Weekly Mail

TIDE TABLE. FOE THB WKEK ENDING JUNK 13, L884-. I I I -I I 2 I t-1 g| E = §, 2 S UiYi 01- THS WKEK. ,2 B C „ z u ai 55 S | J i a ^,1 4 Morning 6~20T 6 7 & 5 5 69 7 14 Satubx>Y < Evening 6 37 i 6 28 I 5 27 6 21 7 35 (Height 29 0 30 3 29 0 31 8 2- 1 7 Morning _7 0 6 49 5 47 6 41 7 66 Sunday .-J Evening 7 15 7 8 fi 7 7 1 I 8 15 ) Height.. 29 8 31 3 29 5 32 6 23 3 37 7 26 6 26 7 20 8 33 N(ii>-daY.^ Evening 7 49 7 44 6 44 7 38 8 51 ( Height 30 1 31 11 29 7 32 11 24 0 L Morning 18 12 8 2 7 2 7 56 9 9 TL'KgDiY Evening 8 23 8 18 7 20 8 14 I 9 25 I Height 30 3 32 4 29 9 33 2 I 2 6 1 Morni tijj 8 47 8 36 j 7 37 8 31 9 43 Wkdsdy Evening 8 58 8 53 7 54 0 48 10 0 ( |ieight« ,9 10 52 5 29 7 33 0 24 7 1 Morning 9 21 9 9 8 10 9 4 10 16 Tsumpt Evening 9 32 9 2o 8 2^> 9 2^ 10 33 lHlM ( ie?sht 29 4 32 2 |_ £ 9jjj2_6j_24_i ("Morning I 9 56 | 9 42 j 3 46 9 40" 10 49 Friday Evenin" 10 7 9 59! 9 5 9 59 1: 6 lH^ir°!28 7i 3. 9 128 6 31 11 23 10

t' i æt,qkl!! ai1 SATURDAr, d U-VB 7, 1884. NOTES OF THE WEEK. BY OLIR LONDON AND PROVINCIAL COBBKSPONDKNTd.) The already much-mixed muddle in Egyptian affairs is likely to be still further complicated by the appearance or a new Mahdi. To whatever cause is to be attri- buted the debut of this personage upon the field of politics in the Soudan, it is certain that he id not unpopular. Aiready reports are being received of numerous adliesioaa to his standard. It is just possible that he may inaugurate a vigorous policy before which the faint-hearted inactivity of the old Mahdi will pale into complete insignificance. It is not greatly to be wondered at that between the old Mahdi and General Gordon, the new lahdi, the Egyptian Government, and the European Conference, the Soudanese are slightly in doubt as to who is who in the government of the province. The complica- tion might be eased if one or more of these interested parties were either bought out or cleared out. The difficulty here is as to who is to go. And before this question is settled it is more than likely that one or two other Mahdis will have appeared. Itiseasier to create a false prophet than to rectify a false move. I wonder what Mr. Gladstone thinks of Mr. Cowen's outspoken estimate of party leaders generally, and of the Liberal party leaders, I take it, in particular. In acknow- ledging the receipt of a friendly resolution from Newcastle, the hon. member says:— You would not allow a man on the pave- ment to browbeat yoq out of your convic- tions why allow men in Parliament ? Party Shibboleths are not sacred; and party leaders are not only human, but very human." This is very hard on the Grand Old Man, whose resistless eloquence was wont to rOltse the enthusiasm of his followers, and rally to his standard the rank and Hie of the party, whatsoever their particular convictions. A few more outspoken utterances similar to those of the hon. member for Newcastle, and the day3 of Liberal serfdom will be ended, and the power of the Caucus a thing of the past. On the ruina of this system of bondage will be built a glorious structure of Constitu- tional government which shall speedily renew the power of this country in the coun- cils of the world. The Padicals are fairly stumped by the way in which the Conservatives have espoused (t think that's a fitting word) the Women's Suffrage question. It just shows how hollow and insincere is the Radical trash that one hears about the justice of Keform. Because the agricultural labourer and the half-educa- ted artisan in some districts are pretty sure to vote Had" the Hrummagem Caucus demands that they shall be enfranchised. But ladies of refinement and education and wealth, ladies with a considerable stake in the country, must not be thought of by these righteous reformers; for are not most women sagacious and Conservative? I was very pleased to read the letter which Lord John Manners wrote to the Times with reference to the opinion of the late Lord Beacotiafield upon this very subject. It is within Lord John's personal knowledge that the great leader of his party, from the time when the ques- tion of extending the franchise to women became one of public interest, never enter- tained any doubt as to either the wisdom or the justice of that demand. I have no doubt that the party which is still loyal to his memory will bear this in mind when the time comes for an expression of opinion. The Book of the Shaksperean Show which opened at the Albert-hall on Friday has been pretty generally noticed by the Metropolitan press; and I must say there are several things about it well worthy of at least a passing remark. I have not been able to get up the ecstacy over Mr. Browning's sonnet or Lord Tennyson's stanza to be found between its covers, and I do not believe anyone else has either. What has most attracted me has been the pictures, and of these the one, by some artist unknown, of the linuiortal bard himself. This is said to be an original portrait, and is utterly unlike the Howard, the Droeshout, the Janson, the Chandos, or any other with which I am acquainted. I was rather amused by the cautious way in which the I'all Mall Gazette referred to the work. "It is presumed," says the scribe, that it may have been painted for the Earl of Southampton, in the dress which, perhaps, the poet wore when he may have read Henry IV.' before Queen Elizabeth. Van Sommer has been suggested as the painter of it." Something like six months ago I remember seeing at Mr. Frank Buckland's, -J, Finsbury- place, S.E., another of these original portraits, which may have been painted for that distinguished nobleman, the Lord ozoo, and which I presumed to think goodness knows how much of until you set me and the public right by a leading article on "Shaksperean Shams," which, to me at any rate, has been such a liberal education that I now think no more of presuming than of prophesying with regard to a matter of this kind. The present original" portrait is painted in oil on canvas, and differs from the one I saw last October in this respect, that the latter was a miniature painted on copper. In the terrible rubbing-down you gave us in that article you declared the thing I saw to be a modern forgery done on copper which may have originally been used by one of the Dutch brother Breughels. The one at the Shakspere Show is lent by Mr. G. A. Burn; mine was the property of—His Moat Serene Highness the Prince of Mantua and Montferrat, the cracked vegetarian who, if you remember, was going to give untold millions for the purpose of founding a Welsh University. I tried to get at the real history of that portrait after the appearance of your article; but the whole affair had been so well nosed that every- body connected with it dropped it like a hot potato directly, and shunned your humble servant and his inquiries as if they had been the plague. I have just received the June number of that excellent little monthly, entitled The Craftsman." As many of your readers may not have seen this comparatively new publi- cation, I would state for their information that it is the recognised organ of the Consti- tutional Association of Great Britain, and, as its name implies, ita special mission is to keep our working men ocu courant with the progress of constitutional principles in this country. It is not too much to say that its sixteen pages of closely-printed letterpress abound in Political Tit-bits." I, therefore, heartily commend its perusal to those who, whilst anxious to know" How the World Moves On," have neither the time nor THE inclination to read through all the daily papers. I must not forget to men- tion that the proprietors have recently made arrangements for producing in the highest Style of photo-lithography portraits of distin- guished Conservative candidates at the next election. Amongst those already announced is that of Mr. Henry Harhen, which is to appear in the July number. By the courtesy of the editor I have inspected ah advanced IMQOF of thajjicturu. AAD hav.A. no heaitafciou I in pronouncing it an excellent likeness and a I' veritable work of art. A great deal has n said recently," writes a Dowlais correspondent, concerning the Welsh vernacular press, and the fact that the Welsh newspapers are read by only a very small minority of the inhabitants of the Principality. This is beyond question a fact, but that such a state of things should be allowed to exist is not, I am sure, the fault of the people, but of the newspapers them- selves. First of all, as to the size. With one exception only, the Welsh papers are so miserably small that a man could easily read all they oontain in a few minutes. The great Liberal magnate of Denbigh,who iscontinually preaching generosity and charity, although a wealthy man, is notorious as being the pro- prietor of the smallest newspaper in the Principality. Those, however, of a larger size are equally as squeamish as regards news as is the Baner. Nearly one-half of their space is filled up with quacks' advertisements, one paper iu particular devoting a whole page to the praises of a particular* pill, which interests a Welshman to the same extent as it would a native of Bechuana. Then, again, as to the news they contain, and the literary matter generally. V> hat is the news? Is it or are the leading articles of any interest to the Welsh nation ? I think not. The fact is that the Welsh press, like your Scottish sportsman, does not understand the Cymric feeling, and does not interfere when any Welsh national affair appears in jeopardy. But, instead, they devote many columns of space to the discussion of the question whether the Archbishop of Canterbury gets €14,909 19s. lid. a year or £15,000, and whether it is true tbat he works for the odd penny,or that it isgiven him a3 an honorarium, or what not. Malagasy and Tonquiuese affairs can also be dwelt upon; but, bless you, there is nothing of a Welsh nature which calls for their attention. How many of them stood up in defence of the old country some two months since when the Welsh people were being condemned as a nation of plagiarists by a clique of Scotch and Saxon cavillers ? The question was, of course, not of sufficient importance for their columns, and, if it had not been for the spirited action of the Western Mail, the Welsh National Anthem would, in all probability, have gone down to posterity as a plagiarism, and the Welsh people con- demned as a nation of music-robbers. Would it not have been better had the Welsh press espoused the cause of their country instead of keeping silence ?—a mean and cowardly action, which the Welsh people wili.not forget, This is the reason the Welsh newspapers are not more extensively read than they are." A correspondent asks me as "a special favour to tell him where the Scotch paper of Wednesday got its wonderful portraitof the Maori king from. and whether I think it "anything at all like the original i- How should I know ? Why doesn't ti.16 man write the editor ? By the way, i: is rumoured that his Majesty of Maori land intends to visit Cardiff. 1 am in a position to that he will not take up his quarters with any of the leading lights of local teetotalisru, although numerous applications have reacheU him from parties desirous of being w honoured. if he is as good-looking as the Scotch por- trait represents him to be, it is not at all improbable that Sanger or some- body else in the same line may toot" him arouud for the public benefit. Happy thought: Could not the Livermore Brothers lend us a hand ? They have one natural curiosity in their show already. Tawhiao and he would make a pair. '1 he former would, moreover, save the proprietary something in the way of cork. The Lord Mayor of London will lay the foundation stone of the chapel to be erected in London in memory of the late Ytr. Griffith, formerly London correspondent of the Baner, and known throughout Wales as Gohebydd." The ceremony will take place on Saturday, the 14th of June. The Lord Mayor will be accompanied by Mr. Puleston, M.P., through j whose instrumentality his lordship's presence was secured. Mr. Puleston will preside over a meeting to be held on the 10th proximo, in the Library of the Cymmrodorion Society, Chancery-lane, to express the general feeling of sorrow at the loss sustained by Wales in the death of the Dean of Bangor. Several of the Welsh mem- bers of Parliament and of the leading Welsh- men of London are expected to be present. The real danger of the dynamite outrages in London does not consist in the actual mis- chief wrought by their authors. Indeed, there is something almost laughable in the contrast between the loud bragging of the dynamitards and the miserable results of then- efforts. It seems difficult to believe that such knavish tricks as the dropping of small parcels of dynamite down into the areas of Club buildings or into public urinals near Scotland Yard can be the work of human beings. They are only worthy of the intelligence of a very low order of monkeys. But it is clear that the continuance of these outrages is arousing a desire for reprisals, to which, unfortunately, the peaceful, unoffend- ing, and industrious Irish population of our large towns may fall victims. Ominous whispers are heard already that there is no reason why the practice of Boy- cotting should be confined to Ireland, and that the fellowcountrymen of the dynamitards ought to be held responsible for crimes against civilisation the cowardly perpetrators of which cannot be discovered. We certainly think it would be well for Irish residents in Great Britain to hold meetings in order to condemn these outrages, and to call upon the Irish representatives in Parliament to use their great influence to put a stop to them. The Parneliites have hitherto carefully abstained from denouncing the dynamitards, and, if they maintain this suspicious silence, the patience of the English people will aoon be exhausted. Philological item. Mr. Frederick E. Sawyer, writing Not and Queries of Saturday last 011 the subject of new words, says he is told that it is now common amongst the lower classes to call a perambulator a pram." I can vouch for this. On Saturday last I saw one of these nuisances run against the shins of a member of the lower classes referred to as he was crossing Canton Bridge at Cardiff. I heard him give the vehicle and the indignant mother who drove it the new word mentioned by Mr. Sawyer, only I fancy that somehow he had got mixed in his philolo- gical ideas, for he was constantly substituting a big, big D" for the small" pr when giving utterance to the initial portion of the word. I I have received from Mr. Joseph Wall, master of the steamship Dominion, of Liver- pool, a copy of a pamphlet, illustrating a most ingenious invention of his an invention which, I am sure, will be fully appreciated by your readers in Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, and other ports. It is a system embodying a universal code of night signals for vessels at sea. Its significant value is that I the code is adapted to the Com- mercial Code of teignals for all Nations now in use for day-signalling by means of flags. The id-a is that the night signals should be made by three revolving lamps, placed in a revolving stand, each lamp having its own circle of four shades, viz., red, green, bright, and dark. I congratulate Mr. Wall upon the service iM has rendered to his fellow- toilers on the dangerous deep" by this much-needed invention. It bids fair to be a great boon to our sea-going population. Whit-Monday in London was a great success every way. The weather was charm- ing, sunshiny, but not too hot, and the holiday- makers were, consequently, in excellent spirits, and appeared fully determined to enjoy them- selves. The Health Exhibition was, of course, the great attraction of the day, and was crowded eager and curious visi- tors. I was much diverted by some of the criticisms upon the exhibits, and the hygienic discussions to which they gave rise. A very gratifying incident in connection with the day was the immense number of persons who visited the Picture Galleries. I am sorry there were so few good pictures, and so many wretched daubs to meet their eyes this year. Nevertheless, the various exhibitions were thronged from the time of opening to the close, a goodly deputation of our country cousins helping to swell the multitude. I should say that, taken altogether, the holiday has proved an excep- tionally pleasant one. Wonderful to relate, the Good Templars have put their hands in their pockets at last. The brothers and sisters of that ilk residing in this county of Middlesex ha via actually subscribed the sum of £1,000 for the estab- lishment of a Good Templars' Ward in the new London Temperance Hospital, situated in the Hampstead-road. In this remarkable institution the patients are allowed to BQisoa themaelvea^ wittL^eyef J iin&giuable medicine that is non-alcoholic. It will be un- commonly interesting to watch the results, but I shouldn't like to be one of the victims experimented upon, all the same. But what astonishes me is this new departure in favour of a virtue which has hitherto been notoriously scarce amongst these extreme teetotalers—I mean Generosity. These vio- lent Prohibitionists are far more sparing of their coin than of their speeches. They will subscribe cheerfully to any number of peti- tions and resolutions, but to precious few charities. I wonder will this last infection spread far from Middlesex. Now that the holidays are over, it may be hoped that the prolonged drought will be succeeded by a spell of rainy weather, iiain is urgently wanted by the farmers for their hay, and by the market gardeners to save their fruit and flowers from being ruined by blight. In the distriots round London the east winds and frosts have simply destroyed the prospect of a good crop of wall- fruit this year. Piums, pears, cherries, and even apples perished in the bloom, and on nine-tenths of the trees there is not a bit of fruit to be seen. English green peas ought to begin to be plentiful now, but there is no prospect of getting any for a fortnight or more without seasdnable rain to swell the pods. As for the roses, there has been an abundant show of buds, but these have all withered away under the heat or been eaten up by vermin. The i-tector of Merthyr was mistaken re- specting my lamented friend, "tTohebydd Elundain," of the Baner, the most popular Welsh correspondent that ever lived. He was never a Welsh Calvinistic Methodist— for that is what the rev. gentleman means by Y (orph," He was an Independent. No religious body paid the expense of his winter- ing at Mentone but Mr. Samuel Morley, M.P. for Bristol, who generally designated him "the Little Man who coughs." Mr. Morley made him a present of to enable him to spend the winter at Mentone. Cheer up, lovely daughters of Cambria! One of your number has knocked the con- temptuous Saxon into empty space, and demolished hid pretensions upon the very ground which he calls home. 1 refer to the splendid achievement of Miss E. P. Hughes in the Moral Science tripos at Cambridge University, by which she has won a position very nearly equal to that of Senior Wrangler. This young lady had the distinction of being the only successful candidate in 1be first class. We are proud people in Carmarthen to-day, I assure you. It is a great satisfaction to us that our town can boastthis honour. It is a still greater satisfaction to the ladies that their tyrannous lords are not in the running this time. Tht foolish son of Adam who would dare to aver in the streets of Carmarthen that Miss Hughes belonged to the inferior sex" would get a warm and stirring time of it uutil he took himself hence. I observe that "Llyfnwy," formerly of Maesteg, has started at Scrantou, United States, a journal called the Cambro-Americun Review. Llyfnwyhas reared a nestful of young literary chieftains, and between father and sons there is no doubt that young Welsh Americans, for whom the journal is chiefly intended, will be furnished with many an interesting sketch repecting Yr Hen Wlad and its past history. Few people are better adapted than Llyfnwy" to furnish the Cymric youth of America with a know- ledge of the most interesting events in the history of the land of their fathers." I a l'ope I would" wire "my blessing to my old friend from the Hen Blwyf." "Cachvgan Fardd" mentions the following respecting the" Gododin," the oldest poem in the Welsh language. The poem was the pro- perty of the Gorsedd of the Glamorgan Bards. It was in the custody of the bard Edward Evans, Ton Coch, Aberdare, who died in 17 98. He had given the Gododin to a Mr. Bacon, Aberaman, and he lent it to Mr. Jones, the historian, of Breconshire. When he died, his widow made a present of it to" Camhuan- the eminent Welsh historian, on whose death" it went on the wing to the country of the English." It seems that the original copy has been missing ever since. Luckily, as the result, I believe, of the industry of lolo Morganwg," a copy of it had been printed in the" Myvyrian Archaeology of Wales." It is sad to think of the many Welsh MSS. which have shared a similar fate to the Uododin." The bathing season has apparently now set firmly in, and I have before noted that at Swausea advantage is already largely taken of the sloping, and therefore desirable, beach for this exceedingly healthy diversion. There are undoubtedly thousands of persons in Swansea who cannot swim, and who, not only for mere manly amusement, but for sheer self- protection, should learn, when they have the opportunity, an art which no one who has to go through the ordinary movements and hazards of life should neglect. There can be no doubt that a swimming bath is better, in spite of singular instances leading to a contrary supposition, than any other place in which a beginner should practice, and the new baths at the bottom of St. Helen's-roari, which are being rapidly pushed on towards completion, will supply a great desideratum in this direction. But there are still many who will roam fancy free to the beach, and, what- ever the hazard, will try their prentice hands at self-propulsion in the briny. To these it may not be out of place to say a few words of advice just at this, the right time. The reasons of Dr. Arnott why people drown, come back to my recollection forcibly at this moment. He gives four causes, which shortly are these: that people sink from their believing that constant exertions are necessary to prevent sinking from the groundless fear that water entering the ears may drown them; from keeping their hands above water; from neglecting to take the opportunity of passing waves to take breath; and from not recognising the importance of keeping the lungs as full of air as possible. f_ Those also who are swimmers may not take a little advice amiss, as by so doing they may be more able to render great assistance to any unfortunate wights who, as some times hap- pens, may begin to sink within their reach. A rescuer, then, should never approach a drowning man from the front, but seize him from behind by the hair, and by no means allow him to grasp his body. If he should find himself so seized the way to do would, doubtless, be to sink at once to the bottom, when the hold would, probably, be relaxed. One reason why apathy is some- times displayed by lookers-on in a drowning case is, undoubtedly, fear of being dragged down; and there is good ground for this fear except with good swimmers; a novice would, no doubt, run a great risk in such a case. It is to be hoped no need for rescuing may occur during the summer; but it is to be hoped, perhaps more emphati- cally, that no unmanly fear may prevent strong swimmersfrom giving their valuable services if they should be needed. It is time that most young men should have learnt to swim, and that there siiould be no more of those extra- ordinary scenes sometimes recorded in our own neighbourhood, which surely make the angels weep," if anything in the world is calcu- lated to do so, and sometimes force from us this cry, Oh, it was impious, it was unmanly, it was poor and pitiful.' I think our Watch Committee at Swanlea is deserving of a word of praise for its sensible, but none the less courageous, decision to recommend the Town Council to give per- mission to the police and other bands to play in the parks on Sundays. Our guardians of the public peace can boast a really good band, and it would be a thousand pities if any objection were raised to its performances upon the day when they would be best appreciated; the only day, in fact, on which hundreds of my townsmen have a chance of hearing good music. There are, I need hardly say, a number of strict Sabbatarians in our corporation, who are not unlikely to take an old-fashioned and very narrow view of the question when it comes up for discussion, so that the issue is awaited with considerable interest. If the recommendation of the Watch Committee is adopted, it will, unques- tionably, be a move in the right direction, and one that the majority of Swansea folk will deem a great boon. A well-known medical authority in the town of Cardiff has suggested that I should urge all adulte to get re-vaccinated without delay. Without doubt there is A threatening of a serious small-pox epidemic in Cardiff, and it is well to be prepared for it, as far as medical skill can prepare one. Several fresh oases of the disorder have arisen during the past few days, and in different parts of the town. My informant AAYA; "Anyone who has not been successfully re-vaccinated since infancy should at once apply to their medical' man to be again vaccinated. It is of the utmost importance Lthat everv child ahoulQ HE ;vaccioated Urre" spective of its age) without the slightest delayI daresay I shall have the Anti- Vaccinationists down upon me for dissemina- ting such advice. I care not for their fad. The doctor I have quoted is one whose words are well worth listening to. Tonyrefail and Pontypridd witnessed on Whit-Monday remarkable gatherings of young Welshmen and Welshwomen attend- ing the Calvinistio Methodist Musical Cymanfaoedd. There were about 1,500 vocalists at the two places. Anthems and hymns were the orders of the day. It is impossible to describe the sublime character of the singing heard on the occa- sion. One could not help thinking of "old Williams of Pantycelyn," and en- deavouring to imagine what would have been his feelings had he been present to hear those choirs, composed of his young fellow-countrymen, rendering his hymns in the manner they did. It was delight- fully refreshing, too, in these days, when so many prophesy the speedy extinction of the Cymraeg as a living language, to find such musical hosts able to accentuate its noble words in a manner equal to what their an- cestor, Gomer, son of Japheth, himself could have done. The Governors of Wells' Charity, I am glad to find, are bestirring themselves with a view or ensuring the proper constiuction of all houses which may hereafter be built on the charity lands Oil the west side of the Taff. This laudable object they intend to achieve by prescribing the materials to be used and the way in which the house is to be erected, and by compelling the builder to sign an agreement before commencing opera- tions. That some aotion of this kind is neces- sary is a thing" which nobody can deny." What is called" jerry" building is by no means unknown in Cardiff, and 1 have heard it asserted that some of the houses which have already been run up (to use a builder's phrase) on this very estate are well nigh as unsubstantial as "castles in the air." The trustees very wisely see that the sooner this sort of thing is stopped the better. All parties residing in the Pontypridd dis- trict seem to have arrived at the conclusion that it is full time to do something" by way of dealing with the Sunday Closing Act. The Act has had the effect of sending on Sundays swarms of young men from the valleys into the town and adjacent localities bent on sprees. It is known to all the district that on Sunday last a great many of these, to whom publicans could not legally refuse drink, because they had come from beyond the three miles required by the Act, were seen reeling about the approaches to the town. And in quiet lanes people returning to their homes at a late hour saw some of these beer pilgrims" lying on their backs in the attitude of star-gazing. The matter is really becoming a serious one in this town, situate at the en- trance to the Khondda Valleys, with their teeming working population. A question very often asked in the Rhondda Valleysnowis, What has become of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ? Rightly or wrongly, it is stated that horses employed underground at some of the collieries are treated with great barbarity. An ostler pointed out to a friend of mine the other day a horse with a bandaged head. He told him that that horse had been worked day and night almost incessantly for tnree weeks, and that the poor brute had at last, while working in his sleep, fallen on his head, cut- ting it horribly. One can but hope, not only for the sake of the poor horses, but for the honour of human nature, that the distressing rumour referred to is untrue. A while ago I hadoooasion towrireyoua note, in which I quoted one or two stray instances ill" proof of the utter failure of the operations of the Sunday Closing Act in Cardigan. Recent events again compel me to offer you a few lines tending strongly to support the same argument. On last Sunday week especially, the drunken and riotous scenes in the town and the Bridge-end hamlet of Cardigan were, to say the least, really disgraceful, and it is high time some strong measures should be resorted to by the police authorities in order to uheck the rampant practice which seems to flourish increasingly even under the very eye of the local guardians of the peace. At Bridge-end (being in such close proximity to the new railway works) a special constable should certainly be stationed, the best vigilance of the one officer at present at that place and St. Dogmell's being wholly inade- quate to the purpose of detecting the sources of the evil. Comment was strongly made by oertain persons in the town when it was ex- plained in my former communication that the drink served out on Suhdays was supplied from the houses of relations and friends of the pub- licans, purchased by appointed emissaries on the previous evening, but it may now, in vindication of the truth of that fact, be further stated that intoxicating drinks can be obtained and paid for in broad daylight on Sunday in the public-houses themselves in the localities I have indicated. In my frequent use of the Cardiff trams and 'buses the idea has once or twice occurred to me tbat a great improvement might be made in the way of collecting the fares. The practice of the guards at present is to collect the fares at different times by walking or wriggling between the rows of knee corners. This practice is all very well when the car is not full, but when it comes to a dirty, rainy day, and you are sitting in fear and trembling of the clumsy-footed boy, eyeing someone who hasn't paid and making one of his spas- modic incursions, it can easily be imagined that there is more comfortable travelling than by a Cardiff tramcar or 'bus. My object in mentioning the subject is to re- spectfully offer a suggestion to the enterpri- sing managers and proprietors of these vehicles. And it is this: that the fares should either be collected as the passengers enter the car or as they leave it. I venture to think that this would do away with any inconvenience, and then a tram journey would be as pleasant as the company seem desirous of making it. I am glad to hear that up to Saturday last the applications for tickets for the banquet in Brecon, which is to celebrate the appoint- ment of Mr. W. T. Lewis as High Sheriff, numbered over 300 and, at the rate they are pouring in, it is certain that, elastic as the capacity of the Castle Hotel may be, it will be utterly inadequate to the occasion. It is already a matter of discussion whether an overflow banquet may not have to be held at the Wellington at the same time, or a large marquee obtained that will hold the expected thousand. I think I am quite within the mark in saying that there never was such a spontaneous exhibition of respect and esteem in the annals of the high sheriffs of Brecon- shire. Mr. Lewis may well be proud that it has been elicited by his own well-tried worth and the benefits he has conferred upon the mineral districts of Wales. In the report presented to the Home Secre- tary ou the oircumstances attending the ex- plosion which occurred at the Naval Steam Coal Colliery at Penygraig on the 27th of January, 1884, by the Hon. Alfred Lyttelton, B.L., the learned barrister, having regard to the circumstances, does not think that in respeot to the firing of the shots, the manager has been guilty of such criminal negligence as to justify a prosecution against him for man- slaughter. Neither do I think so, nor can he be charged with a breach of either of the exist- ing rules for shot-firing. Doubtless the former gentleman was conscious of this also when making his report, for he submits that in this and all other collieries in South Wales where steam coal is worked an amendment of the special rules relating to blasting should be made, under the powers con- ferred on the Secretary of State by Section 55 of the Coal Mines Regulation Act. Such amendment to provide that (1.) The duty of shoHiring shall be confined to one, or at most two officials of special competency. (2.) That no blasting shall in any case take place unless every person is out of the pit whose presence is not absolutely necessary for that operation. Should this suggestion be carried into effect it would be the means of enormously increas- ing the cost of producing coal, and would doubtless be strongly objected to on the part of the employes in many cases as well as the employers. Still, it is worthy the most careful consideration of all parties concerned whether some system of top-ripping and bottom-lifting cannot be contrived which would be less dangerous to life and limb than blasting by explosives. Who will suggest that an inquiry should be made into this important matter ? What a [pretty lovers' quarrel that is be- tween the member for Cardiganshire and his former adorers! Four years ago Mr. L. P. Pugh was wooed, and won, and wedded by the Liberals of his native county, who believed that in him they had the right man in the I right place. Btit, aiasR- for the fickleness of I publio OPINION in .^AO^RAL and^JFLadioal; opinion in particular, those joyous hours are passed away," and Mr. Pugh has dropt upon harsh words and cold looks where he expected" the sweetness of eternal spring." Mr. Pugh went to Egypt without first of all entreating his constituents to spare him. That was bad enough. But Mr. Pugh stayed in Egypt when the G.O.M. was hard pressed for an odd vote or two. That was very much worse. And when Mr. Pugh did return he actually voted against the G.O.M. That was unpardonable. So poor ) Mr. Pugh is now getting all sorts of hints that he'd better make himself scarce. Some of his irate constituents tried to let him down easy at Aberayron the other night, but it was letting him down all the same. There is a good bit of unpleasant criticism of those guardians who opposed the forma- tion of a band at the A berdare School floating about Merthyr and Aberdare. That in the very heart of H the land of song" men are to be found "who have no music in their souls" is a matter of surprise; that they should take such an unpleasant way of making known their weakness is a matter of regret. I am very curious to know where Mr. Mill3 gleaned his experience that boys who took to music were not worth their salt as trades- men." We want something more than his word for this outrageous statement. Welsh history proves just the opposite to be the case. As a Merthyr man, I am greatly amused at Dr. James following in the wake of Mr. Mills. If my memory is to be trusted, I believe Dr. James is the very gentleman who some twenty-five years ago greatly scandalised us at Merthyr by taking a leading part in in- troducing a Sunday band into our quiet church-and-chapel-going town. What a lamentable change that quarter of a century has produced It would have been a lasting disgrace if Mr. R. H. lihys's motion had been lost on Saturday. That s the general opinion here and at Aberdare. My loss of weight this week has only been one pound," writes our corpulent correspon- dent. But, for all that, I find I have been reduced in five weeks 13,} pounds, viz., from 15.13 to 15 stone. If this gradual reduction be continued I shall be very well satisfied, more especially as I find an adherence to Dr. E>bstein's system productive of an elasticity of spirit and a capacity for physical exertion to which I have been a stranger for many years. Now, also, that I am becoming accus- tomed to them, the dietetic restrictions cease to be in any degree burdensome. I enjoy my victuals with as much relish as ever, though, truth to say, I consume a good deal less food than formerly." Your Scotch religio-sporting contemporary is in high spirits. Its representative attended the Alexandra Park Races at Cardiff on Monday, which he declares "were this year more successful than thoae of any pre- vious occasion." What is more, he asserts, the betting upon the various events was not lacking in spirit." I suppose the young sportsman had a bit on," and pulled it off." But how there could be much spirit in backing horses when the longest price that could be obtained in respect of any favourite was even on," whilst in the case of the hot uns it diminished to 7 to 1 on," passes my comprehension. However, this new sporting light evidently knows all about it." Perhaps he refers to quite another sort of sport to that with which 1 am familiar. The people of Swansea, with the exception of the sternest of Puritans, are, I believe, on the whole disposed to regard with conside- rable favour the proposal to have musical selections in the Park on Sundays, and more than one of those ultra-enthusiasts, the Blue Ribboiiites, are quite enthusiastic on the sub- ject. An impression which is abroad that the movement is simply in connection with the police band should be removed at once, for it is very apparent that that excellent collection of artistes, however well they play, have other duties to perform besides everlastingly touching the light guitar," sounding the loud cymbal," and manipu- lating the big trombone," and as they now devote a day a week to this same public duty they cannot be expected to do much more in the way of elevating the public taste. I think the idea rather is to allow of a combination, on the principle that many hands make light work and if all the bands in the town could be induced to co-operate in the movement many an attractive and pleasing programme would be performed during the summer months. With regard to its prospects of passing the Town Council. While they are, as I have said, very doubtful, it should be remembered that all teetotalers must, if they have the slightest regard for common sense, see the palpable advantage of listening to high class musio, even though it be outside a sacred edifice, over a booze at the Mumbles. The music experiment has been tried in England, and has been found successful. Surely, then, in Wales, with the Sunday Closing Act in operation, and in Swansea particularly, with the easy travelling to the Mumbles, the im- portance—the almost imperative necessity— of this innocent counter attraction should not be disregarded. A pertinent inquiry in the Rhondda Valley at the present moment is, will Swansea be made the future coaling port for the Bristol Channel ? The magnificent scheme laid before the Harbour of Refuge Committee by Sir H. Ilussey Vivian, M.P., is creating a great deal of interest in the higher parts of the Rhondda Fawr and, indeed, well it may throughout the whole of the com- mercial circles of South Wales. When it is remembered tha.t the Bristol Channel has already more than one-sixth of the ship- ping of the whole of the United Kingdom, ,and is rapidly increasing, and that the spot indicaterl by Sir Ilussey Yivian is the natural sea outlet for the coal of the great Rhondda basin, the national importance of the scheme is at once apparent. Swansea is built right on the South Wales coal measures, and is surrounded on all sides with coal of the most valtiable description. Vessels would be able to take in their bunker coals at any state of the tide, and without incurring any of those heavy railway freights which they would have to pay if the Harbour of Refuge were formed at Milford. Should the harbour be placed either at the Mumbles or atLundy it would not be acces- sible to the coals of the Rhondda and Y strad Valleys without trans-shipment; whereas the spot indicated by Sir Hussey Vivian is the natural terminus of the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway, now being vigorously pushed forward, and the whole mining district of South Wales would thus receive a most wel- come and much-needed stimulus. One of the greatest nuisances in Cardiff streets just now is the horde of young children armed with collecting cards for missionary societies. A dozen times a day I am assailed by these Sunday School mendicants, the majority of whom impudently refuse to take a negative answer until one speaks sharply to them. This system of sending respectable children into the streets to beg is a disgrace to the very name of Christianity. Three little girls importuned me to-day for contributions. I shuddered to think of the possible consequences of such training in the streets of a town like Cardiff. Where is one to look for maiden modesty, when it is openly bartered in this way for purposes of sectarian greed ? Cannot the Sunday Schools see that they are stultifying their own work in the most effectual way that Satan himself could suggest ? If the heathen are only to be reached at the cost of the moral degradation of our own children, then I aay let the heathen perish without the knowledge of Watts's hymns and the impediments of Euro- pean clothing. I congratulate North Wales College Council on the appointment of Mr. Henry Jones to the Chair of Logic and Philosophy. He is one of the ablest men Wales possesses, an exceedingly accomplished logician and philosopher, an eloquent speaker, a deep thinker, and, according to the Principal of Lampeter, a born leader of men," who is sure to make himself felt in North Wales. Mr. Rhys Roberts is also a Welshman, the son of a Nonconfor- mist preacher in London. He very nearly carried off the honours of a senior in the Cambridge Classioal Tripos.

SHIPPING INSURANCE ACTION. the frinck soltykoff APPEAL case. WILLIAM JOHN 11. LOUIS GOBBET.—We are in- formed that Mr. Fred Vaughan, solicitor for the defendant, has served a notice upon Mr. William Jones, plaintiff's solicitor, that this appeal case will not be proceeded with. It will be remembered that Judge Selfe gave judgment at the March court for the plaintiff for £18 Is. 8d. for back club calls, claims which had accrued before he had purchased his shares, paid by the defendant subse- quent to the date of purchase, and charged by the defendant in rendering his accounts to the plaintiff. The decision eo seriously affected steamship managers' responsibilities that Judge Selfe gave the defendant leave to appeal by special case*, which appeal has now been abandoned by the de- fendant, so that the judge's decision must now be considered right in point of law, as it has not been I )' Q.U IWPal.

OUR PARIS LETTER. PARIS, June 4. Divorce is almost as old an institution as marriage," observed Voltaire, who was an old bachelor; he added, I believe that marriage is a few weeks more ancient; that is to say, one quarrels with his wife at the end of fifteen days, one beats her at the end of a month, and one sepa- rates from her after six weeks of cohabitation." In France Christians will ba indebted to a Jew, M. Naquet, for carrying the repeal of the Divorce Law. This ought to soften the heart even of the editor of the Anti-Semetic journal, which weekly denounces Rothschild and similar mighty men of Israel. The Senate has, by an overwhelming majority, voted the principle of divorce. It only remains now to word the clauses, to define the conditions of relief. Miirried people will now have a chance of re-marrving according to their likings, for no Act of Parliament was ever yet framed but was loose enough to allow a coach-and-six to gallop through. The French ideas about divorce oscillate between the dictum of Milton, It is not God who has prohibited divorce, but the priest"; and of La Harpe. Divorce ought to be accorded for incom- patibility of humour"; and he carried that j principle into law on the 29ih of March, 1793. In ancient Rome, under the Republic, divorce became more frequent with the decadence of manners. But Ctesar, Octavius, Anthony, &.C., contracted marriage even three, four, and five times. Indeed, matters were so bad in Rome that it was considered an honour during her lifetime for a woman to have had but one husband. A model epitaph on the grave of a Roman matron set forth her life was pious and exemplary, and that she had only one husband." Juvenal tells us how a lady could change her husband eight times in live years and St. Jerome relates the spectacle could be wit- nessed at Rome of a woman who died having had 22 husbands. The good father might have added, her last bridegroom was a man who had been divorced 21 times. The State paid the expenses of this curious marriage, and when the woman died she was decreed a public funeral. The conquest of Gaul by the Romans introduced the institution of divorce. Basine quitted the King of Thuringia for Chilperic, who married her. A Cbilperic, King of Soissons, divorced his wife, Andovere, because she so far forget Court etiquette as to present herself, her baby, at the baptismal font to be christened. And Charlemagne divorced his wife Theodore because she was not a Christian. In Russia, when a husband and wife cannot get on together they take a napkin, each holding an end, and, having broken a cake in two, proceed to cross-roads, and there, in presence of some people, tear the napkin to tatters ti II the smallest morsel remains in the fingers incapable of further sub-division. If, after this mutual tearing pro- cess, they are not reconciled, each takes a different road, and the tribunal pronounces the divorce. A married couple named Pousceau, Protestants, once at Rochelie divorced themselves, and re- married. The Governor sent for them, put them in the stocks for a few hours two men s hate were placed over the wife's head, and a distaff over the husband's. Liberated, they went home and lived happy ever afterwards. In 1796, the working of La Harpe's law was such that the divorces were on a par with the marriages. Deputy Regnant com- plained before the Council of Five Hundred that it was abominable a man could change his wife like his coat, and a wife her husband like her bonnet. The law was made more stringent, but it played Old Harry with the right of succession to property. Thus, a young couple having arranged a divorce the husband married his ex-wife's grand aunt aged 82, and by the marriage-settlement thus secured her fortune. Tile old lady soon died- aged brides generally do—and after a few months the widower re-married his divorced wife. The Swiss had an ancient custom to bar out divorces. When a couple decided on a divorce they were locked up in a room together, the only furniture allowed was one chair, a table, and a bed. The iite-k-tete. was limited to eight days. At its expi- ration they were reconciled. Cynical people observed the efficacy of the plan consisted in a husband preferring to brave all rather than to bo so locked up with his wife for even a day. Imagine Socrates and Xantippe thus imprisoned, and the philosopher Caudle-lectured into reformation. The time is come, when the English nation, since its Government has abdicated, must take a stand against the bullying programme of the French in Egypt and the floods of horrible abuse poured out upon England by journals that forget decency, facts, and fairplay. The kid-glove, the unctuous, bland, and Uriah Heep policy of the Foreign Office is simply a subject of ridicule and laughter. The Multiple Control is the triumph, not only of France in Egypt, but in the East. It is better to force France to do all she can now than hereafter. It would be well for England to keep ever before the eyes of the world that France, in setting up as the champion of Europeltn rights now in Egypt, shame- fullyabaudoned that rule when Arabi threatened the Khedive's existence—the monarch France and England set up and pledged themselves to sustain that the championship in question is of the same disinterested character as displayed in Tunis and Tonquin. France first, civilisation and all that sort of thing next. And fiually, that England, having gone into Egypt single-handed, expended her blood and treasure, has not the slightest idea of being dictated out of the Land of the Nile, jockeyed out of Cairo, or bullied out of Alexandria. The idea of conciliating French hate by soft soap, temporizations, entente cordiales, and similar rubblish is pure folly, and of the niDSt dangerous kind. The more England shows herself indepen- dent of France, and respects her traditions of pluck and fearlessness, the more the French will heed her. Germany is not brow-beaten nor howled down by united Royalists, Imperialists, Republi- cans, and Communists, who in their days of misfor- tune found a refuge in England, and certain in due course to require it again. England let herself down and misled the French by her gush for them, by flattering their vanities and feeding their foibles. She ought to have acted towards them as if men, not a mosaic of the child and woman treat them as she does other nations-as men. For the future, the relations between France and England must be based on other lines; France must be shown, rather than reminded, that her friendship is not actually necessary for the exis- tence of England; that her humours are mis- placed, and if sha adopts a pin-cushion war in Egypt she can in return be made uncomfortable in many parts of the world. It is old tactics with France to indulge in hyperboles and superlatives as to her grievances when she desires to cover her designs. It may be complimentary to Englishmen to observe they cause so much anxiety to the French when they do nothing at all, and to reflect what must be their potency if they became antagonists. A Frenchman sees in those who differ from him not adversaries, but personal enemies, and those who have the weakness to believe that there are other nations at least equal to Franoo are actuated by motives of envy, hatred, malice, unchantableness, and, above all, jealousy. I do not see why France arrogates to herself that she and England are the civilising agents of the world. Brother Jonathan has no time for a broad grin at such wind-bagism; Italy may lay claim to helping the good work; as for Germany, in- quire of Bismarck. France wants Africa from the Red Sea to the Atlantic; this was Prevost Paradal's daydream. England — the nation, not the Government— will not" scuttle from Egypt; but she must be prepared to protect Gibraltar from the opposite side of the way, as Morocco is doomed. The French Minister haa returned with his instruc- tions to Tangiers. The Senate Committee has .not formally made its report on the recidivistet question but the draft recommends sending the choice scum of prison filth to New Caledonia and Guyane. Australia is now challenged. Will she rely on the Colonial Office, which has no backbone, or on her own anti- cosmopolitan nuisance laws ? The Chamber of Deputies has voted tho touch- stone clauses of the Army Bill-military active service, extending to three yeftrsfor all. Thus theo- logical students must unsheath the sword. Per- haps the Senate may make exceptions. The revision of the Constitution Bill, which, when proposed in 1882 by Gambetta, was made the pretext to politically extinguish him, is meeting with fierce opposition on the clause of tying down the Congress in advance. The Bill is a perfect Pandora's box may hope" be found at the bottom. The French are of opinion that Tonquin is white elephant on their hands; instead, as ex- pected, finding there larks dropping down ready roasted from the skies, some millions must be ex- pended to open up the out-work of their Indo- Chinese Empire. And where is the money to come from ? With all the reductions and cheeseparings the deficit of the Budget cannot be covered, and Stock Exchange affairs are as flat as ditch Water. The PiotecUoubts. who aro jtftoipg .ground, say that the foreigner ought to be made to fill the exchequer. As for the Free Traders, they have burned what they adored, and adore what they burned, by advocating privileged taxes on American, Italian, German, and English importa- tions to Tonquin. Here Kitchner's maxim ought to be remembered, First catch your hare." Until France can produce articles at least as cheap as other nations she cannot compete with them; and so long as Frenchmen rely on the Government, and not on their individual selves, to develop colonies they will never have colonies. Undeveloped territories, garrisoned by officials, do not constitute sources of wealth or strength. The Bonapartists still amuse the gallery; Prince Victor and his Papa, "Pa and Vic;" that's the screaming farce which we are asked to accept as serious politics. Paul de Cassagnac has made a tremendous discovery; nothing more nor less than that Prince Victor has on his paper-knife the motto Aut Ccesar ant nullus. And to think the Funds have neither risen nor fallen The Govern- ment. is reported to be occupied with the organi- sation of the Orleanists. The "select" recep- tion given so imprudently by M. Morton, the American Minister, where the Comte de Paris played at Kingship, has put the authorities on the SCHflt. The Rev. Pere Loyson requested the Budget Commission to change the heading of the estimates in the chapter "Catnotic Religion" to "Catholic Religions." He was informed the Commission were tied to that phrase-by the Concordat, but they had not the slightest intention of endowing any new religion. Visitors ought to note the real and imitation Jewellery Exhibition being held in the wing of the Louvre. Many beautiful things are there.—The idea of an International Exhibition in 1889 is officially broached. I wonder if Germany will this time enter the lists. Wonder number two: Will the English forget the newspaper punishment, &c., they have so gratuitously received from France to make the show possible? Jn the sculpture section of the Picture Show there are 32 busts and statues of celebrities that France has in due time to inaugurate, not counting the Gambettns. Minister Abbe Tenay was reproached that one of his schemes of taxation was akin to taking money out of people's pockets. And from where else do you expect me to take it?" he said.

FASHIONABLE A'EDDLNG AT CARDIFF. On Thursday morning the marriage of Mr. Ivor James Roberts, fifth son of Mr. D. Roberts, Cardiff, with Miss Laura Hurman, eldest daughter of Mr. James Hurman, traffic manager of the Taff Vale Railway, was celebrated at St. John's Church, Cardiff, by the vicar of St. John's, the Rev. C. J. Thompson. The bride wore Ottoman silk and brocaded velvet. The bridemaids were :—Miss Lucy Hurman, Miss Peggy Roberts, Miss Florrie Hurman, and Miss Rose Roberts. To each of these young ladies (who were attired in white brocade and buttercups and daisies) a handsome gold lor., r, with name engraved, had been presen ,1 as a souvenir by the bridegroom. Mr. A, i Roberts was "best man." Among those also present were:—Mr. and Mrs. D. Roberts, Mr. and Mrs. Hurman, Mr. and Mrs. Beuo Roberts, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Roberts, Mr. and Mrs. James Edwards (Penarth), Mr. Arthur Hurman, Master Frank Hurman, Master W. Roberts, Miss Louisa Lewis, Mr. H. Simpson, and Mr. R. Simpson. A wedding breakfast was afterwards held at the residenco of the bride's father, the Vicar of St. John's and a large company of other friends being among the guests. The wedding presents were of a varied and costly description, and testi- tied the esteem in which the respective families are held by residents in the locality. We will not attempt to describe the various articles of virtu and plate which were displayed on the drawing-room tables, but we may note that among the givers were Mr. and Mrs. G. Fisher, Mr. and Mrs. Ingledew, Mr. and Mrs. J. Williams, Mr. and Mrs. H 0, Fisher, Mr, and Mrs. J. Edwards, Mr. Rice (Bristol), Mr. and Mrs. Gunn, Mr. Alfred Thomas, Messrs. J. Williams and Son, Messrs. Cross Bros., Dr. Granger, Mr. and Miss Moore, Mr. and Mrs. G. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Roberts, Mr. and Mrs. Haynes, Mr. W. Stibbs, Lieut.-Colonel and Mrs. Martin, Mr. Edwin E. Page, Mr. W. J. Simpson, Mr. H. Simpson, Mr. and Mrs. R. Page, Mr. and Mrs. C. Page, Mr. and Mrs. Cooper, Mrs. Lewis, Mr. Matthias, Mr. W. Haynes, Mr. a.nd Mrs. C. Wil- kins, Mrs. Pritchard, Mr. G. Coleman, Mrs. Wain, Miss Jackson, Dr. and Mrs. >1. Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Price, Mr. Aifred Roberts, Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, Mr. and Mrs. Gottwaltz, Mr. Bowring, Mr. Hughes, &c. Not the least interesting gift was the case containing a beautiful diamond brooch and pendants, bearing the following inscription :— "To Miss Hurman, on her marriage. With tho best wishes of a few friends at the Taff Vale Railway Offices. June 5, 1884." The newly-married pair spend their honeymoon at Cheltenham and the Lake Districts.

FASHIONABLE MARRIAGE IN PEMBROKESHIRE. On Thursday, at St. Mary's Church, Haverford- west, Lizzie, only daughter of Dr. E. Picton Phillips, was united in the bonds of holy matrimony to Mr.. Edwyn Wyndam Randall, of Slade, Bridgend. The sacred edifice was for some time prior to the hour 1 fixed for the ceremony thronged by an interested crowd, eager to witness the nuptials of one who is beloved by all who know her. The bride, who was led to the altar by her respected father, was attired in a travelling costume of peach-coloured shot brocaded silk, trimmed with plain silk of the same shade, and ostrich tips lined with pwtawa sill" and hat. of the s'mo shade trimmed with feathers and ostrich tips to match. Her ornaments were pearl and diamond bracelet and brooch, the gift of the bridegroom, and diamond bracelet, the gift of the groomsman. She bore a magnificent bouquet composed of dark red and pink roses, with flowers blended of a hue to match the dress, which was 1 lie gift of Mr. W. E. P. Phillips, brother of the bride. The bridemaids were Miss Isabella Harvey, Miss Nancy Harvey, and Miss May Carrow,each of whom wore petticoats and pompadour nun's veil- ing, with mushroom-coloured satin bodices and lace vests, and hats to match, and each of the young ladies bore a basket of choice flowers, the gift of the brother of the bride, and as an ornament wore a horseshoe bangle, the gift of the bride- groom. The mother of the bride was dressed in an old gold satin De Lyons dress, with bonnet to match. Mrs. Richard Harvey wore a beautiful London smoke-coloured velvet costume, with bro- caded velvet petticoat of paler shade, with hat and feathers to match. Prior to the ceremony Mr. Harding, the organist, played a well-chosen selec- tion of music all the organ. The bridegroom was j accompanied by Mr. Waugh, of The Boroughs, Cockennouth; his brother, Mr. John Randall; and the bride's brother, Mr. W. E. P. Phillips, who, on being joined by the bride and her friends, pro- oanded to .tlte choir, where the ceremony was most j impressively performed by the vicar, the Rev. C. F Harrison, the service being partly choral. Prayers J were read at the altar, and the choir sang the hymn, Happy is the bride," very eifecuvely. The usual formularies having been gone through in the vestry, the happy couple and their friends left the church, the organ pealing joyously Men- delssohn's Wedding March." On emerging, the i bridal party were perfectly deluged with showers ( of rice, followed by the inevitable slipper," while St. Mary's bells rang a merry peal, and in ] the High-street bunting was freely displayed. The presents to the bride were very numerous, choice, and costly. The whole of the dresses were made by Mrs. Baker, of High-street, and were beautiful specimens of artistic taste and skill. Mr. and Mr*. Randall, after breakfast, left for the Continent, vid Chepstow.

POSTAL ALTERATIONS IN THE RHONDDA VALLEY. On and after the 9th inst. the following altera- tions in the postal service of this district will j take place:—Treharris, Navigation, and Quaker's 1 Yard offices will be transferred frun Pontypridd to the Cardiff district. Treharris will be made a railway sub-office, from which Navigation, Nelson, and Quaker's Yard will be served. The night mail letters, which now reach Treharris, &c., by foot messenger at 8.0 a.m., will, on the 9th inst" be conveyed by train, reaching Treharris at5 a.m. The delivery at Treharris and other villages enumerated above, and also Nelson, will commence at 6.0 a.m. There will be a North mail delivery of letters, &c., at Treharris to callers only at 9.30 a.m., and a North mail despatch of letters from Treharris at 3.45 p.m. Also a Sunday delivery of letters at Treharris to callers only at 8.0 a.m., and a Sunday despatch of letters from Treharris at 4.0 p.m. The hours of posting letters at Navigation will be extended to 5.30 p.m.; Nelson, 5.40 v.m.; Quaker's Yard, 5.40 p.m.; and Treharris, 60 p.m. The wall letter-boxes in this district will also he cleared proportionately later. North Mail letters for residents in Navigation, Nelson, and Quaker's Yard may be had from the Treharris office on application. After the 9th inst. letters for Treharris should be addressed" Treharris, R.S.O., Glamorgan and for Navigation, Nelson, and Quaker's Yard should be addressed "Near Treharris, R.S.O., Glamorgan." These alterations have been carried out by Mr. R. J. Perring, at- tached to the surveyor's office of the General Post Office.

SAD RESULT OF A BET. On Tuesday night John Bagley, boatman, was drowned at Tividale, Rowley, under distressing circumstances. He made a bet with a friend that he could swim across a pool 60 yards wide and 60 feet deep. On plunging into the water it is sup- posed that he was seized with cramp, for he sank immediately. One man had a narrow escape of being drowned in attempting to rescue him. De- ceased was to have been married on tho following day.

THE NOTORIOUS SWANSEA BUTCHER PUNISHED. At Swansea Police Court on Thursday (before Mr. J. C. Fowler, stipendiary, and other magif- trates) William Mabe, butcher, was charged with using abusive language towards Mary Ann Davies, who keeps a stall in Swansea Market. On the 29th ult. the defendant went Up to complainant, and without the slightest provocation applied a number of gross epithets to her, his language being most obscene. Mr. Walker, who appeared for the defence, urged that defendant had been provoked, and asked the bench to deal leniently with him. The Bench, addressing defendant, told him that was the 77th time he had appeared in that court. They, unfortunately, had no alternative but to let him off lightly, however, and they fined him j65 abd costs.—Defendant was then farther charged. with using bad language towards a Mrs. Thomas. He in this case, after abusing tho complainant, declared he would cut her throat. The Bench decided to bind defendant over to keep the peace 1 himself in 350, surety in £25,

LATEST —— ..¡ EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN. OSMAN DIGNA'S INTENTIONS. ["DAIUr TELEGRAPH" TELEGRAM. 1 Caibo, Junk 4 (11.35 p.m.).—This morning 250 Marines left Port Said for Suakim. There was j desultory firing round that place last night, when the Egyptian troops behaved well and no British'! landed. The reason why Osman Digna persis-1 tently attempts to take Suakim is the intention of crossing over to Mecca before moving northwards. Hence he wants a seaport.) We have no news about Berber or Khartoum./ The Mahdi's presence at the latter place is dis-a believed. All news from those parts is equally un- H trustworthy, owing to its being procured solely J from Dative scouts, whose fidelity and veracity are doubtful. The authorities here believe that Berber and Khartoum are holding out, and that there is no danger of their immediate capture, nor any present prospect of the Mahdi's marching northwards. Suakim, JUNE 4.—According to reports brought in by spies, there were five killed and 50 wounded; on the 1st, and during the nights of the 2nd and; 3rd. Two hundred rebels fired on the forts, at long ranges, apparently being afraid to venture too close. An attack in force is expected shortly. Spies who have just arrived state that the tribes who left Osman Digna. after the defeats sustained from the English have re-joined him. Osman swears' that he will be in Suakim before the 10th. The warning should not be despised, as it is generally believed Berber has fallen. i THE DEATH OF~MIDIIAT PASHA. L" ItEUTEK'S" TELEGKAJj'.J Varna, June4 (Night).—The Sultan has ordered a post-mortem examination of the bodies of Midha-to. Pasha and his companions in banishment, whosei deaths in rapid succession have naturally given- rise to suspicion.

WHOLESALE POISONING IN HUNGARY. A WOMAN CHARGED WITH MURDERING FOUR HUSBANDS. SENSATIONAL CONFESSION. In tho village of Varunda, in South Hungary, a woman has been arrested on the charge of poison- ing her fourth husband. She confesses to having likewise poisoned her three former husbands, and., further to having murdered in the same way hun- dreds of women during the last two years. She made use of a certain drugged preparation of brandy, which was made for her by a farmer's wife" This woman and many others have been arrested..

THE DYNAMITE OUTRAGES. ALARMING NEWS FROM PARIS. ? The Daily Telegraph correspondent at Paris'^ writing on Wednesday evening, says:—A sentative of the Morniwj Newt states that he has had an interview with a member of the B sec' tion of the Clan-na-Gael in Paris. That person stated that the" Invincibles" hope to silence the tick of the dynamite clockwork, and to produce a still more terrible substance than that heretofore used. Dynamite classes are also said to be held in Paris. Thai "Invincible" also stated to the reporter' that' O'Donovan Rossa's coming to Paris was not im-* probable. The notorious Fenian may take up h residence either in the French capital or at Havre j for a time. In the opinion of the" Invincible", who was interviewed, Rossa is an inefficient leader; but he can map out a conspiracy and give the necessary instructions. The closing remarks oft the "Invincible" were to the effect that another ex- plosion may shortly be expected. Let me call your attention," said he to his interrogator, the fact that for months all public offices andl Buckingham Palace have been watched. Yet successful explosion has been caused close by. AlL this is hopeful for us, and undoubtedly says littlei for British police efficiency."

THE RAILWAY DISASTER AT DOWNTON. APPEARANCE OF THE WRECKED CARRIAGES. Tho Salisbury correspondent of the Standarct. writes:—Looking at the scene of the accident, it. appears wonderful how any of those who were iB the train escaped with their lives. The scene wai X a startling one. The remains of seven vehicles lay i; in a confused heap. The rearmost brake was lying vS on its side on the top of a. third-class, which hafi i both its end compartments smashed in and centre ones intact. In a pool of water were the remains of another carriage, with the under carriage, from which the wheels and iron framework had become detached, uppermost* | It was from this that the bodies of tbe; two unfortunate ladies who were drowned wers recovered. Beyond this were lying the remnant* of the other vehicles that had originally,.comprised the train, now represented by entangled ironwork and splintered wood. Of the latter a good e81 j has been burned during the night to provide fires for the men to work by. The spot where the accident occurred waS rather over a mile below Downton Station, which is some eight miles from Salisbury. The road is a single one, worked with the block system of signalling. From Downton Station there is It. slight downward incline, which increases to gradient of one in seventy-eight at about ban a mile distant for a length of 500 yards. Here line becomes again more level, and enters upon a. double curve of a very sharp nature, like an if1" j verted S," very much in character with that o» the Chatham and Dover Railway just before arriving at Chatham. Almost at the centre of this W is the bridge crossing the Avon, which divides Wiltshire from Hants, and about 200 yards J below this place the train left the rails ju9t as it was recovering from the centrifugal mottoo produced by the other curve, and taking to the second one. The two engines, with tn0, exception of the tender of the second, kept tr><^ rails, and the guard's van immediately following did not leave the permanent way but behind this the couplings broke, and headlong over the bankment the remainder of the train plunged. the centre of the curve the bank has a depth c> some ten or twelve feer, and at its foot a muddy ditch with about four feet of water in it. As th carriages left the rails they struck a willow tree, which they knocked over, but it must lessened the shock prior to their telescoping..

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY ON BOARD SHIP. A terrible scene was witnessed on the deck of tM f British vessel Myrtle, as she lay at WhitestonfN Long Island, on the 16th ult. On the above da the vessel left New York for Pernambuco with cargo ot' naphtha. Several of the crew were unde i the influence of liquor, and the vessel came to a anchor at Whitestone. The second mate, nai»G Michael Walsh, went to a chest belonging a seaman named James Williams and tOo r bottle of whisky away. This led to and Williams brandished a knife before Wa)" who struck Williams on the back of the neck wit I an axe, breaking the spinal column and killing the poor fellow instantly. Some of the cre then went towards Walsh, who threatened death to the first who approached. Ho then ran at the sailors, most of whom were who instantly took to the rigging for safety. Wals" then drank the whisky, and appeared to becoin^ completely frenzied. Finding the sailors oufc fVj hie reach, he attacked the body of the unfortunate* man W'illiams, and beat it with a marling-sp'pjf into an unrecognisable mass. The captain of tn j vessel was on shore at the time, and the 111 j^jj signalled to the shore for assistance. The authorities went on board and arrested Walsh, did not make any resistance. Next day he said did not remember having committed the dreadW crime, and attributes everything to the maddeni°» influence of the liquor he had consumed. WilltaØ1 was a native of Nova Scotia.

THE SMALL-POX EPIDEMIC IN LONDON. J SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A MEDtCAú MAN. N At the Worship-street Police Court, bndon. 0 t Wednesday Cornelius Field, medical Median-road, Lower Clapton, appeared in anSJTj$- to a summons, at the instance of the Hackey trict Board of Works, as the sanitary authority that parish, for that he did wilfully and un)It 1P. fully expose a person suffering from small-po*! £ the danger of the public. The defendant plett. dÐ guilty. It appeared from the statements and the evidence given that the 1 in question, Alice Knott, was dafend^^t £ servant. On the 8th of May the defend*^ Visited the Town-hall, Hackney, and request to the inspector of nuisances to ha*0 t quantity of bedding disinfected. The inquired the reason, and was told by the defeø that his servant had just been attacked by pox, and he had told her to walk to the Hospital. The inspector made inquiries, and '° that the servant had been admitted on that^ ing. The gate-porter's report was that ing. The gate-porter's report was that sented appearances of small-pox, and she tOld.1 her master had ordered her to walk thither. admitted and allowed to remain an io-patient i her recovery.—The defendant having beeo f:1er" to state his defence, he said that h'^ vant was attacked by the disease only °neio^, day he sent her to the hospital. i that day she had shown very slight prefix* symptoms.—Dr. Tripe (medical officer of }{a.Cu)$; who had charge of the prosecution): That not matter, the danger would have been the It is infectious before any outward rj0«9f occur.—Mr. Partridge: 'This is a very charge, especially against a medical man. gainsCi lie are at least entitled to protection 0 c persons who possess scientific knowledge- jp- Defendant: I was not aware the law was 8 f(tt m gent.—Mr. Partridge: That is no medical man. You will be fined ™ j JE5, and pay the costs. j