Pontypool Free Press and Herald of the Hills

VITALITY OF THE COLORADO BEETLE. Speaking of the improbability of the Colorado beetle reaching this country, a correspondent recently put this question (says The Times), How could it survive a sea voyage without its natural food ? Replying to this question, Mr. J.B. Doyle writes to The 11vies from Bessbrook, Newry, as follows :— In compliance with^ my request, a gentleman residing in the State cf New York sent me, by my son-in-law, who was over at the American Exhibition, eight full-grown specimens, which he enclosed alive in a little tin box about the size of a five-shilling piece, in which a single hole was punched. My relative had them in his possession for six weeks before I received them. He generally carried them in his breastcoat pocket. When I opened the box, they were not only alive, but were so active that I found some difficulty in collecting them to put them into the box again, which I did very carefully, and not without some anxiety lest one should escape. I may add that no kind of food what- ever was put into the box, such is the amazing vitality of this in-iect; so that upon that score we are deprived of the consolation which Ir. Macdonald's query would inspire. I lost no time in plunging the living speci- mens into a bottle of spirits of wine, from which they were removed to my cabinet after 24 hours' immer- ôion.

THE EDUCATIONAL VALUE OF FLOWER SHOWS. Ou this subject the Gardeners' Magaziiw remarks :— The value of the poor man's flower show is to him- self great, but to his children greater. The educa. tional system that prevails is altogether too subjective, and there is but little attempted in the way of teaching the young to observe and reason on their observations. The three R's are of primary importance, but they re- quire to be supplemented by systematic teaching in the open air on open air subjects, and we look forward hopefully to a recognition of the necessity by school boards, not only in towns where the field of observa- tion is contracted, but in the country where it is practi- cally unlimited. We are advised by the powers that be to prepare the children everywhere for catching and killing the Colorado beetle, but their imperfect training in the faculty of observing compels us to fear that in their zeal to exterminate the doryphora they may wage war with coccinella, that is to say, the potato beetle being much talked of, but as yet unseen, the lads of the village may find consolation in the wholesale destruction of lady birds, which are among the very best frier ds of man in.the kingdom of insects. The window flower show may be made immensely useful as an aid in the educa- tion of the young, and we once more remind the guardians of the youthful poor that a habit of ob- serving, and a taste for a knowledge of nature's ways and means, are of immense importance in the develop- ment of manliness, and independence, and intelligence, and morality, and usefulness. The book of nature is worthier to be read than a majority of the books in common use, and it is one of our duties to encourage the young, whether of rich or poor, in learning to read it with a view to the acquisition of useful knowledge, and the cherishing of sentiments of reverence and love for the beneficence that warms the world, and renders capable of happiness every living creature.

THE AMERICAN FOOD SUPPLY. During last week the arrivals of live stock at Liver- pool from Americashow an increase over previous weeks, though in fresh meat there was a falling off when com- pared with the former week. The number of live oxen landed last week was 631, and of sheep 333, all of which were in good condition. There were also 16 horses. The fresh meat that came to hand numbered 2,178quar- teis. Ttiegreatincreasewhichhasrecentlytakenplacein the export of live stock, fresh meat, and mutton from the UnitedStates isshown in statistics whichhavejust come to hand. The value of these exports during the first six months of 1876 amounted to 1,755,191 dols. while for the six months just closed the total was 5,58^,675 dols., or an increase during the latter period of 3,830,484. This of itself is sufficient to indicate the thriving nature of this new branch of trade, which has now been placed on a permanent footing, and which is rapidly extend- ing, especially in the importation of live cattle and sheep. The figures above do not represent the value of the meat imported solely into England, though it is considered that very little has been sent to other countries.

THE DISORDERLY ELEMENT" IN AMERICA. he New York ,!imes,.in an rticle on the recent railway strikes in the United States, writ's as follows :— The violence which has accompanied the railroad strikes has been unprecedented in extent, but is by no means inexplicable. The rioting spirit that has pre- vailed is due in the main to two general causes—one, the unhealthy development of trades unionism; the other, the growth of an idle and vicious clats which necessarily goes on, pari passu, with the increase of our population, its concentration in cities of greater or less size, and the segregation of workers in special trades and classes in consequence of the subdivision of labour. The evil side which has been seen in American trade unions for a long time has been deeply regretted by the more intelligent of their members. It has taken form mainly in the abuse of power, in the resort to compulsion where compulsion was neither expedient .nor justifiable. This has been due partly to the want of reflection and sufficient in- formation among the unionists, but chiefly to the reck- less ambition of demagogic leaders. The unions are, on a small scale, democratic societies and they have fallen a prey to the schemers who have always infested such societies. In the majority of cases a deliberate expression of the zandid opinion of the Body of the men interested would have prevented the strikes, or at least prevented lawlessness when the strikes occurred. But there has, nevertheless, been a cer- tain spirit of lawlessness among the body of the trades unions. In the recent strikes there has been a general and prompt readiness on the part of all the class affected to step boldly across the line of right and law, and not only to assert their own resolution not to work, but to prevent others from working, however much they wished to do so. The strikers had not been responsible for all the violence—perhaps for very little of it—but they began it by intimidating the men who took their places, and by stopping trains by main force. There is only a difference in degree between this and firing cars, burning depots, and stoning soldiers and policemen. But the most con- spicuous, if not the most important feature of the riots at Baltimore and Pittsburg, has .been the share taken in them by the thieves, ruffians, and loafers of the respective places. It is not to be denied that these, forming our dangerous class," are every year growing more numerous. The possibility of such a not as took place at Pittsburg in a comparatively small city whllse population is principally industrial, and which forms one of the chief railroad and manu- facturing centres of a powerful State, is certainly a fact to which we cannot give too much atten- tion. What oceurred on Saturday and Sunday at Pittsburg may happen at Buffalo, at Albany, at New York, any large town when the occasion offers. Appa- rently the occasion, in. this case, was not a very threat- ening one, but the events which attended it have shown that there are capacities for disorder in our cities which cannot safely be overlooked. In short, with our growth in wealth and numbers and in indus- trial activity, we are gradually acquiring those elements of vice and lawlessness which we had fondly hoped were confined to the older and less liberal countrie^of Europe. As our people are crowded, they grow restlesfl; the indefinite capacity of expansion upon untried lands is being lost; the struggle for advance- ment begins to change here and there into a struggle for existence, and with these changes come the oppor- tunities and temptations for violence. The situation constantly becomes more complex, and it will yet tax all the moderation, courage, and wisdom of our people to properly meet it.

RUSSIAN ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF PLEVNA. ST. PETEBSBURG, Monday.—The Commander-in-Chief telegraphs that the attack on Plevna, on the 30th ult., cost the Russians more than 5,000 men hors de combat. On the same day General Ghourko defeated a division of Suleiman Pacha's army at Yeni Saghra, and took two guns. On the 31st he beat another division near Eski Saghra, but was afterwards obliged by a superior force to retire to the Balkan passes.

bonbon Carrtsjjmiiifirt. (We deem it right to state that we do not at all timeS UUntify ourselves with our Correspondent's opinions.] In the wars which have devastated Europe during the past twenty years, those who have followed the in- cidents of the various campaigns have been accustomed to quick marches and rapid movements. When the late Emperor Napoleon went to war with Austria in 1859, the battles of Magenta and Solferino followed so lusely upon eaeh other that peace was speedily made between the two Emperors at Villafranca. Again, iu 1866, when Prussia determined to oust Austria from the possession of all influence in German politics, the struggle was over in a incredibly short space of time. In 1870, within six weeks from the declaration of war, the Empire of France had crumbled into dust, and that of Germany arose, Phoenix-like, from its ashes, Nearly four months have now elapsed since the Czar ordered his soldiers to cross the Turkish frontier, and those who were acquainted with the history of previous European conflicts, have been rather disposed to com- plain of the lack of war news which was the characteristic of the first three months. The conditions were not, however, quite the same as those which accompanied the fighting either in Lombardy, Bohemia, or France. Enormous distances had to be traversed in half civi- lized and barbarous lands where there were no road", and then there was the stupendous undertaking of crossing the Danube with a quarter of a million of men, cavalry, infantry, and artillery, with all their military train, baggage, provisions, and ammunition. It was only then that the shock of war was really heard, and the contending armies of the Moslem and the Muscovite converted the fertile plains of Bulgaria into a veritable harvest-field of death. It was Mr. Canning who, with reference to the passing away of eminent men from the great stage of human life, laid down the dictum that we are never missed. Half a century has elapsed since Mr. Canning was gathered to his fathers, for he died jn the year 1827, wearied out with the cares of an harrassing and thankless office, and experience proves that there was a great deal of truth in his words. Occasionally a prominent member of either House of Parliament is called away the leaders on both sides pay a tribute to his memory and then business pro- ceeds as though nothing had happened. No one could fail tc be impressed with the truth of Mr. Canning's observation who noted the incidents which surrounded the death of the late First Lord of the Admiralty. Here was a cabinet Minister with the control of the British Navy, the most powerful arm which we possess and one upon the efficiency of which the wealth, the honour, and the safety of the kingdom depend. Apparently in the enjoyment of perfect health up to a very recent period, he is attacked by a disease that many a man of older years shakes off. He goes to Homburg, grows worse, is removed from the scene of his labours, and within a few hours is buried in a foreign land. But the movements and the wants of the British Navy must still be attended to the ships act either as watchful sentinels in the Channel, or protect our interests over the great area of the Mediterranean, or lock out for slavers on the coast of Africa; whilst in the dockyards and arsenals at home there is no suspension of the clang of hammers, the casting of guns, or the forging of mighty masses of armour-plating for the navy of the future. Time does not stand still for & single second, and the vast universe continues its pro- gress, no matter who may have been removed from amongst its living occupants. The same lesson is taught in the House of Commons, where the form of the vanished one was so familiar. The chiefs of the Opposition and of the Ministry say a few kindly words the clerk next reads the order of the day, and then all is over. Within a few minutes the assembly is again engaged in one of those heated wrangles which have made the closing weeks of the present session so notorious. The departed are forgotten it is with the living that men have to deal. The middle of August finds the metropolis being rapidly denuded -of a considerable proportion of its population. It is then that the great railway termini, whose arms branch out from London in every direction, tell a tale which points to the destinations of the various bands of tourists. King's Cross is suggestive of the lakes of Cumberland, and of Scotland, with its wild scenery, its bracing air, and the thunders of those Atlantic surges which rush so wildly in amongst the Orkney and Shetland islands, and send an eternal "ea-spray over the far-off Hebrides. Or take the extremity of the tourist district served from the Great Westr ^tiihuus at Paddington. Th; .t cor- A "f'- ilea of the-I th- :t ihe rockb j water. Go to fhe "LotiLr.ui .lortn-western terminus at Eustoa- square, and there will he numbers setting out for the Emerald Isle, mapping out for themselves routes from Belfast to Cork, or from the Giant's Causeway to Cape Clear. The ;SGT:sli-Ea^tern r.nd the Chatham and Dover convey their passengers across the Channel to various points of interest on the Continent, to the battle-fields of France, to the mountains and the lakes of Switzerland, the romantic scenery of the Rhine, the heaven-pointed arches of the Cathedral at Cologne, and the soft beauty of the fair Italian plains. It is doubtful, however, whether the attrac- tions of the Great-Eastern, the South-Western, and the Midland systems do not compete successfully with their foreign rivals. They deal with the advantages presented in our own isle, and manifold enough they are to those who can appreciate the varied charms which they possess. Marvels of physical endurance have been very numerous of late, and when the House of Commons lat until a quarter past seven in the morning, some weeks ago, it was felt that a sitting of fifteen hours and a half was one which could not be surpassed. It f, was an occurrence that had not taken place for nearly half a century, and for the credit of the traditions surrounding the work of our Parliamentary institu- tions, it was hoped that such an event would not take place again. The continuous sitting of twenty-six hours and a half will, however, never be forgotten by those who took part in it. The day faded into twi- light, the twilight deepened into night, the dawn found its way through the windows, then the sunlight streamed in, the busy millions of London were once more in the full tide of their daily duties, the roar of traffic ascended high in air from crowded thoroughfares and from stately bridges, Big Ben sent forth the hours one after another over the metropolis, twice round the clock was reached since the time, twenty-four hours before, when the wearied Speaker took the chair, and still the strife went on. Twenty- five, twenty-six—was there to be any limit to this un- paralleled feat, undertaken, not after a holiday, when members were fresh and vigorous, but at the fag-end of a wearisome Session, when long hours had already begun to tell upon the system ? At length the end was reached, twenty-six hours and a half, and as the jaded members issued forth from the heated atmo- sphere of the chamber just as a quarter past six was being sent forth from the lofty tower above them, the reflection could not have been altogether absent, that man, after all, is but flesh and blood, and not a com- pound of clockwork and steam. Misfortunes seem to crowd thick and fast upon the people of India. True, there has not been so many wars of late years as there were formerly; but the visitations of Nature ht) e come in terrible succession. The unhappy inhabitants had barely recovered from the famine of three or four years ago, when that awful cyclone of last October burst upon the land, and carried off a quarter of a million of lives. The cyclone is succeeded by a failure of rainfall in the southern part of the dependency, and so the authorities have to prepare for another famine. All over Southern India, taken as a whole there will be a defective harvest. there will probably be a scarcity in the north-west, and there can bs little doubt that the remainder of the empire will have no extraordinary abundance of -upplies from which to provide for the wants of the famine-stricken territories. The most painful con- sideration is that these visitations are recurring with an alarming frequency. With the Orissa disaster in 18b2 we apparently entered upon a cycle of years of scarcity, which may last for a decade or two. It is one calamity upon another which descends on an un- offending people. Those upon whom the Tower of Siloom fell were no worse than their neighbours the Indian Government accept these evils as facts of Nature, and, accordingly, provide for them, financially or otherwise. About this time of the year the condition of the crops is looked upon with anxiety by agriculturists, and is regarded with interest by a large proportion of the general public. The question is asked whether there will be an abundant yield of wheat, or whether our imports will be greatly in excess of the average quantity, in consequence of unpropitious weather, As showing how sunshine is the market, and what distant influences may affect the prices in this country, it may be stated that a marked increase in the value of wheat in England was coincident with the outbreak of the Kusao-Turkiah war and that in the quarter end- ing on the 30th of Juno last, more money was made of wheat than at any time since the beginning of 1874. Themaau wholesale prices of bee f and of mutton a vera^ed 6M. and 7d. per 1;). the former was a slight increase upon the two previous quarters, whereas the rates for mutton showed a further decline. During the same period the average prices per ton of the best sea-borne coal in the London market was 18s. Id., a lower rate than has prevailed since the summer of 1871. For this there haa been more than one cause. The primary one is of course the less active condition of our industry, but it must also be borne in mind that last winter was an exceptionally mild one, and that nothing like so much coal was required upon the domestic hearth as would have been the case had the winter been one of great severity. This, in the millions of homes through- out the United Kingdom, had a very appreciable effect upon the stocka of coal laid in for consumption, and which were not diminished to that extent which would be likely to tell upon the quotations in the coal- market. The student who comes to London for a spell of real hard work, and betakes himself to the British Museum library, ftnds there one of the most complete collec- tions of books which can be looked upon in the world. It is a great circular apartment in the heart of the building, lighted from the roof, and the tens of thousands of volumes are ranged in tier after tier, all round the capacious room. You go to the cata- logue, ascertain the official number of the book you want, make out a form supplying also the number of the desk to which you desire the volume may be brought to you, hand in the form at the proper place in the centre of the building, and in a few minutes a courteous attendant brings you whait you have asked for. When you have done with it, you take it back, and your form of application is returned, this being a sort of receipt that you have fulfilled the regulations. As long as the Museum authorities retain your appli- cation, they hold you responsible for the book which they have lent you, so that if a gentleman, when he has done with a book, walks off and leaves it upon his desk, he is very likely to hear of it, and is reminded that the trustees will hold him answerable for it un- less he has redeemed his voucher. It is clear that un- less there were some such strict regulations of this kind, that immense national library, of which we are all so proud, could never be kept together. Supported at the cost of the State, it is accessible to any one who can be recommended by two householders but all who avail themselves of its very considerable advantages must rigidly conform to the regulations. Pens and ink are provided, and you may copy what you please, but any mutilations are rightly visited with the most severe punishment. A great deal is sometimes said of the way in which the London city guilds perform their duties. There is an immense number of them, from the Goldsmiths to the Watermen; and although they are not now called upon to act as guardians of the interests of any particular handicraft, as they were when first called into existence, many of the companies have still im- portant functions to discharge. Take, for instance, two-the Fishmongers and the Goldsmiths. Fish- monger's Hall is a fine building which overlooks the Thames at the north-west corner of London Bridge, and the officers of the guild are very energetic, more especially in the summer, in ferreting out and causing to be destroyed all the unwholesome fish which is brought to Billingsgate market for sale, whether by rail or river. Here there is a very considerable service rendered to the community. The Goldsmiths do another class of work, and do it well. They take care that if people pay for a good article of their art, such an article, and not a spurious one, is supplied to them. Their stamp, which is so well-known, is, therefore, upon all articles of gold manufacture which is offered for sale, whether the quality be fifteen, eighteen, or twenty-two carat. Any attempt to forge the hall-mark, and by stamping it on spurious metal, to defraud the public, is followed by a prosecution by the Goldsmiths' Company. Thus do the Fishmongers look after one of life's necessaries, and the Goldsmiths one of its ornaments. Of late, some of the guilds have come out nobly in their assistance to what is known as technical education, that is to say, the imparting to our mechanics a scientific knowledge of the business by which they make their livelihood. The German, the Swiss, and the Belgian, have long been held up as in this respect presenting examples worthy of being followed; and there can be no question that, as a general rule, the more a man knows the more he can earn. The naturally intelligent man stands a far better chance in the race of life than one who is naturally ignorant, and if the former can, by the aid of education, have his intelligence expanded, so much the better for him. The city companies have seen the importance of this they 'mow that if English workmanship in all branches, mental and manual, is to hold its own in the markets of the world against the rivals who are pressing in upon every hand, it can be done only by learning and by application, so as to enable the mechanic and the artisan to make the most of the intellect with which he has been endowed, and to bring rtrtificialmeans to bear upon the development of that natural ability which is given to a man, not that I he may go through the world like a drone in the great human hive, Lut by his,exertion* endeavour to leave ^tfce universe wiser, if not better.^than he found it. j

r WAR NEWS. THE BATTLE OF PLEVNA. The Daily Xfirx gives the following account, from Us Cor- respondent with the ri.-feafe.i Russian army, of ihe great cattle at Pievii.i. lie lj The night between the 30th and 31st was very wet, and troops did not begin to march forward before six instead of four. The number of infantry combatants was actually about 32,000, with 160 field cannon and three brigades of cavalry. Baron Krudener. was on the right with the whole of the 31st Division in his fighting line, and three regiments of the 5th Division in reserve at Karajac Dugarsky. He was to attack in two columns, a brigade in each. On the left was Schackoskoy with a brigade of the 32nd Division and a brigade of the 30th Division in fighting line. Another brigade of the 30th Division was in reserve at Pelisat. The Turkish position was convex, somewhat in horseshoe shape, but more pointed. Baron Krudener was to attack the Turkish left flank from Crivica toward the river Vid. Schackoskoy was to assail their right from Radisovo, also toward the river Vid. On the left flank of the attack stood Skobeloff, with a brigade of Cossacks, a battalion of infantry, and a battery, to cope with the Turkish troops on the line from Plevna to Lovka, and hindering them from inter- fering with the development of Schackoskoy's attack. On the right flank stood Lascaroff, with two cavalry regiments to guard Krudener from a counter attack. The morning was gloomy, which the Russians re- garded as a favourable omen. The troops cheered vigorously as they passed the geneial. Physically there are no finer men in the world. In the pink of hard condition, and marching without packs, carrying only great coat, haversack with rations, and ammunition, they seemed fit to go anywhere and do anything. Schackoskoy's right column marchedover Pelisat and Sgalievica. The left column headed straight for Radisovo. The artillerv trashed forward from the first, and worked independently. Marching forward, we found the cavalry foreposts on the sky line above Pelisat, and on the sloping downs the infantry deployed as they advanced, as the Russian practice is, on open ground. The formation was in column of double companies with rifle company in front of each battalion! Krudener, on the right, opened the actioQ half- past nine, bringing a battery into fire from the rid^e on. the Turkish earthwork above the village. At first it seemed as if the Turks were surprised. It was some time ere they replied, but then they did so vigorously and gave quite as good as they got from Krudener' The objective of Prince Schackoskoy, with whom I rode, was in the first instance Radisovo, and it be- hoved us, therefore, to bear away to the left. The village of Radisovo lies in a deep valley behind the southern wave or ridge of the Turkish position, and there is another ridge behind this valley. On that ridge our cannon, placed by Colonel Bischofsky, chief of Prince Schackoskoy's staff, were firing in line on the Turkish guns on the ridge beyond the valley with fine effect. The in- fantry went down into the valley under this covering tire, and I accompanied the column. We carried Radisovo with a trivial skirmish, for in the village there were only a handful of Bashi-Bazouks, who, standing their ground were promptly bayonetted. The infantry remained under cover of the village. I returned up the slope to our batteries. These, firing with great rapidity and accuracy, soon compelled the Turkish cannon to quit the opposite height. During the last spurt of their firing Prince Schackoskoy rode along the rear of our batteries from the right to the left, under a fire which killed two horses in our little group. Our cannon playing on the Turkish guns on the opposite ridge quelled their fire after about half an hour's cannonade, and it was then for our batteries to cross the valley passing through Radisovo and come into action in the position vacated by the Turkish guns and following them our infantry also descended into the hollow, and lay down in the glades about the village and on the steep slope behind our guns in action. The second period of the battle commenced at half-past two Two brigades of infantry were in the Radisovo valley^ behind the guns of General Tcherkoff s brigade —the 32nd Division on the right, the 1st Brigade of the 30th Division on the left. The leading battalions were ordered to rise up and advance over the ridge to attack. The order was hailed with glad clie. rs, for the infantry-men had been chafing at their inaction, and the battalions, with a swift, swinging- step, streamed forward through the glen and up the steep slope behind, marching in company columns, the rifle companies leading. The artillery had heralded this movement with increased rapidity of fire, which was m runt lined to cover and aid the infantrymen when the latter had crossed the crest and were descend- ing the slope and crossing the intervening valley to the assault of the Turkish position. Just before reaching the crest the battalion deployed into line at the double, and crossed it in this formation, breaking to pass through the intervals between the guns. Presently all along the face of the advancing in- fantrymen burst fort daring vollevs of musketry fire. The jagged line springs onward through the maize fields, gradually assuming a concave shape. The Turkish position is neared. The roll of rifle fire is incessant, yet Geminated by the fiercer and louder turmoil of the artillery above. The ammunition wag- gons gallop up to the cannon with fresh fuel f"r the tire. The gurs redouble the energy of their firing. Tho craok'o of the musketry fire rises into a sh?rp peal. The clamour of the hurrahs of the fight- ing men comes back to us on the breese, making the blood tingle with the excitement of the fray. A. village is bbzing on the left. The fell fury of the battle has entered on its maddest paroxysm. The supports that had remained behind lying just under the crest of the slope are pushed forward over the brow of the hill. The wounded begin to trickle back over the ridge. We can see the dead and the more severely wounded lying where they fall on the stub- >les and amid the maize. The living wave of fighting men is pouring over them ever on and on. The gal- lant gunners to the right and to the left of us stand to their work with a will. On the shell-swept ridge the Turkish cannon fire begins to waver. In that earthwork over against us more supports stream down with a louder cheer into the Russian fighting line. Suddenly the disconneeted men are together. We can discern the officers signalling for the concentration by the waving of their swords. The distance is about a hundred yards. There is a wild rush, headed by the colonel of one of the regiments of the 32nd division. The Turks in the shelter trench hold their ground, and fire steadily, and with terrible effect, into the advancing forces. The colonel's horse goes down, but the colonel is on his feet in a second, and waving his sword, leads his men forward on foot. But only for a few paces. He staggers and falls. I heard after- wards he was killed. We can hear the sound of wrath, half howl, half yell, with which his men, bayonets at the charge, rush to avenge him. They are over the parapet and shelter trench, and in among the Turks like an alavanche. Not many Turks get a chance to run away from the gleaming bayonets, swayed by muscular Russian arms. The outer edge of the first position is won. This time the Turks did not wait for the bayonet points, but with one final volley abandoned the work, We watched their huddled mass in the gardens and vineyard behind the position, cramming the narrow track between the trees to gain the shelter of their batteries in the rear of the second position. So fell the first position of the Turks. Krudener was clearly jammed. The Turks were fighting furiously, and were in unexpected force on that broad central ridge of theirs as well as against Krudentr. The first posi- tion in natural, as in artificial strength, was child's play to the grim starkness of the second on that isolated namelon there with the batteries on the swell behind it. But Schakoskoy determined to go for it, and his troops were not the men to baulk him. The first rush, however, was out of them. Many must have been blown. They hung a good deal in the advance, exposing themselves recklessly, and falling fast, but not progressing with much speed. It is a dangerous time when troops sullenly stand still and doggedly fire when the stationary fit is on them. Schakoskoy kept his finger well on the throbbing pulse of the battle. Just in the nick of time half his reserve brigades were thrown into the fight while the other half took part in the attack on our left flank. The new blood tells at once. There is a move forward, and no more standing and craning over the fence. The Turks in the flank earthwork are rein- forced. I can see some Russian officers on horseback standing coolly behind the bank of the vineyard that serves as a parapet observing the addition to the Turkish force. They ride off, and speedily return. I can hardly say how it all happens, but all of a sudden the white smoke spurts forth and swarms of dark clothed men are scrambling on. There is evidently a short but sharp struggle. Then one sees a swarm of men flying acros the green of the vineyard. But they don't go far, and prowl around the western and northern faces of the work rendering its occupation very precarious. The Turkish cannon from behind drops shells into it with singular precision. As a matter of fact, the Russians occupied this, the second position of the Turks, but never held it. It was all but empty for a long time, and continuous fighting took place about its flanks. About six the Turks pressed forward a heavy mass of infantry for its recapture. Schackoskoy took a bold step, sending two batteries down into the first position he had taken to keep them in check. But the Turks were not to be denied, and in spite of the most determined fighting of the Russians, had reoccupied their second position before seven. The 1st Brigade of the 35th Division had early inclined to the left, where the towers and houses of Plevna were visible. It was rash, for the brigade was exposing *1? flank to the Turkish cannon astride of the ridge, but the goal of Plevna was a keen temptation. There was no thoroughfare however. They would not give up, and they could not succeed. They charged again and again, and when they could charge no more from sheer fatigue they stood and died, for they would not retire. The reserves came up, but only to swell the slaughter. And then the ammunition failed, for the carts had been left far behind, and all hope failed the most sanguine. Two companies of Russian infantry did indeed work round the right flank of the Turkish works and dod,re into the town of Plevna, but it was like entering the mouth of hell. On the heights all round the cannon smoke spurted out, and the vineyard in the rear of the town was alive with Turks. They left after a very short visit, and now all hope of success anywhere was dead, nor did a chance offer to make the be-t of defeat. Schackoskoy had not a man left to cover the retreat. The Turks struck without stint. They had the upper hand for once, and were determined to show that they knew how to make the most it. They advanced in swarms through the dusk on their original first position and captured three Russian cannons before the batteries could be withdrawn. The Turkish shells began once more to whistle over the ridge above Radishovo and fall into the village behind, now crammed with wounded. The streams of wounded wending their painful way over the ridge were incessant. The badly wounded mostly lay where they fell. Later in the darkness a baleful sort of Krankentraeger swarmed over the battlefield in the shape of Bashi-Bazouks, who spared not. n Lingering there on the ridge till the moon rose, the staff could hear from down below on the still night air the cries of pain, the entreaties for mercy, and the yells of bloodthirsty fanatical triumph. It was indeed an hour to wring the sternest heart. We stayed there to learn, if it might be, what troops were corning out of the 4'alley of the Shadow of Death below. Were there, ir^fteed, any at xii to come T It did-not seelu to We ~tlrtr xrao^. The 'i'urka had ourkj range before dark, and we cspuld watch the fladi of flame over against us and then listen to the scream of the shell as it tore by us. The sound of rifle bullets was incenaant, and the escort and the retreating wounded were struck. A detachment at length began to come straggling up, but it will give an idea of the disorganisation to say that when a company was told off to cove:' somewhat the wounded in Jiadishoro, it had to be made up of the men of several regiments." The battle was now over, and the Russians defeat com- plete. The correspondent adds :— About nine o'clock the staff quitted the ridge, leaving it littered with groaning men, and moving gently lest we should tread on the prostrate wounded. We lost our way as we had lost our army. We could find no rest for the soles of our feet by reason of the alarms of the Baslii-Bazouks swarming in among the scattered and retiring Russians. At length, at one in the morn- ing, having been in the saddle since six on the previous morning, we turned into a stubble field, and, making beds of the reaped grain, correspondent and Cossack alike rested under the stars. But we are Dot even then allowed to rest. Before four an alarm came that the Bashi-Bazouks were upon us, and we had to rouse and tramp away. The only protection of the chief of what in the morning was a fine army was now a handful of wearied Cossacks. About the Bashi-Bazouks there is worse to tell. At night they worked round into Radishovo, and, falling upon the wounded there butchered them without mercy. Krudener sent word in the morning that he had lost severely, and could make no headway, and had re- solved to fall back on the line of the river Osma, which falls into the Danube near Nikopoli. There had been a talk his tr >ops being fresh, of renewing the attack to-day (31st) with his co-operation, but it is a plain statement of fact that we have no troops to attack with. The most moderate estimate is that we have lost two regiments, say 5,000 men out of our three bri- gades, a ghastly number, beating Eylau or Friedland, This takes no account of Krude ner' losses. Wetooretire on the Osman river, above Bulgareni, and to the best of our weak strength, cover the bridge at Sistova. One cannot at this moment of hurried confusion realise all the possible results of this stroke, so rashly courted. Not a Russian soldier stands between Tirnova and the victorious Turkish army in Loveca and Plevna. Only a weak division of the 11th Corps stands between Tirnova and the Shumla army. I look on Shackoskoy's force as wrecked as no longer for this campaign to be counted for a fighting integer. It is not ten days since the 30th Division crossed the Danube in the pride of superb condition. Now what of it is left is demoralised and shattered. So on this side of the Balkans there remains but the 9th Corps, already roughly handled, one at Nikopoli and Plevna; one division of the 11th Corps, and the Rustchuk army. Now, if the Rustchuk army is marched to the west against Plevna, then the Turkish army of Rust- chuk is let loose on the Russian communications to Tirnova. One cannot avoid the conclusion that the advance over the Balkans is seriously compromised. The .Russian strait is so bad that the scatterec1. detach- ments have been cal.'ed up from out Roumania, and a Roumanian division, commanded by General Mann, whiccTcrossed a day or two ago at Nikopoli, has been called up on the line of the Osma river. An aide-de- camp of the Grand Duke Nicholas was present at the battle, and at once started for Tirnova with the evil tidings. We are just quitting this bivouac and falling back on Bulgaria with all speed, leaving the Bulgarian villages to the tender mercies of the Ti.-ks. As I close I learn that on our left General Skobeloff was very severely handled, having lost 300 men out of his single infantry battalion."

At a meeting of Poles held in Lemberg, a resolution was passed warning the Sclavonians in Turkey against placing any faith in Russian pornises, as Russia only intended to pre- pare for them the same misery as Poland exhibits. The atrocities of Russia in Turkey will be like what they have been in Poland for a hundred years. Thanks for the resent Turkish victories have been offered up in the mosques at Calcutta. The steamer Belle, oM^unkerque, sent by the Red Cross Society for the aid of the Ottoman sick and wounded, arrived on Friday at Batoum from Soukum Kaleh, and immediately left for Constantinople, carrying 70 wounded men. The Pera correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that despatches have been received at Constantinople from Eski Saghra, giving details of a series of horrible massacres per- petrated by the Russians, who, during their occupation of the latter place for eleven days, each day delibprately murdered one hundred of the defenceless population. Besides this, every woman and grown girl of the Mussulman faith was outraged with unspeakable brutality. Hobart Pasha has completely destroyed the Russian fort at Tchamchira. He has also succeeded in embarking 6,000 Turkish troops who were in considerable danger from the advance of the Russians; these he disembarked the follow- ing day at Soukum Kaleh. A large number of Circassian families were then taken on board the Turkish fleet to pre- serve them from the retribution which it is expected the Russians will inflict when the war is over. By an Imperial ukase issued at St. Petersburg on Saturday last 188,000 of the Lnndwebr of the first class are called out. It was signed by the Er.iperor at F.iola, and dated July 22, Its proclamation is stated to have been received with general enthusiasm. Pourparlers have taken place between Russia and Austria, with the object of inducing the latter Power to consent to allow the passage of Russian reinforcements through Servia To such a course Austria,' our correspondent states, is couuselled by OtmiPny to accede. According to intelligence received at Bucharest from Tirnova, General Gourko has made a report, in which it is stated that before evacuating several towns and villages the Turks massacred the Christian inhabitants, and even buried lIome of them alive Formal denial, according to a telegram from Constanti- nople, has been given by Mr. Layard to a report which had gained circulation, of his having made a fresh request for the English Fleet to enter the Bosphorus. A report has been telegraphed from Bucharest to Vienna, on the testimony, it is said, of four officers who, arrived at the former place from Biela on Sunday that Mehemet All and Osman Pacha had effected the junction of their forces at Tirnova after a terrible battle, in which the Russians are said to have lost 15,000 men dead and wounded. No con- firmation of this report has been received from any other source Civil war is saidto have broken out between the Bulgarians and Turks south of the Balkans, and the whole country, Turkish and Bulgarian alike, is being devastated and burnt by flying bauds of Bulgarians and Circassians. The Emperor William is, according to a Berlin telegram, much erieved at the Czar's misfortunes, and is said to have earnestly endeavoured to persuade Austria to observe the strictest neutrality. The Special Correspondent of the Daily Telegraph at Adrianople, saysTerrible scenes are being witnessed here. Thousands of refugees are arriving in the most desti- tute condition. The Christian women declare that the Turks protected them against the Circassians, and admit that the Cossacks and Bulgarians have killed large numbers of Turkish women and children, confirming the reports re- ceived of the Russian atrocities. The poor people tell fear- ful stories of the cruelties committed on the Ottoman Jewish women by the Russians."

COST OF CLOSING THE DANUBE. The Journal du Ham-e, comparing the losses en- tailed upon the several nations of Europe by the closing of the navigation of t'1e Danube, gives the following statistics of the trade on that river during 1870. During the twelve months which ended with the last day of last year, 1,943 vessels, of an aggregate tonnage of 748,095 ton?, passed Sulina. Of these, 547 vessels, of a total burden of 452,414 tons, were English 566 vessels, of 107,216 tonnage, were Greek 114 vessels, of 48,957 tonnage, were Austrian; 92 vessels, of 36,546 tonnage, were Italian 43 vessels, of 32,318 tonnage, were French; 9 vessels, of 9,333 tonnage, were Danish 50 vessels, of 6,048 tonnage, were Russian; 6 vessels, of 4,066 tonnage, were Norwegian 5 vessels, of 3,905 tonnage, were Germnn 26 ves-els, of 3,269 tonnage, were Rou- manian 3 vessels, of 2,964 tonnage, were Belgian 4 vessels of 2,599 tonnage were Dutch 1 vessel, of 215 tons, was Swedish and a vessels, of 215 tonnage, belonged to Samos. Forty thousand sailing vessels and 4,000 steamers were also employed in the Levant trade, which is naturally also greatly affected by the present war; while during 1876 vessels of an aggre- gate burden of 1,700,000 tons sailed out of the Black Sea, and of a total of 1,800,000 tons from the Sea of Marmora.

STRIKE OF AMERICAN COLLIERS. A Times' telegram from Philadelphia, Aug. 6, says — The Colliers' strike continues throughout Lazerne county, and troops garrison all points, maintaining peace. In Hazelton Region the colliers have determined not to strike, ana a similar resolution was formed by the miners of the Mahoney Region. There is no probability now of a strike in the Schuylkill County, the colliers there all working, except at Shenandoah, where the opposition move- ment is collapsing. The Reading Railroad has all its collieries working, with no interference in the output or transportation. During July 592,178 tons were despatched. The Pittsburg. Committee of Safety has asked the President to maintain there a strong and permanent garrison of Federal troops. The Lehigh Valley and New Jersey Central Rail- ways have resumed traffic. The President intends devoting a considerable portion of his Message to Congress at the opening of the October Session to the Labour Question. He will probably recommend a Commission to investigate the causes of the late troubles and of the depression of trade."

If the following statement be true, peacocks are likely to be in request in the event of the Colorado beetle obtaining a settlement here. The. Sussex Daily News says "A farmer in Ohio, whose neighbours' crops were utterly destroyed by the beetle, saved his by simply turning out two peacocks into his rden. Wh61'C they devoured eyt. heetle L before t.{1e insepts hfi'i time to) ""=n,on" I I had "a" pair ot peafowls in my garden once, nd they oceu- pied greater part of their time in looking in at the French windows to see what we were doing indoors. They varkd this occupation by picking off the leaves of crOCU8es and other bright-coloured flowers, and for this reason I got rid 01 the pretty, graceful creatures. If 1 had had the Colorado beetle in my potato ground I might have kept them -Mark-Lavs Express.

The following extract froll1 a letter received frum :lIc8srs. Bliss and Sons, a firm of American potato exporters, is pub- lished by the Gardeners' Chronicle:—"We see by the papers that the Colorado beetle has made its appearance in Ena- land. Your people need not be frightened—a few doses of Paris green' will fix them. It was feared a month ago that the crop would be destroyed with us, but they were soon disposed of, and the potato crop never Jooked better than it now does. From present appearances there will be an abundant crop this season."

PRANCO-GERMAN ATROCITIES. The Echo of Japan recounts the sad history of a murderous encounter which occurred very lately in the Imperial Islands of the far East. It appears that a French war ship and a German frigate, the Atalante and the Elizabeth, were both anchored off the town of Talcashimatcho, and that some sailors from each vessel happened to be ashore on the same day, the 10th of June, which was a Sunday. The national animosity very soon showed itself, and led to a preliminary brawl, in which the Germans being, contrary to their practice in the late war, outnum- bered, retired unscathed, if not absolutely in good order, to their ship. After a few days' rest, how- ever, they procured formidable reinforcements and returned to the cene of combat with a renewed vigour worthy of Achilles and Myrmidones. At this time there were not above thirty of the French sailors ashore, of whom the greater part was com- posed, like the army of Mic-Mac-Mathuselha, of pipers, or, at least, musicians of some- sort. The latter was seated at table in an enter- tainiment delighting the ears of a Japanese audience with their sweet and unaccustomed strains. Upon them thus pleasantly engaged, and their unsuspecting compatriots, the German corps, at least fifty strong, made a violent and unprovoked assault. Sticks, stones, and knives, and even wine bottles were used in the melee, two of the bands- men were severely wounded, one sailor was stretched insensible on the ground by three or four blows with a knife, and an unlucky quartermaster who had fled unwittingly up a passage into a cul-de-sac was stabbed to the heart and taken up dead. Several others were more or less severely injured, and the rest escaped to the boats. The journal qualifies the action of the German party as a wanton and odious outrage, and takes pains to aver that all the wounds of the injured men were received by them from behind as they en- deavoured to escape. The fact, if true, is certainly worth stating, and absolves the Frenchmen from the first suspicion of being the aggressors. But this is probably the first time in history that a French writer has ever been found claiming on behalf of his country- men that they were wounded in the back and not in the front.— Globe.

ROMANCE AT THE DIAMOND FIELDS. The correspondent of Galignani's Messenger, writing from Kimberle" on the 30th June, says :— The diamond fields proper, which include four miuesviz., Kimberley (commonly called New Rush), Old De Beers, Du Toit's Pan, and Bultfontein—are now all extensively worked. In Bulfontein Mine, the largest of the four, 1,050 claims are at present being worked. A claim measures 30ft. square. Du Toit's Pan Mine, close adjacent, is the oldest, and noted for large diamonds. I saw one the other day weighing upwards of 70 carats,Jound in Scholtz's Gully. Enormous sums of money have been expended by many capitalists in clearing away the dibris left on claims by the thousands of dry sorters who worked here during 1870-3, and now the ground, when worked on a large scale, is highly remunerative. The largest machinery yet put up on the Diamond Fields is that of Messrs. Webb, of the South African Exploration Company, who are the proprietors of the land on which is situate the mine. By the aid of this m ichinery it is calculated that not less than 600 cartloads of enrth can be washed per day, for which purpose a very large staff of white men and Kafirs are engaged. The Diamond Fields, perhaps, present in a small compass the most hetrogenous collection of men and women of different nationalities in the world -including Chinese, Japanese, Maroons, Bushmen, and Koramas, Kafirs from all parts of Africa, Per- sians, Bengalese. and a large contingent of German, Polish, Russian, and other Jews—in fact there is scarcely a nation unrepresented here. The South African Diamond Fields are at the present time at least tolerably healthy places to live iu. The Good Templars have several strongholds here, and a famous lady champion of temperance in the person of Miss Schreiener, who lectures and preaches to large congrega- tions with marvellous ability. This lady is the pos- sessor of one of the largest, if not the largest, diamond ever found here. I believe it weighs 288 carats. It was found in her own claims, under such peculiar cir- cumstances that it is called the 'Faith Diamond,' for it is said that one of her brothers would not become a Good Templar on any consideration, unless he found a 'rare big stone.' Miss Schreiner finding all ordinary means of converting Lim to Good 'templar's principles in vain, at last prayed that he might find a large diamond. Soon the monster gim was unearthed, and the brother, who was a part- ner in the claim property, was as good as his word, and became, is still, a consistent Uood Templar. £200()() W;1S offered for the diamond by local mer- chants but that sum is nothing approaching to the actual value of the Faith Diamond. It seems to have a romantic interest connected with it., independently of its great intrinsic value."

A PAINFUL MEETING. The Special Correspondent of The Times, who has been on a visit to Nikopol, gives the following incident *— We crossed the Danube in a boat with a Roumanian officer of Gendarmes, who had with him the father and mother of a lad of 16, who had been carried off by the Turks durinar a cattle raid on the Roumanian side of the Danube. Upon landing at Nikopol we found the ruins still smoking of the warehouse burnt by the Turks the night before, and squatted along the shore were about 2,000 Turkish prisoners waiting for boats to carry them over the river. They were ragged fellows, and looked lean enough, but appeared contented, as the Russians had given them tobacco, and they were smoking away as unconcernedly as though the Giaours had not secured them in an iron grasp. The Russians guarding the prisoners appeared to look up in them as a species o rash scarcely worthy of their attention, or even hatred, and never vouch- safed them J* word or look of interest. I was struck ~5y rh!?< ytrocjJfevritJ.- in »»»Uy_hi»r! more the air ot shepherds looking after cattle, than armed men guarding deadly enemies with whom they had so recently been in conflict. Leaving the shore we began ascending the steep sides of the hills over a wretched road covered with loose stones. We had scarcely commenced the tedious ascent when the lad whom his parents were seeking came down the hill. I shall never forget that meeting. The mother rushed to her son and covered his face with kisses. The lad hung back crying bitterly, while the father turned his head and never spoke to him. I could not comprehend the lad's demeanour, nor the father's averted face and gloomy countenance, as well as the mixed expression of joy and grief on the mother's face, until I asked the explanation from the Roumanian officer. He has been tortured," was the reply. The details cannot be written here.. The boy was a hand- some, frank-looking youth, but the expression on the faces of the trio as they walked away was one of un- utterable wretchedness.

A HINDOO PHILANTHROPIST. On Wednesday last (July 11), at Poona (says the Bombay Gazette), Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy, the well- well-known Parsee baronet died from dropsy. Mr. Maneckjee, his eldest son, will succeed to the baronetage. By Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy's death the Parsee community have lost their foremost man in rank, and one of their best men in character and disposition. His name was familiar throughout England as well as India, both in connec- tion with great acts of charity, and his leadership of the enterprising race to which he belonged. Sir Jamsetjee was always gentle and obliging, and his generous hospitality and charity would have found no bounds if his purse had had no limits. Beloved by Europeans as well as natives, the Parsee baronet was a favourite everywhere. He was never weary of arbitrating differences of opinion. His services as a mediator in many bitter questions have been frequently accepted by Government. We have heard him described over and over again, as a "thorough English gentleman," and cer- tainly Sir Jamsetjee possessed these instinctive graces of manner and disposition which made him beloved and respected everywhere. His loss is not for one section of the community to regret, but for all. It will be difficult to fill his place in the Parsee com- munity, and still more so for Europeans to find a native whose sympathies were so entirely in accord with their own as Sir Jamsetjee's always were.

AMERICAN HUMOUR. A believer in cremation drops into poatry in the following fiery manuer :— Don't put me in the river-bank, Among the fragrant flowers, Iv or where the grass is watered by The early summer showers. But put me in the kitchen range, And open ",1de the damper, And then my vaporou remains Can up the chimney vamper." An old soldier passed the Treasury Department in Washington the other day, and said mildly There's millions in it!"—and immediately added, reflectively, "There's millions after it." Some ingenious Yank has invented a process by wInch maple sugar can be made out of common New Orleans molasses, flavouring it by steaming maple wood The next thing we are looking for from that land of prolific ideas is a process" here by they will make honey from cod liver oil, flavouring it with bee3-wax. "But I pass," said a minister one Sunday, in dis- missing one theme of his subject to take up another. Then I make it spades yelled out a man from the gallery, who was dreaming the happy hours away in an imaginary g-ime of euchre. It is needless to say that he went out on the next deal, being assisted by one of the deacons with a full hand.-Boston Ne ws. Whatever may be said of women's right to vote and legislate, their right to bare arms is pronounced to be un- questionable. A New York paper brags about a patent umbrella in use over there, which can be converted into a camp-stool whenever the owner desires to use it in that manner. When the weather is clear the owner can carry it iu his pocket, but if a storm comes up he touches a spring and turns the umbrella into a house tent! A lady of 585 lbs., and 7ft. 7in. high—Mrs. Benton —has recently died in Wisconsin. How is this for tall ?" A Californian, whose wedding day was fixed, did not appear at the appointed time and place, but sent a note to the clergyman, saying that he had just received a letter from his wife in New York, and thereby had his mind re- called to the fact that he was married several years before-a circumstance which had entirely escaped his memory. The following is a San Francisco paper's obituary style :—" These deaths now and then occurring, remind us that we are mortal, aud are a monition that when that sum- mons comes to join the innumerable caravan that moves to those mysterious realms where each shall take his place in the silent halls of death, we go, not as the quarry slave at night, scourged to his dungeon, but sustained and soothed by an unfaltering trust; we go like one who wraps the drapery of his couch about him, and lies down to pleasant dreams."

IlltsccUaircous |ntclligeiuc. HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL. A CONCLUSION BY THE SULTAN.—The following authenticated anecdote may be appreciated by men of the most opposite ways of thinking on the Eastern Question. The Sultan taking a walk in the streets of Constantinople, met some Swiss street-hawkers, whose blue blouses seemed a strange apparel to the Sultan. What kind of people are these ?" asked the Sultan. "They are Switzers." "Switzers! What c'untry is theirs ?" inquired the Sultan. It is a small Republic bordering upon Germany and France, was the answer of the Pacha, who had some better notions of political geography than his imperial master. "They must be a good people," the Sultan said amusingly they keep no ambassador here to worry me." LEGAL MEM.—It is quite proper that a person who has been abused should seek his remedy in a Civi Court.—Judy. FELLING TREES BY ELECTRICITY.—Amongst other applications of electricity by man is that of felling trees (says the Farmer). An American gentleman a few years ago patented a process of this kind. Two gentlemen in Bombay have also. patented a similar method, and which they recently submitted to public experiment. The plan, as detailed by a local paper, is simple. The two ends of the copper wires of a galvanic battery are connected with platinum wire, which, of course, instantly becomes red hot, and while in that state it is gently see-sawed across the trunk of the tree to be felled. At present no platinum wire has been made thick enough to withstand the continual friction but when this is done, it is calculated that a tree, which at present takes two hours to fell. will come to the ground by this process in fifteen minutes. The method has this advantage, that there is no waste of wood and no sawdust. A PAPER-MAKING SPIDER.—In central Africa there is a spider which makes paper of a very fair quality. After selecting a spot for her nest, she works back- wards and forwards over a square inch of surface until the space is covered with a pure white paper, in this she places from 40 to 50 eggs. She then makes a strip of paper about a quarter of an inch broad, and with it carefully glues the square together. The spider wages a fierce war with cockroaches, or any other insect that comes near. After three weeks of unremitting watchfulness, the mother leaves her nest in the day time to hunt for food, but she always returns at night until the young are strong enough to cater for them- selves. THE ADVANTAGES OF GROANING.—A French phy- sician has published a long dissertation on the advan- tages of groaning and crying in general. He contends that groaninrr and crying are two <rrand operations by Whicn natU'w UIiays a.l1¡; ut"ù l<LI t1rU.;>t> pn1iicut. I-io give way to their natural feelings more speedily re- cover from accidents and operations than those who suppose it unworthy a man to betray such symptoms of cowardice as either to groan or cry. He tells of a man who reduced his pulse from one hundred and twenty-six to sixty in the course of a few hours by giving full vent to his_ emotions. If people are at all unhappy about anything let them go into their rooms and comfort themselves with a loud boo-hoo. In accordance with the above, the crying of children should not be too greatly discouraged. If it is systematically repressed the result may be St. Vitus's dance, epileptic fits, or some other disease of the ner- vous system. The Cattle Plague—Flies.Jwly. "PRIZE SHARKS." The rewards paid by the Government for the capture of sharks in the Bay of Melbourne now amount in the aggregate, says the Australian, to the sum of jE62 11s. 6d. The number of sharks brought to the various police-stations since the offer of a reward was published amounts to 846. Of these, 735 were caught at Sandridge, 5 at Foots- craig, 16 at Williamstown, 20 at Mornington, and 70 at Brighton. One of the sharks measured about 16 feet in length, and weighed about a ton; but the majority were over two feet and under five feet in length. The sum expended in the destruction of such a large number of these dangerous visitants to our shores has been well spent. A PRACTICAL JOKER CURED.-—" The Tattler in the Pictorial World gives the following:- I am sure everybody must be grieved to hear of the death of Ur. Ward Hunt; he was such a manly, honest English gentleman, and the spcies is very rare indeed nowadays. Did you ever hear the story Of the little "mid" and the First Lord ? Once upon a time, a midshipman on ILLS. > at Plymouth, discovered a stout gentleman making his way from the dock side on to the deck. Excepting the officer of the watch, there was hardly anyone else on board but the youthful officer, for the ship had only just come in from abroad. The visitor desired to be shown over the ironclad, and the knowing mid" im- mediately went in for a lark. lie infermed the gentleman how the capstan was used to grind the ship's coffee he also told him how the ward- room officers always used the 18-ton guns for wine coolers to ice their champagne in, and he likewise made him acquainted with the fact that it was only the admiral in command who was allowed to dry his Sunday shirts on the main-yards. The visitor listened to this with a bland and simple smile; but, on taking his leave, he saia, Young gentleman, you are a very smart youth indeed, and full of very curious information, and I hope that you will see that there is no mistake in this card ot mine finding its way to your captain." The youth took the small bit of pasteboard, and, reading the name Ward Hunt," suddenly discovered the awfulness of his situation. However, the First Lord only treated him to another pleasant smile, and then departed. That young gentleman has never played practical jokes since that time. A NEW VOCATION.—The Manchester City News an- nounces that Lord Francis Cecil, second son of the Marquis of Exeter, to whom Mr. Cunliffe Brooks's second daughter, Miss Edith Brooks, was married in 1874, has been introduced as a partner in the banking firm of Cunliffe Brooks and Co., of Manchester, Blackburn, and Altrincham, the head and hitherto sole member of which is Mr. William Cunliffe Brooks, M.P. for East Cheshire. Lord Francis Cecil, who is in his 28th year, will, it is understood, take an active share in the management of the bank. Shocking Music—The Electrical instrument, the Telephone.—Judy. A MAD Cow.—Several serious cases of hydro- phobia have occurred in the county of Flint within the last few days. At a farmhouse near Rhuddam a valuable milking cow was bitten by a dog which immediately ran after another dog and bit it also, but the dog thus bitten was destroyed directly. The first dog showed indications of madness, attacked a number of sheep, and bit several men, but was even- tually chased by the police, who, after a pursuit of many miles, overtook and shot it. The cow which was bitten became on Saturday very strange, ceased to give any milk, was very furious, and bit everybody and everything that came near her. A veterinary surgeon was sent for, who pronounced her suffering from a severe attack of hydrophobia, and ordered her to be killed at once. The men bitten by the dog obtained medical assistance and are recovering. The magis- trates of the county hale Issued notices for all dogs to be kept under strict control. HORSEFLESH IN PARIS.—During the first six months of 1877 the butchers who deal in this commodity in Paris have delivered to consumption 5,283 horses, donkeys, and mules, which furnished 959,730 kilos, of meat (net). During the corresponding period of 1876 the number of those animals, was 4,422 which gave 803,500kilos. The increase is, therefore, of a marked cha- racter (says Gahgnani). The persons who endeavour to popularise the use of horseflesh affirm that it is more wholesome and more nourishing than beef, although often not quite so agreeable. Paris contains more than 50 butchers"shops, specially devoted to this article. A very good pot-au-feu may be made with the inferior morsels at the price of 25c. and 30c. the lb. The choicest pieces, filet, undercut, &c., are much higher in their cost. Good Advice—Good singers should always retain their notes.—Judy LADY HELPS.—I heard the other day of a servant informing his placid old master who had mildly asked for a hot cross bun on Good Friday, that "the baker had only sent enough for the kitchen." Such things are, but surely anything is better than a Lady Help," who when asked to put coals on the fire, burst into a flood of tears and in quires, "What would Aunt Jane say if she heard that ?" the poor woman not compre- hending that the fire must be kept up, and that Aunt Jane's feelings are a subordinate consideration. In fact Lady Helps are very like the old lady in re- duced circumstances who set up as a muffin-seller in the streets, but did a very limited business, owing to her feeble cry of "Muffins, muffins! I hope nobody hear* me I "—From Qwet Woye," in Temple Bar, R PREPARED.—Sir Stafford Northcote was, I under stand, fully prepared for the great Parliamentary battle of Tuesday night last, and had previously ordered a bed to be made up for him in a spare roorf of the House of Commons. If the obstructive policf continues, it might be well to turn the House intf a kind of National Orleans Club, and have beds idf all the members, with division bells laid on. Onlf then the immortal seven might obstruct by engaginj all the bedrooms beforehand.— Vanity Fair. PARLIAMENTARY LITERATURE.—The literary activity of members of Parliament is markedly on tha increase (says May fair). Early in the Session I announces that Mr. A. M. Sullivan was at work upon a book to be called "New Ireland," and I mentioned last week that Mr. Joseph Cowen is devoting his rare leisure moments to the preparation of the history of Radicalism during the last thirty years. I may add to this list of lion, members engaged upon literature Mr. M'Cullagh Torrens, who has finished his "Memoirs of Lord Melbourne." This book is notf in the press. Mr. W. H. Gladstone is modestly entering upon literature by translating from the German Justus Thibaut's work on Purity in Music and Art," to which the hon. member adds a prefatory memoir. The Chancellor of the Exchèquer, though he does not write a book himself, has contributed for publication the Note-Book of Sir John Northcot^ Member for Ashburton iu the Long Parliament. Mr. E. J. Reed is preparing a new and revised edition of his Practical Treatise on Shipbuilding in Irott and Steel." In the Upper House, Lord HoughtotJ has just completed a memoir of Frances, Lady Crewe. Sir Irskine May has found time to write 9 book on "Democracy in Europe." I A SUGGESTION.—A correspondent from "avillaga writes to the Moscow Gazette to recommend that pamphlets, giving a history of the war, be publish^ for the benefit of the peasants, who feel the_ keenei* interest, he says, in the conflict that is taking place between Russia and Turkey. The print should be dI; tinct and the language simple, and each pamphlet should cost five, or at most ten, copeiks—from two* pence to fourpence. The first number, it is suggestedt should contain the Emperor's declaration of war, toge- ther with a summary of the events which immediately preceded the declaration. Each number to contain truthful accounts of battles and other important opera- tions, such as the crossing of the Danube, and to he illustrated with correct representations of incidents, and with prrtraits of the officers and men who particularly distinguished themselves. All this, say" the correspondent, should be done not with an eye to profit, but "for the pure enlightenment of rnuc country." ■; THE WRONG TUNE !—Fifty years ago, one of hi* Majesty's Cavalry regiments was on the march in th« West of England and its route lay through the ancient city of Bristol. The band, as is usual on such occa- sions, began to play, and led off with what was then a very popular air, "Buy a Broom;" but its strainS appeared to produce a singular effect on the populaeet who saluted the regiment with a shower of brickbats, its commander getting his men out of the city as fast as he could. This somewhat "striking" incident was afterwards explained the inhabitants of Bristol had taken, or rather mistaken, the plaintive air aø referring to the cleanliness, or want of cleanliness to their city. FREE LEGS I-Some one has recommended the London fashionable world to cut off the trouser just above the knee. The author of the idea says: The ]e8 has from all antiquity been closely associated with national greatness; and can attain its proper develop* ment only in a state of freedom. The Romans not trousers, and hence reached such a development of leg that they were able to conquer the world. The kilted Highlander was the terror of Scotland until the far-seeing British Government confined him V* trousers, under the malign influence of which h19 legs wilted, and his proud spirit was broken. The bare legged warrior of the American forests was te bravest and noblest of savages but how pitiable 1& the Indian of Saratoga, and Niagara, who, de- moralized by trousers, has sunk below the level of the hackman. The author of the idea explains that the precise style of dress worn by Scipio aud Caesar need not be servilely copied, but all its advantages could obtained by a costume adapted to the conditions oj modern civilisation and retaining the funda.1nent principle of free legs. THE LATE TIDAL WAVE.—The Alta (San Francisco) I of the 17th of July, publishes a statement of CaptaiO j Nisser, of the brig Potoma, recently arrived from I Marquesas Islands and Tahiti, that the tidal wave the 10th of May was not felt at Tahiti at all, but at Nukahiva, one of the Marquesas group, and in the of Tailohae, the water rose and fell all day, the greatest rise being 14ft., on Captain Hart's plantation. On the other side of the island the tide rose with grea.t force, sweeping away houses and other property, and the inhabitants were compelled to flee for their lives. The most remarkable circumstance stated is that, al- though there had been no rain on the island for four years, af all of rain occurred just preceding the tidal wave, and at the time of the Potoma's sailing it had been raining heavily for 12 days, washing away bridges. &c., and dning considerable other damage. THE THRONE OF HAWAII.—Prince William Pitt. Leleiohoker, the heir apparent to the throne of Hawaii, died at the Iolani Palace on the 10th of April, of rheumatic fever, at the early age of twenty: two. He was the youngest member of the family ot the late Hon. C. Kapaakea and the late high Chiefte Keohokalole, being the brother of the King of Hawa;11 and of their Royal Highnesses the Princess Lydia Dominis and the Princess Miriam L. Cleghorn. On the 14th of February. 1374, two days subsequent to the election of His Majesty, he was proclaimed hejr apparent to th-. throne and invested with the sty'0 j and title of ""His Royal Highness." On the day aftef K life death t-thc HUi <<f April) a nroelswmtJnn wss rajdi J in front of' Aim;lam-house pi tjie appointment by 'i1. j His death t-thc HUi pr April) a nroelswmtJnn wss rajdi J in front of' Aim;lam-house pi tjie appointment by 'i1. j Majesty, *ith the consent of the nobles, of her Roy^' 1 Highness Princess Lydia Kanakacha Liiliuokalani* ( eldest sister of His Majesty, as successor to the throne. The newly--appointed heiress apparent is a niOsC estimable lady, was born on the 2nd of September) 1838, and was married to his Excellency John O. Dominis. Governor of Oahu, un the 16th of September) 1862. RnrND SLEEP.- Sound sleep is essential to good health (says the Pictorial Wodd). It is impossible to restore and recuperate the s stem exhausted by labour and activity without this perfect repose. Sleep has 3. great deal to do with the disposition and temper. A sound sleeper is seldom disturbed by trifles, whilst » wakeful, restless person is apt to be irritable. A great deal has been written about the advantages of curtail- ing the hours of repose, and of sleeping but little. 0 are inclined to think that, there is room for doubt whether the benefits of closely limiting the time given to rest have not been exaggerated. Active persons ,)f nervous temperaments can hardly get too much sheep. We know very well that the saving of two or t hours a day from slumber is in one sense equivalent to a considerable prolongation of human life, and we are no advocate of indolence but the fact still remains that sleep may be so much abridged as to leave the system incapable of as much effective work in two hours as might be performed in a better condition in one. A DISGUISED KHALIF.—A talls gray-haired gen- tleman, so runs the story, lately went into one of the branch Post-offices in a western region. He asked some question relative to the registering of a letter of one of the girls in attendance, and was answered in a manner which he considered exceedingly sharp .and rude. He repeated the question, however, not being quite sure that he was not mistaken in his supposition? and he repeated it very mildly. "She answered him more rudely than before. He then made some temon" strance, and asked her if she thought that was a proper way to answer an inquiry in a public office. She said she thought she had been quite civil enough for bus- He asked her, with an ominously increasing mildness of manner, if she would favour him with her nam0. She emphatically declined to do so. He then said he thought he would tell her his name, which, however, she declined to hear, saying that his name was nO concern of hers. Ho calmly replied that he thought it was, for his name was John Manners, and he was the Postmaster-General. Curtain.-Exàminer.. DISAPPEARANCE OF Two ISLANDS.—By the .Aus. tralian mail, intelligence from Perth, Western Aua. tralia, has been received of the extraordinary dis&J? pearance of two islands- the Barker Island^-and their inhabitants. It appears that during Mr. Weld's ad- ministration, Captain.Fisher, a Tasmanian capitalist, purchased.from,the est Australian. Government the right to remove guano from two islands on tha coast, described on the chart and known as the Backer Islands, and situatedin lat. 14 S, long. 125 E. Captain Fisher despatched three yessels in April with labourers and appliances for shipping the guano, but when the vessels arrived at the place where the islands were known to be, -there was, potdiing to'be seen but watci- The islands had disappeared entirely, how and when is at present a mystery. It was generally supposed that Australia lay out of the line of active volcanic agency, so that the phenomenon "is all the more remarkable. OUR FOREIGN TRADE.—The Custom-house accounts, as revised, present the following statement of our trade in 1876 with parts beyond the seas The imports of merchandise into the United Kingdom from foreign countries were of the value of £290,822,127, and from -British Possessions £84,332,576, making a total of £375,1?4,703.. The exports from the United Kingdom comprised British and Irish produce of the value of £ 135,779,980 shipped for foreign countries, and £ 64,359,224 for British possessions, making together £200,639,204; and foreignand colonial produce of the value of £56,137,398, making the total exports of merchandise £256,776,602, and the total of imports and exports together £631,931,305. Our import of gold and silver coin and bullion amounted to 37,054,244, and the export £29,464.082, raising the total imports to £412,208,947, and the exports to £286,240,684, together £698,449,631. If, finally, we add £10,815,548, the value of the merchandise tran- shipped, the total of our foreign trade-imports, exports, and transhipments—is shown to be £709,265,179, which is upwards of 19 millions less than in 1875, the value of the imports showing some increase but the exports a larger decrease. A BRAVE BELGIAN.—The Builder says Our readers will remember the brave slater Caris, who on the top of the belfry of the' church of Ville sur Onrthe, in Belgium, endured without moving the pain produced by molten lead falling on his arm rather than risk the life of his companion who was s anding on Caris's shoulders to fix a lightning conductor. We made hjs courageous endurance known, and, having fully satisfied ourselves as to the correctness of the story, were able to send him a, trifling sum subscribed by three er four friends, simply as a testimony of ap- preciation. The story we had told ultimately reached the Belgian newspapers, and Major-General Bartels. took up the matter, appealed to the officers of the Belgian army to mark their sense of Caris's courage- ous act, and has recently sent us, with kindly acknow- ledgments, a packet of printed papers showing what has bean done. To mate the story quite short His Majesty the King of the Belgians—always ready to do a generous act—sent a special gift to Caris the Count of Flanders joined in the general subscription, and a sum of money lias been collected with which some plots of land have been purchased, and will make the rest of his life easier than it has been- General Bartels is good enough to ascribe much of the success which has attended his efforts to our initiative, and so from a little seed has come a goodly tree."