Pontypool Free Press and Herald of the Hills

j ¡¡ the HOUSE OF LORDS, May 14, the Earl of Carnarvon Stated that a telegram had been received from Sir Bartle Frere announcing the annexation of the Transvaal, and that the proclamation had been generally well received. A discussion arose upon a question of the Earl of Rosebery *vith regard to the release of England from the Tripartite ■treaty of 1856, in the course of which the Earl of Derby re- marked that Austrte s hardly likely to take a position that would embarrass the British Government. His lordship nsidered that the present was not the proper moment to ke steps for the abrogation of the treaty. T Lord Rosebery moved the Second Reading of the Game Laws (Scotland) Amendment Bill, which, he said, was bounded entirely on the Report of a Select Committee of the House of Commons. After some discussion, in the Duke of Buceleuoh, Lord Ripon, and the Duke of Richmond took part, the Bill read a second time. The other business on the paper having been disposed of, their Lordships adjourned. In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, Mr. Bourke, answering ques- tions from Sir C. Dilke, Sir W. Harcourt, and Mr. Rylands, on various points of the Eastern Question, stated that, as far the Government is aware, none of the other Powers have answered the Gortchakoff Circular. At the outbreak of the war the Government became aware that an ironclad, sup- Posed to belong to the Turkish Government was lying in the ictoria Docks, and immediately took steps to prevent an infringement of the Foreign Enlistment Act. The report that Great Britain and Austria have agreed to protest against a Roumanian declaration of independence is entirely without foundation. ..In answer to a question from Mr. Gourley, as to the posi- tion of the Khedive, the Chancellor of the Exchequer pointed ut that as Egypt is part of the Turkish Empire, she would "e at war with Russia whether the Khedive sent a contingent lo the assistance of the Sultan or not, and Russia would be Equally at liberty to blockade Egyptian ports, and stop vessels carrying contraband of war to Egyptian ports. In answer to Mr. Rylands, Mr. Lowther said that official ^formation had been received from Sir Bartle Frere of the Proclamation of British sovereignty in the Transvaal, on 12th of April, and that, speaking generally, it had been favourably received. The fifth night's debate on the Eastern Question was resunied by Mr. Waddy, who was followed by Mr. Bruce. Sir W. Harcourt spoke of Mr. Cross's speech as having created a feeling of confidence in the country, and as being a complete justification of Mr. Gladstone's resolutions. He characterised Lord Derby's reply to the Gortschakoff circular as an offensive piece of neutrality. After speeches from Sir J. T. Sinclair, Sir G. Bowyer, Mr. O Clery, Mr. Benett-Stanford, and Mr. E. Jenkins, Mr. Fawcett expressed his regret that Lord Hartington should have used his influence to prevent a considerable sec- tion voting on the third and fourth resolutions, because they had always contended for something more than strict neu- trality, and England had contracted obligations to the eastern Christians. Deprecating strongly the irritating lan- guage towards Russia which had been used in the debate, he jharply attacked Lord Derby's last despatch, and asked the iront Opposition bench whether it was intended to move a *°te of censure on it. He admitted that the policy of reti- Cence pursued by the Opposition was much to blame, but he Pledged himself that if any attempt were made to go to war keep the Turks in Constantinople without an appeal to j^country the House should be kept sitting until Christ- The Marquis of Hartington. referring first to the amend- ment, described it as inaccurate and inadequate, because yjhile the passing of the Resolutions would not embarrass he Government, the policy laid down did not include the ¥°od Government of the Turkish Provinces The two Reso- lutions, lie maintained, pointed to the true policy which Pjight to guide the action of the Government. After replv- hg to Lord Sandon's inquiry why was not a vote of Censure Ci he proceeded to justify the course taken by Mr. \viti!St0Ue' an(^ said that though he entirely agreed ith the objects aimed at in the four Resolutions, could not concur in all the means, nor in the expediency of pressing them at this time. These "ojects he took to be to secure the country from the shame £ d guilt of appearing as the defender of Turkey, to make £ «e country an active agent in giving freedom to the Turkish Provinces and peace to Europe, and to guard titish interests in the only way in which they could be permanently safe by making them identical with peace and ecdom. The first object would be attained by passing e first two resolutions. Remarking on the part which British interests had played in the debate, he said he was rj ready as anyone to fight for them, but he denied that they "ere identical with the 'maintenance of the Ottoman Empire," "id what, he asked, had British interests to do with the con- duct of Russia, which had been so freely denounced during ;he Debates? Discussing the third and fourth Resolutions 'e pointed out that a free Greece and a free Servia had Steady been established by us in concert with Russia. e admitted that these Resolutions pointed to the employ- ment of force, and though there was a time before the Moscow Declaration, when a small display of force without ecourse to violent measures would have sufficed to bring Urkey to reason, things had changed now, and he saw .o. way in which a concert of the European Powers for 'lis purpose could be obtained. No doubt the country sustain the Government in a policy of strict neutrality, but sooner or later we should be called to interfere either as mediators or to deal with the .>'ents of the war and the policy laid down in the Resolu- tions would be the guide to our conduct. He did not Hharrel with the Home Secretary's definition of British in- vests "—he was willing to say that no territorial aggrandize- »?eQt should be forbidden to Russia, and that the naviga- Jon of the Suez Canal should be secured, but no more must she objects be secured, as of old, solely by the maintenance 1 the Ottoman Empire. <u???e Chancellor of the Exchequer frankly recognised the KII °E NRUL PROPriety of raising this debate, but felt a loss to WiHW l""fcc'sc'ly what was the real issue. He acknowledged int Sorrow> but without reserve, that the attempts made to utroduee reforms in Turkey had failed, but as Russia Turkey had entered upon hostilities against the Eni00' tlle eal'nest counsel, and the warnings of .gland, we could but observe a strict neutrality. At ran Same tlrae the hostilities might take an extended tail j-6 would involve England in consequences that i not overiocked. As regarded those interests which e had in common with other rations lie saw no reason why e should put ourselves forward to fight alone, but there other interests peculiar to ourselves which it was of greatest importance to maintain. In maintaining inf l^ty the Government would carefully watch over the J:„erosts of England, but while desiring to be vigilant they °uld not bo over hasty. Gladstone, in his reply, after touching on points Btl^by Lord Elcho, Sir H. Wolff, and others, came to the Ijeech of Mr. Cross, of which he expressed approval r* far as it went, but pointed out that it was in direct ontradiction with Lord Derby's Despatch. This dualism pervaded all the later policy of the Government, and it was to its want of consecutiveness and con- sistency that he attributed the failure of the Government to attain the objects which it had laid before it—the main- tenance of the status quo, the integrity and independence of the Ottoman Empire, the Treaties of 1856, and the improve- ment in the condition of the Christians. With regard to the Resolutions, he did not agree with Lord Hartington that the time had passed for an authoritative interference of combined Europe. That, he believed, was the only weapon by which a satisfactory settlement could be arm ed at. The Resolutions did not contemplate a sole alliance with Russia, nor did he believe that combined action of the other Powers was even yet im- possible. Replying to the question so often put in the debate does coercion mean war ?—he emphatically replied No." Adequately supported, coercion need not be followed by war, and as instances of the successful employment of foreign armies in the internal affairs of other nations, he mentioned Holland, Spain, and Portugal. Insisting once more on his interpretation of the Treaty of Kainardji, and on the obliga- tions imposed on us by our destruction of the Protectorate which Russia exercised under it, Mr. Gladstone argued that the shortest way to put an end to the war and stop bloodshed would be by drawing a Naval cordon round Turkey, and neu- tralizing the Turkish flee# He concluded an eloquent pero- ration by expressing his regret that the voice of the nation had not prevailed, and that England had not been permitted to take her place in this great work of civilization. After some observations from Major O'Gorman on the Bulgarian atrocities and the Bashi-Bazouks, at ten minutes to two the House went to a division, when Mr. Gladstone's first resolution was negatived by 354 votes to 223—a majority of 131 for the Government. The announce- ment of the numbers was received with loud and protracted sheering. Sir H. D. Wolff's amendment declaring the inexpediency of embarrasing the Government by passing any resolution at this moment was then agreed to without a division, and Mr. Gladstone announced that he would not press his second Resolution. Some other business was then dispossed ot, and the House adjourned.

A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE. The Cooktown Correspondent of the Brisbane Telegraph, writing on the 26th of February, gives the following narra- tive (says The Times of Monday) :— The Douglas, schooner, belonging to a Melbourne firm, having landed a general cargo in Cairns, pro- ceeded on the 8th of January to Chilcot Island, lying about 200 miles due east, and worked for guano by that firm. To obtain a favourable wind, the Douglas went south as far Flinder's Passage, anchoring on the way under Drink Island, near Cardwell. While there Board, and consented to go with voyage. On arriving at Chilcot, a small detached island, they found the Alexandra, trig, belonging to the same firm, half loaded. Mr. Beaver, one of the firm, who was on board the Douglas, not having enough coloured labour to screen the guano fast enough, determined to go back by the Alexandra, half-loaded as she was, and to fill up with cedar at the Daintreo. The brig accordingly left on the morning of the 15th, and took nearly all the firearms of the Douglas. The blacks were present when the transfer was effected. No One suspected danger on that uninhabited island, while the Daintree was known to swarm with Abori- ginals, and the ten white men on the Douglas could not dream that the three blacks on board would ever attempt to attack such a superior number, especially as they appeared quite cheerful and happy. That evening two white men, Cochrane and M'Intosh, were on shore in a hut which had been erected, and which was stored with water and rations; two of the blacks were with them. In the early part of the night, while the white men were sitting in their hut, the blacks seem to have killed them by simultaneous and treacherous strokes, the attitude of the bodies indicating that they could hardly have been aware of the death-stroke. Then, armed with the half-axes which had served for the murder, the two blacks swam off to the vessel. No one on the schooner suspected evil, and all the whites seem to have been asleep; probably the black was waiting for his comrades. Softly they stole about their murderous work. Two white men were asleep on the deck, and both were struck so that they made no sound. One—Shaw—says that he knew nothing till he came to his senses two hours afterwards, waking in a sort of dream, finding himself one mass of clotted blood, and chopped all over the head and arm. What saved him was that he had wrapped a rug and thick flour bag over his shoulders as he lay down, and the bag was dinted with the blows of the blunt axes. Gradually the situation dawned upon him. Thanks to the dark- ness of the night, he managed to crawl into the fore- castle, although a black, spying him just as he went, aimed a blow at him which missed. Thinking he was too far wounded to be worth troubling about, the murderers left him, and he managed to crawl aft through the hold and get into the cabin. But I must go back. After the blacks had left the two men, Troy and Shaw, for dead on the deck, they went down into the hold where another sailor, Purcell, was sleeping, and attacked him. He was fearfully chopped on the face, head, and arm, one finger was cut off, and a huge gaping gash made in his back. Him they left for dead, but he subsequently crawled through the hold aft into the cabin. Meanwhile Deasy, the acting second mate, who was asleep in the forecastle, heard Purcell cry out and rushed out on deck. In a moment he saw a black fellow by his side with an uplifted axe over his head. He dodged the blow and sung out, Cap- tain, the blacks are murdering us.' 1'hen ali three rushed on him. How hu escapedi s a inirsele. He has numerous slight flesh wound" and a severe chop on the arm; only the most wonderful agility and presence of mind savedhirn. Once the murderers had him down on his back on the deck, and two paused to let the third get a good chop at him. Even this he managed to dodge by shifting his leg, escaping with a flush wound on the inside of the thigh. Whil* t.hia «« the mate, awakened by the ftoise, rushed past and got into the forerigging, where another man had escaped. Deasy struggle out of the grasr. of the murderers, and ran for the forecastle, one black following him. Get- ting his knife out, which up to tha*. moment he hHd not been able to draw, ht struck at his assailant, but missed the stroke, and striking on the axe lost his knife. Then picking up a small grindstone lying there, he struck tfcf black and staggered him, thus managing to get into the forecastle. A hurried search showed him there was no weapon to be found, and he came out again to make a rush for the rigging. In his haste and in the darkness he rushed for the port side, where one of the blacks was part of the way up, and another on the bulwark preparing to ascend with the intention of attacking the mate and Lawrence on the foreyard. Deasy sprung past the black on the bulwark, and grappled the one on the rigging but before he could wrest the axe out of his hand the second black wounded Deasy on the heel. Finding that the next moment he would be killed, he scrambled up and reached the foreyard, when he cut blocks with the mate's knife, and the men used them as weapons to keep back the blacks, who, after a while, made no attempt to ascend. During this struggle the captain, awakened by the noise, came up, and as he laid-his hand on the top of the companion it was chopped by a blow from an axe. He retreated into the cabin, where he remained with his son, and was subsequently found by the two sorely-wounded men, Shaw and Purcell.. They vainly endeavoured to load a pistol, striking matches, but not daring to light a lamp. But the flowing blood clogged the pistol and damped the powder, and they could do nothing. The steward had shut himself 11P in the galley; three men were on the foreyard, Deasy, almost fainting, and lashed to prevent falling, and poor Troy lay on the deck near the galley. °Tht\re was a sort of lull. The men on the foreyard thought that all hands except themselves, the captain, and his boy, were dead and the blacks, compelled to pause in their active attack, began to look for the bodies of their victims. Shaw had by this time crawled away,'and on searching the hold they found Purcell also gone; there remained only Troy lying motion- less near the galley. How long he had recovered his senses no one could tell, but he was not dead. The murderers came to where he lay, and with one blow of an axe chopped off his foot. The steward, trembling in his galley, heard the poor fellow groan, O God I am finished now.' They then chopped his body and clove his head, till all life—all semblance even of humanity—was battered out of him. At last day began to dawn the three blood-stained demons hold- ing the deck—the steward hidden in his galley—the three men on the yard—the captain and his boy in the cabin, with the two poor wounded men weltering in their blood beside him, the grey light of morning made objects visible, and the blacks thought to finish their work. Picking up .stones and pieces of coal from the hold, they began to pelt the men on the yard, who dodged the missiles as best they could. Then two blacks ascended the rigging with their axes, while the third remained on deck pelting the whites. These, compelled to disregard the stones, confined themselves to keeping the axes at bay with their sling blocks. Then the blacks found the steward was in the galley. One went to guard the companion while the other burst open the galley door. The steward jumped through the other door, rushed to the companion, dodged the blow aimed at him by the guard, and tumbled below. Now there was hope for the whites. Daylight was brightening and an unwounded man had reached the cabin where there was a revolver and ammunition. But deliverance was not for some time. For nearly an hour the men on the foreyard had to keep at bay two of the blacks who where assailing them, while the third kept guard over the companion, cunningly shielding himself from the loaded revolver of the steward. At last an incautious movement of the guard exposed his head, and the next second a bullet went into his brain. The two blacks exchanged a hurried sentence in their own language, and one went to pick up his fallen comrade. The sailors in the forevard dropped down the rigging. The mate, first on deck, picked up a handspike and staggered the third man with a blow on the head, and the others closed round him. The one who had gone to the dead guard left him, saw the game was up, and jumped overboard. Two of the blacks were now dead, and the steward emptied his revolver at the third while he swam, but he did not succeed in hitting him he was never seen again. Then the sur- vivors went to the island, and found the bodies of their comrades in the hut, and made sail for Cairns with the wounded. Arrived there an inquiry was held, and the three worst wounded were sent to our hospital, where, under skilful treatment, they are progressing as well as could be expected. I have only to add that the tribe to which the murderers be- longed are of well-known ferocity. It was they who murdered two men—Smith and his mate—on Gould Island four years ago, and it was they who met the crew of the captain's boat from the shipwrecked brio- Maria, ne u- Tarn O'Shanter Point, and killed four of them. N doubt, also, the same ferocious savages had a share I the murder of Conn and his wife near Card- well. J t I think that such an onslaught by three blacks on ten whites, at a place divided by some hun- dreds of miles of sea from the country of their tribe is quite unexampled in the history of Australia."

In London, on Monday, Mr. Humphreys, coroner for Middlesex, held an inquiry at the Gun Tavern, Shore- ditch, London, into the circumstances attending the death of Malcolm Kennett Munro, the son of a retired officer from the War Department, and who resided at Edmonton. On Thursday, in last week, he and a companion named Berry, took tickets at the Low-level Station, Bishopsgate, for Edmonton. On the arrival of the train the youths saw a companion of theirs in one of the carriages, which they attempted to enter before the train was brought to a standstill, and they both fell between the footboard and the platform. Berry was re- leased without serious injury, but Munro was crushed to death, and the footboard had to be cut through before the body could be extricated, which occupied from ten to fifteen minutes.—The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

DEATH OF LORD SHREWSBURY. The Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot died suddenly on Friday morning at his London residence, 39, Dover- street, St. James's. During the past week or two his Lordship has been taking a very active part in a number of public meetings which have been held in the Metropolis, and exhibited no visible sign of any weakness to cause anxiety ^either in his own mind or on the part of his friends. On Thursday he dined out, returning at 10.30. He then went to his Club, and came back to Dover-street, half an hour after midnight, when he retired to rest apparently in his usual excellent health. About two o'clock in the morning, he was taken ill with a faint- ing fit and by the direction of Lady Shrewsbury the household was aroused and messengers despatched for medical aid. Sir W. Jenner and Sir W. Gull, with other medical men, were soon in attendance on his Lordship, and remained with him for some time. Thinking him decidedly better, Sir W. Jenner and Sir W. Gull left, while Dr. V nnmg, hIS Lordship's usual medical attendant, remained. Soon after five o'clock, however, he became rapidly worse, and at 6 a.m. on Friday quietly died. The cause of his death is belived to be syncope of the heart. Lady Shrews- bury was with her husband from the commencement of his illness. The relatives in London were informed of his Lord- ship's illness as soon as possible, and assembled at the residence early in the morning. There were present during the morning Lord Ingestre, Lord Shrewsbury's son and heir Lord and Lady Helmsley, son in-law and daughter and Colonel and Lady Guendaline Chaplin, son-in-law and daughter. The news of his Lordship's death rapidly spread and in the course of the day a large number of the nobility called at the house, many of them, until they had called refusing to believe the sad news about one whom they had so recently seen in full health. His Lordship will be buried at Ingestre, near Stafford. The late Charles John Chetwynd Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, Earl Talbot, of Hensol, county of Gla- morgan Viscount Ingestre, county Stafford and Baron Talbot, of Hensol, county Glamorgan, in the Peerage of Great Britain, and Earl of Waterford, in the Peerage of Ireland, was the eldest of the five sons of Henry John, 18th Earl of Shrewsbury, by Lady Sarah Elizabeth Beresford, eldest daughter of Henry, second Marquis of Waterford. He was born April 1.3, 1830. and ^married February 15, 1855, Anna I tleresa, eldest daughter oi tne late Lap tain Richard How Cockerell, by Theresa, afterwards Countess of Eglinton, by whom he leaves issue an only son, Charles Henry John, Viscount Ingestre, born November 13, 1860, who succeeds his father as 20th Earl of Shrewsbury and 5th Earl Talbot, and three daughters—namely, Lady Theresa, married to Viscount Castlereagh; Lady Gwendoline, married in January last to Lieutenant-Colonel E. Chaplin, M.P. and Lady Mauriel, married' in December last to Viscount Helmsley. The deceased peer was Here- ditary Lord High Steward of Ireland, as declared by the House of Lords in 1863. He was from 1851 to 1853 in the 1st Life Guards, but retired in the last-mentioned year, and was for some years Captain and Major in the Queen's Own Royal Staffordshire Yeomanry Cavalry. He was an unsuccessful candidate for South Stafford- shire in 1854, but was elected for Stafford in conjunc- tion with Mr. J. A. Wise" at the general election in March, 1857, which he represented till May, 1859, when he was returned without opposition with the Right Hon. C. B. Adderley for the Northern Division of Staffordshire in the Conservative interest. At the following general election in 1865 he was an unsuc- cessful candidate for the county. In February, 1875, he was appointed, on the resignation of the Marquis of Exeter, Captain of the Hon. Corps of Gentlemen- at-Arms. He was a Deputy-Lieutenant of Stafford- shire and a magistrate for the county of Middlesex.— The Times.

ST. JAMES'S HATCHAM. (From Monday's Times.) The Rev. Arthur Tooth reached England on Wed- nesday (last week), and proceeded to Brighton on a visit to his relatives. On his return to the vicarage he forwarded the following communication to his Churchwarden, Mr. Webb :— "St. James's Vicarage, Hatcham, May 12th, 1877.— My dear Churchwarden,—I have returned to London- first, to renew my claim to my position as the lawful and canonically instituted vicar of this parish; secondly, to assert that all services which have been conducted here since my removal from my parish are schismatical and, thirdly, that the various appointments to the cure of souls which have been forced upon my parishioners, from the nature of the case, must be null and void. Will you kindly inform the communicants of the congrega- tion (as far as you have the opportunity of doing so) that it is my intention to celebrate the Holy Communion at eight o'clock on Sunday (the first Sunday after my re- turn) ? I wish it to be understood that I reserve it as a matter for my own discretion to say when I shall repeat my ministrations—not elsewhere iu my parish, but in my own pulpit and at my own altar-.—Believe me to be, my dear Churchwarden, yours faithfully and affectionately, ARTHUR TOOTH." Mr. Tooth accordingly celebrated the Holy Com- munion at the time mentioned—viz., at eight o'clock— on Sunday morning. There was a large attendance of between 300 and 400 persons, nearly 200 of whom com- municated. The service proceeded without interruption until the saying of the comfortable words," and near the termination of the Absolution, when Mr- Fry, the recently elected Proliant Churchwarden, accom- panied by two policemen made their appearance and walked rapidly down the nave up to the chancel gates. Mr. Fry asked Mr. Webb to join him in forbidding this service, to which Mr. Webb replied, Certainly not 1\fr IV aw \.o .uwi, ui "u. aJ.(,a;1,Ö, and, addressing the Rev. Arthur Tooth, said, '"You have beeu inhibited from performing service in this church, and I ask you by whose authority you are here." To this question the sole reply was a bow. Some of the congregation, resenting this interraption of the service, evinced a desire to eject Mr. Fry, but were restrained by others; and Mr. Fry, re- ceiving no answer to his question, called upon the police to prevent the performance of an illegal service by taking the celebrant into custody. This, however, they refused to do, alleging that, from the large number of Mr. Tooth's supporters present, there was danger of a serious breach of the peace following such an attempt. Mr. Webb here interfered and said to the police, "You will do nothing of the kind. Mr. Fry then left the church, and shortly afterwards returned, accompanied by Mr. Saunders, his Sides- man, remaining to the close of the service, after which he entered the vestry and protested against the illegal proceedings of Mr. Tooth, who only replied by a bow. Mr. Tooth wore a richly-wrought chasuble of white material, with coloured orphreys. The two altar lights were lighted, and the whole of the accessories to the service commonly used in Ritualistic services were continued. Previously to the commencement of the service the bell was tolled as usual. Mr. Tooth has now distinctly challenged the validity of the proceed- ings lately taken against him. At eleven o'clock the Rev. Mr. M'Bean, who had been appointed on the previous afternoon by the Bishop of Rochester, con- ducted the regular morning service. Afterwards the police discovered that the keys having been in Mr. Fry's possession, an entrance had been effected into the church through one of the south windows, and the doors had then been opened for the purposes of the early service.

THE FOLKESTONE RITUAL CASE. On Saturday the judgment of the Lords of the Judi- cial Committee of the Privy Council, on the appeal of the Rev. Charles Joseph Ridsdale, clerk, versus Clifton, from an order of the Judge, as Official Princi- pal of the Arches Court of Canterbury, which had condemned the incumbent of St. Peter's, Folkestone, for certain ritualistic practices, was pronounced. It was the first case under the Public Worship Regula- tion Act, and had created much interest from first to last. The appeal had been brought from the Court of Arches in respect to four points —the wearing during the service of the Holy Com- munion of the alb and the chasuble saying the prayer of consecration in the Communion Service whilst standing at the middle of the west side of the Com- munion table, so that the people could not see the appellant breaking the bread or taking the cup into his hand the use in the Communion service of wafer bread or wafers; and placing an unlawful crucifix on the top of the screen separating the chancel from the nave of the church. The Lord Chan- cellor read an elaborate judgment, the effect of which is a declaration that the surplice is the only legal vestment; that the officiating minister must so stand that the communicants can see his manual acts with the sacred elements that wafers are illegal, the bread to be used being such as is usually eaten j and that the crucifix, erected without a faculty, and being calculated to foster superstition, must be re- moved. As their lordships were not satisfied from the evidence that Mr. Ridsdale so stood at the communion table that what he did was intentionally hidden from the people, nor that he used wafers in the celebration, the decree of the Court of Arches against him on those points was reversed. The delivery of the judgment occupied nearly two hours and a half. NTNBNOBMHMM

ENCOUNTER WITH TIGERS. The following tiger story comes from Upper Assam —"A few days ago a naik and three sepoys of the 44th Native Infantry (the regiment is composed almost exclusively of Goorkhas) were patrolling the road from the outpost of Poba to the junction of the Dehong and Dibong rivers. The path was narrow and bordered on either hand by dense jungle. They came suddenly upon two large male tigers fighting furiously upon the path. The naik gave orders for the two sepoys in front to kneel, he himself and the third sepoy forming the rear rank, standing with fixed bayonets. At the word of command the front rank fired their Sniders at the bigger of the two tigers, rolling him over dead with two bullets in the head. The other tigjgr immediately bolted into the jungle. The patrol went back to the stockade to get assistance to bring in the body of the dead tiger, but when they returned to the spot the tiger was gone. After a search, however, the carcase was found fifty yards from the path, whither it had been dragged by the other tiger, who had, in a cannibal fashion, eaten half the hind quarters of his late anta- gonist. The little Goorkhas of the 44th have been very successful lately with their tiger hunting. In addition tQ the tiger bagged in this way, while en- grossed in his own affairs, a tiger was killed by a sepoy at Maijan near Debroogurh, and another near Muthola."

TEACHING BY EXAMPLE. A pamphlet just issued by a champion of phonetic spelling frankly admits that this kind ov speling iz asosiated in meny miendz with bufoonerv, vulgarity, and illiterasy." Why it shoul thus held in scorn the writer cannot understand. There is the fact, however, it ecsiets oedium, ridicuel, and violent opoezishon." Perhaps one reason for the hostility thus encountered may be .the general prevalence of a notIOn that phonetic spelling would be a diffi- cult thing for those to master who had previously acquired the ordinary method of orthography. For mstance, it is only with considerable difficulty that a person so educated can even copy such a sentence as the following:—" In adopting this sistem, we shuld oenly behaisening the rateural proses by which cozmos cumz out of caos; and this, our si-entific men say, iz the trew ofis ov the reformer." We rather imagine that the reformer would soon get tired of his trew ofis" if he often had to represent ou by an inverted m. He would probably feel inclined to leave caos to its own devices rather than expend infinite trouble on theproductionof such an intricate cozmos." The author, of course, thinks the conversion would be the easiest thing in the world moreover, he believes that phonetic spelling would make easy reading. Perhaps it might, after a time. We fear, however,' that those who have been taught the ordinary form would exclaim, The aspect ov larj numberz of wurdz iz so compleetly chainjd that eezy reeding is out ov the cwestion." Thai last word alone would suffice to frighten away a good many be- ginners, and excite their "violent opoezishon," if not their "oedium and ridiceul." We are glad nevertheless, to learn that the new system is making way among a patient few. "In spite ov aul this," writes our guide, philosopher, and friend, ther ar meny personz tu hoom it izrmoer acceptabel than eny uther skeem." They must have peculiar tastes, but "inspietof aul that," it is gratifying to know there are such self-sacrificing "personz" in existence. If phonetic spelling tends to "contribeut tu jenuin reform," it is well that the system should receive support during the experimental stage, and a public debt of gratitude is, therefore, due to the champions who fight for the good cause, in apiet of oedium and ridiceul But we really wish they would invent some other way of surmounting the difficulty of spelling such words as would, could, and should. In writing quickly, it is a very difficult thing, indeed, to invert the letter m so that it may represent the phonetic symbol for" ou. Gwbe.

THE LAND OF MIDIAN. An Alexandria Correspondent writes to The Times, under date April 28th :— Two months ago a mysterious telegram appeared in the English papers, to the effect that Captain Bur- ton, a hero of Eastern travel, had left Cairo for the coast of the Red Sea on a secret mission for the Khedive of Egypt. The Captain has returned, and the mystery, for which there was never any real necessity, may now be completely cleared away. He did not go to abolish the Riave trade, nor did he go to make peace with King John of Abyssinia. He went on a friendly errand for the Khedive, as an English- man out for a holyday, whose merited reputation as an Arabic scholar, with a power of close observation and unwearying energy in investigation, had induced the Egyptian Prince to seek his aid. On the eastern coast of the Gulf of Akaba runs the ancient land of Midian, and for long years past that country has been supposed to teem with mineral wealth. The Khedive, whose viceregal rule extends to Midian, had long a desire to put rumour to the test, and asked Captain Burton to make a visit of inspection. A Government frigate was placed at his disposal; a military escort was given him, as turbulent tribes make travel in Arabia no holiday task; as secretary, and, what was more important than all the rest, an able mining engineer in the service of the Khedive—M. George Marie—were attached to the Expedition. The party left Suez on the 21st of March last, and on the 2nd of April they arrived at Moilah, on the ^^t coast of the Bed Sea, at the entrance of the Gulf of Akaba. It is a small port, with a tolerable anchorage and 80.1 Egyptian garrison. Thence they took boat to Eynounah Bay, at the entrance of r M l' or ^alley of EynDunah, a little to the north j 011 eastern side of the Gulf. These wadys are curious. The coast is divided from the interior by a range of granite and porphyry mountains running about parallel with the sea; but water has worn its way as usual, and these gorges, each with its mountain torrent, occur at frequent intervals. They are barren rocky places, with no possibility ot much culture, and yet they all bear signs of abundant population in times gone by. Large towns, built not of mud, as Arab towns so often are, but of solid masonry such as the Romans always used, roads cut m the rock, aqueducts five miles long, remains of mas- siveiiv° ?sses' artificial lakes—all these_ signs of wealth and numbers are reported by Captain Burton. According to him the reason of it all is not far to s?i 4--U rock is full of mineral wealth. Gold and silver they found, and the former seems to exist in quantity sufficient to repay the labour of acquisition. Quartz and chlorites occur with gold in them just as they are found in the gold districts of South America. The party tested both the rock by crushing and the sands ot the streams by sifting, and in each case with good result. Tin and antimony they also dis- covered, and they had evidence of the existence of tur- quoise mines. Each ruined town had its mining works; dams for the washing of sand and crushed rock were frequently seen; scorise lies about near ancient furnaces in short, the.traces are numerous of u r S?i ^^iiig population in a country which seems to he full of mineral wealth. From Makna (Mugna on a i6 lnaPs); the capital of the land of Midian, up to Akaba at the head of the Gulf, Captain Burton reports the country as auriferous, and he believes the district southwards as far as Gabel Hassani—a moun- i-v.n well kn.»wn to geographers—to possess the same (ha racter. He even goes as far as to say he has brought back to life an ancient California. "The literal truth of this assertion remains to be proved. But, at any rate, it must be received as the statement of a careful, experienced traveller after a personal survey of the district, and it is supported by the opinion of M. Marie, a skilful mining engineer, n'c, ,U rif' I Captain Burton has kept elaborate notes, and he maintains that they will bear out his golden view of the Land of Midian. In any case they will be interesting, as the country is utterly un known. No modern traveller has set foot there; even the map has yet to be made. It will be remem- bered that Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the Land of Midian, and Jethro, the priest of Midian, gave him for wife his daughter Zipporah. The Khediire, of course, is much interested in the complete success of this Expedition, and is now very desirous to give practical effect to it. He has asked the Foreign Office to allow Captain Burton to return next Winter to assist him in the development of his new gold fields, and no man could be better chosen for the task. At the same time the Egyptian Ruler is fully convinced that all schemes of de- velopment in his dominions must now be subjected to commercial tests. The success of the new mines will therefore depend on the. opinion of European capitalists and whether they find that the reports which will be made in detail—of the results of the Expedition offer a new field for the investment of capital- The Khedive *™self will be satisfied with the payment of a royalty. AU- depends on the chemical reports, but at any rate the expedition must result in much interesting in- formation on a wholly new country." ==

AN INCIDENT OF THE WAR. Society at Bucharest, says a correspondent of the Vaily Telegraph, underwent an agreeable surprise on ounday morning when contemplating the march through the outskirts of Bucharest of another splendid Russian cavalry brigade. A regiment of hussars was led by a young Russian lady wearing the full uniform of the regiment and mounted on a magnificent charger. I am told it was the Princess Demidoff, daughter of the honorory colonel and proprietor of the regiment, who spends 10,000 a year upon it. No crack Russian heavy cavalry I have ever seen is so well mounted, the horses averaging 16 hands, comprising chestnuts, whites, browns, and bays respectively. The squadrons have extremely powerful animals The men are un- commonly heavy for hussars, but are a very fine regiment. The Don Cossacks made an especial impression on the fair spectators by reason of the extraordinary good looks of the men, who are mostly fair, have classically rcular features, and fine athletic figures. They have the quaintest imaginable wild music, consisting only of cymbals and bird whistles, accompanying a choir of about 30 singers chanting sad,unreasonable airs but in good tune and harmony. The Cossacks mount mere ponies, but these animals are as hard as iron, quick paced, and tame as cats, though only ridden with a single bridle.

WHITHER ARE WE DRIFTING? Under the above heading, the Daily Telegraph, of Tuesday publishes a lengthy letter, from which we make the follow- mg extracts ;— Sir,—Since last I wrote to you, nearly three weeks have passed; weeks during which the armies of Russia have prooacd un with slow and steady steps, while we have stood idly by. A protest has certainly been issued against the conduct of this disturber of the world's peace and its manly language has touched the nation's inmost heart. But the deeds that should back the words are still wanting, and, while English patriots are rejoicing that the old national spirit seems again to animate the voice of the Cabinet, Russia, heedless of our words, is marching forward to ruin British prestige in the East. While we are writing protests with the pen, she is making history with the sword. The Russian army of the Danube crossed the Pruth on April 24. The best maps make the distance from the railway bridge near Jassy to the railway terminus at Giurcyevo-the point at which you have recently assumed, and I believe rightly, that the main body of the army will cross the Danube—about 280 miles. After calculating the inarching rate per day of the Rus- sian array, and making allowances for floods, bad roads, crossing rivers, and other obstacles, the writer proceeds— Unless other troops than those of Turkey enter the field, the Russian army may well arrive before Constantinople not later than the first week of August, and it should scarcely he needful for me to add that our fleet can do nothing to bar the road. And now, as to our own power. Granted that we have plenty of ships lying idle in the docks of Liver- pool that we have steamers there and elsewhere sufficient to transport a force of 40,000 men; that telegraphic orders would take up this transport in a single day—three weeks would be required to fit up ships for the horses alone. We cannot count upon purchasing transport animals anywhere in Turkey. The establishment of horses for an army corps of three divisions, as laid down for our army by the Circular of August, 1875, is 11,863 that for a single division, 2,395. If, then, we were to send four divisions, we should need, according to regula- tion, 14,2o8 horses. I fejieve there are more than this in the Government service in this country; but they could not all be spared. Several thousands would have to be purchased, and if the Germans, with all their experience and organisation, require fourteen days to mobilise their troops, and the French seventeen days, is it conceivable that we could mobilise and embark ours in less than four weeks ? Their stores are distributed at the various points of concentration ours are concentrated in one or two great arsenals. Unless there is to be endless confusion, they should be distributed at the points of embarkation told off for the various bodies of troops, so that they may be embarked in the same ships with the men. Every wagon should have painted upon it the corps, division, brigade, regiment, or battery, to which it is to belong. Nothing of the kind has yet been done. Our artillery and transport wagons are stored with their shafts in one place, wheels in another, bodies in a third and our whole store department is virtually dependent upon the brains and energy of one man, immensely able and energetic, but in his 60th year, and liable to the same contingencies as all human flesh. The vice of over-centralisation here reigns supreme. Those military men who have had experience of the preparation of previous expeditions, even on so small a scale as the Chinese, Abyssinian, and Ashantee cam- paigns, will bear me out in my assertion that we could not land a. force of 40,000 men on the shore of the Sea of Marmora in less than seven weeks—49 days from the date of the order of mobilisation being issued. This is May 14th; if my calculations are at all correct, and mobilisation were ordered to morrow, we could not land our force at Constantinople before July 2, and by that time the Russian army may very possible have crossed the Danube and the Balkans, have masked Rustchuk and Silistria, Schumla and Varna, have de- feated the numerically inferior Turkish army in the field, and have advanced some marches on its road to Adrianople. It may be within a month of Constantinople. A child could thus estimate the danger of longer drifting. Sir John Burgoyne was no mean authority on engineer subjects and he said that the position before Constantinople "would re- quire the application of several thousand workmen for several months" to entrench it. Our young engineers of the present generation are said to have reported that the position could be fortified in three weeks by 70,000 men. Suppose we send 40,000: of them certainly not more than 30,000 could ever be spared to dig; and 30,000 men, if the rule of three still holds good in these days of modern science, would take seven weeks to do what 70,000 men could do in three weeks. But, it will be said, Turks could be employed. The Turk is a soldier, not a labourer. He hates spade work. And by this time having been left by us to be beaten alone and unfriended, he would have little love for us too; a bad combination for work against time. Briefly, if we wish to ensure saving Constantinople, the order for mobilisation of the troops and the order for the purchase of horses should be at once issued ships should be immediately taken up and fitted for transport. Were this done, then, perhaps, if all goes well, we may save the position. I have not spoken of the position west of the Darda- nelles, which must be first seized and entrenched. It is many marches nearer to Adrianople, and its pos- session is necessary to retain the free passage tof the Straits. Military operations depend on a right com- bination of time and force. In this case time is fast slipping away. It will be said that these are the words of an alarmist; but I know them to be the opinions of some of England's ablest soldiers; and the mass of men would call the angel an alarmist if he came to sound the last trump for the Day of Judg- ment. We might be in time to save Constantinople, to hold the passage of the Dardanelles But! what a miserable part for a great nation to playji—to sit down behind works to rot of fever and inactivity, while the enemy occupies the fertile plains of Turkey These are engineers' counsels they savour of the spade and of the drawing-board. The place where England should defend Constantinople is by concert with Austria and with the Turks in the open behind the Balkans, there to fall from a central position upon the Russian columns debouching from the columns de- bouching from the passes—not when the Turks are annihilated as an army, alone behind earthworks, on the Kara Sou. Even now it might not be too late if a great* policy is followed and a great peril pro- perly appreciated. The Turks may succeed in delaying the Russians longer than above antici- pated. If the political combination can be made, if orders for mobilisation were given immedi- ately, if subordinates in the Store- Department were allowed to use their own judgment, if extraordinary energy were employed, it might yet be possible to land a force at Enos and march fast enough to defend the Balkans; and if it were too late when we reached Enos, the troops might then go to Constantinople. But we are drifting towards a day when nothing but her promises need keep Russia out of Constantinople. Defensive works of themselves never yet saved a nation or a town strong arms and stout hearts alone can check a conqueror's career. If action is not im- mediate^ it will be too late to save even this modicum of British interests from out of the Eagle's claws. A firm hand, with full power to act, might yet guarantee us. This is the time for the Cabinet to speak out; Lord Beaconsfield would hIve the whole nation with him now, would he call into his eounsels a true soldier, and give him leave to act, ere it be too late. The man whom they choose must be no hanger-on to Royalty, no Horse-Guards favourite, no theorist of the closet; above all, no aged or indolent man. It should be one who has commanded British troops in action, who has the prestige of success, a man with youth and vigorous energy, who does not know fear, and whom Cabinets have learned that they can trust. This is no time for questions of seniority, no time for favouritism our very existence as an Empire may hereafter be at stake. It is said, Sir, that lookers-on see most of the game and it may well be that the Cabinet, occupied in watching the intrigues of its political opponents in Parliaments, of Russian diplomatists abroad, has failed to read the impulse that is driving on the nation to arm in behalf of England's interests. But +1", time has come when further dai.lance with If smooth words amounts to a betrayal of the nation s trust. Let the Government east away their policy of drifting lot them speak out with tL finn,- strong' voice that in olden times made England grtat and glorio lis—the voice that the British people loves and longs to heari_h»i them give that lead which the country say that thev have may be defend*tly more 'Van verbal protests, that they will act er5*ii is too late, and will not let the last hour of hope slip from ..heÎ1' hesitating hands. JII 8m:h a manly and timely policy lies, I believe, the best, and it may be the last, hope of averting one of those great wars which spring front supineness. and cost in tardy sacrifices ten times as much as forethought and protection cost.—I am, Sir, your obedient servant, ANGLOPHIL. London, May 14.

THE CZAR'S ARRIVAL AT ST. PETERSBURG. A correspondent, under date May 8th, sends the Globe the following account of the Czar's arrival at St. Petersburg from the camp at Kischeneff :— Never probably did a Russian Emperor receive a more enthusiastic reception from the townspeople of St. Petersburg than did Alexander II. yesterday. Early in the morning crfljpxls of peasants began to assemble in the Nevsky Prospect, and- by eight o'clock the thoroughfare was crammed with moujiks," whose gaudy-coloured robashkee," or smocks, looked lively and picturesque after the dingy-coloured sheepskins they had been wearing all the winter. Many of the manufacturers had closed their mills for the day, and the mob was thus recruited by gangs of workmen, all attired in holiday costume. Troops were stationed along the route from the Nikolaevsky railway station to the Winter Palace on the Court Quay. There were brigades of artillery, both regular and Cossack, whose brasT guns bore wit- ness to the amount of polishing that had been expended upon them. There were long lines of infantry, includ- ing, of course, the famous Preobrajensky regIment- the oldest in the Russian service—relieved by large masses of cavalry, amongst which the Imperial cuiras- sers were grandly conspicuous. Squadrons of irregular cavalry comprising Circassians, whose fidelity is under a cloud just now; Georgians from Tiflis Bashkirs from the Southern Oorals and Kirghiz from Central Asia, were stationed at the corners of the principal streets leading to the Nevsky, and gave the prospect an Oriental appearance completely. m keeping with the Eastern proclivities of the empire. I have seen a great number of parades, processions, and Imperial pageants at St. Petersburg, including those connected with the wedding festivities of the Duke of Edin- burgh but in spite of the concentration of. Russian troops at the seat cf war, I did not observe any diminution in the number employed on this occasion They were excellently equipped, their physique beyond praise, but their movements were not distinguished by that rigid accuracy so characteristic of soldiers ll1 Eng- land. The warlike ardour of the irregular troops is beyond question, but the Russian peasant is not of a bellicose temperament. He would rather hob-nob with a man than fight him, and I could not help re- marking that the line regiments looked rather down- cast and anxious at the prospect of speedy engage- ment with the indomitable Turk. The city was gaily decorated with flags. Scarcely a house but what had one bit of bunting hanging from the window, and some were literally-one mass of colour. Carpets, ever- greens, and flowers decorated the balconies of the houses overlooking the route pursued by the Imperial cortege. Shortly after nine the Imperial family, attended by a brilliant staff of officers, proceeded down the Nevsky Prospect to the Nikolaevsky railway station. They were loudly cheered by the crowd, but this was nothing compared with what the Czar himself received on issuing from the" Voksall." The enthusiasm of the people was intense. Vociferous" ooras" rose from the peasants as they rushed round the carriage contain- ing the Emperor, and they would have taken the horses from out of the shafts, but he would not let them. I never remember seeing the moujiks so ex cited before. For once they seemed to have thrown off the coldness habitual to them. The feeling of enthu- siasm was apparently spontaneous,, and thoroughly falsified those reports that have been circu- lating in England with respect to the indifference of St. Petersburg to the war. First in the procession came General Trepoff, Commissioner of the Police, attended by a strong of Cossack gendarmerie. Then followed the carriage containing the Emperor and the heir-apparent. It was observable that the former looked very careworn and ill. The hostile policy of Prince Gortschakoff has never been congenial to him, and he has been led into declaring war totally against his own private wish. The anxiety produced by the state of affairs is said to have aggravated the internal disease from which he has been suffering several years, and it is not improbable that a few re- verses would prove as fatal to his constitution as those at the Crimea were to his father's. After the Czar came the staff, consisting of several hundred officers, repre- sentatives of nearly all the regiments in the Russian serviee—Cuirassiers, Dragoons, Hussars, Circassians, Cossacks, Bokhariots, and Kirghiz—who collectively constituted a spectacle surpassable only by the Durbars of our Viceroy in India. Close behind these was the carriage containing the Empress and the Princess Dagmar. Their Panslavist sympathies were well known to the masses, and drew forth an effusion of feeling whioh must have somewhat repaid them for the trouble they have taken to bring on the war. The rear of the procession was brought up with a score or more carriages filled with the ladies of the court, State officials, and municipal dignitaries. On reaching the Kazan Cathedral the Czar alighted from his carriage. As he walked up the steps of the stately edifice, thesun, which, until then had been hidden behind a mass of heavy clouds, suddenly burst forth, and the golden rays shining full upon the Emperor were intensified by the shade hanging over the rest of the square. It was no wonder that the superstitious populace should accept the circumstance as a good omen. It seemed as though the Almighty Himself favoured the crusade on which the Czar had just em- barked, and their acclamations of delight and devotion rent the air. After remaining a few minutes in the c ithedral—which contains an abundance of flags taken from the Turks in ancient forays—the Emperor con- tinued his progress to the Winter Palace without further incident. I noticed a great number of ladies going about collecting money fer the sick and wouiMed, and judging from the generosity displayed by the people in the Nevsky, the sum gathered during the day must have been very large. In the evening the city was brilliantly illuminated. Patriotic devices, expressive of "confusion to the Turk and his friends, and success to the Russian arms," were displayed on the house-fronts of the principal citizens. Large crowds 'of people promenaded the chief thoroughfares, and the utmost enthusiasm was displayed for the State officials who had been instru- mental in bringing about the present conflict, or who were known to be engaged in furthering the operations of the army in the field.

WEEKLY REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE. Bell's Weekly Messenger says :—"The wheat trade, which, at the commencement of last week, was-de- cidedly firm in tone, has recently presented a very quiet appearance. There has been a relapse of about 2s. per qr. from the late highest point, and millers evince considerable disposition to operate with extreme caution. Their purchases of late have been rather considerable, and hence, under existing circumstances, they can afford to pause for a while, and to await events. The quantity of wheat now afloat to the United Kingdom slightly exceeds one million qrs., so that up to the present time, the rise in prices here has not had any great effect. There can, however, be but little doubt that the remunerative prices we are now offering will not fail to stimulate shipments from the producing countries indeed, it is regarded as certain that if we obtain no abundance, we shall secure adequate supplies. The wheat trade on the Continent during the past week has been de- cidedly quieter. Much less disposition to buy has been evinced, and, in order to effect sales, holders have been compelled to accept rather lower prices. The crops; especially in France, are reported to be looking well. At New York the trade has remained firm, red spring wheat being quoted at 2 dols. 13c. per bushel. This is the highest price reached, and holders, owing to the small surplus available for export during the remainder of the season, are reluctant to lower their terms. It is possible, however, that before long, other countries, which are more anxious to supply us, will compel them to adopt a different policy."

AMERICAN HUMOUR. The other day she gave warning. When asked the reason, she said that she wanted to ameliorate herself. Bald-headed men are so numerous in Chicago that an audience in that city is said to look, when viewed from above, like a cobble-stone pavement. I don't see how you can have been working all day like a horse exclaimed the wife of a lawyer, her husband having declared that he had been thus working. "Well, my dear," he replIed;" I ye been drawing a conveyance all day anyhow." Moody says he doesn't approve of pretty girls at fairs allowing themselves to be kissed for twenty-five cents. That's right. It's far better to go home with the pretty girls after the fair is over and kiss them at the door for nothing. A three year old little girl, at Rochester, N. Y., was taught to conclude the evening prayer, during the temporary absence of her father, with "Please watch over my papa," it sounded very sweet, but the mother's amazement may be imagined when she added, And you'd better keepan eye on Mamma, too 1" Judge Brady, in a recent lecture, told a story, of an ambitious Yankee who aspired to the State Senate, said he gave 100 dollars for the influence of a friend. His hopes were high, and he most willingly parted with the money. But when the returns came in he found he had but three votes, He at once rushed to his friend. See here, I've but three votes." "Haye you ?" was the reply. "Let me see. You voted for yourself, and I voted for you, but who in thunder was the other fool" Mark Twain is credited with the following after- dinner speech. It's in the wonderful insight inter 'uman nature that Dickens gets the pull over Thackeray but on t'other hand, it's in the brilliant shafts o' satire, t'gether with a keen sense o' humour, that Dickery gets the pull over Thackens. It's just this: Thickery is the humourist, and Dackens is the satirist. But, after all, it's bsurd to mstoot any comparison between Dackery and Thickens. So none was "instooted." "No, I don't want none of your lightning rods," said a Kentucky farmer recently to a man who had stopped at his house to put up a patent lightning conductor. "I ain't afraid of lightning, it's the thunder I believe is going to knock us all endwise some day." "You don't seem to comprehend," said the pedler, "these 'ere silver-tipped reds are lightning rods, and the gold-tipped ones are thunder rods, just what you want;" and he persuaded the old man into ordering up the gold-tipped rods.

EPITOME OF NEWS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN. Artists say this is the worst year for selling pictures since 1867. One of the principal tribes in the Caucasus has risen in revolt against Russia and this, it is fearea, may damage the position of the Russian army in Asia It is reported tha.t the largest ox in Canada has been sold for shipment to .England. He was sola by Mr. John West, of Guelph, for and his live weight is about 2TJ cwts. The Blackburn Town Council has decided to pur- chase the gasworks of the town, L'JW the property of a private company. A miners' delegate meeting, representing 30,000 men, was held on Monday, at/Wit,;n, to c.cisider the pro- posed reduction of 10 per in the West Lancashire colliers' wages. It was ret-otved to streiaionsly resist At ft HieetiiHZ i f 4tie iiidgwr? tHe f to the reduction l>at rhrj meeting aet.< that the r; duction should not com", into oper- J une 6th. Many ladies in St. Petersburg 1 higher classes have dc-e;ded to wawrno silk. la. c->- t lery while the war laits, aid to contribute the saving arising | from their self-denial to the societies for the care, oi the wounded. Telegrams received in England report that Iquique was destroyed by an earthquake on the 10th inst. The superstitious in Metz—anciently known as La Pucelle-call to mind that their cathedral was set on fire once before the recent occasion, to wit, on the 7th of May, 1468, and a German emperor was then also holding court within their walls.—The World. There was a beat race for £200 upon the Thames, on Monday, from Putney to Mortlake, between Thomas Green, of Hammersmith, and Ralph Hepplewhite, of Vllns- ton, Newcastle-on-Tyne. The Hammersmith man won by ten lengths, in 23 minutes 7 seconds. The Times of India states that the Sultan has. through the Turkish consul in Bombay, conveyed to the Mussulmans of Madras his warmest thanks for the sympathy expressed by them with, and the relief afforded to, the sufferers in Turkey. The Moulvies of Mecca have also ex- pressed their appreciation of the kindly feelings which prompted the Mahommedans of Madras to raise funds for the relief of their suffering brethren in Turkey. A Bill has been prepared by Dr. Cameron, Mr. Clare Read, Mr. Ashley, Sir Henry Jackson, Mr. E. Jenkin, and Mr. Richard Smith, to facilitate the control and care of habitual drunkards. It gives the local authorities power to grant licenses for the establishment of retreats into which a habitual drunkard may be admitted on their own application, or where they may be sent by order of the jus- tices. Power is given to a justice, upon the application of a parent husband, wife, relative, or guardian of any habitual drunkard, to summon such person, and upon proof that the person summoned is an habitual drunkard, the justices in petty sessions assembled may authorise his apprehension and restraint in a retreat for any term not less than one month, and not exceeding twelve months. Sir Charles Adderley's "bill to authorize the experimental power on tramways proposes to give power to the Board of Trade to authorise by licence, for a limited period not exceeding one year, the use of mechanical power on tramways. The Board is to have power to suspend or revoke the license at any time without assigning any reason, and is also to be empowered to renew the licence from time to time for a period not exceeding one year. A licence under the Act is not to create any vested interests, and the grantee of a licence is to be liable for injuries caused by the act or default of himself or his servants. A Parliamentary Return shows that during the year 1876 the deposits paid into the Post Office Savings Banks amounted to £8,982,350, which, added to the balance brought forward from the previous year, made up a total of £34,169,696, to which was added as interest £619,331. The repayments out of the banks during the year amounted to £7,792,477, and the balance due to depositors at the end of the year was £26,996,550. The charges and expenses of the department from September, 1861, to December, 1876, were £1,035,235. The Council of the Evangelical Alliance have sent an address to the Emperor of Germany with regard to the pro- posal for holding in 1878 a general conference of Christians of various nations in the city of Berlin, similar to that held in 1857. After mature deliberation, the council have come to the conclusion that next year would be too soon for the proposeq conference in Berlin. They intend to hold the next Alliance Conference in the Swiss town of Basle, and express the hope that it will prepare the way for a larger conference to be held at the earliest period in Berlin. According to present arrangements there will be two State balls at Buckingham Palace, the first being fixed for the 20th of June, and the second for the 6th of July. The State concerts are fixed for the 6th and 27th of the en- suing month. A correspondent forwards a rather curious example of the honesty of postal authorities. A friend of his had oc- casion to send a parcel to a country town, and, having no seal, impressed the wax with a half sovereign, which he acci- dentally left sticking en the wax. The parcel was despatched in this condition, and when it &Tived at its destination the coin was found to be in the same position, a charge being made for sending money by post.—Court Journal. May fair says :—Some active young gentlemen in the Press Gallery are about to undertake a task from which the Government has shrunk, and will presently offer to hon. members and the country the gratification of an official report. It is proposed to raise a guarantee sum of £ 1,500, ana to commence the issue from July 1. It is said that Mr. Bright has given the proposal his entir approval and half a dozen other members are named as assenting. The test of approval is, however, that hon. members are to subscribe the guarantee fund whereupon the reports are to commence, and it is promised that" each member of Parliament shall every morning at breakfast time have a verbatim report of the proceedings of the previous evening." A letter from Marseilles states that the effects of the war in the East are beginning to be felt there. The blockade of Odessa and "the interdict placed upon vessels bound for the Black Sea have been very prejudicial to traders and to the navigation companies, which are un" hIe to accept passengers or goods for ports beyond Constantinople, while several steamers and sailing vessels which started a few days ago for the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov have been compelled to put in at some intermediate port and unload their cargoes. An alarming accident occurred in a tunnel on the Midland Railway at Matlock Bridge early on Sunday mom- in,r. Owing to some repairs to the tunnel the traffic was worked upon a single line of rail, and two goods trains came into collision, blocking the line for some hours, and doing considerable damage to the rolling stock. The midnight Pullman car train from London to Manchester was stopped before entering the tunnel, or a more serious disaster would have followed it was kept waiting for upwards of an hour. The drivers and firemen of the goods trains escaped without injury. The Government of Western Australia has received fifty yards of satin made from silk grown in that colony. What the American calls a victorious invention is the "eagle claw," for the purpose of catching all kinds of animals, fish, and game. It is adapted for bait of any description, and when set nothing that touches the bait can escape it may be described as eight long wire hooks, open like eight fingei-s, four on each side the bait is in the centre, set on a spring eatch, the slightest tug at which causes the eight finger-like hooks to collapse as a claw and catch the object that has touched the bait. Coate, of 330, Fulerton. street, Brooklyn, N.Y., is the inventor. Dr. Cameron's bill relating to marriages In Scotland, provides that ministers, clergymen, or pnest6 in Scotland may celebrate marriages either after ciue proclamation of banns or upon production of a registrar s certificate^ which latter is to be of the same force and effect as a certificate of the proclamation of banns. Licenses by a justice of the peace are authorized in certain cases, and all existing laws requiring the proclamation of banns as a condition of a regular marriage are appealed. The usages of Quakers and I Jews are not to be interfered with. Small-pox is said to be raging at Akyab in xJntish Burmah, The native population are dying in scores. The Corporation of 8t Petersburg merchants has decided to subscribe half a ion roubles for the war; each merchant of the first guild giving thre £ hundred roubles, and each of the second, 'fifty roubles.—Th £ orla. All pensioners not more than 56 vears of Age, living in Preston and within a radius of twenty miles, numbering nearly 700, have been called up for ,dgnt uajs drill at Fulwood Barracks. The Correspondent of The Times at Rustchuk sa>"8: V Small-pox is raging in Sistova. The American missionary; file Rev. Mr. Challis, and family caught the infection, an MJ-S. Challis died yesterday." The captain of the Inman Royal Mail steamer City of Richmond, which arrived at New York on Sunday evening, reports having boarded the missing steamer Ctty of Brussels on Tuesday last..At that time all on board were well. The vessel had broken ffer screw-shaft, and was proceeding under canvas to Liverpool. All hopes as to the safety of the barque Augustin which sailed from Georgetown, Prince Edward's Island, on the 10th of December last, have been abandoned, as since that date nothing whatever has been seen or heard of her, and there is every reason to believe that she foundered with all hands in some of the terrific gales which swept the Atlantic some time after she sailed from George- town. The Augustine was a vessel of 450 tons register. She was bound to Bristol with a cargo of oats, and was com- manded by Captain Andrew H M J)onald, of Glasgow. She had a crew of nine hands. The Times of India says :—We hear that one of our principal native chiefs, no mean authority, has testified emphatically to the interest excited in the whole MahowedaD community by the progress of events in Turkey." The last official returns of the War Ministry of Russia show that in the army of the Czar are 29,174 officers, and 742,645 non-commissioned officers and soldiers, of whom 79 per cent. are infantry, 8 8 per cent. cavalry, ll'l per cent. artillery, and 21 per cent. engineers. Russians say that they can raise at any time two millions and a half of men exclusive of the hational militia (opoltchenie), which, by the bye, is not good for much.—The World. A sad accident has happened in the Moray Firth, by which two young lads were drowned. While a Nairn fishing boat was being anchored the chain caught the legs of John Main, one of the crew, and dragged him overboard. William Main, a shipmate, jumped into the water to effect a rescue, John being unable to swim. John never rose to the surface, however, and William was taken down by the current, and both were lost. The father of one of the lads was a witness of the accident. The Archbishop of Quito, who was said to have been poisoned by the admixture of strychnine with the sacra- mental wine, is now said1 to have died not from poisorf but from effusion on the brain A daring escape has been made by a convict from Portland Prison, who broke out of his cell on Sunday night. Having eluded every sentinel, he made his escape to the breakwater, where, taking a boat, he rowed to Weymouth and landed at the back of the Nothe about four o'clock o Monday morning. Earl Percy will, on the 1st June, move in the HOT of Commons that it is expedient that an inquiry should instituted into the practice of vaccination, for the pun of ascertaining whether it cannot be conducted in a u satisfactory manner than it is at present. Sir Charles Reed, in presiding over the first pt meeting of a society which has for its object the Christian homes for the deaf and dumb children of t years who are being educated in Board schools, direc tention to the merciful nature of its work, wh; especially one for the ChristiaJ11adies of Englalld Mr. Sala, speaking of his circle of acqua" says I have met war face to face, half a dozen as many countries. I have looked into the whites, the crimsons, of his eyes, and I have gazed upon t who follow him, wherever he goes. They are thi and their names are Rapine,' and Disease,' and They have a fourth sister, called Miss Stake. An open-air mass meeting of South miners was held on Monday at Barnsley, when rt were passed calling upon the miners of the distri port the Executive of the South Yorkshire Miners tion, and declaring that the time had come when 2 conciliation ought to be formed, as the best mode 0 disputes and lock-outs. The Indian relief troopship Euphrates, Camingo, has arrived at Portsmouth from Bombay military officers, 12 officers' ladies and families, 500 invalids, 95 time-expired men, 151 soldiers' wives children. Among the candidates examined last week Irish College of Physicians were Dr. Louisa Atk) Sophia Jex-Blake, and Dr, Edith Peckey, who all su in satisfying the Examiners, and have now recei1 double diploma of the College, which entitles them < their names on the Medical Register as fully q physicians. The Archdeacon of Craven (Bishop Ryan menced his annual visitation at Skipton on Monc referring to the burials question, he said that minist members of the Church of England had been accustc regard the churchyard as a place for regular was provided just as they regarded the Chtirch its place where its own service was to be used. It was that terms of reproach and obloquy should be heap them because they wished to preserve these coi churchyards for hallowed service. The carpenters and joiners of Chorlev still I go to work on the masters terms. At a private mt the employers it has been decided to offer the men hour for two years, but the men refuse to accept thos and have fetched their tools away from the vaiiot shops. The employers have issued advertisements, men, and the men have retaliated by issuing posts! ing men to keep away while the strike is on, and t public can have work done by applying at a certain house The female sea-lion at the Brighton Aq gave birth to a fine young one on jl cali arc -v;-U This is the first instance on rt the sea-boa broediag in captivity. The eveut will be i; ing to ladies, as it is a species of scaHon which sffo beautiful seal-skin oioaks, bate, &coo jo much pAtron the fair sex. 1 L (j-jarter of an K-w. In Qut.ci*aj.anu over fe1! •: To-vio'.iij?.. '<7 .cdies at Witervicw.ui tf Great floods i. cau^cd. The articles in Russian papers are very from those III the Journal de St. P<-ier.<-bmvrg, in and in other subsidised organs published in Fi German ad vsvm Europa. The language of the nat is calculated to excite Russians against England are ruthlessly garbled for the purpose of exalting above all other nations, and creating enthusiasm holy war.—The World. During the year ending Oth September, 99,650 licenses were issued to victuallers in the Kingdom, ro,095 being in England, and 10,927 m and 44,213 licenses to persons to sell beer all o were in England. in addition to these, were granted to victuallers who brew then own be 7,578 to beer sellers, all being in England except It amount of malt consumed by common brewers (n victuallers) was 50,317,020 qrs.; by victuallers, 6,989- and by beer-sellers, 3,57,235 qrs. The malt duty amounted to £ .8,262,146.

THE MARKETS. MARK-LANE. —M, The grain trade at Mark-lane has been in ay. state. English wheat was in short suppi> ne done was on a very limited scale, and had saies oee less money must have been taken. Foreign wnea' which a moderate supply was on offer, was m demand, at" barely last Moaday's prices. The 51 barley was moderate. Malting produce was toleral but grinding was only saleable at Is. reduction. 11 disposed of at late prices. Oats were very dull, lower. In maize the fall varied from Is. to 2s. per qJ very little doing. Beans and peas were quiet, and di in value. The flour market was dull in tone counti foreign produce was lower to sell. METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET.—MONK The cattle trade is entirely without feature. SuppM stock are very short, but amply sufficient for requirem Beasts came to hand very sparingly, and of the su, offered about one half was foreign. In the home suo there was nothing special to notice beyond the shortnes the supply. Business continued very quiet, quotati ruling more or less nominal. The top price for the I Scots and crosses was 5s. 6d., and occasionally 5s. 8d. 81bs.,butthe latter was quite exceptional. From Norfc Suffolk, Essex, and Cambridgeshire we received ab. 600, from other parts of England about 100, and from S< lond 34 head. On the foreign side of the market wa moderate supply of beasts from Denmark, Spain and Swef5 The demand was quiet, at about late rates. The sheep j were less freely supplied. Sales progressed slowly, but market was not devoid of steadiness as far as relates to choicest breeds. The best Downs and lialf-breds sold ot 6 6s. 2d. per 81b., but many good useful animals were disp. of at a lower figure. Lambs sold at about 7s. 6d. to 8s. 81b. Calves and pigs were quiet. At Deptford there wei beasts and about 1,200 sheep. Coarse and inferior be 4s. 4d. to 5s. Od. second quality ditto, 5s. to 5s. 2d. pl large- oxen, 5s. 2d. to 5s. 4d.; pline Scots. &c., 5s. 4i 5s. 6d. coarse and inferior sheep, 5s. to 5s. 6d second qu.' ditto, 5s. 8d. te 5s. lOd. prime coarse woolled, 5s. lOd. to prime Southdowns, 6s. to 6s. 2d. lambs, 7s. 6d. to 8s. 1 cearse calves, 5s. 6d. to 6s. prime small ditto, 6s. to 6s. large hogs, 4s. to 4s. 6d.; small porkers, 4s. 8d. to 5s. per 81b to sink the offal. METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET —MONDAT. The supply of meat on offer, although short, was more than sufficient for the demand, and in the majority of instances quotationsluled in favour of the buyer. Prices Inferior beef, 3s. to 3s. 6d.; middling ditto, 3s. lOd. to 4s. 4d. prime large ditto, 4s. 6d. to 5s.; prime small ditto, 4s. to 5s. 4d.; veal, 5s. to 5s. 4d. inferior mutton, 3s. to 4s.; middling ditto, 4s. 4o 5s.; prime, 5s. 4d. to 6s. lambs, 7s. to 8s. large pork, 3s. 8d. to 4s. 4d.; and small ditto, 4s. 8d. to Ó8. 4d. per 81b. by the carcase. GAME AND POULTRY. Capons, 7s. 6d. to 15s. pullets, 6s. to 10s. 6d. chickens, 2s. 6d. to 5s.; ducklings, 3s. to 5s. !6d.; ducks, 2s. 6d. to 3s. Od. goslings, 7s. 6d. to 12s. 6d,; guinea fowl, 4s. to 5s. pea fowl, 9s. 6d. to 135 quails, 9d. to Is. fat ditto, Is. 6d. to 2s. ptarmigan, Is. to Is. úd. leverets, 2s. lOd, to 6s.; tame rabbits, Is. 6d. to 2s. 6d. wild ditto, Ikl. to lE" 6d.; pigeons, 9d. to Is. 3d. each hen eggs, 7s. 6d. to 8s. 6d. per 120 Aylesbury butter, Is. to Is. 6d.; venison. Is. to Is. 3d. per lb. FISH. Soles, ls. to 4s. per pair; turbot, 7s. fed. to 16s. each; mackerel, 2s. to 3s. per dozen salmon, Is. 3d. to Is. 6d. per lb. bloaters, 6s. to 8s. per hundred; kippers, 3s. 6d. to 7s. 6d. per box; whiting, 8s. to 12s. per basket; cod, £2 to £5 per score crabs, 6s. to 30s. per dozen brill, Is. 6d. te 6s. each native oyster, £12 to £12 12s. per bushel; common ditto, 6s. to lis. per hundred lobsters, 8s. 6d. to 30s. per dozen trout, Is. 3d. to Is. 6d. per Ib red mullet, 8s. to 15s. per score. POTATOES. With a rather small supply, and a fair trade, prices were quoted higher. Kent regents, 110s. to 130s. Essex ditto, 100s. to 120s. Scotch ditto, 85s. to 120s. rocks, S5s. to 100s.; Victorias, 110s. to 190s. flukes, 125s. to 180s. per ton. HOPS rather better tone is reported for certain qualities of hops which was calculated to depress the market bv materially adding to the supply. The stocks of first-class hops remaining would appear to be very short, and though consumers operate sparingly, the lowest points were thought to have been about touched. Foreign markets are quiet, but steady. The following are the current quotationsEast Kent goldings, 1876. jE7 7s. to 10s.. Mid Kents, £7 to £10; Weald of Kents. £5 12s. to £8; Sussex, £5 5s. to JE7 Worcesters, £ S Ss. to £10 10s.. Farn- ham and country, £8 to £10: yearlings, £2 15s. to ;6.: American, 1876, £3 10s. to £6 6s. SEED. There was little English Clover Seed offering, and all sorts, including foreign, were disposed of at reduced fates. Trefoil was sold at prices low enough to hold over. Grass Seeds were disposed of at full rates. Canaryseed sold at lower and irregular prices, some holders pressing the article for sale. 'White Mustardseed was fully as dear, with a fair sale. Brown qualities were scarce, and fine samples held at very high prices. Rapesced was fully as dear. with a good demand. Dutch Hempseed sold on former terms, teadily. HAY. 0 WHITECHAPEIJ, May 12.—There was a rather large supply of Hay and Straw at market to-day. Trade was dull and meadow Hay somewhat lower. Prime Clover lOQs. to 104s. inferior, 85s. to 95s. Prime meadow Hay, 90s. to 128s.; in- ferior, 70s. to 856., and Straw, 40s. to 5os. per load.