The South Wales Daily Post

THE* WIF&STEALBR Til? MarkofF family came; from Rtu-sia toward thtl eud of the last century, and i) ^Tisete,- Markcrf, the third descendant of tbts; fAmily, a3 already a large landowner in Hungary and oouid ar.t speak a syllable of the Russiaa tongue. U'em-t^r III. wa* a famous man in aid tune, hv.-c because he could ride down tin) strongest, horse in one day; secondly, because he could swallow the Urgest gia&si of wine at one gulp \1:),1 after- ward* eat tins glass itself); thirdly, because, iiuwever 18"ge his income might be, he could always spend twice a?> much; a.nd. fourthly, becarB^, DO matter what woman he met, he could always either fascinate her or (failing that) marry her—and within a twelvemonth the ladv iu question would punctually he Abolished from the face oi the. earth. When he. mached hI' forty-eighth, year he had just buried his third wife. She was a good soul, they si.y- i^vr complained, and died quietly and without protest. i By his ti"st wite he had a son. Demeter 4 Markotf tlv? four5h. At the time of which '? rite this young man was 24 years of age. 'In many respects he fa led t., resemble Lis father He hLkêtJ that gentleman's- heroic qualities, being a quiet and economical young man, fond of reading, painting, and music. ,"W uie and. tobacco both made mm sick, and if a pretty girl looked at him he would blush. ■Demeter 111. was irritated by his son's vir- tues, and jailed him a. Uic'by. hut he was hi? only sen all the .same, and he could not disown him. l'aternal example had no effect upon him. Tn vain did Dereeter III take him to bear hunts'—the wii .'imply bega.n to Dcjut the forest scenery, in vain did lIe give him money to spend—he bought nothing but boJkz ana pictures in r*in did he take him to places of amusement—he simply v^at to sleep while the fwB vis going on. Une day, however, Demeter III. was astonished by the news that his son wished to marry. In the adjoining county there was a charming young girt who was the youngest of the six daughters of a small iandfc.ii proprietor. It was on the occasion of a vintage festival that tuc youth had first met. her, and ever since then he had been accustomed, in the soft moonlight, to dream away his* time in her company, and to talk uhout the stars and the Sowero. as respectable people are supposed to do when they are in love. The uame of ttus young girl was Angelica. ioung Demeter Markoff now came to his lather and asked him n he would be good en.1?h to journey into t.he adjoining county itui obtain for him the necessary consent to the projected marriage. 'With pleasure replied the father. "Is she pretty'" "Her beauty is trj-cscendant." "Ah, you think so because she i* the first girl you nave met. Is she fond of you?'' ''She worship* me." "19 she young?' '"Only eighteen." That iltt the most interesting age Don't be afraid. I wilt 40 and ?< .mage it, I will bring her back. You oan consider her already here Demeter III. had his horses swiftly har- nessed, five beautiful Arab steeds, and he drove them into the neighbouring county ;it such a terrific rate that they ere pretty well lame before they got, here, Directly he set eyes on Aa^lica he jaw that she was, indeed, the lov'iest of women—also that she bad a. deeply rooted affection for his son Angelica, as already 'Stated, was only eighteen, and a.t that ago fairy rules over the senses. Secret sympathies and inexplicable magnetic irUkKMrccy operate in the soul. These thing? whispered to Miq. Angelica that to be drawn by five Arab steeds is mora delightful than to be drawn by two. auj it. was pleasanter to eat off silver dishes, than 41fT ohina plates; and. indeed, Demeter lV, possessed less property than Ins father, for. whilf tia- latter owned 'arge tracts of country, nothing belonged to his artistic son but the landscapes on canvas which he bad himself painted in the paternal territory. 1,1 oite word. Angelica gave her hand to Demec-er III. instead! of b his offspring. Tin matrimonii go-between kept his word —he brought the young laly home; but Denier IV, was sufficiently astonished when }■■'>+ 1.tther told him that she did net come oha -wrie, but m his stcp-mofchei. The roT' Demeter c«.»w found it necessary to quit Kungsfv altogether, for all the in- habitants were laughing at his expense. He went to Russia, and lived in an old mansion of hs Lit .hers jn Podolia. Thence he never returned. After that tit- people at home tohl all #ort-s of ludicrous stories to the life he was leading in Russia- Some said that he -tr ail I -f>y long in the corner of a room, opposite the portrait of t i¡. girl r? had wished to marry that the spiders were in- dustriously spinning their wt- bs OVT this picture: that they had al'n>-fc covpr;>d it from view, but that the rves "» Angelica were still visible, and that Deinetr. TV would not le,lve the cham^T until they ton. were con- cealed by the filmy meshe- Cithers said he was miking experiments in chemistry, and trv'.ng the effect of certain poison* on dogs win cats A third party *rid that he Ind turned into > vegetarian, and passed hi* life in weighing up the preci-? amount ot food wi.h. h h" considered necessary fur hi.. next meal. But they were a 1\ wrong, and at length their statements were confuted by a letter which arrived from Demeter H., addi«s*ed to his father It should he mentioned, by the wrr that thp be«utifu: Angelica had. indeed, lied within tlf twelveuKvth. On the occasion of a ball Demeter III v.-as so drank that he pointed a gun ,t his wife because she was chatting merriiv u if.'i a jjod-looking young otficew SI:-1 thereupon fled from the ballroom "11 teiror, rubbed out- into the colinight air in bei muslin dress and satin slippers, took and shortly died therefrom. But she had attained her imbition, and if the had married the younger Deleter might, per haps. st;1' have been alll.e, As Mrs. Derneter IV. she won-ft not have 1t(>en lying in such a beautiful velvet-covered* ar.d gilded cuffin, nor have tiet"n drawn to her vault by five -ach beautiful At ah steeds. From the younger Deinete1' If-Her to his father it appeared that he kd been .-{; far aucoes«rfnl in forgetting Angelica that he was bent to ma,rry another girl. Years had already passeu. The elder Dementer was 58 years oil, while his son wa.« "till only 34. Thuc the latter was now in a position to write 1-< 11s father in these terms:— "My dear Father,—I again intend to many. and I have discovered the iro«t. beautiful girl in;-iginabie for my wife. 1 want you to be present ♦•he ceremony. Thi« tune I am not aIr-did that yco wdl carry off rny brick1, for ten years have elapsed, and y n have now lost j your power oi fascination. Ten y- ars ago I was a njerf hijd and vou wre a man to-day I am x m-sn aad you are getting well on into » clii;<!hood. Besides, my hancee loves me with prof'.und devotion. Therefore, if you w'sh ma happincs, corne at ''nee to my Approaching weilding.—Dimeter. The* words inflamed Demeter TIT, His pride waj» wounded. A wicke-1 de-ire took po9«6.<sion of him. Whit SOT*, of a. girl is thic: you, in?ster In- tirds to marry?" he inquned of trie valet who had brought tHe letter. ■ "A most lovely creature, s^r," was the reply, Is s:if> yomig?" "Still almost a chiM. j "Do they iove each other* "Like -i oaii of d^ves." j '"Weil, ?o back and tell m, son Hla": I shall ,» present it his wedding," III. iosf not a rnoment. but trtveUed ]K>st lia^ste. Ftes*hin> Lemherg, he liV:ro happened t.. meet hi* son's coachman. "What a.re you do;<^ here, Dimitm?" he1 i.txuiwd. II The servant hammered and showed that he voidd like to lie. but a handfid of gold promptly irnministr-red indaeerf him to tell the ¡ truth. FI* said that his master got quite I alarmed on hearing that the father did not mind taking the trouble of journeying to PodoUsh. and he bad. therefore, arranged that ¡ the wedding si-ould take pla^e two days earlier, swrnlinir his coachman to Lernberg to buy certain Hungarian commodities for the marriage feast. I Demeter ITI. leaped upon :1. swift horse -for hi-' earna.ge w not qirck enough—and fit '.loped furio asly tr-waro Pc'dxdia Two horses I fell beneath him, and he arrived ;It the church just a« the marriage was about to be sol em- tiised. He demounted, and the cerpnwl; v wa? n r.r<kt that falbe" and son mitV. grt-ct each r.ther, while the brid". 1"P.- mnH near the altar. She was covered with • thick veil whi'.h eomplet^ly !od her fea- tures. Demeter TU. looked with proud <-on- ten pt upon hM "on. wlkwe f'e wa.s sunk with A iio ire ring ailment, and from whose colour jt >^Ktld be ho%-»- m.isny months he had toj livti, wneneas he, the latttos. was stLii vizorra.i' and robuet. Demeter IV.. threw an implor- ing glance upon his paternal relative, who sixap-ly received it with a smile, sud then walked up to the waiting bride and whispered in her ear: "Beautiful woman, I am Demeter Markoff III., whilst that man is my son. His haJids I tremble, mine are steady; his are empty, mine are full of gold. Compare us together, and choose which one you will prefer to lead I you to the altar." D.dora -sn. it was the lady's rame-made her decision with very little hesitation, and it was I the father whom .she allowed to take her to the aitar and make her his wife. She swore to him eternal devotion. Demeter III. was radiant with victory, and glanced around the church to see what had become of his son. The latter was standing with his back against a piilai, watching thp ceremony from thence. He was not weeping. a-s on a fonner occasion. As the party was leaving the church he whispered iu his father s ears, "Good luck to you. Demeter III." The elderly bridegroom took off the veil from the face of the bride. He beheld, not a. thing of bea.uty. but an ugly, erooked1- mouthed, one-eyed horror—an object so very ugly tl«• t he could not find another like it if he searched all over the earth. From this wife he could not escape so easily as from the others. He could not drive her away from him. and she refused to die. He lived with her till his own death. She was not afrai.i of his finder, for she could swear better than he. If he drank, so did Didora I if he attempted tobpat her. she gave hdn a worse thrashing in return. Demeter found it necessary to shave off his bea"d. otherwise I Didora. was fond of pulling it out for him. I She insisted on accompanying him whenever he v'sifed his friends, and, being generally in drink, she would quarrel with him in their houses, and expose him to the Keenest ridi- cule. At length he decided never to go out of doors again, and' he died in seclusion.

TIED HOUSES. GOVERNMENT ASKED TO INTER- FERE. In the House of Commons on Friday, Mr. W. ALLEN (L.,Newcastle-under-Lyne) movt-d as an amendment to the motion for tro:ng- into Committee of Supply "That, whereas the present system of granring licences fur the sai8 of intoxicating liqour to tenants who aro under agreement to purchase from any partmuar person, tirm, or company is most injurious both to the tenants and the public, ih;s HotlY: is of opinion that immediate legislation i- desirable to make such agree- ments illegal." The system was, he *aid, scarcely tnown 30 years ago, but now 70 per e-nt. of the iieensed public-houses were attached to some brewery, and in many cases the Is were most oppressive to the tenants. The publican must take his goods from the brewer whether they were gcod or not. tie was liable to have his premises searched at any time, he lllght be turned out at a moments notice, and tne public suffeftd by being supplied with bad bver. In the interest, then, of the pubiicau. of the eon- sumer. of the ratepayer, ,iii i of the Exchequer, he asked the House to pass the resolution by a large majontv. (htn, hear ) Mr H. BROAD 11L Rii'l iL., Leicester) seconded the resolution, and urged that it was time Parliament stepped 111 to put an end to this system of oppression, forced upon the public and the publican. It had been represented that there was a great desire to get into tied houses, that they descended from father to sou. and that fortunes were made in them, but he had evidence to show that such houses were transferred three times as often a,s houses that were free. Mr. BUCKNILL (C., Surrey) did not believe that the resolution had the sympathy of the licensed victuallers as a class, and, as president of a licensed victuallers' association, he had evidence to the contrary. He did not .say that ¡ the brewers' traa- was perfect or that tin-re were I not abuses in the tied house system, hut he denied that that system was injurious to toth fhe tenants and the public, and to declare all agreements between brewers and their tenants illetr.il would be coercion with a. vengeance. (Hear, hear.) Before legislation was attempted on the subject there should be an inquiry by a Select Committee. If the Government oelieved that tliore was a grievance to be remedied, let them introduce a clause in their Local Veto Bill enabling localities to deal with the inatt-;r. There were tied houses in other tradeps besides the publicans'. The-e were tea dealers, jewellers, baker, and bo«5t-tellers who were bound by contraoi to taker their suppliiti from one source. Mr. EVERSIIKD (L. Burton), agreeing that the buying up of free houses by the great brewers and turning them into tied houses destroyed small brewers, held that the ques- tion of the creation in that way of gigantic- monopolies deserved the attention of Parlia- ment. Beer supplied by free houses was a far more wholesome beverage than that sup- plied by tied houses. He ..ad. however, some hesitation in voting for a resolution which called for immediate legislation, and thought it would be better to refer the subject to a Committee. .:1.1; ISBOKXE IC., Chelmsford) defended the tied house system, and was in favour of I inquirv by a Committee. Mr.' GEORGE W. E. RUSSELL (Under- Secretary for the Home Department) wanted to know who should decide when brewers disagreed. (Laughter.) The Government programme of the present- year was pretty nearly M Ml as it could be. ("Hear, bear. and a lautjli But they had to consider the programme of next year and the year after that—(laughter and cheers)—and if those who sympathised with the resolution gave their confidence to "lie present Ministry he had no doubt that sornL- means wouid be found of Sfivin^ legislative effect to it, (Hear, hear.) The question was put. and the motion for Supply was negatived without a division. On Mr. W. Allen's proposal being put as a substantive resolution, Mr Rl-CKSILL moved as an amendment that a Select Lommitcee should be appointed to inquire into the customs prevalent through- out the country by which the wholesale manu- facturer bound his retail customer* who held licence* to deal in the article* he manufactured and sold. The amendment wa* seconded by Mr BON.SOK, and supported hv the Marquess of CARMARTHEN. The House divuled. and the numbers I were — For the 59 Against 98 Majority 39 T pon the main question being put from the Chair, shortly after twelve o'clock, some olv jection wa" rawed, hut Mr. W. ALLEN moved j-iheX'ioMUre, w hich was earned by 91 to 51. j" Oil the announcement of the number^, the SPEAKER said The numbers not beinr suffi- cient to oarry the closure, the debate stands adjourned. (Loud laughter.)

WELSH DISESTABLISHMENT THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE REVENUES. It stated (says the Press Association) that the t'otsservative and Liberal Unionist mem- bers of Parliament ire likelv to support Mr. Lloyd-George's amendment to the Welsh Chrr. h Bill handier over the temporalities of the Welsh Church to a national corn.til, in opposition to the Government scheme for the appointment of Conimissi"vners. PETITION AGAINST THE BILL FROM LYDNET Sir Charles Dilke, the Parliamentary repre- sentative of the Forest of Dean, has presented to Parliament a petition against the Welsh Dis- establishment Bill, the signatures numbering nearly 500.

SUMMER ASSIZES. LOCAL CIRCUITS OF THE J GDGES The" London Gazette of Friday night con- tains the following :— CROWN OFFICES, May 15. DATS AXD fT.ACfS FOP HOLDING SUMMER ASSIZKS, 1895. North Wales and Chester Circuit (Justice Lawrance).—May 29, at Newtown May )1, Dolgelly June 3, Carnarvon; June 7, Beau- maris June 10, Ruthin and June 13, Mold. South Wales Circuit (Justice Collins;.—May 31, at Haverfordwest June 3, Lampeter June 5, Carmarthen June 6, at the borough of Car- marthen June 10, Brecon; and June 13, Pres- teign.

MEMORIAL TO DR. DALE. The committee appointed to premote a public memcrial to Dr. Dale, in commemoration of the services rendered by him to the mnnicipality of Birmingham and to the cause of education, have decided that it alholl take the form of a marble st*tue; to be placed in the City Art Gallery, and he investment of a sum sufficient to provide a. gold medal to be presented to the governors of King- Edward's High School for Boys. A memorial for presentation to the family of the doctor is beine couei d-

NOTES FROM THE METROPOLIS. [ FB9K OUR LONDON ceSRESFONBKKTS. j LONDON, FRI»AY. THE CLANS GETTING RESTIVE, The rising of the MacGregors has not yet subsided. The Chancellor's little attempt to canoodle the olans in his private room last night was generally successful. As regards Dr. MacGregor, no sign has yet been made. He left the House last night threatening to apply for the Chiltern Hundred's, and it is not yet known whether his threat is to become a fact. There was a gathering of the clans in the lobby this afternoon. Most of the High- laud members were there, with some others, a.nd there was a good deal of confabulation, whereof the issue was nil. MR, ASQUITH'S BLUNDERS. II The Factories Bill LS being found out by the Radical- manufacturers as well as by some working men. It is quite on the cards that, by reason of the heavy opposition developed against the Bill in private and for divers reasons, it will be quietly shelved as another of "our failures." With the best of intentions, Mr. Secre- tary Asquith has gravely erred in his Bill. He has been indiscreetly indiscriminate, It IS put this way—that he has put forth his hand and scooped up all the fads of cranks I and Socialists, and kneaded them into a "work- I able'' Bill. Moderate men have taken the alarm, and threaten to desert the party which ¡' thus gives itself up to Socialism. Mr. Asquith made a similar mistake over the Mines Bill, into which he introduced provisions that were forthwith disowned by the Miners' National t Federation. AND HIS MISFORTUNES. Profound svmpatiiv is expressed with Mr. Secretary Asquith in the misfortune that has befallen him in the death of his wife's first baby and the serious illness of the mother. On making inquiry to-day I am glad to near that Mrs. Asquith continue* to improve. Her condition, however, is such that Mr. Asquith himself did not come down to the House to-day UNIQUE GATHERING OF CHILDREN. The first great function which the Duke and Duchess of York will attend since their visit to Sheffield is the great fete at the Crystal Palace to-morrow. It .s the annual distribution of prizes in connection with the children's branch of the Society for the Pre- vention of Cruelty to Animals. I am told that 19.000 chi- iren are expected, and that, in any event, the scene will be unique. The movement ow^s its initiative to the Baroness Burdett-Coutts, whose fostering care and weii- known love for the most susceptible of living creatures-- young children and dumb animals —have created the brilliant gathering there will be, to-morrow. The baroness. I am rejoiced to sav. is almost fully recovered from her recent severe illness. In view of the present trying weather, she is not allowed to go out. and, therefore, will be unable to meet rheir Royal Highnesses to-morrow. But she receives friends at home. and is quite bright and cheerful. Since they have been hack. both the Duke and Duchess of York have expressed themselves highly pleased with their reception m Sheffield, which is the fourteenth city or town they have visited, One of the visitors d'elite who went down *0 assist in the Royal reception tells me he was impressed with the physical endurance of the Duchess. She went through a round of work that would have been exhausting to an able- bod ed man. I THE DUKE OF HAMILTON. Little is known of the new Duke of Hamil- ton except that he is a plain Mr. Douglas, of the Royal Navy, who COllW" into the title because the late duke's only child was a daughter. As for the late duke, he lived all his life and spent all his money, that is. as much money as he could spend. His priceless pictures were sold broadcast, and his pre- cious library went to Berlin, purchased by the German Government. Queer stories are t.ct libout the late duke. but -ne i* I induced regard society goasip about a dead ¡ man with just reserve. It is. for instance, pu- about that the duke once killed a police- man in the Haymarket, but that the "in-ri- dent" was hushed up. One is quite entitled to disbelieve such a story and I onlv mention it as an illustration of the sort- of thing we hear. TTTR LONDON WATER COMMITTEE. Members of the Select Committee on the London Water Supply question are not having II a very good time. The proceedings are intri- cate, and threaten to be prolonged. It is not at all likely that the Committee will con- ¡ clude its labours in time for anything to be lone this session, unless an unexpected deve- lopment take-! place. The lawyers are having I the h-st time. No fewer than twenty of them are briefed before the Committee. They are giv'n'4 full value for their fees. Mr. Balfour Browne, for instance, -poke three days in open- ing the case of the London Council. One phrase of that river of tpr:fi eloquence remains. He called London water "filtered filth." and the phrase has caught 0rl, I THE CHANCELLOR AND HIS COLLEAOUEE. I There is a well-developed apprehension j among some of the Ministers that the Chan- eellor is playing for his own hand. Having passed a bicj measure in the shape of the Budget Bill of last year, he is unwilling thit the effect of that should be marred by the counter- I attractions of Bills passed bv his colleagues. He is. therefore, so they allesre, dallying with business, and is unwilling to force on measure1! which he ha" no particular desire to pass. This view does inju»-tiee to the Chancellor. The Minister who has made more sacrifices of his convictions, his pride, nay. even his self respect, than all his colleagues combined for *he sike of keeping the Government together is not likely to be jealous of the hotch-potch collection of strange measures which Ministers now have before the House. Certainly, the Chancellor is not hurrying on the Bills. But tic is the Oldisi; Parliamentary Hand who recognises that force is no remedy in Parlia- ment. and that the less coercion there is the I more work tl^re is likely to he- Moreover, the Chancellor is not in favour of ploughing I the sand". and he is not Ji! rv to put himself out of the wav to force tlirou:. '• Bills that are not likely to hecome law. A I ve all. he has to maintain his power and position as fading m:tn in the Cabinet. The other night, for instance, he was very much annoyed on coming ¡ into the House to find that the closure had I been moved without reference to himself, Under these circumstances, yon may take it, if I you lie.ir of any differences in the Cabinet, that it is merely the- Chancellor asserting him- self. P>F.*RS AT THE AQU A PIT*ST. Since the Queen stopped to see a perform- ing lie a r bv the roadside bears have become fashionable. But thfv are not on sood terms with the police. 'Cute Mr. Ritchie, having h^ard that a pnrrty of foreigners had landed at the London Docks with two exceptionally well-trained bears and that the men were in rlire distrNs because the authorities had prohibited their performance in the street', had the lot carted off to the Aquarium. A trial performance convinced iLe enterprising managing-director that this was the best show in the country. He promptlv gave th* men a signed engagement, and had them decently clothed. This was good business. The bear performance "11ft" ca1,rrht on. and managers are now offering £[,0 week for the show Mr. Ritchie has secured for £ 15 a week. The nearest parallel to this is the case of the Boxing Kan2aroo. which, after its in- troduction to the public at the Aquarium, was in demand at £200 a week, and has at times actually enrned nearly JB400 a week. THE BEARS DO Box. The Aquarium bears do box as cVverlv 9" men. After performing a series of unusually clever bear trCks, they stand up and "go" for two of their trainers. It is a fair stand-up fight, in which the m"n and the bears wrestl^ for the mastery. They fell each other to the ground sometimes, and it is a matter of conjecture which is gaining the mastery. The bears appear to enjoy the fun of the thing, and I gladly put it on record that thus train- ing appears to be the taming of kindness rather than by severity. Of course, the men are careful in no way to take advantage of their superior skill to hurt the animals. I Ladies are able to witness tn's show without horror or terror. The larger of the two I bears is three years and two months old, weighs 3601b., and, when standing on bis hind legs wrestling is 6ft. 7in. high. The J second bear is two years and six month? eld, and loriW "n hia +rltI+1>.

THE ARMENIAN HORRORS. SPECIAL INVESTIGATION BY THE PALL MALL GAZETTE." VISIT 10 THE SULTAN. The "Pall Mall Gazette" special conums- sionet, who is on his way to Armenia, at the I special invitation of the Sultan of Turkey, to investigate on the spot the truth of the Armenian horrors, described 1ll his article 011 Friday night an interview which he had with the Sultan at Constantinople. After describ- ing the ceremonies which had to be gone ing the ceremonies which had to be gone tjirougjh before Jie was admji: tMi, lie proceeds — And there, in a. uttie room. was what seemed a little man, and inside that little man lav- all life and death, all stood and evil 111 this world and the next. f.;r furry million m<rii and women of a hundred kins and bloods. A little man in a fez, in simple, sober, undress uniform and white jrloves. gripping his sword in one Land nervously, with the other waving courteous salutations. A long nose bending to a curve, a. strong but restless mouth, clear level eves that looked straight and in but never more than one flash's length together, and then swept questionmgiy to doors and windows and the faces present; a tawny beard silvered; a face drawn, hunted, weary, but still a most definite end significant fact. "I have fought long,' said the face; 1 have fought and won, and 1 have paid with ray person for that victory. Do I seem weary I have borne alone, and more than alone. a burden bigger than anv of your Cabinets carry. 110 I seem hard and cruel? I have had a base and barbarous world to govern whel". kindness tells but weakness, and tolerance seems evidence of fear. Am I tenacious and possessive My friends and my enemies have banded to loot me of my own for their gain, not a; r other's good. incon- fident do I look, anu -trustful ? How and wher", shall I find the truth? Whom may I trust' I found ths- win Id: I did not make it. Can I unmake, re-make? I am toe tired. Do I seem to you honest? I try to be." So says the Sultan's face; so is the Sultan. After some general conversation the Sultan inquired how the correspondent proposed to travel. Thai,' answered the Englishman, "depends entirely on your Majesty. i am anxious to see all and judge all for myself, but I hare been told that some earlier inquirers have found the roads and the season exceedingly inconvenient." The sole rea-on rhat any difficulty has ever been raised, the Sultan cried, "lay in mv knowledge that certain persons were abroad expressly to caluminafe me and 1HV Govern- ment on personal grounds, persons anonymous, untrustworthy, bitterly prejudiced." I suggested, says the correspondent, that I myself, while absolutely clear of any motive for (M 'loeaiment or exaggeration of fuet, even though the facts are painful, stood equally clear of any hostile bia«. and was actuated only by a desire to discover the true truth for the sakes auU. of Armenia, Turkey, England, and Europe. Tn that case, Co. he "aid, "travel wnere you like and when you like: ee» who you lik«; nav wiiat you like; I only trust you to 1 el 1 :t> truth, and this I insist 011. You must report personally to myself direct Every assis- tive every facility, shall U given to you. lou do nor want, an Order? No. Very well. Go withollt, one. and take a free band. Whatever may bring truth and peace, friend- ship with England, and break untruth and calumny, tha.t is what. I desire." A full half- hour had passed, and therewith the Sultan rose. If a spoke a little of my stay in Con- stantinople. and of his desire to make it. plea- sant, and led me. as he shook mv hand. followed by my panting Pasha, to the door. \nd so I left the little room, cheerless withal its rich blue-broidered silken hangings, and glass and marble lustre, and I felt that I was leaving too a king and a man who mig'ht- in happier fate have been great a.nd generous and beneficent and creative before all the world, and who, even to-day, beneath 3. fate, so heavy, difficult, and dangerous as none but he can measure, deserve^ what. he receives from all who know him—fear and loathing, affection, svmpathy. respect,

CANADA AND NEWFOUND- LAND THE PROPOSED CONFEDERATION. Reuters Agency learns that- a strongly- worded protest has been made by the mer- chants of St. John's against the proposed union with Canada. Meetings of English merchants having business relations with the Colo.iv will be organised to urge the despatch of a. Royal Commission to inquire into the condition of the land. The merchants, in their protest, state that nine-tenths of the people are opposed to confederation, 011 the ground of incompati- bility between t'n-e commercial interest- of the two countries, and from the fact, that the Free Trade with all the world at present enjoyed by Newfoundland would, under confederation, and with the highly prohibitive tariff now in vogue in Canada, restrict Newfoundland for the gTt-ater part of their import- to that- one country. The greater portion of their imports were purchaeed in Great Britain, and any con- siderable diversion of tin's volume of trade, such as mint take place under con federation, would be distasteful. A representative of Reuters Agency has had an interview with Air. James Baird. one of the mOln prominent merchants of Newfoundland, wfso stated that in the course of a long interview at. the Colonial Office 011 Thursday Lord Ripon had authorised him to tell Newfoundlanders that if they wished to enter into confederation her May-sty's Govern- ment would offer no objection, but would de- cline absolutely to render any financial assis- tance in attaining tliat end. Lord Rioon was prepared to send a Royal Commission to in- quire into the present condition oi affairs, but- such Commission must- first be asked for by the peopl- of the Colony.

CHINA AND JAPAN. REVOLT OF CHINESE TROOPS. A Reuter's telegram from Tientsin says — The Chinese troops at tthan-Hai-K-wan. the terminus of the railway running northward f^om here to the Gulf of Lia-o-Tong-, are in open revolt. The city is being looted, and the in- habitants a.re fleeing. GETTING UP A CHINESE LOAK. In the Queen's Bench. Division on Friday Mr. Ju.-tK-e Ihv heard the of Malcolm v. Armstrong and Co—Plaintiff, a litiancial agent, sued defendant, tiuau<ers, hr i.Tii. commission on a Chinese loan on ten millions, n hich he introduced to them in September. Ii'>fendants had stipulati-d that if the loan was not earned through plaintiff should have no claim ou Ult:TI1.. The loan was not carried through, anu plaintiff al.eged that they had capriciously declined to go on with the busi- ness and brought, this adion.-Hi" Lordship gave judgment- for defendant with costs.

INDIAN FRONTIER WAR. ¡ GENERAL LOW AT CHITRAL. A Router's telegram from Simla says: — Genera.. Low and the headquarters Oi the Chitral expedition havp arrived at Chitral. Genual Steadmau, who is acting as General Low's second in command, is about to visit Mandia Ka.nibat ana Uha-sma to inquire into the recent treacherous attacks on the Uriti-h post-- at those places. A Renter's telegram from Simla says: — News has been received here of the death of I Captain M. II. Burne, of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment, while he wa-= out shooting near Dalhousie. No particulars of tb" occurrence are to hand.

THE CUBAN REVOLT. REINFORCEMENTS BY SPANISH GOVERNMENT. A Dalziel's telegram from Madrid says: — Telegrams announcing the serious losses sus- tained by the Government troops in the latest mounters with the rebels in Cuba have causcd greati excitement here, eslpec ally m political circles, the advisability of de- spatching additional reinforcements being discussed, and it 1S reported that tht" Govern- ment has decided to send out 1,500 cavalry as soon as possible.

THE OSCAR WILDE CASE. A SENSATIONAL RUMOUR. IMPORTANT WITNESSES SAID TO BE MISSING. Dalziel says:—There is a sensational rumour current in legal circles to the effect that a number of the important wit- nesses on behalf of the prosecution in the Oscar Wilde case, to be tried at the Oid I Bailey next week, win not answer to their nam#s on the dav of the ^»i

RUMOURS OF SPEEDY DISSOLUTION. DISQUIETUDE IN MINISTERIAL CIRCLES. THEIR SUPPORTERS DESIRE AN APPEAL TO THE COUNTRY. The "Times" political notes of Friday con- tain the following paragraphs: — Old. Parliamentary hands amongst the Glaci- II 8touia.nø lank and tÜe are becoming seriously concerned at tie electoral outlook, the more so because of the almost cynical indatierence II Inch Ministers are exhibiting in regard to the lu,l1;m."nt. of their legislative pledgee. Tin re is abundant evidence of the conviction of the Government that an app+a.1 to the consti- tuencies is within measurable distance; and, tins being so, the question arises whether more kudos would not be derived frOlÜ all immtuiate I plunge, on the grouuu nut the present majo rity is unworkable. than from a. continuance of the policy of "tilling the cup" until defeat I in tÍle divisiou lobbies precipitates crisis. The Unionist victory at Walworth and the increased Cnionist majority JIl W est Dorset, following upon the successes at Oxford UAKI in Mid-Norfolk, Evesham, lirigg, and 1'orfar, make it clear that the Gladstomans are losing ground; and electioneering expert* take tht view that the ouly means ot resuscitating enthusiasm is to submit a resolution inspecting the House of Lords forthwith, and to udvite her Majesty to dissolvt Jarliament upon this issue. So formal representation ,0 this effect has yet beln made to the Government: om ill private conversation the desirability of a change of tactics is being freely advocated, and it may be taken for granted that Ministers are not altogether in the dark concesniug the drift of opinion amongst tin-it supporters. The reluctance of the Government to make a definite statement of their intentions iI1 regard to the Local Veto bill is a proof that M misters are in a quandary concerning the measure. To press the Bill to a second reading would be to invite disaster through Gladstonian and National defections, whilst an intimation that the measure is not to be proeepded with would cause a revolt amongst the teetota-:eB. In the circumstances, the Unionist leaders are being urged to make capital out of the situation by suggesting on Monday, when the ISpieaker proceeds to wind up business after midnight, that the order for the second reading be read and discharged. A section of the "temperance" members be- lieve th:1t the Government count IIp',11 dis- arming suspicion in regard to the Local Veto Bill oy promising to give facilities for the report stag? a.nd third reading of the intoxi- eating Liquors (Ireland) Bill, now awaiting consideration bv the Grand Committee 011 Trade. The promoters of the Irish Biii are determined to adhere to their proposals for closing atniue o'clock 011 Saturday nights and for extending the boua iide traveller limit to SlX miles; but they are not indisposed to modify the clause relating to Sunday Closing in the five exempted cities to the extent of giving licensed victuallers three hours in which to ply their trade on the Sabbath, and they hope that this concession will minimise hos- tiiity in Committee.

UNIONIST CAMPAIGN IN WALES. MEETING OF THE NEW ASSOCIA- TION. AN ACTIVE PROPAGANDA DETER- MINED ON. The Press Association learn* that the first meeting of the management committee of the r'-eently-forHied Liberal Unionist Association for Wales vvai held on jpriday afternoon at Grosvenor House, London, the Duke of West- minster in the chair. Mr. March ant Williams agreed to act temporarily as hon. secretary, and an executive committee wag appointed, containing one representative from eadl county in Wales, together with the officers of the association. Alf. Powell Williams, MP.. anri others took pan in a discussion that, followed as to the certain constituencies in the rrincipafity which it was thought should receive the earliest, attention of the association. It was arranged that preliminary meetings should be at once held in five or six of these constituencies, with a. view to organ nised effort 'oeing promptly put forth on be- half úf the Liberal Unionists. A substantial fund was started, winch was headed by the Duke of Westminster waI; a large subscrip- tion. I

A- LORD HOSEBERY AT PEM. BROKE DOCK. ARRIVAL ON BOARD 1HF. ENCHANTRESS The Press Association's ccrrespondent states that the Admiralty yacht Enchantress, with Lord Kosebery and Lord Spencer on board, arrived in Milford Haven on Friday afternoon. Their lordships paid a visit to the ruins of Pem- broke Castle. In returning in the evening they were met by several hundred employes' of Pem- broke Dockyard, and, 011 bping recognised, were heartily cheered. Lord Ro^eberv has undertaken this tr o under medical advicj, in the hope of recruiting his shattered health. The Premier is tile guest of Earl .Spencer, who, as First Lord of the Admiralty, has arranged for a -i.,it to the southern dockyards at this time, iu order to enable him to place the Enchantress at the services of Lord Roseiery. services of Lord Roseiery. It is anticipated that their lordships will land and visit the dockyard this (Saturday) morning, and will be receiv. d by Captain Hal. four and the officials of the establishment. In all probability they will be r<-teived by a salute of nineteen guns from the Royal Artillery at the Hill Fo~t. and by a guard of honour, and the full band of the Weish (41sti Regiment. The director of dockyards (Mr. Williamson) has arrived at Pembroke Dockyard to officially meet Earl Spencer, and the Controller of the Navy (Admiral J. A. Fisher) will also be in attendance.

SAD SUICIDE AT PONTY- POOL. A CLERK WHO COULD NOT FACE I¡ HiS TROUBLES. Mr. C. Dajneev, deputv-eoroner, held an I ii quest at New Inn, ncrr Pontypool. on Fri- day (Mr. W. G. Tarr 'itig foreman c.f the jiirv), as to the death 0; Mr. W. R. Vaughn'), a clerk and ccur mi-isi^.i agent. s?>.d 44 years, whose body was foi.nd in the (",In,,) at .lam- Inlad or Wednesday afternoon.—Mv. • Bur- I gc} ne, builder, de<vn«cdV father-in-law, gav-1 evidence of identification, and also produeed a. letter, in which dpceasetl said he could not f ie? his troubles, w'shing his family good-bye, and thanking witness and his wife for all their kindness. Deceased had lioen in financial diffi- culties. A man had been put 111 possession 011 Monday. Witness saw deee^sid at Pontv- I ? ol-road Station 01, that day, and, on hear- ing of it, went to Newport and settled the nattpr. That was the b"t time witness saw him alive —Mr. H. Comb; landlord of the Star Inn. Mamhilad, said deceased was in I hi" h01HC on Wednesday, wlU>1l he wrote several letters. He was quite sober on kayo ing. and made no allusion to any intention of committing suicide. After ne had if-it the hcvse some time witness received a message, in eonsequeit'-e of which lie went to the canal, where he found the body in the water.—The p ry returned a. verdict of "Suicide whilst tem- porarily insane."

REPRESENTATION OF PEM- BROKESHIRE. ADDRESSES BY THF UNIONIST CANDIDATE. A meeting was held at Letterst<>n on Wed. nftsdav evening, presided over by Mr. J. H. Morton, of Heathfie-ld, and was addressed by Mr. A. P. Saunders Davies. of Peutre the Unionist candidate for Pembrokeshire, and Jit*. D. Morgan James, B. A., lecturer Oil the staff of the Souta Wa!es Division of the National Union.—On Thursday night another such meet- ing -was held at the British Schoolroom, Pen- lTordd. by permission of the schorl managers, Sir Oweu H. P. Scourfield, Bart., was in the chair Addresses were delivered bv )Ir, Saunders Davies and MT-. Morgan Jame. On Friday evening a. similar meeting was held by Mr. liavies at Solva, over which Mr. G. D. Harries, of Llanunwas, presided.

BISHOPS INTERRUPTED DINNE ft. THE MATTER TO BR INVESTI- GATED. It is intended to refer to the Kitchen Com- mittee the case of the Bishop of St. Asaph, who on Monday night, at the invitation of Lord Cranborne. sat down to dine in the room reserved I for the use of meiabers of the House of Com- mons. A bishop, like ordinary mortals not being members of the House of Commons, comes under the category of stranger," and may properly be entertained only m the Strangers' Dining- room.

CHARGES AGAINST THE BOARD OF TRADE. THE CASE OF JUSTICE 7AUGHAN WILLIAMS. [n the House of Commons on Friday, Mr. BOWLES (C., Kins's Lynn) called attention to the relations between the Depart- ment- of the Board of lrade and the judi- ciary. He believed that the indepen- dence of the judiciary had been tampered vith by the Board of Trade, and if there was a sus- picii.n to that effect it wad most desirable that its truth should be subject to full inquiry. The public were not yet in possession of the full truth in regard to the case of Mr. Justice Vaughan Williams, and, although the Lord Chancellor had successfully vindicated his own personal conduct in regard to the learned I judge, hr,! had not exonerated thp Board of Trade. There could be no doubt that rumours were in circulation to the effect that there had been improper intei-fei-er.ee by political per- sonages with the action of the Official Recei crs III bankruptcy proceedings. iie objected stiongly to Official Receivers acting in the capaii'y of permanent liquidators, as in the Liberator case, and an opinion to that effect had also been expressed by the Treasury in 1693. Sir J. HIBBERT (Fianancial Secretary to the Treasury) intima.ted that since that time tli, opinion of the Treasury hail undergone some "J¡n\)g-e. Mr. BOWLES said that this did not obviate the necessity for an inquiry into the anomalous position of Offielai Pveeeivers who iiue at the same time liquidators. It w»* highly im- proper that the action of official- who ought to be officers of the court should be subjcct to the control and i-.ntcrfei-encJ of the political chief of the Board of Trade, and in the case üf the New ZeCthnd Investuwllt Company Mr. Justice Vaughan illiams. iiad commented strongly on the action 01" the Board of Trade in delaying the presentation of the Official I Receiver's report (Hear, hear.) Mr. BRYCE (President of the Board of Trade) had listened with some indignation to the im- putations which the honourable member had cast upon the Board of Trade-. (Hear. hear.) Surely, before making those imputations he ,-houid have adduced some proof; but this he had not done. (Hear. heard He declared in the most dis1-inet and "olrnm manner that there was not the slightest foundation for the in- sinuations which had been made against the Board of Trade and its officials. He could speak with the greater freedom on tbj", 5ubjpct because the matters to ,h idl he had alhrled occurred before he became President of tiie Board of Trade. Mr. BOWLES said that the inquiry which he desired was one with respect to the present practice of the Board of Trade. Mr. BRYCE said that since he had filled his present position the relations between the Board of Trade and the judge had been per- fedh- sl1\C!Oth. No difficulty or collision 11ad 3.ri"(>l1, nor did he think that any difficulty was likelv to arise. In the administration of the Bankruptcy Act the Board of Trade wa<s acting in strict conformity with the opinion of the law officers of the Crown. The remarks of Mr. Jnsti-Vj Vaughan Wiiieims in the ease of th9 New Zpaland Company were made under a inisapprelmn-ion, and the Official Receiver had himself stated that the presentation of his report was not delayed by any action of the Board of Trade. He regret ted that the Official Receiver should have acted as liquidator to the Liberator companies, and he trusted tktt such a case would never occur again, as he thought the two offices should not be combined in the same person. He trusted that he had convinced the House that no further inq11irv was necessary on this subject. (Hear, heoir.) From all account- writes a London corre- spondent. die friction between 1\fr, Justice Williams anù the Board of Trade is not diminishing. I hear of a case in which the learned judge postponed indefinitely the trial of a claim by the Board of Trade which he thought should not have been preferred, but which, apparently, he had no power to dismiss. It looks as if Mr. Gibson Bowles would meet with a good deal of support in 1n" claim for the apf>ointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the whole sub\rct uf the rplatiopo betw; en the winding-up judge and that Department.

HYPNOTISM ON ITS TRIAL I MR DALES CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. Professor Fricket, who is at present holding hypnotic stances at the Aquarium, has ac- cepted th challenge o: ".11'. Hale. The experi- mfite. which are to be of a very thorough character, will be conducted at the Imperial Theatre. The conditions of the trial are:—A six days and nights trance, the subjects to lie watched by doctors, a reporter of the "Star," and a ehallenger, JB50 to be forfeited by the latter if Mr. Fricker's subject satisfies the doctors that he or the remains without inter- mission in an hypnotic state in spite of any reasonable test, the face of the subject to be at no time covered SOME STARTLING CLAIMS. Professor Fricker makes some startling claims on behalf of the science he professes. Askid :1' to the use. of hypiiitism for the le- moval of other than hereditary und organic disease, he expresstd confidence that it could be used for the removal of pain. and for the cure of in a part arising from SYIlI- pathy with another part affected by f.rgnnb disease, as in the case of :m eye. He expresses himself as. also convinced that any danger of hypnotism being used for criminal purposes can be guarded against by an increased general knowledge of the science, and hy the fact that people cannot in any large proportion of cases be put under control against rheir widi or un- ccnsciouslv. As both the "Ayes and "Nays" on this important matter are so entirely con- vinced tha.t they ar" right, the arranging of the details of the agreement for the challenge ex- pcriment ought to be comparatively easy.

THE NIGEK TERRITORY. AN AWKW ARD INCIDENT. FRENCH VESSEL STOPPED BY NIGER COMPANY'S OFFICIALS. According to news received in Liverpool from I-agos. it appears that the French autho- rities at Porto Xovo chartered from the Ger- man firm of Witt and Busch, of Lagos, their large steam launch Faji, for the purpose of conveying provisions to the French gunboat Ardent the vessel which was ashore about 100 mm- un the River Niger. When the launch attempted to enter the river it was stopped by the Royal Niger Company's agent-, who demanded to -i.e the ships papers, in accordance with their le^'dat'ons. The re- quest was refused, and the >er Company's otfic ,;i- would not allow the h to pro- ceed further. It is -aid that the Frcm h had no manifest- of t-fie goods on board the iam). h. News received from a French source says the French naval people, when thee heard that the launch was -donned, canie down and threatened to fire on the Niger Company's hulk which was moored in the Gana Gana Creek. Tile new-' received in Liverpool dees not confirm this. Later news is that on the Niger Company in London hearing of the affair th. cabled instructions to their agents to aHow the launeh to proceed, and it is understood that this was done.

THE NICARAGUA INDEMNITY. JE15,500 PAID TO THM BRITISH GOVERNMENT. The "Daity Chronicle*' of t'ruL.v morning says:—"We are informed that the N ieara- guan indemnity of £15.500 was paid to the British Covemment 0:1 Thursday through the London Bank of Central America (Limited)." A Central N. ws teleé;r:ul1 from lX ew York ays:—According to/». "New York Herald" dispatch from Managua on r'ridav, the cheque for the payment of the British indemnity was I drawn on Wednesday last, and Senor Medina, the representative- of Salvador in London, was ordered to nay the claim. Tiie entire amount was raised by private subscription. Nicaragua not having been assisted by any other Central American R'-fpublic.

A MIDNIGHT OUTRAGE- MAN STABBED BY UNKNOWN MEN. The "Irish Independent" reports a mysio- rious stabbing case at Graigne, near Callow. A nnn, named Neill, was roused at midnight, and on optnmg the door wr-s asked where he worked, and was then stubbed in the stomach by two unknown men. He is 111 thp hosp ral, dangerously injured.

The Irish Church Cot gress, which was to have been heid next S.-ptember in London- derry, and at which Professor Ryle (Cam- bridge), Professor Sayce (Oxford), the Bishop of Chester, Canon Knox Little, Father Do!dig. Lord Wolselev, Lord Nelson, the ¡ Bishops of Glasgow and Edinburgh, Lord Belmore, and others were, to have read papers, has been indefinitely postponed in conse- quence of the bitte;- controversy which lias arisen -egarding the subjects to be discussed and the selection of finr the occasion.

EMPLOYERS AND W ORKMEN I THE QUESTION OF COMPENSATION FOR ACCIDENT. BILL BACKED BY SIR E. S. HILL. I The Compensation to Workmen (Accidents) Bill, introduced by Mr. Furwood. supported by Mr. Chamberlain, Mr. Matthews, and Sir Edward Hill, and which is on the paper for a. second reading on Wednesday next, has been printed. The Bill provides for the payment by employers to workmen (includ- ing seamen) or tiieir representatives com- pensation, or allowances, in the event of any injury occurring to them in the eourse of their employment, irrespective of the cause, provided it does not come from the work- man's wilful act or default. The scale of compensation is fixed by the Bill in the case of death or total disablement at a minimum of £150, or the equivalent of three years' averages and emoluments, whichever is the larger amount. In the e.ent of partial disablement the compensation proper is two- thirds of that for total disablement, a.nd a provision is made for allowance during tem- porary inability to work in consequence of injury, if it exceeds a period of fourteen days. The common law remedy of action against an employer for negligence on his part is preserved, and may be adopted in lieu of the proposals in the Bill. No en- gagement of service which places a limit of compensation below that stated in the Bill will at valid. The ma.in difference between the new Compensation Bill and the Employers' Liability Bill introduced in 1893 by Mr. Secretary Asquith consists in the, necessity imposed by that measuie on the part of the workman to prove negligence (allowed in the greater number of accidents to be very difficult) before he could sustain a claim to compensation, whilst under the present Bill no such proof is required. On the other hand, in Mr. Asquith's Bill there was no limit to the amount of compensa- tion payable, but in Mr. Forwood's measure there is a. limit, as stated.

lUVAL WELSH COAL COMPANIES. CORY BROS. V. CORY'S NA VIGA- TION COAL COMPANY. SETTLEMENT OF THE ACTION. On the plaint iff" s motion in the action of Cory Bros. (Limited) v. Co-vs Navigation Coal Com- pany for all injunction coming ou for hearing on Friday morning, before !\lr, Justice North, Mr. Swmfen Eady, Q.C., stated that an ar- rangement Lad been conic to between the T»art:es whereby the defendants, whde not admitting the plaintiffs' claim, had undertaken to alter their title to Cory's Swansea Naviga- tion Coal Company, and to ."ell their coal under the name of Cory's Sw-anse-i Navigation coal. the plaintiffs on their part undei taking to pay the sum of 50 guineas to defendants in respect or expenses and altering fhc.ir stationery 011 the name being changed and the 50 gui.nea-t paid, all further proceedings being stayed, each party paving their own eost-s.—The learned Ji.dge expressed approval by a gentle nod of the head, ;)11.1 then the matter term mated. As cue learned counsel remarked as he left the cc;.i rt, If the immortal poet had lived in the nineteenth century he would not have 111. quired 'What's in a name?' having ngard to the fact that the litigants in this matter have sj^nt several hundreds of pounds in litigating the title to the user of the name of 'Cory. Plaintiffs were represented by Mr. Fletcher Moulton. Q.C., M.P.. Mr. Swinfen Eady, Q.C., and Mr. Wood (insmicted by Messrs. Ingledew), and the defendants by Air. Cousens Hardy. Q.C., M.P., and, Mr. Ingledew (in strvcted by Messrs. Vachell and Co.).

RIVAL COUNCIL CLERKS. SINGULAR DEADLOCK IN ST. ASAPH. The creation of rural district- councils ha* led to an amusing deadlock in St. Asaph, which council has absorbed the St. Asaph Rural Sani- tary Authority and rhe Abergele Highway Board. The new- council elected Mr..T. Wall is Dav les, late clerk of the Abergele High- way Board, to be their clerk, but Mi. Charles CriiTislev. who held the position of clerk to the St. Asaph Rural Sanitary Authority, claims that thp position is his by right, and that the council have no authority to make auv other appointment. The dispute has proceeded for some time. and culminated on Thursday after- noon. Both Mr. Davies and Mr. Grimsley were in attendance at the council meeting, and, a*ter some discussion, it was resolved, by ten votes to two. to ask Mr. Grimsley to hand over to Mr. Davies the papers ntoessary for carry- ing on the clerkship. This Mr. Grimsley de- clined to do so. saying :—As the whole proceed- ings are illegal. I shall decline to acquiesce. t Mr. Davies You have no right to speak. You are not the clerk, and. therefore, have no loous standi. Mr. Grimsley: We will see about :t. Mr. Davies: Ye-, we shall. You will please retire DOW. Mr. Grimsley Certainly not. J shall main- tain mv position. After further discussion the minutes were signed, and the council proceeded to business. Both clerks sat on either side of the chairman, each taking part iu the proceedings. Mr. Grimsley declares that he will fight i: to the highest tribunaL There- fore, further developments will be interesting.

'■AN ARCHBISHOP FOR WALES/' PROPOSAL TO REVIVE ST. DAVID'S ARCHIEPISCOPATE. The "Churc11 of To-day publishes a.n article 111 which the question of An Arch- bishop for Wales" is discussed. The writer sy.ys:—"The B'll (Disestablishment) in its fourteenth clause provides that in Wales the existing ecclesiastical law shall ceaKe to exist as hw, but that pending alterations, if an). made in accordance with the "()!"stit1\tion whi"h the disesatblished Church will be free to apjiomt for itself, it shall be—together with the present jurisdiction and authority of the Archbishop j of Canterbury and his court—binding on the member? of the Welsh Church as if they had nu.u ally agreed to be so txn.nd. It will be, however, expressly enacted (14, s.2b) that The 'said constitution and reguhn ir.ns shall not he j binding 011 or enforceable against the Arch bidiop of Cnnlerburv without his consent, and the archbishop, with the approval of her Majesty in Council, may give that consent." It will be seen at once, that the jurisdiction of Canterbury, enforceable by the coercion of the law, is saved' in its entirety. The right of eoiif-ecration, with the refusal to consecrate, the decisions of th" Archbishop of Canterbury's Court, which might be invike.l bv any 'aggrieved Weish ('li-irchma-n, will rttoit: their present fore- in tin di-se-st-ablisln-d Church. Welsh Church;ia-ii wid be guilty of a grave error of judgment if ihey allow this matter to go against tlvm by default in the House of < om- iiicn-. and we trust thai some Welsh niembet who is a Churchman will propose m> amend- tiirii1- leaving it open to the Church of Wales to ciictitute the Bishop of St. David's an arch- bnhon and metropolitan with full powers. Such :!< the Church of Wale; j" nftt'1' Di!>pstabIi"h- 'i cut. such it will remain for warn years, and J1 v, ould be a di-aster that it should ..et out on its run-wed appeal to the Welsh people with its Celtic credentials obviously insufficient."

NEATH HIHtAL DISTRICT COUNCIL. SKEWEN WATERWORKS. I At a special meeting of the Neath Rural District Council held on Friday, under the presidency of Mr. A. S. Gardner, the pur- chase of the Skewen Waterworks from the Neath Corporation was completed, a cheque for £7,000 being drawn. A committee, cori- sistinz of the chairman, the vice chairman. and the councillors for Coedfranc and Dvffryn ¡ Clydacii. was appointed to deal wid," any minor matters arising in connection with the Skewen sewerage works. Five candidates had been selected from 32 applicants for the post of clerk of the works, at £2 2s. a week, in connection with the Skewen sewer- age contract. Of these Air. John Lawrence, of Pontypridd, was appointed.

SUICIDE AT LLANELLY. A WIDOW HANGS HERSELF. On Friday afternoon a widow, named Ann Johns, committed sniciJe by hanging herself in her house. The unfortunate woman, who is the mother of three grown-tip children, has lately lost her husband, and his death seemed to ha.ve unhinged ber.im^ I, as she had been somewhat I, strange in her manner for a week or t'vo past.

The special estimates committee of the Car- diff Co-poration had held eleven meetings up ¡ to and including Friday afternoon's, and had sat for 39i bourn.

DOWN & S ()>' FOR RELIABLE FURNITURE- IMMENSE STOCK .TO SELECT FRO^ HIGH STREET AND MORRIS IAKE, J,S17 SPRING CLEANING, ADOPT THE INCANDESCENT GAS BURINER, SAVXS ONE HALF YOUR 6AS, AND GIVES TWICE THB Lhia-f. SOLE AGENT FOR SWANSEA— JOHN LEGG, NELSG-iSTREET^

SHIPPING NEWS. SIGNALLED OFF THE LIZARD. May 17.—Purged Ei,,t Harold. f rom .Sydney for London steamers Undaunted from Char- lotte Harbour for London Rathkennv and Alacrity, of Belfast Westoe. of South Shields a Trinity tender Liverpool, of Barrow Lough Fisher, of Barrew; City of Liverpool, of Dublin; her Majesty's ships Shark and Surly Rotha, of .Newcastle; Drott. of Gefle. Paused We&t; Augustine, of Brake Annie Dave v. of Bideford; 'EIf;Andi, of G' L. Waters, of Workington; Mary Ann. of Fowey Hartfield. Qf Glasgow Otterspool, of Liverpool Skovland. of Porsgrund; John and Adolph. from Hamburg for Rio de Janeiro Marie Spaltz, from Alloa for Eerbice: Nyinplie, of Risoer Norwegian uarquentine flying J C N W steamers Amsterdam, from Rotterdam for New York; Appomattox, from London for Newport News Easington. of West Hart-it pool Leech- mere, of London Westbrook, of Whitby Clan Maealister, of Glasgow Jane Kadcliffe, of CaruifT Gervase, of Penzance Pioneer, of Manchester Ballycotton. of Dublin Bencray and Mohican, of Liverpool Mardy, of New- port; Crosshill, of Glasgow.—Wind. N.N.E., fresh; weather, cloudy sea, smooth bar 29.84, falling. SIGNALLED OFF THE MUMBLES. May 16. Wind, N., fresh weut ier, cloudv and fine sea, smooth.- Pf;M<;d Ead Steamers King Ja Ja and Albemead, both of Swansea Avon, of Glasgow Mertbyr and Wells City, both of Bristol; Lincolnshire, of Newport • Henri Reitli. of Middlesborough Klectra, of Liverpool Britannia, of London Alice Depeanx, of Rouen. Pawed West Steamers Amiral Cecille, of Rouen; Nithsdale, of Ght8g0W. S'W ANSE A —A RRTYA LS VofiTn DOCK. I May 16.—Talbot. 300, Liverpool, general. Falcon, 53, t'erlafeiiy, potatoes Clara. lbO, Killyleigh, nil. Olerleadon. 98, Plymouth, copper ore. Uugin, s, 260, London, vis Cardiff, general. Man' Klizabeth, 93, OI ester, pitch. Stu^, 64, foiiaferry, potatoes, iihixla, 99. Fortni<Ji. ml. Cyuiro. 23, Cardigan, nil. so r-f H DOCX. May 16.—Unity, s, 6''iZ, r.r¡>ool, general. Har- mony, 79. Dingle, n'>i. PHISCR OF WALES DOCK. May ib.—Auural Cecille, s, 691, Rouen, nil. Effie Gray, s, 148, SI. Biieux, nil. Spenser, s. 1,615, Liverpool, ml Alice Depeaux, ?, 554, lloueu. nil. Welte City, s. 1,136, Bristol, generaJ. SAILINGS NOltTH DOCK. May 16.-J;^s?ie ami Emily, -i- (Harris), Bideford. SOUTH DOCK. May 16.- Stream Kislier, » (Bannister), Ca?n. Stock- ton, s (David), Guernsey. Mane Kugeme (David), Granville. Manthewy, s (Burnett!, Newhaven. PRT-NCIE Of WALES DOCK. May 16.—Kubio, s (Davies), St. Xazaire. Moderator, 9 (Williams-). Br;«tol. Collier, s (Fox), Bristol. KXTFdvED OUTWARDS. —May 17 St. Petersburg. XJrincess Alexandra, B, Morrow, Btirgesn <V Co. Havre, Aliee Dsppaux, F, Lefevre, E54, Depeaux Hooen, Unity, B, Gte^n, 322, Godfrey. Taylor New York, TVetU City. B. Savage, 1.136, Burgeea oS; Co. CI.EARKD.- May 17. St. Petersburg. Prine- Alexandra, 11, 200 freneral Rouen, Unity. B. 390 coal, 70 general San Francisco. Carnat vonshiie, B, 1,750 eon! Havre. Alice Depeaux. K. 1.280 coat Lifboir Soiesr. Nwy. 30-2 coal. 230 gpneral IMPORTS -May 17, Bilbao. Ahercanaid. 1.450 torn iron ore. Swansea Hematite Company Guernsey, King Ja 162 tons broken stone, Swan- sea Corporation Bordeaux, Britannia, 1.034 tons pi* wood, W. Foy IMPORTS COASTWISE.—May 17. Cardiff, Moderutor, e, 76 tOll"; tin-plate*, Williams, Torrev Ftilll Portaferrv, SllIg. 100 tons potatoes, C. Allen & Co. Cork. Arbitrator. 120 tons nttch. Graigola Company Newport, Lincolnshire, II, 110 tin-plates, Wii- lianu Torrev Feild Newroit. Kn:d, s, 101 tons tin-plates, Williams, Toncv&Fend Glasgow, via, Carditt, Severn, s, general. 11. Jones and Bro Guernsey, King Ja Ja, s, 102 tons bnken atones, Corporation Cork. Baltic FO tons oats. J. Dver Br'stol. Merthvr. s. EO tons barley. Weaver & Co. Bristol, Welsh Prince, 110 tons general, Thomas Price {.. Co. EXPORTS COASTWISE.-May 17. •Vaierford, Edgar. 140 coal. Williams & Co. Yartfouttt.Sattran), 220 coal, Gwaun-cae-Gurwen Companv Ramsey, Clyde, s, 20 coal, R. E James Lowestoft, John Morrison, 320 coal, Letrk-heux and Dand Llanthlais, Dolphin iT cosl, G. Thomas Glasgow. Severn. «, general, M. Jones Littlehampton, Emma. E:20 coal, Randell & Co. Cardigan. Margaret Lews. 16 coal, S. & J Hill Newquay, Main, 58 coal S. & J. Hill

_n SHIPPING DISASTERS. SCHOONER WRECKED. CAPTAIN AND COOK PERISH. The Swedish timber schooner Hedwig Olseit. from Gothenburg, drove ashore in a northerly gain on Friday morning near Sheringham, Nor- folk, the deck being swept by n heavy sea. The crew left the vessel. Six reached shore on the timber. but the cook perished. Captain Better- sen, who had lashed himself to the vessel, was gallantly rescued by local coastguards, but died shortly afterwards hon reNhaiwtit ti. STRANDING OF THE CAMEO. The steamship Cameo, which stranded on the I 28th of April on Lepso Reef, was got off by several steamers under an agreement for £ 1.800, and arrived at Drostherisa on the IC'tb inst. The salvage was accomplished with difficulty. The Cameo was only kept afloat by continual pump- ing, her bottom being torn to the extent of 27ft. LOST IN A TYPHOON. LOST IN A TYPHOON. A Llcvdfs Manilla telegram on Friday state?- that the ziainf,, Gravir.a was wrecked and totally lost, -hip and cargo, at Capones during a typhoon, two persons only being saved.

RULE OF THE HOAl) AT SEA, MEETING OF THE SELECT I COMMITTEE. I The Selcef- Committee of the House of Com- mons appointed to consider the objpetion" which had been raised to the adoption by Order in Conned of Rule 15 of the revised International regulation:- for preventing collisions at sea, dealing with sound signal* in fog as suggested by the Washington Conference, considered by the maritime Powers, including any objections which might be taken to that rule having regard to sound signals prescribed by Rule 23, met on Friday. The Attorney-General presided, and Sir Charles Hull (recorder of London) gave evidence

GAZETTE NEWS. T! WKRUPTOY ACTS, 1833 AND 1—RECETV1N"G ORDERS. Thomas L. Thotnap. W'oodfleld-street, Morrfiuton, n-j,r Swansea, boot, (11'11.11'1", Morgan Thomas Watkins, DufTryn-street, Ferndale, Glamorganshire, gTeeng^oer and beet de;.ler. .Tiseph Hutrhe- Market-street. Llanelly, tailor. FIRST MEETINGS AND DAIES OF PUBLIC EX \MTNATIONS, fgaa/o Maretw. trading aa 1. Marvtts ami Co.. Car". I line-street, Cardiff, lately Qup.jn-streK Ar.wle, Car- dilf. tailor: first meeting, May 28, at eleven I a.m.. at the Official Receiver's, Cardiff; public, examination, June 11, at ten a.m.. at the Town- examination, June 11, at ten a.m.. at the Town- ball. Cardiff Timothy O'Sullivan. of High-Street, Dowlais, j Ueerset! victualler; first meetin. May 24, at three r>.m.. at rhe ofb -ial KeeeiverV. Mother Tvdfi! pui,. I lie examination June 19, at three p.m., at the Court- house. Mertliyr Tvdfil- NOTICES OF DIVIDENDS. TVmian W Davies, of Titlcy, Herefordshire, formerly Walton-road, liadnor. Radnorshire, car- NOTICES OF DIVIDENDS. TVmian W Davies, of Titlcy, Herefordshire, formerly Walton-road, liadnor. Radnorshire, car- penter and shopkeeper; first dividend. Is. lid. in I the £ payable at the Official Receiver's, Hereford". Sarah A. Davies and Adeline Evatit. trading à4 Davies and Evans, at Ca.at]pistreet, Brecon, mil- liners first and final divideii 1, 2s. 5id. in the C, pavable at the OHicial Receiver's, Merthyr TvdfiL NOTICES OF INTENDED DIVIDENDS AND LAST DAYS FOR TIMCEIV ING PRUOFS. Janf Virtue, Ounrave-n-pltw.e, BndgemL, deaier in second hand -iothes May 51, David Griffiths, Queen.street, Neath, <*rnf>>r • Mav 28. .Tas. T. Green, of TV Mei.vn, Newbridge, MrJllmOul h. eliire, colliery manager; May 31. ADJUDICATIONS M. T. Watkins, 6'7. Duitryn-strcct, Ferndale. Glauior- gatMihire, greengrocer and beer dealer. Evan Jones d Abersyron, Cardigau, lately Aberyst- with, innkeaper. Jcieph RugbA 25, MArket-etfeat, UtaeUy, tailor.

FEAT OF SEAMANSHIP- :;If PLUCKY CONDUCT OF 'WEI; CAPTAINS. NAVIGATING AN ABANDON V KSSEL. -—-— vVl)'^ The current issue of '"Black anc jCco& contains an interfering description^ a panied by portraits and other 1"u3^ra.^}iip one of the greatest feats of sea1"* modem times, in hich two eJs i u.fig^ played a prominent part. i'ie -gl 1'ei steel ship Arno. 1.825 tons gross and 0#vP' regisier, built at Ghtsguw in 1893, by Mr. James Noui se, London. w8>" 0{ doned by her crew, and the Hamburg steamn- NiHiuanrtia laudutoiy telegram fn»m tiie Kaiser 1(>^ ^jtc' them oti. The aKindoned vessel wards sighted by the African Company's steel screw steamer i whose managers are Messrs. Llder, V and Co. Captain Thomas Morgan, Haven man, with over two score go^'j service, sent his mate (Captain 4[i<- William*), who belongs to Caruar> oO who has beeu eighteen years u*' board, notwithstanding the stormy11 the weather, and after a consullatlOl1 port. resolved tv attempt to tun Let' tTV t'll. Captain Hov.vll Williams, with 11 accordingly took possession ot 'I n, trimmed her cargo (which had in'1' away her tattered sails, and g(,t te;-eJ proper tnm. One day they eticoj' ^tv heavy gale, the waves being e, tains." ,'iid they had to run betore g heavy press of canvas, as the alter^^ "travel or sink.' The speed of rly under these perilous conditions gathered from the. record of 225 un e, ji:!r< hours. Despite wild seas and d-e -hips—and. unfortunately, the from the effects of cold and exp0> gallant little band navigated i0T* -jiete*. 1,700 miles a ship that had been abandoned, and safely entered c-i'1' I rest >ring her and her cargo in tion to their respective owners- Howell Wdliams states -"The :t,ed ,i my command worked well, and m every possible way to bring f •safely to port." It may be ad< t^ Captain Morgan when in comma1* steamer Palma-s. belonging to i*r'| owners, m 1893 rescued the i>n-=st;,n,^ ^lii*' crew of the French steamer Marseu1 foundered off the Gulf of Mexico

's YEARS' SYSTEM! 3 YEARS' SYST# PIANOFORTE by PIANOFORTES by Bui* PIANOFORTES by KirKm*1' PIANOFORTKS by Coi.LA*y r PIANOFORTES by NkuW^* PIANOFORTES by ErA,U> ^tt3- AND ALL 1KB LEADING FEOW rfflbf' TEN SHILLINGS paid for; after wbick, *nc' farther chargc whatever, tb« uic* becomes the Property t»f the THOM.PSON &- SHaCKB (LIMITED), 32. CASTLE STItE^ SWANSEA. ^^Sedding RINGS. W WEDDING RINGS- M G« TO f BROUGHTON'?;,] STHK NOTfcD WtDDIIna f ■ Siop Hy*od am Foirwyau B V (Øppo8ik Dowu <u»d SouJ M I nun BILM 1019 I FAIK lVTKRKtr. j %r p, MONEY LEST ON NOFE OF HAÑV 6)[ SOL BARNETT Swansea—11, Neath—23, ,)< 'U!>. Vv V -¡ I ABiOI.UT* PBIVACT. ''lfJØ./ _u SUTTON'S te' ød Marble, Stone, Granite, Slate "Works, ST. HELENS ROAD, u Mauulaci urors aLc<i-o$ir MONUMENTS, HEADsi TOMBS, "fll'C.. tíØJl' Designs and Prtc^* «" A .It" E. A. ETANS; UNDKKTAKEK, FUNERAL Ftf*11* -v 22, ALFRED STREET. ci&P WEDDING A_NT> FUNBBAL C BHAKB8. HANSON Se- bOG-CAhTS, WAliC-ON*-1 Ie-tlf' j:_r4- fir Ten-Stall Stabte Po-.ii»gu> aH 'to B_. Alfred r. ¥^er&pbic Adar««si Priuted and Vti! i^h.d for the DAVID DAV IKS. tit tlje V7 "South Waisi i^utty Post. Swansea.