Weekly Mail

THE RUSSIAN ADVANCE IN ASIA, REMONSTRANCE BY LORD GRANVILLE. A Calcutta telegram, dated Sunday, states that rumours havp. reached India from C;,¡,n:hh3r that the Russians have taken Merv. It is also re-. ported that the Araeer of Bokhara is dead, and that. his government has been taken over by Russian officers. Lord Granville lias addressed an energetic verbal protest to the Russian Ambassador in London ngainst the recent action of his Government in Central Asia, more particularly with reference to the terms of the treaty lately concluded with Persia.

THE HERZE(J0VIXIAN INSUR- RECTIOX. Tb: Daily Xtrr?, Vienna correspondent, telegraph- lig on Friday night, says :—A long letter from tho rorrespondent of the Xene Freie Presse states that :he inslrgents are true to the old system of bar- oarouj warfare so dreaded by the troops. [n all the encounters that have hitherto taken place whenever a prisoner has been liberated, he has been found with his nose cut off. When the troops returned to burv their dead on one occasion, they were found hacked rind horribly mutilated. After the insurgents had surprised some gendarmes asleep, seven were discovered with their: heads cut .\tr and their stomachs slit Gpen. The chipf danger to the troops is that when they march along the roads with provisions and ammunition, they are suddenly fired at. from the forests and hills by an invisible enemy, who kills without showing himself. A telegram, received through Reuter's Agency from Scutari on Feb. 6, says-:—The insurgents have captured and burnt Cogniza. an important strategic position between Sarajevo and Mas tar. There are many desertions from the Austrian ranks. The Standard correspondent at PestJ:, telegraph- ing on Sunday night, says :—Great quantities of arms have been found and confiscated in a Greek Church in Kronstadt, Transylvania, and in the Servian quarters of Maria Theresioplo. The in- habitants of some Sclavonian districts, mostly Gn-ek Catholics, have been forbidden to leave their residences for more than two days, without tlie special permit of the authorities. A Reuter's" telegram from Vienna, dated February 5.says:—Both the Austrian and Hungarian J)el egations have approved the Government- Hill for the grant of eight million llorins for the sup- pression of the insurrection in the Herzegovina, no difference having arisen between them on the Fub- ject. The session of the Delegation was closed. to-day.

THE CRISIS IN EGYPT. FORMATION OF A NEW MINISTRY. The J hit it; Xeirs correspondent in Alexandria telegraphs en Friday that the Khedive* accepted the resignation of Cherif Pasha on Thursday, which was caused by the impossibility of arriving at a settleInent with the Chamber. The naw Ministry has been formed. Mahmoud Baroudi Pasha is President of the Council Mahmoud Fehmi, Public Works; Ahmed Pasha, Public In- struction Mustapha Fehm;, Foreign Affairs and Justice: and Ismail Eyub, Finance. Cherif Pasha resigned on the advice of the English and French. Consuls-General. Thelhiilj Xe-ics says :—There is absolutely no truth whatsoever in the statement, that M. iaw- betr.a proposed, and that the English Government rejected. a project for the joint occupation of Egypt in certain contingencies. No such proposal was made bv M. (i-J,mbetta, and our own Govern- ment never expressed any leaning to such a form of intervention.

,THE DALMATIAN INSURRECTION. AN ARMISTICE CONCLUDED. I Tbe Ragusa correspondent of the Manchester Guardian states that the Austrian Charge d'Atfaires at Cettinje has asked the intervention of the Prince of Montenegro, and the mediation has resulted in the conclusion of an armist ice, or rather a cessa- ion of hostilities, to last for twenty days, in the district bordering on the Montenegrin frontier, rho insurgent leaders have resolved to continue the struggle, and the cessation of hostilities is of the most, partial kind. A telegram in the Morning Post from Hudi-Pesth states that great excitement has been created thtfre by the arrest of certain Kussephile agents who have been 1eaing the agitation against, Austria.

TURKOMAN RAID TOWARDS HERAT1. SIX HUNDRED AFGHANS TAKEN PRISONERS. The official organ of the Caucasian Government, the Kavicawhich was received on Tuesday morning from Tiiiis, states that the recent, Turko- man raid was not in the direction of Meshed, as stated by the Russian papers, but in the direction of Herat. The Tekkes successfully attacked the Afghan tribes living-north of Herat, and carried off 600 prisoners.

AFFAIRS IN MONTENEGRO. The Cettinje correspondent of the Morning Chronicle, telegraphing on Tuesday night, savs :— The excitement of the people against Prince Nikita is hourly increasing. As I stated recently, the Prince is regarded here as a mure tool of Austria, which Power is expected to take advau- tage of the first disturbance in Montenegro In order to effect an occupation of the country.

THE ANGLO-AMERICAN MAIL SERVICE. A telegram received through "Reuter's Agency from Washington on February 7 says :—A Bill has been introduced in the Houses of Representatives •or the establishment of a fast mail steamship ervice between America and England.

A FISHINGFLEET CAUGHT IN AN ICE DRIFT. TEN LIVES LOST. The Philadelphia correspondent of the, Times savs:—The Xeu: York Herald of Tuesday reports That last week nine skiffs, bearing about 50 men tarted across Conception Bay, Newfoundland, but were caught in a drift of ice. The crews of seven f the boats escaped, but two boats were en- ulphed, their crews, about ten in number, perishing- _———.——————

A tine art and industrial exhibition will be at Leeds on the 13th inst.

THE STATE OF IRELAND. .+- A FARMER AND ItS WIFE FLOGGED. A new phase in "MoimJigilt raiding has come to light. A few nights since three gaudily-dressed women, closely veiled, nd accompanied by a man, drove in a covered car to tlie houses of several tenants on the Gastkmartin property of Lord Shandon, and threatened them with dreadful con- sequences if tiipy paid their rents. Important disclosures, it is stated, have been mxde m connection with the recent murder near Skibbereen by some of the parties concerned therein, who have become remorseful. Sullivan, ir- is now said, was alive when thrown into the river. The police on Saturday night arrested Collins, who had already been twice arrested. Two other men are undergoing a sentence of seven years' imprisonment for assaulting Sulhvan. At Limerick on Sunday night a mob attacked tte pnlice who were conveying a prisoner to the constabulary barracks. The police let go their 'prisonerand charged the mob, who fled in all directions. farmers, named Roache and Stack, return- ing home from Listowell on Sunday night, were attacked by a party of disguised men, who de- manded ironey. Stack was knocked down and kicked nearly to death, but Roache escaped. One arrest has been madl" SA large party of disguised and armed men broke into the house of a farmer named Waldron, at LisdatT, near Claremorris.on Monday night, and tiogged him and his wife out of bed, presenting a "uu at, them. The farmer's wife identified several j met-, w'° have been arrested. >Trs. Anderson, landed proprietor, near Cork, has 1\ received a letter signed "Captain Moonlight," threatening that unless she makes reparation to an evicted tenant, Daniel Allen, now a suspect, he will have to put his la ws in force with the utmost, rigour. Mrs. Anderson, as requested, has replied through the press that she will act according to thn laws of the country, a.nd not on those of avowed assassins. A Limerick telegram says that the authorities have received important private information re- specting the intentions of the persons who lately specting the intentions of the persons who lately stole dynamite from the magazine. Armed con- stables have been placed as sentries outside the police barrackand similar precautions are adopted by the military, with the view of prevent- icg anv attempt to blow up t hose buildings. I It is stated that the leaders of the Irish party h-w6. under consideration the advisability of nomi- nating Michael Davitt as a candidate for the County Meath, and in order to avoid the result which followed on the election of John Mitciislfor Tipperary, to run a prominent and eligible Land Leaguer, probably Mr. Egan, as well. In this case the electors would be instructed to divide their votes so as to give Air. Bavut a majority, and, in case of his being declared ineligible by the Bouse i of Commons, thus securing the seat.

THE MUTILATION OF CATTLE IN IRELAND. LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO LORD ABERDARE. It having recently been announced that the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals had called upon all its branches and aU kindred associations to join in a public protest against ths wounding- of cattle in Ireland, the following letter was received from the Qun by Lord Aberdare, the president of the society:— Osborne. December 21.1831. Dear Lord Aberdare,—Would it be possible for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to take any steps with re- gard to the houghing of cattle and other horrible practices on dmb animals which are occurring so frequently in Ireland? This is no political question, and some of the extreme so- called nationalist papers in Ireland condemn these cruelties as warmly as the loyal journals. The Queen is most anxious that averv endeavour should be used to put a stop to these cruelties, and has, therefore, commanded me to ask if the aid of the society of which you are president can bo granted with the view of preventing a recurrence of these crimes.—Yours very truly, HUGH FOXSONBY." Lord Aberdare has addressed the following com- munication to Mr. Brady, secretary to the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Ani- mals :— Sir,—The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals would Hot have been true to its trust if it had not re- ceived with deep grief and liorror the accounts of the houghings,mutilations, and varied cruelties perpetrated upon cattle during the recent agitation in Ireland, and had not, also anxiously considered how, without overstepping its proper sphere of action, it could contribute to mitigate the evil, and to assist, if possible, in bringing offenders to justice. For this latter object it feels its ordinary machinery to be ineffec- tive. It is true that the society and its branches have. Throughout the kingdom, officers charged with the discovery and prevention of arimes against the law for the protection of animals from cruelty; but its main reliance hag ever been on the sympathy and co-operation of the public, without which its best efforts would have been of little avail. We do not doubt that by the majority of the people of Ireland these crimes are viewed with horror and detestation, and that they would gladly avail themselves of any means of suppres- sing an offence which, in its present proportions, can hardly fail to affix, however undeservedly, a stigma upon the whole nation. Hut we hive reason to believe that, in the districts in \\ihich these crimes are chiefly committed, the horror they excite is hardly so deep end general as to overcome the fear of the dangers to which those who might assist in enforcing the law would expose themselves. The officers of the society would thus fail to receive effective public support, and an organisation which works successfully in Ordinary times would prove utterly incapable of contending with thp exceptional circumstances of the disturbed districts of Ireland. Still, we cannot renounce the hope that something may even now be done to open the eyes and touch the consciences of those whoso addiction to these abominable offences betokens rather, we should fain believe, a spirit of blind, wild revenge than of deliberato ferocity. "We are well aware that in past epochs of similar agitation similar offences have been perpetrated, possibly even to a greater extent than at present, and that the spirit, of outrage and violence, which in Ireland includes resistance to the law of the land, has at all times extended from human victims to dumb, inoffensive, defenceless animals. "With crimes against human beings this society as such does not occupy itself. Its object has ever been to aid the Government in enforcing a law tor the protection of animals which, without such, would have often been inoperative; and the Government, has on frequent occasions acknow- ledged its obligations to the society. Such aid the society is unable to give directly in the present, emergency. Still, the society feels that an appeal to the moral sense, to the better and nobler feel- ings of the people of Ireland would not be made in vain: and we venture to think that from no one would such an appeal come more appropriately or with greater force than from the sister society in Dublin. I need not suggest to you that such an appeal. to be effectual, must be wholly free from all political bias. It. is an appeal, not to the spirit of party or even of patriotism, but to that of humanit, And. remembeiing that it is to an Irishman- Martin of Galway-that we owe the tjrst public recognition oi the duty of the State to enforce humanity to animals, wo cannot but believe that an appeal by Irishmen to Irishmen to enforce the law won by their countryman after a long struggle and much endurance of ridicule and contumely, will not wholly fail in reaching even the hardest hearts and the most lawless spirits which these evil times have evoked.—I have the honour to he, sir, your very faithful servant. '• To Thomas F. Brady, Esq., Secretary to the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. T11 reply to this communication, the hon. secre- tary of the Dublin branch of the society .tatcd:— The committee most, cordially reciprocate your lordship's feelings of grief and horror at the ac- counts of the hougijings, mutilations, and varied cruelties stated to be perpetrated upon cattle during the agitation in Ireland. The committee fully believe that the vast majority of the neoplo of Ireland view thoe crime" with horror ad de- testation, and would gladly avail themselves under ordinary circumstances of any means of sup- pressmg an offence wInch must affix undeservedly a stigma upon the whole nation but the circum- stances of this country at the present time are not. of au ordinary character, and the horror such cruelties excite in the general public the committee believe, overcome (it is hoped only for the present) by the fear of the dangers to which the public, might be exposed by either enforcing the law or giving such information as would enable others to do so. The committee have had this subject before them on several occasions, and at one time considered it rui¡yht be useful to offer rewards for such iuforma- tion as might lead to the discovery of the perpe- trators of such outrages, but on more mature consideration they felt that it would not have the desired effect. They have now your lordship's 3U-™-estion, that an appeal to the moral sense, to the better and nobler feelings of the people, might rot be made in vain. and that such Mi appeal would come more appropriately and with greater iforce from Dublin, rather tnan from the Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

A PLOT AGAINST THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND. A diabolical attempt has been made to do serious personal injury to the Chief Secretary for Ireland. After Mr.'Forster had left Ireland for London last week a letter addressed to him was received at the Castle, Dublin. The envelope bore upon it a riumber of dark stains, which, from their appear- ance, were caused not from any external contact, but from some substance containJ within it- Those at once aroused the suspicions of the officials who, after only partially opening it, had th envelope sent to an analyst in order that jt contents might be carefully examined and analysed. It is understood that the re- sult of this analysis was the discovery that the envelope contained a. highly explosive substance, which. when dry, is liable to explode even by the action of opening a letter unless that were done with extreme caution. The fact, however, that the substance was somewhat damp modified its ex- plosive power for the time being, and also was the means of leading to its discovery by staining the paper. The letter was addressed to The Right Hon W. E. Forster, the Castle, Dublin," and above this inscription were the letters li O. H. M. S. as if to lead to the supposition that the communica- tion was of an official character. It bore the Dublin post-mark, and the date January 31. Beyond the explosive substance the envelope con- j tained nothing whatever, there being no writing nor anything else which might give any indication to the identity of the offenders. A "Central Mews telegram from Dublin, dated Tuesday night, says:—According to information eliciteifin Dublin this afternoon it now appears that the report that an explosive substance was sent to Mr. Forster, at Dublin Castle. some time ago enclosed in an envelope is, in its chief particulars, true, though at first much exaggerated. The letter was received on Thursday morning by the officials at the Castle. A stain upon the envelope excited suspicion, and. having been opened with great caution, it was discovered to contain two scruples of iodide of nitrogen, a dangerous explosive, which it is possible might have caused damage if opened without caution. The substance in the envelope was wer, in which state it was non-explosive. On Friday the remainder of the substance was sent to London. The letter passed through the post-office in the ordinary way and was stamped. It being at the time damp, no explosion ensued The police have made every effort to discover the originator of the attempt,but without success. It is believed that the object of the sender was seriously to alarm rather than to do positive injury to Mr. Forster.

FOUNDERING OF A CARDIFF STEAMER. SUPPOSED LOSS OF THE CREW. TEX BODIES WASHED ASHORE. A "Lloyd's" telegram from Constantinople states that the steamer Cosmo, from Constanti- nople, with grain, has foundered in the Black Sea. Portions of wreckage, and the bodies of ten men, have been washed ashore at Kiiia. The Cosmo was an iron steamer, of 1,009 tons register, owned by Messrs. Teller??; Wills, and Co.. of Cardiff, and carried a crew of 24- men. The telegram gives no particulars as to t he cause of the disaster, which appears to have been due to a violent storm, as the steamer Storm Queen, which left :3ebasLOpol with grain on the same day, has not since been heard of, and the steamer Miranda has arrived at Constantinople slightly damaged. On Monday night a private telegram from Con- stantinople reached Messrs. Teliefsen, Wills, and Co., Cardiff, with respect to the loss of their vessel, the steamer Cosmo, and through the cour- tesy of Mr. Wills we have been enabled to see that message. From its contents, there is little doubt I as to the identity of the six men buried. The bodies recognised were as follow:—lhat of the I captain, by the initials "A. B." on his shirt; two engineers, a carpenter, and William Ellis (a tire- man; by tattoo marks on his arm, and a boy about fourteen years of age. Some boat wreckage had also been washed ashore. The owners have not received full information of the disaster, and tha list of the crew supposed to have been lost cannot be published at present, for fear of inaccuracy, it being known that several changes were made on the voyage. The managing owners of the s.s. Cosmo on Wed- nesday issued a. circular to their co-shareholders, from which we have obtained the following ex- tract During Thursday and Friday last strong north-east gales prevailed there (at the mouth of the Bosphorus), accompanied by violent squuils and a severe snow storm. As aU the bodies had life-belts on. our fear is that during the snow storm the steamer was wrecked on some rocks, and seeing their danger the crew put on their life-belts to try and swim ashore. We are not without hope that some may have escaped to explain the sad catastrophe. The steamer was on her way from Sebastopol (witha cargo of grain) to Malta, where she would receive orders for a discharging port in the United Kingdom or Continent. The crew consisted of 24 hands, the steamer was a thoroughly good sea boat, and admirably equipped with life-saving appliances." We also learn that on Wednesday a letter, written by the Lite captain of the vessel the day before he left Sebastopol, reached Cardiff by post.

THE -LOSS OF THE JEANNETTE. The Daily Xnvs correspondent in New York says:—Xearly a hundred navy officers have made application to the Secretary of the Navy to be sent in search of Lieutenant de Long and the missing boats of the Jeannette. Lieutenants Harber and Scheutze sailed on Sunday, the former by the Germanic, the latter by the Oder. They will meet in London and proceed to Irkutsk by the most direct route, where they intend to organise several expeditions, and have the entire cnuntry thoroughly searched. Tho following dispatch has been received at the London office of the Xeic York Iferald:- IRHOUTSK, Feb. 6.—A letter has just been re- ceived from Engineer Melville, through Count Ablefeldt Leuwigen, dated' February 13. He says he had arranged to search, for Lieutenant Delong and his missing companions of the Jean- nette with three parties, the first headed by Nindermanand Labakoff f v Russian ); the second by Bartlett and Kolinkin, and the third by Melville and Groenbecle. The first party was to leave Irkoutsk at once, and all will be in thvj Wil- derness by March 1. Count Leuwigen has volunteered his assistance and is enthusiastic in the work. -10.

GUITEAU'S SENTENCE. The Tina Philadelphia correspondent, telegraph- ing on February 5. says:—Judge Cox yesterday overruled Mr. Sceville's motion for a new trial. Mr. Scovillo filed a motion in arrest of judgment, Guiteau began talking, but 111. Scoville silenced him. Mr. Corkhill asked the court to sentence the prisoner. The Judge then told the prisoner to stand up. Guiteau I ask your Honour to postpone sen- tence a" Jong ag posšible." The Judge Stand up. Have you anything to say why sentence should not now be pro- nounced:" Guit-eau arose pale and haggard, began in a de- liberate tone, but soon became violent. He said I am not guilty of the charge set. forth in the in- dictment. It was God's act, not mine. God will take cart* of it, and won' let the American people forget it. Be wiU take care of it, and every oflicpr of this Government from the Executive down to that marshal, taking every man on that jury and every member of this bench, will pay for it. The American nation will roll in blood if my body- goes into the ground. Tiie Jews put the despised! Galilean into the grave. For a time they triumphed, but at the destruction of Jerusalem, 40 years afterwards, the Almighty got even with them. I am not afraid of death. 1 am here as God's man. Kill me to-morrow if you wish. 1 am Cod's man, and have been from the start." The Judge then, in an impressive address, sen- tenced him to be hanged on June 30 in Washington Gaol between twelve and two o'clock. Guiteau stood unmoved while the judge was speaking, but when he had finished struck the table violently, shouting out, May the Lord have mercy on your soul. I would rather stand where I do" than where the jury do and where your honour does. 1 am not afraid to die. I stand here God's man. God Almighty will curse every man who had a part in procuring this unrighteous verdict. Nothing but good has come from Garfield's removal, and that will be the verdict of posterity on my inspiration, i car", a snap for the verdict of this corrupt. generation. I would rather a thousand times die in my position than in that of those who have hounded me to death. I shall have a glorious flight to glory, but that miserable scoundrel Corkhill will have a perma- ment job down below, where the devil is preparing for him." Guiteau having talked himself out, conversed quietly with his brother. The prisoner was afterwards taken to gaol through a heavy snowstorm. Mr. Scoville will now appeal to the full bench of the Washington Court for arrest of judgment, haviug until March 1 for the appeal.

CANNIBALISM IN THE FIJI ISLANDS. EATING A BOATS CREW. Information has been received from the Fiji Islands, vut Sydney, of a shocking case of massacre and cannibalism. The circumstances are of the most horrifying character. The victims were the crew of a boat from the labour vessel Isabel. It appears that the Isahel was on :1. cruise in search of labourers, and one of the islands touched at was Santo Island. The Isabel lay off the land, and a boat was sent to the shore to open negotiations for recruiting w orkmen. While the negotiations were in progress the treacherous islanders made a sudden attack on the boat's crew. The men were assailed in so sudden a manner that they were un- able to offer very much resistance. Out of the whole crew but "two got away, and these had narrow escapes, whilst one had two wounds in his head inflicted by tomaliawks. It was evident that the attack had been arranged previous to the landing of the unfortunate men, as all of the natives joined in the affray simultaneously. They were also well armed with muskets and tomahawks. At the moment Captain Haw- kins of the Isabel could not do anything; but some time afterwards a search party was sent from the schooner, and pushed their way to a village in the bush. The sight, which here met, their eyes was shocking to behold. The village was deserted, the natives leaving behind them a hand, a thigh, por- tions of a chest, a heart and liver, without doubt the remains of the former comrades of the search party. The natives had evidently been surprised whilst preparing to make their last meal on the unfortunate men of the Isabel, as all the remains had been cleaned and scraped, and were ready for cooking. All the human remains found were col- lected and buried. There was not the slightest doubt in the minds of the searchers that the remainder of the bodies had been eaten by the Santo Island natives, who aro known to be cannibals. Captain Hawkins received the full particulars of the attack from the two who escaped, and who positively affirmed that not the slightest provocation was given the islanders to commit the outrage. As soon as possible after the sad affair Captain Hawkins proceeded to Fiji to report the matter to the authorities there.

THE HEALTH OF GENERAL GARIBALDI. A correspondent at Rome, telegraphing on Monday night, says The published accounts of Garibaldi continue to be good. The latest report states that the intestinal catarrh has ceased, and the expectoration is very small. The appetite has returned, and there is a decided improvement, in the vital force. The Lfga, the editor and staff of which arc- Garibaldi's intimate friends, asserts that the official communications are inexact, and says the case is very serious, but not hopeless.

THE QUEEN'S SPEECH. MR. BRADLAUGH AND THE OATH. DEFEAT OF THE GOVERNMENT. (" CENTRAL NEWS" TELEGRAM.) HOUSE OF LORDS.—TCESDAY. The third session of the tenth Parliament of her Majesty the Queen wa formally opened by Com- mission at two o'clock to-day. I The Lords Commissioners were the Lord Chan- cellor, Earl Sydney, Earl of Kenmare, Earl of Cork' and Lord Monson. There was but a small attendance of peers pre- Isent to witness the opening ceremony. The Government were represented by the Duke of Westminster, Earl of Dalhousie, and Lords Sudeley, Carrington, and Thurlow. The Bishop of I London occupied the Bishops' Bench. Lord Norton was the principal representative of the Opposi- tion, and with him were the Duke of Bedford, Earl of Ellenborough, Earl Delawarr, and the Earl of Longford. The Speaker of the House of Commons and the members of the Lower House were summoned by Black Rod, and having appeared at the bar of the House the Reading Clerk read the Commii- sion, which was in the usual terms, after which, The LORD CHANCELLOR read THE QUEEN'S SPEECH. MY LoRDS AND GENTLEMEN,— It is with much satisfaction that I again invite your advice and assistance in the conduct of public affairs. I have given my approval to a marriage between' my son, Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, and her Serene Highness Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont. I have every reason to believe that this will be a happy union.. I continue in relations of cordial harmony with all Foreign Powers. The Treaty for the cession of Thessaly to the Greek kingdom has now been executed in its main provisions. The transfer of sovereignty and of occupation was effected in a manner honour- able to all concerned. In concert with the President of the French Re- public, I have given careful attention to the affairs of Egypt, where existing arrangements have imposed on me special obligations. I shall use my influence to maintain the rights already established, whether by the Firmans of the Sultan or by various international engagements, in a spirit favourable to the good government of the country and the prudent development of its insti- tutions. t I have pleasure in informing you that the restoration of peace beyond the north- western frontier, together with continued internal tranquillity, plentiful seasons, and increase of the revenue, has enabled my Govern- ment in India to resume works of public utility which had been suspended, and to devote its attention to measures for the further improve- ment of the condition of the people. The Convention with the Transvaal has been ratified by the representative assembly, and I have seen no reason to qualify my anticipations of its advantageous working. I have, however, to regret that, although hostili- ties have not been renewed in Kasutoland, the country tin remains in an unsettled condit ion. GENTLEMEN 01" THE HODSE OF COMMONS,— The estimates for the service of the year are in an advanced stage of preparation, and will be promptly submitted to you. MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,— My communications with France on the subject of a new Commercial Treaty have not been closed. They will be prosecuted by me#xs I have already acquainted you, with a desire to conclude a treaty favourable to extended intercourse between the two nations, to whose close acaftjr I attach so great a value. The trade of the country, both domestic and foreign, has for some time been improving, and the mildness of the winter season has been eminently suited to farming operations. Better prospects are, I trust, thus opened for the classes immediately cuncerned in agricul- ture. The public revenue, which is greatly, though not always at once, affected by the state of Industry and Commerce, has not. yet exhibited an upward movement in proportion to their increased activity. The condition of Ireland at this time as com- pared with that which I described at the beginning of last year shows signs of improve- ment, and encourages the hope that perseverance in the course you have pursued will be rewarded with the happy results which are so much to ba desired. Justice has been adminis- tered with greater efficacy, and the intimidation which has been employed to deter occupiers of land from fulfilling their obligations, and from availing themselves of the Act of last session, shows, upon the whole, a diminished force. My efforts, fhrough the bounty of Providence, have been favoured by the abundance of the har- vest in that portion of the United kingdom. In addition to a vigorous extension of the provi- sions of the ordinarv law, I have not hesitated under the painful necessity of the case to employ largely the exceptional powers entrusted to me for the protection of life and property by two Acts of the last Session. You will be invited to deal with proposals for the establishment in the English and Welsh coun- ties of local self-government, which has so long been enjoyed by the towns, together with enlarged powers" of administration and with financial changes, which will give you an oppor- tunity of considering both as to town and country what may be die proper extent and the most equitable and provident form of contribution from Imperial taxes in relief of local charges. These proposals, in so far as they are financial, will ¡;.ppiy to the whole of Great Britain. It will be necessary to reserve the case of Ireland for a separate consideration. In connection with the general subject of local administration. I have directed a measure to be prepared and submitted to you for the reform of the ancient and distinguished Corporation of London, and the extension of Municipal Govern- ment to the Metropolis at large. Bills will again be laid before you with which during the last Session, notwithstanding the length of its duration and your unwearied labours, it, was found impossible to proceed, j I refer particularly to those concerning bankruptcy, the repression of corrupt practices at elections, and the conservancy of rivers and prevention of ttnod. Measures will also be proposed to you with respect to a criminal code and to the consolida- tion and amendment of the laws affecting patents. The interests of some portions of the United Kingdom have suffered peculiarly of late years I from the extreme pressure of the public business on your time and strength, but I trust that, during this session you may be able to consider Bills which will be pre- sented to you in relation to the law of entail, and to educational endowments in Scotland, and to improved means of education in Wales. I commend^these and other subjects with confi- dence to your care, and it is my carnp8t. prayer that your wisdom and energy may, under the. blessing of God prove equal to Ihe varied and increasing needs of this extensive Empire. MR BRADLAUGHS SEAT. SCENE IN THE HOUSE. When the ceremony of swearing in the new members was completed, Mr. Bradhmgh, who had been standing at the Bar leaning against the cross bench, advanced to the table, unaccompanied by any introducer. Having tendered his writ of election to Sir Hrskine May, Sir STAFFORD NORTHCOTE: I risp-(loudl cheers;—to submit, to the House a resolution iden- tical, or nearly identical, with that which was passed on the" 26th of ApriT last, on the occasion when the hon. gentleman who is now at the table presented himself for the purpose of taking the oath. This resolution only differs from that by re- citing the resolution taken on that occasion in ad- dition to that, previously taken. The resolution I have to submit is:—» That, having regard to the resolutions of this House of the 22nd of June, 1880, and of the 26th of April, 1881, and of the reports and proceedings of the two Select Committees therein referred to, Mr. Bradlaugb be not permitted to go through the form of repeating the words of the oath prescribed by Statute 29 Vic., chap. 19 and 31, and 32 Vic., chap. Mr. Speaker, I do not. desire to impute on this occasion any more than on a former occasion any considerationsbut those which have been raised. The circumstances of the case are as I stated thfm last year. and they are doubless in the recollection of the House. The hon. geneleman was returned, in the first instance, to Parliament, and on the occasion of his proposing then to take his seat he requested that he might be, or he claimed that he should be, allowed to affirm instead of taking the oath, and he rested that claim upon certain statutes which were only applicable to the case of the persons upon whom the oath was not binding. ("No, no," and Opposition cheers.) At all events, it was the contention of those who objected to the hon. gentleman takina the affirmation, and such was the opinion of tho" epmmittees which sat upon the case—(hear, hear)—and such also, I think, was the opinion of the courts of law upon the subject. At all events objection was taken, and the hon. gentleman was held by tho House, on the recommendation of the committee, to be disqualified from taking the affirmation. Subsequently he had permission given him to take an affirmation subject to the decision of the courts of law. We all know what the result of that was—that the decision of the courts of law was against his being admissible to affirm, and that in consequence his seat was vacated by reason of his having sat without having token the proper oath or affirmation. He was re-elected, and upon his re-election the question arose as to his being permitted to take the oath. The House had ) been previously advised by one of the com- mittees who sat on this subject that for a I gentleman to claim to repeat the words of the oath, with such qualifications as were necessarily j implied in the proceedings which had taken place in Mr. Bradlaugh's instance, was not to take the oath according to law, and accordingly I moved, y and the House by a. majority, after a discussion, affirmed, a resolution which prevented his taking the oath last year. We are the same House as we were then, the hon. gentleman is in precisely the same position as he was then, and I presume that the decision of the House will be the same as the decision was last year. (Cheers.) 1 do not think it necessary or even seemly to trouble the House at- any length on the subject,, and I shall Content myself by submitting and placing in your hands the resolution I have to propose. (Loud cheers.) Mr. Bradlaugh remained standing at the table during the speech of Sir S. Northcote, but before putting the resolution the Speaker requested him, in compliance with the custom of the House, to withdraw to his place below the Bar. Mr. Brad- laugh at once complied, but before doing so ex- pressed a wish that the House would hear him before it came to any decision on the subject. Sir W. HARCOURT, on rising, apologised for the absence of Mr. Gladstone—(laughter from the Opposition benches)—who had not been twar. that the question would be raised before half-past four. (Ministerial cheers.) Sir Wm. Harcourt proceeded to argue that the resolution of last sersion set aside the provisions of a deliberate Act of Parliament, and lie contended that Parliament of Parlii had no right to inquire into the particular opinions of any individual, Mr. Bradlaugh was pre- pared to take the oath prescribed by tho statute, and nothing further ought to be demanded of him. Under these circumstances he would move the previous question. Mr. NEWDEGATE (C., Warwick, X.) declined to be a party to any ntibterfuge by which a man should be allowed to subscribe to an oath which lie declared to be meaningless, and thus to take the name of God in vain. Mr. Bradlaugh and Mr. Labouchere rose to- gether, but the Speaker called upon the former. Mr. BRADLAUGH said he fully appreciated the difficulties of his position, He declined to follow Mr. Newdegate into his reckless misrepre- sentations, and denied having done anything in reference to the right of succession beyond main- taining the right of Parliament to control it. These were small matters, but he was compelled to notice small matters, becauce since he stood there before every effort had been made to effect his ruin, even to the length of driving him into the Court of Bankruptcy. If the House were prepared to try him bv his opinions he asked it to do it fairly, in- telligibly, and without prejudice. The only way in which his opinion with regard to an oath was brought before the House was by distorting a statement contained in a private'letter written by him outside Parliament. He asked the House to deal legally and fairly with him, even if they regarded his political and theological views as obnoxious and dangerous. He urged that it was in the highest degree inex- pedient to deal exceptionally and illegally with an individual. He disputed the authority of Parlia- ment to go back upon any resolution passed pre- viously to the 8th of April, which was the date of his last election. He had been subjected to much r-abuse by Conservative members out of doors. The right, hon. member for Whitehaven (Mr. Cavendish Bentinck) told his constituents that he (Mr. Bradlaugh) had already been once kicked downstairs, and was about to be kicked down again. The hon. gentleman was not quite accurate in regard to his facts, for there was in reality no kicking downstairs; but right hon. members opposite who stood up so strongly for the law were setting a most dangerous example when they relied upon force. A noble lord opposite called him a. Socialist, not that he really was one, because he had never been in favour of Socialism, but because it was necessary to call him some- thing. The argument that to permit him to take the oath would be a profanation of it. was worthless unless the House was prepared to deal with every individual case, and he asked if the oath was pro- faned when Mr. Hall, steeped to the lips in bribery, stepped up to the table, cheered to the echo, to take the oath ? Was the oath profaned when Mr. J. S. Mill, who held views very similar to those which lie (Mr. Bradlaugh) entertained,was allowed to take it. He denied that he had ever asserted that if he took the oath the ceremony would not be binding upon his conscience, and he declared solemnly that he was prepared to take the oath according to the law, and that if he took it it would undoubtedly be binding on his conscience. He asked if the House were prepared to substitute force for law if not, let them deal with him by an action or by petition. If he was not tit for his position, let his constituents dismiss him, but the House should not dismiss him from it. (Hear, j' Mr' LABOUCHERE {L., Xortham.pton) said that, something like 750 petitions, containing 170.000 signatures, were ready for presentation in favour of Mr. Bradlaugh being allowed to take his seat, and the Opposition had petitions containing about, a hundred thousand signatures, but he found that according to the rules of the House no petitions could be presented on the first day of the session. It was only by an accident that the Opposition were able to stop Mr. Bradlaugh from taking his seat, and he contended that it was in the interest of religion that the matter should be settled at once by the House, by the passing of the Bill sug- gested'bv Mr. Bradlaugh. (Hear, hear.) Sir STAFFORD NORTHCOTE said that among the petitions prepared for presentation was one signed by 10,300 persons resident in Northampton, but as it was not within the rules of the House to receive them on that day, the petition could not be presented. With respect to the fact that Mr. Bradlaugh was allowed to make an affir- mation, he would point out that there was no question of profanation involved therein as in the proposal to allow Mr. liradl.aiigii to take the oath, and, though it was said they ought to be indifferent, the Opposition was not indifferent and the country was not indiffe- rent to the profanation of God's Word. (Cheers.) There was ample evidence that people holding all kinds ot views on religious questions were united in sincerity of feeling on this subject. The Government had no grounds for throwing the re- sponsibility of the blocking and obstruction of the Oaths Bill upon the Opposition. They could not recede from the position they had taken up, and he hoped the House would re-affirm the decision of last session. Mr. GLADSTONE having apologised for having been absent at four o'clock when the debate com- menced, through ignorance of the fact that the question would be raised before half-past- four, ex- pressed his regret that a more liberal acknowledg- ment had not been drawn from sir S. Northcote. He reminded the House of the course which the case took last year, and remarked that he had been of opinion that, the personal connection of Mr. Bradlauph with the matter as a subject for legis- lation had been removed by the resignation by Mr. Bradlaugh of his seat and his subsequent re- flection. It was impossible for the Government last session to give to the case precedence over all other matters demanding consideration at the hands of Parliament. The view of the Government was that, as in the case of the affirmation, it should be left, to a court, of law to decide whether, in takincr the oath, Mr. Bradlaugh infringed the statute. With all respect, he contended that the question of profanation was travestying the ques- tion and that Parliament had no right to look out- side' the legality of the act. It. must, not be forgotten that the oath had already been taken by a known Atheist, and the protrusion of the fact in his case that the oath w&s not regarded as bindin" was. entirely outside the question, if there was profanation in the one case, there was profanation in the other. It was their duty to secure justice to every subject in tho realm—to Mr Bradlaugh as well as every other man, and he was of opinion that adequate justice would be secured by the decision of a court of law. The first and bounden duty of the Government was to adhere to the strict interpretation of the law, and any departure from that strict interpretation of the law was a profanation of the duty to secure the due administration of just ice. By moving the previous question, therefore, the Government simply assented that the matter was not one with which it was competent, for the House to deal. Thcv proposed to give nothing to Mr. Bradlaugh but to allow him to act, as in the case of taking the affirmation, on his own responsibility. That was the sole object, they had in moving the previous question and all who believed inthe incompetency of Parliament to fortil a tribunal for deciding questions <>t this nature would vote for the pre- vious question. The resolution was supported by Mr. Clarke Plymouth), Mr. Hubbard (C„ London), Mr. O'Donnell (Il.p. I)it!i gat-tan), and Mr. Makins (C., >>• ,e.r, 8.), while Mr. Serjt. Simon (L., Det(,sbz(r.il) spoke in favour of the previous question. The House then divided, and the numbers were- For the resolution 280 Forthe pvGvious question. 228 Majority ag^ins^ tho Government 58 Mr. HRADLAL'GH, when the cheers which pTftptcd tho {innouncfiniont of the number. h&d subsided, advanced to the table, but withdrew at the request of tho Spoaker, who intimated that the resolution itself had to be put. Mr. Bradlaugh bowed and withdrew. When the resolution was agreed to without a. dissentient voice. Mr. Bradlaugh again advanced tot,he table. The SPEAKER read the resolution which had been just nassed, and informed the hon. gentleman t Ilat, in pursuance of that resolution he had to call upon him to withdraw. f i, r Mr. BRADLAUGH I respectfully refuse to do so, the House having no power to compel me. The SPEAKER: I again call upon the hon. gen- tleman to withdraw below the Bar. Mr. HRADLAUGH: I refuse to withdraw, being here in the performance of my duty, and I have a I right to take my seat. The SPEAKER: Then I must ask for further instructions from the House. I have no power to insist on the withdrawal of the lion, member. There were loud calls for Mr. Gladstone, but the I Prime Minister declined to rise. Sir S. NORTHCOTE, after a pause, advanced to the table, and said that a, lie saw no sign of the Prime Minister rising, he would move the resolu- tion which he moved last year, "That Mr. Brad- laugh be ordered to withdraw." Mr. GLADSTONE, who rose amid laughter and cheers, said he had not conceived it a part of his duty t,o make any motion on the subject; but, as the House had declared its sense by a considerable majority, be could not offer any opposition to the consequent, resolution now moved. The resolution was then agreed to. The SPEAKER: I have again to can upon Mr. Bradlaugh to withdraw. Mr. BRADLAUGH: It would be undignified for me to indulge in an unseemly contest with the House, and I respectfully crave the House to allow me to withdraw below the Bar. The hon. gentleman then bowed to the Speaker, and withdrew amid cheers.

ANALYSIS OF THE DIVISION. The resolution of Sir Stafford Northcote that Mr. Bradlaugh should not be permitted to go through the form of repeating the words of the oath, which was carried on the 26th of April last, was practically the question put and re-affirmed on Tuesday night. The following is the analysis I of the voting of members representing the Prin- cipality:— Natae. Constituency. Si S S ■< ft 5 Allen, H. G. (L.) |Pembrok<&c.J — — 1 Carbutt, E. H. ( £ .) .[Newport — — 1 Cunliffe, Sir K. (/) .|Denbigh — 1 — Davies, D. (A.) Cardigan — 1 — Davies, R. (Aj [Anglesey — 1 — Davies, W (A.) iPembroke — 1 — Dillwyn, L. L. (A.) ..JSwansea. — 1 — Emlyn, Viscount (C'.)jCarmarthenshr. 1 — — Flower, Cyril (A.) (Brecon — 1 — Grosvenor, Lord (L.)iFlititshire — 1 — Holl,iiid, S. (L.) iyeri-netit — 1 Hughes, W B. (A.) .[Carnarvon — 1 James, C. H. (A.) jMerthyr — 1 — Jenkins, J. J. (.A.) [Carmarthen — 1 —■ Kensington. Vise.(A.)IHaverl'ordwest .] — 1 — Lloyd, At. (A.).. ^Beaumaris — — 1 Maitland, \Y. P. (L.)IBrecoiisliire 1 — Morgan, G-. O. (A.) .[Denbighshire .j — 1 — Morgan, F. C. (C.) .Monmouthshire 1 — — Powell, W. R. H. (.A.) Carmarthenshr. — 1 — Price, Sir R. (A.) JRadnorshire — — 1 Pugh, L. P. (A.> iCardiganshire. — — 1 Uatnbone, W. (A.) Carnarvonshire — 1 — 'Reed, Sir E. J. (A.) .Cardiff — — 1 Kendel, St. (A.) 'Montgomery. — 1 — Richard, H. (A.) iMerthyr — 1 — Roberts, J.<A.) (Flint — 1 — Rolls, J. A. (C.) 'Monmouthshire 1 — — Talbot, C. R. M.(A.).iG-lamorganshire — — 1 Tracy, Hon. T. (A.) .[Montgomery — 1 — Vivian, H. H. (A.) .[Glamorganshire — — 1 Wynn, Sir W. (C.) (Denbighshire — — 1 Williams, 8. C.E. ( £ .);Radnor — l_ 1 1 3 I 13 12 The majority was composed of 221 Conservatives, 37 Home Rulers, and 28 Liberals. The minority with the Government was exclu- sively Liberal,'if we may include Major Nolan, who has recently resigned the office of Home Rule Whip. Mr. J. Cowen and Lord E. Fitzmaurice were with the Ministers, as also was Mr. Milbank (erroneously stated by a contemporary to have voted against the party). The House, with tellers and the Speaker, num- bered 519, being the largest vote vet given on the Bradlaugh question, and as against 510 and 388 on the former occasions. The Conservative party were in full force, the absentees numbering only eighteen, andill these were satisfactorily accounted for by the whip. One, the Hon. R. Bourke, was accidentally shut out. Mr. M'Culiagh Torrens, who would have voted with the majority, was absent, being confined to his room through a severe sprain to his ankle. Something like 80 Liberals took no part in the division, thus accounting for the largeness of the majority against Ministers. Some of those gentle- men were in the House, but walked out without voting, Mr. Bradlaugh will address his constituents at Northampton on Friday. A meeting of delegates from the London work- ing men's clubs is convened for Tuesday next, at the Hall of Science, to arrange for a demonstration in support of Mr. Bradlaugh.

SW ANSEA TOWN COUNCIL. QUARTERLY MEETING. A quarterly meeting of the Swansea Town Council was held at the Guildhall on Wednesday. The Mayor (Alderman Thomas Davies) presided, and there were also present Aldermen E. R. Daniel, W. Thomas, F. A. Yeo, and Councillors R. D. Burnie, E. Bath, D. Thomas, J. May, C. H. Glascodine, J. Trew, Thomas Jones. L. Tulloch, T. Freeman, W. Williams, J. Glasbrook, W. J. Rees, J. Cady, J. Lewis, 1). Jones, and H. A. Chapman. THE PROPOSED APPOINTMENT OF BOKOUGH MAGISTRATES. The TOWN-CI.KKK read the following letter, in reply to the communication sent to the Lord Chancellor, in accordance with Mr. Burnie's reso- lution at the last meeting, asking him who had recommended the names of gentlemen for the appointment as borough magistrates:- 16th January, 1882. Sir,—With reference to your letter of the 12th, 1 am directed by the Lord Chancellor to say that it is not the practice of his lordship to give the information asked for, and that it would, in his judgment, be inexpedient to do so. His lordship desires me to say that the duty of appointing borough magistrates is by law imposed on the Lord Chancellor, and tliat in communicating with the town council his object is only to give opportunity for the due consideration of any opinions on the subject, which they may wish to express.-I am, sir, your obedient servant, EVKLSRX HAY MI KRA Y. Secretary of Commissions. Mr. BURKlE asked if he would be in order in moving a resolution. The MAYOR replied in the affirmative. Mr. BURNIE then moved That while appreciating the action of tho Lord Chancellor with respect to the late, proposed appointment of borough magis- trates, this council desires to record its opinion that the present system of appointing magistrates is frequently abused, and inasmuch as confidence in that body is thereby weakened, it is desirable that it should be altered as early as possible, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Prime Minister and the Lord Chancellor." Mr. MAY seconded the motion. Mr. GI^ASCODINE moved the previous question. The council was not a political body, and they ought not, therefore, to travel beyond the duties which were their own, and go into political questions. Mr. EDWARD BATH said he sympathised with Mr. Burnie's object, but he feared the resolution which .had been proposed would appear to the Lord Chancellor as a sort of retlection on his con- duct, especially after they had been informed that the appointments rested with him. The resolution was carried by six votes against four. Afr. REES said he had received a letter from Alderman Ford which lie wished the town-clerk to read to the council. The MAYOR said it was not usual to read letters or speeches from absent members, but if it were the wish of the council he should be most happy to hear it. Mr. G LA.SCODINF thought it would be very much wi..er to leave it unread if it referred to the matter of the justices. The MAYOR I will take the view of the council on it. Mr. WILLIAMS Is it in reference to our business, Mr. Mayor ? The MAYOR Mr. Rees said it bears upon the letter to the Lord Chancellor. Mr. REES Yes; it is on that subject, and if it is necessary, I beg to move that it be read. Mr. GLASBROOK. seconded the motion. Mr. CHAPMAN proposed, as an amendment, that it be not read. The motion was put to the meeting, and carried by eight votes against six. The ASSISTANT TOWN-CI.KRK then read the letter, which was as follows:— Woodlands, Swansea, Feb. 6, 1882. My dear Sir,-[ shall not be able to be present at Wednesday's meeting, but 1 hope you will elicit from the mayor who i3 responsible for the remarks so deroga- tory and uncalled for about the corporation in his letter to the town-clerk; lie, as the medium if not the principal by inference, has writ-ten—thai, the town council are not fit or capable of expressing an opinion with respect to the borough magistrates,and this must beclearedup.as it would bo undignified for the corporation to sit quietly under this stigma, f ain in a position to know that the words are not those of either lid. DiUwyn or the ex- mayor, and if not, whose are they ? The mayor owes the corporation an explanation, and as it is'a quarterly meeting any qnestion^can b« asked without- notice, if not, cleareci tip, J will on my return bring it forward, however distasLetal it may be, and even at the risk of the persecution bugbear being raised, It is in the power of the mayor to clear it up at once, and if he declines, the responsibility rests with him,— Believe me yours truly, THOMAS FORD. W. J. Rees, Esq. Nothing was said about, this letter until after reso- lutions on two other subjects had been discussed, when Alderman YFo said it would be most undesirable that this matter should be brought up again. He would ask the mayor to give an assurance to the corporation that no stigma was intended by the expression in his letter. He desired that the matter should be finished with at once. He felt persuaded Alderrnaij Ford would bring it forward again unless something was done. The MAYOR said that as far as he was concerned he denied the truth of that letter. The statement that he made was, of course, made in his own handwriting, but it was the substance of what had transpired between him and the ex-mayor on more than one occasion. It was true that the verbiage of the letter was his, but lie meant it in no offen- sive form to the corporation. How could he?! They knew that gentlemen in the council had opposed the ex-mayor on one or two occasions, and it was with reference possibly to what had transpired on those occasions that he did not wish in any way to put the names before the council, because, possibly, adverse criticisms might be made upon them by gentlemen who had made adverse criticisms with reference to some property of his. He (the mayor) wrote the letter, and lie alone was responsible for the verbiage of it, but at the same tinis that remark was far from being intended by him to be disrespectful to the council. How could it be so when he was unanimously voted to the chair by them last November? Mr. GLASBROOK: No, no; you were not my man. The MAYOK repeated that he vviis unanimously voted to the chair, and he defied Mr. G lasbrook or anybody else to say differently. (Hear, hear.) He should be most ungrateful if he were to say any- thing against even Mr. Gla.sbrook, although he knew Mr. Glasbrook would have been glad to have put someone else in the chair. He had not said an unkind word of anybody, and he should not lessen the dignity of the chair by doing so during his year of office. He appealed to Mr. Rees if he had not shown every desire to work harmoniously with him, although Mr. Rees had proposed what was almost a vote of censure against him at the last meeting. Was not that so ? Mr. RRES: Yes. The MAYOR, resuming, said Anything could be misconstrued. The verbiage might have been un- fortunate, but his part of it arose entirely from a conversation with the ex-mayor. He hoped the council would be satisfied that he had done every- thing: in good faith. (Hear, hear.) Mr. GLASCODINE said he should be glad if the council would go a step farther, and recommend the appointment of those borough magistrates. With one exception, he should like to see tlvwn appointed. Mr. GLASBROOK said he should like to know what business the ex-mayor had to bring this matter on in a clandestine manner because he (Mr. Glasbrook) spoke about his property on the Town- hill ? He had not done with that matter yet. The MAYOR I do not think vou ought to.attack the ex-mayor in his absence.* The Mayor then expressed the hope that what he had stated had satisfied Alderman Yeo. Alderman YEO said he was perfectly satisfied. He was only sorry that Mr. Burnie's resolution would be sent to the Lord Chancellor, because it would very likely prevent him from doing what they wished him to do-that was to send the names to the council. Mr. REES said he could bear testimony to what the mayor had said. He was extremely glad that the mayor had said what he had said, and he was only sorry that the matter took such an unplea- sant turn at the last meeting. He did not intend to do that, but one word brought on another. The mayor had shown a very kind feeling to him during the last month, and he was very much obliged to the mayor for it. He hoped the past I would be forgotten, and that they would goon harmoniously during the rest of the year. (Hear, hear.)

PRESENTATION TO THE MAYOR OF CARDIFF. On Wednesday evening a meeting of the rate- payers of Roath was held in the Tredegarville Schoolroom, Cardiff, for the purpose of presenting an address to his worship the Mayor of Cardiff, congratulatory on his election to the office of chief magistrate of the town. Mr. J. H. Wilson presided, and there was a numerous attendance, amongst those present being—the mayor (Mr. A. Thomas), the town-clerk (Mr. J.L. Wheatley), Mr. T. H. Thomas (borough analyst), Alderman Jones, Messrs. J. A. Ie Boulanger, R. Cory, juu., J. Callaghan, E. R. Moxey, W. J. Trounce, J. J. P. Burt, W. Turner (superintendent Board of Trade), J. Ramsdale, — Laughland, W. Sanders, G. A. Stone, Lewis Williams, Daniel Thomas, B. Lewis, Greenhill, S. W. Allen, and others. The CHAIRMAN opened the meeting in a speech in which lie alluded in high terms of eulogy to the good qualities which his worship the Mayor had displayed as their representative in the town council and as the occupant of the civic chair. He said it was evident Mr. Thomas did not take office with a desire to enjoy the honours which they would confer, but with the earnest intention of doing his best for his native town. (Cheers.) Mr. J. Ramsdale, Mr. W. Turner, Mr. J. A. Ie Boulanger, Mr. E. R. Moxey, Mr. B. Lewis, Alder- man Jones, and Mr. R. Cory afterwards addressed the meeting on the subject of the presentation. The CHAIRMAN then made the presentation, and read the address, which ran as follows To HIS WORSHIP THE MAYOR OF CARDIFF.—We, the electors of the Roath Ward, in public meeting assembled, to slgnahse your election to the important office of Mayor of Cardiff by the presentation of this address, more especially as you are the first member of the corporation representing rhe IRoath Ward who has attained to that position since its incorporation with the borough in the yeal1875. "'6 avail ourselves of this opportunity to respectfully tender to you our hearty and most cordial congnnulations upon such a gratifying occasion. We desire that this mark of onr respectful esteem may be accepted as expressing, not merely the satisfaction with which we see you raised to the high position of chief magistrate of your native town, but our earnest sense of your fitness for that post, and of our great appreciation of your public services. We also feel confident that as mayor you will acquit yourself with honour, which will necessarily retlect on the ward which has on three separate occasions elected you as one of its representatives and we now desire for you every possible success as mayor and chief magistrate of the town alld borough of CarJiff.Dated J13t January, 1882.—Signed on behalf of the meeting, J. H. WILSON, chairman, and J. H. PHILLIPS, hon. secretary. The MAYOR, on rising to acknowledge the pre- sentation, was received with prolonged cheering. After some preliminary remarks, his worship pro- ceeded to observe that, having been elected to the position he now fills, he was pleased to find that his services were appreciated. (Applause.) The year during which he would occupy the civic chair would be an eventful one. In Some respects they would have to act the host to two very important organisations which. were to visit the town—the Bath and West of England Show, and the Annual Movable Committee of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows. Then they would have the pleasure of opening the naw Free Library, and they would have to conduct the movement in favour of the selection of Cardiff as the site for the proposed University College for South Wales. It would take him a long time to go into the details of what thev had done in regard to the latter question. In December last the corporation appointed a com- mittee to take steps necessary to the attainment of the object in. view, and one of the first things done was to ask for power to increase their numbers. That power was granted to them, and they had now such a committee as the town might beproud of. It comprised gentlemen of all shades of opinion and creed. (Applause.) He took it that-their pro- ceedings up to the present had met with all the success which they could well expect or desire, and it Was with feelings of great gratification that he alluded to the noble gift which had been made to them by the Marquess of B" (Cheers.) And what they had been doing in Cardiff did not appear to have pleased their Swansea friends. (Laughter.) A public meeting was held at Swansea on Friday last, and he was sorry to say that the tone of that meeting was other than they had anticipated, and was such as he hoped would never be imitated at any meeting which might be held in Cardiff. The mayor, in opening the proceedings in a very temperate speech, attempted to score a point for Swansea in the circumstance that they were able to offer a site. One of the first things the committee in Cardiff did was to appoint a deputation to go to Bristol, as they had been told that the proposed college would be established on the lines of the institution there. The authorities at Bristol impressed this upon them, that the larger proportion of their students were those who attended the evening lectures—iif fact, that two-thirds of the students were those who attended the evening lectures—and that it was, therefore, essential to the prosperity of the college that the site should be central and easy of access. Ijja understood that the Swansea site was quite outside the town, and full two miles from the Great Western Railway Station, so that in view of what he had stated, he could not consider that an eligible site. Mr. Vivian, who also spoke at the meeting, described himself as a "son of the soil "—a term which was usually associated with the natives of the Sister Isle. (Laughter.) Mr. Vivian was very confident as to Swansea being the proper site, although the Commissioners them- selves na.med two sites, Cardiff or Swansea. There was point on which Mr. Vivian was not. very clear. He said that those who voted for the resõ- lution he was seconding would pledge themselves to provide the requisite funds in the same manner as Cardiff. And he deprecated that course on the ground that it was fitful," recommending instead that the whole country should be rated. He (the speaker) dis- agreed with this advice, because he thought that the town that was not public spirited enough to lind the funds to build the college must not only be indifferent to the advantages which would accrue to them from having such an institution in their midst, but must be wanting in generosity. (Applause.) Mr. Vivian further asked what would the men of Cardigan and Carmarthen say if the college were erected in Cardiff ? What could they say when they had already two colleges so close to them as those at Abetystwith and Lampeter, and would derive no special benefit if they had a third erected at Swansea > (Applause.) men, at the same meeting, Mr. John Jones Jenkins took it upon himself to criticise the cir- culars which the Cardiff committee had sent out. The first point Mr. Jenkins spoke about was the relative population of Swansea and Cardiff and he said that it was not fair to take the area of the two boroughs, when that of Cardiff was so much larger than that of Swansea. Then Mr._Jenkins added some of the outlying districts to Swansea, and thus made the population of Swansea appear greater than that of Cardiff. Mr. Jenkins might as well have gone further. and have added the whole of the United Kingdom, and then, no doubt, he would have been able to show that Swansea was much in advance of Cardiff. (Laughter.) The next question upon which Mr. Jenkins touched was that of the value of the shipping at Cardiff. But Mr. Jenkins spoke of the amount of shippi g registered in the two ports, whereas in their on cular they dealt with the relative quantities of shipping stock owned in the two ports. They were still prepared to adliere to the statement thov made. (Applause.) It might be some solace to Mr. Jenkins to know that the estimate was made by a Swansea gentleman. And, again, in respect of dock accommodation, Mr. Jenkins would eliminate from them the float, and basin of the Glamorganshire Canal; but when they spoke of the dock accommodation of Cardiff, they meant, of the, port, and not, of the borough. (Applause.) Then, in speaking of the site of the college, Mr. Jenkins asked whv could not. the people of Cardiff go to Bristol ? In the same spirit he might say why should thev not, go to Hong Kong ? (Laughter.) In the report of the Commissioners on the subject it was stated that, Cardiff could supply within a given area a larger population, while Swansea was the seat of the most varied in- dustries. As it was people and not trades they wished, he maintained that Cardiff was the most suitable site. (Applause.) But Mr. Jenkins said he did not for figures, and he (the speaker) must say that Mr. Jenkins was not very happy in the way in which, upon that occasion, he took them up. He might, not rely upon figures, but what 'would- the British House of Com- mons rely upon ? When the subject was brought forward he would find that the Legis- lature would have recourse to statistics. Another gentleman who addressed the meeting at Swansea was Mr. Yeo and he must say he was pained very much toO find that a gcnUeman who ocenpied so high a social position should have allowed himself to be led by his feelings into the use of such in- temperate language. In alluding to the circular that the Cardiff Committee had issued Mr. Yeo said that it was a very remarkable document, re- markable alike for its inaccuracy, its audacity, and its ingenuity. He asked Mr. Yeo to prove the inaccuracy of a single statement they had made. (Applause.) As to audacity, if it were audacious to make out the best, possible case they could for themselves, then he said let them be audacious. (Applause.) In regard to the ingenuity, he could not under- stand ingenuity in such a connection, because he must take it to be a compliment, and he thanked him for it; a.nd in doing so he would return the compliment. He would compliment Mr. Yeo upon f radius- Tilat was very ingenious, tor u Mr. l eo had taken a twelve miles radius, ho would have found that the result would have been reversed, the balance of population being in favour of by 14 per cent. But it was with greater pain still that he read Mr. Yea's remarks to the enect that Cardiff was made up of Englishmenand foreigners. He took this to be an attempt to ex- cite the Welsh element against the English dis- tricts of n ales. He spoke as a Welshman not unacquainted with the literature and lan- guage of Wales, and he said that, supposing many Englishmen and foreigners had come to; reside amongst them, would they not be eligible candidates for the advantages of a college r (Applause.) He contended that they would, and he said further that that importation of English- men and foreigners had been one of the best things that could have happened to them as Welshmen,. because it had been accompanied with the grow.th of a spirit of enterprise which before they had lacked. At the meeting to which he had been re- ferring the speakers all ignored the existence of the Lampeter and Abervstwith Colleges but sup- posing the new college were built in Swansea they would have within a radius of 27 miles a group of three colleges. They also affected to ignore Mon- mouthshire altogether, although it was included by the Commissioners, and its population was equal to that of Radnorshire, Pembrokeshire, Cardiganshire, and Breconshire combined. (Ap- plause.) After some further observations on this subject, the Mayor proceeded to say that he hoped the Bute Dock Bill, now before Parliament, would be passed. He was given to understand that there was a difference of opinion as to what should be the course the corporation should take in that matter when it came before them, as it would on Monday next. They would then be asked to give the Bill their support. The question was a great one, and it was one that he thought they should not speak lightly about. It appeared that there were clauses in the Bill as it stood at present which would affect, and, he was told, seriously affect, the freighters and shippers. But he took it it would not come within the province of the corporation to interfere in what he would call details. The question they would have to consider was, would the building of a dock be beneficial to Cardiff ? (Applause.) He was bound to say that it would. (Applause.) So far as the Bill would affect the corporation they had been met most liberally, and they had every reason to be satisfied. Therefore, he thought it would be their duty to say that they would sup- port the Bill in its passage through Parliament. (Applause.) He would be very glad if the diffe- rence which now existed between the freighters and the promoters of the measure could be made up. and he did not question the right of the freighters to fight in case they thought that thev were in any way aggrieved. But. he believed that with such powerful organisations as the South W ales Collieries Association, the Shipping Association and the Chamber of Commerce they were quite able to look after themselves. He, therefore, thought it would be his dutv on Monday next, when the question came before the town council, to vote for the resolution to petition in favour of the Bill. (Applause.) The mayor con- cluded by an allusion to the watersupply of Cardiff, and by again thanking his audience tor the address with which he had been presented. Mr. LEWIS WILLIAMS then addressed the meeting. Adverting to the question of the proposed Uni- versity College, he expressed regret at the tone which prevailed at the recent meeting at Swansea, and challenged any of the gentlemen at that, meeting to prove tho inaccuracy of a single statement which was issued by the committee. He characterised the speech of Mr. John Jones Jenkins as the most incorrect he had ever read. Mr. Jenkins said that the area of Cardiff was 81,754 -ores, whereas it was only 7,374-a marvellous difference. The acreage of Cardiff was really less than that of Swansea. Referring to the letter published in the Western Mail on Tuesday bearing 013 signature of Mr. Bishop, Mr: Williams asked why it was that the son of the Mayor of Swansea was sent to Car- diff to serve his apprenticeship. The proceedings terminated with the usual vote of thanks.

EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE. U.tder this head questions on legal subjects are answered by an experienced professional gentleman. Correspondents wishing for Ùlformatiolt or advice, are requested- to observe the followini/ rules :— 1. Thefacts must be stated fldl,1/ and clearly; and the questions, if more than one, should be nnm- bered coimcvtiveiy. 2. A full copy must be sent of any document en which advice is wished for. 3. The real name and address of the writer must accompany the questions, but will noi be puh- lished if a psettdo),y,?t or initials be also sent for reference. 4. All communications must be addressed to Tits Editor, Legal Department, Weekly Mail Office, Cli Idij'.?'

LEGAL ANSWERS. SUBP(I-.NA. Briton (Swansea) is entitled to receive conduct money at the time of service, i.e., as Illudl as will cover his espelJss to the place where the trial is to be held. He may demand payment of the remainder of his allowance before lie is sworn. PROBATE DUTY. LNeniesis (Carmarthen) is informed that there is no exemption from probate duty but the widow is exempt from legacy duty. INTESTACY.—If the father of Lacken (Cardiff) really died intestate, the widow is entitled to letters of admi- nistration. After the 'caveat has been lodged, no further costs will be incurred until it is warned, and then the iight. will commence. We do not give esti- mates of kosts, but they will be considerable if the opposition be continued. We cannot advise on the effect of an agreement of which we have not seen a copy. REspoxsiniUTY or HCSHAXD.—We advise "J. W." (Pontypool) to defend the action on the grounds that he did not authorise his wife to contract the debt, and that he always kept, her supplied with sufficient money to buy what was necessary. ANNUITANT.—^T. p. P." (Ifeath) is advised that the annuitant will simply have to apply tor payment in the first instance. Jt she should have any difficulty, she ought to instruct a solicitor to commence an action. Ueing the widow of the testator, no duty will be payable. BVILDrXG HOCLETL-" Mortgagùr" (Cardiff) should apply to have the matter referred t-arbiti-ation in the manner pointed oat by ltulc 98. He will observe as to deposit. If the directors do not comply with his re- quest within 40 ûay, he may apply to the cmwty court. We have returned the second copy rules we did not receive the first. PHONo.SaieLi an extraordinary mistake is never likely to occur to any of your friends again. P. EDWARDS (Merthyr). — We never insert communica- tions which have appeared in other journals. MASTEK AND APPRENTICE.—"W. 0.' (Swansea) is advised that the master cannot cancel the indenture, but might Summon the apprentice before the magis- trates for misconduct, if no premium was paid, or not more than £ 25, and the magistrates might cancel the indenture. The offer made by the master to assign the residue of the term ought to be accepted. AGREEMENT.—" W. R." (Fochriew) is informed that the agreement is binding as soon as it is signed but it cannot be given in evidence until it is stamped, it may be stamrell within fourteen days after its date without penalty, and afterwards ou payment of a penalty. PERJURY.—We do not think "Pembroke" would suc- ceed if he were to prosecute. Admitting that the evidence was false it was not material in the action, to which there was a good defence. Nevertheless, if he is not satisfied, he may instruct a solicitor to have a summons issued for fahe swearing. CHANNEI, ISL.XDS. vVye" (Chepstow) ought to have told ua the amount. If it be small, it would be more trouble thau profit to sue in the island court. The county court here has no jurisdiction there. If the debtor has any goods in this country, and the debt be over .£20. he may be sued in the High Court, which wjould grant, leave to serve the writ out ot tlie jurisdic- tion. But, ifhehasno goods here this would be fruit- less, and the only remedy would be in the insular court. RESPONSIBILITY or TRUSTEE.—" Veritas" (Pontypool) can only escape from his responsibility by resignation, the appointment of a new trustee in his place, and the substitution of another bond for that now in force, unless the lender will specially release him, which is not very probable. ABSCOXDI'A'G DEBTOR.—" Exodus" should go toasclici- tor. Prompt action is essential.

GENERAL ANSWERS. SUGGESTION (Bristol).We have forwarded your letter to Mr. Tuyleure. DON QUIXOTE writes asking if any of our readers can inform him who were the winners at the St. Clear's drawing 11 HOWTTI will make inquiries on your behalf if YOll will inform us in what capacity you wish to serve, and whether you have any choice as to locality. VETO: THOMAS JOSEPH CLOTURE Beceived. PRIVATE BItEWE-P. E. W." (Cadoxton) is referred to our answers to P. P. K." and 11 Rural" in the Western Matl of 2nd and 9th January.

THE PROPOSED COLLEGE FOR SOUTH WALES, j THE MEETING AT SWANSEA. SIR,-l was not alone in mv regret at the late stage in the meeting when Archdeacon Griffiths was called upon to speak; a regret much increased when I find that so important a speech was not re- ported. Allow me to call attention to one or two of the valuable remarks made in that speech. The archdeacon justly said that he had no sympathy with the agitation about the site of the new college if the question at issue was the local, and not the national, suitability of this or that site. This is the right ground to work on, viz., the national interests and we have to thank the archdeacon for raising the discussion to its proper level. The archdeacon made another state- ment not, less bold and emphatic." The college at Aberystwith is doomed." From on!; of the earliest and staunchest supporters of'Aberystwith this is a candid confession of very great value. There was, we iancied—let us hope quite wrongly «—almost a tInge of indignation in the tones in which the archdeacon spoke of the conversion of quondam opponents into present friends. Surely that is a point for rejoicing. He quoted, with that marvellous eloquence of which he is so well-known a master, a famous couplet of an unknown writer:— Soven cities Warr'd for Homer being dead, Through whom the living Homer begged, his bread. Did I catch a sly glance in the archdeacon's eye that seemed to say, Why quarrel thus over the once living, but now, alas dead, body of university education in Wales <"—l am, &-(- A VOLUNTEER.

UNIVERSITY EXTENSION LECTURES. SIB,—Referring to your notice of Mr. Moulton's opening lecture, I shall be glad ifi you will allow me to point out to those who were prevented from being present that. they need not on that account glve up the whole coarse, for Mr. Moulton informs me that he intends to touch on the matter he has already gone over so far as is necessary to enable those who missed the first lecture to pick up the thread.—I am, &e.i GEO. CARSLAKE THOMPSON. 6, Duke-street, Feb. 4.

THE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE. SIR,-Will you allow me a. few lines in your columns to point out the importance of suitable works and industries being near to the new college? I cannot do so better than by quoting the ex- perience of Professor Stuart, of Cambridge, who writes to me as follows:—" It is a great misfortune to my department (viz., mechanical science) that there are not any great engineering, mining and other works near, which my pupils could actually see, and indeed mor< than see, because I believe a system of practical apprenticeship could be well combined with concomitant theoretical teaching. if we had large works close at hand. As it is I have had to take positive steps to supply the want, and have erected engineering workshops where drawing, designing, and manual work are carried on"; but ho adds that in spite of this, the want of the commercial large affair is distinctly felt," So much for mechanical science, but the want is equally great in chemistry. and geology for both these Swansea would provide admirable aids, for the former in the various works, for the latter in the great variety of illustrations which the neighbourhood affords of great geological principles, and many Of the most in- teresting varieties. While for mineralogy a greater variety of minerals, and these the most important and useful to man, can be seen in bulk as well as in detail in Swansea than in any town ia England, and not only so, but the all important question to commercial and practical men, of how these can be best resolved into their valuable elements, can be learnt by actual observation. Before I close let me state that, geographically as well as by the railways, five-sixths of South Wales is nearer to Swansea than to Cardiff. 1A glance at the map will show this; join the two towns by a straight line, bisect it at right angles all to the west, viz., five-sixths, is nearer to Swansea than to Cardiff. The population of this district is greater than of the one-sixth; and if the Cardiff dis- trict is, as claimed, wealthier, they can the better afford to send their sons the short distance to Swan-' sea than the rural districts of Pembroke and Cardigan can to sond their sons the longer distance to Cardiff —I am, &c., FREDERIC S. BISHOP. Welwyn Lodge, Swansea, Feb. 6.

RATING OF ROYALTIES, kc. SIR, The anomalies and inconsistency of local taxation will now be sifted thoroughly, and most ratepayers cannot help rejoicing at the result of Air. D. F. Willian-)B's courageous exertions, in the very stronghold of landlord interest, the Mertbyr Board of Guardians—where he showed that m¡g is not always right, and that the representativ of the ratepayers (of which he is certainly unitf although an ex-ojfcio, and royalty owner as wellK. will not be "sat upon." As instances of the in- f justica of not assessing royalties—especially itn-fS' proved royalties and wayleaves, both of which,1| actually represent improved valuation," pure antf simple—the following may be cited. Not one: hundred miles from IIIerthyra large firm rented an extensive tract of minerals from the "Lord of the Manor," at a nominal rent-charge, and sub-let i. ti portion of it t.) an adjoining firm, at an im- jC proved royalty, which amounted, it is said, to from £ 20,000 to X30,000 a year, for a long term of years, free of local taxation. In the year 1880 there was worked, from a comparatively small, estate within rhe Merthyr Union, no less than 141,650 tons of coal. The improved royalties and wayleaves paid' on the ame coal (independent of landlord's royalty) amounted to the modest sum of X5,999, and was wholly free of local taxes. What* can this be but an improved valuation "? Tha recipients ol these enormous n^t. profits, as im-»i? proved royalties, must be either occupiers or land- lortis. Which are they? According to Mr. Fowler (" Collierio? and Colliers") "the occupier of the property is rateable in respect of ita' improved annual value." It is often as-, serted that the rates paid by the occupier or lessee of a colliery are on the royalty. Such cannot be the fact, otherwise each colliery would be rated upon the royalty, as stated in its lease, whereas colliery rating is supposed to be ba-ed, upon what tho whole property (mine, machinery* staiths, buildings, &c.) together would let for." Unfortunately local assessments are farces, fre- quently modified by an inordinate amount a, favour and affection, and, on the other hand, supplemented by a little personal spite. Local taxation, to be just qnd fair, should be assessed by" .nd appeals made to, a Government assessor, who would be independent of and unbiased by local, iniluence.-I am, &c., A. M. E. Feb. 4.

THE COAL SUPPLY OF SOUTH WALES. SIR, Referring to J. N.'s remarks on the coal question, which appear in your issue of this date,; the following figures taken from the estimate in the report of the Royal Commission on Coal, dated, 1871, may prove of some interest to. your reader- AVAILABLE COAL IN THE CHIEF BRITISH COALFIELDS AT DEPTHS Xül'XCEEDI:'iG 400 FF-ER, AND IS SEAXS NOT LBSS THAN ONE FOOT THICK. Tons. South Wales 32,456,208,913: Midland (Yorkshire, .Dertwshire, and Tons. Nottiiighamsbii-e)i. 18,172,071,433 Northumberland and Durham 10,036,660,23S Lancil.Shire and Cheshire 5,546,000,000 Bristol. 4,213,970:16¿ North Staffordshire 3,825,483.10a Lesser English Coalfields 5,952,740,019 Total of Scotch Coalfields. 9,843,465,933 Total of Irish Coalfields 155,680,000 Grand total 90,207,285,398" —I am, kc., e. B. j- Cardiff, Feb. 7.

WELSH SUNDAY CLOSING BILL. Sm.-It is strange, but- true, that hitherto no attempt has been made to lay before the public of Wales the destruction and waste of capital that will surely occur in carrying out this ridiculous' and absurd measure. In Cardiff alone we have 300 public-houses, representing: Landlords' eapital £ 585,000 Licensed Victuallers' capital 150,000 f Brewers'capital 95,900 <■■■ In tii o aggregate £ 770,000 By closing one-seventh of this property X110,001Y will be sunk. Depend upon it this will ruin many a struggling family. 1, therefore, ask the ratepayers, town-councillors, and Poor-law guar- dians of Cardiff if they are prepared to agree with this wholesale destruction to satisfy the fanaticaf. craze of Mr. Lewis Williams and others, with whom it has become too common inthese days to destroy whatever such semi-religious political bodies may think proper. And, again, what will they have to set against this enormous loss? Six or seven sub- sidised coffee-shops, plus the so-called mprals of the people, which to practical men are mert moonshine.—I am, &(- ROBERT A. BLAKE. Sea Lock, Cardiff, Feb. 7.

— MR. DILLWYN OX THE BORNEO CHARTER, r The Daily Xews says that on Thursday Mr- Dillwyn, M.P. foi- Swansea, will ask the Under- Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether her Majesty's (iovernment will consent to lay upon tha table of the House without delay the whole of the correspondence connected with tho several appli- cations which have been made for a Royal charter to enable a company or body of capitalists to ex* ercise jurisdiction in North Borneo, together with the text of the charter recently granted to th I British North Borneo Company. Mr. Dillwyn aboi, intends to give the following notice of motion To call attention to the provisions of the ROVA charter granted to the Britisji North Borneo Com- pany, with especial reference to the position of tilt natives under the company's rule, and to tbil action of her Majesty's Government in relation to this transaction and to move that in the opinion of this House it is inexpedient that any annexa- tion of territory, whether direct or indirect, should take place without the full previous knowledge and consent of Parliament."

DEATH OF LORD LONSDALE. I The Earl of Lonsdale expired on Wednesday- morning, at a quarter past, one, at his residence, 14-, Carlton House-terrace, London. At midnight Sir William Jenner expressed the opinion that his lord- ship s recovery was almost hopeless. Shortly before one o'clock it, became evident that death was impending, and Sir William Jenner, Mr. Cooper, and Dr. Kingsley were summoned to his bed- side. At a quarter-past one his lord- ship passed away us if in a qmet sleeps Lord Lonsdale was born in 1855. sueceeded bVJ father as fourth Earl in 1876. and married In 1873 Lady Constance Gladys Herbert, daughter of tha late Lord Herbert of Lea and sister of the present Earl of Pembroke, by whom he leaves an only daughter. He is succeeded in the earldom and estates by his brother, the Honourable Hugh CeciL Lowther, who was born in 1857, and married in 1878 Lady Grace Cecilia Gordon, daughter oi Charles, Marquess of Huntly.

MERTHYR UNION RURAL SANITARY AUTHORITY. I The monthly meeting of this authority on Satur" day was presided over by Mr. R. H. Rhys, there being also present—the Kev. A. Davies, and Messrs- c. E. Mathews, L. Evans, and Evan Lewis. Messrs. W. Graham, Son, and Hitch cox, solicitorSi Newport, on behalf of Air. Lewis Jenkins and Mr- L. Evans (a member of the authority) claimed 1:79 and £55 respectively for compensation and damage done to the lands of those persons in laying down the pipes for the Vochriw water supply, fn the case of Jenkins the damage done was £ 4, and ICl the other t5, and the clerk advising that that wa all the authority were liable to pay. it was agreed that, otters of those amounts should be made. The parochial committee's re- ports contained no matter of general interest. The Medical Officer reported that he had received in- formation of the occurrence of eight cases of scarlet fever at Cefn, two at Bargoed, two at Bed- linog, eighteen at Deri, and three at VochrivV1 during the past month. The outbreak of feveriB Troedyrhiwfach in December had declined.—Ta» Clerk said he had reason to believe the Dowlais Schools would be closed on Mondav.—Replying to the chairman, the Medical Officer "stated that the fever was not abating, and he was afraid of Pontlottyn and Tirphil having a great dose.—Mr. Lewis Evans: What about Vochriw I-Ttie Medical Officer: You will have it heavily.—The Chairiiian said there would be a meeting of the j Gejligaer School Board in a fortnight. —The Medical Officer You have now the JS opinion of the Local Government Board as to the closing of schools.— The Clerk: Do you admit the fact stated by Dr. Cress well, that when the schools were closed—during the holidays—tha fever was worse ?—The Medical Officer: As a matter of fact, it was not o,-The Clerk: I have seen it stated.—The Medical Officer: The week before tha Penvdarren Schools closed the number of cases was 17, and the week after it was 34. Dr. Cress- well, however, was disingenuous enough not >° also state that fever took nine days before it broke out. In the second week after the schools closed there were 17 cases, and tor those cases 10 werr of children in school at Dowlai.Some further conversation followed, and the subject dropped.

MERTHYR BOARD OF GUARDIANS: The weekly meeting of the Merthyr Guardians on Saturday was presided over bv Mr R. H lihvs- The Clerk stated that My. Fenwick had applied for the balance of his account fur re-valuing railways. &c. The total amount of hit account was £ 682 7s. 2d., one per cent. on X66,832 10s.,the amount of the valuation, m0 10s. for oufl journey down, and 13 8s. 3d. expenses. The balance was tl82 7s. 2d.—The Chairman said th": result of the valuation was an increase of about X12,000 in the rateable value, which he considered well repaid them for the outlay. ft also enabled them th go with a clear conscience and ask for » re-valuation of the county rate, which he sue" ceeded in inducing the court of sessions to have done. The county rating com" mittee had met on various occasions* and the result was that the county rate wal in- creased by about £ 280,000. He thought their in. crease would be about X5,000, and they would setf the union would be placed in a much better posi- tion when the new basis came into operation* which it would do af-cer the Easter Sessions. rrbo out-door relief during the past week was reported to have been L204 16s. 5d. In the Aberdare Schools it was stated there were 137 children (102 receiving industrial training), and in the workhouse 243 in", mates.—The Chairman intimated that tM" children of the schools had given twrl entertainments, and the proceeds it was in- tended to apply to the purchase of books f°c tlie library and for prizes.—Mr. James Lewi* spot* in high terms ot the appearance and conduct of tila children. k

At the Bow-street police-court on Tuesday Thomas Gallieas and James Casey were remanded1 on the charge of having been concerned in tb mysterious death of a young man named William* on the Thames Embankment. The failure was announced at the London Bank- ruptcy Court on Wednesday of H.T. Birkett, wooUeiJ, merchant, of St. Marti n's-lane, London, trading aS- Bull and Walson, with liabilities estimated ali £ 124,000. At the lphester 'Assizes on Tuesday Jane Allen'; der was indicted for attempting to murder her, child. She had been living unhappily with hef husband, and she took her children with her tf, Chester. At the police-station there she seized onØ of her children and cut its throat, declaring sb? wished to send them to heaven. She was fotin^ not guilty on the ground of insanity, and order^' to be detained.