The Cardiff Times

THE SOCIETY OF AMALGAMATED ENGINEERS. THE twenty-sixth annual report of this important society has just been issued. It was the Newcastle- on-Tyne branch of the Amalgamated Engineers which originated the nine ition-eiticiit, so fruitful of result to all classes in the community. The leader in the northern movement was Mr Jonx BCRNKTT, the present general secretary. it was the Amalgamated Engineers who carried on the great fight at Frith respecting piece-work, and 11 1-1 it was with this society that the Tafr Vae Railway Company were at daggers last August, The Amal- gamated Society has upwards of a dozen branches in the South Wales district, and it will not be unin- teresting, to see what it has to say respecting itself and the trade of the country. Mr BURNKXT, as the mouthpiece of the body, admits that the year 1870 was a bad year for the trade of the country. It began he says in depression, and deepened ere the close into gloom." This description, however, applies in a very limited way to the Amalgamated Engineers, whose percentage of unemployed only increased one per cent. in twelve months. Mr BURXETT speaks of a natural reaction, and of over-production." We think the proofs of over- production are entirely awanting. The Bank of England rate of discount is an almost infallible test of the commercial soundness of the trading community. We have had, it is true, excessive competition from other countries, but not over- production at home. Hence- the cheapness of money side-by-side with a depressed trade. As the Amalgamated Engineers have not done so well as they would have done in a year of brilliant prosperity" (to quote Mr BUJlNET'Ù, phrase) the general secretary not unnaturally paints the aspects of a bad year with the bold outlines of a politico-economical HOUIAN HUNT. "In the first place it throws large numbers of men directly on our funds, through scarcity of I:> work, and thus increases our expenditure on dona- tion benefit. In the second, it causes employers to make violent efforts to reduce wages, or take away trade privileges from their workmen. This causes disputes, and here again we have donation expen- diture increased, and contingent expenses rendered necessary. In the third place, we live in a time of trade competition so severe, that many of the best features in the old relationship of master and servant have been crushed out of sight, and old age and long service now count for nothing in the race for profit. Time was when an old servant was respected, and was retained in the service of his employer as long as he cared to work, or could handle his tools. Now, in nine cases out of ten, the approach of old age is the signal for dismissal, and grey hair or spectacles are too often fatal objections to retaining even a middle-aged man when trade is dull. Thus the number of our super- annuated is increased, and the number of paying members reduced." 0 That the severity of competition should have dealt so hardly with the aged workman, is ex- tremely s»d. For the first time, perhaps, in the history of the skilled labour of the country, age and experience go for little youth and sureness of hand for everything. When working men have had time to test the full meaning of the passages quoted, they may come to the conclusion that it is possible to pay too great a price for a high-pressure system of work, which degrades honoured age, and deifies mere youth. In spite of a special effort, the number of registered Amalgamated Engineers has not materially. increased during the year, and to this end a special effort is counselled. A great deal has been said and written by statists re- specting the financial position of the Society of Amalgamated Engineeis indeed, a very decided « set" has been made against it. Let us, there- fore, see how the figures stand. In 1875," says Mr BURNETT, "our income from 44,032 members, by contributions, fines, and levies, was £ 110,6G5 6s Id. In 1876 our income from the same sources from 44,578 members was £ 110,724 8s 3d. The total income for the two vears respectively, from all sources, was £ 120,024 LId anJ £ 130,206 10s id. Under the head of 'i Bank Interest our last year s income was higher than in any previous yeai, and realised the amount ■of £ 5,977 9B 10ID- In plain language, the Amalgamated Engineers spend each year just about what they get from con- tributions, fines, and levies, and what they save mainly arises from bank interest. The huge ex- penditure is mainly attributable to donations, sick, superannuations, and funerals, and is thus sum- marised bv the general Secretary £ s. d. £ s. d. Donation, contingent, sending members to situations, and per Member beds to non-free members. 45,036 0 7*orl 0 2i Sick benefit, stewards, and medical certificates 23,242 13 3 „ 0 10 5 Superannuation Funerals ••• ^>39 15 10i 0 3 4| Accidents, per 24th rule. 1,100 0 0 „ 0 0 G Grants from the benevolent fund] ••• 3,»55 19 1 ,,0 1 Printing, stationery, emblems, postage, telegrams, and parcels M43 7 10| „ 0 2 0 Branch officers, committees, executive council meetings, secretaries, treasurers, au- ditors, banking expenses, and delegations 7,313 0 8 „ 0 3 3| Purchasing and repairing property, club and cash boxes, packing cases, stamps, bags, &c., &c. 14 3^ 0 0 1 £ Propositions, entrances and fines returned, lost time, bad coin, errors, and deficiencies, law expenses, and removal of branches, &c., &c, 458 10 1^ 0 0 2| Grants to our own aim other trades, loss of tools by fire, and Parliamentary torn- t" I.! < •" 1..815 7 6 Q Q Rents, coals, gas, dues, and rate* 1.G24 8 11 „ 0 0 Vl £ 100,208 11 5 .,2 Oj- This amount does not H\cmue uuac»vuovv ico^a remittances. The report gives a gunininry of expenditure for twenty-six years, and a balance at the end of each year, which, so far as benefits arc concerned, is thus s,: mmarised — P..T Menuter f.¡r :W Years, Donation ti Benefit. £ 039,516 being £ 20 16 Oi Sick „ 318,192 „ 11 8 8 Superannuation 123,933 3 1:> 5 Accidents, &&, „ 27,000 1 0 7i funerals 1 n 162,799 3 13 S ]. :JIJ. "70 46 14 2', Per for ~2i vein's. Benevolent Grants 23,952 0 17 O.'j Per Member for 'JM yenrs. Assistance to other Trades 18,732 „ 0 14 8^ £1, 2ï8,G;:í 1 £ 48 6 5j In 1851 the balance at tne end of the year was £ 21,705 4s. Hid., and at the close of 187G £ 275,1 11! 15s. f^d- Thus the balance in hand has increased upwards of thirteen times in a quarter of a century. The balance in hand is, in round numbers, two-and-a-half times greater than the whole yearly income from contributions, fines, and levies. As to trade disputes, local and general, the report says :—" In the sum- mer we had a dispute with the firm of Messrs. KYXOCR, of Birmingham, who wished our mem- bers to work under a code of rides which would virtually have contracted them out of the law of master and sen-ant as now laid down. The dispute continued until a few weeks ago, and was terminated by the factory being entirely closed for a period of two months. The Taff Yale Railway Company in August gave notice to its men of a return to the 10 horn's' system, or a reduction of wages to the extent of 10 per cent. This the Society resisted, and the strike still continues, the c strength of the company enabling them to carry on the works, though in a very much different fashion than before. Even with the men they have got, however, they have not succeeded in lengthening the duration of the day's work. The closing month of the year terminated much in the same same way as that of the previous year, that is, with a strike against piece-work—this time at Notting- ham. It was another of those cases it which our rules leave us no choice, and in .which we are bound to fight. It is not yet finished, and even if it results as the one at Erith did, its moral effect will not be lost upon employers. Taking the year altogether it has been one of vicissitude. We have not in a single case provoked a dispute, but have in every case simply stood on the defensive, the employers being the aggressors. With great odds against us in the shape of bad trade, we have held our own." We must leave the facts and figures to the analysis of the individual reader, premising that the Amalgamated Engineers have branches in Aberdare, Bridgend, Cardiff, Chepstow, Crumlin, Llanelly, Merthvr, Neath, Newport, Pembroke Dock, Pontypridd, Pontypool, Swansea., and Tredegar.

ETCHINGS IN THE CARDIFF TOWN COUNCIL. THE Local Parliament of Cardiff was four hours in session on Monday, and nothing could better show the growth and importance of the borough than the great amount of business that had to be transacted. And notLing, indeed, could better show the aptitude and fit- ness of the Council for the work than the care, capacity, and unquestionable ability displayed. The Old Cemetery question was the first subject of moment debated. Tlie Car- diff Stipendiary Magistrate has declined to grant, on the ap- plication of the Town Clerk, summonses against the Vicar and Churchwardens of St. Mary's, in connection with the nuisance admitted to exist in the cemetery under their control, The Stipendiary's reasons for declining to grant the summonses recall the famous epigram current at the beginning of the century, that there were one- hundred-aud-fifty Acts of Parliament by which a man mi-ht be hanged, but not one by which a poor man could get justice. The Vicar claims authority over the St. Mary's part of the churchyard, yet he has no legal responsibility It js an axiom older than BLACKSTONE'B time, that rights involve responsibility; but the Vicar of St. Mary's is the .fortunate exception to the rule. Then the Churchwardens are not responsible, because they have no funds. The summonses were asked to test the question of law, as well as the point of funds or no funds in possession. The Stipendiary's refusal to entertain a purely legal question is even more suggestive than his invocation on behalf of the Vicar, of something akin to the divinity which doth hedge round a king. In the face of the Stipendiary's unexpected rendering of the law, the majority of the Council were justified in urging caution before entering on a step that may cost Nonconformists hundreds of pounds, without giving them the right to one poor blade of grass in the Old Cemetery, Some sharp cross-firing took place in the Council as to the manner of deciding contracts, which gave rise to a painful episode. Mr JACOBS repeated a conversation he had had with a contractor, which certainly implied double-dealing, if not a species of dishonesty, on the part of a member of the Public Works Committee. Urged on all sides to give the name, Mr JACOBS declined, and the result may be the retirement of Alderman JONES from the chairmanship of the Committee in question. Alder- man JONES is one of the most valuable members of the Council, and his loss would be a misfortune. Let us hope \rr JACOBS—who did not, we believe, mean to cast any reflection, but who nevertheless spoke most un- guardedly—will make the necessary amends, and let us hear no more about corruption among gentlemen whose character forbids the very assumption. The business of greatest moment before the Council was the proposed removal of the Cefyn-y-Wrach Shoal, or, rather, the widening of the channel leading to the East Dock. The deputation from the Chamber of Com- merce and the shipping interest of the borough was one of unquestionable weight, and the statements of the several speakers were listened to with attention. The speeches of Mr EVAN LEWIS, Mr WILSON, Captain CAPPER, and other gentlemen, amounted to this That the channel leading to -the East Dock was dangerous, unreliable, and unsafe; that the pilots were justified in refusing to use it as it stands that for the heavier class of vessels a greater depth of water across the Wrach was indispen- sable that the continuation of the Wrach in its present condition was a pressing tax on the shipping interest of the borough, cumulatively assessed at from £ 8,000 to m0,000 per annum; that the defective water-depth of the Wrach affected 100 coal ships yearly, and was driving the heavier class of vessels to the superior accommodation of Newport. This, it will be admitted, brings to light a serious and grave state of matter. It must be financially injurious to shippers, and ultimately ruinous to the port. As a letter from Mr BOYLE, the Bute Trustee, showed, there is a doubt as to the textual accuracy of the statements of the deputation, and the Council wisely agreed to ap- point a committee to examine and report. Ihis com- mittee will be enabled to appoint a professional surveyor, so that no great time need elapse before the matters of fact may be definitely determined. Presuming that something will require to be done in behalf of the shipping and coal trade interests, the practical question arises-On whose shoulders should the liability fall ? It is clear that the Cardiff Corporation cannot be called upon to do everything, for there are interests that would benefit far more than the Corporation if the objectionable shoal were removed. It is quite true that the borough benefit from the harbour dues, and the subjoined state- ment shews the amount of dues received and the amount expended on purely shipping purposes for the last ten years Receipts. jExpendlturej Balancc. £ s. d.1 £ s. d.| £ s. d. £ s. d.1 £ a.d. £ s. d. IV,7 HirbourDues. 1992 0 6 694 2 9 1297 17 9 T)o do .J WW 17 10 285 8 6 1706 9 4 Do do j 1805 14 1 237 4 2 1568 9 11 {|o Do do J 1755 18 6 181 5 4 1574 15 2 1871 Do do .I 1579 15 2 184 4 4 1395 10 10 1872 Do do 1771 U 0 187 9 4 1584 1 8 iS Do do 1620 6 11 173 Id 1 1446 7 10 iS Do do.J 1668 6 1 181 8 3 1486 7 10 1875 Do do J 1654 11 0 201 4 4 1453 6 8 1876 Do.' do.J 1970 14 11 167 0 1 1803 8 10 17810 16 0j2493 12 215317 3 10 it may be argued that these figures show a handsome surplus, and that out of this surplus the Corporation should do what the deputation desire. That would, how- ever, be stating the facts in a very one-eyed fashion. The Corporation do not receive the dues for k particular dock or channel, but for the general use of the harbour, which implies many obligations, which will be self-evi- dent to those acquainted with the port. Supposing, as we have said, it is proved that something should be done, the responsibility should be approached in a proper spirit by the Corporation, the representatives of the Bute interest, and the Penartli Dock proprietors. A sufficient supply of water for the heavier class of ships to enter and leave the docks at all times is as necessary as the coal deposits of South Wale3 themselves. To dispute this, from the shippers' point of view, or to attempt an escape from mutual responsibility, would be decidedly suicidal, and would in ten years lose to the great interests affected infinitely more than even the estimate for the removal of the shoal in its entirety. The question, we believe, is in good hands, and, making the necessary allowance for individual opinion, we think it will be found that the Corporation will do their part in a broad spirit. The subject of the proposed Free Library, and School of Science 'and Art, gave rise to [an animated and interesting discussion, in which it was stated by Mr REES JONES, in an admirable speech, that the Committee believe they can make the "institu- ftion" more than pelf-auonortiuflr. Such a result isv per- f haps, uuique ?u tito history of free libraries, the cry 11 from the great industrl' centres—such as Bira;iiigham and Manchester—being an increase on the penny per £ of assessment. From the details given at Monday's meeting, there cannot be the shadow of a doubt as to the seif-sapposing character of the proposed scheme. A Free Library, pCi'liaPs lessthun anything else of a public nature we could name. docs not deserve to be treated on the hard-and-fast lines of pi^t- and-loss. All the greater credit then to the committee, who have been able to create a scheme that promises to be a pattern to all England. A good deal of Monday's discussion on tha Free Library scheme devolved upon Mr Pr.TEK PatC'E's plan, which the committee had, un- officially, before them. Public gratitude is an un- known quantity, but we were f.lad to hear fjmdt unanimity of opinion that Mr PIUCE should pro- fessionally superintend the work. Mr PIUCE has all the qualities necessary fur success, and he is too sensible a man to object to the suggestions of members of the Coun- cil. In these circumstances we shall look forward with confidence to an institution much needed in the borough, /rtd to an architectual work of which (,'ardiff will be proud.

NOTES IN THE HOrSE OF COMMONS. Lar A WiXSIl INDEPENDENT MEM8KB,] LONDON, SATURDAY. THE House of Commons has been a scene of great excite- ment during the past week. Indeed, the agitation on Monday was such as to defy descrintion. It was well known that a large proportion of the Liberal party were unable to support Mr Gladstone's resolutions on the Eastern question. No one doubts now that in the last resort they meant armed intervention in the affairs of Turkey. Some deprecated this policy of coercion, as being, in their belief, full of perilous possibilities, arising in part from the fanatical and anarchic condition of Turkey, and in part from the conllieting pretensions and interests of the Powers by whose armies and navies that policy was to be cavried into effect. Others who did not object to coercion by the concerted Powers of Europe. thought the time for that had gone past, since Uu.isia had taken the matter into her own hands. Then there was a third party on the Liberal side who utterly disliked a warlike coalition with Russia under any circumstances. And so, altogether, there was chaoa in the camp, and, according to the most sanguine calculations, it was not likely that more than hnlf of the party would follow their great chief into the lobby. The agitation in the country added to the strain of the situation. This was a stnte of things greatly to be deplored, and it is no wond r, therefore, that strenuous efforts were made to find some solution for so formidable a difficulty. To the last moment, however, there seemed to be no hope. When the House met on Monday the excitement was at its height. The anxiety of the public to get in was in- < tense. Every member w a.1 besieged with applications for orders, ami five or six times more orders had been given than the House at its utmost capacity could accommodate, Every seat in the part assigned to members was occupied, j while the Press G allery and the Diplomatic (J allerv were .] filled to overflowing. But gradually, during the half-hour before business began, a rumour began to circulate through the lobbies that the point of divergence between Mr Gladstone and the front Opposition bench had been "squared," that he had consented to modify his second resolution, and to withdraw the third and fourth. The effect of this an- nouncement was very different on the two sections of the Liberal party. To those who felt obliged, if all the resolutions had been pressed, to break away from their illustrious and venerated chief, it was an infinite relief. To the others who had, by their engagements and perhaps, importunities, induced him to take the course lie had taken, in formulating those resolutions, and who had been busy evoking the popular feeling in their favour, it was disappointment and m-'l'tification—at lea -.t for the moment, though, no doubt, the great bulk of them came afterwards to acquiesce in the concession made by the right lion, gentleman to his political friends, as expedient and generous. But the difficulty was how to break the thing to the House without affording a dangerous triumph to the enemy. In truth, there was 110 way of avoiding giving them at least a seeming and temporary triumph. And^ perhaps, the way taken was not the wisest that could have been adopted, namely, putting up Mr Trevelyan to ask Mr Gladstone if he would do what everybody knew he had previously agreed to do; and it is undeniable that the whole transaction had the air of a preconcerted piece of stage-play. Of course the Tories were jolly and jubilant, and although they pride themselves upon being the aristocratic and gentlemanly party on such occasions as these, no party can approach them in the display of coarse uproarious vulgar ill301ellce. There was a violent and unseemly wrangle of two hours' duration, during which Mr Gladstone was baited and badgered by small men rs a cry of curs might bait a lion. There were ludicrous episodes also, which threw the House into roars of laughter, a3 when Mr Percy Wynd- ham and Mr Bentinck stood for several minutes contend- ing for the attention of the House, bobbing up and down alternately, while some of his friends at length had to take the irrepressible Bentinck, some by the collar and some by the tails of his coat, to keep him down on his seat. All sorts of wild and conflicting suggestions were made. One proposed that the House should proeeeù with the order of the day, and so give the go-by to the resolutions alto- gether. Another, that the Government should adopt the first and second resolutions, and carry them by accla- mation. Another, that as the operative part of them had been withdrawn, they should be entirely abandoned. It was not a pleasant time for the Liberal party, nor i.ideed for any party who was jealous for the honour and dignity of the House of Commons. At length the tempest subsided, and at, or near, seven o'clock, Mr Gladstone was allowed to proceed with his reso- lutions. Any other man than he would have been cowed, or crushed, or exhausted by what had taken place. No one ever stood up to address a great assembly on a mo- mentous and critical question under more disadvanta- geous or discouraging circumstances. For two mortal hours he had been running the gauntlett of hostile criti- cism and sardonic laughter. The House had become wearied and jaded with the violence of its own emotions. Already, he had made lialf-a-dozen speeches, several of considerable length, and he had passed through a scene of ewitement well calculated to exhaust his strength and spirits to the utmost. No one need have wondered if lie had failed utterly-if his utterance had been flat, feeble, disjointed, or confused. Instead of which he at once took the house captive, and held it in his grasp, without a moment's remission or relaxation, for two hours and a half. He poured forth a stream of uninterrupted speech—fact, argument, illustra- tion, appeal, invective, denunciation-without a moment's hesitation or pause. And when he closed that mar. vellous performance by one of the most splendid perora. tions .ever delived in Parliament, there was not the smallest sign of mental or bodily exhaustion. His voice rang as clearly, his eye flashed as brilliantly, liis uplifted arms waved as commandingly, a3 during the first sentence he uttered, and when he sat down the House burst into a loud, long-continued, and often-renewed cheer, which seemed as though it would never end. Mr Cross, who spoke afterwards in representation of the Government, delivered a sound, sensible, and, in some respects, a liberal and generous speech. He denounced the Bulgarian atrocities and the general misrule of Turkey in language of unmitigated severity. jje took a good deal of the stiffening out of the anti-Russian party behind him by declaring, with great emphasis, the fixed determination of the Government to maintain a policy of strict neutrality, and he dId something to reassure the country by defining those British interests which alone he thought would justify this country from abandoning that attitude of neutrality. Since then there has been nothing very remarkable in the debate, except that it has served to develope the wide divergencies of opinion that exist on both sides of the House. The effect, however cannot fail, on the whole, to be satisfactory. It has cleared the atmosphere, and has served, no doubt, to show how utterly insignificant, in every respect, is the party of Turkopniles and Itussophobists, who have been toiling so hard for the last few months to embroil England in the Eastern quarrel, and that on the side of the most execrable Government on the face of the earth.

DEATH OF IEUAN GWYLLT. Itiswithdeen sorrow that all lovers and admirers of Welsh music will hear of the sudden death of the Rev J Roberts, Fron, Carnarvonshire The rev. gentleman was a minister of the Calvlmstic Methodist denomination He was better known as Ieuan Gwyllt," and no one has ever done so much for Welsh sacred music, and the im- provement of congregational sinking, in the Principality "Llyfr Tonau Ieuan Gwyllt is a household word with the members of every denomination in Wales. He always took a leading part in every movement in North and South Wales for the purpose of cultivating the musical talent of the Principality. His unexpected death will be, at the present time, particularly regretted by the singers of Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire The Gwent and Morganwg Musical Association," hav- ing "been for the past 20 years known as the "Temper- ance Choral and Musical Association," is henceforth to be devoted to the improvement and advancement of sacred music and congregational singing. The committee had decided to hold the first public meeting in Wood- street Congregational Church, Temperance-town, Cardiff on the 10th of September next, Mr D. Davies, M.P Llaiidinam, to be the chairman, *nd Ieuan Gwyllt the conductor. This sudden removal from our midst will leave a blank not easily filled. There is now some doubt whether the proposed meeting will take place at the appointed time, because the committee will experience great difficulty in obtaining the services of a competent successor to the talented and devoted gentleman who will be buried at Cae Athraw on Saturday next.

SMUGGLING ON AN EXTENSIVE SCALE. [SPECIAL TELEGBAM.1 At the Thames police-court, on Thursday, Robert Stroud, a general dealer, residing at Shadwell, London was fined £913 19s 6d, treble value and duty, or six months' imprisonment, on the charge of unlawfully having in his possession four and a half tons of tea and tea dust, supposed to have been removed from the docks with duty unpaid.

THE EDUCATION OF HARMLESS LUNATICS. [SPECIAL TELEGRAM.] Mr Sclater-Booth on Thursday received a deputation from the Charity Organisation Society, who recommended separation and special education of harmless lunatics and idiots, and asking the Government to deal specially with the matter. In reply, Mr Booth said tne subject should engage his constant attention, as it had done for the last three years, and he should lose no opportunity of bring- ing before the Government any means which, upon re- flection, might be suggested as an assistance to the object they had laid before him. and which ha believed Was engaging Dublic attention. <

FUOM 01JH LONDON CORRESPONDENT. LONDON, TiiURoi>Av. V* ho would have supposed three days ago that the most interesting foreign news would he not from the Danube but from the Semj ? And yet to-day it is not the move- ments of the Iviissian army, but the dismissal of the French Ministry, which is the absorbing topic. It is a most serious event. It portends, I fear, severe troubles for France. For it is nothing les3 than a coup d'etat, a bJoW struck at the Republic by an old soldier of the linipjrc, who hates the Republic. According to present appcaivu. ces Marshal MacMahon will form a Ministry as little faVoti*kle to that form of Government as himself, and the new* will speedily come into collision with the Asseirblv, which was elected only 10 months ago to uphold the'* '^pj'biic, and it will probably find itself summarily diss^Vb.1. to be followed by another elected under all reactiouarv ^A^nces which tne master of the army ever has at his ,011,01. lhuS a ne\\ dllS' turbing element is introduced int<^ troubled Emo. pean politics. wit is less than two years since these trebles was 011 July 1st, 1875, the rising took place 'u th £ go vina, wl;ich was treated as a matter of so little bnpt>- ance at first, but which lias now involved two- contni^ts in war, which, as the arrival of our ironclad fleet at Poit- Said yesterday shows, may extend to a third. The serious part of the war is, that it threatens to invoke so many races. In the last Russian war Palmerston was strongly urged to rouse the Poles against Russia, but he steadfastly refused to do that, fearing the consequences of extending the conflict from Eastern to Central Europe. There is no such restraining influence now. The Turks owe us no deference, amI if they should resolve to kindle a rebellion in Poland, as they have kindled one in Circas.ia, I do not see what is to prevent them. As for the Circassians, though Turkey handed them over bodily to Russia by the Treaty of Adrianople, in 1820, she has always fostered their hatred of their conqueror,?, and in B,")4 there was a large immigration of them into Con- stantinople, where they were fed and clothed by the late Sultan. In revenge for these agitations it seems likely enough Servia will be induced by Russia to follow the example of Roumania, and will once more declare war against Turkey; this time with a better chance of success than the la ;t. Poor Prince Milan's chances of continuing to rale at Belgrade are small. Meanwhile, our Govern- ment continues to provide for all eventualities, and has powerfully guarded the Mediterranean end of the Canab :i'jd as there are rumours of Russian ships entering the Red Sea, it is to be presumed that that end will be guarded also. Walking through the streets of London, yesterday, one <a.w a number of men wearing in their hats coloured ribbom, with the letters "N. A. L. U." embossed thereon. I confess I was a little puzzled to know who and what they were. Was there a new news association, and Wêle these its messengers ? The men looked too old for chat. Were they employed to advertise some enterpris- ing tradesman ? But "N. A. L. U." really conveyed no idea, and the ribbons were therefore useless. At last it flashed upon me that they were members of the National Agricultural Labourers' Union, who were come up to town in order to attend the meeting in support of Mr Trevelyan's resolutions for extending household suffrage to the counties. It is to be hoped they enjoyed their holi- day. These labourers had one source of enjoyment whereof they had good reason to be proud. Mr Bright, who now is too nervous to make a speech in the House of Commons, made a long speech at Exeter Hall. It had none of the old passionate oratory of 20 years ago, but it was calmly argumentative, and sedately logical, and will perhaps have all the more influence on that account. There was no setting of class against class. It was admitted that noblemen, and squires, and even parsons need not bJ outside the pale of political salvation. In fact, it was the speech of mellow and refined 60 instead of the speech of fiery nnd impetuous hi. But there was one grave omission in it. Not a word was said about the re-distribution of the fran- chise which must inevitably follow its extension. That point seems to have been kept carefully out of sight by all the principal speakers, except Sir (lias. l'i ke. Yet it is there that the real difficulty lies. it is there that the conflict when it really comes 011 will be fought. And it will be so arduous that our foremost statesmen seem to shrink from entering u: on it. liven Mr Glad- stone, omnivorous of work though he is, and certain though he would be to rally the Liberal party round him if he were to take up this question in earnest, has hitherto avoided it. Perhaps he remembers the pains and perils that attended the birth of his last Reform Bill. Perhaps he fears that if he were once to set his heart to the task, he might find it paralysed by Whig defections, and the accomplishment of the work taken from him by his poli- tical opponents, A man who is within two years of three score and ten may well be pardoned for hesitating to undertake the redistribution of political power in a great nation li.<e this. One thing is as certain as any political event still in the future can be, namely, that should Mr Gladstone, or any prominent Liberal, introduce a new Refer.it Bill i is not the Conservative leader who will di-di" him this time. A year ago Mr Disraeli was still one of the two most prominent persons in England. But Lord Beacons- field seems to have dropped almost out of sight. This session he has really hardly spoken, immensely impor- tant though politics have been. He has left his colleagues to speak on them, as though a European war, or the annexation of a new African colony', or a mea- sure deeply affecting the position of the Church, were mere departmental matters, to be dis- cussed by the heads of deA a -tn e .t->. This, it is guessed, is due in part to the fact that the Premier has been out-voted in his own Cabinet, and that the majority of his colleagues have refused to sanction the histrionic and bellicose policy in the East which he, and Mr Hardy, and Mr Ward Hunt wished to adopt. However that may be, there seems to be also a considerable failure of power in the Premier, a failure which he himself admitted when he explained at Aylesbury that he had wished the Queen to relieve him of his functions, and which seems to have increased since he removed to the Upper House. Though there is but four years difference between the Premier and the ex-Premier, the difference of vitality is enormous. Mr Gladstone's energy is almost superhuman. To-day it is announced that he is about to be a guest of Mr Chamberlain, at Birmingham, and to be the chief figure in a great Liberal demonstration in the Midlands. That is likely to prove a most important event in the history of the Liberal party. Mr Chamberlain has for some time been diligently working to win Mr Gladstone over to the Radical section of the party, and all the world has been saying that the support which the member for Birmingham gave.to the ex-Premier on his resolutions —and that support was infinitely more than his silent vote, for it was Mr Chamberlain who organised the meet- ings throughout the provinces—would have to be paid for by Mr Gladstone's acceptance of at least some of the planks of the Birmingham platform. I venture to pre- dict that we shall see this prediction fulfilled before Parliament reassembles. I do not expect to see Mr Gladstone declare for disestablishment, but I think it highly probable that he will pronounce in favour of house- hold suffrage in the counties, and rearrangement of the electorate. I do not profess to understand why Patti should be treated as a heroine. If she had been a Florence Night- ingale, fresh returned from the hospitals at Scutari, she could not have had a more enthusiastic reception than she had on Tuesday. Wherefore I suppose that the Upper Ten think it is a laudable thing for a wife to make her husband so jealous that he finds it absolutely necessary to separate from her. At the other Opera house there is much talk about the prima donna, who did not appear one night because she was "inùÍE.posed." That is a word of wide meaning, and in this case it is understood to cover a serious difference between Madame Nilsson and Mr Mapleson. An experimenthas been tried lately at some of our theatre. with great success. Mr Hayes has extended to theatres the system which is already in existence so far as our London evening newspapers are concerned, that of ha\ ing a special wire between the city and the theatres. Thus gentlemen in the city wishing to order seats can do so by going to Mr Hayes's office in Royal Exchange Buildings, instead of having to send a messenger, I do not think it is generally known that Gounod was originally intended for the church, and to this early train- ing of his may be traced his love for church music. Rather agood story is told of him. Not long ago he was leaning out of a box at the Theatre Lyrique, in Paris, at the first representation of the "Timbre d'Argent,"and he followed so intently the music in the score which he had in his hand that the audience began watching him. Suddenly a voice was heard in the gallery saying "That fellow in the box wants'to make us think he can read music." The man judged others by himself. He would have been an impostor if he had pretended to follow the score and so he took for granted that Gounod was. Baron Gustave de Rothschild is having his house in Paris decorated with great splendour. One salon of light carved wood heightened with gold will illustraate episodes from Tasso's "Jerusalem Delivered." The work is being executed by the baron's fellow-countryman, M. Henri Levy. Why does not someone write a history of remarkable gems ? If it were properly done it would contain inci- dents enough to make a most interesting narrative. Here is a small contribution to the suggested work. There is a diamond now for sale at Brigham Young's capital, Salt Lake city. It weighs carats, and is an inch in diameter. For many hundred years it was in the family of an East Indian prince. By him it was presented to Queen Christina of Spain, who gave it to her daughter Isabelle on the occasion of her marriage- The ex-Queen of Spain was forced to part with it. AfterJ slie '.had abdicated, a. gentleman from St Louis, United States, bought the jewel at an auction in London. Subsequently it was stolen from him at Saratoga Springs. He got it back by giving a reward of £1,000, and no questions asked." Afterwards the purchaser went to Salt Lake City, where he sold the stone for mining pro- perty valued at 22,000 dollars. The mine developed well, and the lucky speculator made over £12,000 by his bar- gain. The diamond passed into rude hands. The, miner who hadjbought it was cheated out of it by some Chicago gamblers, who sold it to a diamond dealer, who in turn sold itito the firm in Salt Lake.City which now possesses the stone. Mining property in the United States has fallen terribly in value during the last few months. There has been a most serious decline in the value of American railway securities, and it is estimated that there has been a Lahrinkaere of one-third in 23 American railwav storks since But mining property La-; rtlufiuk tar moiC. Many companies have dropped out of eight, the mine- being abandoned, awl the in t!! .). lost t > the shareholders. In otheis the decline hswf Dev. h-emend- Thus tlie California mine, v:.o ■> r:,pitai \1 :<,» n Y"'lI' ag > about £ 10,000,000 sterling, ha< dwindled to less ti*1! £ 4,000,000, and its shares, quoted in 1;>7<> at '.lH dollar-, are now at 34. Hie Consolidated Virginia share* fetch just one-third of their market value a year ago, a.ul the property,then rated at kr',253,0C0 sterling,is now estimated at about £ 3,2o0,000. In this way the decrease of wealth at San Francisco has bfen. prodigious. Probably the speculators of that very go-a-head city will now turn their attention to coin. The closing of the Russian ports will give ample room for big gains by American speculators.

THE TYNJLWVDD COLLIERY LNti.NDATIO.N. on: owx HIJPOIU'EU.] The adjourned inquiry relative to the cause of the inundation of the Tynewydd ( olliery was re-tuned on Thursday morning, at 'the Rheola Inn, Porth, before Mr Coroner Overton. '1 he various interests concerned were represented as under:—Mr G. F. Hill appeared for the Troedyrhiw Coal Company; Mr W. Simons appeared for the manager, Mr James Thomas Mr "'ickard watclrfrt proceedings 011 behalf of the i" 'onal Union of JIinv,rs' luere were also present Mr ->. H. Leresche, h-riTisW' Manchester, who had been instructed by the IIoiiiOflK'e to attend; and Mr Wales, the Government inspccto?' /OI> *110 district. Mr Picked >as "rst called as a witness. He said that on the 5th of May, by j,ermk,ion ofthepro- prietors, he ^esceilued the pit. Accompanied by Mr AY Davies Hlr %d'n"fl(i lliomas, Air J/avid Davies," and V.ici.'ird Howell, the overman, he visited the points wile. ther ;.nen were rescued also the dip heading, and went to Charles I'atndge s heading. He naw the work that was done; jl-ud it reflected the highest credit 011 all who had taken par,, u' it. 1<(- amination of Charles Oatridge's heau'ug where we water went through,and of the old workings m the tyinrnt, pit, in company with Howell, showed 110 traces' of tue fatlit. He gave it as his opinion that there was not 1 'Ore than yard of coal between the face of Oatridge's hea^mg and the old workings, of which Oatridge had holed nearly 2 feet U idches. It was quite certain the water came from tlieoldworkings. In \m. Dade8' stall he found the face of the coal quite dry, and as the water was 40 or [10 feet above that spot,he concluded that the compressed air prevented the water reaching that part in the f-ame manner as in Thomas Morgan's stall. The force of the water must have been extraordinary, for large misses of stune from five to ten tons weight had bjeii moved from their places and carried a considerable distance (several yards) by the water. Water always accumulated in old workings, and the Cynimer workings being on the dip, the natural conclu- sion was that water accumulated in them. Under the 0th rule of the Act of Parliament that was a circum- stance which ought to have been provided against. The company must have anticipated it—at any rate a man of ordinary capacity ought to have expected it, even a subordinate officer. The provisions of the 0th rule re- quired the making of bore-lioles in approaching a place likely to contain wate", and that the working should not exceed eight feet in width. Had Charles Oatridge drilled a hole in the ordinary cour-e ofmining, he would, witness believed, have tapped the water had he adopted the mode required by the Act, there would have been no danger of an accident. In Lancashire this had been done many times, and the water thus let out without any danger. That, he presumed, was the usual course, and was carried on in South Wales as well as in Lancashire. He thought the omission of that step amounted to cul- pable negligence. Mr Simons objected to that way of putting it. Witness said it was the course which would have been adopted-by any person in charge, if lie had taken the trouble to think about it. It was the duty of the officials connected with the mine to have provided against the contingency. Replying to Mr Leresche, witness said the very object of phcing suelL persons as overmen in a mine was not only to guard the property of the company, but to pro- tect men's lives from such accidents as these. Incases where a fault had been expected and afterwards not dis- covered, it was usual to take especial measures of pre- caution gainst such contingencies. To Mr Simons. witness said the immunity of accidents in the pit, if such were the fact, to this period, reflected creditonthecomp-uiy. In his opinion, Mr Jas. Thomas was a man of practical experience. He was certificated manager of three or four collieries, and he would not have been placed in that position unless he were a man of experience. i Mr Simons said Mr Thomas was only certificated mana- ger of ihis colliery. Mr Pickard said then he had been misinformed. Mr Simons asked whether the existence of a 7-vards downthrow fault might not have impressed Mr James Thomas with the safety of his operations, without the ordinary precaution of boring? Witness said that was a matter of opinion. He thought the water would rise up through the ''listings if it were above seven vanb. A Juryman expre-sed his dissent from that view, and said there had been 110 experience of that kind of thing in South V. ales. The report of Mr Wales, the Government illspector of mines, was next taken. In his report Mr Wales stated that for some 20 years previous to the time of the inun- dation in the Tynewydd pit, the No. 3 Rhondda vein, lying at a depth of from iSS to 00 feet from the surface, had been worked. Adjoining the Tynewydd Colli*.ry, situated some 500 or 000 yards to the south-west, was Hiinde's pit, in whie^ colliery the No. 3 Rhondda vein was also worked. loorl7 years ago these workings were abandoned, and the water was allowed to accumulate until it reached a certain point about 2H or 30 yards above the lowest point in the Tynewydd deep workings on the face of Oatridge's heading, when it flowed to what was know n now as the Cymmer steam coal, or No. 1 pit, and was there lifted to the surface. The workings off ;,ud t < the rise of )atridgF' heading had not been driven to the boundary, Imt ouly to the fault running east and v. est, and was said to be at tlult point a downthrow fr<1il1 Tynewydd colliery of seven yards, and where last struck was from 17 to 20 yards short of the boundary. The sur- vey taken four months before the inundation showed that the face of Oatridge's heading was 44 yards short of the boundary; after that d;,te, therefore, it had been driven at the rate of about 11 yards per month or 2; yards per week. No evidence had been given to show that during the time Oatridge's heading was being driven (i.e., from the 14th December to the 11th April) these 44 yards, any steps whatever were taken to ascertain whether or no the boundary had been reached. When the survey of the 11th April was plotted, it was ascertained that Oatridge's heading, which gave way, had been reached by the water, but though the water had reached, it had not passed over the boundary. From the evidence it would appear that Oatridge had spoken to Mr Thomas, the manager, about the old works and the water, had drawn the attention of Howells, the overman, to the coal beinj tender, and showing a little more water than usual, and had said they must be either getting near a fault or water. Had Howella known of no water in front of Charles Oatridge's heading, he thought he would have said so. No. 0 General Rule of the Coal Mines' Inspec- tion Act, 1872, stated that" where a place is likely to contain a dangerous accumulation of water, the working approaching such place shall not exceed 8 feet in width, and these shall be constantly at a sufficient distance (not being less than five yards in advance) at least one bore-hole near the centre of the working, and sufficient flank bore-holes on each side." As to what had been said about the fault his opinion was that if the coal were worked on each side of a seven yards' fault, such fault would not form a safe or sufncient barrier against a great pressure of water. When Oatridge's heading had been driven some 20 yards or so from the point indicated in the plan by the December survey, no indications of the fault having been met with, such heading should at once have been put in narrow, and bore-holes made in accord- ance with the general rule just quoted. This having been omitted lie considered the iule had not been complied with, and to that he attributed the inundation and conse- quent loss of life. ^rV ith reference to the depositing of plans of old or abandoned workings, by the 42nd section of the Coal Mines Regulation Act of 1872, it was enacted that, except with the permission of the person depositing tlie plans of abandoned workings, no owner could see them until after the lapse of 10 years. lie could not see any valid reason why such plans should not be accessible to any person fairly interested as soon as the plans were deposited, and in his opinion such plans should be kept, not in London but in an office under the control of the inspector of mines for the district. In this way information might be obtained which would prevent in future such accidents as these. No. 30 general rule of the Coal Mines In- spection Act (1872) provided for the inspection of mines at the instance of two persons engaged by those working in the mine, and he regretted that on the part of the workmen for whose safety it was enacted, this im- portant rule was universally ignored and neglected. If the workmen were to carry out this rule they would at all times be fully acquainted with the condition of the colliery, and would be able to discover if anything went wrong. They would then be easily able to communicate the fact to the inspector of the district, and the matter would at once be attended to. If such a system of in- spection by the workmen were fairly and properly carried out. it would considerably aid the efficient working of the present Mines Inspection Act. In the present case it was pretty certain that some at least of the workmen in the Tynewydd Colliery must have known of the accumula- tion of water in Hiinde's pit, and if this had been made known to him (Mr Wales) the matter would have been investigated, and doubtless the danger discovered. He took the present opportunity of again directing attention to the neglect of the 30th general rule, and to the im- portance of its being carried out by the colliers of the district. The Coroner drew attention to a statement made in a lecture in London, which he thought was rather pre- judging the case, and therefore ought to be contradicted, as it involved a charge againstthe owners of this property. It was said that the Troedyrhiw Company ought to have had access to the plan of the workings of the Cymmer colliery. As a matter of fact the workings of the Cymmer were abandoned prior to the passing of the Act of 1872, and as that was the case there was no obligation on that company to deposit their plans, and the Troedyrhiw Company had no right to access to them. Mr Pickard Then they could have had no access at all to the Cymmer plans. The Coroner They could not. Mr Simons said they had no right of access to the plan as matters stood at present, and therefore could not be held responsible for not having examined them. In reply to Mr Simons. Mr Wales said that he had always found Mr James Thomas skilful and courageous in carrying out the measures for the rescue of the impri- soned men. Everything was done that could be done, and he never heard such a thing hinted at as the sparing of expense. In reply to some other questions, Mr Wales said that had Oatridge communicated to him tlie fact of the pre- sence of water, he should have caused steps to be taken which would have prevented this accident. His opinion was that Oatridge thought water was in front of him. What could he mean when he said lie was getting near a fault, or an accumulation of water ? The Coroner You don't mean to say that that relieves the proprietors from responsibility. Mr Wales said he certainly did not. The Coroner then summed up at great length. After recounting the circumstances under which the accident occurred, lie said there could be no doubt as to the source whence the water which flooded the mine proceeded. It would appear that all the five men, except Morgan, who was killed by the rush of compressed air, were found drowned at or near the places where they were at work, showing that the inundation extended through that por- tion of the colliery. It was for the jury to consider whether the inundation arose from accident or from cul- pable neglect. It would appear that on one side of the leading, at all events, the company had worked beyond their boundary, and further, that Oatridge's stall was about ten yards in width, and that there were 110 bore- holes whatever in front. It must have been well known to the Troedyrhiw Company that the old workings which had been discontinued for 17 years adjoined their col- liery, and the rational presumption must have been that thev contained more or less v-and mijw like all other V.'orkings. Tlie explanation offered by tbf :iu.i4fr was that lie was igitorant of the exi-fcaice of water in the old w orkings believing that they *«re lower than his workings by the measure of the douxthrow fault, seven old workings, believing that scre lower than his 11 .3,1 workings by the measure of the douxthrow fault, seven is, and that they were thy, He stated that Hiinde's pit was 11 yards deeper to the No. '6 vein thau the Ty- newydd pit to the same vein. He thought it was no use boring, as he believed his workings were at least reven is 'I y».'Ak- higher than those in the Hiinde's pit. This might, in some mea-'ue, extenuate, but he could not for a moment consider that it would justify or Oxcn>»°-the w ant of such caution a" should have been exercised. Ti»i*ir not finding the fault should have rendered them more cautious, nisteadol their heedlessly driving iu the heading, utterly reg^rdle^s of the plan. He was not much surprised at this wht>,U °ihcers of the pit, who e duty it was to vatch witters (Richard Howells and David Rees) were ign^'aut as not to be aide to read or w rite. The mode iu which |he journal was kept also showed a want of regularity ailu proper system. It was attempted to show that then- 'l been some error in the plans, and. that the boundary of the colliery extended further than was described oil the plan. Th..tt lie did not think of the slightest importance in th^case, as the working plan of the colliery was the prope^ifiicial plan by winch they should be guided. The result had shown, from the evidence of Mr Peil, that the ;an was correct. Explaining the law as to culpable neg- ligence, the Coroner said that the general rule was that when death occurred, either, firstly, from want of due caution C-ii on the part of a person in performing an act, or, secondly, from his neglect to perform a duty devolving on him, the law held hi.n guilty of man-daughter. It was the pro- vince of the jury to decide whether what was proved before them in this particular instance amounted to carelesMie s or negligence of such a kind or degree a.s to (-o:yie within the meaning of the general rule. Having cited a number of cases in exphaatiotl) the coroner proceeded to say that the cases to which he had referred sufficiently showed that managers, agents, and others who had duties to perform, on the due and careful performance of which depended the lives of miners and others engaged in these dangerous undertakings, were bound to bring to the exercise of their respective duties ordinary and reasonable pre- cautious, as well as skill and abilitv. J f they should be of o;iinion that this "unfortu- nate occurrence arose from the neglect of any one, or the omission of any particular precaution which ought to have been taken, they would be able to a certain from the rules whether it was required by the rules to be per- ti.med, and whose duty it was to perform it. By this mean's they would thus be able to discover who was the dehnqwut, and it would be for the it to say whether the neglect ""4" of such serious cliaricter, a. would amount to criminality or not. By clause 51. rvilc 0, it wa" en- acted that where a plac- was Jikelv to retain a dan- gerous accumulation of water, the should not exceed eight feet in width, and there should be canstantlv kept at a sufficient distance in advance (not lexa than yards) at least one bore-hole near the centre of the work- ing, and sufficient flank bore-holes on each side. The manager and under-manager were resiK>n.sible for carrying out the provisions of the Act and the special rules for fclic safety of the collierv. The questions for the jury -a-ere Did they consider that the officers of the pit were, or ought to be,aware of the old Workings in Hiinde's pitpatd. that the old workings were likelv to contain gas or water'; If so, did they consider tlie rules had been complied with? i Did they consider that the condition of Charles Oat- ridge's stall, being 10 yards in width, and having no bore-holes, was in compliance with the Act. If it were not in such a state as was in compliance with the Act he feared they could come to no other conclusion than that there had been such a violation of the Act as amounted to culpable neglect, or manslaughter. If they were of opinion there had been culpable neglect, they would next have to decide who was responsible for it. It was quite clear by the Coal Mines' Regulation Act that both the manager and overman of the colliery, or one of them was responsible. If-they thought, on tlie other hand,'that the Act did not apply, and that there' had been no culpable neglect, hut that the catastrophe arose from a pure accident, which no ordinary foresight or pre- caution could anticipate, then they could only come to the conclusion, however serious the consequences of the accident might have been, that it was purely accidental. In conclusion he left the matter in the hands of the jurv. with full confidence that they would give such a decision as would satisfy the ends of justice and their own eon- sciences. As to the recovery of the impri-'oned colliers, they might, he thought, conclude that every possible ex- ertion which science, skill, or practical experience c >ald suggest, and manly courage, indomitable perseverance, and extraordinary- labour accomplish, were put in force on this occasion, and this memorable event would alwavs be considered as one of the most wonderful occurrences of the jiresent century. VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER AGAINST THE MANAGER The jury deliberated for upwards of three 1." and on there-admission oftltepnbllc, Tlie Foreman (Mr T. T. Davie-) announced that the verdict of the jury was to the following effect:—Theyh;,d agreed that four of the miners who were killed n.et their death through the neglect of the manager, Mr James Thomas, but they were of opinion that he was led to make a mistake by the impression he was under of the ex- istence of a fault in the coal before the boundary was reached. The foremain said that the verdict was the unanimous opinion of twelve of the sixteen jurymen four of the jurymen dissenting from that view of the accident. In accordance with the direction of the coroner the jury then returned a verdict of man-laughter against Mr Ja: .,es Thoma>, the manager of the colliery. Bad was accepted for his re-appearance, himself in C200, Mr Edmund Thomas, Llwyncelyn, and Mr Daniel Thomas, Biytliweunydd, flOlI each. On Thursday au interesting gathering took place iu connection with the unfortunate disaster at Tynewydd. ,.riie united choirs of the district, including representatives from the Methodist, Baptist, and Independent denomi- nations, assembled at Cymmer Chapel, for the purpose of assisting in a thanksgiving service for the safe recovery to health of those of the imprisoned colliers who have been recently restored to their friends. The district choirs(n:unbering in all upwards of 200 voices) were sup- plemented by a good many strangers to the immediate locality, including a few representatives from Aber- dare. The meeting partook of the character of both a thanksgiving and reception service, for the nine rescued men on this occasion made their first public appearance together. An interesting feature in the proceeding* was tha singing of the anthem composed specially to com- memorate the rescue, by Professor Parry, of Aberystwith. After hymns had been sung, and a portion of Scripture read by the Rev Mr Evans, Pentre. an address was given by Mr Edmund Thomas, Llwyneelvn. After Mr Thomas's address, vivid accounts of their sufferings, Mid of the way in which their time was pas ed prior to their release, were given by the rescued men. Another address followed, by the Rev Mr Thomas (English Baptist minis- ter), and after Mr Evans had delivered an appropriate address to the rescued men, the anthem was sung. Prof. Parry was unfortunately precluded attending, and a tele- gram was received by Mr Jabez Watkins, who had the chief direction of the proceedings, regretting his inability to be present. In the absence of Professor Parry, Mr Gwillnn Thomas, whose name will be familiar from the prominent part he took in the release of the incarcerated colliers, led the anthem. The singing left nothing to be desired, and created a profound impression on a crowded congregation. In the anthem, which is written in Welsh, is incor- porated a brief extract from the now well-known hymn— In the deep and mighty waters There is none to hold mv head. The meeting, which was of a most impressive character throughout, terminated with prayer and the singing of the Doxology. TheLord Mayor of London, being anxious to dis- tribute the money subscribed to the Mansion House Im- prisoned Miners and Rescuers' Fund, Troedyrhiw Col- liery. Pontypridd, 1877, has asked the Rev D. W. Williams, of Fairfield, if lie would, at his earliest con- venience, kindly obtain the names of the persons com- posing the various exploring parties on the occasion of the accident, and some details of the services rendered by each, so that the committee, who will soon be called together, may judge of their merits, as far as the tund is concerned. He would also be glad to have the names of the im risoned men, and some particulars as to their families, &c., and, in addition, a list of the widows and orphans. The committee's suggestions as to the best way of appropriating the fund for the real good of the men would be most welcome.

Sol Tll WALES AND MONMOUTHSHIRE BRANCH OF THE BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. The spring meeting of the above branch was held (by permission of the committee) at the Swansea Hospital on Tuesday last. The president (Dr Andrew Davies) and about 20 other members attended and papers and com- munications contributed by Messrs J. H. Wathen, Fish- guard Padley and J. G. Hall, Swansea; and Russell, Neath; were discussed. A form of petition to the Home of Commons, in favour of Dr Cameron's Bill for facilita- ting '"the control and cure of habitual drunkards," was approved and signed by almost every member of the association present. In the evening the members dined together at the Maekworth Hotel. Among the visitors to the meeting and dinner was Dr C. J. B. Williams, F.R..S., of London, and a very distin- guished member of the medical profession, and one who has contributed materially to the progress of medical science, in connection especially with diseases of the chest. He was heartily welcomed, and his presence added to the interest of a meeting which, though not large, was a profitable and pleasant one. Dr Williams is. we understand, on a. visit to his son-in-law, the Yicar of Swansea. The next and annual meeting of the branch will be held at Brecon on the 11th July, when the presi- dent elect, Dr Talfourd J ones, will enter on the duties of his year of office.

CALYINISTIC METHODIST GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT LIVERPOOL. tSFECIAt.TELKGRAM.I The general assembly of the Calvinistic Methodists is being held this week at Liverpool. A committee to arrange the programme met on Tuesday evening, and the first sitting of the assembly was held at Chatham- street Chapel on Wednesday evening. There was a numerous gathering of ministers. The Rev Owen Jones, of Liverpool, having been elected secretary, a vote of condolence was passed to the widow of the late Rev John Roberts (Ienau Gwyllt). The Rev Dr EDWARDS, retiring moderator, then de- livered his valedictory charge. Having referred to the work of foreign missionaries, lie argued that every true minister, wherever his lot might be cast, was a missionary, even at every town and village in Wales. He had he said, a predilection for the primitive usages of their denomination, and loved the old practice of itinerant preaching. He had the greatest feeling of respect to- wards lay preachers. lie concluded by referring to the missionary spirit requisite to reach the rising generation, the importance of endeavouring to secure the right class ofpastors, and the proper mode of training them. The Rev. DAVID SAVKDEP.s, Swansea, was then instal- led as moderator. On the motion of the Rev. OV.FX THOMAS, seconded by the Rev. CHARLES DAVIES, London, a vote of thanks was awarded to the late moderator. On Thursday the meeting assembled, and it was re- solved that the next assembly meet at Aberystwith. The Rev Tlios. Joseph, Carno, was elected moderator for next year. It was agreed that Mr Evans, Holywell, print the'two Dri/sorjas for seven years, Mr Jones, New port, the Trrasurij for the same period, and that the portrait of the Rev Win. Evans, Tonyrefail, appear in the January number of the Dnjsorfa. At two in the afternoon the annual report on the foreign missions was read, after which^ the liev Owen Owens, Liverpool, introduced the Rev Hugh Roberts, who had laboured in India, and Dr Ciee intro- duced the two missionary candidates, Messrs Griffith Griffiths and Robert Evans. At six in the evening a missionary meeting was held.

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) ABERQAYEHY BOARD of 1)J,;¡.l' Ü, LJl.I.I.J h J. GUAllDlAiia. EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDING 07 TUB CHAIRMAN. Tile fortnightly meeting of this board was held "at "W orkhouse, on Thursday, Mr Tlios. Watkms, the man of the board, presiding, the attendance of guardiaiS* not being large. Oil the commencement of the public bu.siiie.ss, Mr S. HAULEl PAI.V said I beg to direct the atten- tion of this board to the most irregular and extraordinary proceedings of our chairman, Mr Watkins, at the Lhw- over school, on Iriday, April 20th-the dav after his ap- pointment as a member upon the school attendance com- mittee. Llanoyer is the parish for which 1 ha\e the I honour of being one of the guardians, but it forms part of tLe district of the school attendance committee, of which Mr Watkins is a member. I nat gentleman, from whom as chairman of sucli an important body of public men as the <mardiatu of ,^1S umou naturally expect a good exampfe, visited this se.lltl;i taking with him a Mr Mo.ieiey, and there they made* A very peculiar demonstration. Mr Mo.setey must have himseif to have been it, the com- pany of the Grand -lui'ic, w ho was supposed to make and unmake laws at Ins a'ugust pleasure. 1 ha\e no wish to impute oi- insinuate i>er.iial motives to any member of this board when in discharge of his public duties, but why w as tli> indecent haste shown of visiting the .school the day after his app<.)itttinpiit? Or what authority had Mr Watkins and Mr Moseley for their escapade at Han- over School1 know of no authority for it, and I have carefully perused the Elementary Educ:tt¡(111 Act of la it session. (The Chairman: I have not.) I cannot iind anything to warrant snch proceeding. which can only end iu bringing this board into public disrepute. i'erha]>s Mr liatt (tlie clerk) will inform the board whether the Elementary Education Act of last session gives Mr Watkih- any authority for his conduct. (Hear, hear.) The ( Jerk L pon this subject 1 have receive 1 the fol- lowing letter from Air Lyne, solicitor to Lady Llan- oier; [con.] Bank-chambers, ^Newport, Mom, May I'J, 1877. "Dear Sir,—1 am instructed by my client, Lady Llao* over, to call the attention of the guardians of the Aber- gavenny Union to the following statement of tacts Un Friday, the 2dth April. Air Watkins, chairman of their board, and a Air Miseley, who i", I believe, a school- master jiving ill the parish of Llauvair, marched into Lady Llanover s school, at Hanover, and informed the schoolmaster that they were appointed by the board of guardians to inquire into the efficiency of the K'ho_>I. ihey examined Uie children ami catechi^d the master, and then insjxvted the school-house ami masters resi- dence i the latter being-a separate building from the for- mer). with both of which they found fault. Htatiug tha.t the masters Jiou^e was not in accordance witli th# la w; they also complained that there were lI.t sufficient maps ana UOll: in the school, and iinallv, on leaving tiny premises, they had the insolence to order the schoolmaster to cojnmaiucate\\hat they had said to Lady I.lanovi'i', and to tell her ladyship that if they were not attended to they would report tiie matter. I may «l-o mention th;tt Mr atkins. when accidentally meeting the schoooiia.stei' about a weeic ago at a railway station, accosted him, and' informed ilil:1 tnat lie his colleagues intended t" h(ll<J'! a meeting in Lady Llanovei's schoolroom as ao.m as they could aiiaage a day I "1 shall teel obliged by your laying this letter before your board at their next meeting, and letting me know whether they, the board, really authorised Messrs Wat- kins and Moseley to commit this most gross and unwar- rantable trespass upon private property, and, if so, by what Act of Farliament and section they claim the right to do so, as I a:u quite unable to find any Act which justifies the guardians of the Abergavenny l' Hi"I!, or their nominees, in even entering uiH>n private property of iiij' client without her sanction. Yours truly, "C. "K. Lv;,i. W. F, Batt, E-ip Clerk to Guardians, Abergavenny Union, Abergavenny." The CHAIKMAN The matter is a very simple one. The whole question is this Is the school a public ele mentary school ? 1 suppose it is, for 1 hud it receives Government grants. Ko doubt you have .received pri- communication upon this subject. The Clerk: I have received no communication from any person except the one I have just read. The CHAIKMAN The school is a public elementary school, and 1 can therefore visit it. Besides, 1 am a ratepayer of Llanover, and I have liberty to enter the school when I pleitse, as such. Mr PAIN That is quite another thing, but you have no right to enter the school as a guardian. The If it is a public elementary school, I have a right to go there, if we arc going to send children there under the authority of the attendance com- mittee. Mr WILLIAMS (vice-chairman) The question seems to me to be Has the chairman exceeded his duties in enter- ing and examining the scholar* of Llanover School (lleai hear.) J The T'LIAINVIAN I don't think I have I simply asked the children to read. Air WILLIAMS If you did not exceed your duty we have nothing further to do it. I examined the scholars at several schools besides those at Llanover School. The Rev S. R. Y OUN'G In what capacity did you at- tend and examine the children ? The CHAIKMAN As a member of the school attendance committee, I went to see what accommodation there was at the school, ai'ii 1 found it deficient. Mr HILEY; Tlie chairman was appointed on the school attendance committee. Mr PAII' What about Mr Moseley, I know nothing when he was appointed. (Hear, hear.) M i' WILLIAMS If I understand this matter rightly, this visit of our chairman took place on the 20th of April, and lie was accompanied by Air Moseley. That wax before the sub or district committees were appointed. Mr 1'AINI: Yes, sir, the very day after the new board a-sembled for the first time. Mr WILLIAMS: What was the school attendance com- mittee appointed for ? The Clerk They were appointed to inquire into the attendance of children at school, not to insect the schools. Air PAIN How about Mr Moseley ? The CHAIRMAN The board appointed me, and I appointed him. Mr PAIN That you had no right to do. (Hear, hear.) The CHAIRMAN Oh, very well. The Rev Mr YOVXG thought that while they had to see to the attendance of children at schools, they had nothing to do inside the school. Her Majesty's inspectors were the jiersons to say whether the school was a fit one 01 not. Even if Air Watkins went to the school, and ex- ceeded his duty in doing so, it was not to be supposed that he did so intentionally to insult Lady Llanover. Air PAIN Then he should not have gone there. You must leave the public to judge that. The CHAIBMAX suggested that the answer to the letter should be an inquiry if the school was a public elemen- tary receiving Government aid. The Rev S. R. Yoi XG I think it is due to Lady Llanover that she should have a reply to this letter, an5 to state also that we have not appointed anybody to visit schools. -The CHAinMAX I do not see the necessity for it. The Rev S. H. YOUNG We have not appointed any one to inquire into the efficiency of schools. It is certain that we have not appointed Mr Aloseley in any shape or form. The Clerk The board did not authorise any one to inspect the schools, and I think I had better confine my- self simply to that answer. (Hear, hear.) The CHAIRMAN No, no, that would be a censure on me. I think if you confine yourself to what I said Mr WILLIAMS But we must clear ouMeives. We have not ordered these things, and we must stand right before the public. Mr PAIN I propose that the suggestion of Air Batt as to the form of reply be adopted. The CHAIRMAN 1 should suggest a reply that tlio letter was read. The Clerk: I do not know that there is not in this a ground for action of trespass. The CHAIRMAN Then the best course is not to say anything. Mr PaIV pressed his motion, and the chairman put on his hat and left the room. The Rev S. R. YOVNG, in his absence, pleaded that Ml Watkins had done what he believed to be right, and if ha acted in error it was better to state that. They had a pbin question put to them, and they had a plain answer to give. Mr AIORGAX Air Watkins did not visit the Llanover school only. He visited others also. Air PAIN But two wrongs do not make one right. After a short time the chairman returned and resumed his seat, expressing some surprise that the question had not dropped, and while the discussion was proceed- ing. called out twice for the order book from the relieving officer. Air PAIN Mr Chairman, had we not better finish one first ? (Hear, hear.) The CHATHMAX Let me have the order book. Mr PAIN I have proposed that the answer to the letter be as Mr Batt suggested. The CHIRMAX Has Mr Batt drafted the answer? Air RILEY proposed as an amendment that the answer be that Mr Wat-Kins having been appointed ou the school attendance committee, felt it his duty to visit the schools. The CHAIKMAN I think we had better do as they do sometimes ill the House of Commons, move the previous question. Air PAIN That would be wrong. The CHAIRMAN (sharply): What is wrong? Air PAtX If you had no authority to act as you dul an answer ought to be sent to the letter. The CHAIRMAN I have told you before that, being on the school attendance committee, I considered it my duty to visit the schools, and I was very much surprised to find only 19 children at Llanover school. The Clerk I am asked to read the letter to the board, and I am also asked to inform Air Lyne whether the board authorised Air Watkins to take the proceedings he did. 1 must press for you to decide what answer I am to give. The Rev S. R. YOUNG Is there any objection to say that the Board did not authorise the chairman. Air PAtX That is what must be done. The Clerk I can say that the chairman was previously appointed on the attendance committee, hut the board did not authorise him to visit the schools. The CHAIRMAN (hastily): Yerv well, that will do. Air PAIN 1 propose that the reporters be furnished with a copy of Air Lyne's letter. Air WILLIAMS seconded the motion. The clerk was about to hand the letter to the reportera, when the Chairman took it from him, saving. Jso, no; I shall first put it to the meeting whether it be allowed. It is very unusual. Never publish letters. Air ElLKY proposed that the letter be not published. Air PAIN Who secravl, it? The CHAIRMAN 1 will, if no <m" else do so. rl lie amendment was put to the lneetiu; when f >u» voted for it, and three against it, several remaining neutral. The Clerk appealed to the Chairman t recon*], r t),o last resolution, hand the letter to the reporters, and' prevent the resolution from being published. The Chairman refused, and vacated the chair, handing;, the letter to the clerk, and telling him that it was in II'IM custody, and lie must be responsible for it. The Rev Mr Young begged of the chairman to go back todiis seat and withdraw his amendment. The clerk again appealed to him. and several members crowded around the chair- man, and urged him that it would be better to publish, ■ the letter, and let the public know its contents fairly. a¥ the reporters had taken notes of it, and no doubt it w ou^ I be published. They also urged that the chairniiv i'g amendment, if published, would be most injurious. I,- A reporter said that it was customary for documents read at public meetings to be handed to them V, copy accurately. The CHAIRMAN said they were not, gOlng to he dic- tated to by reporters, and, pntting; on his hat, lett tha, room. The proceedings then terminated.

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excuses ready for the occasion. V.'luil is most ilritatiug to an Englishman in tliese speeches is the tender and pathetic way in which some mem- bers speak of the Turks. Mr lloisuurK lauds them a sober, a prudent, and a gentle race and Sir I'AWouo NuiMiicoxK, in an outburst of sympathy, f1."3ks ho\\ any man who considers the relations .:whiclt England has held ith Tin'key for so many Tt'ary could ludely sever all connection with her. These and other passages show that the feeling of fillisters is still strong in favour of Turkey. That taey win not be permitted to give practical e'lect their feelings is as certain as anything can be. l people in this country will never pernut it. Tiley may be sneered at for holding meetings, but tl ° ° 10 meetings of a week ago were only the natural Corollary of the meetings in the autumn. The alltullln agitation was intended to express aljhor- rcilce of the atrocities, and the agitation of tne is to forbid aid being given to those who fohUuitted the atrocities. The autumn meetings HAD the good effect of educating the PIIKMIUI: and his friends, of making them believe in the atrocities, ar*d ashamed of them. The demonstration in •favour of Mr GLADSTONE, s resolutions may teach the Government that England will not be the ally .()f a nation whose hands are stained with the blood {If ten thousand innocent victims. It may argue the possession of no small amount of Worldly wisdom that we should keep an eye 011 the safety of our colonial empire, but at the tame time it is not edifying to see England stead- fastly keeping in view her material interests, linking of the road to India, planning the 11eulralization of the Suez Canal, and the probable Occupation of Egypt, while Russia, the object of much contumely and reproach., is fighting the Rattle of the downtrodden Bulgarians, endeavour- illg to drive the Turks, if not out of Europe, yet of that land which she has ruined, and from R,'iongst the people whom she lias ruled with some- Wiiiig worse than a rod of iron. The .generous ''istincts of the Russian people are fully shared the English, but in the former case the Govern- o ment is giving those instincts practical expression, *liileinthe latter they are being repressed. The foreign policy of Lord BBACONSFIKLD has not been CIi that brilliant character which lie boasted it -Quid. be. There is strong evidence that he has been completely outwitted by the secretaries of foreign Governments. For a time matters were Cai>ried with a high hand. The Andrassy Note and tho Berlin Memorandum, both framed with a view fo secure justice for the Christian subjects of the orte, and to provide for reform, were thrust nSidc, almost contemptuously. Lord DsiiHY was imperious, and not long ago Mr W ARD ■Hukt and Sir M. H. BEACH were boasting on the night, over their after-dinner wine, that "glaiul had thrown the proposals of foreign Rations back into their faces, and was leading pub- lc Opinion in Europe. There is little to boast of .a.t this moment, and if England really has led European opinion, she has led it into a difficulty, the end of which may be disastrous.