia such an appearance means the loss of 20 years' progress. But war we must expect, unless it should be bought off by a surrender on the part of Turkey, which would give Russia all it asks—that is to say, another rectification of the Treaty of 1856, which would give it again the mouths of the Danube and the erection of the Herzegovina, Bosnia, and Bulgaria into vassal and tributary states of Turkey. The Times observes that there is, perhaps, a danger that the unreasonable alarms of last week may be suc- ceeded by unreasonable hopes but it is evident that we need not despair of seeing the crisis in the East pass away without an outbreak of hostilities between Russia and Turkey. The Porte has begun to realise its isolated position, and the government of the Czar have stated with precision the terms of the settlement to which, as an ultimatum, it is willing to agree. The substantial point in issue is, now as heretofore, that of security. It may not improbably be thought that the time is past when we could with dignity or convenience discuss the conditions of an ultimatum proposed by Russia to Turkey. The two Powers confront one another each must now know its own meaning and its own fin-I resolutions, and they must either come together of themselves or they will not come together at all. Self-respect ought to make us glad that we can hold aloof without reproach. Russia provokes our distrust and Turkey our condemna- tion, and we cannot do better than follow the example tion, and we cannot do better than follow ihe example of Germany in letting them alone. The policy thus in- dicated would be a m stake, even if it were possible for us suddenly to break away from the past. There is still room for mediation and we may profitably ask our- selves what should be the guiding principle of our action in approaching the consideration of the conditions Russia has submitted as an ultimatum. Nothing can be clearer than this, that the more reason we have, or believe we have, for suspecting the ultimate designs of Russia, the more prompt we ought to be in admitting all reasonable demands that may be put forth by it. The way to check Russia's unreasonable demands is to anticipate and ad- mit all that she can fairly claim. It is undeniable that the government of the Czar is more than justified in in- sisting upon the necessity of Turkey giving security for 'O'n the accomplishment of the reforms promised by the Porte, and Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, to whom these promises may be said to have been given, has been the first to express an opinion that the realisation of any further schemes of reform must be placed under the superintendence of a foreign commission. The precedent of Syria is appropriate to this suggestion, and also in support of the condition that the safety of the commis- sioners shall be secured by the presence of an armed foreign force. The Emperor of Russia has, the Morning Post believes, been personally sincerely desirous of peace, but he has been urged into a dangerous position by the Panslavist faction, and has above all been misled by the speeches and attitude of Mr. Gladstone. The present temper of the public mind and the attitude of our government can hardly fail to disabuse the Cabinet of St. Petersburg and to bring it to an appreciation of the fact that the inten- tion and determination of this country are in direct contradiction to the suggestions of Mr. Gladstone. It is not to be denied, however, that in our anxiety for peace we have often urged the Porte to come to terms which it was unwilling to adopt, and which only the critical nature of the position warranted us in pressing on its acceptance. Turkey will now be free from the pressure of over-anxious friends. The Turk is a marvellous diplo- matist, and is fully possessed of that Asiatic finesse which sees every side of a compact far more quickly and truly than Europeans. We feel therefore perfectly confident that the Porte will not subscribe to terms which involve the disintegration of the Empire. On the other hand, there is yet time for the Cabinet of St. Petersburg to abate and virtually withdraw its pretensions. Retreat might be covered by some show of those words of which diplomists are masters. If this opportunity be lost there can be no doubt that we are on the verge of great con- vulsions. It is a far cry to Constantinople. Bulgaria is impracticable in winter, and the spring would not see the Ottoman Empire without allies. The mobilisation of the Russian army in Poland shows a dread of being taken on the flank by Austria. We ourselves could so garrison the Dardanelles, and even Constantinople, that it could defy assault. But the great basis of all our enterprise is the sea. Where would Russia be if, having crossed the Danube, its supplies were cut off by the operations of English gun-boats? What would become of the com- merce of an empire of which the first measure in engaging in hostilities must be a suspension of specie payments ? The Daily Telegraph, alluding to the alleged ultimatum sent by Russia to the Porte, says that while the news has no official confirmation at present, at the same time it is perfectly possible that the conditions brought from Livadia have been allowed thus to leak out, in order to test, perchance, the feeling of Europe before the formal step is taken of communicating them to the Porte. Sup- posing that the conditions are all truly reported, no honest mind can doubt for a moment how to characterise them. They are simply the Livadian letter writ large," with a phrase or two two stolen from English diplomatic diction, so as to give a flavour of plausibility and in- tegrity to the violence of the design. In a word, if everything in this programme were as feasible as it is futile, if its designs were as definite as they are pur- posely vague, the object is that of the Livadian letter- not administrative reform for the Christians, but aggran- disement for Russia. Turkey has accepted already the armistice and the administrative reforms borrowed from Lord Derby's language, and would have no objection to commissioners "nd supervision. But an "armed foreign force" ia Bulgarii IMPLIES the surrender of her European dominions and, whether it be proposed in he name of religion OR IMPOSED with undisguised ambition, Turkey O M h 'VE but o ie repiy to such terms. She will assurellly aglir, if IHEY ARE insisted UPON, and will repel the invasion or her .guaranteed territory, even should none aid her, just as resolutely as though the Powers kept their solemn engagements to preserve her from an act of international brigandage. Turkey has the task of answering these demands if they are made, and we shall be surprised if her reply does not awa';en a new feeling in the country. There are, perhaps, plans which she might accept in her isolation, but not the suicide which is here offered her. She will fight, whateve" may be the blindness of Europe to its own exigencies and that she can fight Tchernayeff is again finding out to his cost. 0

THE UNITED KINGDOAI ALLIANCE. The annual conference of the General Council of the United Kingdom Aliimce was held in the Friends' Meeting House, Manchester, on Tuesday upwards of 2.000 delegates being present, presided over by Sir Walter Trevelyan. Sir Wilfrid Lawson was present, and received a grand ovation.—The Chairman in opening the proceedings, said they had reached a most importtllt crisis in their hoy war, which might decide whether their beloved country would fall "under the bias ing tyranny of the drink trific, or whether the curse should be swept away from the fice of the land. They had a most difficult task to acc omplish, for they had riot, only to contend against their old enemy the drink traffic, but they had also to contend against an unscrupulous Government ( applause) which had ignored its paramount and sacred duty of legislating for the welfare of the community. A most grave responsi- bility, if not, indeed, a real culpability, rested on the ULI istry in regard to their late action on the liquor laws, for the Government had made themselves accom- plice- in the atrocities committrd in this country under its infiu nces. (Cheers.) Mr. Simuel Pope, Q.C., The honorary secretary, read the report for ths past year, in which the committee rejoiced at the abounding signs of progress which had attended the Alli¡¡nc'. In Parliament, and throughout the country gn.rally, in every section and shade of society, there have b en most gratifying proofs of solid and rapid progress. In discussing the legislation of the pa-t year the committee expressed their belief that the proposed Licensing Boards B 11 was the outcome of the persistent agitation and demand of the council and country. But the most remarkable success of the Fes- sion, not merely by its result, but as having given rise to valuable expressions of sympathy and sapport from statesmen of eminence on both sides, was the Iri-h Sunday Cl sincl, Bill. The bill would be reintroduced nexts-asim. Speaking of the efforts of the National Reform Union and the Birmingham L beril Ass ciation in favour of popular contr D over licenses, the council expres-ed their satisfaction at the measure which Mr. Chamberlain, M.P., intended to bring forward, and which was supposed wuld have the sanction of Mr. Bright. The council spoke hopefully of TNE prohibition movement in America and Canada. In conneL-tion with the finances of the Alliance, it was remarked that notwithstanding the general depression throughout the country the aggregate receipts bid amounted to over • £ 22,000, being upwards of £1.000 in excess of the pre vious y a-. In V.ew, 1 o VI ver, of the degression, t « council had not sFen its way to recommend another guarantee fund. In conclusion, the report said Let no one taunt the Alliance wi'h being engaged in a hope- less crusade because Sir Wilfred s Permissive Bill has not yet become law. In tins free and constitu- tionally governed nation, with a free press, free plat- form, and the ballot-box to receive the votes of the householders, public opinion cannot fail ultimately to crystalise itself into lnw." The report was adopted, on the motion of Mr. CI irke, of Street, seconded by Mr. Elliott, of L skeard. The president, vice-presidents, and executive commit- tee were re-appointed. A resolution calling on subscribers to assist in increas- ing the amount of contributions was also passed, in the course of which ic was sl¡¡,t"d that Sir W ilt r Trevelyan, Sir Wilfrid Ltwson, and Mr. Benj min Wnitwnth had continued their subscriptions of £1,000 per year. A resolution, expressing satisfaction at the progress of the Alliance platform, was moved by Mr. Lewis, of Edinburgh. The Rev. T. Hutton, ef Shildon, in seconding the motion, which passed, said be had long li d a heavy indictment against Mr. Gladstone and Mr. John Bright on the lemperanee movement, but he was willing to re- ceive their contributions on the Irish Sunday Closing Bill debate as part payment of the account. There was a heavy sum s ill due by Ni r Gladstone for the mischief he had inflicted upon the country by the Grocer's Licensing Bill. (Cheers.) Thanks were tendered to Sir Wilfrid Lawson and the 101 members who voted or paired for the Permissive Bill. Sir Wilfred Lawson, who was received with great cheering, afterwards a ldressed the me-ting, observing that the Alliance movement was becoming thoroughly felt throughout the country, and people were beginning to feel their responsibility. At the general election in 1874, which might be called the Buil's Run of the tem- perance party—(laughter) —liqunrdom was triumph- ant but in that dark hour of defeat he had told them they need not despair. (Cheers.) On every side they had indications that the tide had turned, and in proof of this he referred to the attention which religious and political bodies were giving to the question. (Cheers.) Dr. Lees, of Leeds, Mr. Malins (Grand Chief Tem- plar), Mr. Samuel Pope, Mr. Raper, and others also addressed the conference, and a long string of resolu- tions embodying the principles of the Alliance were adopted. The annual meeting of the members was held in the Free Trade Hall, Tuesday night. So large was the attendence that a second meeting bad to be held. Sir Wilfrid L \w?on presided, and Sir Walter Trevelvan, Professor Smyth, M P., Mr. W. S. Allen, M.P., and Mr. A. M. Sullivan, M.P., were present. The Rev. 8. A. Steinthall explained what had been done at the conference. Sir Wilfrid Lawson, who was most warmly cheered, said the Executive of the Alliance bad had a d sappoint- meut. They had hoped to get a bisbop in the chiir. y r. (Laughter.) They could not get one, and.-th.ey had to fall back upon him as chairman. (Laughter.) Oh, what a f-ILL was there, my countrymen." (Prolonged laughter.) No one could regret more than he, for if they had had a bishop he would have spoken to them with authority—(laugb'er)—whereas he could only ap- I It peal to their reason. He rejoiced te see that the bishops were making enquiry into the drinking system. Until the programme of the Alliance w&s carried out they could never rest. If the liquor trade was good, it ought to be made as free ,tc the tea, bread, or sugar trades- (hear bear)-but if it was injurious, as they had no doubt it was, why did not politicians remove its curse ? He held that it could not be regulated satisfactorily, for they could never regulate an irregularity. (Cheers.) The red herring of compensation had been diiven pretty briskly over the track lately-(laugbter)-but when people talked about compensation he thought that it showed the system was not kept up for the good of the people, but for interested parties. (Applause ) He would not himself bring in any bill for the amendment of the licensing law, as he believed the system was wrong in itself, and he went in for it total prohibition by the voice of the people. (Cheers ) He expressed his pleasure at the presence of Professor Smyth, who had introduced the Irish Sunday Closing Bill. The rej ction of the bill, through the action of the Government, was one of the most discreditable events of modern times. He believed that if reference was not made in the Queen's Speech to the subjeet, and a promise was not made to yield to the expressed opinion of the people of Ireland, an amendment would be moved to the passing of the Speech. (Prolonged cheering.) He did not 11 pin his faith to statesmen. He had seen so many changes that he would not be surprised to see a Tory Government put Mr. Bass into the House of Lords so as to enable them to press the Permissive Bill. (Laughter.) Mr. Hugh Mason moved a vote of thanks to the supporters of Sir Wilfrid Lawson in the House of Com- mons, which was seconded by the Rev. Mr. O'Connor, vicar of Newport, Isle of Wight, supported by Mr. E. Ellis, of Leicester, and carried unanimously. Professor Smyth acknowledged the compliments, and referred to a resolution which was to be submitted to the effect that the patriotic representatives in the House should give their support to the Permissive Bill or some equivalent measure. This last phrase, he remarked, showed that Sir Wilfrid Lawson and his party were not bigoted. They put the Permissive Bill to the front, but they held out their hands to Mr. Cowen and other temperance Reformers. Mr. Allen, M.P., Mr. Sullivan, M.P., and other gentlemen also addrca:-ed the meeting.

James Mazengast and Barnet Gobez were on Monday convicted at the Middlesex sessions of stealing a large number of cigars, the property of Lawrenc J Abrahams and another, High-street, Whitechapel, and sentenced each to nine months' hard labour. In the course of the case it was stated that the prosecutors had missed about 70,000 cigars, without being able to detect the thieves, before the prisoners were arrested. The dairy show at the Agricultural Hall, London, on Tuesday, attracted a largs number of visitors. The gold vase, value 100 guineas, for the best three daLy cows, was awarded to Mr. T. W. Carrington, of Croxted Abbey, Uttoxeter. A similar prize for the best three cows of the Channel Islands breeds, fell to Mr. W. R. Leigh, of Barham Court, Maidstone, Kent. A 20-guinea prize for the best cow of any breed except Channel Islands, was awarded to Mr. J. A. Mumford, Thame, Oxon and for [ the best two cows to Mr. T. Statter, Stand Hall, Man- Chester. The show of dairy produce and implements was attractive. FITS.—EPILEPTIC FITS OR FALLING SICKNESS.— A certain method of cure has been discovered for this dis- tressing complaint by a physician, who is desirous that all sufferers may benefit from this providential discovery it Is never known to fail, and will cure the most hopeless case after all other means have been tried. Full par- ticulars will be sent by post to any person free of charge. —Address:—Mr. WILLIAMS, 10, Oxford Terrace Hyde Park, Loulou,

ASSUALT ON A SWANSEA CAPTAIN. Mr. Isaac Lindo, late chief officer of the British barqus Picton Castle, belonging to Swansea, appeared at the Stepney police court, or. Fridav, to answer a summonsch urging him with having assaulted Mr. Edward Bate, the captain oftne ship. Mr. May attended to prosecute. Mr. hdward Bate said he was the captain of the Picton Castle, at present lying in the West India Dock. He engiged dofeudent as chief uffi er, at weekly wages, and intended h,m to sign as such for the next voyage! On Friday he left defendent to take charge of the ship whilst she was receiving cargo. On his return, late in the day, he found defendant had left the ship He re- turned on the Saturday, but witness had' engaged another mate. On Mond iy morning, whil-t witness whs on the poop talking to some gentlemen, defendant came up to him and asked to be pyid three d >ys' wages, from Wednesdav till Friday. Witness, however, refused to p^y him, thinking the demand an unreasonable one on account of defender^ having gone away and left the shiD as he did. He repeated his demand, and on witness still refu«ing, he struck him three blows in the face. rhe steward came to witness's asi-istance and caught hold of the defendent. By the Magistrate He had not signed, and witness had engaged someone else as chief officer. Mr. Reriard Sin pson, one 01 the owners of the Picton Cattle, said that he resi :ed at Swansea. On Monday last he was standing on the poop of that vessel, a few yards from the captain, when he saw the defendant go up to tbe former and ask for some wages. Tht- captain refused to give them to him, and he then saw him de- liberately strike him in the face. The captain caught held of detendan', and the steward ran forward tobia us.-i-tance. The blows were ti eri wi'h the fist. Enoch Benjamin, a cdoured man, steward on board the Picton Castle, saw defendant strike the captain three hlow-, delivered straight from the shoulder. He had before heard d.fendact say, "If that man don't give me my money I'll be the de-ith of him." In reply to the charge, defendant (who holds a m ster's certificate), s id he was very s Irry for what he had done; it was in the he-t of the mom"nt, consequent ori the ca- tain refusing t, give him he wages he con- sidered due to him. As to his leaving the ship rs described, tha was all tne fault of the steward. Mr. Lushington told the defendant he could not doubt but that he had commi' ted a very savage and unprovoked assault upon the captain. He had considered himself aggrieved about, the wages, he knew perfectly well that he could h»rve had the matter pr perly settled at this court and he had no possible right whatever to take th. matter into his own hands and try to puni-h the cap- tain. Fortunately for hIm, it did ppear that at the time the as-ault w;is commute i he was not actually mate of the ship or he should hive h ^d to deal with this case under the Merchant Shipping Act, and defen- dant would have to go prison lor three months—as it was he should sentence him to one month's imprison- ment with hard labour.

TRADES UNION TYRANNY. It is high time that the Press denounced and the public frowned down the growing tyrannv of the Tradr Unionists throughout th count'y. Tnese people pos- sibly k-ep within the letter of the law, but they violate mo-t flagrantly the spirit, ai d Mr. Cross, the present Home Secretary, has doubtless long eie this bad reason to regret th ,t he sanctioned picketing" in bis Labour Bill—this said picketing simply meaning almost every kind of annoyance to those woikmer. who refuse to be biund by the tyrannical rules of Trades r n ions, and are desirous of honestly earning their bread, fee from intei ferance. Of course ir will be said that the law is strong enough t) meet all cases of intimdation but employers of labour know that practically the law is powerless to reach the great majority of those Cr.ses of petty tyranny which are now so often resorted to, and ti which almost every workman eventually succumbs. The extreme difficulty of obtaining a conviction before the magistrates for illegal interference is proof that the Labour Bill forms no exception to the rule that our liws are drawn with too much laxity, and whch has given rise to w at has now ••come an almost univer- sally recognised axiom "that you can drive a carriage and pair throuarh any Act of Parliament." In a case wh C i came f efre the leaned magistrate at the Old Bailey during the past week the difficulty of securing a conviction for intimidation was admi'ted by the Bench. The magistrate said that watching and besetting" were permitted under the Act for the purpose of procuring information, but not in such a way as to compel or coerce a man into doing a certain act, or leaving undone that which he wished to do. He should commit the defendant for trial, because he believed this watching anl besetting had been carried beyond the point autho- rised by the Act, and, therefore, involving it charge of intimidation, but in doing this he had" considerable doubt as to the legal meaning of the word." Again, these Unionists limit the amount work which shall b. performed, putting the thrifty and intelligent upon the lame level as the lazy and ignorant, and demanding that all members of the Union snail be paid alike, and they have lately taken most effectual steps to prevent other workmen from accepting that work which they refuse, or receiving wages which they consider to low. Numerous instances could be cited in proof of what we sta e. The operative Bricklayers Society have defiantly decided that in future all terra cotta work must be fixed by bricklayers only," Messrs. Doulron and Co., the extensive and eminent potter;>, notwithstanding. The Glass Bottle Blowing Unionists have also equally firmly decided that the men shall stop if they so think proper when the "number" which is the average standard of wages has been made, notwithstanding this number" can easily be made in about five hours, and when stopping work when this "number" has been reached would prove a most serious loss to the em- ployer. The Amalgamated Engineers Society have dogmatically decided that the engineers and fitters for- merly engaged by the Taff Vale Railway Company shall act accept a 10 per cent. reduction upon their wages, nor shall they work 10 hours per day instead of nine, notwithstanding the exigencies of the times may demand it. Nay more, they have succeeded in driving back to their former places bodies of workmen who were anxious to accept the terms refused by the Unionises. Agair, the Warwickshire Miners Union have in meeting as- sembled resolved that it is desirable for the leaders of every Trades Union throughout the country to take steps to secure the advantages which will no doubt be obtained throughout the coming winter for the benefit of Unionists alone. But the m ~>st arrogant demands which we have yet seen are those just put forward by the Operative Spinners Association of the North and North-East Lancashire district. These Unionists have not only dogmatically given notice that they will not be bnund after Nov. 1 by the present standard rate of wages, but have put forth other claims, which if acceded to would give the opera- tives the whole cantrol of the wages position of the districts. The Manufacturers Association held a meeting on Tuesday last to consider this notice, and with a praiseworthy determination to curb those de- mands of the workmen refused to continue operations under the conditions imposed, and gave a month's notice to close their mills on Nov. 23. Now, in the face of all this suicidal policy on the part of these Trades Unionists, we ask how can large em- ployers be expected to enter freely into the markets for any orders which may be offering, or take advantage of any little improvement of trade which may be springing up. Employers are by no means certain that their whole works may not be stopped at any moment at the behests of these Trades Unionists, or that skilled arti- zans may not be so vexatiously and systematically an- noyed as to make life almost unbearable so long as they will not conform to the tyrannical rules of the Union. It cannot be too often repeated or too seriously urged that the policy which these Trades Unionists now openly advocate (and which we are bound to state has been to an extent tolerated by the labour laws recently passed) strike at the very root of out national prosperity. It is certainly a reflection upon us as a nation that re- spectable and skilled artizans, willing and anxious to work, should be prevented from so doing (becauss prac- tically they are; whatever, may be said to the contrary) at the dictation of any union or body of men whatever. Education and a better acquaintance with the laws of » political economy may possibly eventually teach these blind leaders of the blind better things, but we are seriously afraid that great injury will be done to our manufacturing and commerieal industries in the mean- time unless the Legislature should see that they have entrusted the working classes with a power which they have not exercised wisely and well; and, therefore, it must be restricted and kept within more reasonable limits.—Mining Journal, ■

The Chris tad el pbians of Barrow-in-Furness having offered S100 to any one who will prove from Scripture that man is possessed of an immortal or never-aying sou 1, the challenge has been accepted by the Kev. alter Briscombe, Wesleyan minister. The Royal Infirmary at Manchester has been con- demned as unfit for present purposes, chiefly on sanitary grounds and a Special Sanitary Committee, at a meeting on Monday, reported in favour of erecting a new hospital or receiving-house in a central position, and disposing of the existing building and site. It was stated that the present site could be sold for S500.000. which would build and equip hospitals of sufficient extent to supply the wants of the district, and leave a sum of £;}OO,OOG for the benefit of the charity. Music AND DANCING LICENSES.—On Thursday, at the Sessions-house, Newington-causeway, an application was made by Mr. Straight on the part of Mr. John Mann, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Temperance Hall, uear the Surrey Theatre, which ha.d been recently erected at an expense of JE8,000, for a license for music only. During" the progress of the case the Clerk of the Peace (Mr. Wyatt) drew the attention of the Court to one of the standing orders under under which all applications were to be advertised, and in this case there had been no advertisements. The learned Chairman said the Court could not proceed, as the omission was fatal, and pending the question which had been raised the application could not be granted,