The Cardiff Times

AN EDUCATED TORY PRESS. ON one occasion Lord BEACONSFIELD stated in the course of an after-dinner speech that he had educated his party. It might have been a galling statement for his friends to listen to, but it did not actually prove to be Bo. They rather seemed to like the idea of having been under a schoolmaster, and we do not suppose there is a single living. Tory who does not relate with pleasure the happy days he spent under the most brilliant and audacious schoolmaster of modern times. There is a point, how- ever, beyond which even the influence of a schoolmaster should not go, and that has unfortunately been too often illustrated in the history of the party whose training has been so splendidly carried on. There is al- ways some risk of the teacher gaining too Butch of an ascendency over the mind of his Pupil. There is always a danger of the Pupil getting into the habit of simply quot- ing his pedagogue, and satisfying himself with the assurance that he is cleaving to the he&ten track. When this misfortune is brought about as the result of too slavish a to the master, the mind, heart, an of the pupil become entirely enslaved, ^nd lose their own native force. Hence we av0 the sickening spectacle of a subservient arliament, a mechanical majority, and ?ari°ua other forms of impotency. A slave earns to be a slave. Captured by violence, And held for a long time in bondage, the babit, which is second nature, comes, in SOtne measure, to his relief, and, it is said, Ite will then even kiss his chains as if they ^ere an ornament and a pride. We witnessed this in the singular ca- reer of the late obsequious Parliament which gloried in its shame; but it fiow appears, that the same spirit has also per- meated the Conservative press. It has lost :Its head too. It has succumbed to the Inagical influence of the great wizard,and not £ nly can it not burst its bonds, and step 0rth into liberty, but it declines to try the It prefers its slavery. The all, Mall Gazette especially enjoys the bond- ^§e into which the great ruling spirit has .'?u8ht it. It has grown accustomed to an ^ministration in which the PREMIER is 0 Dict&tor, and aU other members of the Cabinet are mere ciphers attending to his behests. It has accustomed itself to Per- sonal Government, with an irresponsible PRIME MINISTER, until the fact that the Monarchy in England is limited, that the Cabinet is responsible to Parliament, and Parliament to the people, has entirely faded out of its remembrance. This must be the explanation of its otherwise unaccountable, not to say unseemly, attacks upon Mr GLAD- STONE. Day after day it returns with un- ( wearied vigour to the assault, and is always harping upon the overpowering inlfuence of Mr GLADSTONE over the party which the country has called to power and ultimately to office. On Tuesday last it had an article on The New Dictatorship," the object of which was to express its antipathy and horror at the sure prospect of having Mr GLADSTONE at the head of affairs. We compliment the Pall Mall Gazette on its candour in admitting the paramount claims of Mr GLADSTONE to the Premiership. All that statesman's bitter foes have not been so fair. But why should these BEACONSFIELD-ridden newspapers stand aghast because Mr GLADSTONE is now I entitled to become Premier ? The reason is plain. They entirely forget that one of the strongest cases alleged against Lord BEACONSFIELD by Mr GLADSTONE and other Liberal politicians was that he made himself a dictator, and refused to take either his colleagues or Parliament into his confi- dence. :> Mr GLADSTONE denounced the PREMIER for this, and appealed to the people not to allow their great repre&enta- tive assembly to be snubbed, ignored, and' trampled under foot. Are we to suppose, then, that Mr GLADSTONE is only to imitate Lord BEACONSFIELD 1 Does the Pall Mall Gazette think that the Liberal Chief is in the same bondage as that which it seems to enjoy? It might know better, but its chains have become part of itself. It can no longer think of Constitutional Government as the normal condition, but can only picture an absolute dictatorship, a too easily advised Sovereign, and a servile Cabinet. Accord- ingly, its picture of the Liberal Cabinet, which has yet to be constructed, corresponds exactly to that with which we have all now grown quite familiar. It surrounds Mr GLADSTONE with a feeble group of syco- phants. Forgetful of the large number of men of real power, men of remarkable force of character and splendid ability, from whom a Liberal PREMIER will hare to draw his colleagues, it imagines a number of mero paste-board puppets without will or force of their own. We hope that the time will yet come when the Pall Mall Gazette, having once more grown accustomed to a Constitutional Government, will no longer shrink from the idea of having Mr GLADSTONE as its slave- master. That journal might at least remem- ber how much the British press owes to Mr GLADSTONE for the privileges which it enjoys. But we suppose certain newspapers will always love their enemies, and make up for so great a stretch of charity by hating and abusing their friends and benefactors. The Pall Mall having already licked the feet of a taskmaster, may yet worship its deliverer. It is not insusceptible to impressions, if, for the present, it has lost its reason.

THE POLITICAL CRISIS. (FROM OCR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.) "> LONDON, THURSDAY. According to courtly etiquette, which requires that a decision that chiefly interests the nation should not be made public till it has formally been communicate j to the Queen, the result of the Cabinet Council of yesterJay is kept a profound secret. Nevertheless, there is a universal belief in political circles that existing facts have been recognised, and that without unnecessary delay roo-n will be made-for the Liberal Ministry so un- mistakably demanded by the people. The Qneen will return to Windsor on Saturday evening, and on Sunday or Monday Lord Beaconsfield will officially convey to her intelligence of the momen- tous events that have happened since three short weeks ago Her Majesty left for the Continent with a light heart, and the confident assurance that when she returned she would find her trusty and well-beloved councillor reinstated in power by aa overwhelming popular vote. Iffgagfe Never since the days when differences of opinion between sovereigns and subjects were (xpressed by cutting off each other's heads, has a monarch received such a reproof as the Queen will read in the issue of the great State trial." All the weight which the Court possesses has been persistently, and sometimes ostentatiously, thrown into the scale to keep Mr Gladstone down, and Lord Beaconsfield up. That this in- fluence has been powerful even, in free England, is testified by the tone of London. The Metropolis, lying nearest to the centre of Court influence, has been demoralised, the rottenness extending from the environs of Buckingham Palace to the outer circles of the Music halls. The purer political atmosphere of the provinces has resisted the con- tamination, and when the elements were loosed a healthful storm has purified the air even of the Metropolis. But the Court itself ia, of course, beyond hope of cure. It is stunned and silent, but not convinced. III former days the bloodless revolution that has set England on her feet again would have resulted in the deposition of the Sovereign, as welt as the dismissal and the shorten- ing by a head of the Minister. ,We manage these things better now. The Minister with a shrug of the shoulders and a raising of the eyebrows in- dicative of polite sympathy with a nation smitten with sudden madness, quietly packs up his things and drives away from Downing-etreet. The Sovereign accepts without comment the new situation, and with such grace as long training furnishes for emergencies, will dismiss the favourite and submit to the domination of a Minister who was but yesterday thought to be irrevocably down, and whom it therefore seemed safe to kick. The discussion as to whom Lord Beaconsfield would agminate as his successor might have been shortened if the fact had been called to mind that. practically, there is no choice. The Consti- tutional usage is for the outgoing Minister to recommend the titular Leader of the other side. This unquestionably is Earl Granville. When Mr Gladstone formally retired from the leadership he placed his resignation in the hands of Earl Granville, and it was Earl Granville who, as spokesman of the Liberal party, expressed his profound regret at the decision. Since then Earl Granville has always presided at the meetings of ex-Ministers, which have from time to time taken place. Lord Hartington's position as Leader of the House of Commons has filled a larger space in the public mind, but alike by reason of his years, experience, and services, Earl Granville is the titular head of the Liberal party—a leader, perhaps, who like Louis XVIII., reigna but does not govern, but still leader. In calling uportEarl Granville to form a Minis- try, the Queen and the Premier will not only be acting most nearly in consonance with their own prepossessions, but in accordance with precedent, and in conformity with the actual state of affairs. The procedure will be watched with indifference by the nation, as it can only lead up to one con- f elusion. Earl Granville will inform the Queen that there is only one man capable of forming a Ministry, the one illustrious Englishman who, just a year ago, was further distinguished by omission from the list of invited guests at the wedding of the Queen's son. On the question of who will be Premier, I can only repeat, though with increased confidence, what I wrote a fortnight ago, whilst the result of the general election was still undetermined, Mir Gladstone is tLe ouly possible Premier, and I believe he will recognise the position, and, sub- ordinating his personal predilections, will accept office, and will, by a mighty and concentrated effort, attempt to reinstate the financial, social, an! pol tioal tone a d condition of the Empire. Whilst the Premiership remains in abeyance, speculation as to the other appointments to the Ministry, though interesting, must necessarily be insecure. A Ministry under the Premiership of Earl Granville, with Lord Hartington as leader in the Commons, would be, in reject ofnuny posts, a different thing from a Gladstone Ministry. More" particularly in the subordinate offices, oom is left for the play of personal hkes and dis- likes. To illustrate the case, I may mention the relative positions of Sir Charles Dil e Chamberlain towards possible Premiers. Sir Charles Dilke enjoys in large measure the persona confidence of Earl Granville and Lord Hartington. He has more particularly attached himself to the latter, and in such movements as lie has made from below the Gangway has always been careful to act with the cognisance of his leader. Mr Chamberlain, on the contrary, has been at great pains to associate himself with the fortunes of Mr Gladstone. During the debates on the Eastern Question he acted as intermediary between the Ex* Premier and a little band ef Radicals belowthe Gangway, who were prepared to sup- port Mr Gladstone iu maintaining a persistent and active hostility te the foreign policy of Ministers. ( It was V this epoch that. doubtless a little puffed up with his close intercourse with Mr Gladstone, and a sense of growing importance, he made the violent and silly attack on Lord Hartington to whom he alluded as "late the leader of the Liberal party." It ia obvious that, with Earl Granville Premier, Sir Charles Dilke would he more welcome as a colleague, and vvith the accession to supreme power of Mr Gladstone, Mr Chamberlain's chances of promotion would be im- PThave reason to believe that however the ques- tion of the Premiership be settled, those who look for heroic legislation during the brief Session to come will be disappointed. The popular cry has been for deliverance from Lord Beaconsfield, and has not been supplemented by particular demands pointing to the necessity fo^immediate legislation. The Liberal Government will find plenty to do, but there is no reason why |hey should risk failure through undue haste. It will be found that for all practical purposes the Session Swhich opens this day fortnight will not be more than two months long. The first business on assembling will be to elect a Speaker. Then the members will be sworn in, a process which, though per- formed in batches will occupy one or two days. Then writs will be issued for the re-election of members who have accepted office, pending the return of which an adjournment of at loast 10 days must take place. When the House meets again—say on tha 10th of May—it will find itself on the threshold of the Wliitsun holidays, and thus the month of May will be 3 well nigh over before Parliament has an opportunity of seriously buckling to work. This is, of course, putting things at their best; and dismissing from the calculation, as I think we safely may, the pro- bability of Lord Beaconsfield and his colleagues determining to meet Parliament for the purpose of delivering those speeches with which they are bis, and which their supporters affect to believe would vindicate them in the eyes of posterity. A difficulty which is really seriously occupying tho attention of the authorities is—Where is the great Liberal majority to be seated in the House of Commons ? On great occasions during the last Parliament, when the Ministerialists were drum- med in to the last man, it was physically impos- sible for them all to find seats on the floor of the House. Great Constitutionalists, eager to save their country, submitted to the inconvenience of sitting on the steps of the gangway till the divi- sion bell rang, whilst stern patriots summoned from the smoke-room, the dining-room, or the library, filled to overflowing the gallery over the Treasury Bench. Yet, in the last Parliament, the Conservatives all told numbered but 351, whilst in the new Parliament the body which formerly sat in Opposition will, when the elections are complete, show 'a number of not less than 420. It is clearly impos- sible that all those should find seats on their own side of the House. Fortunately, reHefis promised from an unex- pected 'quarter. TFhe Hojqe Rulers are not re- markable for their endeavours to make the Parliamentary machine run smoothly. But they have now bit upon a plan which, if adapted, would meet The dimculty. The suggestion" (Same ori- ginally from Mr A. M. Sullivan, aud simply is to the effect that the Home Rulers, literally ignor- ing the movements of the minor political parties known as Liberal and Conservative, should retain the seats they held in the last Parliament. The argument, which his really sublime in its severe logic, is that Home Rulers have nothing to do with either party, being simply bent on accom- plishing the mission to which they havo been pledged. Their motto is, Liberals may come and Tories may go, but Home Rulers remain for ever. If they please to re- tain their own seats below the gangway on the left hand of the Speaker, there will be nothing to prevent them doing so. The division of the House by the broad lines of Ministerial and Opposition is, like the appropriation of par- ticular seats, purely a matter of convenience. The House of Commons is for the reception of the re; resentatives of the people, and.thero is nothing except custom to prevent Mr Biggar from taking his seat on the Treasury Bench if he so pleases. As the general election has left parties, it would really be a convenience if the Home Rulers would, as they seem much inclined^carry into practice Mr Sullivan's ingenious suggestion. It would be the last straw to break the back of Con- servative hope and pride. The idea of the rem- nant of the aristocratic party left having seated in their midst such a crew as Mr Parnell will bring back with him, not to mention the more familiar attractions of Mr Biggar and Mr O'Donnell, is enough to suggest to the stoutest hearted Tory that alter all life is not worth living. There is a passage in the preface to the memoirs of Madame de Rémusat, printed in the second volume of this remarkable book just published, which has a moral for us to-day. It was written by the late Paul de Remusat, and in summing up the position of France in relation to Napoleon Bonaparte, he says:—" To have been the dupe or the accomplice, iu any case the instrument of a system in which cunning held as much place as wisdom, and violence as genius—a system which led by cunning and violence to the extremes of an insensate policy—is a misfortune never to be effaced." The bearings of this, as Captain Bunsby used to say, lie in the application thereof. Apart from the preface and the little sermonizing we get from the French editor, this book is well worth the study of English men and women. I confess I have no great liking for Madame de Remusat. She commenced life as a Royalist by birth and connection. She and her husband were among the first to pay court to the rising sun of Napoleon. They made a good thing out of their Connection, though the Memoirs bear constant trace of irritation at the better fortune of other courtiers. Finally, when Napoleon w a3 disposed of, and the King got his own again, we find the Rdmusats again successful in obtaining office. There is too much of tho Vicar of Bray about this to commend the lady and her husband to the honest palate. Madame de Remusat draws no one more clearly than heiself, and she is not a person who, writing under the Restoration about the ruined Emperor, is to be fully "trusted. But liberally discounting the effects of her malice, jealousy, and disposition to float with the tide, we get from her book a vivid and indelible picture of the meanness, the intrigue, the lying, and the smallness of Imperialism. I hear a good story about the new members for a Potteries constituency. One is a gentleman of position in the town, the other is Mr Broadhurst, a working man of high personal character, who ia likely to do credit to his class and his constituency. The brother of the first member lives in London, and on the morning after the election was con- gratulated on his brother's success. But," said the friend, what a pity he should have as a col- league a man like that, a notorious Atheist." "Why? What do you mean ? Who?" said the astonished brother. "Mr Bradlaugh," said the friend, confident in his accuracy. An hour later, whilst yet pondering on these things, the brother met another friend, who repeated the congratula- tions. "But," headded, what a pity your brother should haye a colleague like that—little less than a murderer." "Why! What do you mean 1" said the bewildered man. II Wby, Mr Broadhead." Tableau. N

rHE LATE HEV. wTMORIUS, B.A.. BUYli MEN IN. A correspondent writes :—The II: d end of this promising young minister at Llanelty, prompt* tne to jot down one or two little incidents which occurred the day before the catastrophe. He was preaching at Cwmpark, Rhon tda, on Sunday morning last, and according to the arrangements of the church was to have preached there at six p.m. on Uie Monday of the disaster, but against the urgent appeals of his brother ministers and others to stop, he persisted iu pre ching at two p.m. instead (ho having made arrangements with Mr Evans, of Bodringallt, to take his p'ace in the evening), when he delivered a very eloquent and impressive discourse, but with haste, to enable him towatk some three miles over the mom.tain to catch the four p.m. train at Nantyn of>l,Ogniors Valley. The text the rev. gentleman took for his subject on this last occasion seems to us nour strange, when compared with his sad and un. timely end, viz. :—John xiii. chap., 7 verse— "Jesus answered and said unto him what I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know here- after." The pith of the sermon was the mysterious wlya of lJod, a d was listened to with ma- ked attention.

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION. The London May meetings for the present year have fairly commenced. On Thursday night, the 35th annual gathering of the above institution was held in Exeter-hall, under the presidency of Lord Shafteebnry, There was an unusually crowded attendance. The report, presented by Mr W. Hine Smith, said that the association had con- siderably advanced both in vigour and dimensions. As the result of a spring conference last year, presided over by Lord Shaftesbury, a council for reference, consultation, and review, was formed, and representatives of branch associations and of the various business prayer unions were added to the central committee. The resignation of Mr W. E. Shipton, as secretary, after a Very prolonged service, w as mentioned. The number of active members exclusive of subscribers enrolled during the year is 286. In addition to these, 737 subscrip- tion tickets have been issued to young men available for the social and literary edvautages of the institution. These subscribers correspond to what are called in some of the provincial branches associates. Sunday Bible meetings, meetings for foreign youlg men. a training class for Christian workers, a literary and discussion society, besideat a series of special and largely. attended scientific lectures by Dr Sinclair Pater- son, on "Studies in Life," have been amongst the means advancing the usefulness of the work during the ear. A new monthly magazine has attained to a circulation ef 10,000 per month. Special improvements have been effected in the central premises, particularly by the addition of a youn" men's parlour, which is now much patron- ized. The income for the year has been £ 3,276, and the expenditure £ 4,041; but The balai ce of £ 234 will be more than absorbed in the contemplated enlargement of the central institution. ^New East Central premises Lave been recently opened in London with encouraging results and prospects, and 11 other new branches have been established. Lord Shaftesbury, to whom an enthusiastic tribute was paid for his long services as president, expressed his great delight at the high efficiency .which the institution had attained, and Ms hope that its members would be the means, by their firmness and thoroughness/in adherence to Christian principle, of recovering, for he trusted it was recoverable, the lost honour of British commerce, a grand patriotic result for them to achieve.

The Elgin-room of the British Museum has received the accession of a plaster, cast of the Hermes lately found at Olympia. The revenue returns from April 1st, 1880, to the 10th inst., were £2,114,124. In the correspond. ing period of last year, £ 3,665,399. Customs, £ 527,000, against £ 1,151,000. Excise, £ 554,000, against £561,000. Stamps, £391,000, against £ 457 000. Property and income-tax, £ 361,000, against £ 477.000. Post-office, £ 567,,000, against £550.000. Miscellaneous, £ 155.665, against tJ8234.M9.

HEALTH RESORTS OF THE MEDI- TERRANEAN AND ITALY. o No. 7. ROME. What a crowd of memories fill the mind at tha mere mention of the name of the Eternal City!' It had been the dream of our lives to see with our eyes, and walk with our feet, the streets and palaces of this the most ancient and the most noble capital of the world, and when at length we found ourselves within its gates, we felt as if we were treading sacred ard hallowed ground, whilst a feeling of subdued awe and reverence pervaded our whole being. Before leaving Nice we had been cautioned as to the great danger in going to Rome, so prevalent and infectious was what is called "Roman fever." So strongly was this con- sideration pressed upon us by persons who had either personally, or through their friends, been the subjects of this disease, that we confess to having had some misgivings as to the propriety of our visit; but somehow the temptation was so great to see Rome that we could not resist gratifying our tastes, now that we had got within ten hours' travel of her gates. Having seen the city and traversed ita streets, both great and small, we con- (ess that we cannot account for the widespread feeling of dread of so many travellers to visit Rome. We found the atmosphere pure and brac- ing, its streets well swept, watered, and free from everything offensive, and this to a degree surpass- ing what we had found even in Paris itself. That numerous instances of fever occur there can be no doubt, but we strongly suspect that in most cases the patients have acted with indiscretion in at- tempting to do more in the way of sight- seeing than their physical condition warranted," We have no statistics before us as to the death- rate of Rome, but we venture to predict that it will not be higher than that of London or Paris, not to speak of other less populous towns in Eng- land. We were fortunate enough to enjoy good weather, and our experience of the atmosphere and climate were such that we will always look back upon Rome as a clean and healthy city. Being somewhat peculiarly in'erested in the approaching Dissolution of the English Parlia- ment, we had procrastinated our stay at Nice during the earlier stages of the Session, in the belief that a Dissolution was imminent; but after the failure of the Ministry to get up an anti- Home Rule election cry, we, like most other in- terested parties, believed that the Dissolution scare had passed, at least for some months to come. Judge, then, our surprise when we read in the Timu. the second morning after our arrival at Rome, of the determination of the Government to immediately appeal to the country This announcement completely up- set all the plans we had taid down for making a "grand tour" before returning to Cardiff. This tour embraced Naples, Florence, Venice, Milan, Como, Turin, Macon, and Paris, each of which cities we had intended to fully survey; but which intention, as our narrative will show, was sadly frustrated. However, altogether, we devoted a week to Rome, snl during 'that short period we managed to see as much as will afford sufficient material for our neces arily brief des- cription of that grand old historic dty. ? History informs us that Rome was founded 753 years before the Christian era by Romulus, who was the first king. From a simple collection of houses inhabited by fugitives she became in the course of time, "Mistress of the world." Modem Rome is situate almost entirely to the north of the ancient city. It is entered by 15 gates, and possesses 360 churches and 46 public squares, many of which are adorned with fountains and colossal statues. Although Rome has undergone so many and such varied vicissitudes, she is still entitled to be regarded the most beautiful city in the world. To her ancient magnificence are united the fplendid creations of modern art. Her many and sumptuous churches, her great aDd majestic ruins, her palaces, her fountains, and her galleries, rich in the moat valuable paintings and sculptures of the great masters, she still remains, as she was in the past, the city in which art most flourishes and abounds. We presume the steps of visitors to Rome for the first time instinctively bend towards St Peter's, at least ours did or more correctly speaking, we were conveyed thither in one of the well-appointed open carriages which abound in the city. Viewed from a distance, the proportions of St Peter's ap- pear vast and liaajestic, but as you approach, it seems to dwarf itself uutil you fancy that after all it is not a building of exceptional dimensions, or architectural beauty. It is only when one begins to contrast its several parts with other objects tha.t the mind at length is forced to believe that this temple may justly be callel the most magnifi- cent modern monument in the world. It is not our intention to enter upon any detailed descrip- tion of this or any other church, but simply to notice a few of the most prominfnt public build- ings, in order to give a general idea of their gran- deurand extent, tothoaewhohave never visited Rome, or who may have little hope of ever being in a position to do so. The facade of St Peter's has eight columns and four pilasters of the Corin- thian order, seven galleries, six niches, and an attic terminated by au entablature on which are placed 13 colossal statues, representing Jesus and the Apostles, Its height is 149 feet, and 370 wide. The height from the pavemeut to the extremity of the cross is 426 feet. As compared with St. Paul's, London, it is 90 feet longer and 64 feet higher, measuring to the top of the cross. So much for the exterior now a fe w words about the interior. The bas-relief on the principal door, in bronze, represents the Saviour consigning the keys to St. Peter. Five doors give access to the vestibule, which is rich in marbles and gild- ings. We get inside, and on the very threshold stand lost in wonder. It is wonder at its decora- tions, ho ever, rather than its noble proportions. There are two holy-water basins, supported by infant cherubs. We approach one of these babes and find it is at least six feet. In this way we gradually begin to realise the proportions of the different sections, so to speak, of this vast building. There are three naves. Beneath the dome, in the centre, rises the canopy which covers the tomb of St. Peter. Of the tribnne behind the altar, or the transept) and the twenty chapels or altars, dedicated to as many saints; of the sculptured monuments to many popes aud kings, we would write if we could. So would we of the four immense pillars of the great dome, of the numerous marble saints, of the massive arches, of the slabs of marble covered with medallions, of the marble pavement, and, above all, of the five domes, especially the dome; but language and powers of description alike fail to accomplish the task. We wander about St. Peter's, from chapel to chapel. A special service, to commemorate the anniversary of some dead cardinal, was going on in one of the largest. There were many cardinals and priests of different ranks and degrees joining in the service, but no other worshippers. Confessional boxes for all languages were as thick as blackberries, but there were neither priests nor penitents to be seen. We were attracted to a large bronze figure of St. Peter by seeing a poor man wiping its big toe with a snuffy handkerchief, and then kissing it—the too we mean, not the handkerchief. Not content with this act of devotion, he rubbed the poll of his head on the sole of its foot several times, and then retired, to make room for ethers. We- narrorfly examined this bronze foot, and found that the tip of the big toe was actually worn away by similar ac's of devotion. We should have liked to have seen the relics, but they are in the balconies, to which none but canons are ad- mitted. These are said to consist of the Veronica handkerchief with the impression of the Saviour's face; the true cross which St. Helena gave; the head of St. Andrew, the patron of Scotland; and the relics of St. Peter in the tomb below. If they are not the things they are said to be, they are at least ancient and heid sacred. Had it not been for the Diasclutiou we would have remained in Rome to have witnessed the grand ceremony on Easter Sunday, when every column, cornice, frieze and detail, up to the cross, is lit with a line of lamps numbering 6,800. There are no pews in St. Peter's, nor indeed, in any of the fine cathe- drals and churches on the Continent—nothing but chairs, and these are stowed away so as to give tn uninterrupted promenade. There are some fine pictures and statues in St. Peter's, but these we cannot find space to describe. This grand edifice is open to all comers, rich and poor. The dirtiest and most ragged have as free access as the grandest and most aristocratic. It is a show-place, where the in-coming, out-going, talking and gazing, tog«ther with duplicate services, all go on together, rendering acts of devotion almost im- possible, Need we wonder that the faithful are proud of St Peter's and of the religious system that owns, guides, and developes su much ma¡.:ni. ficence ? We will now refer to one or two churches which are specially worthy of notice. The first, and beyond all question the graudest, is that of St Patd't fuori It mura, a basilica outside the walls of Rome. It dates from 388, and was held in pre- eminence, even over St. Peter's, by Christian pilgrims for many an age. After 1,500 years' service, it was burned to ashes in 1823. The de- struction of this magnificent structure aroused Christendom, and so munificent were the contri- butions which flowed in for its re-erection, that no less a sum than £1,000,000. was spent upon the work. As we approached it, after a drive of about two miles along a dusty and by no means inviting road, we thought the coachman had surely m taken his directions, for externally the buildit g was plain in the extreme. On entering, however, we were simply staggered. The magnificence oi the sight surpassed anything of the kind we had previously seen, and although we subsequently witnessed numerous churches in Rome, Naples, and Florence, none of them, in our judgment. approach that of St. Paul's at Rome. On enter- ing the building we were struck with its length, being no less than 400 feet; covered with a carved wood ceiling, the floor being all marble. There are four ranges of Corinthian columns, of solid marble, 80 in all, forming the nave and aisles, and presenting an uninterrupted view of about 130 yards. The hiuh altar, supported by four shafts of alabaster; covers the reputed resting-placs of St. Paul. The head is said to be at the Lateran, having been removed from the Vatican 1,600 yors agn. Around the nave and ajsles is a series of jnedalliona, life-size, in coloured Mosaic,.re[>re- senting-all the Popes from St. Peter downwards. These are magnificent works of art, executed by the moit famous artists. There are numerous statues, mosaics, pictures, and stained glass win- dow?, .the latter being most beautiful in design and richness of colour. There are two altars, covered with malachite, that Nicholas of Russia prefeented to Gregory XVI. In the middle of the nave is the ancient Papal altar restorel after the fire. It is decorated by a Gothic canopy of pyra- midal form, supported by four columns of porphyry. In front of the ancient tribune is the arch of Placidia, with two magnificent columns of granite, while on the face of the arch is the ancient mosaic, executed in 400, and which survived the fire. There are four chapels, all richly decorated with statues, pictures, and pre- cious stones. Two colossal statues are placed near the steps which divide the nave from the transept, representing St. Peter and St. Paul. The nave is decorated by beautiful frescoes, representing the life of St. Paul, and which are a continuation of those in the transept, and painted by the best artists of the.tiuie. The great door in the middle is decorated by two columns of oriental alabaster, which support an architrave, on which rest two winged genii, who support the arms of Pius IX. The Sistinc or Sixtine Chapel, so called after Pope Sixtus, must not be passed over, not because of its grandeur, but on account of its world-wide reputation as the abode of the most celebrated fresco, representing the" Last Judgment," by Michael Angelo. We enter the chapel with a feeling of awe, und with expectations raised to the highest; but, lo and behold, we found ourselves in a diugy, ill-lighted, ami time begrimed building. We ask our- selves—Can it be possible that that far-off dirty cei- ling, and these begrimed wall", are those upon which the masterpieces of the great artist were painted? Such, indeed, is the fact. That smoke* dried picture at the back of the altar is indeed the far-famed "Last Judgment," while the ceiling is covered with scenes, recorded in the book of Genesis, by the same master-mind. The walls were painted by Luca Signorelli, Sandro Bot- ticelli, and other great masters, and have become dim and faded by a.ge. Unlike most visitors, we did not lie on our backs and look up at the "Creation" on the ceiling, but we did what was much more effective, and certainly more con- venient—we viewed the grand frescoes by the aid of a Land-mirror, or looking-glass, supplied by the attendant. Iu the first paintin £ is represented the Father, brooding over~the^waters, arHe aivided the light from the darkness. In the second, He is creating the sun and moon. In the third, He is hovering over the waters. In the fourth, it is the igoment when He gives life; God desclnds^ang^surround Him as if in transparent clouds. Tie Creation of Eve is strikingly painted, as she appears to be stepping forth from Adam's side. Of the scens with tho serpent, Adam is introduced as near Eve when she ate the forbidden fruit. We cannot stay to comment upon Cain and the sacrifice of Abel, nor of the twelve large scenes filling up spaces running down from the dome. The paintings on the side walls being by inferior artists, we must also pass by, and proceed to give a little history of the "Last Judgment." Pope P*ul III. wanted the then famous .Michael Angelo to finish the decora- tive paintings he had begun ia 150S, Angelo had meanwhile laid aside the brush, and resumed the chisel, but again a Pope prevailed, and on the end wall, where the altar is, the "Last Judgment" was painted after eight years' labour. The colour- ing has disappeared, while the centre and chief figura, that of the Saviour, Las the appearance of a huge brawny prize-fighter. The "Last Judgment" made a great noise in its day, and is the picture of Rome, not excepting the "Trans- figuration." But why it has been left to perish from dirt, damp, and smoke, we cannot imagine, as ragan Rome has left no marvel in the way of Tainting like this. Before leaving the Sistine Chapel, let us say a word about its grand cere- monials on Good Fridays. The Pontiff is present on the occasion, and the Mfeerere of Gregorio Allegri is sung under the most solemnising cir- cumstances. The Pope and his attendants strip off their magnificent attire, the lights are gradually extinguished, and the only sound is that of one plaintive voice, confessing aill and praying for mercy! Basilica di S. Giovanni in Lanterano.—This church is the most important, being the Cathedral of the Pontiff, who takes possession of it after his election. It was founded by Constantine. After having existed for ten centuries, it was al- most entirely destroyed by fire in 1308. It was rebuilt by Clement y" and embellished by other popes. It is of travertine, with four large columns aud six pilasters of the Composite order, which support a cornice surmounted by a balustrade, on which are plsced colossal statues of Jesus and of several saints. Betweeu the columns and pilasters nte five balconies; that in the middle was used for the papal benedictions. Beneath the balconies are as many entrances, which lead into the magnificent portico, decorated with 24 pilasters of the Composite order, in which is placed the colossal statue of Constantiue the Great, found in his baths. The basilica is entered by five doors the centre one being bronze. The interior is divided into five aisles by four ranges of pilasters. There are five eh^ls, all decorated" ilb .statues, pictures, &,c., that named Corsini being one of the richest in Rome. In the cross aisle is the papal altar under a Gothic tabernacle; in it are con- tained many relics, amongst which are 'said to be theheada of St. Peter and St. Paul. The beautiful tabernacle of precious stones is adorned by four columns of vert antique. Tbi^ basilica also con- tains the table upon which Jesus Christ instituted the sacred communion.. The Pantheon is considered tie most splendid monument of antiquity in Rome, both in regard to its style and its preservation. The portico of this magnificent temple is supported by 16 columns of oriental granite, of a single block, with beauti- ful capitals., III diameter, it is 132 feet, and measures the same in length. It receives light only from! the aperture which is in; the middle of the cupola, which may be ascended by a night of 190 steps. The tribune of the high altar is cut in the thickneea of the wall in the form of a semi- circle, and is ornamented with four pilasters aud two columns of violet marble. The columns and pilasters support the beautiful cornice of white marble; the frieze is of porphyry, which goes round the whole temple. In this temple are buried several celebrated aiM&ts, amongst whom are Raffaello, Gio, d'U dine; !C. It is here also that the .remains of the late King Vietor Immanuel are deposited, by the side of one of the altars. Some idea will be gathered, from these slight descriptions, of the grandeur and richness of £ the churches of Rome, and with these the reader must be consent, for to exhaust this branch of our Sub- ject would require many volumes, and occupy the work of years. The transition from churc&efe to the Vatican is both easy and natural. The Palace of the Vatican is the residence of the Pope, and adjoins St. Peter's. The period of its foundation is uncertain, but we know that it existed at the time of Charle- magne, who inhabited it when he was crowned by St. Leo III. The palace is of three stories, and contains a great number of halls, galleries, chapels, and corridors; a library, a vast museum, a beauti- ful garden, twenty court-yards, eight grand stair- cases, and is said to have 6,000 apartments, large and small. The Dean of Canterbury says:— It is shapeless, and looks like a gigantic union house, built on the top of a railway station, and a gigantic printing office superimposed as an attic and an after-thought." We made our way to the museum and picture galleries, and saw some fine pictures and statuary. On the occasion of out first visit, we approached the private entrance to the Vatican, whither w ere pouring in a large cam. her of Carriages with ladies and gentlemen in evening dress. The P{}J>t"abody.guard arrested ourstepf, and we were soon given to understand that we could pot enter the sacred precincts un* less we wore the "reddinggarment" (full-dress) and presented a card of admission. It proved to be a reception day, on which occasions the Pope receives into his presence such faithful sons and daughters of the. Church, and other visitors to Rome as can procure the needful introduction. Not being particularly anxious to see the "Prisoner of the Vatican" we contented our. selves by an inspection of the ait treasures of which wo will not attempt to give a descrip- tion. Rome, as is well known, abounds in ruins the most ancient as well as the most interest. ing. As a matter of course, we visited the Colosseum, built by order of the Emperor Flavius Vespasian on the ground formerly occupied by the garden of Nero, It was iaaoirurated bypmeA, which lasted a hundred days,'and in which 5,000 wild beasts and many thousands of gladiators were killed. The exterior is composed of three storeys of arches, and each storey contained 80 arches, with the same number of half-columns. Its form is oval, and its external circuniference is 5S5 metres, and 49 in height. It was capable of con. taining more than a hundred thousand spectators. The Forum of Ti-ajan is another object of in- terest to the Yisitoc. The Trajan Column is one of the most stui>endous monuments of ancient Rome. Its height to the summit of the statue is 132 feet. It is adorned with bas-reliefs, the sub- jects of which are the victories of Trajan over the Dacians, and these are of surpassing beauty. There are no less than 2,500 figures of men, besides a great number of horses, war utensils, trophies, &c. It is of the Doric order, and formed of 34 blocks of marble. The summit, which is reached by 132 steps, is surmounted by a statue of St. Peter. Of other columns and forums, temples and ruins, we cannot write, for they meet you at every turn. But after a view of the Colosseum, the Baths ef Caracella, the Arches of Titus and Constantine, the Forum, the Capitol, and the Palace of the Caesars, one feels that all-others pall on the sight-seeing appetite. The Pincian Hill is the grand promenade ground of the Romans. Theltill compiles the gardens and drives so dear to the natives. They are due to the Flench occupation of 1790. From its top the best view of St Peter's and Rome generally is to be had. In the most elevated part there is an Egyptian obelisk, with busts and statues scattered about the gardens. On the two occasions of our visit in the afternoon the attendance was ex- tremely limited, and beyond the performances of a second-class military band, there was nothing particular to be seen, such as is witnessed in Rotten Row, to which it is likened by the Romans. Descending by an easy ro:7d, we came to the Porta del Popolo, passing through which we found ourselves in a sort of half-park, half- garden, called Villa Borghcse. This ap- p"ared to us to be the principal promen- ade and recreation ground. It consists of a large extent of well-wooded land, with carriage drives as well as roads for equestrians, and adorned with gardens, lakes, temples, and statues. There is a palace, from which it takes its name, in which are* contained a vast collection of objects of art, such as paintings and statues. We had, while driving in these delightful ground", the good fortune to see the King and Queen of Italy. The King (who occupied an open, plain carriage, drawn by two dark horses, his servants without livery) was dressed in plain dark clothes. He was accompanied by a general, whose breast displayed many decorations, and a gentleman .also dressed in plain costume. As we passed, and raised our hat, his Majesty returned the compliment in the most graceful manner—no doubt recognising us as of the John Bull stamp. He appeared to be about 40 years of age, with prominent forehead, dark penetrating eyes, and a heavy moustache. The Romans, those in carriages as well as pedes- trians, quietly saluted His Majesty as he passed, a compliment which he invariably returned, bow- ever humble the person; but there was no cheer- ing or other demonstration of loyalty such as we are accustomed to bestow upon royal personages in England. The Queen also drove in an open carriage, drawn by two horses. She was accom- panied by two ladies. Beyond the fact that her servants wore red livery, there was nothing to distinguish the Queen from fitter ladies, e^pt. I perhaps, her beauty, of which there can be no doubt. We did n^| partly from disinclination to SreTne^y^E^Sefjof^BO many thousands of human beings who had shumedoff this mortal coil, aud so finished their earthly pil- grimage centuries ago, but mainly from the con- sideratioa that traversing miles of damp, ill-venti- lated vaults was not likely to conduce to our health or pleasure. During our brief stay in Rome we had seen more than the mind could well grasp, or the memory retain, and although we could have wished to have lingered in the grand old city, \\e left with feelings of gratitude as well as pleasure at .being able, after many years of longing desire, not only to trear1 its many sacred and hal- lowed spots, but to see with our eyes the monu- ments of its ancient gfeatuess, and the surpassing richness of its treasures of art.

MR E. J. REED, C.D., M.P. Mr Reed left Cardiff for London by theG.5 p.m. train on Wednesday evening.

A PEERAGE FOR RIll. IVOR GUEST It has been authoritatively announced that Sir Ivor Guest, after his numerous defeats, and after the defeat of his brother, Mr Arthur E. Guest, will be raised to the peerage. It ia also stated that Sir George Elliot will receive a similar recognition of his political services.

MR. HERBEUT GIJADSTONE ADOPTED BY LEEDS LIBERALS. At a meeting of ti e Leeds Liberal Four Hundred, held on Wedne day evening, Mr Herbeit Gladstone was unanimously adopted as the Liberal candidate for Leeds.

MR. VV. H. GLADSTONE AT HAWARDEN. Mr W. H. Gladstone arrived at Hawarden on W eduesday from East Worcestershire, and met with a great reception. The horses were taken out of the carriage, and the villagers pulled it to the rectory, where Mr and Mrs W. E. Gladstone awaited his arrival. Replying to all address, Mr W. H. Gladstone alluded to the great Liberal victory, which though unexpected in extent, were not un- anticipated. So recently as last November, Mr Adam, the Liberal Whip, expressed a confident opinion that the Liberals would have at least a majority of 40, exclusive of Home Rulers.

DISPUTED LIABIUTY UNDER A COAL CONTRACT. The Lord Chief Paron and Baron Huddleston were on Thursday further engaged in the Ex- chequer Division, at Westminster, in hearing arguments in the case of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, of Rhodes, which was an action to recover a large sum of money alleged to be dup., owing to a breach of contract for the enpply of about 80,000 tons of coal ner year. The plaintiffs alleged that there was due to them from the de- fendant, who was a colliery owner in South Wales, the following sums for the non supply of coal in accordance with the contract, with the following results arising from decisions by an arbitrator, and by the final judgment of the House of Lords. The plaintiffs claimed in respect of the Southampton contract £3,946 8s 4d, but failed to recover anything whitever in respect of the Newport contract, £1,981108 9d, of which they recovered as to one month a sum of jElll 12s 6d; in respect of a subsequent three months' contract, J6467 2s 8d, of which they re- covered nothirg, aud in respect of interest and demurrage the laintiBs were also defeated. Upon other head of claim the plaintiffs recovered about JE600 from the defendant. The defendant now moved the court to send back the nwardf with a direction to the arbitrator to find in his favour upon those issues which had been so decided, in order that fair costs should be recovered by him in respect of expensive proceedings which lasted for several days, and which resulted in the claims of the plaintiffs being defeated as stated above. In the course of the arguments in court, the object of the motion rs to the claims for interest and demurrage was abandoned. Mr Day, Q.C., and Mr Finlay, were counsel for the plaintiffs; and Mr Patchett, Q.C., and Mr Mortimer, appeared for the defendant. The court sent the award back to the arbi- trator, to report whether the defendant had asked him to find on specific issues, and the case was ad- journed accordingly.

MR SPURGEOIi AND MR BRAD. LAUGH'S ELECTION. Writing at further length to the Baptist denom- inational Journals just issuing, upon the charge made against him that in reply to a Northampton elector as to whether he should vote for Mr Bradlaugh, Mr Spurgeon had s id. He would vote for the devil if he were a Liberal," Mr Spurgeon says :—" Why such a falsehood should have been started I cannot tell unless there were party ends to serve. In my judgement no man should be made to suffer for his religious opinions, and men of all creeds, and of no creed, have a right to be represented in the House oi Commons, If they are numerous enough to be able to return a member I should greatly pre- fer to see men of Christian character and principles returned. The better the men the more worthy of the honour. At the same time the fi:ness of a man to represent us politically cannot be measured by his piety or his orthodoxy. We employ a physician not because he is a Baptist, but because he understands medicine, and so we vote for a man 1 to Bit in Parliament not because he is orthodox j in religion, but because he holds views in politics which we regard to be right. The less sectarianism comes into the question the better. 1 The moral element in politics should be munly regarded, and peculiarities of creed only so far as they are involved in the present un:on cf Church 1 and State and other kiwdred subjects. Personally —I may say plainly—that I should not have voted for Mr Bradlaugh. nor should I Laverecommended others to do so but that is not a matter of much importance to him or to anyone else, as I have no vote for Northampton if it had ever been my in- tention to advise Northampton Baptists to vote for him, I should certainly not have used the language imputed to me, nor indeed in any ca'e should I have so spoken of any man. Northamp- ton Liberals were placed in a very difficult posi- tion, and there is a uple room for difference of opinion as to what they ought to have done; but there can be no need to mix me up in a matter with which I ad nothing to do either directly or indirectly, nearly or remotely,"

Major O'Gorman, in his farewell address to the electors of Waterford, attributes his defeat to the vintners of Waterford, and says :—" I told them to their beards that if they wanted dirty work to be done they should seek the services of some one else for its performance. They turned against me, and successfully. They cast into oblivion the unslumbering services of six long years. They flung to the winds the records of 801 division* I have attended, and which have not been equalled by any Home Rule member, excepting Major Nolan and Mr Biggar. They are welcome to their unhandsome victory." "I retire," he concludes, to- my house, and quit the one where, for six years, I have done faithful duty. I freely forgive those whose avarice has blinded their patriotism, t' and I bid the constituency a kindly farewell*"

r POLITICAL NOTES. [FTIOM OUR GALHTRT COhBESrONDEMT.] There is now no doubt that Ministers will forth- with resign office, and that by Tuesday, at the latest, Earl Granville will have been placed in communication with the Queen. The etiquette which closes the mouths of Ministers as to the issue of yesterday's meeting, till it has been com- municated to the Queen, prevails with equal force on the other side. The Liberal leaders are pre- sumed to be in ignorance of the fact that within less than a week they will be called upon to form a cabinet. They, therefore, avoid all appearance of consulting beforehand, aud to that end Mr Gladstone, Earl Granville, and Lord Hartingion have not even met since the certainty of a new Government was established. But in spite of this elaborate appearance af unconsciousnese, an un- derstanding, covering all the main points at issue, has been arrived at. Earl Granville and Lord Hartington have both communicated with Mr Gladstone in the most unequivocal language, not only their conviction that he is the only poseible Premier, but their anxious desire that he should accept the office. The Pall Mall Gazette endeavours afresh to-night to stir up ill feeling between Lord Hartington and Mr Gladstoue. This, the last shot in the locker of Toryism, will miserably fail. Lord Hartington not only loyally, but with unaffected cheerfulness, accepts the situation, pleased to defend his own inevitable advance in recognition of the supreme necessity of having Mr Gladstone for Premier. As for Mr Gladstone he has not said yes but it 13 a great matter that. he has not said no. I believe the fact is that ) e feols the awkwardness of his position with the bucen, and with t! e same magnanimous spirit that led him to decline the popular welcome to London, he will not do anything that should seem to force himself on an unwilling Sovereign. This can be put right by a frank per- sonal message from the Queen, and there is no doubt that this will, at the proper time, be forth- coming. I understand that Lord Derby has let it be known in the proper quarter that he would prefer to be left out of the new Administration— at least, in its first position. It seems to him that a handle might be offered to traducers if, having left one par:y, he proceeded forthwith to share in the good things of the other. I do not know whether these scruples will be overcome, or, indeed, whether there is any abso- lute desire on the put of the leading Liberals to overcome them, For the present at least, it seems unlikely that Lord Derby will join the Ministry though in any case the Liberal party will have his uncompromising support in the House of Lords. There is not the slightest foundation for the report, widely circulated, that Mr Sullivan will accept one of Mr Parnell's surplus seats. There is some talk of settling the matter by unseating Mr Callan on petition.

m'TH OF MR, J. S. IRIGHT, MJP, Between three and four o'clock on Thursday afternoon, Mr John Skirrow Wright, president of the Birmingham ^liberal Association, a member of the Birmingham School Board, and a magis. trate for the borough, who a few days since was returned for Nottingham in the Liberal interest, died suddenly whilst attending a meeting of the Birmingham School of Art, at the Council House. Being seized with a fit of appoplexy, Mr Wright fell back in his chair, and died about ten minutes after the attack. Deceased was 58 years of age.

ELECTORAL STATISTICS. As the elections are now completed, with the exception of Edinbmgh and St Andrews Univer- sities, Glasgow an.1 Aberdeen Universities, and Orkney and Shetland, returning in all but three members, the following return, compiled by the Central News," will be of some interest. Up to Thursday night 649 members have been returned to serve in the new Parliament. Of these, 237 are Conservatives, 351 are Liberals, and 61 Home Rulers. The Conservatives have gained 23 seats, and the Liberals 135 seats—net Lu>eral gain, 112 seats, which includes seats won by Home Rulers from Conservatives. These figures include the double return of Mr Gladstone and Lord Hartington, and the triple return of Mr C. S. Parnell. The Liberal majority, inclu ling the Home Rulers, is 175. The' Liberal majority over the Conservatives and Home Rulers combined is 53. The comparative number of votes given at the present general election, and at the general elec- tion of 1874, in the constituencies where contests occurred on both occasions, are as follows :— Conservative vote iu 1880 1,198,913 „ „ in 1S74 1,079,835 Conservative loss ~"lT&,078 Liberal vote in 1880 1,590,727 in 1874 1,173,443 Liberal gain 417,284 Net Liberal gain 298,206 In making this an-ilysis in crises where only Olie candidate of either 1 arty stood for a constituency returning tw,) members, the votes given for him are doubled, on the supposition that these being plumpers only represent half the voting poner of his party in the constituency. There were 6.5 uncontested elections in 1880, as against 115 uncontested elections in 1874. T))e.total number of voters on the register in 1S74 was 2,648,062 the total number of voters on the register in 1S80 is 3,038,726; as distinguished from votes given, the actual numbers of voters who polled in 1880 were 1,246,660 Liberals, and 871,346 Conservatives. In the Liberal total, the Home Rule voters, number- ing 49,980, are included. In this return the highesi number of Conservatives and the highest number of Liberal votes t oiled for one member in each constituency have been taken as indicating the respective maximum strength. In three-cornered constituencies, whether the votes have been divided to carry all three candi- dates of one party, the highest number polled, and half the lowest number polled have been added, as showing the maximum of strength. On the SAme basis the actual number of voters wbo polled in 1874 were 830,552 Liberals, and 701,797 couserva,tivei. The votes polled for the Scotch Universities, so far as they are recorded up to Thursday night, have been re^koi ed ir, comput- ing the number of voters during the present elections.

THE LIBERAL MAJORITY IN PARLIAMENT. The Daily Neics of Thursday, on the state of parties in the House of Commons, says: —The new House of Commons is now almost com- plete. With the excention of the members for the Scotch Universitiei and tor the distant con- stituency of Orkney and Shetland, all the members have been elected. Sonth Lincolnshire, which was the last of the English constituencies to vote, elected its two members yesterday, and the names of.the successful candidates will be announced M will those for Cork County, to-day. The returns actually known include therefore 645 members, and of these 411 are Liberals and 234 Conserva- tives, being a majority against the Government of 177. This is the direct result of the appeal of Lord Beaconsfield's Government for a vote of con- fidencefrom thecountry. The country has responded by the largest vote ever given against a Ministry. There has been no such anti-Conservative House of Commons elected since 1832. The majority which might be expected to vote on a question of want of confidence, if the present Ministry should submit to such a mode of compulsion from office, would be 177, or 57 more than that which placed Mr Gladstone in rower in 1868. In this reckon- ing we have not looked beyond the immediate question of the reply of the country to Lord Beaconsfield's appeal. The Home Rulen1, who are thus included among the opponents of the Government, must, of course, not be reckoned on for active and uniform support of the new Liberal Ministry. They are now 60 in number, and their deduction from the aggregate Liberal strength leaves t! e Liberal majority 117, which is still overwhelming as opposed to the peeled and wasted remnant of the Miuisteral party who will sit on theOpposition benches of the new House. Even on the assumption that there may be occasions in the course < f the next few yeira in which the Conservatives may be able to ally themselves with the Home Rulers, the united groups would still find themselves in a minoritv of 57. The uselessness of such a combination will w discourage attempts to form it and, indeed, there is no reason to believe that the Home Rule party would, as a whole, respond to such efforts of the Conservative leadets. Mr Parnell has made a distinct bid for an alliance which he thinks might favour his objects, but the most liberal reckoning gives him only some 25 followers, while another 35 may be expected to follow the wiser and more moderate leadership of Mr Shaw. Mr Parnell Mid his 25 may be dismissed aa irreconcilables. IhMr help in great measures of Liberal legislation in which Ireland is not immediately concerned may be doubtful but Mr Slia v and his followers may be relied on to swell the Liberal majority on ill occasions. Omitting this doubtful element we may reckon on a clear majority of about 140 for any of the great measures the new Government may iriug for ard.

THE THREE GLADSTONES. £ hree stalwart Gladstones, bravely battling for the True, rhe Sire led on the Scottish hosts, and quelled tha bold LU0Ci€QCu« Cwo. stalwart Gladstones still the trenchant sword did wield, rill Henry's brows with bays were wreathed on Worces- ter field; One stalwart Gladstone, in pause from gallant fight, lill loyal Leeds sends Herbert forth, upholder of the right. rhree gallant Glad.toncs-a mighty sire an I worthy sons, And dear to all true Eugltsh hearts while England's his- tory runs in Birmingham Post, (From the Guardian.) Three honest Ghtdstones.* Went forth and drew Tlie voices of the nation. As the Tories couldn't do. Sandy chose the flfet one, Voting him to be The hero of Midlothian, The bravest of the three. East Worcester next came, Sayinsr, Will will do To stand up by his father, A jolly number two." And for plucky Herbert, Worthy father's Mn, Leeds will proudly speak for hiob And poll him somber on*

I THE LATE WEST OF ENGLAND LANK. On Thursday the creditors of the late West of England and South \Yale>< District Bank, who gave notice of foregoing their claim of interest against the bank, received the fourth and final dividend of 3s 6d in the £, and about £500,000 has thus been distributed. To those creditors who claim interest a fourth dividend of Is 6d in the £ will forthwith be paid, making 18s per £ oa their respective debts.

MATH li N AL H K A [IT LESS NESS IN THE liHONDDA. The public in the upper pJrt of the Rhondda have been greatly shocked during the last couple of days by the intelligence Ihat a woman resident there, who was not a very long while since left a widow, but who recently marrie l again, bas just quitted the country for America with h>.»r fresh spouse, leaving her three children utterly destitute and apparently friendless. The matter will in all likelihood be brought before the board of guar- dians at their next meeting.

VESTRY .MELTING AT CAR MAR- j THEN. An adjourned vestry in connection with St. Peter's parish church was held on Thursday, the vicar (Rev. D. P. Evans) presiding. Mr Hoger Lester was appointed as lay elector in conjunction with the churchwardens, to meet with electors and J wardens of other parishes in ruridiac,mal meeting, there to choose lay delegates to represent the deaneiy at the dioce-an conference which will be summoned by the Bishop sometime next January. The cleaning of the church organ, and the neces- sity for repairing the tower bene.itii which the instrument is built were discussed. The vicar recommended delay in cleaning the organ, because he was in hopes that a certain gentleman would subscribe a sum of money for the repair of the tower, which work would necessitate the removal of the organ, or at any rate, would undo any clean- ing of the instrument which might be carried out beforehand. This course was adopted.

ABEIiDAKE BOARD OF HEALTH. The first meeting of the newly constituted board of health was held on Thursday. Mr R. H. Rhys presided, supported by the Rev. E. W. Lloyd, and Messrs D. E. Williams, D. P. Davies, S. B. Gilroy, tV. Davies (Canton House) J, Williams, and D. Davies (Canon-street). Mr Rhys was unanimously re-appointed chair- man for the ensuing year, upon the motion of Air D. E. Williams, seconded by Mr Gilroy, and it was further resolved that he be an ex-ojfici) mem- ber of all committees of the board. The com- mittees were then duly arranged, the name of Mr Edward Morgan, a newly-elected member, being substituted for that of Mr Evan Thomas. On proceeding with the general business, the Chairman announced that arrangements had been made for the purchase of the whole of the property required opposite the Board-room, and the deeds would probably be ready for execution at the next meeting. The report of the inspector of nuisances received attention. The Medical Officer of Health (Dr. Davies) sent in his returns of t^e district for the quarter endea, 31st March, which showed a decrease of 13 in the number of deaths compared with the cor- responding quarter of 1879, and an increase of 35 upon the previous quarter. The total number of deaths was 195, which included 4 from typhoid fever, 1 from scarlet fever, 2 from diph- theria, and 17 from bronchitis. This gave a death-rate of 5*4 per 1000 on the quarter. Ther had been 300 births, heing a decrease Ql J2 upon last year, the increase of births over deaths for the quarter being 105. Dr Davies added that 21 deaths had occurred during the same period requiring coroner's inquests, aud he also referred to the recent seizure of diseased meat, which he had condemned as unfit for human for,fodd. The surveyor reported respecting the intended exten- sion of the gas-lighting of the town, and upon the chairman's suggestion it was resolved to adhere to the original agreement to fix up 100 additional street lamps, allowing the 41 additionalonesrecommended by the Lighting Committee to stand over forfuture consideration, until some arrangement has been made with the Gas Company as to the laying of the mains. The agreement with the.Gas Com- pany to this effect was read and sealed. The new contract for supplying iron pipes was given to Messrs George Smith aud Co., of Glasgow, their tender (amounting to £62 5s) being the lowest. There was no further business of importance.

THE DISTRESS IN DEAN FOREST. ¡'>1f"Io:. PROPOSED EXODUS OF COLLIERS. On Wednesday night a numerously-a'.teuded meeting was held at the New Inn, Parkend, to consider the great distress in the township of West Dean, caused by the stoppage of the Park- end and New Fancy collieries, throwing out of employ 700 men aud boys. For a period of several days Mr Nicholson, a well-known friend of the JToresters, had been distributing thousands of loaves to the suffering people, w ho had from day to day besieged his dwelling, and he has put him- self in comm'Tnicatmn with the Crown authori- ties, who a.ro the proprietors of the Forest, in order to establish relief works. At this meet- ing Mr Nicholson presided, and was accompanied by the representative of a Welsh firm, who had come to the Forest in order to offer employment for nearly 100 men. It was stated by the chair- man that prior to the last distress, two years ago, he had in his day seen various works which had coat £1,000,000, and paying a weekly wage of £G,OOO, closed, and the present was an appalling calamity upon the township. On the occasion of the earlier distress, single-handed, he collected and distributed in money, provision, and clothing to the value of 3,000 guineas, and under the joint action of a committee another £3.000 were ex- pended in road-making. Road-making must be resorted to again until the crisis had subsided, as there was downright starvation in their midst. He referred to the Forest as a coal and iron district, stating, as a practical man,that unless the Govern- ment did something in the Forest ef Dean, the Forest would be shut np in another genera- tion. The most profitable coal in the Forest w is now nearly worked out, and they must get down to the Coleford High-delf Seam—the deep coal— and if it turned out of good thickness and good quality, the Forest of Dean would be safe for 300 years. To secure that measure, the drainage question must be dealt with, and he had stated this recently to the Hon.M.Howard,of the Woods and Forests. He referred also to what steps he had taken to meet the present difficulty, and read two letters from gentlemen in Wales, offering to provide work for 60 men, and he said a representative of a leading firm also in Wales was present to make arrangements for another body of men (100). At the termination of a lengthy f address the representative present invited the meeting to select a small staff of from 20 to 25 men to visit the district (Mountain Ash), when they might report to their brethren in the Forest, The wage-rate averaged from 4s 6d to 5s 3d per day. Before the meeting terminated the first batch was arranged, and a cordial vote of thanks was given to Mr Nicholson for his kind assistance in this severe talamity. It was stated on Thursday that several hundred of the distressed persons intended applying in a body to Sir J. Campbell, the Crown representative in the Forest, for assistance—relief, work, or otherwise.

MONMOUTHSHIRE QUARTER SES- SIONS. tt Before Air GBANVILLE SOMEBSET, Q.C., Mr E. J. PHILLIPS, Colonel BTBDE, and Mr EDWARD LIBTEU. FRAUDULENTLY OBTAINING GOODS AT NEWPORT. bpencer Richards, who falsely described him- self as Inspector Brenner, of the Detective De- f>artment of Scotland Yard, was indicted for un- a A fully and feloniously pretending to James Andrews Jones that he was in search of a thief who had been guilty of a jewellery robery at Lud- gate Hill, London, and for whose apprehension a reward of JB500 was offered, and thereby obtaining from him a suit of clothes, an overcoat, a hat, and 10s, on the 6th February last. There were other charges against the prisoner. Mr Xawrence pro. secuted. There were indications that the prisoner was scarcely compos mentis, but the circumstances of the strange case showed clearly that the pri. soner had a deep scheme by meaus of which he threw tradesmen off their guard, and obtained goods and money from them. It was clearly proved that he was not connected with the metropolitan or other detective department, but had left a wife aud family in Somersetshire. His statement as to the jewel robbery proved to be a myth. The prose- cutor described the jaunty way in which prisoner came into his shop, and purported to have a cheque for ten pounds, drawn on the London and County Bank. Thin he was prepared to lease as a security for goods supplied, and 10s in money. Prosecutor, however, was too much for the sham detective, and cave information to Sergeant Pratten of his suspicions, which led to his appre- hension. After hearing the evidence in the case, the prisonerfmade an elaborate defence to the jury, which he had prepared as a brief. He wa», how. ever, found guilty, and sentenced to six calendar months hard labour. THRU OF A WATCH AT KKWPOBT* George Washington Evans (23), steward, was acquitted ou a charge of having feloniously stolen a w atch from the person of Evan Wilde, at New. port. in the month of August, 1879. INDECENT ASSAULTS. John Jones, a mason, was indicted for un. lawfully and indecently assaulting and ill-treating ayoung girl named Ellen Williams, at Monmouth, on the 1st of July, 1876. For a while the man had absconded, but on his discovery the warrant originally issued was served upon him, and the charge sustained. He was aentenced to niue months' hard labour. # The gr;»nd jury ignored the bill against William ) Wilcox. charging him with commit ing an inde. cent assault upon Esther Waite, at the parish of Castle Hill, on the 11th March. When the pri. soner WJ.S called upon, he failed to appear to his name. he having been bailed out. The Chairman spoke in strojw terms condemnatory of the pri- soner s neglect to surrender himself, aa he had undertaken to do when bailed out. He ordered his detention in custody to await the pleasure of the court.

The expenditure of the Brighton School Beard for one month was .£7,000. Colonel Karopatkin will command the Russian corps of observation on the Chinese frontier of Turkeetan. *«■«»•■— Our Dublin corresp^nden^'sayg:—Of the 103 members for Ireland, 61 will nt as Home Rulers, 25 as Conservatives, and 17 aa Liberals. The Home Rulers have gained six seats, and the Liberals three. There are no Conservative Home The Pall MaU Gazette states that Lord Beacon". Sdth^re^i"1 Bi»bop ofL&nol bean forwardecl to the Queen TTntin!h £ L er Majesty's approval. UatdtMs hat been obtained, no public notifica- rtrtJd fctP«ment CMX u *>nt it is 'j*, that the office will be conferred on no local cl*rgym»U, or ON* WITHIN THE <U<X»M O^ QFAWTW.

DISASTROUS FI £ E AT TENBY. TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE ROiTAL ASSEMBLY ROuMS. One of the most disastrous fires that ever took place in Tenby occurred < Thursday morning at all early hour. P.C.Sullivan, wiio was on outy, observed about 3 a.m. flames issuing fro:u th4 Gate IIoiiso -A.aseuim.y iv. oni». A.1. rai«e<h and the members of the fire b iuach' witL their hose and fire engine were quickly feLc: ed te the spot, but by the time they iinived the (iaines had got such a hold of the building that it \I M utterly impossible to extinguish ti" m, neverth#. less the brigade did what they could to stop the fury of the tire, Luckily there was little or no wind at the tin-e, or the flames, which at timet reached 40 or 50 feet above the building, would have caught the a, ljaceut houses. The origin of thenreisat present unknown. Mons. Dttprez gave one of his conjuring pei formai.ctjs at the rooms ou Wednesd y night, and was announced to give another on Thursday night; but be-ides the loss of the Assembly Rooms his property haa also been burnt, -.n I his extraordinary pel forming birds were got out, but too late, nil were sulfonated. His clever <!og was. however, taken a vay oa Weduewbty iiight by his boy. We are i:.f.nmed Mons. Duorez is insured. Mr Gregory, th.> re- spected proprietor of the rooms ( ^ho v as from home at the time), hns ju<t expsuded .*< consider- able sum of money in enlarging and improving them, the finishing touch having been completed so late as Tuesday last. There is nothing now left but the bare walla. All thescenert.in which t ere were some splendid pictures, w is destroye.I, be- side other valuables. The estimated damage is £3,000. We believe Mr Gregory is p irtly insured. The tire, up to the time of writing, is int en- tirely out, but no danger can accrue from it. The brigade did their work as well as could be elt- pected, but an accident occurred to one of their number—.Mr Robert Lock. When in the .supper. room, a piece of the ceiling fell, and struck him on the helmet. This was the only tnishap w ich occurred. The greatest sympathy is felt for M* Gregory in his loss.

MONMOUfllSIIlUE LIBERAL ASSOCIATION. On Thursday a general conference of this asw* ciation was held at the Albert liall, Newport, under the presidency of Mr Conway. There wae a numerous representative atentance from all parts of the county. Although the business of the meeting partook somewhat of a private character. yet one of the main objects was to propose a reso- lution of gratitude to the Hon. Mr Brodrick and Mr C. M. Warmington for the public spirited way in which these gentlemen had come forward to tight the battle of Liberalism in this county. The addresses delivered and the remaiks made in- dicated a confident belief that whenever the time may arrive that another contest should take place in the county of Monmouth, Liberalism would be triumphant. The resolution adopted with general acclamation was as follows:—"That this meeeting, represent- ing the Liberal party in Monmouthshire. is desirous of conveying its united and heart* felt thanks to the Hon. George Brodrick and Mr Charles Marshall Warmington, for the noble man- ner iij which they came forward and undertook, and the vigour and fidelity with which they en- tered upon and sustained, the contest of thiscounty at the late election. It also dee: ly regrets that their splendid and indefatigable efforts proved un- successful. As a ground for con-olation and en- couragement, however, the meeting considers it right to remember and point out that notwith- standing the limited time available for visiting the whole of the county, with the inevitable result of a large portion of the Cctistituenty remhinhijniii-' canvassed, the committees received the largest number of votes ever recorded here in the Liberal Interest, and were defeated by a majority so nn- precedentedly small as to leave little doubt that this is the last time such exertions will meet with failure. Regretting the unpropitious and unex- pected end of much earnest labour and ardent anticipations, the meeting takes the opportunity of expressing its cordial and unabated regard for the gennemen who made such a gal- lant and determined effort. and still entertains the hope that Monmouthshire may again secure the honour of their services tor the future struggle that shall reverse the decision of the recent election, and making the late defeat only the prelude for a lasting vic- tory." After dealing with the hopeful and en- couraging prospects of the association, it was re- solved to appoint an executive committee to manage its alfairs, more particularly in regard to the next registration for the county. Substantial promises of financial support were made, and a determination was expressed that no effort should be wanting to ensure a triumphant success for the Liberal party when next an election might occur. Votes of thanks to the chaitman, the lion. secre- tary, and to Mr A. J. David, solicitor, were unanimously passed.

THE WELSlf VERNACULAR PHESS (BY ADFYTK)." —- Excellent in substance and in diction as are the leading-articles which appear in the Tarian, Mr Abraham Tibbott's letter in the current issue of that journal fairly rivals them. Mr Tibbott ably and concisely reviews Tory political history during the last cent irj7 or so, and she \s that that party has always pertinaciously opposed every measure of reform which has been broached from time to time. He concludes with the following glimpse of Tory extravagance :—In the year 1688 the National Debt was £ 664,263. It was increased during the reign of William the Third £ 15,730,439. There was Another addition of £37,750,661 dnrintT the reign of Queen Anne. From that period on to the Peace of Paris it grew to £86,773,163. The war with America cost us a further sum of £121,267,993, and the war with Franca £601,500,343. Periodic subauiies subsequently swelled this amount to £800,000,000, and the Afghan and Zulu wars have again mortgaged the country's credit to the ex- tent of; £ 30,000,000. This debt has been almost wholly created by the Tories. The last-mentioned little item was incurred merely for the purpose of satisfying the obstiuale spirit of the most double- minded Tory whom the Jewish nation has been able to produce from the era ot Judas Iscariot until now. His life is a tissue of inconsistfnctea after changing his coat he has revoked assertions which in days gone by he stoutly affirmed. In 1844, lie said that Toryism was a mass of hypocrisy from beginning to end. In 1846 he condemned the Corn Laws, and in 1849 he argued against Free Trade with all his might. The world has at last found out this arch-Tory, and it behoves u* to beware of him and his party, and prevent their ever again monopolizing the reins of omce. < There are many matters, says the Herald. awaiting the consideration of the incoming Liberal Government. Foremost amongst them is the prevailing system of canvassing electors. The current eUction has emphatically prove 1 the need of a reform on this head. The Ballot was intended as a protection for voters — Tory and Liberal. But as O'Connell remarked, there never was an Act of Parliament passed, through which a coach-and-four might not be driven. And the Tories have by their canvas- sing tactics spurned the spirit of the Ballot in 1880 as they did in 1874. Of course as they had resort to canvassing, the Liberals had no option left them but to follow suit in self-defence. But the practice is an evil which must be remedied it is a flaw ia the working of the B.rot Act, M the experience of the nast few weeks has clearly Eroved. The Ballot nns been the Liberal strong- old canvassing has been the Tory Igvfr— notably in the counties. Despite this piece o{ strategy on their pari, however, the Ballot ba8 come forth conqueror in the counties aa well ItS in the boroughs. Still the electors have been much harassed and worried in both instances by the insidious arts of canvassers, and it i. impera- tive that this electioneering cancer should be rooted out, Mr ^Yatkin ^Vijfjiams, M.P. for Car- narvonshire, intimatedJa8t week at Oeubigh that he was inclined to introduce a measure to Parlia. ment rendering the practice of canvassing illegal. Mr Richard Davies, M.P., also remarked at Llaneefni, that he and Mr Morgea Lloyd, M.P., had a consultation with Mr Williams in furtherance of that proposal. Mr Forster, M.P., the author of the Ballot Act, and Mr Gladstone, have no less explicitly and forcibly deprecated the virtual abrogation of the Ballot Act principles by canvassing. The action meli. tatea by Mr Watkin Williams will obviate much abuse, and the Herald would be please I to see Mr Williams bringfng the subject before the House of Commons. After rehearsing the magnificent Liberal victories which have been obtained in the Princi- pality, the Genedl proceeds :—We have now sub- stantial reason for looking forward to a period of successful legislation for Wales. It has been the custom of the Tories to laugh at our national wishes; they turned a deaf ear to all our just de- mands, whilst they gave Scotland what she asked for. We know that the leaders of the Liberal party are in favour of dealing justly with Wales. Abervstwith will have effectual aid, and the middle-class schools throughout the whole country will doubtless be cared foi. Jesus College will not be snatched as spoil Ly the Episcopal Tories, the collegiate advantages will be placed within the reach of Welshmen generally. Our country will for once in its history be justly represented. The Liberals who have beeu returned by votes to Par- liament are gentlemen of capacity and talent, of energy and resolute application, Wales has a re- presentative voice aId strength which will aecurt for her a respectful hearing henceforward, and no one doubtless will be readier to grant this, and aU other facilities for securing justice for the people, than the Liberal Goveimneut which is about to be formed.

WKSLEYAN FOREIGN MISSIONS.—The annual Mrmons were preached on Wednesday afternoon, "at the Wesley Chapel, Charles-street, Cardiff, by the Rev. J. Scott. In the evening a public nieeW ing was held in the same place, under the prert- dency of Mr William Price. Addresses WW dflitertd br the Rev. J. Scott and ethers

In this Way. We appeal against the Mail to „ €ver7 honest Churchman in_Walea._We ^Pixjal to the Bishops, the Deans, the ^e-*gy of the Anglican Church in Wales, against this foul and scurrilous indictment against thousands of honourable Men. We have not yet forgotten the Royal Commission upwards of thirty years ago, in which many persons did what they could to blacken the character of Welsh Dissenters. That was an atrocious assault upon the character of a nation. We had thought we should hear no more of it, but here is a news- paper at this very moment indulging freely in the same charges, only in language which betrays its character. There is not a news- payer in existence-the 11 cstcm Mail almost alone excepted—in which articles or letters couched in such language would be allowed to appear, even if the charges could be sub- stantiated. We do not envy the mind in which such wretched calumny fiuds a genial bed. We have said enough to justify the strong language we have used, but we said that we could more than justify it, and so we can, for the stream of venom does not halt at the point at which we stopped. It runs on, flowing, as it were, out of some bottomless > pit which can never be exhausted, but goes on belching out its floods of calumny in an endless torrent. The heart sickens," Bays the Westem Mail, inside every honest [8ic] man to think of the way that chapels have been turned into bullyraggin' houses, that preachers have been perverting the gospel of Christ to favour the Pembroke shipbuilder, that the very children of Dis- senting Radicals have been taught to tell lies about their fathers' politics; that men and women, and Sunday-school teachers and Superintendents, and hymn singers, and public prayer-makers have plighted and pledged themselves to each other, and banded themselves in a Lying League to cheat their employers and the public—begorra, as if they would not be found out. And this in Bible-loving Wales A tinker's curse for the Jot of them." This, too, from the Conservative press This from the daily newspaper patronised by those high and mighty personages who sit en- closed within the castle walls and proud mansions, and presume to look down Upon the poor Dissenter This, from the journal of the upper classes in Wales This ? the vile trash which they pay for and pro- pagate, rejoicing iri the chasteness of the language, the refinement of the composition, and the morality of the tone This, from the journal which more than any other in Wales is concerned for the holy alliance between Church and State, and, above all things, the moral and religious training of the children But let the creature which penned that article come forward, and declare himself Let him prove his case Lst the Proprietors and Editor of the paper which has been made to circulate this abominable calumny stand up in public, among Dissen- ters, and vindicate these coarse and cruel aspersions, or let them sneak away into the anonymous obscurity of literary scribblers to whom neither truth, justice, nor honour are of any value whatever. We do not envy them their reputation. If the character of the British press should ever sink to a depth &f baseness at all approaching that of the itrocious production which, in the public Interest, we have felt compelled to censure, the sooner every newspaper is rolled up in M'ie scroll, and flung into the common lewers, the better will it be for mankind.