The Cardiff Times

LON DON LETTER. ,p. LONDON, Tuesday Night. The Channel Tunnel scheme has received to-night a chcek which is likely to put an end to the endeavours made by Sir Edward Watkin to force it on the acceptance of Parliament. It unfortunate for him that the division should by accident have come on to-night. Members on both sides of the Honso were brought down in large numbers by imperative whips in order to vote on Sir Massey Lopes' amendment. In ordinary circumstances the attendance would have been much less, and Sir Edward Wat-kin's friends rallying round him would have made a more imposing show. As it was they were beaten by nearly three to one, in spite of the fact that Sir Edward had secured the full muster of the Parnellites. This support was not given en ordinary grounds of policy. Sir Edward has on several occasions voted with the Parncllites, and on a mister which did not touch their interests, and which the Government opposed, they were not sorry for an opportunity of paying the debt. Sir Edward's friends on the Con- servative benches generally treated him more scurvily. A large proportion of the majority were Conservatives, and it was from the Conservative side there came the strongest denunciation of Sir Edward's pet scheme. Mr Gladstone, who was in the House till haif-pa.st two this morning, and who, having settled affairs with Russia, finds himself faced with the old and difficult problem of local taxation, was caught napping this afternoon. He had in charge the royal message proposing a dowry for Princess Beatrice, and should have been standing at the bar when notices of motion were over, ready to to bring in the message. When the critical moment arrived the Premier was discovered sitting on the Treasury Bench in deep thought. When he was aroused by the call of the Speaker he jumped up, and, to the amusement of.the House, nimbly ran down the iloor till he reached the Bar, where he turned about and brought up the message amid good humoured cheering. The message itself was not so heartily received— no expression of any kind followed upon the Speaker's reading it from the chair. Members, in accordance with custom, un covered, with the exception of three Irish members, Messrs O'Bricn, William Red- mond, and Lalor. The latter's silly rude- ness on this occasion was made the more .remarkable from the fact that in defiance of an unwritten rule of the House he appears nightly in a low-crowned billycock hat. To make matters worse the hat is white, that being a more noticeable colour among a throng of black hats, Redmond was at the outset inclined to follow the example of his better mannered compatriots, and take off his hat but observing that Mr W. P. O'Brien kept his on, he replaced it, and thus flouted the Saxon and maintained the ancient reputation of Irishmen for courtesy and good breeding. Mr Mundella declined to answer Mr Richard's question to-night as to the pros- pects of the Welsh Education Bill, refer- ring him to Friday, when Mr Gladstone is to make a statement on the general course of public business. He, however, dropped a little aside, which goes some way towards confirming the information telegraphed to you last week, when it was settled to bring in the bill this session, if possible to introduce it before Whitsuntide. "I trust," Mr Mundella said, referring to Mr Gladstone's promised state- ment, "that my hon. friend will find it satisfactory." There would, I think, be no doubt about introducing the bill before Whitsuntide, but for the circumstance that Mr Mundella desires, on laying it upon the table, to have the opportunity of making a statement explaining its principles. This is very difficult to obtain, and may delay the introduction of the bill, but that Mr Gladstone himself has made up his mind to see it passed this session is a statement I have good reason to believe in. There was some skirmishing in the Lords to-night between Lord Salisbury and Earl Granville with regard to the famous speech of the former, in which he fastened upon Russia the alternative title of swindler or bankrupt. Lord Salisbury, who may at some indefinite time find himself Prime Minister, is naturally annoyed at this par- ticular chicken coming home to roost, and wanted to explain away the circumstance. But the facts are written in an impar- tial report; out of which it is .difficult to wriggle. The moral obviously is that statesman, even speaking with the freedom of the provinces, should keep in mund their responsibilities. The Duke of Argyll finished his speech interrupted last night by the illness of Lord Dormer, and a lively little debate followed. LONDON, Wednesday Night. The curious infelicitous state of the rela- tions amongst the Conservative leaders was illustrated afresh this afternoon. At an early hour this morning Mr Lowther had intimated his intention to oppose the "third reading of the English Registration Bill. Having announced this determination, Mr Luwther left the House, and the bill having passed the report stage, there came the question of the third reading. The Attorney- General, referring to this declaration, indi- cated the intention of postponing the stage, bu', Mr Stanhope rather urged that the third reading should be forthwith taken. The Attorney-General put the question directly to hira whether, taking cogniaanco of what Lowthcr had said, it was proper to take the last stage of the bill. Mr Stanhope consenting, the third reading was agreed to. To-day Mr Lojvthcr came down, and some- what hotly protested against this stage being passed. The matter was one which remained for settlement amongst the divers iettders of the Conservative party, among whom Sir Lowther is a somewhat incon- siderable factor. What gave point to hiti interposition was his violent attack upon the Prime Minister, whom he accused of having "bolted" from the division. This being translated means that the Prime Minister being in his place till half-past two on. Tuesday morning, had taken the liberty of going home early on Tuesday night. Corning from this par- ticular source, the studied insolence might well have been ignored, but the Premier being in his place did not find it possible to pass it over without observation, and jumping up, he hotly protested against the offensive remark. Mr Lowther grudgingly withdrew the expression, and proceeded with his speech, to which a comical turn Was given by the repeated interruptions of Mr Healy, who presented himself as the champion of orderly debate, and more than once protested against Mr Lowther's interposition. The incident fell very flat, and would have had no promi- nence except for the fact that the Premier was present. Mr Stanhope was absent, otherwise his remarks on an episode for which he was chiefly responsible would have been interesting. The House has been occupied throughout the afternoon in discussion of the Irish Registration Bill. This led to a prolonged conversation, and the bill stands over till to-morrow. In view of Whitsuntide, the Government are persistent in their desire to forward these bills so that they may reach the Lords before Parliament disperses for the holidays. This is the main object of the session, and when it is accomplished we may expect to see a rapid disposal of other business. The official intimation, dropped in a casual manner last night, that a bill is to be brought in to arrange for a dissolution In the early autumn, has greatly quickened parliamentary business. The reception which Mr Gladstone habitually meets with at the hands of a small but noisy section of the Conservative party has reached the proportions of a Snibhc scandal. Twice within a week the :'rime Minister, his speech broken in upon by noisy shouts, has paused to protest in the name of the dignity and traditions of Parliament aga-nst such outrage. In earlier times Mr Biggar and Mr Warton were the two persons responsible for this new kind of parliamentary warfare. Either they have been outstripped and out-shouted by^newer practitioners, or what would be more pleasant to contemplate, they have been subdued by the in variably courteous and dignified manner in which the Premier has been accustomed to take note of their interjections. However it be" Mr Warton and Mr Biggar have re- cently retired into the shade. There is a little gang of Parliamentary rowdies who sit in the neighbourhood of Mr Warton. and whence come the noises designed to embarrass the Premier in the course of his argument. Mr Tomlinson, an unimportant person from Preston, will not complain Sflic is specially singled out in this survey. Sit ts a distinction due to his untiring pertinacity and one special gift. Nature, .=. which has not been bountiful in any recog- nisable way to Mr Tomlinson, has given him a strident voice, and this he uses with great effect to upset the triumphal forward march of the argument and eloquence of Mr Gladstone. The pity of it is that the Premier should be susceptible to this kind of thing. If it were only possible for him to regard it with the contempt it inspires in the mind of the onlooker it would shortly cease. But when men like Mr Tomlinson, Mr Ashmeaxl- Bartlett, or Mr Onslow observe the Premier in the flush of oratorical victory, evidently carrying with him willing and unwilling auditors, and feel that it is in their power— a power held in common with the ass that brays, or the goose that hisses—to top the torrent of eloquence and embarrass the orator, it is small wonder that they should exercise their function. The real responsi- bility for this behaviour, discreditable to a political party, and degrading to a historical assembly, rests" with the leaders on the front bench. If, when it is going forward, Sir Stafford Northcote were to rise in his place, and in his character as a gentleman and a statesman denounce such practices as unworthy the House of Commons, nothing would be heard of them. But Sir Stafford Northcote has his own troubles, and it is, perhaps, too much to expect that he will bring upon him a fresh access by taking this course. It would be useless to appeal to the good sense and gentlemanly feeling of the practitioners of this new parliament- ary art, and it seems the thing must go on till its end is accomplished, and Mr Glad- stone, inassailable by argument, and supreme in the strength of a popular majority, is personally worried out of the House. Mrs Langtry is determined to take her public by surprise, and if she can, by storm. Hitherto her career on the stage has been tame. She has gone over the old lines re- spectably, but not very brilliantly. Her one novelty—Dumas' Princess Georges —was a disagreeable failure. I am told she is now hard at work rehearsing a new play from which she expects a great triumph. The title of it is "A Little Tramp," and, as costume has always been numbered amongst the attractions by which Mrs. Langtry takes her audience, I may mention that in one scene she will appear dressed as a boy. The play is full of bizarre situations, but the authorship is not announced. From what I have heard of the plot, it very like a play Mr Wills wrote some years ago but never finished

IJi£ AGRICULTURAL NOTES. [BY A SOUTH WALES AGRICULTURIST.] Whilst I write these notes the dispersion of the ^unrivalled Hindlip Bates shorthorn herd will bo in progress, under the hammer of Mr John Thornton. Collected by Sir Henry Allsopp regardless of cost, and managed without stint in expenditure, it is a matter to be regretted that such a herd of Bates" blood should be a thing of the past. One consolation is that it affords opportunities to admirers of Bates of procuring specimens of Duchess, Oxfords, Heydon, Rose, and other prize tribes of the sort. I fear the depression will, however, seriously affect the prices realised, although doubtless handsome sums will be given for first-rate animals. It will, undoubtedly, be the sale of the season, and attract a large assemblage, if not of buyers, of those anxious to inspect the famous herd. I can only hope the result may be better than anticipated, to recoup in some measure the owner for his pluck aud enterprise. The value of first-class herds in a district cannot well be over-estimated by agriculturists. It affords them opportunities of t{sing- and pur- chasing first-class males.and educates the breeder's mind, stimulating him to fresh and unceasing exertions to improve aud better his own herd. What has been the yalue to Ireland of the numerous herds of shorthorns, principally of Booth" blood, by which means bulls have been distributed throughout the land, improving the stock to an enormous extent All honour, then, to gentlemen of wealth, who devote it to the fostering of agricultural improvement regard- less of the profit or loss connected therewith. Times have changed since 1875, when the late Mr Torr's head of eighty head averaged over Such prices I do not expect or wish to see again, as it becomes a pure speculation, and does not represent the intrinsic value of the animals, though the highest price bull on record, "Duke of Connaught," bought by Lord Fitz- hardinge, at Lord Dunmore's sale, for 4,500 guineas, is reported to have paid his noble owner more than the purchase-money in service-fees, besides the improvements in his own herd from his use. Sales of pedigree stock, whether short- horn, Hereford, polls, or other sorts, have ex- perienced a considerable decline in price of late. Would be purchasers have not the money or the heart to lay it out with the present gloomy out- look in agriculture, and tremendous competition from abroad. I am glad to chronicle the fact that an active demand exists at good prices for Clydesdale horses from Australia, Canada, and America and to show the value of registered pedigrees, all these buyers, I learn from a Scotch paper, insist upon the animals being entered in the Clydesdale Stud Book. The show season will commence in earnest about the 27th and 28th inst. The Devon County at Plymouth, Oxfordshire at Chipping Norton, Essex at Waltham AbbGY; on June 4th and 5th, Loud 01 Agricultnrallbrsc, at the Agricultural-hall; and the Bath and West of England at Brighton on June 6th to 12th, inclu- sive, so that London fog and Brighton sea breeze can be inhaled one after the other in the course of the week's showing. Dark horses will be brought out and unknown cracks exhibited in the fierce light of competition, local shows keeping the ball a-rolling" till it culminates in the Royal, at Preston, from July 14-th to 20th, which promises not to be behind its predecessors in extent or attractions. Sir John Beawes has an able paper on the use of sugar for stock feeding in the last "Royal Journal." From his experiments made 30 years a go he found with pig-feeding sugar and starch were weight for weight equal for the purpose. The present low price has drawn attention to sugar. Sir John considers it should not be used in any quantity with food containing but a small percentage of nitrogen, such as cereal crops, maize, or roots, but with leguminous seeds, as peas,beans, linseed, or cotton cake, it may be used with effect. At the present low 'price of barley at 10s per ton, rice meal £3 to £4. per ton, he thinks sugar cannot compete with these starchy foods. The sugar may be useful with animals off their feed. I have known it used with great effect particularly in the case of show animals, also in the form of molasses, when it feedsrapidJy, but butchers complain that the meat is flabby, and that the slock do not die, or prove as well as those fed on cake ond corn This must be take into consideration, as the quantity of meat will make a material difference in price, and with present prices we cannot afford to lose a fraction. Sir John draws attention in the agricultural newspapers to the cultivation of potatoes.which fare being almost given away. He lays stress on using manures containing nitrogen, and minerals. Farmyard dung of good quality is, perhaps, the cheapest and best that the farmer can use for the purpose but even this can be supplemented with effect by a little artificial. Potatoes remove a large quantity of potash from the soil, and this must be supplied. In the experimental plots at Rothapistead the produce during the last three years has been 40010.3. per acre, weight per bushel 501bs., grown with 3001bs of sulphate of potash, 3501bs of super- phosphate of lime, and 4001bs of salts of ammonia, mixed together. In another plot 5401bs of nitrate of soda was used instead of salts of ammonia, the results being identical as regards produce per acre. In experiments I made some ye3.rs ago I found that top dressings of artificial manure, horse-hoed tn, pioduced a most favourable effect by acting as a stimulant to the plant just when required, and keepmg- up a Till "V ft f} with earth and ashes some month or two previous to use, and thus partially dissolved, I found produced the best results, taking into con- sideration the quality of the potatoe and freedom from disease. The season has been a splendid one for setting, whether it will prove equal to last year's produce. I doubt it. That was exceptionally- heavy throughout the kingdom, and singularly free from disease. I regret to record the fact of a serious outbreak of pleuro-pneumonia on the farm of Fearn, Ross- shire, amongst a herd of 135 animals. It is sup- posed that it originated from the introduction of a lot of Irish cattle bought recently. One or two animals have succumbed to the disease, and others are reported suffering. The.Ioeat authority, at a meeting promptly hold, decided to slaughter the whole herd of 135 annuals, paying the owner compensation on the valuation mutually agreed upon. Although, at first sight, it seems a drastic measure to stamp out the disease in this way, our Scotch friends have proved from expe- rience that there is no method so cheap and expeditious for combating the evil as stamping out. Another outbreak of the disease is reported from a dairyman's cow-house in. Dumbartonshire, I hope the active measures adopted will prevent any further spread, but there must be closer, more stringent inspection of cattle in Ireland at the depdts ere they are allowed to be shipped. There must be great laxity in the regulations carried out, as we constantly hear of outbreaks j caused by Irish stock imported. -r-

I THE ANGLO-RUSSIAN CRISIS. • <e. ■ ■ DEPARTURE OF SIR PETER J LUMSDEN FOR ENGLAND. [FROM THE SPECIAL COIcRESPON- DENT OF THE "DAILY NEWS.] TIRPUL, MAY 9 (via Meshed), Wednesday. When Lord Dalhousie was Viceroy of India, Khiva claimed Penj-deh. Mr Todd, who was the British resident at Herat, was instructed to examine the lihivan and Afghan claims. The result proved that Penj-deh was in Afghan occupation, and had long paid a" revenue to the Ameer. When the Russians in 1834 annexed Merv and Yulutan, a deputation went to Herat to request the Ameer's^ open protection. The Ameer promptly sent to Penj-deh a governor and a garrison. On the 25th of September the Russians occupied Hayrat Imam, forty miles north of Penj-deh, which previously had been considered the Afghan frontier. About the 13th November Colonel Ali- khanoff made his first movement. towards Penj-deh. The promptness of the Afghan officials and the proximity of the com- I mission reassuring the Saryks, thwarted the movement. Alikhanoff thereupon wrote to the Afghan general and retired. The second movement was on the 20th of February. This led to nothing, owing to Colonelltidgeway's resolution, energy, and influence over the Saryks.. Colonel Alikhanoff later on ejected tho. Afghan outposts and made a demonstration in force against the Afghan position at Pul-i-Khisti. The Afghans threatened to open fire. The Saryks remained passive. CoJonel Alikhanoff, thereupon, withdrew, and established a Russian outpost at Kizil Tapa, a mile north of Pul-i-Khisti. Troops and ammunition were collected at Hayrat Iman. The Afghans upon this summo'ned rein- forcements from Herat. The Saryks. though very uneasy, were controlled by Col. Ridgeway. On the 25th March General Komaroff, with a force of 30,000 men, camped at Kizil Tapa. On the 26th Capt. Yate met General KomarofFs chief of the staff, but nothing came of the interview. The Saryks repeatedly offered to attack the Russian camp, but were directed to remain neutral. At last General Komaroff sent the Afghans an ultimatum on the 29th, demanding the evacuation of Pul-i-Khisti. The Afghan general also received an anonymous letter requesting an interview, unknown to the British officers, the same afternoon. Captain Yate again met the chief of Komaroff's staff. The latter admitted that General Komaroff was cognisant of the agreement of March 16th. When informed that attacking Pul-i-Khisti was an infringe- ment of the agreement, he was without a reply. • On the morning of the 30th, just before the attack, General Komaroff sent the Af- ghans another letter. This he afterwards explained was in order to obtain a peaceable solution. After the fight, Captain Yate offered Surgeon Owen's services to the Russian wounded. Later he requested an interview and an escort. No reply, however, was received. The Saryk, head man in the British camp, during and after tho fight, finally escorted the British officers in safety beyond the Penj-deh limits. General Komaroff sent no escort for the British officers. M. Lessar's statement that the Afghans attacked the Russians at Zulficar in March is a mistake. [FROM THE SPECIAL CORRESPON- DENT OF THE "DAILY NEWS."] ST. PETERSBURG, WEDNESDAY NIGHT. Six ironclads and 16 monitors and other vessels left Cronstadt on Monday. Several others will leave in a few days. Admirals Schmidt, Golovatschfio, Kopitoff, and Novikoff have been appointed to the com- mand of the four squadrons. A telegram from Talaff, in the province of Tiflis, announces that a battalion composed of four companies has passed through that place on the Afghan frontier. The rumour published in a London paper a week ago, of an Anglo-Chineso alliance against Russia, has given rise to a good deal of comment here. It is expected that it will lead to a re-discussion of the whole question of Port Hamilton, and the Corean Straits. The Russians are strongly opposed to England possessing or controlling these positions as it would enable them to block the exit of Russian ships from the Siberian ports. [FROM THE SPECIAL CORRESPON- DENT OF THE "DAILY NEWS."] BERLIN, WEDNESDAY NIGHT. On all sides peace is now regarded as per- fectly assured, and the entire press is unani- mously looking on the Anglo-Russian agree- ment as an accomplished fact. In a leading article, entitled, The de- fence of India, to-day's National Zcitunjst- rives at the conclusion that England must gradually concentrate the bulk of her military forces in India for permanent duty there, and make Use of the militia for service at home and in Ireland. It predicts that the time when this or a similar resolution must be taken is certain to come. [FROM THE SPECIAL CORRESPON- DENT OF THE "DAILY NEWS. "J VIENNA, WEDNESDAY EVENING. According to Polish papers Russia is de- termined to send a diplomatic representa- tive to Calcutta, but in political circles here the statement is discredited. In a leading article on the situation, the Neue Freie Presse remarks that England should continue to cultivate the friendship of the Princes of India and establish some kind of representative native assembly for carrying on legislative business. If this were done the intriguing agents of Russia, who will soon be at their old work again, would have tho wind taken out of their sails. I hear from St. Petersburg that the basis of the Anglo-Russian convention will be the prompt delimitation of a frontier line be- tween Russia and Afghanistan. This arrangement, it is thought by Russian officials, will preserve peace far more effec- tually than a neutral zone, which would lead to endless disputes. COMMISSARIAT SUPPLIES TO BE SOLD. 1..t\.lJ.;UJ.b,A. o..J .6.I" SIMLA, Wednesday.—The bulk of the commis- sariat supplies recently collected at Quetfca ar3 to be sold. DEPARTURE OF SIR P. LUMSDEN FOR ENGLAND. [FROM THE SECOND EDITION OF THE TIMES."] MESHED, May 9.—General Sir Petor Lumsden left Tirpul for England this morning, after hand- ing over the command to Colonel Ridgeway. The remaining members of the commission regret the loss of a kind chief, untainted by party bias, whose only object was to serve his country, and save England's honour in a most trying position. The members of the mission are all well. No fur- ther Russian movements are reported. THE DELIMITATION NEGOTIATIONS. The Press Association is in a position to state that the negotiations now going forward in London between England and Russia regarding he delimitation of the Russo-Afghan frontier have progressed most satisfactorily within the last few days. Some further explanations upon the main agreement arrived at by Earl Granville, Lord Kimberley, M. de Staal, and M. Lessar will be equired to be made before th3 agreement is ratified by both powers, but these are not con- sidered to be of a nature to cause any dslay in the final adjustment of the difference. Th* conclusion of negotiations is considered to be 3 at hand that M, Lessar is expecting to receive instructions within a very short time to proceed to Central Asia to assist in the delimitation of the frontier. RECENT EVENTS ON THE AFGHAN FRONTIER. [EEUTEB'S TELEGBAM.J ST. PETERSBURG, Thursday,—The lecture given last night by Colonel Zakrejevski upon recent events on the Afghan frontier, was attended by personages of distinction, including several of the Grand Dukes and Mi rasters. The lecturer spoke from a purely literary point of view, and based his arguments on the merits of the question principally upon the report telegraphed by General Komaroff, Vice-Admiral Caestakoli will in a few days inspect the men-of-war lying in the Cronstadt roads, which ice be joined by the cruiser Africa and the war Scobeleff. A commis- sion composed of staff officers and naval officers left Cronstadt by steamer, a few days ago, to inspect the shores of the Gulf of Finland, <0- RUSSIAN TROOPS AT SARAKHS. [BECTER'S TELEGRAM.] TEHERAN, Thursday. — Intelligence received here from Sarakbs states that there are at pre- sent at that place the following Russian troops:— Two battalions of infantry, 800 cavalry, and two batteries of artillery. Colonel Alikhanoff is at Merv, with 2,000 troops of all kinds. There are also strong outposts at Pul-i-Khatun andZulCkar. The. chief of the Sank Turcomans at Penj-deh is i Russian nominee..The Russo-Persian Boundary Commission is still occupied in placing boundary marks along the river Attrek. The commission is half way between the Caspian Sea and Chat.. THE NEW FRONTIER OF AFGHAN- ISTAN. [REUTER'S TELEGRAM.] Simla, Thursday.—It is understood that the new frontier of Afghanistan will be as follows :— Starting from north of ZiilSkar, on Heri Rud, the frontier will tend in an easterly direction to Chaman-i-Baid, on the Kusbk. Descending the river to Gauz-i-Khan, ib will proceed from the latter place in a north-easterly direction to the south of Penj-deh along the margin of cultivation to Khojil Saleh, on the Q.v>;s, The line thus defined lies between the frontiers proposed by England and Russia respectively. INCREASE OF RUSSIAN FORCES ON ON THE BORDER. IRKUTSK'S TELEGRAM,J ST. PETERSBURG, Wednesday.—An order has been issued by the Minister of War, bearing date 2nd inst, for carrying cut the decision taken by the Council of War on May 25th last year, for the formation of an additional battalion of garrison artillery at Novo Georgievsk and .Brestlitovsk respectively., and cf two battalions at Ivangorocl, an increase of one,

;¿ rlIIfTRUCK- ACT AT RHYMNEY. TREASURY PROSECUTIONS OF THE RHYMNEY IRON COMPANY, SUPPLY OF TBEER"AND GROCERY TO WORKMEN. A special sitting of the Tredegar magistrates WGS held at the Courthouse, Tredegar, 011 Wed- nesday, to investigate charges preferred by the Crown against the Rhymney Iron Company, Limited, carrying on business at Rhymney, for breaches of the Truck Act. The magistrates present were the Rev. W. Hughes (in the chair), and Messrs W, Lkwellin and A, D. Berringfcon, The company were summoned under the 1st and 2nd William IV., chap. 31 (the Truck Act) for illegally paying wages otherwise than in the current coin of the realm. There were six informations dealing with specific acts. The first proceeded with was that the company, being the employers of one John Richards, an arti- ticer, employed as a hauling man, did on the 24th December last pay to the said John Richards, in lieu of the sum of 5s then due from them to him, four and a half gallons of ale, the said ales not being prepared or dressed victuals, cooked under the roof of the said com- pany." There were live other informations, com- prising another in respect to J. Richards, involv- ing tie sum of 12s 911, two also ir. respect to Cyrus Rogers, and one each in respect of John Jenkin Rees and Thomas D. Richards, also workmen in the company's employ. Mr W. 0. Danckwerts, barrister from the Treasury (instructed by Mr J. Aeron Thomas, solicitor, Swansea) appeared to prosecute; and Mr A. K. Je-lf, Q.C. (instructed by Mr Plews, Merthyr), defended. ML- Danckwerts recited the provisions of,the act, and quoted several decided cases. The case of John Richards was then proceeded with. His book, showing the details of the ac- count for-wages and goods and beer was put in, and Mr Danckwerts pointed out that at the big pay day on the 31st January last lie was en+;tled to £ 8 10s 4d, out of which was deducted £ 5 0s 8d for goods supplied at the shop. These goods in- cluded 4& gallons of ale, :1nd also tobacco, bread, hat, feathers, crape, and buttons.—In the wit- ness-box Richards said he was formerly a con- tractor under the company, but latterly a hauling man. Ho had not had conversation with Thomas Thomas, his brother-in-law, or John Davies, III", lir grocer, about bringing those proceedings.—Mr Jelf (to Richards): You mean to say this matter was not talked over between Davies, Thomas, and othfr rival shopkeepers before the proceedings were taken?—Richards: I have not been talking with sliopkeepars, only with Davies.—Margaret Richards, wile of the last witness, spoke to having purchased goods with her husband's pay book. In reply to Mr Jelf she said she did not wish to shut up the shop she would rather see it open. She went some- times to the shop," and sometimes to other shops. It was more handy to go to the "shop" when she was short of money. On the December account her husband was overpaid £ 2 2s Od. The 2s 8d was paid at the January settlement, raid J32 was still owing by him to the company. She got an order from the shop on Christmas Eve, and went to the brewery and obtained the beer. The magistrates lined the company 40s, and on the second case, in which Richards was rdso in- volved, and the amount paid in goods. 12s lOd, the bench imposed a fine of 5s.—Mr Jelf asked for a case for appeal to the superior .court, and this was granted. The next group of was taken after the adjournment for luncheon. The company were summonsd for paying Cyrus Rogers, an artificer, 8s 7d on the 23ch January, and 4s Si on the 31st January, contrary to the Truck Act. Mr David Evans, who was manager to the company from 1873 to the end of March last, said that Sidney Pritchard was manager of the and that it was under entirely different management. Witness had nothing to do with the shop" business, and never interfered with it. Mr Pritchard could not allow a draw at the pav-officc. The draws were fixed at the works- office, and Mr Pritchard had no power to stop a draw. George Evans, leadipg foreman in the steel mill, and James Price, another fore- man, bad power to engage and dismiss workmen.— Cross-examiued The foremen might consult Mr John Davis, the mill manager, before dismissing men. I do not know of any instance in which they so acted.—Re examined: The weekly draws were arranged in the office of the respective de- partments, according to the time the men had worked.—Air Danckwerts But supposing the question arose whether a man was to have any draw at all ?—Witness That did not come under my notice. Cyrus Rogers, at first beater at the iron furnace and .subsequently spare hand at the works, said that he got drafts on the" shop," where he had got into debt. He identified a photo of the shop, and pointed out the pay-office door. He created a ripple of laughter by saying when he wanted a shilling be asked for Is 6d; and if eighteen pence met his requirements, he demanded 23, When he wanted victuals he got the amount he wished put on the book, and then obtained the food.—Ann Rogers, wife of the witness, proved that on the 27th January she took her husband's shop book to the pay office, got an order for 10s., a.nd purchased 83 7d worth of goods. On the 31st January she obtained goods to the value of 4-s 9d in the same way, having got an additional order for ?.s. Mr Jelf, in defence, urged there was no co- ercion proved as required by the act, and it bad not been shown, whatever the circumstances were, that any one had been aggrieved and he asserted that the prosecution had been instigated by rival shopkeepers at Rhymney. bThe Chairman, after the retirement of tne pencil for consideration, said the majority were n favour of a conviction in this case also there- fore, a fine of 40s would be inflicted, but would not allow costs in any of the cases. The bench will state a case for a superior court. The other summonses were withdrawn, and the case ended.

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GREAT BiTrLE WITH ¡ THE INDIAN REBELS. -4 DECISIVE VICTORY OF GENERAL MIDBLETON. ENEMY CHARGED AT THE POINT ¡ OF THE BAYONET, RESCUE OE BRITISH PRISONERS. [FROM THE SPECIAL CORRESPON- DENT OF THE "DAILY NEWS."] WINNIPEG, WEDNESDAY. On Monday, the town of Batouche was captured by General Midxlleton after a short and desperate encounter, in which many I volunteers. were killed and wounded. Early iithe- afternoon It became known II in the camp that an important movement WFL-S in contemplation, but the general's I plan was kept a profound secret, in order, if possible, that the rebels might be forced to -in fight under the disadvantage of a surprise. The order to march was issued at half- past two.. The force was promptly under arms, and being put into position, advanced rapidly upon the stronghold of the rebels. The troops having arrived within range of the enemy's rifle pits, were ordered to charge, and at once darted forward with ringing cheers.. The rebels, though they saw the coming column, reserved their fire, and then poured a destructive volley upon the charging column. Many a brave fellow rolled in the dust, but the attack was not for a moment even checked, and in a few moments our I men had u rushed" the rifle pits, and driven the rebels headlong into the ravine. Here, I screened by the brushwood, the rebels opened a heavy fire and kept up an obstinate resistance,, but our men were not to be denied, and after a desperate encounter, the half-breeds suddenly fell back to take up II a fresh position in the village. They were allowed little time to rally, however. The troops In high spirits, and driving the enemy from the rifle pits, dashed at once down into Batouche, cheering again I, and again as they charged. The rebels made only a feeble resistance, being evidently taken by surprise at this second and sudden advance. They soon fled, and our troops captured the village house by house. All 11 the prisoners taken by Riel, to the number of seven, were found safe and well. During the fighting at this point Riel sent I' out a flag of truce, carried by a prisoner, with the following n-lessaoe "If you don't cease firing on the houses, and thereby in- juring our families, we will massacre the prisoners, commencing with the Indian agent." General Middleton sent the following reply, "Let me know where your women and children are, and we will not fire on them. In answer to this" Riel confined himself to thanking the general for his courtesy. Iliel, at the moment when our men made the rush upon the village, wrote upon an envelope the following "I don't like war. I have concluded to massacre the prisoners all the same." Fortunately, the advance of our I troops was so rapid, and the panic of the enemy so complete, that there was no time to execute this barbarous threat, and the prisoners were all released. The action was a brilliant achievement, and reflects great credit on both the troops and their officers. The rebel loss is believed to be heavy. The bodies of 12 half-breeds were found on the field,. and a wounded I rebel and a number of Riel's council were captured. The Canadian loss was six killed and 15 wounded. The Northcote and another steamer are proceeding down the river with troops and mounted police, in order, if possible, to cut off the rebel retreat. GEN. MIDDLETON'S ACCOUNT OF THE ENGAGEMENT. [RKUTER'S TKLEGBAM.] OTTAWA, Wednesd—, General Middleton I reports this morning as follows :—" We had an engagement with the enemy on Monday. I received a messags from Riel, I If you I massacre onrwomen andchEdren, we will massacre onr prisoners.' I answered, Put your women in a safe place, point it out, and we will not fire at it.' I then pushed on our advanced guard, and when I saw a chance ordered a general charge. Our men responded nobly, and were splendidly led by their officers. Colonel Straubenzie drove the enemy out of their rifle pits at the point of the bayonet, afterwards forced his way across the plain and seized the houses, of which we are now masters. Our men bivouacked on Monday night on the field of battle. I "Inthehsatofthc action Riel sent another letter stating that if the General did not retreat I or grant an interview the prisoners would be killed. The letter came too late, the advance being already ordered. The prisoners were rescued and are safe in camp. The enemy had not time to kill them. Our loss is five killed and fifteen wounded. The enemy sustained great loss, Riel's private secretary and a member of his II council were wounded and taken prisoner;. Two steamers are coming up the river towards Batouche with troops in order to cut (IT the retreat.of the rebels." ANOTHER BATTLE EXPECTED, [KEUTES'S TELEGSA3I.] OTTAWA, Wednesday.—G^L. Strange has left Edmonton and is proceeding with his troops by boat down the North Saskatchewan river to Fort Pitt, in order to attack the chief, Big Bear, who holds 40 white prisoners. AD enjp?ement is shortly expected.

THE SOUDAN WAR PRESENTATION TO GENERAL GRAHAM. A STANDARD CAPTURED FROM THE _kT REBELS. j [BELTER'S TEL EG K A If. [ SUAEIM, Wednesday.—The Bengal Lancers to-day presented General Graham with a standard captured by them from the rebels at Tahakoo], The General, in accepting it, congratulated the Lancers on the distinguished services rendered by them during the campaign. Her Majesty's troopship Tyne, which sails to- morrow, takes the following invalids in charge of Drs. Mapleton and Colbdge, viz. Colonel Goddard and Lieutenant Davies, Grenadier Guards; Captain Ross, Coldstream Guards Lieutenants Austin and Banon, 1st Battalion of the Shropshire Regiment; Lieutenant Taylor, Royal Artillery Drs. Holmes and Beaver, Sister Irving, and 145 men. The head-quarters of the Guards Brirade have been transferred to Otao. CAIKO, Wednesday.—In reference to Lord Kartington's declaration in the House of Com- mons last Monday evening concerning the British policy in regard to the Soudan, the Khedive's policy in regard to the Soudan, the Khedive's I Government considers it absolutely necessary that L'T pt should hold the province of Don go! a.

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HOUSE OF LORDS. —MOKDAY. The House met at a quarter-past 4 o'clock. INSTRUCTIONS TO RUSSIAN REPRESENTATIVES. The Duke of AKGTLL, in rising to call atten- tion to the circular despatch addressed by Prince Gortchakoff to Russian representatives abroad, and dated the 21st November, 1884-, and in moving; for a copy thereof, prefaced his remarks by a reference to the state of anxiety that had for some time prevailed throughout the country in regard to the prospect of a war between this country and Russia, and pointed out that a II general election was shortly about to take place under entirely new conditions, of which account must be taken in considering the state of our foreign relations, the action of the newspaper press, and the feeling that had been created by the retreat Her Majesty's Government I were about to make in their Egyptian policy. He said be did not disagree with the general doctrine held as to our not trusting for the safety of India to the promises of Russia but at the same time he desired to point out what were the main points laid down in the circular, for which he moved,a circular which was intended only for the secret instruction of Russian Ambassadors in case of their being asked incon- venient- questions. It began by laying down that Russia and Central Asia were in the same- post. J tion as all civilised states in contact with savages 1 and nomad tribes with 110 fixed social organisa- tion. It went on to say that in all snch cases the civilised state was forced to exercise a certain ascendancy, and that when raids or pillage arose on the Tart of these tribes they must be reduced to a more or less perfect submission. It was further set forth that these tribes when civilized became in their turn exposed to robber tribes beyond, and the same process was to go on again when tnese robber tribes were punished. The circular went on to say that when an expedition was withdrawn the lesson was soon forgotten, and the withdrawal was ascribed to weakness. Further the circular stated that all nomad tribes were bad neighbours, and that agri- cultural and commercial populations attached to the soil by a very advanced social organization were alone capable of being dealt with in peaceful relations. Then the actual words of the circular were, our frontier line ought to swallow up the former and stop short at the limit of the latter-" the people to be swallowed up being the inhabi- tants of those states that were comparatively un- organised, it being left to Russia to say what states were or were not sufficiently organised to suit the Russian diplomacy. The circular proceeded to say that these general statements were to be used by way of explana- tion if questions were asked, where credence was given to Russian ideas, and that in pursuing this policy and in fulfilling these proposals the Imperial Government would take as its guide the interests of Russia, believing that at the same time it was promoting the interests 01 humanity aud civilisa- tion. I LDDES ILLNESS OF LORD DOEMEE. The noble duke was proceeding to contrast the acquisitions made by England in India with those of Russia in her Eastern progress, when the attention of the v\feel? House was arrested, and the speech suddenly cut short by a singular cry from a noble lord on one of the benches behind the speaker. It was immediately seen that Lord I Dormer, who had been seated on the third of the bishops' benches, had fallen sideways along the cushion, and was violently convulsed. Several ¡ Peers at once ran to his lordship's assistance, and a messenger despatched to the other House speedily returned with Dr Lyons and Dr Farqu- harson, wbos'e services were promptly, and for- tunately, after a ..short time, successfully brought into requisition, so that after an interval of about twenty minutes the nobio lord was sufficiently recovered to enable him to 'le^vethe House sup- ported by another pec-r, assisted one of the House constables, ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOTSE, Meantime Earl GRANVILLE moved the r.djoSru' ment of the House, and the motion being put by the Lord Chancellor while the Lords were stand- ing in their places and looking towards the stricken pee? in a state of anxious consternation, it was carried, as a matter of course, and the House rose at a quarter to six o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY. The Speaker took the chair at four o'clock. THE ENGLISH FORCE IN THE SOUDAN. INTENTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT. The Marquis of HAETINGTOX, on rising to make his promised statemant of the intentions of the Government in regard to the force in the Soudan, was received with cheers. He said that before any decision was arrived at confidential communications passed between the Government and Lord Wolseley as to the possibility, with due regard te the safety of the troops, of withdrawing the Nile force, or a portion of it, from the posi- tions it now occupiod, and they had satisfied themselves that such a step would be possible. The instructions previously communicated to the House did not involve an absolute abandonment of the intention to advance to Khartoum, but they did involve a cessation of offen- sive operations on any considerable scale, and the making of arrangements which would enable the troops in the Soudan to be concen- trated so as to be made available for service in any part of the world where they might be re- quired. Since then further communications had taken place with Lord Wolseley on the subject, and it appeared that seve-al courses were open. The troops might have been retained in their present position from Merawi to the most advanced position on the Nile, including Korti and Dongola, where the head quarters are now established. That disposition of the troops how- ever would have required the maintenance of a considerable number of posts between Assouan and Doijf'ol.i. There were in that line at present about 9,000 British troops, and if it were decided to the occu¡r:tiol1 of those positions that number ol troops could not be materially reduced. Another alternative would have been to have withdrawn the troops from the most advanced posts on the Nile, aud to have concentrated them at such an advanced position in Dongola, there to await the course of events in the Soudan, or ia Asia, or in Europe. A third alternative was to revert to the line of Wa-dy Haifa and Assouan as the defensive fron- tier of Egypt, and withdraw the troops as soon as possible from the position they now occupied. That was the course which, in substance, it had been decided to adopt—(Ministerial cheers)—but there were reasons of a military character that made it undesirable that that course should be so rapidly adopted At present theriverwasatitslowest and there were considerable stores at the various positions which would have to be removed. Arrangements would also have to be made for bringing down with the British troop* native troops, and perhaps also a certain number of natives who might not wish to remain sfter the positions had been evacuated. (Ironical cheers from the Opposition.) The troops were uuderthe temporary cover of huts, and he was happy to say that though the heat was great, all the official and private reports tended to show that their condition was not nearly fo bad, or their sufferings nearly so great, as might be inferred from some of the published statements. It was considered best for them that they should remain where they at present were till the river rose, which it would begin to do about the e.id of the present month, and they would then ) -e with- drawn from the most advanced position with the stores, and with such natives as it m'ght be necessary to bring with them. That dec sion, he need hardly say,involved practically the abandon- ment of any intention to make au advance upon Khartoum, (Cheers.) Considerable timemmtelapse before the troops could be withdrawn from such positions as Dongola, and in the meantime Sir E. Baring had been directed to consult the Egyptian Government as to the desirability of establishing a system of administration for the Province of Dongola, and as to whether it would be desirable to construct any portion of the prolongation of the Nile railway, or whether any way could be found by which it could be comp eted as a commercial enterprise. (Opposition laughter.) Lord Wolseley had given as his opinion that if I her Majesty decided upon Assouan as the frontier to be defended, it would be necessary t.) retain there a sufficient force for its defence, and had also urged the importance of sending some I of the armed boats prepared for the expedition to patrol the river, both above and below the second ca:aract. As to Sn.akim, I he was unable at present to give the House any positive and definite information. Lord Wclseley hsd only been there a little more than a week, and there had not been time for a complete exchange of views betweeu him and ths Govern ment on the subject but an important telegram had bee;1 received from him that morning, General Graham's force was sent to Su kim for 1 the purpose of co-operating with Lord Wolseley in his advance on Khartoum, and the rauway to Berber was undertaken as a military work. With the reliiiQui.shmentof the intention :o march to Khartoum, neither of those objects would be necessary to be prosecuted but was no intention, of evacuating Suakim till some arrange- ment for its being held by some othc-r power could be come to. At the pre^t time I Suakim could not be held without The position of O-man had t]. been for a long time past tbat of a chief fi;>ing- for independence or repelling aggression up ú his own country, but he had been besieging Su:.kiru and had expressed his intention G, driving the garrison, whether Egyptians or British, into the sea. So long, there:. e, as continued to hold Suakim, a military force would have tube maintained there sufficient to ivild such positions ia the ne ghbomhooJ as might neces- sary for its protection. SL1. 1lH:ihfl.v.<r:c,çun;a De entered up-m with no other view than ta the defensive object of the protect' n of Suakim. The railway toUerberwas noc required, and there was no intention of pushing it on a-s a military work. (Ironical cheers.) A very large e r' nditure had already been incurred,and there was general opinion among high authorities "H the subject as a civilising influence as a means for the defence of lgypt the construction of the r3ilw" would be of very substantial advantage. Tne Govern- meat had, therefore, beer; unwilling to abandon the hope that the railway be intimately prosecuted, but they were unable to PIN whether it would or would not be p >ssible to r<ise that hope. They did not think it possible or desirable to come to a hasty decision on the subj ri, but it was probable that within a very shorr r -.n j they would be able to state more definitely their inten- tions with regard to the railway. rfe • ..s bound to gay that Lord Wol-<fcley's opinion did not give a hopeful prospect of holding the portion already constructed..or 01 continuing it without the reteutior of a con- siderable portion of the troops noo- under his command. Under the circurostances t: desired still to take some short time to con-dd-jr what should be dona in regard to the coustru-.tod por- tion of the railway, or in regard to thr material collected there. It was -intended to c v.tinue the railway as a military work, as it could "rdy be so held at the cost of severe nghting, and would have to be protected by a v ay large m'ii.ry force. The Government, however, desired 10 suspend their judgment as to whether the expen- diture already incurred was to be entirely abandoned, and they' were Dot withou. hope that the material collected would ultimately' be made use of, for a railway work in the opinion of many would be of great value to the. country. He bad taken the earliest opportunity of making that plain statement of fact, not attempting to enter into aay defence of the decisions the Govern- ment bad arrived at. (Cheers.Y

THE "VOTE OF CREDIT. THE TORY AMENDMENT; Mr GLADSTONE moved the second, reading of the Consolidated Fund (No. 3) BilL and, in doing so, was anxious that the proceedings of the House should not be misunderstood. It was -inexpe- dient and against the public interest to mix up the question of the goodness or badness of the proceedings of the Government with the willing- ness of the House to grant the supplies necessary for the public service. Lord GEORGE HAMILTON stated his intention off proceeding with his amendment, declaring that the House, having shown its readiness to grant such supplies as might be required for the defence of the empire, was of opinion that before proceeding with this bill it was entitled to receive adequate information as to the present policy of Her Majesty's Government in respect of the purposes to which the money granted by the recent vote of credit was to be applied." i Mr GLADSTONE, who rose at half-pas t one o'clock to close the debate, said the right hon. gentleman had entirely repu- diated the grounds on which the motion had been proposed, and recommended by all its principal supporters. It was said that every- thing had been surrendered to Russia, though when the papers were produced it might appear that Sir Peter Lumsden had not been recalled, but had returned in full conformity with his own views, and that the frontier line, as drawn, was supported by conclusive authority, had the thorough adhesion of the Indian Government, and was entirely conformable to the views of the Ameer of Afghanistan. It would possibly be found, when the evidence came to be examined, that the gloomy view taken by the Government was when they were contending for objects which they hardly hoped to gain, and that the more cheerful speech of the following Monday was made when those objects had been gained. The House divided, and the result was— 1 or the Government. 290 Against 260 Majority for the Government. 30 The announcement of the figures was received with cheers by the Liberals and counter cheers by the Opposition.

THE REDISTRIBUTION BILL. Sir C. DILRE moved the third reading of the Parliamentary Elections (Redistribution) Bill, Mr HAIKES moved the adjournment of the debate, but after a short discussion that was withdrawn. On a division, the third reading was carrie i by 116 to 53. A COUNT OCT. The House was counted out at twenty minutes past three o'clock.

HOUSE OF LORDS. —TUESDAY. The Lord Chancellor took his seat on the wool- sack at a quarter past four o'clock. The LORD CHANCELLOR read a message from the Crown, announcing that her Majesty had agreed to a marriage between Princess Beatrice and Prince Henry of Battenbere, and stating that the numerous proofs the Queen had received from the House of Lords of their loyalty to the throne and their attachment to her person and family left her Majesty no doubt of their readiness to concur in making suitable provision for her Koyal Highness. On the motion of Earl GRANVILLE, it was ordered that the message should be taken into consideration on Fridav. INSTRUCTIONS TO RUSSIAN REPRESENTATIVES. .;I\e Duke of ARGYLL resumed the adjourned debate In ins motion that the circular despatch addressed by Prince Gortschnkoff to Russian representatives abroad, dated 21st Novewber, 18M, should 'J.> reprinted. Earl GitANViLtJT vhought the House was indebted to the noble ke for .introducing a subject which had led to a'jd^t important and valuable discussion. Not a had escapes from any speaker that could be IG;rr.d s dl' respectful to or unconciliatory to 'Rnvia'a- reasons for defence had been put forwaru vT^lc.J no doubt Russia would consider perfectly ri^rw The tone of the discussion would, he believed, have a most important and almost vital influence in India, for it would convey to the people of India the knowledge that they might be sure of the united efforts of this couuiry to defend them from any danger. The motion was agreed to, and the House adjourned at 12 minutes past six o'clock. HOUSE OF 'COMMONS.—TUESDAY. The Speaker took the chair shortly before four o'clock. WELSH SPEAKING MAGISTRATES. Mr ROBERTS gave notice that on Thursday he would move an address to the Crown for a return of the number of gentlemen 011 the lists of the justices of the peace for the twelve counties of Wales, and the several boroughs therein, with the number and names of those who speak and understand the Welsh language, with the dates on which they were qualified. CHANNEL TUNNEL BILL. Sir E. WATKIK moved the second reading of this bill. Mr SLAGG having seconded the motion, Mr CHAMBERLAIN opposed it on behalf of the Government. Mr HOLMS moved that the bill should be read a second time that day six months, explaining that Mr Chamberlain had forgotten to do so. i The House divided, when there were- For the second reading 99 Against 231 Majority. 182 The secOll i reading was therefore rejected. ENGLISH REGISTRATION BILL. On the consideration of the Registration (Occu- pation Voters) Bill, Sir MASSEY LOPES rose, amid Opposition cheers, to move that the bill be rc-commit.ted for the purpose of receiving a clause providing for th: repeal of so much of any act, or acts, relating to parliamentary registration in counties and boroughs, as makes the expenses of overseers of the poor and clerks of the peace or town clerks a legal charge upon the local rate?. Mr GLADSTONE, who was received with loud cheers from the ministerial benches, complimented the hon. bart, on the judgmsnt lie had shown in his repudition of party motive in having again brought forward this question. As to the main argument of the hon, baronet with regard to the national character of the proposed expenditure he (Mr Gladstone) maintained that it applied with equal fores to the poor law and to almost every other branch of local expenditure. The case of the hon. baronet was that real property was un- justly burdened in compari-on with personality. if this were so let personality pay the debt it owed to realty. But what the hon. baronet pro- posed was to transfera charge from real property, not to personality, but what had been charac- terised as the labour fund—in uther words from roperty to labour. He (Mr Gladstone) admitted that among the arrears of legislation one of the most pressing questions requiting to be dealt with was the general, question of local taxation, but it was not the fault of the Government that their efforts in this direction had hitherto been frus- trated, even to the extent of their not being allowed to appoint n grand committee which should deal with the subject. With regard to the present motion, the Government were unable to accept it, because it would be inconsistent with the fulfilment of the purpose of the Government as involved in the passage of the Redistri- bution Bill, the Registration Bills, and a short bill to bring about an elec- tion in the latter part of the autumn. of. the present Yi'.r. To pass such a resolution would be a total destruction of the registration system as at present worked. He would now put it before the House the proposals the Government had to make upon the matter at the present moment. They proposed to meet the argument as to the excess of labour thrown on the over- seeis by making that excess the basis of what they now desired to put before the House. They proposed that foi the present year, they should pa.y out of the exchequer an ildditianal twopence for each name on the registrar beyond what was already proposed for the counties in England and Scotland, as they considered that the expense in the counties would be greatly increased under the new bill, a result which would not occur in the case of the boroughs. To provide for this payment,the Government were prepared to add to the £ 20,000 already promised a sum of £ 20,000 for Lng- land, and a correspondingly proportionate sum for Scotland. In the case of Ireland, where the excess of cost would largely extend to the boroughs, it was proposed that the subvertion should be made applicably to the boroughs as well as the counties, and the Govern- ment, therefore, were ready to agree to the ex- tension of the grant to that country from to £ 15,000. (Cheers). Sir Ji. HIOKS EE.\CH said the Government in the proposal j ast made had shown that it was perfectly possibly to legislate upon the particular question before the House during the present session, for nothing could involve greater compli- cation than the suggestions made by the Prime Minister for carrying his proposal into effect, After a f?.\r TTIE The House divided, and the numbers We,-e- For S;r Massey Lopes' Motion 253 Against 230 Majority for the Government. 22 Mr DAVEY moved the insertion ia the bill of a new clause providing that medical or surgical assistance, or the giving of medicines, sball Dot be deemed to Constitute parochial relief within the meaning of the Representation of the People Acts. On a division, the numbers were-for the clause, 57 against, '50 majority, 37. The an- nouncement was received with loud cheers from the Irish members. The clause was then added to the A clause proposed by Mr STANHOPE, providing that clerks to guardians should give to electors, -n receipt of a notice requiring it. information as to persons disqualified by reason of parochial relief, was accepted by he ATTORNEV-GENEEAL, and agreed to. The remaining amendments having been get through, The Registration of Voters (Scotland) Bill was rel;}.d a third time. The House adjourned at 2.15 o'clock.

-T- King-wood was all the rage in town on Tuesday for the Derby. PARRY a.nd ROCKE, Swansea., will be pleased to send shopkeepers and dealers Sha.de Cards and Price lists of their celebrated Welsh Knit ing Yarns and Hosiery on application. !2QU 730&

LOCAL NOTES AND ■i- QUERIES. NOTES. sm EHYS AP -THOMAS, J .Visitors to the church of -r-St.JPeter, at Carmar- 'then, will find in the chancel the monument of the. .most powerful Welshman of ..his time, which was' .restored some years ago, at an-expense of 9500, by the then Lord Dynevor. This is pronounced to, be the largest monument of the., altar form in the, kingdom, being 11 feet 10 inches by 6 feet 3 inchesj and,6 feet in height. To give some idea of his power, a contemporary poet wrote 41Y Brenin bia'r ynys, Ond sy* 0 ran i Syr Bys." (The King owns the island, except what pertains ta Sir Rhys.) There had long been a feud be- tween his family and that of Court Henry, but. Sir Rhys put an end to that by marrying Eva, the heiress of -the estates of Court Henry, and. thus became one of the richest men of his time. His wealth and power aroused the jealousy of that "model monarch," Richard III., who also doubted his fidelity, and asked Sir Rhys to send his son as hostage to his court in London. Sir Rhys avowed his loyalty to King Richard by declaring that the Earl of Richmond should never land in Wales without passing over his body, but begged to be excused from sending his son to London on account of his extreme youth, being only five years of age. When the earl landed at Dale, in Pembrokeshire, Sir Rhys kept his word by going under a bridge when the earl passed over on horseback. On account of the earl's Welsh blood, Sir Rhys took up his cause with warmth, and assembled 2,000 retainers, with whom he marched to Bosworth Field, in order to help the earl to drive Richard off his throne and it is said by some historians that he kdied Richard with his own hand. One thing is certain, that he received the Order of the Garter on the field from the earl, who afterwards became King Henry VII. In the figure on the altar-tomb at Carmar- then, where Sir Rhys is depicted alongside his lady, he appears in a suit of plate armour, and bears the insignia of knighthood and the Order of the Garter, aud this furnishes the only oase of a man receiving that order on the field. Sir Rhys's principal paces of residence -,vere CztrL!w Ca- le in Pembrokeshire, now a magnificent ruin, and Carmarthen Castle, now one of her Majesty's prisons for the counties of Carmarthen, Cardigan, and Pembroke, of which little cf tile original remains except the keep, used as a lock-up by the police, and some portions of the massive walls which exhibit the vast extent and strength of the place, when it was not only a fortress but a resi- deuce. According to the Cambrian Register," the tournament held at Carew (or Caerau) Castle by Sir Rhys ap Thomas, in honour of St. George, was the most magnificent ever given in 117 Six hundred of the gentry of the western countie with tueir attendants, were present, and the festi- vities extended over several days. Henry VII. always acknowledged most heartily tHe services rendered by the Welsh at the battle of Boswoich Field, and employed Sir Rhys ap Thomas on several occasions in his wars with France. II. J. 1' Cardiff, A DEATH WAUNIXCT. I am glad to see that you have added to your very valuable columns a 11 Notes and Queries" department, from which your readers whi gain much valuabe information. As time goes on, I hope to see "death warnings" dealt with by per- sons who are able to furnish us with matter nueut the same. To encourage others, I will u i .ed the ball," by relating a singular instance which I can vouch for; and as the death-scence is laid at Aberavon, the narration may be of local interest. When a boy, I resided at the village of li- about 12 miles from the city of Waterford, Ire- land. Two of my companions were T. M'C., and J. K. (M'C., by the way, was supposed by the ignorant peasantry to possess certain super- natural gifts; in short, was lookod up to as a sort of wizard). K., on attaining the age of puberty, desired to better his condition, and for this purpose got a free passage to Swansea, in a schooner which carried the copper ore from the local mines to the English smelting works and he finally settled down to the rough iauour of a brickyard, at Aberavon. From the latter place he regularly wrote to me, describing his position and prospects. In his last letter he mentioned a remarkable circumstance'' which occurred. He said he was out walking one Sunday, when he heard his own naiiie "clstiiietly pronounced a few times" by some person who was apparently close to him. The voice seemed to be that of T. M'C., although K. well knew that the former cculd not possibly be in the neighbourhood. R., certain iu his own mind that the sounds proc^Ot^ from behind a low hedge on his right, tnvn-wT wi> and he was utterly amazed on find- intr that nofi^pr •iere nor 111 anJ" sPot commanded by his eyeVuld finv living being be seen Now, in Ireland this "caOu^ by name/under such circumstances, is believed to e ? warning to pre- pare for death; stili whether aau eter beard of this superstition or not, I am ,abie to say. But to the sequel. My doomed friend,Wv$r erlt another letter; and as weeks passed by^- A-w 011 [ dered much at his silence. At length al; Ill; doubts were painfully solved by his sister, who, meeting me one day in the village of B-, said she had had bad news to tell me, for her brother, j my old friend, had met a violent death by falling out i of some trucks, which passed over his body on a tramway, mutilating it in a frightful manner. This occurred about a week or so after the sup- [ posed death token. From this, and many other remarkable circumstances within my knowledge, I would say, with Hamlet, "'There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our philosophy;" and I would certainly be the last to say that there is no truth in popular superstitions. COJIEUAGH, Pontypool, Mon,

ANSWERS. 5.—Seeing in your "Notes and Queries" column a request for epitaphs, I venture to send you a. few selections from the burial ground connected with the church of Trevethin, near Pontypool:— In memory of Susannah, wife of John Escott Drew. Died March 17th, 1866, aged 59 years. A tender wife, a mother dear, A fairhfall frend lies buried hear. Our lost was great which we sustained, But Christ has mAde;: our lost her gain. In memory of John May. Born March 2nd, 18Ib, died June 10th, 1865, aged 20 yea.rs. Beheld aud see what Deth as done, Alafce no aeiay reffjn-m. s«r>uj For I was taken III my prime. f Richard, son of Jane and Caroline aè, who died: May 15th, 1875, aged 15 years and b months, Farewell my parents 1 love so dear-ftu- Though I am the 1d."t of 8 thM doth lie hear. The iast of your 8 .re gone to rest—leav— Ing you father A mother dear to do voui best. j Sacred to tho memory of John Goodrych Morrisson, son of John Sherman Morriason and jLucy his wiie, who died J uiy 8, 18^2, aged 2 years. I o weep not when the young depart Death is in mercy riven; Before ihe world corrupts the heart, Gael calls them h"me to heaven. Gen. ii. 10, 19, 55, So, Judges xiii. 5. „ ix. 20, 21. Amos ii. II, 12. 1 Sam. xs.v. 36, 37, 33. Bev. x. 5. 2 Sam xiii, 28, 29. liab. ii. 5. Dan. v. 1, 4. liehem. ix. lb i. 8, 12. Luke i. 23. 1 1 Kings xvii. 4. John iv. 7, 12. >1 xx. lb. Acts xxiv. Prov. xxiii. 20, 21, 22, 30, xxvi. 21.- 31, 32, 33, 34. Rom. xiii. 13. „ xxxi. 4 Eph. v. IB.. Ilosea iv. 11. 1 Cor. vi. S, JC. Isa-iaa v. 11, 22, 23. x. 21, 22. „ xxvlii. 7. GaS. v. IS, 2i.. Num. vi. 2, 34. 1 Tbess. v. 8, 9, lC. E. n. B., Abersychan. 6.—A REIIAITKABR.E ESCAPE FROM HAVERFORD- WEST GAOL.—The following narrative of a remark- able escape from Haverfordwest gaol was incorpo- rated in a story in a Tenby paper some years ago; J. S., Haverfordwest. Hush-h, mar don't make so much noise, or they will- hear us, and if they catch us we shall get our backs scratched; aud having undergone J the operation once, I don't want to taste the 'c;a,fIC again." The speaker was our old acquaintance, the sailor-burglar the place, the interior of the old treadmill-house in the gaol; the time, one o'clock on Sunday morningr. He had prevailed on a youth under a similar sentence to engage in the perilous enterprise of attempting an escape. They had been placed in a portion of the old Castle gaol ,.suppo,-ed,to be especially strong, but which had one greatadvanta.ge-it was next to the machinery department of the prison treadmill. The sailor- .convict, who, by-the-bya, bad given the name of John Smith, evidently an assumed one, soon found ..out the proximity of his night cell to the mill- .house, and resolved on attempting an escapee There are, even at the ti-ne we are writing, tradi- tions in Haverfordwest* of. those good old times when the workhouse-like gaols as the one inside the old Castle walls of that town were crammed to overflowing with inmates—prisoners we caUDot: term them, for they had every liberty and licence except, the leave to go out. It thus happen that Smith had two companions in his cell at nights, but one, "falling ill, was removed to the hos-„ pital. Now was Smith's chance, and lis knew it, He talked to bis remaining companion, a youth of 17, of the horrors of transportation, and the' easiness of escape, until the boy, for be was but a boy in. appearance and in the world's ways, was, won over. They chose Saturday evening for their^ enterprise, for on a Sunday morning the officers of the gaol did not come so early, and they would thus have a longer start ere their pursuers got on their track, Smith had calculated all his chances of success, and had made sure of escaping, "for", said he to himself, "it won't do to be caught." I'm not fond of carrying 10 lbs weight of iron day and night." But. let us return to Smith and his companion. They had got into the mill-house, and with the aid of the tools they found there, it was compara- tively an easy matter to make a hole ia this t.iiick outside wall of the old castle. This mortar is deuced had," continued Smith, we must make better progress than this or we shall be too late." They renewed their exertions and soon had the satisfaction of feeling the cold morning air from outside. A hole once made, it was easy to enlarge it, and at length Smith crept through, and peered down into the darkness. Whew it makes my head giddy to look at it. I hops the rope is long enough," lie muttured be- neath his breath; "anyhow I must make this younker take it first." Having fastened the end of the rope securely to the treadmill, payed out the rope through the opening, and taken another peep out, Smith said,- Now then, Sam, look alive you are the lightest and most active, and you must go first." I red, and even persisted in his refusal to be the lust to risk it. "Yery then, I'll go myself; but you know me, I think, by this time. If you attempt to fol- low IllS, I'll do for you, that's all. You III us I e e 11 stay here, and be hoisted up at the triangles one of these cold mornings, and take three dozen be- fore breakfast." Sam was dismayed at this, and crawled through the opening in the thick wall to peer into the abyse below. lid was followed stealthily by Smith, who, when Sam reached the edge, threatened to push over his young associate unless he slid down the rope at once. Sam entwined his 1"13 firmly round it and slid down, down, till he thought terra firvia would never be reached. To his horror and dismay he suddenly came to the end of the rop:, and very narrowly escaped letting it He looked down below, but could see nothii^, and at length, his nerves giving way under the strain. let go his hold, and dropped some 30 feet to the ground. The spot was very steep, and he roiled down the slope, unable to arrest bis progress until he fell in the riv,r Cieddau. It was but shallow, however, and he soon dragged himself out. In a few moments Le could see the body of Smith, and climbing cautiously up the slope, he shouted, "AH right, Smith, let go, it's not very faro' Smith wa a man of peculiar tern pern ment. He could meet bravely any amount of suffering of which he could form any conception beforehand, tut he coull nA fuce anything which end in death. So there lie hung hesitating but the moon just then rising from behind a cloud, he let go. He had not quite the luck of Sam, for, being much heavier, he sprained his ankle slightly. Flight, however, was now their only resource, and Smith, who knew the county well, set air for the wild, moory country, in the neighbourhood of Philip's home. They had not proceeded far be- fore the day began to dan-ji, for it was the end of March, and after turning over the matter in his mind, Smith at length said to Sam. We hd better separate if we keep together we shall certainly bj both caught; if we part, there is a chance for one of us. I shall have to hide for a few days, for my ankle is so painful that I can't go much further. You take my ad- vice, and set out for Glamorganshire; avoid the high roads, and get rid of your gaql toggery as soon as you can." "Tins way to Fishguard," t-lel laet their eyes on a finger-post. "iNow's your chance, Sam, take that road, go from Fishguard over the mountain to Newcastle- Emlyn from there over the mountains again ta Llandovery then to Brecon and then to Mer- thyr. If you can keep out of sight a few months, vju will grow out of recognition. Good-bye, Sam, anJ E>>0(i"Iuck-" N' thxJSlriing the inmates of a farm-house, not '-om --vhere the two escaped convicts parted were into a state of great excite- hen-, on Udiug ti.-t during the night. One ""e se'_VAQu" lost his Sunday suit; the Ci—ai w^tch wasg and a few pounds from one of the .a.wenj in the big oak chest. ,> 'T

THE INCREASED DUTY O "THE PEOPLE'S DRINK." RIOTOUS ASSEMBLAGE IN LONDON?^' A meeting convened to protest against further taxes upon the drink of the people was held ia"- Trafalgar-square on Wednesday evening. Four contingents marched from different quarters of the metropolis to the meeting place, where about 5,000 persons assembled. Mr Samuel Peters (secretary of the Sugar Operatives Society), having addressed the crowd, Mr Lemon (president' of the British Seamen's Asssociatiou), moved a resolution that the proposed additional duty upon beer and spirits was unfair to the working classes, ana calling for its withdrawal. Owing to the difficulty of hearing the speakers and the rapid augmentation of the crowd, those on the outskirts of the assemblage grew impatient, and caused confusion by endeavouring to force their way towards the centre. Mr Lemon had consequently to break off in his speech, and a scramble was made to mount the pedestal of Nelson's column. This movement was resisted by the police, who, however, were not in sufficient force to cope with the crowd. The resolution wa- put and declared to be carried. The moo then sang" God Save the Queen," and the meeting was closed. Another effort was now made by the police to clear the pedestal, and reinforcements lisvingarrived this object was effected. Meanwhile mauy thousand persons had congregated around the monument and there were several conflicts with the police, sticks and stones being employed. Gradually, however, the crowds dispersed without any serious collision having occurred. THE NATIONAL LIBERAL CLUB BLISILGEJJ. About 8.30 p-m. a renewed cocfuc occurred between the mob and the police in consequence of the roughs again mounting- the base of the monu- ment. There were still several thousand persons assembled, but the police force being augmented, they moved away from Nelson's column, and for some unexplained reason a srentleinan among the on-lookers was severely hustled, and had to seek refuge in the National Liberal Club, which was. immediately besieged by the cro J. The doors,* however, were securely closed, and further detachments uf police having been summoned from Scotland-yard, determinei efforts were made to disperse the mob. Up to nino o'clock, how- ever, Charing Cross was a scene of wild disorder. The police acted with moderation throughout the' evening, and by dint of continuously moving the crowds along, something like order was at length restored. The mob seemed to be without orgaiiisa, tion, and to have acted rather from a mischievous' spirit than with definite purpose. A deputation ol eleven members of the committee of the meet- ing proceeded to the Prime Minister's official residence, in Downing-street, shortly beforl eleven o'clock. Being unable to see the Pre lUier., the deputation deposited a copy of the resolution passed by the meeting in Trafalgar-square.

THE ROYAL NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD. At a meeting of the executive committee of the National Eisteddfod, at the office;, Aberdare, on Tuesday, Mr D. Davies presiding,letters were read from Principal Viria-mu Jones nud Principal H R. Heichel, stating that they would act as adjudi- cators of Dean Vaughan's essay, The Objects and Prospects of the New University College of Wales. Lord Aberdare and Sir George Elliot, Bart., M.P., have consented to act as president*- of the eisteddfod. Other gentlemen's nauift were mentioned, and the secretary was asked to write to them to ascertain whether they would become presidents. Conductors for the various days were selected by the committee.

CARDIFF lUFLE CLUB. The fourth competition in connection with the ■; above club took place at the Gransretown range oa 1 Wednesday. The wind was ir on the right rear, were twenty-one corn- ten members, the first two being the winners ot the SDoons:— Points allowed 200 500 Th Lieut. Be'l, 2nd G.B.V, — 33 33 6( Col.-Sergt. Joy, 1st Cardiff 2 3'J 34 6f I;er ies Guai-ds 28 1,2 64 Sergt. T. E. James, 2nd Cardiff 1.2-5 ky oS Mr V. Gotterill 4 26 29 5J Sergt. Collins, 2n-i Cardiff 4 2o 28 Ir Col.-Sergt, Hinton, Welsh 29 28 57 Sergt. W. Howells, 1st Cardiff. 8 24 25 5t — ti .4

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